"At him, Marcones! Fire!" cried Don Roque, courageously running in pursuit of the criminal.
Marcones wished to follow his chief's injunction, but fear made him helpless.
The trigger fell without emitting a spark. Then, with martial promptitude, he cast aside the weapon, which was useless, drew his sword and made valiant efforts to keep pace with the mayor, who, with intrepid courage, was at least twenty paces in advance, in pursuit of the robber.
The fellow now disappeared round the corner of a street.
But on their arrival there the pursuers saw him attempting to gain the next.
"Boom!"
Don Roque fired his revolver, crying at the same time:
"Take that, thief!"
He again disappeared, and again they caught sight of him in the Calle de la Misericordia.
Boom! Another shot from Don Roque.