The records did not just then interest him, and he turned to one of the two windows. Both were shut and barred, but to his intense delight he saw that in one place a bar was loose. He was trying to noiselessly open the window, when he heard rapid footsteps in the corridor without. The footsteps came closer, and Howard had just time to conceal himself behind a big arm-chair, when the door was flung open and Captain Nocolo entered, followed by the head-keeper of the prison. "Yes, I want to interview this Howard Sherwood," Captain Nocolo was saying. "He is a----" An alarm from below cut short his words. Howard's escape had been discovered, and in less than a minute the wildest excitement prevailed. "Guard every door, every window, and all the walls!" was the order issued. "He has not yet left the building, and must be found!" CHAPTER XV. THEY HAVE SET A PACK OF BLOODHOUNDS ON OUR TRAIL. Howard scarcely dared to breathe as he listened to Captain Nocolo's ominous words. He crouched still closer to the chair as the captain walked to one of the windows to look out. The head-keeper of the prison had left the apartment at the first alarm, and was now below, leading one party, that was searching the various cells and corridors. The young war correspondent felt that if he was to escape, the deed must be accomplished quickly. In a few minutes more the entire outer walls of the prison would be under guard. He gazed at Captain Nocolo and at the open window, longingly. Should he make the attempt. He would! As stealthily as a cat, he left the vicinity of the big arm-chair, and on tiptoe advanced upon the captain. He was within a yard of the Spanish officer, when the latter turned sharply and confronted him. "You!" exclaimed Captain Nocolo. He had not time to say more, for Howard leaped upon him, and tried to hurl him to the floor. A fierce struggle followed, a struggle for liberty or death. The captain was a strong man, and, in peril of his life, he fought madly and long. But Howard's blood was now fully aroused, and in the end he was victorious. A well-directed blow on the neck stretched Captain Nocolo unconscious. There was not a minute to spare. Already footsteps were approaching the room. Howard looked eagerly at the weapons hanging upon the walls of the apartment, but he dare not take the time to arm himself. He leaped to the open window, glanced down to see that the coast was clear, and dropped to the ground. Just as his feet touched the soft earth a shot rang out, and a bullet whistled over his head. A sentry on the prison wall had fired at him. In less than ten seconds it was known that he was outside, and the searchers rushed out pell-mell in pursuit. The window from which he had effected his escape looked out upon a side street, and down this narrow thoroughfare Howard made his way, running at a greater speed than that shone in the old days of sprinting at college.