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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39163-8.txt b/39163-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9c6e75 --- /dev/null +++ b/39163-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9111 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Tiger, by Wiliam Dalton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The War Tiger + Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea + Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China + +Author: Wiliam Dalton + +Release Date: March 16, 2012 [EBook #39163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE WAR TIGER + + OR, + + ADVENTURES AND WONDERFUL FORTUNES + + OF THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF + + AND HIS LAD CHOW: + + A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF CHINA + + BY WILLIAM DALTON, + + AUTHOR OF THE "WHITE ELEPHANT," ETC. + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. S. MELVILLE + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1884. + + + + +[Illustration: The Escape from the Pagoda.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As free use is made in the following story of the names of personages +who played important parts in and during the last Tartar Conquest of +China, the Author believes that a slight sketch of that turbulent epoch +may not be uninteresting to his readers. + +Twenty-two dynasties have given some two hundred and forty Emperors to +the Celestial Kingdom; of these, two were Tartars, who obtained the +throne by conquest and bloodshed. In the course of time, however, the +first Tartar family, with the whole of their race, were either massacred +or driven from the land by a Chinese leader, who, by mounting the +throne, founded the celebrated family of the Mings. + +The last of the Ming Emperors, Wey-t-song, had not been many years upon +the throne, when, from a wise and energetic man, he became so indolent, +and regardless of all but his pleasures, that the people became +oppressed by the magistrates; indeed, to use a Chinese phrase, to such +an extent did the "big fish eat all the little ones," that a famine grew +in the land, which caused the starving people to arise in rebellion +throughout the empire. + +Taking advantage of this disorder, several ambitious lords collected +together bands of vagabonds, set themselves up as petty kings, and +plundered and oppressed the innocent people, till the land grew damp +with their tears. + +At the same time, the chief, or king, of the Mantchou Tartars, learning +that China was like a house divided against itself, rode with a large +army upon the frontier of Pe-tche-Lee, the capital province. + +The appearance, however, of this great enemy aroused what little +nationality remained, and three great lords came to the Emperor's +assistance. The first was Woo-san-Kwei, who, at the head of an army, +kept the Tartars at bay; the other two, Li-Kong and Chang, were sent +into different provinces, where, although bad men, being good generals, +they succeeded in crushing all other rogues but themselves. The +last-named generals, however, on their return, becoming enraged at the +Emperor's ingratitude, took up arms against him, and, finding no great +difficulty in subduing a people who preferred any other Chinese to their +Emperor, seized upon two of the richest provinces, and established +themselves as independent royalets, or petty kings. + +Now, as in the great revolutions of England, America, and France, so in +China, anarchy brought forth its great men; but foremost among them all +stood Chin-Chi-Loong--a kind of Paul Jones, a pirate in the eyes of his +enemies, a patriot in those of his friends. + +Found starving when a boy, by the Portuguese priests at Macao, they took +him under their care, taught him Christianity, and baptized him by the +name of Nicholas Gaspard. While quite a youth, he took service on board +a trading ship, in which humble position, the strength of his intellect +and will so soon exhibited itself, that at an early age he became second +in command, and his captain dying soon after, left him sole owner and +commander of the vessel and its rich cargo. + +Then it was that his true character began to develop itself; he sought +to accumulate great wealth; for this purpose he traded with Japan, Siam, +and the Europeans, so assiduously, that at the outbreak of the +rebellion, he had become the richest merchant in an empire of rich +merchants; but what to him was of far greater importance, a powerful +sea-chief--for he then commanded and owned the greatest fleet that ever +sailed in the Chinese seas, and as he had taken care to arm every ship, +he became the terror of the three great contending parties; namely, the +Emperor, the rebels, and the Tartars, who, all in turn, at times, +offered great rewards for his head, and at others, for his services. + +Remarkable, however, as were the fortunes of this sea-chief, they were +less so than those of his distinguished son, the hero of this story. + +The Author will only add, that, although many of the adventures here set +down may not be found in the pages of Chinese history, if, entwining +information with amusement, they bring vividly before the mind's eye of +his young reader, the manners, laws, legends, superstitions, history, or +character of that great, though quaint people in whom more than a +thousand years have failed to make any material change, his satisfaction +will be the greater that he has again deserved well of those to whom his +gratitude is due for the kind, thorough, and hearty reception they gave +to the Adventures of "THE WOLF-BOY OF CHINA." + +WILLIAM DALTON. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--The Young Sea Chief.--His Mission 11 + + II.--The Demon Ship.--The Boy Chow 19 + + III.--Adventures at Sea.--Rescue 29 + + IV.--The Innkeeper.--Alarming News 38 + + V.--Adventure in a Buddhist Monastery.--Chow's + Encounter with a Bonze 48 + + VI.--Thrashing the Gods.--The Boys taken Prisoners 55 + + VII.--Treachery of the Bonzes.--Nicholas sent to + Prison as a Traitor 61 + + VIII.--Chow sets out to discover some Thieves 69 + + IX.--Chow outwits a great Mandarin, and sets + out to rescue his Master 76 + + X.--Escape of Nicholas from Prison 81 + + XI.--Pursued by the Yah-yu.--The Boat Wreck 87 + + XII.--Nicholas again taken Prisoner 94 + + XIII.--Pagodas, their Antiquity and Uses 103 + + XIV.--A dangerous Descent 109 + + XV.--Nicholas discovers a Conspiracy, and makes + an unpleasant Entry into Pekin 114 + + XVI.--The Boys again in Trouble 126 + + XVII.--Nicholas resolves upon a dangerous + Adventure 136 + + XVIII.--The Imperial Gardens 145 + + XIX.--The Princess of the Mings, and the + Lady Candida 150 + + XX.--Danger of the Princess.--Her Rescue + by Nicholas 154 + + XXI.--Assembly of the great Princes of the Empire 163 + + XXII.--The Boy Prince and the Rival Generals 170 + + XXIII.--Audience with the Son of Heaven.--Nicholas + accuses a great Prince of Treason 178 + + XXIV.--Nicholas unveils a Rebel Chief 189 + + XXV.--Nicholas and the Prince have an Adventure, + and save the Life of Chow 197 + + XXVI.--Nicholas receives an important Command 210 + + XXVII.--The Rebels attack Pekin.--Treachery of + a General, and the Fight 214 + + XXVIII.--Attack on the palace.--Suicide of the + Emperor, the Princess wounded 221 + + XXIX.--The Secret Cavern.--The Princess saved + by the Boys 230 + + XXX.--A large Stock of Ladies, two taels + per sack 237 + + XXXI.--Chow makes a Discovery, and Nicholas + a Surprise 242 + + XXXII.--Nicholas punishes an ungrateful Innkeeper, + and escapes from his treachery 250 + + XXXIII.--An Overland Journey.--Attacked by Wolves, + and stopped by a Serpent 259 + + XXXIV.--Saved by a Musk Deer.--Stories of + wonderful Mountains 264 + + XXXV.--Treachery of the Guide.--The Princess + seized by Robbers 271 + + XXXVI.--Once more Prisoners, but with Friends.--The + Guide's Mistake 279 + + XXXVII.--Interview with the General.--Nicholas causes + Soldiers to be sent in search of the Princess 285 + + XXXVIII.--Cruel Death of the aged Woo.--A + Battle.--Bravery of the Boys.--Chow taken + by the Enemy 293 + + XXXIX.--The Rebels beaten.--Artfulness of the Tartar + King.--Chagrin and Disappointment of Nicholas 300 + + XL.--The Great Boy Emperor.--Nicholas meets with + a fearful Surprise 305 + + XLI.--Nicholas has an Interview with his Father, + and leaves Pekin forever 309 + + XLII.--The Rival Sea Chiefs.--Re-appearance of an + old Friend.--A comical Battle with the Tartars 314 + + XLIII.--Chow discovers his Mother and the + Princess.--Rescues them from the Tartars, and + relates his Adventures 320 + + XLIV.--A Sea Voyage.--The Colao relates the + Adventures of the Princess 329 + + XLV.--They reach the Palace of the Sea Chief + Koshinga 333 + + XLVI.--The King and Queen of Formosa.--Happy + Termination of the Story 336 + + + + +THE WAR TIGER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.--HIS MISSION. + + +Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chinese +province of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, which +are so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble of +procuring food, and even fuel, from the main land. + +These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of a +capacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch, +the first civilized people who established themselves upon the +neighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertile +land, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught. + +It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden with +pearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many other +articles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the large +trading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violent +tempests so common to the China seas. + +One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, some +distance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of European +build, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmed +about the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with an +officer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior to +the Mantchou Tartar conquest. + +The afterpart of the deck was taken up with a tent formed of poles and +matting of bamboo, the interior of which was luxuriously fitted with +chairs, tables, and sofas, tastefully wrought from the wood of roses or, +as it is termed in this country, rose-wood. The walls, highly painted +and glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded and +japanned frames. Between these were long strips of satin up on which, +imprinted in colors and gold, were some of the choicest moral maxims +from the books of the philosopher Confucius. + +The panes of the windows, four in number, were formed of stained +transparent paper. In the piers between, supported by glittering +branches, were painted lanterns, and from the ceiling, which shone with +colors and carvings of celestial blue and burnished gold, was suspended +a gong of pure silver. So far there could be no doubt that it was the +floating habitation of a wealthy Chinese, but then, curiously, there was +a total absence of those idols, altars, and burning incense, which to +this day are to be found in all Chinese vessels. The truth was, that +although a Chinese, the owner was a Christian, as was evinced by a niche +at one end of the room, in which stood a handsome _Prič Dieu_, +surmounted by a fine painting of Christ upon the cross. + +At this altar, with his hands clasped, knelt a boy of seventeen, whose +high cheek bones, dark eyes, and long black hair, declared his Chinese +origin. His head and neck were bare, and his ample robe of green silk, +which reached nearly to his close fitting leather boots, was confined in +the middle by a crimson girdle, fastened by a clasp of agate stone. From +the girdle hung a short straight sword. Although a Chinese, the youth +was a Christian; one, indeed, of those whose faith had been gathered +from the teachings of the early European missionaries, whose +indefatigable exertions and untiring patience amidst much persecution, +contumely, and even martyrdom, will forever keep their names green in +the memories of the Chinese. + +As the youth arose from his kneeling position, the report of a gun rang +through the air, so snatching up his cap of sable, he went on deck to +welcome the arrival of his father, who ascended the side of the vessel +followed by some half-dozen officers, attired like himself in loose +robes of thick brown silk, oiled to withstand the weather and without +one warlike vestment, except the short swords which hung from their +girdles. + +Standing with his head bent forward and his arms straight by his sides, +the attitude of respect, the youth waited for his father to salute him, +after which he followed him through the rank of officers to the cabin, +when observing the gloomy aspect of the chief's countenance, he said +"Has my honored father, the great chief, not prospered with the +barbarian Hollanders?" + +"To the full, my son, for like the greedy wolves they have purchased the +whole of my merchandise, and I have more than sufficient wealth to +destroy the vermin enemies who are turning the children of the Son of +Heaven from those habits of peace which have so long rendered them the +greatest and most prosperous of the world's people." + +"Of what enemies does my honorable father speak? Surely there are none +but the savage Tartars." + +"Of three, my son,--the Tartars, who are now within a few leagues of the +palace of Ten Thousand Years himself; the European savages, who under +pretence of commerce have obtained a footing, that, if not soon rooted +out, will last forever; and worse, by far worse,--for internal rebellion +is as destructive to an empire as to an household,--the rebel mandarins +who are now at open war with their holy sovereign." + +"Is this treble sore fresh, that it should now so rankle the heart and +cloud the brow of my venerable parent?" + +"Truly so, my son, for although long festering it has but now reached a +head," replied the chief, adding, "To the days of my great-grandsire the +empire had been free from the profane feet of barbarians. + +"Then the different governments passed into the hands of cowardly +mandarins, whose weakness became the advantage of the pirate Li-Lao, who +ravaged the whole coast with fire and sword, and to get rid of whom the +puny officials sought the aid of the Portugals, who traded at one of the +outer ports. These barbarians, however, were brave; they sought, fought, +and killed the pirate, and destroyed his ships and, as a reward, were +permitted to settle at Macao." + +"Surely, my father should be grateful to these Portugals, whose priests +first shed upon his eyes and heart the light of Christianity," said the +boy bowing reverently. + +"They taught me for their own ends, and I would not trust the rats." + +"But the red-haired barbarians of Formosa, from whom my father has just +returned, are they of the same race?" + +"Not so, my son, these Dutch dogs are from a distant country called +Holland, where the people are so miserably poor they cannot afford even +a king." + +"Then why, O my father, were such pauper barbarians permitted to place +the soles of their feet on the land of Formosa?" + +"By fraud and artifice the rogues obtained their hold. During a tempest +one of their vessels was driven upon the coast: the crew finding the +island to be well situated to their wants, partly by presents, partly by +force, persuaded the simple inhabitants to give them only as much land +as could be encompassed by the hide of an ox, when the rogues cut the +hide into thousands of narrow slips, tied them end to end and therewith +measured the earth, to the great surprise and indignation of the +inhabitants, who, however, were too powerless to offer resistance. In a +short time they were joined by multitudes of their country men and +erected yonder fort, which they call the Castle of Zealand." + +"Surely the fleet of my father can exterminate these wasps?" said the +boy, whom I shall for the future call by his Christian name of Nicholas. + +But as at that moment an officer entered the cabin and reported the +approach of a strange ship, father and son went on deck, prepared to +give either a salute to a friend or a broadside to a foe. + +The vessel proving to be a war junk and carrying the dragon flag of the +Emperor, they fired a salute of respect, when a signal was made from the +junk that she had on board the Mandarin, or Deputy-Governor of Amoy, +with a secret communication for the illustrious merchant Chin-Chi-Loong, +whereupon the chief bowed respectfully at the name of so great a +personage, and prepared to receive him with all the customary tedious +formalities. + +This visit from so important a personage very much puzzled Nicholas, who +stood the whole time the mandarin was closeted with his father, leaning +against a gun, in deep thought. When the mandarin had finished and the +official had taken his departure, Nicholas returned to the cabin, where +he found the chief sitting thoughtfully with his hand upon the satin +wrapper of a letter, which from the great seals affixed and the +characters Hong Fong (guarded and sealed), he knew must be of great +importance and from some high personage. + +"My information is truthful," said the chief; "there is treason among +the lords of the court, and the dogs believing Chin-Chi-Loong to be as +vile as themselves, have offered him the title of king and the island of +Formosa, if he will aid them with his ships, wealth, and men." + +"What answer made my honorable father?" said Nicholas. + +"A promise to consent, that the traitors may be caught like rats in a +trap." + +"Surely this is not well, for why need the brave stoop to such +villainy?" replied the youth boldly. + +Not noticing this reply, the chief became pensive for a few minutes, +then exclaimed, "Would that I could place a letter in the hands of the +Son of Heaven himself!" + +"Surely that cannot be a difficulty," said Nicholas. + +"Alas! my son, Wey-t-song is so resigned to his pleasures and the +company of the vile bonzes, that the audience-denying tablet is for ever +suspended at the gates of the inner palace." + +"Truly it is a maxim that nothing is impossible to the brave. Let my +father place the letter in the hands of his son, and it shall reach the +imperial eyes!" + +For a minute the chief gazed proudly at the boy, then passing his hand +across his eyes, as if to chase away some sad thought, said, "It shall +be so, but for nothing less than the safety of his Emperor would +Chin-Chi-Loong risk the life of his only son; but haste, and assume the +dress of a traveling merchant, while I prepare these important +characters." + +Without another word Nicholas left the cabin, returning, however, +shortly afterward, dressed in a plain robe of coarse brown silk, with a +girdle of the same color, a couple of short swords beneath his garment, +and thick staff of bamboo. + +"This promptness is good and bespeaks success," said the chief, laying +his hand on a letter which was enclosed in three wrappers of satin, the +outer being sealed in many places, adding, "Secure this packet beneath +thy inner robe, for upon its safety may depend the fate of the empire. I +know not by what means thou mayest reach the Emperor, therefore, when in +Pekin it would be well to seek the merchant Yang, in the great square, +who will aid the son of the great merchant of the south." Then taking +another letter from the table, he added, "As you pass through the city +of Hang-tcheou, seek out Father Adam, the chief priest of the +Christians, and place this in his hands; but guard it well, for the +contents are such that were they to meet the eyeballs of the bonzes it +might prove thy destruction." + +Then placing a valuable ring on the boy's finger and telling him to take +what silver he might require, till he reached the merchant of Pekin, who +would supply him with more, he bid farewell to Nicholas, who, signalling +one of the consort ships, went on board, and was soon landed at the port +of Amoy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DEMON SHIP.--THE BOY CHOW. + + +Taking a passage in a merchant junk bound to the port of Ning-Po, +Nicholas continued his journey for some days without meeting with any +event of importance. The voyage was, however, rendered very tedious by +the idolatry of the sailors, who spent a great portion of their time in +offering up presents to a dirty little wooden god stuck behind a small +oil lamp, the odor from which was any thing but agreeable. They would +moreover frequently stop the ship to offer meat and incense to the +images of the sea goddess Ma-tsoo-po, which are perched upon almost +every promontory upon the Chinese coast. + +They had been at sea, or rather along the coast, for these sailors never +venture far from land, six days, when the murky atmosphere, the heavy +swell of the waves as they rolled inward, and the fluttering flight of +the sea-fowl, betokened a coming storm; and the crew, trembling with +fear, thought of little else but making offerings to the dirty little +god, praying of him to stop the storm. A sailor and a Christian from his +childhood, Nicholas was no less disgusted with their cowardice than +their foolish superstition, and really fearing that the ship would be +dashed to pieces upon a rock, he earnestly entreated them to exert +themselves. His efforts, however, were useless, for their faith was firm +in the power of their gods, whose protection they sought to purchase in +the following curious manner:-- + +Taking a quantity of gilt paper, kept on board for the purpose, they cut +it into the shape of copper tchen, the only coin in the empire, and +threw them into the sea as a bribe to the goddess Ma-tsoo-po; but +finding that the marine lady's favor was not to be bought so cheaply, +the whole crew began to busy themselves in building a paper ship, which, +by the way, was so ingeniously constructed that it formed an exact model +of their own junk, being complete with masts, ropes, sails, flags, +compass, rudder, a crew, victuals, and even a book of accounts. + +When this redoubtable vessel was finished they let it into the sea with +great ceremony, and amidst the deafening clatter of drums and +instruments, and their own shoutings to the goddess, to wreak her +vengeance upon the toy instead of her adorers' ship. + +Nevertheless the hard-hearted goddess was not to be caught with tinsel, +for the storm raged with such terrible violence that the frail bark +would speedily have been dashed to atoms but for Nicholas, who, after +persuading a few of the least obstinate of the men to help him, set to +work and managed to keep her head so straight that they passed through +the channel without touching the rocks by which it was bounded on +either side. So fearful was the hurricane of circular winds that the +shivering crew could see trees torn up by the roots as easily as corks +out of bottles by corkscrews. At length, however, the storm subsided, +and the sailors believing that nothing less than a deity could have +enabled their vessel to live in such a storm, fell upon their knees +before Nicholas and thanked him for quelling the fury of the elements. + +"Let my brothers toss their stupid idol into the sea, and offer up +thanks to the One true God of heaven, who alone has saved them," said +the boy. + +Enraged at this insult to their god, the sailors gave full vent to their +disapprobation, and would have tossed the bold youth into the sea but +for a sudden cry from the look-out man. + +"The wasps of the ocean! the wasps of the ocean are upon us!" + +At this cry the crew took alarm, and ran to different parts of the +vessel, and armed themselves with pikes, swords, or any weapon upon +which they could place their hands. + +Taking the glass from the trembling hands of the look-out man, Nicholas +endeavored to make out the cause of the alarm. It was a large floating +object at a great distance, and bore some resemblance to a ship, still, +notwithstanding the track it left behind in the water, he was doubtful; +but before he could make up his mind the captain snatched the glass from +his hands, glanced through it, declared his opinion that it was a wasp +of the ocean, or pirate, and ordered his vessel to be put back, with +the hope of outrunning her. + +Then the first officer took the glass, and after gazing for some time, +said, "Truly, my brothers, this is no ship, but a frightful demon that +the insulted Ma-tsoo-po has sent from the bottom of the sea to devour us +for carrying this impious youth." + +This was sufficient for the superstitious fear of the crew, who, +clustering toward Nicholas, with one voice cried, "Over the side with +the irreligious dog." + +Seeing no other chance, the boy ran to the stern of the vessel, and, +keeping them at a distance with his sword, said, "Let my brothers open +their ears. Their servant has brought this calamity upon them, but will +yet save them from the anger of the demon by seeking him before he +reaches the vessel, for surely the demon will be satisfied with one +victim." + +"The boy's words are good, and if he will pay for the boat it shall be +so, otherwise it is not well that we should lose its value," said the +artful captain, fearing he should lose any money Nicholas might have +about his person. + +"Back, rat!" said he to the advancing captain, keeping him off with his +sword and springing side-ward on to the edge of the junk, adding, "Lower +the boat, with provisions, and I will give you silver; refuse, and I +will leap into the sea." + +Fearing he would keep his word, the crew placed some rice cakes and a +small water cask in the boat and lowered it; and when Nicholas saw it +fairly afloat, and held but by one cord, he scrambled down the side like +a cat, drew his sword across the rope, threw a handful of silver upon +the deck, and pulled so hard at the oars that in a very short time he +was far out of the cowards' reach and on his way to the floating demon; +which, however he had no sooner caught full sight of than he laughed +till he could handle the oars no longer, for the terrible demon who had +scared the wits of the sailors proved to be neither more nor less than a +great tree which the circular winds had wrested from the earth with such +violence that the root had dragged with it a mass of earth and pebbles +sufficient to keep it afloat in a perfectly upright position, when, with +its spreading branches and lower boughs, it bore in the distance no bad +resemblance to a well-rigged vessel. + +Rowing cautiously, for fear the tree might topple over and upset his +boat, he heard a faint cry. Surely it could not be human; he listened; +again he heard it; and looking upward you may imagine his astonishment +at seeing a boy sitting across one of the upper branches. + +"Who cries for help?" said Nicholas. + +"It is the miserable Chow, who must die if the benevolent stranger will +not aid him," was the reply. + +"Canst thou swim, O Chow? If so, drop into the water, for I dare not +come nearer," said Nicholas; but scarcely had he spoken when a strong +gust of wind toppled the tree over with its great arms stretched out as +if to save itself from falling. Fortunately it fell in an opposite +direction to the boat. In the fall the boy was dashed so violently upon +the water, that becoming instantly senseless he would have sunk but for +Nicholas, who, getting hold of the long hair of his head, managed to +drag him into the boat. Upon recovering his senses he said, "Alas! then, +Yen-Vang has poor Chow after all." + +"Thou art far away from the king of the lower regions, my poor Chow," +said Nicholas. + +"By the social relations, I am alive and on earth--no, on water--and +ungrateful to the benevolent stranger," said the boy, holding his head +with both hands, as if the better to comprehend his situation. + +"Satisfy thy hunger and say how it happened that Chow came to be perched +like a wild goose on a masthead," said Nicholas, giving the boy some of +the rice cakes, which he devoured as ravenously as if he had not tasted +food for a week. + +The lad, who had so unexpectedly made the acquaintance of Nicholas, was +a tall, bony youth of about sixteen, with a broad forehead, sparkling +black eyes, and covered with a coarse robe, so torn and tattered, that +he might have passed for a beggar of the lowest class. + +When he had satisfied his hunger, Chow clasped the knees of his new +friend, and with tears of gratitude flowing down his cheek, said, "Chow +will be thy slave, O generous stranger, for truly it could be for no +other purpose that the gods have saved his life." + +"Tush! talk not of slavery or gods, Chow, but say what is thy name, +surname, and the rank of thy family," said Nicholas. + +"Truly, the story of Chow is as miserable as his own mean person. I am +from Tun-Hien, in Ching-Foo, in the province of Tche-Kiang. My father +was a mandarin of the fifth rank, who having taken a good degree, held +office under the governor of the fort, till one moon since, when the +terrible rebel, Li-Kong, took possession of the city in defiance of the +Son of Heaven himself, and massacred all who would not submit; my father +being one of the first to acknowledge the traitor, became the first to +be punished for his disloyalty to our holy Emperor, which happened as +thy servant will relate. + +"One day, my mother, who was accounted very handsome, so far forgot the +social regulations laid down for women, as to stand gazing from a window +while a body of soldiers passed through the street. For that unbecoming +act, both my venerable father and myself suffered, for the officer +clattered at the door, when the servants not daring to refuse so +powerful a personage, admitted him to the house, when he ran into the +inner apartment of my mother, who was so alarmed at such barbarian +behavior, that she rose to leave, when the villain would have carried +her away but for thy insignificant servant, who clutched his throat and +so gashed his cheek that the waters even of the yellow stream will never +wash them out. + +"Hearing the struggle, the soldiers came to the rogue's help, and would +have killed poor Chow, but for my father, who, returning at the moment, +compelled the officer, bad and bold as he was, to make his escape; but, +alas! no sooner had the rogue left, than instead of being grateful, my +father burst into loud lamentations, crying, 'Alas, alas! that ever so +mean a person was born, for thou hast insulted the chief favorite of the +prince, who will assuredly be revenged;' and so it proved, for the next +day we were all taken before the prince, who ordered the whole family to +be exterminated, and our house burnt to the ground; but what was worse, +alas! my father was not even strangled, but disgraced by being sent to +the yellow stream incomplete, for he was beheaded on the spot, and the +villain officer begged his wife as a slave, to which, in her misery, my +mother offered to consent if they would but spare the life of thy +miserable servant, her son. To this the prince consented, but the +officer was so enraged at the wound in his cheek, that he ordered me to +be dressed in beggar's rags, and beaten out of the town toward the sea. +Accordingly the wretches beat me till I could not stand, and left me to +starve and die on the sea-shore. + +"For days and days I wandered in the hope that some fisherman would take +compassion upon me; but alas! none dared to encourage so treasonous a +youth for fear of suffering similar punishment; then, but for the hope +that retaining my miserable existence would some fortunate day enable me +to punish the villain, I should have thrown myself into the sea, +although even that consolation I could not seek without impiously +forgetting my duty to my father, for has it not been wisely said that we +should not live beneath the same heaven with the destroyer of our +parents?" + +"It is a pagan doctrine, Chow; but how came you upon yonder perch?" said +Nicholas. + +"Without hope, tired, and sad, I wandered along the coast till the great +storm sent the terrified wild animals in all directions; to escape from +them I climbed a tree upon the very verge of the sea, when shortly +afterward the wind-demon blew one great gust which carried it into the +sea, where its great spreading root and the earth around kept it +floating till the benevolent stranger came to my rescue." + +"Thou shalt be revenged upon this villain officer, my poor Chow, and +upon the greater rogue, Li-Kong," said Nicholas. + +"How,--what words are these? surely the benevolent stranger cannot be in +his senses to speak thus of men so powerful," replied the astonished +Chow. + +"What would Chow do to obtain the punishment of his enemies? Would he +faithfully serve the stranger who has saved his life?" + +"If these are the words of truth,--and who is thy mean servant that he +should doubt?--O wonderful stranger, Chow will be thy slave till he goes +to meet his ancestors." + +"Then, surely as I have spoken, it shall be so. But how wouldst thou +know this vile rogue again?" + +"Is it possible for a son to forget the slayer of his parent, even if +the wound in his face would not betray him?" said Chow, who gazing +earnestly in the face of Nicholas, added, "Art thou really a boy or a +man of short measure?" + +"Truly, like thyself, a boy of long measure and ample fullness, whose +mean surname is Nicholas," said the other laughing. + +"No, no, noble Nicholas, not like Chow; for if a boy, thou art like him +who became the Emperor Tait-sou, a little great man-boy," said Chow. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ADVENTURES AT SEA.--RESCUE. + + +Having recovered his strength, Chow took a turn at the oars, and for an +hour pulled lustily, to get as far from the coast as possible, for fear +of being observed by any straggling party of the rebels who might pursue +them, when, if they searched Nicholas and discovered the letter, +farewell to the sea chief's schemes. This fear, however, soon became +absorbed in a greater; night came on, and brave sailor as he was, +Nicholas did not fancy being upon that stormy sea in such a fragile +boat. + +Then Nicholas took the oars, and had not been pulling long, when he +perceived the glimmering of a light in the distance. He rested for a +moment; the light grew larger and nearer: this was hopeful; it might be +the lantern of a trading ship; yet fearful, for it might be a pirate. +The suspense was terrible, and like a gallant fellow he determined to +end it as soon as possible; for this purpose he pulled heartily, and was +rewarded at length by getting near enough to the stranger to distinguish +voices, then a few long pulls, and strong pulls, and he reached the +ship, when by the light from her lanterns perceiving some ropes hanging +out, he clambered up her side, telling Chow to follow. In another +second they both stood upon the deck, but also in the arms of men, who +would have stabbed them with their knives but for the presence of mind +of our hero, who exclaimed, "Fear not, brothers of the sea, we are not +pirates." + +The men, however, not being so easily appeased, bound the arms of the +boys with ropes and took them into the presence of the captain, much to +the disgust of Chow, who said, "Truly it is a maxim that a servant +should follow his master, but our career will be one of short measure by +this strange frolic, O noble Nicholas." + +"Silence, Chow, let not thy heart leap between thy lips at the first +threat of danger," said Nicholas angrily. + +"The bravest war tiger would become a mouse with his body packed as +closely as a cotton ball," said Chow surlily. + +The captain, however, no sooner saw Nicholas, than with a start of +surprise he ordered the sailors to leave the cabin, and took up a large +knife from the cabin table, when the terrified Chow cried, "Take the +worthless life of thy mean slave, O noble commander, but in the name of +thy ancestors spare my noble master." + +Chow's fear became surprise in no small degree when the captain, without +noticing his prayer, not only cut the cords from the arms of Nicholas, +but made him a respectful bow. + +"Thanks, worthy commander," said Nicholas, taking the knife and +releasing Chow. + +"Truly the heavens have tumbled down a surprise," said Chow, with a +caper, adding, "Is the noble man-boy a good demon, that he can transform +enemies into friends with a glance of his eye?" + +Without, however, satisfying Chow, Nicholas asked the captain to give +the boy a sleeping mat in another cabin, after which he said, "It is +well, O Yung, that you chanced to be at sea this night, or my noble +parent would have had to mourn his son." But little more passed, for +Nicholas was glad to seek a long rest, and possession of the sleeping +mat which the captain resigned to him. + +The reason of this civility is easily explained--the vessel itself +belonged to the sea chief, and its commander was one of his officers in +charge on a voyage to Ning-Po, which port they reached the following +day. Having landed, the boys took leave of the captain, and sought a +lodging at one of the largest inns, where, after resting for a few days, +Nicholas began to prepare for his journey inland. + +His first care was to furnish Chow with a becoming robe of stout silk, a +cap, trousers, and thick-soled leather boots. As soon as the boy had put +them on he began to caper about, crying, "My master is generous, and the +gods will reward him for making a poor boy decent enough to pay due +reverence to the tombs of his ancestors, for truly he could not worthily +sweep the dust from their resting-place in such unbecoming tatters; for +although Chow is poor, he is of worthy descent and honorable relations." + +"Truly, Chow, thou art now fit to take a degree at the next examination +at Pekin, if we ever arrive there," said Nicholas. + +"It is not reasonable that the noble Nicholas should laugh at his mean +servant, for at the examination of his Hien he passed so creditably +through the first two sacred books, that he would have obtained a +government promotion but for the villain who destroyed his house. _May +his soul pass into the body of a rat!_" said Chow gloomily. + +"Pardon, O disappointed scholar. It was villainous to laugh, for it is a +wise saying, 'that the well to do should sympathize with the +unfortunate,'" said Nicholas, adding, as he took his cap, "But let us +now seek for a passage-boat, for it is also wisely said, 'that the +loiterer about the business of another is incapable of conducting his +own affairs.'" + +When they reached the river, they engaged a passage to Hang-tcheou, and +having waited for a favorable tide, the barge was soon out of the river +into a canal, upon which for days they proceeded, at times being pushed +along by poles thrust into the water, at others, being drawn along by +coolies, or porters, an employment that affords a means of existence to +a vast portion of the population of China. + +Tche-Kiang, through which they so leisurely traveled, is, perhaps, the +most fertile and beautiful of the eighteen provinces of China, and +large enough to contain the whole of Scotland and its adjacent islands. +Besides rivers, it is watered by some sixty canals, which serve not only +as an easy method of transit, but so to irrigate the great plains around +that they yield crops of rice, pulse, and cotton, twice and sometimes +thrice a year. It was pleasant to watch these canals pouring forth their +sparkling limpid streams to lave the feet of the neighboring hills and +mountains, which for many miles presented an aspect of singular beauty; +some, like carved and nature painted pyramids, being wrought into +terraces, which shot one out of the other, teeming with the yellow +grain, cotton, or tea-trees, while others were thickly sprinkled with +shady trees, which waved over sloping cemeteries of quaintly shaped +tombs and temples. It was a charming picture--nature dressed to the +verge of foppery--more, it was a glorious land, and smiling as if in +pride at its power of blessing the human race--and more again, that its +owners knew its worth and industriously stretched its blessings to the +utmost. + +Then the boat came to a dike, or sluice, and they were about to enter +another canal at least fifteen feet beneath their level. To pass this, +the barge was hoisted by Coolies up an inclined plain of freestone by +means of ropes upon capstans and sheer strength of muscle, then gently +let down a slope upon the other side into the water, a mode adopted to +the present day to move even the largest vessels from canal to canal. + +Thus pleasantly the young travelers were wafted through the province, +now through vast plains of rice, then by the sides of great hills +clustering with the tea-plant, on again through vast orchards of +mulberry-trees and the useful and curious tallow-plant; then again +through plantations of bamboo, that inseparable companion of the +Chinaman from the cradle to the grave--for it receives the infant, +corrects the boy, is the means of living for the man, and entwines the +corpse. Then again they passed through towns and cities, swarming with +busy workers at the silk-loom and multifarious handicrafts, and toiling +children, women, and men in the fields, till they passed another dike, +and then they were upon the beautiful lake Tsao-hou, about the naming of +which the following pretty story is told:-- + +"Many years ago there lived a priest of the Taouist religion, who had +obtained a reputation for his skill in magic. At the festival of the +feast of dragon boats, the priest went to sport in the river in honor of +his gods, but by some mischance he was drowned, and his body no where to +be found. His dutiful daughter, Tsao-hou, a girl fourteen years of age, +felt her father's loss so deeply that she wandered along the banks of +the river for seventeen days and nights, weeping and wailing over her +loss. At last she threw a large melon into the river, putting up the +prayer, 'May this melon sink wherever the body of my father lieth.' With +anxious eyes she watched the gourd as it floated on the surface of the +stream, until it stopped at a certain spot where it sank. The poor +damsel, frantic with grief, rushed to the place and plunged after it. +She too was drowned, but five days afterward her lifeless trunk rose to +the surface with her father's body in her embrace. Both were buried on +the river bank, and in commemoration of that incident the name of the +girl was given to the lake and a magnificent temple erected to her +name." + +On the sixth day they came to Chao-Hing, the Venice of China, where the +canals are so numerous that any portion of the city may be reached by +boats. Imagine a city with, in place of streets, one large network of +water-roads, intersected with bridges, so light and fanciful that one +could imagine them to have been blown together by the breath of fairies, +and you will have some notion of Chao-Hing. + +This city is celebrated alike for its silk-worms and book-worms. So +great is the reputation of the scholars of Chao-Hing that they are +sought for by the viceroys of provinces to fill government offices. Near +to this city and not far from the mountain of Asses (so called from its +being shaped in the form of that animal) is the sepulchre of the great +Emperor Yu, the model sovereign of China. + +This prince obtained the throne by having saved the empire from the +deluge of water which in his time covered the lands; indeed, he must +have been no common engineer, for in thirteen years, by unwearied labor, +he leveled high mountains, embanked and confined great rivers within +their channels, drained lakes and marshes, enclosed rapid torrents with +banks, and divided rivers into canals, which not only gained a great +extent of country, but rendered the whole more fertile. It was the great +genius and wonderful energy of Yu that caused the reigning Emperor to +choose him for his successor in preference to either of the four +princes, his sons. + +Among other remarkable things told of this Emperor, it is said that he +first taught the people to cultivate, sow, and manure lands, and divided +his dominions into nine provinces, causing as many great brazen vessels +to be made, on each of which a map of a province was engraved. In +succeeding times these vessels became very precious, for it was believed +that the safety of the state depended on their security, and that +whoever obtained them would also obtain the crown. + +A qualification rare amongst kings was possessed by this useful prince. +He hated flatterers, and the only way to gain his favor was to tell him +of his faults. Moreover, Yu thought no employment so becoming a +sovereign as doing justice to the people; thus he gave access to his +subjects at all hours, and that no obstacle might be thrown in their +way, he had affixed to his palace gates a bell, a drum, and three +tables, one of iron, one of stone, and another of lead, upon either of +which people who wanted an audience were to strike. + +The bell was to distinguish civil affairs, the drum for matters relating +to law or religion, the leaden table for the ministers, the tablet of +stone to denote a complaint of wrong done by some magistrate, and lastly +the iron tablet was to denote any very serious trouble. So rigorously +did Yu adhere to this rule, that it is said that he arose from table +twice in one day, and another day came three times out of his bath at +the sound of the bell. + +Another story is, that when wine, which was first invented in his reign, +was shown to him, he expressed great regret, "for," said he, "this +liquor will cause the greatest trouble to the empire." But wise and +powerful as he was, Yu could not conquer sensuality; for in China, as in +most other countries, the love for strong liquors is potent. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE INNKEEPER.--ALARMING NEWS. + + +For six more days the boys sailed along this canal till they came to +Hang-tcheou-fou, the terrestrial paradise of China, of which, in +conjunction with another great city, the people have a saying, "Heaven +is above, but Hang-tcheou and Foo-tcheou are below." As a combination of +work and pleasure, a great manufacturing city, and a fashionable and +healthful watering-place, this spot has not its equal in the world; for +as the province of Tche-Kiang is the most celebrated in the empire for +its growth of mulberry-trees and the finest silk-worms, so is its +capital, Hang-tcheou, celebrated for its looms and the quality and +quantity of those rare silks, satins, and taffetas, which no less +gladdened the eyes of the moderns than they surprised and delighted the +wealthy Romans, who, not knowing from whence they came, believed them to +be the handiwork of "furthest Ind." + +Not alone the Manchester, but the Bath or Cheltenham of China, this city +is also famous for its scholars, and as being the residence of the +fashionables, if such a term may be used to a people who are proverbial +for having kept in manners, customs, laws, religion, and dress, and +even ideas, with little exception, to the pattern men and women, +fashioned and shaped by their early Emperors, Yaou and Yu, some four +thousand years ago; for the latter perhaps Hang-tcheou is chiefly +indebted to its vicinage to the celebrated lake See-ho. The waters are +so clear that the smallest pebbles may be seen shining like crystals +from the bottom. In the middle are two islands adorned with temples and +houses, wherein water parties, after taking their pleasure upon the +lake, resort for rest and refreshment. Upon piles driven into the bed of +the lake are large stone walks or pathways for pedestrians, which stretch +from the banks to the islands, with openings for boats, across which are +thrown fancifully wrought bridges. The banks are studded with temples, +mansions, monasteries, for the bonzes or priests of Buddah, as also a +small but beautiful palace for the use of the Emperor, when he makes a +tour through his southern provinces. + +Near to this lake, and reposing in a valley beneath the foot of a +mountain, upon the summit of which, as if in guard over the dead for the +past forty centuries, the huge Lui-fung-ta, or tower of thundering +winds, is the great cemetery, or vale of tombs, a city in size, which is +kept reverentially clean, and strewn at stated periods with fresh +flowers, over which forests of willows weep for the departed. + +One of the chief beauties of this famous lake I had almost forgotten to +mention. Its sides, where the water is shallow, are covered with the +clustering and rare flowers, lien-hoa, a plant so choice that it is +fostered in the innermost recesses of the houses of the great and +wealthy. Not unlike our own tulips, the Lien-hoa has a little ball +supported by a small filament similar to that formed in lilies; its +color varies, being at times violet, white, or a mixture of red and +white; it emits a fragrant odor; the fruit is as big as a small nut, and +the kernel is white and of good taste. The physicians esteem it, and +prescribe it for weak patients. The leaves are long, and swim upon the +water, communicating with the root by long strings. The dense +population, which has rendered it necessary to turn every atom to +account, has led the busy-bee genius of the people to make every +particle of this plant useful. The before-mentioned strings are used by +the gardeners to wrap round their goods, and the white and pulpy root is +eaten in summer for its cooling properties. + +Although mid-day when they arrived at this city, you will not wonder +that it was nearly dark by the time they reached the gates, when I tell +you that the river was one vast floating town of vessels, the greater +part of which were arranged into streets, crowded with passing mandarin +junks laden with pleasure parties, and decorated with japan, gilding, +silk streamers, and that emblem of rank, the umbrella; government junks, +some of war, and others freighted with rice, silks, and other matters, +which had been given by the different townspeople as taxes in lieu of +money; then numerous junks laden with salt and other commodities, to say +nothing of the many thousands of San-pans or egg-house boats, in which +a vast portion of the poorer section of the Chinese reside, never being +permitted to come ashore without especial permission from the governor; +then again, the floating islands of trees, with their huts formed of +poles and matting of bamboo. Indeed just such a scene is a picture of +the every-day life presented on the canals and rivers of this country; +but particularly in the southern provinces, which so swarm with human +beings, that thousands are compelled from want of room on land to take +refuge on the water, where they not only live, but carry on their +various avocations. + +Notwithstanding the haste of the boys to enter the city, as they passed +through the gates the great bell above them began to sound the first of +the five watches or divisions into which the night is divided, and the +crowds who thronged the narrow streets began to scamper in every +direction to their homes, for the law of China very wisely holds "that +the daylight is for labor and the night for repose." Greatly fatigued, +the young travelers sought the first inn where they regaled themselves +with a plentiful meal, foolishly forgetting the passing time: indeed, +before they had finished, they heard the sound of the second watch, when +the landlord made his appearance and begged of his honorable guests to +take their departure, much to the surprise of Nicholas, who had resolved +to go no further that night. "Surely," said he, "the perfection of +innkeepers would not turn away travelers who are willing to pay for +their entertainment and lodging." + +"From what distant province can the honorable youth have journeyed, that +he knows not that the inns are full of the servants and officers of the +illustrious Ching-Ti, who has this day arrived, to fill with his form of +full measure the governor's sedan, and judgment seat?" said the +innkeeper. + +"Truly the worthy innkeeper will pardon his younger brother for +observing that the name of the Mandarin of Hang-tcheou is Yang-ti, or +the eyeballs of his humble guest have become twisted, for Yang-ti is the +name upon this chop," replied Chow, producing a kind of passport which +had been given to him at the custom-house before entering the city. + +"Where have been the ears of my honorable guest that he has not heard +that the noble Yang has completed the measure of his joys and sorrows in +this world?" + +"Surely the noble governor cannot have passed so suddenly to the yellow +stream or the shadow kingdom of Yen-Vang," said Chow. + +"There can be no doubt that it is a sad history, for greatly was the +good Yang loved, not only in this his last province, but in all those +over which he had ruled, never having retired from a government without +receiving the boots of honor," replied the innkeeper. + +It may be as well to explain to you, that when the governor of a city +removes to another province, the people exhibit their approbation of his +wisdom and justice by paying him great honor. When he commences his +journey he finds, for a considerable distance along the road, tables +covered with silk placed at certain intervals, upon some of which are +laid burnt perfumes, candlesticks, waxlights, meats, pulse, and fruits; +and upon others, wine, and tea, ready for use. As soon as the popular +mandarin appears, the people fall upon their knees, bow their heads and +weep, offer him the things upon the tables, and present him with a pair +of new boots; they then pull off his old ones, and preserve them as +relics in a small cage, which they hang over the gates of the city +through which he passed. + +"Will the worthy innkeeper relate the ill-doings that could have brought +this good magistrate to misfortune?" said Nicholas, guessing at the +innkeeper's meaning. + +"Truly it was no less than a fondness for the religion of the Fan-Kwi." + +"Surely that could be no crime under our good Emperor, who has +befriended the Christians, even to permitting the members of his family +to become followers of the Lord of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +"It is true that the information may be incorrect, but such has fallen +into thy servant's ears; moreover it is said that the great Yang's +conduct has offended the bonzes at Pekin, who are all-powerful in the +palace of the Son of Heaven, whom they persuaded to send the +Christian-exterminating Lord Ching-Ti, with an order signed by the +vermilion pencil, to put Yang to death." + +"Has the vile deed been performed?" said Nicholas hastily. + +"Hush!" said the host in a low tone. "Surely such language will bring a +heavy punishment upon thy head." + +"Has the noble mandarin suffered, O worthy man?" said Nicholas, whose +rising indignation outweighed his prudence. + +"It has been wisely said, that it is of little use to repine at what +can't be recalled," replied the innkeeper, adding, "The soul of the +great Yang is now in search of a better habitation, but he left this +world with dignity, for the Son of Heaven, _may he continue the circle +of succession_, remembering his servant's good deeds, mercifully +permitted him to be his own executioner, and, moreover, gave him the +choice either of the silken cord, the gold leaf, or his own state +necklace." + +"Truly if the great lords esteem these things as favors, thanks be to +Tien that thy servant is but a small weasel of a personage," said Chow, +making some very remarkable grimaces. + +"When the noble Yang received the message, he called for the incense +table, burned perfume in honor of his royal master, chose the silken +cord, and having held it high above his head in token of his willingness +to obey the royal will, immediately strangled himself," said the +innkeeper, without noticing Chow's interruption. + +That the boys did not shudder at this recital, may surprise you who are +not perhaps aware that this is a common method of showing the royal +gratitude for past services in the middle kingdom. Not only are these +three methods used as punishments, but as a means of suicide, which in +China, as in most unchristianized countries, is esteemed a meritorious +means of slipping through a difficulty. The gold leaf being taken in the +form of a pill, is washed down with water, which is supposed so to +expand the leaf and extend the stomach that life soon becomes extinct. +The death by the necklace is more uncommon. There is a bird of the crane +kind, on the crown of whose head is a scarlet tuft of down or velvet +skin, to which the Chinese believe the poison of the serpents which it +eats determines. This crest is frequently formed into a bead which is +concealed in the ornamental necklaces worn by the high officers of the +empire, for the express purpose of surmounting worldly difficulties, for +let this venom but touch the lip, and death instantaneously ensues. + +There is a legend that the life of this bird extends to one thousand +years, that it is in its prime at sixty, when it can sing regularly and +beautifully every hour of the day, but that it cannot mount trees till +it reaches its thousandth year. + +When the innkeeper had finished, the clanging of the watchman's bamboo +rattle in the streets reminded Nicholas of the lateness of the hour, and +he said, "But, even now, the worthy innkeeper has not informed his +younger brothers where they may find a lodging for the night. + +"Thy servant, noble youth, must have been born in an unfortunate hour, +that he cannot offer the advantages of his inn, but the truth has been +spoken, none but the servants and officers of the great Ching-Ti can +rest here to-night." + +"Surely taels of silver are not so plentiful in this city that all will +refuse," said Chow. + +"Truly for less than an ounce of silver two travelers might find a +lodging in the house of the bonzes." + +"The priests of Fo are rogues," said Nicholas, giving utterance to an +opinion that has been popular in China from all time. + +"The noble youth possesses a tongue that will place him in the cangue, +or procure him a branded cheek by this hour to-morrow, if he rules it no +better," said the innkeeper; but before the boy could reply, the man's +wife ran into the room, crying and beating her breast, and implored of +her husband to follow her to the bedside of their dying daughter. + +Shocked that they had been the means of keeping the man from so holy a +duty. Nicholas apologized, and was about leaving the house, when with an +hysterical laugh, the man said, "See, O honorable youths, this woman has +but little faith in the power of the holy bonzes, who have been offering +sacrifices to Fo, to save the life of this pearl of my existence." + +"By what means, O foolish man, can these bonzes save thy child's life? +Are not the physicians of Hang-tcheou famous for their skill?" + +"Truly they are less than mice; they could not save my child, and I have +dismissed them for a holy bonze, whose influence over the god who +protects the lives of the young, has made him promise that my pearl +shall not become dissolved in death." + +"She is passing from us now, O my husband," said the unhappy wife. + +"It cannot be, woman; the god is but chastising you with a terrible +fear, for your want of faith; for how is it possible he can refuse so +trifling a favor as the life of a young girl, when I have daily offered +sacrifices of animals, and money, and burned incense at his altar?" + +Shocked at the man's superstitious belief in the power of Fo, and his +brother idols, Nicholas made one other effort to shake it; finding, +however, that it was useless, he paid the bill, purchased a lantern for +himself and another for Chow, and they went on their way to the Buddhist +monastery, the only house wherein he could find shelter for that night. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +ADVENTURE IN A BUDDHIST MONASTERY.--CHOW'S ENCOUNTER WITH A BONZE. + + +To Londoners who find it an easy matter to pass, at any time of the +night, from one end of the metropolis to the other, it may appear that +Nicholas and Chow had no very difficult task before them. Such however, +was not the case, for in the first place, instead of open thoroughfares, +the great streets of the cities of China are barricaded at the ends with +chains, and the smaller ones with wicket-gates, at each of which is +placed a watchman, whose business it is to question every pedestrian, +and through the night to keep clanging a piece of hard wood against a +hollow bamboo cane, for the purpose of showing his watchfulness. + +As the boys, by aid of their lanterns picked their way through the +streets, they found them deserted; with the exception of a few +stragglers, each of whom carried a lantern, upon which was +ostentatiously emblazoned his name and rank. Imagine all the gas lamps +in London extinguished, and their places supplied by a few dancing +will-o'-the-wisp kind of lanterns, and you will have a tolerable notion +of the appearance of the great cities of China by night. Dismal, truly, +but perhaps not more so than were the streets of London not many years +since, when they were lighted by flickering oil lamps. Again, as were +those of London at the very period when these adventures happened, the +streets are so narrow that a good-sized carriage or wagon cannot pass +through without danger to the people, but then the narrowness of the +streets was less pardonable in Londoners of that age, than in the +Chinese of the present, whose great people ride in sedan-chairs, and +whose little people walk, and convey their goods to and fro in narrow +carts, like barrows, with one centre wheel. The Celestials are at least +consistent in fitting their vehicles to their streets, which is more +than could be said of old London, with its gutter streets and heavy +lumbering coaches, types of which may be seen every day in the London of +the present time. + +The street in which the inn was situated was one of the principal, and, +therefore, of great length, and along the pavement, which was in the +middle of the road, the boys trudged onward, passing every now and then +beneath one of the numerous Pai-ho, or arches, which are erected to the +memory of good magistrates and virtuous women, till they came to a +lattice-gate which led into a smaller street, when their progress was +arrested, for the watchman was not at his post. They waited for some +time, till becoming impatient, Chow kicked the gate, when there arose +such a queer hissing noise, that the boy fell upon his face, exclaiming, +"My master, my master the demons of Yen-Vang have swallowed the +watchman, and are guarding the gate in his stead." + +"Thou art a foolish coward," said Nicholas, who clambered up the gate, +and after looking through the wicket for a minute let go his hold and +laughed immoderately. "O Chow, Chow, thou idiot! not to know a demon +from one of thine own kind; surely these demons are nothing but geese;" +and as the watchman opened the wicket Chow saw that the noise which had +alarmed him had been caused by a couple of those birds, which the +watchman had trained to cackle and hiss at the slightest noise, so that +he might take a comfortable nap, with the certainty of being aroused +when wanted by the hissing. + +"Truly they must be barbarian geese, for I should have understood them +had they cackled in Chinese," said Chow. + +To get the gate open was one thing, to pass through another, for +perceiving neither name nor rank upon the lanterns, the watchman +determined to detain the boys as suspicious characters, and for that +purpose began to clang upon his bamboo for assistance, when a personage +came up to the wicket, and both the watchman and Chow bent their heads +respectfully. From the yellow robe, the string of beads around his neck, +and his shaven head, Nicholas saw that he was a bonze, or priest of Fo. +As this reverend gentleman came through the gate he ran his fingers up +and down the beads, and muttered, "O Mi to-fo," and so would have +passed, but for Chow, who said, "Will the man of prayer pardon an +insignificant mouse for interrupting his holy meditations?" + +"The dogs are vagabonds, perhaps robbers, who have no name, surname, or +profession on their lanterns, O holy bonze," said the polite watchman. + +"What would the nameless night prowlers with the priest of Buddha?" said +the bonze. + +"Truly nothing but a guide to the monastery, where they seek a lodging +for which they pray of the holy father to accept alms." + +At the word alms the eyes of the bonze sparkled with delight, and having +lifted his lantern so as to get a full view of Nicholas, he said to the +watchman, "Thou rascal! thy dog's head hath less brains than these +geese, and thine eyeballs are of lead, or thou wouldst have seen that so +well-looking a youth must be of honorable descent; moreover, where was +thy charity, that thou wouldst not aid a traveler?" + +"Surely the man would be wanting in sense who should suppose that he had +the wisdom and divining power of a holy bonze," replied the trembling +guardian of the night. + +Not deigning, however to notice this observation, the bonze conducted +the boys along several streets, till they reached a building surrounded +by a high wall, through which, by means of a small gate, they passed to +an avenue of magnificent trees, paved with marble, and which led to a +large gateway, guarded upon each side by a very ugly stone god. Passing +through the gateway, they entered a small room lighted from the centre +by one large lantern, decorated with portraits of the god Fo, in every +variety of character. This god, as you may probably know, is represented +by almost every kind of animal, biped and quadruped, into which during +the lapse of centuries his soul is supposed to have passed. Around this +room, which was for every day use, were small idols of gilt copper, with +ghos-sticks burning before them; on the table, in the centre of the +room, stood a time measure, that must remind you of the period of our +own King Alfred. It is termed the hourly incense-stick, and is notched +at equal distances, and as from notch to notch the stick takes exactly +one hour to burn, it accurately marks the passing time. + +This ghos-stick, so named from its being burned as incense in the +ghos-houses or temples of China, is compounded of sawdust mixed with +glue and scent, and evenly rolled into thin rods of two or three feet in +length; in fact, the very same brown stick adopted by smokers in this +country for its pleasant perfume, and continuing to burn till reduced to +ashes. Having introduced the boys to this room the bonze withdrew, and +shortly afterward sent a servant with blankets and sleeping mats, upon +which they stretched themselves, not a little pleased at the opportunity +of getting a good sleep after their day's fatigue. + +Long before morning, however, Nicholas was suddenly aroused from his +slumbers, and to his surprise saw the bonze upon the floor, with Chow +pummeling him with his fists, and crying, "I have thee, I have thee, +thou slayer of people's parents." + +Not knowing what to make of this strange scene, Nicholas caught Chow by +the arm and endeavored to pull him away; this, however, served but to +excite him the more, for he pummeled at the bonze harder than ever. The +behavior of the priest was still more surprising, for instead of showing +any indignation at this strange treatment, all he said was, "Harm the +youth not my son; he is possessed with a demon; he sleeps, poor boy, and +mistakes me for some terrible enemy." + +This explanation Nicholas soon found to be correct, for poor Chow had +been battling in his sleep; but how the bonze came into the boy's +clutches was a mystery, and one that, worn out as he was with fatigue, +he did not just then care about solving, so that he could get Chow to +his mat again, which after considerable trouble he managed, by telling +him that he was an officer of justice and would see that his enemy +should be punished. After which Nicholas threw himself upon his mat, +fell into a sound sleep, and slept till he was awakened by the deep +tones of the monastery bell. + +During the morning meal he related the adventure to the much-puzzled +Chow, who could remember nothing but that he had dreamed that the slayer +of his father suddenly entered the room, and after prowling about for +some time, first searched the robe of Nicholas, and then came to his +bed, when, thinking he was going to kill him, he attacked him in +self-defence; though how his enemy should have become transformed into +the bonze, who certainly had no business in the room, was a puzzle that +he could not make out. + +The explanation of the bonze was, that he had entered his visitors' +apartment to see that they had been properly attended to by the +servant--an explanation not at all satisfactory to Chow, who as soon as +the priest left the room said, "Is my master's girdle safe? for these +holy fathers are great rogues." + +Alarmed for the safety of his letters, Nicholas examined his girdle; +they were safe; when shocked at his insinuation, the repentant Chow +exclaimed, "Truly, my master, Chow is less than the least of little +dogs, and must crave the good father's forgiveness,"--which he took the +first opportunity of doing, by falling upon all fours before the priest +and knocking his forehead to the ground, till the latter in pity lifted +the boy upon his legs again. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THRASHING THE GODS.--THE BOYS TAKEN PRISONERS. + + +Anxious to deliver his father's letter to the Christian priest, yet +fearful of making inquiries where he was to be found, now he had heard +of the governor's enmity to Christianity, Nicholas determined to make +the effort alone, and having thanked the bonze for his hospitality and +presented him with half an ounce of silver, he was about proceeding in +his search, when the latter solicited him to join in the morning prayers +of the monastery; a solicitation he was too prudent to refuse, for fear +of awakening the suspicions of the bonzes, whom he knew to be the main +persecutors of his religion. + +As for Chow, like the majority of his countrymen he was of no religion +in particular, but a little of each of the sects into which the Chinese +are divided; Confucian, Buddhist, and Taouist; he, therefore, willingly +followed Nicholas, who, with something like a feeling of disgust, +entered a spacious hall, the ceiling of which shone with gold and japan. +In the centre were placed three colossal representative gods of the +past, present, and future--the Buddha who is, and the Buddha who will +be--with a vase of incense and a lamp of burning tea oil before each. At +the sound of a small bell, a number of yellow-robed priests, with heads +shaven, clean and oily as bladders of lard, made their appearance and +commenced the ceremony; one rang a bell violently, while another +clattered like a watchman upon a hollow bamboo cane. This clamor was for +the purpose of arousing the attention of the gods, which, after a few +minutes, being supposed to be accomplished, the whole society of priests +knocked their heads upon the ground repeatedly; and when tired, they +began to chant hymns and create a fearful din by playing rough music +upon much rougher instruments; after which they marched out of the hall +regularly and in double file. Not a little pleased at the conclusion of +the ceremony, Nicholas followed, taking care, however, on leaving the +building, to choose an opposite direction to the bonzes. + +The boys had not walked more than a hundred yards, when they came to the +foot of a small hillock, which served as a base or pedestal for a +shrine, in which, upon a raised platform, like a small boy upon a tall +stool, sat an ugly little god with a dragon's head, so glittering, +however, with gold and gaudy colors, that they knew it to be a private +idol that some foolish devotee had decorated at his own cost, with a +view to obtain some especial service from heaven. When within earshot of +this deity, they observed two bonzes come from behind the shrine, +attended by a servant, who, having prepared the incense table commenced +to bow their heads to the ground and mutter their prayers. + +Not wishing either to join in, or interrupt the priests' devotions, the +boys took up their position behind the trunk of a large tree, where they +witnessed the following scene:-- + +Scarcely had the bonzes commenced their head knockings when a mob of the +lower class of people, with sticks and hammers in their hands, came +clamoring toward the shrine. They were led by a man, who had no sooner +reached the astute and kneeling priests, than with one kick he sent them +rolling over each other, saying at the same time, "Get thee hence, thou +rogues of bonzes, and let us deal with this villainous god." The bonzes, +seeing so many persons, arose and scampered off to their monastery for +help, when the _leader_, whom Nicholas now recognized as his friend, the +innkeeper, approached the idol, saying, "How now, thou dog of a spirit! +Have I not fed thee, lodged thee handsomely, and offered incense each +day at the cost of half my hard earnings, that thou shouldst save the +life of my daughter, who, notwithstanding, has been carried to the +yellow stream? Let us punish him, my friends, that he may deceive no +other father." As he uttered the last words, he struck off the arm of +the god with such force that it struck a bonze, who was at that moment +coming toward the idol in advance of some twenty of his brethren; at +which the people cried, "This is indeed a just retribution upon the vile +bonze." + +"Do not the people fear the vengeance of the gods, that they behave +thus?" said the stricken priest, calmly, and dissembling his rage. + +"Truly the gods may render us unfortunate," said one cowardly fellow, +and the superstitious crowd hesitated. Perceiving his advantage, the +bonze followed it up. "Surely," said he, "the people are not +unreasonable, like this man, who is ungrateful to the gods for taking +his daughter, as if, forsooth, his child were better than the children +of his neighbors." + +"This is true. Why should one complain that he is not more fortunate +than the rest?" said the cowardly voice. + +"As for the worthy Sing, the gods may pardon him, in consideration of +his great grief; but then he must desist from this profanity," said the +bonze. + +"The bonze is generous, and his words are reasonable," said another. + +"Are my friends unjust that they will not listen to an injured man, +whose injuries may be their own to-morrow?" said the innkeeper. + +"This is reasonable also; let us hear Sing," cried several voices. + +At that moment, Nicholas, who feared lest the artful bonzes should get +the better of the dispute, came forward, and said, "Why should the +worthy Sing waste words? surely he has been sufficiently injured; the +measure of his grief is full, for he will leave no descendant to fulfil +the necessary offices at his tomb." + +"The words of the honorable youth are wise," said the fickle crowd; and +Nicholas continued, "That there has been robbery, there can be no +doubt, my friends; for, notwithstanding the god promised to cure the +daughter of this worthy man, she has passed to the yellow stream, and, +therefore, he is unworthy of his quality of godship, and should be +punished; therefore, in justice to the worthy Sing, let this temple be +pulled down, and the stupid idol pay the penalty in his own person." + +To which the priest endeavored to reply, but the people would not listen +to him, and acting upon the suggestion of Nicholas, threw a cord round +the god's neck, pulled him to the ground, and belabored him with sticks +and hammers. + +During the proceeding the priests, who were too wise to lose their +tempers, addressed a knot of lookers-on, vehemently threatening them +with terrible misfortunes, but at the same time declaring, that if Sing +would come to some agreement, the god, who was of a short temper, would +do what was reasonable on his part and prevent future evils. This had +the desired effect upon all but Sing and some of his friends, who +continued to belabor the idol till the converts to the bonze's opinion +drove them away, when, becoming broken into antagonistic parties, they +threw aside their weapons and fought each other with their fists, till a +body of yah-yu, or city police, entered upon the ground, and seizing +Sing, the principal bonze, and the two boys, as the chief rioters, +hurried them off to the police tribunal. + +As for the mob, no sooner had the prisoners been removed, than mortified +at the profanity into which they had been hurried, they gathered +together the fragments of the deity, stuck them together as well as +possible, washed him, and fell at his feet, exclaiming, "In truth we +have been a little too hasty, but then your godship has been a little +too slow in performing your promises, and thus brought the beating upon +yourself. But still it is a good saying, that 'what has been done can't +be undone.' Let us, therefore, think no more of this matter, and if you +will forget what has passed we will repair thy temple and gild you over +again." + +For fear that my reader may think this episode exaggerated, I must +assure him that similar scenes are even now of frequent occurrence--and +why not? For although idolaters, the Chinese are neither enthusiasts nor +fanatics. With the greater part, the worship of idols is an inheritance +which it would be impossible to reject;--it is custom they worship. +Moreover, like ourselves, they are a business-like people, and will have +money's worth for money; therefore, if they pay an idol for a certain +quantity of work, and he does not complete his contract, they give him a +sound thrashing--and the principle is not a bad one after all. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TREACHERY OF THE BONZES.--NICHOLAS SENT TO PRISON AS A TRAITOR. + + +With the proverbial rudeness of most small officials, the yah-yu threw +cords around the arms of the prisoners and dragged them along the +streets, amid the jeers and laughter of the populace, who, enjoyed the +prospect of the probable punishment of so serious an offence as rioting, +namely, being led about the streets with the cangue, a wooden collar as +large as a small table, around their necks; but in this the Chinese +crowd was not worse than others in Europe, for, with shame be it said, a +tendency to indulge in the minor miseries of their fellows is the cruel +propensity of most masses. + +When they came to the tribunal they found it crowded with people, who +were standing upon either side of the hall, so as to form a lane by +which to approach the mandarin, who was sitting at a table, upon which +stood a box of bamboo reeds, tipped with yellow; upon his left side sat +the secretary, and upon his right stood three men with ominous-looking +bamboo canes in their hands. The first case heard was that of a youth +whose propensity for gaming had led him to squander a large sum of +money lent to him by his father for the purpose of commencing business. +I must tell you however, that before bringing the boy before a tribunal, +the father had fruitlessly tried every method of kindness. Having +listened patiently, the mandarin severly reprimanded the youth, then +taking fifty of the yellow-tipped reeds threw them on the ground as a +signal for the men with canes to give him fifty blows. Before, however, +they could obey, his mother, with tears in her eyes, threw herself at +the mandarin's feet, begging of him to pardon her son. Being a +kind-hearted man the magistrate complied, but ordering to be brought to +him a volume written by one of the emperors for the instruction of his +subjects, and opening it at a particular part, said, "Promise O youth, +to renounce gambling and to listen to your father's directions, and I +will pardon you this time; but that you may not forget, go and kneel in +the gallery of the hall of audience and learn by heart this chapter on +filial obedience, which till you repeat and solemnly promise to observe +obedience, you shall not depart from this tribunal." + +The youth being delighted at this lenient sentence bowed his forehead to +the earth, and, moreover, I must tell you, kept his promise, although he +was three days learning the task. Such being the spirit of the laws, and +the paternal mildness with which they are for the most part carried out, +excepting only in cases of high treason, we need not wonder that this +great population has submitted to their rule for four thousand years. + +When this case was over the chief of the yah-yu bowed to the ground and +charged his prisoners generally with rioting to the disturbance of the +public peace. + +"What has the priest of Fo to say to this disgraceful charge? let him +open his lips," said the mandarin. Whereupon the bonze fell upon his +knees and accused the innkeeper of attacking the idol and leading a mob +to destroy the monastery. + +"What sayest the innkeeper? for surely the offence is serious," said the +mandarin. + +Then, bowing to the ground, the innkeeper related the morning's +adventure, stating that but for the assistance of Nicholas and Chow, the +bonze would have killed him, adding, "Truly, O jewel of justice, thy +mean servant demands the punishment of this rascal bonze and his +trumpery god, who, notwithstanding the sums paid to them, have permitted +his only child to be carried from this life." + +Having listened patiently to both sides, the mandarin said, "It is true +that two offences have been committed, the one against the public peace, +and the other against a private person. The former, being the most +heinous, must be first dealt with; and, as without the bonze and the +innkeeper, there could have been no such disturbance, let both be +corrected with twenty blows. As for the two youths, who were drawn into +this disturbance, let them pay half a tael each to some poor person to +receive ten blows for them." + +The sentence having gone forth, the men with the bamboos caught hold of +the culprits, threw them upon the floor, and they received a similar +punishment to that dealt out by a schoolmaster upon a refractory pupil; +after which, the delinquents, smarting with pain, humbly returned thanks +for this benevolent and fatherly correction. + +"As for the second offence," said the mandarin, "it is clear that the +bonze is either a rogue or no good judge of the powers of the different +gods, and knew not to which to apply for this particular favor, an +ignorance that has caused the innkeeper to lose his goods; and, in +either case, is unfit for his office; therefore, if he is found within +the city walls after this night, he shall be placed in the cangue for +three moons. As for the god himself, who is the principal party +concerned, let him be plucked down from his seat as a useless and +malicious deity." + +Thus compelled, by custom, to recognize the foolish superstition of Fo, +although he no more believed in it than you do, the mandarin humorously +punished the bonze. + +The wily priest, however, had not quite played out his game, so, +dissembling his rage at the result of the trial, he fell upon his knees, +saying, "Pardon, O ever-flowing stream of justice, but the meanest and +most insignificant servant of Fo, dares claim a reward for a great act." + +"What words are these, thou dog of a bonze?' said the angry official. + +"If the eyeballs of thy contemptible servant are straight in their +sockets, he has seen placards bearing the character of the illustrious +tsong-tou (viceroy) of the province promising twenty taels for any +follower of the Christian priests, whose houses of prayer have been so +wisely destroyed. + +"What useless words are these, for where in this city is such a dog to +be found, since they were hunted down by the illustrious governor? may +he live a thousand years," replied the mandarin. + +"This was a terrible surprise to Nicholas, for not only did it convince +him that the persecution of the Christians had commenced, but that his +own mission had somehow been discovered by the priest; nor was he +disappointed, when the latter said, 'Truly, O grand canal of justice, +that turbulent youth is even now on a treasonable errand to the +Christian priest, Adam, who has so traitorously fled the city.'" + +"These are dog's words, thou rogue of a bonze," said the boy. + +Not regarding the interruption, the priest added, as he placed a paper +in the hand of the mandarin, "The dragon vision of the lord of justice +will discover to him that his servant's words are pearls of truth." + +Having glanced at the paper, the mandarin said sternly to Nicholas, +"Thou art young to be concerned in treason, and yet these characters +warn the priest, Adam, against the great Ching-Ti, whom the anonymous +writer tells him is about to arrive at Hang-tcheou, specially charged by +the Son of Heaven to root out the Christian priests." + +"As this is the first time, O mandarin, that thy servant's ears drink +in this intelligence he must have been innocent of the contents of that +packet," replied Nicholas. + +"The youth is young; but, like the body of a snake, his words are +twirling and slippery. It is true, those characters may not have reached +his eyes, but it is equally true that he was the bearer, for the cover +is even now in his girdle," said the priest. + +"Thy servant, O mandarin, cannot deny that he bore the letter, but it +was in ignorance that it was a crime," said Nicholas, taking the +envelope from his vest, now fully convinced that the bonze had picked +his girdle. + +"Although it is certain that the writer is a traitor, it is not equally +so that this youth is an accomplice," said the mandarin, after examining +the envelope. + +"The dog is a Christian, O lord of justice; and in the name of the Son +of Heaven, I claim the twenty taels," said the bonze, forgetting the +submission due to a magistrate, in his rage and fear that Nicholas might +escape. + +"Thy words are dirt, thou turbulent rogue, for it is not clear that the +youth is a Christian," said the angry mandarin, adding kindly to +Nicholas, "Let the youth deny this charge and he shall be believed, for +his words are straight as the flying arrow." + +Here was a chance, for it was evident the mandarin was his friend. +Still, notwithstanding that imprisonment for life, if not speedy death, +stared him in the face, Nicholas was too brave to forswear his Saviour, +and he replied, "If to be a Christian, O mandarin, is to merit death, +then am I ready to die." + +Then the good-natured, but disappointed magistrate said sorrowfully, +"The youth is as brave as he is honest, and deserves a better fate; yet +must the commands of the great tsong-tou be observed, therefore let the +youth be conveyed to the great prison to await his sentence." Without a +word or the movement of a muscle, the boy permitted the attendants to +bind his arms. + +This was too much for Chow, who, with a leap like that of a wounded +hare, cried, "The priest, O great lord, is a midnight thief." But such a +demonstration being against the rules of decency, the officers seized +and silenced the boy by clapping a gag in his mouth. Then the mandarin +ordered twenty taels to be given to the bonze, and the latter having +made the customary bow was about to depart, when the magistrate said, +"Now priest, relate by what means that letter came into thy possession, +for it is a maxim that justice should be equally balanced." + +Then the bonze related how he met the boys, and took them to the +monastery, adding that as they were passing through a passage the letter +having fallen from the youth's girdle, he picked it up, and divining +that its contents were treasonous, retained the document for +examination. + +"These are dog's words," exclaimed Chow, from whose mouth the gag had +been taken by the mandarin's order; "the priest is a rogue and a rat, +for he stole the paper at night while my noble master slept, and +although for hours thy servant believed it was a dream, and mistook the +bonze for an enemy, he now remembers that after filching the letter from +the girdle, the rogue opened the envelope, stole the contents, and then +by some mysterious means of his own closed it again." + +The bonze being about to reply, the mandarin interrupted him, saying, +"Truly has it been said that although eggs are close things, the chicks +will out, for the rogue forgot to explain how the letter could leave the +pocket of its owner without the envelope. The theft is clear, and it is +but justice to the state that the thief should receive fifty blows, and +pay twenty taels of silver." This sentence was speedily executed upon +the roaring coward, whose back was still sore with the first beating, +and so he left the tribunal considerably worse off than he had come +before it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHOW SETS OUT TO DISCOVER SOME THIEVES. + + +It was with no little distress of mind that Chow, who now loved Nicholas +as a brother, parted with him at the gates of the prison. He tore his +hair, beat his breast, and roared and capered as if in bodily as well as +mental agony. Never should he see his noble master again; the wicked +viceroy would kill him. O that he had not been a Christian, or so unwise +as to admit it! These, and many other foolish things, passed through his +mind, till he became wearied and fatigued. When more calm, he began to +upbraid himself with folly and cowardice, for giving way to useless +grief instead of setting his wits to work to aid him. + +Like most Chinese, Chow believed, or at least followed, the mongrel +creed of the country, and he proposed to himself to seek the aid of the +gods; although even his faith in their powers had become weakened by the +exhibition of the morning; at length, however, it occurred to him to +seek the innkeeper, who being well to do, and an old inhabitant of +Hang-tcheou, could if willing, give material assistance; if not willing, +thought Chow, he must be the most ungrateful of human beings. So he went +off to Sing, who was not only glad to see him, but invited him to live +at the inn until they could hit upon some good scheme to rescue +Nicholas; and so, that night, they talked and talked the matter over, +till, becoming tired, they went to bed to sleep on it. + +The next morning they compared notes as to their sleeping thoughts. The +result of Chow's was to get a mob together to burst open the prison +gates; at which very wise suggestion Sing laughed loudly, greatly to the +disgust of Chow, who became very angry, as he fancied the innkeeper +doubted his courage; but when Sing explained a little plan of his own he +capered about joyfully, and begged that they might commence immediately. + +"Let us first ask the gods for a fortunate day," said Sing. + +"Then will not the worthy Sing seek a temple at once?" said Chow. + +This being agreed to, they started off to the suburbs, where, in a +retired spot, near the great lake, they found a divining temple. + +These temples, which are sprinkled through the country, are always open +for the convenience of the people, who enter upon nothing of importance, +whether it be marrying, burying, buying, selling, house-building, +party-giving, or setting out upon a journey, without first seeking to +discover in the cup of destiny a fortunate day or hour for the proposed +undertaking. + +Upon the altar stood a large wooden cup, filled with small sticks, +marked with certain mystic characters, representing both good and ill +luck. Taking up this cup, Sing began to give it sharp quick jerks, +while Chow, taking hold of a book that was hanging to the wall, searched +for marks to correspond with those upon the sticks which might be thrown +to the ground by Sing's jerking. With serious countenances they went +through this performance, Sing believing that by a peculiar scientific +twist of his wrist he could jerk out a few sticks of luck. For some +time, however, the sticks were obstinate, and would not move; then a +sharper jerk and one jumped out, then another, and another, three in +all; and Chow, having examined the luck spots very earnestly, groaned +with despair, for neither bore the required mark. Then, to propitiate +the god of wood, paint, and gold leaf, they burned incense and tinsel +paper, and, by way of reaching the cupidity of the deity, for it is +difficult to made a Chinese believe that even a god will "do something +for nothing," they placed some copper coins upon the altar, enough, I +suppose, to satisfy his greedy godship; for when, at the risk of +spraining his wrist, Sing gave the next jerk, out jumped two of the +lucky spotted sticks, and the oblique eyes of Chow began to smile so +satisfactorily that there really appeared to be some danger of their +meeting across his nose and melting into one big orb in the middle of +his forehead. Holding the sticks above his head, the boy capered about +with delight, crying, "Thanks to Tien, the day will be fortunate, for +the god has promised, and there is no rogue of a bonze present to +persuade him from his good intentions." + +As for Sing, he was no less pleased, for, notwithstanding his previous +experience, his faith was entire in the cup of destiny, as it was, +indeed, in the gods. + +Chow's delight was almost as great as if his master had been already +rescued. However, as soon as the first ebullition had subsided he began +to think how he should commence operations, and so, puzzling his brains, +he walked by the side of Sing, who was also quietly endeavoring to think +out some grand plan of proceeding. Thus they proceeded till they came +near the walls of the city, when their attention was aroused by a +terrible discord. Not a dozen yards from them was a small house (like +all Chinese habitations, one story high), before which stood the wall of +respect, so called, because like a brick curtain it hides the domicile +from the gaze of strangers. Near the doorway stood an elderly man with +two pieces of metal, which he kept clanging against each other, stopping +only at intervals to fulminate at the very compass of his voice, many +fearful curses and maledictions against thieves who had plundered his +house, fully believing that by the agency of the gods these curses would +reach and crush the thieves, wherever they might be. + +"It is only old Hoang, the retired innkeeper," said Sing cooly, as if +not at all regretting the misfortunes of his successful rival. He could +not, however, have possessed any such paltry feeling, for he added, +"Will the venerable Hoang permit his younger brother to assist him in +discovering these rogues?" + +"The offer of the worthy Sing is good and grateful to his mean brother, +but alas! nothing can avail old Hoang, for the Fong-Choui is his enemy, +and will not be satisfied till his house is destroyed," was the reply. + +To explain what I must tell you, that it is one of the most remarkable +and foolish beliefs of the Celestials, that, apart from sanitary +reasons, the situation of a house may effect the happiness and fortunes +not only of its owner, but his descendants for several generations. The +demon who exercises this baneful influence is the Fong-Choui, or wind +and water. Thus, if a neighbor (it had been Hoang's case) builds his +house in a contrary direction and so that one of its corners is placed +opposite your own, your destiny is fixed, your only remedy being to have +it immediately pulled down. To obtain the removal of the house in +question, Hoang had applied to the mandarin, but as that officer had +received a larger bribe from the neighbor than he could afford, the +official recommended the old man to pull down his own house; but as this +would have ruined him, he had had recourse to the only other remedy, +which was, to erect upon the roof of his house a monster with a dragon's +head and a large forked tongue, so pointed at the unfortunate corner +that it would frighten away the Fong-Choui. That wind and watery +personage, however, was not so easily frightened, for the next day some +thieves entered his house and effected a very clever robbery. + +By the aid of a mysterious engine (known, I suppose, only to the thieves +of China), which will burn great holes in the thickest wood without +causing either scent or flame, the rogues had entered Hoang's dwelling +in the night so quietly that when the old gentleman awoke in the morning +he found his bed without curtains or coverlid, and the room without +furniture, all of which, besides other things of value, had been taken +from the house. + +"Surely thy dogs of servants must have been accomplices," said Chow. + +"Not so, youth, for although I slept deep into the day, when I arose the +servants were all in such a deep slumber that I believed them in the +sleep of death." + +"Surely my elder brother will seek the mandarin, and have the dogs' +heads searched for," said Sing. + +"Alas! O worthy Sing, thy unhappy servant is under the baneful influence +of the Fong-Choui, and the mandarin dares not interfere." + +Feeling deeply for the poor man, and not liking the idea of the thieves +escaping so easily, Chow asked, "Has the worthy and honorable Hoang +sought the mandarin?" + +"It would be useless youth, without, indeed, a stranger would interfere, +and break the charm of the Fong-Choui." + +"With the will of the venerable Hoang, his younger brother will seek the +tribunal of police," said Chow. + +Delighted with the offer, Hoang led them through the rooms of his house, +which Chow examined with the talent of a detective police officer, and +after pacing about for some time he stumbled. Looking to see the cause, +he saw it was a small square box. "See," he said, "the robbers in their +flight have dropped some of their plunder." + +"Surely that box must belong to the villains, for it has never before +darkened my eyes," said Hoang. + +"Then by the toe of the Son of Heaven we have some clue to the way in +which the robbery was effected," said Chow, as he opened the box and +took out a little pyramid, resembling our own pastiles. Placing one to +his nose he said, "It is the baneful drug of Setchuen. Light but one and +place it near the nostrils of a sleeper, and it will be many hours +before he can be awakened. In this manner, O venerable friend, has the +house been robbed,--its inmates were under the influence of the drug." + +"Thy discovery is great, and may lead to the capture of the thieves. +Would that so poor a man could reward such a benafactor." + +However, as time was an object to Chow for the success of some plan, +which from the cunning brightness that flitted through his eye seemed +just then to have crossed his mind, he stopped the garrulous gratitude +of the old gentleman by begging the box of pastiles as his reward. This +being granted, he took a very formal leave, promising not to rest till +he had seen the mandarin himself. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CHOW OUTWITS A GREAT MANDARIN, AND SETS OUT TO RESCUE HIS MASTER. + + +As they walked to the inn Chow explained to Sing his plan for the rescue +of Nicholas, which, after some serious consideration and many words of +advice, the innkeeper approved; but as it could not be put in operation +before evening, as soon as they reached the inn they went into one of +the inner apartments, and while they refreshed themselves with a good +meal, chatted over the details. + +After they had completed their arrangements, Sing led Chow to an +outbuilding, in which were two oblong coffins, the one sealed down, the +other with the lid half off. The first contained the body of Sing's +daughter, of whom he had been so fond in life that in death he kept her +in the same room with the open coffin which had been presented to him by +the girl as a filial offering. + +Such gifts as this, which I dare say you will think a sombre one, are by +no means more rare among the Chinese than the preservation in their own +houses of the bodies of those they have loved. And just above an altar +upon which incense was burning, hung a portrait of the dead girl, before +which silently and with cheeks damped with tears of memory, Sing threw +himself reverentially, and prayed fervently for the other world +happiness of his child. Having, with as much real sympathy as mere +courtesy, joined in the ceremony for a short time, Chow arose, and left +the bereaved parent throwing cuttings of silver paper upon the burning +dish, in the belief that in the next world it would change into real +money for his daughter's use. + +As when Chow reached the police tribunal he found it closed for the day, +he clattered upon a large gong or kettle drum, affixed to the door, a +piece of great daring on his part; for if his business did not strike +the mandarin as being of the greatest importance, he might make sure of +some fifty blows for his impudence, for the public officers in China are +quite as averse to doing too much for the public money as many that I +could name of our own. + +The door was opened and the boy was shown into the hall of audience, +where he had not long to wait before the mandarin and four bamboo sticks +in waiting made their appearance. "How, dog! Why this clatter at our +gates when the tribunal is closed?" asked the surly grandee. + +"Will the magnificent fountain of justice give his unworthy servant a +private hearing?" said the bold boy, glancing significantly at the +bamboo sticks in waiting. + +"Let the fellow's mouth be opened with ten blows for his impudence," +said the polite magistrate; but as the men were about to obey, Chow +thrust his hand into his robe, and pulling out a letter threw it into +the great man's lap, a piece of effrontery so beyond all precedent that +the bamboo sticks waiting stood aghast and ready at a glance from the +mandarin to immolate the profane boy. The magistrate, however, no sooner +opened the paper than in tremulous tones he exclaimed, "Leave us alone, +this fellow has matters of private importance to communicate." + +This order having been obeyed, Chow broke through the rules of decency +and etiquette by speaking before he was spoken to. "A crime has been +committed within thy district, O mandarin, yet justice sleeps. Surely +this is not according to the sacred books," said he. + +"What dog's words are these? of what crime speaks the youth?" said the +magistrate wildly. + +"According to the sacred books, O mandarin, it is the magistrate's duty +to discover and punish crime within his district. Yet, not withstanding +the house of the retired innkeeper Hoang is in a well-guarded quarter of +the city, it has been broken into and its furniture and valuables +stolen; moreover what is more surprising in so populous a district, the +thieves have escaped." + +"What words are these?" said the mandarin again, being in fact so +troubled that he knew not what to say. + +"Truly, it is a shrewd maxim; 'that large fowls will not eat small +grain,' yet, the largest may be choked if too greedy, for there are +still larger birds to swallow them; in turn even thou mayst be stripped +of thy rank and offices, if not strangled," said Chow, adding, "Would +the lord of justice wish straighter words?" + +The words proved straight enough to go direct to the mark, for the +mandarin fell upon his knees and begged Chow to accept half his fortune, +and although it would be letting his rogue off cheaply enough, the +rescue of Nicholas was his object, and he promised to forego using his +knowledge of the great man's delinquency, providing that he would give +him an order under the official seal that would admit him to his +master's prison. Rejoiced to purchase his safety so easily, the mandarin +not only gave the order, but also promised to see that Hoang's property +was restored to him within a few days. After this Chow gave a paper to +the magistrate, and left the tribunal well satisfied with the result of +his visit. + +Now, as I dare say you are anxious to know how it came about that so +poor a boy could have such power over so great a personage, I will tell +you, and you will obtain some little knowledge how public affairs are +managed in China, and moreover, learn that dishonesty may sometimes +place the greatest official beneath the thumb of the smallest of +persons, as indeed it happened in this case. + +When Chow was chattering over his plans with the innkeeper he examined +the box of pastiles, and on taking them out, discovered a paper at the +bottom, evidently placed there for security, as the thieves could not +have dreamt of leaving their most valuable implements behind. That paper +was an order for four men, whose names were mentioned, to pass to the +boats on the canal, with any quantity of goods, without questioning, and +was signed with the character of the mandarin, which accounted for the +thieves getting off with so many things, but it also proved that the +mandarin was in connivance with them, and was in the habit of granting +these passes to robbers in return for a large bribe. Now, as Chow could +write very well, he immediately composed a letter to the mandarin, +telling him the whole transaction, and, moreover, that the thieves were +well known to a friend of his, who, if he did not return by a certain +time that evening, would disclose the whole matter to the viceroy; +therefore it was not to be wondered that the great man trembled and +implored of Chow to accept half his fortune, for had it been brought +before the viceroy he would, as Chow more than, hinted, in all +probability have been strangled. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ESCAPE OF NICHOLAS FROM PRISON. + + +Having, at the same time, secured an order for admittance to Nicholas +and the restitution of old Hoang's property, Chow went in search of a +shop, where he purchased a rope of silk, and returned to the prison, +which was next to the tribunal. + +At that time far in advance, and even now not much worse than our own, +the prisons of China are large and spacious, and although some of the +most criminal of the inmates are loaded with chains, the greater number +are permitted to take exercise and converse with each other in an open +court during the day. Their health is cared for,--if any are ill a +physician attends them, and when a death takes place a report is sent to +the Emperor, who issues orders for an examination, something like our +inquests, into the cause, when should it appear that any of the officers +are at fault, they are immediately degraded and punished. When a +prisoner dies the body is not permitted to pass through the ordinary +doorway, but through an opening reserved for the purpose. It is seldom, +however, that deaths occur in these places, for should a person, +especially above the lowest rank in life, be in danger, he or his +friends pray that he may be taken without the walls to expire; indeed, +so infamous is it considered for a corpse to be taken through this dead +opening, that "May he be dragged through the prison hole" is the +greatest expression of evil a person can wish his enemy. + +The prison in which Nicholas was confined was a large building, with its +front to the street and its back to the canal. There were three courts, +each having treble gates, well guarded by armed sentries. Chow found no +difficulty in passing the first two gates, but the third was under the +charge of the chief gaoler, who not only made him show the mandarin's +order, but ordered two soldiers to accompany the boy to his master's +cell, which was situated at the top of one of the four corners or +towers, and overlooking the canal. + +The armed men he met at every turn, and the dismal-looking strength of +the halls, courts, doors, and staircases through which he passed, made +Chow feel very wretched, for not an atom of a chance could he see for a +prisoner to escape. However no sooner did he again get sight of Nicholas +than all difficulties vanished, his countenance brightened, and the +affectionate fellow fell at his feet and wept with joy. + +"How is this? surely thou art not a Christian, my poor friend, that they +should bring thee here?" said Nicholas sorrowfully. + +"Truly both servant and master are fortunate, for the mandarin has +permitted them to keep each other company." + +For some minutes Chow squatted upon the floor with his head bent to the +ground, apparently in grief at his master's position. Really, he had +not calculated upon the presence of the two gaolers; it was an awkward +dilemma, still he was not one to stick at a difficulty, and so he began +to think. His were not pleasant thoughts, for it was just possible that +the mandarin on recovering from his fright might tremble at the probable +consequences of permitting the escape of Nicholas, and to make his own +peace confess the whole affair to the Christian-hating viceroy. + +Having finished cogitating, Chow commenced a lively conversation with +Nicholas about any thing and every thing but what was most on his mind; +then he endeavored to chat with the surly gaolers; the attempt, however, +proved a failure, till he brought forth a porcelain bottle filled with +rice spirit. When the men grew better tempered, Chow said, "Is there any +law that will prevent the honorable guard from bestowing upon his +servants some hot tea, for surely it will refresh them?" Without making +any reply, one of the gaolers opened the door and called aloud for the +beverage. + +Some minutes after swallowing the tea, Chow rolled over upon the floor, +and howled like a dog; which extraordinary proceeding so alarmed +Nicholas and the men, that one of the latter, throwing down his weapon, +fell upon his knees and began to rub the sufferer's stomach. "Will the +ungrateful villains let me die the dog's death for the want of a cup of +water?" Surprised as they were at such a remedy, the frightened men +provided the water, but at the same time pointed to the porcelain +flask. + +For the hint the patient thanked them, but he knew it would be of no use +without hot water. Would the honorable gaolers get some? + +That was another affair, for to ask for hot water would be to proclaim +that rice spirit was being drunk in the prison, when gaolers as well as +prisoners would be bambooed. + +Then, having coaxed and importuned for some time fruitlessly, Chow held +his hand upon his stomach, and alarmed Nicholas with performing a long +series of tragic-comic grimaces and contortions, when seeing the men +begin to tremble at the heavy punishment that awaited them if a prisoner +died beneath their charge, he said, "Surely the noble guardians would +not have it proclaimed to the next visiting mandarin that they have been +drinking the prohibited spirit." + +Perceiving now that they were upon the horns of a dilemma, the gaolers +hesitated. Then a bright thought came to one, and he said, "Truly, the +tea is cold; a fire-pan will warm it; and so it will not be suspected +that rice spirit has been brought into the prison." Thus settling the +matter to his satisfaction, the man procured a small dish of fire and a +cup of cold water, when Chow had another attack, and in his paroxysms +kicked over his tea-cup, and then very inconsistently clamored for cold +water. This request being complied with, the patient sipped and appeared +a degree better, for he then stood upon his feet and thanked his +deliverers, and, moreover, offered them some more spirit, an offence +which was repeated and accepted till both gaolers became very +good-humored and talkative, first to Chow, then to Nicholas. Finding +that they were busy with the latter, Chow sauntered up to the fire and +sat before it, as if to prevent another attack by its heat. Then a sweet +perfume pervaded the atmosphere, and so gradually increased in strength, +that, imperceptibly to themselves, the tongues of the men slackened by +degrees, their loud tones softened into silence, their heads waved +gently to and fro, till, overcome by the density of the air, they fell +sideways upon the ground. It was not far to fall, for they had been +squatting upon the floor during their jovial conversation. Then taking a +large sponge that he had been holding to his own nostrils, Chow held it +to the nose of Nicholas, who, not being intoxicated with spirit, soon +exhibited signs of returning animation, when creeping up to the drooping +gaolers, he passed something, not a sponge, near to their nostrils, +which seemed to have the effect of double locking their senses. Then +leading the half-insensible Nicholas to the window, he took a knife from +his girdle and cut away the painted paper panes, when the cold air soon +made the master as sensible as the servant. + +Arresting by a sign, Nicholas's exclamations of surprise at these +proceedings, Chow pulled forth the silken cord, fastened one end to the +table, then tying his knife to the other end he let it gently down, and +hung out of the window with it in his hand, as if he had been fishing. +In a few minutes he obtained a bite, for the rope gave a jerk. This +being satisfactory, he whispered to his master to descend by the loops. +Nicholas complied, and in one minute found himself in the arms of some +person, and in another, carried into a small room, about large enough to +hold four men. A minute more, Chow entered the cabin, the boat began to +glide along the canal, and Nicholas comprehended the whole of Chow's +scheme. Now you have the reason of his delight in seizing upon the box +of pastiles, two of which he had managed to light while his back was +turned to the gaolers. The cold water Chow knew to be an antidote to the +stupifying effects of the perfume, if applied immediately, as in the +case of Nicholas. As for the boy's illness, that was a ruse, and a very +good one too, under the circumstances. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PURSUED BY THE YAH-YU.