"Yes. I tried to fire again, but one of them struck me down before I could do so. The ruffians came upon me before I fairly realized it."
"Do you know them?" inquired Chick.
"Only one of them, a man named John David," replied Pylotte, now appearing to pull himself together.
"John David, eh?" grunted Nick.
"He has swindled me, and I—I saw him at a theater to-night, and afterward followed him out here."
"For what? If he has swindled you, why didn't you have him arrested at the theater?" demanded Nick.
"Well, I—I wanted to learn where he lives. He must have discovered that he was being followed, and then tried to do me up."
Nick observed the speaker's faltering manner, and it increased his curiosity.
"Why do you wish to know where he lives?" he demanded.
Pylotte hesitated, and shrugged his shoulders.