CHAPTER XVIII
PHIL ELUDES HIS PURSUER
Phil had already made up his mind where to go. Just across the river wasNew Jersey, with its flourishing towns and cities, settled to a largeextent by men doing business in New York. The largest of these citieswas Newark, only ten miles distant. There Phil decided to make hisfirst stop. If he found himself in danger of capture he could easilygo farther. This plan Paul approved, and it was to be carried intoexecution immediately.
"I will go down to the Cortlandt Street Ferry with you, Phil," saidPaul.
"I should like to have you, if it will not take you from your business,Paolo."
"My business can wait," said Paul. "I mean to see you safe out of thecity. The padrone may be in search of you already."
"I think he will send Pietro to find me," said Phil.
"Who is Pietro?"
Phil explained that Pietro was the padrone's nephew and assisted inoppressing the boys.
"I hope he will send him," said Paul.
Phil looked up in surprise.
"I should like to see this Pietro. What would he do if he should findyou?"
"He would take me back."
"If you did not want to go?"
"I couldn't help it," said Phil, shrugging his shoulders. "He is muchbigger than I."
"Is he bigger than I am?"
"I think he is as big."
"He isn't big enough to take you away if I am with you."
Paul did not say this boastfully, but with a quiet confidence in his ownpowers in which he was justified. Though by no means quarrelsome, hehad on several occasions been forced in self-defense into a contest withboys of his own size, and in some instances larger, and in every case hehad acquitted himself manfully, and come off victorious.
"I should not be afraid if you were with me, Paolo," said Phil.
"You are right, Phil," said Paul, approvingly. "But here we are at theferry."
Cortlandt Street is a short distance below the Astor House, and leadsto the ferry, connecting on the other side with trains bound forPhiladelphia and intermediate places.
Paul paid the regular toll, and passed through the portal with Phil.
"Are you going with me?" asked the little fiddler, in surprise.
"Only to Jersey City, Phil. There might be some of your friends on boardthe boat. I want to see you safe on the cars. Then I must leave you."
"You are very kind, Paolo."
"You are a good little chap, Phil, and I mean to help you. But the boatis about ready to start. Let us go on board."
They walked down the pier, and got on the boat a minute before itstarted. They did not pass through to the other end, but, leaningagainst the side, kept their eyes fixed on the city they were about toleave. They had not long to wait. The signal was heard, and the boatstarted leisurely from the pier. It was but ten feet distant, when theattention of Paul and Phil was drawn to a person running down the dropin great haste. He evidently wanted to catch the boat, but was too late.
Phil clutched at Paul's arm, and pointed to him in evident excitement.
"It is Pietro," he said.
At that moment Pietro, standing on the brink, caught sight of the boyhe was pursuing, looking back at him from the deck of the ferry-boat.A look of exultation and disappointment swept over his face as he sawPhil, but realized that he was out of his reach. He had a hand-organwith him, and this had doubtless encumbered him, and prevented hisrunning as fast as he might otherwise.
"So that is Pietro, is it?" said Paul, regarding him attentively inorder to fix his face in his memory.
"Yes, Paolo," said Phil, his eyes fixed nervously upon his pursuer, whomaintained his place, and was watching him with equal attention.
"You are not frightened, Phil, are you?"
Phil admitted that he was.
"He will come over in the next boat," he said.
"But he will not know where you are."
"He will seek me."
"Will he? Then I think he will be disappointed. The cars will starton the other side before the next boat arrives. I found out about thatbefore we started."
Phil felt relieved by this intelligence, but still he was nervous.Knowing well Pietro's malice, he dreaded the chances of his capturinghim.
"He stays there. He does not go away," said Phil.
"It will do him no good, Phil. He is like a cat watching a canary birdbeyond his reach. I don't think he will catch you to-day."
"He may go in the cars, too," suggested Phil.
"That is true. On the whole, Phil, when you get to Newark, I adviseyou to walk into the country. Don't stay in the city. He might find youthere."
"I will do what you say, Paolo. It will be better."
They soon reached the Jersey shore. The railroad station was close by.They went thither at once, and Phil bought a ticket for Newark.
