The detective was quite ready for that.
It was true that he wished to take the men alive, and he did not fire.
He had hoped they would be scared into quiet surrender.
When the attack came, he dropped both weapons to the sidewalk.
Letting drive with his fists, he caught Nat on the chest, and knocked the wind out of him.
But the crook did not fall.
He staggered against Jack, who at first was going to give up.
Seeing that the weapons had been dropped, Jack joined in and made a desperate effort for freedom.
He caught his partner and kept him from falling.