Frank Merriwell's Athletes; Or, The Boys Who Won

by Burt L. Standish

  CHAPTER V--TO THE RESCUE

  Both Frank and Barney saw that a struggle was going on in the other cab.They could hear Inza crying for some one to let her go, and the sound ofher voice made Frank more desperate than ever.

  "The scoundrel!" he panted, trying to tear open the door and spring out."I'd like to choke the breath of life out of him! If he harms her, Iwill."

  "Thot's roight, me b'y!" shouted Barney. "We'll give it to th'spalpeen!"

  Then the driver of the other cab whipped up his horses, and away theydashed getting in ahead of the one carrying Frank and Barney.

  "They are making for the harbor!" grated Frank. "That is how it happenswe came upon them."

  "Roight again, as ye always are," agreed Barney.

  Frank thrust his head out of the window and shouted to the driver.

  "After them! after them! Don't let them get away, on your life!"

  "After who?" asked the driver.

  "That cab!" flashed back Frank. "Are you dazed or drunk? Whip up,man--whip up!"

  "They didn't do nothing," declared the driver. "It was me who came nearrunning into them."

  "Hang it!" burst from Merriwell. "I don't care about that! I want you tofollow them!"

  "What for?" asked the driver.

  "Because I tell you to, you stupid blockhead!" Frank almost roared. "Itwill be worth ten dollars to you if you keep them in sight."

  "I will do it or kill my horses!" declared the man.

  The other cab had obtained quite a start while Frank was urging thedriver to start in pursuit.

  "It's a hot toime we're in fer, me b'y," said Barney.

  "It's a hot chase I propose to give them," came determinedly fromMerriwell's lips. "Fortune has favored us, and now we must not let themget away."

  "Pwhat do yez mane to do afther ye catch thim?"

  "Don't know now. I'll be able to tell better when we catch them."

  "It's Inza's father thot's in th' cab."

  "It was not her father that pulled her back from view."

  "Whoy?"

  "Because he has not the strength to handle her with such ease. The lasttime I saw him he was a weak and broken old man."

  "It's betther he is now, Frankie. Thravel sames to hiv' done th' ouldduck good, so it does."

  "It is probable that both her father and Lord Stanford are in that cab."

  "An' it's not yesilf thot will think av throying to take th' girrul awayfrom her fayther, is it?"

  "I don't know," said Frank, his face hard and stern. "In this freecountry fathers who try to force their daughters into odious marriagesare not popular, and, should I be arrested for interfering, it is almostcertain I would have the sympathy of the public."

  He looked out of the window and urged the driver not to lose sight ofthe other cab if he had to kill his horses in pursuing.

  "Kill both your horses if necessary!" he cried. "I can pay for them!Remember it is ten dollars anyway if you keep them in sight."

  "They'll not lose me," declared the driver, shouting to make his voiceheard above the rattling rumble of wheels.

  At the very next corner the cab in advance swung sharply around intoBeach Street, and now they were in sight of the bay that was but a fewblocks away.

  The driver of the pursuing cab attempted to make a sharp turn at thecorner, but he did not do it skillfully, and a catastrophe occurred.

  Over went the cab!

  Crash--smash!

  The driver was flung to the ground, and Frank was shot out through awindow.

  By the rarest kind of luck Frank was not injured severely, and hequickly leaped to his feet.

  The frightened horses were plunging and rearing, but the driver hadclung to the reins, and was holding them from running away.

  Frank wondered if Barney had been hurt, but there was no time for him tostop there, if he meant to keep the other cab in sight.

  Frank was a sprinter, and he started after the cab at a run.

  Two men tried to stop him, thinking he must have caused the smash andwas running away to escape arrest.

  "Hold on!" they shouted, grabbing at him.

  "Hands off!" he flung back, dodging them.

  A policeman appeared at the opposite corner and yelled across the streetfor the running lad to stop.

  Frank did not heed the command.

  Seeing the driver struggling with his frantic horses the officerhastened to his aid, letting Frank go.

  Round to the left the cab turned at the next corner.

  Frank saw a head thrust out of a window, and he knew one of theoccupants was looking back.

  Round the corner darted Frank.

