In his rush, Dick’s arms were carried around the shoulders he could not see. Like a serpent, sinuous, tense, powerful, the woman squirmed around in his arms.
He tried to hold her with one hand as he strove to open that door with the other, while he took the beating of her furious hands on his bent face.
The door catch yielded—their wrestling, struggling weight drew it inward.
“Help—this way!” screamed Dick.
And he clung like a terrier to a tigress!
CHAPTER XXXI
A TRIUMPH FOR THE ENEMY
Sandy was first to hear the call and locate it. The others, not expecting a cry for help from within the hangar until they had seen some one go in, when Dick would be only a sort of surprise attacker while they proposed to make the capture, Larry and the detective were confused for an instant.
Then, recovering, and supposing Dick had called from close inside the hangar, they took the quickest way in, and interfered with one another at the small opening in the plates.
Sandy, dashing toward the hangar, correctly supposing Dick had called from its smaller doorway, did not see Jeff emerge from the old house and start on a run in the same direction.
Dick, clinging with all his strength to a wiry, supple powerful body, strove to keep that hold while he captured the hands that were pounding at his neck and averted face.