"I'm going to get upright now!" With that he made a lurching move forward.

Prescott swung the club, though of course he did not intend to beat the stranger about the head.
His indecision left him off his guard.

The stranger closed in on the club, wrenching it from Prescott's hand and tossing it far away.

But Dick dropped, wrapping his arms about the other's legs and throwing him.
Just as the two went down in a crash the fire, which had been smoking, now blazed up.
"I'll show you!" roared the stranger, now thoroughly aroused, as he grappled with Prescott and the pair rolled in fierce embrace over the ground.
Dick was not afraid, but he didn't want this night hawk to get away, so he bellowed lustily: "Fellows! Gridley! Gr-r-r-id-ley! Quick!" "Stop that!" hissed the stranger, who was now easily uppermost, and holding Prescott with ease.
"Quick!" yelled Dick.
The stranger grasped the high school boy by the throat, then as swiftly changed his mind, for someone was stirring in the tent.
Up leaped the prowler, yet, swift as he was, Dick was also on his feet.
"Keep back!" warned the prowler, as he turned to run.
"You're mine---all mine!" vaunted young Prescott, making a gallant leap at the unknown foe.
But that brag was uttered just a few seconds too soon..