One thing certain, Max could easily see that the party they were attacking must be something of an athlete, from the way in which he fought.  It is not easy to resist the assault of three enemies at once, since they may attack from as many directions, and confuse his defense; still the way this man struck out, dodged, tore himself free from their clinging hands, and conducted himself in general surprised Max very much indeed.

This kept up for almost two full minutes, with varying fortunes.  Sometimes it appeared as though they were getting the upper hand of the unknown, and then by a furious effort he would break free again, only to be once more clutched.

In the midst of the fracas, loud shouts close at hand told that Steve and Bandy-legs, having heard the row, were rushing hurriedly to the spot, astonished beyond measure at the racket.

The man must have heard their cries, and the fact that his enemies were about to receive reinforcements seemed to give him the strength of desperation, for he suddenly tore himself free from Max, leaving his coat in the hands of the boy.

“Oh! he’s gone!” gasped Obed, almost entirely out of breath because of his recent tremendous exertions.

For a fact, the man had vanished almost as though the ground had opened and swallowed him up.  Even astute Max hardly knew which way to look for him.  Then came the other pair rushing up, and demanding to know what all the row was about.

As soon as he could recover his breath, Max tried to explain.  He had to repeat it twice, however, before Bandy-legs could grasp the astounding fact that some one had actually been carrying on a telegraphic conversation with their prisoner, tapping on the wall of the cabin to spell out the words.

“Say, you’re stringing us, I expect, boys!” exploded the doubter; “it sounds just like a fairy story to me.  But then there was some one here, because we glimpsed him disappearing like a falling star.  I wanted to give him a shot, but I remembered what Max here said about shooting when in doubt; and we didn’t just know but what it might be one of you.”

“But, Max, he got away after all!” continued the disappointed Obed, as though to his mind that event overshadowed all others; “and I did want to find out if it was any one I knew.  I believe it was, on my soul, for at college he always had the reputation of being an all-round athlete.”

“Huh!” grunted Toby, rubbing his head ruefully as he came up, and limping in the bargain, “t-t-that was him, all r-r-right then, Obed.  I don’t know the f-f-fellow’s n-n-name, but I’ve g-g-got his trade-mark on my c-c-cheek, every k-k-knuckle of his fist.  Huh! he’s an athlete, every time!”

“But don’t tell me our prisoner skipped out!” cried Steve, in sore dismay.

“Not that we know of, unless he’s gone since we dashed from the cabin,” Max informed him.  “And as we can’t accomplish anything standing here, suppose we adjourn to the inside again.  Toby will want a little soothing salve on his bruises; and I’ve got a sore hand myself, where I struck him harder than I meant to on the back of his head.”