CHAPTER IV
TREACHERY IN THE CAMP
"Columbiad! Columbiad!"
It was the call for assistance, known to, and respected by, everyboy who loved the name of Columbia High School--a rallying cry intime of emergency, when the enemy had carried the ball down closeto the home goal, and almost supernatural efforts were needed, inorder to beat back the rising tide.
Never did the old familiar yell of "Hey, Rube!" appeal morepositively to canvasmen connected with a traveling circus, whenset upon by rowdies in some wayside town, than did this shout.
Ralph had no time for more. From three sides he found himselfattacked by unknown foes. Some had their hats drawn far over theirfaces, in order to conceal their identity, while others had gonestill further, and tied handkerchiefs over the lower half, withthe same purpose in view.
A jargon of angry cries arose, each assailant seeming desirous ofventing his especial method for showing dislike.
"Down him, boys!"
"Spank the cub!"
"Send him back where he belongs; we don't want poorhouse bratshere!"
"Do him up! Butt in, fellows! Make a clean sweep of it now!"
Among all these outcries, only that one concerning the "poorhouse"stung the ears of the boy at bay. It was so cruel, so mean, soutterly uncalled for, that his whole body seemed to quiver withindignation, and a burning fire shot through his veins.
He had thrown himself into an attitude of self defense, with hisback against a tree. In this way he was able to avoid considerablepunishment, since the attacking force could not completelysurround him, the tree being an unusually big one.
HE HAD THROWN HIMSELF INTO AN ATTITUDE OFSELF-DEFENSE.]
So far as he could see, there were at least half a dozen opposedto him. Evidently Tony and Asa did not mean to take any chanceswhen trying to put the new candidate for honors on the regularteam out of the running.
What with all the row connected with their rush, the cowardlyassailants were themselves unable to hear the patter ofswiftly-approaching footsteps, coming from the rear. They evidentlyshouted, in order to keep their courage up, and prevent Ralph fromrecognizing any one particular voice.
The beleaguered boy was himself fighting like a cat at bay. He hadno positive assurance that friends were near, and with so manyeager hands striving to reach his face and body, he had toretaliate, giving blow for blow.
Once he managed to dash his clenched fist into the face of afellow who, in his eagerness, had rushed in too close.
"Wow!" bellowed the stricken party, and somehow it seemed to Ralphthat the voice was that of Tony Gilpin.
More than once he was himself the recipient of blows, some severeand others of a glancing nature. For a brief period of time therewas a constant maelstrom of hands flying back and forth,accompanied with shouts, jeers and grunts.
"Oh, you cowards!" called Ralph, as a blow struck him on the backof the head, and almost stunned him for a second; one of thecrowd, not daring to face the boy at bay, having crept alongsidethe tree to watch his chance.
He could easily believe that this was Asa Barnes. Immediately amad desire possessed him to pounce upon that sneak and return theblow with interest. Despite the array of threatening fists thatformed a half-circle in front, Ralph threw himself around to oneside of the tree, eager to come in contact with the object of hisespecial contempt.
So speedy were his movements that the treacherous one could notget out of the way, nor was he, anticipating such a bold act onthe part of the boy who had been held up on the road.
Just as Ralph pounced vigorously upon him, he caught sight of anumber of dark figures jumping into the fray. At the same instantnew shouts arose, a volume of sound that made the welkin ring, andbrought satisfaction to the heart of the one in peril.
He knew then that his call for assistance had been heard--thatFrank and his football comrades had reached the spot, and were inthe act of practicing their gridiron tactics upon the unfortunateswho had fallen into the very trap they had themselves set.
"Help! help! fellows, take him off!" shrieked the one against whomthe angry Ralph had collided; for both of them had gone down in ascrambling, kicking heap.
Fear caused the under dog to make frantic efforts to escape; andwhile Ralph was able to get a little satisfaction out of hisattack, he found it utterly impossible to hang on to the squirmingfigure, which, eluding his grasp, presently rolled over and over,bounded to his feet, and fled like the wind.
Meanwhile there was taking place a furious fight. The disguisedcrowd found itself outnumbered two to one, and while they struckback whenever possible, the one thought in their minds was escape.
"Cut it!" shouted the one who seemed to be a leader.
"Don't let them get away! Take 'em prisoners!" whooped a tall lad,who was doing his share of the mauling.
But that was easier said than done. The now sadly demoralizedenemy scattered in every direction, some running wildly down theroad, and others vanishing in the darkness of the wood.
"They're gone!" cried Lanky Wallace, in disgust, as he found thatthe fellow he had embraced was no other than his fat friend,Buster Billings.
"Let me go, hang it! You've squeezed the last breath out of me!I'd had that dub, only for your interference. Such rotten luck!"gasped the stout one, as he shook himself free from Lanky'sencircling arms.
Frank was at the side of the boy they had rescued just in time.
"How is it, Ralph, did they pummel you hard?" he asked,solicitously.
"I gave 'em more than I took; but my head sings a bit from thenasty knock that sneak Asa Barnes gave me from behind!" repliedthe other.
"From behind!" echoed Lanky, indignantly; "well, wouldn't that jaryou some now? But what else could you expect from that snake inthe grass? He never fought fair in all his life. I hope you gotone or two in back on him, Ralph."
