Fate was against him.
“Quick! quick!” exclaimed the madman. “Tell me where Sis is or I will tear your throat here!”
Claude made one last effort.
He summoned all his strength and dashed forward.
His father’s feet tripped on the carpet, and, falling, he dragged him down.
Father and son fell in a heap on the carpet, and for half a second seemed stunned by the tumble.
Claude was the first to recover.
He raised himself and tore himself loose from the maniacal fingers.
As he did so his father sprang up with the roar of a baffled tiger, and launched himself forward.
It left Claude little time for reflection or action.