Then it was that the brigands, headed by the sham visitor, Tomaso, found their chance.
Up till now, the retreat had been cut off by the unpleasant appearance of the military.
"There goes the powder keg under the water gate," cried Tomaso. "Lose not a moment. Follow me."
A desperate rush was made, and the brigands got clear of the prison.
The soldiers were divided into two lots, one party being sent in pursuit, the other remaining to guard the prison.
The roll-call of the prisoners made this discovery.
"How many prisoners have escaped?" inquired the governor.
"Three absentees, your excellency," said the head man of the prison. "One is an Italian, calling himself Toro; another an Englishman, calling himself Hunston; and the third, the brigand chief Mathias."