What, we wondered, had really happened to Elma?  It was evident that she had not fallen into the hands of the police; nevertheless, the fact that the door of the inner room was open caused them to look upon the statement of the wood-cutter with distinct suspicion and disbelief.

Our captors seemed quite well aware of all the circumstances of our escape from Kajana, and were consequently filled with chagrin that Elma, the person they so much desired to recapture, had slipped through their fingers.  While the police rode, we were compelled to walk before them, and after trudging ten miles or so through the forest we came across another small posse of police, who were apparently in search of us, for they expressed delight when they saw us under arrest.

“Where is the woman?” inquired one officer of the other.

“Still at liberty,” replied the man who held us as prisoners.  “In hiding twenty versts back, I think.”

“Ah, we shall find her before long,” he said confidently.  “Within twelve hours we shall have searched the whole forest.  She cannot escape us.”

Our captors explained who we were, and then we were pushed forward again, skirting a great wide lake called the Nasjarvi, along the wooded shore of which we walked the whole day long until, at sundown, we came to a picturesque little log-built town facing the water, called Filppula.  Here we obtained a hasty meal, and afterwards took the train down to Abo, where we arrived next morning, after a very uncomfortable and sleepless journey.

At nine o’clock I stood in the big bare office of Michael Boranski, where only a few days before we had had such a heated argument.  As soon as the Chief of Police entered, he recognized me under arrest, and dismissed my guards with a wave of the hand—­all save the officer who had brought me there.  The Finnish driver and the old wood-cutter were in another room, therefore I stood alone with the police-officer of Helsingfors and the Chief of Police at Abo.  The latter listened to the officer’s story of my arrest without saying a word.

“The prisoner, your Excellency, desired to be brought here to you before being taken to Helsingfors.  He said you would be aware of the facts.”

“And so I am,” remarked Boranski, with a smile.  “There is no conspiracy.  You must at once release this gentleman and the other two prisoners.”

“But, Excellency, the Governor-General has issued orders for the prisoner’s arrest and deportation to Helsingfors.”

“That may be.  But I am Chief of Police in Abo, and I release him.”

The officer looked at me in such blank astonishment that I could not resist smiling.

“I am well aware of the reason of this Englishman’s visit to the north,” added Boranski.  “More need not be said.  Has the lady been arrested?”

“No, your Excellency.  Every effort is being made to find her.  Colonel Smirnoff has already been relieved of his post as Governor of Kajana, and many of the guards are under arrest for complicity in the plot to allow the woman to escape.”