hostile and danger and hostility stalked in the pit the inhabitants seemed to resent the presence of these strangers from the hill dirty little abused them as they passed with assumed bravery and prepared to run away at the first sign of attack and still other little formed a noisy parade at the heels of the boys and grew bolder with numbers don t mind them joe take no notice but keep right on we soon be out of it no we re in for it said in an look there on the comer they were approaching four or five boys of about their own age the of the standing the light from a lamp fell upon them and disclosed one with vivid red hair it could be no other than brick the leader of a gang twice within their memory he had led his gang up the hill and spread panic and terror among the hill dwelling young folk who fled wildly to their homes while their fathers and mothers hurriedly for the police at sight of the group on the comer the at the heels of the three boys melted away on the instant with like of fear this but increased the anxiety of the boys though they held boldly on their way the red haired boy detached himself from the group and stepped before them their path they to go around him but he stretched out his yer here he why don t yer stay where yer b long brick top and we re just going home said mildly brick looked at joe yer got under yer arm he demanded joe contained himself and took no heed of him come on he said to and at the same time starting to brush past the gang leader but with a quick blow brick struck him in the face and with equal quickness snatched the bundle of from under his arm joe uttered an inarticulate cry of rage and all caution flung to the winds sprang at his this was evidently a surprise to the gang leader who expected least of all to be attacked in his own territory backward still clutching the and divided between desire to fight and desire to retain his capture the latter desire him and he turned and fled swiftly down the narrow side street into a of streets the of the and joe knew that he was into the wilderness of the enemy s country but his sense of both property and pride had been offended and he took up the pursuit hot footed and followed after though he them and behind came the three other members of the gang a call while they ran which was evidently intended for the of the rest of the band as the chase proceeded these were answered from many different directions and soon a score of dark figures were at the heels of and who in turn were straining every muscle to keep the footed joe in sight brick darted into a vacant lot for a slip as such things are called which are passages through fences and over sheds and houses and around dark holes and corners where the must go � brick top and fully and where the chances are many that he will soon lose the track but joe caught brick before he could attain his end and together they rolled over and over in the dirt locked in each other s arms by the time and and the gang had come up they were on their feet facing each other d ye want eh the red headed gang leader was saying in a tone d ye want that s i know i want my joe answered brick s eyes sparkled at the intelligence were something he stood in need of then you ve got to fight fer em he announced why should i fight for them joe demanded indignantly they re mine which went to show how ignorant he was of the ideas of and property rights which obtained among the people of the pit a the of the a chorus of and went up from the gang which clustered its leader like a pack of wolves why should i fight for them joe i say so replied an i say goes understand but joe did not understand he refused to understand that brick s word was law in san or any part of san his love of honesty and right dealing was offended and all his fighting blood was up you give those to me right here and now he threatened reaching out his hand for them but jerked them away d ye know who i am he demanded i m brick an i don t low no one to talk to me in that tone of voice better leave him alone whispered in joe s ear what are a few leave him alone and let s get out of this brick top and they ve my joe said slowly in a dogged manner they re my and i m going to have them you can t fight the crowd interfered and if you do get the best of him they all pile on you the gang observing this whispered and it for on the part of joe set up its wolf like howling again afraid i afraid i the young and he s too he is t he spoil his nice clean shirt and then what say shut up their leader snapped and the noise died away will you give me those joe demanded advancing will you fight for em was son s counter demand yes joe answered fight fight the gang began u howl again as the of the and it s me that see fair play said a man s heavy voice all eyes were instantly turned upon the man who had approached unseen and made this announcement by the electric light brightly on them from the comer 