Then he and Spark stood up, Nick was caught by the feet and shoulders and swung back and forth.
“One, two, three,” counted Clancy; “now, then!”
The form of the detective was released and went whirling outward and downward.
“Help!” he cried, at the top of his voice; “the river!” Then he splashed into the water and went plunging away on the breast of the swift current.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ONE WAY TO STOP AN AUTO.
Nick’s cry for help and his reference to the river were intended for the ears of Chick and Patsy.
If they failed him, Nick felt that his case was hopeless.
The stream into which he was thrown was narrow and winding, and, at that point, flowed with great force.
The swiftness of the current bore the detective up and kept him from sinking.
The men in the Red Spider watched until he was carried around a bend in the stream, and then continued on, confident that they had been completely successful in their murderous designs.