te.

With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward old Denny, the others
advanced. They were evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But
the sturdy fisherman was not afraid.

"Stand back!" he cried. "Stand back or I'll do you harm--you cowards!"

"No use calling names!" sneered Kelly. "We're here to do you. We made
you a fair offer, and you wouldn't take it. Now you'll have to abide
by the consequences."

"Get behind him," said Bruce. "I can take him from where I stand."

"Get back! Get out of here!" ordered the old man.

He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly.

"Grab him!" cried Moran. "Grab that oar!"

"You'll get it over the head before you grab it!" threatened Denny.
"Mind that, now!"

The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either had not calculated on
the length of it, or he forgot that he was nearer to the wall than he
had been at first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging picture,
and was entangled in the wire.

Denny, putting all his strength into the blow he had hoped would
disable one of his assailants, was thrown off his balance. He toppled
and nearly fell.

"Now we've got him!" yelled Kelly.

The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman with overwhelming
numbers, made a leap forward.

"Stop! Let him alone. We'll call the police!" screamed Cora, and the
other girls added their shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the
cabin.

"The girls I raced with!" muttered Bruce. "We've no time to fool with
them. Don't mind them. Get at Shane!"

"Get at me, is it?" cried the fisherman. He had by this time
disentangled the oar from the picture wire. Again he raised it over
his head, intending to bring it down on Kelly.

As the red weapon descended Kelly shot up his hand and caught it. He
twisted on the oar to wrest it from Denny's grasp, and the two
suddenly went to the floor, jarring the whole cabin.

And at that instant there was a sound of splintering, breaking wood.
Some red slivers flew out from between the two prostrate men who were
struggling for possession of the weapon.

"The red oar! It's broken!" cried Denny. "Me old red oar, that saved
me life in the hands of Grandfather Lewis! The red oar is broken, bad
luck to you! Cowards that you are!"

The girls were screaming, but even Cora, brave as she was, dared go no
nearer to the two desperately struggling men. Bruce and Moran were
seeking an opening that they might get hold of Denny. The fourth man
had gone bac