Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/179

 CHAPTER XVIII

TIT FOR TAT

" back, there!"

"Hands off our chum!"

"Hurry up, fellows! To the rescue! Columbiad! Columbiad!"

That last word was known far and near as a signal of distress; and no true son of Columbia High would ever ignore the call for help it stood for. Those boys who had been lagging behind put on a new spurt of speed, and came tearing to the spot where an angry circle of lads surrounded the two men.

Joey and Martin could have fled if they had not been averse in the beginning to running away from a parcel of mere boys. And now they stood there, scowling at the dozen lads who formed that circle around them.

Joey had started in to kick the prostrate Frank vigorously, even while the other was striving to climb to his feet.

"Stop that, you ruffian!" shouted Molly Manners, the dudish student, whose only accomplishment Rh