--THE BOAT WRECK. + + +When the boat had run a sufficient distance from the prison, Sing, for +he it was who had so ably aided in the escape, putting a pole in the +hands of Nicholas, and taking one himself, they forced the little craft +along the waters with the greatest possible speed. As for Chow, not +finding another pole, and resolved not to be left out of the good work, +he took off his boots, threw his legs over the stern, and helped to +propel the boat by paddling against the water with his feet. By these +means, in a very short time, they arrived at the back of Sing's house, +which fortunately faced the canal. It was thus, indeed, that the +innkeeper had been enabled to pass to the prison in the little san-pan +which he had borrowed from a friendly boatman. + +Going into the house to caution his wife against feeling alarmed at his +probably prolonged absence, he left them for a few minutes, and when he +returned they had no small cause to rejoice at his thoughtfulness, for +his wife had just heard from one of the prison attendants, who lived at +the inn, that about half an hour after their escape the relief guard of +gaolers had discovered their absence, and sent a body of yah-yu, both by +land and water, to recapture them. + +"By the toe of the Emperor, the villain god has deceived me, for he +promised a fortunate day," said Chow. + +"It is thy head and heart, and not the foolish images, that have +hitherto helped thee, Chow. We will now trust to the same aids, and by +the assistance of the One true God, these rogues shall not overtake us," +said Nicholas. + +"The noble youth is brave, but he may not perform impossibilities," +replied Sing. + +"Truly it is not far to the river," said Nicholas. + +"The river!" exclaimed Sing, with affright. "Truly Fo himself could not +make a boat live upon the river such a night as this, at the full of the +moon." + +"It is our only safety, for these rascal yah-yu dare not follow," said +Nicholas, who regarded the great and dangerous waters of the river as +his native element, adding, "If thou, Chow, but show a brave heart." + +"Truly, my master, Chow fears not men, but surely it would be a vile +thing to anger the god of the waters, who may this night swallow all who +dare to pass from the estuary." + +"Art thou an idiot, that after the exhibition at the monastery, the +folly of these toy gods of the bonzes is not imprinted upon thine +eyeballs?" said Nicholas, adding angrily, "But if thou fearest, hide +thee with the good Sing, and thy master will brave the torrents alone." + +"This thing may not be, O noble Nicholas, for rather than leave thee, +thy servant would be a hundred times swallowed by Yen-Vang himself," +said Chow. + +"Thou art brave, youth, and may it please Fo to conduct thee safely to +thy journey's end," said Sing, adding with alarm, "But see, yonder is +the boat of the yah-yu, for surely no other would be in motion at this +hour of the night." + +"Then," said Nicholas, looking at a red light which appeared to be fixed +at the prow of a moving boat, "we must labor for our lives, Chow." + +Then taking a silent but hearty farewell of the innkeeper, the youths +clutched the poles and in another minute they were gliding along the +water street unheeded, except by the watchmen, whose questions they +answered with a few copper coins, and they pushed on through the dark +night, till nearly worn out with the exertion. The fact, however, that +they were toiling for their lives, lent them additional strength, so +after a short rest, away they went again in right good earnest; then the +hum of distant voices floated through the night air. Resting for a +moment Chow placed his ear near to the water, saying, "Truly they are +following us, but more, my master, we are near the great dike, which it +would be as easy to pass as to swallow a mountain." + +"Courage, O Chow, let us pass the dike, and the rats will never overtake +us," said Nicholas, toiling harder than ever at the pole. + +This dike or sluice divided from the canal the waters of the river which +Nicholas had been so anxious to reach, but as Chow knew they could not +get the boat hauled over by Coolies at that hour of the night, he could +perceive nought but a barrier that by arresting their progress, must put +them in the hands of their enemies; still not liking to disobey, he +toiled at his pole, and speedily the boat came alongside some twenty +others, which had arrived too late to be hauled over that night. + +Nicholas, however, knowing the influence of money, determined to get +over the difficulty. So fetching the lantern from the cabin, he so +shaded its light with his robe, that while it could not be seen by their +pursuers, he could see moored some distance from them a little fleet of +san-pans. This he had expected, so gently pushing the boat alongside one +of them he tapped upon the egg-like roof, and in another minute a man +put out his head, when putting a piece of silver in his hand, as an +earnest of a greater reward, the boatman acquiesced, and in a few +minutes more he had aroused some of his fellows, who very nimbly set +about mooring their boats till they had drawn them across the canal, so +as to form a barricade, in the event of the enemy making its appearance; +after which the boatman fastened a stout rope around the stern of the +boys' boat, got into his own, and cautioning them to hold on by the roof +of the cabin, with the assistance of some dozen of his mates in their +boats, forced the little craft to the summit of the stone slope, when +all clinging to the rope, let her slide gently down the other side into +the river, when silently the san-pans moved back to their moorings, so +that upon their arrival at the dike the yah-yu must have been strangely +puzzled at the boy's escape from their clutches. + +The dangers of the river, however, were far greater than Nicholas had +calculated, for the great stream upon whose bosom they had embarked, was +at times as tempestuous as the ocean, and they possessed neither oars +nor sails; as for the poles, the great depth of the river rendered them +useless. Again, the night was so dark, that except by the feeble light +of their lantern they could not see each other's faces; their only +consolation was, that the waters were then as smooth and tranquil as +those of the canal, except that a rapid current seemed to be sweeping +them along without an effort of their own. + +"May the great god Fo protect us against Ma-tsoo-po, to whom we can +offer no incense," said Chow. + +"How! Can it be that one so brave on land should be so great a coward +upon water?" said Nicholas. + +"Truly it is a maxim, my master that, 'all are cowards who can't help +themselves.' Chow in the waters would be less than the least of little +fishes, for he cannot swim," was the gloomy reply. + +"It is also a maxim, 'that the gods forsake those who forsake +themselves,'" said Nicholas, adding, "But it is fatigue, my poor Chow, +that destroys thy courage; get thee, therefore, into the cabin and rest +for a time, while I keep watch." + +"Nay, Fo protect us, or we are food for the favorites of the god of the +waters," replied Chow, as the boat at that moment made a tremulous +movement, which so alarmed Nicholas, that clutching hold of Chow's arm, +he said, "Now put forth all thy energies or we are lost, for the 'bore' +is upon us." + +This was sufficient, for in the presence of real danger Chow soon drove +away the troubled fancies of his brain. + +"The poles are our only chance," said Nicholas, and, quickly as thought, +they fastened their poles to the sides, so that they stretched out like +two great arms. "Let us but keep our whole weight steadily upon the +handles, and we may keep her course straight," said Nicholas; and no +sooner had they thrown themselves across the poles than a noise like +that of distant thunder rumbled through the air; it was the great tide +wave rolling like a mountain toward them. Now they could not escape; so, +commending their souls to Heaven, they awaited its approach with +suspended breath. It came, and, with a roar, caught up the boat, +carrying it to a height of fifty feet; in another second the boys were +covered with a cold sweat at the narrowness of their escape, which had +been owing to their precaution. Then followed a calm, as if the anger of +the watery element had subsided. The boys slackened their hold of the +poles, and so they continued for two hours, going they knew not whither. +Suddenly the boat began to rock. + +"To your pole, Chow," cried Nicholas. No sooner had he complied, than +they found they had entered upon a rapid, for the little craft shot +forth almost with the velocity of an arrow. Then came the first faint +streaks of daybreak, and they trembled, for they saw that they had +entered a narrow creek. "Steady, for our lives, there is hope yet, for +yonder vessel may see us," said Nicholas. The vessel to which he alluded +was a large junk, so skilfully handled that she seemed to be stemming +the torrent. Gaining hope, the boys clung to their only chance, namely, +keeping the poles in their fixed positions. Another half hour, however, +and their strength became exhausted, the poles quivered, the boys felt +they could not hold out much longer; still another determined effort; +their minds lent strength to their limbs. Then the first light of the +sun, an eastern sun, shone upon the junk, and disclosed a huge painted +eye (the government emblem), at the sight of which, and screaming aloud +"The yah-yu!" Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being +thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas +snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel. They were in a +whirlpool--nothing could save them--then came a fearful crash, and +neither Chow nor Nicholas could distinguish more. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +NICHOLAS AGAIN TAKEN PRISONER. + + +With the wild whirling of the waters ringing in his ears, and the great +painted eye before his vision, Nicholas stared around. Where could he +be? He was lying upon a mat, in a small low room; he sat up, endeavored +to comprehend his position, and the san-pan, the bore, the torrent, the +whirlpool, all flashed across him--but where could he be? There before +him stood a copper god, hideously grinning at a pan of burning incense. +Surely it must be the cabin of a junk--but what?--whose? Possibly the +yah-yu's. It must be so; and, brave as he was, he shuddered. Then, +looking out of the window, he could see nothing but a vast extent of +paddy (rice in the husks) fields. Then he saw the junk was passing along +a canal, which, from its width, he knew must be the great Imperial +Canal. Then Chow--poor Chow--and as he believed him to have been +swallowed up in the waters, the gallant boy burst into tears; and this +great grief banished every selfish thought from his mind. Then he +trembled for the safety of his letters; but, feeling beneath his robe, +he found them secure. Again he wept for Chow, and, happening to look at +the god, the hideous little brute seemed to be rejoicing at his +troubles, and in momentary rage he knocked the deity off its perch with +his fist, with such violence that the pain and blood upon his lacerated +knuckles immediately reminded him of the stupidity of the act, and he +laughed at his folly; but reflecting that the captain of the vessel +might visit such an insult to the image upon himself he replaced it in +its original position. + +At that moment the door opened, and Chow entered with a tray, upon which +were two cups, a jar, and other materials for a meal, and in his +surprise exclaiming "Chow!" the latter was so much startled that he +nearly dropped the tray. + +"May Tien be thanked; my master is far from Yen-Vang." + +"Where are we, O Chow?" said Nicholas, recovering from his surprise; but +the boy would answer no questions until Nicholas had partaken of the +meal. + +As soon as by eating and drinking, he had satisfied Chow that he was +really alive, the latter said, "Truly the gods must have been favorably +disposed toward the noble Nicholas, to have kept him alive for so many +days and nights, without brains in his head or food in his mouth." + +"What words are these, O Chow?" said Nicholas, placing his hand to his +forehead, as if making an effort to decipher the boy's meaning. + +"Let my master open his ears," said Chow; adding, "Worn out with my +exertions in the boat, I no sooner perceived the terrible eye than I +loosened my hold of the pole, and either from fright or fatigue, became +insensible; the water, however, revived me, and looking for my master, I +saw him lying by my side upon a shelving edge of rock, for, thanks be to +Fo, we had dashed upon the rock, the servant with out harm, but the +master receiving such a blow that it deprived him of his senses; when, +alarmed for his life, I shouted to the crew of the junk for help, and +begged of them to take us on board, but the rats refused, saying, that +as the gods had evidently reserved us for drowning, to resist would be +to provoke Ma-tsoo-po. Then, as my only hope, I shouted to them that I +had secured a traitor for whose head fifty taels were offered." + +"Surely thou art not a rogue." But not noticing this, Chow continued, +"The hope of so much silver made the rogues carry us on board, and then +poor Chow could have swallowed fire, for when he begged of them to use +means to recall thee to thy senses, the dog of a captain said, 'Know +thou rat of a boy, that if fifty taels are offered for the rascal's +head, it will save trouble to lop it off at once.' Then Fo sent a +thought into my brainless head, and falling at the captain's feet, I +told him that so great were thy crimes, that although fifty taels would +be given for thy head, five hundred and a mandarin's button would be +given for thy whole body. + +"Then said the captain, 'the dog utters words of wisdom,' and fearing to +lose the silver, if you died, he commanded a physician who happened to +be on board to make thee sound and whole, and moreover, promised to +reward me with ten taels if I helped to bring thee round." + +But as they heard approaching footsteps, Chow said softly, "Get thee to +thy mat, it is the physician; do not let him bring thee to thy senses, +or we are lost." + +By the time Nicholas had lain down, an elderly man, with a small funnel +and a porcelain cup in his hands, entered the cabin, and with as much +meaningless mystery of manner as one of our doctors, knelt by his side +and commenced the comical operation of feeling his pulse, or rather +pulses, for the physician's hands and fingers traveled up and down the +boy's body like a flea in search of a choice bite. Having gone through +this performance, he placed the funnel in the patient's mouth, and +poured down his throat a decoction of the gen-seng root, a plant which +the Chinese believe will cure all ills; and, disagreeable and difficult +as it was, Nicholas swallowed it, which so delighted the old gentleman +that he left the cabin chuckling, but telling Chow on no account to +attempt to awake him for the next three hours, as he was assured that +nature was bringing him to by her own means. + +"Verily the old cheat believes I have a fever," said Nicholas, jumping +up as soon as the doctor had left the cabin. + +Chow, who had been gazing from the window of the cabin while the +physician was present, no sooner saw him leave than he said, "We shall +leave the dogs now;" adding, "Let the noble Nicholas remain senseless +till Chow returns," and without another word he left the cabin. + +For some time Nicholas remained quiet upon the mat, but getting tired he +arose, and looking out of the window he saw that the junk was in the +middle of the canal, and from the great quantity of boats knew they were +near to some great city. He had not, however, been looking long, when to +his surprise he saw one of these san-pans come alongside the junk, and +taking Chow on board, paddled off to the shore, where he remained for +some time, and then was brought back to the junk. What could that mean? +Surely Chow was not playing him false. No he was ashamed of the thought. +The boy must be concocting some scheme for his benefit; but hearing +footsteps he resumed his position upon the mat, and in another minute +the physician and Chow entered. This time the doctor only went through +the pulse performance, saying, "Now if the rascal would but move a limb +it would show that Fo and the immortal drug had sent the blood into his +muscles." + +A comical notion came into the patient's head; it was dangerous, but it +might prevent the necessity of the funnel being put in his throat, and +so with a slight yawn he suddenly gave the old gentleman such a kick on +the shins that he started with surprise, but delighted that his +treatment had succeeded, he said, "Truly the rogue is getting his +strength," and hopped out of the room, uttering maledictions upon the +sailors for robbing him of his gen-seng. + +"What meant the rat by those words?" said Nicholas, and he was more +than satisfied when Chow told him the following story: The doctor placed +implicit faith in the wonderful curative powers of the famous gen-seng, +a quantity of which he carried about with him, ready for any accident +that might happen. Knowing this, Chow had managed to secure the whole, +and, as he anticipated, when the old gentleman discovered his loss he +grew furious, and told the captain that Nicholas would die. The captain +being in fear of losing his reward, had all the men searched, and not a +few beaten with the bamboo. It was all of no use. What was to be done? +Chow offered to go ashore and procure some; the captain agreed, a signal +was made for a boatman, who, as we have seen, came off to the junk, took +Chow ashore, from whence he returned with the much-prized plant, which, +by the way, he had no greater trouble in obtaining than putting his hand +in a hole in the lining of his outer garment. + +While in the boat Chow had made good use of his time, for he had bribed +the boatman to bring his little craft alongside the junk about the +middle of the third watch. + +The night is divided into five watches; the first begins at seven and is +distinguished by a single stroke, which is repeated every minute till +the second watch, when two blows are given, and so with the third, +fourth, and fifth. + +Anxiously did they await the treble sound; at length it came,--one, two, +three,--and they stood with breathless expectation; about the tenth +minute of the third watch there was a tap at the paper window, when +pulling out his knife, Chow ran the blade around the paper, and the next +moment the end of a rope was thrown through. Making this fast to a hook +within the cabin, Nicholas crept legs foremost through the hole, and +catching hold of a rope swang himself into the san-pan. Chow followed, +and they crawled into the little cabin, when the san-pan glided away, +not, however, without arousing one of the sailors, who believing that +the boat had crept alongside with some nefarious design upon the +property of the vessel, sharply warned the boatman of the danger of any +such attempt, as he was on the _qui vive_. The boatman, however, having +given a satisfactory reply, he pushed onward, and after passing through +a little world of junks, san-pans, and barges, they managed to effect a +landing without being noticed. After which, the man having fastened his +boat led them through the suburbs till they reached a small mud hut, +from the top of which issued a wreathing column of flame and smoke. + +"It is the hut of a sentry," exclaimed Nicholas, who knew that the +signal huts were distributed at distances of about a mile apart +throughout the interior, as a warning to all would-be depredators that +the police were on the alert, and this being precisely the kind of place +they should have avoided, he said, "For what purpose has the worthy +boatman brought us to this hut." + +"Truly, my master, we are in safe hands, for the man on duty is the +boatman's brother and will let us hide here till morning," said Chow, +and the next moment they were within the hut partaking of a portion of +the soldier's fare of hot tea and rice bread. + +After some little time the boatman said, "Truly it is not often that +brothers meet, and it is well that we should have a fraternal +conversation." + +When the men left the hut Chow took a paper from his robe, leant over a +fire, and having perused it, said, "The dog is a rogue, he would give us +shelter to-night but to betray us in the morning." + +"What words are these? Truly the boatman knew us as nought but two poor +travelers." + +"My master's thoughts are generous," replied Chow; adding, as he handed +Nicholas the paper, "Let the noble man-boy read for himself." + +Taking the paper, Nicholas read, "Let the noble commander offer a +handsome reward, and the rascals who have escaped shall be again placed +in his hands." + +"Truly this is villainy; but how fell this paper into thy hands, O +Chow." + +"Is it not a maxim that wickedness defeats its own ends?" said Chow; +adding, "As thy servant was getting from the window of the junk into the +san-pan, that paper fell into his hand. Doubtless the rascal boatman +threw it upon the deck, from whence by accident, it fell into my hands." + +"Truly it must have been thrown by the hand of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +"We will defeat the rascals, for fortunately I have saved one of the +thieves' pastiles," said Chow, pulling one of the pyramids from beneath +his robe. + +Then as they heard the footsteps of the soldier they squatted before the +fire, pretending to be in earnest conversation. The man joined them, and +having poured some hot water into a cup, took a pinch of tea-dust from a +little packet and made himself a cup of that beverage. But while the +soldier was drinking, and probably chuckling at the good round sum he +should obtain in the morning for Chow and Nicholas, the latter pulled +his arms behind, and held them till Chow tore enough of his coarse loose +garment to form a ligature, with which he secured them; then throwing +him upon his back, and leaving Nicholas to prevent his rolling over, he +pulled from his robe a portable lantern, unfolded it, lit the wick, then +lighting the pastile, at arm's length he held it beneath the soldier's +nostrils till he became stupid, and indeed, until he became insensible, +when, rolling him over and leaving the pastile burning, they left the +hut, taking good care to secure it from the outside. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PAGODAS, THEIR ANTIQUITY AND USES. + + +Alone, unarmed, in a strange country, at night, and pursued by enemies, +the boys stood for a time to consider their next steps. Fortunately, at +that moment the moon began to shine more brightly, and they saw at the +distance of some few hundred yards the giant form of a pagoda rising +from the summit of a hill, with its quaint polygon form, varnished green +tiles, and gilded bells hanging from every point. + +"Truly the gods have directed our footsteps to a resting-place till the +morning," said Chow. + +This was indeed a fortunate discovery, for, knowing that most of the +pagodas were untenanted, they might hide there; and with lightened +hearts they walked onward, till they came to a valley, or cemetery, +filled with tombs, and through which they walked till they came to the +base of a hill, at the top of which was the entrance to the pagoda. +Having reached one of the gates, they found it locked, a difficulty that +was soon surmounted by Chow, who cast his lantern toward one of the +windows of the lower story, and, as he expected, found that, like the +majority of these quaint structures, this one was in ruins; so, by means +of the shoulder of Nicholas, he climbed through a window, and speedily +opened the gate, when they found themselves in an apartment lined with +black varnished tiles, nearly all of which were carved with gilded +idols. + +"Thank Heaven, we are safe from the rats," said Nicholas. + +"And may sleep, O my master," said the fatigued Chow, laying himself at +full length upon the floor, an example that was speedily followed by +Nicholas, who, like Chow, notwithstanding the danger that surrounded +them, fell into a sound sleep. + +These singular, and frequently beautiful buildings, towering upward in +various heights upon the rising grounds, like an unequally grown forest +of quaint spires, form the chief characteristic in Chinese scenery. As +if the builders believed luck to be found in odd numbers, they are +either of seven, nine, or thirteen stories, and moreover, all shaped +from the model of the famous Tower of Nankin, which, after an existence +of nine hundred years, has so recently been wantonly destroyed by the +iconoclastic insurgents, who are, at the present time, making every +effort for the extermination of the Mantchou Tartars. + +As for the origin of these structures, it is of so remote a date, that, +even in four thousand years old China, there is as much difference of +opinion as about the origin of the round towers of Ireland. Some of the +learned writers assert that they were erected monumentally to great and +good people, others that they were intended as watch-towers in time of +war. + +A very probable theory is that they are of Indian origin, having been +introduced by the priests of Buddha, for the purpose of saving the holy +relics, thumbs, fingers, toes, or any other portions of the body of the +god that might from time to time be found, or rather palmed upon the +superstitious people by the bonzes. By way of illustrating this theory, +I will relate to you some of the popular legends. The first is really a +wild-goose story. + +The primitive Buddhists of India were not under such strict rules of +diet as the sect afterward became; that is, not vegetarians, but at +liberty to eat veal, venison, and goose flesh. Well, it happened that on +a certain day, as a party of priests were seated in the open air, a +brace of wild geese flew above them, which caused them to exclaim, "Our +wish is that these fowls would do a benevolent act," when one of the +birds immediately dropped down dead. Upon which remarkable event, the +priests cried, "This goose brings down a prohibition to abstain from +flesh; we must therefore consider its meritorious act." Whereupon they +erected a building over the poor goose, which they called pagoda, which +word, translated from the Indian word, tsang-po, into Chinese, is +equivalent to wild goose. + +Of this same pagoda, which still exists, another legend is given. + +"Nearly six hundred years after the introduction of Buddhism into China, +a priest of the sect was sent to India to collect and translate into the +Chinese language the sacred books of Budd. On his return with the +volumes, he brought also a model of a pagoda; in commemoration of +which, and also as a receptacle for the sacred books, the Emperor +erected a pagoda." If this legend is true, and it certainly is more +probable than any of the others, it is curious, as during the reign of +this same Emperor, in the year 636, a Christian teacher first came from +India to China, and was not only encouraged by the Emperor, but was +authorised by a royal decree to preach Christianity among the people. + +Another legend states that in the year 256 a foreign priest of the +Buddhist religion appeared at the capital, and performed many strange +and supernatural feats, which, reaching the ears of the Emperor, caused +him to send for the priest, of whom he inquired if Buddha could +communicate any divine emblems. The priest replied, that Buddha had left +some traces of himself on earth, particularly bone relics, which +possessed miraculous powers. The Emperor, scarcely believing the story, +told the priest that if any such bone could be found, he would erect a +great pagoda. To this the story goes on to say, that the priest, +twenty-one days after, brought one of the god's bones in a bottle, and +presented it to his majesty, and that when taken into the palace, it +lighted up the whole building. Then comes the most astonishing portion +of the legend. In his haste to inspect this wonderful bone, the Emperor +turned it out of the bottle, into a large copper vessel, when the bone, +probably a leg bone, of its own accord kicked the massive basin with +such violence that it became shivered into a thousand pieces. This, you +would imagine, was in all conscience sufficiently prodigious to weaken +his majesty's nerves. The priest, however insisted upon exhibiting +another wonder, telling the emperor that so matchless were the qualities +of this bone, that diamond or steel could not scratch it, fire could not +scorch it, nor the heaviest hammer smash it; indeed, to injure this +precious bone in any way would be to perform one of the labors of +Hercules. This, however, was too much for the belief of the Emperor, and +so he ordered his stoutest blacksmith to take his heaviest hammer and +make the attempt; the priest, however got the best of it, for no sooner +did the hammer touch the bone than it crumbled into atoms, when, +probably, in delight at its success, this clever bone shone with such +effulgence that it weakened the eyes of all beholders. After this the +monarch wanted no more proof of the godship of Buddha, kept his promise, +and built the first pagoda in China. + +Most of these legends have a close connection with Buddhism and its +priests; it is, therefore, most probable that these pagodas have, from +their introduction into China in the middle of the first century of the +Christian era, been used in connection with the bonzes. This opinion is +entertained by the learned Chinese scholar, the Rev. Mr. Milne, who +says, "Among the Chinese themselves it is a common saying. In pagodas +they save and preserve the family of Buddha. Usually priests of this +order are in charge of the pagoda, and sit at the doors of the most +famous and frequented, to receive gratuities from visitors. Pagodas are +situated generally on Buddhists' lands, and there are in their vicinity, +or around their base, temples or monasteries for Buddhist priests. +Within those pagodas that are at all in a state of preservation, +Buddhist idols, relics, pictures, and books are deposited. The histories +of these buildings throughout the empire, at least the earliest of them, +are crammed with Buddhist tales and fictions." So interesting are these +extraordinary monuments of antiquity, as being the probable and supposed +depositories of Buddhist writings and Indian documents, which, should +they ever be brought to light will not only throw a light upon the early +intercourse between China and Hindostan, but elucidate the mystery which +now hangs over the history of the religion of ancient India, a matter of +importance to every intelligent being, that at the risk of being +tedious, I could not forbear having a little gossip with my young reader +on the subject. But now to return to our young heroes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A DANGEROUS DESCENT. + + +When Nicholas opened his eyes, he found Chow awake and on the look-out +at the aperture by which he had entered the previous evening. He called +to him, but the boy's whole attention was evidently too much engaged for +him to reply. Surely, thought Nicholas, the enemy must be in close +pursuit, and in an instant, he was upon his legs and by the side of +Chow, who exclaimed, "The rascals have discovered our retreat, and we +are lost after all!" + +"Surely thy fears deceive thy eyeballs," said Nicholas; but, looking for +himself, he saw coming through the tombs in the direction of the pagoda, +not only the soldier and the treacherous boatman, but the captain of the +junk. + +"The rogues will arouse the bonzes at the monastery," said Chow. + +"Truly the rats are not so senseless. They know we are unarmed, and hope +to take us without letting the bonzes share the reward; but let us +ascend, it is our only chance," said Nicholas, leading the way up a +steep staircase to the next story; but, hearing voices beneath, he +added, "Let us clamber to the top and lie quiet, when they may perhaps +give up the search." So they ascended the next staircase, but when they +came to the third story they were vexed to find the stairs fallen so +completely to ruin that they could proceed no higher. Fortune, however, +favored them, for looking around they saw a ladder, which had probably +been left by the bonze, whose business it was to exhibit the ancient +ruin for the convenience of visitors. To ascend was the work of a +minute, but before they had reached the uppermost round of the ladder +they heard their pursuers enter the lower apartment, when, quickening +their movements, they soon reached the seventh story. Now, as like a +pyramid, the building diminished in bulk as it increased in height, the +top was so small that they could but just pass through the small +aperture into the little room, which, fortunately, was in such a +dilapidated state, that the roof near the central pole or spire, which +ran up the interior from the base to the apex, and was surmounted by a +kind of large button, was nearly off. + +Once in this room, they set about fortifying their position, by pulling +up a few of the loose flooring-boards and throwing them over the well +hole by which they had entered. It was a happy thought, for as they were +laying the last board over the hole, they saw the soldier upon the first +round of the top ladder. In a moment they squatted down with their whole +weight upon the boards, and as the aperture was so small that but one +man could ever attempt to pass through at a time, they were secure. + +For at least two hours they remained in that position, which proved +such a formidable obstacle to the entrance of the man, that tired out, +he determined to consult with his companions as to some other means of +destroying the boys. Then, leaving Chow upon the boards watching through +a hole for the man's next attempt to force their position, Nicholas +ascended through a hole in the crumbling roof, looked around for some +few minutes, then descending, said, "We will escape from the roof." + +"Where are our wings, O, my master? for without them we shall become +very small pieces of broken china by the time we reach the bottom," said +the astonished Chow. + +"In our garments," said Nicholas, taking off his robes and tearing the +inner one into narrow slips, which being sufficient explanation for +Chow, he followed his master's example, and by plaiting them together +they managed to form a long rope with loops for hand holes at intervals. + +The manufacture of this rope took them some hours, during which time +they expected every minute that the enemy would attempt to force the +entrance with a great log of wood or bar iron; fortunately, however, +little dreaming that there was the most remote possibility of escape for +the boys, the enemy had resolved to starve them into a surrender. + +It was near dusk when they had completed their labor. Nothing could be +better, for if they could escape now they would reach the town before +the closing of the gates; therefore, resolving upon the attempt, they +pulled aside one of the boards and listened again. Fortune was in their +favor, for, by the conversation that was going on among the men, they +heard, that, tired of waiting, the soldier was gone in search of some +heavy instrument that would force an entrance. Then Nicholas longed for +a couple of big bamboos, that they might fight their way through them; +not, however, being able to command the use of such weapons, they +determined to make use of the rope the minute the men returned. + +Having arrived at this determination, Nicholas reascended the roof and +watched until he saw the soldier coming toward the pagoda, carrying a +huge block of wood, when throwing the rope around the centre column or +spire, so that they could pull it after them, leaving no trace of their +means of escape, he signaled to Chow to follow. He swung on to the rope, +keeping both ends in his hands, and lowered himself on to the projecting +canopy or fringe of the second story, and by a swing of the body reached +the terrace, where he waited for Chow, whose legs he guided in his +descent, after which they pulled down the rope, and by performing the +same feat at each story, reached the ground at the portion of the +building opposite to the door, and as he had calculated, where there +were no openings by which they could be seen from within. + +Once upon the ground, Chow gave a caper of joy, and proposed to scamper +off immediately. Nicholas, however, having effected the escape, like a +wise general, wished to protect his retreat from pursuit. To do this, +they entered the lower apartment of the pagoda, which, as they had +expected, they found empty; then ascending the next story, they could +see the enemy above them in consultation. It was the story with the +loose ladder. So removing their only means of descent, they carried it +with them some distance from the pagoda, and hastened toward the town, +heartily rejoicing at the success of their scheme, and laughing merrily +at the plight of their pursuers, who, when found in the pagoda, would be +punished as thieves, or if they dared to explain the cause of their +presence in the pagoda, would be severely bambooed for not informing the +nearest mandarin of the escape of such an important prisoner as the +runaway Christian. + +As they reached the city just before the closing of the gates, they +found so many persons hastening to their homes, that they passed through +without being noticed, and speedily procured a lodging at the nearest +inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +NICHOLAS DISCOVERS A CONSPIRACY, AND MAKES AN UNPLEASANT ENTRY INTO +PEKIN. + + +The next morning they laughed heartily when the innkeeper told them that +the bonzes of the monastery in the suburbs had taken some rogues who had +been found concealed in the pagoda before the police tribunal, and that +the mandarin had ordered all of them a severe bambooing. + +Greatly as he enjoyed this news, Nicholas was too wise to wish to remain +in the city any longer than possible, for he knew that the enraged junk +captain would leave no effort untried to retake them; he, therefore, +engaged a passage for himself and Chow in a barge that was proceeding to +Tching-Kiang. + +Once on board the passage boat and floating down along the royal canal, +they felt secure, for surely no mishap could now happen to interrupt +their journey; and so, indeed, they arrived at Tching-Kiang, where, as +this city was on the banks of the Yang-tse, which here interrupts the +course of the canal, they were compelled to disembark and remain one +night. + +The next morning Nicholas sent Chow to purchase a sword, a bow, and some +arrows, in place of those taken from him in the prison. During his +absence, he sat talking to the wife of the innkeeper, for amongst the +lower classes, the women are permitted to have greater intercourse, as +indeed is necessary, to enable them to assist in earning the family +living. He had not been chatting for any length of time when there arose +a great hubbub in the street, and, looking out of the window, what was +his surprise to see Chow running, as if for his life, followed by an old +gentleman, who stopped every now and then to take breath and shake his +fists angrily at the mob, who, believing it to be a race, shouted for +mere fun. A glance, however, made Nicholas aware of the true character +of the pursuer, and he begged of the woman to aid him in saving the life +of his friend, who was being hunted by a madman, who if he caught him, +he would kill him. + +Before she could reply, Chow ran up to the door; the woman opened it, +let him in, and shut it again in the face of the old gentleman, whose +stomach, being of extreme protuberance and what his countrymen call full +measure, received such a blow that, what with loss of breath and +fullness of indignation, his big body toppled over his short legs, and +he lay upon the ground with his little head turned upward, like a turtle +gasping at falling heat drops. + +"Truly we are lost, for the old rat is the physician," said Chow. + +"Can the worthy woman aid us?" said Nicholas, fairly baffled. + +"Let the youths follow," said the good-natured Woman; adding, "Whither +would they be taken?" + +"To the river," replied Nicholas, not knowing where else to say. + +Then conducting them to the back of the house, where stood several sedan +chairs that her husband let out for hire, the woman told them to jump +into one of them, gave instructions to two Coolies who were waiting for +a job, wished them a prosperous journey, drew the curtains, and thus, in +about an hour's time, the boys were set down upon the banks of the great +Yang-tse, when, having rewarded the Coolies for their trouble, they +walked leisurely along in search of a boatmen to carry them to the +opposite side. + +"Truly, O Chow, thou wert born in an unfortunate hour," said Nicholas. + +"My master's words are true; still, the hundred families' lock must have +been hung around thy servant's neck, or he could not have escaped so +great a danger as this." + +"Open thy lips to a good purpose, and say how this matter happened," +said Nicholas, laughing. + +"Well, having made the purchases, I came to the quay where the +passage-boats discharge their passengers, when, _may I be punished for +forgetting my masters affair_, I could think of nothing but the villain +who slew my noble parent, and who, I thought, might possibly be among +the soldiers who had just arrived from Pekin, and were embarking to go +to Nankin, which, they say, is even now besieged by the rebels. The +notion, fit only as it was for the head of a goose, could not be helped, +and I stood gazing at the war-tigers. Well, thy servant had not been +long looking, when an old gentleman seized him by the arm, saying, +'Thou dog, thou stolest both my patient and my gen-seng;' and, seeing +that it was the physician, I jerked off his hand, took to my heels, and, +fearing for the safety of my master should the crowd stop me, I +frightened them by calling out, 'Beware, my brethren, of the madman,' +and as that made the frightened people stand aside, I was enabled to +reach the inn in safety." + +"Truly this was well done," said Nicholas; but as, at that moment, they +had arrived at a great swamp of paddy, or rice-fields, which stretched +for miles inland down to the very edge of the river, and was covered +with water of sufficient depth to enable the shallow boats to sail for +miles into the interior, their progress was stopped, when Nicholas said, +as he pointed to a multitude of men, women, and children, who, at some +little distance, with their trousers tucked up to the knees, appeared to +be amusing themselves with paddling about in the water, "Let us catch +the eyeballs of one of yonder shrimp hunters." + +These people were a species of jacks-in-the-water, who, as they stalked +about every now and then pulled their legs out of the mud, and taking +something from it, deposited it in a small bag which they had by their +sides. They were mud fishers in search for prawn, shrimps, and other +small fish, which, when felt by the foot, they dexterously seized +between the toes. This is only one instance in which these poor people +show themselves as clever with the foot as the hand and another proof +of the old axiom, that necessity is the mother of invention. + +For some time they endeavored to call the attention of one of these +people without avail; then, holding up a copper coin and shouting, a man +came to them, and soon after fetched a boatman, who, for a small sum, +engaged to row them in search of a ferry-boat. + +The little boat paddled through the fields, past men engaged in wild +geese catching, and huge duck boats, from the sides of which, down +inclined boards, hundreds of those birds were waddling into the fields, +as industriously earning their living among the rice stubble as the mud +fishers. + +These duck keepers are a class peculiar to the Chinese. Their boats are +large and roomy, with a broad board extending around the sides for a +promenade for the birds, which are as dear to their masters as the pig +is to the Irishman. The birds have the largest apartment of the floating +house. In the morning the ducks waddle round the promenade at their +pleasure, except after the rice harvest has been gathered, when the +boards are inclined, and they walk up and down the slope at their will; +and so well are they brought up, that, if hundreds of them are out upon +a cruise, they will instantly return to the boat at their master's +whistle. + +Once in the boat, Nicholas had no wish to leave it, till he had crossed +the river. This he had some difficulty in persuading the man to do, for +it was three leagues broad at that part. The sight, however of a piece +of silver strengthened his courage, and, fixing up his little sail of +bamboo matting, he made the attempt, when, after some hours, they +reached the opposite banks, dismissed the boatman, and felt as pleased +as a fugitive between whom and the bloodhounds a vast water track has +passed. + +Having crossed the great river, they had no fear of further pursuit, so, +hiring two sedan chairs, they reached Kin-Chow the same evening. The +next morning they again took passage upon the Royal Canal, down which +they traveled for some days, till they arrived at Yang-Chow, a city +celebrated for its manufacture of salt and singing girls. These poor +creatures are matter of commerce with the merchants, who have taught +them to sing, paint, and play on musical instruments, when they can sell +them for very large sums of money to the great lords, who purchase them +for the recreation of their households. + +Resting at this city for one day, they again started upon their journey, +and in a few weeks arrived at Tien-sin, from which place they proceeded +by a small canal to Tsing-Chow, the nearest place to Pekin, where they +landed. + +"Thanks be to Tien, my master, we shall soon be in the venerable city +itself." + +"Thou art fond of Pekin, Chow?" + +"The tombs of thy servant's ancestors are near its walls," said Chow, +gloomily. + +"Why, in the name of the social relations, art thou as dull as a +tailless peacock?" said Nicholas. + +"It is filial pity, for last night I dreamt that I should discover in +Pekin the dog who slew my venerable parent, and should I die without +searching him out, the tombs of my ancestors would refuse to hold me." + +"These are wild words and foolish fancies, Chow," said Nicholas; adding, +as he beheld the boy stare in the faces of the passers-by, "Moreover, if +thy manners are so barbarous, thou wilt surely get into trouble;" and, +believing that occupation or a mission would drive these thoughts from +Chow's mind, he stopped at the house of a dealer in horses, and, having +bargained for two, said, "Thou art well informed of the ins and outs of +Pekin, Chow?" + +"Every rat-hole, my master," was the reply. + +"Then for fear that the hour may be too late ere I reach the city, take +one of these horses and hasten to the great square, where thou wilt find +one Yang, a wealthy merchant; seek his presence, and inform him that the +son of his correspondent, the great merchant of the south, would beg a +lodging of him while he remains in the capital." + +"Thy commands shall be obeyed," said Chow, turning a sumersault on to +the back of one of the horses, and in another instant was at full gallop +toward Pekin. + +Nicholas then sought a house of refreshment, and, having regaled himself +with a cup of hot tea and rice cakes, mounted the other animal, +intending to follow Chow. + +The distance, however, was longer than he had calculated; moreover he +took the longest road, so that by the time he reached within view of the +walls, towers, and yellow roofs, of the imperial city, the gates were +closed for the night, and none would be permitted to pass without a +searching scrutiny; so, although much vexed, he determined to seek a +lodging at an inn he had passed on the road. However, the innkeeper +addressing him, rudely said, "How is this, that a mere boy should be +without the walls at this hour? Has he no respect for his parents, who +will assuredly be punished for their neglect?" + +"Is the worthy innkeeper of barbarian parents, that he would refuse to +lodge a youth, who, tired and weary, has but just arrived from a long +journey, and is willing to pay handsomely?" said Nicholas, showing him +about an ounce of silver. + +"Truly the vision of thy servant must have been dull, that he could not +before perceive that the youth before him was nobly allied and of great +respectability," said the man, now that he greedily eyed the precious +metal. "Yet," he added, "it is not possible that the noble youth can +lodge beneath this roof, for the inn is already crowded with merchants, +who enter Pekin at daylight." + +"Then will I trouble the most perfect of innkeepers no longer," replied +Nicholas, believing the man to be an extortioner. + +"The words of thy servant are as true as the sacred books, but if the +noble youth will bestow a fee upon the porter he can procure a lodging +at yon mansion," replied the man, as he pointed to a large house near +the inn. + +"What words are these? Yonder mansion is the palace of some noble +mandarin, who will deservedly chastise thee for thy insolence in making +his house a common inn." + +"Not so, O noble youth, for although the front is fair to look at, the +house is in ruins and under the care of a porter. The mandarin is in a +far distant province, if, indeed, as is reported, he is not at this +moment in rebellion against the Emperor." + +"Tien forbid that a true-born Chinese should soil the soles of his boots +with the dust of a traitor's door stone," said Nicholas. + +"Thy servant said it was but rumored, O loyal youth," replied the +innkeeper; adding angrily, "Truly if thou refusest this thou wilt get +none other lodging." + +"Truly it may be but scandal, therefore show me to this porter, and thou +shalt be rewarded for thy trouble," replied Nicholas. + +The innkeeper then conducting him to one of the smaller of the three +doors in the wall of respect, which, as with all the houses of the +great, are built before the house, summoned the porter, who for a piece +of silver took charge of his horse, introduced him into a small room, +which led from one side of the great central hall, and leaving him a +sleeping mat withdrew, when Nicholas laid himself at full length, glad +enough to get the opportunity of getting a good night's rest. + +Nicholas had not slept long before he was awakened by the sound of +voices, which he could hear so clearly and distinctly that he knew it +proceeded from some adjoining room. More vexed, however, at the +disturbance than curious to listen to the conversation, he turned over +and tried to sleep, but then the tones became louder, and he fancied he +heard his father's name. If so, it evidently concerned him; therefore in +self-defence, he must listen; and, setting up on his mat, he saw that he +was in a double room divided by folding doors, between the crevices of +which came a glimmering light, so creeping softly forward, he peeped +through. There at a table, beneath a painted lantern, the light from +which played upon their faces, sat two men of tall stature and +soldier-like appearance, but neither of whom could he at first +recognise. A minute more, however, and he fancied that in one he could +trace familiar features; still he could not recall them to his memory. +He listened attentively, for the taller man spoke earnestly for some +time of such matters that made the boy burn with rage and horror. When +he had concluded, the other smiled and said, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, we have secured the ambitious pirate of the south. May the time +for action speedily arrive." No sooner had he spoken, than, like a +glimpse of light in a cavern, the recognition flashed across the boy's +mind. The last speaker was the mandarin envoy who had visited his +father's vessel, and he trembled for the safety of the Emperor's letter. +It was consolatory, however, that should they meet, the mandarin would +not know him, for they had not met on board the vessel. When the +mandarin had spoken, his companion said, "Hush, general! no tiles, for +walls may have ears; but enough, I am satisfied." Then after whispering +together for some little time, they arose, and Nicholas crept back to +his mat. The moment after to his horror, the doors were thrown open, and +the prince exclaimed, "How! we are betrayed; what rogue is this?" + +"Silence, my prince, he sleeps, and can have heard nothing," said the +other, cutting down the lantern from the other room and holding it +before the pretending sleeper, who, notwithstanding his perilous +position, did not move a muscle. The boy, however, had a harder trial +yet, for drawing his dagger, the prince exclaimed, "True, general, he +may not have heard--but, he may--and as dead dogs can't bark--" but, as +the prince was about to strike, and the brave boy was mentally preparing +to clutch at the weapon, with both hands, the mandarin caught the arm of +the would-be assassin, led him into the other room, whispered with him, +and then they both left the house, after securing all the doors from the +outer side. + +Bathed in a cold sweat, Nicholas arose and examined the room, to find +some means of escape, for he little doubted that they would speedily +return. It was useless, and he made up his mind to await the chapter of +accidents. For some time fear kept him awake, but at length nature would +have her way and he fell off to sleep. + +When he awoke he found a party of yah-yu and the porter of the house at +his side; the latter looking at him maliciously, said, "Take the vile +dog before the police tribunal, he is a thief and a rogue." + +"Silence, rascal! for thou knowest that I am no thief, but a traveler +who paid thee for a night's lodging." + +"Away with the young rogue," said the porter; and, binding him hand and +foot, Nicholas was made to make his first entry into Pekin amid the +shouts of the rabble, who were delighted that so vile a house-breaker +and thief should be caught. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE BOYS AGAIN IN TROUBLE. + + +Smarting with indignation at the accusation, which had evidently been +made for the purpose of getting him transported to the penal province, +Nicholas was taken before the police mandarin like a common thief. When, +however, they reached the tribunal, they found the magistrate engaged +examining witnesses on the part of a military mandarin who had been +insulted in the public streets. "Let the worthy officer state his +complaint," said the mandarin. + +"Know, O fountain of justice," said the officer, joining his hands above +his head, and bowing nearly to the ground three successive times, "that +as thy servant was riding through the great square, a young man, +possessed either with demons or samshu, jumped so rudely before me that +I stumbled and fell to the earth, and when he stared me full in the face +like a hungry wolf, I remonstrated, but the rascal held me down, +continuing to stare with glaring eyeballs; he then tore the plaster from +this wound which I received on my cheek in fighting the rebels of +Chen-si, and began to dance round me most frantically with a drawn +sword, crying, 'Thou villain, slayer of honest folks' parents, I have +found thee at last, and will cut thee into pieces small enough for +mince pies.' Alarmed at this violent rudeness, I could but say, 'Hold, +dog, I am a soldier of the Emperor.' 'Ah, ah! I know thou art, thou +villain,' said he. 'I have received a wound,' said thy servant. 'Ah, ah! +I know thou hast, thou villain,' again said the madman. 'Begone, dog, +what wouldst thou do?' said I. 'Slay thee, and burn thy house, even as +thou didst my parents, villain;' whereupon the rascal would have slain +thy servant upon the instant but for the timely aid of this good +merchant Yang," said the soldier, pointing to a stout elderly man who +stood by his side. + +Now, guessing at once that this terrible prisoner must be Chow, Nicholas +felt no surprise when he saw the poor fellow, with his arms tied behind +him, dragged before the mandarin, who said, "What says the murdering +thief to this charge?" + +"What can the unfortunate Chow say, most beneficent father and mother of +justice, but that it was all a mistake, and that thy unworthy slave has +ever been taught that no man should exist beneath the same heaven with +the murderer of his parents?" said Chow, as he cast some comical glances +at the bamboo canes. + +"What words are these? What has this most wise maxim to do with thy +case, fellow?" said the mandarin. + +"Much, O magnificent judge, for thy slave's father was destroyed by the +chief officer of the rebel Li-Kong, whom this worthy war-tiger +unfortunately resembles, both in the wound on the cheek, and the length +of his hair." + +"If thy words are not false, then thou art a worthy but unfortunate +servant of the holy lord our Emperor," said the mandarin; "but who will +assure us of this?' + +"Truly will I, O learned judge," cried out Nicholas. + +"Who is this dog, that speaks without prostrating his mean person at the +feet of justice?" said the mandarin. + +"A thief and a rascal, who is awaiting to be tried," cried the porter +who had accused Nicholas. + +"By the beard of Confucius, this is daring; give the dog a dozen +strokes," said the mandarin. + +"Stay thy command, O running fountain of justice; let not thy celestial +ears be profanely filled by the tongues of dogs," shrieked Chow with +fear, as soon as he saw that his master was a prisoner. + +The mandarin would have visited this daring interruption with a heavy +punishment, but for some words whispered in his ears by the merchant +Yang, and which caused him to smile and say, "The honorable merchant +Yang has answered for thy truth boy; but that for the future you may not +be liable to such mistakes, we will give thee a fatherly correction." +The mandarin then pulled fifty reeds from the case, and threw them upon +the floor, whereupon two of the footmen caught hold of Chow, took off +his robe, and held him on the floor, while another administered fifty +blows, after which Chow got upon his legs, made a very wry face, and +twisted and writhed about like an eel making an effort to walk upon the +tip of his tail. + +"Leave off twisting and twirling thyself out of nature, thou dog, and +return thanks to his high justiceship for his kindness in correcting so +miserable an affair as thy mean self," said one of the footmen. + +With one eye glaring upon the footman, and the other smiling upon the +mandarin, Chow held his hands behind his back to assuage the pain, and +made two or three attempts to bend his back, but failing, dropped +suddenly on his knees, and bowing his head to the ground, said, but with +a twist of his back or grimace between every word, "Thy correction--O +father--and mother--of justice, is beneficial, but like physic would +be----" + +"What, boy?" said the mandarin, laughing. + +"More agreeable if it were tasteless, yet thy mean servant thanks thee, +noble judge, for this care of his mind;" and Chow hopped among the +bystanders. + +When Chow had been disposed of, the porter formerly charged Nicholas +with entering the mansion at night for the purpose of robbery. + +"Who art thou boy; thy name, surname, and from what province?" said the +mandarin kindly. + +"The mean name of thy unworthy servant is Nicholas, of the province of +Fokien, from whence he has traveled on special affairs to a worthy +merchant of Pekin, named Yang." + +"So far thy words are truth," said the mandarin, to the astonishment of +Nicholas; "but what answer can the youth make to the charge of this +man?" + +"That it is vile and false, and that the dog is a traitor in league with +rebels, who happening to meet with thy servant last night at the same +house, are fearful that he may have discovered their plots, and so hope +to destroy him." + +At that moment there arose a great bustle in the court, and a cry of +"Make way for the illustrious deputy-general of the nine gates," and a +military mandarin, with a tiger painted on his breast, a gold button and +a peacock's feather in his cap, both of which bespoke his high rank, +entered the tribunal, and testified to the guilt of Nicholas, who +recognizing in him the man who had been addressed the previous night by +the title of general, exclaimed, "Behold, O Mandarin, one of the +traitors." + +Great was the effect of the new comer upon the judge, for, not paying +the least attention to the exclamation of Nicholas, he said, "Truly +falsehood will not flow from the lips of the Heaven-appointed +deputy-general. As for thee (turning to Nicholas,) vile dog, as thy +guilt is now clear, thou shalt receive one hundred blows, and be +banished for life." + +Now, while the mandarin was speaking, Chow happening to get a full view +of the general's face, rushed through the crowd, crying, "It is the +villain, it is the destroyer of my parents,' and in another moment he +had clutched the general by the throat, thrown him upon the ground, and +would have strangled him, but for the help of the footmen, who speedily +seized him, bound his arms, and carried him with Nicholas to the +prison. + +"This fancy, that every officer you meet is the destroyer of your +parents, will prove thy destruction, my poor Chow," said Nicholas, as +soon as they were alone in the prison. + +"There can be no doubt it is the villain, for saw you not the wound upon +his cheek? but, alas! my trouble is the greater that I slew him not +before we were shut up in a cage like two dogs for fattening." + +"Thy liberty at least was secure, but for thy foolish attack upon the +mandarin of war." + +"By the vermillion pencil itself, Chow cares not for liberty, if they +ruin his noble master." + +Then Nicholas began to think upon his miserable position,--sentenced to +be beaten with the bamboo to him worse than death, for, being born upon +the coast, unlike most Chinese, he had never been subjected to such a +degradation; and then to be banished for life, at the very commencement +of his career,--it was horrible. Greater, however, was his anxiety for +the safety of his father's letters. Could he but send a message to the +merchant Yang,--alas! that was impossible. Should he give it to Chow? +No; for he knew not what punishment awaited the boy for assaulting so +great an officer. He was indeed at his wit's end, and he prayed to the +Almighty for aid. + +"Let not the noble Nicholas be so sad, for truly the gods can never +desert the innocent and unfortunate," said Chow, while tears of +affection wetted his cheeks; adding, "I will pray of them to take my +worthless life in exchange for thy liberty." + +"I can not, do not doubt thy affection, my good Chow, but place not my +faith in these foolish deities; there is but One true God, whose Son +died on the cross to save mankind, and in Him I trust in my hour of +difficulty." + +"My master is of the religion of the Fan-Kwi (foreign devils.) Will +their god aid him in the hour of his troubles?" replied Chow, +despondingly. + +"Thou wilt see Chow," replied Nicholas, angrily. + +"Truly, but in the mean time the bamboo will cut us into strips like an +umbrella in a storm," said Chow, making such queer contortions and +grimaces, that in spite of his troubles Nicholas could not help +laughing. "Then," he added, "thy servant has a scheme that will save +thee, my generous master." + +"Open thy lips, O wise and prudent youth," said Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas has a father?" + +"Truly, a noble one." + +"Then, as Chow has neither father, mother, nor aught else, but hatred +for his father's slayer and gratitude to the preserver of his life----" + +"What words are these?" said Nicholas, impatiently. + +"The good Nicholas has money; let him give it to Chow, and he will bribe +the mandarin to slit him into ribbons in thy stead," said Chow, +seriously. + +"Silence, Chow! this scheme of thine is offensive," said Nicholas, not +without a tear at the boys devotion. + +"Alas! of what use is a friend if he will not be serviceable in the hour +of need?" said Chow. + +Their conversation was interrupted by the opening of the door. + +"It is the illustrious Yang himself, who spoke good words to the +boy-correcting mandarin; may he be turned into a bamboo himself in the +next world," exclaimed Chow with a writhe of remembrance. + +"Thou art the son of the good merchant, my correspondent?" said Yang. + +"The face of the worthy merchant, is welcome in the hour of difficulty," +said Nicholas. + +"That difficulty is past, for thou art released," replied Yang, leading +him to a covered vehicle, into which Chow followed, and all three +proceeded to the merchant's house, where they found a substantial meal +awaiting them, a portion of which Chow carried with him to another +apartment. + +"Will the venerable Yang say by what fortunate chance he was enabled to +confer upon the son of his correspondent such an everlasting debt of +gratitude!" said Nicholas. + +"Know then, my nephew, for my nephew thou art, being the son of my +adopted brother, that when the comical ape Chow brought thy message, I +watched for thy coming till evening, when knowing that you could not +pass through the gates that night, I lodged Chow in my house. This +morning I went to meet you, telling Chow to follow close behind my +chair. Passing through the great square we met with the military officer +whose affair took us to the tribunal, where by means of a small present +secretly conveyed to the mandarin, I succeeded in getting the foolish +fellow off with a mere fatherly correction, which the dispenser of +justice was compelled to give him for form's sake. This affair being +settled, judge my horror at finding you charged with so fearful a crime. +However, I was prepared; for Chow, while listening to his own accuser, +had seen you in the custody of the yah-yu, to whom I went, and by means +of a bribe made them tell me the reason of your being in that plight. +When I had learned the particulars, I whispered to the mandarin that I +would present him with a handsome sum in silver if he would treat you +leniently. But when the favorite general of the Prince Li-Kong appeared, +the affair took another turn, and for fear of losing his own head, the +mandarin was compelled to condemn you. Yet, sad as this was, it was to +be managed with money. So by giving a handsome sum to an already +condemned criminal, the poor wretch agreed to suffer in your place." + +"How! what rascality is this? Surely the innocent shall not suffer. The +mandarin must be sought," said Nicholas. + +"Hist, hist, my good nephew! it is all over; for, foreseeing your +objection, the money was handed over to the man's family and he himself +dispatched at once to the penal settlement for condemned criminals." + +"It is a vile practice, O Yang," said Nicholas with disgust. + +"It is a common one," replied the merchant; adding, "but what brings the +son of the great merchant to Pekin? he is young to be entrusted so great +a journey." + +"Are then the special secrets of my noble parent of so little value that +they may be wafted about the very air of this vile city of Pekin?" said +Nicholas. + +"Pardon thy servant, O noble youth, who seeks to know thy affairs that +he may help to render them prosperous." + +"The worthy Yang must forgive the haste of a boy who so far forgets his +duty to his elder," said Nicholas. + +That night the boys slept at Yang's house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +NICHOLAS RESOLVES UPON A DANGEROUS ADVENTURE. + + +The following morning when Nicholas saw the merchant, he said, +"Yesterday the worthy Yang would have learned the object of my visit to +Pekin. I would gain admittance to the imperial palace. Will he aid me?" + +"Alas! my nephew, nothing can be more difficult, for it is crowded with +bonzes, and I fear worse--rebels, who swarm around the royal person like +hornets; but whom seekest thou within the outer palaces?" + +"Even the Son of Heaven himself, at the feet of whose throne I would +kneel." + +"Is the youth bereft of his senses? does he not know that it is certain +death to pass the prohibited wall of the inner palace?" + +"May then the illustrious Prince Woo-san-Kwei be found within the +palace?" asked Nicholas. + +"Nay, even if thou couldst boast the friendship of the great +Woo-san-Kwei thou wouldst not be safe. The prince is too honest and +brave to be much in favor just now. Wouldst thou be safe, youth, thou +must seek the Prince Li-Kong." + +"The vile traitor," muttered Nicholas at the name. + +"Hist, hist! thou wilt assuredly lose thy head, boy," said Yang, placing +his finger upon his lips. + +"Let the friend of the merchant of the south open his lips to a purpose. +Can, or can he not, aid me to gain admittance within the palace? for it +is my father's command that I should seek the Emperor or the Prince +Woo-san-Kwei, and at the peril of my life he must be obeyed," said +Nicholas firmly. + +"Since thou art determined, take this," said Yang placing a ring on the +boy's finger; adding, "It will pass thee through the guards of the outer +palaces and courts as far as the prohibited wall, and then proceed no +further, as you value your life, but await the approach of one of the +officers of the guard, to whom you must show that ring, and tell him +that you have business with the red-girdled Prince Woo-san-Kwei; +further, be prudent, or thou wilt seek thy death." + +"The worthy Yang has indeed filled me with gratitude," said Nicholas, +who then sent Chow for a chair. When the boy returned he asked his +master to what part of the city he would be carried. + +"To the palace." + +"By the five social relations the noble Nicholas is tired of this world, +for he has no sooner escaped one death than he seeks another," said +Chow. + +"Wag not thy foolish tongue, O Chow, but if thy heart fails thee stay +behind." + +"And leave the noble Nicholas to go to the world of spirits alone? that +would indeed be base. No, no; Chow will follow; but my noble master has +forgotten his sword, he may require it," said the boy. + +"I am sufficiently armed," replied Nicholas showing the hilt of a small +dagger beneath his robe, adding, "Now let us proceed." + +They then passed through the streets, which swarmed with people who were +as busy as bees in a hive, some making purchases of itinerant +tradespeople, viewing the wonderful feats of jugglers, mountebanks, or +players, listening to the marvelous narratives of _vivŕ voce_ novelists, +or testing their fates with cheating fortune-tellers. As they approached +the palace, they found crowds of people gazing at the great observatory, +upon the top of which the astronomers of the court, in full dress, were +engaged in watching the heavens. When they arrived at the wall which +confined the city of buildings that made up the imperial residence, +Nicholas dismissed the chairman, and they passed into the first court, +which was as large and full of houses as a small country town. It took +half an hour to walk through; and as they had to traverse seven more of +these courts, which took them three hours, you may imagine the great +extent of the whole palace. The last but one was surrounded with the +palaces of the princes of the red girdle, or those more distant in blood +from the throne. This court was crowded with mandarins, officers, +eunuchs, and soldiers of the Emperor, who were earnestly peering through +telescopes at the sun, which from a deep blood red became yellow and +dim, and gradually more and more opaque, till the whole world seemed to +be enveloped in darkness, and darkness blacker than midnight, for there +was no moon. + +When the earth's light became extinguished, the mandarins fell flat upon +their faces, moaning aloud, while the noise from thousands of drums +shook the very walls. + +"Let us fall upon our faces, O my master, and pray to the terrible +dragon," exclaimed Chow, suiting the action to the word, and endeavoring +to drag Nicholas with him. As, however, Nicholas was averse to this +superstition, he refused to comply, and stood looking upon the people as +if they had been performing for his especial and solitary benefit. + +Whatever was the superstition, it laid firm hold of Chow, who, long +after the light had returned to the heavens and the other people to +their feet, continued to moan, kick his legs, and knock the earth with +his forehead. At length, after repeatedly calling to him in vain, +Nicholas turned him upon his back, when, opening his eyes and finding +the light had returned, he jumped upon his feet, and, as the sweat of +fear rolled from his brow, said, "Thank the gods, the greedy monster of +a dragon has not swallowed the sun and moon. O master, what would become +of us all; what would become of day and night without the sun and moon?" + +"Art thou foolish, O Chow, to believe that this eclipse was caused by +the effort of a monster dragon to swallow the heavenly luminaries?" + +"Who is thy servant, O noble Nicholas, that he should doubt, when +learned mandarins believe?" said Chow. + +"Know, O Chow, that the mandarins believe in it no more than thy +master, but perform a ceremony handed down to them by their ancestors." + +When the people who had been praying of the dragon not to swallow the +poor sun and moon began to disperse, the boys continued their journey +till they came to the outer or prohibited wall of the inner palace, +when, pointing to a soldier who stood at the gate with a naked sabre in +his hand, Chow said. "Look, my master, to pass yon tiger of war will be +to seek Yen-Vang in the other world," and at the same moment the soldier +said, "Are the slaves tired of their lives that they approach the +prohibited wall without bowing to the earth?" + +Having performed the required ceremony, Nicholas presented the +merchant's ring to the soldier, saying, "Let the eyes of the war tiger +rest upon this token, for by its means his servant would seek the +illustrious yellow girdle, Woo-san-Kwei." + +"The power of the token may not be doubted, for it bears the character +of the prince; yet may the noble youth not see the barbarian-subduing +prince, for he is in council with the colaos," said the soldier. + +"Then, by the toe of the Emperor, (may he live ten thousand years,) we +are as good as in our coffins; for know, O my master, it is death to +sleep within the walls of the palace," said the trembling Chow. + +"Surely," said Nicholas, placing a piece of silver in the soldier's +hand, "the brave warrior can secure lodging within the walls for a youth +whose duty compels him to risk his life rather than leave the palace +without speaking with the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"Truly it will be hazardous," but before the soldier could finish his +reply, the officer of the night came up with the relief guard. + +"Who are these vile dogs that are so openly seeking their death?" said +he. + +"This youth, O noble commander, bears the ring of the great +Woo-san-Kwei, whose presence he seeks; but as the patriot prince cannot +be seen, with the noble commander's permission the youth shall lodge +with me this night." + +"The noble and unfortunate Ki utters judicious words, and shall command +in this thing," replied the officer, to the surprise of Nicholas, who +could not comprehend an officer of the guard being so politely +submissive to a man so much his inferior. + +The permission, however, did not extend to Chow, whom the officer +undertook to convey back again out of the palace. + +"Then slit me into bamboo slips, thou Captain of war tigers, for the +servant dare not leave his master," said Chow, who refused so +obstinately that the soldiers had to carry him away. + +As Ki led the way through the streets and passages on the way to his +quarters, Nicholas was not a little surprised to find that he was +respectfully saluted by all whom they passed. Again, instead of the +common room appropriated to soldiers of his humble station, his quarters +consisted of a house by itself. Neither could Nicholas get rid of his +puzzle, till Ki said, "Has the name of the colao Ki ever fallen into the +ears of the honorable youth?" + +"Truly so; for whose ears could be so dull as not to have drunk in his +fame as a wise minister of state?" + +"Yet such is the viscissitude of fortune, that the colao is now before +thee, O youth, plucked of the peacock feather, and the golden ball torn +from his cap." + +"The great and good colao degraded to a mean soldier! Are such things +possible? O unfortunate man!" said Nicholas, bowing respectfully to the +fallen noble. + +"The purest sky is sometimes shaded by the blackest cloud. The cloud +over the head of Ki is the Prince Li-Kong, to whom every thing is now +possible; but open thy lips, youth, and send forth thy wishes with the +Prince Woo-san-Kwei. If it be to ask promotion to some office, know that +he has none to give, for the shadow of Li-Kong stands between him and +the Majesty of China." + +"Thy servant seeketh nothing for himself, O noble Ki, but to serve the +Emperor, to whom through the great Woo-san-Kwei, he would present a +petition." + +"All petitions now pass through the Prince Li-Kong," said Ki +sorrowfully. + +"Then, by the vermilion pencil, I will seek the Emperor himself, O noble +Ki." + +"Thou wouldst be slain in the attempt, O daring boy; there is but one +means." + +"Name it, O noble Ki, and thy name shall be buried in my heart," said +Nicholas impetuously. + +"It would be but to condemn thee to death." + +"Thou art laughing at me, O noble Ki," replied Nicholas bitterly. + +"Not so, youth; and since thou hast set thy heart upon the venture, open +thine ears to the only means," said Ki; adding, "Know that the Emperor +has one young and beautiful daughter, who apart from the bonzes and +Li-Kong, alone dares to present a petition to his majesty." + +"Again, I say, thou art laughing at me, O cruel Ki; for how is it +possible for a strange youth to pass the guard that surrounds the palace +of the ladies?" + +"Know then, further, that every morning the princess, with her ladies, +walks in those gardens just beyond the prohibited wall; through the +outer gate you can pass by means of this key," said Ki, giving him a +key; adding, "Near the inner wall there is a tall mulberry-tree, up +which you must climb, and so reach the top, and fall into the gardens; +then hide thyself till the royal lady passes. She will be attended by +the lady Candida Hiu, at whose feet throw thyself, proclaim thy mission, +and she will influence her beautiful mistress to deliver thy petition to +the Emperor; but remember, O youth, should you cross the path of one of +the eunuchs of the palace thy hours are numbered." + +"Noble Ki, I am thy servant for life," said Nicholas, kneeling and +clasping the knees of the old colao; adding, "but say, O Ki, who is this +Lady Candida Hiu?" + +"The pupil of the good Christian fathers whom the bonzes would have +massacred, the Lady Candida is the friend and teacher of the princess, +and but for her influence over her royal mistress, the punishment would +be death for worshiping in any of the many churches erected by the lady +herself." + +"Art thou then a disciple of the Saviour of mankind, O Ki?" + +"To the teaching of the lady Candida Hiu am I indebted for having +forsworn the stupid worship of Fo and the selfish philosophy of +Confucius," replied the colao; adding, "But ask no more, O youth, for to +speak of Christ out of the pale of that lady's influence is to earn +disgrace, if not death." So saying the ex-minister retired, leaving +Nicholas to his own thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE IMPERIAL GARDENS. + + +The next morning Nicholas proceeded on his mission, and, as the courts +of the palace were crowded with soldiers and mandarins of various ranks, +in waiting to receive the great lords of state, who were that day to +have audience with the Emperor, he managed to pass through the crowd +without being once challenged. With but little difficulty, he found the +door mentioned by Ki, and passing through by means of the key, he +entered a narrow lane between two walls. Near the inner wall stood the +mulberry-tree, up which he clambered quickly, for he knew not who might +enter the passage. When, by means of one of the branches, he had gained +the top of the wall, his eyes drank in a new pleasure. There, before, +beneath were the magnificent gardens of the inner palace, and so charmed +were his senses that for a minute it seemed as if the penalty of death +were but a small price for the vision. The enclosed grounds were of many +miles extent, and so varied in their arrangement, that they might have +served for a model of the empire itself. There was something of most +things natural and artificial in China: towering mountains cut into +terraces and planted with trees of rarity and beauty; fertile valleys +laid out in orange groves and intermingled with murmuring rivulets; +then bridges of tinted marble, wrought to resemble flying dragons, whose +eyes and scales were fashioned from colored metals, flew across small +lakes of clear, transparent water, in which, as a paradise of their own, +gamboled shoals of gold and silver fish, which at that time had not been +brought to Europe; then orchards of fruit trees, making the morning air +redolent with the mingled scents of rare specimens of pears, apples, +peaches, citrons, apricots, muscadine grapes, pomegranates, and oranges. +The sides of the main canal, from which the dripping rivulets sprang, +were embossed with cypress and mulberry-trees, whose feet seemed planted +in a sprinkled fringe of water melons. On this canal, with its awning of +yellow silk and golden fringe, floated the gilded japanned pleasure +barge of the ladies. + +For a time the boy's head swam with a new sensation. Such, thought he, +must have been the garden of that Emperor whose jealousy of the powers +of the cruel winter over his summer beauties caused him to waste the +revenue of a kingdom and the industry of a whole people in creating a +garden of artificial flowers, forgetting that the annual decay was alone +the cause of the ever-living freshness and perfume of nature. + +Then the sweet scents and beauteous sight tired Nicholas, for he thought +of the suffering, starving people. Surely it should not be possible for +such a paradise to exist in the midst of so much treason and +rotten-heartedness, and then the bold sea boy thought of his own rough +life, and became disgusted with himself for dwelling upon so much +sensuousness, for he knew that the empire had never smiled and prospered +with a happy, peaceable and well-fed people, except when the Emperor had +set the example of temperance and labor; and, moreover, that luxury and +indolence had ever preceded the downfall of dynasties; and then by far +more interesting became the cotton, the tallow and the mulberry-trees +that Heaven had bestowed upon the land of China for the support of its +hundreds of millions, and which had no vocation in such a garden of +luxury. + +As it must be interesting to my young readers, I will give a description +of these singularly valuable trees. The seed of the cotton shrub is sown +by the husbandmen on the same day that they get in the harvest. When the +rain has moistened the earth the shrub thrusts itself forward to a +height of about two feet, and in the month of August gives forth a +yellow or a red flower, which fades into a pod, which on the fortieth +day after the appearance of the flower divides itself into three parts, +each containing a wrapping of pure white cotton, similar in size to the +ball of the silk-worm. At this period, the husbandmen fasten the ball to +the pod, leaving it till the following year, when the fibres of the +cotton become so securely fastened to the seeds, that the husbandman is +compelled to separate them by means of two thin rollers, one of wood and +the other of iron, placed so close to each other, that in passing the +cotton between them, the naked seed is exuded from behind. The cotton +is then carded and ready to be converted into calico, an employment that +gives food to many thousands of people. + +Of equal value and more curious is the tallow-tree, which lights the +whole of the empire. While the leaves and long stalks of this plant +cause it to resemble the aspen and the birch, its trunk and branches +resemble in shape, height, and size the cherry-tree. From the grey bark, +spring long elastic branches, the leaves of which grow but from the +middle to the end, where they finish in a tuft, where the fruit grows in +a hard brown husk of triangular form. The husk generally contains three +kernels, covered with a thin substance resembling white tallow. When the +husk begins to open and fall away, the fruit gradually appears. Each +kernel contains another of the size of a hemp seed, which from its +oleaginous nature is converted into oil. + +To make the tallow, the shell and kernel are beaten together in boiling +water till the surface becomes covered with fat, which when cold, +condenses; then, by adding fair proportions of linseed oil and wax to +give consistency, they have produced the material which, when shaped +around a wick of hollow reed, produces the candles in use in China. Thus +does nature and the ingenuity of the people create from this +extraordinary tree a double means of lighting the empire. + +As for the mulberry-tree, it is so well known that I need but tell you, +that after rice, the Chinese consider its culture as a sacred duty, and +deservedly so, for by feeding the silk-worm, it not only clothes the +people, but silk, being in immense demand over the known world, is the +primary means of giving them employment; indeed the mulberry-tree is an +"institution," and of such ancient date, that even in four thousand +years old China, which contains the oldest records in the world, there +is no authentic record of its discovery. There is a legend, however, +"that, till the days of Ti-Long, the wife of the Emperor Hoang-ti, the +people were savages, and used the skins of animals for clothing, but her +far-sighted majesty noticed that as the people were many, and the +animals few, they would soon become short of garments, when, like the +parent of invention, she was pushed to a discovery that worms might be +made the greatest manufacturers of her empire;" and that there is some +truth in this fable seems likely, as, from the earliest times, the +Empress of China has had a portion of the grounds of the palace planted +as a mulberry grove, where, at certain periods of the year, she goes in +state, to show her interest in the silk manufacture, by gathering three +mulberry leaves, and unwinding a quantity of silk. Lastly, I may tell +you, that the most learned men and the greatest ministers have devoted a +great portion of their lives to teach the people "how to bring up and +feed silk worms, so as to obtain the greatest quantity and best quality +of silk." + +Is it not unjust that the race of worms should have been so long +despised, when, for thousands of years, one of their representatives has +been at the base of the prosperity of the largest, most populated, and +longest-enduring empire since the foundation of the world? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE PRINCESSES OF THE MINGS, AND THE LADY CANDIDA. + + +Enwrapped as the mind of Nicholas had been in the delicious scene around +him, no sooner did he reach the ground than a bitter feeling arose that +his beloved Emperor should be content to repose in such soft and costly +indolence, while millions of his subjects were being plundered by +rapacious nobles. In deep thought he reached the far-famed mulberry +orchard, where, for a time, he stood contemplating the industry of the +marvelous little worms whose number and color cast a sickly hue over the +broad green foliage of the trees, then in full leaf. Passing through +this orchard, he came in front of a mimic palace, hewn out of rock +crystal, and which glittered in the sun, so that it was some minutes +before his dazzled vision could perceive that he was near the imperial +menagerie and aviary, where were kept the rare beasts and birds +presented to the Emperor by his tributary kings. The sight was curious, +and he would have stopped, but for the rustling of leaves in the +orchard, and the sound of soft footsteps, that warned him of his +imprudence, and made him seek shelter in a small pagoda, from whence, +through a kind of loophole which fronted the menagerie, he could see +without being seen. Now his heart beat tremulously; the footsteps might +be those of the princess and her ladies. He was right in his conjecture, +for scarcely had he placed himself at the loophole, when two ladies, +attended by female slaves, who held above the heads of their mistresses +umbrellas of embroidered yellow silk deeply fringed with gold, came +toward the menagerie. The princess was of middle height, with a form as +graceful and elastic as a fawn; her face, like those of all of her race, +was broad, but fair almost as a European blonde, yet looked the fairer +from its contrast with the raven hair and eyelashes which beneath the +thin brows shaded a pair of tiny jet black eyes, which like the purest +diamonds, compensated by fire for their deficiency in size, and with the +delicately small mouth, parted by a pair of thin pouting lips, lit up +her sweet countenance with animation and vivacity. Of her hands and feet +I can say nothing, for they were hidden beneath the ample folds of her +long gold-embroidered robe of yellow satin. Upon her head she wore a +kind of crown of rich silk, decorated upon each side with a +"fong-hoang," the phoenix of China, which it is believed has but once +appeared, and whose next advent will be the fore-running of the golden +age. The extended wings of the little birds, which were of frosted gold, +and sparkling with jewels, rested upon the forepart of the crown, so +that while their beaks fell over the forehead, the spreading plumage of +their tails afforded a graceful crest upon its summit; moreover they +appeared to come with a tiny parterre of artificial flowers, which were +fastened with a bevy of silver bodkins, whose heads were formed out of +pearls, diamonds, and rubies; but far beyond her rare beauty and costly +attire was the artlessness of her manner, which, arising from a virtuous +heart and cultivated mind, won the love of all with whom she came in +contact. + +As for Nicholas, he was bewitched, and from the moment his eyes rested +upon her, he lost all doubt of the success of his mission. + +Of the lady in attendance I will only say, that she was of maturer age, +and of fuller form. More plainly attired than the royal lady, she wore a +robe of green silk, embroidered with flowers of the same color, and a +head-dress of silk, slightly sprinkled with large pearls; her brow was +high, and her features regular and handsome, but seemingly shadowed with +care for the interests and ministers of Christ, to whose doctrines she +had long been a convert; for this lady was no other than the illustrious +Candida Hiu, of whom the colao had spoken to Nicholas. Her history was +remarkable, and may be told in a few lines. The Emperor at the +commencement of his reign, had been so favorably disposed to the +Christian religion, that, although not a convert himself, he had +permitted many of the lords and ladies of his court to embrace its +tenets; chief and most sincere among the proselytes had been the prime +minister, Paul Syu, whose influence over his weak-minded master had +enabled him to protect the missionaries from the jealous bonzes and +pagan mandarins around. No sooner, however, had this good man gone to +his grave, than the bonzes accused the Christians of endeavoring to +subvert the reigning family, and so artfully did they intrigue, that the +Emperor ordered the Christians to leave China, and a terrible +persecution took place, when all the court but the Lady Candida and the +son and daughter of the monarch, returned to the worship of Fo. As I +have said, the Emperor's love was so great for his beautiful daughter, +that he permitted the princess and her friend Candida to follow the +dictates of their own hearts; hence it was that the good lady had been +able to protect her fellow-Christians from the rapacity of the bonzes +and mandarins, even to obtaining permission for them to remain in Pekin. +Further, to show her zeal, she founded at her own cost no less than +thirty churches in different parts of the empire, and had vast numbers +of religious books translated into Chinese, which she distributed by +means not only of blind beggars, but vagabond fortune-tellers, whom she +paid handsomely to stand at the corners of streets, and read the Gospel, +in place of practicing upon the credulity of the populace with their +vile falsehoods. Such were the two ladies now within a few yards of +Nicholas. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DANGER OF THE PRINCESS.--HER RESCUE BY NICHOLAS. + + +As the princess and her friend approached, Nicholas almost felt ashamed +of his intrusion upon their privacy. Should he not appear to them in the +despicable light of an eaves-dropper? Then he would determine to come +forward, but fell back again in dread of giving offence. Then the ladies +began a conversation, and he dared not interrupt them. + +"This then, dear Candida, is the sin-fin that my royal parent values so +highly," said the princess, looking at a large black ape of the +ourang-outang species, which sat grinning, with its elbows upon its +knees. + +"Truly, dear princess, this is the wonderful beast that the Prince +Li-Kong has presented to the Emperor, from the wild province of +Yun-nan," said Candida. + +"Candida is surely laughing at her pupil, for is it not said that this +Li-Kong is chiefest of the rebels, who have so lately been disturbing my +royal parent's repose?" + +"Alas! my princess, that it should be necessary to pour words of grief +into thy sweet ears," said Candida, sorrowfully. + +"What words are these, Candida? What grief can come in such a place of +repose? Truly you terrify without answering my question," said the +princess, angrily. + +"But that my sweet mistress alone possesses the ear of the Emperor, and +may open it for the benefit of the starving millions of the empire, her +friend and servant would not grieve her," replied the lady. + +"Tell me, O Candida, if thou wouldst not vex thy mistress, what mean +these words," said the princess, pettishly; adding, "Surely you would +not protect the traitor Li-Kong." + +"It is of that prince thy servant would speak," said the lady; adding, +"Know then, O princess, that, angered at some refusal of thy royal +father, the Prince Li-Kong, fled from the court, placed himself at the +head of a robber army, and being joined by thousands of the starving +people, among whom he made himself popular, took possession of two of +the largest provinces, and caused himself to be proclaimed as Emperor, +and took the title of Tien-Chun (He that obeys Heaven), persuading the +people that he had been appointed by Heaven to deliver them from the +cruelty of the Emperor and his ministers." + +"Dared the dog say this? Surely my royal father is the parent of his +people." + +"Nay, O princess, for as it was the duty of my father, the great +minister, so is it mine, at the risk of death, to speak the truth. Until +within the last moon, the greater part of the empire was in the hands of +robbers and assassins, justice was openly sold by the mandarins to the +highest bidder, the husbandmen of the hills and fields and the tradesmen +in the streets were dying by thousands of starvation, while the Son of +Heaven was shut up in his palaces intent upon nothing but his pleasures +and the society of the bonzes." + +"Candida, dear Candida, thou who art so truth-loving that thou darest +even to rebuke thy Emperor, canst thou tell thy friend and mistress that +while all is so calm, beautiful, and happy within these walls, there can +be so much misery without?" said the princess, trembling with fear. + +"Even worse, O dear princess, for while the imperial storehouses are +groaning with grain, thousands of people are dying of starvation within +the walls of Pekin," replied Candida. + +"I dare not doubt thy words, O Candida, yet I will not believe that my +great parent would keep close the public storehouses while his children +were starving," said the princess. + +"It is even worse, O princess, for the daily distribution of food has +been withheld," said Candida. + +With a vacant stare the princess gazed into the face of her friend for a +moment, then with a flood of tears upon her cheeks, fell into her arms; +but recovering her presence of mind, she said, "Truly this is a +calamity; surely I have heard such things ever precede the downfall of +dynasties; but I will to my father's presence, and dutifully implore him +on my knees;" and she moved toward the palace as if to act upon her +resolution, but Candida caught her in her arms, saying, "It would not +be seemly, O princess, nay, it would be useless, for the Prince Li-Kong +now possesses the Emperor's confidence." + +"What words are these, O Candida? Thou art indeed laughing at thy +mistress, for didst thou not say the traitor was in open rebellion?" + +"True, my princess, he was, till, for some vile purpose, he made his +submission to Ten Thousand Years, who, as he brought the heads of some +chiefs of the rebels, pardoned him, in the belief that his rebellion had +been a trick, a pretence whereby he had the better subdued the other +rebels." + +With indignation in her heart at the traitor Li, and her eyes swimming +with tears, she placed her hands affectionately in those of her +friend--before, however, she could speak she shrieked with fright. The +sin-fin had broken his cage and stood as erect as a man, clattering his +teeth and grinning in her face, with his great paws upon her neck. The +princess fainted; not so the Lady Candida for she boldly clutched hold +of the brute, who, however, without relinquishing his grasp of the +princess, caught the Lady Candida by her head-dress and hair, and +dragged them both in the direction of the lake, looking savagely at the +screaming attendants, who scampered off as fast as their legs would +carry them; and so rapid were the movements of the brute, that he +reached the verge of the water before Nicholas could thrust his sword +into his hirsute side, a bit of a surprise that caused the beast to +leave his hold of the ladies, when "scotched" but not killed, and +catching sight of his real enemy, he uttered a savage scream and sprang +at him with extended claws, but so neat was the spring that the weapon +of Nicholas passed through his heart, when he gave one last terrific +leap and rolled over dead. + +The fright, the horror of feeling themselves in the sin-fin's clutches, +and the revulsion of feeling at the unexpected relief, made the ladies +forget, as you may well imagine, the lesser terror of seeing a strange +youth within the prohibited walls. As for Nicholas, he thought only of +them both. However, seeing they had been more frightened than hurt, and +that they were now regarding him with a mixed expression of gratitude, +surprise, and even anger, for so great is the modesty of women, and such +the force of the custom in China, that rescue from death itself was +scarcely sufficient to suppress the instinctive anger they felt at the +intrusion of a boy in so sacred a place; perceiving all this at a +glance, Nicholas fell upon his knees, saying, "Pardon, O great princess, +for thus thy yellow girdle betokens thee. Let the life of thy mean +servant be the penalty for his unpardonable intrusion, and he will not +regret it, since he has been the means of saving the daughter of his +Emperor, and the Christian-protecting Lady Candida, from the fangs of a +vile beast." + +"Rise, O youth, for it is not seemly that thou shouldst kneel at the +feet of her whose life thou hast saved, and say what chance hath brought +thee hither," said the royal lady, smiling with sweet gratitude. + +"Surely, O princess, chance can have no influence over the children of +God, who must have sent thy servant hither as a manifest of his watchful +care for those who obey his word and protect his worshipers," replied +Nicholas earnestly. + +"Then thou art of the Lord of heaven's religion. But who art thou, O my +poor youth, who thus seekest certain death by thy presence here?" said +Candida, looking tremulously around, for fear of the approach of any of +the eunuchs of the palace. + +"Let this, O princess, bespeak the reason of thy servant's intrusion, +where even the daring Li-Kong cannot foil his purpose," replied +Nicholas, falling upon his knees and presenting his father's letter to +the princess, who handed it to Candida, who no sooner glanced at the +characters upon the envelope than she said angrily, "This is from the +rebel pirate, Chin-Chi-Loong." + +"Should thy servant's tongue be torn from his mouth, he would say those +words are false, lady. The noble chief is neither pirate nor rebel; if +so, thy servant would not have risked his life to place that letter in +the hands of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas firmly. + +"If thy words are true, youth----" but as the Lady Candida spoke, a body +of armed eunuchs entered the garden, so, giving the letter back to +Nicholas, she said, "Haste youth, for thy life;" but knowing the attempt +would be useless, he stood his ground firmly. + +"No, lady," said he; "thy servant came here to place that letter in the +hands of the Emperor." Before he could say more the men had drawn around +him. + +"Tie the dog hand and foot," said the chief. + +"Not so, O Lun-Yin," said the princess. + +"Thy slave dare not disobey the laws, O illustrious daughter of the +Mings," replied the chief, bowing to the earth. + +"Then convey the youth to the presence of the Emperor, for he has +treason to disclose, but let not his limbs be bound at the peril of your +life, and we will answer to our great father," said the princess. + +When the ladies withdrew toward the inner palace the eunuchs led +Nicholas through the small gate into a spacious court, which was crowded +with soldiers, bonzes and servants, in attendance upon the great lords, +who were then in council with the Emperor. Passing through the crowd +they entered a magnificent archway of veined marble into a vast court, +across which ran a canal of water, so pellucid that shoals of gold and +silver fish could be seen playing around the stems of the white-leaved +lien-hoa at the bottom. Across this canal was thrown a bridge of +glittering white marble, supported upon each bank by lions sculptured +from the same material. From this bridge Nicholas could see that the +whole court was surrounded with marble terraces, which led through small +doorways into the imperial treasure rooms, which were full of precious +metals, jewels, valuable furs, rare vases, and costly robes, and a +variorum collection of silks, that had been presented from the chief +manufactories of the empire. Other rooms contained bows, arrows, +saddles, and even specimens of the choicest teas to be found in China. +Leaving the treasures they entered the great court of the princes of the +blood, whose palaces shone with gilding, japan, and varnish, through +which they passed by a small side-gate into the hippodrome, or +horse-racing court, which was crowded with mandarins of arms and +letters, of inferior rank, besides the state chairs, and horse guards +belonging to the princes. As they entered the hippodrome they saw a +group of war mandarins gathered around a person who was clamoring for +something that the mandarins must have deemed very absurd, for although +so near the inner palace, they laughed loudly. Perceiving, however, the +chief of the eunuchs, they became suddenly grave, and bowed to the +ground three times. + +"How is this? Are the dogs tired of their lives, that they venture to +make this unseemly uproar within the very hearing of the Son of Heaven +himself?" said that officer angrily. + +"Truly, the all-powerful Yin would risk his flowery existence, laughing +at this paper tiger, who is mad enough to demand an audience with the +Son of Heaven," replied one of the mandarins. Before, however, the chief +of the eunuchs could reply, the person in question had thrown himself at +his feet, crying, "Pardon, O mighty officer of the palace, thy slave, +who seeks a master bereft of his senses, and who is now wandering about +the palace in search of the Son of Heaven. May he vanquish his +enemies." + +"Thou, then, art the servant of this dog who has profaned the imperial +gardens?" said the chief of the eunuchs; adding, before Nicholas could +interfere for Chow, "Let the dog be taken to the prison, as he will +doubtless be strangled with his master when the will of the Emperor is +known." + +Then, in obedience to this command, the boy was hurried away, and +Nicholas led forward to the court of the inner palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ASSEMBLY OF THE GREAT PRINCES OF THE EMPIRE. + + +The audience-chamber of the Emperor was a vast square hall of great +height. The ceiling was of pale green, sculptured in devices, and +decorated with paintings, charged at intervals with the Emperor's crest +in gold. The walls were smooth and without other ornament than the +carved window frame, which was set with panes of richly painted paper. +The roof was supported by rows of columns, elaborately sculptured and +japanned, which rested upon a pavement of the rarest veined marble, of +so high a polish that it reflected the whole interior. + +In the centre stood a lofty alcove, above which, upon a drapery of +yellow silk, were embossed in pale blue enamel the words "Ching Hoang," +(Holy Emperor). Beneath, upon a dais, ascended by a flight of broad +steps was a throne of frosted gold, surmounted and upheld by dragons of +the same metal, but burnished, and whose claws rested upon a carpet of +blue velvet, besprinkled with the same monsters in silver. + +Opposite the throne upon a raised platform, were placed several vessels +of the precious metals, filled with incense, which, as it burned, sent +forth a delicious perfume, and candlesticks ingeniously wrought into the +shape of animals. + +From the throne to the end of the wall, ranged so as to form an alley, +stood the great officers of state, attired in large flowing robes of +silk, flounced with gold, and bearing on their breasts the insignia of +their different dignities; those belonging to the military department +wearing golden buttons on their caps and tigers or lions on their +breasts, while the civil officers, who were of higher rank, wore birds +in place of beasts. At the back of these mandarins were other officers, +bearing umbrellas of silk brocade, fringed with gold; there were also +many who wore the button of an inferior rank, and who wore large fans of +silk, embroidered with gold; others with large standards, sprinkled with +golden stars, dragons, the sun, and the moon in all its quarters, to +represent the twenty-eight mansions of the heavens, and their +conjunctions and oppositions with the sun, as they appear in the +intersections of the circles, which the astronomers call the dragon's +head and tail. Near the walls stood a number of mandarins of inferior +rank, both civil and military, bearing maces, axes, hammers, and swords. +Upon the steps of the throne stood the princes of the blood, attired in +the costumes of their civil or military rank, the only tokens of their +imperial blood, being the large yellow or red girdle, and the circle +instead of the square in which the bird or beast is worn upon the +breast. + +The left hand being the place of honor in China, on that side of the +throne stood the imperial but unfortunate Prince, Yong-Li, a youth of +fifteen years of age, near to whom stood the aged Woo, whose office, +that of a colao or censor, was at once the most dangerous and most +popular in the empire, his duty being to check the great mandarins, and +even the Emperor himself, in the wrong exercise of their authority. This +officer may be termed the representative of that public opinion in China +which moulds its irresponsible despotism somewhat to the shape of a +constitutional government. One step lower, in the full costume of +tsong-tou (a great viceroy), stood the Prince Woo-san-Kwei. This prince +was the son of the censor Woo, and one of the most remarkable men of his +time. He was tall and stately, and, like the rest of the nobles of the +Ming dynasty, wore his hair in long and luxuriant tresses; moreover, +like his parent Woo, he wore the circle upon his breast, and around his +waist the girdle of red, which betokened him to be of the second rank of +the princes of the blood. Upon the opposite side of the throne, and one +step nearer, as became his closer relationship to the monarch, stood the +first prince of the yellow girdle, Li-Kong, a man whose influence upon +those tempestuous times was as remarkable for bad as that of +Woo-san-Kwei was for good; he was also a tang-tou. + +Next this prince, in their robes of office, stood the colaos, or +ministers of state, and with them an officer whose bird-embroidered robe +and cap betokened him a mandarin of letters of the highest rank in the +great college of Han-Lin. This officer was tutor to the heir to the +throne, but in addition held an office so peculiar that I do not think +you will accuse me of tediousness if I tell you something about it. He +was the chief historian of the empire, an appointment which, if carried +out with similar integrity, would be creditable to other empires besides +China. + +"These historians," says a writer who resided within the walls of the +palace thirty years, "consist of a certain number of men, who, for their +learning and impartiality are purposely chosen for this office. Their +business is to observe narrowly not only the actions but the words of +the Emperor, which, without communication with the others, each must +write upon a loose piece of paper, and put it through a chink into an +office set apart for the purpose. + +"In these papers both the Emperor's virtues and faults are set down with +the same liberty and impartiality. 'Such a day,' say they, 'the +Emperor's behavior was unseasonable and intemperate; he spoke after a +manner which became not his dignity. The punishment which he inflicted +on such an officer was rather the effect of his passion than the result +of his justice. In such an affair, he stopped the sword of justice, and +abrogated the just sentence of the magistrate.' Or else, 'The Emperor +entered courageously into a war for the defence of his people and for +the maintenance of the honor of his empire; and, notwithstanding the +commendations given him by his flatterers, he was not puffed up, but +behaved himself modestly, his words were tempered with all the sweetness +and humility possible, which made him more loved and admired by his +court than ever.' + +"Such is the way in which they record down all that occurs; but that +neither fear on the one side, nor hope on the other, may bias men to +give a partial record of the Emperor, the office wherein these papers +are kept is never opened during the life of the sovereign, or while any +of his family sit upon the throne. When, however, the imperial dignity +passes into another family, all these loose memoirs are gathered +together, compared, and a history composed, that either hands down the +Emperor as an example to posterity, or exposes him to the censure and +odium of the nation, if he has been negligent of his own duty and his +people's good. Thus is it the interest of the Emperor to be circumspect, +and cautious how he behaves himself during his reign." + +With reference to the history of events and the progress of the people +generally, it is the custom for each city to keep an exact record of +every memorable event as it happens, its most remarkable places and +inhabitants, good or bad; moreover, of their manners and customs; and +although there are many who, by offering bribes to the governor, obtain +honorable mention in these annals, upon the whole the accounts are +considered to be tolerably accurate, for at the end of every forty years +the mandarins of every city assemble and examine the accounts, and +expunge what they deem unfit to remain recorded. + +Theoretically, the will of the emperor is the only law; the lives, +fortunes, and worldly happiness of his subjects depend upon its wildest +caprice; but, in reality, it is only theoretically, for in the words of +another great authority, who not only resided at the court of Pekin some +thirty years, but absolutely held office therein. "One would imagine +that this unlimited power of the Emperor would often occasion very +unfortunate events in the government, and indeed it sometimes hath, as +nothing in this world is without its alloy of inconvenience, yet so many +are the provisions and so wise the precautions which the laws have +prescribed to prevent them, that a prince must be wholly insensible of +his own reputation and even interest, as well as the public good, who +continues long in the abuse of his authority; for if he hath any regard +for his own reputation, there are three things which will prevail with +him to govern by justice, not passion: first, the old laws, given from +the foundation of the empire, have laid it down as a standing maxim, +that kings are properly the fathers of their people, _and not masters +placed upon the throne only to be served by slaves_. The words in +italics contain a doctrine, by the way, that our first James strived so +hard to inculcate, that it ultimately led to a revolution in England, +not very dissimilar to that in China, of which I am now writing. Such +having been the teaching of those law-givers, Confucius and others, who +are to the present day venerated as deities in China, the Emperor's +proudest title of honor has been in all ages Ta-fou" (that is, +grandfather). + +This theory of what the Emperor should be, is so deeply imprinted in the +minds of the people and the mandarins, that, when they offer praises, +whether deserved or not, it is based upon his presumed affection for his +people. The teachers and philosophers continually set forth in their +books that the state is but a large family, and that he who knows how +to govern the one is best capable of governing the other; so that, if +the Emperor neglects, never so little, the practice of this maxim, he +may be a great warrior, an able politician, a learned man, and yet meet +with neither love nor esteem from his people. Indeed, they value him +only as they believe he is, or is not, a father to them. + +Thus, as I have shown you, not only the censor, but, in a lesser degree, +every mandarin may tell the Emperor of his faults, provided it be in a +manner agreeable to that veneration and profound respect which is due to +his office. The manner, however, in which this is done, is somewhat +roundabout. The mandarin who perceives any thing in the Emperor's +conduct contrary to the maxims laid down in the sacred books, draws up a +request, in which, after having set forth the respect which he bears +toward his majesty, he most humbly prays that he will please to reflect +upon the ancient laws and good examples of his great predecessors. This +request lies upon a table among many other petitions, which are daily +presented and which the Emperor is obliged to read; and if he does not +change his conduct, the petition is repeated again and again till the +end has been gained, or the mandarin himself punished for his +presumption. The latter, however, never happens, except with bad and +tyrannical Emperors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE BOY PRINCE AND THE RIVAL GENERALS. + + +Thus were the great princes and lords of China awaiting the coming of +their imperial master, and with something like impatience, for often, of +late, had his majesty kept them waiting for hours, and then granted no +audience at all. Such, however, was not to be the case then, for soon +the sounds of wind instruments were heard, pages and eunuchs entered +from the door which led to the imperial apartment, followed by the +favorite body attendants of the sovereign, then the Emperor +himself;--and the mandarins in the body of the hall, and the lords upon +the steps of the throne, bent their heads till their foreheads touched +the floors, in which position they remained, awaiting the command of the +monarch to arise. Wey-t-song, the last of the Ming Emperors, was of +middle height and spare figure, at least for a Chinese, whose notion of +manly beauty consists of large and bulky form; he was attired in a robe +of yellow silk, embroidered with five-clawed dragons, a necklace of +costly pearls, and a golden girdle fastened around his waist by a +jeweled clasp; his high cap or crown of purple satin, sparkled with +jewels, and was decorated with the peacock's feather, which fell upon +his long black hair; his boots were of purple satin, and fitted tightly +to the shape of the feet; as for his hands, they were hidden beneath the +folds of his robe. + +When the Emperor had seated himself upon the throne, a graceful movement +with his ample sleeves gave the sign for the kneeling courtiers to +arise, and they stood with their arms straightened and eyes turned upon +the ground, pretending that the sight of so much majesty was too +dazzling for their vision. + +Thus, for a time, all was silent, till the censor Woo, falling upon his +knees, and holding above his head his silver seal of office, gravely +said, "Since our lord has vouchsafed us his heavenly audience, and the +door of the imperial apartments is no longer disfigured by the +audience-denying tablet, it is the duty of the meanest of his slaves to +open his lips, even at the risk of his life." + +"Rise, thou venerable noble, for it is not seemly that one who is at +age's extremity should kneel, even before the Emperor. Rise, noble Woo, +for thy years demand that thy petition should be heard standing," said +Wey-t-song, aiding the aged man to his feet. + +"Alas! dread prince, thy servant's days have been too long, for he has +lived to see a successor of the great Emperors, Yu and Yaou, forget that +Heaven had made him the father of his people," said Woo, sadly. + +"What words are these? Surely the noble Woo presumes upon his age, for +has it not been wisely said that the will of the Emperor is +omnipotent?" + +"It is written in the sacred books, O prince, that it is equally +criminal in the Emperor and the subject to violate the laws. Truly the +life of the minister is the property of his sovereign, but the dignity +of his office belongs to the country, which is even now torn into shreds +by maladministration," replied the firm old noble; adding, "For when the +Emperor becomes negligent of his duty, and sinks into a lover of luxury +and ease, the spirit of indolence must pervade the occupant of every +mandrinate; so, at the present time, every viceroy and governor has +grown to think himself the sovereign, instead of the father and teacher +of his province; each minister, in defiance of the law, sells places to +those unfit to occupy them; and thus the people, being oppressed, have +arisen in rebellion over the empire, to the advantage of rogues and +thieves, who await but the finding of some bold bad man to enable them +to change, O prince, thy very dynasty. Yet surely this is not without +cause, for hath it not been asked, 'Why hath Heaven placed the Emperor +upon the throne, if not to be our parent?' and therefore he ought not to +make himself feared, but in proportion as he deserves to be loved for +his goodness and virtue; therefore, at the risk of his life, the censor +dares tell his dread sovereign that while the people are suffering, the +Emperor should forget his pleasures, fast in his palace, punish the +offending mandarins, remit the taxes of the suffering provinces, and +employ his whole thoughts in alleviating their misfortunes. Like the +Emperors of old, he should lament night and day till the evils are +remedied. Such are the words of the aged Woo, who hath lived through +the reigns of six of thy illustrious predecessors, and they have been +called forth, O dread prince, by thy neglect of the petitions which he +has laid upon the imperial table. If thy slave offendeth, O prince, let +his worthless head be the penalty, for he has done his duty; and the old +noble again fell at the feet of Wey-t-song, who, giving way to a +paroxysm of passion, rose, and, placing his hand upon the hilt of his +sabre, exclaimed, 'What words are these old man? Is the Emperor a slave +that thou darest so far?' But, despot and even cruel as he was, the age +and daring of the old noble had excited in the eyes of the surrounding +courtiers such unmistakable gleams of satisfaction, that, really afraid +of proceeding to extremities, he fell back upon his throne, saying, +"Arise, noble Woo, and that in the licence of thy office thou hast +uttered words of wind against thy Emperor, the rebel-subduing General +Li-Kong will testify." + +Upon this, the Prince Li-Kong, falling upon his knees, said, "Truly, O +august and sovereign Emperor, the age of the noble Woo must have +diminished his eyeballs, or he would have seen in the Imperial Gazette +that the Emperor, our father, having heard of the rebellion in the +provinces, had despatched his mean servant, myself, with a correcting +army, and that thy unworthy relation had secured a lasting internal +peace." + +"And thy reward, prince?" said the Emperor." + +"The generalship of the home armies, and the favor of my great +sovereign, who will not open his heavenly ears to the words of these +rogues, who accuse thy servant and mean relation of ingratitude and +treason." + +"This reminds us that the reward is inadequate to thy services, most +princely Li. Let it therefore be proclaimed throughout the empire that +the grateful Wey-t-song is about to bestow upon the kingdom-soothing +Prince Li-Kong the hand of his only daughter in marriage," said the +Emperor. + +But before the prince could thank the Emperor, the General Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon his knees before the throne, saying, "The humblest but most +devoted of thy servants would dare to claim the heavenly ears of his +most august prince." + +"If the barbarian-subduing general has aught to counsel let him open his +lips." + +"Then, truly, O dread Emperor, it must be at the risk of my life; for so +many moons has thy servant been engaged in defending the frontiers of +the empire against the Tartar barbarians, that he has lost the +submissive tones fitted to thy heavenly ears," said Woo-san-Kwei. + +"Let the general open his lips, for although his words may be more +warlike, they cannot be rebellious, like those of his noble parent." + +"The words of the noble Woo flowed from his heart, O prince, and were +approved by his son, who now, as in duty bound, would counsel his +sovereign, that, although the services of the rebel-exterminating +general have been great, his reward has been greater than his merits, +for does he not hold the golden seals of the highest military command? +As for the princess, she is the daughter of the empire, and too exalted +to be bestowed upon the noble Li-Kong. Remember O Emperor, it will be +the duty of the historians to record that the Emperor Wey-t-song, +instead of commanding, had been weak enough to purchase the services of +a powerful lord, tainted with treason, with the only daughter of his +house; setting aside the wise custom of his ancestors, who bestowed +their daughters upon tributary kings, whereby alliances were formed for +the prosperity of the empire," said the Prince Woo-san-Kwei; adding, "At +the risk of his life has thy servant spoken, O prince, for fear that thy +too great generosity may smear thy page in history." + +Scarcely dissembling his enmity, Li-Kong spoke, "Truly my sovereign is +too generous to permit the envy of his servant's enemies to have weight +in his dragon ears." + +"The kingdom-soothing general speaks well, for who is this turbulent +lord, and what the value of his services, that he dares be so +rebellious?" said the Emperor; adding, angrily, "Let the dog be +arrested;" when the young prince threw himself before the throne, and +said-- + +"Let my illustrious parent not so far forget his royal dignity as to +vent his anger upon the honest Woo-san-Kwei, who has saved the kingdom +from the Tartars, and offered his counsel only by right of his high +rank. No, O my sovereign, rather let the hand of my dear sister be +withheld until the Prince Li has further proved his merits, by showing +to his Emperor that he has really performed those wonderful feats of +conquest which he now boasts, but all others deny." + +At this speech a half-suppressed murmur of approbation rang through the +hall, which brought a heavy frown upon the forehead of Wey-t-song. As, +however, he really feared a quarrel with either of these powerful +princes, he said, "Though young, the words of the Prince Yong-Li are +wise, for it is not fitting that our people should be feasting and +rejoicing at the marriage of our daughter, while it is not certain that +the rebels are subdued, and the Tartars upon the frontiers. It is, +therefore our will that our daughter's hand be withheld till entire +peace be restored." + +Then the whole court bowed to the ground three times in submission to +the imperial will, and the Emperor moved the sleeves of his robe, as a +token that the audience was at an end, when the chief of the eunuchs ran +quickly up the avenue formed by the court, till he reached about half +way, when he stood with his head erect and his arms by his side for a +minute, then having performed the usual prostrations, he ran to the foot +of the throne, where he threw himself upon his knees. + +"Is the slave mad, that he dares intrude in this our highest +council-chamber?" said the Emperor. + +"The life of the slave is in the hands of his master, yet must he +perform his duty. Treason is within the very walls, O my sovereign." + +At the word treason the blood of Tait-sou became weak as water, for the +royal face became livid with fear. He grasped his sabre, saying, "What +says the slave?" + +"Two boys, O dread sovereign, have been found within the prohibited +wall; one even within the sacred precincts of the imperial gardens." + +At the words two boys there was a half-suppressed titter, probably at +the little cause the Emperor had had to fear; but at the mention of the +garden of the inner palace, the aged Woo said, "Surely, O great +sovereign, the worthy eunuch has overstepped his duty; these young +slaves should have been handed over to the police tribunals." + +"The noble Woo is right," replied the Emperor. "What has the dog of a +eunuch to say for intruding in our presence with such matters?" + +"The will of the Emperor is the life-blood of the meanest of his slaves, +and but little else is that of the princess in whose presence one of the +dogs was found, and at whose command he is brought hither," replied the +trembling eunuch. + +"The profane slave!" muttered the surrounding mandarins, clutching the +hilts of their swords. + +"The will of our beloved daughter is law; let the audacious slave be +brought before us," said the Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AUDIENCE WITH THE SON OF HEAVEN.