"Looks like rough stuff here, boys," cried Dick, alarmed at the antics of the crowd and fearful for the fate of the lone figure whose face was lost in the pack of swirling humanity.
"And just about time that we took a hand in it; what do you say, boys?" came Jay's response.
"With you all the way," replied the other two.
Suiting action to words, Jay broke into a run, closely followed by Dick and Larry, with Fismes flying at their heels, barking furiously.
Like a flying wedge the trio of sturdy war veterans descended upon the wrangling mob. Coming closer, the boys found the central figure in the mass now defending himself against clenched fists that were reaching out from every direction, trying to land blows on his face and body. He was a stalwart man of middle age who was hammering back blow for blow now against the heavy odds pressing against him.
"Into them, fellows; lay it on thick," yelled Jay as he flung himself on the outer rim of rioters.
Bang! Biff! Crack! Three flying figures, two of them in the uniform of the Navy, the third in blue, begrimed overalls, waded into the mass before them. Right and left they swung on their opponents, a snarling canine at their heels leaping with them into the midst of the mêlée.
"Give it to them, fellows," roared Larry above the tumult as he laid out a greasy looking six-foot brute with a right uppercut under the chin, and followed suit with a smashing solar plexus on the abdomen of another towering belligerent.
In another moment the fighting trio had cleaved a lane clear through the rioters to the side of that one lone figure who was still standing his ground. One swarthy and bewhiskered rioter who seemed to be the leader of the workmen was pummeling his victim with smashing blows.
"This for you," bellowed Jay as he let loose with a terrific right arm swing full in the face. Down he went with a grunt of rage. Jay leaped to get another of the ring-leaders, but ere he landed the furry figure of a great dog flashed through the air, full upon Jay's intended victim. With a snarl of rage the animal set his teeth in the left leg of the surprised foreigner.