They turned through the gateway in front of the house almost together, for Nick forced the senator a little in advance of him as they arrived at it, and then pushed him forward, for already he had heard the patter of running feet on the pavement behind him, and knew because of the sound that some person was running on his toes, in order to approach as silently as possible.
As the detective pushed the senator forward he turned himself to face the approaching foe; and just as he did so, saw the man raise his arm as if to throw something.
Nick dodged, for he suspected what it was, and at that instant the gleam of a knife-blade, as it whizzed past him, told him that a knife had been thrown.
But the detective had prepared himself for an emergency of this sort, for he knew-or, rather, had known that he would not wish to shoot, and that, nevertheless, he would be likely to need some weapon that he could throw.
And now, as the man raised his arm again, to cast the second knife-knife-throwers always carry a pair of them -the detective drew back his own hand quickly and let fly a small stone which was one of several he had put into his pockets for the purpose.
And the pebble-it was scarcely more than that-went true to its aim ; it struck the man fairly in the middle of his forehead, so that he fell like a stricken bullock, and the knife he had been about to hurl clattered to the brick pavement noisily.
Instantly the detective turned, and , seizing the senator by the arm, hurried him up the steps of the house.Neither of them ran, but they almost did so ; and even as they reached the top of the steps the spiteful crack of a pistol told them that their enemies were determined.
But the door was opened for them when they reached it, and they sprang inside, whereupon it was instantly closed again, and in the light of the hall Chick stood facing them smilingly.
"Rather a close call, wasn't it?" he asked calmly.
"It's all right," replied Nick instantly. "Neither of us were touched, although if I had not turned at the right moment one of use would have had a knife in our flesh, somewhere."