Steve quickly noted the sinister attitude of the crowd. He knew that in a moment they would fall upon Jarvis, and it was a foregone conclusion that the lad would be roughly handled. Perhaps both boys would be roughly treated, but this did not deter Rush from springing to the rescue of his companion.
"Stand back!" Steve shouted, as he leaped into the narrowing space about the fighters. "Stand back, every one of you. It's a fair fight. Let them have it out. I don't know what it is all about, but I know nobody is going to interfere unless he wants to fight me!"
"Throw him out!" howled a voice. The cry was quickly taken up by other voices. Steve Rush was now the object of their disapproval.
"Men, I tell you to stand back! It will be the worse for you if you don't."
Uttering a yell the idlers rushed the plucky Steve.
"Police! Police!" yelled a voice on the outer edge of the circle.
"Police!" echoed the crowd, running in all directions, for these foreigners held the officers of the law in wholesome awe. They had had experience with the uniformed police on other occasions.
Kalinski did not run, for the very good reason that he could not. Bob was following him up too closely. Neither did Steve Rush nor Ignatz Brodsky attempt to run away. It had been Ignatz's voice that had called out the warning. There were no police in sight, but the boy, with quick wit, had cried out in order to save Steve from the wrath of the mob.
Rush, as he shot a keen glance at the grinning face of Ignatz, quickly comprehended.
"That's enough, Bob. Let him go. You are even with him. Come on now--stop it!"
"That's for the boy Ignatz, and"--thump--"that for Rush, and"----Bob uttered a grunt as he launched a terrific blow at his adversary, "that's for me!"
The blow lifted Kalinski off his feet, laying him flat on his back in the gutter.
"Back off!" commanded Steve, in a voice of authority. "You have done your duty as you saw it, and I guess a little more."
"Liar! Liar!" shrieked the Polish boy, hopping about the fallen man, waving his arms, almost beside himself with unholy joy.
"Take this boy away!" commanded Rush, as he bent over and assisted Kalinski to his feet. "I'm sorry, Kalinski, but I guess you got what you deserved. Bob, how did this thing start?"