ps I ought'er, but I can't. I'm pretty near knocked out of time
already. Why not slack up a little now, we're so far from the city?"

"I don't dare to, Plums. We haven't gone any distance yet, an' jest as
likely as not the perlice here have had orders to stop us. Do the best
you can a spell longer, an' perhaps we can find a place to hide in till
you get rested."

Master Plummer made no reply; but his companion could readily see that
he was suffering severely from such unusual exertions. His fat face was
of a deep crimson hue; tiny streams of perspiration ran down his cheeks,
and he breathed like one affected with the asthma.

There was little need for Master Plummer to explain that a halt would
soon be necessary, for this Joe understood after but one glance at the
unhappy-looking boy.

The princess's guardian had hoped they might gain the forest, where it
would be possible to hide, or at the least find a small thicket of trees
or bushes; but as yet there were dwellings on every hand, and each
instant the sun was sending down more fervent rays.

At the expiration of an additional ten minutes Plums gave up the
struggle by saying, despondently:

"It's no use, Joe, I couldn't keep on my feet half an hour longer, to
save the lives of all hands. S'posin' you leave me here, an' go on by
yourself? That will be better than for both of us to be arrested."

"I'm not sich a chump as to do anything of that kind, old man. You got
into this trouble through tryin' to help me, an' I'll stay right side of
you till it's over."

"But it ain't safe to hang 'round here."

"I know it; yet what else can we do? We're bound to take the chances,
an' I'm goin' to stop at one of these houses."

Master Plummer appeared thoroughly alarmed, yet he made no protest
against the proposed plan.

At that moment imprisonment had less horrors for him than such severe
exertions.

Joe's greatest fear was that, while asking for shelter, he would be
forced to explain why he was taking the princess with him for a long
tramp, when the day was so warm; and, dangerous though such a course
might be, he was resolved to tell only the truth.

"If I can't get through without lyin', I'll go to jail, an' take my
medicine like a man," he said to himself, and once this resolve had been
made he stopped in front of the nearest dwelling.

His timid knock at the door was answered by a motherly-looking German
woman, who appeared surprised at seeing the visitors.