He himself turned the handle of the right-hand door and kicked it open. The men were pouring into the passage behind him. He saw how much that fall had cost them, and sprang into the room. There was another door to it, and most of the roughnecks had already passed through it. Scarcely half a dozen were left, scrambling to get through. Storm caught the hindmost and tripped him. A couple of burly forms promptly sat on the prostrate one. The next instant something banged close to Storm's head, and he felt the wind of the bullet and jumped back, drawing as he did so. The panic had stopped suddenly. The half-dozen who had been fighting to get through the second door were now filing out in an orderly manner, and every one of them was armed. The men behind Storm hesitated for a second, for the London bobby is not anxious to use firearms, and it seemed to be the only course left open. They were waiting for orders, and Storm, having none of their scruples, roared them on. "Feet--first round--don't hit 'em!" he snapped, and a volley rang out. The retreating men retaliated on the echo, shooting in deadly earnest, and Storm heard the cries of the stricken men behind him. He fired back himself, gunning now to wound, and saw a man drop with a scream. But the retaliatory salvo had done its work; and in the momentary consternation, before the officers could return the fire, those who were left of the half-dozen won through the door. Storm reached it a second late, and it slammed in his face. On the other side a bar thudded home. "The table--smash it in!" he ordered. While they battered at the thick wood he left the room and crossed the passage to see how Inspector Teal was faring. Teal had been more, and at the same time less, fortunate. He had no casualties, but the reason was that those who had occupied the room had escaped too swiftly for him, and the way of pursuit was barred by a door on which his men were already working. "Heaven knows where these let out," said Storm. "It may be the tunnel, of course. Here--bring three of your men and we'll go and see." They sprinted down the corridor, and so bore the brunt of the flank attack which the Triangle, with amazing daring and presence of mind, had organised. Just as they turned the angle of the passage an armed mob streamed from a side door and let fly at them on sight. The five dodged back behind the bend, and, leaning over each other, fired from cover. The police were shooting to kill now, and in the face of that withering hurricane of death the assault faltered and broke. The survivors retreated to the door through which they had come, and Storm caught Teal by the arm. "Great stuff! Go back and get the others; just leave a few on guard in the rooms. Oh, and whistle more men in from the outside."