But Scudder was hot after the fugitive now, and it seemed that the youngster must be captured in a few seconds.
"Ain’t got me yet!" panted the boy, as he darted round a corner of the old wharf-building.
Scudder uttered an exclamation of anger at this, but followed the lad closely.
Between two of the buildings the lad disappeared. Uric plunged in there, and a cry of satisfaction broke from his lips, for he had the lad penned, there being a huge opening in the rotten flooring between the buildings.
"Now, I’ve got you!" grated Scudder, in triumph. "And I’ll give you just what you deserve!"
He jumped for the boy, who was standing on the edge of the opening. The desperate lad had not given up, however, and he suddenly crouched and leaped to spring across the opening.
Uric saw the boy’s feet slip on the wet and rotten planking, saw the little fellow fail to land on the farther side of the opening, saw him strike heavily against the timbers, and then go whirling downward.
The whirling body of the boy struck in the water beneath the old wharf.
"Where is he?" asked Glennon, behind Scudder.
"Down there!" answered Uric, pointing through the opening.