“Get down, fellows,” called Harry softly, “so they won’t see us!”
There was a minute of silent suspense while the group crouched in the darkness at the side of the road. Then came the pat, pat of footsteps up the road.
“It’s only one,” Harry whispered. “Wait till a bunch of them comes along.”
The runner jogged past, dimly visible, panting wearily, and silence followed. Then more footsteps sounded in the silence and in a moment a half-dozen fellows, very tired and short of breath, trotted up, and——
“Now!” whispered Harry.
With blood-curdling screams the party in ambush leaped out upon its quarry. The latter sought to escape but were quickly surrounded and captured; all save one, a big fellow named Cartwright, who managed to beat off the enemy and put a dozen yards between them and himself before they started in pursuit. Then Hansel and two other Schoolers went after him. Weary as he was, it was a short chase, and they soon had him at bay against the fence at one side of the road. But he didn’t propose to submit meekly to capture.
“You fellows touch me and you’ll get hurt!” he panted angrily. “Keep away now.”
“It’s Billy Cartwright!” exclaimed one of Hansel’s companions. “You’re our game, old chap, so you might as well give in.”
“You let me alone,” was the reply, “or there’ll be trouble!”