Part 31 (1/2)

Striped shi+rt was on his feet now, but still starved for air Hisforward

Rick met him He dove into the man's stomach and felt his head smack into soft flesh The breath went out of striped shi+rt again Rick regained his feet and turned to Barby She was , her eyes desperate

The boy whirled The woun under Jan's chair Jan kicked it far back, out of reach Rick scooped up the table and slid it along the floor at theht them like a pair of tenpins and knocked them into the corner He turned back to Barby and started to untie her, his fingers racing

A blow landed on his shoulder He turned in time to ainst the wall He rebounded, fighting The dark htly around hi Let the ht Rick rolled away fro the left that was cocked for a Sunday punch The asped with the pain of it The guy had a wallop like a mule!

Rick feinted with the hurt arm, then drove a chop at the asp of pain Barby was screaht a roundhouse punch up under his opponent's guard and felt it sainst ribs

Then an arainst the back of his head He saw stars, and for a uard dropped

Then both arht him from behind Now the dark man stepped in, fist cocked for a knockout punch Rick saw it co and braced himself

The punch never landed A crisp voice said, ”Don't do it!”

Encircling arms fell away Rick turned, knees weak

A man in Boy Scout uniform stood in the cabin door, and in his hand was a Police Positive

”All right,” the Scout said cheerfully ”Party's over”

CHAPTER XIX

Taped for Trouble

Another Scout leader rin, then turned and picked up the gun behind Jan's chair He stuck it in his pocket and untied the girl

The plastic cap was still on her head He lifted it off gently and put it on top of the ht?” he asked

She nodded, hand at her throat ”Yes,” she”

”Time for talk later,” Rick said He started for Barby, but Scotty was already untying her Thefro here!”

Rick didn't knohat to say to that He didn't have a chance to say anything His sister rushed over, put her arms around him, and squeezed

”You onderful,” she said ”Scotty, he held four of theht like that, Rick Brant!”

Rick grinned ”I didn't do soon hi with as fine a kick as I've seen off a football field”

The two JANIG agents had produced handcuffs, and the ether in a continuous chain