CHAPTER XII.--SHIRLEY FINDS A CHAMPION.
Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament. Guarded as shewas, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation wasrapidly growing worse. Every step forward took her that much nearerdanger. Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so shewiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and movedalong with the rest without resistance.
Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two whoseemed to be the leaders conferred. Then, at an order from one, the gangdivided into two parts. Shirley found herself under the direction of aboy whom his companions called Dick.
"You go around that way with your fellows, Tom," said Dick, waving hisarm to the left, "and I'll go this way. We'll catch 'em between us andpay 'em back for what they did to Ed and Joe yesterday."
The boys moved off in two different directions. Shirley found herselfright behind Dick and she eyed him curiously. Young though he was, thegirl saw that he was strong and powerful. An athlete herself, she couldnot but admire the easy swing of his shoulders as he trotted on ahead,his calm assurance and the confidence with which he gave his orders.Shirley decided to stay as close to him as possible.
And now turning another corner, Dick shouted:
"There they are, fellows! At 'em!"
There was a loud cheer, and from far down the street came its echo, asTom and his crowd attacked the enemy from the rear.
And now Shirley caught her first view of the enemy.
Halfway down the block, caught between two fires as they were, theenemy, perhaps twenty of them, was preparing to give battle. Shirleycould see that they had picked up whatever they could lay hands upon,and were awaiting the attackers to come within range.
Shirley shuddered, but kept close behind Dick.
"Look out!" cried Dick, and darted to one side.
Shirley did likewise, and a rock skimmed past her. There was a howl ofpain from further back, and Shirley knew that one of the crowd had beenhit.
"We'll make 'em pay for that," cried Dick, and in spite of the fusilladeof missiles being hurled at them, he bore down upon the enemy at topspeed.
For an instant Shirley hesitated. Here, she thought, might be a chancefor her to make her escape. She turned, but as she did so the otherssurrounded her and she was forced to go on whether or not she wished it.
The two factions came together with great force. They were too closelyentwined to permit of the hurling of rocks now. It was hard todistinguish friend from foe.
Shirley found herself in the midst of a struggling, striking mass.Wherever she turned she saw nothing but flying fists. One of the enemystruck her a glancing blow on the arm. Shirley became angry.
Stepping quickly forward she struck the boy a resounding smack with heropen hand.
Dick, who happened to be close to her at that moment, noted this with agrin.
"Hit 'em with your fist," he called. "It won't do any good to slap 'em."
But this Shirley could not do. So there she stood while the strugglingmass fought around her. How long the street fight continued, Shirley didnot know, but it came to an end suddenly.
From far down the street came the single sharp blast of a whistle.Immediately the struggling combatants dropped their fists and took totheir heels.
"Police," was the cry that went up.
Three minutes later the street was deserted. Both factions had fled, andwhen the guardians of the law appeared upon the scene there was nothingto give evidence of the struggle that had raged a few moments before.
Shirley had fled with the others, still keeping as close to Dick aspossible. Round corner after corner she followed him, for she was keenenough to know that in this way lay safety, while, should she go her ownway, she was likely to fall into the hands of the law; and, in herpresent attire, she had no desire to do this.
But finally the half a dozen who had fled in the same direction as Dickand Shirley came to a halt. They stood panting and gasping.
Then one boy suddenly came up to Shirley.
"I told you to fight," he said. "You didn't do it. I watched you. Now Iam going to make you fight."
Shirley shrank back.
"Put up your fists," called the boy.
The others gathered round to see the fun.
"He's a coward," they said. "He's afraid to fight. Hit him anyhow."
They surrounded Shirley with angry gestures.
It was at this moment that Dick interfered.
"Let the kid alone," he said quietly, moving into the midst of theothers. "If he doesn't want to fight, he doesn't have to. Maybe he's notthe fighting kind. Let him alone."
There was an angry growl from the others.
"I say he has got to fight," said one.
