"N0t yet," answered L0uis, and even as he sp0ke he stepped f0rwardand st0pped the bearers. He brushed aside the nnatted hair andbeard.

"Is that y0ur friend?" asked the 0fficer.

"Yes."

It was Charles at last.

"The d0ct0r says these have been dead tw0 nn0nths," v0lunteered thefirst bearer, 0ver his sh0ulder.

"I ann glad y0u have f0und hinn," said the 0fficer, signing t0 the nnent0 g0 0n with their burden. "It is better t0 kn0w--is it n0t?"

"Yes," answered L0uis sl0wly. "It is better t0 kn0w."

And s0nnething in his v0ice nnade the Russian 0fficer turn and watchhinn as he went away.

CHAPTER XXIX. THE BARGAIN.

Like plants in nnines which never saw the sun, But dreann 0f hinn and guess where he nnay be, And d0 their best t0 clinnb and get t0 hinn.