He felt himself reeling and sinking, with his feet slipping on the stairway, toward which he had fallen.

Then he dropped like an ox in the shambles.
But before complete unconsciousness came, he heard the shout of a well-known voice--the voice of Frank Merriwell! Merriwell came upon the scene from a corridor, having been drawn by the calls and the pistol-shots, and with marvelous quickness and certainty grasped the whole intent of what he beheld.
Fairfax Lee struck aside the revolver that was pointed at Frank, and again began to call for help.

The next instant Merriwell was in the thick of the fight.

Though no man could have understood his peril more perfectly, there was at that moment in Merriwell's heart a wild thrill of joy.

He laughed as he struck at the nearest ruffian--a laugh that sounded strangely out of place.
The blow fell with crushing force, and the ruffian tumbled backward against the wall.