Even as he spoke he received a cruel blow in the side.
"I'll help you all I can," I replied promptly.
I knew it would be a waste of words to try to argue with the gang of toughs, so I simply went at them in a physical way.
I hit out right and left with all my might, and as quickly as I could, repeated the blows.
The suddenness of my attack disconcerted the three footpads, and when Duncan recovered sufficiently to lend a hand, one of them took to his heels and disappeared up the alley.
The two remaining ones stood their ground, and called on their companions to come back and bring "Noxy an' de rest."
I received a blow in the shoulder that nearly threw me over on my back. But I straightened up, and in return gave my assailant a hard one in the nose that drew blood.
"Duncan, you clear out to the street," I whispered. "I'll come after."
The young man followed my advice, first, however, stopping to pick up several things he had dropped or that had been taken from him.
When he was twenty or thirty feet away I started after him. As I did so, I noticed he had left a large note-book lying on the ground. I took it up, and hurried on. For a moment more we were safe upon the street again, and the two toughs slunk away up the alley.