The discomfited villain broke into a volley of oaths, and proceeded to pick himself up.
He was a brutal-looking fellow, but was no larger than Dodger, who was as tall as the majority of men.
“Give me that stick,” he exclaimed, furiously.
“Come and take it,” returned Dodger, undaunted.
The fellow took him at his word, and made a rush at our hero, but a vigorous blow from the bludgeon made him cautious about repeating the attack.
“Curse you!” he cried, between his teeth. “I’d like to chaw you up.”
“I have no doubt you would,” answered Dodger; “but I don’t think you will. Were you going to rob this man?”
“None of your business!”
“I shall make it my business. You’d better go, or you may be locked up.”
“Give me that stick, then.”