“Why don’t you finish the year at Fardale, Chip?” Billy Mac was distinctly worried. So was Owen Clancy.
“I’m sure I don’t know,” returned Frank, with a frown. “Dad only hinted that he and I might go West. Looked as though Uncle Dick was mixed up in it, too, but I couldn’t get him to say anything definite.”
“Looks bad for Fardale if you have to leave,” remarked Clancy. “We’ll lick the spots off Franklin on Monday, anyhow. With Ted Crockett going away, too, the team will be all bust up for sure.”
“I s’pose there’ll be a new captain elected,” said Billy slyly.
“That’s right!” exclaimed Chip.
“I guess there’s only one fellow going to nab that honor, Chip.”
“Who?” inquired Frank. “Randall would be a mighty good man, and I’d like to see him get it——”
“You old humbug!” cried Clancy. “You’re it, of course! Why, Chip, if you didn’t get it I’d never set foot on the diamond again!” He broke[146] off abruptly as he stubbed his toe. “Why don’t you get some light in your blamed old burg, Billy?”
“We’ve got shining lights right now if you’d only take your hat off,” grinned Billy Mac. “But Clan is right, Chip. Captain Chip, I should say!”
“Nonsense!” said Merry. “Of course, I won’t say that I wouldn’t appreciate the honor, fellows, but I think that Randall is the one for the place. Besides, remember, dad talked as if he and I would go away. I sure hope it won’t come true.”
He paused suddenly, for he had detected a dark figure lurking against a wall ahead of them.
“Do you ever have holdups here, Billy?” he went on, in a low voice. “Looks as if that fellow was waiting for a belated traveling man, eh?”
“No danger,” scoffed Billy Mac, after a glance at the hulking figure, which remained by the wall in shadow. “This isn’t a particularly good residence section, but the constable keeps things pretty clean around here. No, I sure hope you won’t leave——”
He was interrupted as the lurking figure slouched out and barred their path. Chip took a keen look, but did not recognize the man at once, for it was dark, and the fellow’s hat was pulled down over his eyes. Something about the figure suggested Bully Carson to him, but he dismissed the swift suspicion that flashed over him.
[147]
“Where ye goin’?” demanded the fellow, in an obviously disguised voice.
“That’s our business,” flashed Merry. “Get out of the way.”
The figure lunged forward with a swift blow. So rapidly was it done that before Frank could dodge he felt the man’s fist strike his breast, flinging him violently back against Clancy. At the same instant the eager voice of Carson rose in a low cry:
“We got ’em, boys! Come along!”
Out from an adjacent doorway poured a group of dark shapes, while Carson flung himself forward with another blow at Merriwell. Before it landed, however, Chip had recovered himself, and he realized the situation in a flash. Darting under the big fellow’s lunge, he snapped in a blow that caught Carson full in the mouth and jarred him to an abrupt stop.
“Against the wall, fellows!” he cried quickly. “We’ll have to fight them off!”
“It’s Carson’s gang,” exclaimed Billy, as he and Clancy ranged up beside Chip.
“You bet it is,” responded a voice, and the dark figures closed in on them.
It seemed that there was no hope for the three friends, as the crowd rushed in at them with furious blows. Chip, however, had hastily pushed back into an angle formed by the union of two[148] house walls, where it was difficult for the Clippers to get at them.
This fact, together with the darkness, rendered the odds somewhat more even. Carson’s followers were confused by Merry’s quick move, and when they came shoving forward in a mass Clancy stepped out and let fly with his fists.
“Look out!” cried Ironton, trying to get back. “They’ve got clubs, boys! Watch out for ’em!”
“Quit your crowding,” exclaimed Bully Carson, to those behind.
He was flung forward, however, and Merry’s fist cracked into his right optic. Unable to see what had hit him, he staggered back with a howl.
“Look out fer sledge hammers!” he cried. “They got some bricks—get back, you fellers!”
Merry was smiling slightly—that old, self-confident smile which spelled danger had the Clippers but seen it. Before Carson could retreat, Chip stepped out and followed up his first blow with two swift punches from right and left. The big fellow was sent reeling back headlong into his own men.
Meanwhile, Clancy and Billy Mac had not been idle. Taking advantage of their opponents’ momentary confusion, they had immediately carried the battle into the enemy’s camp. Every head was that of a foe, and they struck out with amazing carelessness as to whether they hurt any one.
[149]
Taken by surprise at these bewildering tactics, the Clippers tried to shove back from the niche in the wall. Their numbers were against them, however. Those behind were still trying to get into the conflict, and the two or three in the front rank were getting all the benefit of ............