The man consulted a time-table patterned after those used in the United States, and announced that an express would depart within twenty minutes. Hurrying to a neighboring hotel, the lads ate "tiffin," and returned in time to embark upon the second stage of the chase.
When the train steamed into a way station three hours later a railway employee in gorgeous uniform approached them with a telegram. Hastily opening the envelope, Nattie read, with keen disappointment:
"Headquarters, Tokio.
"Our detective reports that the man he had been following managed to evade him at Yowara, and has completely disappeared. Local police are searching the mountains."
CHAPTER XXIII. PATRICK SHOWS HIS CLEVERNESS.
Nattie and Mori exchanged glances of dismay.
"Confound it! isn't that provoking?" exclaimed the latter. "That stupid detective had to let him slip just when the chase commenced to be interesting."
"Patrick must have suspected something, and he was sly enough to fool his follower. Now what are we going to do?"
"Get off at Yowara and take up the search ourselves; that's all we can do. Surely some one must have seen the Irishman. The very fact that he is a foreigner should draw attention to him. Don't worry, old boy; we'll find him before many hours have elapsed."