"I knew it was my task to keep the negro from getting away," continued the little Mexican excitedly. "So I leaped up, extended my forefinger and rushed 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 can feel it yet. Down I went, and knew no more. When next I opened my eyes 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 my body. 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 had gone after men. Eef you came back, you have many men with you, so you do not need me. For that reason I come home."
Even in the dark the young engineer could "feel" Nicolas"s shudder. Tom could not repress a smile that threatened to become a chuckle.
"I was varee sleepy," continued Nicolas, "and so I lay down. I forgot to undress, 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 theenk the big black attack me once more. I am glad---so glad that it is not true."
"Nicolas," cried Tom, "you have done fighting enough for one night. Yet tell me, how did you happen to be at hand to-night in time to save me from Mr. Sambo Ebony?"
"Because I see you start away to-night," replied Nicolas, "an" I see that you go alone. I know that you mos" likely run into trouble, an" so I follow you. Sure enough, Senor, you find trouble---and I heet heem with my finger!"
"You surely did "hit him with your finger," Nicolas," laughed Tom, grasping the little Mexican"s hand and wringing it. "But now come outside. I had sent for the police to find you, and now I must show them that you are already 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 for him. 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 felony against Evarts, to the effect that he is concerned in the outrages against 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 all means, 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 the officers.
"Do! And, on behalf of the company, I"ll offer a two-hundred dollar reward for the arrest of each man!"
With that prospect to spur them on the policemen hastened away, followed by the young man with the bloodhound.
"Now, Nicolas," pressed Reade, turning around at the faithful little brown man, "you tumble back into bed."
"But you, Senor?"
"Don"t worry about me. I"ve probably done all I need to do to-night. I shall probably sit here on the porch and think until daylight. Then I"ll call Hazelton, and go to bed for a few hours" sleep before I appear in court against the gamblers and the bootleggers. Go to bed, Nicolas, and sleep! That"s an order, remember!"
The Mexican therefore went to his bedroom without protest. Presently Reade became aware of the fact that his clothing had not by any means fully dried. 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 of many flowers came in on the faintly stirring breeze.
Tom leaned back in a chair, his feet on the porch railing. His senses lulled by the quiet and repose of the night he was in danger of falling asleep.
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!" Tom muttered vengefully. Entering the house, he left at the rear, then made a stealthy, roundabout trip that brought him at the farther edge of the litte grove of trees.
Now the young engineer crouched close to the ground as he listened. Once more he heard that some one moving, not many yards away. It was pitch-black in there amid the trees. Guided by his ears, Tom moved closer and closer without making a betraying sound. Suddenly he found the tall figure looming up almost in his path.
"Now, I"ve got you!" cried Tom exultantly, making a bound that should have carried his hands to the throat of the prowler.
But the other, like a flash, went on the defensive. Tom felt himself parried, then clutched at. The next instant the prowler had the young engineer in a tackle that carried Tom Reade back to the good old high school days at home. The young engineer was dumped on the ground as though he had been a sack of flour.
"Great Scott!" quivered Tom Reade. "No one but d.i.c.k Prescott ever had that tackle down fine!"
"Well, you blithering idiot!" came the indignant answer. "That"s who I am---Prescott!"
CHAPTER XVIII
THE ARMY "ON THE JOB"
"You, d.i.c.k?" gasped Tom, stumbling ruefully to his feet. Then he leaped at his late foe, throwing his arms around him. The two fairly hugged each other, Yes; here was d.i.c.k Prescott, not so many weeks a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, and now, if you please, Second Lieutenant Richard Prescott, United States Army!
"Well, of all the strange things that the Illinois Central Railroad brings into Alabama!" grunted Tom, now gripping d.i.c.k by the hand and holding on as though he never meant to let go.
"If the Illinois Central had built its tracks through to Blixton I probably would have arrived at a civilized hour," laughed d.i.c.k. "As it was, I had to come in on a wood-burning, backwoods road and the train was only five hours and a half behind schedule. Then, from a sleepy policeman I got directions that enabled me to find this place after an hour"s hard work."
To what effect? Only to be pounced upon by you as though you had caught me in the act of stealing all the water in the Gulf of Mexico!"
"Stop your roasting," laughed Tom joyfully. "But say, it _does_ seem good to set eyes on you again, after two years."
All of our readers who have read the "_High School Boys Series_" and the "_West Point Series_" know all about d.i.c.k Prescott, the famous leader of d.i.c.k & Co.
"What are you now?" Tom asked eagerly. "A general, or only a colonel?"
"Nothing but a shavetail," laughed d.i.c.k. "Shavetail is the army nickname for a second lieutenant."