There was a big black _dossier_ against us, which by no conceivable piece of luck could be upset.
It was very clear to me that, unless we could find sanctuary and shed all our various pursuers during this day, we should be done in for good and all.

But where on earth were we to find sanctuary?
We had neither of us a word of the language, and there was no way I could see of taking on new characters.

For that we wanted friends and help, and I could think of none anywhere.

Somewhere, to be sure, there was Blenkiron, but how could we get in touch with him?
As for Sandy, I had pretty well given him up.

I always thought his enterprise the craziest of the lot and bound to fail.