CHAPTER VII.
AT FOUR O’CLOCK.“That was going some,” said Chick coolly.
Nick did not wait to make reply. He rushed the thicket whence the shots had come, but arrived too late to find the would-be murderer there. When Chick reached the spot, he found his chief down on his knees examining the earth, lantern in hand.
As the assistant came up, Nick shut off the flash, and moved away from the spot.
“Now,” said Chick, “that shows that there are people about here who are implicated in the happenings of last night. They evidently think we are getting too inquisitive.”
Nick walked on toward the house without making reply. He was thinking fast. Once more his clues were pointing in a contrary direction.
“Those shots were intended to defend the murderer and not the diamond thief,” he mused. “Now,
