Some of Dick's chums were now inclined to feel that they had broken in at the wrong place, but not so their young leader.
"You haven't any right to make arrests in Gridley," retorted Dick defiantly. "And, even if you had, you couldn't stop us from defending a woman. Tom, you and Greg stand by me. Dave, you lead the rest. We'll make Dexter let go of his wife's property and let her alone. If this man who says he's an officer interferes, Greg, Tom and I will devote our attention to him!"
"Great!" snarled Dexter jeeringly. "You're all young jailbirds!"
"Are you going to let go of Mrs. Dexter's property?" challenged Dick.
"I'm not."
"Come on, fellows—let's sail into him."
Dick was an able general, having his small force under good discipline. There was a sudden rush of boys. True, they averaged only thirteen years of age, but there were six of them, and they were determined.
Dexter let go of the handbag in a hurry. He had to do so, in order to defend himself.
At the same moment the man named as "Gus" jumped into the fray.
"Three to each man!" yelled Dick, and thus the force was divided.