As the pistol was leveled, she threw out the pitcher that she held and struck the man's arm, sending it in an acute angle.
The bullet passed, perhaps, not two inches above Liz's head, but, as the smoke cleared away, Ben saw her standing there unharmed.
What he might have done to Leonie under the circumstances can better be imagined than described, but before he had an opportunity to allow his fiendishness swing, he was caught by the officer.
With a foul oath Ben turned upon him.
One blow from the revolver across the man's head cut the flesh until the blood streamed across his eyes, and the next instant an escape might have been effected that would have cost them all their lives, but that Leonie seized the piece of wood that had served Liz so well, and planted another blow upon the back of Mauprat's head.
It did not stun him, but brought him to his knees, giving the officer time to recover himself.
Before Ben had staggered to his feet, the "bracelets" were slipped over his wrists, and he found himself powerless.
Even then his efforts at escape did not cease. He made a leap in the direction of the fire-escape, but before he could reach it, the burly hand of the officer had him in a vise-like grip.
"If you try that again," he exclaimed hoarsely, wiping the blood from his eyes with the back of one hand, "I'll settle you with this club! Do you understand me? I never beat a man if I can help it, but when he forces me into it, he never wants another from the same source. Now come on!"
He gave Ben a jerk which nearly upset him, but if he expected quiet yielding he was mistaken.