Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-11-24
CHAPTER Iv,-(Continued)
BY

and as soon as the lantern came the cap
tain seized it and hurried down the lad
der, and sprang to the place where .he
pirate chieftain had been confined. but
heavens! what a sight met his gaze
There lay Nathans, the man VINO hau
been placed to watch the prisoner, with
q short, heavy bowie-knife driven clear
through his right temple, the point pro-
truding Just below the left ear! For a
moment Clarence Howard was struck
dumb with horror The pirate chief was
gone, and this was his parting mark!
Without u word the captain sprang upon
the deck.
"Aian the boat" he gasped, in hoarsc,
choking tone.
."All ready, sir" reported Hart. did
you find"
"ue's gone! Go in the boat, Mr.. Hart,
and be sure you take that man alive IL
you can. ., do not miss him. OF, now
and buckle to, those oars with Will.
Where's the boatswainT'
Here. SIR"
"Call away my gig-quick!
In few moments more the gig was
lowered and manned, and the old gunner
was sent In charge of her. Peter Sythc
was also sent IN the gig. from the fact
that the peculiar construction OF his eyes
enabled him to see at an almost incredi-
bic distance In the night.
Shortly after the boats had gone the
captain went forward to assure himself
that the prisoners were all safe there,
and then he went below again. lie round
q man, whose hammock hung near the
spot where Tudel had been confined,
standing in his bare frock, and gazing
with eagerness on jacket which he held
In his hand.
"What is It, my MANI" asked Howard.
"Why. sir-loOk here. l left my own
Jacket and trousers here when l turned
In, and now they're gonc-and these out
landish duds have been left In their place.
They look just like that Mexicans
traps"
80 they nre," returned Howard. '"The
incarnate fend has murdered poor Ma.
thans, exchanged clothes with you, ana
made his escape. But well have MIN
yet: the boats are after him."
Upon examination the irons by which
Tudel had been confined were found.
Those which had been upon the wrists
were whole, the hands having been evil
IDENTIFY slipped through them, and after
the hands were free 1t was an easy mat.
ter to remove the irons from the feet,
a. the bar OF the hand irons served to
turn the key Of the others No one had
thought of searching the prisoner for con.
cealed weapons, though Clarence now
felt himself much to blame for not hav-
Ing done SO.
With this information 1t was easy to
see how the work had been done. M.
thans had received the fatal blow from a
hand emincntly skilled In that mode Of
warfare.
The captain directed some OF the men
to remove the body to the deck. Shortly
after this the gig returned, the gunner
reporting TINT 80 far nothing could be
found Of the escaped prisoner; but the
crew Of the cutter had gone on shore
and meant to search carefully there, and
also watch to see II he landed after them
However," resumed Gould, II am
sure the villain got ashore ahead Of us
he had the wind and current In his favor,
and II he Is IN expert swimmer he could
easily have gained the beach before We
did"
The captain was about to reply, when
the sound Of oars fell upon his ears, and
upon going to the taffrail he could see
the outlines Of boat coming towards
the schooner.
"It's the first cutter, SIR" said Peter.
perhaps they've found him." uttered
Howard, nerv0usly.
''They must have found him. else they
wouldn't be coming back" said the gun
ner. AT any rate they wouldn't bs
coming now, for they haven't had q
chance to hunt any yet"
Clarence gazed down anxiOusly into heI
a. she came up under the quarter, but Il
was too dark for him to see plainly
When the boat reached the gangwny
Daniels, the coxswain. was the first on,
to come over the side.
"Where Is Mr.. Hart?" asked Howard
Hes gone around to the town, SIR, 4
start up horses" replied Daniels.
"Then you have not found the prison
err" asked Howard, nervously.
mo, sir. He's gone of horseback
When We went up from the beach W,
found Tom Slidell flying around In higl
passion. He said he had just got out o.
bed. not mOre'n fifteen minutes before
and that a. he looked out ut his window
he saw q man coming running up from
the water. The man passed his house
and. Tom thought, turrSd up into hi
yard. A quick al he could he put on hi
clothes and ran out, aud was Just In tim,
horse. He sang out with all his might
but tho horse gallOped away like light
ming. We told him 1t was none Of on
men, but pirate whom we had captur
ed. He then offered to accompany MI
Hart to q place where men and horse
could b procured, so he went; and sen
Us back 10 report to YOU"
Captain Howard pondered a few min
utes upon this, and then he resolved L
90 on shore. He gave the most strict OF
ders concerning the prisoners, and lean
ed into his boat and landed ut the town
He aroused some Of the civil officers a
quickly as possible, and ere long tift
hOrscmen were In pursuit of the fugI
tive. But JilOk Tudel was not found
Towards the middle OF the forenoon OF
the following day, most Of the pursuer
had returned, but with no tidings Of tn
pirate.
1t was near night when Clarence How
ard returned to his vessel. He had los
his most especial prisoner; but he ha
resolved to make a more extended pun
suit; he had given notice that he Ia
business inland, and that he might b
gone even q month. The boy Peter wa
the only companion whom he planned I
take with him.
CHAPTER v.
In one Of the most fashionable part
Of the city Of Vera Cruz stood the dwell
Ing OF Antonio st Marc. Like most 9
the other houses, 1t was Of a quadrangl