"Ho--what--what do you mean by hitting me?" he howled.
"I told you to let go," retorted Matt; and free from his tormentor, he essayed to leap to the wagon seat and gain possession of the heavy whip, with which he might keep the tramps at bay.
But hardly had he placed his foot on the rest than Baldy, who was now close at hand, caught him by the ankle and gave a sudden jerk, which brought Matt down on his chest and face, scratching his left cheek in two places, and giving him a severe shaking up.
"Hold the horse, Jake!" cried Baldy. "Hold the horse, and I'll hold the boy."
"Let me get at him!" cried Crabs, in a rage. "Just let me get at him, and I'll teach him to strike me between the eyes!"
As he spoke he rushed past his companion, and was on the point of kicking Matt in the side when Baldy stopped him with a side dig of his ragged elbow.
"Don't strike him if it ain't necessary," he said. "I'll hold him all right enough. Come, be still now," he went on to the young auctioneer.
Matt was on his face on the ground and Baldy was sitting on top of him, but, nevertheless, the boy did not intend to give up the struggle.
He squirmed and twisted this way and that until finally free, and then, before the tramp could catch him again, he sprang to his feet and leaped upon the foot-rest of the wagon.
"Stand back there, all of you!" he cried determinedly, and the next instant had the whip and was flourishing it over the heads of those below him.
"See that! he's got away from you!" cried Crabs to Baldy, in tones of deep disgust. "Now don't you wish you had let me tend to him?"
"Stick to the horse, Jake!" cried Baldy, ignoring the last remark. "I'll soon have the young fellow on the ground again."
"Let go of that horse!" commanded Matt. "Let go, or I'll lash you right and left!"
The tramp called Jake looked up into the young auctioneer's face at these words. Evidently he did not like the looks of the set lines about Matt's mouth, for without delay he obeyed the order, and stepped back. Lie had hardly done so before Matt struck Billy a light blow, and off went the horse at quite a respectable gait, leaving the three would-be plunderers standing staring after the turn-out in wonder and disgust!