Mezzoni the Brigand — page 190: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

182 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. it at once, he discovered that the prisoner had worked his way by patient labor and the ingenious hiding of the debris, which was necessarily created, through the thick stone wall, and had undermined a second and another wall, whence he had made his escape. It was very evident at a glance that this work must have been in progress for many days. The bird had indeed flown. The alarm was given. at once, no time was lost, the police being sent in all directions to seek the adroit and daring criminal. From certain indications it was apparent that the final departure from the prison had been effected very recently, and the fugitive was easily tracked toward the waters of the bay, whither he had first directed his steps. After pursuing him into several hiding places in the humblest. section of the town, which adjoins the water, he was at last discovered just embarking in a boat, pulled by a couple of men. With the quarry in sight, the chase begun in real earnest. | Four policemen were soon in one of their boats and following,: but the robber had got a fair start of them, and was far out in the bay before they could make any perceptible gain upon him. The heavy police boat did, however, gradually lessen its dis- tance from that containing the fugitive. ‘‘He cannot have any fire-arms?’”’ said one of the officers to another. | ‘Most likely not,’’ was the reply, ‘‘but he has probably got a knife. “Yes, he would be sure to secure some weapon, and that he could get the easiest,”’ “SCO Comicboo