of the beaten path, so it is pardonable. I was at first under
the impression that you were American detectives with
extradition papers for criminals bearing the name you mention."

"Oh!" gasped Anguish. "We couldn't find ourselves if we should
be separated, Captain."

The grizzly-bearded Captain laughed lightly with them, and then
asked Lorry if he would object to giving him the full story of
his acquaintanceship with the alleged Graustarkians. The
bewildered and disheartened American promptly told all he knew
about them, omitting certain tender details, of course. As he
proceeded the Chief grew more and more interested, and, when at
last Lorry came to the description of the strange trio, he gave
a sudden start, exposed a queer little smile for a second or so,
and then was as sphynxlike as before. The ever-vigilant Anguish
observed the involuntary start and smile, quick as the Chief had
been to recover himself, and felt a thrill of triumph. To his
anger and impatience, however, the old officer calmly shook his
head at the end of the narrative, and announced that he was as
much in the dark as ever.

"Well, we'll search awhile for ourselves," declared Anguish,
stubbornly, not at all satisfied.

"You will be wasting your time," said the Chief, meaningly.

"We've plenty to waste," retorted the other.

After a few moments they departed, Baron Dangloss accompanying