Pete had escaped. He had returned and had probably disabled Patsy.
Then he had informed Benton that Nick Carter had got inside the house disguised as Al Hardy.
The wily old man, on receiving this information, had quietly removed the other persons from the room in which Nick was, and had then come in with the negro to take vengeance upon the detective.
There was no time for delay. The two murderers were creeping down upon him.
Again Nick made a slight movement to attract their attention.
He set down his pocket lamp on the bench beside him.
This lamp was arranged to be used as a bull’s-eye or by removing the coverings from the sides it could be made to throw its light about as an ordinary lamp does.
Nick removed the side coverings. At that moment he could hear the two assassins very close to him.
Suddenly he pressed the spring of the lamp, and leaped to one side as agile as a cat.
The flame flashed up in the faces of his assailants.