CHAPTER XVII
TOM MAKES AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE
For an unearthly scream pierced the air. There was a wrench, a boundingfigure---and then Tom Reade felt a jolt near his solar plexus that madehim gasp.
"Stop that!" gasped the young chief engineer.
"You, Senor?" demanded an incredible, drowsy voice.
"Yes; it's I---Reade."
"A thousand pardons, Senor!"
"So this is you, Nicolas?"
"Yes, Senor."
"What are you doing here?"
"The negro got away from me."
"I know that, but---"
"I could not help it, Senor. I assure you I was not careless."
"I never knew you to be careless, Nicolas."
"Thank you, Senor. But I stood over that black scoundrel, watching forthe slightest move on his part. I had my forefinger ready, and he did notdare move."
"I can quite believe that," agreed Tom, dryly, "after the poke you justgave me."
"Again a thousand pardons, Senor, but in the dark, and awaking so suddenly,I did not see you or know you."
"I can quite believe that, Nicolas."
"As I was saying, Senor, I was watching over the black man when some onecame up behind me---so softly that I did not hear. But I felt. _Ah!_ WhatI felt! It was a fist that seemed to break in the top of my head. Down Iwent, and I heard a voice. I knew that voice, too. So would you haveknown it, Senor!"
"Whose voice was it?" asked Tom, curiously.
"The voice of Evarts."
"The discharged foreman?"
"Yes, Senor. But I am delaying my story. While Evarts was speaking Iheard another sound. At one effort the negro snapped the cords that heldhim. Ah, he is a powerful brute."
"He is," Tom affirmed solemnly.
"I knew it was my task to keep the negro from getting away," continued thelittle Mexican excitedly. "So I leaped up, extended my forefinger andrushed at him. But thees Evarts---hees feest catch me between the eyes.I do not have to guess the spot where he struck me, Senor, for I canfeel it yet. Down I went, and knew no more. When next I opened myeyes I found myself lying in the middle of a theecket of bushes. I theenk,perhaps, the scoundrels believed they had killed me, and so they hid mybody. But I have fool' them. I am still alive---much alive!"
"What did you do when you came to, Nicolas?"
"Senor," protested the Mexican, "there was no more need of me. You hadgone after men. Eef you came back, you have many men with you, so you donot need me. For that reason I come home."
Even in the dark the young engineer could "feel" Nicolas's shudder. Tomcould not repress a smile that threatened to become a chuckle.
"I was varee sleepy," continued Nicolas, "and so I lay down. I forgot toundress, or even to take off my shoes. I fall asleep, and I dream much.I see the big negro again, and I dream that I have more fight with heem.Then, when you pull my foot, I wake up in one gr-rand sweat, for I theenkthe big black attack me once more. I am glad---so glad that it is nottrue."
"Nicolas," cried Tom, "you have done fighting enough for one night. Yettell me, how did you happen to be at hand to-night in time to save me fromMr. Sambo Ebony?"
"Because I see you start away to-night," replied Nicolas, "an' I see thatyou go alone. I know that you mos' likely run into trouble, an' so Ifollow you. Sure enough, Senor, you find trouble---and I heet heem withmy finger!"
"You surely did 'hit him with your finger,' Nicolas," laughed Tom, graspingthe little Mexican's hand and wringing it. "But now come outside. I hadsent for the police to find you, and now I must show them that you arealready found."
Together they went out on the porch. Tom explained the situation.
"Then you don't need us, after all?" asked one of the policemen.
"Not to find Nicolas," Tom Reade admitted. "But do you know Evarts?"
"Used to be your foreman?"
"Yes."
"We know him," nodded the policeman.
"Then," Reade continued, "I wish you would search through Blixton forhim. If you find him, be good enough to lock him up and notify me."
"Is there a warrant out against him?" asked one of the policemen,cautiously.
"You don't need one," Tom replied. "I will make a charge of felonyagainst Evarts, to the effect that he is concerned in the outragesagainst our wall. On a felony charge you don't need a warrant. Then,too, try to find the big negro."
"What's his name?"
"I don't know his name," Tom answered. "I've dubbed him 'Sambo Ebony.'You have the description of him that I wrote out. Arrest Sambo, by allmeans, if you can find him, and I'll make a felony charge against him,too. The negro is the one who has been blowing up the sea wall."
"We'll look for the pair all through the town, Mr. Reade," promised theofficers.
"Do! And, on behalf of the company, I'll offer a two-hundred dollar rewardfor the arrest of each man!"
With that prospect to spur them on the policemen hastened away, followedby the young man with the bloodhound.
"Now, Nicolas," pressed Reade, turning around at the faithful little brownman, "you tumble back into bed."
"But you, Senor?"
"Don't worry about me. I've probably done all I need to do to-night. Ishall probably sit here on the porch and think until daylight. Then I'llcall Hazelton, and go to bed for a few hours' sleep before I appear incourt against the gamblers and the bootleggers. Go to bed, Nicolas, andsleep! That's an order, remember!"
The Mexican therefore went to his bedroom without protest. Presently Readebecame aware of the fact that his clothing had not by any means fullydried. He went to his room, took a vigorous rub-down, donned dry clothing,and then went out on the porch.
Though the night was dark the air was delicious. The combined odors ofmany flowers came in on the faintly stirring breeze.
Tom leaned back in a chair, his feet on the porch railing. His senseslulled by the quiet and repose of the night he was in danger of fallingasleep.
Of a sudden he came to with a start. Off among the trees to the eastward,near the road, a human being was stirring.
Reade rose, moving swiftly back more into the shadow. Then he watched,every sense alert. Yes; some one was moving, out there amid the trees.What he could not see, Tom discovered by his acute sense of hearing.
"I'll put a hot pebble in that fellow's bonnet, whoever he is!" Tommuttered vengefully. Entering the house, he left at the rear, then madea stealthy, roundabout trip that brought him at the farther edge of thelitte grove of trees.
Now the young engineer crouched close to the ground as he listened. Oncemore he heard that some one moving, not many yards away. It waspitch-black in there amid the trees. Guided by his ears, Tom moved closerand closer without making a betraying sound. Suddenly he found the tallfigure looming up almost in his path.
"Now, I've got you!" cried Tom exultantly, making a bound that should havecarried his hands to the throat of the prowler.
But the other, like a flash, went on the defensive. Tom felt himselfparried, then clutched at. The next instant the prowler had the youngengineer in a tackle that carried Tom Reade back to the good old highschool days at home. The young engineer was dumped on the ground as thoughhe had been a sack of flour.
"Great Scott!" quivered Tom Reade. "No one but Dick Prescott ever hadthat tackle down fine!"
"Well, you blithering idiot!" came the indignant answer. "That's who Iam---Prescott!"