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careless foot。
It was one of his ribs breaking beneath the dreadful and
intolerable pressure of Dunn's enormous grip。 But neither of the
combatants heard or knew； and with one last effort the big man put
forth all his vast strength in a final attempt to bear his enemy
down。
Dunn resisted still； resisted； though the veins stood out like
cords on his brow； though a little trickle of blood crept from
the corner of his mouth and though his heart swelled almost to
bursting。
There was a sound of many waters in his ears； the darkness all
around grew shot with little flames； he could hear some one
breathing very noisily and he was not sure whether this were himself
or his adversary till he realized that it was both of them。 With
one sudden； almost superhuman effort； he heaved his great adversary
up； but had not strength enough left to do more than let him slip
from his grasp to fall on the ground； and with the effort he himself
dropped forward on his hands and knees； just as a lantern shone at
a distance and a voice cried：
〃This way； Tom。 Master John； Master John； where are you？〃
CHAPTER III
A COINCIDENCE
Another voice answered from near by and Dunn scrambled hurriedly to
his feet。
He had but a moment in which to decide what to do； for these new
arrivals were coming at a run and would be upon him almost instantly
if he stayed where he was。
That they were friends of the man he had just overthrown and whose
huge bulk lay motionless in the darkness at his feet； seemed plain；
and it also seemed plain to him that the moment was not an opportune
one for offering explanations。
Swiftly he decided to slip away into the darkness。 What had
happened might be cleared up later when he knew more and was more
sure of his ground； at present he must think first； he told himself；
of the success of his mission。
Physically； he was greatly exhausted and his gait was not so steady
nor his progress so silent and skillful as it had been before； as
now he hurried away from the scene of the combat。
But the two new…comers made no attempt to pursue him and indeed did
not seem to give his possible presence in the vicinity even a
thought； as with many muttered exclamations of dismay and anger；
they stooped over the body of his prostrate enemy。
It was evident they recognized him at once； and that he was the 〃Mr。
John' whose name they had called； for so they spoke of him to each
other as they busied themselves about him。
〃I expect I've been a fool again；〃 Dunn thought to himself ruefully；
as from a little distance； well…sheltered in the darkness； he
crouched upon the ground and listened and watched。 〃I may have
ruined everything。 Any one but a fool would have asked him what he
meant when he hit out like that instead of flying into a rage and
hitting back the way I did。 Most likely it was some mistake when
he said he knew who I was and what I wanted … at least if it
wasn't … I hope I haven't killed him； anyhow。〃
Secure in the protection the dark night afforded him； he remained
sufficiently near at hand to be able to assure himself soon that
his overthrown adversary was certainly not killed； for now he began
to express himself somewhat emphatically concerning the manner in
which the two new…comers were ministering to him。
Presently he got to his feet and； with one of them supporting him
on each side； began to limp away； and Dunn followed them； though
cautiously and at a distance； for he was still greatly exhausted
and in neither the mood nor the condition for running unnecessary
risks。
The big man； Mr。 John； as the others called him； seemed little
inclined for speech； but the others talked a good deal； subsiding
sometimes when he told them gruffly to be quiet but invariably
soon beginning again their expressions of sympathy and vows of
vengeance against his unknown assailant。
〃How many of them do you think there were； Mr。 John； sir？〃 one
asked presently。 〃I'll lay you marked a fair sight of the villains。〃
〃There was only one man；〃 Mr。 John answered briefly。
〃Only one？〃 the other repeated in great surprise。 〃For the Lord's
sake； Mr。 John … only one？ Why； there ain't any one man between
here and Lunnon town could stand up to you； sir； in a fair tussle。
〃Well； he did；〃 Mr。 John answered。 〃He had the advantage； he took
me by surprise； but I never felt such a grip in my life。〃
〃Lor'； now； think of that；〃 said the other in tones in which
surprise seemed mingled with a certain incredulity。 〃It don't
seem possible； but for sure； then； he don't come from these here
parts； that I'll stand to。〃
〃I knew that much before；〃 retorted Mr。 John。 〃I said all the time
they were outsiders； a London gang very likely。 You'll have to get
Dr。 Rawson； Bates。 I don't know what's up； but I've a beast of a
pain in my side。 I can hardly breathe。〃
Bates murmured respectful sympathy as they came out of the shelter
of the trees； and crossing some open ground； reached a road along
the further side of which ran a high brick wall。
In this； nearly opposite the spot where they emerged on the road；
was a small door which one of the men opened and through which they
passed and locked it behind them； leaving Dunn without。
He hesitated for a moment； half…minded to scale the wall and
continue on the other side of it to follow them。
Calculating the direction in which the village of Ramsdon must lie；
he turned that way and had gone only a short distance when he was
overtaken by a pedestrian with whom he began conversation by asking
for a light for his pipe。
The man seemed inclined to be conversational； and after a few casual
remarks； Dunn made an observation on the length of the wall they
were passing and to the end of which they had just come。
〃Must be a goodish…sized place in there；〃 he said。 〃Whose is it？〃
〃Oh； that there's Ramsdon Place；〃 the other answered。 〃Mr。 John
Clive lives there now his father's dead。〃
Dunn stood still in the middle of the road。
〃Who？ What？〃 he stammered。 〃Who … who did you say？〃
〃Mr。 John Clive；〃 the other repeated。 〃Why … what's wrong about
that？〃
〃Nothing； nothing；〃 Dunn answered； but his voice shook a little
with what seemed almost fear； and behind the darkness of the
friendly night his face had become very pale。 〃Clive … John
Clive； you say？ Oh； that's impossible。〃
〃Needn't believe it if you don't want to；〃 grumbled the other。
〃Only what do you want asking questions for if you thinks folks
tells lies when they answers them？〃
〃I didn't mean that； of course not；〃 exclaimed Dunn hurriedly； by
no means anxious to offend the other。 〃I'm very sorry； I only meant
it was impossible it should be the same Mr。 John Clive I knew once；
though I think he came from about here somewhere。 A little；
middle…aged man； I mean； quite bald and wears glasses？〃
〃Oh； that ain't this 'un；〃 answered the other； his good humour quite
restored。 〃This is a young man and tremendous big。 I ain't so
small myself； but he tops me by a head and shoulders and so he does
most hereabouts。 Strong； too； with it； there ain't so many would
care to stand up against him； I can tell you。 Why； they do sa