--NICHOLAS ACCUSES A GREAT PRINCE OF +TREASON. + + +Nicholas was led into the hall between two inferior mandarins, and had +no sooner prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, than the Prince +Li-Kong said, "Surely the eyes of the Emperor of the earth are too holy +to be darkened by such mean dogs as this. Let the common executioner +deal with him, for there can be no doubt of his guilt." + +"Stop not the fountain of justice at its very source, O my sovereign, +for when was it that a good king refused to listen to the meanest of his +slaves?" said Woo; but before the Emperor could reply, one of the great +officers of the palace ran up to the steps of the throne, performed the +prostrations, and being commanded to speak, + +"The great and beautiful princess, thy daughter, begs an audience of her +illustrious father," said the officer. + +The Emperor having signified his assent, the princess, accompanied by +the Lady Candida, and both veiled, knelt before the Emperor, who, +lifting her from her kneeling position, said affectionately, "Truly my +daughter must have matter of weighty import upon her lips, thus to +break through the delicacy of her sex and rank." + +"Pardon, great prince, if thy daughter has forgotten what is due either +to her parent or her sex, but it is a common saying, 'that those who +forget favors conferred upon them are unfit to live,' and therefore thy +daughter would protect the life of one who saved her from a cruel +death," said the princess. + +"Has the safety of the pearl of my life been endangered?" said the +Emperor, trembling at the possibility of such a catastrophe, and placing +his hands upon her head; adding, "What words are these, my daughter, for +is not the empire crowded with those who would deem happiness if it were +to save their princess from danger." + +"Not one of whom could have saved her from the savage sin-fin, who, +having escaped from his cage, had seized her, when yonder bold youth +slew the beast." + +The Lady Candida then described the whole scene in the gardens to the +Emperor, who forgetful of the desecration of the place by the profane +feet of Nicholas, nay, of every thing but the escape of his beloved +child from a fearful death, commanded the release of Nicholas; but again +the general Li-Kong stepped forward. + +"It is true," said he, "that the beautiful and illustrious princess has +been saved from great peril, and the whole empire will rejoice; yet it +is a maxim, 'that the laws should be enforced even upon the imperial +kindred.' Moreover, my sovereign, in his generosity, forgets that the +cage of the beast could not have opened itself, and that the slave +merits death for being in the garden." + +"Though not generous, the words of the rebel-exterminating general are +just," replied the weak prince; adding, to Nicholas, sternly, "What says +the boy; what traitorous errand brought him within the sacred gardens of +our palace?" + +"The life of the slave belongs to the master. The personal safety of thy +servant, O great prince, was nothing when he desired to place in thy +hands a letter of the greatest moment, from one far greater than the +lords around thy throne." + +"These are wild words, O youth; for know you not that it was the duty of +our chief colao to receive thy letter?" said the Emperor, interrupting. + +"Mean as is thy servant, O prince, he knew that treason was within the +palace, and that the letter would never reach thy royal hands; +therefore, that it should not fail to do so, I sought the imperial +gardens with the daring hope of meeting thy royal daughter, knowing that +if my life were sacrificed, my mission would be fulfilled," said +Nicholas; adding, "Such has been the crime, and the criminal awaits his +punishment." + +"This letter," said the Emperor. + +"Is here, great prince," and Nicholas presented the document to +Wey-t-song, who tore open the seals, and for some minutes became lost in +the perusal of its contents, after which, to the surprise of the court, +he placed it beneath his vest, saying, "This letter must be for the +consideration of our inner council. Youth, thy honesty and loyalty are +beyond doubt, and we permit thee to name thy own reward." + +"Thy slave, O prince, would ask one so great, that the greatest of thy +tributaries would seek it upon his knees," was the reply, to the +astonishment of the lords, who expected it would be nothing less than +the hand of the princess. "No less, indeed, than a private audience," +added Nicholas, which, with a smile at this novel and modest request, +the Emperor granted. + +"May this not be a trap, O my prince, to beguile thy person within reach +of the assassin's dagger?" said the artful but baffled Li-Kong. + +"The dagger to be feared by thy sovereign, base prince, is beneath thine +own vest," said Nicholas. + +"Dares the dog so far?" said the exasperated Li-Kong. + +"Forget not thy dignity, O noble Li," said Woo-san-Kwei, touching that +prince upon the shoulder, and adding, "Yet it is but just that such an +assertion, made in the very presence of the Emperor, should be +verified." + +The Emperor came to the rescue, saying, "Open thy lips, youth, for, well +as we think of thy honesty, thou hast uttered words against the noblest +of our yellow girdles, which as they are true or false merit reward or +punishment." + +Thus challenged Nicholas fell upon his knees, and related his adventure +at the palace of retirement, declaring that the two men were plotting +the dethronement of the Emperor, and that the chief of the two was the +Prince Li-Kong himself. At this bold and circumstantial accusation, the +young Prince Yong-Li and the great lords on the steps of the throne, +placed their hands upon their swords, and alternately glancing at +Li-Kong and Nicholas, awaited the command of the Emperor to seize either +accuser or accused. For an instant the lips of Li-Kong quivered with +fear or rage, but, recovering his equanimity, he gave a signal with his +hand, when a large body of military mandarins came around him, and fell +upon their knees before the Emperor, when Li said, "Are the services of +thy servant so soon forgotten, have the rebels been no sooner chastised, +and peace restored within the empire, that the exterminator and his +officers should be as mice before the words of this less than a dog? O +my sovereign! let these officers be questioned, and they will prove that +on the night of which the dog speaks, their general was engaged in +discovering a new conspiracy among the Fan-Kwi priests." + +"What words are these, O prince?" said the Emperor, whose alarm had been +artfully turned in another direction. "Have we not honored these +priests, even to making their chief the president of our high board of +mathematics?" + +"Yet such is the ingratitude of the barbarians, O my Emperor, that, in +league with the outer barbarians, they seek to overthrow the empire." + +"Let my guards instantly secure every villain priest within the walls of +the city," said the terrified Emperor. + +"Thy slaves have been diligent, and thy command anticipated, O Emperor; +the miserable chief of the mathematics and his brethren have been +carried before the three tribunals, their guilt proved, and most +mercifully adjudged to be strangled; the sentence but awaits the +vermilion pencil of the Emperor," said Li-Kong. + +"The judges have failed in the duties of their office by so mild a +sentence, for which let them all be degraded three degrees of rank, and +the priests be cut into ten thousand pieces," said the Emperor. + +"If the crime be proved, the sentence is light; if not, terrible must be +thy remorse, O my sovereign, for the learned father's services have been +great. Surely, then, thy wisdom alone should seek to discover the guilt +or innocence of this enormous culprit, or much-injured priest," said +Woo. + +"The words of the venerable Woo, O my royal father, are worthy of his +years and the imperial dignity; let not thy indignation rather than thy +justice adjudge this priest, but command that he be brought before +thee," said the young prince, earnestly. + +"Thy words are but reasonable, my son; we will examine the Christian dog +ourselves," said the Emperor. When, at a signal, the aged missionary, +Adam Schaal, was brought before the throne, so laden with iron chains +that his form was bent to the shape of a bow; still, with his long white +hair and beard, and the unflinching, piercing blue eye of his German +race, he looked, as he was, a willing martyr for the cause of his +Saviour. + +At the sight of his old favorite thus humiliated, even the Emperor +melted with pity and doubt as to his guilt. "Can it be under heaven," +said he, "that so holy a body should contain so vile a heart? Have we +not protected and fostered thee and thy companions in the heart of our +empire, giving thee permission to build thy temples and even to convert +the people to thy religion; nay, moreover, raised thee to the first rank +among the learned? Canst thou answer, thou villainous old man?" + +"It is even these favors, O mighty Emperor, that have raised the envy of +the enemies of Christ, who, jealous of the success of thy servant's +cause, seek to destroy him, that they may triumph over his religion; and +if their malice should prevail, the Christian priest will die blessing +the great Emperor who enabled him to do so much good." + +"What says the accuser to these words?" said the Emperor, sternly, more +than half believing in the father's innocence. + +"Stand forth, O Hung," said Li-Kong; when a mandarin of the second +degree fell before the throne and held above his head some medals, a +book, and a chaplet of beads, saying, "Are not these proofs of the old +rogue's guilt?" + +"They are, O my sovereign, the mysterious symbols and secret marks used +by the initiated in the great conspiracy, which is now insidiously +spreading throughout the empire, and known to each other." + +"How! what dog's words are these, thou ignorant slave? Dost thou not +know that these are the symbols of the Lord of heaven's religion?" +replied the Emperor, who, at the beginning of his reign, having +befriended the missionaries, and made himself master of the mysteries +and symbols of their religion, was far beyond most of his nobles in +intelligence. + +"It is so alleged, O dread sovereign, by the villains, for their own +vile ends, and should it be even so, the Son of Heaven can not doubt +this proof of guilt," replied the mandarin, placing a letter in the +Emperor's hands. + +For some time there was a dread silence; when, however, the Emperor had +perused the document, his eye sparkled with rage, and he exclaimed, +"Truly the proof is overwhelming, and it is to the viceroy of Quang-Tung +the Emperor owes the discovery of this villainy. Bring hither the +petition of the criminal tribunal for the villain's execution. Moreover, +let it go forth through the earth that every Christian dog be +exterminated;" and the court having prostrated themselves three times in +token of obedience, one of the colaos presented the petition or sentence +to the Emperor, which as he was about to confirm, by affixing the +signature of the vermilion pencil, Nicholas threw himself at the foot of +the throne, crying at the risk of his life, "O great Emperor, thy slave +dares proclaim the extreme villainy of the great viceroy of Quang-Tung, +whose jealousy and envy of the favors his royal master has bestowed upon +the good father has caused him to seek his life." + +"Is the boy pirate mad that he dares so insolently presume upon his +small services, as to interrupt the course of justice?" exclaimed the +angry Emperor. + +Taking from his vest the letter his father had given him for Father +Adam, Nicholas said, boldly, "This letter, O great sovereign, thy +servant was commanded by his parent to place in the hands of the priest +Adam. Should it contain treason, the Emperor can punish on the spot, for +both the priest and the son of the writer are in his hands. Should it be +otherwise, his royal generosity will know how to reward." + +No less surprised than appeased by the boy's vehemence, Wey-t-song +commanded the censor Woo to proclaim aloud its contents, to which the +nobles, as they were friends or enemies of the priests of Christ, +listened with divided attention. The document was lengthy and tedious, +and directed by Chin-Chi-Loong, the merchant of the south, to his +illustrious teacher and religious parent, the Father Adam Schaal, +warning him that the viceroy of Quang-Tung, in conjunction with the +bonzes of the court, whom he had bribed at Pekin, had organized such a +scheme that it could not fail to appear clear that the Christian priests +in China were at the head of a conspiracy to dethrone the Emperor, at +whose feet he advised the Father Adam immediately to prostrate himself +and demand an investigation, promising speedily to send proofs of the +viceroy's villainy to Pekin. + +"The wickedness of this viceroy must be great, O my sovereign," said +Woo, when he had concluded. + +"Truly the great father of the empire will not believe the miserable +charge of a wretched pirate against one of his highest officers," said +Li-Kong savagely; but making an angry motion to the prince for silence, +the Emperor said, "What says the priest?" + +"Truth, O great sovereign, is deeply emeshed in falsehood, that time +alone can unravel; yet, had that letter reached thy servant's hands, his +imperial master would have been saved an act of injustice; of, not +receiving the great merchant's warning, the cruel viceroy succeeded, the +storm of persecution burst over Hang-tcheou-fou, the churches of Christ +were destroyed, and their priests loaded with chains whipped, tortured +upon the rack, and otherwise degraded, it being only by the providence +of the Almighty that thy servant was enabled to escape and reach Pekin +in safety--where, alas! the persecution followed, and burst out with +redoubled fury; thy servant, the head of his Church, being the first to +feel and glory that he was the first to suffer for the cause of Christ." + +"Can these words be true, O Woo? Has such villainy taken place in the +land?" said the Emperor. + +"Such things, O great prince, have been done in thy holy name by roguish +ministers, who (_may I be pardoned for my boldness_) have taken +advantage of the luxurious retirement of their Emperor to serve their +own vile ends," replied Woo. + +"Then be it the care of the upright censor to see that these miserable +mandarins, who have so traitorously brought their Emperor's name into +contempt and hatred, be exterminated with their whole families," said +Wey-t-song, who was as impulsive for good as for bad. + +"Surely my great father may be upon the brink of great injustice; he +may be sacrificing the lives of many devoted servants. It would be but +justice that accusers and accused should be confined till the matter is +sifted, and the truth discovered," said the young prince. + +"The prince, our heir, has wisdom beyond his years; his words are good, +and shall be followed," said the Emperor. At which there was an +indecorous murmur of satisfaction, which was, however, instantly +suppressed by the Emperor making the signal with his sleeves, that the +audience was at an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +NICHOLAS UNVEILS A REBEL CHIEF, AND OBTAINS A TITLE. + + +When Nicholas arose the following morning, his first care was for the +safety of Chow, whom he discovered to be still in the custody of the +criminal tribunal, where by the laws, he would be kept till the will of +the chief colao became known. Feeling, however, satisfied that the boy +would meet with no harm, now that he himself was in such high favor, he +prepared for the promised private audience; and scarcely had he donned +the state habiliments, which had been supplied to him by the +chamberlain, than he received the imperial summons, and having been +conducted through a series of large courts, he was shown into the +innermost apartment of the palace, where in deep thought over a letter, +sat the Emperor; upon the left (the place of honor) stood the young +prince; upon his right, the aged Woo. + +Having complied with the court etiquette by running quickly up the +apartment, throwing himself on his knees, and performing the kow-tow, +the Emperor commanded him to arise, and, placing his hand upon the +letter, said, "The noble youth, then, is the son of the daring writer of +these terrible characters, which declare most boldly that the noblest +of our generals and relations is a traitor and rebel." + +"The life of thy servant, O great prince, is at the will of his +sovereign if those characters are not as truthful as the sacred books +themselves," replied Nicholas. + +"We dare not doubt them, youth, if these other characters are not forged +by some villain," said the Emperor, placing a letter in the hands of +Woo; adding, "Let the venerable Woo, who knoweth all things, declare the +pencil that portrayed them." + +Falling upon his knees and taking the letter, the aged man said, "Truly, +O prince, these characters are from the hand of the General Li-Kong, +whose treason is indeed stupendous, for he offers the supreme command of +the four seas, and the sovereignty of the barbarous island of Formosa, +to the merchant pirate, providing that sea chief will, with his +multitudinous ships and great wealth, aid him (may the sound of the +words not deprive me of reason) in subverting the dynasty of his holy +Emperor. The crime, O my sovereign, is too huge to be conceived, and its +author should be hewn into ten thousand pieces. Yet the eyes, nay, the +very reason of thy aged servant, may be failing him, therefore it +behoves us to have greater proof that these characters are not forged; +for, though great is the cunning of villainy, surely so great a crime +cannot exist beneath heaven." + +"The words of the aged noble are magnanimous, for surely the Prince +Li-Kong is the enemy of him and his; yet, though magnanimity is taught +by the sacred books, it must not endanger the life of our great +sovereign and father," said the Prince Yong-Li; adding, "Surely Li-Kong +is famous for his vileness; his character is known to us all, yet if +greater proof be wanting, let it be sought from the lips of this noble +youth, whose life will be the penalty of so false an accusation." + +"It would ill become so mean a person to traduce so great a general as +the Prince Li-Kong, yet the safety of his sovereign must unseal his +lips. Know, then, dread Emperor, that the General Li-Kong is at this +very moment plotting thy ruin," said Nicholas, who then gave in detail +the conversation he had heard at the palace of retirement, which the +Emperor had no sooner heard than he said hastily, "Convey our command, O +noble Woo, to the general thy son, to search for this traitor, and bring +him in chains before us." + +"Thy servant is unfortunate, for this is not possible, my sovereign. The +brave Woo-san-Kwei, knowing his duty too well to remain in idleness at +Pekin, while the Tartar-barbarians were harassing his army like hungry +wolves,--truly the body was of little use without the head,--departed +for his command after the council yesterday," replied Woo. + +"How!" said the Emperor passionately; "dared the general take his +departure without an audience of leave." + +"Let not thy wrath, O great sovereign fall upon the head of thy faithful +servant, who presumed so far because his Emperor has, of late, foregone +the salutary ceremonies laid down by his ancestors," said the aged +minister. + +Angry at this rebuke yet feeling its truthfulness, the weak prince +despairingly threw himself backward in his chair, when the young prince +said "Surely the throne should be defended by its heir. Thy son, O my +Emperor and parent, will depart with the guards of the palace and bring +this arch-traitor to his father's feet;" and not receiving a denial, the +prince respectfully took his leave, when, having recovered his +equanimity, the Emperor again took up Chin-Chi-Loong's letter. + +"Truly, boy," said his majesty, "this daring pirate, thy father, knows +more than the Emperor or his ministers. How know we that he is not as +great a traitor as the prince he denounces, for surely by commerce alone +he could not have obtained this wealth of ships, men, and money, which, +like a king, he so insolently offers to his sovereign and master?" + +"Truly, O great Emperor, if my illustrious parent were a traitor, he +would not have placed the life of his only son, thy mean servant, in so +great a danger," said Nicholas. + +"The words of the youth, O prince, are as true as his deeds are brave," +said Woo; adding, "Let then thy slave pray that the sunshine of the +Emperor's favor may fall upon his race; for, fearing that the intentions +of this great merchant were treasonous, I have long caused his actions +to be watched and his ships to be harassed by the sea mandarins; but +indeed with little use, for the noble Chin-Chi-Loong overcame them all, +to the disgrace of the board of arms of thy empire. + +"How! did the slave pirate dare to overcome our sea tigers?" said the +Emperor in a rage. + +"He has presumed, O prince to chastise traitors who wielded thy royal +commission but for their own purposes, which, if a crime, he now offers +to amend by sending his only son to beg that he may receive an order, +signed by the vermilion pencil, to command that great fleet in his +sovereign's name alone. The powerful pirate, for whose head the +Emperor's ministers have offered great rewards, now places himself and +his fortune at the disposal of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +So great an offer having restored the Emperor to a better humor, he +said, "It is a presumptuous request, yet loyal, if this bold man can +give us a guarantee that he intends not playing us false." + +"That guarantee is the life of thy servant, his only son, O my prince," +replied Nicholas. + +"These words are good and loyal, O my Emperor; for surely if this bold +merchant hath sought wealth and power for his descendants, lo! he places +his heir in thy hands," said Woo. + +"The words of the aged Woo are wise and far-seeing. We grant this bold +man's petition, and should he help us to root out from the land this +growing rebellion we will secure to him the island promised by the +villain Li-Kong. As for thyself, brave youth, to whom we are so greatly +indebted, we grant thee the title of Princess-defending Tiger of War, +and appoint thee to a command in the guards of the palace; and, +moreover, will keep thee in our favor, of which this shall be a token," +said the Emperor, taking from his girdle an embroidered purse, and +handing it to Nicholas, who fell reverently upon his knees and held his +hands above his head to receive the present. + +At that moment the Prince Yong-Li entered, threw himself at the foot of +the throne, and said, "Thy son, O my sovereign, is deserving of +punishment, for the traitor has escaped." + +"Escaped!" repeated the Emperor, bitterly. + +"Truly so, my father; no sooner did the council of yesterday disperse, +than, fearing the discovery of his guilt, he assembled his officers and +guards and quitted the city." + +"Let the fleetest of our horsemen follow immediately," added the +Emperor. + +"It would be in vain, my father, for ere they can overtake him the +traitor will be in the midst of his own troops and province," replied +the prince. + +"It would be wise to have the gates closely guarded and the defences of +the city examined," said Woo. + +"The villain dares not carry his treason so far as to invade our +capital," replied Wey-t-song. + +"Let not the generous nature of my prince carry him too far, for by +insidious arts and treacherous gifts this Li-Kong has gained the hearts +of the people of the provinces, and is vile enough to attempt the +greatest of crimes," said the minister. + +"By the tombs of our ancestors, the venerable noble is wise, and we +should be prepared for the vilest of crimes. Let the barbarian-subduing +General Woo-san-Kwei and his army be recalled from Leao-tong." + +"And so exchange a small traitor for the Tartar king, who, though a +barbarian, is brave and powerful; rather let my royal father call around +him in council the doctors of war and the ablest of his generals, who +from the military books will doubtless find sure means of defending the +city," said the prince; adding, "Then, O my sovereign parent, let the +army be assembled, and permit thy son and this noble youth to meet the +rebel on his way. Let this be so, my Emperor, and thy son will bring the +traitor's head to thy feet, or be himself brought there upon his own +shield." + +"Thy heart is brave, but thy years too few, O my son, for so great a +trust," replied the Emperor. + +"At my years the illustrious Tait-sou, the founder of our race, planted +the first seeds of his glory in the field," said the young prince, +warmly. + +"The royal prince, thy chosen heir, is both wise and brave, my +sovereign, for his name and rank will be a banner, around which the +loyal will flock as plentifully as locusts, while his youth and bravery +will shame the rebels into submission," said the censor. + +"The counsel of the venerable Woo is bold," said the Emperor; adding, +"After the council of war my son shall seek to emulate the bravery of +his ancestors." + +"The tongue of thy son is too feeble to speak his thanks, my sovereign," +exclaimed the impetuous prince, falling upon his knees. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NICHOLAS AND THE PRINCE HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND SAVE THE LIFE OF CHOW. + + +The morning after the audience Nicholas wrote to his father a detailed +account of his adventures, and the disgrace and danger of the great +Christian father, who, he assured him, would be destroyed, if proofs of +his innocence were not speedily produced. When he had placed the letter +in the hands of the flying-horse, or court messenger, who was about to +start with the imperial cang-ho, he went in search of Chow, and, to his +surprise, found the boy had been released under an order signed by +Li-Kong, immediately before his abrupt departure. This, however, but +puzzled him the more, for surely had the boy been released he would have +sought out his master and friend. Then he began to fear that Chow had +been decoyed away by some of the many designing traitors he more than +suspected to be hovering about the palace, for the purpose of finding +from the servant the history of the master. He sat for some time +pondering what to do, and at length resolved upon searching through the +whole city. With this determination he arose to depart, when he heard +the trampling of footsteps, and the chief officer of the imperial prince +entered the apartment, followed by four men, carrying a litter, which +they placed upon the ground. + +"The son of the great Emperor (may he live ten thousand years) sends the +noble youth a royal robe, and arms, in token of his amity and +brotherhood," said the officer, bowing to the ground. + +At the name of the prince, Nicholas performed the ko-tow, and ordered an +incense table to be brought, that he might receive the royal message +with befitting respect. The officer, however, added, "Further, O noble +stranger, that all men may know his gratitude for the safety of his +beloved sister, the great prince commands that the ceremony of the +incense may be dispensed with, for the son of the Son of Heaven holds +the noble youth as his brother in love as well as arms. Moreover, that +he may prove his sincerity, the prince will wave his illustrious rank +and visit the preserver of the princess his sister." So saying the +eunuch withdrew. + +The present consisted of a complete military equipment befitting his new +rank:--the war cap or helmet, a robe, embossed with plates of gold, both +for ornament and protection, boots of rich costly leather, sword, +shield, bow, and quiver of arrows, each of which bore the imperial +crest, the five-clawed dragon. Delighted more with the gift than its +costliness, Nicholas did not stay to examine the present, for fear the +prince might speedily arrive; and he was right, for he had scarcely +finished attiring himself in his new uniform before Yong-Li, +unannounced, entered the room. + +In an instant Nicholas threw himself at his feet, and began to pour +forth his gratitude, but, taking his hand, the prince said, "Arise, +these are not times for ceremonies between brothers, banded together in +so holy a cause; the sacred books themselves intended them alone for +times of peace and luxury." + +"May those times soon return, O my prince," said Nicholas. + +"May my brother's wish be realised; but to obtain peace we must earn it +by the sword," replied the prince; adding, gloomily, "I come from the +board of generals and doctors of war." + +"Upon what has their wisdom determined, O prince?" + +"Nothing--they are dogs, traitors all; each general of a section +declared the walls to be impassable by an enemy, and that the troops +were numerous, well exercised, and prepared for a sudden attack," said +the prince. + +"These are the words of indolent cowards or designing traitors, but your +royal father the Emperor----" + +"Was present," said the prince; "but, alas! so loves his ease and the +counsel of his bonzes, that he gave a ready ear to their reports, nay, +promoted them all one step for their vigilance." + +"Surely my prince lifted his voice in council?" said Nicholas. + +"My brother, yes; but it was as the sound of a zephyr amidst the +roarings of a hurricane; that of a youth among the aged and did but +cause his majesty to forbid my seeking the rebel Li-Kong in the field." + +"Then, my prince, our farther-seeing eye balls must be used for the +benefit of the blind," said Nicholas. + +"Thus it is that I seek thy companionship in a journey round the walls, +when, if I find them as I expect, woe be to the indolent cowards who +dare deceive their Emperor," said the prince. + +Nicholas then followed them to the courtyard, where they found awaiting +them a squadron of the body guard with two richly caparisoned horses, +one of which Yong-Li presented to Nicholas, and they proceeded upon +their journey amidst the lavish adorations of thousands, who bowed to +the earth as they rode through the streets. + +"If my prince would truly see the manner in which the officers and +soldiers perform their duties, would it not be wise for him to proceed +in a chair and with the attendants only of a mandarin of the third +order?" said Nicholas. + +"Thy words are good," replied the prince, ordering the soldiers to stop +at the house of a mandarin, who, having formerly been his military +tutor, he knew would keep his rank concealed. Shortly afterward they +were met by some soldiers who were conveying several malefactors to the +place of execution. Seeing the prince, the soldiers and prisoners knelt +with their faces to the ground till he had passed. No sooner, however, +had he passed the unhappy men than the son of the Emperor, with tears in +his eyes, said, "How unhappy is the lot of a prince, to witness such a +sight as that!" + +"Surely, my prince, the rogues deserve their punishment, the law awards, +and the safety of the state demands it," said Nicholas. + +"Truly, I weep not, my brother, at the punishment of these men, for +without rewards and punishments the good are not encouraged, and the +wicked are not restrained; moreover, chastisement is as necessary to the +government of a kingdom, as bread is for the sustenance of the people. +But I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old when the +virtues of the prince served as a bridle to the people, and his example +was sufficient to restrain the vices of his subjects without other +chastisement." + +The warlike nature and education of Nicholas not permitting him to +sympathize with the kind-hearted Yong-Li, he maintained a respectful +silence, not however, without a fear for the fate of a prince whose +amiable nature was so unfitted for such turbulent times. When they +reached the house of the mandarin, the prince dismissed his guard, and, +having borrowed from that officer his robe, cap, and chair of state, and +a garment of plain green silk for Nicholas, the two youths entered the +chair and proceeded on their journey with the usual attendants, one of +whom went before, as a kind of _avant-garde_, and with a whip to beat +them a passage through the crowded streets. At the first guard-house the +prince stepped out of the sedan, made himself known to the sentries, and +passed in; when, instead of finding the troops engaged in exercising, +or in any of the many games permitted by the board of war, some were +gambling, some goading crickets with their chopsticks till the insects +killed each other, some were singing profane songs, and disporting in +the most riotous and unseemly manner, while many who had been drinking +deeply, and still held the spirit cups in their hands were reeling about +the pavement, but most remarkable of all, no officers except those of +the most subordinate grade were to be seen. + +"These, then, are the vile dogs to whom the defence of the Imperial City +is entrusted. These are the rogues whom the traitor generals commended," +said the prince, indignantly; adding, "Truly the royal house is punished +for its sins, for this looketh indeed like the decadence of a dynasty." + +"These are but the hands, O my prince for whose acts the heads must be +made accountable," said Nicholas. + +"Nevertheless the dogs shall be punished, my brother; but let us +return," said the prince, going to the gate, where the sentry, +recognizing the prince, fell at his feet. "Rise, dog, and as thou +wouldst save thy miserable head, say who is the general of this +section," said Yong-Li. + +"The noble Leang, O Grandson of Heaven," replied the trembling soldier. + +"Cans't thou be honest and silent as to my visit?" + +"Both, as thy slave values his miserable life," replied the soldier. + +"I will trust thee, man, and if I find you so, only till the rising of +to-morrow's sun, thou shalt be promoted," said the prince; adding, "This +rogue Leang must be degraded, and thou, O noble Nicholas, take his +command." Thus they visited some half-dozen of the chief and most +important points of the fortified walls with similar results. With the +works themselves he was satisfied, as was also Nicholas, who, young as +he was, had often examined the fortifications of the southern province; +and, indeed, the whole line of coast between Siam and Japan. + +"Nought, my prince, but the treachery of the defenders, or the +death-dealing cannon of the red-haired barbarians from the West, could +effect an entrance into the city," said he. + +"Has my brave brother then seen in use those terrible instruments of war +that can crumble the strongest towers of stone to the dust, from beyond +the reach of bow-shot?" said the prince. + +"Such has been thy servant's fortune, O my prince; it could not be +otherwise, for they are used on board the war-ships of my noble father." + +"By the tombs of my ancestors, thou art a bold boy," replied the prince; +adding, with vehemence, + +"As I hope to continue the circle of succession, I would forfeit ten +years of life to be in possession of a few, that we might sweep these +rebels and Tartars from the face of the earth." + +At that moment there arose a great clamor of voices, and, looking out of +the chair, the prince saw a great crowd assembled upon one of the canal +bridges, when, having ordered the attendant with the whip to beat a +passage through the people, they witnessed the following extraordinary +sight:-- + +Upon a high platform, near the edge of the bridge, stood a large tub, +the top of which was covered with some flimsy material, like silk or +cotton, through which something, that in the distance bore a resemblance +to a human head, bobbed up and down like a jack-in-the-box. Upon the +platform, around the tub, stood six priests. + +"How lowly must the dynasty of the great Tait-sou have fallen, that +these miserable bonzes are permitted thus shamefully to extort money +from the people," said the prince. + +"If thy servant's eyeballs play him not false, O my prince, yonder +priests are preparing to sacrifice a human life to their wretched gods," +said Nicholas. + +Not waiting to hear more, the prince leaped from the chair, and, +followed by Nicholas forced a way through the crowd till they reached +the platform. + +All, however, that could be seen of the victim was the forehead, nose, +and eyes; the latter rolled so convulsively and glared so terribly, +that, notwithstanding the crowd, Nicholas would have attempted a rescue, +had not the prince caught hold of his arm, saying, "Stay, my brother, it +is the duty of a prince to see justice done;" then addressing the chief +bonze, he said, "What crime can this man have committed, O miserable +priest, that he should be thus tortured without the presence of the +officers of the tribunal of justice?" + +"Great has been his crime, O noble youth, and self sought his +punishment," replied the bonze, taken aback by the bold tone of the +prince; adding, as he pointed to the head, which bobbed suddenly as he +spoke, "He admits my words." + +"Open thy lips to the purpose, priest, and as you value your wretched +life, let us hear his crime," replied the indignant prince. + +"The youth must be a stranger to the capital, indeed, if he has not +heard the order of the Son of Heaven, which commands that the villain +Christians, who have taken advantage of the great Emperor's kindness to +raise and nourish a rebellion throughout the land, should be destroyed." + +"Such an order has reached thy servant's ears," said the prince, bowing +lowly at the name of his father. + +"Know, then, that this wretch was long the slave and follower of one of +these Christian dogs--see, he admits it, (and the head bobbed up again;) +but, fortunately, the gods changing his heart in time, sent him to our +pagoda repentantly declaring his villainy and demanding his punishment +(here the head gave another bob of acquiescence) from the priests of Fo, +who, consulting the gods, obtained permission for him to choose his own +chastisement: his choice was to leap from this platform into the canal." + +"But the canal is deep, and the man will drown, priest," said the +prince, sternly. + +"Surely the youth is strangely ignorant that such a feat is a happiness +thousands would willingly seek. We have but given him the preference but +for his zeal and virtue. (Here the head again gave an acquiescent bob.) +Again, at the bottom of the canal he will be met by charitable spirits, +who will not only welcome him with honor, but conduct him to the yellow +stream." So saying, the bonzes commenced preparations for the final act +of the tragedy. + +The prince, however, unable any longer to restrain his rage, drew his +sword, exclaiming, "Desist, thou murdering rogue; release thy victim +immediately." + +This violence to their priests so aroused the anger of the pagan crowd, +that they would probably have torn Yong-Li to pieces, but for Nicholas, +who, beating them backward, cried, "Back, slaves! would you molest the +son of your Emperor, the good prince Yong-Li?" and the terrified slaves +instantly fell upon their faces. The bonze, though no less dismayed at +the presence of the prince, was quicker witted, and said, "Surely the +magnificent son of the Son of Heaven would not arrest the flight of a +happy soul, impatient to be on its way to the yellow stream." + +"Let the miserable wretch speak for himself," said the prince. + +"He dares not so anger the gods, who would not only condemn him, but +destroy the whole city in their wrath," replied the bonze, giving a sly +signal to his brethren to surround the tub, in the event of a rescue +being attempted. + +[Illustration: Chow in the hands of the Bonzes.] + +"Nevertheless, the wretch shall be saved," said the prince; adding, +aloud, "Let the deluded rascal open his lips, or he shall be left to his +fate." + +At this, the head gave another and stronger jerk upward, but without +rising further through the silk, and the eyes rolled and glared more +terribly than ever. At which the bonze said, "Cannot the heavenly eyes +of the great prince see that the poor creature is suffering from such +violent language? See, he is almost distracted and will assuredly expire +with grief at so much profanity." + +"This is some foul trick, my prince," said Nicholas, who leaped upon the +platform so quickly, that, striking one of the priests, he fell against +four others, and all were sent flying into the midst of the crowd, who, +in their turn, began to pummel them severely for falling so heavily upon +their heads and shoulders. + +Once upon the platform, Nicholas lost no time in cutting asunder the +silk covering of the tub, when, lo! the victim shot up with the rapidity +of a rocket, dragging with him, by the hair of his head, a small bonze, +in whose hand was the dagger which he had been from time to time +plunging into the victim's calves in order to make him utter the +responses. + +But what was the surprise of the prince when the hands of the intended +victim were unbound and the gag removed from his mouth, to see him fall +at the feet of Nicholas, clasp his legs, and exclaim, "My noble, noble, +master, this is indeed a joyful meeting. Nought but the God of the +Christians could have saved Chow's life." + +The wretched face, the bleeding legs of the poor boy, so filled the +heart of Nicholas with indignation and sorrow, that while tears fell +down his cheeks, all he could say was, "My poor, poor friend Chow, this +is indeed a fortunate day." + +"Then the sacrifice was not thine own seeking, my poor fellow?" said the +prince. + +"My own seeking, O mighty son of Ming? Look at thy slave's legs, which +the rascals have punctured into lace-work. Surely, had Chow sought the +yellow stream, he would have chosen to go in a perfect and decent +manner." Then the boy would have fallen, but for Nicholas, who held him +in his arms, when he said, "I demand justice on the rogues, O great +prince, for I am the servant of the noble Nicholas, thy friend, and was +with him a prisoner in the Palace Royal, till the night of the audience, +when a eunuch came to me and said the Emperor had signified his gracious +wish that poor Chow was to be chopped into ten thousand pieces, but that +a great lord taking compassion on me would save my life, and give me +great promotion, if I would watch and note down the words and actions of +my noble master." + +"Didst thou hear the name, surname, and title of the villain lord, O +Chow?" said the prince. + +"Thy slave was not so fortunate, great prince." + +"What answer didst thou make, O Chow?" said Nicholas. + +"That they might not only cut thy servant into as many pieces as they +chose, but never bury them in the tombs of his ancestors, before he +would comply. Whereupon, they gave poor Chow over to these rascal +bonzes, who intended to torture him with a dagger in that tub, till +agony caused him to leap into the canal." + +"Sad must have been thy sufferings, my poor Chow," said the prince; who +then ordered his attendants to convey the boy to the palace, in order +that the imperial doctors might attend him. Then sending for a body of +yah-yu, he ordered them to take the bonze and his assistants to the +great prison, to await a trial; after which they returned to the palace. + +"Thanks be to Tien, my brother, we have saved thy friend from those vile +bonzes," said the prince. + +"Would O prince, that we could as easily save the servants of the true +God of heaven from their villainies," replied Nicholas, thinking of the +sufferings of the Christian fathers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +NICHOLAS RECEIVES AN IMPORTANT COMMAND. + + +On the day following the visit of the prince to the military stations, a +change was made among the officers. Some were bambooed, some +reprimanded, and others sent into confinement. The post of Leang, who +held the command of five hundred men under the General Kin, being given +to Nicholas, he took Chow with him as a kind of sub-officer, and as the +wounds of the latter fortunately proved to be only in the flesh, he soon +became well enough to caper with delight at the chance his new position +might give him of meeting the slayer of his father. + +For some time Nicholas had little else to do but keep his men at their +posts, and exercise them in the use of the matchlock, which, although +the Chinese then knew so little about it, that the rebound of the stock +did as much mischief to the owner as the barrel did to his enemies, he +had long practised on board his father's ships. Then, again, he would +exercise them in sword, and bow and arrow practice, and the use of their +shields. + +Such was his employment till intelligence arrived that the rebel Li-Kong +was on his march to besiege Pekin with a large army, when, seeking an +audience of the Emperor, he threw himself at the foot of the throne, +and prayed to be sent with a party of flying horse to make observations, +and drive the people of the neighboring towns and villages into the +capital for protection. His zeal, however, was useless; for, placing his +whole faith in the bonzes and intriguing nobles around him, who laughed +to scorn the idea of so improbable an event as the invasion of so great +a capital by a mere rebel, Wey-t-song angrily commanded Nicholas to keep +to his posts upon the walls, where he remained, till wearied with +inaction he longed to return to his father's fleet. Wait a little +Nicholas, and there will be action enough. + +More than once during the reign of Wey-t-song had famine stalked through +the land, but then he had struggled to stem the torrent by opening his +purse and granaries. Now, however, that nature withheld her ordinary +supplies, a rebel army crowded the approaches to the capital, so that +provision could not be brought in, and the dearth of food grew so great, +that a pound of rice could not be purchased for less than its weight in +silver, and the flesh of horses, rats, dogs, cats, and mice had become +so rare, that even rotten skins were bought for human food. The Emperor +wickedly kept close within the luxurious apartments of his inner palace, +caring but little for the starving people, so that he and the great +mandarins could revel in their luxurious ease and pleasures. + +Now, as indolence will spread as fast as nettles, the officers of the +army, instead of attending to their duties, spend the greater part of +their night-watches in gambling and drinking so hard, that had the +enemy come upon them suddenly they must have surrendered. Yet the +imperial troops were so numerous and the defences so strong, that with +anything like a good show of fighting the rebels could have been beaten +back, if not indeed entirely destroyed. As, however, these officers must +have been fully aware of all this, it is only reasonable to suppose they +were playing another little game of their own, that we shall soon see. + +Thus weeks passed away, without more than mere rumors of the movements +of the rebel Li-Kong, who, it was said, was fast approaching the +capital, and sacking towns or destroying the people on his march. There +one day came a number of men to the eastern gate, reporting themselves +to be fugitives, who had been driven to seek protection in the capital +from Li, who was on his march by the eastern suburbs; and as also they +brought the joyful intelligence that a vast quantity of rice was on the +road from the southern provinces, under the charge of a body of +merchants, who had managed to evade the rebels by taking a different +route, they were received with open arms and treated handsomely. + +Then, as the General Kin feared that the starving people would set upon +the wagons as they entered the city, he came out on the day of their +arrival with a large body of soldiers to escort the food to the +storehouse, where it could be fairly distributed. But so eager was the +general to secure the grain from a sudden rush of the hungry people, +that he encompassed the procession with his troops so perfectly, that +neither wagons nor the fugitive tradesmen who accompanied them could be +seen by the crowd. Moreover Kin kept close the wagons till they were +safe within the fore-court of the storehouses. After performing his +duty, the general astonished Nicholas by carrying his indefatigability +so far as to personally inspect the walls, post the sentries, and +examine the flints of their matchlocks, all of which was very puzzling, +for not only was there no enemy to be seen, but the deserters and +fugitives reported that the attack, if made at all, would be upon the +opposite walls of the city, whither, in fact, Kin had sent already a +great part of the soldiers who had hitherto been posted upon that side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE REBELS ATTACK PEKIN.--TREACHERY OF A GENERAL, AND THE FIGHT. + + +It was the middle of the third watch; Nicholas was dreaming of the rebel +Li-Kong, the Emperor, the princess, the soldiers, and his father's +fleet. A sudden grip upon his arm made him set bolt upright upon his +sleeping mat, and there stood Chow, in a state of great excitement, +holding in his arms his master's habiliments and accoutrements, as if +the place had been on fire, or he had suddenly turned thief, and was +about commencing business upon his master's clothes. + +"Awake, O my master, we are caught like rats in a trap; the rebels are +upon us!" + +"What words are these, Chow?" said Nicholas, leaping off the mat, taking +the clothes and attiring himself. + +"The General Kin means harm; let us escape, my master;" and Chow pointed +to the open window. + +"Thou art a coward, Chow, draw thy sword, and follow," said Nicholas, +rushing with his own weapon in his hand to the walls, where, to his +dismay, he found the sentries helplessly intoxicated and lying in all +directions; but worse, there, against the walls, leaned a ladder, by +which means a body of troops were about to ascend. + +"Softly, Chow," said Nicholas; and like cats they crept toward the +ladder upon their knees. Another minute, and a soldier stood upon the +uppermost round with a lighted torch in his hand. + +"See, the rat makes a signal that all is right," said Nicholas, and in +another instant a blow from his fist sent the torch-bearer spinning +through the air over the heads of his fellows; then with a yell of rage +the man's next comrade jumped upon the parapet, and being received with +a violent blow in the stomach from Chow's fist, followed his companion +in arms. Another made the same attempt, but picking up the torch which +had fallen upon the ramparts, Chow dashed the burning brand in his face, +when with a wild howl of pain, the soldier fell backward, sweeping the +scaling party off the ladder as clean as if he had been a thirty-two +pound cannon ball. Then, making the most of their advantage, the boys +caught hold of the ladder and threw it over upon the discomfited rebels, +who lay sprawling at the foot of the walls. + +Then, holding the torch above his head, as a signal for assistance, +Nicholas indeed saw that treachery was in high quarters, for the whole +line of walls appeared to be deserted. As for Chow, he had no sooner +succeeded in arousing the men from their stupor, and placed some at the +great guns, and others along the walls, so that another scaling party +would come within range of their matchlocks, than, perceiving a body of +the enemy moving to the front he pointed one of the cannons and applied +the torch to the touch-hole; a flash--a roar followed; but the only +effect it had upon the rebels was to cause them to send forth loud +shouts of exultation. Well they might exult, for the guns were harmless. + +"The villain Kin has had the balls withdrawn," exclaimed Chow. + +"Our matchlocks are useless, they have been robbed of their flints," +said the soldiers, who had attempted to fire them at the same time as +Chow had fired the cannon. + +"Then back, and brain the dogs with them as they mount the walls," said +Nicholas, as the enemy was about attempting another escalade; adding, +"Haste thee, O Chow, to the Prince Yong-Li, and pray of him to send +assistance to his brother, who dares not quit his post with life;" when, +as without a word Chow disappeared from the rampart, Nicholas snatched +up a matchlock, and so placed himself and men beneath the breastwork +that the arrows might pass over their heads, and many were the sealers +who reached the uppermost round of the ladder to be dashed headlong +among their comrades by the brave youth and his little band; and so they +would have held out for some time, but for a shower of bullets from the +matchlocks of a body of soldiers who made their appearance upon the +walls, headed by the General Kin himself. + +"Seize the dog!" said the traitor, pointing to Nicholas. + +"Thou great rogue,"--before, however, Nicholas could say more he was +gagged, his arms bound with cords, and taken by the soldiers to his own +room, amid the shoutings of the rebels, who now seemed to be entering +the city from all sides. + +But why had they not killed him at once? for what reason had they +brought him there? + +He was not left long in suspense, for no sooner had Kin secured the +entrance of his brother rebels into the city than he entered the room, +and first examining the cords that bound the boy's arms, to see that +there was no possibility of his getting free, he ordered the soldiers +from the room, and said, merrily, "The young war tiger is brave, but he +is no match for the fire-eater Kin." + +"Let the dog without a heart unbind the arms of his prisoner, and he +shall discover," was the fierce reply. + +"What shall thy servant discover, O brave youth?" + +"His villain body hurled out of the window." + +"Knows not the youth that I can slay him as if he were a venomous rat?" + +"Do this, and I will thank thee for not letting me outlive such hateful +treason, thou villain." + +"But the youth is young, brave, and should live in honor and high +promotion." + +"He would be more honored in dying for his Emperor." + +"That Emperor is the chosen of Tien, the great Li-Kong, who would have +the young war tiger live to serve him." + +"These are snake's words, the rogue Li-Kong is as false as his coward +slave Kin, who fears to trust himself with an unbound youth." + +"Thou rat, thou pirate, I will slay thee," said the enraged general, +drawing his sword. + +"Do this, and my vision will be for ever shut out from so much +villainy," was the calm reply. + +"Now let the young war tiger open his ears, and if he is reasonable he +shall be free," said the general, getting the better of his rage. + +"Then unbind his arms, thou dog." + +"Truly, if thou wilt promise to serve the great Emperor Li-Kong." + +"Even if so much treason existed in my heart, how could so mean a person +serve so great a prince?" + +"Is he not the son of the great merchant of the south, who rules the +four seas?" + +"If the dull rogue hath discovered his prisoner's birth, how is this +that he dares to think that when free he would let so great a traitor +live, after such an execrable proposition?" + +Greatly perplexed at this rebuff, Kin could make no reply. Suddenly, the +booming of cannon, the roar of millions of voices, and the clash of +arms, sounded through the night air, and he said, "Hear you that cannon, +boy? It is the terrible mouthpiece of the fugitive tradespeople, who +accompanied the rice wagons." + +"O thou miserable rogue," exclaimed Nicholas, as it now flashed across +his mind that the rice wagons and the fugitive tradespeople had been the +ruse by which Li-Kong had obtained an entrance into the city for his +troops. "O that he was free, for there were guards enough yet to save +the imperial family." + +"It is a maxim, that it is no use repining for the past, O youth. By his +tyranny and oppression Wey-t-song has forfeited the throne to the +heaven-selected Li-Kong, whose troops now fill the streets, and who will +confer upon the young war tiger high rank, and upon his parent, the +great sea chief, a kingdom, if he will submissively rule the seas as a +tributary. See the success of the great Li," he added, as the room, nay, +the whole sky became illuminated, "the palace is in flames--let the +young war tiger give his answer." + +"If it is adverse?" asked Nicholas. + +"The head of the son will be sent to the father." + +Then bitter were the feelings of Nicholas--for himself? no! for he felt +it his duty to die; but for his father, for the princess--still there +was a chance of escape. Should he comply? surely a promise to traitors +would not be valid. He considered for a moment--it was but for a +moment--and even the bold sea-boy had not courage enough to--tell a lie. + +Perceiving his hesitation, the countenance of Kin brightened. "The noble +youth is reasonable; he consents," said he. + +"No, thou false rogue." + +"Then he dies a miserable death," said the enraged Kin, calling to his +guard. There was no reply, but a scuffle in the passage, and the sound +of angry voices, when, pale with fear, the general opened the door, and +the next minute was--in the arms of Chow, who held him till the +soldiers of the prince, who accompanied him, had bound the traitor as +tightly as a mummy. + +"It is our turn now, thou vile rogue," said Chow, as he cut the cords +that bound his master. + +"This is well accomplished my brave Chow; but now let us leave the +traitor and haste to the palace," said Nicholas. + +"It is hopeless, O my master, for the outer palace is in flames, and +surrounded by the rebels." + +"Is it not a maxim that no effort is hopeless to the brave?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ATTACK ON THE PALACE.--SUICIDE OF THE EMPEROR, THE PRINCESS WOUNDED. + + +Having dismissed the soldiers, the two boys mingled with the vast crowd +that was surging toward the palace with deafening cheers for Li-Kong, +who, by the treachery of the general, aided by those of his own troops +who for weeks past had been passing into the city under the pretence of +being fugitive tradespeople, had now reached the very walls of the outer +palace without opposition. Indeed, so great were the numbers of the +rebel troops and the mass of people who joined on their way, that when +they came in sight of the palace walls the imperial soldiers fled in +dismay, and so well had the rebel chief, and his brother traitors near +the person of the Emperor, organized the conspiracy, that it was not +until the outer palace was in flames that Wey-t-song became aware that +Li-Kong had even entered Pekin. Then, however, like another +Sardanapalus, his energies became aroused, and he collected together +some few hundreds of his body guard, and determined to sell his life as +dearly as possible, and till morning he held out; for so well did his +guards handle the bows, and so clumsily did the rebels use their +matchlocks, that it was early morning before the latter could effect an +entrance to the inner palace. + +When, however, the broad light of morning came, what with the force of +numbers, and their being enabled to use their matchlocks to greater +advantage, they soon forced the gates and rushed into the great court +_en masse_. Being among the first to enter, Nicholas and Chow beheld the +Emperor, in the uniform of one of his own officers, exhorting his troops +to die with him rather than to succumb to rebels. After a short fight, +however, the coward guards threw down their arms, and shouted, "Long +life to the heaven-bestowed Emperor Li-Kong." Indignant at their +cowardice, Nicholas would have rushed among them, but for Chow, who +whispered the danger of the princess. + +For a minute the fraternization of the guards appeased the rebels--it +was only for a minute--then they shouted for the head of the vile +Wey-t-song, and one of the guards pointing to the inner palace, they ran +in that direction like a herd of hungry wolves, killing all, men, women, +or children, whom they met in their way; then they came to the ladies' +palace, and with hideous shouts of exultation, set it on fire; and the +poor women, at least those who were not destroyed by the flames, ran +from all quarters, but, alas! only to fall by the swords of the fiends, +or, if escaping the latter, to perform, to them, the sacred duty of +throwing themselves headlong into the canals, that they might not +survive the downfall of their imperial master. + +More infuriated than the rebels, and with a wild hope of saving the +Emperor and the princess, Nicholas ran through the burning palace, as if +seeking death from the falling timbers; but, alas no clue could be found +to those he sought. At length he thought of the imperial gardens, a +place that the rebels, in their anxiety to plunder the palace, had +forgotten. + +"So, while Chow went in an opposite direction, he took the path leading +to the mulberry grove, and there, upon a mound, he discovered the object +of his search--both Emperor and princess; but, to his horror, the first +dead, and hanging by his own girdle from the bough of a prune-tree, and +the princess senseless, expiring from a deep wound in her side, from +which the blood was flowing copiously. Shocked so that the blood in his +veins seemed congealed, Nicholas cut down the dead Emperor with his +sword, then stanched the wound of the princess with his silk girdle, ran +to the lake, filled his cap with water, and sprinkled it in her face, +when, joy! the pale face resumed the hue of life--still she was +insensible, and he miserable, for he knew not what other means to adopt +for her restoration. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps--it +might be a rebel, and he clutched his sword, determined to die before +the royal lady should be taken from him--but no, it was Chow, who, +having lost himself for some time in the mazes of the garden, had +reached the spot by mere accident; and no sooner did the faithful fellow +perceive the tragic scene, than he fell upon his knees and wept. + +"Truly the villains will speedily be here, and we shall be lost if we +can not discover some hiding-place," said Nicholas. + +"The gods must intend our escape from this den of thieves, for I have +just crept out of yonder cavern," said Chow, pointing to a thick bush at +some short distance from where they were standing. + +Then, without more words, they bore the senseless girl to the spot +indicated by Chow, and pushing aside the brushwood, entered a cavern +lighted from the top by a small grating, and laid her upon the floor. +The stanching of the blood, the cold water, and the movement, revived +her, when she exclaimed, "This terrible dream--where am I? who art thou, +thou terrible man?" + +"Fear not beautiful daughter of the Ming, for thou art in the hands of +thy own servants, who have saved thee----" + +"Saved me!" she said, with a vacant gaze at Nicholas; then, as if +remembering some terrible occurrence, added, "From my royal father, who +plunged his dagger in my side, that his daughter might escape the +villain Li-Kong, but the Emperor, my parent, O noble youth?" + +"Alas! unfortunate princess----" + +"Enough--enough--I remember all--the holy Emperor has saved himself the +disgrace of falling into the power of the traitor. But why then," she +added, bitterly, "has the worthless life of a daughter of his own blood +been saved?" + +"To be the most valued jewel in the throne of her brother the Emperor +Yong-Li," said Nicholas. + +"By restoring my worthless life thou hast brought shame and disgrace +upon the daughter of thy Emperor, for hath it not ever been the custom +of the daughters of the Son of Heaven to kill themselves upon the +downfall of their sovereign?" + +"The princess is of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, who alone giveth +and taketh life," replied Nicholas. + +"Thou art right, noble youth, and the descendant of Tait-sou will bear +her misfortunes more as becomes a Christian than a daughter of China," +said the princess; adding, sorrowfully, "but the remains of my beloved +parent----" + +"Shall be saved from the profane hands of rebels if the princess will +remain within this cavern," replied Nicholas; who, followed by Chow, +returned to the mound, where for a minute he stood contemplating all +that remained of the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty. "Alas! poor +prince, that thy virtues should have been clouded with so many faults. +See, O Chow, how bitterly he felt the ingratitude of his petted and +pampered guards," said Nicholas, reading some lines that the Emperor had +written in his own blood upon the border of his robe, and which +were:--"The heavens are in thy favor, O Li-Kong; yet, although my +subjects have basely abandoned me, I beseech of thee, as their parent, +to wreak thy vengeance on my body; but save, O save my deluded people." + +"The rebels come this way," said Chow. + +"Let us hide till they have passed," said Nicholas, and snatching up +his cross-bow, he ascended the nearest tree, believing that Chow had +done likewise. + +The new comers were two officers of Li-Kong. + +"It was in this direction, O Lee, near the mulberry grove, that the +woman slave saw the princess fly," said one, looking about. + +"So said the heaven-bestowed Li," replied the other; but perceiving the +body of the deposed sovereign, rebel as he was, his inherited awe for +the majesty of the Emperor caused him to throw himself upon the ground, +saying, "This then, O my poor prince, is the end of thy glories! indeed +thy punishment has been severe, may it lead thy successor to avoid thy +faults." + +"Get thee to thy feet, O Quang, for the Emperor who can forsake his +people well merits that they should forsake him in his extremity; +moreover, should the heaven-bestowed Li see thee, he will cause thy +foolish head to be chopped from thy shoulders, for, like a hungry tiger, +he cares but little whether his food be friends or enemies, so that he +can satisfy his appetite." + +"Thy words are good," said Quang, rising to his feet; adding, "Yet the +most ravenous beast becomes satisfied." + +"True, O Quang, but when this morning the great Li for the first time +sat upon the golden throne of state, it trembled and tottered." + +"A sad omen, O Lee; surely his majesty should have chosen a fortunate +day." + +"Truly, according to the chief bonze, it is an omen, signifying that +while the body of Wey-t-song remains whole, the heaven-bestowed Emperor +is in danger, and it is this that has angered him; but see, he comes," +and both fell to the earth before the rebel general, who approaching +with his great officers, said, "Have you discovered the princess, you +crawling slaves?" + +"At the risk of their lives thy slaves must deliver their miserable +intelligence to the fortunate and heaven-bestowed founder of the most +magnificent of dynasties," said Quang. + +"Let the slave open his lips." + +"The great princess has escaped with the Christian woman Candida," +replied the trembling Quang. + +"Escaped!" exclaimed the tyrant; "then let it be proclaimed throughout +the empire that he who can bring her unarmed to our feet, shall receive +high promotion, and the weight of his mean body in gold;" but at that +moment, for the first time, seeing the body of the Emperor, he +exclaimed, "The great traitor to his people has been too fortunate in +having been permitted to close a luxurious career with the honorable +punishment of self-destruction; he should have been exhibited alive in a +cage;" then reading the lines upon the dead sovereign's robe, "See thou, +O Quang, that the miserable body be cut into a thousand pieces, and +distributed far from the tombs of his royal ancestors," said this +new-made sovereign, with less generosity than the second Emperor of the +Tartar race, who some years after, while hunting, happening to see in +the distance the monument which had been erected to the memory of the +unfortunate Wey-t-song, quitted his horse, and falling upon the earth, +said, with tears in his eyes, "O Prince! O Emperor! worthy of a better +fate, you know that your destruction was not owing to us, your death +lies not at our door, your own subjects brought it upon you, it was they +that betrayed you; it is therefore upon them, and not on my ancestors, +that heaven must send down vengeance." + +As you may imagine, this arrested the attention of Nicholas, who became +deeply interested, and, as he listened, it was with difficulty he could +keep down his indignation. He had smiled as he heard of Lee's terror at +the omen, groaned at the slaughter of the people, rejoiced at the escape +of the Lady Candida, the more so as the soldiers believed that she had +carried away the princess with her, which would at least throw them off +the right track; then at the sight of the brutal Li he had instinctively +placed an arrow on his bow, but the danger of the princess taught him +prudence, and he did but nervously twitch the string; when, however, Li +spoke of the dead Emperor his heart throbbed with indignation, and he +was nigh losing his presence of mind; then when Li delivered the order +for the mutilation of the body, every vein in the boy's forehead and +neck seemed bursting with rage, which, when the tyrant struck the corpse +with his foot, he could no longer suppress; no human power could keep it +back, and just missing the tyrant's throat so narrowly that its feather +brushed his necklace, an arrow pierced the bark of the tree against +which he was standing. + +"See with what vigilance the guards have sought for traitors, when this +could so nearly reach the mark," said the brave rogue, coolly, but +holding his shield in readiness for the next. + +Unlike Li-Kong, whose courage was as remarkable as his crimes, the teeth +of his officers chattered, and their knees knocked together with fear, +as if the arrow had been a thunderbolt from their own gods; when, +however, they recovered, they placed their shields before their faces +and rushed to the direction from whence the arrow had flown, and would +soon have discovered Nicholas but for a huge lion, who, finding the door +of his cage open, rushed upon the group with such unmistakable +intentions, that not only the officers, but Li-Kong, brave as he was, +fled in terror to the palace, with the beast at their heels. You will +little wonder at the extreme fright of the soldiers, when I tell you +that this lion was the only animal of his kind in China, having been +presented to the late Emperor by a foreign king, or they would probably +have met the brute face to face. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE SECRET CAVERN.--THE PRINCESS SAVED BY THE BOYS. + + +"Thou hast had a narrow escape, O most prudent master," said Chow, +coming forth when he saw the coast clear. + +"Had I been taken, it would have been a just punishment for missing my +mark; but by what fortunate chance did that savage beast escape from his +cage, O Chow?" replied Nicholas, descending the tree. + +"That chance, O my master was the foresight of thy servant, who +unfastened the door of the cage of that four-footed brother of Yen-Vang, +neither knowing nor caring whether he might not himself be the first +meal, so that the noble Nicholas escaped." + +"It was well done, my brave Chow; yet surely that rebel rogue must be +protected by some demon to have escaped so narrowly both arrow and lion; +but let us haste to the cavern, or they may return." + +Now, although the whole of this adventure had not occupied more than an +hour, Nicholas was greatly in fear for what might have happened to the +princess, an anxiety reciprocated by the princess, who, as soon as she +saw them again, exclaimed, "Thank heaven, the noble youth is saved;" +then added reproachfully, "But he has not performed his promise, for he +brings not the sacred remains of his royal master;" when, however, +Nicholas related the adventure, although in great anguish of mind at +being denied the sacred right of paying the last office of respect to +the corpse of her parent, she was overjoyed at their escape. + +"Escape, O great princess; thy small servant is not clever and gifted, +like the mole, or he would eat a hole through the end of this rat-trap; +for to attempt it by the entrance would be to submissively ask the +traitor Li-Kong to cut us all into ten thousand pieces," said Chow. + +"The words of the brave Chow are reasonable, for truly this cavern is +but a trap," said Nicholas. + +"It is not so; push thou against the end of the cavern," said the +princess. + +"Truly we are fortunate," said Nicholas with astonishment, as he found +the end giving way, and disclosing to his vision a long narrow passage. + +"It was made by the great Tait-sou, and leads to an unfrequented suburb +of the city; by this means he could leave the palace alone, and by +mixing among the people judge for himself how the mandarins were +respected by them," said the princess. + +"Surely they will follow us here," said Nicholas. + +"Not so, noble youth; for the secret is known but to few. It was the +sole vile act of the great Tait-sou's reign that he caused this passage +to be made by condemned prisoners, whom he afterward slew, that they +might not divulge the secret," said the princess, adding, "Let us trace +its course." + +Then, helping the wounded girl to walk, they proceeded down the passage +for a considerable distance, till their progress was arrested by a door; +pushing this, however, they found themselves in a small cavern, lighted, +like the one at which they had entered, by a small grating from above. + +"How is it possible, O noble Nicholas, that we can pass through the +roaring rebels, who are, doubtless, without?" said Chow. + +"It is a reasonable question, O noble youth; truly we had better remain +here till night," said the princess. + +But, having considered for a minute, Nicholas said, "Not so, great +princess; remain thou here with Chow, and thy servant will find some +means of deliverance;" whereupon he borrowed from Chow his less +conspicuous cap, robe, and boots, then felt his way up a flight of +narrow steps, till his head struck against a trap-door; lifting this +gently, he found himself in a small stone room, the door of which stood +open; passing this, he came into an oblong court, and saw at once that +the place had been erected as a tomb, and, moreover, that he was at the +most remote end of a valley of tombs. So far he believed the princess to +be in a place of safety, for none, even in those rebellious days, would +dare to enter the ancestral tomb of another. + +Crossing this valley of sepulchres with inverted face, as if in deep +contemplation after visiting the tomb of his ancestors, he came into the +open road, where a vast crowd were floating onward into the city, mad +with excitement, and shouting, "Many years' life to the heaven-sent +Emperor!" he mixed with them, and so, safely passed onward to the house +of the merchant Yang, who no sooner saw him than he ordered an incense +table, and returned thanks to Fo for his safety. "For," said he, "thy +servant made but little doubt that the son of the great Chin-Chi-Loong +had been slain." + +"The son of the merchant of the south lives to avenge the death of his +Emperor," said Nicholas. + +"Hist! hist!" said the merchant, pale with fear, lest some servant might +hear the words; adding, "Truly Wey-t-song but merited his fate." + +"Art thou also a traitor, O Yang?" exclaimed Nicholas, indignantly. + +"The rich need be cautious, for is it not a maxim, that a successful +rebel is more to be feared than a dead Emperor, O noble Nicholas?" + +Indignant as he was at this disloyalty, Nicholas, remembering the +necessity of the princess, dissembled his anger, and said, "Is the +worthy Yang under sufficient obligation to Chin-Chi-Loong to serve his +son?" + +"Even to the extent of his life and fortune." + +"Then I will trust thee," said Nicholas, dropping the usual formality of +speech, and telling him the whole of his adventure of the morning. + +"Truly, O youth, this is a dangerous affair; but Yang dares not break +faith with the great chief who may some day be master of us all," said +the merchant, trembling with fear. + +"This, then, is just; I would have the head-dress and mourning garb of a +widow, and the coarse robes of two Coolies." + +"This is a cautious method of proceeding, and shall be done," said Yang, +who left the room, leaving the impatient youth walking to and fro with +great anxiety. The articles, however, not being very difficult to obtain +in that part of the city, the merchant soon returned with them packed up +in a small bale; then, hastily thanking Yang, Nicholas took the bale +with him some little distance from the house, and paid two Coolies to +carry him in their sedan to the gate of the valley of tombs; having +arrived there, he jumped out of the chair, and paid the Coolies +handsomely, telling them to leave it near the gate, and to fetch him +again in two hours' time; when, not in the least doubting the honesty of +so generous a customer, the Coolies went off to spend their earnings at +a wine-shop, and Nicholas proceeded cautiously to the cavern. + +Having explained his scheme to the princess, he left her in the cavern +to attire herself in the widow's weeds, while he and Chow proceeded to +the tomb above, to assume the garbs of Coolies. + +This being done, he gave Chow some silver and sent him off to the +wine-shop, after which he assisted the princess up the steps, and, +supporting her, they slowly walked through the valley, till they came +within a short distance of the gate, when, to the delight of Nicholas, +Chow came up to them and said:-- + +"I found the two sots drinking like fishes, and when I told them a +merchant wished to hire them, they laughed heartily, saying, that they +had already been engaged by too good a passenger to stir for the next +two hours." + +Then, assisting the princess into the chair, Nicholas and Chow took the +place of the Coolies, and so carried it to the house of Yang. + +As Yang had prepared the ladies of his family to receive a young girl, +who, he said, was about to be taken into a distant province by her +brother, as soon as the troubles had subsided, the princess was warmly +received in the Hall of Ancestors, and immediately conducted to the +inner apartments of the house. Cleverly as this was managed, Nicholas +now trembled for the safety of the princess; indeed, she could be safe +no where, but with the Lady Candida, or the Prince Yong-Li, both of whom +he believed to have fled to Woo-san-Kwei, in Leao-tong, therefore, +difficult as was the task, he determined to take her to that province. +As for Yang, whose loyalty was stronger toward the family of Nicholas +than to the imperial line, and who really wished a person likely to +prove so dangerous as the princess out of his house, he offered his +advice and assistance; and as a small junk belonging to him was about to +proceed to Tien-sin, on the banks of the Pei-ho (or white river) with a +cargo of goods in exchange for salt, he offered to place it at the +command of Nicholas, who, when at the mouth of the river, would find it +no difficult matter to make a voyage through the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, +and of Leao-tong, to some town upon the coast. + +This being arranged, they determined that the junk should start as soon +as she was laden, and that the princess should embark as a young widow, +whose husband having been killed in the rebellion, was returning to see +her friends in Leao-tong. But then the princess could not travel without +a female attendant,--and whom could they trust? that seemed their +greatest difficulty. It was surmounted, however as you will see in the +next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A LARGE STOCK OF LADIES, TWO TAELS PER SACK. + + +Previously to his successful march upon Pekin, Li-Kong had besieged the +capital of the great province of Honan, which, after a few days' hard +fighting, he succeeded in taking; when by way of punishing the +inhabitants for their brave resistance, he ordered a slaughter so large +and indiscriminate that for many after years his name was used as a +bugbear to frighten children; so insatiable was his appetite for +decapitation, that, like Nero, he longed that the millions had but one +neck, that he might strike the whole of their heads at a blow. + +The mightiest rivers, however, can but run their course, and so at +length, in the event of his making himself Emperor, he might have some +subjects left, he commenced to banish and to pardon, and by way of +rewarding his soldiers, one day when he was in a good humor, he +commanded them to sell the whole of the remaining women prisoners in the +public market-place, and keep the money; but as the soldiers asked such +high prices, and the fathers, husbands, and brothers, of Honan, had been +robbed of their property, after a two days' sale a large stock of +ladies remained on hand, which they were obliged to take with them to +Pekin, where, after the conquest, they hoped to obtain better prices. + +Tyrants are, however, capricious; and so, being offended with his +soldiers for not discovering the princess, with hideous humor Li-Kong +ordered the women to be placed in sacks, and sold with other plunder at +two taels each. + +Now it so happened that on the morning of the sale, Chow was passing +through the market-place, and seeing a crowd of people examining the +sacks, which were arranged in rows and tied at the necks, with small +breathing holes near the top, he stopped to watch the progress of the +cruel comedy. Anxious fathers, brothers, and husbands, who had followed +the army from Honan, for the purpose of rescuing their female relatives, +bought sack after sack at the reduced price, each, when the purchase was +completed, tearing them open; the greater number, however, giving vent +to fearful cries, when they discovered that their chance in the lottery +proved a blank; others, recognizing a wife, daughter, or sister, would +become almost frantic with joy. Many, before purchasing, would slip +behind a sack, rip it with a knife, to have a peep, and get rewarded +with a sound caning for their artfulness. + +Well there were only half a ton, or at least five sacks of ladies left +for disposal, when a great lout of a countryman drew up in his cart, +jumped out, and after looking at his almanac, said, "Truly this is a +fortunate day, and I am likely to get a good wife cheap; so, although +two taels is all I have obtained for my last crop of rice, I will trust +to Fo; for young or old, handsome or ugly, I must have a wife to help me +till my grounds." Just then a shrill scream issued from one of the +sacks. "Who knows," continued the countryman, "but the gods may have +sent that scream to direct my choice, for if the woman is neither young +nor pretty she may be well dressed, and, consequently the wife or +daughter of some wealthy mandarin, who will purchase her of me, and so +make my fortune?" + +"Let the noble paddy bird make his choice quickly," said a soldier. + +"There are the two taels, most illustrious war tiger," said the +countryman, giving the money and taking his choice. + +"We will see thy choice," said one of the soldiers, about to open the +sack. + +"Nay, illustrious soldier, it would offend the gods if other eyes but +mine saw my prize." So saying, the man took the sack up in his huge +arms, lifted it into the cart, and drove slowly away, followed by Chow, +who was curious to discover the kind of prize the wise-acre had drawn. + +Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man no sooner reached an +unfrequented part of the suburbs than he stopped by the bank of a canal, +pulled a knife from his pocket, ripped open the sack; but then a change +came o'er his dream, for with his body bent double, his two hands upon +his knees, and his bullet head thrown to the extreme stretching of his +neck, he stared with disgust for at least a minute, then in a paroxysm +of rage, the disappointed ruffian placed his hands upon the woman's +shoulders, screaming, "Thou vile old bamboo stick!" + +The trembling woman fell upon her knees and prayed for mercy. + +"Has the wretched woman no friend who will purchase her?" + +"Truly the friends and relations of thy servant have been slain by the +soldiers; she has no friend in the world." + +"Thou hast robbed me of my money, thou antique rat, and shall be +punished," said the brute, who, first striking her to the ground, picked +her up in his arms, and would have thrown her into the canal but for +Chow, who, going to the back of the cart, caught hold of the man's legs +and dragged him on to the ground, when, not comprehending the wherefore +of his wheelbarrow position, the fellow began to roar for mercy, but +turning his face and finding his enemy to be a mere youth, he sprang +upon his legs and attacked him with his clenched fists. For a time they +had a hard fight, after the fashion of the Chinese, who are as much +given to that sport, pastime, or brutality, as the English themselves. +At length, however, with one well-directed blow, Chow settled the +transaction, when, admitting himself to be soundly thrashed, as all +women-beaters should be, the bully fell upon his knees, and said, that +if the woman were a relation he was sorry for what he had done in the +moment of vexation at losing his money, and moreover, begged that Chow +would purchase her again for half the amount he had paid. + +"Take the whole, thou miserable dog," said Chow, throwing down two taels +that Nicholas had given him in the morning, to purchase a thick robe for +the voyage to Leao-tong, then, lifting the poor creature from the cart, +he laid her upon the bank of the canal, and by dashing water in her face +brought her to her senses. But why does Chow suddenly fall at her feet, +kiss the hem of her garment, take both her hands in his own, gaze in her +face for a moment, and then, throwing his arms around her neck, sob like +an infant. Surely there was some good reason for such strange +conduct?--We shall see. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +CHOW MAKES A DISCOVERY, AND NICHOLAS A SURPRISE. + + +While Chow had been engaged in his adventure with the countryman, Yang +received intelligence from the commander of his junk, that the vessel +was laden, and only awaited his orders for sailing. So far, +circumstances were favorable for the voyage to Leao-tong, and if they +could but secure a proper attendant for the princess they might set out +that evening. That was the great difficulty to be got over. Many plans +were suggested, but all seemed so fraught with danger of discovery, that +they were well nigh at their wit's end. While Nicholas and Yang were +discussing the matter, there was a great hammering upon the gong at the +door. It was Chow, who in another minute stood before them. Alone? No, +but to the astonishment of Nicholas, accompanied by a woman, so veiled +that no feature could be seen. + +"How! what means this? Who is this woman?" exclaimed Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas bestowed two taels upon his servant." + +"What words are these?" replied Nicholas, impatiently; adding, "Hast +thou bought the robe?" + +"Pardon, O noble master, but thy servant can better do without a robe +for the rest of his life than the glorious purchase he has made with +those taels." + +"What purchase is this, thou rogue?" said Nicholas, vexed that he could +get no direct answer. + +"His dearly beloved lost mother, O my master." + +"Thy mother! What words are these?" + +Then, when Chow had related the scene with the sacks, and his adventure +with the countryman, and how that it resulted in the discovery of his +mother, who stood before them, Nicholas heartily and sincerely +congratulated him, as did also the merchants, who ordered the servants +to take her to the inner apartments, all of which so gratified the +delighted Chow that he fell at the feet of Nicholas, kissed the hem of +his robe, and with tears of gratitude and joy told them that his mother +had made her escape from the slayer of her husband, but having been +retaken, the enraged mandarin had ordered her to be sold with the other +women. So, O noble Nicholas, has the great Tien rewarded thy servant for +endeavoring to rescue what he thought to be a strange woman from a +villain, who was about casting her in the canal. + +Now, nothing could be more fortunate for all parties than this discovery +of Chow's, for as the mother would not leave Chow, nor Chow leave his +mother or his master, if he could help it, it was speedily settled that +no better attendant could be found for the princess, and so it was +arranged that they should start at once. + +The merchant, partly by his great interest with the usurper's +government, and partly by bribes, secured a com-ho or passport for +himself and family; sedan chairs were procured, and the whole party +passed through the city to the river, where the junk was awaiting them. +Then, having seen them safe on board and given instructions to his +captain to obey Nicholas, he placed a purse of silver in the youth's +hands, took his leave, and left the travelers to pursue their journey, +and with but one interruption from a river mandarin, who stopped their +progress to examine their cam-ho, the junk proceeded down the Pei-ho, or +white river. + +The junk was upon a small scale something like what the houses of our +merchants were, when, proud of their profession, they had their +residences attached to their warehouses, one-half being occupied by the +cargo, and the other divided into rooms, each of which was furnished in +accordance with the quality of its tenant. The two usually set aside for +the ladies of the family were tenanted by the princess, who, as became +her rank and sex, kept herself secluded from the eyes of the male +passengers and sailors. + +For several days they continued their voyage down the river, till by the +fields of millet seed, pulse, and turnips, the numerous mud hovels, the +shoals of small boats, and the thousands of starving men, women, and +children, who were paddling about the fields, and the very city of huge +salt stacks upon the banks, they saw that they were approaching the town +of Tien-sin, at which place, in consequence of the number of vessels +which had arrived that day laden with timber, they were delayed for +some time before the captain could unload his vessel and take in a cargo +of salt. + +As in our own manufacturing counties many thousands of poor mechanics +and artisans make little livings for themselves and great fortunes for +their employers, so in Tien-sin, the most miserably poor and shrivelled +portion of the vast population in China produce a commodity which places +their masters, the salt dealers, among the most wealthy merchants in the +Empire. While the captain is unloading his cargo I will tell you how +these people produce this common edible. + +In addition to the pits of salt, which, like coal, are found in many of +the provinces, there are many places where it is discovered by scattered +spots of gray earth. To obtain this salt, they level the surface of the +earth as smooth as glass and in a sloping direction so that the water +will run off. When dried by the sun, and the white particles of salt are +seen, they first raise it in small heaps, like haycocks, then spread it +upon sloping tables with ledges, and pour soft water upon it, which, as +it soaks in, extracts the salt and runs into an earthen vessel by means +of a small channel. The earth thus drained is not wasted, but laid +aside, so that after a few days, when dry, they reduce it to a fine +powder, and replace it in the spot from whence it was taken, when, after +six days, it is again mixed with particles of salt, which are again +extracted as before, so that not one atom becomes lost. + +While the men are thus engaged in the fields, the women and children are +employed in huts, in boiling the salt water in large iron basins, which +they place over an earthen stove, with holes made in such a manner that +the fire heats all the basins alike. When the salt water has boiled some +time, it becomes thick, and changes slowly into a very white salt, which +is stirred with an iron spatula till it becomes quite dry. + +When the captain had exchanged his cargo for an other of dates, which he +intended again to exchange profitably in Leao-tong for peas and drugs, +Nicholas purchased a quantity of furs and mats, which he soon found to +be necessary; for, as they approached further to the north, the winds +blew keenly, and the iceblocks floated so numerously as frequently to +impede their voyage; indeed, the cold was so intense that nothing but +the fear of losing life or liberty, or the love of gold, would have +induced any one to make the voyage in that inclement season (it was in +November). Indeed, by the time they had passed the mouth of the Pei-ho +and got into the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, the snow fell so heavily, and the +north winds blew so keenly, that, breaking through all discipline, the +sailors lighted fires upon the deck, and laid near them, drinking rice +spirit so copiously, that had not Nicholas, who knew so well how to +manage such insubordinates, thrown the spirit tubs overboard, they must +have foundered upon the _Sha-loo-poo-teen_ islands. As it was, so long +and so rough was the passage across the gulf, that the princess became +fearfully ill; so much so, indeed, that at one time they feared she +would have died. At length, however, they came to an anchor off the +coast of Kin-Chow, a distance of seven miles from the shore, and so +planted with dangerous rocks that they were compelled to make +fire-signals for the townspeople to put off to them in their lighters or +barges. + +As the people have these lighters always ready for the purpose, it was +not long before several answered the signal, and came alongside. +Choosing the most commodious, Nicholas caused a large fire to be lighted +in the cabin, where the princess, who was too ill to walk, was lifted on +board, and the lightermen rowed them the roughest seven miles of their +journey. Nicholas and Chow paced the deck in no very good humor, as they +were obliged to entrust themselves to the slow movements of the boatmen, +who neither for love nor money would hasten their pace. Moreover, as the +sea rolled so heavily, the distance was lengthened by their being +compelled to take a circuitous course between and around the dangerous +rocks. + +When the boatman, who, although slow, were sure, brought them beneath +the huge rocks which form the sea-walls of Leao-tong, Chow looked up +with amazement. "Surely," said he, "Yen-Vang must have built these great +rocks to prevent the province from falling upon the heads of the people +in his watery dominions;" adding, as he saw some little birds, like +swallows, flying about the rocks, "Truly, if my eyeballs are straight, +those little creatures promise us some of the soup of life." + +"Truly our eyeballs play us false, O Chow, for these birds are seldom +found but on the coast of Tonquin, Java, and Cochin-China," said +Nicholas doubtfully. + +"It is true that the servant has not the wisdom of his master, yet the +stomach and the nose are excellent diviners. Moreover, it is said that +this bird-nest soup is strengthening to the weak. The princess is weak, +O my master, and Chow would obtain some of those nests." + +Then, as they were near a jutting point of the rock of no very difficult +ascent, Nicholas ordered the barge to stop, while Chow ascended and +procured some half-dozen of the nests, from which to the present day, +one of the most popular dishes of China is made. + +As Nicholas had said, these birds' nests are seldom found except on the +coasts of Java, Cochin-China, and Tonquin. The birds are not unlike +swallows, as to their feathers; the nests, which they build high up in +the clefts of the rocks, are supposed to be composed of small sea-fish, +fastened together by means of a viscous juice, which distils from the +beaks of the little creatures, and serves as a gum to fasten the nests +to the rock. They are also seen to take the froth that floats upon the +sea, with which they cement every part of their nests, in the same +manner that swallows build with mud and clay. This matter being dried, +becomes solid, transparent, and of a greenish color; but, while fresh, +it is generally white. + +When Chow had procured these nests, the boatmen resumed their toil, and +in a short time reached the harbor; Chow landed first, and having +procured a litter, the princess and his mother were conveyed through the +rows of dirty-looking granite houses, which form the town of Kin-Chow, +till they arrived at a small inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +NICHOLAS PUNISHES AN UNGRATEFUL INNKEEPER, AND ESCAPES FROM HIS +TREACHERY. + + +Rejoiced that the tedious sea-voyage was at an end and that the princess +would, in all probability, by a few day's rest, gain health and strength +sufficient for the long land journey before them, you may guess the +vexation of Nicholas, on arriving at the inn, to find a crowd of persons +around the door enjoying the following scene. The innkeeper was kneeling +before the chair of a tax-gathering mandarin, surrounded by his bamboo +sticks in waiting, who seemed to have in their charge three beggars. + +_Mandarin._--"Thrice hath the dog's hide been corrected, and yet his +tribute is not ready." + +_Innkeeper._--"Is it not true, O tribute-collecting lord, that but +little may be gleaned from an empty purse?" + +_Mandarin._--"Therein is thy crime, slave, that having thrice received +our paternal correction, thy vile purse should still remain empty. Know, +thou mean dog, that the purse of the subject should be ever at the +service of the Emperor." + +_Innkeeper, giving his empty purse._--"The laws of the empire must be +obeyed, there is thy servant's purse." + +_Mandarin, angrily._--"Would the vile innkeeper laugh in our face?" + +_Innkeeper._--"Surely, O great mandarin, the owner of an empty purse +hath but little cause for laughing!" + +_Mandarin._--"Thou incorrigible dog, where hath been thy industry, that +thou hast not sufficient even to pay thy taxes?" + +_Innkeeper._--"Truly the wars and the robbers have driven from the +province its trade, and thy servant hath not rice sufficient to sustain +life in the mean bodies of himself and family." + +_Mandarin._--"If these are straight words, the dog's life cannot be of +value to him; let him, therefore, pay the debt he owes to the Emperor, +by humbly begging of the Tartar-subduing General, Woo-san-Kwei to let +him offer his carcass of full measure to the barbarians, that he may +shield the life of a better man." + +_Innkeeper._--"Truly, O fountain of wisdom the officers of the +rebel-subduing general have already stolen from thy servant his four +sons." + +_Mandarin._--"Stolen, thou vile rat! Let the rogue receive twenty blows +for this word of disrespect, and fifty for half the debt he owes to the +Emperor." + +In an instant the innkeeper was thrown upon his face, and while one man +held his head, and another his feet, a third belabored the poor fellow +till he roared again. When the punishment was concluded, and the +innkeeper had, according to custom, thanked the official for his +kindness, the mandarin said, "Such is the punishment of rogues who will +not pay their taxes;" adding, "But that the cheating innkeeper may not +escape too easily, let him provide food and lodging for these three poor +people till his debt be paid." + +"May thy servant inquire the amount of this innkeeper's debt; for it is +fitting that the taxes should be paid?" said Nicholas, coming forward to +the astonishment of the official, who said, sternly, "The sum, bold +stranger, is one ounce of silver." + +"Then, may thy servant be permitted to pay this silver; for he would +engage for himself and sister the man's house, which cannot be large +enough for these poor people also?" + +"Truly it may not be refused," replied the mandarin, taking the money, +and rescinding his order for the accommodation of the poor people; but +adding, as he left the spot, "It is a maxim that people should settle +their own debts before paying those of others." + +"Where is the justice now, my master; for although he has received the +debt in full, that rat of the taxes hath not taken back the blows from +this poor man's hide?" said Chow, fortunately for himself in such soft +tones that he could not be heard by the mandarin. More pleased than +otherwise at the scene which they had considered good fun, the crowd +dispersed; when, silencing the noisy gratitude of the innkeeper, who, +after all, had been more frightened than hurt with the blows which had +been dealt out to him, as much as a matter of form as a punishment, +Nicholas and his party entered the inn, and having secured the two best +rooms, one for the princess and her attendant, the other for himself and +Chow, he gave the bird's nests to the wife of the innkeeper for the use +of the ladies. + +As for themselves, the boys made a good meal, and then whiled the time +away in conversation till it became dark, when they both sought their +beds; which, queer as it may seem to you--being nothing but piles of +bricks shaped to the human form, and heated from beneath with charcoal, +the flame and heat of which are dispersed by pipes joined to an upright +tube, which carries the smoke through the roof--they greatly enjoyed +after their long journey. + +The next morning Nicholas visited the princess, and to his surprise and +delight found that she had recovered her strength. "This is indeed joy, +O my princess!" said he, kneeling; when, taking him by the hand, the +royal lady said, "Kneel not before her whom thou hast so much +befriended, O noble youth; for it is naught but the poor fatherless girl +La-Loo who is before thee, and would indeed be thy sister." + +"This is not possible; the daughter of the Ming can never be less in the +world than its princess--first in beauty as in rank," said Nicholas. + +"The daughter of the Ming, or the girl La-Loo, be she whom she may, +noble youth, will travel alone through this dreary province in search of +her brother, if she can not journey as thy sister." + +"Then be it so, for thy servant dares not disobey, O beautiful La-Loo!" +said Nicholas; adding, "Is it the will of the princess, to proceed upon +her journey?" + +"The will of her adopted brother is the will of La-Loo," replied the +princess, and Nicholas left the room; but pushing the door before him, +imagine his surprise to find the innkeeper at the threshhold with his +little head upward, his short arms stretched forward from his great +body, and his legs in the hands of Chow, who appeared to be pulling him +from the door. + +"Release thy mean servant from the hands of this vile person, O noble +youth, or his legs will be pulled as easily from his body as those of a +crab," said the man, piteously looking in the face of Nicholas. + +"The rascal, the rogue, the elephant in size, but mouse in honesty, was +listening to thy conversation, O my master," said Chow. + +"Let the mean rat rise upon his bamboo legs," said Nicholas; adding, +"What has the dog learned of his guests' affairs?" + +"Truly so grand a mien could belong to none but the son of a king, and +so beautiful a lady, could be none other than a princess," said the man. + +"Thou rascal," said Nicholas; but adding, more prudently, "Canst thou be +honest, and serve us?" + +"For ever, O noble youth," replied the innkeeper. + +"Trust not so small a mouse," said Chow. + +"The innkeeper shall be rewarded according to his merits. Let him +conduct his guest to the merchants of the town, and he shall receive +some silver," said Nicholas, quitting the house with the man, who led +him to the various dealers and merchants, from whom he purchased a +camel, a mule, a tent, provision, and in short all things necessary for +a long journey overland. + +When he had made these purchases, he whispered some secret instruction +in the ear of Chow, and sent him with the animals and articles back to +the inn; after which he said, "Will the worthy innkeeper open his lips +in a temple, and promise to keep to himself the secret he has +discovered?" + +"Truly the noble youth does not doubt that the words of his servant are +straight?" replied the man, evasively. + +"The worthy innkeeper must do this, or forfeit these two ounces of +silver," replied Nicholas, exhibiting the money, which had the desired +effect. + +"There is but one temple for this poor town, and that is upon the +mountain without the walls." + +"To that we will proceed, if the worthy innkeeper will show the way." + +The man obeyed; they passed through the gates of the town into a narrow +road, which led them to the foot of a high mountain, near the summit of +which stood a small temple. + +"It would be better to seek an altar within the inner apartments of thy +servant's inn, the gods would be equally as attentive to his promise, +and the noble youth would be saved the necessity of climbing so steep a +hill." + +"Truly this temple can not be used often, or some easier means of ascent +would be made," said Nicholas. + +"The words of the noble youth are wise, for truly this temple is but +used on the festivals of the first of the month." + +"When is the next festival, O worthy innkeeper?" + +"To-morrow." + +"Then ascend." + +Obeying, the innkeeper commenced climbing the narrow and slippery stairs +cut in the hill side; when they reached the top and stood in the temple +before a huge wooden god, who seemed to form part of the back wall of +the temple, out of which he had been cut, Nicholas, pointing to one of +the arms of the idol, said, "Truly, the god hath been neglected and +requires painting." Turning his back to Nicholas to examine the idol, +the man gave a shriek of alarm. Nicholas had taken a cord from his vest, +thrown it over his arms, and made him as harmless as if he had been in a +straight jacket. + +"What means the youth; is he a robber?" + +"Silence thou ungrateful hog," said Nicholas, pulling him toward the +idol, to which he secured his body, legs and arms. + +"Now, thou dog, open thy lips, and say what fell into thine ears whilst +thou wast listening at the door of the ladies' apartments." + +"Truly, thy mean servant could not hear much, for little was said by the +princess." + +"Then how, thou trembling rogue, couldst thou know it was a princess who +spoke?" + +"Thy servant divined that the lady must be of exalted rank; for in the +first place, had she not been a great lady escaping from the province of +Pekin, she would not have crossed the gulf in such weather, neither +would so noble a youth as thyself have treated a sister with such +exalted respect." + +"Thou art a cunning dog, whose words are dust; and if thou dost not +admit that thy vile ears were at that door before the time when thou +wert caught, I will slay thee," said Nicholas, drawing his short sword, +and holding it threateningly. + +"Pardon, O noble youth; but as iron can not resist the lode-stone, +neither can the ears of thy servant resist a secret: he did--did +listen," said the man trembling with fear. + +"What didst thou hear, dog?" the sword was now at his throat. + +"That the Emperor Wey-t-song was slain, and that the Emperor Li had +offered a great reward for the Princess of the Mings." + +"Should I kill thee, thou mean rat, thou wouldst but meet thy merits." + +"The magnanimous youth would not soil his sword with the blood of so +mean a person." + +"No; but thou shalt remain here till we are beyond the reach of harm +from thy vile tongue." + +"Surely the noble youth would not starve so ill-conditioned a person," +said the man in a whining tone. "Thou art now safe, thou rogue, and I +will pay thee the two taels I promised; but if even when released from +thy bondage when the temple is visited to-morrow, thou speak but the +name of the lady you have seen, I will return and punish thee, if it is +years to come." So saying Nicholas threw the silver upon the floor, +closed the door of the temple, descended the mountain, and made as much +haste as possible back to the inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.