Part 18 (1/2)

I guessed that this was the governor's rooh 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 thuive 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 roo on the hearth Beside the fire a man lay on a couch, with a little table drawn up beside hilass 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 theht and then stood stock still

For the dancer crossed the rooripped both of my hands

'dick, old ain!'

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 calrapple with so far beyond words

'Sandy,' I said, as soon as I got iven Peter and ht of our lives'

'It was the only way, dick If I hadn't co like a to before you got to your hotel You two have given et you safe here However, that is all over now Make yourselves at home, my children'

'Over!' I cried incredulously, for'What place is this?'

'You may call it my humble home'-it was Blenkiron's sleek voice that spoke 'We've been preparing for you, Major, but it was only yesterday I heard of your friend'

I introduced Peter

'Mr Pienaar,' said Blenkiron, 'pleased to h here, but you've cut it hty fine Officially, a Dutchman called Brandt was to be arrested this afternoon and handed over to the Gerins to trouble about that Dutch the body; but such are the languid ways of an Oriental despotism Meantime the Dutchht without pain, as your poet sings'

'But I don't understand,' I stammered 'Who arrested us?'

'My raft here, and it wasn't difficult toafter the business tomorrow, but he will find the e of a Government run by a pack of adventurers But, by Jove, dick, we hadn't any tiot you, or the Geroose would have been jolly well cooked I had so was too deep forhis Patience cards with his old sleepy smile, and Sandy, dressed like some bandit in melodrama, his lean face as brown as a nut, his bare arht over brow and ears It was still a night pleasanter Peter said not a word, but I could see his eyes heavy with his own thoughts

Blenkiron hove himself from the sofa and waddled to a cupboard

'You boysme hell as usual, and I don't eat no uessed you would want to stoke up soht out a couple of Strassburg pies, a cheese, a cold chicken, a loaf, and three bottles of chane

'Fizz,' said Sandy rapturously 'And a dry Heidsieck too! We're in luck, dick, old man'

I never ate a more welcome meal, for we had starved in that dirty hotel But I had still the old feeling of the hunted, and before I began I asked about the door