Mezzoni the Brigand — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 183 ‘‘He knows how to use a knife,’’ continued the other, ‘‘as we have seen.”’ ‘‘Let us give the fellow no chance this time,’’ was the reply. The two men who were at the oars in the robber’s— boat were undoubtedly incited by extraordinary promises of reward, for they were pulling toward the island of Capri at a marvelous speed, and with wonderful endurance. The police boat had four oars, the other boat two, yet the former being much the heaviest could gain but slowly upon the latter. “Tf he should land at the island before us, the ras- cal has some dodge, by which he expects to escape us. He has confederates there perhaps,”’ said an officer. ‘‘Depend upon that,’’ said another. ‘But he must not land,” said a third. “Not if I can get within pistol range of him,”’ said he who had first spoken. The two boats had now got barely within hailing distance, but no attention was paid to the loud or- ders of the officers. The two oarsmen who had pulled the robber’s boat must have been his devoted friends, for the mere anticipation of pecuniary re- ward could not induce them to run so serious a risk. The officers could now hail the boat distinctly. - Capri was close at hand—that shore was the robber’s only hope. Once landed there he might secrete him- self, or find such friendly assistance as would protect him from his pursuers. The distance seemed still too far for a pistol shot to tell. One moment more and the first officer, who had been standing ready, said: “T will try it.’ And a shot whistled after the boat containing the Eomicbooks €O