and out. If not, we must--"

"Throw up your hands, instead, both of you!" Nick sternly interrupted,
half rising with weapon leveled. "At the first move by either, I will
shoot to kill!"

Nick had foreseen that his foxy strategy must be very quickly detected,
and he had resolved to take the bull by the horns, and attempt to arrest
both of his cowardly assailants.

That he was up against uncommon men, however, men of extraordinary nerve
and reckless daring, appeared in what instantly followed, even under the
very muzzle of the detective's revolver.

As quick as a flash, before Nick's threatening command was fairly out of
his mouth, the man called Dave made a kick at the detective's uplifted
arm, so swift and accurate and forceful that Nick felt the bones of his
wrist fairly crack under the blow, and the fingers of his hand gripping
the weapon turned numb and tingling as if from an electric shock.

"At him!" snarled the ruffian, even while he kicked. "At him, I say!
Quick--the pear!"

It was plain that these men were not doing such desperate work together
for the first time. Both fell upon Nick like wolves upon a stricken elk,
yet they found the detective waiting for them.

Nick hurled one aside, unable to use his revolver, and grappled with the
second, both falling heavily to the pavement.