“Not a bit,” was the answer. “Only winded. I beat it out of the neighborhood while the going was good.”
“What became of the skunks?” asked Brick.
“The last I saw of them, Nepahak was legging it down the street and Tezra was just getting up from the sidewalk.”
“I’m afraid you’ve been fighting again,” said Brick, in mock reproof but with vast delight.
“Tell us just what happened,” urged Professor Bruce.
“Those fellows stepped out of a dark alley and held me up,” replied Don. “Told me they were going to make me wish I was somewhere else. As a matter of fact, that’s just what I was wishing. I might have parleyed with them, but Nepahak was reaching for a knife. I remembered what you’ve told me about getting in the first blow, Uncle Frank, so I soaked Tezra with the revolver. Then I lammed into Nepahak, and he started running. I thought that was a good thing, so I started running too—in the opposite direction. That’s all.”
“That’s all!” mimicked Brick. “Knocked the daylights out of both of them. That’s all!”
“It seems to be quite enough,” said the professor, with a smile.
“You’re all there, my boy, and I’m proud of you. Trust the Sturdys to give a good account of themselves and live up to their name,” observed the captain. “But it makes me uneasy to learn that Tezra and Nepahak have turned up again. I’m afraid it bodes no good for our friend Phalos or the purpose of our expedition.”
Their host came in at that moment and caught the names of his enemies.