“IknowwhatIamwantedfor，butIwillneverreturntoNewYork。“
Inhisgripwasfoundthesumof$1，563。15，aswellasnumerouslettersfromthelawfirmofHoweandHummel，andaquantityofnewspaperclippingsrelativetohiscase。
DodgepleadedwithChiefHowardnottolockhimup，urgingthathewasasickmanandofferingagoodlysumifhemightbetakentoahotelandguardedfortheremainderofthenight。Butwhat“went“
inNewOrleansdidnot“go“inHouston，andthebestthatDodgecouldgetforhimselfwasacotinthe“Ladies’DetentionRoom“onthesecondfloorofthejail。
EarlythefollowingmorningJessevisitedPoliceHeadquartersandforthefirsttimemetGeorgeEllis，ChiefofPoliceofHouston，forwhomhewillalwayshaveafeelingofdeepgratitudeforhisenthusiasticcooperationandloyaltyinthemanystirringeventsthatfollowed。DodgenowreceivedatelegramfromNewYork，whichwassubmittedtoJessebeforereachingtheprisoner，totheeffectthatHoweandHummelweresendingonanattorneytoaidthefugitiveinresistingextradition，andinforminghimthattheyhademployedMessrs。HuntandMeyersasattorneystolookoutforhiswelfare。TheselastimmediatelyjumpedinmediasresandontheafternoonofthesamedaysecuredawritofhabeascorpusfromNormanJ。Kitrell，DistrictJudgeofHarrisCounty，Texas，returnablethefollowingmorning。
Thenextday，January28th，KitrellreleasedDodgefromcustody。
Jessehadanticipatedthisandimmediatelysworeoutanotherwarrantwiththeresultthattheprisonerwasrearrestedbeforeheleftthecourtroom。
MeantimetheDodgeinterestsretainedanotherfirmoflawyers，Messrs。AndrewsandBall，who，onthefollowingday，securedasecondwritofhabeascorpusfromJudgeAshe。
Theresultofthefirstengagementthusbeingadraw，counselonbothsidesagreedthatthiswritshouldnotbereturnableforsixdays。DuringthisperiodDistrictAttorneyJeromeemployedMessrs。
Baker，Botts，ParkerandGarwoodtorepresenthimandsecuredfromGovernorOdellatAlbanyarequisitiononGovernorLanhamofTexasfortheextraditionoftheprisoner，whichheentrustedtoDetectiveSergeantHerlihyoftheNewYorkPolice。HerlihyreachedHoustonwiththepapersontheeveningofJanuary30th，andonthesametrainwithhimcameAbrahamKaffenburgh，amemberofthelawfirmofHoweandHummelandanephewofthelatter。LikewisealsocameBracken，stillstylinghimself“E。M。Bradley，“andfromnowonBrackenwastheinseparablecompanion，guide，philosopher，andfriend？oftheunfortunateDodge，whosecontinuedexistenceuponthisearthhadbecomesuchamenacetothelittlelawyerinNewYork。
Herlihy，accompaniedbyJudgeGarwood，proceededdirecttoAustinwheretheyfoundDodgealreadyrepresentedbyMessrs。AndrewsandBallwho，atthehearingbeforeGovernorLanham，madeastrongefforttoinducethatexecutivetorefusetohonortherequisitionoftheGovernorofNewYork。ThiseffortfailedandGovernorLanhamissuedhiswarrant，butHerlihyhadnosoonerreturnedtoHoustonforthepurposeoftakingpossessionoftheprisonerthanhewasservedwithaninjunctionenjoininghim，togetherwithChiefofPoliceEllis，fromtakingDodgeintocustody，pendingahearinguponanewhabeascorpuswhichhadbeenissuedbyJudgeWallerT。
BurnsoftheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheSouthernDistrictofTexas。ThisnewwritwasreturnableFebruary9th。
AfterexhaustivebutfutileargumentbythecounselforDodge，JudgeBurnsremandedtheprisonertoHerlihy’scustodytobereturnedtotheStateofNewYork，butthisdecisionhadnosoonerbeenrenderedthananappealwastakentherefrombyDodge’slawyers，andtheprisonerreleaseduponbailfixedattwentythousanddollars。
DuringthisperiodDodgewasquarteredunderguardattheRiceHotelinHouston，andthedayfollowingtheargumentthetwenty-
thousand-dollarsbailwasputupincashandDodgereleasedfromcustody。
Inthemeantime，however，Jesse，knowingthatnosum，howeverlarge，woulddeterHummelfromspiritingDodgeoutofthecountry，hadmadehisarrangementstosecureanewextraditionwarrantfromtheGovernorofTexas，sothatiftheprisonerdidsucceedingettingbeyondtheSouthernDistrictoftheFederalCourtofTexas，hecouldbeseizedandconveyedtoNewYork。
