He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
The men were at the detective again.
Suddenly the noise of horses’ hoofbeats were heard.
Hall, the leader of the outlaws, cried to his men: “It is the police; fly!”
The rascals jumped the hedge and disappeared into the park.
Was it the mounted police?
Nick listened, but the noise had ceased.
He then went to look at the motor car; it was a shattered wreck.
“I guess that was one of the closest shaves that I have had in a long time,” said Nick.
A small electric pocket flash lay on the roadside where it had been dropped by one of the men who attacked Nick.