The driver, who was a boxer of no little skill, tried to bewilder the detective by cunningly feinting, hoping that he would be able to get Nick to leave an opening through which he could deliver a blow that would settle the detective for a moment until he could draw a knife, and then he would quiet Nick Carter for all time.
The rascal did not know that Nick was a past master at the art of boxing.
Try as hard as he could, he was not able to break through Nick’s guard, and in a few moments he was panting for breath, while Nick was laughing at the fellow’s desperation.
As a last resort, he tried to kick the detective, but again he was unsuccessful.
Finally he made one last desperate effort to strike Nick in the stomach. Nick stepped quickly to one side and dealt him a terrific blow on the side of the jaw.
The fellow spun around for a moment, and then fell to the ground as if he had been struck on the head with a club.
Nick turned around to see what had become of the other two men that had been standing by the tree when it had been struck by lightning.
They were nowhere to be seen.
The rain was falling in torrents, and there did not seem to be any chance of it ceasing.
What had become of the inspector was Nick’s thought as he turned to where he had seen him fall.