seem almost afraid of
us."

"Is there no chance of escape then?" asked Phil.

"Not a morsel, sir. We've had a try all round, but always failed.
There was an officer here named McNeil. He was wounded, and in trying
to escape got stuck again with a bayonet. Then an ugly little brute
they call an inspector of the prison came in and struck him with his
whip. He seemed to know him, too, and accused him of inciting us to
escape. That afternoon the lieutenant was dragged away, and we have
never seen him since."

"Hum! that looks bad for us, Tony," muttered Phil. "If it is
Stackanoff, and he recognises us, it will be a bad business. He is sure
to pay off old scores if possible."

"Trust the brute," growled Tony. "But if he tries to come any of his
larks on us he'll be getting a tap over the head like that fellow who
found us hidden in the carriage."

At this moment the door of the prison was thrown open, and some blankets
were given to the new prisoners.

"Prepare for a visit from the inspector," said the jailer curtly, "and
see that everything is clean and straight, so that you do not disgrace
me. It will mean evil for you if his excellency is not pleased."

A yell of derision met this speech, for the English prisoners had
already met with such poor entertainment that they could scarcely
receive worse, and, moreover, finding that a noisy, mutinous line of
conduct overawed their guards, they had long ago got quite out of hand.

"Don't you go for to worry yerself, Whiskers," cried one sturdy
linesman. "This place ain't no palace, so the cove who expects to find
it such will be a fool. But it's clean, and always will be, 'cos us
chaps ain't the sort to live in a pig-sty. Now hop away, Whiskers, and
don't fret. We'll put it right with the inspector."

The Russian looked round at the grinning faces, while Phil, who had
translated his message, put the last speaker's into Russian, taking the
liberty, however, of making it more polite.

"Very well, do not fail me," growled the jailer, showing his teeth. "It
will be the worse for you if you do."

"He will discover us as sure as we are alive!" remarked Phil as soon as
the man had gone. "I mean Stackanoff, of course, for I suppose he is
inspector. We must try to disguise ourselves."

Accordingly he and Tony ruffled their hair and disarranged their
clothing. Then they took a place amongst the prisoners, taking care to
keep well in the background.

Suddenl