CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CRUISE RESUMED.
“Help, Ned! Help!” roared Herc.
But Ned had all he could do to help himself right then. Like so many ants swarming upon and attacking an interloper in their domains, the little brown men had swarmed upon him, also. The brawny arms of the Dreadnought Boy flung them off right and left, and as they fell back in the crowd they knocked over more of the clustering people like balls in a bowling alley.
“Hurray! A king-pin!” cried Ned, as down went five or six of the Japs in a heap.
But before the words were fairly out of his mouth, more of the men leaped upon him from behind. By a quick movement, Ned fell backwards, crushing the breath out of his surprised opponents. He was up again in a jiffy, only to find that he was still assailed by uncountable numbers. They swarmed like flies round a honey-pot, and do what he would, the boy could not shake them off.
A short way from him he saw Herc being borne down, and then saw him struggle to his feet again.
“Whoop! Huroo!” yelled Herc suddenly.
Around the corner had come a string of ’rickshaws, each containing two jolly tars.
“Manhattans, ahoy!” bawled Herc.