All that could be ascertained was that at half-past seven on the previous night one of the doctors had attended Thomas Roch, who was suffering from one of his fits, and that when the medical man had left him the invalid was in an unconscious condition.

What had happened after the doctor took leave of Gaydon at the end of the garden-path could not even be conjectured.
The news of the disappearance was telegraphed to New Berne, and thence to Raleigh.

On receipt of it the Governor had instantly wired orders that no vessel was to be allowed to quit Pamlico Sound without having been first subjected to a most rigorous search.

Another dispatch ordered the cruiser _Falcon_, which was stationed in the port, to carry out the Governor's instructions in this respect.

At the same time measures were taken to keep a strict lookout in every town and village in the State.
The Count d'Artigas could see the _Falcon_, which was a couple of miles away to the east in the estuary, getting steam up and making hurried preparations to carry out her mission.