de to side, and it chanced that he succeeded in saving it
from the blows which were intended to render him helpless.

Those blows, many of them, at least, fell on his shoulders and his back
with benumbing force.

He forgot that his left hand was not yet well, but he used it as freely
and as vigorously as his right.

And, once more, something like a laugh came from his lips.

"Hear him!" hissed one of the ruffians. "Why, he's a perfect young
fiend!"

But Frank could not long hold his own against such odds. Some of the
blows aimed at his head fell glancingly, but they were enough to rob him
in a measure of his strength. He tried to tear away, and then he was
felled to the ground.

Merriwell felt that "the jig was up" with him. They had him at their
mercy, at last.

Then it was that a surprising thing happened. With encouraging cries,
two men came through the darkness and attacked the boy's assailants.

That the new arrivals on the battlefield were armed with heavy clubs was
apparent, and they used them mercilessly on the ruffians.

This attack was unexpected by Frank's assailants, and they could not
meet it. Immediately they turned and fled, pursued by one of the men who
had set upon them.

Just then, apparently disturbed by the sounds of the fight, some person
came to a nearby window with a lighted lamp.

The light shone out into the alley, and fell on Frank Merriwell and one
of the men who had saved him.

"Plug Kirby!" gasped Frank, sitting up.

"Dat's wot, me boy!" cried the bruiser, cheerfully. "An' I kinder t'ink
we didn't git round any too quick neider."

"You came just in time."

"Be yer hurt much, youngster?" asked Kirby, anxiously, assisting Frank
to arise.

"I think not. Got a few cracks and was upset, but that is all. Where is
the man who was with you?"

"He whooped it along after der gang. Kinder t'ink he wanted ter ketch
one of der blokes an' hold him fer der perlice ter pinch."

"Who was he?"

"Dunno."

"What?" cried Frank, astonished--"don't know who was with you when you
came to my aid?"

"Well, I dunno his name, youngster, and that's on der level."

Frank was eager to ask more questions, but Plug said:

"We'd best push outer dis. Dunno wot'll happen if we stays here too
long. Der gang might come back."

So they hurried out of the alley, Frank receiving some assistance from
Kirby, as he was rather dizzy when he tried to walk.

When the street was reached no one seemed to b