"Didn't you hear him howl for help?" replied the other, quickly."That was when I nailed him. I guess his head rings about as muchas mine does. But, boys, you came just in time. I was in a tightbox. And I'm ever so much obliged for the help."
"Don't mention it, old chap. We really needed the exercise, andthe only thing I complain of is that it all happened too fast.Why, I don't believe I really got my windmill working freely whenI was threshing the air. Zip! and they were gone," and Paul Birdlaughed heartily at the hasty way in which the enemy had vanished.
"You're sure they didn't get you?" persisted Frank.
"I guess I'm all right," laughed the other, as he swung both armsback and forth, and bent his body to test his muscles; "you see,there wasn't time enough for them to do much damage. And they wereall so mighty anxious to reach me they really interfered with eachother."
"As we came up on the run, I thought I heard one fellow give awhoop of pain, as if he had run up against something. Was thatyour fault, Ralph?" demanded Lanky.
"Sure. And what's more, I expect it was Tony. If he shows a blackeye to-morrow, give me credit for one goal kicked, boys," replied theparty addressed.
Bones Shadduck was lighting a match.
"Hello! What's that for?" asked Jack Eastwick.
"I picked up a hat just now, and the idea struck me that possiblythere might be some more headgear lying around. We'd like to knowwho these pirates are, you see, and here's a chance to get a lineon 'em," explained the other, as he bent low to scan the ground inthe immediate vicinity.
"Matches--who's got any? Pass 'em around, fellows!" called Buster.
Immediately there was quite an illumination around that part ofthe road, half a dozen tiny torches burning at once, as eager eyesscanned the ground. Twice cries of satisfaction announced that afind had rewarded the search, but the supply of matches gave out,and, besides, it seemed that there were no more hats or caps to begathered in.
"Three times, and out, boys! Now we'll be able to learn who someof the crowd must have been. I think I ought to nail this gay oldcap. Nobody but Bill Klemm ever dared wear such a screamer asthat," announced Lanky, holdi
ng the object of his derision aloft.
"And this looks like the hat I turned over to Jay Tweedle the timeI accidentally knocked his off in the river, and it sank. I knowit is, fellows!" exclaimed Frank, who had been one of the luckydiscoverers.
"Well, we're getting a line on the bunch, all right," laughedJack.
"If only Ralph marked both Tony and Asa, and we've got the hats ofthree more, it looks good to me," chirped Lanky.
"Fall in, fellows!" called Bones Shadduck, assuming the air of adrum major, as he waved an imaginary baton in the air.
With considerable talking and laughter, the squad gathered aroundRalph.
"Here, what's all this mean?" laughed Ralph. "Want to make me ahigh muckamuck, a grand sachem surrounded by his valiantbodyguard? I object. I'm only a common worm, like the rest of you,and not fit for these great honors. Take Frank there, and put himin the center of the bunch; he's the captain of the crew!"
"Worms! Hear him rant, fellows, will you? Compares us to the lowlyangleworm of commerce. And this is the reward we get forsacrificing our sleep to rescue the perishing! I call it baseingratitude, that's what!" cried one.
"But just now you're the guest of honor, Ralph; the one brightparticular star that has attracted the attention of all the meanerones. Just hold your row, and let us run this funeral, will you?"declared Buster.
"Oh, well, have it your own way, fellows. You're a good lot,anyhow, to pull my chestnuts out of the fire for me," concludedthe one upon whom all these attentions were being showered.
And so they marched through the streets singing one of theirschool songs. The good people of Columbia were quite accustomed tosuch "stunts" on the part of the students, especially when therewas a day of sport close by. At such times the thriving town onthe bank of the Harrapin was wont to assume all the airs of acollege center, and enthusiasm run rampant.
So, while many heads were thrust from doorways or windows as theprocession trailed along, no adverse comments arose. Many of thosesame men were old graduates themselves, and such patriotic songsonly served to awaken the spirit that never could be whollyeradicated from their systems.
In such fashion was Ralph West conducted to his humble boardingplace. And hearty were the "good nights" that accompanied thescattering of the band of defenders.
Frank and Lanky walked home together.
"That job's done, anyhow," remarked Frank, with evident satisfaction.
"And well done, too. Only one more night to consider, and theglee club has its regular meeting then. We must keep a close watchon Ralph. Those chumps mean to get him yet if they can. I onlyhope I have just one more whack at some of that bunch. I never hita follow with more vim in my life than to-night, when I came upagainst that chap with the handkerchief across his face."
"I heard him grunt," observed Frank, with a chuckle, "and really Ifelt sorry for him. I think you struck him with both fiststogether in the excitement. But it's a shame that Columbia fellowsare fighting among themselves just now, when we ought to beunited, and showing a common front against the enemy."
"Oh, these represent only a tail-end fragment. Don't count them asmuch. Outside of possibly a dozen students, I firmly believe theschool _is_ united, and that you posses the confidence of thewhole town. This is our lucky year. I tell you we just _can't_lose," and Lanky emphasized his words with a smack of one hand inthe palm of the other.
"I feel the same way," said Frank, "but, all the same, I'll bebetter satisfied when the game has been played. There's many aslip, you know. An accident might mar the finest play the gridironever knew. And then the treachery of these fellows always annoysme. An open foe I can meet boldly, but deliver me from the snakein the grass that steals up in the rear to upset your calculations."
"Never mind, it'll be all right, Frank; but here we are at yourgate, so good night," and Lanky hurried on.