Patsy Garvan was now the only representative of his side who was still on his feet, and no less than seven enemies ringed him around.
His keen eyes detected his chief’s danger, however, and he started to Nick’s aid at once.
He never knew how he escaped the clutches of his opponents, or kept in the game under the rain of their blows. Nevertheless, he did so, and he not only did that, but also succeeded in driving forward until he was crouching over the pile of prostrate forms in the doorway.
“No you don’t!” he ejaculated, bending over and poking the muzzle of his automatic under Nick and into Grantley’s side. “Let go, or I’ll fire!”
CHAPTER VI.
A FLANK MOVEMENT.
Nick’s assistant did not need to be told that his own position was a decidedly unenviable one, despite the momentary advantage he had gained over Doctor Grantley.
Patsy’s back was turned to his seven foes, all of whom were bent upon “getting” him in almost any way they could.
They did not seem disposed to shoot, and that was the only comforting fact that stood out.
The young detective’s threat to fire into Grantley’s body if the vivisectionist did not relinquish his hold on Nick’s throat took the old surgeon’s friends by surprise and flabbergasted them for a few seconds.
One of them had already pounced upon Patsy’s back and was leaning forward, ready to strike Patsy on the back of the head with a heavy paper weight which he had snatched up from the near-by desk.