As
alarmed men fell back, the Italian confronted Reade, holding the revolver
almost in the latter's face and firing.
CHAPTER X
THE NIGHT IS NOT OVER
Tom winced slightly, as the pistol was discharged, for some of the powder
burned his face.
Mr. Prenter, who stood beside him, had knocked up the barrel so that the
bullet sped over the heads of the crowd.
In a twinkling Tom had hold of the Italian's arm. He wrenched the pistol
away, spraining the Italian's arm. Instantly Tom "broke" the weapon,
dropping the cartridges out into his pocket. Then he hurled the weapon as
far as he could throw it into the shadows of the night.
"You breaka my arm!" snarled the Italian, showing his white teeth.
"Your face is next!" Tom retorted, letting his fist drive. It caught the
Italian on the nose, breaking that member.
"Kill him! Kill Reade!" came the hoarse yell on the night air.
"You'll find it a tough job, men!" Tom called, warningly. "I won't die
easily, and I'll take a few men along with me when I go. Now, stand out
of the way! I shall consider any man an enemy who blocks my path!"
Tom hit resolutely out, at first. Soon the men crowding about him began
to realize that they had taken a large contract on their hands in
attempting to cow this young engineer.
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