"Well ?" "He just naturally said---_nothing_!" "What ?" Dick dodged back, laughing.

There were a few indignant vocal explosions among the assembled youngsters, followed by dangerous calm and quiet.
"Whenever you find yourself under trying circumstances, or when anger is surging within you, fellows, believe me, you'll always find it wiser to say just what the man on the clubhouse steps said---which was nothing," Dick urged.
"And you got us all the way up here, at an appointed time, just to hear that ?" demanded Spoff Henderson.
"It's worth the time it has cost you," Dick urged.
"Rush him fellows!" bawled Toby Ross.

"Don't let him escape!" Indeed, there was no time or chance for getting away.

Dick Prescott was rushed, caught and pinned.
"What'll we do with him ?" rose the chorus.
"To the fountain! Duck him!" With a cheer the boys started, carrying Dick along on the shoulders of a few tightly-wedged boys.
Dick's chums made no effort to rescue him.

Indeed, perhaps they felt that he deserved what was right ahead of him.