While taking him from the horse the bandage had been partially removed from his eyes, and he had been a witness of all that went on.
No sooner had they all quitted the place than he at once determined to make a desperate attempt to escape before their return, as he felt that that was his only chance.
Approaching the fire, he seized a piece of wood with his teeth and applied the blazing end to the cords that bound his arms. For some seconds it resisted the action of the fire, but at length it blazed, and was soon so weakened that with the energy of despair the youth snapped it, and had his hands again at liberty. He next looked around for some weapon, and luckily found a hatchet which Maretzo had used to open the cases. Thus armed, he stationed himself at the entrance of the cavern with the determination to fell the ruffians to the earth as they attempted to enter, and then endeavor to make his escape. In a few moments Maretzo appeared and received a blow that sent him reeling and senseless to the ground. Monteagle waited a few moments, but no one else appearing he stepped out of the cavern, and fortunately took the direction in which the gang had just proceeded. At times the waves reached his arm-pits but by moving forward cautiously he at length reached the beach safely.
CHAPTER XI
The Robbery.
It was about two o’clock of the morning following the night in which so many events were crowded. The moon had gone down, and great masses of black clouds completely hid the stars. The wind blew violently from seawards, and the waves dashed furiously against the massive piers which the enterprise of the San Franciscans have carried far into the bosom of their glorious Bay.
‘Well, if this ain’t a hell of a night, I’m d—d,’ said a powerfully built man, who might have been recognized as Montgomery had it not been so dark that a negro could not have been discerned from an albino.
‘By Vere in ’ell is Blodget a keepin’ hisself,’ said his companion, whose unmerciful treatment of the v’s and w’s announced him to be a genuine Cockney, and such he was; but previous to visiting California, he had paid Botany Bay a flying visit, his wrists graced with these bracelets, so much more useful than ornamental.
These two men were in a large yawl, under a wharf near Davis street.
‘Boat a-hoy!’ cried Blodget, on the wharf.