"Ha, ha! The scoundrels are already breaking cover!"
His alert ears had detected a sound from the direction of the stable, and now he silently drew his revolver and held it gripped by his side.
Presently the stable door was cautiously opened. Then a momentary beam of light, evidently from a bull's-eye lantern, shot across the paved area, and lingered for an instant upon Nick's prostrate figure.
Nick remained as motionless as a corpse.
Then two men, both large and powerful fellows, and both heavily bearded, came quickly from the stable and hastened toward him.
"Done for with a single shot," remarked one, as they approached.
"Looks like it, Dave," was the reply. "When I piped his head in the light from the window, I felt sure I could drop him."
"Well done. 'Twas a good shot. Shove your hand inside his vest, and see if his heart is beating. Then we shall know for sure whether he's down and out. If not, we must—"
"Throw up your hands, instead, both of you!" Nick sternly interrupted, half rising with weapon leveled. "At the first move by either, I will shoot to kill!"
Nick had foreseen that his foxy strategy must be very quickly detected, and he had resolved to take the bull by the horns, and attempt to arrest both of his cowardly assailants.