"How soon will the cars start?" inquired Paul of a railway official.
"In five minutes," was the answer.
"Then, Phil, I advise you to get into the cars at once. Take a seaton the opposite side, though there is no chance of your being seen byPietro, who will get here too late. Still, it is best to be on the safeside. I will stay near the ferry and watch Pietro when he lands. PerhapsI will have a little conversation with him."
"I will go, Paolo."
"Well, good-by, Phil, and good luck," said Paul, cheerfully. "If youever come to New York, come to see me."
"Yes, Paolo, I will be sure to come."
"And, Phil, though I don't think you will ever fall into the powerof that old brute again (I am sure you won't if you take good care ofyourself), still, if he does get you back again, come to me the firstchance you get, and I will see what I can do for you."
"Thank you, Paolo. I will remember your kindness always," said thelittle fiddler, gratefully.
"That is all right, Phil. Good-by!"
"Good-by!" said Phil, and, shaking the hand of his new friend, heascended the steps, and took a seat on the opposite side, as Paul hadrecommended.
"I am sorry to part with Phil," said Paul to himself. "He's a finelittle chap, and I like him. If ever that old brute gets hold of himagain, he shan't keep him long. Now, Signor Pietro, I'll go back and seeyou on your arrival."
Phil was right in supposing that Pietro would take passage on the nextboat. He waited impatiently on the drop till it touched, and sprang onboard. He cursed the interval of delay, fearing that it would give Phila chance to get away. However, there was no help for this. Time and tidewait for no man, but it often happens that we are compelled to wait forthem. But at length the boat touched the Jersey shore, and Pietrosprang out and hurried to the gates, looking eagerly on all sides for apossible glimpse of the boy he sought. He did not see him, for the carswere already on their way, but his eyes lighted up with satisfaction asthey lighted on Paul, whom he recognized as the companion of Phil. Hehad seen him talking to the little fiddler. Probably he would know wherehe had gone. He walked up to Paul, who was standing near, and, touchinghis cap, said: "Excuse me, signore, but have you seen my littlebrother?"
"Your little brother?" repeated Paul, deliberately.
"Si, signore, a little boy with a fiddle. He was so high;" and Pietroindicated the height of Phil correctly by his hand.
"There was a boy came over in the boat with me," said Paul.
"Yes, yes; he is the one, signore," said Pietro, eagerly.
"And he is your brother?"
"Si, signore."
"That's a lie," thought Paul, "I should know it even if Phil hadnot told me. Phil is a handsome little chap. He wouldn't have such avillainous-looking brother as you."
"Can you tell me where he has gone?" asked Pietro, eagerly.
"Didn't he tell you where he was going?" asked Paul, in turn.
"I think he means to run away," said Pietro. "Did you see where hewent?"
"Why should he want to run away?" asked Paul, who enjoyed tantalizingPietro, who he saw was chafing with impatience. "Did you not tr
eat himwell?"
"He is a little rascal," said Pietro. "He is treated well, but he is athief."
"And you are his brother," repeated Paul, significantly.
"Did you see where he went?" asked Pietro, getting angry. "I want totake him back to his father."
"How should I know?" returned Paul, coolly. "Do you think I have nothingto do but to look after your brother?"
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" said Pietro, incensed.
"Don't get mad," said Paul, indifferently; "it won't do you any good.Perhaps, if you look round, you will see your brother. I'll tell him youwant him if I see him."
Pietro looked at Paul suspiciously. It struck him that the latter mightbe making a fool of him, but Paul looked so utterly indifferent thathe could judge nothing from his appearance. He concluded that Phil waswandering about somewhere in Jersey City.
It did not occur to him that he might have taken the cars for somemore distant place. At any rate, there seemed no chance of getting anyinformation out of Paul. So he adjusted his hand-organ and walked up thestreet leading from the ferry, looking sharply on either side, hoping tocatch a glimpse of the runaway; but, of course, in vain.
"I don't think you'll find Phil to-day, Signor Pietro," said Paul tohimself, as he watched his receding form. "Now, as there is nothing moreto be done here, I will go back to business."
Phil, the Fiddler Page 18