"What are you talking about, you numbskull?" retaliated Herc, as the two rolled on the dusty street. "Don't be a fool! Let me up."
But Rankin clung tightly to Herc, for whom he had conceived an intense dislike ever since the episode on the train.
"You try to make a fool out of me, will you?" he growled; and as they clinched and tumbled about at the foot of the steps, Rankin aimed a vicious blow at Herc, who returned it with right good will.
"Gracious! Here's a fine kettle of fish!" exclaimed Ned in consternation.
He started back down the steps at top speed, determined to stop such a scene at all costs. It was really too bad that their arrival in Miller's Haven should be marked by such a disgraceful mix-up.
Ned glanced anxiously down the street and was glad to see that no one was in sight. He would not, for the world, have had anyone witness the mêlée who was in any way connected with the navy.
"Get up at once, Herc!" he cried, thoroughly angry. "Stop it instantly. Do you hear?"
But despite Ned's admonitions, the pair on the ground continued their struggle, the noise of their thumps and pantings rising above Ned's voice. Flushed with vexation and indignation at Herc, Ned determined to take decisive action.
He cleared the last two steps of the flight leading to the street in one jump. The next instant his hands shot out.
"Stop this and stop it quick!" he ejaculated. "What sort of a way do you consider this to behave?"