--ATTACKED BY WOLVES, AND STOPPED BY A SERPENT. + + +By the time Nicholas returned to the inn, Chow had prepared every thing +for their departure; the camel was laden with a litter for the two +ladies, behind which were two tents, rough sleeping mats, furs and a +supply of food and fuel. + +"All is prepared, O noble Nicholas, according to thy order," said Chow. + +"Thou art as nimble as thou art brave, Chow," said Nicholas, passing to +the room of the princess, whom he found with the mother of Chow well +wrapped in furs. + +"It is well that thou art prepared, O beautiful and illustrious La-Loo, +for the villain innkeeper heard our conversation, and I doubt not +intended to earn the rebel Li-Kong's reward." At this the limbs of the +princess trembled, and her face became pale with fear. + +"Let us haste then, O noble brother, for La-Loo fears that demon +Li-Kong, and would rather that her parent's blow had proved effective +than fall into his power." + +"The weather is severe and the journey drear, and fraught with dangers +of savage beasts and still more savage men," said Nicholas, as fearful +of the danger of proceeding as of remaining; adding, "At least the +innkeeper can not return till to-morrow, and early morning would be less +dangerous than the darkness of this winter's night." + +"The last of the line of the great Tait-sou have the courage of their +ancestors. Let us on our journey, my brother," said the princess. + +Without another word Nicholas led the princess and her attendant to the +camel, and assisted them into the litter. + +"Surely," said La-Loo, "there are times when women should have the +courage of men. An arrow sped by my hand would be as useful as one from +the bow of my brother." + +Understanding the meaning Nicholas gave the princess his own bow, and +quiver full of arrows. + +"Truly my venerable and beloved parent can pull a bow-string to save her +life," said Chow giving his bow and arrows to his mother. + +"This is not well, Chow, for we are left unarmed, except with our short +swords, which will be of little use," said Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas left Chow to provide for the journey, and so, +knowing that female arms, like female tongues, can fight when the time +comes, he provided weapons for each," said Chow, taking two bows from +the sides of the mule. + +"Thou hast the wisdom and foresight of a colao, O Chow," said Nicholas, +laughing; then adding, seriously, "But the guide." + +"Is here, O noble stranger, and as he hopes to have his tomb well +dusted, will conduct thee safely to the distant mountains," said a +youth, stepping forward with an unlighted torch in his hand. + +Nicholas then mounting behind the camel, Chow upon the mule, and the +guide taking hold of the cord which was tied to the great animal's +mouth, they proceeded on their journey, and as it was just within the +time of closing the gates, they passed out of the town into the open +country of teas and drugs; and so quickly did they travel, that before +night came on they had reached a narrow gorge between two mountains, +which was good, inasmuch as they would be protected from the keen winds. +The darkness came on, and the guide lighted his torch, which flamed so +terrifically, that they might have passed for one of our slow night +trains. + +So for some hours they traveled, till they came to a forest so dense +with trees that the guide would go no further, and they pitched the two +tents, one for the ladies, and the other for themselves, surrounding +both with a great fire, made of stubble, to keep off the wolves or other +beasts of prey. The following morning they resumed their journey, till +as they were leaving the forest, they could hear the distant howling of +wolves; the camel exhibited its fright by making strange noises, and the +mule grew restless, snorted, and every now and then turned its head as +if to look for its enemies. The whole party fixed arrows in their bows, +ready for an attack, and for some time their hearts palpitated with +alarm. Ordering the little caravan to stop, Nicholas sent Chow to +examine the probability of an attack. He had been absent half an hour +when they heard the trampling of horses near at hand. What could it +mean? surely they were not pursued? Then came Chow, who, running +forward, said, "We are lost, O my master, for there are banditti near." + +"On my brother, on, for these rogues are doubtless the troops of the +rebel Li-Kong," exclaimed the princess, as she leant forward from the +litter with the bent bow in her hand; and onward they went, with open +ears, and as noiselessly as possible; passing along the side of a +mountain into which the wood opened, till they came to a gorge, when the +guide stopped, and proposed that they should make a _détour_, in order +to avoid the passage of the mountain platform. + +"It is not possible, my master; for to the right are the banditti, to +the left the wolves. Let us keep onward and dare this platform;" and +again they proceeded through the gorge. Still the wolves kept up their +dreary howling, and the trampling of the banditti, if banditti they +were, seemed at no greater distance from them than the animals; at +length they passed through the gorge, when a sight was before them that +would have caused the stoutest hearts to quail. There, leading from the +gorge, was the platform of which the guide had spoken. It was supported +by rafters, which stood out some six feet from the rock, a mere shelf, +without edge or railing, at least five hundred feet above the level of +the sea, which the mountain skirted. + +"It would be death to cross with these animals; we must turn back and +make the _détour_," said the guide. + +"Open thy ears. We dare not, O noble Nicholas," said Chow! "for the +wolves are upon us." + +"Onward, my brother, for there are sounds of more terrible beasts than +wolves. Let us trust ourselves in the hands of Providence," said the +princess. + +Seeing the knees of the guide knocking together with fear, Nicholas +said, "Get thee to the rear, and follow the mule, thou coward;" then, +dismounting, he caught hold of the reins in the nostrils of the camels +and averting his eyes from the chasm beneath, led the sure-footed beast +along the platform. They had reached midway, when the wolves, with a +howling concert, made their appearance at the commencement of the +platform; and as Chow, who brought up the rear, led the mule, he felt +the animal tremble, and fearing that if the wild brutes ventured across +the platform the terrified beasts would be the means of precipitating +the whole party into the abyss, he trembled with anxiety. It was a +fearful situation, but the brave youth retaining his presence of mind, +crept to the flanks of the mule, and only in time, for one of the wolves +who had ventured along the platform, followed by the pack, received an +arrow in his brain, and as he rolled over into the abyss beneath, its +companions stood with their fore feet stretched forward, and their ears +bent, as if astonished, when another arrow flew among them, but so +intent had Chow become in this fight, that he was unconscious that the +progress of the rest of the party had been stopped midway. For the cause +of this we must return to Nicholas; who, as he led the camel, to his +horror, saw issuing from a fissure in the rock the head of a serpent of +the most venomous kind. He fixed an arrow in his bow, but a moment's +thought, and he dared not fire, for should he miss the reptile it would +be upon them instantly. What should he do? His sword--yes--he drew it; +but then he dared not leave the camel's head, and he called to Chow, +little thinking that he was in a more terrible position than himself. + +"Let fly thy arrow, my brother; should you miss, here is my bow," said +the princess, leaning forward. + +Still Nicholas would not move. The situation was fearful; the wolves on +one side, the deadly serpent on the other; indeed words are wanting to +paint the dread anxiety and terror of all, even the animals who stood +transfixed, with their hearts beating against their sides in the agony +of fear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +SAVED BY A MUSK-DEER.--STORIES OF WONDERFUL MOUNTAINS. + + +Relief came, but so imperceptibly that it stole over them. A perfume so +strong filled the air that the animals coughed, the great snake writhed, +and approached nearer to them; they were lost; no, the perfume had +entered the nostrils of the reptile; its movement was languid, another +second, and their deliverer appeared. It was a musk-deer, or roe-buck, +who had pursued the serpent till it had lost it in the fissure for a few +minutes only, when, recovering its trail, the deer had pursued it to the +platform, where, with one grip at its neck, it killed it, when, startled +at the cavalcade, it retraced its steps, not at all to the regret of +Nicholas, for, valuable as the musk animal was, his gratitude was too +great to have killed it. Having crossed the platform, Nicholas saw the +predicament of Chow, who was still employed in keeping the wolves at +bay. He had fired many arrows, yet had killed but three, while others +sat crouching, as if neither liking to recede or advance, waiting, in +fact, for the boy's back to be turned, before they made an attack; so +keeping poor Chow in one terrible position, not daring to turn his back +or to fire his last remaining arrow, for fear that it should miss. The +tables, however, were turned, when Nicholas, followed by the guide, both +with fixed bows, came to his rescue; one flight more from the three +bows, and the now terrified beasts scampered off, when Chow returned to +the other side of the platform with Nicholas, and the whole party +offered up thanks to Heaven for their miraculous preservation. + +It is in the mountains of Pe-tche-Lee that the musk-deer is generally +found by hunters, who find a good market, not only for the musk, but the +body, which is in great esteem; and that I may account to you in a +reasonable manner for the providential escape of the travelers, I must +tell you that the flesh of serpents is the favorite and most common food +of this roe-buck, who kills them with ease, however large or numerous; +for no sooner does he come near than the serpent becomes overpowered +with the scent of the musk; and so well is this fact known to the +mountaineers, that when they go to cut wood or make charcoal in the +mountains, they carry about their persons a few grains of this musk, and +rest and sleep without fear from the venomous snakes, which might +otherwise destroy them. + +The travelers resumed their journey, and continued till it became dark, +when they pitched their tents upon an open plain, lighted a circle of +fire around their encampment, and remained for the night; so, for at +least three months, they continued this tedious journey, keeping within +a few miles of the sea-coast, through mountains, plains and forests, +till they reached a small village, at the base of the mountain chain of +Lao-yang, where they were once more enabled to rest beneath the roof of +a house, without fear of traitors, for Lao-yang was the head-quarters of +the governor and general of the province, Woo-san-Kwei. + +As they were passing the ridges of these mountains, the guide kept his +eyes fixed upon their green sides, as if in deep thought. "Surely my +brother can see nothing wonderful in these tree-growing hills," said +Chow. + +"Thy mean servant was dreaming of his native province, of which these +mountains reminded him, although compared with those of my native +Chen-si they are dirt heaps." + +"The mountains of my brother's province of Chen-si are doubtless great, +but they are mole-hills to those of Fokien, where thy unworthy brother +was born," said Chow. + +"Why, what words are these? Does not the whole world know that Chen-si +has a mountain of the shape of a cock, and which sometimes crows so loud +that it may be heard for ten miles?" + +"Fokien has a mountain which is so high that its summit can not be seen, +and foretells storms by moving its great body to and fro like a tree +with the wind." + +"It is a dirt-hill compared to another in Chen-si, that at the sound of +a drum breathes forth fire and flame." + +"Rat's flesh! thy mountain is nothing to the good hill of Fokien, which +makes thieves so giddy when they gaze upon it, that they drop down their +plunder and run for their lives," said Chow. + +"That may be useful, my brother, but how can its qualities be compared +to another of my mountains, which has the power of conferring +immortality upon all who live thereon?" replied the guide. + +"It is even of doubtful merit compared to the mountain of Fokien, which +has grown into the exact shape of the god Fo, and is so large that its +eyes are three miles round, and its nose ten miles long." The guide +having no other on his list, turned sulkily aside, and so ended this +conversation, which, I may tell you, did not spring from the +imaginations of either, for the assertions on both sides are accredited +by the people of China. + +Delighted at the probability of their being near the end of their +journey, and as much so at the prospect of a few days' rest, you may +imagine the dismay of the party at being awakened early the next morning +by a great tumult. What could it mean? They were not long in doubt, for +the master of the inn came to them with tears in his eyes. "Arise, O +worthy strangers, this is an unfortunate day for us all; the thieves, +the rats of the ocean have landed," said he. + +"What words are these, O worthy friend?" said Nicholas, jumping to his +feet. + +"The Emperor Li is marching a great army to beseige Lao-yang, where the +great Woo-san-Kwei is encamped; but far worse, the sea wasps have +landed within a day's journey, and are scouring the country, joined by +the rogues and thieves of the province, and the people are flying with +what goods they can collect to the places of refuge; if the noble +stranger is wise he will follow," said the man, leaving the room to make +preparation for the departure of himself and family. + +Of the places of refuge, of which the man spoke, there were many in the +province of Leao-tong. Some were in the open plains, encompassed by +strong walls, and entrenched ditches of great depth; others were erected +upon the summits of mountain crags, and approachable only by great +ladders, or secret steps in the rock. + +Fearing for the safety of the princess, Nicholas lost no time in +securing the aid of the innkeeper, who, for a handsome present, and in +compassion for the ladies, offered to secure them a safe asylum. So when +the greater portion of the terrified inhabitants of the little hamlet +had fled to their different places of refuge, taking with them the bulk +of their property, the innkeeper, placing his wife and daughter in a +cart, led the way through a defile of the mountain, and many times was +he stopped by his flying neighbors, who implored of him to seek a safer +place than the open mountains, where the rogues could so easily follow. +Keeping steadily along the ridge, while they were in sight, the last had +no sooner disappeared than he turned through a great cleft, just large +enough for the cart and camel to pass, when, pointing to a crag which +hung over the summit, at a great height, he said, "The rogues will not +reach us there." + +"Are we birds, that we can fly?" said Chow, with astonishment. + +When they had proceeded some distance through the opening, they came to +another and narrower cleft, cut out of its sides, to pass through which +they were compelled to unharness the mules and camel, when they entered +a wide, open space, like a courtyard. + +"Even now we want wings, my brother," said Chow, shuddering, as he gazed +upward at the great height. + +"Our wings are here," said the man, turning aside what appeared to be a +huge block of rock, but was only an ingenious imitation, when before +them there was a flight of steps, steep, and so narrow, that they looked +as if the ascent would squeeze a fat man a foot taller. + +However, pleased at the discovery of such a place of refuge, they did +not stop to examine it, but passed onward; the princess first, and the +other women followed by the men, who carried articles of food, fuel, or +raiment with them. Having reached the uppermost step, they crept through +a hole large enough only for one person, and found themselves in one +large room, the roof of which was indeed the summit of the rock. In the +walls were small loopholes, from which could be seen many miles of +country; there was also a large space in one side for a fire, which was +immediately made use of by Chow, who had carried the fuel. Then the +guide was sent to fetch other matters, after which they all sat down +upon their mats, and partook of hot tea and rice cakes. + +"Truly this is a wonderful place," said Nicholas, who, although he knew +that places of refuge were common in all the frontier provinces, had no +notion of their real strength and security. + +"See," said the man, pointing to some huge stones near the entrance, and +some heavy bars of iron hanging upon the walls, "should the dogs +discover our retreat, they may be crushed as small as tea-dust." + +"Truly they could but starve us out." + +"Not so, noble youth," said the man pointing to a massive slab of rock; +and adding, "This is a door and leads to another part of the mountain." + +"Truly our ancestors were wise." + +"Necessity made them so, O youth; for two thousand years this border +province has been invaded at intervals by the Tartar barbarians." + +When night came on, the men of the party descended to the cavern +beneath, the women kept to the turret, and were rocked to sleep by the +roaring wind, which brought to them the flame, smoke, and sparks, from +below. They, however, were secure, although the enraged rogues had made +a bonfire of their village--and they slept. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +TREACHERY OF THE GUIDE.--THE PRINCESS SEIZED BY ROBBERS. + + +After a sojourn of three days in this hiding-place their provisions grew +short; moreover, it was probable that the enemy had left the village, +if, indeed, they had not taken their departure upon the first day; +therefore, it was arranged that one of the party should proceed upon a +tour of observation, and as the guide not only volunteered, but from his +profession seemed to be the most fitting person, he was sent. After an +absence of some hours, he brought them the information that not only had +the enemy left the neighborhood, but there was plenty of game at hand, +the great proof of which was the carcass of a yellow goat that he +carried across his shoulders; and so joyful was Nicholas at the news, +that he proposed their immediate departure. + +"It would not be wise, O my young friend, for these thieves are artful, +and may be only lurking near till they can pounce upon us like tigers," +said the innkeeper. + +This advice being reasonable, and, fearing more for the princess than +himself, Nicholas readily agreed to remain for a few more days; but +then, tired of confinement, and knowing that one small kid would be +insufficient, he took his bow in his hands, saying, "Leave not this +place, O Chow, till I return." + +"This may not be, O my master, for while here, there are two men, and a +strong room to protect the ladies; among the hills it will be as much as +two can do to protect each other from strolling thieves," said Chow; +which reasonable view, being supported by the princess and the +innkeeper, Nicholas was compelled, although against his will, to comply +with; and so the two youths started off in company. + +Along mountain ridges, through valleys, and up steep crags, they toiled +for some hours without meeting man or beast. At length, however, as they +crossed a small hill covered with trees there was a rustling among the +underwood, and they heard the grunt of some animal. "It is a boar, +prepare thy bow," said Nicholas. + +"No, no, master, no; he is running from us," said Chow, who was upon +higher ground and could see better. "See," he added, as Nicholas came by +his side, "he is sniffing something good; what can it be?" For a minute +they watched the animal, who was quietly sniffing the ground near a +small opening of the mountain. "See, he seeks the entrance, we must not +lose him," said Nicholas; and in another minute the boar fell over with +an arrow in his side when, drawing his sword, Nicholas ran up to it. The +animal, however, was too quick, for instead of being unduly alarmed at +the sudden attack, like a sensible beast, he had, with his teeth, +plucked the arrow from his body; an operation he effected so quickly, +that before Nicholas could stop, the boar met him half-way, tripped him +over, and, placing his huge paws upon the boy's face, would speedily +have killed him, but for another arrow which Chow had sent through the +brute's thick neck. + +"That was a good aim, my brave Chow," said Nicholas, as he arose, and +passed his sword through the beast. + +"The obstinacy of thy servant in coming with thee was good, O noble +Nicholas." + +"Thou shalt be rewarded with a leg, at least," said Nicholas. + +Thus satisfied with their foraging expedition, they carried the animal +between them till they came within a short distance of the refuge, when +they stopped to rest; but, starting suddenly Chow said, "Let us listen;" +and both put their ears to the ground. "Surely, it is plain, it is the +trampling of a large party of horses," replied Nicholas, rising to his +feet and running up a steep hill, "still there is nothing to be seen, no +living being--yet," he added, "it was the trampling of horses." + +"It can not be otherwise," said Chow. + +"Let us haste, then, O Chow!" and leaving the carcass of the boar upon +the ground, they ran till they reached the cavern. The camel and mules +were gone--their worst fears were confirmed; and Nicholas ascended the +stairs, followed by Chow, entered the room, when involuntarily placing +his hand upon his forehead, as if to assist his astonished vision, he +gave a scream of horror. + +As for Chow, for a minute his astonishment deprived him of speech; then, +falling upon his face, he exclaimed, "My beloved mother!" + +Well might they be horrified, for the princess and her attendant were +absent; the innkeeper, his wife and daughter, and the guide, were bound +with cords and gagged, so that they could neither move nor speak. + +While Nicholas released the innkeeper, Chow performed a like office for +the women, when they all fell upon the guide, thumping him with their +fists, kicking him with their feet, and exclaiming, "Thou rat, thou +snake, thou shalt be strangled." As for the miserable fellow, with his +limbs bound and his mouth gagged, he could do nothing but roll his eyes +at them. Then being released by Nicholas, he would have got upon his +legs but for Chow, who threw him upon his back, and, stamping his foot +upon his breast, cried, "Lie there, thou dog, for thou art the villain." + +"It is not so, Chow, or he would not himself be so bound and gagged," +said Nicholas. + +"Nevertheless, he is the traitor; he it was who brought the soldiers +upon us, who discovered our retreat," said the innkeeper, giving the +prostrate rogue another kick. + +"Open thy lips, thou rascal; say what has become of the two ladies, or I +will slay thee," said Nicholas. + +"Speak, thou rogue," said Chow, almost breathless with anxiety. + +"Truly it was the misfortune and not the crime of thy servant; for had +he not been chosen as thy guide, this thing could not have happened," +replied the trembling fellow. + +"Open thy lips to a purpose, thou rogue; give me a clue to the track of +these robbers, and thy life shall be spared," said Nicholas, more +anxious to rescue the princess than to punish the guide, who, gaining +courage from the promise, said, "Truly, then, the princess is on her way +to the camp of the Emperor." + +This was too much for Nicholas, who fell upon the man, and would have +killed him, but for Chow, who, in his turn, becoming more calm, said, +"Let the rogue earn his life by enabling us to follow these thieving +rats." + +Perceiving the wisdom of this, Nicholas removed his hand from the throat +of the rogue, who said, "Truly this is a heavy misfortune; for till thy +servant left this place, he intended no mischief, when in the mountains +he met with a party of soldiers, who have been pursuing us all the way +from Kin-Chow for the purpose of earning the reward offered for the +princess." + +"How is this possible, thou rogue?" said Nicholas. + +"On the day of the festival, these soldiers landed on their way to +gather troops for the service of the Emperor Li, whom they were ordered +to join on the borders of the province; on the same day that thy outrage +upon the person of my uncle, the innkeeper of Kin-Chow, was discovered, +and the venerable man in his indignation told the soldiers that the +princess, for whom so large a reward was offered, was on the road to +Lao-yang, accompanied by a woman, two youths, and his nephew, who might +be known by the name of Leang, and who would, doubtless, when he heard +of the affront put upon his uncle, aid in capturing the whole party. The +soldiers, anxious to obtain the reward, pressed forward with such haste, +that, but for our crossing the platform, they would have overtaken us," +said the guide; adding, "And would that they had, for then thy servant +would have been innocent." + +"If innocent, then, thou rogue, what hath since caused thee to become a +traitor," said Nicholas. + +"When the soldiers informed the nephew of the affront offered to his +venerable uncle, how under heaven and the social laws could he refuse to +aid in the punishment of such offenders?" + +"How came it, O thou great rogue, that the soldiers should repay thy +great services with so much ingratitude?" + +"Truly thy mean servant is not a god, that he can foresee the +ingratitude of mankind." + +"These are dog's words, O noble youth," said the innkeeper; adding, +"This fellow had promised the thieves to keep thee under some pretence +till they came up, when they intended to have sold thee as a slave; and +finding that they had missed a portion of their expected prize, partly +in their rage, and partly that the rogue should not claim a portion of +the reward, they first beat and then left him as you found him, not +doubting that upon your return you would kill so false a rascal." + +"Shall we not kill the traitor, who has stolen my beloved mother and the +princess?" said Chow, very fiercely. + +"Truly we will do better--make him useful," said Nicholas; adding, "Is +the rogue certain that these soldiers have proceeded to Lao-yang?" + +"It must be so, for it is to that city the Emperor Li is marching to +besiege the rebel Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide. + +"Thou rascal, to call so great a thief an emperor, and so great a +general a rebel," said Chow, menacing him with his fist; adding, as he +again bound his arms to his side, "Thou shalt at least be in safe +keeping till either the princess be discovered, or thy day arrives to be +strangled." + +The excitement past, then came despair. The soldiers had stolen the +mules and camel; it was, therefore, useless to attempt to overtake them, +even if their numbers had been sufficiently large. What was to be done? +and they both sat with their heads upon their hands. Nothing! At length +Nicholas said, "Bring the rogue with us, we will seek the General +Woo-san-Kwei." + +"The roads are dangerous, and may be filled with rebels," said the +innkeeper. + +"Then must we fight our way through the vermin," said Nicholas. + +"This rogue shall go before and get the first sword in his wretched +body," said Chow, jerking the rope by which he held the guide, whose +teeth chattered together with terror at the notion. + +Then telling the innkeeper where to find the dead boar, Nicholas bade +him and his family farewell. + +"May the great Tien aid thee!" said the woman. + +"Leave us thy name, O noble youth, that it may be marked on the memories +of our descendants," said the innkeeper. + +Nicholas took the man aside, and whispered in his ear. + +"It is a terrible name," said the man, bowing his head to the ground. + +"It is a good one, and the son will restore thee thy village, O worthy +man, if the rebels take not his life," said Nicholas. + +"The princess, the princess, and my beloved mother," exclaimed Chow. + +"Are protected by Heaven till we rescue them from the hands of the +villain Li," said Nicholas, and they proceeded on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +ONCE MORE PRISONERS, BUT WITH FRIENDS--THE GUIDE'S MISTAKE. + + +With sorrowful hearts the two boys took leave of the houseless family, +and proceeded along the ridges of the mountains till they came to the +entrance of a great wood. Chow had custody of the guide, whom he held by +the rope, and pressed forward or jerked backward, as his sense of +indignation at the loss of his mother arose or subsided. At times he +would so slacken the rope that the man could scarcely feel his thraldom; +then again, when he thought of the hopelessness of again recovering his +mother, he would clench his teeth and pull it so violently, that the +miserable guide would fall backward; whereupon Chow would say, "Get thee +upon thy bamboo legs, thou rogue, or I will drag thee like a bale of +demon's goods, as thou art;" and the fat body of the coward would shake +like a blanc-mange, rise upon its legs, and commence a trot, when, after +a little while, Chow would give another tug at the rope, saying, as the +man tottered backward, "O, thou wouldst escape, wouldst thou, thou mouse +of fat measure, who hath stolen the cream of our lives?" + +"Truly thy servant has been unfortunate, O noble youth, yet if his body +is shaken like a jelly of cold soup, he cannot guide thee through this +city of trees." + +"The rogue's words are good, Chow, we cannot find our way through these +trees without his aid," said Nicholas; adding, "Fasten the rope around +thy arm, so that he cannot slip from thy hands." + +"Truly the advice of my master is good," said Chow; and as they were +then passing through a thick copse, he fastened the rope around his own +body, saying, "Now, thou rat, honesty will for once reverse things, and +take its place behind roguery, for surely I hear footsteps, and should +they be those of thieves, thy thick head may serve to blunt the points +of their arrows." + +The sounds were unmistakable, and the guide fell backward, trembling so +violently that he could not walk, till, taking hold of his shoulders, +Chow pushed him forward, saying, "On, thou coward, on;" and so they went +along the narrow path, till the sounds became more distinct. Then a +voice shouted to them, "stop!" when, trembling more than ever, the guide +threw one shoulder backward, and one foot forward, in order to prop +himself against the propelling Chow, at the same time exclaiming, "Stay, +O generous youth,--for the love of Fo, stay!--or the body of thy servant +will become a cushion for arrow-heads." + +"Silence, thou dog," said Nicholas; adding in a whisper to Chow, "Let us +remain quiet, for doubtless it is some thief." + +Then came the twang of a bow, and an arrow flew by, in its flight +clipping the ear of the miserable guide, who, now fairly frightened +out of his senses, twisted round like a teetotum, and fell upon the +ground, carrying Chow with him, exclaiming, "These are the thieves, +these are the thieves, O honorable war tiger." + +And before Chow had disengaged himself from the rogue, they were all +three dragged into an open glade, where they found themselves surrounded +by a party of cavalry, the guide upon the ground trembling, and Nicholas +and Chow with their arms folded defiantly. + +[Illustration: Nicholas and Chow taken Prisoners.] + +"Who are the dogs? what their names, surnames, and rank?" said the +officer. + +"Travelers who have no fear of rebel rogues," replied Nicholas +dauntlessly, believing them to be troops of Li-Kong. + +"Take my life, but save that of my venerable mother," said Chow, in a +similar belief. + +"These rogues are robbers, who would take a faithful and valiant subject +of the great Emperor Li-Kong a prisoner to the town of the thief +Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide, jumping upon his feet, with a most +warlike mien, knowing that if with the soldiers of Li-Kong he was with +friends. + +"What means the slave? Who art thou, thou empty rice tub?" said the +officer. + +"It may please the fierce tiger of war to be amused at the person of his +servant; but if he be a rice-tub, he can serve the Emperor." + +"Emperor!--what Emperor, thou ox?" said the officer. + +"The great Li,--may he live ten thousand years." + +"Thy name, surname, and rank?" said the officer. + +"The mean name of thy insignificant servant is Leang, and he is the +unworthy nephew of Ling, the innkeeper, of Kin-Chow," replied the guide, +not doubting that he was in the hands of rebel troopers. + +"Then truly, Leang, the unworthy nephew of Ling, is a dangerous though a +comical rogue." + +"The noble tiger of war is pleased----" + +"To have thee strangled with thine own girdle for being a follower of +the great thief Li-Kong," said the officer; adding, as he turned to his +soldiers, "Let this be done." + +At this unexpected result, the terribly mistaken guide's face became +paler and longer, and falling upon his knees, he said, "Let the +magnificent commander be generous to an insignificant and withered +mouse, who is nothing but a poor and faithful guide, as these noble +youths, whom he hath conducted all the way from Kin-Chow to the town of +the great Woo-san-Kwei, can testify." + +"Bend thy neck at the name of the great prince, thou rogue," said the +officer, striking him on the back with his sword, and the guide fell +flat--that is, as nearly so as his protuberant stomach would +permit--when the officer added laughingly, "Truly the animal is fat +enough to kill at once; yet, as the rebels may cause us a siege so long +that we may be short of provender for our horses, let him be kept in a +strong cage till that time arrives;" then beckoning to a soldier, the +latter seized the horrified guide and tied him before him on his saddle. + +Then turning to Nicholas and Chow, who, notwithstanding their serious +position, had been laughing heartily at the merited misery of the guide, +the officer said, "Are the rogue's words truth? Do my brothers seek the +presence of the great Woo-san-Kwei?" Then when Nicholas had related to +the officer the whole of their adventures from Kin, Chow alone +prudentially keeping back the fact that the lady of high rank was the +princess, he said, "What were the numbers of these rogues?" + +"There could have been no less than twenty, O noble commander," said +Nicholas. + +Then turning to his second-in-command, the officer said, "Let the rogue +of a guide be kept tied before thee on thy saddle, O Ching; take fifty +horsemen, and return not to the camp till thou bringest these ladies +with thee. If the rogue of a guide directs thee so that thou art +successful, he shall be rewarded; if not, strangled." + +"Will not the noble commander let these horsemen be placed under the +charge of his younger brother, who truly hath the greater right to bring +these rogues to punishment?" said Nicholas, imploringly. + +"This may not be, my brother; for, although I doubt not thy honesty, it +would be at the risk of my life that I let thee pass from my sight till +thou hadst been taken before the prince." + +Although vexed that the chance of rescuing the princess, and punishing +the soldiers who had made her prisoner, had been denied to him, +Nicholas felt too well pleased at the slightest possibility of her being +rescued, to complain; and, therefore, without another word, the boys +followed the troops upon their march to Lao-yang, not by any means +regretting that they had fallen into the hands of this foraging party of +Woo-san-Kwei's army. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +INTERVIEW WITH THE GENERAL.--NICHOLAS CAUSES SOLDIERS TO BE SENT IN +SEARCH OF THE PRINCESS. + + +Unlike any place Nicholas had seen since he left his father's fleet, +Lao-yang exhibited sure signs of the determination and energy of its +commanders. Surrounded by a deep ditch of great width, its formidable +walls were manned at every point with the picked and most disciplined +men from the northern provinces--soldiers who had been fighting for many +years against the invading Tartars--and armed to the teeth with swords, +cross-bows, shields, helmets, and breast and back plates. At short +distances were planted small brass cannon, or bombards, which, although +they had been set aside for so many years that the art of using them had +become forgotten, Woo-san-Kwei had not only brought again into use, but +taught his troops to serve effectually. Then, again, although the +matchlock men were fewer than upon the walls of Pekin, they had been so +well exercised in the use of that weapon that they could handle it +nearly as well as bows and arrows,--a great matter at that period, as +you will understand when I tell you that some few years previously, when +matchlocks were first introduced, to defend a frontier town against the +Tartars, the latter were so much astonished at a weapon which possessed +the magic power of slaying them at so great a distance, that they fled +in dismay, when, making a sortie, or onset, the Chinese destroyed many +thousands. The next assault, however, the Tartars provided their front +ranks with shields of wood, so large and thick, that they were as safe +from bullets, as they would have been behind walls, consequently the +fire of the Chinese proved useless; moreover, before they could reload, +the second rank of the Tartars scaled the walls and fell upon them so +quickly, that even those who had time to load handled their pieces so +clumsily and nervously that the rebound knocked them over, and the whole +garrison were killed. This affair so disgusted the Chinese with the +matchlock, that henceforward they kept it more as a matter of show, or +to use when there was no chance of coming to close quarters, than as a +regular weapon of war. + +With greater foresight, the General Woo-san-Kwei had not only re-adopted +the weapon, but, by incessant practice, and offerings of rewards and +promotion to those who exhibited peculiar dexterity, he succeeded in +forming a good body of matchlock men. + +When they had passed through the gates, the officer left Nicholas and +Chow to amuse themselves as best they might, while he proceeded to +report the arrival of himself and his prisoners (for in that light he +regarded them) to the prince general. + +Had Nicholas entrusted his name, or that of the princess, to the +officer, there can be no doubt that the general would have granted him +an immediate interview; as it was, he had to wait till the following +day. Previously, however, to seeking the audience, he went to the great +square, where, to his surprise, he saw a large body of troops drawn out +under arms, with their banners and wind instruments, as if to receive +some important personage, and officers were galloping to and fro between +the palace and the great gates. The meaning of all this puzzled him. +Truly it would be unfortunate if Woo-san-Kwei should be about to take +his departure upon some expedition. The riddle, was, however, soon +explained; for, even while he was pondering, the general's own bodyguard +passed to the gate; when, drawing themselves up on either side, a +noble-looking horseman, followed by a train of some twenty others, rode +into the city, and was escorted to the palace; but, great as this +personage evidently was, the Chinese soldiers kept a dread and sullen +silence, making no movement except to involuntarily clutch the triggers +of their pieces, or the strings of their bows. As for Nicholas, he +stared with astonishment, grasped the hilt of his sword--the sight was +indeed extraordinary. A Mantchou prince and his train of Tartars, those +most dreaded enemies of the empire, within the very palace of the +barbarian-subduing general, not in chains, but as a friend, received +with honor. + +Indignant at the sight, Nicholas rudely grasped the arm of a soldier, +saying, "Can my brother tell a stranger how it is that such barbarian +thieves are within these walls? Surely the kid does not invite the wolf +to its own bosom!" + +"Would my brother keep his head upon his shoulders and not be thrown +from the walls like a dead rat, he will not seek to know the +barbarian-exterminating general's secrets," said the surly soldier; +adding, however, directly afterward, "The Tartar dogs may have come to +offer their submission." + +Whatever might have been the business of the Tartar prince with the +Chinese general, it did not last an hour, for in less than that time he +left the city, and shortly after the officer who had brought Nicholas +into the town conducted him to the presence of the general, who, in full +military costume, surrounded by a great number of officers, was standing +(a rare thing for a Chinese grandee) at a table, busily engaged in +examining some papers. + +Having performed the same ceremony of running up the middle of the +apartment, and bowing to the ground, as at an audience of the Emperor, +he awaited the command of the prince to rise, which being given, +Woo-san-Kwei no sooner saw his features than he said, "This is indeed a +fortunate day, that brings to us the son of Chin-Chi-Loong. Thy +presence, bold youth, is welcome; yet," he added sternly, "so brave a +servant should have died defending his imperial master." + +"The silken voice of the illustrious general is music to his servant, +whose words must not fall into the ears of all," replied Nicholas, +glancing at the officers around. + +"This is but wisdom, youth," replied the prince, motioning to the +officers to withdraw from the apartment, after which he said, "Let the +noble youth open his lips;" whereupon Nicholas gave a faithful recital +of his adventures from the time that Woo-san-Kwei had himself left Pekin +for the army. During the recital, the general listened attentively, at +intervals giving vent to exclamations of surprise, rage, or approval. +When, however, Nicholas related the escape of the princess, he said, +warmly, "Noble youth, thy wisdom, like thy bravery, is beyond thy years; +and when these rebel dogs have been swept from the earth, thou shalt +have the kingdom that thy father seeketh." Then, when the enthusiasm of +the moment had passed, bethinking himself, he said, "But truly the +servant of the Mings forgets his duty to the daughter of his murdered +Emperor; lead me to her, O youth." + +Then Nicholas, for the first time in his life, trembled; an arrow +through his heart would have been more welcome than that command, and +falling upon his knees, as if he had betrayed a sacred trust, he said, +"These words should be my last, O general. The princess is in the power +of the rebel Li-Kong." + +So like a thunder-clap did these words fall upon the mind of the +Woo-san-Kwei, that for a moment he was speechless, but recovering +himself, he said, "Thou dog, if these words are true thou shalt die;" +but becoming calmer, he commanded Nicholas to finish his story, and when +the youth had brought it up to the moment of the audience, the general +said, "Thou art, indeed, a brave youth; but this rogue Leang, knows he +the road the woman thieves took?" Then, however, without waiting for an +answer, and knowing that action was more likely to recover the princess +and her attendant than useless sorrow or anger, he ordered the +attendance of one of his officers, telling him to send out parties of +soldiers in different directions in search of the princess. + +Then Nicholas fell upon his knees, and prayed to lead the party himself. + +"This cannot be, brave youth, for thou art too serviceable to have thy +person risked in a province so wild that no stranger can journey through +without a guide." + +"Then, O illustrious prince, thy servant dares not meet the heavenly +eyes of the Prince Yong-Li, in whose service he has undertaken this long +journey," said Nicholas. + +"Truly it was an unfortunate day for the son of Woo when he fell under +the displeasure of the young Emperor, his royal master," said the +general, gloomily. + +"Can it be under heaven that Yong Li has forgotten the great services of +his most illustrious general?" + +"Such is his servant's misfortune," said the general. + +"Then," said Nicholas, "let thy servant seek the young Emperor, and upon +his knees pray of him to open his heavenly ears to the fragrant advice +of the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"This cannot be, for his majesty (_may he continue the circle of +succession_) has left Lao-yang in anger." + +"This, then, is indeed an unfortunate day, O my general," said +Nicholas, with astonishment; adding, "Surely the cause must have been +great for so much anger from so mild a prince." + +"Let the noble youth open his ears, and he shall hear how this calamity +fell out," said the general; adding, "When his majesty, after the death +of his father, so happily escaped the hands of the great thief Li, he +fled to the army of his servant, and desired that the whole of the +Tartar-subduing army of Leao-tong should be immediately led to Pekin for +the purpose of destroying the rebels. Alas! the grief of the prince had +destroyed his reason; the plan was not possible, for in my absence the +barbarians would have overrun the northern province. Well, for a time +the prince submitted to his servant's advice, till one day an envoy +arrived from the dog Li, who commanded me to proclaim him Emperor +throughout the province, offering, as the price of my obedience, a +kingdom; threatening, if I refused, to march against this city with a +million of men." + +"The illustrious general could make but one answer to so infamous a +proposal," said Nicholas. + +"And that was to offer a reward of ten thousand taels to the brave man +who should lay the head of so black a dragon at my feet," said the +general; adding, "Soon after came the news that Li was on his march, +with a vast army, to chastise me for the insult, and I began to prepare +to receive him; but, finding that the number of my troops was so small +that the multitudinous army of the rebels would hew them to pieces in +the first battle, rather than suffer such a disgrace, and permit so +vile a criminal to remain unpunished, I dared to propose to make peace +with the Tartar king conditionally, that he would help me to drive this +rogue from the land. This proposition was indignantly resisted by the +prince, when (may I be pardoned for so daring an act) I became but the +more resolved, and immediately sent a special envoy to the Tartar, who, +in return, sent by his brother, the great Amavan, a promise to add to my +little army one hundred thousand of his bravest troops. Scarcely, +however, had a day elapsed after the departure of my envoy to the +Tartar, then the royal Yong-Li left the city in anger." + +"Truly, general, the prince was wise, for although in war and council +all men are mice by the side of the great Woo-san-Kwei, surely in this +his wisdom must have failed him, for, O general, is it reasonable to +bring in tigers to chase away dogs?" said Nicholas, warmly. + +To which Woo-san-Kwei made no reply, but terminated the audience to keep +down his anger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +CRUEL DEATH OF THE AGED WOO.--A BATTLE.--BRAVERY OF THE BOYS.--CHOW +TAKEN BY THE ENEMY. + + +With terrible anxiety, Nicholas awaited the return of the party sent in +search of the princess, but when evening came and they brought not the +slightest clue, his grief grew beyond all bounds, and he resolved to +seek the general's permission to go himself in search, but, as on the +following day, a deserter from the enemy brought news that the main body +of the rebels was within a few miles of Lao-yang, he was compelled to +remain with Woo-san-Kwei, at least till the enemy had been destroyed or +beaten back from whence they came. + +Then terrible preparations were made for a close fight, in the event of +the enemy assaulting the town before the arrival of the Tartars; but +when Li-Kong came in sight, with an army so vast that it covered the +country for miles, the hearts of Woo-san-Kwei's troops grew faint, for +should the Tartars deceive them, they were lost, for against such +numbers it was impossible they could hold out many days. Still, the +greatest coward grew courageous when he thought of the merciless cruelty +of Li, knowing it would be a far more easy death to fall upon the walls +than into his hands, and so for days they held out bravely against the +attacks which had now become incessant. Then, through the continued +efforts, both by day and night, made by the two youths, to sustain the +courage of the troops, the latter recovered their spirits, and so +gallantly did the boys help in repelling the assailants, that they were +praised by the general in front of the whole army. + +Fourteen days had they defended the town, when the provisions became so +scarce, that, again losing hope, the troops grew mutinous and threatened +to throw down their arms, when, upon the fifteenth, upon a hill that +arose far behind the rebel army, there shot up to the heavens a vast +body of blue fire, upon which, forgetting their troubles, the soldiers +became frantic with joy, offered thanks to Fo, and returned to their +duties with renewed energy; and no wonder, for it was the signal that +the Tartars were on their march to relieve them. + +Li-Kong must also have understood the signal, for from the moment of its +appearance one-half of his army began to manoeuvre, so as to present a +good front to the new enemy, while the other commenced a fierce assault +upon the town. Seeing assistance at hand, Woo-san-Kwei ordered his +troops to reserve their arrows and ammunition till their ally had so +weakened the enemy's rear that he could judiciously leave the town, and +attack them in front. When, however, the besieged slackened fire, the +assaulting party retired, and a body of their cavalry, holding their +great shields before them to receive stray arrows, rode forward to +within half a bow-shot from the walls, when they came to a dead halt. + +"What mean the dogs? surely they escort an envoy from the rash rebel," +said the general, commanding silence along the walls; and then ordering +one of his officers to shout to the party, that they might remove their +shields without fear. + +This having been done, the men let fall their shields, when the sight +that presented itself caused the brave general to reel, so that he would +have fallen but for the support of Nicholas. As for Chow, he placed an +arrow in his bow, and would have sent it flying at the chief of the +party, had not an officer struck the arrow from its rest, saying, "How, +wouldst thou disobey the general?" and brought to his senses, the boy +stood stamping his feet, gnashing his teeth, and twitching the bow with +suppressed rage. Well might the sight cause such consternation on the +part of the general, for there upon horseback, heavily laden with +chains, sat his father the venerable Woo, with his long gray hair +flowing down his bared neck, accompanied by an executioner, who stood by +his side, holding a naked sabre. + +[Illustration: The aged Woo brought in chains before the walls.] + +"What would the General Li-Kong with Woo-san-Kwei, that he thus humbles +him?" said Woo-san-Kwei. + +"Let the venerable Woo answer the question of his rebel son," said the +chief of the party. + +Then with a glance of fierce defiance at his guards, the old noble said, +"It is well known, O my son, that the heavens, earth, and fate cause +strange vicissitudes of fortune; even so have they deposed the Emperor +Wey-t-song, and placed in his royal seat the Emperor Li-Kong, who, if +thou wilt make a virtue of necessity, acknowledge his dominion, and +serve him as a faithful tributary, will confer upon thee the title and +dignity of a king; but if thou refusest submission, the head of thy +parent will be the penalty. Such are the words the aged Woo hath been +commanded to deliver; it is now for his brave son to consider what he +oweth to him who gave him life." + +So great was the indignation of the troops of Woo-san-Kwei, that but for +the danger of Woo, whom the rebels had placed in their front, they would +have shot down the whole party. As for the general, he stood for some +minutes bewildered; had it been his rank, fortune, or life, that was in +danger, his filial love would have prevented an instant's hesitation; +but was he not the son of a man whose whole life had been dedicated to +the people? alas! this knowledge made his agony the greater; for the +better the man, the greater reason his life should be saved at any cost. +At any? No--not at the cost of his honor, and the safety of the people, +whom this Li-Kong was decimating hourly. + +With terrible patience the chief of the party awaited a reply. It was +given. Woo-san-Kwei fell upon his knees. "Pardon, O my venerable and +noble parent," said he aloud, "but it is not under heaven that thou +couldst wish thy son to do this thing; if it be so, let this be the +answer: He that is not faithful to the people will never be faithful to +his son; therefore, if you forget your duty and fidelity to the imperial +family, and the people, by demanding that thy son should be guilty of so +great a crime, no man will blame Woo-san-Kwei for forgetting his duty +and obedience to such a father." Then, turning to the chief, the general +added sternly, "Take back these words, thou dog: That the son of the +venerable Woo will die the dog's death rather than acknowledge so great +and cruel a thief as this Li-Kong." + +"These are fragrant words, O my noble son; for hadst thou been guilty of +so monstrous a crime, the names both of father and son would have +sounded hateful in the ears of posterity: the father, that he had +brought up a son so basely; and the son, that he could save so bad a +parent," replied the venerable noble. + +"Shall it go down to posterity that the noble Woo-san-Kwei was the +assassin of his parent?" said the chief of the party. + +"Thou hast thy answer, dog, and if thou art within bow-shot longer than +the next five minutes thy miserable life shall be the forfeit," said the +general; adding sorrowfully, "Farewell, O my venerable parent. May the +great Tien pardon me, if I have not chosen virtuously." + +"Thy choice, O noble son, will make happy the last moments of thy +father," said the old noble; when, interrupting him, the rebel chief +said, "Still thou shalt have another chance to save this old man's life, +thou obstinate rebel;" adding, "I will grant thee another hour, and if +within that time a fire is made upon your walls, I shall take it as the +token of your submission; but if at the end of the hour such a signal +has not been made, then shall a similar signal from the Emperor's camp +proclaim thy parent to be on his journey to the yellow stream." + +After this the party hastened back to their camp, leaving the agonized +general standing in melancholy thoughtfulness, till just as the fifth +minute expired his attention was called to a small party of horsemen, +who, led by Nicholas and Chow, were at full gallop after the envoy. It +was rashness, nay, madness, for they were rushing upon the very outposts +of the enemy, and nothing less than a miracle could save the foolish +youths; when, turning to an officer, he cried, "Haste thee with what +horse you can collect to the rescue of those foolish boys." + +The order was obeyed, and some two hundred horse galloped forward, and +reached them in time to save Nicholas alone; as for Chow, having +recognized in the chief of the party the mandarin who had slain his +father, he had galloped greatly beyond his own party, when the mandarin, +fearing for the safe custody of Woo, pressed forward with such haste, +that, getting far ahead of his own party, Chow found himself a prisoner +before he knew where he was. Enraged at his danger, Nicholas would have +followed, but for the soldiers sent by Woo-san-Kwei, who, coming up to +him, caught hold of the rein of his horse, and in the name of the +general commanded him to return to the city. By the time, however, he +returned to the town, Woo-san-Kwei had determined to make a dash at the +rebels with a faint hope of saving his father,--a hope that was not +unreasonable, especially as the advanced guards of the Tartars were now +seen to attack Li-Kong from the opposite side. The little army was +ready; the general was at their head; but before they had marched far, a +bright flame shot up from the camp of Li-Kong. The head of Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon the neck of his horse; he sobbed aloud, "The assassin has +taken thy life, my noble parent;" but arousing himself, he added, "For +this one deed, O thou villain, thou shalt be hunted from the land;" and +so great were the numbers of the Tartars, and the bravery of +Woo-san-Kwei and his little army, that before midnight Li-Kong had been +driven from his position with the loss of at least one-half of his great +power. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE REBELS BEATEN.--ARTFULNESS OF THE TARTAR KING.--CHAGRIN AND +DISAPPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS. + + +At daybreak the battle was resumed; and with such terrible bravery did +the troops of Woo-san-Kwei and his ally the Tartar king fight, that +before noon the rebels fled in all directions; the main body, under Li +himself, retreating into the province of Pe-tche-Lee, where for many +weeks they were followed by the Tartars; and although the latter beat Li +in every engagement, and slew vast numbers of his troops, he managed so +cleverly that he reached Pekin; which city being well fortified and +manned by his adherents, he held out till the Tartars were reinforced by +many thousands of their brethren, who, now that the ancient barrier of +Leao-tong had been broken, flooded the empire like a mighty torrent. +Then Li, brave and able as he really was, saw the necessity of +retreating from the capital. To do this with profit to himself, the +artful rogue placed the whole of his troops upon and before the northern +walls; by this means he kept the soldiers employed and the enemy at bay +at least eight days and nights, during which time his more immediate +friends and faithful followers were engaged in carrying from the +imperial palace the vast treasures of jewels, gold, and silver, +collected by the Ming Emperors during the preceding two hundred and +eighty years, with which they escaped to Si-gnan, in the province of +Chen-si. Then, when the Tartar army entered the capital, although +terribly chagrined at the loss of so much treasure, they did but follow +Li-Kong a short distance, when they gave up the pursuit and returned to +Pekin, greatly to the vexation of Woo-san-Kwei, who, as you will see, +soon found that his new friends were as bad as his old enemies. + +No sooner was Li-Kong expelled, than Woo-san-Kwei proclaimed the Prince +Yong-Li Emperor, and offered to pay the Tartar king an immense sum for +the use of his army, at the same time respectfully begging he would +withdraw his troops from the empire, as it was contrary to the sacred +books that so many foreigners should remain in the sacred capital; to +which polite request the Tartar made an equally polite reply: "We do +not," said he, "think it fit to leave yet, for there are many unsubdued +thieves who may cause as much trouble as this Li-Kong; moreover, this +arch-rebel is himself established in his province, and would doubtless +return if he found that we, whom alone he fears, had quitted China; +therefore, O noble Woo-san-Kwei, we are resolved to follow up our +victory, and exterminate every rogue in the land, so that you may +deliver the empire to Yong-Li in full peace and prosperity; as for the +payment for our services, we are not poor, and can wait till the kingdom +be settled. In the mean time, however, that which we chiefly desire is, +that the great Woo-san-Kwei shall recruit his army from our own, and +proceed to Chen-si to destroy the dog Li, while we, with our brave +Tartars, will endeavor to sweep from the southern provinces the rogues +and thieves who are now settled therein." + +Deeply chagrined that he had replaced dogs with tigers, Woo-san-Kwei +could do nothing but obey--for in reality it was a command; and so he +proceeded into Chen-si, accompanied by Nicholas, where, after a campaign +of many months, he succeeded in destroying the power and army of +Li-Kong; as for the rogue himself, as his body was not found, it was +supposed that he had been killed, while endeavoring to escape in the +disguise of a private soldier. + +Throughout the campaign in Chen-si, Nicholas had fought with terrible +energy, for he had hoped that when they took possession of Li-Kong's +palace, he should obtain at least some clue to the fate of the princess +and Chow, both of whom, if alive, he believed to be in the power of the +rebels. As, however, notwithstanding the highest rewards and the most +vigorous search, he failed in gaining the slightest clue, he felt +greatly pleased when they returned to Pekin, where he was not without +hope that the princess might be concealed, and if so, she was safe; for +doubtlessly, by the time they reached the city, their Tartar allies +would, according to their promise, have proclaimed her brother, the +Prince Yong-Li, Emperor. + +So great and popular had been the successes of Woo-san-Kwei in Chen-si, +that as he rode toward Pekin the people came out, and falling upon their +knees, almost worshiped him as the restorer of peace and order. About +midway between Chen-si and Pekin, they were met by the great officers of +the Tartar king, who brought with them a vast body of troops, in order +to augment the state of the general's triumphal entrance into the +capital. Now this was very gratifying to Nicholas, for seeing the +Tartars pay so much respect to the great Ming general, he doubted less +than ever that, like faithful friends, if they had not already done so, +they would speedily restore Yong-Li to his throne--a gratification which +was considerably heightened, when, at the gates of the city, they were +met by a procession of great officers, both Tartars and Chinese, who, in +the name of the Emperor, greeted Woo-san-Kwei with the title of King of +Chen-si; so with difficulty the procession passed through the masses of +people, whose hoarse voices clamored, "Long life, ten thousand years, to +the Emperor." + +"This, then," thought Nicholas, "is indeed a fortunate day; for not only +have these brave Tartars restored the Prince Yong-Li to his right, but +the amiable prince commences his reign by an act of gratitude; for, +forgetting his quarrel with Woo-san-Kwei, he rewards his great services +with the kingdom of Chen-si." Thus they rode onward till they came to +the palace, where the Emperor was waiting to do honor to the great +general. + +Then, as Nicholas passed through the courts of the palace, he stared +with surprise, not unmixed with indignation, at the disproportion of the +numbers of Chinese to those of the Tartars. Yet again, surely it was but +gratitude on the part of the young Emperor to reward those who had +restored him to the throne of his ancestors; still a strange fear crept +over him, and he said, almost in a whisper, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, these barbarians have taken possession of the empire." + +"It is as wise, O youth, to make a virtue of necessity, as it is +childish to resist the decrees of fate," said the general; and then a +pang of disappointment shot through the youth's heart; his illusion +vanished; moreover, he would have given his life to have avoided the +scene before him. They had entered the great hall of audience; there, +upon the golden dragon throne, surrounded by the warrior princes and +chiefs of Mantchouria, sat the Emperor. The Emperor, indeed! not +Yong-Li, but a Tartar child of six years of age. Heartsick, enraged, he +would have spoken. The general perceiving his misery, clutched his arm. +Nicholas checked his impatience, but nevertheless muttered, "Surely the +heavens will fall, for the great Woo-san-Kwei has proved a traitor." + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE GREAT BOY EMPEROR.--NICHOLAS MEETS WITH A FEARFUL SURPRISE. + + +Once having entered the rich empire of China, the Tartar king determined +to remain, and thus artfully sent Woo-san-Kwei, the only man he feared, +to chastise the rebels in Chen-si, so that he could the better introduce +more and more of the warrior tribes beneath his rule: moreover, he was +so cruel to those who resisted his army, and so generous and kind to +those who submitted freely, that the people, glad to get a sovereign who +had power enough to crush the rapacious nobles, unanimously hailed him +Emperor; before, however, he could be formally installed, he became +seized with a mortal illness, so, calling his brother Amavan, he created +him regent during the minority of his son Chun-ti, a child six years of +age. + +Fortunately for the young Emperor, Amavan, unlike most Asiatic uncles, +proved faithful to his nephew, and, more fortunately still, Amavan +happened to be a great as well as a brave man, who conquered his enemies +as much by his intellect as his sword. Taking care, therefore, to have +an overwhelming number of troops in Pekin, he first sought to establish +the government by distributing the great offices of the empire equally +among his Tartars and the Chinese mandarins. Then to Woo-san-Kwei he had +represented by his ambassadors the folly of endeavoring to oppose the +great power of the new Emperor, and, moreover, the cruelty of bringing +upon the people the horrors of a civil war; while, if he would aid in +the firm settlement of the new dynasty, he should not only be created +King of Chen-si, but that, as the laws of the Chinese were the best in +the world, the Tartars should conform to them in every respect. To all +of which Woo-san-Kwei, being so entirely checkmated, could but submit, +retaining a hope that the time and opportunity might come when he should +be powerful enough to drive these Tartars from the land--a task which, +when too late, he found to be rather more difficult than bringing them +in. + +Having thus, as he thought, gained over the Ming general to his cause, +and wishing to give the Chinese a proof that the young Emperor wished to +conciliate them, Amavan resolved that the greatest of their countrymen +should be received on his entry into Pekin with royal honors; and more, +that the same day should be the one chosen for his imperial nephew's +first grand levee. + +I will now return to Nicholas, who, with hardly suppressed indignation, +was compelled to witness the following scene. + +Having commanded the great lords, who were prostrate at the foot of his +throne, to rise, the child Emperor Chun-ti addressed them in a speech +that not only astonished the whole court, but remains to the present +day one of the marvels in the history of China. + +"It is your strength and power more than my felicity, my dear and +generous uncle, and you, the rest of my noble commanders, which supports +my weakness, and makes me so undauntedly ascend this imperial throne. My +present assurance, and this chair's stability, is, I hope, as happy a +sign of my future prosperity as its tottering proved unfortunate to the +thief Li-Kong. You see my first step to the empire, but I know your +valor to be such that I look not only upon the kingdom of China as my +own, but conceive the empire of the world not only by me possessed, but +also established. The rewards due to such incomparable virtues shall be +no other than the riches of the empire and royal dignities." + +At this extraordinary speech from the lips of so young a child, and +which, notwithstanding the silence of solemn historians on the subjects, +I believe must have been taught Master Chun-ti by his uncle, the artful +Amavan, the nobles fell upon their faces, as thankfully as a flock of +famished wolves at the sight of a good meal after a run of a great many +hundreds of miles. + +After which the Emperor added, "And that it may be known throughout the +empire that we can reward merit, whether it be found in our Chinese +subjects or our own black-haired race, we bestow upon the rebel-subduing +Prince Woo-san-Kwei, the title of Pacifier of the Western World, and the +dignity and rank of King of Chen-si; may his appointment prove +fortunate to the people." Whereupon, to the disgust of Nicholas, the +Ming general knelt before the Emperor, and holding his hands above his +head, received the golden box, in which were placed the symbols of his +office. + +After this Nicholas was pained not only to witness the bestowal of high +offices upon the Tartar chieftains, but, for worse, the acceptation of +dignities by Chinese mandarins, who had been profuse in their +professions of loyalty to the Ming family. Then, as the Emperor was +about to move his sleeves as a signal of the close of the audience, one +of the nobles announced the arrival of some great personage, whose name +his ears failed to catch, whereupon the regent Amavan said, "This man, O +my prince, is the greatest of your majesty's conquests," and in another +minute a personage of majestic height and figure, attired and attended +with all the magnificence of a king, entered the hall and fell at the +foot of the throne, and as he did so Amavan proclaimed his name and +titles, when Nicholas gave a cry of astonishment, and would have rushed +forward, but for Woo-san-Kwei, who, by whispering in his ear, caused him +to become as pale and almost as silent as marble. His surprise and +indignation was not wonderful, for the great man who knelt at the feet +of the Tartar chief was no less a personage than his own father, +Chin-Chi-Loong. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER. + + +Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be the +traitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him, +Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to the +palace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarking +the absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants who +followed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and the +passages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "my +beloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at his +unfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief a +message by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter from +the south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the King +Pacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no other +than Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, after +their long absence from each other. + +"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by the +tempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek the +sunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when the +first greeting was past. + +"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life of +Chin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so great +a crime," said the chief. + +"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiver +of stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surely +it was not given to thee by the Emperor Yong-Li," replied Nicholas. + +"Is my son blind, that he cannot see that his parent is a prisoner to +these Tartar dogs?" + +"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon their +prisoners?" said Nicholas. + +"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commission +sent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the four +seas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels and +thieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effected +this great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain the +Emperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession of +the seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for many +months kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces at +bay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, I +still kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid of +my power, the Tartar king and his brother Amavan sent a great embassy, +assuring me they were allies of the great Woo-san-Kwei, who, to quell +the rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, had +prayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purged +the empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of the +Prince Yong-Li and leave the land." + +"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," said +Nicholas. + +"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in the +characters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of his +parent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, and +also assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting so +great and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe my +authority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title of +Pacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, I +had made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so that +speedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the first +opportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayed +into their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south, +suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in the +installation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to his +departure I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing this +to be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When, +however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a large +body of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately, +fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavan +persuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself in +the midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, he +informed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was his +nephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into the +rogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidable +army, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance of +prosperity the people would have beneath such an Emperor." + +"Indeed it were better to die than dissemble, my father," said Nicholas, +with flashing eyes. + +"Listen, my son. Well, taking advantage of my apparent joy, this Amavan +told me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, where +I should formally receive my title and kingdom from the imperial hands. +Thus had I the choice of entering Pekin as a captive or a king." + +"The former would have been more worthy of the great sea chief, whose +ambition hath ruined him," said Nicholas. + +"Is it possible that thou canst dare----" + +"Pardon, O my father, but thy son will dare any thing and every thing +till he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands of +these barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither by +night nor day." + +"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved." + +"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "But +cannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape from +this rebellious city?" + +"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to the +General Woo-san-Kwei." + +"Then the noble Woo-san-Kwei is not a traitor to the Emperor Yong-Li," +said Nicholas, eagerly. + +"Hist!" replied the chief by way of caution; then adding, "He but waits +the opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars." + +"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these double +ways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of his +parent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the city +unfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attire +of a small merchant, went to the river, and after some hard bargaining, +took a passage on board a trading junk, and left Pekin for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE RIVAL SEA CHIEFS.--RE-APPEARANCE OF AN OLD FRIEND.--A COMICAL BATTLE +WITH THE TARTARS. + + +Once masters of Pekin, which being so near their native wilds, enabled +them to introduce hordes of their fellow-countrymen, the Tartars +conquered province by province, till they obtained possession of the +whole empire. The most difficult, however, to subdue, were the southern +districts, which edged the sea, and chiefly for this reason: that not +long after they succeeded in entrapping Chin-Chi-Loong, to their +surprise, there appeared another and a greater sea chief, whose fleet +was so large, and his successes so great in destroying the Tartar +settlements upon the coasts, and even the great towns up the +Yang-tse-Kiang, that the greater part of the Chinese, who had any spirit +or patriotism remaining, flocked to his standard, and swelled his fleet +and army to such a size, that the Tartar government, trembling with fear +for the capital itself, offered immense rewards for his head; and +finding that of no use, offered to give him the command of the seas, and +even a kingdom, if he would acknowledge their rule; but all this was of +no use: the terrible patriot TCHING-TCHING-KONG, (or Koshinga, as the +Portuguese did, and I shall for the future, name him,) would listen to +no other terms but their departure from the country, to which, but for +the sudden appearance on the coast of another formidable sea-chief, +named Yuen, they would in all probability have been compelled to yield. + +Now the difference between these two chiefs was, that while Koshinga +protected the Chinese against the invaders, the chief Yuen was a mere +pirate, and, if booty were to be gained, destroyed both peoples alike. +Moreover, the latter seemed to have a great hatred for Koshinga; for, +although he dared not meet him in fair fight, if by chance he ever fell +in with a solitary ship of his fleet, he would wantonly sink it with all +its crew; and so terrible had the name of this Yuen become, that the +people upon the coast named him the Black Sea-dragon. Neither was it +possible to make out the object of this pirate. It could not have been +the desire of mere wealth, for the Tartar government, thinking him a +very desirable antagonist to Koshinga, offered him wealth, and the same +rank they had offered to his rival, provided he succeeded in destroying +the latter; but still, although Yuen hated the patriot sea chief, his +dislike to the Tartars was no less, for, like Koshinga, he destroyed +their houses and massacred their people at every opportunity. So at +length, giving up all hope of conquering either of his amphibious +enemies, Chun-ti issued an order that all the houses, cities, towns, and +villages, within ten miles of the sea, should be destroyed, chiefly, I +believe, to prevent the people from supplying them with provisions. + +Well, one day, shortly after this order had been received, and the +inhabitants of a small town on the coast of Fokien were in high bustle +packing up their goods and chattels ready for departure, some by means +of carts, others, and the greater part, by junks and barges, a large +merchant junk stood in from the sea, entered the narrow creek into which +the river emptied itself, anchored, and would have remained unnoticed by +the soldiers, who were inspecting the carrying out of the Emperor's +orders, but for the appearance of a young man, who, stepping on shore, +was immediately seized by the order of the officer. "Who is the vile +slave, that he dares disobey the commands of the great Emperor?" said +the latter. + +"Surely thy servant, who has but just entered the town, can be guilty of +no crime?" + +"Are the words of the Emperor dirt, that they should have escaped the +ears of so small a dog?" said the officer. + +"Truly these holy words have not fallen into the ears of thy mean +servant, O magnificent commander," returned the other. + +"Then let the dog's ears be opened, and he shall hear," said the +officer, directing a soldier to proclaim the royal command, which was to +the effect that the long hair of every Chinese should be shaven from his +head, and the growth of a Tartar tail encouraged, in order that there +should be no difference between the two races. + +When the stranger, however, heard the order, his eyes flashed, and his +lips quivered with rage, at the great badge of slavery the Tartars were +thrusting upon his countrymen; and he placed his hand beneath his robe, +as if clutching the hilt of a sword; but then, looking at the Tartar +troops, who had by this time surrounded him, and perceiving the folly of +resistance, he said, "Truly the ears of thy servant have not heard this +order." + +"Let the dog obey, or he shall be strangled," was the only reply. + +Then, with a look half tragic, half comic, and, taking his long flowing +locks in his hand, he said, "Surely the magnificent commander will give +his servant a few hours to prepare his head for so serious a farewell?" + +The next minute, however, one of the barbers who accompanied the troops +for the purpose of performing the first operation upon the conquered +people, made his appearance, and, setting down his apparatus, began to +prepare his scissors and large knife, when, like a half-secured animal +whose dim instinct had just been aroused to the fact of the coming +slaughter, the stranger struck out with both fists, sending barber and +officer rolling one over the other, and darted off, followed by at least +a dozen arrows from the bows of the soldiers, who, however had been too +much surprised to aim properly. + +Now, weak and effeminate as the Chinese had shown themselves in allowing +the empire to become so easily conquered by the Tartars, this insult was +always deeply felt even by those who had been compelled to submit, so in +a few minutes they gathered about the Tartars in great numbers, and +being inspired by the stranger's pluck, from hard words came to such +hard blows, that the bully Tartars were very glad to beat a retreat, +only promising to themselves a great revenge hereafter. + +As for the stranger, he ran with such speed and blind terror, at the +notion of losing his beautiful hair, that he tumbled headlong over an +old sow into a litter of pigs, which were among the goods about to be +taken away; and, comical as was this scene, it might have been serious, +for the animal, seeing her family attacked by so formidable an enemy, +would have made it a personal matter, but for a mob of people who came +to the rescue of the stranger, at whose spirit in resisting the hateful +order they were so delighted, that they lifted him upon their shoulders; +when the youth, in his excitement, mistaking them for Tartars, put both +his hands to his locks, exclaiming, "You dogs, I will rather lose my +head than prove such a coward." + +"A patriot! a hero! down with the Tartar thieves!" said the mob. + +When the stranger, recovering from his fright, said, "Pardon, O my +brothers, for believing you to be such dogs." + +Then the crowd gave more cheers, and asked where he would be taken to. + +"Know any of you the residence of the colao Ki?" was the reply. + +"To the house of the good Ki," exclaimed the mob, and in a few minutes +more they had deposited him at the gates of a great house not far +distant from the sea. + +"What rogue is this who dares disturb the quiet of the noble Ki?" said +the servant who opened the gate. + +"Let me pass, thou mean fellow," said the apparently mad-headed stranger, +rushing through halls and courts till he reached the door of the women's +apartments, which, to the horror of the servant, who now called for +assistance, he burst open, and, seeing two ladies, fell at the feet of +one of them, sobbing aloud, "Then my information is true, and I have +found thee again, my venerable and beloved parent." Need I tell you that +the stranger was no other than Chow? + +"The gods punish me with a false vision, my eyeballs must be old, or it +is indeed my beloved son Chow," said the lady, throwing her arms around +her son's neck. + +"The faithful friend of the noble Nicholas! Surely this is not +possible," said the princess, hysterically, so forgetting her rank in +her delighted surprise, that she embraced him as a brother, not a +little, I assure you, to the wonder and horror of the servants, and the +colao himself, who had hastened to the apartment to secure the daring +robber, as the frightened servant had reported, and which Ki believed +Chow to be, feeling certain that none but a thief would be guilty of so +profane an act as entering the sacred apartments of the ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +CHOW DISCOVERS HIS MOTHER AND THE PRINCESS.--RESCUES THEM FROM THE +TARTARS AND RELATES HIS ADVENTURES. + + +When the surprise had a little subsided upon both sides, Chow looked +around, listened anxiously for a moment, and then said, "This is a +fortunate day; the surprise, the joy is great, but, alas! it will be +short-lived, for the barbarians can neither forget nor forgive," and he +related his adventure with the soldiers; when, taking him by the hand, +the princess said, "Fear not, friend of my brother; the barbarians dare +not enter the house of Ki; for the usurper, barbarian as he is, has +bestowed honor upon the noble colao for his services to his late +Emperor, and as a consolation for his misfortunes; and in the house of +one upon whom Chun-ti has bestowed the honored title of 'Faithful to his +Prince,' no person dares enter unasked." + +"Thy servant feared less for himself than for his beloved mother and the +illustrious princess, whom he is commanded by the noble Nicholas to +rescue from the degenerate soil of China, till it again owns its native +princess," said Chow; adding, "From the hour that the vile guide +betrayed the illustrious princess into the hands of the rogues, the +noble Nicholas has left no stone unturned to discover thy fate." Then, +repeating the history of their adventures to the time of his being taken +prisoner by Li-Kong, he added, "So enraged was the villain mandarin, +that, instead of killing me on the spot, he reserved me for a cruel +death upon our reaching Pekin; then, however, being driven from the +capital, he took me with him to Chen-si, where I was kept loaded with +chains in a damp hole for many months, till indeed the great rebel was +himself driven out of Chen-si, when, so ill that I could not walk, I was +taken from the prison and conveyed to the house of the physician, who +had been ordered to take charge of the sick and wounded, and +unfortunately I remained senseless so long, that when I recovered, I +discovered that not only had the great Woo-san-Kwei been the general who +had punished Li, but that my beloved master had been with him. Bitterly +regretting the misfortune that had caused me to miss him so narrowly, I +resolved on seeking him in the capital; and so without money or food, +but what I could beg on the road, I traveled, being compelled to rest +many days upon my journey. + +"At length, however, I reached Pekin, when, to my great rage, not only +did I find that the Tartar prince had seized the throne, but that my +noble master had left the city in horror at the great treason of his +illustrious parent Chin-Chi-Loong. Then, weary of a world which +contained so much vileness and misfortune, I should have myself sought +the yellow stream, had it not occurred to me, that it would be +villainous to desert the beloved parent whom I had resolved to discover; +but, moreover, my master had taught me that it was a great crime; and, +trembling that I had ever contemplated such a thing, I rushed down to +the canal and engaged myself as a Coolie, for I thought the employment +would drive away my sorrow, and, perhaps, throw some lucky chance in my +way, and so it happened; for one day, carrying some goods for a +traveling merchant, the good man took a fancy to me, and offered to take +me with him into the province of Fokien. The offer gave me joy, for I +knew that if ever I found my master it would be near the sea, which he +loves as if he were a fish, and so it chanced; for one day, after many +months' traveling, we lodged at the town of Ho-a, when a few days +afterward the Chinese inhabitants became very joyful, and the Tartar +soldiers were greatly terrified at a report that the terrible Koshinga, +whose name just about that time had become famous, would land. Well, the +report proved true, for the sea chief appeared with a great fleet, and +drove the Tartars inland; when, feeling weary of my servitude, and +longing to fight against the usurping barbarians, I offered my services +to one of the commanders, and no sooner had I put in force that virtuous +resolution, than my fortunes began to mend, for in one of the ships I +found the noble Nicholas. + +"Well, I will only tell the illustrious princess how that I kept by the +side of the noble Nicholas in all battles that have been fought by the +great Koshinga; but in the midst of our adventures and successes, both +the noble Nicholas and his servant were unhappy, for they pined to learn +the fate of the daughter of the Mings, whom the heavens had once +entrusted to their care. At every town upon the coast, from every man +who joined the fleet, did we endeavor to trace some clue, not omitting +to offer great rewards; it was all, however, useless, till one day a +Tartar prisoner was taken and brought to our ship, and as he had with +him a copy of the _Pekin Gazette_, which contains the officers of the +empire and the decrees of the Emperor, the noble Nicholas eagerly read +it to find out the movements of the barbarians, when, much to his +surprise, he saw that the noble Ki had been restored to his rank and +fortunes, and, moreover, was permitted to reside unmolested at his +native palace in Fokien. 'Thus, then, O Chow, we have a fortunate day; +here is a clue to the princess--for should she have escaped the villain +rebels, this old and faithful servant of her royal father will surely +know,' said the noble Nicholas." + +"Truly the great Father of heaven hath directed, this even," said the +princess. + +"Then, O my princess, the heart of thy servant leaped for joy; for he +knew that the clue to the illustrious daughter of the Mings would lead +to the discovery of his beloved mother, so upon his knees he begged his +noble master to let him search the coast of Fokien, a request he would +have granted, had not the whole fleet been ordered by the chief Koshinga +to attack and drive the barbarian Hollanders from the great island of +Formosa on that day. Then for nearly four moons was the fleet before +the castle of Zealand, which protects the island; and so well did the +barbarians fight, that we had no other hope but to starve them out; at +length, however, they were joined by the numerous ships of the +traitorous black dragon Yuen, and for the first time Koshinga was near +being defeated, till at length destiny led him to fill seven of his +ships with oil and inflammable materials, when, taking advantage of the +first north-easterly wind, he set them on fire, and sent them among the +ships of Yuen, the greater part of which being destroyed, the crews with +the black dragon sought the shores in their boats. Thus having got rid +of the fleet, the great Koshinga landed his troops, and after a great +battle killed the greater portion of the pirates, made the remainder +prisoners, and took possession of the country." + +"Truly this Koshinga is a great war dragon," said the princess. + +"And noble as he is brave; for although he punished the traitor pirates +with death, as enemies to their true Emperor, he permitted the miserable +Hollanders, who, being barbarians, could know no better, to pile up +their household goods in one of their ships and depart." + +"Thou hast not said aught of the noble Nicholas during this terrible +fight," said the princess. + +"Truly, O illustrious lady, he fought like the brave war tiger that he +is, and performed the greatest act of the fight; for with his own hands +he slew the villain Yuen." + +"Then great was his destiny, for he has rendered the whole empire +grateful," exclaimed Ki. + +"They owe the noble Nicholas more gratitude than the rebel Li-Kong, of +whose place of refuge, or fate, none have been able to imagine, since +the taking of Chen-si by the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"God is indeed great; thus may treason be for ever punished," said the +princess. + +"But greater to thy servant was the capturing of the villain mandarin, +who killed his venerable parent. I had struck the rogue down with my +sword, and rejoicing that I had at last the opportunity of destroying so +great a villain, was about to kill him, when he saved his life by +uttering a few words." + +"Is it under heaven that thou couldst save the life of the slayer of thy +parent?" exclaimed Chow's mother. + +"Truly, my noble mother, for those words were 'Thy mother and the +princess.' Like magic they kept my sword suspended midway, and I said, +'What words are these, thou dog?' And the mean rogue said, 'If the noble +captain will save the life of his slave, he shall be restored to his +parent.' Need a son tell his mother that he promised when the rascal +said, 'That it had been known for a long time to him that the princess +was living in disguise in the house of the retired colao in Fokien, and +that had Li-Kong been successful in defeating Koshinga, it was the +rogue's intention to sail for the coast and seize the illustrious lady?" + +"Truly Heaven is merciful in having destroyed such a villain," said the +princess. + +"Then," added Chow, "delighted with the discovery, my enmity to the +rogue became lost in my anxiety to again see my parent; so I besought of +the noble Nicholas to send me in search of those lost pearls of our +existence, which he did with these words: 'Tell the illustrious princess +that the Tartar rogues will seize her if she does not seek the +protection of Koshinga, the friend of China and the Mings, of whose +favor her adopted brother Nicholas will assure her.' Thus commissioned, +I obtained one of the smallest junks of the fleet, had it repainted and +disguised to resemble a trading vessel, set sail from the island, and +landed this morning, when I so nearly fell into the hands of the rats of +Tartars. Such is the history of thy servant, and such his mission. It is +for the great wisdom of the princess alone, to consider whether the +daughter of the Mings may long remain in safety and undiscovered beneath +the dominion of the butchers of her race." + +"Heaven is beneficent and thy words wise, O Chow," said the princess. + +"Truly, daughter of my beloved master, thy safety would have been +endangered had we been permitted to remain here, for since the villain +mandarin knew thy secret, it is but reasonable to believe that it may be +in the possession of another who may part with it for a high price to +the Emperor Chun-ti. But since this cruel order has arrived, to destroy +all the houses for ten miles inland, the princess can find no safer +asylum than the country of the great patriot Koshinga," said the colao. + +Never could there have been a more fortunate time for them to leave the +town; for, as all the inhabitants were hastening to obey the order of +the Emperor, and were busy with their own affairs, they could escape the +watchful eyes of the Tartars. So that very day they set about making +preparations for their departure, and before twenty-four hours had +passed, the whole party were on board Chow's ship and moving down the +stream; indeed, not a moment before it was necessary, for scarcely had +they got under way when a boat put off from the shore, filled with +Tartar soldiers, the chief of whom commanded them to stop. + +"What would the Tartar dogs?" said Chow, standing upon the poop of the +vessel. The reply, however, was an arrow, which but narrowly missed the +breast of the brave fellow; who, however, taking no notice of the +missile, said, very coolly, as the soldiers reached the side of the ship +and demanded to be admitted on board, "What would the Tartar dogs on +board a quiet trading vessel?" + +"The daughter of the miserable Ming," was the reply. + +"Then only two at a time, my brother," replied Chow, acquiescing in +their request. And without waiting for further permission, the two +soldiers climbed up the side and stood on the deck, only, however, to +find themselves tightly clasped by armed men, who had been lying down in +readiness for them. At the same time Chow, assisted by some of his crew, +threw a heavy bar over the ship's side into the boat below, which +falling across the bows and sinking her, sent the soldiers into the +water struggling for their lives. + +"Oh, oh!" said Chow to the two prisoners, "you are the affectionate +rogues who wanted a lock of my hair." + +"Surely the magnanimous hero would not murder two poor men who were +doing their duty," was the reply. + +"Truly it is said that fortune comes to every dog in its turn, and I am +the bow-wow now," said Chow to the Tartars, as he tied together the ends +of the long head-tails, of which they were so proud that they wished all +China to imitate them, and consequently now roared for fear of losing +them. + +"Get you gone, you dogs!" said Chow; and the next moment the men were +toppled over into the river, plunging, kicking, and at every plunge +giving such reciprocal pulls at each other's tails that they became as +belligerent as two cats in a similar predicament, and the more so, that +the people upon the banks stood laughing heartily at their ridiculous +gyrations. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +A SEA VOYAGE--THE COLAO RELATES THE ADVENTURES OF THE PRINCESS. + + +Once on board, they were safe, for although the junk had been painted to +resemble a trading ship, she was equipped with arms of every kind, and, +moreover, with men, who had been hidden below; and it was fortunate that +she was so well prepared, for when a Tartar junk put off after them, the +crew of the latter no sooner perceived the deck crowded with armed men, +and a flag hoisted at the masthead, displaying the terrible name of +Koshinga, than they relinquished the chase. + +Once out at sea, the vessel was as quiet and happy as a holiday junk, +and Chow sought permission to enter the state cabin of the princess. + +"Truly, my brave Chow, we have had a narrow escape from these +barbarians," said the princess; adding, "The words of the noble Ki were +wise, the secret must have been known, and sold to the usurper." + +"Truly thy servant would willingly sacrifice his mean life, could he see +the great Yong-Li ascend the throne of his magnificent ancestors," +exclaimed Chow; but, to his surprise, the beautiful eyes of the princess +became suffused with tears. + +"It is not under heaven, O princess, that thy slave can have given thee +pain?" said Chow. + +"Surely this is weak, for no tears should be found in the eyes of the +daughter of the Mings, but those caused by the suffering of the people," +said the princess; adding, "Alas! my poor brother, with him has departed +the last hope of his race." + +"What are these sad words, O my princess? Is it possible that the +Emperor Yong-Li can have left the earth?" + +Then, with an effort to subdue her sorrow, she said, "Even so, my brave +Chow;" but, her grief overcoming her resolution, she could utter no +more, and Chow respectfully left the cabin, followed by the colao, who +thus related the adventures of the princess, and his mother, from the +time of their abduction by the strange soldiers:-- + +"When, O brave Chow, the robbers found they had obtained the great prize +they had so long been in search of, they hastened with all speed to the +sea-coast, where they hoped to find a ship that would take them to the +coast of Pe-tche-Lee, where the army of Li was reported to be encamped; +when, however, they reached the port, they heard that the Prince Yong Li +had quarrelled with Woo-san-Kwei, and having got together a great army, +had marched to the city of Chao-Hing, which, after a few days, he had +retaken from the Tartars, and caused himself to be proclaimed Emperor. +Then, when the cunning thieves heard this news, and also that Yong-Li +was reconquering the country all around, they bethought themselves that +Yong-Li would give them a much higher price for a sister that he loved +so dearly, than would Li-Kong for a princess whom he only hoped to make +his wife; so, making a virtue of a necessity, the rogues threw +themselves at the feet of the royal lady, implored pardon for their +roughness, and making a merit of their great crime, declared they were +the faithful servants of her house, and intended to take her to her +royal brother's court. Too glad to hear such news, she readily bestowed +upon them a pardon; and, moreover, promised them great rewards if they +would only conduct her in safety to her brother's presence. + +"After some months' tedious and difficult traveling, they arrived at +Chao-Hing, where they found that the report was truthful, and that the +prince had really made a very great stride toward his throne. Well, the +rogues were rewarded, and the princess delighted at being not only +restored to her brother, but to the good and great Candida Hiu, who had +escaped to Chao-Hing some time previously, with myself, the ancient +servant of the imperial Mings; but, alas! fortune is capricious. A great +army of barbarians so encompassed the city, that we were unable to +procure food; still we held out, and the soldiers fought bravely, with +the hope of being soon relieved. Then some foul demon put it into the +head of the Tartar general, that the place might be taken without +fighting. So, seeing that the waters of the river were at a greater +height than had ever before been known, he first made a breach in the +walls, and then caused his army to cut away the dikes and embankments, +so that the waters rushed in such terrible force that the houses were +beaten down, and the city made one vast pool, in which three millions of +people were drowned, the Lady Candida among them. Fortunately, however, +the Emperor, the princess, and their servant, escaped the flood, and, +after many trials and difficulties, reached the court of the King of +Pegu, who, seeing the heir to so great a throne in such misfortune, +readily offered him one of his palaces for his residence; and there we +remained happily for some time, and might have continued till more +fortunate days, but that its coming to the ears of the Tartars, that the +Prince Yong-Li was under the protection of the King of Pegu, the latter, +for fear of being dethroned by his terrible neighbor, was compelled to +give the prince into the hands of the Tartar, who, taking him to Pekin, +there had him destroyed in a cruel and ignominious manner. Fortunately, +however, the Tartar did not know that the imperial La-Loo, was with her +brother, and so, aided by the King of Pegu, I traveled into my own +province of Fokien, taking the princess as my daughter, and thy mother +as her attendant; and no plan could be so safe, for the Tartar barbarian +had proclaimed that all those Chinese nobles who had suffered by the +tyranny of Wey-t-song, or Li-Kong, should be reinstalled in their former +rank and possessions, conferring upon me alone, for my long and faithful +services to my late master, the high and honorable title of 'Faithful to +the Emperor.'" + +"Truly this is a sad and marvelous history," said Chow, taking a +respectful leave of the venerable noble, and proceeding to the duties of +the ship. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THEY REACH THE PALACE OF THE SEA CHIEF KOSHINGA. + + +Oh! how the heart of the princess bled for the poor people, as sailing +along that coast she saw with what terrible haste the Emperor's command +had been obeyed. There, as far as the vision could pierce, ran, blazed, +crackled one cordon of fire; miles in thickness, this fearful belt +seemed as if it were to ward off the attack of worlds of savage beasts, +instead of one mortal man. Yet such was the shocking policy of the +Tartar despot, that to starve the great sea warrior from the coast, he +laid waste hundreds of miles, ruined millions of his new subjects, and +turned a fertile and populous land into a dreary wilderness. + +For some days the little ship ploughed those waters, which, though +famous for their tempests, were, as if in augury of better fortunes, now +as placid as a lake, till at length they came in sight of the +Pescadores, from almost every point of which they could see the colors +of the victorious Koshinga. Then they reached the point of Formosa, upon +which the Hollanders had erected their fort, but from which now floated +the flag of the sea chief; then Chow sent up a signal, and in reply the +Dutch guns bellowed forth a salute. Shortly afterward some large barges +put off from the shore to the ship, the princess and her party took +their seats, and were speedily rowed to the shore, upon which she had no +sooner put her foot, than Nicholas fell upon his knees before her, +saying, "Welcome, illustrious daughter of the Mings, to the kingdom of +Koshinga." + +"Surely, my brave and noble brother, this is but mockery; for the +daughter of the Mings is now but an outcast orphan," said the princess, +taking Nicholas by the hands and assisting him to rise. + +"Not so, O illustrious, princess! for, like a brand from the flames, +this great and fertile island hath been plucked from the thieving +Tartars and Hollanders by Koshinga, that it may be restored to the +princess of China, as a resting-place, till the whole of her empire be +recovered." + +"Who, O my brother, is this bold, brave man that thus shakes the world +by his power?" + +"A patriot, and a true Chinese, whose only ambition is to root out the +miserable Tartars from the land, and restore its throne to its ancient +Emperors," replied Nicholas; adding, "But the princess would see this +terrible sea chief." Then he led her through the double rows of troops, +which were drawn up the whole length between the castle and the shore, +and all of whom bent low with respectful loyalty as the daughter of +their late Emperor passed. When within the castle, he led her to a door +where a number of ladies in rich dresses stood ready to receive her. +"Now, O illustrious princess, will thy servant prepare the noble chief +for the great honor of thy visit," said Nicholas, leaving her to the +care of the ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE KING AND QUEEN OF FORMOSA.--HAPPY TERMINATION OF THE STORY. + + +The pleasure of the princess had changed to grief; she felt disappointed +and desolate, for once fallen from her high rank, and having been thrown +by misfortune beneath the care of Nicholas, she had learned to regard +him as a brother; therefore, after the death of the Prince Yong-Li, +great had been her delight, by anticipation, of again meeting him--but +now, alas! the brave youth seemed changed. Was he not, indeed, one of +the officers of the great Koshinga, by whose command he had received +her, not as a dear friend, but with the cold and formal respect due to +that exalted rank, which, as it seemed about to rob her of her adopted +brother, was hateful to her? + +Thus, in a very melancholy mood, she followed the ladies through the +corridor into a suite of rooms, magnificently furnished with the spoils +from the well-laden ships of Li-Kong. She, who, more fortunate than most +princesses, had had the painful mantle of royalty torn from her +shoulders and been permitted for a season to taste the troubles of +ordinary mortals, which, compared to her former state, seemed luxury +itself, was again about to be petrified by state garments, and, like the +idols, her Christian teaching caught her to despise, placed upon a +throne high up out of the way of common humanity, and as her experience +had taught her, mocked with a false adoration. + +The morning came, however, and still she as much feared to meet the +chief as if he had been her greatest enemy. At last the terrible moment +of meeting came, and she was conducted by her ladies to the great hall +of the castle, which was hung with yellow cloth of gold. Not noticing +the crowd of officers around, who were bowing to the ground, she bent +her head downward, and as the ladies led her forward to the chair of +state, she heard, "Welcome to the Queen of Tai-ouan." The welcome was +echoed by a hundred voices; the princess looked up, the throne was +vacant, but by her side, and holding her hand, stood the terrible +Koshinga, at the sight of whom she trembled, but it was with joy, for +the great sea chief after all was neither more nor less than Nicholas, +the son of the merchant of the south, who, by his great abilities, +valor, and energy, had conquered a kingdom and crowned himself. + +Thus ends the troubles of the princess, Chow, Nicholas, and my story. I +will, however, add, that although by some unaccountable neglect the +historians of China have omitted to say one word about the queen, they +all state that not only was Koshinga, the great son of Chin-Chi-Loong, +crowned first King of Formosa, but in that capacity received ambassadors +from several of the monarchs of Europe. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Tiger, by Wiliam Dalton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + +***** This file should be named 39163-8.txt or 39163-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/1/6/39163/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The War Tiger + Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea + Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China + +Author: Wiliam Dalton + +Release Date: March 16, 2012 [EBook #39163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE WAR TIGER</h1> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h2>ADVENTURES AND WONDERFUL FORTUNES<br /> +OF THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF<br /> +AND HIS LAD CHOW:</h2> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF CHINA</h3> + +<h2>BY WILLIAM DALTON,</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF THE "WHITE ELEPHANT," ETC.</h3> + +<h3>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. S. MELVILLE</h3> + +<p class="center">PHILADELPHIA<br /> +J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.<br /> +1884.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + + +<h3>The Escape from the Pagoda.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>As free use is made in the following story of the names of personages +who played important parts in and during the last Tartar Conquest of +China, the Author believes that a slight sketch of that turbulent epoch +may not be uninteresting to his readers.</p> + +<p>Twenty-two dynasties have given some two hundred and forty Emperors to +the Celestial Kingdom; of these, two were Tartars, who obtained the +throne by conquest and bloodshed. In the course of time, however, the +first Tartar family, with the whole of their race, were either massacred +or driven from the land by a Chinese leader, who, by mounting the +throne, founded the celebrated family of the Mings.</p> + +<p>The last of the Ming Emperors, Wey-t-song, had not been many years upon +the throne, when, from a wise and energetic man, he became so indolent, +and regardless of all but his pleasures, that the people became +oppressed by the magistrates; indeed, to use a Chinese phrase, to such +an extent did the "big fish eat all the little ones," that a famine grew +in the land, which caused the starving people to arise in rebellion +throughout the empire.</p> + +<p>Taking advantage of this disorder, several ambitious lords collected +together bands of vagabonds, set themselves up as petty kings, and +plundered and oppressed the innocent people, till the land grew damp +with their tears.</p> + +<p>At the same time, the chief, or king, of the Mantchou Tartars, learning +that China was like a house divided against itself, rode with a large +army upon the frontier of Pe-tche-Lee, the capital province.</p> + +<p>The appearance, however, of this great enemy aroused what little +nationality remained, and three great lords came to the Emperor's +assistance. The first was Woo-san-Kwei, who, at the head of an army, +kept the Tartars at bay; the other two, Li-Kong and Chang, were sent +into different provinces, where, although bad men, being good generals, +they succeeded in crushing all other rogues but themselves. The +last-named generals, however, on their return, becoming enraged at the +Emperor's ingratitude, took up arms against him, and, finding no great +difficulty in subduing a people who preferred any other Chinese to their +Emperor, seized upon two of the richest provinces, and established +themselves as independent royalets, or petty kings.</p> + +<p>Now, as in the great revolutions of England, America, and France, so in +China, anarchy brought forth its great men; but foremost among them all +stood Chin-Chi-Loong—a kind of Paul Jones, a pirate in the eyes of his +enemies, a patriot in those of his friends.</p> + +<p>Found starving when a boy, by the Portuguese priests at Macao, they took +him under their care, taught him Christianity, and baptized him by the +name of Nicholas Gaspard. While quite a youth, he took service on board +a trading ship, in which humble position, the strength of his intellect +and will so soon exhibited itself, that at an early age he became second +in command, and his captain dying soon after, left him sole owner and +commander of the vessel and its rich cargo.</p> + +<p>Then it was that his true character began to develop itself; he sought +to accumulate great wealth; for this purpose he traded with Japan, Siam, +and the Europeans, so assiduously, that at the outbreak of the +rebellion, he had become the richest merchant in an empire of rich +merchants; but what to him was of far greater importance, a powerful +sea-chief—for he then commanded and owned the greatest fleet that ever +sailed in the Chinese seas, and as he had taken care to arm every ship, +he became the terror of the three great contending parties; namely, the +Emperor, the rebels, and the Tartars, who, all in turn, at times, +offered great rewards for his head, and at others, for his services.</p> + +<p>Remarkable, however, as were the fortunes of this sea-chief, they were +less so than those of his distinguished son, the hero of this story.</p> + +<p>The Author will only add, that, although many of the adventures here set +down may not be found in the pages of Chinese history, if, entwining +information with amusement, they bring vividly before the mind's eye of +his young reader, the manners, laws, legends, superstitions, history, or +character of that great, though quaint people in whom more than a +thousand years have failed to make any material change, his satisfaction +will be the greater that he has again deserved well of those to whom his +gratitude is due for the kind, thorough, and hearty reception they gave +to the Adventures of "<span class="smcap">The Wolf-Boy of China</span>."</p> + +<p class="right">WILLIAM DALTON.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="contents"> +<tr><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td></td><td> <span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td><td>—The Young Sea Chief.—His Mission</td><td align="right"> 11</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td><td>—The Demon Ship.—The Boy Chow</td><td align="right"> 19</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td><td>—Adventures at Sea.—Rescue</td><td align="right"> 29</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td><td>—The Innkeeper.—Alarming News</td><td align="right"> 38</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td><td>—Adventure in a Buddhist Monastery.—Chow's Encounter with a Bonze</td><td align="right"> 48</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td><td>—Thrashing the Gods.—The Boys taken Prisoners</td><td align="right"> 55</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td><td>—Treachery of the Bonzes.