Side by side the boys ran on with the tramps after them. The latter did not relish the run, however, and presently one picked up a heavy stick and hurled it at Harry. It struck the lad in the back and made him pitch headlong.
As soon as Harry fell Link, not to desert his chum, stopped running and picked up a stone.
"Leave us alone!" he cried. "Do you hear? Leave us alone!"
"We ain't goin' ter hurt ye!" said the tramp who had hurled the stick.
"You had no business to knock my friend down."
"Well, why didn't yer stop when I told yer to?"
By this time Harry was scrambling to his feet. He was not much injured. All of the tramps lost no time in surrounding the boys.
"You hadn't any right to attack me," cried Harry, indignantly.
"You was going to tell on us, wasn't yer?" sneered another of the tramps.
"I don't know what you are talking about."