The rope was drawn taut, with the detective’s hands and arms between it and his body.
Hughart and the girl sprang for the inner room as the rope fell, but one of the men, gun in hand, barred the way.
“Well, Hughart,” he said viciously, “it has come to a show-down at last.”
“What do you want?” demanded the miner.
“We want you.”
Hughart made a sudden spring for the man, avoided the shot, and grappled him. The man who had been guarding Nick sprang forward to help his companion, and in a second the detective was out of the rope and in the fight.
Before the second man could draw his gun, Nick landed a heavy blow on the jaw which sent him to the floor like a dead man.
Hughart was fighting like a madman, but would have been bested had the detective not hastened to his assistance, settling the outlaw with a terrific blow.
Hughart gazed at the detective in amazement.