—Nicholas sent to Prison as a Traitor</td><td align="right"> 61</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td>—Chow sets out to discover some Thieves</td><td align="right"> 69</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td><td>—Chow outwits a great Mandarin, and sets out to rescue his Master</td><td align="right"> 76</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td><td>—Escape of Nicholas from Prison</td><td align="right"> 81</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td><td>—Pursued by the Yah-yu.—The Boat Wreck</td><td align="right"> 87</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td><td>—Nicholas again taken Prisoner</td><td align="right"> 94</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td><td>—Pagodas, their Antiquity and Uses</td><td align="right"> 103</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td><td>—A dangerous Descent</td><td align="right"> 109</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td><td>—Nicholas discovers a Conspiracy, and makes an unpleasant Entry into Pekin</td><td align="right"> 114</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td><td>—The Boys again in Trouble</td><td align="right"> 126</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td><td>—Nicholas resolves upon a dangerous Adventure</td><td align="right"> 136</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td><td>—The Imperial Gardens</td><td align="right"> 145</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></td><td>—The Princess of the Mings, and the Lady Candida</td><td align="right"> 150</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></td><td>—Danger of the Princess.—Her Rescue by Nicholas</td><td align="right"> 154</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></td><td>—Assembly of the great Princes of the Empire</td><td align="right"> 163</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII.</a></td><td>—The Boy Prince and the Rival Generals</td><td align="right"> 170</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII.</a></td><td>—Audience with the Son of Heaven.—Nicholas accuses a great Prince of Treason</td><td align="right"> 178</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV.</a></td><td>—Nicholas unveils a Rebel Chief</td><td align="right"> 189</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV.</a></td><td>—Nicholas and the Prince have an Adventure, and save the Life of Chow</td><td align="right"> 197</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">XXVI.</a></td><td>—Nicholas receives an important Command</td><td align="right"> 210</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">XXVII.</a></td><td>—The Rebels attack Pekin.—Treachery of a General and the Fight</td><td align="right"> 214</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">XXVIII.</a></td><td>—Attack on the palace.—Suicide of the Emperor, the Princess wounded</td><td align="right"> 221</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">XXIX.</a></td><td>—The Secret Cavern.—The Princess saved by the Boys</td><td align="right"> 230</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">XXX.</a></td><td>—A large Stock of Ladies, two taels per sack</td><td align="right"> 237</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">XXXI.</a></td><td>—Chow makes a Discovery, and Nicholas a Surprise</td><td align="right"> 242</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">XXXII.</a></td><td>—Nicholas punishes an ungrateful Innkeeper, and escapes from his treachery</td><td align="right"> 250</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">XXXIII.</a></td><td>—An Overland Journey.—Attacked by Wolves, and stopped by a Serpent</td><td align="right"> 259</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">XXXIV.</a></td><td>—Saved by a Musk Deer.—Stories of wonderful Mountains</td><td align="right"> 264</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">XXXV.</a></td><td>—Treachery of the Guide.—The Princess seized by Robbers</td><td align="right"> 271</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">XXXVI.</a></td><td>—Once more Prisoners, but with Friends.—The Guide's Mistake</td><td align="right"> 279</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">XXXVII.</a></td><td>—Interview with the General.—Nicholas causes Soldiers to be sent in search of the Princess</td><td align="right"> 285</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">XXXVIII.</a></td><td>—Cruel Death of the aged Woo.—A Battle.—Bravery of the Boys.—Chow taken by the Enemy</td><td align="right"> 293</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">XXXIX.</a></td><td>—The Rebels beaten.—Artfulness of the Tartar King.—Chagrin and Disappointment of Nicholas</td><td align="right"> 300</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">XL.</a></td><td>—The Great Boy Emperor.—Nicholas meets with a fearful Surprise</td><td align="right"> 305</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">XLI.</a></td><td>—Nicholas has an Interview with his Father, and leaves Pekin forever</td><td align="right"> 309</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">XLII.</a></td><td>—The Rival Sea Chiefs.—Re-appearance of an old Friend.—A comical Battle with the Tartars</td><td align="right"> 314</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">XLIII.</a></td><td>—Chow discovers his Mother and the Princess.—Rescues them from the Tartars, and relates his Adventures</td><td align="right"> 320</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">XLIV.</a></td><td>—A Sea Voyage.—The Colao relates the Adventures of the Princess</td><td align="right"> 329</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">XLV.</a></td><td>—They reach the Palace of the Sea Chief Koshinga</td><td align="right"> 333</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">XLVI.</a></td><td>—The King and Queen of Formosa.—Happy Termination of the Story</td><td align="right"> 336</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WAR TIGER.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.—HIS MISSION.</h3> + + +<p>Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chinese +province of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, which +are so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble of +procuring food, and even fuel, from the main land.</p> + +<p>These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of a +capacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch, +the first civilized people who established themselves upon the +neighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertile +land, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught.</p> + +<p>It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden with +pearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many other +articles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the large +trading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violent +tempests so common to the China seas.</p> + +<p>One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, some +distance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of European +build, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmed +about the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with an +officer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior to +the Mantchou Tartar conquest.</p> + +<p>The afterpart of the deck was taken up with a tent formed of poles and +matting of bamboo, the interior of which was luxuriously fitted with +chairs, tables, and sofas, tastefully wrought from the wood of roses or, +as it is termed in this country, rose-wood. The walls, highly painted +and glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded and +japanned frames. Between these were long strips of satin up on which, +imprinted in colors and gold, were some of the choicest moral maxims +from the books of the philosopher Confucius.</p> + +<p>The panes of the windows, four in number, were formed of stained +transparent paper. In the piers between, supported by glittering +branches, were painted lanterns, and from the ceiling, which shone with +colors and carvings of celestial blue and burnished gold, was suspended +a gong of pure silver. So far there could be no doubt that it was the +floating habitation of a wealthy Chinese, but then, curiously, there was +a total absence of those idols, altars, and burning incense, which to +this day are to be found in all Chinese vessels. The truth was, that +although a Chinese, the owner was a Christian, as was evinced by a niche +at one end of the room, in which stood a handsome <i>Prič Dieu</i>, +surmounted by a fine painting of Christ upon the cross.</p> + +<p>At this altar, with his hands clasped, knelt a boy of seventeen, whose +high cheek bones, dark eyes, and long black hair, declared his Chinese +origin. His head and neck were bare, and his ample robe of green silk, +which reached nearly to his close fitting leather boots, was confined in +the middle by a crimson girdle, fastened by a clasp of agate stone. From +the girdle hung a short straight sword. Although a Chinese, the youth +was a Christian; one, indeed, of those whose faith had been gathered +from the teachings of the early European missionaries, whose +indefatigable exertions and untiring patience amidst much persecution, +contumely, and even martyrdom, will forever keep their names green in +the memories of the Chinese.</p> + +<p>As the youth arose from his kneeling position, the report of a gun rang +through the air, so snatching up his cap of sable, he went on deck to +welcome the arrival of his father, who ascended the side of the vessel +followed by some half-dozen officers, attired like himself in loose +robes of thick brown silk, oiled to withstand the weather and without +one warlike vestment, except the short swords which hung from their +girdles.</p> + +<p>Standing with his head bent forward and his arms straight by his sides, +the attitude of respect, the youth waited for his father to salute him, +after which he followed him through the rank of officers to the cabin, +when observing the gloomy aspect of the chief's countenance, he said +"Has my honored father, the great chief, not prospered with the +barbarian Hollanders?"</p> + +<p>"To the full, my son, for like the greedy wolves they have purchased the +whole of my merchandise, and I have more than sufficient wealth to +destroy the vermin enemies who are turning the children of the Son of +Heaven from those habits of peace which have so long rendered them the +greatest and most prosperous of the world's people."</p> + +<p>"Of what enemies does my honorable father speak? Surely there are none +but the savage Tartars."</p> + +<p>"Of three, my son,—the Tartars, who are now within a few leagues of the +palace of Ten Thousand Years himself; the European savages, who under +pretence of commerce have obtained a footing, that, if not soon rooted +out, will last forever; and worse, by far worse,—for internal rebellion +is as destructive to an empire as to an household,—the rebel mandarins +who are now at open war with their holy sovereign."</p> + +<p>"Is this treble sore fresh, that it should now so rankle the heart and +cloud the brow of my venerable parent?"</p> + +<p>"Truly so, my son, for although long festering it has but now reached a +head," replied the chief, adding, "To the days of my great-grandsire the +empire had been free from the profane feet of barbarians.</p> + +<p>"Then the different governments passed into the hands of cowardly +mandarins, whose weakness became the advantage of the pirate Li-Lao, who +ravaged the whole coast with fire and sword, and to get rid of whom the +puny officials sought the aid of the Portugals, who traded at one of the +outer ports. These barbarians, however, were brave; they sought, fought, +and killed the pirate, and destroyed his ships and, as a reward, were +permitted to settle at Macao."</p> + +<p>"Surely, my father should be grateful to these Portugals, whose priests +first shed upon his eyes and heart the light of Christianity," said the +boy bowing reverently.</p> + +<p>"They taught me for their own ends, and I would not trust the rats."</p> + +<p>"But the red-haired barbarians of Formosa, from whom my father has just +returned, are they of the same race?"</p> + +<p>"Not so, my son, these Dutch dogs are from a distant country called +Holland, where the people are so miserably poor they cannot afford even +a king."</p> + +<p>"Then why, O my father, were such pauper barbarians permitted to place +the soles of their feet on the land of Formosa?"</p> + +<p>"By fraud and artifice the rogues obtained their hold. During a tempest +one of their vessels was driven upon the coast: the crew finding the +island to be well situated to their wants, partly by presents, partly by +force, persuaded the simple inhabitants to give them only as much land +as could be encompassed by the hide of an ox, when the rogues cut the +hide into thousands of narrow slips, tied them end to end and therewith +measured the earth, to the great surprise and indignation of the +inhabitants, who, however, were too powerless to offer resistance. In a +short time they were joined by multitudes of their country men and +erected yonder fort, which they call the Castle of Zealand."</p> + +<p>"Surely the fleet of my father can exterminate these wasps?" said the +boy, whom I shall for the future call by his Christian name of Nicholas.</p> + +<p>But as at that moment an officer entered the cabin and reported the +approach of a strange ship, father and son went on deck, prepared to +give either a salute to a friend or a broadside to a foe.</p> + +<p>The vessel proving to be a war junk and carrying the dragon flag of the +Emperor, they fired a salute of respect, when a signal was made from the +junk that she had on board the Mandarin, or Deputy-Governor of Amoy, +with a secret communication for the illustrious merchant Chin-Chi-Loong, +whereupon the chief bowed respectfully at the name of so great a +personage, and prepared to receive him with all the customary tedious +formalities.</p> + +<p>This visit from so important a personage very much puzzled Nicholas, who +stood the whole time the mandarin was closeted with his father, leaning +against a gun, in deep thought. When the mandarin had finished and the +official had taken his departure, Nicholas returned to the cabin, where +he found the chief sitting thoughtfully with his hand upon the satin +wrapper of a letter, which from the great seals affixed and the +characters Hong Fong (guarded and sealed), he knew must be of great +importance and from some high personage.</p> + +<p>"My information is truthful," said the chief; "there is treason among +the lords of the court, and the dogs believing Chin-Chi-Loong to be as +vile as themselves, have offered him the title of king and the island of +Formosa, if he will aid them with his ships, wealth, and men."</p> + +<p>"What answer made my honorable father?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"A promise to consent, that the traitors may be caught like rats in a +trap."</p> + +<p>"Surely this is not well, for why need the brave stoop to such +villainy?" replied the youth boldly.</p> + +<p>Not noticing this reply, the chief became pensive for a few minutes, +then exclaimed, "Would that I could place a letter in the hands of the +Son of Heaven himself!"</p> + +<p>"Surely that cannot be a difficulty," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Alas! my son, Wey-t-song is so resigned to his pleasures and the +company of the vile bonzes, that the audience-denying tablet is for ever +suspended at the gates of the inner palace."</p> + +<p>"Truly it is a maxim that nothing is impossible to the brave. Let my +father place the letter in the hands of his son, and it shall reach the +imperial eyes!"</p> + +<p>For a minute the chief gazed proudly at the boy, then passing his hand +across his eyes, as if to chase away some sad thought, said, "It shall +be so, but for nothing less than the safety of his Emperor would +Chin-Chi-Loong risk the life of his only son; but haste, and assume the +dress of a traveling merchant, while I prepare these important +characters."</p> + +<p>Without another word Nicholas left the cabin, returning, however, +shortly afterward, dressed in a plain robe of coarse brown silk, with a +girdle of the same color, a couple of short swords beneath his garment, +and thick staff of bamboo.</p> + +<p>"This promptness is good and bespeaks success," said the chief, laying +his hand on a letter which was enclosed in three wrappers of satin, the +outer being sealed in many places, adding, "Secure this packet beneath +thy inner robe, for upon its safety may depend the fate of the empire. I +know not by what means thou mayest reach the Emperor, therefore, when in +Pekin it would be well to seek the merchant Yang, in the great square, +who will aid the son of the great merchant of the south." Then taking +another letter from the table, he added, "As you pass through the city +of Hang-tcheou, seek out Father Adam, the chief priest of the +Christians, and place this in his hands; but guard it well, for the +contents are such that were they to meet the eyeballs of the bonzes it +might prove thy destruction."</p> + +<p>Then placing a valuable ring on the boy's finger and telling him to take +what silver he might require, till he reached the merchant of Pekin, who +would supply him with more, he bid farewell to Nicholas, who, signalling +one of the consort ships, went on board, and was soon landed at the port +of Amoy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEMON SHIP.—THE BOY CHOW.</h3> + + +<p>Taking a passage in a merchant junk bound to the port of Ning-Po, +Nicholas continued his journey for some days without meeting with any +event of importance. The voyage was, however, rendered very tedious by +the idolatry of the sailors, who spent a great portion of their time in +offering up presents to a dirty little wooden god stuck behind a small +oil lamp, the odor from which was any thing but agreeable. They would +moreover frequently stop the ship to offer meat and incense to the +images of the sea goddess Ma-tsoo-po, which are perched upon almost +every promontory upon the Chinese coast.</p> + +<p>They had been at sea, or rather along the coast, for these sailors never +venture far from land, six days, when the murky atmosphere, the heavy +swell of the waves as they rolled inward, and the fluttering flight of +the sea-fowl, betokened a coming storm; and the crew, trembling with +fear, thought of little else but making offerings to the dirty little +god, praying of him to stop the storm. A sailor and a Christian from his +childhood, Nicholas was no less disgusted with their cowardice than +their foolish superstition, and really fearing that the ship would be +dashed to pieces upon a rock, he earnestly entreated them to exert +themselves. His efforts, however, were useless, for their faith was firm +in the power of their gods, whose protection they sought to purchase in +the following curious manner:—</p> + +<p>Taking a quantity of gilt paper, kept on board for the purpose, they cut +it into the shape of copper tchen, the only coin in the empire, and +threw them into the sea as a bribe to the goddess Ma-tsoo-po; but +finding that the marine lady's favor was not to be bought so cheaply, +the whole crew began to busy themselves in building a paper ship, which, +by the way, was so ingeniously constructed that it formed an exact model +of their own junk, being complete with masts, ropes, sails, flags, +compass, rudder, a crew, victuals, and even a book of accounts.</p> + +<p>When this redoubtable vessel was finished they let it into the sea with +great ceremony, and amidst the deafening clatter of drums and +instruments, and their own shoutings to the goddess, to wreak her +vengeance upon the toy instead of her adorers' ship.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the hard-hearted goddess was not to be caught with tinsel, +for the storm raged with such terrible violence that the frail bark +would speedily have been dashed to atoms but for Nicholas, who, after +persuading a few of the least obstinate of the men to help him, set to +work and managed to keep her head so straight that they passed through +the channel without touching the rocks by which it was bounded on +either side. So fearful was the hurricane of circular winds that the +shivering crew could see trees torn up by the roots as easily as corks +out of bottles by corkscrews. At length, however, the storm subsided, +and the sailors believing that nothing less than a deity could have +enabled their vessel to live in such a storm, fell upon their knees +before Nicholas and thanked him for quelling the fury of the elements.</p> + +<p>"Let my brothers toss their stupid idol into the sea, and offer up +thanks to the One true God of heaven, who alone has saved them," said +the boy.</p> + +<p>Enraged at this insult to their god, the sailors gave full vent to their +disapprobation, and would have tossed the bold youth into the sea but +for a sudden cry from the look-out man.</p> + +<p>"The wasps of the ocean! the wasps of the ocean are upon us!"</p> + +<p>At this cry the crew took alarm, and ran to different parts of the +vessel, and armed themselves with pikes, swords, or any weapon upon +which they could place their hands.</p> + +<p>Taking the glass from the trembling hands of the look-out man, Nicholas +endeavored to make out the cause of the alarm. It was a large floating +object at a great distance, and bore some resemblance to a ship, still, +notwithstanding the track it left behind in the water, he was doubtful; +but before he could make up his mind the captain snatched the glass from +his hands, glanced through it, declared his opinion that it was a wasp +of the ocean, or pirate, and ordered his vessel to be put back, with +the hope of outrunning her.</p> + +<p>Then the first officer took the glass, and after gazing for some time, +said, "Truly, my brothers, this is no ship, but a frightful demon that +the insulted Ma-tsoo-po has sent from the bottom of the sea to devour us +for carrying this impious youth."</p> + +<p>This was sufficient for the superstitious fear of the crew, who, +clustering toward Nicholas, with one voice cried, "Over the side with +the irreligious dog."</p> + +<p>Seeing no other chance, the boy ran to the stern of the vessel, and, +keeping them at a distance with his sword, said, "Let my brothers open +their ears. Their servant has brought this calamity upon them, but will +yet save them from the anger of the demon by seeking him before he +reaches the vessel, for surely the demon will be satisfied with one +victim."</p> + +<p>"The boy's words are good, and if he will pay for the boat it shall be +so, otherwise it is not well that we should lose its value," said the +artful captain, fearing he should lose any money Nicholas might have +about his person.</p> + +<p>"Back, rat!" said he to the advancing captain, keeping him off with his +sword and springing side-ward on to the edge of the junk, adding, "Lower +the boat, with provisions, and I will give you silver; refuse, and I +will leap into the sea."</p> + +<p>Fearing he would keep his word, the crew placed some rice cakes and a +small water cask in the boat and lowered it; and when Nicholas saw it +fairly afloat, and held but by one cord, he scrambled down the side like +a cat, drew his sword across the rope, threw a handful of silver upon +the deck, and pulled so hard at the oars that in a very short time he +was far out of the cowards' reach and on his way to the floating demon; +which, however he had no sooner caught full sight of than he laughed +till he could handle the oars no longer, for the terrible demon who had +scared the wits of the sailors proved to be neither more nor less than a +great tree which the circular winds had wrested from the earth with such +violence that the root had dragged with it a mass of earth and pebbles +sufficient to keep it afloat in a perfectly upright position, when, with +its spreading branches and lower boughs, it bore in the distance no bad +resemblance to a well-rigged vessel.</p> + +<p>Rowing cautiously, for fear the tree might topple over and upset his +boat, he heard a faint cry. Surely it could not be human; he listened; +again he heard it; and looking upward you may imagine his astonishment +at seeing a boy sitting across one of the upper branches.</p> + +<p>"Who cries for help?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is the miserable Chow, who must die if the benevolent stranger will +not aid him," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Canst thou swim, O Chow? If so, drop into the water, for I dare not +come nearer," said Nicholas; but scarcely had he spoken when a strong +gust of wind toppled the tree over with its great arms stretched out as +if to save itself from falling. Fortunately it fell in an opposite +direction to the boat. In the fall the boy was dashed so violently upon +the water, that becoming instantly senseless he would have sunk but for +Nicholas, who, getting hold of the long hair of his head, managed to +drag him into the boat. Upon recovering his senses he said, "Alas! then, +Yen-Vang has poor Chow after all."</p> + +<p>"Thou art far away from the king of the lower regions, my poor Chow," +said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"By the social relations, I am alive and on earth—no, on water—and +ungrateful to the benevolent stranger," said the boy, holding his head +with both hands, as if the better to comprehend his situation.</p> + +<p>"Satisfy thy hunger and say how it happened that Chow came to be perched +like a wild goose on a masthead," said Nicholas, giving the boy some of +the rice cakes, which he devoured as ravenously as if he had not tasted +food for a week.</p> + +<p>The lad, who had so unexpectedly made the acquaintance of Nicholas, was +a tall, bony youth of about sixteen, with a broad forehead, sparkling +black eyes, and covered with a coarse robe, so torn and tattered, that +he might have passed for a beggar of the lowest class.</p> + +<p>When he had satisfied his hunger, Chow clasped the knees of his new +friend, and with tears of gratitude flowing down his cheek, said, "Chow +will be thy slave, O generous stranger, for truly it could be for no +other purpose that the gods have saved his life."</p> + +<p>"Tush! talk not of slavery or gods, Chow, but say what is thy name, +surname, and the rank of thy family," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Truly, the story of Chow is as miserable as his own mean person. I am +from Tun-Hien, in Ching-Foo, in the province of Tche-Kiang. My father +was a mandarin of the fifth rank, who having taken a good degree, held +office under the governor of the fort, till one moon since, when the +terrible rebel, Li-Kong, took possession of the city in defiance of the +Son of Heaven himself, and massacred all who would not submit; my father +being one of the first to acknowledge the traitor, became the first to +be punished for his disloyalty to our holy Emperor, which happened as +thy servant will relate.</p> + +<p>"One day, my mother, who was accounted very handsome, so far forgot the +social regulations laid down for women, as to stand gazing from a window +while a body of soldiers passed through the street. For that unbecoming +act, both my venerable father and myself suffered, for the officer +clattered at the door, when the servants not daring to refuse so +powerful a personage, admitted him to the house, when he ran into the +inner apartment of my mother, who was so alarmed at such barbarian +behavior, that she rose to leave, when the villain would have carried +her away but for thy insignificant servant, who clutched his throat and +so gashed his cheek that the waters even of the yellow stream will never +wash them out.</p> + +<p>"Hearing the struggle, the soldiers came to the rogue's help, and would +have killed poor Chow, but for my father, who, returning at the moment, +compelled the officer, bad and bold as he was, to make his escape; but, +alas! no sooner had the rogue left, than instead of being grateful, my +father burst into loud lamentations, crying, 'Alas, alas! that ever so +mean a person was born, for thou hast insulted the chief favorite of the +prince, who will assuredly be revenged;' and so it proved, for the next +day we were all taken before the prince, who ordered the whole family to +be exterminated, and our house burnt to the ground; but what was worse, +alas! my father was not even strangled, but disgraced by being sent to +the yellow stream incomplete, for he was beheaded on the spot, and the +villain officer begged his wife as a slave, to which, in her misery, my +mother offered to consent if they would but spare the life of thy +miserable servant, her son. To this the prince consented, but the +officer was so enraged at the wound in his cheek, that he ordered me to +be dressed in beggar's rags, and beaten out of the town toward the sea. +Accordingly the wretches beat me till I could not stand, and left me to +starve and die on the sea-shore.</p> + +<p>"For days and days I wandered in the hope that some fisherman would take +compassion upon me; but alas! none dared to encourage so treasonous a +youth for fear of suffering similar punishment; then, but for the hope +that retaining my miserable existence would some fortunate day enable me +to punish the villain, I should have thrown myself into the sea, +although even that consolation I could not seek without impiously +forgetting my duty to my father, for has it not been wisely said that we +should not live beneath the same heaven with the destroyer of our +parents?"</p> + +<p>"It is a pagan doctrine, Chow; but how came you upon yonder perch?" said +Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Without hope, tired, and sad, I wandered along the coast till the great +storm sent the terrified wild animals in all directions; to escape from +them I climbed a tree upon the very verge of the sea, when shortly +afterward the wind-demon blew one great gust which carried it into the +sea, where its great spreading root and the earth around kept it +floating till the benevolent stranger came to my rescue."</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt be revenged upon this villain officer, my poor Chow, and +upon the greater rogue, Li-Kong," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"How,—what words are these? surely the benevolent stranger cannot be in +his senses to speak thus of men so powerful," replied the astonished +Chow.</p> + +<p>"What would Chow do to obtain the punishment of his enemies? Would he +faithfully serve the stranger who has saved his life?"</p> + +<p>"If these are the words of truth,—and who is thy mean servant that he +should doubt?—O wonderful stranger, Chow will be thy slave till he goes +to meet his ancestors."</p> + +<p>"Then, surely as I have spoken, it shall be so. But how wouldst thou +know this vile rogue again?"</p> + +<p>"Is it possible for a son to forget the slayer of his parent, even if +the wound in his face would not betray him?" said Chow, who gazing +earnestly in the face of Nicholas, added, "Art thou really a boy or a +man of short measure?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, like thyself, a boy of long measure and ample fullness, whose +mean surname is Nicholas," said the other laughing.</p> + +<p>"No, no, noble Nicholas, not like Chow; for if a boy, thou art like him +who became the Emperor Tait-sou, a little great man-boy," said Chow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>ADVENTURES AT SEA.—RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>Having recovered his strength, Chow took a turn at the oars, and for an +hour pulled lustily, to get as far from the coast as possible, for fear +of being observed by any straggling party of the rebels who might pursue +them, when, if they searched Nicholas and discovered the letter, +farewell to the sea chief's schemes. This fear, however, soon became +absorbed in a greater; night came on, and brave sailor as he was, +Nicholas did not fancy being upon that stormy sea in such a fragile +boat.</p> + +<p>Then Nicholas took the oars, and had not been pulling long, when he +perceived the glimmering of a light in the distance. He rested for a +moment; the light grew larger and nearer: this was hopeful; it might be +the lantern of a trading ship; yet fearful, for it might be a pirate. +The suspense was terrible, and like a gallant fellow he determined to +end it as soon as possible; for this purpose he pulled heartily, and was +rewarded at length by getting near enough to the stranger to distinguish +voices, then a few long pulls, and strong pulls, and he reached the +ship, when by the light from her lanterns perceiving some ropes hanging +out, he clambered up her side, telling Chow to follow. In another +second they both stood upon the deck, but also in the arms of men, who +would have stabbed them with their knives but for the presence of mind +of our hero, who exclaimed, "Fear not, brothers of the sea, we are not +pirates."</p> + +<p>The men, however, not being so easily appeased, bound the arms of the +boys with ropes and took them into the presence of the captain, much to +the disgust of Chow, who said, "Truly it is a maxim that a servant +should follow his master, but our career will be one of short measure by +this strange frolic, O noble Nicholas."</p> + +<p>"Silence, Chow, let not thy heart leap between thy lips at the first +threat of danger," said Nicholas angrily.</p> + +<p>"The bravest war tiger would become a mouse with his body packed as +closely as a cotton ball," said Chow surlily.</p> + +<p>The captain, however, no sooner saw Nicholas, than with a start of +surprise he ordered the sailors to leave the cabin, and took up a large +knife from the cabin table, when the terrified Chow cried, "Take the +worthless life of thy mean slave, O noble commander, but in the name of +thy ancestors spare my noble master."</p> + +<p>Chow's fear became surprise in no small degree when the captain, without +noticing his prayer, not only cut the cords from the arms of Nicholas, +but made him a respectful bow.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, worthy commander," said Nicholas, taking the knife and +releasing Chow.</p> + +<p>"Truly the heavens have tumbled down a surprise," said Chow, with a +caper, adding, "Is the noble man-boy a good demon, that he can transform +enemies into friends with a glance of his eye?"</p> + +<p>Without, however, satisfying Chow, Nicholas asked the captain to give +the boy a sleeping mat in another cabin, after which he said, "It is +well, O Yung, that you chanced to be at sea this night, or my noble +parent would have had to mourn his son." But little more passed, for +Nicholas was glad to seek a long rest, and possession of the sleeping +mat which the captain resigned to him.</p> + +<p>The reason of this civility is easily explained—the vessel itself +belonged to the sea chief, and its commander was one of his officers in +charge on a voyage to Ning-Po, which port they reached the following +day. Having landed, the boys took leave of the captain, and sought a +lodging at one of the largest inns, where, after resting for a few days, +Nicholas began to prepare for his journey inland.</p> + +<p>His first care was to furnish Chow with a becoming robe of stout silk, a +cap, trousers, and thick-soled leather boots. As soon as the boy had put +them on he began to caper about, crying, "My master is generous, and the +gods will reward him for making a poor boy decent enough to pay due +reverence to the tombs of his ancestors, for truly he could not worthily +sweep the dust from their resting-place in such unbecoming tatters; for +although Chow is poor, he is of worthy descent and honorable relations."</p> + +<p>"Truly, Chow, thou art now fit to take a degree at the next examination +at Pekin, if we ever arrive there," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is not reasonable that the noble Nicholas should laugh at his mean +servant, for at the examination of his Hien he passed so creditably +through the first two sacred books, that he would have obtained a +government promotion but for the villain who destroyed his house. <i>May +his soul pass into the body of a rat!</i>" said Chow gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Pardon, O disappointed scholar. It was villainous to laugh, for it is a +wise saying, 'that the well to do should sympathize with the +unfortunate,'" said Nicholas, adding, as he took his cap, "But let us +now seek for a passage-boat, for it is also wisely said, 'that the +loiterer about the business of another is incapable of conducting his +own affairs.'"</p> + +<p>When they reached the river, they engaged a passage to Hang-tcheou, and +having waited for a favorable tide, the barge was soon out of the river +into a canal, upon which for days they proceeded, at times being pushed +along by poles thrust into the water, at others, being drawn along by +coolies, or porters, an employment that affords a means of existence to +a vast portion of the population of China.</p> + +<p>Tche-Kiang, through which they so leisurely traveled, is, perhaps, the +most fertile and beautiful of the eighteen provinces of China, and +large enough to contain the whole of Scotland and its adjacent islands. +Besides rivers, it is watered by some sixty canals, which serve not only +as an easy method of transit, but so to irrigate the great plains around +that they yield crops of rice, pulse, and cotton, twice and sometimes +thrice a year. It was pleasant to watch these canals pouring forth their +sparkling limpid streams to lave the feet of the neighboring hills and +mountains, which for many miles presented an aspect of singular beauty; +some, like carved and nature painted pyramids, being wrought into +terraces, which shot one out of the other, teeming with the yellow +grain, cotton, or tea-trees, while others were thickly sprinkled with +shady trees, which waved over sloping cemeteries of quaintly shaped +tombs and temples. It was a charming picture—nature dressed to the +verge of foppery—more, it was a glorious land, and smiling as if in +pride at its power of blessing the human race—and more again, that its +owners knew its worth and industriously stretched its blessings to the +utmost.</p> + +<p>Then the boat came to a dike, or sluice, and they were about to enter +another canal at least fifteen feet beneath their level. To pass this, +the barge was hoisted by Coolies up an inclined plain of freestone by +means of ropes upon capstans and sheer strength of muscle, then gently +let down a slope upon the other side into the water, a mode adopted to +the present day to move even the largest vessels from canal to canal.</p> + +<p>Thus pleasantly the young travelers were wafted through the province, +now through vast plains of rice, then by the sides of great hills +clustering with the tea-plant, on again through vast orchards of +mulberry-trees and the useful and curious tallow-plant; then again +through plantations of bamboo, that inseparable companion of the +Chinaman from the cradle to the grave—for it receives the infant, +corrects the boy, is the means of living for the man, and entwines the +corpse. Then again they passed through towns and cities, swarming with +busy workers at the silk-loom and multifarious handicrafts, and toiling +children, women, and men in the fields, till they passed another dike, +and then they were upon the beautiful lake Tsao-hou, about the naming of +which the following pretty story is told:—</p> + +<p>"Many years ago there lived a priest of the Taouist religion, who had +obtained a reputation for his skill in magic. At the festival of the +feast of dragon boats, the priest went to sport in the river in honor of +his gods, but by some mischance he was drowned, and his body no where to +be found. His dutiful daughter, Tsao-hou, a girl fourteen years of age, +felt her father's loss so deeply that she wandered along the banks of +the river for seventeen days and nights, weeping and wailing over her +loss. At last she threw a large melon into the river, putting up the +prayer, 'May this melon sink wherever the body of my father lieth.' With +anxious eyes she watched the gourd as it floated on the surface of the +stream, until it stopped at a certain spot where it sank. The poor +damsel, frantic with grief, rushed to the place and plunged after it. +She too was drowned, but five days afterward her lifeless trunk rose to +the surface with her father's body in her embrace. Both were buried on +the river bank, and in commemoration of that incident the name of the +girl was given to the lake and a magnificent temple erected to her +name."</p> + +<p>On the sixth day they came to Chao-Hing, the Venice of China, where the +canals are so numerous that any portion of the city may be reached by +boats. Imagine a city with, in place of streets, one large network of +water-roads, intersected with bridges, so light and fanciful that one +could imagine them to have been blown together by the breath of fairies, +and you will have some notion of Chao-Hing.</p> + +<p>This city is celebrated alike for its silk-worms and book-worms. So +great is the reputation of the scholars of Chao-Hing that they are +sought for by the viceroys of provinces to fill government offices. Near +to this city and not far from the mountain of Asses (so called from its +being shaped in the form of that animal) is the sepulchre of the great +Emperor Yu, the model sovereign of China.</p> + +<p>This prince obtained the throne by having saved the empire from the +deluge of water which in his time covered the lands; indeed, he must +have been no common engineer, for in thirteen years, by unwearied labor, +he leveled high mountains, embanked and confined great rivers within +their channels, drained lakes and marshes, enclosed rapid torrents with +banks, and divided rivers into canals, which not only gained a great +extent of country, but rendered the whole more fertile. It was the great +genius and wonderful energy of Yu that caused the reigning Emperor to +choose him for his successor in preference to either of the four +princes, his sons.</p> + +<p>Among other remarkable things told of this Emperor, it is said that he +first taught the people to cultivate, sow, and manure lands, and divided +his dominions into nine provinces, causing as many great brazen vessels +to be made, on each of which a map of a province was engraved. In +succeeding times these vessels became very precious, for it was believed +that the safety of the state depended on their security, and that +whoever obtained them would also obtain the crown.</p> + +<p>A qualification rare amongst kings was possessed by this useful prince. +He hated flatterers, and the only way to gain his favor was to tell him +of his faults. Moreover, Yu thought no employment so becoming a +sovereign as doing justice to the people; thus he gave access to his +subjects at all hours, and that no obstacle might be thrown in their +way, he had affixed to his palace gates a bell, a drum, and three +tables, one of iron, one of stone, and another of lead, upon either of +which people who wanted an audience were to strike.</p> + +<p>The bell was to distinguish civil affairs, the drum for matters relating +to law or religion, the leaden table for the ministers, the tablet of +stone to denote a complaint of wrong done by some magistrate, and lastly +the iron tablet was to denote any very serious trouble. So rigorously +did Yu adhere to this rule, that it is said that he arose from table +twice in one day, and another day came three times out of his bath at +the sound of the bell.</p> + +<p>Another story is, that when wine, which was first invented in his reign, +was shown to him, he expressed great regret, "for," said he, "this +liquor will cause the greatest trouble to the empire." But wise and +powerful as he was, Yu could not conquer sensuality; for in China, as in +most other countries, the love for strong liquors is potent.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE INNKEEPER.—ALARMING NEWS.</h3> + + +<p>For six more days the boys sailed along this canal till they came to +Hang-tcheou-fou, the terrestrial paradise of China, of which, in +conjunction with another great city, the people have a saying, "Heaven +is above, but Hang-tcheou and Foo-tcheou are below." As a combination of +work and pleasure, a great manufacturing city, and a fashionable and +healthful watering-place, this spot has not its equal in the world; for +as the province of Tche-Kiang is the most celebrated in the empire for +its growth of mulberry-trees and the finest silk-worms, so is its +capital, Hang-tcheou, celebrated for its looms and the quality and +quantity of those rare silks, satins, and taffetas, which no less +gladdened the eyes of the moderns than they surprised and delighted the +wealthy Romans, who, not knowing from whence they came, believed them to +be the handiwork of "furthest Ind."</p> + +<p>Not alone the Manchester, but the Bath or Cheltenham of China, this city +is also famous for its scholars, and as being the residence of the +fashionables, if such a term may be used to a people who are proverbial +for having kept in manners, customs, laws, religion, and dress, and +even ideas, with little exception, to the pattern men and women, +fashioned and shaped by their early Emperors, Yaou and Yu, some four +thousand years ago; for the latter perhaps Hang-tcheou is chiefly +indebted to its vicinage to the celebrated lake See-ho. The waters are +so clear that the smallest pebbles may be seen shining like crystals +from the bottom. In the middle are two islands adorned with temples and +houses, wherein water parties, after taking their pleasure upon the +lake, resort for rest and refreshment. Upon piles driven into the bed of +the lake are large stone walks or pathways for pedestrians, which stretch +from the banks to the islands, with openings for boats, across which are +thrown fancifully wrought bridges. The banks are studded with temples, +mansions, monasteries, for the bonzes or priests of Buddah, as also a +small but beautiful palace for the use of the Emperor, when he makes a +tour through his southern provinces.</p> + +<p>Near to this lake, and reposing in a valley beneath the foot of a +mountain, upon the summit of which, as if in guard over the dead for the +past forty centuries, the huge Lui-fung-ta, or tower of thundering +winds, is the great cemetery, or vale of tombs, a city in size, which is +kept reverentially clean, and strewn at stated periods with fresh +flowers, over which forests of willows weep for the departed.</p> + +<p>One of the chief beauties of this famous lake I had almost forgotten to +mention. Its sides, where the water is shallow, are covered with the +clustering and rare flowers, lien-hoa, a plant so choice that it is +fostered in the innermost recesses of the houses of the great and +wealthy. Not unlike our own tulips, the Lien-hoa has a little ball +supported by a small filament similar to that formed in lilies; its +color varies, being at times violet, white, or a mixture of red and +white; it emits a fragrant odor; the fruit is as big as a small nut, and +the kernel is white and of good taste. The physicians esteem it, and +prescribe it for weak patients. The leaves are long, and swim upon the +water, communicating with the root by long strings. The dense +population, which has rendered it necessary to turn every atom to +account, has led the busy-bee genius of the people to make every +particle of this plant useful. The before-mentioned strings are used by +the gardeners to wrap round their goods, and the white and pulpy root is +eaten in summer for its cooling properties.</p> + +<p>Although mid-day when they arrived at this city, you will not wonder +that it was nearly dark by the time they reached the gates, when I tell +you that the river was one vast floating town of vessels, the greater +part of which were arranged into streets, crowded with passing mandarin +junks laden with pleasure parties, and decorated with japan, gilding, +silk streamers, and that emblem of rank, the umbrella; government junks, +some of war, and others freighted with rice, silks, and other matters, +which had been given by the different townspeople as taxes in lieu of +money; then numerous junks laden with salt and other commodities, to say +nothing of the many thousands of San-pans or egg-house boats, in which +a vast portion of the poorer section of the Chinese reside, never being +permitted to come ashore without especial permission from the governor; +then again, the floating islands of trees, with their huts formed of +poles and matting of bamboo. Indeed just such a scene is a picture of +the every-day life presented on the canals and rivers of this country; +but particularly in the southern provinces, which so swarm with human +beings, that thousands are compelled from want of room on land to take +refuge on the water, where they not only live, but carry on their +various avocations.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the haste of the boys to enter the city, as they passed +through the gates the great bell above them began to sound the first of +the five watches or divisions into which the night is divided, and the +crowds who thronged the narrow streets began to scamper in every +direction to their homes, for the law of China very wisely holds "that +the daylight is for labor and the night for repose." Greatly fatigued, +the young travelers sought the first inn where they regaled themselves +with a plentiful meal, foolishly forgetting the passing time: indeed, +before they had finished, they heard the sound of the second watch, when +the landlord made his appearance and begged of his honorable guests to +take their departure, much to the surprise of Nicholas, who had resolved +to go no further that night. "Surely," said he, "the perfection of +innkeepers would not turn away travelers who are willing to pay for +their entertainment and lodging."</p> + +<p>"From what distant province can the honorable youth have journeyed, that +he knows not that the inns are full of the servants and officers of the +illustrious Ching-Ti, who has this day arrived, to fill with his form of +full measure the governor's sedan, and judgment seat?" said the +innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"Truly the worthy innkeeper will pardon his younger brother for +observing that the name of the Mandarin of Hang-tcheou is Yang-ti, or +the eyeballs of his humble guest have become twisted, for Yang-ti is the +name upon this chop," replied Chow, producing a kind of passport which +had been given to him at the custom-house before entering the city.</p> + +<p>"Where have been the ears of my honorable guest that he has not heard +that the noble Yang has completed the measure of his joys and sorrows in +this world?"</p> + +<p>"Surely the noble governor cannot have passed so suddenly to the yellow +stream or the shadow kingdom of Yen-Vang," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt that it is a sad history, for greatly was the +good Yang loved, not only in this his last province, but in all those +over which he had ruled, never having retired from a government without +receiving the boots of honor," replied the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>It may be as well to explain to you, that when the governor of a city +removes to another province, the people exhibit their approbation of his +wisdom and justice by paying him great honor. When he commences his +journey he finds, for a considerable distance along the road, tables +covered with silk placed at certain intervals, upon some of which are +laid burnt perfumes, candlesticks, waxlights, meats, pulse, and fruits; +and upon others, wine, and tea, ready for use. As soon as the popular +mandarin appears, the people fall upon their knees, bow their heads and +weep, offer him the things upon the tables, and present him with a pair +of new boots; they then pull off his old ones, and preserve them as +relics in a small cage, which they hang over the gates of the city +through which he passed.</p> + +<p>"Will the worthy innkeeper relate the ill-doings that could have brought +this good magistrate to misfortune?" said Nicholas, guessing at the +innkeeper's meaning.</p> + +<p>"Truly it was no less than a fondness for the religion of the Fan-Kwi."</p> + +<p>"Surely that could be no crime under our good Emperor, who has +befriended the Christians, even to permitting the members of his family +to become followers of the Lord of Heaven," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is true that the information may be incorrect, but such has fallen +into thy servant's ears; moreover it is said that the great Yang's +conduct has offended the bonzes at Pekin, who are all-powerful in the +palace of the Son of Heaven, whom they persuaded to send the +Christian-exterminating Lord Ching-Ti, with an order signed by the +vermilion pencil, to put Yang to death."</p> + +<p>"Has the vile deed been performed?" said Nicholas hastily.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" said the host in a low tone. "Surely such language will bring a +heavy punishment upon thy head."</p> + +<p>"Has the noble mandarin suffered, O worthy man?" said Nicholas, whose +rising indignation outweighed his prudence.</p> + +<p>"It has been wisely said, that it is of little use to repine at what +can't be recalled," replied the innkeeper, adding, "The soul of the +great Yang is now in search of a better habitation, but he left this +world with dignity, for the Son of Heaven, <i>may he continue the circle +of succession</i>, remembering his servant's good deeds, mercifully +permitted him to be his own executioner, and, moreover, gave him the +choice either of the silken cord, the gold leaf, or his own state +necklace."</p> + +<p>"Truly if the great lords esteem these things as favors, thanks be to +Tien that thy servant is but a small weasel of a personage," said Chow, +making some very remarkable grimaces.</p> + +<p>"When the noble Yang received the message, he called for the incense +table, burned perfume in honor of his royal master, chose the silken +cord, and having held it high above his head in token of his willingness +to obey the royal will, immediately strangled himself," said the +innkeeper, without noticing Chow's interruption.</p> + +<p>That the boys did not shudder at this recital, may surprise you who are +not perhaps aware that this is a common method of showing the royal +gratitude for past services in the middle kingdom. Not only are these +three methods used as punishments, but as a means of suicide, which in +China, as in most unchristianized countries, is esteemed a meritorious +means of slipping through a difficulty. The gold leaf being taken in the +form of a pill, is washed down with water, which is supposed so to +expand the leaf and extend the stomach that life soon becomes extinct. +The death by the necklace is more uncommon. There is a bird of the crane +kind, on the crown of whose head is a scarlet tuft of down or velvet +skin, to which the Chinese believe the poison of the serpents which it +eats determines. This crest is frequently formed into a bead which is +concealed in the ornamental necklaces worn by the high officers of the +empire, for the express purpose of surmounting worldly difficulties, for +let this venom but touch the lip, and death instantaneously ensues.</p> + +<p>There is a legend that the life of this bird extends to one thousand +years, that it is in its prime at sixty, when it can sing regularly and +beautifully every hour of the day, but that it cannot mount trees till +it reaches its thousandth year.</p> + +<p>When the innkeeper had finished, the clanging of the watchman's bamboo +rattle in the streets reminded Nicholas of the lateness of the hour, and +he said, "But, even now, the worthy innkeeper has not informed his +younger brothers where they may find a lodging for the night.</p> + +<p>"Thy servant, noble youth, must have been born in an unfortunate hour, +that he cannot offer the advantages of his inn, but the truth has been +spoken, none but the servants and officers of the great Ching-Ti can +rest here to-night."</p> + +<p>"Surely taels of silver are not so plentiful in this city that all will +refuse," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Truly for less than an ounce of silver two travelers might find a +lodging in the house of the bonzes."</p> + +<p>"The priests of Fo are rogues," said Nicholas, giving utterance to an +opinion that has been popular in China from all time.</p> + +<p>"The noble youth possesses a tongue that will place him in the cangue, +or procure him a branded cheek by this hour to-morrow, if he rules it no +better," said the innkeeper; but before the boy could reply, the man's +wife ran into the room, crying and beating her breast, and implored of +her husband to follow her to the bedside of their dying daughter.</p> + +<p>Shocked that they had been the means of keeping the man from so holy a +duty. Nicholas apologized, and was about leaving the house, when with an +hysterical laugh, the man said, "See, O honorable youths, this woman has +but little faith in the power of the holy bonzes, who have been offering +sacrifices to Fo, to save the life of this pearl of my existence."</p> + +<p>"By what means, O foolish man, can these bonzes save thy child's life? +Are not the physicians of Hang-tcheou famous for their skill?"</p> + +<p>"Truly they are less than mice; they could not save my child, and I have +dismissed them for a holy bonze, whose influence over the god who +protects the lives of the young, has made him promise that my pearl +shall not become dissolved in death."</p> + +<p>"She is passing from us now, O my husband," said the unhappy wife.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be, woman; the god is but chastising you with a terrible +fear, for your want of faith; for how is it possible he can refuse so +trifling a favor as the life of a young girl, when I have daily offered +sacrifices of animals, and money, and burned incense at his altar?"</p> + +<p>Shocked at the man's superstitious belief in the power of Fo, and his +brother idols, Nicholas made one other effort to shake it; finding, +however, that it was useless, he paid the bill, purchased a lantern for +himself and another for Chow, and they went on their way to the Buddhist +monastery, the only house wherein he could find shelter for that night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>ADVENTURE IN A BUDDHIST MONASTERY.—CHOW'S ENCOUNTER WITH A BONZE.</h3> + + +<p>To Londoners who find it an easy matter to pass, at any time of the +night, from one end of the metropolis to the other, it may appear that +Nicholas and Chow had no very difficult task before them. Such however, +was not the case, for in the first place, instead of open thoroughfares, +the great streets of the cities of China are barricaded at the ends with +chains, and the smaller ones with wicket-gates, at each of which is +placed a watchman, whose business it is to question every pedestrian, +and through the night to keep clanging a piece of hard wood against a +hollow bamboo cane, for the purpose of showing his watchfulness.</p> + +<p>As the boys, by aid of their lanterns picked their way through the +streets, they found them deserted; with the exception of a few +stragglers, each of whom carried a lantern, upon which was +ostentatiously emblazoned his name and rank. Imagine all the gas lamps +in London extinguished, and their places supplied by a few dancing +will-o'-the-wisp kind of lanterns, and you will have a tolerable notion +of the appearance of the great cities of China by night. Dismal, truly, +but perhaps not more so than were the streets of London not many years +since, when they were lighted by flickering oil lamps. Again, as were +those of London at the very period when these adventures happened, the +streets are so narrow that a good-sized carriage or wagon cannot pass +through without danger to the people, but then the narrowness of the +streets was less pardonable in Londoners of that age, than in the +Chinese of the present, whose great people ride in sedan-chairs, and +whose little people walk, and convey their goods to and fro in narrow +carts, like barrows, with one centre wheel. The Celestials are at least +consistent in fitting their vehicles to their streets, which is more +than could be said of old London, with its gutter streets and heavy +lumbering coaches, types of which may be seen every day in the London of +the present time.</p> + +<p>The street in which the inn was situated was one of the principal, and, +therefore, of great length, and along the pavement, which was in the +middle of the road, the boys trudged onward, passing every now and then +beneath one of the numerous Pai-ho, or arches, which are erected to the +memory of good magistrates and virtuous women, till they came to a +lattice-gate which led into a smaller street, when their progress was +arrested, for the watchman was not at his post. They waited for some +time, till becoming impatient, Chow kicked the gate, when there arose +such a queer hissing noise, that the boy fell upon his face, exclaiming, +"My master, my master the demons of Yen-Vang have swallowed the +watchman, and are guarding the gate in his stead."</p> + +<p>"Thou art a foolish coward," said Nicholas, who clambered up the gate, +and after looking through the wicket for a minute let go his hold and +laughed immoderately. "O Chow, Chow, thou idiot! not to know a demon +from one of thine own kind; surely these demons are nothing but geese;" +and as the watchman opened the wicket Chow saw that the noise which had +alarmed him had been caused by a couple of those birds, which the +watchman had trained to cackle and hiss at the slightest noise, so that +he might take a comfortable nap, with the certainty of being aroused +when wanted by the hissing.</p> + +<p>"Truly they must be barbarian geese, for I should have understood them +had they cackled in Chinese," said Chow.</p> + +<p>To get the gate open was one thing, to pass through another, for +perceiving neither name nor rank upon the lanterns, the watchman +determined to detain the boys as suspicious characters, and for that +purpose began to clang upon his bamboo for assistance, when a personage +came up to the wicket, and both the watchman and Chow bent their heads +respectfully. From the yellow robe, the string of beads around his neck, +and his shaven head, Nicholas saw that he was a bonze, or priest of Fo. +As this reverend gentleman came through the gate he ran his fingers up +and down the beads, and muttered, "O Mi to-fo," and so would have +passed, but for Chow, who said, "Will the man of prayer pardon an +insignificant mouse for interrupting his holy meditations?"</p> + +<p>"The dogs are vagabonds, perhaps robbers, who have no name, surname, or +profession on their lanterns, O holy bonze," said the polite watchman.</p> + +<p>"What would the nameless night prowlers with the priest of Buddha?" said +the bonze.</p> + +<p>"Truly nothing but a guide to the monastery, where they seek a lodging +for which they pray of the holy father to accept alms."</p> + +<p>At the word alms the eyes of the bonze sparkled with delight, and having +lifted his lantern so as to get a full view of Nicholas, he said to the +watchman, "Thou rascal! thy dog's head hath less brains than these +geese, and thine eyeballs are of lead, or thou wouldst have seen that so +well-looking a youth must be of honorable descent; moreover, where was +thy charity, that thou wouldst not aid a traveler?"</p> + +<p>"Surely the man would be wanting in sense who should suppose that he had +the wisdom and divining power of a holy bonze," replied the trembling +guardian of the night.</p> + +<p>Not deigning, however to notice this observation, the bonze conducted +the boys along several streets, till they reached a building surrounded +by a high wall, through which, by means of a small gate, they passed to +an avenue of magnificent trees, paved with marble, and which led to a +large gateway, guarded upon each side by a very ugly stone god. Passing +through the gateway, they entered a small room lighted from the centre +by one large lantern, decorated with portraits of the god Fo, in every +variety of character. This god, as you may probably know, is represented +by almost every kind of animal, biped and quadruped, into which during +the lapse of centuries his soul is supposed to have passed. Around this +room, which was for every day use, were small idols of gilt copper, with +ghos-sticks burning before them; on the table, in the centre of the +room, stood a time measure, that must remind you of the period of our +own King Alfred. It is termed the hourly incense-stick, and is notched +at equal distances, and as from notch to notch the stick takes exactly +one hour to burn, it accurately marks the passing time.</p> + +<p>This ghos-stick, so named from its being burned as incense in the +ghos-houses or temples of China, is compounded of sawdust mixed with +glue and scent, and evenly rolled into thin rods of two or three feet in +length; in fact, the very same brown stick adopted by smokers in this +country for its pleasant perfume, and continuing to burn till reduced to +ashes. Having introduced the boys to this room the bonze withdrew, and +shortly afterward sent a servant with blankets and sleeping mats, upon +which they stretched themselves, not a little pleased at the opportunity +of getting a good sleep after their day's fatigue.</p> + +<p>Long before morning, however, Nicholas was suddenly aroused from his +slumbers, and to his surprise saw the bonze upon the floor, with Chow +pummeling him with his fists, and crying, "I have thee, I have thee, +thou slayer of people's parents."</p> + +<p>Not knowing what to make of this strange scene, Nicholas caught Chow by +the arm and endeavored to pull him away; this, however, served but to +excite him the more, for he pummeled at the bonze harder than ever. The +behavior of the priest was still more surprising, for instead of showing +any indignation at this strange treatment, all he said was, "Harm the +youth not my son; he is possessed with a demon; he sleeps, poor boy, and +mistakes me for some terrible enemy."</p> + +<p>This explanation Nicholas soon found to be correct, for poor Chow had +been battling in his sleep; but how the bonze came into the boy's +clutches was a mystery, and one that, worn out as he was with fatigue, +he did not just then care about solving, so that he could get Chow to +his mat again, which after considerable trouble he managed, by telling +him that he was an officer of justice and would see that his enemy +should be punished. After which Nicholas threw himself upon his mat, +fell into a sound sleep, and slept till he was awakened by the deep +tones of the monastery bell.</p> + +<p>During the morning meal he related the adventure to the much-puzzled +Chow, who could remember nothing but that he had dreamed that the slayer +of his father suddenly entered the room, and after prowling about for +some time, first searched the robe of Nicholas, and then came to his +bed, when, thinking he was going to kill him, he attacked him in +self-defence; though how his enemy should have become transformed into +the bonze, who certainly had no business in the room, was a puzzle that +he could not make out.</p> + +<p>The explanation of the bonze was, that he had entered his visitors' +apartment to see that they had been properly attended to by the +servant—an explanation not at all satisfactory to Chow, who as soon as +the priest left the room said, "Is my master's girdle safe? for these +holy fathers are great rogues."</p> + +<p>Alarmed for the safety of his letters, Nicholas examined his girdle; +they were safe; when shocked at his insinuation, the repentant Chow +exclaimed, "Truly, my master, Chow is less than the least of little +dogs, and must crave the good father's forgiveness,"—which he took the +first opportunity of doing, by falling upon all fours before the priest +and knocking his forehead to the ground, till the latter in pity lifted +the boy upon his legs again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THRASHING THE GODS.—THE BOYS TAKEN PRISONERS.</h3> + + +<p>Anxious to deliver his father's letter to the Christian priest, yet +fearful of making inquiries where he was to be found, now he had heard +of the governor's enmity to Christianity, Nicholas determined to make +the effort alone, and having thanked the bonze for his hospitality and +presented him with half an ounce of silver, he was about proceeding in +his search, when the latter solicited him to join in the morning prayers +of the monastery; a solicitation he was too prudent to refuse, for fear +of awakening the suspicions of the bonzes, whom he knew to be the main +persecutors of his religion.</p> + +<p>As for Chow, like the majority of his countrymen he was of no religion +in particular, but a little of each of the sects into which the Chinese +are divided; Confucian, Buddhist, and Taouist; he, therefore, willingly +followed Nicholas, who, with something like a feeling of disgust, +entered a spacious hall, the ceiling of which shone with gold and japan. +In the centre were placed three colossal representative gods of the +past, present, and future—the Buddha who is, and the Buddha who will +be—with a vase of incense and a lamp of burning tea oil before each. At +the sound of a small bell, a number of yellow-robed priests, with heads +shaven, clean and oily as bladders of lard, made their appearance and +commenced the ceremony; one rang a bell violently, while another +clattered like a watchman upon a hollow bamboo cane. This clamor was for +the purpose of arousing the attention of the gods, which, after a few +minutes, being supposed to be accomplished, the whole society of priests +knocked their heads upon the ground repeatedly; and when tired, they +began to chant hymns and create a fearful din by playing rough music +upon much rougher instruments; after which they marched out of the hall +regularly and in double file. Not a little pleased at the conclusion of +the ceremony, Nicholas followed, taking care, however, on leaving the +building, to choose an opposite direction to the bonzes.</p> + +<p>The boys had not walked more than a hundred yards, when they came to the +foot of a small hillock, which served as a base or pedestal for a +shrine, in which, upon a raised platform, like a small boy upon a tall +stool, sat an ugly little god with a dragon's head, so glittering, +however, with gold and gaudy colors, that they knew it to be a private +idol that some foolish devotee had decorated at his own cost, with a +view to obtain some especial service from heaven. When within earshot of +this deity, they observed two bonzes come from behind the shrine, +attended by a servant, who, having prepared the incense table commenced +to bow their heads to the ground and mutter their prayers.</p> + +<p>Not wishing either to join in, or interrupt the priests' devotions, the +boys took up their position behind the trunk of a large tree, where they +witnessed the following scene:—</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the bonzes commenced their head knockings when a mob of the +lower class of people, with sticks and hammers in their hands, came +clamoring toward the shrine. They were led by a man, who had no sooner +reached the astute and kneeling priests, than with one kick he sent them +rolling over each other, saying at the same time, "Get thee hence, thou +rogues of bonzes, and let us deal with this villainous god." The bonzes, +seeing so many persons, arose and scampered off to their monastery for +help, when the <i>leader</i>, whom Nicholas now recognized as his friend, the +innkeeper, approached the idol, saying, "How now, thou dog of a spirit! +Have I not fed thee, lodged thee handsomely, and offered incense each +day at the cost of half my hard earnings, that thou shouldst save the +life of my daughter, who, notwithstanding, has been carried to the +yellow stream? Let us punish him, my friends, that he may deceive no +other father." As he uttered the last words, he struck off the arm of +the god with such force that it struck a bonze, who was at that moment +coming toward the idol in advance of some twenty of his brethren; at +which the people cried, "This is indeed a just retribution upon the vile +bonze."</p> + +<p>"Do not the people fear the vengeance of the gods, that they behave +thus?" said the stricken priest, calmly, and dissembling his rage.</p> + +<p>"Truly the gods may render us unfortunate," said one cowardly fellow, +and the superstitious crowd hesitated. Perceiving his advantage, the +bonze followed it up. "Surely," said he, "the people are not +unreasonable, like this man, who is ungrateful to the gods for taking +his daughter, as if, forsooth, his child were better than the children +of his neighbors."</p> + +<p>"This is true. Why should one complain that he is not more fortunate +than the rest?" said the cowardly voice.</p> + +<p>"As for the worthy Sing, the gods may pardon him, in consideration of +his great grief; but then he must desist from this profanity," said the +bonze.</p> + +<p>"The bonze is generous, and his words are reasonable," said another.</p> + +<p>"Are my friends unjust that they will not listen to an injured man, +whose injuries may be their own to-morrow?" said the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"This is reasonable also; let us hear Sing," cried several voices.</p> + +<p>At that moment, Nicholas, who feared lest the artful bonzes should get +the better of the dispute, came forward, and said, "Why should the +worthy Sing waste words? surely he has been sufficiently injured; the +measure of his grief is full, for he will leave no descendant to fulfil +the necessary offices at his tomb."</p> + +<p>"The words of the honorable youth are wise," said the fickle crowd; and +Nicholas continued, "That there has been robbery, there can be no +doubt, my friends; for, notwithstanding the god promised to cure the +daughter of this worthy man, she has passed to the yellow stream, and, +therefore, he is unworthy of his quality of godship, and should be +punished; therefore, in justice to the worthy Sing, let this temple be +pulled down, and the stupid idol pay the penalty in his own person."</p> + +<p>To which the priest endeavored to reply, but the people would not listen +to him, and acting upon the suggestion of Nicholas, threw a cord round +the god's neck, pulled him to the ground, and belabored him with sticks +and hammers.</p> + +<p>During the proceeding the priests, who were too wise to lose their +tempers, addressed a knot of lookers-on, vehemently threatening them +with terrible misfortunes, but at the same time declaring, that if Sing +would come to some agreement, the god, who was of a short temper, would +do what was reasonable on his part and prevent future evils. This had +the desired effect upon all but Sing and some of his friends, who +continued to belabor the idol till the converts to the bonze's opinion +drove them away, when, becoming broken into antagonistic parties, they +threw aside their weapons and fought each other with their fists, till a +body of yah-yu, or city police, entered upon the ground, and seizing +Sing, the principal bonze, and the two boys, as the chief rioters, +hurried them off to the police tribunal.</p> + +<p>As for the mob, no sooner had the prisoners been removed, than mortified +at the profanity into which they had been hurried, they gathered +together the fragments of the deity, stuck them together as well as +possible, washed him, and fell at his feet, exclaiming, "In truth we +have been a little too hasty, but then your godship has been a little +too slow in performing your promises, and thus brought the beating upon +yourself. But still it is a good saying, that 'what has been done can't +be undone.' Let us, therefore, think no more of this matter, and if you +will forget what has passed we will repair thy temple and gild you over +again."</p> + +<p>For fear that my reader may think this episode exaggerated, I must +assure him that similar scenes are even now of frequent occurrence—and +why not? For although idolaters, the Chinese are neither enthusiasts nor +fanatics. With the greater part, the worship of idols is an inheritance +which it would be impossible to reject;—it is custom they worship. +Moreover, like ourselves, they are a business-like people, and will have +money's worth for money; therefore, if they pay an idol for a certain +quantity of work, and he does not complete his contract, they give him a +sound thrashing—and the principle is not a bad one after all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>TREACHERY OF THE BONZES.—NICHOLAS SENT TO PRISON AS A TRAITOR.</h3> + + +<p>With the proverbial rudeness of most small officials, the yah-yu threw +cords around the arms of the prisoners and dragged them along the +streets, amid the jeers and laughter of the populace, who, enjoyed the +prospect of the probable punishment of so serious an offence as rioting, +namely, being led about the streets with the cangue, a wooden collar as +large as a small table, around their necks; but in this the Chinese +crowd was not worse than others in Europe, for, with shame be it said, a +tendency to indulge in the minor miseries of their fellows is the cruel +propensity of most masses.</p> + +<p>When they came to the tribunal they found it crowded with people, who +were standing upon either side of the hall, so as to form a lane by +which to approach the mandarin, who was sitting at a table, upon which +stood a box of bamboo reeds, tipped with yellow; upon his left side sat +the secretary, and upon his right stood three men with ominous-looking +bamboo canes in their hands. The first case heard was that of a youth +whose propensity for gaming had led him to squander a large sum of +money lent to him by his father for the purpose of commencing business. +I must tell you however, that before bringing the boy before a tribunal, +the father had fruitlessly tried every method of kindness. Having +listened patiently, the mandarin severly reprimanded the youth, then +taking fifty of the yellow-tipped reeds threw them on the ground as a +signal for the men with canes to give him fifty blows. Before, however, +they could obey, his mother, with tears in her eyes, threw herself at +the mandarin's feet, begging of him to pardon her son. Being a +kind-hearted man the magistrate complied, but ordering to be brought to +him a volume written by one of the emperors for the instruction of his +subjects, and opening it at a particular part, said, "Promise O youth, +to renounce gambling and to listen to your father's directions, and I +will pardon you this time; but that you may not forget, go and kneel in +the gallery of the hall of audience and learn by heart this chapter on +filial obedience, which till you repeat and solemnly promise to observe +obedience, you shall not depart from this tribunal."</p> + +<p>The youth being delighted at this lenient sentence bowed his forehead to +the earth, and, moreover, I must tell you, kept his promise, although he +was three days learning the task. Such being the spirit of the laws, and +the paternal mildness with which they are for the most part carried out, +excepting only in cases of high treason, we need not wonder that this +great population has submitted to their rule for four thousand years.</p> + +<p>When this case was over the chief of the yah-yu bowed to the ground and +charged his prisoners generally with rioting to the disturbance of the +public peace.</p> + +<p>"What has the priest of Fo to say to this disgraceful charge? let him +open his lips," said the mandarin. Whereupon the bonze fell upon his +knees and accused the innkeeper of attacking the idol and leading a mob +to destroy the monastery.</p> + +<p>"What sayest the innkeeper? for surely the offence is serious," said the +mandarin.</p> + +<p>Then, bowing to the ground, the innkeeper related the morning's +adventure, stating that but for the assistance of Nicholas and Chow, the +bonze would have killed him, adding, "Truly, O jewel of justice, thy +mean servant demands the punishment of this rascal bonze and his +trumpery god, who, notwithstanding the sums paid to them, have permitted +his only child to be carried from this life."</p> + +<p>Having listened patiently to both sides, the mandarin said, "It is true +that two offences have been committed, the one against the public peace, +and the other against a private person. The former, being the most +heinous, must be first dealt with; and, as without the bonze and the +innkeeper, there could have been no such disturbance, let both be +corrected with twenty blows. As for the two youths, who were drawn into +this disturbance, let them pay half a tael each to some poor person to +receive ten blows for them."</p> + +<p>The sentence having gone forth, the men with the bamboos caught hold of +the culprits, threw them upon the floor, and they received a similar +punishment to that dealt out by a schoolmaster upon a refractory pupil; +after which, the delinquents, smarting with pain, humbly returned thanks +for this benevolent and fatherly correction.</p> + +<p>"As for the second offence," said the mandarin, "it is clear that the +bonze is either a rogue or no good judge of the powers of the different +gods, and knew not to which to apply for this particular favor, an +ignorance that has caused the innkeeper to lose his goods; and, in +either case, is unfit for his office; therefore, if he is found within +the city walls after this night, he shall be placed in the cangue for +three moons. As for the god himself, who is the principal party +concerned, let him be plucked down from his seat as a useless and +malicious deity."</p> + +<p>Thus compelled, by custom, to recognize the foolish superstition of Fo, +although he no more believed in it than you do, the mandarin humorously +punished the bonze.</p> + +<p>The wily priest, however, had not quite played out his game, so, +dissembling his rage at the result of the trial, he fell upon his knees, +saying, "Pardon, O ever-flowing stream of justice, but the meanest and +most insignificant servant of Fo, dares claim a reward for a great act."</p> + +<p>"What words are these, thou dog of a bonze?' said the angry official.</p> + +<p>"If the eyeballs of thy contemptible servant are straight in their +sockets, he has seen placards bearing the character of the illustrious +tsong-tou (viceroy) of the province promising twenty taels for any +follower of the Christian priests, whose houses of prayer have been so +wisely destroyed.</p> + +<p>"What useless words are these, for where in this city is such a dog to +be found, since they were hunted down by the illustrious governor? may +he live a thousand years," replied the mandarin.</p> + +<p>"This was a terrible surprise to Nicholas, for not only did it convince +him that the persecution of the Christians had commenced, but that his +own mission had somehow been discovered by the priest; nor was he +disappointed, when the latter said, 'Truly, O grand canal of justice, +that turbulent youth is even now on a treasonable errand to the +Christian priest, Adam, who has so traitorously fled the city.'"</p> + +<p>"These are dog's words, thou rogue of a bonze," said the boy.</p> + +<p>Not regarding the interruption, the priest added, as he placed a paper +in the hand of the mandarin, "The dragon vision of the lord of justice +will discover to him that his servant's words are pearls of truth."</p> + +<p>Having glanced at the paper, the mandarin said sternly to Nicholas, +"Thou art young to be concerned in treason, and yet these characters +warn the priest, Adam, against the great Ching-Ti, whom the anonymous +writer tells him is about to arrive at Hang-tcheou, specially charged by +the Son of Heaven to root out the Christian priests."</p> + +<p>"As this is the first time, O mandarin, that thy servant's ears drink +in this intelligence he must have been innocent of the contents of that +packet," replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The youth is young; but, like the body of a snake, his words are +twirling and slippery. It is true, those characters may not have reached +his eyes, but it is equally true that he was the bearer, for the cover +is even now in his girdle," said the priest.</p> + +<p>"Thy servant, O mandarin, cannot deny that he bore the letter, but it +was in ignorance that it was a crime," said Nicholas, taking the +envelope from his vest, now fully convinced that the bonze had picked +his girdle.</p> + +<p>"Although it is certain that the writer is a traitor, it is not equally +so that this youth is an accomplice," said the mandarin, after examining +the envelope.</p> + +<p>"The dog is a Christian, O lord of justice; and in the name of the Son +of Heaven, I claim the twenty taels," said the bonze, forgetting the +submission due to a magistrate, in his rage and fear that Nicholas might +escape.</p> + +<p>"Thy words are dirt, thou turbulent rogue, for it is not clear that the +youth is a Christian," said the angry mandarin, adding kindly to +Nicholas, "Let the youth deny this charge and he shall be believed, for +his words are straight as the flying arrow."</p> + +<p>Here was a chance, for it was evident the mandarin was his friend. +Still, notwithstanding that imprisonment for life, if not speedy death, +stared him in the face, Nicholas was too brave to forswear his Saviour, +and he replied, "If to be a Christian, O mandarin, is to merit death, +then am I ready to die."</p> + +<p>Then the good-natured, but disappointed magistrate said sorrowfully, +"The youth is as brave as he is honest, and deserves a better fate; yet +must the commands of the great tsong-tou be observed, therefore let the +youth be conveyed to the great prison to await his sentence." Without a +word or the movement of a muscle, the boy permitted the attendants to +bind his arms.</p> + +<p>This was too much for Chow, who, with a leap like that of a wounded +hare, cried, "The priest, O great lord, is a midnight thief." But such a +demonstration being against the rules of decency, the officers seized +and silenced the boy by clapping a gag in his mouth. Then the mandarin +ordered twenty taels to be given to the bonze, and the latter having +made the customary bow was about to depart, when the magistrate said, +"Now priest, relate by what means that letter came into thy possession, +for it is a maxim that justice should be equally balanced."</p> + +<p>Then the bonze related how he met the boys, and took them to the +monastery, adding that as they were passing through a passage the letter +having fallen from the youth's girdle, he picked it up, and divining +that its contents were treasonous, retained the document for +examination.</p> + +<p>"These are dog's words," exclaimed Chow, from whose mouth the gag had +been taken by the mandarin's order; "the priest is a rogue and a rat, +for he stole the paper at night while my noble master slept, and +although for hours thy servant believed it was a dream, and mistook the +bonze for an enemy, he now remembers that after filching the letter from +the girdle, the rogue opened the envelope, stole the contents, and then +by some mysterious means of his own closed it again."</p> + +<p>The bonze being about to reply, the mandarin interrupted him, saying, +"Truly has it been said that although eggs are close things, the chicks +will out, for the rogue forgot to explain how the letter could leave the +pocket of its owner without the envelope. The theft is clear, and it is +but justice to the state that the thief should receive fifty blows, and +pay twenty taels of silver." This sentence was speedily executed upon +the roaring coward, whose back was still sore with the first beating, +and so he left the tribunal considerably worse off than he had come +before it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>CHOW SETS OUT TO DISCOVER SOME THIEVES.</h3> + + +<p>It was with no little distress of mind that Chow, who now loved Nicholas +as a brother, parted with him at the gates of the prison. He tore his +hair, beat his breast, and roared and capered as if in bodily as well as +mental agony. Never should he see his noble master again; the wicked +viceroy would kill him. O that he had not been a Christian, or so unwise +as to admit it! These, and many other foolish things, passed through his +mind, till he became wearied and fatigued. When more calm, he began to +upbraid himself with folly and cowardice, for giving way to useless +grief instead of setting his wits to work to aid him.</p> + +<p>Like most Chinese, Chow believed, or at least followed, the mongrel +creed of the country, and he proposed to himself to seek the aid of the +gods; although even his faith in their powers had become weakened by the +exhibition of the morning; at length, however, it occurred to him to +seek the innkeeper, who being well to do, and an old inhabitant of +Hang-tcheou, could if willing, give material assistance; if not willing, +thought Chow, he must be the most ungrateful of human beings. So he went +off to Sing, who was not only glad to see him, but invited him to live +at the inn until they could hit upon some good scheme to rescue +Nicholas; and so, that night, they talked and talked the matter over, +till, becoming tired, they went to bed to sleep on it.</p> + +<p>The next morning they compared notes as to their sleeping thoughts. The +result of Chow's was to get a mob together to burst open the prison +gates; at which very wise suggestion Sing laughed loudly, greatly to the +disgust of Chow, who became very angry, as he fancied the innkeeper +doubted his courage; but when Sing explained a little plan of his own he +capered about joyfully, and begged that they might commence immediately.</p> + +<p>"Let us first ask the gods for a fortunate day," said Sing.</p> + +<p>"Then will not the worthy Sing seek a temple at once?" said Chow.</p> + +<p>This being agreed to, they started off to the suburbs, where, in a +retired spot, near the great lake, they found a divining temple.</p> + +<p>These temples, which are sprinkled through the country, are always open +for the convenience of the people, who enter upon nothing of importance, +whether it be marrying, burying, buying, selling, house-building, +party-giving, or setting out upon a journey, without first seeking to +discover in the cup of destiny a fortunate day or hour for the proposed +undertaking.</p> + +<p>Upon the altar stood a large wooden cup, filled with small sticks, +marked with certain mystic characters, representing both good and ill +luck. Taking up this cup, Sing began to give it sharp quick jerks, +while Chow, taking hold of a book that was hanging to the wall, searched +for marks to correspond with those upon the sticks which might be thrown +to the ground by Sing's jerking. With serious countenances they went +through this performance, Sing believing that by a peculiar scientific +twist of his wrist he could jerk out a few sticks of luck. For some +time, however, the sticks were obstinate, and would not move; then a +sharper jerk and one jumped out, then another, and another, three in +all; and Chow, having examined the luck spots very earnestly, groaned +with despair, for neither bore the required mark. Then, to propitiate +the god of wood, paint, and gold leaf, they burned incense and tinsel +paper, and, by way of reaching the cupidity of the deity, for it is +difficult to made a Chinese believe that even a god will "do something +for nothing," they placed some copper coins upon the altar, enough, I +suppose, to satisfy his greedy godship; for when, at the risk of +spraining his wrist, Sing gave the next jerk, out jumped two of the +lucky spotted sticks, and the oblique eyes of Chow began to smile so +satisfactorily that there really appeared to be some danger of their +meeting across his nose and melting into one big orb in the middle of +his forehead. Holding the sticks above his head, the boy capered about +with delight, crying, "Thanks to Tien, the day will be fortunate, for +the god has promised, and there is no rogue of a bonze present to +persuade him from his good intentions."</p> + +<p>As for Sing, he was no less pleased, for, notwithstanding his previous +experience, his faith was entire in the cup of destiny, as it was, +indeed, in the gods.</p> + +<p>Chow's delight was almost as great as if his master had been already +rescued. However, as soon as the first ebullition had subsided he began +to think how he should commence operations, and so, puzzling his brains, +he walked by the side of Sing, who was also quietly endeavoring to think +out some grand plan of proceeding. Thus they proceeded till they came +near the walls of the city, when their attention was aroused by a +terrible discord. Not a dozen yards from them was a small house (like +all Chinese habitations, one story high), before which stood the wall of +respect, so called, because like a brick curtain it hides the domicile +from the gaze of strangers. Near the doorway stood an elderly man with +two pieces of metal, which he kept clanging against each other, stopping +only at intervals to fulminate at the very compass of his voice, many +fearful curses and maledictions against thieves who had plundered his +house, fully believing that by the agency of the gods these curses would +reach and crush the thieves, wherever they might be.</p> + +<p>"It is only old Hoang, the retired innkeeper," said Sing cooly, as if +not at all regretting the misfortunes of his successful rival. He could +not, however, have possessed any such paltry feeling, for he added, +"Will the venerable Hoang permit his younger brother to assist him in +discovering these rogues?"</p> + +<p>"The offer of the worthy Sing is good and grateful to his mean brother, +but alas! nothing can avail old Hoang, for the Fong-Choui is his enemy, +and will not be satisfied till his house is destroyed," was the reply.</p> + +<p>To explain what I must tell you, that it is one of the most remarkable +and foolish beliefs of the Celestials, that, apart from sanitary +reasons, the situation of a house may effect the happiness and fortunes +not only of its owner, but his descendants for several generations. The +demon who exercises this baneful influence is the Fong-Choui, or wind +and water. Thus, if a neighbor (it had been Hoang's case) builds his +house in a contrary direction and so that one of its corners is placed +opposite your own, your destiny is fixed, your only remedy being to have +it immediately pulled down. To obtain the removal of the house in +question, Hoang had applied to the mandarin, but as that officer had +received a larger bribe from the neighbor than he could afford, the +official recommended the old man to pull down his own house; but as this +would have ruined him, he had had recourse to the only other remedy, +which was, to erect upon the roof of his house a monster with a dragon's +head and a large forked tongue, so pointed at the unfortunate corner +that it would frighten away the Fong-Choui. That wind and watery +personage, however, was not so easily frightened, for the next day some +thieves entered his house and effected a very clever robbery.</p> + +<p>By the aid of a mysterious engine (known, I suppose, only to the thieves +of China), which will burn great holes in the thickest wood without +causing either scent or flame, the rogues had entered Hoang's dwelling +in the night so quietly that when the old gentleman awoke in the morning +he found his bed without curtains or coverlid, and the room without +furniture, all of which, besides other things of value, had been taken +from the house.</p> + +<p>"Surely thy dogs of servants must have been accomplices," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Not so, youth, for although I slept deep into the day, when I arose the +servants were all in such a deep slumber that I believed them in the +sleep of death."</p> + +<p>"Surely my elder brother will seek the mandarin, and have the dogs' +heads searched for," said Sing.</p> + +<p>"Alas! O worthy Sing, thy unhappy servant is under the baneful influence +of the Fong-Choui, and the mandarin dares not interfere."</p> + +<p>Feeling deeply for the poor man, and not liking the idea of the thieves +escaping so easily, Chow asked, "Has the worthy and honorable Hoang +sought the mandarin?"</p> + +<p>"It would be useless youth, without, indeed, a stranger would interfere, +and break the charm of the Fong-Choui."</p> + +<p>"With the will of the venerable Hoang, his younger brother will seek the +tribunal of police," said Chow.</p> + +<p>Delighted with the offer, Hoang led them through the rooms of his house, +which Chow examined with the talent of a detective police officer, and +after pacing about for some time he stumbled. Looking to see the cause, +he saw it was a small square box. "See," he said, "the robbers in their +flight have dropped some of their plunder."</p> + +<p>"Surely that box must belong to the villains, for it has never before +darkened my eyes," said Hoang.</p> + +<p>"Then by the toe of the Son of Heaven we have some clue to the way in +which the robbery was effected," said Chow, as he opened the box and +took out a little pyramid, resembling our own pastiles. Placing one to +his nose he said, "It is the baneful drug of Setchuen. Light but one and +place it near the nostrils of a sleeper, and it will be many hours +before he can be awakened. In this manner, O venerable friend, has the +house been robbed,—its inmates were under the influence of the drug."</p> + +<p>"Thy discovery is great, and may lead to the capture of the thieves. +Would that so poor a man could reward such a benafactor."</p> + +<p>However, as time was an object to Chow for the success of some plan, +which from the cunning brightness that flitted through his eye seemed +just then to have crossed his mind, he stopped the garrulous gratitude +of the old gentleman by begging the box of pastiles as his reward. This +being granted, he took a very formal leave, promising not to rest till +he had seen the mandarin himself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>CHOW OUTWITS A GREAT MANDARIN, AND SETS OUT TO RESCUE HIS MASTER.</h3> + + +<p>As they walked to the inn Chow explained to Sing his plan for the rescue +of Nicholas, which, after some serious consideration and many words of +advice, the innkeeper approved; but as it could not be put in operation +before evening, as soon as they reached the inn they went into one of +the inner apartments, and while they refreshed themselves with a good +meal, chatted over the details.</p> + +<p>After they had completed their arrangements, Sing led Chow to an +outbuilding, in which were two oblong coffins, the one sealed down, the +other with the lid half off. The first contained the body of Sing's +daughter, of whom he had been so fond in life that in death he kept her +in the same room with the open coffin which had been presented to him by +the girl as a filial offering.</p> + +<p>Such gifts as this, which I dare say you will think a sombre one, are by +no means more rare among the Chinese than the preservation in their own +houses of the bodies of those they have loved. And just above an altar +upon which incense was burning, hung a portrait of the dead girl, before +which silently and with cheeks damped with tears of memory, Sing threw +himself reverentially, and prayed fervently for the other world +happiness of his child. Having, with as much real sympathy as mere +courtesy, joined in the ceremony for a short time, Chow arose, and left +the bereaved parent throwing cuttings of silver paper upon the burning +dish, in the belief that in the next world it would change into real +money for his daughter's use.</p> + +<p>As when Chow reached the police tribunal he found it closed for the day, +he clattered upon a large gong or kettle drum, affixed to the door, a +piece of great daring on his part; for if his business did not strike +the mandarin as being of the greatest importance, he might make sure of +some fifty blows for his impudence, for the public officers in China are +quite as averse to doing too much for the public money as many that I +could name of our own.</p> + +<p>The door was opened and the boy was shown into the hall of audience, +where he had not long to wait before the mandarin and four bamboo sticks +in waiting made their appearance. "How, dog! Why this clatter at our +gates when the tribunal is closed?" asked the surly grandee.</p> + +<p>"Will the magnificent fountain of justice give his unworthy servant a +private hearing?" said the bold boy, glancing significantly at the +bamboo sticks in waiting.</p> + +<p>"Let the fellow's mouth be opened with ten blows for his impudence," +said the polite magistrate; but as the men were about to obey, Chow +thrust his hand into his robe, and pulling out a letter threw it into +the great man's lap, a piece of effrontery so beyond all precedent that +the bamboo sticks waiting stood aghast and ready at a glance from the +mandarin to immolate the profane boy. The magistrate, however, no sooner +opened the paper than in tremulous tones he exclaimed, "Leave us alone, +this fellow has matters of private importance to communicate."</p> + +<p>This order having been obeyed, Chow broke through the rules of decency +and etiquette by speaking before he was spoken to. "A crime has been +committed within thy district, O mandarin, yet justice sleeps. Surely +this is not according to the sacred books," said he.</p> + +<p>"What dog's words are these? of what crime speaks the youth?" said the +magistrate wildly.</p> + +<p>"According to the sacred books, O mandarin, it is the magistrate's duty +to discover and punish crime within his district. Yet, not withstanding +the house of the retired innkeeper Hoang is in a well-guarded quarter of +the city, it has been broken into and its furniture and valuables +stolen; moreover what is more surprising in so populous a district, the +thieves have escaped."</p> + +<p>"What words are these?" said the mandarin again, being in fact so +troubled that he knew not what to say.</p> + +<p>"Truly, it is a shrewd maxim; 'that large fowls will not eat small +grain,' yet, the largest may be choked if too greedy, for there are +still larger birds to swallow them; in turn even thou mayst be stripped +of thy rank and offices, if not strangled," said Chow, adding, "Would +the lord of justice wish straighter words?"</p> + +<p>The words proved straight enough to go direct to the mark, for the +mandarin fell upon his knees and begged Chow to accept half his fortune, +and although it would be letting his rogue off cheaply enough, the +rescue of Nicholas was his object, and he promised to forego using his +knowledge of the great man's delinquency, providing that he would give +him an order under the official seal that would admit him to his +master's prison. Rejoiced to purchase his safety so easily, the mandarin +not only gave the order, but also promised to see that Hoang's property +was restored to him within a few days. After this Chow gave a paper to +the magistrate, and left the tribunal well satisfied with the result of +his visit.</p> + +<p>Now, as I dare say you are anxious to know how it came about that so +poor a boy could have such power over so great a personage, I will tell +you, and you will obtain some little knowledge how public affairs are +managed in China, and moreover, learn that dishonesty may sometimes +place the greatest official beneath the thumb of the smallest of +persons, as indeed it happened in this case.</p> + +<p>When Chow was chattering over his plans with the innkeeper he examined +the box of pastiles, and on taking them out, discovered a paper at the +bottom, evidently placed there for security, as the thieves could not +have dreamt of leaving their most valuable implements behind. That paper +was an order for four men, whose names were mentioned, to pass to the +boats on the canal, with any quantity of goods, without questioning, and +was signed with the character of the mandarin, which accounted for the +thieves getting off with so many things, but it also proved that the +mandarin was in connivance with them, and was in the habit of granting +these passes to robbers in return for a large bribe. Now, as Chow could +write very well, he immediately composed a letter to the mandarin, +telling him the whole transaction, and, moreover, that the thieves were +well known to a friend of his, who, if he did not return by a certain +time that evening, would disclose the whole matter to the viceroy; +therefore it was not to be wondered that the great man trembled and +implored of Chow to accept half his fortune, for had it been brought +before the viceroy he would, as Chow more than, hinted, in all +probability have been strangled.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>ESCAPE OF NICHOLAS FROM PRISON.</h3> + + +<p>Having, at the same time, secured an order for admittance to Nicholas +and the restitution of old Hoang's property, Chow went in search of a +shop, where he purchased a rope of silk, and returned to the prison, +which was next to the tribunal.</p> + +<p>At that time far in advance, and even now not much worse than our own, +the prisons of China are large and spacious, and although some of the +most criminal of the inmates are loaded with chains, the greater number +are permitted to take exercise and converse with each other in an open +court during the day. Their health is cared for,—if any are ill a +physician attends them, and when a death takes place a report is sent to +the Emperor, who issues orders for an examination, something like our +inquests, into the cause, when should it appear that any of the officers +are at fault, they are immediately degraded and punished. When a +prisoner dies the body is not permitted to pass through the ordinary +doorway, but through an opening reserved for the purpose. It is seldom, +however, that deaths occur in these places, for should a person, +especially above the lowest rank in life, be in danger, he or his +friends pray that he may be taken without the walls to expire; indeed, +so infamous is it considered for a corpse to be taken through this dead +opening, that "May he be dragged through the prison hole" is the +greatest expression of evil a person can wish his enemy.</p> + +<p>The prison in which Nicholas was confined was a large building, with its +front to the street and its back to the canal. There were three courts, +each having treble gates, well guarded by armed sentries. Chow found no +difficulty in passing the first two gates, but the third was under the +charge of the chief gaoler, who not only made him show the mandarin's +order, but ordered two soldiers to accompany the boy to his master's +cell, which was situated at the top of one of the four corners or +towers, and overlooking the canal.</p> + +<p>The armed men he met at every turn, and the dismal-looking strength of +the halls, courts, doors, and staircases through which he passed, made +Chow feel very wretched, for not an atom of a chance could he see for a +prisoner to escape. However no sooner did he again get sight of Nicholas +than all difficulties vanished, his countenance brightened, and the +affectionate fellow fell at his feet and wept with joy.</p> + +<p>"How is this? surely thou art not a Christian, my poor friend, that they +should bring thee here?" said Nicholas sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Truly both servant and master are fortunate, for the mandarin has +permitted them to keep each other company."</p> + +<p>For some minutes Chow squatted upon the floor with his head bent to the +ground, apparently in grief at his master's position. Really, he had +not calculated upon the presence of the two gaolers; it was an awkward +dilemma, still he was not one to stick at a difficulty, and so he began +to think. His were not pleasant thoughts, for it was just possible that +the mandarin on recovering from his fright might tremble at the probable +consequences of permitting the escape of Nicholas, and to make his own +peace confess the whole affair to the Christian-hating viceroy.</p> + +<p>Having finished cogitating, Chow commenced a lively conversation with +Nicholas about any thing and every thing but what was most on his mind; +then he endeavored to chat with the surly gaolers; the attempt, however, +proved a failure, till he brought forth a porcelain bottle filled with +rice spirit. When the men grew better tempered, Chow said, "Is there any +law that will prevent the honorable guard from bestowing upon his +servants some hot tea, for surely it will refresh them?" Without making +any reply, one of the gaolers opened the door and called aloud for the +beverage.</p> + +<p>Some minutes after swallowing the tea, Chow rolled over upon the floor, +and howled like a dog; which extraordinary proceeding so alarmed +Nicholas and the men, that one of the latter, throwing down his weapon, +fell upon his knees and began to rub the sufferer's stomach. "Will the +ungrateful villains let me die the dog's death for the want of a cup of +water?" Surprised as they were at such a remedy, the frightened men +provided the water, but at the same time pointed to the porcelain +flask.</p> + +<p>For the hint the patient thanked them, but he knew it would be of no use +without hot water. Would the honorable gaolers get some?</p> + +<p>That was another affair, for to ask for hot water would be to proclaim +that rice spirit was being drunk in the prison, when gaolers as well as +prisoners would be bambooed.</p> + +<p>Then, having coaxed and importuned for some time fruitlessly, Chow held +his hand upon his stomach, and alarmed Nicholas with performing a long +series of tragic-comic grimaces and contortions, when seeing the men +begin to tremble at the heavy punishment that awaited them if a prisoner +died beneath their charge, he said, "Surely the noble guardians would +not have it proclaimed to the next visiting mandarin that they have been +drinking the prohibited spirit."</p> + +<p>Perceiving now that they were upon the horns of a dilemma, the gaolers +hesitated. Then a bright thought came to one, and he said, "Truly, the +tea is cold; a fire-pan will warm it; and so it will not be suspected +that rice spirit has been brought into the prison." Thus settling the +matter to his satisfaction, the man procured a small dish of fire and a +cup of cold water, when Chow had another attack, and in his paroxysms +kicked over his tea-cup, and then very inconsistently clamored for cold +water. This request being complied with, the patient sipped and appeared +a degree better, for he then stood upon his feet and thanked his +deliverers, and, moreover, offered them some more spirit, an offence +which was repeated and accepted till both gaolers became very +good-humored and talkative, first to Chow, then to Nicholas. Finding +that they were busy with the latter, Chow sauntered up to the fire and +sat before it, as if to prevent another attack by its heat. Then a sweet +perfume pervaded the atmosphere, and so gradually increased in strength, +that, imperceptibly to themselves, the tongues of the men slackened by +degrees, their loud tones softened into silence, their heads waved +gently to and fro, till, overcome by the density of the air, they fell +sideways upon the ground. It was not far to fall, for they had been +squatting upon the floor during their jovial conversation. Then taking a +large sponge that he had been holding to his own nostrils, Chow held it +to the nose of Nicholas, who, not being intoxicated with spirit, soon +exhibited signs of returning animation, when creeping up to the drooping +gaolers, he passed something, not a sponge, near to their nostrils, +which seemed to have the effect of double locking their senses. Then +leading the half-insensible Nicholas to the window, he took a knife from +his girdle and cut away the painted paper panes, when the cold air soon +made the master as sensible as the servant.</p> + +<p>Arresting by a sign, Nicholas's exclamations of surprise at these +proceedings, Chow pulled forth the silken cord, fastened one end to the +table, then tying his knife to the other end he let it gently down, and +hung out of the window with it in his hand, as if he had been fishing. +In a few minutes he obtained a bite, for the rope gave a jerk. This +being satisfactory, he whispered to his master to descend by the loops. +Nicholas complied, and in one minute found himself in the arms of some +person, and in another, carried into a small room, about large enough to +hold four men. A minute more, Chow entered the cabin, the boat began to +glide along the canal, and Nicholas comprehended the whole of Chow's +scheme. Now you have the reason of his delight in seizing upon the box +of pastiles, two of which he had managed to light while his back was +turned to the gaolers. The cold water Chow knew to be an antidote to the +stupifying effects of the perfume, if applied immediately, as in the +case of Nicholas. As for the boy's illness, that was a ruse, and a very +good one too, under the circumstances.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>PURSUED BY THE YAH-YU.—THE BOAT WRECK.</h3> + + +<p>When the boat had run a sufficient distance from the prison, Sing, for +he it was who had so ably aided in the escape, putting a pole in the +hands of Nicholas, and taking one himself, they forced the little craft +along the waters with the greatest possible speed. As for Chow, not +finding another pole, and resolved not to be left out of the good work, +he took off his boots, threw his legs over the stern, and helped to +propel the boat by paddling against the water with his feet. By these +means, in a very short time, they arrived at the back of Sing's house, +which fortunately faced the canal. It was thus, indeed, that the +innkeeper had been enabled to pass to the prison in the little san-pan +which he had borrowed from a friendly boatman.</p> + +<p>Going into the house to caution his wife against feeling alarmed at his +probably prolonged absence, he left them for a few minutes, and when he +returned they had no small cause to rejoice at his thoughtfulness, for +his wife had just heard from one of the prison attendants, who lived at +the inn, that about half an hour after their escape the relief guard of +gaolers had discovered their absence, and sent a body of yah-yu, both by +land and water, to recapture them.</p> + +<p>"By the toe of the Emperor, the villain god has deceived me, for he +promised a fortunate day," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"It is thy head and heart, and not the foolish images, that have +hitherto helped thee, Chow. We will now trust to the same aids, and by +the assistance of the One true God, these rogues shall not overtake us," +said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The noble youth is brave, but he may not perform impossibilities," +replied Sing.</p> + +<p>"Truly it is not far to the river," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The river!" exclaimed Sing, with affright. "Truly Fo himself could not +make a boat live upon the river such a night as this, at the full of the +moon."</p> + +<p>"It is our only safety, for these rascal yah-yu dare not follow," said +Nicholas, who regarded the great and dangerous waters of the river as +his native element, adding, "If thou, Chow, but show a brave heart."</p> + +<p>"Truly, my master, Chow fears not men, but surely it would be a vile +thing to anger the god of the waters, who may this night swallow all who +dare to pass from the estuary."</p> + +<p>"Art thou an idiot, that after the exhibition at the monastery, the +folly of these toy gods of the bonzes is not imprinted upon thine +eyeballs?" said Nicholas, adding angrily, "But if thou fearest, hide +thee with the good Sing, and thy master will brave the torrents alone."</p> + +<p>"This thing may not be, O noble Nicholas, for rather than leave thee, +thy servant would be a hundred times swallowed by Yen-Vang himself," +said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Thou art brave, youth, and may it please Fo to conduct thee safely to +thy journey's end," said Sing, adding with alarm, "But see, yonder is +the boat of the yah-yu, for surely no other would be in motion at this +hour of the night."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Nicholas, looking at a red light which appeared to be fixed +at the prow of a moving boat, "we must labor for our lives, Chow."