and out into the snowy street.
There was a closed carriage waiting which they motioned us to get into.
It looked exactly like the Black Maria.

Both of us sat still, like truant schoolboys, with our hands on our
knees. I didn't know where I was going and I didn't care. We seemed
to be rumbling up the hill, and then I caught the glare of lighted
streets.

'This is the end of it, Peter,' I said.

'_Ja_, Cornelis,' he replied, and that was all our talk.

By and by--hours later it seemed--we stopped. Someone opened the door
and we got out, to find ourselves in a courtyard with a huge dark
building around. The prison, I guessed, and I wondered if they would
give us blankets, for it was perishing cold.

We entered a door, and found ourselves in a big stone hall. It was
quite warm, which made me more hopeful about our cells. A man in some
kind of uniform pointed to the staircase, up which we plodded wearily.
My mind was too blank to take clear impressions, or in any way to
forecast the future. Another warder met us and took us down a passage
till we halted at a door. He stood aside and motioned us to enter.

I guessed that this was the governor's room, and we should be put
through our first examination. My head was too stupid to think, and I
made up my mind to keep perfectly mum. Yes, even if they tried
thumbscrews. I had no kind of story, but I resolved not to give
anything away. As I turned the handle I wondered idly what kind of
sallow Turk or bulging-necked German we should find inside.

It was a pleasant room, with a polished wood floor and a big fire
burning on the hearth. Beside the fire a man lay on a couch, with a
little table drawn up beside him. On that table was a small glass of
milk and a number of Patience cards spread in rows.

I stared blankly at the spectacle, till I saw a second figure. It was
the man in the skin-cap, the leader of the dancing maniacs. Both Peter
and I backed sharply at the sight and then stood stock still.

For the dancer crossed the room in two strides and gripped both of my
hands.

'Dick, old man,' he cried, 'I'm most awfully glad to see you again!'

CHAPTER TWELVE

Four Missionaries See Light in their Mission

A spasm of incredulity, a vast relief, and that sharp joy which comes
of reaction chased each other across my mind. I had come suddenly out
of very black waters into an unbelievable calm. I dropped into the
nearest chair and tried to grapple wit