But the muscles of Nick Carter's jaws were like fibers of steel, and the instant he realized his situation he opened his mouth no wider. Instead, while hands and arms were still engaged in the furious conflict with his assailants, he brought his jaws together as if with superhuman power, and with a force that crushed the infernal device between them, much as if it had been little more than an eggshell.
One of the ruffians heard the snapping crunch, and uttered a cry of amazement.
The cry was echoed by hurried footsteps in the house.
Then a rear door was suddenly thrown open by Rufus Venner, and a flood of light revealed the struggling men, still battling furiously on the pavement.
Nick now had both opponents down, and within another minute he would have had them at his mercy, a fact which Venner instantly perceived.
He sprang nearer, drew his revolver, and dealt the detective a single swinging blow upon the head.
Nick dropped like an ox struck down in the shambles.
The darkness of night was as nothing to the darkness that instantly fell upon him.