</p> + +<p>Then taking a silent but hearty farewell of the innkeeper, the youths +clutched the poles and in another minute they were gliding along the +water street unheeded, except by the watchmen, whose questions they +answered with a few copper coins, and they pushed on through the dark +night, till nearly worn out with the exertion. The fact, however, that +they were toiling for their lives, lent them additional strength, so +after a short rest, away they went again in right good earnest; then the +hum of distant voices floated through the night air. Resting for a +moment Chow placed his ear near to the water, saying, "Truly they are +following us, but more, my master, we are near the great dike, which it +would be as easy to pass as to swallow a mountain."</p> + +<p>"Courage, O Chow, let us pass the dike, and the rats will never overtake +us," said Nicholas, toiling harder than ever at the pole.</p> + +<p>This dike or sluice divided from the canal the waters of the river which +Nicholas had been so anxious to reach, but as Chow knew they could not +get the boat hauled over by Coolies at that hour of the night, he could +perceive nought but a barrier that by arresting their progress, must put +them in the hands of their enemies; still not liking to disobey, he +toiled at his pole, and speedily the boat came alongside some twenty +others, which had arrived too late to be hauled over that night.</p> + +<p>Nicholas, however, knowing the influence of money, determined to get +over the difficulty. So fetching the lantern from the cabin, he so +shaded its light with his robe, that while it could not be seen by their +pursuers, he could see moored some distance from them a little fleet of +san-pans. This he had expected, so gently pushing the boat alongside one +of them he tapped upon the egg-like roof, and in another minute a man +put out his head, when putting a piece of silver in his hand, as an +earnest of a greater reward, the boatman acquiesced, and in a few +minutes more he had aroused some of his fellows, who very nimbly set +about mooring their boats till they had drawn them across the canal, so +as to form a barricade, in the event of the enemy making its appearance; +after which the boatman fastened a stout rope around the stern of the +boys' boat, got into his own, and cautioning them to hold on by the roof +of the cabin, with the assistance of some dozen of his mates in their +boats, forced the little craft to the summit of the stone slope, when +all clinging to the rope, let her slide gently down the other side into +the river, when silently the san-pans moved back to their moorings, so +that upon their arrival at the dike the yah-yu must have been strangely +puzzled at the boy's escape from their clutches.</p> + +<p>The dangers of the river, however, were far greater than Nicholas had +calculated, for the great stream upon whose bosom they had embarked, was +at times as tempestuous as the ocean, and they possessed neither oars +nor sails; as for the poles, the great depth of the river rendered them +useless. Again, the night was so dark, that except by the feeble light +of their lantern they could not see each other's faces; their only +consolation was, that the waters were then as smooth and tranquil as +those of the canal, except that a rapid current seemed to be sweeping +them along without an effort of their own.</p> + +<p>"May the great god Fo protect us against Ma-tsoo-po, to whom we can +offer no incense," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"How! Can it be that one so brave on land should be so great a coward +upon water?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Truly it is a maxim, my master that, 'all are cowards who can't help +themselves.' Chow in the waters would be less than the least of little +fishes, for he cannot swim," was the gloomy reply.</p> + +<p>"It is also a maxim, 'that the gods forsake those who forsake +themselves,'" said Nicholas, adding, "But it is fatigue, my poor Chow, +that destroys thy courage; get thee, therefore, into the cabin and rest +for a time, while I keep watch."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Fo protect us, or we are food for the favorites of the god of the +waters," replied Chow, as the boat at that moment made a tremulous +movement, which so alarmed Nicholas, that clutching hold of Chow's arm, +he said, "Now put forth all thy energies or we are lost, for the 'bore' +is upon us."</p> + +<p>This was sufficient, for in the presence of real danger Chow soon drove +away the troubled fancies of his brain.</p> + +<p>"The poles are our only chance," said Nicholas, and, quickly as thought, +they fastened their poles to the sides, so that they stretched out like +two great arms. "Let us but keep our whole weight steadily upon the +handles, and we may keep her course straight," said Nicholas; and no +sooner had they thrown themselves across the poles than a noise like +that of distant thunder rumbled through the air; it was the great tide +wave rolling like a mountain toward them. Now they could not escape; so, +commending their souls to Heaven, they awaited its approach with +suspended breath. It came, and, with a roar, caught up the boat, +carrying it to a height of fifty feet; in another second the boys were +covered with a cold sweat at the narrowness of their escape, which had +been owing to their precaution. Then followed a calm, as if the anger of +the watery element had subsided. The boys slackened their hold of the +poles, and so they continued for two hours, going they knew not whither. +Suddenly the boat began to rock.</p> + +<p>"To your pole, Chow," cried Nicholas. No sooner had he complied, than +they found they had entered upon a rapid, for the little craft shot +forth almost with the velocity of an arrow. Then came the first faint +streaks of daybreak, and they trembled, for they saw that they had +entered a narrow creek. "Steady, for our lives, there is hope yet, for +yonder vessel may see us," said Nicholas. The vessel to which he alluded +was a large junk, so skilfully handled that she seemed to be stemming +the torrent. Gaining hope, the boys clung to their only chance, namely, +keeping the poles in their fixed positions. Another half hour, however, +and their strength became exhausted, the poles quivered, the boys felt +they could not hold out much longer; still another determined effort; +their minds lent strength to their limbs. Then the first light of the +sun, an eastern sun, shone upon the junk, and disclosed a huge painted +eye (the government emblem), at the sight of which, and screaming aloud +"The yah-yu!" Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being +thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas +snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel. They were in a +whirlpool—nothing could save them—then came a fearful crash, and +neither Chow nor Nicholas could distinguish more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS AGAIN TAKEN PRISONER.</h3> + + +<p>With the wild whirling of the waters ringing in his ears, and the great +painted eye before his vision, Nicholas stared around. Where could he +be? He was lying upon a mat, in a small low room; he sat up, endeavored +to comprehend his position, and the san-pan, the bore, the torrent, the +whirlpool, all flashed across him—but where could he be? There before +him stood a copper god, hideously grinning at a pan of burning incense. +Surely it must be the cabin of a junk—but what?—whose? Possibly the +yah-yu's. It must be so; and, brave as he was, he shuddered. Then, +looking out of the window, he could see nothing but a vast extent of +paddy (rice in the husks) fields. Then he saw the junk was passing along +a canal, which, from its width, he knew must be the great Imperial +Canal. Then Chow—poor Chow—and as he believed him to have been +swallowed up in the waters, the gallant boy burst into tears; and this +great grief banished every selfish thought from his mind. Then he +trembled for the safety of his letters; but, feeling beneath his robe, +he found them secure. Again he wept for Chow, and, happening to look at +the god, the hideous little brute seemed to be rejoicing at his +troubles, and in momentary rage he knocked the deity off its perch with +his fist, with such violence that the pain and blood upon his lacerated +knuckles immediately reminded him of the stupidity of the act, and he +laughed at his folly; but reflecting that the captain of the vessel +might visit such an insult to the image upon himself he replaced it in +its original position.</p> + +<p>At that moment the door opened, and Chow entered with a tray, upon which +were two cups, a jar, and other materials for a meal, and in his +surprise exclaiming "Chow!" the latter was so much startled that he +nearly dropped the tray.</p> + +<p>"May Tien be thanked; my master is far from Yen-Vang."</p> + +<p>"Where are we, O Chow?" said Nicholas, recovering from his surprise; but +the boy would answer no questions until Nicholas had partaken of the +meal.</p> + +<p>As soon as by eating and drinking, he had satisfied Chow that he was +really alive, the latter said, "Truly the gods must have been favorably +disposed toward the noble Nicholas, to have kept him alive for so many +days and nights, without brains in his head or food in his mouth."</p> + +<p>"What words are these, O Chow?" said Nicholas, placing his hand to his +forehead, as if making an effort to decipher the boy's meaning.</p> + +<p>"Let my master open his ears," said Chow; adding, "Worn out with my +exertions in the boat, I no sooner perceived the terrible eye than I +loosened my hold of the pole, and either from fright or fatigue, became +insensible; the water, however, revived me, and looking for my master, I +saw him lying by my side upon a shelving edge of rock, for, thanks be to +Fo, we had dashed upon the rock, the servant with out harm, but the +master receiving such a blow that it deprived him of his senses; when, +alarmed for his life, I shouted to the crew of the junk for help, and +begged of them to take us on board, but the rats refused, saying, that +as the gods had evidently reserved us for drowning, to resist would be +to provoke Ma-tsoo-po. Then, as my only hope, I shouted to them that I +had secured a traitor for whose head fifty taels were offered."</p> + +<p>"Surely thou art not a rogue." But not noticing this, Chow continued, +"The hope of so much silver made the rogues carry us on board, and then +poor Chow could have swallowed fire, for when he begged of them to use +means to recall thee to thy senses, the dog of a captain said, 'Know +thou rat of a boy, that if fifty taels are offered for the rascal's +head, it will save trouble to lop it off at once.' Then Fo sent a +thought into my brainless head, and falling at the captain's feet, I +told him that so great were thy crimes, that although fifty taels would +be given for thy head, five hundred and a mandarin's button would be +given for thy whole body.</p> + +<p>"Then said the captain, 'the dog utters words of wisdom,' and fearing to +lose the silver, if you died, he commanded a physician who happened to +be on board to make thee sound and whole, and moreover, promised to +reward me with ten taels if I helped to bring thee round."</p> + +<p>But as they heard approaching footsteps, Chow said softly, "Get thee to +thy mat, it is the physician; do not let him bring thee to thy senses, +or we are lost."</p> + +<p>By the time Nicholas had lain down, an elderly man, with a small funnel +and a porcelain cup in his hands, entered the cabin, and with as much +meaningless mystery of manner as one of our doctors, knelt by his side +and commenced the comical operation of feeling his pulse, or rather +pulses, for the physician's hands and fingers traveled up and down the +boy's body like a flea in search of a choice bite. Having gone through +this performance, he placed the funnel in the patient's mouth, and +poured down his throat a decoction of the gen-seng root, a plant which +the Chinese believe will cure all ills; and, disagreeable and difficult +as it was, Nicholas swallowed it, which so delighted the old gentleman +that he left the cabin chuckling, but telling Chow on no account to +attempt to awake him for the next three hours, as he was assured that +nature was bringing him to by her own means.</p> + +<p>"Verily the old cheat believes I have a fever," said Nicholas, jumping +up as soon as the doctor had left the cabin.</p> + +<p>Chow, who had been gazing from the window of the cabin while the +physician was present, no sooner saw him leave than he said, "We shall +leave the dogs now;" adding, "Let the noble Nicholas remain senseless +till Chow returns," and without another word he left the cabin.</p> + +<p>For some time Nicholas remained quiet upon the mat, but getting tired he +arose, and looking out of the window he saw that the junk was in the +middle of the canal, and from the great quantity of boats knew they were +near to some great city. He had not, however, been looking long, when to +his surprise he saw one of these san-pans come alongside the junk, and +taking Chow on board, paddled off to the shore, where he remained for +some time, and then was brought back to the junk. What could that mean? +Surely Chow was not playing him false. No he was ashamed of the thought. +The boy must be concocting some scheme for his benefit; but hearing +footsteps he resumed his position upon the mat, and in another minute +the physician and Chow entered. This time the doctor only went through +the pulse performance, saying, "Now if the rascal would but move a limb +it would show that Fo and the immortal drug had sent the blood into his +muscles."</p> + +<p>A comical notion came into the patient's head; it was dangerous, but it +might prevent the necessity of the funnel being put in his throat, and +so with a slight yawn he suddenly gave the old gentleman such a kick on +the shins that he started with surprise, but delighted that his +treatment had succeeded, he said, "Truly the rogue is getting his +strength," and hopped out of the room, uttering maledictions upon the +sailors for robbing him of his gen-seng.</p> + +<p>"What meant the rat by those words?" said Nicholas, and he was more +than satisfied when Chow told him the following story: The doctor placed +implicit faith in the wonderful curative powers of the famous gen-seng, +a quantity of which he carried about with him, ready for any accident +that might happen. Knowing this, Chow had managed to secure the whole, +and, as he anticipated, when the old gentleman discovered his loss he +grew furious, and told the captain that Nicholas would die. The captain +being in fear of losing his reward, had all the men searched, and not a +few beaten with the bamboo. It was all of no use. What was to be done? +Chow offered to go ashore and procure some; the captain agreed, a signal +was made for a boatman, who, as we have seen, came off to the junk, took +Chow ashore, from whence he returned with the much-prized plant, which, +by the way, he had no greater trouble in obtaining than putting his hand +in a hole in the lining of his outer garment.</p> + +<p>While in the boat Chow had made good use of his time, for he had bribed +the boatman to bring his little craft alongside the junk about the +middle of the third watch.</p> + +<p>The night is divided into five watches; the first begins at seven and is +distinguished by a single stroke, which is repeated every minute till +the second watch, when two blows are given, and so with the third, +fourth, and fifth.</p> + +<p>Anxiously did they await the treble sound; at length it came,—one, two, +three,—and they stood with breathless expectation; about the tenth +minute of the third watch there was a tap at the paper window, when +pulling out his knife, Chow ran the blade around the paper, and the next +moment the end of a rope was thrown through. Making this fast to a hook +within the cabin, Nicholas crept legs foremost through the hole, and +catching hold of a rope swang himself into the san-pan. Chow followed, +and they crawled into the little cabin, when the san-pan glided away, +not, however, without arousing one of the sailors, who believing that +the boat had crept alongside with some nefarious design upon the +property of the vessel, sharply warned the boatman of the danger of any +such attempt, as he was on the <i>qui vive</i>. The boatman, however, having +given a satisfactory reply, he pushed onward, and after passing through +a little world of junks, san-pans, and barges, they managed to effect a +landing without being noticed. After which, the man having fastened his +boat led them through the suburbs till they reached a small mud hut, +from the top of which issued a wreathing column of flame and smoke.</p> + +<p>"It is the hut of a sentry," exclaimed Nicholas, who knew that the +signal huts were distributed at distances of about a mile apart +throughout the interior, as a warning to all would-be depredators that +the police were on the alert, and this being precisely the kind of place +they should have avoided, he said, "For what purpose has the worthy +boatman brought us to this hut."</p> + +<p>"Truly, my master, we are in safe hands, for the man on duty is the +boatman's brother and will let us hide here till morning," said Chow, +and the next moment they were within the hut partaking of a portion of +the soldier's fare of hot tea and rice bread.</p> + +<p>After some little time the boatman said, "Truly it is not often that +brothers meet, and it is well that we should have a fraternal +conversation."</p> + +<p>When the men left the hut Chow took a paper from his robe, leant over a +fire, and having perused it, said, "The dog is a rogue, he would give us +shelter to-night but to betray us in the morning."</p> + +<p>"What words are these? Truly the boatman knew us as nought but two poor +travelers."</p> + +<p>"My master's thoughts are generous," replied Chow; adding, as he handed +Nicholas the paper, "Let the noble man-boy read for himself."</p> + +<p>Taking the paper, Nicholas read, "Let the noble commander offer a +handsome reward, and the rascals who have escaped shall be again placed +in his hands."</p> + +<p>"Truly this is villainy; but how fell this paper into thy hands, O +Chow."</p> + +<p>"Is it not a maxim that wickedness defeats its own ends?" said Chow; +adding, "As thy servant was getting from the window of the junk into the +san-pan, that paper fell into his hand. Doubtless the rascal boatman +threw it upon the deck, from whence by accident, it fell into my hands."</p> + +<p>"Truly it must have been thrown by the hand of Heaven," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"We will defeat the rascals, for fortunately I have saved one of the +thieves' pastiles," said Chow, pulling one of the pyramids from beneath +his robe.</p> + +<p>Then as they heard the footsteps of the soldier they squatted before the +fire, pretending to be in earnest conversation. The man joined them, and +having poured some hot water into a cup, took a pinch of tea-dust from a +little packet and made himself a cup of that beverage. But while the +soldier was drinking, and probably chuckling at the good round sum he +should obtain in the morning for Chow and Nicholas, the latter pulled +his arms behind, and held them till Chow tore enough of his coarse loose +garment to form a ligature, with which he secured them; then throwing +him upon his back, and leaving Nicholas to prevent his rolling over, he +pulled from his robe a portable lantern, unfolded it, lit the wick, then +lighting the pastile, at arm's length he held it beneath the soldier's +nostrils till he became stupid, and indeed, until he became insensible, +when, rolling him over and leaving the pastile burning, they left the +hut, taking good care to secure it from the outside.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>PAGODAS, THEIR ANTIQUITY AND USES.</h3> + + +<p>Alone, unarmed, in a strange country, at night, and pursued by enemies, +the boys stood for a time to consider their next steps. Fortunately, at +that moment the moon began to shine more brightly, and they saw at the +distance of some few hundred yards the giant form of a pagoda rising +from the summit of a hill, with its quaint polygon form, varnished green +tiles, and gilded bells hanging from every point.</p> + +<p>"Truly the gods have directed our footsteps to a resting-place till the +morning," said Chow.</p> + +<p>This was indeed a fortunate discovery, for, knowing that most of the +pagodas were untenanted, they might hide there; and with lightened +hearts they walked onward, till they came to a valley, or cemetery, +filled with tombs, and through which they walked till they came to the +base of a hill, at the top of which was the entrance to the pagoda. +Having reached one of the gates, they found it locked, a difficulty that +was soon surmounted by Chow, who cast his lantern toward one of the +windows of the lower story, and, as he expected, found that, like the +majority of these quaint structures, this one was in ruins; so, by means +of the shoulder of Nicholas, he climbed through a window, and speedily +opened the gate, when they found themselves in an apartment lined with +black varnished tiles, nearly all of which were carved with gilded +idols.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven, we are safe from the rats," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"And may sleep, O my master," said the fatigued Chow, laying himself at +full length upon the floor, an example that was speedily followed by +Nicholas, who, like Chow, notwithstanding the danger that surrounded +them, fell into a sound sleep.</p> + +<p>These singular, and frequently beautiful buildings, towering upward in +various heights upon the rising grounds, like an unequally grown forest +of quaint spires, form the chief characteristic in Chinese scenery. As +if the builders believed luck to be found in odd numbers, they are +either of seven, nine, or thirteen stories, and moreover, all shaped +from the model of the famous Tower of Nankin, which, after an existence +of nine hundred years, has so recently been wantonly destroyed by the +iconoclastic insurgents, who are, at the present time, making every +effort for the extermination of the Mantchou Tartars.</p> + +<p>As for the origin of these structures, it is of so remote a date, that, +even in four thousand years old China, there is as much difference of +opinion as about the origin of the round towers of Ireland. Some of the +learned writers assert that they were erected monumentally to great and +good people, others that they were intended as watch-towers in time of +war.</p> + +<p>A very probable theory is that they are of Indian origin, having been +introduced by the priests of Buddha, for the purpose of saving the holy +relics, thumbs, fingers, toes, or any other portions of the body of the +god that might from time to time be found, or rather palmed upon the +superstitious people by the bonzes. By way of illustrating this theory, +I will relate to you some of the popular legends. The first is really a +wild-goose story.</p> + +<p>The primitive Buddhists of India were not under such strict rules of +diet as the sect afterward became; that is, not vegetarians, but at +liberty to eat veal, venison, and goose flesh. Well, it happened that on +a certain day, as a party of priests were seated in the open air, a +brace of wild geese flew above them, which caused them to exclaim, "Our +wish is that these fowls would do a benevolent act," when one of the +birds immediately dropped down dead. Upon which remarkable event, the +priests cried, "This goose brings down a prohibition to abstain from +flesh; we must therefore consider its meritorious act." Whereupon they +erected a building over the poor goose, which they called pagoda, which +word, translated from the Indian word, tsang-po, into Chinese, is +equivalent to wild goose.</p> + +<p>Of this same pagoda, which still exists, another legend is given.</p> + +<p>"Nearly six hundred years after the introduction of Buddhism into China, +a priest of the sect was sent to India to collect and translate into the +Chinese language the sacred books of Budd. On his return with the +volumes, he brought also a model of a pagoda; in commemoration of +which, and also as a receptacle for the sacred books, the Emperor +erected a pagoda." If this legend is true, and it certainly is more +probable than any of the others, it is curious, as during the reign of +this same Emperor, in the year 636, a Christian teacher first came from +India to China, and was not only encouraged by the Emperor, but was +authorised by a royal decree to preach Christianity among the people.</p> + +<p>Another legend states that in the year 256 a foreign priest of the +Buddhist religion appeared at the capital, and performed many strange +and supernatural feats, which, reaching the ears of the Emperor, caused +him to send for the priest, of whom he inquired if Buddha could +communicate any divine emblems. The priest replied, that Buddha had left +some traces of himself on earth, particularly bone relics, which +possessed miraculous powers. The Emperor, scarcely believing the story, +told the priest that if any such bone could be found, he would erect a +great pagoda. To this the story goes on to say, that the priest, +twenty-one days after, brought one of the god's bones in a bottle, and +presented it to his majesty, and that when taken into the palace, it +lighted up the whole building. Then comes the most astonishing portion +of the legend. In his haste to inspect this wonderful bone, the Emperor +turned it out of the bottle, into a large copper vessel, when the bone, +probably a leg bone, of its own accord kicked the massive basin with +such violence that it became shivered into a thousand pieces. This, you +would imagine, was in all conscience sufficiently prodigious to weaken +his majesty's nerves. The priest, however insisted upon exhibiting +another wonder, telling the emperor that so matchless were the qualities +of this bone, that diamond or steel could not scratch it, fire could not +scorch it, nor the heaviest hammer smash it; indeed, to injure this +precious bone in any way would be to perform one of the labors of +Hercules. This, however, was too much for the belief of the Emperor, and +so he ordered his stoutest blacksmith to take his heaviest hammer and +make the attempt; the priest, however got the best of it, for no sooner +did the hammer touch the bone than it crumbled into atoms, when, +probably, in delight at its success, this clever bone shone with such +effulgence that it weakened the eyes of all beholders. After this the +monarch wanted no more proof of the godship of Buddha, kept his promise, +and built the first pagoda in China.</p> + +<p>Most of these legends have a close connection with Buddhism and its +priests; it is, therefore, most probable that these pagodas have, from +their introduction into China in the middle of the first century of the +Christian era, been used in connection with the bonzes. This opinion is +entertained by the learned Chinese scholar, the Rev. Mr. Milne, who +says, "Among the Chinese themselves it is a common saying. In pagodas +they save and preserve the family of Buddha. Usually priests of this +order are in charge of the pagoda, and sit at the doors of the most +famous and frequented, to receive gratuities from visitors. Pagodas are +situated generally on Buddhists' lands, and there are in their vicinity, +or around their base, temples or monasteries for Buddhist priests. +Within those pagodas that are at all in a state of preservation, +Buddhist idols, relics, pictures, and books are deposited. The histories +of these buildings throughout the empire, at least the earliest of them, +are crammed with Buddhist tales and fictions." So interesting are these +extraordinary monuments of antiquity, as being the probable and supposed +depositories of Buddhist writings and Indian documents, which, should +they ever be brought to light will not only throw a light upon the early +intercourse between China and Hindostan, but elucidate the mystery which +now hangs over the history of the religion of ancient India, a matter of +importance to every intelligent being, that at the risk of being +tedious, I could not forbear having a little gossip with my young reader +on the subject. But now to return to our young heroes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>A DANGEROUS DESCENT.</h3> + + +<p>When Nicholas opened his eyes, he found Chow awake and on the look-out +at the aperture by which he had entered the previous evening. He called +to him, but the boy's whole attention was evidently too much engaged for +him to reply. Surely, thought Nicholas, the enemy must be in close +pursuit, and in an instant, he was upon his legs and by the side of +Chow, who exclaimed, "The rascals have discovered our retreat, and we +are lost after all!"</p> + +<p>"Surely thy fears deceive thy eyeballs," said Nicholas; but, looking for +himself, he saw coming through the tombs in the direction of the pagoda, +not only the soldier and the treacherous boatman, but the captain of the +junk.</p> + +<p>"The rogues will arouse the bonzes at the monastery," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Truly the rats are not so senseless. They know we are unarmed, and hope +to take us without letting the bonzes share the reward; but let us +ascend, it is our only chance," said Nicholas, leading the way up a +steep staircase to the next story; but, hearing voices beneath, he +added, "Let us clamber to the top and lie quiet, when they may perhaps +give up the search." So they ascended the next staircase, but when they +came to the third story they were vexed to find the stairs fallen so +completely to ruin that they could proceed no higher. Fortune, however, +favored them, for looking around they saw a ladder, which had probably +been left by the bonze, whose business it was to exhibit the ancient +ruin for the convenience of visitors. To ascend was the work of a +minute, but before they had reached the uppermost round of the ladder +they heard their pursuers enter the lower apartment, when, quickening +their movements, they soon reached the seventh story. Now, as like a +pyramid, the building diminished in bulk as it increased in height, the +top was so small that they could but just pass through the small +aperture into the little room, which, fortunately, was in such a +dilapidated state, that the roof near the central pole or spire, which +ran up the interior from the base to the apex, and was surmounted by a +kind of large button, was nearly off.</p> + +<p>Once in this room, they set about fortifying their position, by pulling +up a few of the loose flooring-boards and throwing them over the well +hole by which they had entered. It was a happy thought, for as they were +laying the last board over the hole, they saw the soldier upon the first +round of the top ladder. In a moment they squatted down with their whole +weight upon the boards, and as the aperture was so small that but one +man could ever attempt to pass through at a time, they were secure.</p> + +<p>For at least two hours they remained in that position, which proved +such a formidable obstacle to the entrance of the man, that tired out, +he determined to consult with his companions as to some other means of +destroying the boys. Then, leaving Chow upon the boards watching through +a hole for the man's next attempt to force their position, Nicholas +ascended through a hole in the crumbling roof, looked around for some +few minutes, then descending, said, "We will escape from the roof."</p> + +<p>"Where are our wings, O, my master? for without them we shall become +very small pieces of broken china by the time we reach the bottom," said +the astonished Chow.</p> + +<p>"In our garments," said Nicholas, taking off his robes and tearing the +inner one into narrow slips, which being sufficient explanation for +Chow, he followed his master's example, and by plaiting them together +they managed to form a long rope with loops for hand holes at intervals.</p> + +<p>The manufacture of this rope took them some hours, during which time +they expected every minute that the enemy would attempt to force the +entrance with a great log of wood or bar iron; fortunately, however, +little dreaming that there was the most remote possibility of escape for +the boys, the enemy had resolved to starve them into a surrender.</p> + +<p>It was near dusk when they had completed their labor. Nothing could be +better, for if they could escape now they would reach the town before +the closing of the gates; therefore, resolving upon the attempt, they +pulled aside one of the boards and listened again. Fortune was in their +favor, for, by the conversation that was going on among the men, they +heard, that, tired of waiting, the soldier was gone in search of some +heavy instrument that would force an entrance. Then Nicholas longed for +a couple of big bamboos, that they might fight their way through them; +not, however, being able to command the use of such weapons, they +determined to make use of the rope the minute the men returned.</p> + +<p>Having arrived at this determination, Nicholas reascended the roof and +watched until he saw the soldier coming toward the pagoda, carrying a +huge block of wood, when throwing the rope around the centre column or +spire, so that they could pull it after them, leaving no trace of their +means of escape, he signaled to Chow to follow. He swung on to the rope, +keeping both ends in his hands, and lowered himself on to the projecting +canopy or fringe of the second story, and by a swing of the body reached +the terrace, where he waited for Chow, whose legs he guided in his +descent, after which they pulled down the rope, and by performing the +same feat at each story, reached the ground at the portion of the +building opposite to the door, and as he had calculated, where there +were no openings by which they could be seen from within.</p> + +<p>Once upon the ground, Chow gave a caper of joy, and proposed to scamper +off immediately. Nicholas, however, having effected the escape, like a +wise general, wished to protect his retreat from pursuit. To do this, +they entered the lower apartment of the pagoda, which, as they had +expected, they found empty; then ascending the next story, they could +see the enemy above them in consultation. It was the story with the +loose ladder. So removing their only means of descent, they carried it +with them some distance from the pagoda, and hastened toward the town, +heartily rejoicing at the success of their scheme, and laughing merrily +at the plight of their pursuers, who, when found in the pagoda, would be +punished as thieves, or if they dared to explain the cause of their +presence in the pagoda, would be severely bambooed for not informing the +nearest mandarin of the escape of such an important prisoner as the +runaway Christian.</p> + +<p>As they reached the city just before the closing of the gates, they +found so many persons hastening to their homes, that they passed through +without being noticed, and speedily procured a lodging at the nearest +inn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS DISCOVERS A CONSPIRACY, AND MAKES AN UNPLEASANT ENTRY INTO +PEKIN.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning they laughed heartily when the innkeeper told them that +the bonzes of the monastery in the suburbs had taken some rogues who had +been found concealed in the pagoda before the police tribunal, and that +the mandarin had ordered all of them a severe bambooing.</p> + +<p>Greatly as he enjoyed this news, Nicholas was too wise to wish to remain +in the city any longer than possible, for he knew that the enraged junk +captain would leave no effort untried to retake them; he, therefore, +engaged a passage for himself and Chow in a barge that was proceeding to +Tching-Kiang.</p> + +<p>Once on board the passage boat and floating down along the royal canal, +they felt secure, for surely no mishap could now happen to interrupt +their journey; and so, indeed, they arrived at Tching-Kiang, where, as +this city was on the banks of the Yang-tse, which here interrupts the +course of the canal, they were compelled to disembark and remain one +night.</p> + +<p>The next morning Nicholas sent Chow to purchase a sword, a bow, and some +arrows, in place of those taken from him in the prison. During his +absence, he sat talking to the wife of the innkeeper, for amongst the +lower classes, the women are permitted to have greater intercourse, as +indeed is necessary, to enable them to assist in earning the family +living. He had not been chatting for any length of time when there arose +a great hubbub in the street, and, looking out of the window, what was +his surprise to see Chow running, as if for his life, followed by an old +gentleman, who stopped every now and then to take breath and shake his +fists angrily at the mob, who, believing it to be a race, shouted for +mere fun. A glance, however, made Nicholas aware of the true character +of the pursuer, and he begged of the woman to aid him in saving the life +of his friend, who was being hunted by a madman, who if he caught him, +he would kill him.</p> + +<p>Before she could reply, Chow ran up to the door; the woman opened it, +let him in, and shut it again in the face of the old gentleman, whose +stomach, being of extreme protuberance and what his countrymen call full +measure, received such a blow that, what with loss of breath and +fullness of indignation, his big body toppled over his short legs, and +he lay upon the ground with his little head turned upward, like a turtle +gasping at falling heat drops.</p> + +<p>"Truly we are lost, for the old rat is the physician," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Can the worthy woman aid us?" said Nicholas, fairly baffled.</p> + +<p>"Let the youths follow," said the good-natured Woman; adding, "Whither +would they be taken?"</p> + +<p>"To the river," replied Nicholas, not knowing where else to say.</p> + +<p>Then conducting them to the back of the house, where stood several sedan +chairs that her husband let out for hire, the woman told them to jump +into one of them, gave instructions to two Coolies who were waiting for +a job, wished them a prosperous journey, drew the curtains, and thus, in +about an hour's time, the boys were set down upon the banks of the great +Yang-tse, when, having rewarded the Coolies for their trouble, they +walked leisurely along in search of a boatmen to carry them to the +opposite side.</p> + +<p>"Truly, O Chow, thou wert born in an unfortunate hour," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"My master's words are true; still, the hundred families' lock must have +been hung around thy servant's neck, or he could not have escaped so +great a danger as this."</p> + +<p>"Open thy lips to a good purpose, and say how this matter happened," +said Nicholas, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Well, having made the purchases, I came to the quay where the +passage-boats discharge their passengers, when, <i>may I be punished for +forgetting my masters affair</i>, I could think of nothing but the villain +who slew my noble parent, and who, I thought, might possibly be among +the soldiers who had just arrived from Pekin, and were embarking to go +to Nankin, which, they say, is even now besieged by the rebels. The +notion, fit only as it was for the head of a goose, could not be helped, +and I stood gazing at the war-tigers. Well, thy servant had not been +long looking, when an old gentleman seized him by the arm, saying, +'Thou dog, thou stolest both my patient and my gen-seng;' and, seeing +that it was the physician, I jerked off his hand, took to my heels, and, +fearing for the safety of my master should the crowd stop me, I +frightened them by calling out, 'Beware, my brethren, of the madman,' +and as that made the frightened people stand aside, I was enabled to +reach the inn in safety."</p> + +<p>"Truly this was well done," said Nicholas; but as, at that moment, they +had arrived at a great swamp of paddy, or rice-fields, which stretched +for miles inland down to the very edge of the river, and was covered +with water of sufficient depth to enable the shallow boats to sail for +miles into the interior, their progress was stopped, when Nicholas said, +as he pointed to a multitude of men, women, and children, who, at some +little distance, with their trousers tucked up to the knees, appeared to +be amusing themselves with paddling about in the water, "Let us catch +the eyeballs of one of yonder shrimp hunters."</p> + +<p>These people were a species of jacks-in-the-water, who, as they stalked +about every now and then pulled their legs out of the mud, and taking +something from it, deposited it in a small bag which they had by their +sides. They were mud fishers in search for prawn, shrimps, and other +small fish, which, when felt by the foot, they dexterously seized +between the toes. This is only one instance in which these poor people +show themselves as clever with the foot as the hand and another proof +of the old axiom, that necessity is the mother of invention.</p> + +<p>For some time they endeavored to call the attention of one of these +people without avail; then, holding up a copper coin and shouting, a man +came to them, and soon after fetched a boatman, who, for a small sum, +engaged to row them in search of a ferry-boat.</p> + +<p>The little boat paddled through the fields, past men engaged in wild +geese catching, and huge duck boats, from the sides of which, down +inclined boards, hundreds of those birds were waddling into the fields, +as industriously earning their living among the rice stubble as the mud +fishers.</p> + +<p>These duck keepers are a class peculiar to the Chinese. Their boats are +large and roomy, with a broad board extending around the sides for a +promenade for the birds, which are as dear to their masters as the pig +is to the Irishman. The birds have the largest apartment of the floating +house. In the morning the ducks waddle round the promenade at their +pleasure, except after the rice harvest has been gathered, when the +boards are inclined, and they walk up and down the slope at their will; +and so well are they brought up, that, if hundreds of them are out upon +a cruise, they will instantly return to the boat at their master's +whistle.</p> + +<p>Once in the boat, Nicholas had no wish to leave it, till he had crossed +the river. This he had some difficulty in persuading the man to do, for +it was three leagues broad at that part. The sight, however of a piece +of silver strengthened his courage, and, fixing up his little sail of +bamboo matting, he made the attempt, when, after some hours, they +reached the opposite banks, dismissed the boatman, and felt as pleased +as a fugitive between whom and the bloodhounds a vast water track has +passed.</p> + +<p>Having crossed the great river, they had no fear of further pursuit, so, +hiring two sedan chairs, they reached Kin-Chow the same evening. The +next morning they again took passage upon the Royal Canal, down which +they traveled for some days, till they arrived at Yang-Chow, a city +celebrated for its manufacture of salt and singing girls. These poor +creatures are matter of commerce with the merchants, who have taught +them to sing, paint, and play on musical instruments, when they can sell +them for very large sums of money to the great lords, who purchase them +for the recreation of their households.</p> + +<p>Resting at this city for one day, they again started upon their journey, +and in a few weeks arrived at Tien-sin, from which place they proceeded +by a small canal to Tsing-Chow, the nearest place to Pekin, where they +landed.</p> + +<p>"Thanks be to Tien, my master, we shall soon be in the venerable city +itself."</p> + +<p>"Thou art fond of Pekin, Chow?"</p> + +<p>"The tombs of thy servant's ancestors are near its walls," said Chow, +gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Why, in the name of the social relations, art thou as dull as a +tailless peacock?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is filial pity, for last night I dreamt that I should discover in +Pekin the dog who slew my venerable parent, and should I die without +searching him out, the tombs of my ancestors would refuse to hold me."</p> + +<p>"These are wild words and foolish fancies, Chow," said Nicholas; adding, +as he beheld the boy stare in the faces of the passers-by, "Moreover, if +thy manners are so barbarous, thou wilt surely get into trouble;" and, +believing that occupation or a mission would drive these thoughts from +Chow's mind, he stopped at the house of a dealer in horses, and, having +bargained for two, said, "Thou art well informed of the ins and outs of +Pekin, Chow?"</p> + +<p>"Every rat-hole, my master," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Then for fear that the hour may be too late ere I reach the city, take +one of these horses and hasten to the great square, where thou wilt find +one Yang, a wealthy merchant; seek his presence, and inform him that the +son of his correspondent, the great merchant of the south, would beg a +lodging of him while he remains in the capital."</p> + +<p>"Thy commands shall be obeyed," said Chow, turning a sumersault on to +the back of one of the horses, and in another instant was at full gallop +toward Pekin.</p> + +<p>Nicholas then sought a house of refreshment, and, having regaled himself +with a cup of hot tea and rice cakes, mounted the other animal, +intending to follow Chow.</p> + +<p>The distance, however, was longer than he had calculated; moreover he +took the longest road, so that by the time he reached within view of the +walls, towers, and yellow roofs, of the imperial city, the gates were +closed for the night, and none would be permitted to pass without a +searching scrutiny; so, although much vexed, he determined to seek a +lodging at an inn he had passed on the road. However, the innkeeper +addressing him, rudely said, "How is this, that a mere boy should be +without the walls at this hour? Has he no respect for his parents, who +will assuredly be punished for their neglect?"</p> + +<p>"Is the worthy innkeeper of barbarian parents, that he would refuse to +lodge a youth, who, tired and weary, has but just arrived from a long +journey, and is willing to pay handsomely?" said Nicholas, showing him +about an ounce of silver.</p> + +<p>"Truly the vision of thy servant must have been dull, that he could not +before perceive that the youth before him was nobly allied and of great +respectability," said the man, now that he greedily eyed the precious +metal. "Yet," he added, "it is not possible that the noble youth can +lodge beneath this roof, for the inn is already crowded with merchants, +who enter Pekin at daylight."</p> + +<p>"Then will I trouble the most perfect of innkeepers no longer," replied +Nicholas, believing the man to be an extortioner.</p> + +<p>"The words of thy servant are as true as the sacred books, but if the +noble youth will bestow a fee upon the porter he can procure a lodging +at yon mansion," replied the man, as he pointed to a large house near +the inn.</p> + +<p>"What words are these? Yonder mansion is the palace of some noble +mandarin, who will deservedly chastise thee for thy insolence in making +his house a common inn."</p> + +<p>"Not so, O noble youth, for although the front is fair to look at, the +house is in ruins and under the care of a porter. The mandarin is in a +far distant province, if, indeed, as is reported, he is not at this +moment in rebellion against the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"Tien forbid that a true-born Chinese should soil the soles of his boots +with the dust of a traitor's door stone," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Thy servant said it was but rumored, O loyal youth," replied the +innkeeper; adding angrily, "Truly if thou refusest this thou wilt get +none other lodging."</p> + +<p>"Truly it may be but scandal, therefore show me to this porter, and thou +shalt be rewarded for thy trouble," replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper then conducting him to one of the smaller of the three +doors in the wall of respect, which, as with all the houses of the +great, are built before the house, summoned the porter, who for a piece +of silver took charge of his horse, introduced him into a small room, +which led from one side of the great central hall, and leaving him a +sleeping mat withdrew, when Nicholas laid himself at full length, glad +enough to get the opportunity of getting a good night's rest.</p> + +<p>Nicholas had not slept long before he was awakened by the sound of +voices, which he could hear so clearly and distinctly that he knew it +proceeded from some adjoining room. More vexed, however, at the +disturbance than curious to listen to the conversation, he turned over +and tried to sleep, but then the tones became louder, and he fancied he +heard his father's name. If so, it evidently concerned him; therefore in +self-defence, he must listen; and, setting up on his mat, he saw that he +was in a double room divided by folding doors, between the crevices of +which came a glimmering light, so creeping softly forward, he peeped +through. There at a table, beneath a painted lantern, the light from +which played upon their faces, sat two men of tall stature and +soldier-like appearance, but neither of whom could he at first +recognise. A minute more, however, and he fancied that in one he could +trace familiar features; still he could not recall them to his memory. +He listened attentively, for the taller man spoke earnestly for some +time of such matters that made the boy burn with rage and horror. When +he had concluded, the other smiled and said, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, we have secured the ambitious pirate of the south. May the time +for action speedily arrive." No sooner had he spoken, than, like a +glimpse of light in a cavern, the recognition flashed across the boy's +mind. The last speaker was the mandarin envoy who had visited his +father's vessel, and he trembled for the safety of the Emperor's letter. +It was consolatory, however, that should they meet, the mandarin would +not know him, for they had not met on board the vessel. When the +mandarin had spoken, his companion said, "Hush, general! no tiles, for +walls may have ears; but enough, I am satisfied." Then after whispering +together for some little time, they arose, and Nicholas crept back to +his mat. The moment after to his horror, the doors were thrown open, and +the prince exclaimed, "How! we are betrayed; what rogue is this?"</p> + +<p>"Silence, my prince, he sleeps, and can have heard nothing," said the +other, cutting down the lantern from the other room and holding it +before the pretending sleeper, who, notwithstanding his perilous +position, did not move a muscle. The boy, however, had a harder trial +yet, for drawing his dagger, the prince exclaimed, "True, general, he +may not have heard—but, he may—and as dead dogs can't bark—" but, as +the prince was about to strike, and the brave boy was mentally preparing +to clutch at the weapon, with both hands, the mandarin caught the arm of +the would-be assassin, led him into the other room, whispered with him, +and then they both left the house, after securing all the doors from the +outer side.</p> + +<p>Bathed in a cold sweat, Nicholas arose and examined the room, to find +some means of escape, for he little doubted that they would speedily +return. It was useless, and he made up his mind to await the chapter of +accidents. For some time fear kept him awake, but at length nature would +have her way and he fell off to sleep.</p> + +<p>When he awoke he found a party of yah-yu and the porter of the house at +his side; the latter looking at him maliciously, said, "Take the vile +dog before the police tribunal, he is a thief and a rogue."</p> + +<p>"Silence, rascal! for thou knowest that I am no thief, but a traveler +who paid thee for a night's lodging."</p> + +<p>"Away with the young rogue," said the porter; and, binding him hand and +foot, Nicholas was made to make his first entry into Pekin amid the +shouts of the rabble, who were delighted that so vile a house-breaker +and thief should be caught.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE BOYS AGAIN IN TROUBLE.</h3> + + +<p>Smarting with indignation at the accusation, which had evidently been +made for the purpose of getting him transported to the penal province, +Nicholas was taken before the police mandarin like a common thief. When, +however, they reached the tribunal, they found the magistrate engaged +examining witnesses on the part of a military mandarin who had been +insulted in the public streets. "Let the worthy officer state his +complaint," said the mandarin.</p> + +<p>"Know, O fountain of justice," said the officer, joining his hands above +his head, and bowing nearly to the ground three successive times, "that +as thy servant was riding through the great square, a young man, +possessed either with demons or samshu, jumped so rudely before me that +I stumbled and fell to the earth, and when he stared me full in the face +like a hungry wolf, I remonstrated, but the rascal held me down, +continuing to stare with glaring eyeballs; he then tore the plaster from +this wound which I received on my cheek in fighting the rebels of +Chen-si, and began to dance round me most frantically with a drawn +sword, crying, 'Thou villain, slayer of honest folks' parents, I have +found thee at last, and will cut thee into pieces small enough for +mince pies.' Alarmed at this violent rudeness, I could but say, 'Hold, +dog, I am a soldier of the Emperor.' 'Ah, ah! I know thou art, thou +villain,' said he. 'I have received a wound,' said thy servant. 'Ah, ah! +I know thou hast, thou villain,' again said the madman. 'Begone, dog, +what wouldst thou do?' said I. 'Slay thee, and burn thy house, even as +thou didst my parents, villain;' whereupon the rascal would have slain +thy servant upon the instant but for the timely aid of this good +merchant Yang," said the soldier, pointing to a stout elderly man who +stood by his side.</p> + +<p>Now, guessing at once that this terrible prisoner must be Chow, Nicholas +felt no surprise when he saw the poor fellow, with his arms tied behind +him, dragged before the mandarin, who said, "What says the murdering +thief to this charge?"</p> + +<p>"What can the unfortunate Chow say, most beneficent father and mother of +justice, but that it was all a mistake, and that thy unworthy slave has +ever been taught that no man should exist beneath the same heaven with +the murderer of his parents?" said Chow, as he cast some comical glances +at the bamboo canes.</p> + +<p>"What words are these? What has this most wise maxim to do with thy +case, fellow?" said the mandarin.</p> + +<p>"Much, O magnificent judge, for thy slave's father was destroyed by the +chief officer of the rebel Li-Kong, whom this worthy war-tiger +unfortunately resembles, both in the wound on the cheek, and the length +of his hair."</p> + +<p>"If thy words are not false, then thou art a worthy but unfortunate +servant of the holy lord our Emperor," said the mandarin; "but who will +assure us of this?'</p> + +<p>"Truly will I, O learned judge," cried out Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Who is this dog, that speaks without prostrating his mean person at the +feet of justice?" said the mandarin.</p> + +<p>"A thief and a rascal, who is awaiting to be tried," cried the porter +who had accused Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"By the beard of Confucius, this is daring; give the dog a dozen +strokes," said the mandarin.</p> + +<p>"Stay thy command, O running fountain of justice; let not thy celestial +ears be profanely filled by the tongues of dogs," shrieked Chow with +fear, as soon as he saw that his master was a prisoner.</p> + +<p>The mandarin would have visited this daring interruption with a heavy +punishment, but for some words whispered in his ears by the merchant +Yang, and which caused him to smile and say, "The honorable merchant +Yang has answered for thy truth boy; but that for the future you may not +be liable to such mistakes, we will give thee a fatherly correction." +The mandarin then pulled fifty reeds from the case, and threw them upon +the floor, whereupon two of the footmen caught hold of Chow, took off +his robe, and held him on the floor, while another administered fifty +blows, after which Chow got upon his legs, made a very wry face, and +twisted and writhed about like an eel making an effort to walk upon the +tip of his tail.</p> + +<p>"Leave off twisting and twirling thyself out of nature, thou dog, and +return thanks to his high justiceship for his kindness in correcting so +miserable an affair as thy mean self," said one of the footmen.</p> + +<p>With one eye glaring upon the footman, and the other smiling upon the +mandarin, Chow held his hands behind his back to assuage the pain, and +made two or three attempts to bend his back, but failing, dropped +suddenly on his knees, and bowing his head to the ground, said, but with +a twist of his back or grimace between every word, "Thy correction—O +father—and mother—of justice, is beneficial, but like physic would +be——"</p> + +<p>"What, boy?" said the mandarin, laughing.</p> + +<p>"More agreeable if it were tasteless, yet thy mean servant thanks thee, +noble judge, for this care of his mind;" and Chow hopped among the +bystanders.</p> + +<p>When Chow had been disposed of, the porter formerly charged Nicholas +with entering the mansion at night for the purpose of robbery.</p> + +<p>"Who art thou boy; thy name, surname, and from what province?" said the +mandarin kindly.</p> + +<p>"The mean name of thy unworthy servant is Nicholas, of the province of +Fokien, from whence he has traveled on special affairs to a worthy +merchant of Pekin, named Yang."</p> + +<p>"So far thy words are truth," said the mandarin, to the astonishment of +Nicholas; "but what answer can the youth make to the charge of this +man?"</p> + +<p>"That it is vile and false, and that the dog is a traitor in league with +rebels, who happening to meet with thy servant last night at the same +house, are fearful that he may have discovered their plots, and so hope +to destroy him."</p> + +<p>At that moment there arose a great bustle in the court, and a cry of +"Make way for the illustrious deputy-general of the nine gates," and a +military mandarin, with a tiger painted on his breast, a gold button and +a peacock's feather in his cap, both of which bespoke his high rank, +entered the tribunal, and testified to the guilt of Nicholas, who +recognizing in him the man who had been addressed the previous night by +the title of general, exclaimed, "Behold, O Mandarin, one of the +traitors."</p> + +<p>Great was the effect of the new comer upon the judge, for, not paying +the least attention to the exclamation of Nicholas, he said, "Truly +falsehood will not flow from the lips of the Heaven-appointed +deputy-general. As for thee (turning to Nicholas,) vile dog, as thy +guilt is now clear, thou shalt receive one hundred blows, and be +banished for life."</p> + +<p>Now, while the mandarin was speaking, Chow happening to get a full view +of the general's face, rushed through the crowd, crying, "It is the +villain, it is the destroyer of my parents,' and in another moment he +had clutched the general by the throat, thrown him upon the ground, and +would have strangled him, but for the help of the footmen, who speedily +seized him, bound his arms, and carried him with Nicholas to the +prison.</p> + +<p>"This fancy, that every officer you meet is the destroyer of your +parents, will prove thy destruction, my poor Chow," said Nicholas, as +soon as they were alone in the prison.</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt it is the villain, for saw you not the wound upon +his cheek? but, alas! my trouble is the greater that I slew him not +before we were shut up in a cage like two dogs for fattening."</p> + +<p>"Thy liberty at least was secure, but for thy foolish attack upon the +mandarin of war."</p> + +<p>"By the vermillion pencil itself, Chow cares not for liberty, if they +ruin his noble master."</p> + +<p>Then Nicholas began to think upon his miserable position,—sentenced to +be beaten with the bamboo to him worse than death, for, being born upon +the coast, unlike most Chinese, he had never been subjected to such a +degradation; and then to be banished for life, at the very commencement +of his career,—it was horrible. Greater, however, was his anxiety for +the safety of his father's letters. Could he but send a message to the +merchant Yang,—alas! that was impossible. Should he give it to Chow? +No; for he knew not what punishment awaited the boy for assaulting so +great an officer. He was indeed at his wit's end, and he prayed to the +Almighty for aid.</p> + +<p>"Let not the noble Nicholas be so sad, for truly the gods can never +desert the innocent and unfortunate," said Chow, while tears of +affection wetted his cheeks; adding, "I will pray of them to take my +worthless life in exchange for thy liberty."</p> + +<p>"I can not, do not doubt thy affection, my good Chow, but place not my +faith in these foolish deities; there is but One true God, whose Son +died on the cross to save mankind, and in Him I trust in my hour of +difficulty."</p> + +<p>"My master is of the religion of the Fan-Kwi (foreign devils.) Will +their god aid him in the hour of his troubles?" replied Chow, +despondingly.</p> + +<p>"Thou wilt see Chow," replied Nicholas, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Truly, but in the mean time the bamboo will cut us into strips like an +umbrella in a storm," said Chow, making such queer contortions and +grimaces, that in spite of his troubles Nicholas could not help +laughing. "Then," he added, "thy servant has a scheme that will save +thee, my generous master."</p> + +<p>"Open thy lips, O wise and prudent youth," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The noble Nicholas has a father?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, a noble one."</p> + +<p>"Then, as Chow has neither father, mother, nor aught else, but hatred +for his father's slayer and gratitude to the preserver of his life——"</p> + +<p>"What words are these?" said Nicholas, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"The good Nicholas has money; let him give it to Chow, and he will bribe +the mandarin to slit him into ribbons in thy stead," said Chow, +seriously.</p> + +<p>"Silence, Chow! this scheme of thine is offensive," said Nicholas, not +without a tear at the boys devotion.</p> + +<p>"Alas! of what use is a friend if he will not be serviceable in the hour +of need?" said Chow.</p> + +<p>Their conversation was interrupted by the opening of the door.</p> + +<p>"It is the illustrious Yang himself, who spoke good words to the +boy-correcting mandarin; may he be turned into a bamboo himself in the +next world," exclaimed Chow with a writhe of remembrance.</p> + +<p>"Thou art the son of the good merchant, my correspondent?" said Yang.</p> + +<p>"The face of the worthy merchant, is welcome in the hour of difficulty," +said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"That difficulty is past, for thou art released," replied Yang, leading +him to a covered vehicle, into which Chow followed, and all three +proceeded to the merchant's house, where they found a substantial meal +awaiting them, a portion of which Chow carried with him to another +apartment.</p> + +<p>"Will the venerable Yang say by what fortunate chance he was enabled to +confer upon the son of his correspondent such an everlasting debt of +gratitude!" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Know then, my nephew, for my nephew thou art, being the son of my +adopted brother, that when the comical ape Chow brought thy message, I +watched for thy coming till evening, when knowing that you could not +pass through the gates that night, I lodged Chow in my house. This +morning I went to meet you, telling Chow to follow close behind my +chair. Passing through the great square we met with the military officer +whose affair took us to the tribunal, where by means of a small present +secretly conveyed to the mandarin, I succeeded in getting the foolish +fellow off with a mere fatherly correction, which the dispenser of +justice was compelled to give him for form's sake. This affair being +settled, judge my horror at finding you charged with so fearful a crime. +However, I was prepared; for Chow, while listening to his own accuser, +had seen you in the custody of the yah-yu, to whom I went, and by means +of a bribe made them tell me the reason of your being in that plight. +When I had learned the particulars, I whispered to the mandarin that I +would present him with a handsome sum in silver if he would treat you +leniently. But when the favorite general of the Prince Li-Kong appeared, +the affair took another turn, and for fear of losing his own head, the +mandarin was compelled to condemn you. Yet, sad as this was, it was to +be managed with money. So by giving a handsome sum to an already +condemned criminal, the poor wretch agreed to suffer in your place."</p> + +<p>"How! what rascality is this? Surely the innocent shall not suffer. The +mandarin must be sought," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Hist, hist, my good nephew! it is all over; for, foreseeing your +objection, the money was handed over to the man's family and he himself +dispatched at once to the penal settlement for condemned criminals."</p> + +<p>"It is a vile practice, O Yang," said Nicholas with disgust.</p> + +<p>"It is a common one," replied the merchant; adding, "but what brings the +son of the great merchant to Pekin? he is young to be entrusted so great +a journey."</p> + +<p>"Are then the special secrets of my noble parent of so little value that +they may be wafted about the very air of this vile city of Pekin?" said +Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Pardon thy servant, O noble youth, who seeks to know thy affairs that +he may help to render them prosperous."</p> + +<p>"The worthy Yang must forgive the haste of a boy who so far forgets his +duty to his elder," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>That night the boys slept at Yang's house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS RESOLVES UPON A DANGEROUS ADVENTURE.</h3> + + +<p>The following morning when Nicholas saw the merchant, he said, +"Yesterday the worthy Yang would have learned the object of my visit to +Pekin. I would gain admittance to the imperial palace. Will he aid me?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! my nephew, nothing can be more difficult, for it is crowded with +bonzes, and I fear worse—rebels, who swarm around the royal person like +hornets; but whom seekest thou within the outer palaces?"</p> + +<p>"Even the Son of Heaven himself, at the feet of whose throne I would +kneel."</p> + +<p>"Is the youth bereft of his senses? does he not know that it is certain +death to pass the prohibited wall of the inner palace?"</p> + +<p>"May then the illustrious Prince Woo-san-Kwei be found within the +palace?" asked Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Nay, even if thou couldst boast the friendship of the great +Woo-san-Kwei thou wouldst not be safe. The prince is too honest and +brave to be much in favor just now. Wouldst thou be safe, youth, thou +must seek the Prince Li-Kong."</p> + +<p>"The vile traitor," muttered Nicholas at the name.</p> + +<p>"Hist, hist! thou wilt assuredly lose thy head, boy," said Yang, placing +his finger upon his lips.</p> + +<p>"Let the friend of the merchant of the south open his lips to a purpose. +Can, or can he not, aid me to gain admittance within the palace? for it +is my father's command that I should seek the Emperor or the Prince +Woo-san-Kwei, and at the peril of my life he must be obeyed," said +Nicholas firmly.</p> + +<p>"Since thou art determined, take this," said Yang placing a ring on the +boy's finger; adding, "It will pass thee through the guards of the outer +palaces and courts as far as the prohibited wall, and then proceed no +further, as you value your life, but await the approach of one of the +officers of the guard, to whom you must show that ring, and tell him +that you have business with the red-girdled Prince Woo-san-Kwei; +further, be prudent, or thou wilt seek thy death."</p> + +<p>"The worthy Yang has indeed filled me with gratitude," said Nicholas, +who then sent Chow for a chair. When the boy returned he asked his +master to what part of the city he would be carried.</p> + +<p>"To the palace."</p> + +<p>"By the five social relations the noble Nicholas is tired of this world, +for he has no sooner escaped one death than he seeks another," said +Chow.</p> + +<p>"Wag not thy foolish tongue, O Chow, but if thy heart fails thee stay +behind."</p> + +<p>"And leave the noble Nicholas to go to the world of spirits alone? that +would indeed be base. No, no; Chow will follow; but my noble master has +forgotten his sword, he may require it," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"I am sufficiently armed," replied Nicholas showing the hilt of a small +dagger beneath his robe, adding, "Now let us proceed."</p> + +<p>They then passed through the streets, which swarmed with people who were +as busy as bees in a hive, some making purchases of itinerant +tradespeople, viewing the wonderful feats of jugglers, mountebanks, or +players, listening to the marvelous narratives of <i>vivŕ voce</i> novelists, +or testing their fates with cheating fortune-tellers. As they approached +the palace, they found crowds of people gazing at the great observatory, +upon the top of which the astronomers of the court, in full dress, were +engaged in watching the heavens. When they arrived at the wall which +confined the city of buildings that made up the imperial residence, +Nicholas dismissed the chairman, and they passed into the first court, +which was as large and full of houses as a small country town. It took +half an hour to walk through; and as they had to traverse seven more of +these courts, which took them three hours, you may imagine the great +extent of the whole palace. The last but one was surrounded with the +palaces of the princes of the red girdle, or those more distant in blood +from the throne. This court was crowded with mandarins, officers, +eunuchs, and soldiers of the Emperor, who were earnestly peering through +telescopes at the sun, which from a deep blood red became yellow and +dim, and gradually more and more opaque, till the whole world seemed to +be enveloped in darkness, and darkness blacker than midnight, for there +was no moon.</p> + +<p>When the earth's light became extinguished, the mandarins fell flat upon +their faces, moaning aloud, while the noise from thousands of drums +shook the very walls.</p> + +<p>"Let us fall upon our faces, O my master, and pray to the terrible +dragon," exclaimed Chow, suiting the action to the word, and endeavoring +to drag Nicholas with him. As, however, Nicholas was averse to this +superstition, he refused to comply, and stood looking upon the people as +if they had been performing for his especial and solitary benefit.</p> + +<p>Whatever was the superstition, it laid firm hold of Chow, who, long +after the light had returned to the heavens and the other people to +their feet, continued to moan, kick his legs, and knock the earth with +his forehead. At length, after repeatedly calling to him in vain, +Nicholas turned him upon his back, when, opening his eyes and finding +the light had returned, he jumped upon his feet, and, as the sweat of +fear rolled from his brow, said, "Thank the gods, the greedy monster of +a dragon has not swallowed the sun and moon. O master, what would become +of us all; what would become of day and night without the sun and moon?"</p> + +<p>"Art thou foolish, O Chow, to believe that this eclipse was caused by +the effort of a monster dragon to swallow the heavenly luminaries?"</p> + +<p>"Who is thy servant, O noble Nicholas, that he should doubt, when +learned mandarins believe?" said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Know, O Chow, that the mandarins believe in it no more than thy +master, but perform a ceremony handed down to them by their ancestors."</p> + +<p>When the people who had been praying of the dragon not to swallow the +poor sun and moon began to disperse, the boys continued their journey +till they came to the outer or prohibited wall of the inner palace, +when, pointing to a soldier who stood at the gate with a naked sabre in +his hand, Chow said. "Look, my master, to pass yon tiger of war will be +to seek Yen-Vang in the other world," and at the same moment the soldier +said, "Are the slaves tired of their lives that they approach the +prohibited wall without bowing to the earth?"</p> + +<p>Having performed the required ceremony, Nicholas presented the +merchant's ring to the soldier, saying, "Let the eyes of the war tiger +rest upon this token, for by its means his servant would seek the +illustrious yellow girdle, Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"The power of the token may not be doubted, for it bears the character +of the prince; yet may the noble youth not see the barbarian-subduing +prince, for he is in council with the colaos," said the soldier.</p> + +<p>"Then, by the toe of the Emperor, (may he live ten thousand years,) we +are as good as in our coffins; for know, O my master, it is death to +sleep within the walls of the palace," said the trembling Chow.</p> + +<p>"Surely," said Nicholas, placing a piece of silver in the soldier's +hand, "the brave warrior can secure lodging within the walls for a youth +whose duty compels him to risk his life rather than leave the palace +without speaking with the great Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"Truly it will be hazardous," but before the soldier could finish his +reply, the officer of the night came up with the relief guard.</p> + +<p>"Who are these vile dogs that are so openly seeking their death?" said +he.</p> + +<p>"This youth, O noble commander, bears the ring of the great +Woo-san-Kwei, whose presence he seeks; but as the patriot prince cannot +be seen, with the noble commander's permission the youth shall lodge +with me this night."</p> + +<p>"The noble and unfortunate Ki utters judicious words, and shall command +in this thing," replied the officer, to the surprise of Nicholas, who +could not comprehend an officer of the guard being so politely +submissive to a man so much his inferior.</p> + +<p>The permission, however, did not extend to Chow, whom the officer +undertook to convey back again out of the palace.</p> + +<p>"Then slit me into bamboo slips, thou Captain of war tigers, for the +servant dare not leave his master," said Chow, who refused so +obstinately that the soldiers had to carry him away.</p> + +<p>As Ki led the way through the streets and passages on the way to his +quarters, Nicholas was not a little surprised to find that he was +respectfully saluted by all whom they passed. Again, instead of the +common room appropriated to soldiers of his humble station, his quarters +consisted of a house by itself. Neither could Nicholas get rid of his +puzzle, till Ki said, "Has the name of the colao Ki ever fallen into the +ears of the honorable youth?"</p> + +<p>"Truly so; for whose ears could be so dull as not to have drunk in his +fame as a wise minister of state?"</p> + +<p>"Yet such is the viscissitude of fortune, that the colao is now before +thee, O youth, plucked of the peacock feather, and the golden ball torn +from his cap."</p> + +<p>"The great and good colao degraded to a mean soldier! Are such things +possible? O unfortunate man!" said Nicholas, bowing respectfully to the +fallen noble.</p> + +<p>"The purest sky is sometimes shaded by the blackest cloud. The cloud +over the head of Ki is the Prince Li-Kong, to whom every thing is now +possible; but open thy lips, youth, and send forth thy wishes with the +Prince Woo-san-Kwei. If it be to ask promotion to some office, know that +he has none to give, for the shadow of Li-Kong stands between him and +the Majesty of China."</p> + +<p>"Thy servant seeketh nothing for himself, O noble Ki, but to serve the +Emperor, to whom through the great Woo-san-Kwei, he would present a +petition."</p> + +<p>"All petitions now pass through the Prince Li-Kong," said Ki +sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Then, by the vermilion pencil, I will seek the Emperor himself, O noble +Ki."</p> + +<p>"Thou wouldst be slain in the attempt, O daring boy; there is but one +means."</p> + +<p>"Name it, O noble Ki, and thy name shall be buried in my heart," said +Nicholas impetuously.</p> + +<p>"It would be but to condemn thee to death."</p> + +<p>"Thou art laughing at me, O noble Ki," replied Nicholas bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Not so, youth; and since thou hast set thy heart upon the venture, open +thine ears to the only means," said Ki; adding, "Know that the Emperor +has one young and beautiful daughter, who apart from the bonzes and +Li-Kong, alone dares to present a petition to his majesty."</p> + +<p>"Again, I say, thou art laughing at me, O cruel Ki; for how is it +possible for a strange youth to pass the guard that surrounds the palace +of the ladies?"</p> + +<p>"Know then, further, that every morning the princess, with her ladies, +walks in those gardens just beyond the prohibited wall; through the +outer gate you can pass by means of this key," said Ki, giving him a +key; adding, "Near the inner wall there is a tall mulberry-tree, up +which you must climb, and so reach the top, and fall into the gardens; +then hide thyself till the royal lady passes. She will be attended by +the lady Candida Hiu, at whose feet throw thyself, proclaim thy mission, +and she will influence her beautiful mistress to deliver thy petition to +the Emperor; but remember, O youth, should you cross the path of one of +the eunuchs of the palace thy hours are numbered."</p> + +<p>"Noble Ki, I am thy servant for life," said Nicholas, kneeling and +clasping the knees of the old colao; adding, "but say, O Ki, who is this +Lady Candida Hiu?"</p> + +<p>"The pupil of the good Christian fathers whom the bonzes would have +massacred, the Lady Candida is the friend and teacher of the princess, +and but for her influence over her royal mistress, the punishment would +be death for worshiping in any of the many churches erected by the lady +herself."</p> + +<p>"Art thou then a disciple of the Saviour of mankind, O Ki?"</p> + +<p>"To the teaching of the lady Candida Hiu am I indebted for having +forsworn the stupid worship of Fo and the selfish philosophy of +Confucius," replied the colao; adding, "But ask no more, O youth, for to +speak of Christ out of the pale of that lady's influence is to earn +disgrace, if not death." So saying the ex-minister retired, leaving +Nicholas to his own thoughts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE IMPERIAL GARDENS.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning Nicholas proceeded on his mission, and, as the courts +of the palace were crowded with soldiers and mandarins of various ranks, +in waiting to receive the great lords of state, who were that day to +have audience with the Emperor, he managed to pass through the crowd +without being once challenged. With but little difficulty, he found the +door mentioned by Ki, and passing through by means of the key, he +entered a narrow lane between two walls. Near the inner wall stood the +mulberry-tree, up which he clambered quickly, for he knew not who might +enter the passage. When, by means of one of the branches, he had gained +the top of the wall, his eyes drank in a new pleasure. There, before, +beneath were the magnificent gardens of the inner palace, and so charmed +were his senses that for a minute it seemed as if the penalty of death +were but a small price for the vision. The enclosed grounds were of many +miles extent, and so varied in their arrangement, that they might have +served for a model of the empire itself. There was something of most +things natural and artificial in China: towering mountains cut into +terraces and planted with trees of rarity and beauty; fertile valleys +laid out in orange groves and intermingled with murmuring rivulets; +then bridges of tinted marble, wrought to resemble flying dragons, whose +eyes and scales were fashioned from colored metals, flew across small +lakes of clear, transparent water, in which, as a paradise of their own, +gamboled shoals of gold and silver fish, which at that time had not been +brought to Europe; then orchards of fruit trees, making the morning air +redolent with the mingled scents of rare specimens of pears, apples, +peaches, citrons, apricots, muscadine grapes, pomegranates, and oranges. +The sides of the main canal, from which the dripping rivulets sprang, +were embossed with cypress and mulberry-trees, whose feet seemed planted +in a sprinkled fringe of water melons. On this canal, with its awning of +yellow silk and golden fringe, floated the gilded japanned pleasure +barge of the ladies.</p> + +<p>For a time the boy's head swam with a new sensation. Such, thought he, +must have been the garden of that Emperor whose jealousy of the powers +of the cruel winter over his summer beauties caused him to waste the +revenue of a kingdom and the industry of a whole people in creating a +garden of artificial flowers, forgetting that the annual decay was alone +the cause of the ever-living freshness and perfume of nature.</p> + +<p>Then the sweet scents and beauteous sight tired Nicholas, for he thought +of the suffering, starving people. Surely it should not be possible for +such a paradise to exist in the midst of so much treason and +rotten-heartedness, and then the bold sea boy thought of his own rough +life, and became disgusted with himself for dwelling upon so much +sensuousness, for he knew that the empire had never smiled and prospered +with a happy, peaceable and well-fed people, except when the Emperor had +set the example of temperance and labor; and, moreover, that luxury and +indolence had ever preceded the downfall of dynasties; and then by far +more interesting became the cotton, the tallow and the mulberry-trees +that Heaven had bestowed upon the land of China for the support of its +hundreds of millions, and which had no vocation in such a garden of +luxury.</p> + +<p>As it must be interesting to my young readers, I will give a description +of these singularly valuable trees. The seed of the cotton shrub is sown +by the husbandmen on the same day that they get in the harvest. When the +rain has moistened the earth the shrub thrusts itself forward to a +height of about two feet, and in the month of August gives forth a +yellow or a red flower, which fades into a pod, which on the fortieth +day after the appearance of the flower divides itself into three parts, +each containing a wrapping of pure white cotton, similar in size to the +ball of the silk-worm. At this period, the husbandmen fasten the ball to +the pod, leaving it till the following year, when the fibres of the +cotton become so securely fastened to the seeds, that the husbandman is +compelled to separate them by means of two thin rollers, one of wood and +the other of iron, placed so close to each other, that in passing the +cotton between them, the naked seed is exuded from behind. The cotton +is then carded and ready to be converted into calico, an employment that +gives food to many thousands of people.</p> + +<p>Of equal value and more curious is the tallow-tree, which lights the +whole of the empire. While the leaves and long stalks of this plant +cause it to resemble the aspen and the birch, its trunk and branches +resemble in shape, height, and size the cherry-tree. From the grey bark, +spring long elastic branches, the leaves of which grow but from the +middle to the end, where they finish in a tuft, where the fruit grows in +a hard brown husk of triangular form. The husk generally contains three +kernels, covered with a thin substance resembling white tallow. When the +husk begins to open and fall away, the fruit gradually appears. Each +kernel contains another of the size of a hemp seed, which from its +oleaginous nature is converted into oil.</p> + +<p>To make the tallow, the shell and kernel are beaten together in boiling +water till the surface becomes covered with fat, which when cold, +condenses; then, by adding fair proportions of linseed oil and wax to +give consistency, they have produced the material which, when shaped +around a wick of hollow reed, produces the candles in use in China. Thus +does nature and the ingenuity of the people create from this +extraordinary tree a double means of lighting the empire.</p> + +<p>As for the mulberry-tree, it is so well known that I need but tell you, +that after rice, the Chinese consider its culture as a sacred duty, and +deservedly so, for by feeding the silk-worm, it not only clothes the +people, but silk, being in immense demand over the known world, is the +primary means of giving them employment; indeed the mulberry-tree is an +"institution," and of such ancient date, that even in four thousand +years old China, which contains the oldest records in the world, there +is no authentic record of its discovery. There is a legend, however, +"that, till the days of Ti-Long, the wife of the Emperor Hoang-ti, the +people were savages, and used the skins of animals for clothing, but her +far-sighted majesty noticed that as the people were many, and the +animals few, they would soon become short of garments, when, like the +parent of invention, she was pushed to a discovery that worms might be +made the greatest manufacturers of her empire;" and that there is some +truth in this fable seems likely, as, from the earliest times, the +Empress of China has had a portion of the grounds of the palace planted +as a mulberry grove, where, at certain periods of the year, she goes in +state, to show her interest in the silk manufacture, by gathering three +mulberry leaves, and unwinding a quantity of silk. Lastly, I may tell +you, that the most learned men and the greatest ministers have devoted a +great portion of their lives to teach the people "how to bring up and +feed silk worms, so as to obtain the greatest quantity and best quality +of silk."</p> + +<p>Is it not unjust that the race of worms should have been so long +despised, when, for thousands of years, one of their representatives has +been at the base of the prosperity of the largest, most populated, and +longest-enduring empire since the foundation of the world?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE PRINCESSES OF THE MINGS, AND THE LADY CANDIDA.</h3> + + +<p>Enwrapped as the mind of Nicholas had been in the delicious scene around +him, no sooner did he reach the ground than a bitter feeling arose that +his beloved Emperor should be content to repose in such soft and costly +indolence, while millions of his subjects were being plundered by +rapacious nobles. In deep thought he reached the far-famed mulberry +orchard, where, for a time, he stood contemplating the industry of the +marvelous little worms whose number and color cast a sickly hue over the +broad green foliage of the trees, then in full leaf. Passing through +this orchard, he came in front of a mimic palace, hewn out of rock +crystal, and which glittered in the sun, so that it was some minutes +before his dazzled vision could perceive that he was near the imperial +menagerie and aviary, where were kept the rare beasts and birds +presented to the Emperor by his tributary kings. The sight was curious, +and he would have stopped, but for the rustling of leaves in the +orchard, and the sound of soft footsteps, that warned him of his +imprudence, and made him seek shelter in a small pagoda, from whence, +through a kind of loophole which fronted the menagerie, he could see +without being seen. Now his heart beat tremulously; the footsteps might +be those of the princess and her ladies. He was right in his conjecture, +for scarcely had he placed himself at the loophole, when two ladies, +attended by female slaves, who held above the heads of their mistresses +umbrellas of embroidered yellow silk deeply fringed with gold, came +toward the menagerie. The princess was of middle height, with a form as +graceful and elastic as a fawn; her face, like those of all of her race, +was broad, but fair almost as a European blonde, yet looked the fairer +from its contrast with the raven hair and eyelashes which beneath the +thin brows shaded a pair of tiny jet black eyes, which like the purest +diamonds, compensated by fire for their deficiency in size, and with the +delicately small mouth, parted by a pair of thin pouting lips, lit up +her sweet countenance with animation and vivacity. Of her hands and feet +I can say nothing, for they were hidden beneath the ample folds of her +long gold-embroidered robe of yellow satin. Upon her head she wore a +kind of crown of rich silk, decorated upon each side with a +"fong-hoang," the phoenix of China, which it is believed has but once +appeared, and whose next advent will be the fore-running of the golden +age. The extended wings of the little birds, which were of frosted gold, +and sparkling with jewels, rested upon the forepart of the crown, so +that while their beaks fell over the forehead, the spreading plumage of +their tails afforded a graceful crest upon its summit; moreover they +appeared to come with a tiny parterre of artificial flowers, which were +fastened with a bevy of silver bodkins, whose heads were formed out of +pearls, diamonds, and rubies; but far beyond her rare beauty and costly +attire was the artlessness of her manner, which, arising from a virtuous +heart and cultivated mind, won the love of all with whom she came in +contact.</p> + +<p>As for Nicholas, he was bewitched, and from the moment his eyes rested +upon her, he lost all doubt of the success of his mission.</p> + +<p>Of the lady in attendance I will only say, that she was of maturer age, +and of fuller form. More plainly attired than the royal lady, she wore a +robe of green silk, embroidered with flowers of the same color, and a +head-dress of silk, slightly sprinkled with large pearls; her brow was +high, and her features regular and handsome, but seemingly shadowed with +care for the interests and ministers of Christ, to whose doctrines she +had long been a convert; for this lady was no other than the illustrious +Candida Hiu, of whom the colao had spoken to Nicholas. Her history was +remarkable, and may be told in a few lines. The Emperor at the +commencement of his reign, had been so favorably disposed to the +Christian religion, that, although not a convert himself, he had +permitted many of the lords and ladies of his court to embrace its +tenets; chief and most sincere among the proselytes had been the prime +minister, Paul Syu, whose influence over his weak-minded master had +enabled him to protect the missionaries from the jealous bonzes and +pagan mandarins around. No sooner, however, had this good man gone to +his grave, than the bonzes accused the Christians of endeavoring to +subvert the reigning family, and so artfully did they intrigue, that the +Emperor ordered the Christians to leave China, and a terrible +persecution took place, when all the court but the Lady Candida and the +son and daughter of the monarch, returned to the worship of Fo. As I +have said, the Emperor's love was so great for his beautiful daughter, +that he permitted the princess and her friend Candida to follow the +dictates of their own hearts; hence it was that the good lady had been +able to protect her fellow-Christians from the rapacity of the bonzes +and mandarins, even to obtaining permission for them to remain in Pekin. +Further, to show her zeal, she founded at her own cost no less than +thirty churches in different parts of the empire, and had vast numbers +of religious books translated into Chinese, which she distributed by +means not only of blind beggars, but vagabond fortune-tellers, whom she +paid handsomely to stand at the corners of streets, and read the Gospel, +in place of practicing upon the credulity of the populace with their +vile falsehoods. Such were the two ladies now within a few yards of +Nicholas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>DANGER OF THE PRINCESS.—HER RESCUE BY NICHOLAS.</h3> + + +<p>As the princess and her friend approached, Nicholas almost felt ashamed +of his intrusion upon their privacy. Should he not appear to them in the +despicable light of an eaves-dropper? Then he would determine to come +forward, but fell back again in dread of giving offence. Then the ladies +began a conversation, and he dared not interrupt them.</p> + +<p>"This then, dear Candida, is the sin-fin that my royal parent values so +highly," said the princess, looking at a large black ape of the +ourang-outang species, which sat grinning, with its elbows upon its +knees.</p> + +<p>"Truly, dear princess, this is the wonderful beast that the Prince +Li-Kong has presented to the Emperor, from the wild province of +Yun-nan," said Candida.</p> + +<p>"Candida is surely laughing at her pupil, for is it not said that this +Li-Kong is chiefest of the rebels, who have so lately been disturbing my +royal parent's repose?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! my princess, that it should be necessary to pour words of grief +into thy sweet ears," said Candida, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"What words are these, Candida? What grief can come in such a place of +repose? Truly you terrify without answering my question," said the +princess, angrily.</p> + +<p>"But that my sweet mistress alone possesses the ear of the Emperor, and +may open it for the benefit of the starving millions of the empire, her +friend and servant would not grieve her," replied the lady.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, O Candida, if thou wouldst not vex thy mistress, what mean +these words," said the princess, pettishly; adding, "Surely you would +not protect the traitor Li-Kong."</p> + +<p>"It is of that prince thy servant would speak," said the lady; adding, +"Know then, O princess, that, angered at some refusal of thy royal +father, the Prince Li-Kong, fled from the court, placed himself at the +head of a robber army, and being joined by thousands of the starving +people, among whom he made himself popular, took possession of two of +the largest provinces, and caused himself to be proclaimed as Emperor, +and took the title of Tien-Chun (He that obeys Heaven), persuading the +people that he had been appointed by Heaven to deliver them from the +cruelty of the Emperor and his ministers."</p> + +<p>"Dared the dog say this? Surely my royal father is the parent of his +people."</p> + +<p>"Nay, O princess, for as it was the duty of my father, the great +minister, so is it mine, at the risk of death, to speak the truth. Until +within the last moon, the greater part of the empire was in the hands of +robbers and assassins, justice was openly sold by the mandarins to the +highest bidder, the husbandmen of the hills and fields and the tradesmen +in the streets were dying by thousands of starvation, while the Son of +Heaven was shut up in his palaces intent upon nothing but his pleasures +and the society of the bonzes."</p> + +<p>"Candida, dear Candida, thou who art so truth-loving that thou darest +even to rebuke thy Emperor, canst thou tell thy friend and mistress that +while all is so calm, beautiful, and happy within these walls, there can +be so much misery without?" said the princess, trembling with fear.</p> + +<p>"Even worse, O dear princess, for while the imperial storehouses are +groaning with grain, thousands of people are dying of starvation within +the walls of Pekin," replied Candida.</p> + +<p>"I dare not doubt thy words, O Candida, yet I will not believe that my +great parent would keep close the public storehouses while his children +were starving," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"It is even worse, O princess, for the daily distribution of food has +been withheld," said Candida.</p> + +<p>With a vacant stare the princess gazed into the face of her friend for a +moment, then with a flood of tears upon her cheeks, fell into her arms; +but recovering her presence of mind, she said, "Truly this is a +calamity; surely I have heard such things ever precede the downfall of +dynasties; but I will to my father's presence, and dutifully implore him +on my knees;" and she moved toward the palace as if to act upon her +resolution, but Candida caught her in her arms, saying, "It would not +be seemly, O princess, nay, it would be useless, for the Prince Li-Kong +now possesses the Emperor's confidence."</p> + +<p>"What words are these, O Candida? Thou art indeed laughing at thy +mistress, for didst thou not say the traitor was in open rebellion?"</p> + +<p>"True, my princess, he was, till, for some vile purpose, he made his +submission to Ten Thousand Years, who, as he brought the heads of some +chiefs of the rebels, pardoned him, in the belief that his rebellion had +been a trick, a pretence whereby he had the better subdued the other +rebels."</p> + +<p>With indignation in her heart at the traitor Li, and her eyes swimming +with tears, she placed her hands affectionately in those of her +friend—before, however, she could speak she shrieked with fright. The +sin-fin had broken his cage and stood as erect as a man, clattering his +teeth and grinning in her face, with his great paws upon her neck. The +princess fainted; not so the Lady Candida for she boldly clutched hold +of the brute, who, however, without relinquishing his grasp of the +princess, caught the Lady Candida by her head-dress and hair, and +dragged them both in the direction of the lake, looking savagely at the +screaming attendants, who scampered off as fast as their legs would +carry them; and so rapid were the movements of the brute, that he +reached the verge of the water before Nicholas could thrust his sword +into his hirsute side, a bit of a surprise that caused the beast to +leave his hold of the ladies, when "scotched" but not killed, and +catching sight of his real enemy, he uttered a savage scream and sprang +at him with extended claws, but so neat was the spring that the weapon +of Nicholas passed through his heart, when he gave one last terrific +leap and rolled over dead.</p> + +<p>The fright, the horror of feeling themselves in the sin-fin's clutches, +and the revulsion of feeling at the unexpected relief, made the ladies +forget, as you may well imagine, the lesser terror of seeing a strange +youth within the prohibited walls. As for Nicholas, he thought only of +them both. However, seeing they had been more frightened than hurt, and +that they were now regarding him with a mixed expression of gratitude, +surprise, and even anger, for so great is the modesty of women, and such +the force of the custom in China, that rescue from death itself was +scarcely sufficient to suppress the instinctive anger they felt at the +intrusion of a boy in so sacred a place; perceiving all this at a +glance, Nicholas fell upon his knees, saying, "Pardon, O great princess, +for thus thy yellow girdle betokens thee. Let the life of thy mean +servant be the penalty for his unpardonable intrusion, and he will not +regret it, since he has been the means of saving the daughter of his +Emperor, and the Christian-protecting Lady Candida, from the fangs of a +vile beast."</p> + +<p>"Rise, O youth, for it is not seemly that thou shouldst kneel at the +feet of her whose life thou hast saved, and say what chance hath brought +thee hither," said the royal lady, smiling with sweet gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Surely, O princess, chance can have no influence over the children of +God, who must have sent thy servant hither as a manifest of his watchful +care for those who obey his word and protect his worshipers," replied +Nicholas earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Then thou art of the Lord of heaven's religion. But who art thou, O my +poor youth, who thus seekest certain death by thy presence here?" said +Candida, looking tremulously around, for fear of the approach of any of +the eunuchs of the palace.</p> + +<p>"Let this, O princess, bespeak the reason of thy servant's intrusion, +where even the daring Li-Kong cannot foil his purpose," replied +Nicholas, falling upon his knees and presenting his father's letter to +the princess, who handed it to Candida, who no sooner glanced at the +characters upon the envelope than she said angrily, "This is from the +rebel pirate, Chin-Chi-Loong."</p> + +<p>"Should thy servant's tongue be torn from his mouth, he would say those +words are false, lady. The noble chief is neither pirate nor rebel; if +so, thy servant would not have risked his life to place that letter in +the hands of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas firmly.</p> + +<p>"If thy words are true, youth——" but as the Lady Candida spoke, a body +of armed eunuchs entered the garden, so, giving the letter back to +Nicholas, she said, "Haste youth, for thy life;" but knowing the attempt +would be useless, he stood his ground firmly.</p> + +<p>"No, lady," said he; "thy servant came here to place that letter in the +hands of the Emperor." Before he could say more the men had drawn around +him.</p> + +<p>"Tie the dog hand and foot," said the chief.</p> + +<p>"Not so, O Lun-Yin," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"Thy slave dare not disobey the laws, O illustrious daughter of the +Mings," replied the chief, bowing to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Then convey the youth to the presence of the Emperor, for he has +treason to disclose, but let not his limbs be bound at the peril of your +life, and we will answer to our great father," said the princess.</p> + +<p>When the ladies withdrew toward the inner palace the eunuchs led +Nicholas through the small gate into a spacious court, which was crowded +with soldiers, bonzes and servants, in attendance upon the great lords, +who were then in council with the Emperor. Passing through the crowd +they entered a magnificent archway of veined marble into a vast court, +across which ran a canal of water, so pellucid that shoals of gold and +silver fish could be seen playing around the stems of the white-leaved +lien-hoa at the bottom. Across this canal was thrown a bridge of +glittering white marble, supported upon each bank by lions sculptured +from the same material. From this bridge Nicholas could see that the +whole court was surrounded with marble terraces, which led through small +doorways into the imperial treasure rooms, which were full of precious +metals, jewels, valuable furs, rare vases, and costly robes, and a +variorum collection of silks, that had been presented from the chief +manufactories of the empire. Other rooms contained bows, arrows, +saddles, and even specimens of the choicest teas to be found in China. +Leaving the treasures they entered the great court of the princes of the +blood, whose palaces shone with gilding, japan, and varnish, through +which they passed by a small side-gate into the hippodrome, or +horse-racing court, which was crowded with mandarins of arms and +letters, of inferior rank, besides the state chairs, and horse guards +belonging to the princes. As they entered the hippodrome they saw a +group of war mandarins gathered around a person who was clamoring for +something that the mandarins must have deemed very absurd, for although +so near the inner palace, they laughed loudly. Perceiving, however, the +chief of the eunuchs, they became suddenly grave, and bowed to the +ground three times.</p> + +<p>"How is this? Are the dogs tired of their lives, that they venture to +make this unseemly uproar within the very hearing of the Son of Heaven +himself?" said that officer angrily.</p> + +<p>"Truly, the all-powerful Yin would risk his flowery existence, laughing +at this paper tiger, who is mad enough to demand an audience with the +Son of Heaven," replied one of the mandarins. Before, however, the chief +of the eunuchs could reply, the person in question had thrown himself at +his feet, crying, "Pardon, O mighty officer of the palace, thy slave, +who seeks a master bereft of his senses, and who is now wandering about +the palace in search of the Son of Heaven. May he vanquish his +enemies."</p> + +<p>"Thou, then, art the servant of this dog who has profaned the imperial +gardens?" said the chief of the eunuchs; adding, before Nicholas could +interfere for Chow, "Let the dog be taken to the prison, as he will +doubtless be strangled with his master when the will of the Emperor is +known."</p> + +<p>Then, in obedience to this command, the boy was hurried away, and +Nicholas led forward to the court of the inner palace.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>ASSEMBLY OF THE GREAT PRINCES OF THE EMPIRE.</h3> + + +<p>The audience-chamber of the Emperor was a vast square hall of great +height. The ceiling was of pale green, sculptured in devices, and +decorated with paintings, charged at intervals with the Emperor's crest +in gold. The walls were smooth and without other ornament than the +carved window frame, which was set with panes of richly painted paper. +The roof was supported by rows of columns, elaborately sculptured and +japanned, which rested upon a pavement of the rarest veined marble, of +so high a polish that it reflected the whole interior.</p> + +<p>In the centre stood a lofty alcove, above which, upon a drapery of +yellow silk, were embossed in pale blue enamel the words "Ching Hoang," +(Holy Emperor). Beneath, upon a dais, ascended by a flight of broad +steps was a throne of frosted gold, surmounted and upheld by dragons of +the same metal, but burnished, and whose claws rested upon a carpet of +blue velvet, besprinkled with the same monsters in silver.</p> + +<p>Opposite the throne upon a raised platform, were placed several vessels +of the precious metals, filled with incense, which, as it burned, sent +forth a delicious perfume, and candlesticks ingeniously wrought into the +shape of animals.</p> + +<p>From the throne to the end of the wall, ranged so as to form an alley, +stood the great officers of state, attired in large flowing robes of +silk, flounced with gold, and bearing on their breasts the insignia of +their different dignities; those belonging to the military department +wearing golden buttons on their caps and tigers or lions on their +breasts, while the civil officers, who were of higher rank, wore birds +in place of beasts. At the back of these mandarins were other officers, +bearing umbrellas of silk brocade, fringed with gold; there were also +many who wore the button of an inferior rank, and who wore large fans of +silk, embroidered with gold; others with large standards, sprinkled with +golden stars, dragons, the sun, and the moon in all its quarters, to +represent the twenty-eight mansions of the heavens, and their +conjunctions and oppositions with the sun, as they appear in the +intersections of the circles, which the astronomers call the dragon's +head and tail. Near the walls stood a number of mandarins of inferior +rank, both civil and military, bearing maces, axes, hammers, and swords. +Upon the steps of the throne stood the princes of the blood, attired in +the costumes of their civil or military rank, the only tokens of their +imperial blood, being the large yellow or red girdle, and the circle +instead of the square in which the bird or beast is worn upon the +breast.</p> + +<p>The left hand being the place of honor in China, on that side of the +throne stood the imperial but unfortunate Prince, Yong-Li, a youth of +fifteen years of age, near to whom stood the aged Woo, whose office, +that of a colao or censor, was at once the most dangerous and most +popular in the empire, his duty being to check the great mandarins, and +even the Emperor himself, in the wrong exercise of their authority. This +officer may be termed the representative of that public opinion in China +which moulds its irresponsible despotism somewhat to the shape of a +constitutional government. One step lower, in the full costume of +tsong-tou (a great viceroy), stood the Prince Woo-san-Kwei. This prince +was the son of the censor Woo, and one of the most remarkable men of his +time. He was tall and stately, and, like the rest of the nobles of the +Ming dynasty, wore his hair in long and luxuriant tresses; moreover, +like his parent Woo, he wore the circle upon his breast, and around his +waist the girdle of red, which betokened him to be of the second rank of +the princes of the blood. Upon the opposite side of the throne, and one +step nearer, as became his closer relationship to the monarch, stood the +first prince of the yellow girdle, Li-Kong, a man whose influence upon +those tempestuous times was as remarkable for bad as that of +Woo-san-Kwei was for good; he was also a tang-tou.</p> + +<p>Next this prince, in their robes of office, stood the colaos, or +ministers of state, and with them an officer whose bird-embroidered robe +and cap betokened him a mandarin of letters of the highest rank in the +great college of Han-Lin. This officer was tutor to the heir to the +throne, but in addition held an office so peculiar that I do not think +you will accuse me of tediousness if I tell you something about it. He +was the chief historian of the empire, an appointment which, if carried +out with similar integrity, would be creditable to other empires besides +China.</p> + +<p>"These historians," says a writer who resided within the walls of the +palace thirty years, "consist of a certain number of men, who, for their +learning and impartiality are purposely chosen for this office. Their +business is to observe narrowly not only the actions but the words of +the Emperor, which, without communication with the others, each must +write upon a loose piece of paper, and put it through a chink into an +office set apart for the purpose.</p> + +<p>"In these papers both the Emperor's virtues and faults are set down with +the same liberty and impartiality. 'Such a day,' say they, 'the +Emperor's behavior was unseasonable and intemperate; he spoke after a +manner which became not his dignity. The punishment which he inflicted +on such an officer was rather the effect of his passion than the result +of his justice. In such an affair, he stopped the sword of justice, and +abrogated the just sentence of the magistrate.' Or else, 'The Emperor +entered courageously into a war for the defence of his people and for +the maintenance of the honor of his empire; and, notwithstanding the +commendations given him by his flatterers, he was not puffed up, but +behaved himself modestly, his words were tempered with all the sweetness +and humility possible, which made him more loved and admired by his +court than ever.'</p> + +<p>"Such is the way in which they record down all that occurs; but that +neither fear on the one side, nor hope on the other, may bias men to +give a partial record of the Emperor, the office wherein these papers +are kept is never opened during the life of the sovereign, or while any +of his family sit upon the throne. When, however, the imperial dignity +passes into another family, all these loose memoirs are gathered +together, compared, and a history composed, that either hands down the +Emperor as an example to posterity, or exposes him to the censure and +odium of the nation, if he has been negligent of his own duty and his +people's good. Thus is it the interest of the Emperor to be circumspect, +and cautious how he behaves himself during his reign."</p> + +<p>With reference to the history of events and the progress of the people +generally, it is the custom for each city to keep an exact record of +every memorable event as it happens, its most remarkable places and +inhabitants, good or bad; moreover, of their manners and customs; and +although there are many who, by offering bribes to the governor, obtain +honorable mention in these annals, upon the whole the accounts are +considered to be tolerably accurate, for at the end of every forty years +the mandarins of every city assemble and examine the accounts, and +expunge what they deem unfit to remain recorded.</p> + +<p>Theoretically, the will of the emperor is the only law; the lives, +fortunes, and worldly happiness of his subjects depend upon its wildest +caprice; but, in reality, it is only theoretically, for in the words of +another great authority, who not only resided at the court of Pekin some +thirty years, but absolutely held office therein. "One would imagine +that this unlimited power of the Emperor would often occasion very +unfortunate events in the government, and indeed it sometimes hath, as +nothing in this world is without its alloy of inconvenience, yet so many +are the provisions and so wise the precautions which the laws have +prescribed to prevent them, that a prince must be wholly insensible of +his own reputation and even interest, as well as the public good, who +continues long in the abuse of his authority; for if he hath any regard +for his own reputation, there are three things which will prevail with +him to govern by justice, not passion: first, the old laws, given from +the foundation of the empire, have laid it down as a standing maxim, +that kings are properly the fathers of their people, <i>and not masters +placed upon the throne only to be served by slaves</i>. The words in +italics contain a doctrine, by the way, that our first James strived so +hard to inculcate, that it ultimately led to a revolution in England, +not very dissimilar to that in China, of which I am now writing. Such +having been the teaching of those law-givers, Confucius and others, who +are to the present day venerated as deities in China, the Emperor's +proudest title of honor has been in all ages Ta-fou" (that is, +grandfather).</p> + +<p>This theory of what the Emperor should be, is so deeply imprinted in the +minds of the people and the mandarins, that, when they offer praises, +whether deserved or not, it is based upon his presumed affection for his +people. The teachers and philosophers continually set forth in their +books that the state is but a large family, and that he who knows how +to govern the one is best capable of governing the other; so that, if +the Emperor neglects, never so little, the practice of this maxim, he +may be a great warrior, an able politician, a learned man, and yet meet +with neither love nor esteem from his people. Indeed, they value him +only as they believe he is, or is not, a father to them.</p> + +<p>Thus, as I have shown you, not only the censor, but, in a lesser degree, +every mandarin may tell the Emperor of his faults, provided it be in a +manner agreeable to that veneration and profound respect which is due to +his office. The manner, however, in which this is done, is somewhat +roundabout. The mandarin who perceives any thing in the Emperor's +conduct contrary to the maxims laid down in the sacred books, draws up a +request, in which, after having set forth the respect which he bears +toward his majesty, he most humbly prays that he will please to reflect +upon the ancient laws and good examples of his great predecessors. This +request lies upon a table among many other petitions, which are daily +presented and which the Emperor is obliged to read; and if he does not +change his conduct, the petition is repeated again and again till the +end has been gained, or the mandarin himself punished for his +presumption. The latter, however, never happens, except with bad and +tyrannical Emperors.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BOY PRINCE AND THE RIVAL GENERALS.