The girl started to move away, when the man suddenly leaped forward and grasped her in his arms, but the same instant he received a blow which sent him reeling, as the girl was snatched from his rude grasp.
A curse fell from the man's lips, and he arose to his feet and advanced toward the man who had struck him.
"Run home, little girl!" whispered the detective; "I will take care of this brute!"
"Thank you!" said the girl, and she glided away along the beach.
"See here, you're the man who struck me?"
"Yes; I'm the man."
"I think I've seen you before."
"I think we've met before."
"What did you hit me for?"
"I struck you because you put your hands rudely upon the girl."