Part 14 (2/2)

The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to avoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the back of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled against the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up because of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull.

”Hold him!” commanded another voice. ”I'll go through him!”

The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succ.u.mb.

He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he struck blindly out at the footpads.

CHAPTER XI

OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH

Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare.

He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him.

Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been weakened by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land heavily on some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain.

Then came the sound of footsteps running--Tom heard the ”ping” of a policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk.

”Here come the cops!” he heard one voice exclaim.

”Did you get it?” asked another.

”No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!”

They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about and almost fell.

The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman, who was half supporting him.

”What's the matter?” asked the officer.

”Hold-up, I guess,” mumbled the lad. ”There they go!” he pointed toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted street.

The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but the fleeing figures did not stop.

”How did it happen?” asked the policeman. ”Did they get anything from you?”

”No--I guess not,” answered Tom. He saw the packages containing his purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told him his watch and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a belt about his waist, and that had not been removed. ”No, they didn't get anything,” he a.s.sured the officer.

”I came along too quick for 'em, I guess,” spoke the bluecoat. ”This is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups here of late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. h.e.l.lo, Mike,”

as another officer came running up in answer to the shots and the raps of the night-stick. ”Couple of strong-arm-men tackled this young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way. I fired at 'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here. Don't believe you can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get anything, though.”

Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done it several times before the officer arrived.

”It was the map they were after,” thought Tom, ”not my watch or money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away from here.”

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