They sprang into the room, with a loud whistle from Nick, and had hardly landed on their feet when they heard the crash of the door burst in by Chick.
Lannigan was in bed, and he sprang up into a sitting position with an oath.
He seemed to take in the situation instantly, for he reached under his pillow with both hands, and drew forth two revolvers, both of which he leveled at the two intruders, discharging them at once.
The balls went wide of the mark, doing no damage to either Nick or Patsy.
Lannigan immediately sprang out of bed to his feet in another effort, but as he raised his arms to level his revolvers again, Chick burst through the door leading into the front room, and, springing forward, struck Lannigan on the head with the butt end of his revolver.
He did not prevent Lannigan from discharging his revolvers again, but he did prevent him from taking true aim, and thus, for a second time, the balls went wide of the mark.
Chick attempted to take the revolvers from Lannigan, and succeeded in wrenching one from him.
The other one, however, Lannigan was desperately endeavoring to use, and this time on Chick.
The bed was between Chick and Lannigan on the one side and Nick and Patsy on the other.
Patsy sprang on the bed to cross it to go to Chick’s assistance, while Nick attempted to pass around the foot of the bed.