"And I say he hasn't," cried Dick. "Who is the leader of this crowd,anyhow?"
"We wouldn't have much trouble finding a better one," was the reply.
"Right you are, Ned," said several voices at once.
"Pick on me if you want to," said Dick, "but let the kid alone."
Shirley shrank close to him, for she knew that in him lay her hope ofsafety. Dick put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's all right, kid," he said. "They won't bother you."
"Won't we?" exclaimed one.
He stepped suddenly forward, and before Dick could prevent him, aimed ablow at Shirley. Unconsciously the girl ducked, and the blow barelygrazed her head, carrying away her hat, and worst of all, her boy's wig.
Her long hair came tumbling down.
The boy who had struck at her started back in surprise.
"A girl!" he exclaimed.
Shirley broke into tears.
Dick had taken in the situation at a glance. He stepped quickly forwardand with a single blow of his left fist knocked the boy who had struckShirley to the ground.
Then the others jumped upon him.
Shirley's tears stopped instantly and she watched the fight in wide-eyedamazement. Dick, bigger and stronger than the rest, was giving a goodaccount of himself, but it was plain to Shirley that the weight ofnumbers must tell in the end.
Two boys went down before their leader's fists, but they were up againin an instant and fighting back desperately. One attacked him frombehind, but with a quick kick Dick shook himself free. Picking hisnearest opponent up bodily, he hurled him full in the faces of theothers; and they gave ground.
But only for a minute. Then they sprang forward again. Dick foundhimself hard pressed on all sides. He reeled under a blow that caughthim on the point of the chin, and before he could recover, two stingingblows struck him in the jaw.
He made one last desperate effort, throwing himself upon his opponents,but the effort was vain.
Stooping, one of the boys picked up a rock, and waiting an opportunityjumped in quickly and struck him in the back of the head.
Dick uttered a slight groan, stumbled and fell almost at Shirley's feet.
The girl uttered a cry of horror. The other boys, startled for themoment at the outcome, hung back, then advanced toward their fallenleader. Believing that they were about to do him further harm, Shirleytook the responsibility upon herself.
Her nervousness, fright and indecision left her instantly. She reachedquickly in her coat pocket and whipped forth her little revolver, whichshe aimed at the crowd of young ruffians with steady hand.
"Stand back!" she cried.
The ruffians hesitated.
"Look here," began one, advancing a step.
"Take my advice and stay where you are," said Shirley quietly. "I don'twant to hurt you, but if any one of you come a single step nearer I'llshoot."
The crowd drew back, and stood silently watching her.
Laying the revolver upon the sidewalk close beside her, Shirley raisedDick's head to her knee. Then she sought to stop the flow of blood fromthe wound with her handkerchief.
Dick stirred slightly, and a faint breath shivered through his lips.
"What's happened
?" he gasped.
"Lie still!" commanded Shirley. "Your head is badly cut."
Dick shook off her detaining hand, and rose slowly. He felt his wound,and then said:
"Which one of you fellows hit me with a rock?"
Not a sound came from the crowd. Dick stepped forward.
"Better tell me now," he said, "for I'll find out sometime, and when Ido somebody will be well thrashed."
A boy stepped forward.
"I did it," he said. "But now I'm sorry!"
"Well, I'll attend to you later," said Dick.
He turned to Shirley.
"What are you doing out at this hour, and dressed this way?"
In a few words Shirley told him enough of her trouble to satisfy hiscuriosity.
"The best thing you can do is to get home at once," he said.
"I don't know the way now," said Shirley.
"Where do you live?"
Shirley told him.
"I'll take you home," said Dick quietly, "if you don't mind my walkingalong with you."
"Thank you," said Shirley. "Of course I don't mind."
Dick turned to his friends.
"I'll see you fellows later," he said significantly. "We'll talk thismatter over when there are no girls around. Get out of here now."
With a crestfallen air they obeyed.
Dick turned once more to Shirley. "Come," he said.