In an instant Jonas comprehended all.
He was entrapped, and escape impossible.
“Oh! the bloodthirsty scoundrels!” he groaned. “That blow was meant for me.”
He produced his own small cudgel, and laid about him right and left in the darkness.
He then fell upon his hands and knees, and crawled from the midst of his enemies.
Total darkness prevented the officers from seeing what they were doing or ought to do.
But they hit right and left among themselves, and some of them were tripped up by Jonas.
“I’ve got him! I’ve got him!” roared the chief constable. “He tried to crawl through my legs, but couldn’t.”
“Give it to him, then!” said another.
And sure enough the chief constable did give it to him.