Our friends were on their way back to the house of the president when Van caught a glimpse of this man.
The villain—for such he was—cast a look of intense hate at the boy, and then, before his intention could be designed, he sprang forward and flung his knife full at our hero's breast.
Van made a nimble dodge and escaped the blade, but a cry of anguish behind him told him that it had struck some one else.
Turning quickly, he beheld Joe reeling backward with the knife sticking in his breast.
Jack Howard caught the wounded boy in his arms, and then, quick as a flash, Van turned and leveled his rifle at the cowardly murderer.
Crack! As the report rang out, the man threw up his arms and fell dead to the ground.
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
UTOPIA IS LEFT BEHIND.
As soon as Van saw that his shot had not been wasted he hurried to the side of Joe, who was now lying on the ground, with his head resting on Jack Howard's arm.