Both the men had now come to regard their situation as serious and as the American consul was at this time absent in Brussels they could think of no way to secure their freedom.

No one knew when the consul would return; Mr.Merrick had been refused the privilege of using the telegraph or mails.

During one of their strolls they had met the correspondent of an American newspaper, but when the man learned they were suspects he got away from them as soon as possible.

He did not know Mr.Merrick and his own liberty was too precarious for him to argue with Colonel Grau.
"I'm beginning to think," said Uncle John, "that we're up against a hard proposition.

Letters and endorsements from prominent Americans seem to have no weight with these Germans.