The axe receded into the passage, and fell to a position about two

feet from the ground. They could hear the Invisible Man breathing.

"Stand away, you two," he said. "I want that man Kemp."

We want you," said the first policeman, making a quick step

forward and wiping with his poker at the Voice. The Invisible Man

must have started back, and he blundered into the umbrella stand.

Then, as the policeman staggered with the swing of the blow he had

aimed, the Invisible Man countered with the axe, the helmet crumpled

like paper, and the blow sent the man spinning to the floor at the

head of the kitchen stairs. But the second policeman, aiming behind

the axe with his poker, hit something soft that snapped. There was a

sharp exclamation of pain and then the axe fell to the ground. The

policeman wiped again at vacancy and hit nothing; he put his foot on

the axe, and struck again. Then he stood, poker clubbed, listening

intent for the slightest movement.

He heard the dining-room window open, and a quick rush of feet

within. His companion rolled over and sat up, with the blood

running down between his eye and ear. "Where is he?" asked the man

on the floor.

Don't know. I've hit him. He's standing somewhere in the hall.

Unless he's slipped past you. Doctor Kemp--sir."