The signorina was not present this time; there was no reason why he should not punish the fellow.

He dropped his hand on Tony's shoulder--on his collar to be exact--and whirled him about.

The action was accompanied by some vigorous colloquial Italian--the gist of it being that Tony was to mind his own business and mend his manners.

The lieutenant had a muscular arm, and Tony turned.

But Tony had not played quarterback four years for nothing; he tackled low, and the next moment the lieutenant was rolling down the bank of a dried stream that stretched at their feet.