rd all my life that I like this change. Doing
nothing is very pleasant when you are tired."

"Of course it is," said the professor smiling.

"And so long as there's no nonsense about cutting off men's heads, or
any of that rubbish, I rather like being taken a prisoner by brigands.
I wonder what a London policeman would think of such a state of
affairs."

"My masters are submitting wisely to their fate," said Yussuf gravely;
"and while we are waiting, and those people think we are quite patient,
I shall come with his excellency Preston, and while he draws I shall
make plans, not of the city, but how to escape."

Further conversation was cut short by the coming of Mr and Mrs
Chumley, who eagerly asked--at least Mr Chumley wished to ask eagerly,
but he was stopped by his lady, who retained the right--what
arrangements had been made. And she was told.

"Oh, dear!" she sighed, "then that means weary waiting again. Oh,
Charley! why would you insist upon coming to this wretched land?"

Mr Chumley opened his mouth in astonishment, but he did not speak then,
he only waited a few minutes, and then took Lawrence's arm, and sat
whispering to him apart, telling him how Mrs Chumley had insisted upon
coming to Turkey when he wanted to go to Paris, and nowhere else, and
that he was the most miserable man in the world.

Lawrence heard him in silence, and as he sat he wondered how it was the
most miserable man in the world could look so round and happy and grow
so fat.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

YUSSUF HAS HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.

The weather was cold up there in the mountains, and it froze at night;
but the sun was hot in the daytime, and the sky was mostly of a most
delicious blue. The chief always seemed to be scowling, watchful, and
suspicious, but the prisoners had nothing but their captivity to
complain about. Rugs in abundance--every one of them stolen--were
supplied for bedding and keeping out the cold night air that would have
penetrated by door or window. Upon proper representations being made by
Yussuf the food supply was better, the guide installing himself at once
as cook, to Mr Chumley's great delight; and agreeable dishes--pilaf,
curry, kabobs, and the like--were prepared, with excellent coffee and
good bread, while the scowling sentries became more agreeable, and took
willingly to their duties, on finding that satisfactory snacks were
handed to them, and hot cups of coffee on the bitter nights when they
sat