CHAPTER X.
REUBEN HINMAN PROVES HIS METTLE Uttering a loud whoop, Dick pushed Dave lightly.
At the same instant both young football players gathered for the spring, then started to speed away.
But they had had no chance to be quick enough, for some of the tramps had moved closer.
Both fugitives were seized, and now the battle was on again---two boys against overwhelming odds.
Right at the outset, however, a new note sounded.
"Go into it!" roared Tom Reade's voice.

"Give 'em an old-fashioned high school drubbing." Three more figures hurled themselves into the fray.

And now, indeed, the battle raged.

On the part of the high school boys there was no longer any thought of retreat, though it was still a matter of six men against five lads.
In the excitement of their friends' arrival, Dick and Dave were able to wrench themselves free.
Though those on the defense were boys, they were boys of good size, whose muscles had been hardened by regular training, as well as by grilling work on the football field.
Reade, in his first onset, hit one of the tramps such a blow that the fellow went to earth, where, though conscious, he preferred to remain for a while.

Then it was five against five.