There's an answer." Long before nine o'clock the men of Japat began to gather in the market and trading place.

It was evident that they expected and were prepared for the crisis.

Von Blitz and Rasula, who had played second fiddle until he could stand it no longer, were surprised and somewhat staggered by the peremptory tone of the call, but could see no chance for the American to shift his troublesome burden.

The subdued, sullen air of the men who filled the torchlighted market-place brooded ill for any attempt Chase might make to reconcile them to his peculiar views, no matter how thoroughly they may have been misunderstood by the people.

Explanations were easy to make, but difficult to establish.