I'll know if they will permit such a thing in Venice. They must bestir themselves! It is high time."

"Then you may leave me here," said Teresa eagerly.

At the first opportunity, young Merriwell called Brad into one of the other rooms.

"Brad, I want you to remain here and keep watch over Teresa," he said.

"She is not herself, and may do something rash. Professor Gunn and I are going to see the authorities. Then we're going to see that a search is made for the body of Reggio. I don't believe it will be found, for I have an idea that the a.s.sa.s.sins cast it into the water, and the tide has carried it far out to sea before this. Still it is our duty to have a search made for it."

"Sure as shooting."

"You'll watch her closely, Brad?"

"She may object some, but I'll do my prettiest, d.i.c.k."

"Good! Now, I have to explain to her and urge her to remain here until we bring back some sort of a report."

Teresa frowned and shook her head when he told her of the plan.

"I want no one to stay," she said. "You shall all go."

"Oh, no, no!" put in Professor Gunn. "We couldn't think of that, my dear-couldn't think of it. It wouldn't be proper. Bradley will remain here to protect you from peril of any sort, and I a.s.sure you that he is a brave and n.o.ble lad. I do not think I quite understand him at school, but since seeing that he is brave as a lion and generous to a fault, I appreciate him fully."

"Thank you, professor," said the Texan. "You're some complimentary this morning."

"But not flattering. The truth is never flattery if it is spoken in the right spirit. I am proud to pay this tribute to your fine qualities. I shall be proud to do so before the entire school when we return to Fardale."

"Oh, Jerusalem! don't do that, professor!" gasped Buckhart, appalled. "I wouldn't have you for a barrel of money!"

"Eh? Wouldn't? Why not?"

"Why, I'd certain take to the tall timber on the jump if you did it. I'd hunt a hole and stay there till the fellows forgot it. They would guy me to death."

"Would they?" cried Zenas, surprised and displeased. "Now, don't you think anything of the sort! I'd like to know of them trying it."

"But you wouldn't know, you see."

"You might tell me. It would be your duty to tell me."

"People do not always do their duty in this world."

The old pedagogue was surprised and puzzled. He had not fancied Buckhart a modest boy, but now, of a sudden, he realized that the Texan was genuinely modest in a way.

"We'll say no more about it now, Bradley," he said gravely. "I believe I am beginning to understand you more and more. You are a very singular lad-very."

In spite of Teresa's objections, Brad was left to look out for her, while d.i.c.k and the professor departed.

More than two hours later they returned. They had succeeded in reporting to the authorities, but their tale had been received with such apparent incredulity that both were vexed and angered. They had received a promise that the matter should be investigated. More than that, an official had accompanied them to the home of the Tortoras.

On arriving there they found the broken door had been restored and repaired, although not all the signs of the attack upon it had been hidden. There was no blood on the steps outside the door, nor on the stairs where Reggio had been stabbed by Mullura.

The body of the gondolier was not found.

The woman who owned the house explained that there had been carousing in the rooms the previous night, and that her tenants, apparently fearing ejectment, had vanished ere morning.

"But they left all their belongings here," said Professor Gunn.

"No, no!" exclaimed the woman. "They took everything. Not one thing belonging to them did they leave."

She persisted in this statement, and all the questions put to her did not confuse her. She also declared she had found no trace of blood on the stairs.

"Then why have those stairs been washed this morning?" demanded d.i.c.k.

"It is my custom to have them washed every morning."

"Question others in the house," urged Professor Gunn.

But other people in the house were very loath to answer questions, and no satisfaction could be obtained from them.

"They are one and all terrified by the Ten," a.s.serted d.i.c.k. "They dare not confess that they heard the sounds of the fight last night. It is likely they have been warned to be silent."

"It's a fine state of affairs!" exclaimed Zenas, exasperated.

The official made a gesture of helplessness.

"You see there is nothing that can be done, signors," he said.

"And are you going to let this thing go right on in Venice? It will ruin your city. You may have kept it quiet thus far, but it shall be published to the world now. Travelers will cease coming here. Then what will you do? You live off tourists. But for them the city would go to the dogs in a short time. It's up to you to take hold of this matter in earnest and bring this band of robbers and a.s.sa.s.sins to justice."

"We care not for your advice," was the haughty answer.

That ended it. Believing nothing could be done, d.i.c.k and the professor finally returned to their waiting gondola, and gave the gondolier directions to take them back to their lodgings. The official entered his boat and was rowed away.

Zenas fussed and fumed, but it was useless. d.i.c.k took it more calmly.

But when they reached their own rooms an unpleasant surprise awaited them.

Teresa was gone.

Likewise Brad Buckhart!

CHAPTER XXI.

THE LAST STROKE.

The landlady was called, but she declared that the boy and girl had left without her knowledge. She had not seen them go, and she had not the least idea whither they had gone.