Then Count Blowinski, a powerful man, turned to give battle with his bare hands. With a sudden cry of rage, he hurled the two from him, and, stooping, seized a chair.
As his Russian opponent sprang in, the count raised the chair high in the air and brought it down on the man’s head.
There was a thud as the improvised weapon struck him, and the Russian rolled on the floor. The count had successfully disposed of one of his foes. He sprang toward Frank.
The count had dropped the pieces of the chair after striking the Russian, apparently feeling able to account for Frank with his hands.
But there was one thing he seemed to have forgotten. That was Jack.
The count had not had time to watch the result of the shot when he fired at the lad and believed his bullet had gone home. When he sprang toward Frank, it was with the belief that he had a single adversary to contend with.
Therefore, he was unprepared for the attack that Jack launched from behind.
Jack, having picked himself up from the floor, had been circling around seeking a good chance at the count. He had been on the eve of jumping in when the count had seized the chair with which he disposed of the Russian, but had dropped back, unable to prevent the fall of the blow. He still felt the effects of the blow he had received in the alley, but his head was clearing fast and he was gaining strength rapidly.
Now, seeing the count advance upon Frank, Jack sprang forward.
His left hand grasped the collar of the count’s coat, and checked him in his rush. As the count turned upon his new adversary, he encountered Jack’s fist, which struck him squarely in the face with terrific force. The count staggered and at the same moment Jack struck again.