Van now proceeded to relate all that had happened since his uncle's murder, and his father was deeply interested in the recital of the story.
"Well, my son," said he, after a rather long interval of silence, "John Moreland, or Doc Clancy, as you call him, will surely be executed, and after that happens I shall endeavor to work things so I shall be able to leave this beautiful country and go back with you to the land of our birth. And now you had better return to your friends and tell them that you have found a father. I will arrange things in my house this afternoon, and you and your companions will be my guests as long as you remain in the city."
Van now left his father and started to hunt up Jack Howard and the rest.
He soon learned that they had gone to take a look about the ancient though beautiful city, and taking the direction they had gone, he started to find them.
The boy was so elated and full of joy at the miraculous finding of his father, that he hardly noticed anything as he walked along.
Just as he was passing a fine-looking edifice, he was startled by the shrill scream of a female in distress.
In a moment Van's chivalric nature was aroused, and he turned his eyes in the direction the cry came from.
By the side of the building he beheld a beautiful girl struggling in the arms of a powerful-looking man.
Quick as a flash, Van leaped over the low fence in front of the house and rushed to the spot.
The girl was doing her best to get away from the man, who now held his hand tightly over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.