He looked behind again. Several dim shadows, the men chasing them, were dodging down the street. He doubted if they were gaining now.
The taxi dropped into a deep rut and the engine groaned. The driver shifted gears with a clash that racked the entire car and the wheels spun in the rut. Then they shot into reverse, but the wheels couldn’t climb out.
“We’re stuck!” cried the driver. “I’m unloading.”
With a single motion of his hand he struck the ignition switch and the motor, overheated and steaming, sputtered and died. The headlights also went out and Bob saw the now dim bulk of the cab driver leap away from the car and vanish.
“Get out, Bob. Duck and keep low. Make for the side of the street. Here’s where we separate.”
The order was accompanied by a firm shove toward the door and then Bob was rolling in the street, for he had missed his step and fallen. He heard the door on the other side of the cab open and knew that his uncle had made his escape at least for the time.
Chapter XXI
SHOTS IN THE NIGHT
★
The street was long, flanked by what appeared to be warehouses, and there were street lights only at the ends of the block. For at least 400 feet in the middle there was no light and it was in this dismal area that Bob and his uncle were trapped.
A pile of construction materials offered the first shelter for Bob and he ducked behind this.
From this shelter, he listened for some sound from the men who had been pursuing them. He did not have long to wait for sharp voices could be heard a little further back along the street.