"No!" shouted three or four of their tormentors derisively.
Dave, his fists still clenched, bounded forward. One chap, in an especially brilliant blazer, reached out to box Darry on the ear.
That blow never landed, but the tormentor did—-on the earth.
"Eight rainbow hoboes,
Looking for life's leaven,
One bumped his eyelash,
And then there were but seven!"
improvised Danny Grin joyously.
"Clean out this camp!" yelled one of the others.
"Come on and do it, then!" yelled Tom Reade, losing all patience at last.
Dick & Co. suddenly presented a solid fighting rank that had accomplished great things on the gridiron. In this formation they advanced toward their tormentors.
There might have been an ugly clash, but one of the eight shouted:
"Come on, fellows! Don't tease the babies. They haven't had their warm milk yet."