“Bah!” snorted Clancy. “You’re one of Nick Carter’s men, we know that, and right here is where our trails divide. I’m from Montana, I am, and Ramsay, a man Nick Carter hounded into the penitentiary, was a pal of mine. “I swore, when Ramsay got sent over the road, the other day, that I’d never rest until I had played even with Carter on Ramsay’s account. “I have pretty near succeeded in doing that, I reckon. Cricket shadowed Carter from the Holland Hotel to the Central House and reported to Spark and me. Then I put up that job and called up Carter on the Central House phone. Spark was beside the glazed window in the court, and he fired the shot that put this crack detective of yours out of the chase after these bank robbers. “I didn’t count on having such good luck as to connect with one of Carter’s assistants; and now that we’ve got you, Jones, or whatever your name is, we’ll see that you’re properly taken care of.” “You may be able to take care of me,” said the detective, “but you’ll still have Nick Carter to settle with.” “Carter!” sneered Clancy. “Why, he ain’t in it with me when it comes down to head work. I can think all around him any day in the week.” “You’re thinking all around him now,” answered Nick, quietly. “What do you mean by that?” “You’ll know some time.” “Quit this fooling!” cried Spark. “Let’s get rid of the fool and then push on toward the Canadian line. I won’t feel easy till we cross the border.” That was Nick’s first clew to the intentions of Clancy and his pals. They were working to get into Canada, where an American detective could not touch them without going through a lot of red-tape proceedings. If these men were captured, it must be before they crossed the line. “How’ll we fix him?” asked Clancy. “A gun is good enough,” said Cricket. “A knife is better,” supplemented Spark. “It makes less noise.” “What do we care for noise?” asked Clancy, with a harsh laugh; “there is no one within a mile of us. But I know a trick worth two of either one of those.” “What is it?” inquired Spark. “We’ll give him a chance to swim without the use of his hands or feet.” “That’s the talk!” declared Cricket. “Make for the bridge,” added Spark, “and we’ll toss him over.” Clancy ran the Red Spider to the foot of the hill and onto the bridge, halting close to the right-hand railing. Then he and Spark stood up, Nick was caught by the feet and shoulders and swung back and forth. “One, two, three,” counted Clancy; “now, then!” The form of the detective was released and went whirling outward and downward. “Help!” he cried, at the top of his voice; “the river!” Then he splashed into the water and went plunging away on the breast of the swift current. CHAPTER XXIV. ONE WAY TO STOP AN AUTO. Nick’s cry for help and his reference to the river were intended for the ears of Chick and Patsy. If they failed him, Nick felt that his case was hopeless.