"Oh, yes, he got away all right," said Robard with a frown. "He's as strong as an ox, and a real fighter."
"Then he was responsible for all this human wreckage we found when we came in?" demanded Hal.
"He was," was the grim reply, "but the next time I get my hands on him there will be a different story to tell. Why, he's a madman when he gets started."
"Then I would advise you to keep away from him," said Hal.
The sound of footsteps outside the door prevented Robard from replying. Levelling a revolver at the lads, he motioned them to be silent, and took up a position at the side of the hall, where he would be concealed by the door when it swung inward.
A hand turned the knob and the door swung back. Uncle John's face appeared in the doorway. He saw Hal and Chester immediately and advanced with a smile.
"So here you are," he said. "Your mothers—"
The sentence died on his lips as Robard, who had stepped quietly from behind the door, brought the butt of his heavy revolver down upon his head. Uncle John dropped to the floor like a log.
The action had been so sudden that neither Hal nor Chester had time to give a cry of warning, though both would have done so, in spite of Robard's command for them to remain quiet. As Uncle John fell, Chester stepped forward, but he was confronted by the barrel of Robard's gun.
"Stand back," said the Austrian.