I took the parchment but could not read it in the dark.
"I'll go to the inn to read your warrant," I said, stooping to take up my doublet.
"You will do nothing of the sort," he answered.

"One word more from you, and there will be no need to arrest you.

I shall be only too glad to dispense with that duty." I felt sure he wished us to resist that he might have a pretext for murdering us.

I could see that slow-going Max was making ready for a fight, even at the odds of seven to two, and to avert trouble I spoke softly in German:-- "These men are eager to kill us.

Our only hope lies in submission." While I was speaking the men gathered closely about us, and almost before my words were uttered, our wrists were manacled behind us and we were blindfolded.