OfcoursesomeonehadtokeepwatchoverDodgewhileJessehurriedtoAustintoseetheGovernor，anditwasdecidedtoleaveSergeantHerlihy，re-enforcedbyanumberoflocaldetectivesforthatpurpose。ButwhilethewatchfulJessewasaway，BrackenproceededtogetbusyinthegoodoldHoweandHummelfashion。LotsofpeoplethatHerlihyhadneverseenbeforeturnedupandprotestedthathewasthefinestfellowtheyhadevermet。AndasHerlihywas，infact，agoodfellow，hemadethemwelcomeanddinedandwinedattheirexpenseuntilhewokeupintheMengerHotelinSanAntonioandinquiredwherehewas。
JessemeantimehadreturnedfromAustintodiscoverthatDodgewithhiscompanions，KaffenburghandBracken，hadslippedoutofHoustonearlyinthemorningofFebruary11th，afterdisposingofHerlihyandeludingthewatchfulnessofHerlihy’sassistants。Hummelwasleadingandbyteno’clockthenextmorningDodgeandhiscomradeswereonboardanEnglishmerchantmanlyingintheharborofGalveston。LaterinthesamedaytheHummelinterestscharteredfromtheSouthernPacificRailroadforthesumofthreethousanddollarsthesea-goingtugHughes，towhichDodgewasnowtransferredforthepurposeofbeingconveyedtotheportofTampicointheRepublicofMexico。
ButhereHummel’swiresbecamecrossedwithJerome’s，andunfortunatelyforthelittlelawyer，thepersonsfromwhomthetughadbeenleasedturnedouttobecloselyalliedwiththeprosecution’sinterests，withtheresultthatthecaptainofthetugwasinstructedbyhissuperiorsundernoconsiderationtoputintoanyMexicanport，butonthecontrary，todelayhisdeparturefromtheharborofGalvestonforaperiodoftwodaysandthentoproceedonlyasfarasBrownsville，Texas，whereheshouldcompelthedebarkationofthefugitive。Thecaptain，whowasagoodsportaswellasagoodofficer，promptlythrewhimselfintothepartandtoldBrackenandKaffenburghthatitwasevidentfromthebarometerthataseverestormwasapproachingwhichmusthavehadasinisterimplicationtothesetwounfortunategentlemen，andthathecouldnotthinkofputtingtosea。Oncethe“storm“hadblownover，thetugstartedoutacrossthebluewatersoftheGulfofMexico。ButnowBrackenandKaffenburghwereinformedforthefirsttimeitwasimpossibletoconsiderputtingintoanyportoftheRepublicofMexico，sincetodosowouldcauseinternationalcomplicationsandcompeltherevocationofthecaptain’slicense。IndesperationtheHummelinterestsofferedthecaptainfivethousanddollarsincashtodisregardhisinstructionsandputintoTampico，buttheworthysea-dogwasadamant。Itwasprobablyworthfivethousanddollarstohimtoseethreegentryofthispatternsomuchputabout。
WhileDodgeandhisaccomplicesweredallyingintheharborofGalveston，JessewastakingadvantageofhisopportunitytoproceedatoncebyrailroadtoAlice，Texas，whichatthattimewasthefurthermostsouthernpointreachedbyanyrailwayinthedirectionofBrownsville。Onhisarrival，heatonceappliedtoCaptainJohnR。Hughes，commandingCompanyDoftheTexasRangers，whoreceivedhimwithgreatjoyandorderedadetachmentoftheRangerstomeetthetugatPointIsabelleatthemouthoftheRioGrandeRiverontheborderofMexico。Inthemeantime，JessestartedonatoilsomestagejourneytoBrownsville，acrossonehundredandseventymilesofdesert，whichoccupiedtwodaysandnights，andnecessitatedhisgoingwithoutsleepforthatperiod。DuringthetripJesseheardnowordofEnglishandhadashisassociatesonlyMexicancattlemen。Everyfifteenmilesafreshrelayofbroncoswashitchedtothestageandafterafewmoments’restthemiserybeganagain。
JessehadbeenhurryingtowardBrownsvillebystagewhileDodge，Kaffenburgh，andBrackenwerelandingatPointIsabelle，wheretheywerekeptunderclosesurveillancebySergeantTomRossoftheRangers。ThencetheytookthetraintoBrownsville，registeringattheMillerHouseundertheassumednamesofC。F。Dougherty，A。
Koontzman，andE。M。Barker，allofOklahoma。But，althoughtheyknewitnot，SergeantTomwasattheirelbow，andhadDodgeattemptedtocrosstheborderintoMexicohewouldinstantlyhavebeenplacedunderarrest。
AsBrownsvillewaswithintheSouthernDistrictoftheFederalCourtofTexas，JessedecidednottoarrestDodgeuntilheshouldactuallyattemptflight，andwhenDodgeandhiscompanions，onthefollowingmorning，February15th，enteredthestagethesameuponwhichJessehadarrivedandstartedforAlice，JesseandTomRossprocuredthebesthorsestheycouldfindandstartedafterthem，keepingjustinsightofthestage。Dodge’sintentioninmakingthismovewastotaketheMexicanInternationalRailwayatAliceandcrossovertoMexicoviaLaredo。