</h3> + + +<p>Thus were the great princes and lords of China awaiting the coming of +their imperial master, and with something like impatience, for often, of +late, had his majesty kept them waiting for hours, and then granted no +audience at all. Such, however, was not to be the case then, for soon +the sounds of wind instruments were heard, pages and eunuchs entered +from the door which led to the imperial apartment, followed by the +favorite body attendants of the sovereign, then the Emperor +himself;—and the mandarins in the body of the hall, and the lords upon +the steps of the throne, bent their heads till their foreheads touched +the floors, in which position they remained, awaiting the command of the +monarch to arise. Wey-t-song, the last of the Ming Emperors, was of +middle height and spare figure, at least for a Chinese, whose notion of +manly beauty consists of large and bulky form; he was attired in a robe +of yellow silk, embroidered with five-clawed dragons, a necklace of +costly pearls, and a golden girdle fastened around his waist by a +jeweled clasp; his high cap or crown of purple satin, sparkled with +jewels, and was decorated with the peacock's feather, which fell upon +his long black hair; his boots were of purple satin, and fitted tightly +to the shape of the feet; as for his hands, they were hidden beneath the +folds of his robe.</p> + +<p>When the Emperor had seated himself upon the throne, a graceful movement +with his ample sleeves gave the sign for the kneeling courtiers to +arise, and they stood with their arms straightened and eyes turned upon +the ground, pretending that the sight of so much majesty was too +dazzling for their vision.</p> + +<p>Thus, for a time, all was silent, till the censor Woo, falling upon his +knees, and holding above his head his silver seal of office, gravely +said, "Since our lord has vouchsafed us his heavenly audience, and the +door of the imperial apartments is no longer disfigured by the +audience-denying tablet, it is the duty of the meanest of his slaves to +open his lips, even at the risk of his life."</p> + +<p>"Rise, thou venerable noble, for it is not seemly that one who is at +age's extremity should kneel, even before the Emperor. Rise, noble Woo, +for thy years demand that thy petition should be heard standing," said +Wey-t-song, aiding the aged man to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Alas! dread prince, thy servant's days have been too long, for he has +lived to see a successor of the great Emperors, Yu and Yaou, forget that +Heaven had made him the father of his people," said Woo, sadly.</p> + +<p>"What words are these? Surely the noble Woo presumes upon his age, for +has it not been wisely said that the will of the Emperor is +omnipotent?"</p> + +<p>"It is written in the sacred books, O prince, that it is equally +criminal in the Emperor and the subject to violate the laws. Truly the +life of the minister is the property of his sovereign, but the dignity +of his office belongs to the country, which is even now torn into shreds +by maladministration," replied the firm old noble; adding, "For when the +Emperor becomes negligent of his duty, and sinks into a lover of luxury +and ease, the spirit of indolence must pervade the occupant of every +mandrinate; so, at the present time, every viceroy and governor has +grown to think himself the sovereign, instead of the father and teacher +of his province; each minister, in defiance of the law, sells places to +those unfit to occupy them; and thus the people, being oppressed, have +arisen in rebellion over the empire, to the advantage of rogues and +thieves, who await but the finding of some bold bad man to enable them +to change, O prince, thy very dynasty. Yet surely this is not without +cause, for hath it not been asked, 'Why hath Heaven placed the Emperor +upon the throne, if not to be our parent?' and therefore he ought not to +make himself feared, but in proportion as he deserves to be loved for +his goodness and virtue; therefore, at the risk of his life, the censor +dares tell his dread sovereign that while the people are suffering, the +Emperor should forget his pleasures, fast in his palace, punish the +offending mandarins, remit the taxes of the suffering provinces, and +employ his whole thoughts in alleviating their misfortunes. Like the +Emperors of old, he should lament night and day till the evils are +remedied. Such are the words of the aged Woo, who hath lived through +the reigns of six of thy illustrious predecessors, and they have been +called forth, O dread prince, by thy neglect of the petitions which he +has laid upon the imperial table. If thy slave offendeth, O prince, let +his worthless head be the penalty, for he has done his duty; and the old +noble again fell at the feet of Wey-t-song, who, giving way to a +paroxysm of passion, rose, and, placing his hand upon the hilt of his +sabre, exclaimed, 'What words are these old man? Is the Emperor a slave +that thou darest so far?' But, despot and even cruel as he was, the age +and daring of the old noble had excited in the eyes of the surrounding +courtiers such unmistakable gleams of satisfaction, that, really afraid +of proceeding to extremities, he fell back upon his throne, saying, +"Arise, noble Woo, and that in the licence of thy office thou hast +uttered words of wind against thy Emperor, the rebel-subduing General +Li-Kong will testify."</p> + +<p>Upon this, the Prince Li-Kong, falling upon his knees, said, "Truly, O +august and sovereign Emperor, the age of the noble Woo must have +diminished his eyeballs, or he would have seen in the Imperial Gazette +that the Emperor, our father, having heard of the rebellion in the +provinces, had despatched his mean servant, myself, with a correcting +army, and that thy unworthy relation had secured a lasting internal +peace."</p> + +<p>"And thy reward, prince?" said the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"The generalship of the home armies, and the favor of my great +sovereign, who will not open his heavenly ears to the words of these +rogues, who accuse thy servant and mean relation of ingratitude and +treason."</p> + +<p>"This reminds us that the reward is inadequate to thy services, most +princely Li. Let it therefore be proclaimed throughout the empire that +the grateful Wey-t-song is about to bestow upon the kingdom-soothing +Prince Li-Kong the hand of his only daughter in marriage," said the +Emperor.</p> + +<p>But before the prince could thank the Emperor, the General Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon his knees before the throne, saying, "The humblest but most +devoted of thy servants would dare to claim the heavenly ears of his +most august prince."</p> + +<p>"If the barbarian-subduing general has aught to counsel let him open his +lips."</p> + +<p>"Then, truly, O dread Emperor, it must be at the risk of my life; for so +many moons has thy servant been engaged in defending the frontiers of +the empire against the Tartar barbarians, that he has lost the +submissive tones fitted to thy heavenly ears," said Woo-san-Kwei.</p> + +<p>"Let the general open his lips, for although his words may be more +warlike, they cannot be rebellious, like those of his noble parent."</p> + +<p>"The words of the noble Woo flowed from his heart, O prince, and were +approved by his son, who now, as in duty bound, would counsel his +sovereign, that, although the services of the rebel-exterminating +general have been great, his reward has been greater than his merits, +for does he not hold the golden seals of the highest military command? +As for the princess, she is the daughter of the empire, and too exalted +to be bestowed upon the noble Li-Kong. Remember O Emperor, it will be +the duty of the historians to record that the Emperor Wey-t-song, +instead of commanding, had been weak enough to purchase the services of +a powerful lord, tainted with treason, with the only daughter of his +house; setting aside the wise custom of his ancestors, who bestowed +their daughters upon tributary kings, whereby alliances were formed for +the prosperity of the empire," said the Prince Woo-san-Kwei; adding, "At +the risk of his life has thy servant spoken, O prince, for fear that thy +too great generosity may smear thy page in history."</p> + +<p>Scarcely dissembling his enmity, Li-Kong spoke, "Truly my sovereign is +too generous to permit the envy of his servant's enemies to have weight +in his dragon ears."</p> + +<p>"The kingdom-soothing general speaks well, for who is this turbulent +lord, and what the value of his services, that he dares be so +rebellious?" said the Emperor; adding, angrily, "Let the dog be +arrested;" when the young prince threw himself before the throne, and +said—</p> + +<p>"Let my illustrious parent not so far forget his royal dignity as to +vent his anger upon the honest Woo-san-Kwei, who has saved the kingdom +from the Tartars, and offered his counsel only by right of his high +rank. No, O my sovereign, rather let the hand of my dear sister be +withheld until the Prince Li has further proved his merits, by showing +to his Emperor that he has really performed those wonderful feats of +conquest which he now boasts, but all others deny."</p> + +<p>At this speech a half-suppressed murmur of approbation rang through the +hall, which brought a heavy frown upon the forehead of Wey-t-song. As, +however, he really feared a quarrel with either of these powerful +princes, he said, "Though young, the words of the Prince Yong-Li are +wise, for it is not fitting that our people should be feasting and +rejoicing at the marriage of our daughter, while it is not certain that +the rebels are subdued, and the Tartars upon the frontiers. It is, +therefore our will that our daughter's hand be withheld till entire +peace be restored."</p> + +<p>Then the whole court bowed to the ground three times in submission to +the imperial will, and the Emperor moved the sleeves of his robe, as a +token that the audience was at an end, when the chief of the eunuchs ran +quickly up the avenue formed by the court, till he reached about half +way, when he stood with his head erect and his arms by his side for a +minute, then having performed the usual prostrations, he ran to the foot +of the throne, where he threw himself upon his knees.</p> + +<p>"Is the slave mad, that he dares intrude in this our highest +council-chamber?" said the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"The life of the slave is in the hands of his master, yet must he +perform his duty. Treason is within the very walls, O my sovereign."</p> + +<p>At the word treason the blood of Tait-sou became weak as water, for the +royal face became livid with fear. He grasped his sabre, saying, "What +says the slave?"</p> + +<p>"Two boys, O dread sovereign, have been found within the prohibited +wall; one even within the sacred precincts of the imperial gardens."</p> + +<p>At the words two boys there was a half-suppressed titter, probably at +the little cause the Emperor had had to fear; but at the mention of the +garden of the inner palace, the aged Woo said, "Surely, O great +sovereign, the worthy eunuch has overstepped his duty; these young +slaves should have been handed over to the police tribunals."</p> + +<p>"The noble Woo is right," replied the Emperor. "What has the dog of a +eunuch to say for intruding in our presence with such matters?"</p> + +<p>"The will of the Emperor is the life-blood of the meanest of his slaves, +and but little else is that of the princess in whose presence one of the +dogs was found, and at whose command he is brought hither," replied the +trembling eunuch.</p> + +<p>"The profane slave!" muttered the surrounding mandarins, clutching the +hilts of their swords.</p> + +<p>"The will of our beloved daughter is law; let the audacious slave be +brought before us," said the Emperor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>AUDIENCE WITH THE SON OF HEAVEN.—NICHOLAS ACCUSES A GREAT PRINCE OF +TREASON.</h3> + + +<p>Nicholas was led into the hall between two inferior mandarins, and had +no sooner prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, than the Prince +Li-Kong said, "Surely the eyes of the Emperor of the earth are too holy +to be darkened by such mean dogs as this. Let the common executioner +deal with him, for there can be no doubt of his guilt."</p> + +<p>"Stop not the fountain of justice at its very source, O my sovereign, +for when was it that a good king refused to listen to the meanest of his +slaves?" said Woo; but before the Emperor could reply, one of the great +officers of the palace ran up to the steps of the throne, performed the +prostrations, and being commanded to speak,</p> + +<p>"The great and beautiful princess, thy daughter, begs an audience of her +illustrious father," said the officer.</p> + +<p>The Emperor having signified his assent, the princess, accompanied by +the Lady Candida, and both veiled, knelt before the Emperor, who, +lifting her from her kneeling position, said affectionately, "Truly my +daughter must have matter of weighty import upon her lips, thus to +break through the delicacy of her sex and rank."</p> + +<p>"Pardon, great prince, if thy daughter has forgotten what is due either +to her parent or her sex, but it is a common saying, 'that those who +forget favors conferred upon them are unfit to live,' and therefore thy +daughter would protect the life of one who saved her from a cruel +death," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"Has the safety of the pearl of my life been endangered?" said the +Emperor, trembling at the possibility of such a catastrophe, and placing +his hands upon her head; adding, "What words are these, my daughter, for +is not the empire crowded with those who would deem happiness if it were +to save their princess from danger."</p> + +<p>"Not one of whom could have saved her from the savage sin-fin, who, +having escaped from his cage, had seized her, when yonder bold youth +slew the beast."</p> + +<p>The Lady Candida then described the whole scene in the gardens to the +Emperor, who forgetful of the desecration of the place by the profane +feet of Nicholas, nay, of every thing but the escape of his beloved +child from a fearful death, commanded the release of Nicholas; but again +the general Li-Kong stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"It is true," said he, "that the beautiful and illustrious princess has +been saved from great peril, and the whole empire will rejoice; yet it +is a maxim, 'that the laws should be enforced even upon the imperial +kindred.' Moreover, my sovereign, in his generosity, forgets that the +cage of the beast could not have opened itself, and that the slave +merits death for being in the garden."</p> + +<p>"Though not generous, the words of the rebel-exterminating general are +just," replied the weak prince; adding, to Nicholas, sternly, "What says +the boy; what traitorous errand brought him within the sacred gardens of +our palace?"</p> + +<p>"The life of the slave belongs to the master. The personal safety of thy +servant, O great prince, was nothing when he desired to place in thy +hands a letter of the greatest moment, from one far greater than the +lords around thy throne."</p> + +<p>"These are wild words, O youth; for know you not that it was the duty of +our chief colao to receive thy letter?" said the Emperor, interrupting.</p> + +<p>"Mean as is thy servant, O prince, he knew that treason was within the +palace, and that the letter would never reach thy royal hands; +therefore, that it should not fail to do so, I sought the imperial +gardens with the daring hope of meeting thy royal daughter, knowing that +if my life were sacrificed, my mission would be fulfilled," said +Nicholas; adding, "Such has been the crime, and the criminal awaits his +punishment."</p> + +<p>"This letter," said the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"Is here, great prince," and Nicholas presented the document to +Wey-t-song, who tore open the seals, and for some minutes became lost in +the perusal of its contents, after which, to the surprise of the court, +he placed it beneath his vest, saying, "This letter must be for the +consideration of our inner council. Youth, thy honesty and loyalty are +beyond doubt, and we permit thee to name thy own reward."</p> + +<p>"Thy slave, O prince, would ask one so great, that the greatest of thy +tributaries would seek it upon his knees," was the reply, to the +astonishment of the lords, who expected it would be nothing less than +the hand of the princess. "No less, indeed, than a private audience," +added Nicholas, which, with a smile at this novel and modest request, +the Emperor granted.</p> + +<p>"May this not be a trap, O my prince, to beguile thy person within reach +of the assassin's dagger?" said the artful but baffled Li-Kong.</p> + +<p>"The dagger to be feared by thy sovereign, base prince, is beneath thine +own vest," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Dares the dog so far?" said the exasperated Li-Kong.</p> + +<p>"Forget not thy dignity, O noble Li," said Woo-san-Kwei, touching that +prince upon the shoulder, and adding, "Yet it is but just that such an +assertion, made in the very presence of the Emperor, should be +verified."</p> + +<p>The Emperor came to the rescue, saying, "Open thy lips, youth, for, well +as we think of thy honesty, thou hast uttered words against the noblest +of our yellow girdles, which as they are true or false merit reward or +punishment."</p> + +<p>Thus challenged Nicholas fell upon his knees, and related his adventure +at the palace of retirement, declaring that the two men were plotting +the dethronement of the Emperor, and that the chief of the two was the +Prince Li-Kong himself. At this bold and circumstantial accusation, the +young Prince Yong-Li and the great lords on the steps of the throne, +placed their hands upon their swords, and alternately glancing at +Li-Kong and Nicholas, awaited the command of the Emperor to seize either +accuser or accused. For an instant the lips of Li-Kong quivered with +fear or rage, but, recovering his equanimity, he gave a signal with his +hand, when a large body of military mandarins came around him, and fell +upon their knees before the Emperor, when Li said, "Are the services of +thy servant so soon forgotten, have the rebels been no sooner chastised, +and peace restored within the empire, that the exterminator and his +officers should be as mice before the words of this less than a dog? O +my sovereign! let these officers be questioned, and they will prove that +on the night of which the dog speaks, their general was engaged in +discovering a new conspiracy among the Fan-Kwi priests."</p> + +<p>"What words are these, O prince?" said the Emperor, whose alarm had been +artfully turned in another direction. "Have we not honored these +priests, even to making their chief the president of our high board of +mathematics?"</p> + +<p>"Yet such is the ingratitude of the barbarians, O my Emperor, that, in +league with the outer barbarians, they seek to overthrow the empire."</p> + +<p>"Let my guards instantly secure every villain priest within the walls of +the city," said the terrified Emperor.</p> + +<p>"Thy slaves have been diligent, and thy command anticipated, O Emperor; +the miserable chief of the mathematics and his brethren have been +carried before the three tribunals, their guilt proved, and most +mercifully adjudged to be strangled; the sentence but awaits the +vermilion pencil of the Emperor," said Li-Kong.</p> + +<p>"The judges have failed in the duties of their office by so mild a +sentence, for which let them all be degraded three degrees of rank, and +the priests be cut into ten thousand pieces," said the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"If the crime be proved, the sentence is light; if not, terrible must be +thy remorse, O my sovereign, for the learned father's services have been +great. Surely, then, thy wisdom alone should seek to discover the guilt +or innocence of this enormous culprit, or much-injured priest," said +Woo.</p> + +<p>"The words of the venerable Woo, O my royal father, are worthy of his +years and the imperial dignity; let not thy indignation rather than thy +justice adjudge this priest, but command that he be brought before +thee," said the young prince, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Thy words are but reasonable, my son; we will examine the Christian dog +ourselves," said the Emperor. When, at a signal, the aged missionary, +Adam Schaal, was brought before the throne, so laden with iron chains +that his form was bent to the shape of a bow; still, with his long white +hair and beard, and the unflinching, piercing blue eye of his German +race, he looked, as he was, a willing martyr for the cause of his +Saviour.</p> + +<p>At the sight of his old favorite thus humiliated, even the Emperor +melted with pity and doubt as to his guilt. "Can it be under heaven," +said he, "that so holy a body should contain so vile a heart? Have we +not protected and fostered thee and thy companions in the heart of our +empire, giving thee permission to build thy temples and even to convert +the people to thy religion; nay, moreover, raised thee to the first rank +among the learned? Canst thou answer, thou villainous old man?"</p> + +<p>"It is even these favors, O mighty Emperor, that have raised the envy of +the enemies of Christ, who, jealous of the success of thy servant's +cause, seek to destroy him, that they may triumph over his religion; and +if their malice should prevail, the Christian priest will die blessing +the great Emperor who enabled him to do so much good."</p> + +<p>"What says the accuser to these words?" said the Emperor, sternly, more +than half believing in the father's innocence.</p> + +<p>"Stand forth, O Hung," said Li-Kong; when a mandarin of the second +degree fell before the throne and held above his head some medals, a +book, and a chaplet of beads, saying, "Are not these proofs of the old +rogue's guilt?"</p> + +<p>"They are, O my sovereign, the mysterious symbols and secret marks used +by the initiated in the great conspiracy, which is now insidiously +spreading throughout the empire, and known to each other."</p> + +<p>"How! what dog's words are these, thou ignorant slave? Dost thou not +know that these are the symbols of the Lord of heaven's religion?" +replied the Emperor, who, at the beginning of his reign, having +befriended the missionaries, and made himself master of the mysteries +and symbols of their religion, was far beyond most of his nobles in +intelligence.</p> + +<p>"It is so alleged, O dread sovereign, by the villains, for their own +vile ends, and should it be even so, the Son of Heaven can not doubt +this proof of guilt," replied the mandarin, placing a letter in the +Emperor's hands.</p> + +<p>For some time there was a dread silence; when, however, the Emperor had +perused the document, his eye sparkled with rage, and he exclaimed, +"Truly the proof is overwhelming, and it is to the viceroy of Quang-Tung +the Emperor owes the discovery of this villainy. Bring hither the +petition of the criminal tribunal for the villain's execution. Moreover, +let it go forth through the earth that every Christian dog be +exterminated;" and the court having prostrated themselves three times in +token of obedience, one of the colaos presented the petition or sentence +to the Emperor, which as he was about to confirm, by affixing the +signature of the vermilion pencil, Nicholas threw himself at the foot of +the throne, crying at the risk of his life, "O great Emperor, thy slave +dares proclaim the extreme villainy of the great viceroy of Quang-Tung, +whose jealousy and envy of the favors his royal master has bestowed upon +the good father has caused him to seek his life."</p> + +<p>"Is the boy pirate mad that he dares so insolently presume upon his +small services, as to interrupt the course of justice?" exclaimed the +angry Emperor.</p> + +<p>Taking from his vest the letter his father had given him for Father +Adam, Nicholas said, boldly, "This letter, O great sovereign, thy +servant was commanded by his parent to place in the hands of the priest +Adam. Should it contain treason, the Emperor can punish on the spot, for +both the priest and the son of the writer are in his hands. Should it be +otherwise, his royal generosity will know how to reward."</p> + +<p>No less surprised than appeased by the boy's vehemence, Wey-t-song +commanded the censor Woo to proclaim aloud its contents, to which the +nobles, as they were friends or enemies of the priests of Christ, +listened with divided attention. The document was lengthy and tedious, +and directed by Chin-Chi-Loong, the merchant of the south, to his +illustrious teacher and religious parent, the Father Adam Schaal, +warning him that the viceroy of Quang-Tung, in conjunction with the +bonzes of the court, whom he had bribed at Pekin, had organized such a +scheme that it could not fail to appear clear that the Christian priests +in China were at the head of a conspiracy to dethrone the Emperor, at +whose feet he advised the Father Adam immediately to prostrate himself +and demand an investigation, promising speedily to send proofs of the +viceroy's villainy to Pekin.</p> + +<p>"The wickedness of this viceroy must be great, O my sovereign," said +Woo, when he had concluded.</p> + +<p>"Truly the great father of the empire will not believe the miserable +charge of a wretched pirate against one of his highest officers," said +Li-Kong savagely; but making an angry motion to the prince for silence, +the Emperor said, "What says the priest?"</p> + +<p>"Truth, O great sovereign, is deeply emeshed in falsehood, that time +alone can unravel; yet, had that letter reached thy servant's hands, his +imperial master would have been saved an act of injustice; of, not +receiving the great merchant's warning, the cruel viceroy succeeded, the +storm of persecution burst over Hang-tcheou-fou, the churches of Christ +were destroyed, and their priests loaded with chains whipped, tortured +upon the rack, and otherwise degraded, it being only by the providence +of the Almighty that thy servant was enabled to escape and reach Pekin +in safety—where, alas! the persecution followed, and burst out with +redoubled fury; thy servant, the head of his Church, being the first to +feel and glory that he was the first to suffer for the cause of Christ."</p> + +<p>"Can these words be true, O Woo? Has such villainy taken place in the +land?" said the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"Such things, O great prince, have been done in thy holy name by roguish +ministers, who (<i>may I be pardoned for my boldness</i>) have taken +advantage of the luxurious retirement of their Emperor to serve their +own vile ends," replied Woo.</p> + +<p>"Then be it the care of the upright censor to see that these miserable +mandarins, who have so traitorously brought their Emperor's name into +contempt and hatred, be exterminated with their whole families," said +Wey-t-song, who was as impulsive for good as for bad.</p> + +<p>"Surely my great father may be upon the brink of great injustice; he +may be sacrificing the lives of many devoted servants. It would be but +justice that accusers and accused should be confined till the matter is +sifted, and the truth discovered," said the young prince.</p> + +<p>"The prince, our heir, has wisdom beyond his years; his words are good, +and shall be followed," said the Emperor. At which there was an +indecorous murmur of satisfaction, which was, however, instantly +suppressed by the Emperor making the signal with his sleeves, that the +audience was at an end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS UNVEILS A REBEL CHIEF, AND OBTAINS A TITLE.</h3> + + +<p>When Nicholas arose the following morning, his first care was for the +safety of Chow, whom he discovered to be still in the custody of the +criminal tribunal, where by the laws, he would be kept till the will of +the chief colao became known. Feeling, however, satisfied that the boy +would meet with no harm, now that he himself was in such high favor, he +prepared for the promised private audience; and scarcely had he donned +the state habiliments, which had been supplied to him by the +chamberlain, than he received the imperial summons, and having been +conducted through a series of large courts, he was shown into the +innermost apartment of the palace, where in deep thought over a letter, +sat the Emperor; upon the left (the place of honor) stood the young +prince; upon his right, the aged Woo.</p> + +<p>Having complied with the court etiquette by running quickly up the +apartment, throwing himself on his knees, and performing the kow-tow, +the Emperor commanded him to arise, and, placing his hand upon the +letter, said, "The noble youth, then, is the son of the daring writer of +these terrible characters, which declare most boldly that the noblest +of our generals and relations is a traitor and rebel."</p> + +<p>"The life of thy servant, O great prince, is at the will of his +sovereign if those characters are not as truthful as the sacred books +themselves," replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"We dare not doubt them, youth, if these other characters are not forged +by some villain," said the Emperor, placing a letter in the hands of +Woo; adding, "Let the venerable Woo, who knoweth all things, declare the +pencil that portrayed them."</p> + +<p>Falling upon his knees and taking the letter, the aged man said, "Truly, +O prince, these characters are from the hand of the General Li-Kong, +whose treason is indeed stupendous, for he offers the supreme command of +the four seas, and the sovereignty of the barbarous island of Formosa, +to the merchant pirate, providing that sea chief will, with his +multitudinous ships and great wealth, aid him (may the sound of the +words not deprive me of reason) in subverting the dynasty of his holy +Emperor. The crime, O my sovereign, is too huge to be conceived, and its +author should be hewn into ten thousand pieces. Yet the eyes, nay, the +very reason of thy aged servant, may be failing him, therefore it +behoves us to have greater proof that these characters are not forged; +for, though great is the cunning of villainy, surely so great a crime +cannot exist beneath heaven."</p> + +<p>"The words of the aged noble are magnanimous, for surely the Prince +Li-Kong is the enemy of him and his; yet, though magnanimity is taught +by the sacred books, it must not endanger the life of our great +sovereign and father," said the Prince Yong-Li; adding, "Surely Li-Kong +is famous for his vileness; his character is known to us all, yet if +greater proof be wanting, let it be sought from the lips of this noble +youth, whose life will be the penalty of so false an accusation."</p> + +<p>"It would ill become so mean a person to traduce so great a general as +the Prince Li-Kong, yet the safety of his sovereign must unseal his +lips. Know, then, dread Emperor, that the General Li-Kong is at this +very moment plotting thy ruin," said Nicholas, who then gave in detail +the conversation he had heard at the palace of retirement, which the +Emperor had no sooner heard than he said hastily, "Convey our command, O +noble Woo, to the general thy son, to search for this traitor, and bring +him in chains before us."</p> + +<p>"Thy servant is unfortunate, for this is not possible, my sovereign. The +brave Woo-san-Kwei, knowing his duty too well to remain in idleness at +Pekin, while the Tartar-barbarians were harassing his army like hungry +wolves,—truly the body was of little use without the head,—departed +for his command after the council yesterday," replied Woo.</p> + +<p>"How!" said the Emperor passionately; "dared the general take his +departure without an audience of leave."</p> + +<p>"Let not thy wrath, O great sovereign fall upon the head of thy faithful +servant, who presumed so far because his Emperor has, of late, foregone +the salutary ceremonies laid down by his ancestors," said the aged +minister.</p> + +<p>Angry at this rebuke yet feeling its truthfulness, the weak prince +despairingly threw himself backward in his chair, when the young prince +said "Surely the throne should be defended by its heir. Thy son, O my +Emperor and parent, will depart with the guards of the palace and bring +this arch-traitor to his father's feet;" and not receiving a denial, the +prince respectfully took his leave, when, having recovered his +equanimity, the Emperor again took up Chin-Chi-Loong's letter.</p> + +<p>"Truly, boy," said his majesty, "this daring pirate, thy father, knows +more than the Emperor or his ministers. How know we that he is not as +great a traitor as the prince he denounces, for surely by commerce alone +he could not have obtained this wealth of ships, men, and money, which, +like a king, he so insolently offers to his sovereign and master?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, O great Emperor, if my illustrious parent were a traitor, he +would not have placed the life of his only son, thy mean servant, in so +great a danger," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The words of the youth, O prince, are as true as his deeds are brave," +said Woo; adding, "Let then thy slave pray that the sunshine of the +Emperor's favor may fall upon his race; for, fearing that the intentions +of this great merchant were treasonous, I have long caused his actions +to be watched and his ships to be harassed by the sea mandarins; but +indeed with little use, for the noble Chin-Chi-Loong overcame them all, +to the disgrace of the board of arms of thy empire.</p> + +<p>"How! did the slave pirate dare to overcome our sea tigers?" said the +Emperor in a rage.</p> + +<p>"He has presumed, O prince to chastise traitors who wielded thy royal +commission but for their own purposes, which, if a crime, he now offers +to amend by sending his only son to beg that he may receive an order, +signed by the vermilion pencil, to command that great fleet in his +sovereign's name alone. The powerful pirate, for whose head the +Emperor's ministers have offered great rewards, now places himself and +his fortune at the disposal of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>So great an offer having restored the Emperor to a better humor, he +said, "It is a presumptuous request, yet loyal, if this bold man can +give us a guarantee that he intends not playing us false."</p> + +<p>"That guarantee is the life of thy servant, his only son, O my prince," +replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"These words are good and loyal, O my Emperor; for surely if this bold +merchant hath sought wealth and power for his descendants, lo! he places +his heir in thy hands," said Woo.</p> + +<p>"The words of the aged Woo are wise and far-seeing. We grant this bold +man's petition, and should he help us to root out from the land this +growing rebellion we will secure to him the island promised by the +villain Li-Kong. As for thyself, brave youth, to whom we are so greatly +indebted, we grant thee the title of Princess-defending Tiger of War, +and appoint thee to a command in the guards of the palace; and, +moreover, will keep thee in our favor, of which this shall be a token," +said the Emperor, taking from his girdle an embroidered purse, and +handing it to Nicholas, who fell reverently upon his knees and held his +hands above his head to receive the present.</p> + +<p>At that moment the Prince Yong-Li entered, threw himself at the foot of +the throne, and said, "Thy son, O my sovereign, is deserving of +punishment, for the traitor has escaped."</p> + +<p>"Escaped!" repeated the Emperor, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Truly so, my father; no sooner did the council of yesterday disperse, +than, fearing the discovery of his guilt, he assembled his officers and +guards and quitted the city."</p> + +<p>"Let the fleetest of our horsemen follow immediately," added the +Emperor.</p> + +<p>"It would be in vain, my father, for ere they can overtake him the +traitor will be in the midst of his own troops and province," replied +the prince.</p> + +<p>"It would be wise to have the gates closely guarded and the defences of +the city examined," said Woo.</p> + +<p>"The villain dares not carry his treason so far as to invade our +capital," replied Wey-t-song.</p> + +<p>"Let not the generous nature of my prince carry him too far, for by +insidious arts and treacherous gifts this Li-Kong has gained the hearts +of the people of the provinces, and is vile enough to attempt the +greatest of crimes," said the minister.</p> + +<p>"By the tombs of our ancestors, the venerable noble is wise, and we +should be prepared for the vilest of crimes. Let the barbarian-subduing +General Woo-san-Kwei and his army be recalled from Leao-tong."</p> + +<p>"And so exchange a small traitor for the Tartar king, who, though a +barbarian, is brave and powerful; rather let my royal father call around +him in council the doctors of war and the ablest of his generals, who +from the military books will doubtless find sure means of defending the +city," said the prince; adding, "Then, O my sovereign parent, let the +army be assembled, and permit thy son and this noble youth to meet the +rebel on his way. Let this be so, my Emperor, and thy son will bring the +traitor's head to thy feet, or be himself brought there upon his own +shield."</p> + +<p>"Thy heart is brave, but thy years too few, O my son, for so great a +trust," replied the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"At my years the illustrious Tait-sou, the founder of our race, planted +the first seeds of his glory in the field," said the young prince, +warmly.</p> + +<p>"The royal prince, thy chosen heir, is both wise and brave, my +sovereign, for his name and rank will be a banner, around which the +loyal will flock as plentifully as locusts, while his youth and bravery +will shame the rebels into submission," said the censor.</p> + +<p>"The counsel of the venerable Woo is bold," said the Emperor; adding, +"After the council of war my son shall seek to emulate the bravery of +his ancestors."</p> + +<p>"The tongue of thy son is too feeble to speak his thanks, my sovereign," +exclaimed the impetuous prince, falling upon his knees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS AND THE PRINCE HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND SAVE THE LIFE OF CHOW.</h3> + + +<p>The morning after the audience Nicholas wrote to his father a detailed +account of his adventures, and the disgrace and danger of the great +Christian father, who, he assured him, would be destroyed, if proofs of +his innocence were not speedily produced. When he had placed the letter +in the hands of the flying-horse, or court messenger, who was about to +start with the imperial cang-ho, he went in search of Chow, and, to his +surprise, found the boy had been released under an order signed by +Li-Kong, immediately before his abrupt departure. This, however, but +puzzled him the more, for surely had the boy been released he would have +sought out his master and friend. Then he began to fear that Chow had +been decoyed away by some of the many designing traitors he more than +suspected to be hovering about the palace, for the purpose of finding +from the servant the history of the master. He sat for some time +pondering what to do, and at length resolved upon searching through the +whole city. With this determination he arose to depart, when he heard +the trampling of footsteps, and the chief officer of the imperial prince +entered the apartment, followed by four men, carrying a litter, which +they placed upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"The son of the great Emperor (may he live ten thousand years) sends the +noble youth a royal robe, and arms, in token of his amity and +brotherhood," said the officer, bowing to the ground.</p> + +<p>At the name of the prince, Nicholas performed the ko-tow, and ordered an +incense table to be brought, that he might receive the royal message +with befitting respect. The officer, however, added, "Further, O noble +stranger, that all men may know his gratitude for the safety of his +beloved sister, the great prince commands that the ceremony of the +incense may be dispensed with, for the son of the Son of Heaven holds +the noble youth as his brother in love as well as arms. Moreover, that +he may prove his sincerity, the prince will wave his illustrious rank +and visit the preserver of the princess his sister." So saying the +eunuch withdrew.</p> + +<p>The present consisted of a complete military equipment befitting his new +rank:—the war cap or helmet, a robe, embossed with plates of gold, both +for ornament and protection, boots of rich costly leather, sword, +shield, bow, and quiver of arrows, each of which bore the imperial +crest, the five-clawed dragon. Delighted more with the gift than its +costliness, Nicholas did not stay to examine the present, for fear the +prince might speedily arrive; and he was right, for he had scarcely +finished attiring himself in his new uniform before Yong-Li, +unannounced, entered the room.</p> + +<p>In an instant Nicholas threw himself at his feet, and began to pour +forth his gratitude, but, taking his hand, the prince said, "Arise, +these are not times for ceremonies between brothers, banded together in +so holy a cause; the sacred books themselves intended them alone for +times of peace and luxury."</p> + +<p>"May those times soon return, O my prince," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"May my brother's wish be realised; but to obtain peace we must earn it +by the sword," replied the prince; adding, gloomily, "I come from the +board of generals and doctors of war."</p> + +<p>"Upon what has their wisdom determined, O prince?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—they are dogs, traitors all; each general of a section +declared the walls to be impassable by an enemy, and that the troops +were numerous, well exercised, and prepared for a sudden attack," said +the prince.</p> + +<p>"These are the words of indolent cowards or designing traitors, but your +royal father the Emperor——"</p> + +<p>"Was present," said the prince; "but, alas! so loves his ease and the +counsel of his bonzes, that he gave a ready ear to their reports, nay, +promoted them all one step for their vigilance."</p> + +<p>"Surely my prince lifted his voice in council?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"My brother, yes; but it was as the sound of a zephyr amidst the +roarings of a hurricane; that of a youth among the aged and did but +cause his majesty to forbid my seeking the rebel Li-Kong in the field."</p> + +<p>"Then, my prince, our farther-seeing eye balls must be used for the +benefit of the blind," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Thus it is that I seek thy companionship in a journey round the walls, +when, if I find them as I expect, woe be to the indolent cowards who +dare deceive their Emperor," said the prince.</p> + +<p>Nicholas then followed them to the courtyard, where they found awaiting +them a squadron of the body guard with two richly caparisoned horses, +one of which Yong-Li presented to Nicholas, and they proceeded upon +their journey amidst the lavish adorations of thousands, who bowed to +the earth as they rode through the streets.</p> + +<p>"If my prince would truly see the manner in which the officers and +soldiers perform their duties, would it not be wise for him to proceed +in a chair and with the attendants only of a mandarin of the third +order?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Thy words are good," replied the prince, ordering the soldiers to stop +at the house of a mandarin, who, having formerly been his military +tutor, he knew would keep his rank concealed. Shortly afterward they +were met by some soldiers who were conveying several malefactors to the +place of execution. Seeing the prince, the soldiers and prisoners knelt +with their faces to the ground till he had passed. No sooner, however, +had he passed the unhappy men than the son of the Emperor, with tears in +his eyes, said, "How unhappy is the lot of a prince, to witness such a +sight as that!"</p> + +<p>"Surely, my prince, the rogues deserve their punishment, the law awards, +and the safety of the state demands it," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Truly, I weep not, my brother, at the punishment of these men, for +without rewards and punishments the good are not encouraged, and the +wicked are not restrained; moreover, chastisement is as necessary to the +government of a kingdom, as bread is for the sustenance of the people. +But I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old when the +virtues of the prince served as a bridle to the people, and his example +was sufficient to restrain the vices of his subjects without other +chastisement."</p> + +<p>The warlike nature and education of Nicholas not permitting him to +sympathize with the kind-hearted Yong-Li, he maintained a respectful +silence, not however, without a fear for the fate of a prince whose +amiable nature was so unfitted for such turbulent times. When they +reached the house of the mandarin, the prince dismissed his guard, and, +having borrowed from that officer his robe, cap, and chair of state, and +a garment of plain green silk for Nicholas, the two youths entered the +chair and proceeded on their journey with the usual attendants, one of +whom went before, as a kind of <i>avant-garde</i>, and with a whip to beat +them a passage through the crowded streets. At the first guard-house the +prince stepped out of the sedan, made himself known to the sentries, and +passed in; when, instead of finding the troops engaged in exercising, +or in any of the many games permitted by the board of war, some were +gambling, some goading crickets with their chopsticks till the insects +killed each other, some were singing profane songs, and disporting in +the most riotous and unseemly manner, while many who had been drinking +deeply, and still held the spirit cups in their hands were reeling about +the pavement, but most remarkable of all, no officers except those of +the most subordinate grade were to be seen.</p> + +<p>"These, then, are the vile dogs to whom the defence of the Imperial City +is entrusted. These are the rogues whom the traitor generals commended," +said the prince, indignantly; adding, "Truly the royal house is punished +for its sins, for this looketh indeed like the decadence of a dynasty."</p> + +<p>"These are but the hands, O my prince for whose acts the heads must be +made accountable," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless the dogs shall be punished, my brother; but let us +return," said the prince, going to the gate, where the sentry, +recognizing the prince, fell at his feet. "Rise, dog, and as thou +wouldst save thy miserable head, say who is the general of this +section," said Yong-Li.</p> + +<p>"The noble Leang, O Grandson of Heaven," replied the trembling soldier.</p> + +<p>"Cans't thou be honest and silent as to my visit?"</p> + +<p>"Both, as thy slave values his miserable life," replied the soldier.</p> + +<p>"I will trust thee, man, and if I find you so, only till the rising of +to-morrow's sun, thou shalt be promoted," said the prince; adding, "This +rogue Leang must be degraded, and thou, O noble Nicholas, take his +command." Thus they visited some half-dozen of the chief and most +important points of the fortified walls with similar results. With the +works themselves he was satisfied, as was also Nicholas, who, young as +he was, had often examined the fortifications of the southern province; +and, indeed, the whole line of coast between Siam and Japan.</p> + +<p>"Nought, my prince, but the treachery of the defenders, or the +death-dealing cannon of the red-haired barbarians from the West, could +effect an entrance into the city," said he.</p> + +<p>"Has my brave brother then seen in use those terrible instruments of war +that can crumble the strongest towers of stone to the dust, from beyond +the reach of bow-shot?" said the prince.</p> + +<p>"Such has been thy servant's fortune, O my prince; it could not be +otherwise, for they are used on board the war-ships of my noble father."</p> + +<p>"By the tombs of my ancestors, thou art a bold boy," replied the prince; +adding, with vehemence,</p> + +<p>"As I hope to continue the circle of succession, I would forfeit ten +years of life to be in possession of a few, that we might sweep these +rebels and Tartars from the face of the earth."</p> + +<p>At that moment there arose a great clamor of voices, and, looking out of +the chair, the prince saw a great crowd assembled upon one of the canal +bridges, when, having ordered the attendant with the whip to beat a +passage through the people, they witnessed the following extraordinary +sight:—</p> + +<p>Upon a high platform, near the edge of the bridge, stood a large tub, +the top of which was covered with some flimsy material, like silk or +cotton, through which something, that in the distance bore a resemblance +to a human head, bobbed up and down like a jack-in-the-box. Upon the +platform, around the tub, stood six priests.</p> + +<p>"How lowly must the dynasty of the great Tait-sou have fallen, that +these miserable bonzes are permitted thus shamefully to extort money +from the people," said the prince.</p> + +<p>"If thy servant's eyeballs play him not false, O my prince, yonder +priests are preparing to sacrifice a human life to their wretched gods," +said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Not waiting to hear more, the prince leaped from the chair, and, +followed by Nicholas forced a way through the crowd till they reached +the platform.</p> + +<p>All, however, that could be seen of the victim was the forehead, nose, +and eyes; the latter rolled so convulsively and glared so terribly, +that, notwithstanding the crowd, Nicholas would have attempted a rescue, +had not the prince caught hold of his arm, saying, "Stay, my brother, it +is the duty of a prince to see justice done;" then addressing the chief +bonze, he said, "What crime can this man have committed, O miserable +priest, that he should be thus tortured without the presence of the +officers of the tribunal of justice?"</p> + +<p>"Great has been his crime, O noble youth, and self sought his +punishment," replied the bonze, taken aback by the bold tone of the +prince; adding, as he pointed to the head, which bobbed suddenly as he +spoke, "He admits my words."</p> + +<p>"Open thy lips to the purpose, priest, and as you value your wretched +life, let us hear his crime," replied the indignant prince.</p> + +<p>"The youth must be a stranger to the capital, indeed, if he has not +heard the order of the Son of Heaven, which commands that the villain +Christians, who have taken advantage of the great Emperor's kindness to +raise and nourish a rebellion throughout the land, should be destroyed."</p> + +<p>"Such an order has reached thy servant's ears," said the prince, bowing +lowly at the name of his father.</p> + +<p>"Know, then, that this wretch was long the slave and follower of one of +these Christian dogs—see, he admits it, (and the head bobbed up again;) +but, fortunately, the gods changing his heart in time, sent him to our +pagoda repentantly declaring his villainy and demanding his punishment +(here the head gave another bob of acquiescence) from the priests of Fo, +who, consulting the gods, obtained permission for him to choose his own +chastisement: his choice was to leap from this platform into the canal."</p> + +<p>"But the canal is deep, and the man will drown, priest," said the +prince, sternly.</p> + +<p>"Surely the youth is strangely ignorant that such a feat is a happiness +thousands would willingly seek. We have but given him the preference but +for his zeal and virtue. (Here the head again gave an acquiescent bob.) +Again, at the bottom of the canal he will be met by charitable spirits, +who will not only welcome him with honor, but conduct him to the yellow +stream." So saying, the bonzes commenced preparations for the final act +of the tragedy.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, unable any longer to restrain his rage, drew his +sword, exclaiming, "Desist, thou murdering rogue; release thy victim +immediately."</p> + +<p>This violence to their priests so aroused the anger of the pagan crowd, +that they would probably have torn Yong-Li to pieces, but for Nicholas, +who, beating them backward, cried, "Back, slaves! would you molest the +son of your Emperor, the good prince Yong-Li?" and the terrified slaves +instantly fell upon their faces. The bonze, though no less dismayed at +the presence of the prince, was quicker witted, and said, "Surely the +magnificent son of the Son of Heaven would not arrest the flight of a +happy soul, impatient to be on its way to the yellow stream."</p> + +<p>"Let the miserable wretch speak for himself," said the prince.</p> + +<p>"He dares not so anger the gods, who would not only condemn him, but +destroy the whole city in their wrath," replied the bonze, giving a sly +signal to his brethren to surround the tub, in the event of a rescue +being attempted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>Chow in the hands of the Bonzes.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Nevertheless, the wretch shall be saved," said the prince; adding, +aloud, "Let the deluded rascal open his lips, or he shall be left to his +fate."</p> + +<p>At this, the head gave another and stronger jerk upward, but without +rising further through the silk, and the eyes rolled and glared more +terribly than ever. At which the bonze said, "Cannot the heavenly eyes +of the great prince see that the poor creature is suffering from such +violent language? See, he is almost distracted and will assuredly expire +with grief at so much profanity."</p> + +<p>"This is some foul trick, my prince," said Nicholas, who leaped upon the +platform so quickly, that, striking one of the priests, he fell against +four others, and all were sent flying into the midst of the crowd, who, +in their turn, began to pummel them severely for falling so heavily upon +their heads and shoulders.</p> + +<p>Once upon the platform, Nicholas lost no time in cutting asunder the +silk covering of the tub, when, lo! the victim shot up with the rapidity +of a rocket, dragging with him, by the hair of his head, a small bonze, +in whose hand was the dagger which he had been from time to time +plunging into the victim's calves in order to make him utter the +responses.</p> + +<p>But what was the surprise of the prince when the hands of the intended +victim were unbound and the gag removed from his mouth, to see him fall +at the feet of Nicholas, clasp his legs, and exclaim, "My noble, noble, +master, this is indeed a joyful meeting. Nought but the God of the +Christians could have saved Chow's life."</p> + +<p>The wretched face, the bleeding legs of the poor boy, so filled the +heart of Nicholas with indignation and sorrow, that while tears fell +down his cheeks, all he could say was, "My poor, poor friend Chow, this +is indeed a fortunate day."</p> + +<p>"Then the sacrifice was not thine own seeking, my poor fellow?" said the +prince.</p> + +<p>"My own seeking, O mighty son of Ming? Look at thy slave's legs, which +the rascals have punctured into lace-work. Surely, had Chow sought the +yellow stream, he would have chosen to go in a perfect and decent +manner." Then the boy would have fallen, but for Nicholas, who held him +in his arms, when he said, "I demand justice on the rogues, O great +prince, for I am the servant of the noble Nicholas, thy friend, and was +with him a prisoner in the Palace Royal, till the night of the audience, +when a eunuch came to me and said the Emperor had signified his gracious +wish that poor Chow was to be chopped into ten thousand pieces, but that +a great lord taking compassion on me would save my life, and give me +great promotion, if I would watch and note down the words and actions of +my noble master."</p> + +<p>"Didst thou hear the name, surname, and title of the villain lord, O +Chow?" said the prince.</p> + +<p>"Thy slave was not so fortunate, great prince."</p> + +<p>"What answer didst thou make, O Chow?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"That they might not only cut thy servant into as many pieces as they +chose, but never bury them in the tombs of his ancestors, before he +would comply. Whereupon, they gave poor Chow over to these rascal +bonzes, who intended to torture him with a dagger in that tub, till +agony caused him to leap into the canal."</p> + +<p>"Sad must have been thy sufferings, my poor Chow," said the prince; who +then ordered his attendants to convey the boy to the palace, in order +that the imperial doctors might attend him. Then sending for a body of +yah-yu, he ordered them to take the bonze and his assistants to the +great prison, to await a trial; after which they returned to the palace.</p> + +<p>"Thanks be to Tien, my brother, we have saved thy friend from those vile +bonzes," said the prince.</p> + +<p>"Would O prince, that we could as easily save the servants of the true +God of heaven from their villainies," replied Nicholas, thinking of the +sufferings of the Christian fathers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS RECEIVES AN IMPORTANT COMMAND.</h3> + + +<p>On the day following the visit of the prince to the military stations, a +change was made among the officers. Some were bambooed, some +reprimanded, and others sent into confinement. The post of Leang, who +held the command of five hundred men under the General Kin, being given +to Nicholas, he took Chow with him as a kind of sub-officer, and as the +wounds of the latter fortunately proved to be only in the flesh, he soon +became well enough to caper with delight at the chance his new position +might give him of meeting the slayer of his father.</p> + +<p>For some time Nicholas had little else to do but keep his men at their +posts, and exercise them in the use of the matchlock, which, although +the Chinese then knew so little about it, that the rebound of the stock +did as much mischief to the owner as the barrel did to his enemies, he +had long practised on board his father's ships. Then, again, he would +exercise them in sword, and bow and arrow practice, and the use of their +shields.</p> + +<p>Such was his employment till intelligence arrived that the rebel Li-Kong +was on his march to besiege Pekin with a large army, when, seeking an +audience of the Emperor, he threw himself at the foot of the throne, +and prayed to be sent with a party of flying horse to make observations, +and drive the people of the neighboring towns and villages into the +capital for protection. His zeal, however, was useless; for, placing his +whole faith in the bonzes and intriguing nobles around him, who laughed +to scorn the idea of so improbable an event as the invasion of so great +a capital by a mere rebel, Wey-t-song angrily commanded Nicholas to keep +to his posts upon the walls, where he remained, till wearied with +inaction he longed to return to his father's fleet. Wait a little +Nicholas, and there will be action enough.</p> + +<p>More than once during the reign of Wey-t-song had famine stalked through +the land, but then he had struggled to stem the torrent by opening his +purse and granaries. Now, however, that nature withheld her ordinary +supplies, a rebel army crowded the approaches to the capital, so that +provision could not be brought in, and the dearth of food grew so great, +that a pound of rice could not be purchased for less than its weight in +silver, and the flesh of horses, rats, dogs, cats, and mice had become +so rare, that even rotten skins were bought for human food. The Emperor +wickedly kept close within the luxurious apartments of his inner palace, +caring but little for the starving people, so that he and the great +mandarins could revel in their luxurious ease and pleasures.</p> + +<p>Now, as indolence will spread as fast as nettles, the officers of the +army, instead of attending to their duties, spend the greater part of +their night-watches in gambling and drinking so hard, that had the +enemy come upon them suddenly they must have surrendered. Yet the +imperial troops were so numerous and the defences so strong, that with +anything like a good show of fighting the rebels could have been beaten +back, if not indeed entirely destroyed. As, however, these officers must +have been fully aware of all this, it is only reasonable to suppose they +were playing another little game of their own, that we shall soon see.</p> + +<p>Thus weeks passed away, without more than mere rumors of the movements +of the rebel Li-Kong, who, it was said, was fast approaching the +capital, and sacking towns or destroying the people on his march. There +one day came a number of men to the eastern gate, reporting themselves +to be fugitives, who had been driven to seek protection in the capital +from Li, who was on his march by the eastern suburbs; and as also they +brought the joyful intelligence that a vast quantity of rice was on the +road from the southern provinces, under the charge of a body of +merchants, who had managed to evade the rebels by taking a different +route, they were received with open arms and treated handsomely.</p> + +<p>Then, as the General Kin feared that the starving people would set upon +the wagons as they entered the city, he came out on the day of their +arrival with a large body of soldiers to escort the food to the +storehouse, where it could be fairly distributed. But so eager was the +general to secure the grain from a sudden rush of the hungry people, +that he encompassed the procession with his troops so perfectly, that +neither wagons nor the fugitive tradesmen who accompanied them could be +seen by the crowd. Moreover Kin kept close the wagons till they were +safe within the fore-court of the storehouses. After performing his +duty, the general astonished Nicholas by carrying his indefatigability +so far as to personally inspect the walls, post the sentries, and +examine the flints of their matchlocks, all of which was very puzzling, +for not only was there no enemy to be seen, but the deserters and +fugitives reported that the attack, if made at all, would be upon the +opposite walls of the city, whither, in fact, Kin had sent already a +great part of the soldiers who had hitherto been posted upon that side.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE REBELS ATTACK PEKIN.—TREACHERY OF A GENERAL, AND THE FIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>It was the middle of the third watch; Nicholas was dreaming of the rebel +Li-Kong, the Emperor, the princess, the soldiers, and his father's +fleet. A sudden grip upon his arm made him set bolt upright upon his +sleeping mat, and there stood Chow, in a state of great excitement, +holding in his arms his master's habiliments and accoutrements, as if +the place had been on fire, or he had suddenly turned thief, and was +about commencing business upon his master's clothes.</p> + +<p>"Awake, O my master, we are caught like rats in a trap; the rebels are +upon us!"</p> + +<p>"What words are these, Chow?" said Nicholas, leaping off the mat, taking +the clothes and attiring himself.</p> + +<p>"The General Kin means harm; let us escape, my master;" and Chow pointed +to the open window.</p> + +<p>"Thou art a coward, Chow, draw thy sword, and follow," said Nicholas, +rushing with his own weapon in his hand to the walls, where, to his +dismay, he found the sentries helplessly intoxicated and lying in all +directions; but worse, there, against the walls, leaned a ladder, by +which means a body of troops were about to ascend.</p> + +<p>"Softly, Chow," said Nicholas; and like cats they crept toward the +ladder upon their knees. Another minute, and a soldier stood upon the +uppermost round with a lighted torch in his hand.</p> + +<p>"See, the rat makes a signal that all is right," said Nicholas, and in +another instant a blow from his fist sent the torch-bearer spinning +through the air over the heads of his fellows; then with a yell of rage +the man's next comrade jumped upon the parapet, and being received with +a violent blow in the stomach from Chow's fist, followed his companion +in arms. Another made the same attempt, but picking up the torch which +had fallen upon the ramparts, Chow dashed the burning brand in his face, +when with a wild howl of pain, the soldier fell backward, sweeping the +scaling party off the ladder as clean as if he had been a thirty-two +pound cannon ball. Then, making the most of their advantage, the boys +caught hold of the ladder and threw it over upon the discomfited rebels, +who lay sprawling at the foot of the walls.</p> + +<p>Then, holding the torch above his head, as a signal for assistance, +Nicholas indeed saw that treachery was in high quarters, for the whole +line of walls appeared to be deserted. As for Chow, he had no sooner +succeeded in arousing the men from their stupor, and placed some at the +great guns, and others along the walls, so that another scaling party +would come within range of their matchlocks, than, perceiving a body of +the enemy moving to the front he pointed one of the cannons and applied +the torch to the touch-hole; a flash—a roar followed; but the only +effect it had upon the rebels was to cause them to send forth loud +shouts of exultation. Well they might exult, for the guns were harmless.</p> + +<p>"The villain Kin has had the balls withdrawn," exclaimed Chow.</p> + +<p>"Our matchlocks are useless, they have been robbed of their flints," +said the soldiers, who had attempted to fire them at the same time as +Chow had fired the cannon.</p> + +<p>"Then back, and brain the dogs with them as they mount the walls," said +Nicholas, as the enemy was about attempting another escalade; adding, +"Haste thee, O Chow, to the Prince Yong-Li, and pray of him to send +assistance to his brother, who dares not quit his post with life;" when, +as without a word Chow disappeared from the rampart, Nicholas snatched +up a matchlock, and so placed himself and men beneath the breastwork +that the arrows might pass over their heads, and many were the sealers +who reached the uppermost round of the ladder to be dashed headlong +among their comrades by the brave youth and his little band; and so they +would have held out for some time, but for a shower of bullets from the +matchlocks of a body of soldiers who made their appearance upon the +walls, headed by the General Kin himself.</p> + +<p>"Seize the dog!" said the traitor, pointing to Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Thou great rogue,"—before, however, Nicholas could say more he was +gagged, his arms bound with cords, and taken by the soldiers to his own +room, amid the shoutings of the rebels, who now seemed to be entering +the city from all sides.</p> + +<p>But why had they not killed him at once? for what reason had they +brought him there?</p> + +<p>He was not left long in suspense, for no sooner had Kin secured the +entrance of his brother rebels into the city than he entered the room, +and first examining the cords that bound the boy's arms, to see that +there was no possibility of his getting free, he ordered the soldiers +from the room, and said, merrily, "The young war tiger is brave, but he +is no match for the fire-eater Kin."</p> + +<p>"Let the dog without a heart unbind the arms of his prisoner, and he +shall discover," was the fierce reply.</p> + +<p>"What shall thy servant discover, O brave youth?"</p> + +<p>"His villain body hurled out of the window."</p> + +<p>"Knows not the youth that I can slay him as if he were a venomous rat?"</p> + +<p>"Do this, and I will thank thee for not letting me outlive such hateful +treason, thou villain."</p> + +<p>"But the youth is young, brave, and should live in honor and high +promotion."</p> + +<p>"He would be more honored in dying for his Emperor."</p> + +<p>"That Emperor is the chosen of Tien, the great Li-Kong, who would have +the young war tiger live to serve him."</p> + +<p>"These are snake's words, the rogue Li-Kong is as false as his coward +slave Kin, who fears to trust himself with an unbound youth."</p> + +<p>"Thou rat, thou pirate, I will slay thee," said the enraged general, +drawing his sword.</p> + +<p>"Do this, and my vision will be for ever shut out from so much +villainy," was the calm reply.</p> + +<p>"Now let the young war tiger open his ears, and if he is reasonable he +shall be free," said the general, getting the better of his rage.</p> + +<p>"Then unbind his arms, thou dog."</p> + +<p>"Truly, if thou wilt promise to serve the great Emperor Li-Kong."</p> + +<p>"Even if so much treason existed in my heart, how could so mean a person +serve so great a prince?"</p> + +<p>"Is he not the son of the great merchant of the south, who rules the +four seas?"</p> + +<p>"If the dull rogue hath discovered his prisoner's birth, how is this +that he dares to think that when free he would let so great a traitor +live, after such an execrable proposition?"</p> + +<p>Greatly perplexed at this rebuff, Kin could make no reply. Suddenly, the +booming of cannon, the roar of millions of voices, and the clash of +arms, sounded through the night air, and he said, "Hear you that cannon, +boy? It is the terrible mouthpiece of the fugitive tradespeople, who +accompanied the rice wagons."</p> + +<p>"O thou miserable rogue," exclaimed Nicholas, as it now flashed across +his mind that the rice wagons and the fugitive tradespeople had been the +ruse by which Li-Kong had obtained an entrance into the city for his +troops. "O that he was free, for there were guards enough yet to save +the imperial family."</p> + +<p>"It is a maxim, that it is no use repining for the past, O youth. By his +tyranny and oppression Wey-t-song has forfeited the throne to the +heaven-selected Li-Kong, whose troops now fill the streets, and who will +confer upon the young war tiger high rank, and upon his parent, the +great sea chief, a kingdom, if he will submissively rule the seas as a +tributary. See the success of the great Li," he added, as the room, nay, +the whole sky became illuminated, "the palace is in flames—let the +young war tiger give his answer."</p> + +<p>"If it is adverse?" asked Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The head of the son will be sent to the father."</p> + +<p>Then bitter were the feelings of Nicholas—for himself? no! for he felt +it his duty to die; but for his father, for the princess—still there +was a chance of escape. Should he comply? surely a promise to traitors +would not be valid. He considered for a moment—it was but for a +moment—and even the bold sea-boy had not courage enough to—tell a lie.</p> + +<p>Perceiving his hesitation, the countenance of Kin brightened. "The noble +youth is reasonable; he consents," said he.</p> + +<p>"No, thou false rogue."</p> + +<p>"Then he dies a miserable death," said the enraged Kin, calling to his +guard. There was no reply, but a scuffle in the passage, and the sound +of angry voices, when, pale with fear, the general opened the door, and +the next minute was—in the arms of Chow, who held him till the +soldiers of the prince, who accompanied him, had bound the traitor as +tightly as a mummy.</p> + +<p>"It is our turn now, thou vile rogue," said Chow, as he cut the cords +that bound his master.</p> + +<p>"This is well accomplished my brave Chow; but now let us leave the +traitor and haste to the palace," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is hopeless, O my master, for the outer palace is in flames, and +surrounded by the rebels."</p> + +<p>"Is it not a maxim that no effort is hopeless to the brave?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>ATTACK ON THE PALACE.—SUICIDE OF THE EMPEROR, THE PRINCESS WOUNDED.</h3> + + +<p>Having dismissed the soldiers, the two boys mingled with the vast crowd +that was surging toward the palace with deafening cheers for Li-Kong, +who, by the treachery of the general, aided by those of his own troops +who for weeks past had been passing into the city under the pretence of +being fugitive tradespeople, had now reached the very walls of the outer +palace without opposition. Indeed, so great were the numbers of the +rebel troops and the mass of people who joined on their way, that when +they came in sight of the palace walls the imperial soldiers fled in +dismay, and so well had the rebel chief, and his brother traitors near +the person of the Emperor, organized the conspiracy, that it was not +until the outer palace was in flames that Wey-t-song became aware that +Li-Kong had even entered Pekin. Then, however, like another +Sardanapalus, his energies became aroused, and he collected together +some few hundreds of his body guard, and determined to sell his life as +dearly as possible, and till morning he held out; for so well did his +guards handle the bows, and so clumsily did the rebels use their +matchlocks, that it was early morning before the latter could effect an +entrance to the inner palace.</p> + +<p>When, however, the broad light of morning came, what with the force of +numbers, and their being enabled to use their matchlocks to greater +advantage, they soon forced the gates and rushed into the great court +<i>en masse</i>. Being among the first to enter, Nicholas and Chow beheld the +Emperor, in the uniform of one of his own officers, exhorting his troops +to die with him rather than to succumb to rebels. After a short fight, +however, the coward guards threw down their arms, and shouted, "Long +life to the heaven-bestowed Emperor Li-Kong." Indignant at their +cowardice, Nicholas would have rushed among them, but for Chow, who +whispered the danger of the princess.</p> + +<p>For a minute the fraternization of the guards appeased the rebels—it +was only for a minute—then they shouted for the head of the vile +Wey-t-song, and one of the guards pointing to the inner palace, they ran +in that direction like a herd of hungry wolves, killing all, men, women, +or children, whom they met in their way; then they came to the ladies' +palace, and with hideous shouts of exultation, set it on fire; and the +poor women, at least those who were not destroyed by the flames, ran +from all quarters, but, alas! only to fall by the swords of the fiends, +or, if escaping the latter, to perform, to them, the sacred duty of +throwing themselves headlong into the canals, that they might not +survive the downfall of their imperial master.</p> + +<p>More infuriated than the rebels, and with a wild hope of saving the +Emperor and the princess, Nicholas ran through the burning palace, as if +seeking death from the falling timbers; but, alas no clue could be found +to those he sought. At length he thought of the imperial gardens, a +place that the rebels, in their anxiety to plunder the palace, had +forgotten.</p> + +<p>"So, while Chow went in an opposite direction, he took the path leading +to the mulberry grove, and there, upon a mound, he discovered the object +of his search—both Emperor and princess; but, to his horror, the first +dead, and hanging by his own girdle from the bough of a prune-tree, and +the princess senseless, expiring from a deep wound in her side, from +which the blood was flowing copiously. Shocked so that the blood in his +veins seemed congealed, Nicholas cut down the dead Emperor with his +sword, then stanched the wound of the princess with his silk girdle, ran +to the lake, filled his cap with water, and sprinkled it in her face, +when, joy! the pale face resumed the hue of life—still she was +insensible, and he miserable, for he knew not what other means to adopt +for her restoration. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps—it +might be a rebel, and he clutched his sword, determined to die before +the royal lady should be taken from him—but no, it was Chow, who, +having lost himself for some time in the mazes of the garden, had +reached the spot by mere accident; and no sooner did the faithful fellow +perceive the tragic scene, than he fell upon his knees and wept.</p> + +<p>"Truly the villains will speedily be here, and we shall be lost if we +can not discover some hiding-place," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The gods must intend our escape from this den of thieves, for I have +just crept out of yonder cavern," said Chow, pointing to a thick bush at +some short distance from where they were standing.</p> + +<p>Then, without more words, they bore the senseless girl to the spot +indicated by Chow, and pushing aside the brushwood, entered a cavern +lighted from the top by a small grating, and laid her upon the floor. +The stanching of the blood, the cold water, and the movement, revived +her, when she exclaimed, "This terrible dream—where am I? who art thou, +thou terrible man?"</p> + +<p>"Fear not beautiful daughter of the Ming, for thou art in the hands of +thy own servants, who have saved thee——"</p> + +<p>"Saved me!" she said, with a vacant gaze at Nicholas; then, as if +remembering some terrible occurrence, added, "From my royal father, who +plunged his dagger in my side, that his daughter might escape the +villain Li-Kong, but the Emperor, my parent, O noble youth?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! unfortunate princess——"</p> + +<p>"Enough—enough—I remember all—the holy Emperor has saved himself the +disgrace of falling into the power of the traitor. But why then," she +added, bitterly, "has the worthless life of a daughter of his own blood +been saved?"</p> + +<p>"To be the most valued jewel in the throne of her brother the Emperor +Yong-Li," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"By restoring my worthless life thou hast brought shame and disgrace +upon the daughter of thy Emperor, for hath it not ever been the custom +of the daughters of the Son of Heaven to kill themselves upon the +downfall of their sovereign?"</p> + +<p>"The princess is of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, who alone giveth +and taketh life," replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Thou art right, noble youth, and the descendant of Tait-sou will bear +her misfortunes more as becomes a Christian than a daughter of China," +said the princess; adding, sorrowfully, "but the remains of my beloved +parent——"</p> + +<p>"Shall be saved from the profane hands of rebels if the princess will +remain within this cavern," replied Nicholas; who, followed by Chow, +returned to the mound, where for a minute he stood contemplating all +that remained of the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty. "Alas! poor +prince, that thy virtues should have been clouded with so many faults. +See, O Chow, how bitterly he felt the ingratitude of his petted and +pampered guards," said Nicholas, reading some lines that the Emperor had +written in his own blood upon the border of his robe, and which +were:—"The heavens are in thy favor, O Li-Kong; yet, although my +subjects have basely abandoned me, I beseech of thee, as their parent, +to wreak thy vengeance on my body; but save, O save my deluded people."</p> + +<p>"The rebels come this way," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Let us hide till they have passed," said Nicholas, and snatching up +his cross-bow, he ascended the nearest tree, believing that Chow had +done likewise.</p> + +<p>The new comers were two officers of Li-Kong.</p> + +<p>"It was in this direction, O Lee, near the mulberry grove, that the +woman slave saw the princess fly," said one, looking about.</p> + +<p>"So said the heaven-bestowed Li," replied the other; but perceiving the +body of the deposed sovereign, rebel as he was, his inherited awe for +the majesty of the Emperor caused him to throw himself upon the ground, +saying, "This then, O my poor prince, is the end of thy glories! indeed +thy punishment has been severe, may it lead thy successor to avoid thy +faults."</p> + +<p>"Get thee to thy feet, O Quang, for the Emperor who can forsake his +people well merits that they should forsake him in his extremity; +moreover, should the heaven-bestowed Li see thee, he will cause thy +foolish head to be chopped from thy shoulders, for, like a hungry tiger, +he cares but little whether his food be friends or enemies, so that he +can satisfy his appetite."</p> + +<p>"Thy words are good," said Quang, rising to his feet; adding, "Yet the +most ravenous beast becomes satisfied."</p> + +<p>"True, O Quang, but when this morning the great Li for the first time +sat upon the golden throne of state, it trembled and tottered."</p> + +<p>"A sad omen, O Lee; surely his majesty should have chosen a fortunate +day."</p> + +<p>"Truly, according to the chief bonze, it is an omen, signifying that +while the body of Wey-t-song remains whole, the heaven-bestowed Emperor +is in danger, and it is this that has angered him; but see, he comes," +and both fell to the earth before the rebel general, who approaching +with his great officers, said, "Have you discovered the princess, you +crawling slaves?"</p> + +<p>"At the risk of their lives thy slaves must deliver their miserable +intelligence to the fortunate and heaven-bestowed founder of the most +magnificent of dynasties," said Quang.</p> + +<p>"Let the slave open his lips."</p> + +<p>"The great princess has escaped with the Christian woman Candida," +replied the trembling Quang.</p> + +<p>"Escaped!" exclaimed the tyrant; "then let it be proclaimed throughout +the empire that he who can bring her unarmed to our feet, shall receive +high promotion, and the weight of his mean body in gold;" but at that +moment, for the first time, seeing the body of the Emperor, he +exclaimed, "The great traitor to his people has been too fortunate in +having been permitted to close a luxurious career with the honorable +punishment of self-destruction; he should have been exhibited alive in a +cage;" then reading the lines upon the dead sovereign's robe, "See thou, +O Quang, that the miserable body be cut into a thousand pieces, and +distributed far from the tombs of his royal ancestors," said this +new-made sovereign, with less generosity than the second Emperor of the +Tartar race, who some years after, while hunting, happening to see in +the distance the monument which had been erected to the memory of the +unfortunate Wey-t-song, quitted his horse, and falling upon the earth, +said, with tears in his eyes, "O Prince! O Emperor! worthy of a better +fate, you know that your destruction was not owing to us, your death +lies not at our door, your own subjects brought it upon you, it was they +that betrayed you; it is therefore upon them, and not on my ancestors, +that heaven must send down vengeance."</p> + +<p>As you may imagine, this arrested the attention of Nicholas, who became +deeply interested, and, as he listened, it was with difficulty he could +keep down his indignation. He had smiled as he heard of Lee's terror at +the omen, groaned at the slaughter of the people, rejoiced at the escape +of the Lady Candida, the more so as the soldiers believed that she had +carried away the princess with her, which would at least throw them off +the right track; then at the sight of the brutal Li he had instinctively +placed an arrow on his bow, but the danger of the princess taught him +prudence, and he did but nervously twitch the string; when, however, Li +spoke of the dead Emperor his heart throbbed with indignation, and he +was nigh losing his presence of mind; then when Li delivered the order +for the mutilation of the body, every vein in the boy's forehead and +neck seemed bursting with rage, which, when the tyrant struck the corpse +with his foot, he could no longer suppress; no human power could keep it +back, and just missing the tyrant's throat so narrowly that its feather +brushed his necklace, an arrow pierced the bark of the tree against +which he was standing.</p> + +<p>"See with what vigilance the guards have sought for traitors, when this +could so nearly reach the mark," said the brave rogue, coolly, but +holding his shield in readiness for the next.</p> + +<p>Unlike Li-Kong, whose courage was as remarkable as his crimes, the teeth +of his officers chattered, and their knees knocked together with fear, +as if the arrow had been a thunderbolt from their own gods; when, +however, they recovered, they placed their shields before their faces +and rushed to the direction from whence the arrow had flown, and would +soon have discovered Nicholas but for a huge lion, who, finding the door +of his cage open, rushed upon the group with such unmistakable +intentions, that not only the officers, but Li-Kong, brave as he was, +fled in terror to the palace, with the beast at their heels. You will +little wonder at the extreme fright of the soldiers, when I tell you +that this lion was the only animal of his kind in China, having been +presented to the late Emperor by a foreign king, or they would probably +have met the brute face to face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET CAVERN.—THE PRINCESS SAVED BY THE BOYS.</h3> + + +<p>"Thou hast had a narrow escape, O most prudent master," said Chow, +coming forth when he saw the coast clear.</p> + +<p>"Had I been taken, it would have been a just punishment for missing my +mark; but by what fortunate chance did that savage beast escape from his +cage, O Chow?" replied Nicholas, descending the tree.</p> + +<p>"That chance, O my master was the foresight of thy servant, who +unfastened the door of the cage of that four-footed brother of Yen-Vang, +neither knowing nor caring whether he might not himself be the first +meal, so that the noble Nicholas escaped."</p> + +<p>"It was well done, my brave Chow; yet surely that rebel rogue must be +protected by some demon to have escaped so narrowly both arrow and lion; +but let us haste to the cavern, or they may return."</p> + +<p>Now, although the whole of this adventure had not occupied more than an +hour, Nicholas was greatly in fear for what might have happened to the +princess, an anxiety reciprocated by the princess, who, as soon as she +saw them again, exclaimed, "Thank heaven, the noble youth is saved;" +then added reproachfully, "But he has not performed his promise, for he +brings not the sacred remains of his royal master;" when, however, +Nicholas related the adventure, although in great anguish of mind at +being denied the sacred right of paying the last office of respect to +the corpse of her parent, she was overjoyed at their escape.</p> + +<p>"Escape, O great princess; thy small servant is not clever and gifted, +like the mole, or he would eat a hole through the end of this rat-trap; +for to attempt it by the entrance would be to submissively ask the +traitor Li-Kong to cut us all into ten thousand pieces," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"The words of the brave Chow are reasonable, for truly this cavern is +but a trap," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"It is not so; push thou against the end of the cavern," said the +princess.</p> + +<p>"Truly we are fortunate," said Nicholas with astonishment, as he found +the end giving way, and disclosing to his vision a long narrow passage.</p> + +<p>"It was made by the great Tait-sou, and leads to an unfrequented suburb +of the city; by this means he could leave the palace alone, and by +mixing among the people judge for himself how the mandarins were +respected by them," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"Surely they will follow us here," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Not so, noble youth; for the secret is known but to few. It was the +sole vile act of the great Tait-sou's reign that he caused this passage +to be made by condemned prisoners, whom he afterward slew, that they +might not divulge the secret," said the princess, adding, "Let us trace +its course."</p> + +<p>Then, helping the wounded girl to walk, they proceeded down the passage +for a considerable distance, till their progress was arrested by a door; +pushing this, however, they found themselves in a small cavern, lighted, +like the one at which they had entered, by a small grating from above.</p> + +<p>"How is it possible, O noble Nicholas, that we can pass through the +roaring rebels, who are, doubtless, without?" said Chow.</p> + +<p>"It is a reasonable question, O noble youth; truly we had better remain +here till night," said the princess.</p> + +<p>But, having considered for a minute, Nicholas said, "Not so, great +princess; remain thou here with Chow, and thy servant will find some +means of deliverance;" whereupon he borrowed from Chow his less +conspicuous cap, robe, and boots, then felt his way up a flight of +narrow steps, till his head struck against a trap-door; lifting this +gently, he found himself in a small stone room, the door of which stood +open; passing this, he came into an oblong court, and saw at once that +the place had been erected as a tomb, and, moreover, that he was at the +most remote end of a valley of tombs. So far he believed the princess to +be in a place of safety, for none, even in those rebellious days, would +dare to enter the ancestral tomb of another.</p> + +<p>Crossing this valley of sepulchres with inverted face, as if in deep +contemplation after visiting the tomb of his ancestors, he came into the +open road, where a vast crowd were floating onward into the city, mad +with excitement, and shouting, "Many years' life to the heaven-sent +Emperor!" he mixed with them, and so, safely passed onward to the house +of the merchant Yang, who no sooner saw him than he ordered an incense +table, and returned thanks to Fo for his safety. "For," said he, "thy +servant made but little doubt that the son of the great Chin-Chi-Loong +had been slain."</p> + +<p>"The son of the merchant of the south lives to avenge the death of his +Emperor," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Hist! hist!" said the merchant, pale with fear, lest some servant might +hear the words; adding, "Truly Wey-t-song but merited his fate."</p> + +<p>"Art thou also a traitor, O Yang?" exclaimed Nicholas, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"The rich need be cautious, for is it not a maxim, that a successful +rebel is more to be feared than a dead Emperor, O noble Nicholas?"</p> + +<p>Indignant as he was at this disloyalty, Nicholas, remembering the +necessity of the princess, dissembled his anger, and said, "Is the +worthy Yang under sufficient obligation to Chin-Chi-Loong to serve his +son?"</p> + +<p>"Even to the extent of his life and fortune."</p> + +<p>"Then I will trust thee," said Nicholas, dropping the usual formality of +speech, and telling him the whole of his adventure of the morning.</p> + +<p>"Truly, O youth, this is a dangerous affair; but Yang dares not break +faith with the great chief who may some day be master of us all," said +the merchant, trembling with fear.</p> + +<p>"This, then, is just; I would have the head-dress and mourning garb of a +widow, and the coarse robes of two Coolies."</p> + +<p>"This is a cautious method of proceeding, and shall be done," said Yang, +who left the room, leaving the impatient youth walking to and fro with +great anxiety. The articles, however, not being very difficult to obtain +in that part of the city, the merchant soon returned with them packed up +in a small bale; then, hastily thanking Yang, Nicholas took the bale +with him some little distance from the house, and paid two Coolies to +carry him in their sedan to the gate of the valley of tombs; having +arrived there, he jumped out of the chair, and paid the Coolies +handsomely, telling them to leave it near the gate, and to fetch him +again in two hours' time; when, not in the least doubting the honesty of +so generous a customer, the Coolies went off to spend their earnings at +a wine-shop, and Nicholas proceeded cautiously to the cavern.</p> + +<p>Having explained his scheme to the princess, he left her in the cavern +to attire herself in the widow's weeds, while he and Chow proceeded to +the tomb above, to assume the garbs of Coolies.</p> + +<p>This being done, he gave Chow some silver and sent him off to the +wine-shop, after which he assisted the princess up the steps, and, +supporting her, they slowly walked through the valley, till they came +within a short distance of the gate, when, to the delight of Nicholas, +Chow came up to them and said:—</p> + +<p>"I found the two sots drinking like fishes, and when I told them a +merchant wished to hire them, they laughed heartily, saying, that they +had already been engaged by too good a passenger to stir for the next +two hours."</p> + +<p>Then, assisting the princess into the chair, Nicholas and Chow took the +place of the Coolies, and so carried it to the house of Yang.</p> + +<p>As Yang had prepared the ladies of his family to receive a young girl, +who, he said, was about to be taken into a distant province by her +brother, as soon as the troubles had subsided, the princess was warmly +received in the Hall of Ancestors, and immediately conducted to the +inner apartments of the house. Cleverly as this was managed, Nicholas +now trembled for the safety of the princess; indeed, she could be safe +no where, but with the Lady Candida, or the Prince Yong-Li, both of whom +he believed to have fled to Woo-san-Kwei, in Leao-tong, therefore, +difficult as was the task, he determined to take her to that province. +As for Yang, whose loyalty was stronger toward the family of Nicholas +than to the imperial line, and who really wished a person likely to +prove so dangerous as the princess out of his house, he offered his +advice and assistance; and as a small junk belonging to him was about to +proceed to Tien-sin, on the banks of the Pei-ho (or white river) with a +cargo of goods in exchange for salt, he offered to place it at the +command of Nicholas, who, when at the mouth of the river, would find it +no difficult matter to make a voyage through the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, +and of Leao-tong, to some town upon the coast.</p> + +<p>This being arranged, they determined that the junk should start as soon +as she was laden, and that the princess should embark as a young widow, +whose husband having been killed in the rebellion, was returning to see +her friends in Leao-tong. But then the princess could not travel without +a female attendant,—and whom could they trust? that seemed their +greatest difficulty. It was surmounted, however as you will see in the +next chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>A LARGE STOCK OF LADIES, TWO TAELS PER SACK.</h3> + + +<p>Previously to his successful march upon Pekin, Li-Kong had besieged the +capital of the great province of Honan, which, after a few days' hard +fighting, he succeeded in taking; when by way of punishing the +inhabitants for their brave resistance, he ordered a slaughter so large +and indiscriminate that for many after years his name was used as a +bugbear to frighten children; so insatiable was his appetite for +decapitation, that, like Nero, he longed that the millions had but one +neck, that he might strike the whole of their heads at a blow.</p> + +<p>The mightiest rivers, however, can but run their course, and so at +length, in the event of his making himself Emperor, he might have some +subjects left, he commenced to banish and to pardon, and by way of +rewarding his soldiers, one day when he was in a good humor, he +commanded them to sell the whole of the remaining women prisoners in the +public market-place, and keep the money; but as the soldiers asked such +high prices, and the fathers, husbands, and brothers, of Honan, had been +robbed of their property, after a two days' sale a large stock of +ladies remained on hand, which they were obliged to take with them to +Pekin, where, after the conquest, they hoped to obtain better prices.</p> + +<p>Tyrants are, however, capricious; and so, being offended with his +soldiers for not discovering the princess, with hideous humor Li-Kong +ordered the women to be placed in sacks, and sold with other plunder at +two taels each.</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that on the morning of the sale, Chow was passing +through the market-place, and seeing a crowd of people examining the +sacks, which were arranged in rows and tied at the necks, with small +breathing holes near the top, he stopped to watch the progress of the +cruel comedy. Anxious fathers, brothers, and husbands, who had followed +the army from Honan, for the purpose of rescuing their female relatives, +bought sack after sack at the reduced price, each, when the purchase was +completed, tearing them open; the greater number, however, giving vent +to fearful cries, when they discovered that their chance in the lottery +proved a blank; others, recognizing a wife, daughter, or sister, would +become almost frantic with joy. Many, before purchasing, would slip +behind a sack, rip it with a knife, to have a peep, and get rewarded +with a sound caning for their artfulness.</p> + +<p>Well there were only half a ton, or at least five sacks of ladies left +for disposal, when a great lout of a countryman drew up in his cart, +jumped out, and after looking at his almanac, said, "Truly this is a +fortunate day, and I am likely to get a good wife cheap; so, although +two taels is all I have obtained for my last crop of rice, I will trust +to Fo; for young or old, handsome or ugly, I must have a wife to help me +till my grounds." Just then a shrill scream issued from one of the +sacks. "Who knows," continued the countryman, "but the gods may have +sent that scream to direct my choice, for if the woman is neither young +nor pretty she may be well dressed, and, consequently the wife or +daughter of some wealthy mandarin, who will purchase her of me, and so +make my fortune?"</p> + +<p>"Let the noble paddy bird make his choice quickly," said a soldier.</p> + +<p>"There are the two taels, most illustrious war tiger," said the +countryman, giving the money and taking his choice.</p> + +<p>"We will see thy choice," said one of the soldiers, about to open the +sack.</p> + +<p>"Nay, illustrious soldier, it would offend the gods if other eyes but +mine saw my prize." So saying, the man took the sack up in his huge +arms, lifted it into the cart, and drove slowly away, followed by Chow, +who was curious to discover the kind of prize the wise-acre had drawn.</p> + +<p>Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man no sooner reached an +unfrequented part of the suburbs than he stopped by the bank of a canal, +pulled a knife from his pocket, ripped open the sack; but then a change +came o'er his dream, for with his body bent double, his two hands upon +his knees, and his bullet head thrown to the extreme stretching of his +neck, he stared with disgust for at least a minute, then in a paroxysm +of rage, the disappointed ruffian placed his hands upon the woman's +shoulders, screaming, "Thou vile old bamboo stick!"</p> + +<p>The trembling woman fell upon her knees and prayed for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Has the wretched woman no friend who will purchase her?"</p> + +<p>"Truly the friends and relations of thy servant have been slain by the +soldiers; she has no friend in the world."</p> + +<p>"Thou hast robbed me of my money, thou antique rat, and shall be +punished," said the brute, who, first striking her to the ground, picked +her up in his arms, and would have thrown her into the canal but for +Chow, who, going to the back of the cart, caught hold of the man's legs +and dragged him on to the ground, when, not comprehending the wherefore +of his wheelbarrow position, the fellow began to roar for mercy, but +turning his face and finding his enemy to be a mere youth, he sprang +upon his legs and attacked him with his clenched fists. For a time they +had a hard fight, after the fashion of the Chinese, who are as much +given to that sport, pastime, or brutality, as the English themselves. +At length, however, with one well-directed blow, Chow settled the +transaction, when, admitting himself to be soundly thrashed, as all +women-beaters should be, the bully fell upon his knees, and said, that +if the woman were a relation he was sorry for what he had done in the +moment of vexation at losing his money, and moreover, begged that Chow +would purchase her again for half the amount he had paid.</p> + +<p>"Take the whole, thou miserable dog," said Chow, throwing down two taels +that Nicholas had given him in the morning, to purchase a thick robe for +the voyage to Leao-tong, then, lifting the poor creature from the cart, +he laid her upon the bank of the canal, and by dashing water in her face +brought her to her senses. But why does Chow suddenly fall at her feet, +kiss the hem of her garment, take both her hands in his own, gaze in her +face for a moment, and then, throwing his arms around her neck, sob like +an infant. Surely there was some good reason for such strange +conduct?—We shall see.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>CHOW MAKES A DISCOVERY, AND NICHOLAS A SURPRISE.</h3> + + +<p>While Chow had been engaged in his adventure with the countryman, Yang +received intelligence from the commander of his junk, that the vessel +was laden, and only awaited his orders for sailing. So far, +circumstances were favorable for the voyage to Leao-tong, and if they +could but secure a proper attendant for the princess they might set out +that evening. That was the great difficulty to be got over. Many plans +were suggested, but all seemed so fraught with danger of discovery, that +they were well nigh at their wit's end. While Nicholas and Yang were +discussing the matter, there was a great hammering upon the gong at the +door. It was Chow, who in another minute stood before them. Alone? No, +but to the astonishment of Nicholas, accompanied by a woman, so veiled +that no feature could be seen.</p> + +<p>"How! what means this? Who is this woman?" exclaimed Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The noble Nicholas bestowed two taels upon his servant."</p> + +<p>"What words are these?" replied Nicholas, impatiently; adding, "Hast +thou bought the robe?"</p> + +<p>"Pardon, O noble master, but thy servant can better do without a robe +for the rest of his life than the glorious purchase he has made with +those taels."</p> + +<p>"What purchase is this, thou rogue?" said Nicholas, vexed that he could +get no direct answer.</p> + +<p>"His dearly beloved lost mother, O my master."</p> + +<p>"Thy mother! What words are these?"</p> + +<p>Then, when Chow had related the scene with the sacks, and his adventure +with the countryman, and how that it resulted in the discovery of his +mother, who stood before them, Nicholas heartily and sincerely +congratulated him, as did also the merchants, who ordered the servants +to take her to the inner apartments, all of which so gratified the +delighted Chow that he fell at the feet of Nicholas, kissed the hem of +his robe, and with tears of gratitude and joy told them that his mother +had made her escape from the slayer of her husband, but having been +retaken, the enraged mandarin had ordered her to be sold with the other +women. So, O noble Nicholas, has the great Tien rewarded thy servant for +endeavoring to rescue what he thought to be a strange woman from a +villain, who was about casting her in the canal.</p> + +<p>Now, nothing could be more fortunate for all parties than this discovery +of Chow's, for as the mother would not leave Chow, nor Chow leave his +mother or his master, if he could help it, it was speedily settled that +no better attendant could be found for the princess, and so it was +arranged that they should start at once.</p> + +<p>The merchant, partly by his great interest with the usurper's +government, and partly by bribes, secured a com-ho or passport for +himself and family; sedan chairs were procured, and the whole party +passed through the city to the river, where the junk was awaiting them. +Then, having seen them safe on board and given instructions to his +captain to obey Nicholas, he placed a purse of silver in the youth's +hands, took his leave, and left the travelers to pursue their journey, +and with but one interruption from a river mandarin, who stopped their +progress to examine their cam-ho, the junk proceeded down the Pei-ho, or +white river.</p> + +<p>The junk was upon a small scale something like what the houses of our +merchants were, when, proud of their profession, they had their +residences attached to their warehouses, one-half being occupied by the +cargo, and the other divided into rooms, each of which was furnished in +accordance with the quality of its tenant. The two usually set aside for +the ladies of the family were tenanted by the princess, who, as became +her rank and sex, kept herself secluded from the eyes of the male +passengers and sailors.</p> + +<p>For several days they continued their voyage down the river, till by the +fields of millet seed, pulse, and turnips, the numerous mud hovels, the +shoals of small boats, and the thousands of starving men, women, and +children, who were paddling about the fields, and the very city of huge +salt stacks upon the banks, they saw that they were approaching the town +of Tien-sin, at which place, in consequence of the number of vessels +which had arrived that day laden with timber, they were delayed for +some time before the captain could unload his vessel and take in a cargo +of salt.</p> + +<p>As in our own manufacturing counties many thousands of poor mechanics +and artisans make little livings for themselves and great fortunes for +their employers, so in Tien-sin, the most miserably poor and shrivelled +portion of the vast population in China produce a commodity which places +their masters, the salt dealers, among the most wealthy merchants in the +Empire. While the captain is unloading his cargo I will tell you how +these people produce this common edible.</p> + +<p>In addition to the pits of salt, which, like coal, are found in many of +the provinces, there are many places where it is discovered by scattered +spots of gray earth. To obtain this salt, they level the surface of the +earth as smooth as glass and in a sloping direction so that the water +will run off. When dried by the sun, and the white particles of salt are +seen, they first raise it in small heaps, like haycocks, then spread it +upon sloping tables with ledges, and pour soft water upon it, which, as +it soaks in, extracts the salt and runs into an earthen vessel by means +of a small channel. The earth thus drained is not wasted, but laid +aside, so that after a few days, when dry, they reduce it to a fine +powder, and replace it in the spot from whence it was taken, when, after +six days, it is again mixed with particles of salt, which are again +extracted as before, so that not one atom becomes lost.</p> + +<p>While the men are thus engaged in the fields, the women and children are +employed in huts, in boiling the salt water in large iron basins, which +they place over an earthen stove, with holes made in such a manner that +the fire heats all the basins alike. When the salt water has boiled some +time, it becomes thick, and changes slowly into a very white salt, which +is stirred with an iron spatula till it becomes quite dry.</p> + +<p>When the captain had exchanged his cargo for an other of dates, which he +intended again to exchange profitably in Leao-tong for peas and drugs, +Nicholas purchased a quantity of furs and mats, which he soon found to +be necessary; for, as they approached further to the north, the winds +blew keenly, and the iceblocks floated so numerously as frequently to +impede their voyage; indeed, the cold was so intense that nothing but +the fear of losing life or liberty, or the love of gold, would have +induced any one to make the voyage in that inclement season (it was in +November). Indeed, by the time they had passed the mouth of the Pei-ho +and got into the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, the snow fell so heavily, and the +north winds blew so keenly, that, breaking through all discipline, the +sailors lighted fires upon the deck, and laid near them, drinking rice +spirit so copiously, that had not Nicholas, who knew so well how to +manage such insubordinates, thrown the spirit tubs overboard, they must +have foundered upon the <i>Sha-loo-poo-teen</i> islands. As it was, so long +and so rough was the passage across the gulf, that the princess became +fearfully ill; so much so, indeed, that at one time they feared she +would have died. At length, however, they came to an anchor off the +coast of Kin-Chow, a distance of seven miles from the shore, and so +planted with dangerous rocks that they were compelled to make +fire-signals for the townspeople to put off to them in their lighters or +barges.</p> + +<p>As the people have these lighters always ready for the purpose, it was +not long before several answered the signal, and came alongside. +Choosing the most commodious, Nicholas caused a large fire to be lighted +in the cabin, where the princess, who was too ill to walk, was lifted on +board, and the lightermen rowed them the roughest seven miles of their +journey. Nicholas and Chow paced the deck in no very good humor, as they +were obliged to entrust themselves to the slow movements of the boatmen, +who neither for love nor money would hasten their pace. Moreover, as the +sea rolled so heavily, the distance was lengthened by their being +compelled to take a circuitous course between and around the dangerous +rocks.</p> + +<p>When the boatman, who, although slow, were sure, brought them beneath +the huge rocks which form the sea-walls of Leao-tong, Chow looked up +with amazement. "Surely," said he, "Yen-Vang must have built these great +rocks to prevent the province from falling upon the heads of the people +in his watery dominions;" adding, as he saw some little birds, like +swallows, flying about the rocks, "Truly, if my eyeballs are straight, +those little creatures promise us some of the soup of life."</p> + +<p>"Truly our eyeballs play us false, O Chow, for these birds are seldom +found but on the coast of Tonquin, Java, and Cochin-China," said +Nicholas doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"It is true that the servant has not the wisdom of his master, yet the +stomach and the nose are excellent diviners. Moreover, it is said that +this bird-nest soup is strengthening to the weak. The princess is weak, +O my master, and Chow would obtain some of those nests."</p> + +<p>Then, as they were near a jutting point of the rock of no very difficult +ascent, Nicholas ordered the barge to stop, while Chow ascended and +procured some half-dozen of the nests, from which to the present day, +one of the most popular dishes of China is made.</p> + +<p>As Nicholas had said, these birds' nests are seldom found except on the +coasts of Java, Cochin-China, and Tonquin. The birds are not unlike +swallows, as to their feathers; the nests, which they build high up in +the clefts of the rocks, are supposed to be composed of small sea-fish, +fastened together by means of a viscous juice, which distils from the +beaks of the little creatures, and serves as a gum to fasten the nests +to the rock. They are also seen to take the froth that floats upon the +sea, with which they cement every part of their nests, in the same +manner that swallows build with mud and clay. This matter being dried, +becomes solid, transparent, and of a greenish color; but, while fresh, +it is generally white.</p> + +<p>When Chow had procured these nests, the boatmen resumed their toil, and +in a short time reached the harbor; Chow landed first, and having +procured a litter, the princess and his mother were conveyed through the +rows of dirty-looking granite houses, which form the town of Kin-Chow, +till they arrived at a small inn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS PUNISHES AN UNGRATEFUL INNKEEPER, AND ESCAPES FROM HIS +TREACHERY.</h3> + + +<p>Rejoiced that the tedious sea-voyage was at an end and that the princess +would, in all probability, by a few day's rest, gain health and strength +sufficient for the long land journey before them, you may guess the +vexation of Nicholas, on arriving at the inn, to find a crowd of persons +around the door enjoying the following scene. The innkeeper was kneeling +before the chair of a tax-gathering mandarin, surrounded by his bamboo +sticks in waiting, who seemed to have in their charge three beggars.</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin.</i>—"Thrice hath the dog's hide been corrected, and yet his +tribute is not ready."</p> + +<p><i>Innkeeper.</i>—"Is it not true, O tribute-collecting lord, that but +little may be gleaned from an empty purse?"</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin.</i>—"Therein is thy crime, slave, that having thrice received +our paternal correction, thy vile purse should still remain empty. Know, +thou mean dog, that the purse of the subject should be ever at the +service of the Emperor."</p> + +<p><i>Innkeeper, giving his empty purse.</i>—"The laws of the empire must be +obeyed, there is thy servant's purse."</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin, angrily.</i>—"Would the vile innkeeper laugh in our face?"</p> + +<p><i>Innkeeper.</i>—"Surely, O great mandarin, the owner of an empty purse +hath but little cause for laughing!"</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin.</i>—"Thou incorrigible dog, where hath been thy industry, that +thou hast not sufficient even to pay thy taxes?"</p> + +<p><i>Innkeeper.</i>—"Truly the wars and the robbers have driven from the +province its trade, and thy servant hath not rice sufficient to sustain +life in the mean bodies of himself and family."</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin.</i>—"If these are straight words, the dog's life cannot be of +value to him; let him, therefore, pay the debt he owes to the Emperor, +by humbly begging of the Tartar-subduing General, Woo-san-Kwei to let +him offer his carcass of full measure to the barbarians, that he may +shield the life of a better man."</p> + +<p><i>Innkeeper.</i>—"Truly, O fountain of wisdom the officers of the +rebel-subduing general have already stolen from thy servant his four +sons."</p> + +<p><i>Mandarin.</i>—"Stolen, thou vile rat! Let the rogue receive twenty blows +for this word of disrespect, and fifty for half the debt he owes to the +Emperor."</p> + +<p>In an instant the innkeeper was thrown upon his face, and while one man +held his head, and another his feet, a third belabored the poor fellow +till he roared again. When the punishment was concluded, and the +innkeeper had, according to custom, thanked the official for his +kindness, the mandarin said, "Such is the punishment of rogues who will +not pay their taxes;" adding, "But that the cheating innkeeper may not +escape too easily, let him provide food and lodging for these three poor +people till his debt be paid."</p> + +<p>"May thy servant inquire the amount of this innkeeper's debt; for it is +fitting that the taxes should be paid?" said Nicholas, coming forward to +the astonishment of the official, who said, sternly, "The sum, bold +stranger, is one ounce of silver."</p> + +<p>"Then, may thy servant be permitted to pay this silver; for he would +engage for himself and sister the man's house, which cannot be large +enough for these poor people also?"</p> + +<p>"Truly it may not be refused," replied the mandarin, taking the money, +and rescinding his order for the accommodation of the poor people; but +adding, as he left the spot, "It is a maxim that people should settle +their own debts before paying those of others."</p> + +<p>"Where is the justice now, my master; for although he has received the +debt in full, that rat of the taxes hath not taken back the blows from +this poor man's hide?" said Chow, fortunately for himself in such soft +tones that he could not be heard by the mandarin. More pleased than +otherwise at the scene which they had considered good fun, the crowd +dispersed; when, silencing the noisy gratitude of the innkeeper, who, +after all, had been more frightened than hurt with the blows which had +been dealt out to him, as much as a matter of form as a punishment, +Nicholas and his party entered the inn, and having secured the two best +rooms, one for the princess and her attendant, the other for himself and +Chow, he gave the bird's nests to the wife of the innkeeper for the use +of the ladies.