True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- , ° on "i . « , y . e * d e ate k > } a ~ a : i . a ‘ * * TRUE ¥ | resistance, or even bold assault where he might have un- ~~ masked his assailants, Clif determined to benefit by the Y forced role of fearless helplessness. The enemy should make the first move towards enlight- t enment as to their motives in appointing the present tryst. Lhe nervy naval cadet wondered what the first demon- stration would be—threats? some startling intelligence dramatically hissed into his ear? Not at all! Clif experienced a qualm and gave a vio- lent jerk as the two persons who nad pressed close con- tronting him whipped into view two weapons. One flashed out a knite—that was alarming. But the second brought into evidence a pair of long, sharp scissors —and that was puzzling. CHAPTER JV. A BROKEN TRAIL. “Quick!” whispered the person at Clif’s right hand. “Clip !" breathed the one at his left. “And nip!” added the first speaker. * ‘Quick!’ ‘clip!’ ‘nip!’ ” repeated Clif with torce. “You scoundrels! What are you up to?” He hoped to make his assailants speak out loud, but this they refused to do. Clif struggled, but it was four against one. The twain at his arms held on stoutly the two in front planted them- selves so near that he could not use his feet to any ad- vantage. Suddenly the strange undertoned directions were fol- lowed out. The fellow with the scissors made a grab tor Clif lara- day’s head, gripped a generous handful of hair. Snip! went the scissors in his other fingers, and Clit could see that he had clipped free a liberal lock. The other fellow had circled Clif’s wrist in a tight clasp. With his knife he made a light graze of the flesh, bring- ing the blood. lt ridged up in a line of little dots.- Instantly from his breast the fellow drew what Clit took for a section of a blotting pad. ~§ =