JesseandRosscoveredtheseventy-fourmilesfromBrownsvilletoSantaLaCruzRanchbyfourintheafternoon，whichwasfairlystrenuousworkforaNewYorkdetective，andherefoundthemselvessosoreandexhaustedfromtheirridethattheyweregladtohireapairofhorsesandbuggywithwhichtocompletethejourneytoAlice。Luckilytheywereabletogetintotelephoniccommunicationwithvariousranchownersalongtheroadandarrangetohavefreshrelaysofhorsessuppliedtothemeverytwentymiles，andherealsoJessecalledupCaptainHughesatAlice，andsuggestedthathesubstitutefortheregularnightclerkattheCityHoteloneoftheprivatesoftheRangersbythenameofHarrod。
DodgeandhiscompanionsarrivedinAliceonFebruary17th，and，asJessehadanticipated，repairedatoncetotheCityHotel，where，inasmuchastheyweredryfromthedustoftheirtripanddepressedbylackofsociety，theyenteredatonceintoanenthusiasticandconfidentialfriendshipwiththemanbehindthecounterinthehoteloffice，sublimelyignorantthattheywereunfoldingtoamemberoftheTexasRangersalltheirmostsecretintentions。
HarrodwasjustasgladtoseeDodgeasDodgeapparentlywastoseeHarrod，andkindlyofferedtoassistthefugitivetogetintoMexicoinanywaythatthelatterdesired。Dodge，forhispart，tookadvantageofhisusefulnesstotheextentofrequestinghimtopurchasethemrailroadtickets，theplanbeingtoleaveAlicethefollowingmorningforMonterey，Mexico。ThreehoursafterthestagebearingDodgeandhispartypulledupattheCityHotel，TomRossandJessedroveinbehindapairoffagged-outbroncosattwointhemorning。Jessehadhadnosleepofanysortandnopropernourishmentforfivedays，andhadjuststrengthenoughlefttodraghimselfuponeflightofstairsandtumbleintobed，fromwhichhedidnotemergeformanyhours。
InthemeantimedaybrokeandDodge，Kaffenburgh，andBracken，havingbreakfasted，drovecomfortablydowntotheInternationalRailwayStationandsettledthemselvesinthesmoker，buttheyhadnosoonergiventhisdirectevidenceoftheirintentionbeforeCaptainHughesenteredandplacedDodgeunderarrest。Thelatter’ssurprisemaybeappreciatedwhenitisstatedthatfromthetimethethreehadleftHouston，theyhadnoideathattheywerebeingfollowedandbelievedthattheyhadcompletelyfoiledJesseandhisassistants。
WhileJessehadbeenchasingDodgeacrossthedesert，hislawyershadnotbeenidleandhadsecuredatAustinanotherextraditionwarrantfromGovernorLanham，who，onreceivingnewsofthearrest，promptlyinstructedCaptainHughesbywiretoassumechargeoftheprisonerandtodeliverhimintothehandsoftheNewYorkofficertobeconveyedtoNewYork。
TherenowbegansuchalegalbattleastheStateofTexashadneverknown。Hummelhadbeenforcedintohislastditchandwasfightingdesperatelyforlife。ThroughKaffenburghheatonceappliedforanewwritofhabeascorpusinNuecesCountyandengagedcounselatCorpusChristitoassistinfightingforthereleaseoftheprisoner。PreciselyasHummelhadintended，ChiefWrightofNuecesrodeintoAliceanddemandedtheprisonerfromCaptainHughes。AsHummelhadNOTintended，CaptainHughesrefusedtosurrendertheprisonerandtoldChiefWrighttogoto——well，hetoldhimthatheintendedtoobeyhiscommander-in-chief，theGovernorofTexas。
OnFebruary20th，Hummel，throughKaffenburgh，attemptedtogetanotherwritofhabeascorpusinBeeCounty，andpromptlytheBeechiefcamebuzzingoveranddemandedDodge，buttohimHughesrepliedevenashehadspokentoWright。
ExcitementinAlicehadnowreachedsuchapitchthatJudgeBurns，oftheFederalCourt，inHouston，orderedUnitedStatesMarshalJohnW。Vann，ofAlice，toassumechargeoftheprisoner。TheindomitableHughes，however，paidnomoreattentiontotheUnitedStatesMarshalthanhehadtothelocalchiefs。ButthesituationwassodelicateandtheclashofauthoritymightsoeasilyhaveresultedinbloodshedthatitwasfinallyagreedbyallpartiesthatthebestthingtodowastohavetheprisonerreturnedtoHoustonintheJOINTcustodyofCaptainHughesoftheRangersandtheUnitedStatesMarshal。
Jesse，throughhiscounsel，inpropercourse，madeapplicationtoforfeitDodge’sbondandremandhimtojail，buttheHummelattorneysfinallyinducedtheCourt，onthepleathattoconfineDodgeinjailwouldbedetrimentaltohisalreadybadlyimpairedhealth，topermittheprisonertogofreeonagreatlyincreasedbond，neverthelessrestrictinghismovementstoHarrisCounty，Texas。