Peace, however, managed to frustrate this attempt, whereupon his antagonist drew his staff, and said he would make use of it if he offered further opposition.
Our hero now felt that he was at the mercy of his captor, and ground his teeth in rage and despair.
“Take your knee from off me, and I will do as you wish, and go with you quietly,” cried Peace, who though it best to temporise, and see if any other chance of escape presented itself.
He was perfectly astounded in another moment at hearing a voice exclaim—
“Let the man alone, you brute!”
A terrible blow was delivered from behind, with some weapon, on the head of the policeman, who was laid prostrate.
His helmet had fallen off in the struggle with Peace, and the blow, therefore, was more effective.
The policeman was evidently partially, if not wholly, stunned.
“Fly—fly! This way!” exclaimed the same voice as he had heard before. “The bobby is knocked out of time—follow me.”
The speaker led the way into the wood, and Peace followed, bag in hand.