The face of the bully wore an ugly scowl, and Bobby and his friends realized that they were in for trouble. However, it was not of their seeking, and there was no way out except flight, which did not even occur to them.
“You fellers are certainly easy,” sneered Lemming. “You came to make us a nice little visit, didn’t you? Well, now that you’re here, we’ll try to give you the kind of welcome you deserve after chasing us away from Doc Raymond’s apple tree.”
“That was your own fault, and there’s no use holding a grudge against us for it,” answered Bobby.
“Don’t argue with him, Hen,” growled one ugly-looking member of the gang. “Let’s give ’em the lickin’ that’s comin’ to them, an’ git it over with.”
“If it comes to lickings, maybe it will be the other way around,” said Fred, his quick temper rapidly rising to the boiling point. “It’s a poor game that two can’t play at.”
The bullies made no answer to this, but began to close in on the boys. Opposing the toughs were Bobby, Fred, Mouser, and Billy. They were outnumbered by Hen’s gang, which consisted of four besides himself. They were so much larger and heavier than the boys they confronted that they seemed to think they had “soft pickings” ahead of them.
But in this they reckoned without their host. The boys’ blood was up, and even in a hopeless battle they were not going to be beaten without a struggle. The bullies made a concerted rush at Bobby and his friends, and by mere weight made them give ground for a moment. But they were right back at their foes and struck out gallantly with all their force. They were strong and athletic for their age, and the school sports had kept them in fine condition, while the bullies, though older, were soft and dissipated. Bobby lashed out and caught Lemming with a well-directed punch in the jaw while the other boys fought like young wildcats.
The fight waxed fast and furious in the narrow alleyway. Mouser was knocked down, but Bobby and Fred stood over him and beat his assailants off until their comrade could struggle to his feet.
Fierce wrath was in the hearts of the trapped boys and the light of battle gleamed in their eyes.
Their unexpectedly strong resistance daunted the gang opposed to them, and there was still a chance that the boys might win when three other toughs dashed out of the hallway and joined the gang. This accession of force was too much, and Bobby and his chums were overborne. Then their hands were tied and they were carried into one of the mean and dirty-looking houses.