142 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



unlimited powers, it was of the highest import- 

 ance to Lozada to obtain possession of him, 

 and it was said that he calculated on getting 

 a million dollars from the firm for his ransom. 

 Had the money not been forthcoming, that 

 gentleman's life would in all probability have 

 been forfeited. 



A Mexican gentleman in business in Tepic 

 had already been imprisoned by the orders of 

 Lozada for some imaginary offence, and his 

 death-warrant had been read to him. He was, 

 however, eventually released on payment of a 

 large sum of money. 



The morning after the attempted arrest of 

 Mr. Heaven, I went on shore to see the official 

 who had given directions for his capture. I 

 found him at his office with his " secretary," 

 and a more rascally -looking pair it would be 

 difficult to find. The captain, as he was called, 

 was a dark, sulky-looking Indian, who evidently 

 could not write, hence the necessity of a secre- 

 tary. The latter had a club foot, and a 

 diabolical-looking squint. They sat together 