  Out upon a long pier the cab was being driven.

  Setting his teeth the pursuer made a last great burst of speed, and wentracing out upon the pier.

  The cab stopped, and a young, red-faced man flung open the door andsprang out. Then he reached back and pulled the girl out after him.

  A short distance from the pier a handsome white yacht lay at anchor. Atthe foot of the stone steps that ran down to a small floating landinglay a rowboat. In the boat was a sailor in yachting costume, whileanother sailor stood on the pier, as if he had been waiting for theappearance of some one.

  "Here, Bush!" cried the man who had pulled the girl from the cab; "takeher--hold her! I must have it out with this blooming young idiot who iscoming."

  "Drop that girl!" cried Merriwell, with one hand outflung, as he camestraight on.

  Inza's father was slowly getting from the cab, shaking with excitement,his face being very pale.

  Lord Stanford tried to hand the girl over to the sailor, but at thisjuncture Inza showed her spirit:

  "Don't touch me--don't you dare!" she cried to the sailor, her eyesflashing at him in a manner that made him hesitate.

  Then she broke from all detaining hands and ran toward Frank, who mether and placed an arm about her shoulders.

  "Oh, Frank!" she panted; "is it you--can it be?"

  "Yes, Inza," he answered, as he held her close and kept his eyes on theEnglishman, whose flushed face had grown white with rage. "It is I."

  "And you have come to--to save me from that horrid wretch?"

  "Well, you should know I am ready to do anything in my power for you,Inza. Have I ever failed to respond when you have appealed to me foraid?"

  "Never--never, Frank! Don't let him come near me again! I am afraid ofhim!"

  "Release that young lady!" cried Lord Stanford, his voice hoarse andhusky. "Who are you that you dare interfere here?"

  He took a step toward Merriwell, but was halted by a look from the Yalelad's flashing eyes.

  "I am the friend of Miss Burrage," answered Frank; "and I shall protecther from you, sir."

  The Englishman forced a husky laugh.

  "That's a blooming good joke!" he sneered. "Miss Burrage is in herfather's charge, and I scarcely think you will have the impudence tointerfere."

  Bernard Burrage looked on in a helpless manner, leaning heavily on hiscane.

  "Her father has no right to force her into an odious marriage againsther will," declared Frank. "It is possible that she needs protectionfrom him."

  "What insolence!" fumed Lord Stanford. "I never heard anything like it!There's not an English boy living who would dare think of attemptingsuch a thing."

  "Possibly not; but you are not dealing with an English boy, sir. I amAmerican to the bone."

  "And what you need is a good sound drubbing."

  "Possibly you think of giving it to me? If so, I advise you to take offyour coat, as you will find it warm work, I assure you."

  Inza clung to Frank, looking up at his handsome face with an expressionof admiration in her dark eyes.

  "You young scoundrel! Perhaps you do not know whom you are addressing?"

  "It makes no difference to me, sir."

  "I am Lord Stanford, of----"

  "I don't care if you are the lord of all Europe! You are on Americansoil now, and dealing with a full-blooded Am
erican."

  "Bah!" cried the Englishman. "You are nothing but a young braggart! Youare trying to pose as a hero before the young lady, but it will do youno good."

  "Do you think so? That makes not a bit of difference to me."

  Frank regretted very much that he had not been able to follow them tothe pier with a cab, for then he would have made an attempt to hurryInza into it and carry her away.

  Now he fully realized that, should he attempt to walk away with her, ifLord Stanford found no other manner of stopping him, he could follow andorder the first policeman he met to arrest Frank.

  Merriwell saw that Bernard Burrage was shaking with excitement, showingthe old man's nerves were quite unstrung.

  Stanford appealed to Inza's father.

  "Mr. Burrage," he said, "why don't you order that young man to unhandyour daughter? Is it possible you mean to let him carry on this outragein such a high-handed manner?"

  "Let her go! Let her go!" cried the invalid, weakly, lifting his heavycane and shaking it in a feeble manner at the youth.

  "I will do so when she commands me, not before," declared Frank, calmly."I am astonished at you, Mr. Burrage! I never dreamed you would attemptto force your daughter into a marriage against her will."

