a falsehood.  The house is in your possession, I replied, search for yourselves.  “Have you not deposited silver with some person of your acquaintance?” My acquaintances are all in prison, with whom should I deposit silver?  They next ordered my trunk and drawers to be examined.  The secretary only was allowed to accompany me in this search.  Everything nice or curious which met his view, was presented to the officers for their decision whether it should be taken or retained.  I begged they would not take our wearing apparel, as it would be disgraceful to take clothes partly worn into the possession of his majesty, and to us they were of unspeakable value.  They assented, and took a list only; and did the same with the books, medicines, &c.  My little work-table and rocking-chair, presents from my beloved brother, I rescued from their grasp, partly by artifice, and partly through their ignorance.  They left also many articles which were of inestimable value during our long imprisonment.”

CHAPTER XVII.

NARRATIVE CONTINUED, AND CONCLUDED.—­THEIR DELIVERANCE FROM BURMAN TYRANNY, AND PROTECTION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

As soon as the search was completed, Mrs. Judson hastened to the wife of the queen’s brother, in hopes of having a favorable answer to her petition; but to her heavy disappointment she learned that the queen had refused to interfere.  With a sad heart she turned her steps to the prison-gate, but here she was denied admittance, and for ten days she found the prison-door closed against her.

“The officers who had taken possession of our property,” continues Mrs. Judson, “presented it to his majesty, saying, ’Judson is a true teacher; we found nothing in his house but what belongs to priests.  In addition to this money, there are an immense number of books, medicines, trunks of wearing apparel, &c., of which we have only taken a list.  Shall we take them or let them remain?’ ‘Let them remain,’ said the king, ’and put this property by itself, for it shall be restored to him again, if he be found innocent.’  This was in allusion to the idea of his being a spy.”

While the officers were at Mr. J.’s house, they had insisted on knowing the sum that had been paid to bribe the governor to allow the prisoners more liberty.  This sum they afterwards demanded of the governor, which so enraged him that he threatened to thrust them back into the inner prison.  When Mrs. J. waited on him the next morning, his first words were, “You are very bad; why did you tell the royal treasurer you had given me so much money?” “The treasurer inquired, what could I say?” she replied.  “Say that you had given me nothing,” said he, “and I would have made the teachers comfortable in prison; but now I know not what will be their fate.”  “But I cannot tell a falsehood,” she replied; “my religion differs from yours; it forbids prevarication, and had you stood by me with your knife raised, I could not have said what you suggest.”