Stanford appealed to Inza"s father.
"Mr. Burrage," he said, "why don"t you order that young man to unhand your daughter? Is it possible you mean to let him carry on this outrage in such a high-handed manner?"
"Let her go! Let her go!" cried the invalid, weakly, lifting his heavy cane 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 attempt to force your daughter into a marriage against her will."
"Have you forgotten?" whispered Inza. "This is not the first time. He tried to make me marry my cousin in New Orleans."
"It"s nothing to you-nothing, sir, nothing!" excitedly shouted Bernard Burrage.
"Take her away from him, why don"t you?" fretted Lord Stanford.
Frank laughed with a cutting sound.
"That is very fine, n.o.ble sir!" he sneered. "It seems quite appropriate that you should stand still and order this feeble old man to take her from 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 old man.
"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 he was badly injured."
Once more he looked around, but the one he wished to see was not in view.
Frank longed to have several of the boys on hand, for then he could have looked after the Englishman and the girl"s father while they carried Inza away.
As Frank turned his head, Lord Stanford stepped swiftly forward and grasped Inza"s wrist, attempting to draw her away.
She gave a scream.
Merriwell turned like a flash, saw what was occurring, and swung his fist 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 he hurried to a.s.sist the fallen n.o.bleman.
But Stanford was not hurt, and he got up quickly.
The blow was sufficient to arouse his anger fully, and he made a blind rush for Frank.
Merriwell saw he was in for a struggle with the enraged n.o.bleman, and he quickly placed Inza behind him, keeping his eyes on Stanford all the while.
The furious fellow struck at Frank, huskily crying:
"Take that, you young ruffian! It"s a bobby I"ll call and have you arrested 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 know how to do!"
"Really! History shows we have done up Johnny Bull twice, and done him good. 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 n.o.bleman, striking his nose hard enough to sc.r.a.pe 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 dodge again, 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 convenient portion of the trousers he wore.
"You are excited, my dear sir," said Merriwell, gently. "What you need is a nice chance to cool off. I think I will give you an opportunity to do so."
Then he ran the frightened and frantic n.o.bleman to the edge of the pier and kicked him off into the water.
"There," said Frank, as he stood looking down, having thrust his hands into 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 that the 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 a thick, muscular-appearing fellow, and he did not seem in the least afraid of Merriwell, for all that the latter had handled Lord Stanford with such ease.
"You won"t find a snap with me," said the man, showing eagerness for the struggle. "I can handle two or three of you."