Kennedy's parting words. If the man ever gained the darkness of a
clump of woods, just beyond us, he was as good as safe. This was
the time to act.

I leaped at him and we went down, rolling over and over in the
underbrush and stubble. We fought fiercely, but I could not seem
to get a glimpse of his face which was muffled.

He was powerful and stronger than I and after a tough tussle he
broke loose. But I had succeeded, nevertheless. I had delayed him
just long enough. Kennedy heard the sound of the struggle and was
now crashing through the hedge at the cross-roads in our
direction.

I managed to pick myself up, just as Kennedy reached my side and,
together, we followed the retreating figure, as it made its way
among the shadows. Across the open space before us we followed him
and at last saw him dive into an old barn.

A moment later we followed hot-foot into the barn. As we entered,
we could hear a peculiar grating noise, as though a door was swung
on its rusty hinges. The front door was open. Evidently the man
had gone through and closed the back door.

We threw ourselves against the back door. But it did not yield.
There was no time to waste and we turned to rush out again by the
way we had come, just as the front door was slammed shut.

The man had trapped us. He had left both doors open, had run
through, braced the back door, then had rushed around outside just