Another angry exclamation from Tomaso.
"You see, the old gentleman has gained some experience as a trader, and he knows well enough that if he waits a little time, he"ll get you all free-gratis for nothing at all."
"You are a devil, Englishman."
"And you are not exactly an angel. However, if I am a devil, you may consider you are regularly sold to me. So now come along; keep your hands under your cloak, and no one will notice the little decorations on your wrists."
"You are a devil, Signor Englishman; but you will die for this."
"Pshaw! I"ve collared scores of desperate villains, and they all said something of the same kind, yet here I am,"
"You will die," repeated Tomaso.
"Some clay, of course; but we have a proverb in England; would you like to hear it?"
Tomaso tossed his head with lofty indifference.
"The proverb," continued Pike, "is that "Threatened men live long.""
He then took Tomaso by the arm, and led him on.
"But stop," said he, "those pistols in your girdle are very heavy. I"ll carry them for you, and the knife as well."
CHAPTER XVII.
THE DECOY--A THROW OF THE DICE--THE EXECUTION.
Before Pike and his captive had gone far on their return journey, Harkaway and Harvey, with two or three of the gendarmes, and a minute after Jefferson, came up.
"You have caught him then. Hurrah!" said d.i.c.k Harvey.
"But this is not Hunston," said Harkaway.
"No, sir; he managed to get clean away. But we"ll have him yet."
An old goatherd, who had scrambled down near to the place where the captor and prisoner stood, might have been seen to indulge in a contemptuous smile.
We say might, because the fact is that all were so much elated at the capture of Tomaso that the very presence of the old stranger had hitherto remained unnoticed.
Nor did he seem to court attention, but remained behind a bush, in a spot, however, where he could hear all that pa.s.sed.
"Well, we must take this fellow back to the town, and hand him over to the authorities," said Harvey.
"And then hunt down Master Hunston," remarked old Jack. "I wish we knew where to look for him."
"He took this direction," remarked Pike.
"True."
"And, therefore, it is in this direction that we must look for him."
"Right again," remarked d.i.c.k Harvey.
"But as he is a.s.sociated with some desperate fellows, it would be as well to place this gentleman in the hands of the authorities before we seek him. It is not good to go into action with prisoners on our hands."
As all agreed on this point, they walked back with the prisoner, and had the pleasure of seeing him put into a cell from which, apparently, there was no way of escape, even the fire-place having been bricked up since the attempt of Mathias to gain freedom that way. By the time that was done it was too late to think of starting that day, so our friends retired to hold a council of war.
Pike, however, took no part in the consultation.
That astute detective had formed in his own mind a resolution that, if it were possible, he would capture Hunston single-handed, thus covering himself with glory, and at the same time keeping the Harkaways and Harvey out of danger.
Pike knew that it was a difficult thing to keep them out of danger, and that if they heard any thing about the brigands, they would be the very ones to lead an attack.
Pike walked up and down, smoking and reflecting on the difficulties which surrounded his task.
He had not thoroughly matured his plans when the sun went down and the moon rose.
Few people were abroad.
The audacity the brigands had recently displayed had convinced most people that they were safer indoors than out.
As Pike walked up and down the quiet street, he noticed an old man crouched up in a corner, wrapped in a tattered cloak, and apparently intending to pa.s.s the night there.
"Hilloa, my friend, what are you? Are you one of the brigands?"
Pike uttered the words in a jocular manner, but the old man felt deeply offended.
"Sir Englishman, you insult me."
"I apologise. I had no intention of doing so."
"A brigand! Signor, I am here--houseless and penniless in my old age through those accursed villains! May Sathanas fly away with their souls."
"Well, old man, perchance you will be avenged before long."
"It is what I pray for. They burnt my hut, cut down my two fine olive trees, and drove off my little flock of goats."
The old man covered his face, and appeared to sob violently.
"When was this?" asked Pike.
"Scarce three hours since."
"Was there with them a foreigner--one of my country?"