  "Have you forgotten?" whispered Inza. "This is not the first time. Hetried to make me marry my cousin in New Orleans."

  "It's nothing to you--nothing, sir, nothing!" excitedly shouted BernardBurrage.

  "Take her away from him, why don't you?" fretted Lord Stanford.

  Frank laughed with a cutting sound.

  "That is very fine, noble sir!" he sneered. "It seems quite appropriatethat you should stand still and order this feeble old man to take herfrom me."

  "He has the right to do it, don't you know."

  "You do it, Lord Stanford--I give you the right to do it," said the oldman.

  "Yes, come and do it!" urged Frank.

  "Oh, can't we get away!" whispered Inza. "We must!"

  "If Barney would appear with the cab!" thought Frank. "I am afraid hewas badly injured."

  Once more he looked around, but the one he wished to see was not inview.

  Frank longed to have several of the boys on hand, for then he could havelooked after the Englishman and the girl's father while they carriedInza away.

  As Frank turned his head, Lord Stanford stepped swiftly forward andgrasped Inza's wrist, attempting to draw her away.

  She gave a scream.

  Merriwell turned like a flash, saw what was occurring, and swung hisfist at the Englishman.

  Crack!--the blow caught Lord Stanford fairly on the left ear.

  Down he went, measuring his length on the planking in a moment.

  The sailor who had been standing on the pier was near at hand, and hehurried to assist the fallen nobleman.

  But Stanford was not hurt, and he got up quickly.

  The blow was sufficient to arouse his anger fully, and he made a blindrush for Frank.

  Merriwell saw he was in for a struggle with the enraged nobleman, and hequickly placed Inza behind him, keeping his eyes on Stanford all thewhile.

  The furious fellow struck at Frank, huskily crying:

  "Take that, you young ruffian! It's a bobby I'll call and have youarrested for what you have done!"

  But Frank avoided the blow with ease.

  He did not strike Stanford again.

  "You are a mark," he laughed. "I'm ashamed to give you what you deserve.Why, I could break your nose in a moment if I wished."

  "Bragging again! You Americans are always bragging! That is all you knowhow to do!"

  "Really! History shows we have done up Johnny Bull twice, and done himgood. If necessary, we can do him up again."

  Again Stanford rushed, and again Frank ducked and dodged aside,thrusting out his foot and tripping the Englishman.

  Down upon the planking plunged the angry nobleman, striking his nosehard enough to scrape it quite severely.

  When he got up he was blind with rage--almost frothing.

  He made such a swift rush at Frank that Merry was not able to dodgeagain, and he received a slight blow on the cheek.

  Frank's eyes flashed, and he grappled with Stanford.

  Whirling the fellow about, he grasped him by the collar and a convenientportion of the trousers he wore.

  "You are excited, my dear sir," said Merriwell, gently. "What you needis a nice chance to cool off. I think I will give you an opportunity todo so."

  Then he ran the frightened and frantic nobleman to the edge of the pierand kicked him off into the water.

  "There," said Frank, as he stood looking down, having thrust his handsinto his pockets, "that will be a fine thing for you."

  Lord Stanford came up, spouting like a whale.

  "Murder!" he cried. "He means to drown me!"

  "Oh, no; only give you a bath," said Frank, soberly.

  Then he heard a shrill cry of fear behind him, and whirled to see thatthe sailor had seized Inza.

  Like a leaping panther the young athlete went for the man.

  "Help!" appealed Inza.

  The sailor saw Frank coming, and prepared to meet the attack. He was athick, muscular-appearing fellow, and he did not seem in the leastafraid of Merriwell, for all that the latter had handled Lord Stanfordwith such ease.

  "You won't find a snap with me," said the man, showing eagerness for thestruggle. "I can handle two or three of you."

  He looked as if he fully believed it. Indeed, he had the appearance of aprize fighter, and ninety-nine boys out of a hundred would havehesitated about tackling him.

  Not so with Frank. He was ready to tackle an army of giants in defenseof Inza, and he grappled with the sailor.

  But he was given no time to see what he could do.

  It seemed that a thunderbolt from the clear sky descended and smote himon the head. There was a flash of light as if something had exploded inhis head.

  Darkness followed.