“Nick Jasniff!” exclaimed Dave, and for the instant knew not what more to say.
“So it’s you, Porter, is it?” snarled the former bully of Oak Hall. “What are you doing on this trail?”
“That is none of your business, Jasniff,” answered Dave coldly.
“See here! You needn’t put on any lordly airs with me!” growled the fellow who in the past had caused our hero so much trouble. “Thought you were playing a fine game on me, didn’t you—having that construction camp manager make a fool of me?” And now Jasniff came closer and caught Dave’s horse by the bridle.
“You keep your hands off my horse, Jasniff,” ordered Dave. “You let go of him this instant!”
“I’ll let go when I please.”
“No, you won’t! You’ll let go now!” And so speaking, Dave leaned over in the saddle to push the fellow away.
It was not a very wise thing to do, and Dave should have known better. The instant he made the movement, Jasniff, who was tall and powerful, caught him by the arm, and the next instant had hauled him from the saddle. The scuffle which resulted from this alarmed the horse, and the steed trotted away some distance up the trail.
“I guess I’ve got you now where I want you, Porter!” cried Jasniff, the squinting eye squinting worse than ever as he scowled at our hero. “I’ve got a big account to settle with you.”
Dave realized that he was in for it and that Nick Jasniff would hesitate at nothing to accomplish his purpose. Our hero remembered well the dastardly attack made on him by the rascal at the Oak Hall gymnasium with an Indian club.