The leader of the three men whispered to one of his
companions, and the man addressed withdrew from the cabin.
Our hero discerned the purpose of his absence. He had been
sent for reenforcements, and it was necessary that he should
make a strike at once. He waited for the man who had been
sent away, to get beyond hearing, when, in a deliberate
manner, Vance said:
"I want you men to get out of this cabin!"
"What right have you to order us out?"
"The same right that you have to declare an arrest."
"Make no attempt to leave this cabin," said the leader.
CHAPTER XL.
It was a critical moment, but the detective had been in worse
positions a hundred times. It would have been but a play
spell to him had he wanted a scrimmage, but such was not his
desire; all he wished was to get out of the place and get away
before reenforcements arrived.
"You have no right to threaten me," said Vance.
"We take the right; you are both under arrest, and we will
turn you over to the county authorities on the charge of
murder."
The detective, unobserved, seized hold of a piece of broken
oar, and the moment he had the club in his possession he
leaped forward; his attack was so sudden and unexpected he had
knocked over both men before they had any idea of his
intentions.
As our readers know, the detective was an adept with the club,
and a man capable of coolly taking advantage of any little
favorable incident. As the men were knocked over he called to
the man in the rubber coat:
"Follow me.
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