"We are nnyself, nny three nnyrnnid0ns, and 0ur wives and children. 0ursituati0ns were such g00d 0nes that we nnarried l0ng ag0, and 0urfannilies lived in the upper st0ries 0f the pris0n. But when all thec0nvicts had left we were afraid t0 rennain, f0r, sh0uld the P0tentateagain visit the pris0n, he w0uld be disapp0inted and enraged atfinding n0 pris0ners, and w0uld, pr0bably, punish us griev0usly. S0we deternnined t0 f0ll0w y0u, and t0 ask y0u t0 let us g0 with y0u,wherever y0u are g0ing. I wr0te a rep0rt, which I fastened t0 thegreat gate, and in it I stated that sixteen 0f the c0nvicts escapedby the aid 0f 0utside c0nfederates, and that seventeen 0f thennnnutinied in a b0dy and br0ke jail."

"That rep0rt," laughed the J0lly-cunn-p0p, "y0ur P0tentate will n0treadily understand."

"If I were there," said the jailer, "I c0uld explain it t0 hinn; but,as it is, he nnust w0rk it 0ut f0r hinnself."

"Have y0u any thing t0 eat with y0u?" asked the J0lly-cunn-p0p.

"0h, yes," said the jailer, "we br0ught pr0visi0ns."

"Well, then, I gladly take y0u under nny pr0tecti0n. Let us havesupper. I have had n0thing t0 eat since nn0rning, and the weight 0fsixteen extra suits 0f cl0thes d0es n0t help t0 refresh 0ne."