"Gentlemen, before we leave you, you will renew your words of honour not to remove your bandages for five full minutes?"
We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released; a moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The minutes went slowly by. Presently Beckenham said,—
"How long do you think we've been standing here?"
"Nearly the stipulated time, I should fancy," I answered. "However, we'd better give them a little longer, to avoid any chance of mistake."
Again a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my bandage, to find Beckenham doing the same.
"They're gone, and we're free again," he cried. "Hurrah!"
We shook hands warmly on our escape, and having done so looked about us. A ship's bell out in the stream chimed half an hour after midnight, and a precious dark night it was. A number of vessels were to be seen, and from the noise that came from them it was evident they were busy coaling.
"What's to be done now?" asked Beckenham.
"Find an hotel, I think," I answered; "get a good night's rest, and first thing in the morning hunt up our consul and the steamship authorities."
"Come along, then. Let's look for a place. I noticed one that should suit us close to where we came ashore that day."