Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/227

Rh, leaped to his partner's assistance. He caught the ruffian by the shoulders, and with a sharp jerk sent him sprawling flat upon his back on a number of sharp stones.

"Go at them with stones, Andy," shouted Matt, as he himself stooped to pick up a small rock which lay at his feet. "We ought to show them no mercy!"

"That's true," panted his partner as he followed the suggestion by arming himself with several handy missiles. "They are a set of cowards in my opinion."

"We'll show you if we are!" cried the fellow who had first attacked Matt. "Come on, Barberry, we must make them prisoners!"

And once more he sprang forward, while the fellow on his back, with a groan of pain, staggered up to lend his assistance in the struggle.

But now came help for Matt and Andy from an unexpected quarter. There was a crashing through the brush, and a tall form the thieves did not recognize burst into view. It was Ramson, the mountaineer.

"Wot's a-going on here, anyway?" shouted the mountaineer in a tone of wonder. "Fighting worse nor a lot of bears, I declare! Wot's it all about?"

"Help us, won't you?" cried Matt. "These are