With a hissing sound, like a striking snake's, Rodney Hadeshook off the detaining hand. In the same motion, he leapedbackward, drawing from his torn pocket an automatic pistol.

Brice, unarmed, stood for an instant looking into the squatlittle weapon's black muzzle, and at the gleaming black eyesin the ever-smiling black face behind it.

He was not afraid. Many times, before, had he faced leveledguns, and, like many another war-veteran, he had outgrown thenormal man's dread of such weapons.

But as he was gathering his strength for a spring at hisopponent, trusting that the suddenness and unexpectedness ofhis onset might shake the other's aim, Rodney Hade took thesituation into his own arms.

Not at random had he made that backward leap. Still coveringGavin with his pistol, he flashed one arm way behind him andpressed the switch-button which controlled the electric lightsin the hallway and the adjoining chambers.

Black darkness filled the place. Brice sprang forward throughthe dark, to grapple with the man. But Hade was nowherewithin reach of Brice's outflung arms. Rodney had slipped,snakelike, to one side, foreseeing just such a move on thepart of his foe.

Gavin strained his ears, to note the man's direction. ButMilo Standish was thrashing noisily about in an effort tolocate and seize the fugitive. And the racket his huge bodymade in hitting against furniture and in caroming off thewalls and doors, filled the hall with din.