But Dan soon got in a belt-line blow that put another tramp out of the fight.
From the road the two scouts ran up.

When they saw, however, how the fight was going, they slunk off.
It was soon all but over.

The boss tramp, however, armed with a club, crept up behind Prescott, aiming a savage blow at his head.
The blow would have landed, but for a new interruption.
With a cry that was more of a scream of alarm, old Reuben Hinman threw himself forward into the fray.

Both his lean arms were wrapped around the tramp's legs.
Down came the tramp, just as Dick wheeled, falling heavily across Reuben Hinman, knocking the breath from the peddler.
Tom and Dave seized the boss tramp, as he tried to get up, hurling him back to the earth and sitting upon him.
"Let me up! Lemme go!" yelled the tramp.
"Keep cool," advised Tom.

"You're likely to stay with us a while." "Don't let him go," cried Prescott.