The men got him by the throat, punched his head, kicked him and choked him till he was subdued.
Meanwhile Ed made noise enough for Pow Chow to hear.
The Chinaman probably heard something else, too—the boat pulling out from under the pier.
Doubtless that was the time the Bradys saw him bending over the stringpiece.
Ed heard him.
"Eddie! Eddie!" he called. "What's the matter, Eddie? Speak!"
Then a shot rang out.
Ed, who was just picking himself up, saw now that the men were both Chinese.
One worked the oars, the other held a smoking revolver.
They gabbled to each other in Chinese.