The cry was echoed by hurried footsteps in the house.

Then a rear door was suddenly thrown open by Rufus Venner, and a flood
of light revealed the struggling men, still battling furiously on the
pavement.

Nick now had both opponents down, and within another minute he would
have had them at his mercy, a fact which Venner instantly perceived.

He sprang nearer, drew his revolver, and dealt the detective a single
swinging blow upon the head.

Nick dropped like an ox struck down in the shambles.

The darkness of night was as nothing to the darkness that instantly fell
upon him.




CHAPTER VII

A STRATEGIC MOVE.


Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required
more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.

The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after