"But it looks as though I were afraid," protested Fred.
"Fiddlesticks! You don't need to prove your courage," returned Sandow. "Everybody in school admits that. So come along and go the way we want you to."
With evident reluctance, Fred finally yielded, and the trio turned their steps toward Main Street, which they reached without further sight or sound of Bart and his companions.
The route of the three chums took them past the building of the First National Bank.
Dismissing the unsuccessful attack by tacit understanding, the boys were discussing the formation of the Second Form football team, when Fred chanced to glance toward the bank building.
"Look there, by the second window! Can you see any one?" he asked excitedly.
Pausing in their tracks, Buttons and Sandow peered in the direction indicated.
"There's some one sneaking along the side, I think," whispered the latter.
"Probably Bart and his crowd," suggested Buttons.
"Maybe, but I doubt it," returned the leader of the First Form.