“You needn’t be as far as that’s concerned. It won’t be the first beating I’ve taken and I flatter myself that I’m fairly good with my fists. I’ll bet I leave a mark on one of them before he gets me.”
“Here they come,” Bob shouted at that moment. “Don’t let them get hold of you if you can help it.”
The five men were coming with a rush, no doubt intending to finish the job in short order. The man who had done the talking was the first to reach them and he selected Bob for his onslaught. He rushed at the boy with a hoarse cry of rage and exultation combined.
Bob stepped quickly forward to meet him, an act which seemed to disconcert the man for an instant. He nearly stopped but, seeing that the others were close behind him, he came on again. As he came within striking distance he swung a vicious blow at the boy’s head. Bob dodged the blow easily and succeeded in landing a glancing blow in return.
As the man plunged past Bob turned but, before he could set himself for another blow, his feet were jerked out from under him and he came down in a heap in the soft snow.
“Now I geet you bon,” the breed cried as he sprang forward.
CHAPTER XIV
LOG ROLLING
“Here, now. What’s all the rough house about?”
As the man who was about to jump on Bob heard the shout he turned and Bob sprang to his feet. A cry of joy burst from his lips as he looked about and saw a crowd of men coming toward them.
“Jack Skeets!” he shouted as he recognized the foremost, a swarthy faced giant.