We had no friend in the place except Maqueda, and she, it appeared, was a prisoner like ourselves, and therefore could not communicate with us.

Nor could we see the slightest possibility of escape.
"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," remarked Higgs gloomily.

"I wish now that they had let us die in the cave.

It would have been better than being baited to death by a mob of Abati." "Yes," answered Oliver with a sigh, for he was thinking of Maqueda, "but that's why they saved us, the vindictive beasts, to kill us for what they are pleased to call high treason." "High treason!" exclaimed Higgs.

"I hope to goodness their punishment for the offence is not that of mediaeval England; hanging is bad enough--but the rest----!" "I don't think the Abati study European history," I broke in; "but it is no use disguising from you that they have methods of their own.