</p> + +<p>As for themselves, the boys made a good meal, and then whiled the time +away in conversation till it became dark, when they both sought their +beds; which, queer as it may seem to you—being nothing but piles of +bricks shaped to the human form, and heated from beneath with charcoal, +the flame and heat of which are dispersed by pipes joined to an upright +tube, which carries the smoke through the roof—they greatly enjoyed +after their long journey.</p> + +<p>The next morning Nicholas visited the princess, and to his surprise and +delight found that she had recovered her strength. "This is indeed joy, +O my princess!" said he, kneeling; when, taking him by the hand, the +royal lady said, "Kneel not before her whom thou hast so much +befriended, O noble youth; for it is naught but the poor fatherless girl +La-Loo who is before thee, and would indeed be thy sister."</p> + +<p>"This is not possible; the daughter of the Ming can never be less in the +world than its princess—first in beauty as in rank," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The daughter of the Ming, or the girl La-Loo, be she whom she may, +noble youth, will travel alone through this dreary province in search of +her brother, if she can not journey as thy sister."</p> + +<p>"Then be it so, for thy servant dares not disobey, O beautiful La-Loo!" +said Nicholas; adding, "Is it the will of the princess, to proceed upon +her journey?"</p> + +<p>"The will of her adopted brother is the will of La-Loo," replied the +princess, and Nicholas left the room; but pushing the door before him, +imagine his surprise to find the innkeeper at the threshhold with his +little head upward, his short arms stretched forward from his great +body, and his legs in the hands of Chow, who appeared to be pulling him +from the door.</p> + +<p>"Release thy mean servant from the hands of this vile person, O noble +youth, or his legs will be pulled as easily from his body as those of a +crab," said the man, piteously looking in the face of Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The rascal, the rogue, the elephant in size, but mouse in honesty, was +listening to thy conversation, O my master," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Let the mean rat rise upon his bamboo legs," said Nicholas; adding, +"What has the dog learned of his guests' affairs?"</p> + +<p>"Truly so grand a mien could belong to none but the son of a king, and +so beautiful a lady, could be none other than a princess," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Thou rascal," said Nicholas; but adding, more prudently, "Canst thou be +honest, and serve us?"</p> + +<p>"For ever, O noble youth," replied the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"Trust not so small a mouse," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"The innkeeper shall be rewarded according to his merits. Let him +conduct his guest to the merchants of the town, and he shall receive +some silver," said Nicholas, quitting the house with the man, who led +him to the various dealers and merchants, from whom he purchased a +camel, a mule, a tent, provision, and in short all things necessary for +a long journey overland.</p> + +<p>When he had made these purchases, he whispered some secret instruction +in the ear of Chow, and sent him with the animals and articles back to +the inn; after which he said, "Will the worthy innkeeper open his lips +in a temple, and promise to keep to himself the secret he has +discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Truly the noble youth does not doubt that the words of his servant are +straight?" replied the man, evasively.</p> + +<p>"The worthy innkeeper must do this, or forfeit these two ounces of +silver," replied Nicholas, exhibiting the money, which had the desired +effect.</p> + +<p>"There is but one temple for this poor town, and that is upon the +mountain without the walls."</p> + +<p>"To that we will proceed, if the worthy innkeeper will show the way."</p> + +<p>The man obeyed; they passed through the gates of the town into a narrow +road, which led them to the foot of a high mountain, near the summit of +which stood a small temple.</p> + +<p>"It would be better to seek an altar within the inner apartments of thy +servant's inn, the gods would be equally as attentive to his promise, +and the noble youth would be saved the necessity of climbing so steep a +hill."</p> + +<p>"Truly this temple can not be used often, or some easier means of ascent +would be made," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The words of the noble youth are wise, for truly this temple is but +used on the festivals of the first of the month."</p> + +<p>"When is the next festival, O worthy innkeeper?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Then ascend."</p> + +<p>Obeying, the innkeeper commenced climbing the narrow and slippery stairs +cut in the hill side; when they reached the top and stood in the temple +before a huge wooden god, who seemed to form part of the back wall of +the temple, out of which he had been cut, Nicholas, pointing to one of +the arms of the idol, said, "Truly, the god hath been neglected and +requires painting." Turning his back to Nicholas to examine the idol, +the man gave a shriek of alarm. Nicholas had taken a cord from his vest, +thrown it over his arms, and made him as harmless as if he had been in a +straight jacket.</p> + +<p>"What means the youth; is he a robber?"</p> + +<p>"Silence thou ungrateful hog," said Nicholas, pulling him toward the +idol, to which he secured his body, legs and arms.</p> + +<p>"Now, thou dog, open thy lips, and say what fell into thine ears whilst +thou wast listening at the door of the ladies' apartments."</p> + +<p>"Truly, thy mean servant could not hear much, for little was said by the +princess."</p> + +<p>"Then how, thou trembling rogue, couldst thou know it was a princess who +spoke?"</p> + +<p>"Thy servant divined that the lady must be of exalted rank; for in the +first place, had she not been a great lady escaping from the province of +Pekin, she would not have crossed the gulf in such weather, neither +would so noble a youth as thyself have treated a sister with such +exalted respect."</p> + +<p>"Thou art a cunning dog, whose words are dust; and if thou dost not +admit that thy vile ears were at that door before the time when thou +wert caught, I will slay thee," said Nicholas, drawing his short sword, +and holding it threateningly.</p> + +<p>"Pardon, O noble youth; but as iron can not resist the lode-stone, +neither can the ears of thy servant resist a secret: he did—did +listen," said the man trembling with fear.</p> + +<p>"What didst thou hear, dog?" the sword was now at his throat.</p> + +<p>"That the Emperor Wey-t-song was slain, and that the Emperor Li had +offered a great reward for the Princess of the Mings."</p> + +<p>"Should I kill thee, thou mean rat, thou wouldst but meet thy merits."</p> + +<p>"The magnanimous youth would not soil his sword with the blood of so +mean a person."</p> + +<p>"No; but thou shalt remain here till we are beyond the reach of harm +from thy vile tongue."</p> + +<p>"Surely the noble youth would not starve so ill-conditioned a person," +said the man in a whining tone. "Thou art now safe, thou rogue, and I +will pay thee the two taels I promised; but if even when released from +thy bondage when the temple is visited to-morrow, thou speak but the +name of the lady you have seen, I will return and punish thee, if it is +years to come." So saying Nicholas threw the silver upon the floor, +closed the door of the temple, descended the mountain, and made as much +haste as possible back to the inn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.—ATTACKED BY WOLVES, AND STOPPED BY A SERPENT.</h3> + + +<p>By the time Nicholas returned to the inn, Chow had prepared every thing +for their departure; the camel was laden with a litter for the two +ladies, behind which were two tents, rough sleeping mats, furs and a +supply of food and fuel.</p> + +<p>"All is prepared, O noble Nicholas, according to thy order," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Thou art as nimble as thou art brave, Chow," said Nicholas, passing to +the room of the princess, whom he found with the mother of Chow well +wrapped in furs.</p> + +<p>"It is well that thou art prepared, O beautiful and illustrious La-Loo, +for the villain innkeeper heard our conversation, and I doubt not +intended to earn the rebel Li-Kong's reward." At this the limbs of the +princess trembled, and her face became pale with fear.</p> + +<p>"Let us haste then, O noble brother, for La-Loo fears that demon +Li-Kong, and would rather that her parent's blow had proved effective +than fall into his power."</p> + +<p>"The weather is severe and the journey drear, and fraught with dangers +of savage beasts and still more savage men," said Nicholas, as fearful +of the danger of proceeding as of remaining; adding, "At least the +innkeeper can not return till to-morrow, and early morning would be less +dangerous than the darkness of this winter's night."</p> + +<p>"The last of the line of the great Tait-sou have the courage of their +ancestors. Let us on our journey, my brother," said the princess.</p> + +<p>Without another word Nicholas led the princess and her attendant to the +camel, and assisted them into the litter.</p> + +<p>"Surely," said La-Loo, "there are times when women should have the +courage of men. An arrow sped by my hand would be as useful as one from +the bow of my brother."</p> + +<p>Understanding the meaning Nicholas gave the princess his own bow, and +quiver full of arrows.</p> + +<p>"Truly my venerable and beloved parent can pull a bow-string to save her +life," said Chow giving his bow and arrows to his mother.</p> + +<p>"This is not well, Chow, for we are left unarmed, except with our short +swords, which will be of little use," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The noble Nicholas left Chow to provide for the journey, and so, +knowing that female arms, like female tongues, can fight when the time +comes, he provided weapons for each," said Chow, taking two bows from +the sides of the mule.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast the wisdom and foresight of a colao, O Chow," said Nicholas, +laughing; then adding, seriously, "But the guide."</p> + +<p>"Is here, O noble stranger, and as he hopes to have his tomb well +dusted, will conduct thee safely to the distant mountains," said a +youth, stepping forward with an unlighted torch in his hand.</p> + +<p>Nicholas then mounting behind the camel, Chow upon the mule, and the +guide taking hold of the cord which was tied to the great animal's +mouth, they proceeded on their journey, and as it was just within the +time of closing the gates, they passed out of the town into the open +country of teas and drugs; and so quickly did they travel, that before +night came on they had reached a narrow gorge between two mountains, +which was good, inasmuch as they would be protected from the keen winds. +The darkness came on, and the guide lighted his torch, which flamed so +terrifically, that they might have passed for one of our slow night +trains.</p> + +<p>So for some hours they traveled, till they came to a forest so dense +with trees that the guide would go no further, and they pitched the two +tents, one for the ladies, and the other for themselves, surrounding +both with a great fire, made of stubble, to keep off the wolves or other +beasts of prey. The following morning they resumed their journey, till +as they were leaving the forest, they could hear the distant howling of +wolves; the camel exhibited its fright by making strange noises, and the +mule grew restless, snorted, and every now and then turned its head as +if to look for its enemies. The whole party fixed arrows in their bows, +ready for an attack, and for some time their hearts palpitated with +alarm. Ordering the little caravan to stop, Nicholas sent Chow to +examine the probability of an attack. He had been absent half an hour +when they heard the trampling of horses near at hand. What could it +mean? surely they were not pursued? Then came Chow, who, running +forward, said, "We are lost, O my master, for there are banditti near."</p> + +<p>"On my brother, on, for these rogues are doubtless the troops of the +rebel Li-Kong," exclaimed the princess, as she leant forward from the +litter with the bent bow in her hand; and onward they went, with open +ears, and as noiselessly as possible; passing along the side of a +mountain into which the wood opened, till they came to a gorge, when the +guide stopped, and proposed that they should make a <i>détour</i>, in order +to avoid the passage of the mountain platform.</p> + +<p>"It is not possible, my master; for to the right are the banditti, to +the left the wolves. Let us keep onward and dare this platform;" and +again they proceeded through the gorge. Still the wolves kept up their +dreary howling, and the trampling of the banditti, if banditti they +were, seemed at no greater distance from them than the animals; at +length they passed through the gorge, when a sight was before them that +would have caused the stoutest hearts to quail. There, leading from the +gorge, was the platform of which the guide had spoken. It was supported +by rafters, which stood out some six feet from the rock, a mere shelf, +without edge or railing, at least five hundred feet above the level of +the sea, which the mountain skirted.</p> + +<p>"It would be death to cross with these animals; we must turn back and +make the <i>détour</i>," said the guide.</p> + +<p>"Open thy ears. We dare not, O noble Nicholas," said Chow! "for the +wolves are upon us."</p> + +<p>"Onward, my brother, for there are sounds of more terrible beasts than +wolves. Let us trust ourselves in the hands of Providence," said the +princess.</p> + +<p>Seeing the knees of the guide knocking together with fear, Nicholas +said, "Get thee to the rear, and follow the mule, thou coward;" then, +dismounting, he caught hold of the reins in the nostrils of the camels +and averting his eyes from the chasm beneath, led the sure-footed beast +along the platform. They had reached midway, when the wolves, with a +howling concert, made their appearance at the commencement of the +platform; and as Chow, who brought up the rear, led the mule, he felt +the animal tremble, and fearing that if the wild brutes ventured across +the platform the terrified beasts would be the means of precipitating +the whole party into the abyss, he trembled with anxiety. It was a +fearful situation, but the brave youth retaining his presence of mind, +crept to the flanks of the mule, and only in time, for one of the wolves +who had ventured along the platform, followed by the pack, received an +arrow in his brain, and as he rolled over into the abyss beneath, its +companions stood with their fore feet stretched forward, and their ears +bent, as if astonished, when another arrow flew among them, but so +intent had Chow become in this fight, that he was unconscious that the +progress of the rest of the party had been stopped midway. For the cause +of this we must return to Nicholas; who, as he led the camel, to his +horror, saw issuing from a fissure in the rock the head of a serpent of +the most venomous kind. He fixed an arrow in his bow, but a moment's +thought, and he dared not fire, for should he miss the reptile it would +be upon them instantly. What should he do? His sword—yes—he drew it; +but then he dared not leave the camel's head, and he called to Chow, +little thinking that he was in a more terrible position than himself.</p> + +<p>"Let fly thy arrow, my brother; should you miss, here is my bow," said +the princess, leaning forward.</p> + +<p>Still Nicholas would not move. The situation was fearful; the wolves on +one side, the deadly serpent on the other; indeed words are wanting to +paint the dread anxiety and terror of all, even the animals who stood +transfixed, with their hearts beating against their sides in the agony +of fear.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>SAVED BY A MUSK-DEER.—STORIES OF WONDERFUL MOUNTAINS.</h3> + + +<p>Relief came, but so imperceptibly that it stole over them. A perfume so +strong filled the air that the animals coughed, the great snake writhed, +and approached nearer to them; they were lost; no, the perfume had +entered the nostrils of the reptile; its movement was languid, another +second, and their deliverer appeared. It was a musk-deer, or roe-buck, +who had pursued the serpent till it had lost it in the fissure for a few +minutes only, when, recovering its trail, the deer had pursued it to the +platform, where, with one grip at its neck, it killed it, when, startled +at the cavalcade, it retraced its steps, not at all to the regret of +Nicholas, for, valuable as the musk animal was, his gratitude was too +great to have killed it. Having crossed the platform, Nicholas saw the +predicament of Chow, who was still employed in keeping the wolves at +bay. He had fired many arrows, yet had killed but three, while others +sat crouching, as if neither liking to recede or advance, waiting, in +fact, for the boy's back to be turned, before they made an attack; so +keeping poor Chow in one terrible position, not daring to turn his back +or to fire his last remaining arrow, for fear that it should miss. The +tables, however, were turned, when Nicholas, followed by the guide, both +with fixed bows, came to his rescue; one flight more from the three +bows, and the now terrified beasts scampered off, when Chow returned to +the other side of the platform with Nicholas, and the whole party +offered up thanks to Heaven for their miraculous preservation.</p> + +<p>It is in the mountains of Pe-tche-Lee that the musk-deer is generally +found by hunters, who find a good market, not only for the musk, but the +body, which is in great esteem; and that I may account to you in a +reasonable manner for the providential escape of the travelers, I must +tell you that the flesh of serpents is the favorite and most common food +of this roe-buck, who kills them with ease, however large or numerous; +for no sooner does he come near than the serpent becomes overpowered +with the scent of the musk; and so well is this fact known to the +mountaineers, that when they go to cut wood or make charcoal in the +mountains, they carry about their persons a few grains of this musk, and +rest and sleep without fear from the venomous snakes, which might +otherwise destroy them.</p> + +<p>The travelers resumed their journey, and continued till it became dark, +when they pitched their tents upon an open plain, lighted a circle of +fire around their encampment, and remained for the night; so, for at +least three months, they continued this tedious journey, keeping within +a few miles of the sea-coast, through mountains, plains and forests, +till they reached a small village, at the base of the mountain chain of +Lao-yang, where they were once more enabled to rest beneath the roof of +a house, without fear of traitors, for Lao-yang was the head-quarters of +the governor and general of the province, Woo-san-Kwei.</p> + +<p>As they were passing the ridges of these mountains, the guide kept his +eyes fixed upon their green sides, as if in deep thought. "Surely my +brother can see nothing wonderful in these tree-growing hills," said +Chow.</p> + +<p>"Thy mean servant was dreaming of his native province, of which these +mountains reminded him, although compared with those of my native +Chen-si they are dirt heaps."</p> + +<p>"The mountains of my brother's province of Chen-si are doubtless great, +but they are mole-hills to those of Fokien, where thy unworthy brother +was born," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Why, what words are these? Does not the whole world know that Chen-si +has a mountain of the shape of a cock, and which sometimes crows so loud +that it may be heard for ten miles?"</p> + +<p>"Fokien has a mountain which is so high that its summit can not be seen, +and foretells storms by moving its great body to and fro like a tree +with the wind."</p> + +<p>"It is a dirt-hill compared to another in Chen-si, that at the sound of +a drum breathes forth fire and flame."</p> + +<p>"Rat's flesh! thy mountain is nothing to the good hill of Fokien, which +makes thieves so giddy when they gaze upon it, that they drop down their +plunder and run for their lives," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"That may be useful, my brother, but how can its qualities be compared +to another of my mountains, which has the power of conferring +immortality upon all who live thereon?" replied the guide.</p> + +<p>"It is even of doubtful merit compared to the mountain of Fokien, which +has grown into the exact shape of the god Fo, and is so large that its +eyes are three miles round, and its nose ten miles long." The guide +having no other on his list, turned sulkily aside, and so ended this +conversation, which, I may tell you, did not spring from the +imaginations of either, for the assertions on both sides are accredited +by the people of China.</p> + +<p>Delighted at the probability of their being near the end of their +journey, and as much so at the prospect of a few days' rest, you may +imagine the dismay of the party at being awakened early the next morning +by a great tumult. What could it mean? They were not long in doubt, for +the master of the inn came to them with tears in his eyes. "Arise, O +worthy strangers, this is an unfortunate day for us all; the thieves, +the rats of the ocean have landed," said he.</p> + +<p>"What words are these, O worthy friend?" said Nicholas, jumping to his +feet.</p> + +<p>"The Emperor Li is marching a great army to beseige Lao-yang, where the +great Woo-san-Kwei is encamped; but far worse, the sea wasps have +landed within a day's journey, and are scouring the country, joined by +the rogues and thieves of the province, and the people are flying with +what goods they can collect to the places of refuge; if the noble +stranger is wise he will follow," said the man, leaving the room to make +preparation for the departure of himself and family.</p> + +<p>Of the places of refuge, of which the man spoke, there were many in the +province of Leao-tong. Some were in the open plains, encompassed by +strong walls, and entrenched ditches of great depth; others were erected +upon the summits of mountain crags, and approachable only by great +ladders, or secret steps in the rock.</p> + +<p>Fearing for the safety of the princess, Nicholas lost no time in +securing the aid of the innkeeper, who, for a handsome present, and in +compassion for the ladies, offered to secure them a safe asylum. So when +the greater portion of the terrified inhabitants of the little hamlet +had fled to their different places of refuge, taking with them the bulk +of their property, the innkeeper, placing his wife and daughter in a +cart, led the way through a defile of the mountain, and many times was +he stopped by his flying neighbors, who implored of him to seek a safer +place than the open mountains, where the rogues could so easily follow. +Keeping steadily along the ridge, while they were in sight, the last had +no sooner disappeared than he turned through a great cleft, just large +enough for the cart and camel to pass, when, pointing to a crag which +hung over the summit, at a great height, he said, "The rogues will not +reach us there."</p> + +<p>"Are we birds, that we can fly?" said Chow, with astonishment.</p> + +<p>When they had proceeded some distance through the opening, they came to +another and narrower cleft, cut out of its sides, to pass through which +they were compelled to unharness the mules and camel, when they entered +a wide, open space, like a courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Even now we want wings, my brother," said Chow, shuddering, as he gazed +upward at the great height.</p> + +<p>"Our wings are here," said the man, turning aside what appeared to be a +huge block of rock, but was only an ingenious imitation, when before +them there was a flight of steps, steep, and so narrow, that they looked +as if the ascent would squeeze a fat man a foot taller.</p> + +<p>However, pleased at the discovery of such a place of refuge, they did +not stop to examine it, but passed onward; the princess first, and the +other women followed by the men, who carried articles of food, fuel, or +raiment with them. Having reached the uppermost step, they crept through +a hole large enough only for one person, and found themselves in one +large room, the roof of which was indeed the summit of the rock. In the +walls were small loopholes, from which could be seen many miles of +country; there was also a large space in one side for a fire, which was +immediately made use of by Chow, who had carried the fuel. Then the +guide was sent to fetch other matters, after which they all sat down +upon their mats, and partook of hot tea and rice cakes.</p> + +<p>"Truly this is a wonderful place," said Nicholas, who, although he knew +that places of refuge were common in all the frontier provinces, had no +notion of their real strength and security.</p> + +<p>"See," said the man, pointing to some huge stones near the entrance, and +some heavy bars of iron hanging upon the walls, "should the dogs +discover our retreat, they may be crushed as small as tea-dust."</p> + +<p>"Truly they could but starve us out."</p> + +<p>"Not so, noble youth," said the man pointing to a massive slab of rock; +and adding, "This is a door and leads to another part of the mountain."</p> + +<p>"Truly our ancestors were wise."</p> + +<p>"Necessity made them so, O youth; for two thousand years this border +province has been invaded at intervals by the Tartar barbarians."</p> + +<p>When night came on, the men of the party descended to the cavern +beneath, the women kept to the turret, and were rocked to sleep by the +roaring wind, which brought to them the flame, smoke, and sparks, from +below. They, however, were secure, although the enraged rogues had made +a bonfire of their village—and they slept.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>TREACHERY OF THE GUIDE.—THE PRINCESS SEIZED BY ROBBERS.</h3> + + +<p>After a sojourn of three days in this hiding-place their provisions grew +short; moreover, it was probable that the enemy had left the village, +if, indeed, they had not taken their departure upon the first day; +therefore, it was arranged that one of the party should proceed upon a +tour of observation, and as the guide not only volunteered, but from his +profession seemed to be the most fitting person, he was sent. After an +absence of some hours, he brought them the information that not only had +the enemy left the neighborhood, but there was plenty of game at hand, +the great proof of which was the carcass of a yellow goat that he +carried across his shoulders; and so joyful was Nicholas at the news, +that he proposed their immediate departure.</p> + +<p>"It would not be wise, O my young friend, for these thieves are artful, +and may be only lurking near till they can pounce upon us like tigers," +said the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>This advice being reasonable, and, fearing more for the princess than +himself, Nicholas readily agreed to remain for a few more days; but +then, tired of confinement, and knowing that one small kid would be +insufficient, he took his bow in his hands, saying, "Leave not this +place, O Chow, till I return."</p> + +<p>"This may not be, O my master, for while here, there are two men, and a +strong room to protect the ladies; among the hills it will be as much as +two can do to protect each other from strolling thieves," said Chow; +which reasonable view, being supported by the princess and the +innkeeper, Nicholas was compelled, although against his will, to comply +with; and so the two youths started off in company.</p> + +<p>Along mountain ridges, through valleys, and up steep crags, they toiled +for some hours without meeting man or beast. At length, however, as they +crossed a small hill covered with trees there was a rustling among the +underwood, and they heard the grunt of some animal. "It is a boar, +prepare thy bow," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"No, no, master, no; he is running from us," said Chow, who was upon +higher ground and could see better. "See," he added, as Nicholas came by +his side, "he is sniffing something good; what can it be?" For a minute +they watched the animal, who was quietly sniffing the ground near a +small opening of the mountain. "See, he seeks the entrance, we must not +lose him," said Nicholas; and in another minute the boar fell over with +an arrow in his side when, drawing his sword, Nicholas ran up to it. The +animal, however, was too quick, for instead of being unduly alarmed at +the sudden attack, like a sensible beast, he had, with his teeth, +plucked the arrow from his body; an operation he effected so quickly, +that before Nicholas could stop, the boar met him half-way, tripped him +over, and, placing his huge paws upon the boy's face, would speedily +have killed him, but for another arrow which Chow had sent through the +brute's thick neck.</p> + +<p>"That was a good aim, my brave Chow," said Nicholas, as he arose, and +passed his sword through the beast.</p> + +<p>"The obstinacy of thy servant in coming with thee was good, O noble +Nicholas."</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt be rewarded with a leg, at least," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Thus satisfied with their foraging expedition, they carried the animal +between them till they came within a short distance of the refuge, when +they stopped to rest; but, starting suddenly Chow said, "Let us listen;" +and both put their ears to the ground. "Surely, it is plain, it is the +trampling of a large party of horses," replied Nicholas, rising to his +feet and running up a steep hill, "still there is nothing to be seen, no +living being—yet," he added, "it was the trampling of horses."</p> + +<p>"It can not be otherwise," said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Let us haste, then, O Chow!" and leaving the carcass of the boar upon +the ground, they ran till they reached the cavern. The camel and mules +were gone—their worst fears were confirmed; and Nicholas ascended the +stairs, followed by Chow, entered the room, when involuntarily placing +his hand upon his forehead, as if to assist his astonished vision, he +gave a scream of horror.</p> + +<p>As for Chow, for a minute his astonishment deprived him of speech; then, +falling upon his face, he exclaimed, "My beloved mother!"</p> + +<p>Well might they be horrified, for the princess and her attendant were +absent; the innkeeper, his wife and daughter, and the guide, were bound +with cords and gagged, so that they could neither move nor speak.</p> + +<p>While Nicholas released the innkeeper, Chow performed a like office for +the women, when they all fell upon the guide, thumping him with their +fists, kicking him with their feet, and exclaiming, "Thou rat, thou +snake, thou shalt be strangled." As for the miserable fellow, with his +limbs bound and his mouth gagged, he could do nothing but roll his eyes +at them. Then being released by Nicholas, he would have got upon his +legs but for Chow, who threw him upon his back, and, stamping his foot +upon his breast, cried, "Lie there, thou dog, for thou art the villain."</p> + +<p>"It is not so, Chow, or he would not himself be so bound and gagged," +said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, he is the traitor; he it was who brought the soldiers +upon us, who discovered our retreat," said the innkeeper, giving the +prostrate rogue another kick.</p> + +<p>"Open thy lips, thou rascal; say what has become of the two ladies, or I +will slay thee," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Speak, thou rogue," said Chow, almost breathless with anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Truly it was the misfortune and not the crime of thy servant; for had +he not been chosen as thy guide, this thing could not have happened," +replied the trembling fellow.</p> + +<p>"Open thy lips to a purpose, thou rogue; give me a clue to the track of +these robbers, and thy life shall be spared," said Nicholas, more +anxious to rescue the princess than to punish the guide, who, gaining +courage from the promise, said, "Truly, then, the princess is on her way +to the camp of the Emperor."</p> + +<p>This was too much for Nicholas, who fell upon the man, and would have +killed him, but for Chow, who, in his turn, becoming more calm, said, +"Let the rogue earn his life by enabling us to follow these thieving +rats."</p> + +<p>Perceiving the wisdom of this, Nicholas removed his hand from the throat +of the rogue, who said, "Truly this is a heavy misfortune; for till thy +servant left this place, he intended no mischief, when in the mountains +he met with a party of soldiers, who have been pursuing us all the way +from Kin-Chow for the purpose of earning the reward offered for the +princess."</p> + +<p>"How is this possible, thou rogue?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"On the day of the festival, these soldiers landed on their way to +gather troops for the service of the Emperor Li, whom they were ordered +to join on the borders of the province; on the same day that thy outrage +upon the person of my uncle, the innkeeper of Kin-Chow, was discovered, +and the venerable man in his indignation told the soldiers that the +princess, for whom so large a reward was offered, was on the road to +Lao-yang, accompanied by a woman, two youths, and his nephew, who might +be known by the name of Leang, and who would, doubtless, when he heard +of the affront put upon his uncle, aid in capturing the whole party. The +soldiers, anxious to obtain the reward, pressed forward with such haste, +that, but for our crossing the platform, they would have overtaken us," +said the guide; adding, "And would that they had, for then thy servant +would have been innocent."</p> + +<p>"If innocent, then, thou rogue, what hath since caused thee to become a +traitor," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"When the soldiers informed the nephew of the affront offered to his +venerable uncle, how under heaven and the social laws could he refuse to +aid in the punishment of such offenders?"</p> + +<p>"How came it, O thou great rogue, that the soldiers should repay thy +great services with so much ingratitude?"</p> + +<p>"Truly thy mean servant is not a god, that he can foresee the +ingratitude of mankind."</p> + +<p>"These are dog's words, O noble youth," said the innkeeper; adding, +"This fellow had promised the thieves to keep thee under some pretence +till they came up, when they intended to have sold thee as a slave; and +finding that they had missed a portion of their expected prize, partly +in their rage, and partly that the rogue should not claim a portion of +the reward, they first beat and then left him as you found him, not +doubting that upon your return you would kill so false a rascal."</p> + +<p>"Shall we not kill the traitor, who has stolen my beloved mother and the +princess?" said Chow, very fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Truly we will do better—make him useful," said Nicholas; adding, "Is +the rogue certain that these soldiers have proceeded to Lao-yang?"</p> + +<p>"It must be so, for it is to that city the Emperor Li is marching to +besiege the rebel Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide.</p> + +<p>"Thou rascal, to call so great a thief an emperor, and so great a +general a rebel," said Chow, menacing him with his fist; adding, as he +again bound his arms to his side, "Thou shalt at least be in safe +keeping till either the princess be discovered, or thy day arrives to be +strangled."</p> + +<p>The excitement past, then came despair. The soldiers had stolen the +mules and camel; it was, therefore, useless to attempt to overtake them, +even if their numbers had been sufficiently large. What was to be done? +and they both sat with their heads upon their hands. Nothing! At length +Nicholas said, "Bring the rogue with us, we will seek the General +Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"The roads are dangerous, and may be filled with rebels," said the +innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"Then must we fight our way through the vermin," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"This rogue shall go before and get the first sword in his wretched +body," said Chow, jerking the rope by which he held the guide, whose +teeth chattered together with terror at the notion.</p> + +<p>Then telling the innkeeper where to find the dead boar, Nicholas bade +him and his family farewell.</p> + +<p>"May the great Tien aid thee!" said the woman.</p> + +<p>"Leave us thy name, O noble youth, that it may be marked on the memories +of our descendants," said the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>Nicholas took the man aside, and whispered in his ear.</p> + +<p>"It is a terrible name," said the man, bowing his head to the ground.</p> + +<p>"It is a good one, and the son will restore thee thy village, O worthy +man, if the rebels take not his life," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"The princess, the princess, and my beloved mother," exclaimed Chow.</p> + +<p>"Are protected by Heaven till we rescue them from the hands of the +villain Li," said Nicholas, and they proceeded on their journey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>ONCE MORE PRISONERS, BUT WITH FRIENDS—THE GUIDE'S MISTAKE.</h3> + + +<p>With sorrowful hearts the two boys took leave of the houseless family, +and proceeded along the ridges of the mountains till they came to the +entrance of a great wood. Chow had custody of the guide, whom he held by +the rope, and pressed forward or jerked backward, as his sense of +indignation at the loss of his mother arose or subsided. At times he +would so slacken the rope that the man could scarcely feel his thraldom; +then again, when he thought of the hopelessness of again recovering his +mother, he would clench his teeth and pull it so violently, that the +miserable guide would fall backward; whereupon Chow would say, "Get thee +upon thy bamboo legs, thou rogue, or I will drag thee like a bale of +demon's goods, as thou art;" and the fat body of the coward would shake +like a blanc-mange, rise upon its legs, and commence a trot, when, after +a little while, Chow would give another tug at the rope, saying, as the +man tottered backward, "O, thou wouldst escape, wouldst thou, thou mouse +of fat measure, who hath stolen the cream of our lives?"</p> + +<p>"Truly thy servant has been unfortunate, O noble youth, yet if his body +is shaken like a jelly of cold soup, he cannot guide thee through this +city of trees."</p> + +<p>"The rogue's words are good, Chow, we cannot find our way through these +trees without his aid," said Nicholas; adding, "Fasten the rope around +thy arm, so that he cannot slip from thy hands."</p> + +<p>"Truly the advice of my master is good," said Chow; and as they were +then passing through a thick copse, he fastened the rope around his own +body, saying, "Now, thou rat, honesty will for once reverse things, and +take its place behind roguery, for surely I hear footsteps, and should +they be those of thieves, thy thick head may serve to blunt the points +of their arrows."</p> + +<p>The sounds were unmistakable, and the guide fell backward, trembling so +violently that he could not walk, till, taking hold of his shoulders, +Chow pushed him forward, saying, "On, thou coward, on;" and so they went +along the narrow path, till the sounds became more distinct. Then a +voice shouted to them, "stop!" when, trembling more than ever, the guide +threw one shoulder backward, and one foot forward, in order to prop +himself against the propelling Chow, at the same time exclaiming, "Stay, +O generous youth,—for the love of Fo, stay!—or the body of thy servant +will become a cushion for arrow-heads."</p> + +<p>"Silence, thou dog," said Nicholas; adding in a whisper to Chow, "Let us +remain quiet, for doubtless it is some thief."</p> + +<p>Then came the twang of a bow, and an arrow flew by, in its flight +clipping the ear of the miserable guide, who, now fairly frightened +out of his senses, twisted round like a teetotum, and fell upon the +ground, carrying Chow with him, exclaiming, "These are the thieves, +these are the thieves, O honorable war tiger."</p> + +<p>And before Chow had disengaged himself from the rogue, they were all +three dragged into an open glade, where they found themselves surrounded +by a party of cavalry, the guide upon the ground trembling, and Nicholas +and Chow with their arms folded defiantly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>Nicholas and Chow taken Prisoners.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Who are the dogs? what their names, surnames, and rank?" said the +officer.</p> + +<p>"Travelers who have no fear of rebel rogues," replied Nicholas +dauntlessly, believing them to be troops of Li-Kong.</p> + +<p>"Take my life, but save that of my venerable mother," said Chow, in a +similar belief.</p> + +<p>"These rogues are robbers, who would take a faithful and valiant subject +of the great Emperor Li-Kong a prisoner to the town of the thief +Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide, jumping upon his feet, with a most +warlike mien, knowing that if with the soldiers of Li-Kong he was with +friends.</p> + +<p>"What means the slave? Who art thou, thou empty rice tub?" said the +officer.</p> + +<p>"It may please the fierce tiger of war to be amused at the person of his +servant; but if he be a rice-tub, he can serve the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"Emperor!—what Emperor, thou ox?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"The great Li,—may he live ten thousand years."</p> + +<p>"Thy name, surname, and rank?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"The mean name of thy insignificant servant is Leang, and he is the +unworthy nephew of Ling, the innkeeper, of Kin-Chow," replied the guide, +not doubting that he was in the hands of rebel troopers.</p> + +<p>"Then truly, Leang, the unworthy nephew of Ling, is a dangerous though a +comical rogue."</p> + +<p>"The noble tiger of war is pleased——"</p> + +<p>"To have thee strangled with thine own girdle for being a follower of +the great thief Li-Kong," said the officer; adding, as he turned to his +soldiers, "Let this be done."</p> + +<p>At this unexpected result, the terribly mistaken guide's face became +paler and longer, and falling upon his knees, he said, "Let the +magnificent commander be generous to an insignificant and withered +mouse, who is nothing but a poor and faithful guide, as these noble +youths, whom he hath conducted all the way from Kin-Chow to the town of +the great Woo-san-Kwei, can testify."</p> + +<p>"Bend thy neck at the name of the great prince, thou rogue," said the +officer, striking him on the back with his sword, and the guide fell +flat—that is, as nearly so as his protuberant stomach would +permit—when the officer added laughingly, "Truly the animal is fat +enough to kill at once; yet, as the rebels may cause us a siege so long +that we may be short of provender for our horses, let him be kept in a +strong cage till that time arrives;" then beckoning to a soldier, the +latter seized the horrified guide and tied him before him on his saddle.</p> + +<p>Then turning to Nicholas and Chow, who, notwithstanding their serious +position, had been laughing heartily at the merited misery of the guide, +the officer said, "Are the rogue's words truth? Do my brothers seek the +presence of the great Woo-san-Kwei?" Then when Nicholas had related to +the officer the whole of their adventures from Kin, Chow alone +prudentially keeping back the fact that the lady of high rank was the +princess, he said, "What were the numbers of these rogues?"</p> + +<p>"There could have been no less than twenty, O noble commander," said +Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Then turning to his second-in-command, the officer said, "Let the rogue +of a guide be kept tied before thee on thy saddle, O Ching; take fifty +horsemen, and return not to the camp till thou bringest these ladies +with thee. If the rogue of a guide directs thee so that thou art +successful, he shall be rewarded; if not, strangled."</p> + +<p>"Will not the noble commander let these horsemen be placed under the +charge of his younger brother, who truly hath the greater right to bring +these rogues to punishment?" said Nicholas, imploringly.</p> + +<p>"This may not be, my brother; for, although I doubt not thy honesty, it +would be at the risk of my life that I let thee pass from my sight till +thou hadst been taken before the prince."</p> + +<p>Although vexed that the chance of rescuing the princess, and punishing +the soldiers who had made her prisoner, had been denied to him, +Nicholas felt too well pleased at the slightest possibility of her being +rescued, to complain; and, therefore, without another word, the boys +followed the troops upon their march to Lao-yang, not by any means +regretting that they had fallen into the hands of this foraging party of +Woo-san-Kwei's army.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>INTERVIEW WITH THE GENERAL.—NICHOLAS CAUSES SOLDIERS TO BE SENT IN +SEARCH OF THE PRINCESS.</h3> + + +<p>Unlike any place Nicholas had seen since he left his father's fleet, +Lao-yang exhibited sure signs of the determination and energy of its +commanders. Surrounded by a deep ditch of great width, its formidable +walls were manned at every point with the picked and most disciplined +men from the northern provinces—soldiers who had been fighting for many +years against the invading Tartars—and armed to the teeth with swords, +cross-bows, shields, helmets, and breast and back plates. At short +distances were planted small brass cannon, or bombards, which, although +they had been set aside for so many years that the art of using them had +become forgotten, Woo-san-Kwei had not only brought again into use, but +taught his troops to serve effectually. Then, again, although the +matchlock men were fewer than upon the walls of Pekin, they had been so +well exercised in the use of that weapon that they could handle it +nearly as well as bows and arrows,—a great matter at that period, as +you will understand when I tell you that some few years previously, when +matchlocks were first introduced, to defend a frontier town against the +Tartars, the latter were so much astonished at a weapon which possessed +the magic power of slaying them at so great a distance, that they fled +in dismay, when, making a sortie, or onset, the Chinese destroyed many +thousands. The next assault, however, the Tartars provided their front +ranks with shields of wood, so large and thick, that they were as safe +from bullets, as they would have been behind walls, consequently the +fire of the Chinese proved useless; moreover, before they could reload, +the second rank of the Tartars scaled the walls and fell upon them so +quickly, that even those who had time to load handled their pieces so +clumsily and nervously that the rebound knocked them over, and the whole +garrison were killed. This affair so disgusted the Chinese with the +matchlock, that henceforward they kept it more as a matter of show, or +to use when there was no chance of coming to close quarters, than as a +regular weapon of war.</p> + +<p>With greater foresight, the General Woo-san-Kwei had not only re-adopted +the weapon, but, by incessant practice, and offerings of rewards and +promotion to those who exhibited peculiar dexterity, he succeeded in +forming a good body of matchlock men.</p> + +<p>When they had passed through the gates, the officer left Nicholas and +Chow to amuse themselves as best they might, while he proceeded to +report the arrival of himself and his prisoners (for in that light he +regarded them) to the prince general.</p> + +<p>Had Nicholas entrusted his name, or that of the princess, to the +officer, there can be no doubt that the general would have granted him +an immediate interview; as it was, he had to wait till the following +day. Previously, however, to seeking the audience, he went to the great +square, where, to his surprise, he saw a large body of troops drawn out +under arms, with their banners and wind instruments, as if to receive +some important personage, and officers were galloping to and fro between +the palace and the great gates. The meaning of all this puzzled him. +Truly it would be unfortunate if Woo-san-Kwei should be about to take +his departure upon some expedition. The riddle, was, however, soon +explained; for, even while he was pondering, the general's own bodyguard +passed to the gate; when, drawing themselves up on either side, a +noble-looking horseman, followed by a train of some twenty others, rode +into the city, and was escorted to the palace; but, great as this +personage evidently was, the Chinese soldiers kept a dread and sullen +silence, making no movement except to involuntarily clutch the triggers +of their pieces, or the strings of their bows. As for Nicholas, he +stared with astonishment, grasped the hilt of his sword—the sight was +indeed extraordinary. A Mantchou prince and his train of Tartars, those +most dreaded enemies of the empire, within the very palace of the +barbarian-subduing general, not in chains, but as a friend, received +with honor.</p> + +<p>Indignant at the sight, Nicholas rudely grasped the arm of a soldier, +saying, "Can my brother tell a stranger how it is that such barbarian +thieves are within these walls? Surely the kid does not invite the wolf +to its own bosom!"</p> + +<p>"Would my brother keep his head upon his shoulders and not be thrown +from the walls like a dead rat, he will not seek to know the +barbarian-exterminating general's secrets," said the surly soldier; +adding, however, directly afterward, "The Tartar dogs may have come to +offer their submission."</p> + +<p>Whatever might have been the business of the Tartar prince with the +Chinese general, it did not last an hour, for in less than that time he +left the city, and shortly after the officer who had brought Nicholas +into the town conducted him to the presence of the general, who, in full +military costume, surrounded by a great number of officers, was standing +(a rare thing for a Chinese grandee) at a table, busily engaged in +examining some papers.</p> + +<p>Having performed the same ceremony of running up the middle of the +apartment, and bowing to the ground, as at an audience of the Emperor, +he awaited the command of the prince to rise, which being given, +Woo-san-Kwei no sooner saw his features than he said, "This is indeed a +fortunate day, that brings to us the son of Chin-Chi-Loong. Thy +presence, bold youth, is welcome; yet," he added sternly, "so brave a +servant should have died defending his imperial master."</p> + +<p>"The silken voice of the illustrious general is music to his servant, +whose words must not fall into the ears of all," replied Nicholas, +glancing at the officers around.</p> + +<p>"This is but wisdom, youth," replied the prince, motioning to the +officers to withdraw from the apartment, after which he said, "Let the +noble youth open his lips;" whereupon Nicholas gave a faithful recital +of his adventures from the time that Woo-san-Kwei had himself left Pekin +for the army. During the recital, the general listened attentively, at +intervals giving vent to exclamations of surprise, rage, or approval. +When, however, Nicholas related the escape of the princess, he said, +warmly, "Noble youth, thy wisdom, like thy bravery, is beyond thy years; +and when these rebel dogs have been swept from the earth, thou shalt +have the kingdom that thy father seeketh." Then, when the enthusiasm of +the moment had passed, bethinking himself, he said, "But truly the +servant of the Mings forgets his duty to the daughter of his murdered +Emperor; lead me to her, O youth."</p> + +<p>Then Nicholas, for the first time in his life, trembled; an arrow +through his heart would have been more welcome than that command, and +falling upon his knees, as if he had betrayed a sacred trust, he said, +"These words should be my last, O general. The princess is in the power +of the rebel Li-Kong."</p> + +<p>So like a thunder-clap did these words fall upon the mind of the +Woo-san-Kwei, that for a moment he was speechless, but recovering +himself, he said, "Thou dog, if these words are true thou shalt die;" +but becoming calmer, he commanded Nicholas to finish his story, and when +the youth had brought it up to the moment of the audience, the general +said, "Thou art, indeed, a brave youth; but this rogue Leang, knows he +the road the woman thieves took?" Then, however, without waiting for an +answer, and knowing that action was more likely to recover the princess +and her attendant than useless sorrow or anger, he ordered the +attendance of one of his officers, telling him to send out parties of +soldiers in different directions in search of the princess.</p> + +<p>Then Nicholas fell upon his knees, and prayed to lead the party himself.</p> + +<p>"This cannot be, brave youth, for thou art too serviceable to have thy +person risked in a province so wild that no stranger can journey through +without a guide."</p> + +<p>"Then, O illustrious prince, thy servant dares not meet the heavenly +eyes of the Prince Yong-Li, in whose service he has undertaken this long +journey," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Truly it was an unfortunate day for the son of Woo when he fell under +the displeasure of the young Emperor, his royal master," said the +general, gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Can it be under heaven that Yong Li has forgotten the great services of +his most illustrious general?"</p> + +<p>"Such is his servant's misfortune," said the general.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Nicholas, "let thy servant seek the young Emperor, and upon +his knees pray of him to open his heavenly ears to the fragrant advice +of the great Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"This cannot be, for his majesty (<i>may he continue the circle of +succession</i>) has left Lao-yang in anger."</p> + +<p>"This, then, is indeed an unfortunate day, O my general," said +Nicholas, with astonishment; adding, "Surely the cause must have been +great for so much anger from so mild a prince."</p> + +<p>"Let the noble youth open his ears, and he shall hear how this calamity +fell out," said the general; adding, "When his majesty, after the death +of his father, so happily escaped the hands of the great thief Li, he +fled to the army of his servant, and desired that the whole of the +Tartar-subduing army of Leao-tong should be immediately led to Pekin for +the purpose of destroying the rebels. Alas! the grief of the prince had +destroyed his reason; the plan was not possible, for in my absence the +barbarians would have overrun the northern province. Well, for a time +the prince submitted to his servant's advice, till one day an envoy +arrived from the dog Li, who commanded me to proclaim him Emperor +throughout the province, offering, as the price of my obedience, a +kingdom; threatening, if I refused, to march against this city with a +million of men."</p> + +<p>"The illustrious general could make but one answer to so infamous a +proposal," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"And that was to offer a reward of ten thousand taels to the brave man +who should lay the head of so black a dragon at my feet," said the +general; adding, "Soon after came the news that Li was on his march, +with a vast army, to chastise me for the insult, and I began to prepare +to receive him; but, finding that the number of my troops was so small +that the multitudinous army of the rebels would hew them to pieces in +the first battle, rather than suffer such a disgrace, and permit so +vile a criminal to remain unpunished, I dared to propose to make peace +with the Tartar king conditionally, that he would help me to drive this +rogue from the land. This proposition was indignantly resisted by the +prince, when (may I be pardoned for so daring an act) I became but the +more resolved, and immediately sent a special envoy to the Tartar, who, +in return, sent by his brother, the great Amavan, a promise to add to my +little army one hundred thousand of his bravest troops. Scarcely, +however, had a day elapsed after the departure of my envoy to the +Tartar, then the royal Yong-Li left the city in anger."</p> + +<p>"Truly, general, the prince was wise, for although in war and council +all men are mice by the side of the great Woo-san-Kwei, surely in this +his wisdom must have failed him, for, O general, is it reasonable to +bring in tigers to chase away dogs?" said Nicholas, warmly.</p> + +<p>To which Woo-san-Kwei made no reply, but terminated the audience to keep +down his anger.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>CRUEL DEATH OF THE AGED WOO.—A BATTLE.—BRAVERY OF THE BOYS.—CHOW +TAKEN BY THE ENEMY.</h3> + + +<p>With terrible anxiety, Nicholas awaited the return of the party sent in +search of the princess, but when evening came and they brought not the +slightest clue, his grief grew beyond all bounds, and he resolved to +seek the general's permission to go himself in search, but, as on the +following day, a deserter from the enemy brought news that the main body +of the rebels was within a few miles of Lao-yang, he was compelled to +remain with Woo-san-Kwei, at least till the enemy had been destroyed or +beaten back from whence they came.</p> + +<p>Then terrible preparations were made for a close fight, in the event of +the enemy assaulting the town before the arrival of the Tartars; but +when Li-Kong came in sight, with an army so vast that it covered the +country for miles, the hearts of Woo-san-Kwei's troops grew faint, for +should the Tartars deceive them, they were lost, for against such +numbers it was impossible they could hold out many days. Still, the +greatest coward grew courageous when he thought of the merciless cruelty +of Li, knowing it would be a far more easy death to fall upon the walls +than into his hands, and so for days they held out bravely against the +attacks which had now become incessant. Then, through the continued +efforts, both by day and night, made by the two youths, to sustain the +courage of the troops, the latter recovered their spirits, and so +gallantly did the boys help in repelling the assailants, that they were +praised by the general in front of the whole army.</p> + +<p>Fourteen days had they defended the town, when the provisions became so +scarce, that, again losing hope, the troops grew mutinous and threatened +to throw down their arms, when, upon the fifteenth, upon a hill that +arose far behind the rebel army, there shot up to the heavens a vast +body of blue fire, upon which, forgetting their troubles, the soldiers +became frantic with joy, offered thanks to Fo, and returned to their +duties with renewed energy; and no wonder, for it was the signal that +the Tartars were on their march to relieve them.</p> + +<p>Li-Kong must also have understood the signal, for from the moment of its +appearance one-half of his army began to manoeuvre, so as to present a +good front to the new enemy, while the other commenced a fierce assault +upon the town. Seeing assistance at hand, Woo-san-Kwei ordered his +troops to reserve their arrows and ammunition till their ally had so +weakened the enemy's rear that he could judiciously leave the town, and +attack them in front. When, however, the besieged slackened fire, the +assaulting party retired, and a body of their cavalry, holding their +great shields before them to receive stray arrows, rode forward to +within half a bow-shot from the walls, when they came to a dead halt.</p> + +<p>"What mean the dogs? surely they escort an envoy from the rash rebel," +said the general, commanding silence along the walls; and then ordering +one of his officers to shout to the party, that they might remove their +shields without fear.</p> + +<p>This having been done, the men let fall their shields, when the sight +that presented itself caused the brave general to reel, so that he would +have fallen but for the support of Nicholas. As for Chow, he placed an +arrow in his bow, and would have sent it flying at the chief of the +party, had not an officer struck the arrow from its rest, saying, "How, +wouldst thou disobey the general?" and brought to his senses, the boy +stood stamping his feet, gnashing his teeth, and twitching the bow with +suppressed rage. Well might the sight cause such consternation on the +part of the general, for there upon horseback, heavily laden with +chains, sat his father the venerable Woo, with his long gray hair +flowing down his bared neck, accompanied by an executioner, who stood by +his side, holding a naked sabre.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>The aged Woo brought in chains before the walls.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"What would the General Li-Kong with Woo-san-Kwei, that he thus humbles +him?" said Woo-san-Kwei.</p> + +<p>"Let the venerable Woo answer the question of his rebel son," said the +chief of the party.</p> + +<p>Then with a glance of fierce defiance at his guards, the old noble said, +"It is well known, O my son, that the heavens, earth, and fate cause +strange vicissitudes of fortune; even so have they deposed the Emperor +Wey-t-song, and placed in his royal seat the Emperor Li-Kong, who, if +thou wilt make a virtue of necessity, acknowledge his dominion, and +serve him as a faithful tributary, will confer upon thee the title and +dignity of a king; but if thou refusest submission, the head of thy +parent will be the penalty. Such are the words the aged Woo hath been +commanded to deliver; it is now for his brave son to consider what he +oweth to him who gave him life."</p> + +<p>So great was the indignation of the troops of Woo-san-Kwei, that but for +the danger of Woo, whom the rebels had placed in their front, they would +have shot down the whole party. As for the general, he stood for some +minutes bewildered; had it been his rank, fortune, or life, that was in +danger, his filial love would have prevented an instant's hesitation; +but was he not the son of a man whose whole life had been dedicated to +the people? alas! this knowledge made his agony the greater; for the +better the man, the greater reason his life should be saved at any cost. +At any? No—not at the cost of his honor, and the safety of the people, +whom this Li-Kong was decimating hourly.</p> + +<p>With terrible patience the chief of the party awaited a reply. It was +given. Woo-san-Kwei fell upon his knees. "Pardon, O my venerable and +noble parent," said he aloud, "but it is not under heaven that thou +couldst wish thy son to do this thing; if it be so, let this be the +answer: He that is not faithful to the people will never be faithful to +his son; therefore, if you forget your duty and fidelity to the imperial +family, and the people, by demanding that thy son should be guilty of so +great a crime, no man will blame Woo-san-Kwei for forgetting his duty +and obedience to such a father." Then, turning to the chief, the general +added sternly, "Take back these words, thou dog: That the son of the +venerable Woo will die the dog's death rather than acknowledge so great +and cruel a thief as this Li-Kong."</p> + +<p>"These are fragrant words, O my noble son; for hadst thou been guilty of +so monstrous a crime, the names both of father and son would have +sounded hateful in the ears of posterity: the father, that he had +brought up a son so basely; and the son, that he could save so bad a +parent," replied the venerable noble.</p> + +<p>"Shall it go down to posterity that the noble Woo-san-Kwei was the +assassin of his parent?" said the chief of the party.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast thy answer, dog, and if thou art within bow-shot longer than +the next five minutes thy miserable life shall be the forfeit," said the +general; adding sorrowfully, "Farewell, O my venerable parent. May the +great Tien pardon me, if I have not chosen virtuously."</p> + +<p>"Thy choice, O noble son, will make happy the last moments of thy +father," said the old noble; when, interrupting him, the rebel chief +said, "Still thou shalt have another chance to save this old man's life, +thou obstinate rebel;" adding, "I will grant thee another hour, and if +within that time a fire is made upon your walls, I shall take it as the +token of your submission; but if at the end of the hour such a signal +has not been made, then shall a similar signal from the Emperor's camp +proclaim thy parent to be on his journey to the yellow stream."</p> + +<p>After this the party hastened back to their camp, leaving the agonized +general standing in melancholy thoughtfulness, till just as the fifth +minute expired his attention was called to a small party of horsemen, +who, led by Nicholas and Chow, were at full gallop after the envoy. It +was rashness, nay, madness, for they were rushing upon the very outposts +of the enemy, and nothing less than a miracle could save the foolish +youths; when, turning to an officer, he cried, "Haste thee with what +horse you can collect to the rescue of those foolish boys."</p> + +<p>The order was obeyed, and some two hundred horse galloped forward, and +reached them in time to save Nicholas alone; as for Chow, having +recognized in the chief of the party the mandarin who had slain his +father, he had galloped greatly beyond his own party, when the mandarin, +fearing for the safe custody of Woo, pressed forward with such haste, +that, getting far ahead of his own party, Chow found himself a prisoner +before he knew where he was. Enraged at his danger, Nicholas would have +followed, but for the soldiers sent by Woo-san-Kwei, who, coming up to +him, caught hold of the rein of his horse, and in the name of the +general commanded him to return to the city. By the time, however, he +returned to the town, Woo-san-Kwei had determined to make a dash at the +rebels with a faint hope of saving his father,—a hope that was not +unreasonable, especially as the advanced guards of the Tartars were now +seen to attack Li-Kong from the opposite side. The little army was +ready; the general was at their head; but before they had marched far, a +bright flame shot up from the camp of Li-Kong. The head of Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon the neck of his horse; he sobbed aloud, "The assassin has +taken thy life, my noble parent;" but arousing himself, he added, "For +this one deed, O thou villain, thou shalt be hunted from the land;" and +so great were the numbers of the Tartars, and the bravery of +Woo-san-Kwei and his little army, that before midnight Li-Kong had been +driven from his position with the loss of at least one-half of his great +power.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE REBELS BEATEN.—ARTFULNESS OF THE TARTAR KING.—CHAGRIN AND +DISAPPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS.</h3> + + +<p>At daybreak the battle was resumed; and with such terrible bravery did +the troops of Woo-san-Kwei and his ally the Tartar king fight, that +before noon the rebels fled in all directions; the main body, under Li +himself, retreating into the province of Pe-tche-Lee, where for many +weeks they were followed by the Tartars; and although the latter beat Li +in every engagement, and slew vast numbers of his troops, he managed so +cleverly that he reached Pekin; which city being well fortified and +manned by his adherents, he held out till the Tartars were reinforced by +many thousands of their brethren, who, now that the ancient barrier of +Leao-tong had been broken, flooded the empire like a mighty torrent. +Then Li, brave and able as he really was, saw the necessity of +retreating from the capital. To do this with profit to himself, the +artful rogue placed the whole of his troops upon and before the northern +walls; by this means he kept the soldiers employed and the enemy at bay +at least eight days and nights, during which time his more immediate +friends and faithful followers were engaged in carrying from the +imperial palace the vast treasures of jewels, gold, and silver, +collected by the Ming Emperors during the preceding two hundred and +eighty years, with which they escaped to Si-gnan, in the province of +Chen-si. Then, when the Tartar army entered the capital, although +terribly chagrined at the loss of so much treasure, they did but follow +Li-Kong a short distance, when they gave up the pursuit and returned to +Pekin, greatly to the vexation of Woo-san-Kwei, who, as you will see, +soon found that his new friends were as bad as his old enemies.</p> + +<p>No sooner was Li-Kong expelled, than Woo-san-Kwei proclaimed the Prince +Yong-Li Emperor, and offered to pay the Tartar king an immense sum for +the use of his army, at the same time respectfully begging he would +withdraw his troops from the empire, as it was contrary to the sacred +books that so many foreigners should remain in the sacred capital; to +which polite request the Tartar made an equally polite reply: "We do +not," said he, "think it fit to leave yet, for there are many unsubdued +thieves who may cause as much trouble as this Li-Kong; moreover, this +arch-rebel is himself established in his province, and would doubtless +return if he found that we, whom alone he fears, had quitted China; +therefore, O noble Woo-san-Kwei, we are resolved to follow up our +victory, and exterminate every rogue in the land, so that you may +deliver the empire to Yong-Li in full peace and prosperity; as for the +payment for our services, we are not poor, and can wait till the kingdom +be settled. In the mean time, however, that which we chiefly desire is, +that the great Woo-san-Kwei shall recruit his army from our own, and +proceed to Chen-si to destroy the dog Li, while we, with our brave +Tartars, will endeavor to sweep from the southern provinces the rogues +and thieves who are now settled therein."</p> + +<p>Deeply chagrined that he had replaced dogs with tigers, Woo-san-Kwei +could do nothing but obey—for in reality it was a command; and so he +proceeded into Chen-si, accompanied by Nicholas, where, after a campaign +of many months, he succeeded in destroying the power and army of +Li-Kong; as for the rogue himself, as his body was not found, it was +supposed that he had been killed, while endeavoring to escape in the +disguise of a private soldier.</p> + +<p>Throughout the campaign in Chen-si, Nicholas had fought with terrible +energy, for he had hoped that when they took possession of Li-Kong's +palace, he should obtain at least some clue to the fate of the princess +and Chow, both of whom, if alive, he believed to be in the power of the +rebels. As, however, notwithstanding the highest rewards and the most +vigorous search, he failed in gaining the slightest clue, he felt +greatly pleased when they returned to Pekin, where he was not without +hope that the princess might be concealed, and if so, she was safe; for +doubtlessly, by the time they reached the city, their Tartar allies +would, according to their promise, have proclaimed her brother, the +Prince Yong-Li, Emperor.</p> + +<p>So great and popular had been the successes of Woo-san-Kwei in Chen-si, +that as he rode toward Pekin the people came out, and falling upon their +knees, almost worshiped him as the restorer of peace and order. About +midway between Chen-si and Pekin, they were met by the great officers of +the Tartar king, who brought with them a vast body of troops, in order +to augment the state of the general's triumphal entrance into the +capital. Now this was very gratifying to Nicholas, for seeing the +Tartars pay so much respect to the great Ming general, he doubted less +than ever that, like faithful friends, if they had not already done so, +they would speedily restore Yong-Li to his throne—a gratification which +was considerably heightened, when, at the gates of the city, they were +met by a procession of great officers, both Tartars and Chinese, who, in +the name of the Emperor, greeted Woo-san-Kwei with the title of King of +Chen-si; so with difficulty the procession passed through the masses of +people, whose hoarse voices clamored, "Long life, ten thousand years, to +the Emperor."</p> + +<p>"This, then," thought Nicholas, "is indeed a fortunate day; for not only +have these brave Tartars restored the Prince Yong-Li to his right, but +the amiable prince commences his reign by an act of gratitude; for, +forgetting his quarrel with Woo-san-Kwei, he rewards his great services +with the kingdom of Chen-si." Thus they rode onward till they came to +the palace, where the Emperor was waiting to do honor to the great +general.</p> + +<p>Then, as Nicholas passed through the courts of the palace, he stared +with surprise, not unmixed with indignation, at the disproportion of the +numbers of Chinese to those of the Tartars. Yet again, surely it was but +gratitude on the part of the young Emperor to reward those who had +restored him to the throne of his ancestors; still a strange fear crept +over him, and he said, almost in a whisper, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, these barbarians have taken possession of the empire."</p> + +<p>"It is as wise, O youth, to make a virtue of necessity, as it is +childish to resist the decrees of fate," said the general; and then a +pang of disappointment shot through the youth's heart; his illusion +vanished; moreover, he would have given his life to have avoided the +scene before him. They had entered the great hall of audience; there, +upon the golden dragon throne, surrounded by the warrior princes and +chiefs of Mantchouria, sat the Emperor. The Emperor, indeed! not +Yong-Li, but a Tartar child of six years of age. Heartsick, enraged, he +would have spoken. The general perceiving his misery, clutched his arm. +Nicholas checked his impatience, but nevertheless muttered, "Surely the +heavens will fall, for the great Woo-san-Kwei has proved a traitor."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>THE GREAT BOY EMPEROR.—NICHOLAS MEETS WITH A FEARFUL SURPRISE.</h3> + + +<p>Once having entered the rich empire of China, the Tartar king determined +to remain, and thus artfully sent Woo-san-Kwei, the only man he feared, +to chastise the rebels in Chen-si, so that he could the better introduce +more and more of the warrior tribes beneath his rule: moreover, he was +so cruel to those who resisted his army, and so generous and kind to +those who submitted freely, that the people, glad to get a sovereign who +had power enough to crush the rapacious nobles, unanimously hailed him +Emperor; before, however, he could be formally installed, he became +seized with a mortal illness, so, calling his brother Amavan, he created +him regent during the minority of his son Chun-ti, a child six years of +age.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for the young Emperor, Amavan, unlike most Asiatic uncles, +proved faithful to his nephew, and, more fortunately still, Amavan +happened to be a great as well as a brave man, who conquered his enemies +as much by his intellect as his sword. Taking care, therefore, to have +an overwhelming number of troops in Pekin, he first sought to establish +the government by distributing the great offices of the empire equally +among his Tartars and the Chinese mandarins. Then to Woo-san-Kwei he had +represented by his ambassadors the folly of endeavoring to oppose the +great power of the new Emperor, and, moreover, the cruelty of bringing +upon the people the horrors of a civil war; while, if he would aid in +the firm settlement of the new dynasty, he should not only be created +King of Chen-si, but that, as the laws of the Chinese were the best in +the world, the Tartars should conform to them in every respect. To all +of which Woo-san-Kwei, being so entirely checkmated, could but submit, +retaining a hope that the time and opportunity might come when he should +be powerful enough to drive these Tartars from the land—a task which, +when too late, he found to be rather more difficult than bringing them +in.</p> + +<p>Having thus, as he thought, gained over the Ming general to his cause, +and wishing to give the Chinese a proof that the young Emperor wished to +conciliate them, Amavan resolved that the greatest of their countrymen +should be received on his entry into Pekin with royal honors; and more, +that the same day should be the one chosen for his imperial nephew's +first grand levee.</p> + +<p>I will now return to Nicholas, who, with hardly suppressed indignation, +was compelled to witness the following scene.</p> + +<p>Having commanded the great lords, who were prostrate at the foot of his +throne, to rise, the child Emperor Chun-ti addressed them in a speech +that not only astonished the whole court, but remains to the present +day one of the marvels in the history of China.</p> + +<p>"It is your strength and power more than my felicity, my dear and +generous uncle, and you, the rest of my noble commanders, which supports +my weakness, and makes me so undauntedly ascend this imperial throne. My +present assurance, and this chair's stability, is, I hope, as happy a +sign of my future prosperity as its tottering proved unfortunate to the +thief Li-Kong. You see my first step to the empire, but I know your +valor to be such that I look not only upon the kingdom of China as my +own, but conceive the empire of the world not only by me possessed, but +also established. The rewards due to such incomparable virtues shall be +no other than the riches of the empire and royal dignities."</p> + +<p>At this extraordinary speech from the lips of so young a child, and +which, notwithstanding the silence of solemn historians on the subjects, +I believe must have been taught Master Chun-ti by his uncle, the artful +Amavan, the nobles fell upon their faces, as thankfully as a flock of +famished wolves at the sight of a good meal after a run of a great many +hundreds of miles.</p> + +<p>After which the Emperor added, "And that it may be known throughout the +empire that we can reward merit, whether it be found in our Chinese +subjects or our own black-haired race, we bestow upon the rebel-subduing +Prince Woo-san-Kwei, the title of Pacifier of the Western World, and the +dignity and rank of King of Chen-si; may his appointment prove +fortunate to the people." Whereupon, to the disgust of Nicholas, the +Ming general knelt before the Emperor, and holding his hands above his +head, received the golden box, in which were placed the symbols of his +office.</p> + +<p>After this Nicholas was pained not only to witness the bestowal of high +offices upon the Tartar chieftains, but, for worse, the acceptation of +dignities by Chinese mandarins, who had been profuse in their +professions of loyalty to the Ming family. Then, as the Emperor was +about to move his sleeves as a signal of the close of the audience, one +of the nobles announced the arrival of some great personage, whose name +his ears failed to catch, whereupon the regent Amavan said, "This man, O +my prince, is the greatest of your majesty's conquests," and in another +minute a personage of majestic height and figure, attired and attended +with all the magnificence of a king, entered the hall and fell at the +foot of the throne, and as he did so Amavan proclaimed his name and +titles, when Nicholas gave a cry of astonishment, and would have rushed +forward, but for Woo-san-Kwei, who, by whispering in his ear, caused him +to become as pale and almost as silent as marble. His surprise and +indignation was not wonderful, for the great man who knelt at the feet +of the Tartar chief was no less a personage than his own father, +Chin-Chi-Loong.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER.</h3> + + +<p>Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be the +traitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him, +Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to the +palace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarking +the absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants who +followed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and the +passages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "my +beloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at his +unfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief a +message by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter from +the south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the King +Pacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no other +than Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, after +their long absence from each other.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by the +tempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek the +sunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when the +first greeting was past.</p> + +<p>"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life of +Chin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so great +a crime," said the chief.</p> + +<p>"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiver +of stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surely +it was not given to thee by the Emperor Yong-Li," replied Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Is my son blind, that he cannot see that his parent is a prisoner to +these Tartar dogs?"</p> + +<p>"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon their +prisoners?" said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commission +sent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the four +seas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels and +thieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effected +this great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain the +Emperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession of +the seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for many +months kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces at +bay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, I +still kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid of +my power, the Tartar king and his brother Amavan sent a great embassy, +assuring me they were allies of the great Woo-san-Kwei, who, to quell +the rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, had +prayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purged +the empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of the +Prince Yong-Li and leave the land."</p> + +<p>"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," said +Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in the +characters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of his +parent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, and +also assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting so +great and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe my +authority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title of +Pacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, I +had made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so that +speedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the first +opportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayed +into their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south, +suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in the +installation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to his +departure I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing this +to be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When, +however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a large +body of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately, +fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavan +persuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself in +the midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, he +informed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was his +nephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into the +rogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidable +army, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance of +prosperity the people would have beneath such an Emperor."</p> + +<p>"Indeed it were better to die than dissemble, my father," said Nicholas, +with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>"Listen, my son. Well, taking advantage of my apparent joy, this Amavan +told me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, where +I should formally receive my title and kingdom from the imperial hands. +Thus had I the choice of entering Pekin as a captive or a king."</p> + +<p>"The former would have been more worthy of the great sea chief, whose +ambition hath ruined him," said Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that thou canst dare——"</p> + +<p>"Pardon, O my father, but thy son will dare any thing and every thing +till he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands of +these barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither by +night nor day."</p> + +<p>"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved."</p> + +<p>"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "But +cannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape from +this rebellious city?"</p> + +<p>"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to the +General Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"Then the noble Woo-san-Kwei is not a traitor to the Emperor Yong-Li," +said Nicholas, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Hist!" replied the chief by way of caution; then adding, "He but waits +the opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars."</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these double +ways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of his +parent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the city +unfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attire +of a small merchant, went to the river, and after some hard bargaining, +took a passage on board a trading junk, and left Pekin for ever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RIVAL SEA CHIEFS.—RE-APPEARANCE OF AN OLD FRIEND.—A COMICAL BATTLE +WITH THE TARTARS.</h3> + + +<p>Once masters of Pekin, which being so near their native wilds, enabled +them to introduce hordes of their fellow-countrymen, the Tartars +conquered province by province, till they obtained possession of the +whole empire. The most difficult, however, to subdue, were the southern +districts, which edged the sea, and chiefly for this reason: that not +long after they succeeded in entrapping Chin-Chi-Loong, to their +surprise, there appeared another and a greater sea chief, whose fleet +was so large, and his successes so great in destroying the Tartar +settlements upon the coasts, and even the great towns up the +Yang-tse-Kiang, that the greater part of the Chinese, who had any spirit +or patriotism remaining, flocked to his standard, and swelled his fleet +and army to such a size, that the Tartar government, trembling with fear +for the capital itself, offered immense rewards for his head; and +finding that of no use, offered to give him the command of the seas, and +even a kingdom, if he would acknowledge their rule; but all this was of +no use: the terrible patriot <span class="smcap">Tching-Tching-Kong</span>, (or Koshinga, as the +Portuguese did, and I shall for the future, name him,) would listen to +no other terms but their departure from the country, to which, but for +the sudden appearance on the coast of another formidable sea-chief, +named Yuen, they would in all probability have been compelled to yield.</p> + +<p>Now the difference between these two chiefs was, that while Koshinga +protected the Chinese against the invaders, the chief Yuen was a mere +pirate, and, if booty were to be gained, destroyed both peoples alike. +Moreover, the latter seemed to have a great hatred for Koshinga; for, +although he dared not meet him in fair fight, if by chance he ever fell +in with a solitary ship of his fleet, he would wantonly sink it with all +its crew; and so terrible had the name of this Yuen become, that the +people upon the coast named him the Black Sea-dragon. Neither was it +possible to make out the object of this pirate. It could not have been +the desire of mere wealth, for the Tartar government, thinking him a +very desirable antagonist to Koshinga, offered him wealth, and the same +rank they had offered to his rival, provided he succeeded in destroying +the latter; but still, although Yuen hated the patriot sea chief, his +dislike to the Tartars was no less, for, like Koshinga, he destroyed +their houses and massacred their people at every opportunity. So at +length, giving up all hope of conquering either of his amphibious +enemies, Chun-ti issued an order that all the houses, cities, towns, and +villages, within ten miles of the sea, should be destroyed, chiefly, I +believe, to prevent the people from supplying them with provisions.</p> + +<p>Well, one day, shortly after this order had been received, and the +inhabitants of a small town on the coast of Fokien were in high bustle +packing up their goods and chattels ready for departure, some by means +of carts, others, and the greater part, by junks and barges, a large +merchant junk stood in from the sea, entered the narrow creek into which +the river emptied itself, anchored, and would have remained unnoticed by +the soldiers, who were inspecting the carrying out of the Emperor's +orders, but for the appearance of a young man, who, stepping on shore, +was immediately seized by the order of the officer. "Who is the vile +slave, that he dares disobey the commands of the great Emperor?" said +the latter.</p> + +<p>"Surely thy servant, who has but just entered the town, can be guilty of +no crime?"</p> + +<p>"Are the words of the Emperor dirt, that they should have escaped the +ears of so small a dog?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"Truly these holy words have not fallen into the ears of thy mean +servant, O magnificent commander," returned the other.</p> + +<p>"Then let the dog's ears be opened, and he shall hear," said the +officer, directing a soldier to proclaim the royal command, which was to +the effect that the long hair of every Chinese should be shaven from his +head, and the growth of a Tartar tail encouraged, in order that there +should be no difference between the two races.</p> + +<p>When the stranger, however, heard the order, his eyes flashed, and his +lips quivered with rage, at the great badge of slavery the Tartars were +thrusting upon his countrymen; and he placed his hand beneath his robe, +as if clutching the hilt of a sword; but then, looking at the Tartar +troops, who had by this time surrounded him, and perceiving the folly of +resistance, he said, "Truly the ears of thy servant have not heard this +order."</p> + +<p>"Let the dog obey, or he shall be strangled," was the only reply.</p> + +<p>Then, with a look half tragic, half comic, and, taking his long flowing +locks in his hand, he said, "Surely the magnificent commander will give +his servant a few hours to prepare his head for so serious a farewell?"</p> + +<p>The next minute, however, one of the barbers who accompanied the troops +for the purpose of performing the first operation upon the conquered +people, made his appearance, and, setting down his apparatus, began to +prepare his scissors and large knife, when, like a half-secured animal +whose dim instinct had just been aroused to the fact of the coming +slaughter, the stranger struck out with both fists, sending barber and +officer rolling one over the other, and darted off, followed by at least +a dozen arrows from the bows of the soldiers, who, however had been too +much surprised to aim properly.</p> + +<p>Now, weak and effeminate as the Chinese had shown themselves in allowing +the empire to become so easily conquered by the Tartars, this insult was +always deeply felt even by those who had been compelled to submit, so in +a few minutes they gathered about the Tartars in great numbers, and +being inspired by the stranger's pluck, from hard words came to such +hard blows, that the bully Tartars were very glad to beat a retreat, +only promising to themselves a great revenge hereafter.</p> + +<p>As for the stranger, he ran with such speed and blind terror, at the +notion of losing his beautiful hair, that he tumbled headlong over an +old sow into a litter of pigs, which were among the goods about to be +taken away; and, comical as was this scene, it might have been serious, +for the animal, seeing her family attacked by so formidable an enemy, +would have made it a personal matter, but for a mob of people who came +to the rescue of the stranger, at whose spirit in resisting the hateful +order they were so delighted, that they lifted him upon their shoulders; +when the youth, in his excitement, mistaking them for Tartars, put both +his hands to his locks, exclaiming, "You dogs, I will rather lose my +head than prove such a coward."</p> + +<p>"A patriot! a hero! down with the Tartar thieves!" said the mob.</p> + +<p>When the stranger, recovering from his fright, said, "Pardon, O my +brothers, for believing you to be such dogs."</p> + +<p>Then the crowd gave more cheers, and asked where he would be taken to.</p> + +<p>"Know any of you the residence of the colao Ki?" was the reply.</p> + +<p>"To the house of the good Ki," exclaimed the mob, and in a few minutes +more they had deposited him at the gates of a great house not far +distant from the sea.</p> + +<p>"What rogue is this who dares disturb the quiet of the noble Ki?" said +the servant who opened the gate.</p> + +<p>"Let me pass, thou mean fellow," said the apparently mad-headed stranger, +rushing through halls and courts till he reached the door of the women's +apartments, which, to the horror of the servant, who now called for +assistance, he burst open, and, seeing two ladies, fell at the feet of +one of them, sobbing aloud, "Then my information is true, and I have +found thee again, my venerable and beloved parent." Need I tell you that +the stranger was no other than Chow?</p> + +<p>"The gods punish me with a false vision, my eyeballs must be old, or it +is indeed my beloved son Chow," said the lady, throwing her arms around +her son's neck.</p> + +<p>"The faithful friend of the noble Nicholas! Surely this is not +possible," said the princess, hysterically, so forgetting her rank in +her delighted surprise, that she embraced him as a brother, not a +little, I assure you, to the wonder and horror of the servants, and the +colao himself, who had hastened to the apartment to secure the daring +robber, as the frightened servant had reported, and which Ki believed +Chow to be, feeling certain that none but a thief would be guilty of so +profane an act as entering the sacred apartments of the ladies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>CHOW DISCOVERS HIS MOTHER AND THE PRINCESS.—RESCUES THEM FROM THE +TARTARS AND RELATES HIS ADVENTURES.</h3> + + +<p>When the surprise had a little subsided upon both sides, Chow looked +around, listened anxiously for a moment, and then said, "This is a +fortunate day; the surprise, the joy is great, but, alas! it will be +short-lived, for the barbarians can neither forget nor forgive," and he +related his adventure with the soldiers; when, taking him by the hand, +the princess said, "Fear not, friend of my brother; the barbarians dare +not enter the house of Ki; for the usurper, barbarian as he is, has +bestowed honor upon the noble colao for his services to his late +Emperor, and as a consolation for his misfortunes; and in the house of +one upon whom Chun-ti has bestowed the honored title of 'Faithful to his +Prince,' no person dares enter unasked."</p> + +<p>"Thy servant feared less for himself than for his beloved mother and the +illustrious princess, whom he is commanded by the noble Nicholas to +rescue from the degenerate soil of China, till it again owns its native +princess," said Chow; adding, "From the hour that the vile guide +betrayed the illustrious princess into the hands of the rogues, the +noble Nicholas has left no stone unturned to discover thy fate." Then, +repeating the history of their adventures to the time of his being taken +prisoner by Li-Kong, he added, "So enraged was the villain mandarin, +that, instead of killing me on the spot, he reserved me for a cruel +death upon our reaching Pekin; then, however, being driven from the +capital, he took me with him to Chen-si, where I was kept loaded with +chains in a damp hole for many months, till indeed the great rebel was +himself driven out of Chen-si, when, so ill that I could not walk, I was +taken from the prison and conveyed to the house of the physician, who +had been ordered to take charge of the sick and wounded, and +unfortunately I remained senseless so long, that when I recovered, I +discovered that not only had the great Woo-san-Kwei been the general who +had punished Li, but that my beloved master had been with him. Bitterly +regretting the misfortune that had caused me to miss him so narrowly, I +resolved on seeking him in the capital; and so without money or food, +but what I could beg on the road, I traveled, being compelled to rest +many days upon my journey.</p> + +<p>"At length, however, I reached Pekin, when, to my great rage, not only +did I find that the Tartar prince had seized the throne, but that my +noble master had left the city in horror at the great treason of his +illustrious parent Chin-Chi-Loong. Then, weary of a world which +contained so much vileness and misfortune, I should have myself sought +the yellow stream, had it not occurred to me, that it would be +villainous to desert the beloved parent whom I had resolved to discover; +but, moreover, my master had taught me that it was a great crime; and, +trembling that I had ever contemplated such a thing, I rushed down to +the canal and engaged myself as a Coolie, for I thought the employment +would drive away my sorrow, and, perhaps, throw some lucky chance in my +way, and so it happened; for one day, carrying some goods for a +traveling merchant, the good man took a fancy to me, and offered to take +me with him into the province of Fokien. The offer gave me joy, for I +knew that if ever I found my master it would be near the sea, which he +loves as if he were a fish, and so it chanced; for one day, after many +months' traveling, we lodged at the town of Ho-a, when a few days +afterward the Chinese inhabitants became very joyful, and the Tartar +soldiers were greatly terrified at a report that the terrible Koshinga, +whose name just about that time had become famous, would land. Well, the +report proved true, for the sea chief appeared with a great fleet, and +drove the Tartars inland; when, feeling weary of my servitude, and +longing to fight against the usurping barbarians, I offered my services +to one of the commanders, and no sooner had I put in force that virtuous +resolution, than my fortunes began to mend, for in one of the ships I +found the noble Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Well, I will only tell the illustrious princess how that I kept by the +side of the noble Nicholas in all battles that have been fought by the +great Koshinga; but in the midst of our adventures and successes, both +the noble Nicholas and his servant were unhappy, for they pined to learn +the fate of the daughter of the Mings, whom the heavens had once +entrusted to their care. At every town upon the coast, from every man +who joined the fleet, did we endeavor to trace some clue, not omitting +to offer great rewards; it was all, however, useless, till one day a +Tartar prisoner was taken and brought to our ship, and as he had with +him a copy of the <i>Pekin Gazette</i>, which contains the officers of the +empire and the decrees of the Emperor, the noble Nicholas eagerly read +it to find out the movements of the barbarians, when, much to his +surprise, he saw that the noble Ki had been restored to his rank and +fortunes, and, moreover, was permitted to reside unmolested at his +native palace in Fokien. 'Thus, then, O Chow, we have a fortunate day; +here is a clue to the princess—for should she have escaped the villain +rebels, this old and faithful servant of her royal father will surely +know,' said the noble Nicholas."</p> + +<p>"Truly the great Father of heaven hath directed, this even," said the +princess.</p> + +<p>"Then, O my princess, the heart of thy servant leaped for joy; for he +knew that the clue to the illustrious daughter of the Mings would lead +to the discovery of his beloved mother, so upon his knees he begged his +noble master to let him search the coast of Fokien, a request he would +have granted, had not the whole fleet been ordered by the chief Koshinga +to attack and drive the barbarian Hollanders from the great island of +Formosa on that day. Then for nearly four moons was the fleet before +the castle of Zealand, which protects the island; and so well did the +barbarians fight, that we had no other hope but to starve them out; at +length, however, they were joined by the numerous ships of the +traitorous black dragon Yuen, and for the first time Koshinga was near +being defeated, till at length destiny led him to fill seven of his +ships with oil and inflammable materials, when, taking advantage of the +first north-easterly wind, he set them on fire, and sent them among the +ships of Yuen, the greater part of which being destroyed, the crews with +the black dragon sought the shores in their boats. Thus having got rid +of the fleet, the great Koshinga landed his troops, and after a great +battle killed the greater portion of the pirates, made the remainder +prisoners, and took possession of the country."</p> + +<p>"Truly this Koshinga is a great war dragon," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"And noble as he is brave; for although he punished the traitor pirates +with death, as enemies to their true Emperor, he permitted the miserable +Hollanders, who, being barbarians, could know no better, to pile up +their household goods in one of their ships and depart."</p> + +<p>"Thou hast not said aught of the noble Nicholas during this terrible +fight," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"Truly, O illustrious lady, he fought like the brave war tiger that he +is, and performed the greatest act of the fight; for with his own hands +he slew the villain Yuen."</p> + +<p>"Then great was his destiny, for he has rendered the whole empire +grateful," exclaimed Ki.</p> + +<p>"They owe the noble Nicholas more gratitude than the rebel Li-Kong, of +whose place of refuge, or fate, none have been able to imagine, since +the taking of Chen-si by the great Woo-san-Kwei."</p> + +<p>"God is indeed great; thus may treason be for ever punished," said the +princess.</p> + +<p>"But greater to thy servant was the capturing of the villain mandarin, +who killed his venerable parent. I had struck the rogue down with my +sword, and rejoicing that I had at last the opportunity of destroying so +great a villain, was about to kill him, when he saved his life by +uttering a few words."</p> + +<p>"Is it under heaven that thou couldst save the life of the slayer of thy +parent?" exclaimed Chow's mother.</p> + +<p>"Truly, my noble mother, for those words were 'Thy mother and the +princess.' Like magic they kept my sword suspended midway, and I said, +'What words are these, thou dog?' And the mean rogue said, 'If the noble +captain will save the life of his slave, he shall be restored to his +parent.' Need a son tell his mother that he promised when the rascal +said, 'That it had been known for a long time to him that the princess +was living in disguise in the house of the retired colao in Fokien, and +that had Li-Kong been successful in defeating Koshinga, it was the +rogue's intention to sail for the coast and seize the illustrious lady?"</p> + +<p>"Truly Heaven is merciful in having destroyed such a villain," said the +princess.</p> + +<p>"Then," added Chow, "delighted with the discovery, my enmity to the +rogue became lost in my anxiety to again see my parent; so I besought of +the noble Nicholas to send me in search of those lost pearls of our +existence, which he did with these words: 'Tell the illustrious princess +that the Tartar rogues will seize her if she does not seek the +protection of Koshinga, the friend of China and the Mings, of whose +favor her adopted brother Nicholas will assure her.' Thus commissioned, +I obtained one of the smallest junks of the fleet, had it repainted and +disguised to resemble a trading vessel, set sail from the island, and +landed this morning, when I so nearly fell into the hands of the rats of +Tartars. Such is the history of thy servant, and such his mission. It is +for the great wisdom of the princess alone, to consider whether the +daughter of the Mings may long remain in safety and undiscovered beneath +the dominion of the butchers of her race."</p> + +<p>"Heaven is beneficent and thy words wise, O Chow," said the princess.</p> + +<p>"Truly, daughter of my beloved master, thy safety would have been +endangered had we been permitted to remain here, for since the villain +mandarin knew thy secret, it is but reasonable to believe that it may be +in the possession of another who may part with it for a high price to +the Emperor Chun-ti. But since this cruel order has arrived, to destroy +all the houses for ten miles inland, the princess can find no safer +asylum than the country of the great patriot Koshinga," said the colao.</p> + +<p>Never could there have been a more fortunate time for them to leave the +town; for, as all the inhabitants were hastening to obey the order of +the Emperor, and were busy with their own affairs, they could escape the +watchful eyes of the Tartars. So that very day they set about making +preparations for their departure, and before twenty-four hours had +passed, the whole party were on board Chow's ship and moving down the +stream; indeed, not a moment before it was necessary, for scarcely had +they got under way when a boat put off from the shore, filled with +Tartar soldiers, the chief of whom commanded them to stop.</p> + +<p>"What would the Tartar dogs?" said Chow, standing upon the poop of the +vessel. The reply, however, was an arrow, which but narrowly missed the +breast of the brave fellow; who, however, taking no notice of the +missile, said, very coolly, as the soldiers reached the side of the ship +and demanded to be admitted on board, "What would the Tartar dogs on +board a quiet trading vessel?"</p> + +<p>"The daughter of the miserable Ming," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Then only two at a time, my brother," replied Chow, acquiescing in +their request. And without waiting for further permission, the two +soldiers climbed up the side and stood on the deck, only, however, to +find themselves tightly clasped by armed men, who had been lying down in +readiness for them. At the same time Chow, assisted by some of his crew, +threw a heavy bar over the ship's side into the boat below, which +falling across the bows and sinking her, sent the soldiers into the +water struggling for their lives.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" said Chow to the two prisoners, "you are the affectionate +rogues who wanted a lock of my hair."</p> + +<p>"Surely the magnanimous hero would not murder two poor men who were +doing their duty," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Truly it is said that fortune comes to every dog in its turn, and I am +the bow-wow now," said Chow to the Tartars, as he tied together the ends +of the long head-tails, of which they were so proud that they wished all +China to imitate them, and consequently now roared for fear of losing +them.</p> + +<p>"Get you gone, you dogs!" said Chow; and the next moment the men were +toppled over into the river, plunging, kicking, and at every plunge +giving such reciprocal pulls at each other's tails that they became as +belligerent as two cats in a similar predicament, and the more so, that +the people upon the banks stood laughing heartily at their ridiculous +gyrations.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>A SEA VOYAGE—THE COLAO RELATES THE ADVENTURES OF THE PRINCESS.</h3> + + +<p>Once on board, they were safe, for although the junk had been painted to +resemble a trading ship, she was equipped with arms of every kind, and, +moreover, with men, who had been hidden below; and it was fortunate that +she was so well prepared, for when a Tartar junk put off after them, the +crew of the latter no sooner perceived the deck crowded with armed men, +and a flag hoisted at the masthead, displaying the terrible name of +Koshinga, than they relinquished the chase.</p> + +<p>Once out at sea, the vessel was as quiet and happy as a holiday junk, +and Chow sought permission to enter the state cabin of the princess.</p> + +<p>"Truly, my brave Chow, we have had a narrow escape from these +barbarians," said the princess; adding, "The words of the noble Ki were +wise, the secret must have been known, and sold to the usurper."</p> + +<p>"Truly thy servant would willingly sacrifice his mean life, could he see +the great Yong-Li ascend the throne of his magnificent ancestors," +exclaimed Chow; but, to his surprise, the beautiful eyes of the princess +became suffused with tears.</p> + +<p>"It is not under heaven, O princess, that thy slave can have given thee +pain?" said Chow.</p> + +<p>"Surely this is weak, for no tears should be found in the eyes of the +daughter of the Mings, but those caused by the suffering of the people," +said the princess; adding, "Alas! my poor brother, with him has departed +the last hope of his race."</p> + +<p>"What are these sad words, O my princess? Is it possible that the +Emperor Yong-Li can have left the earth?"</p> + +<p>Then, with an effort to subdue her sorrow, she said, "Even so, my brave +Chow;" but, her grief overcoming her resolution, she could utter no +more, and Chow respectfully left the cabin, followed by the colao, who +thus related the adventures of the princess, and his mother, from the +time of their abduction by the strange soldiers:—</p> + +<p>"When, O brave Chow, the robbers found they had obtained the great prize +they had so long been in search of, they hastened with all speed to the +sea-coast, where they hoped to find a ship that would take them to the +coast of Pe-tche-Lee, where the army of Li was reported to be encamped; +when, however, they reached the port, they heard that the Prince Yong Li +had quarrelled with Woo-san-Kwei, and having got together a great army, +had marched to the city of Chao-Hing, which, after a few days, he had +retaken from the Tartars, and caused himself to be proclaimed Emperor. +Then, when the cunning thieves heard this news, and also that Yong-Li +was reconquering the country all around, they bethought themselves that +Yong-Li would give them a much higher price for a sister that he loved +so dearly, than would Li-Kong for a princess whom he only hoped to make +his wife; so, making a virtue of a necessity, the rogues threw +themselves at the feet of the royal lady, implored pardon for their +roughness, and making a merit of their great crime, declared they were +the faithful servants of her house, and intended to take her to her +royal brother's court. Too glad to hear such news, she readily bestowed +upon them a pardon; and, moreover, promised them great rewards if they +would only conduct her in safety to her brother's presence.</p> + +<p>"After some months' tedious and difficult traveling, they arrived at +Chao-Hing, where they found that the report was truthful, and that the +prince had really made a very great stride toward his throne. Well, the +rogues were rewarded, and the princess delighted at being not only +restored to her brother, but to the good and great Candida Hiu, who had +escaped to Chao-Hing some time previously, with myself, the ancient +servant of the imperial Mings; but, alas! fortune is capricious. A great +army of barbarians so encompassed the city, that we were unable to +procure food; still we held out, and the soldiers fought bravely, with +the hope of being soon relieved. Then some foul demon put it into the +head of the Tartar general, that the place might be taken without +fighting. So, seeing that the waters of the river were at a greater +height than had ever before been known, he first made a breach in the +walls, and then caused his army to cut away the dikes and embankments, +so that the waters rushed in such terrible force that the houses were +beaten down, and the city made one vast pool, in which three millions of +people were drowned, the Lady Candida among them. Fortunately, however, +the Emperor, the princess, and their servant, escaped the flood, and, +after many trials and difficulties, reached the court of the King of +Pegu, who, seeing the heir to so great a throne in such misfortune, +readily offered him one of his palaces for his residence; and there we +remained happily for some time, and might have continued till more +fortunate days, but that its coming to the ears of the Tartars, that the +Prince Yong-Li was under the protection of the King of Pegu, the latter, +for fear of being dethroned by his terrible neighbor, was compelled to +give the prince into the hands of the Tartar, who, taking him to Pekin, +there had him destroyed in a cruel and ignominious manner. Fortunately, +however, the Tartar did not know that the imperial La-Loo, was with her +brother, and so, aided by the King of Pegu, I traveled into my own +province of Fokien, taking the princess as my daughter, and thy mother +as her attendant; and no plan could be so safe, for the Tartar barbarian +had proclaimed that all those Chinese nobles who had suffered by the +tyranny of Wey-t-song, or Li-Kong, should be reinstalled in their former +rank and possessions, conferring upon me alone, for my long and faithful +services to my late master, the high and honorable title of 'Faithful to +the Emperor.'"</p> + +<p>"Truly this is a sad and marvelous history," said Chow, taking a +respectful leave of the venerable noble, and proceeding to the duties of +the ship.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<h3>THEY REACH THE PALACE OF THE SEA CHIEF KOSHINGA.</h3> + + +<p>Oh! how the heart of the princess bled for the poor people, as sailing +along that coast she saw with what terrible haste the Emperor's command +had been obeyed. There, as far as the vision could pierce, ran, blazed, +crackled one cordon of fire; miles in thickness, this fearful belt +seemed as if it were to ward off the attack of worlds of savage beasts, +instead of one mortal man. Yet such was the shocking policy of the +Tartar despot, that to starve the great sea warrior from the coast, he +laid waste hundreds of miles, ruined millions of his new subjects, and +turned a fertile and populous land into a dreary wilderness.</p> + +<p>For some days the little ship ploughed those waters, which, though +famous for their tempests, were, as if in augury of better fortunes, now +as placid as a lake, till at length they came in sight of the +Pescadores, from almost every point of which they could see the colors +of the victorious Koshinga. Then they reached the point of Formosa, upon +which the Hollanders had erected their fort, but from which now floated +the flag of the sea chief; then Chow sent up a signal, and in reply the +Dutch guns bellowed forth a salute. Shortly afterward some large barges +put off from the shore to the ship, the princess and her party took +their seats, and were speedily rowed to the shore, upon which she had no +sooner put her foot, than Nicholas fell upon his knees before her, +saying, "Welcome, illustrious daughter of the Mings, to the kingdom of +Koshinga."</p> + +<p>"Surely, my brave and noble brother, this is but mockery; for the +daughter of the Mings is now but an outcast orphan," said the princess, +taking Nicholas by the hands and assisting him to rise.</p> + +<p>"Not so, O illustrious, princess! for, like a brand from the flames, +this great and fertile island hath been plucked from the thieving +Tartars and Hollanders by Koshinga, that it may be restored to the +princess of China, as a resting-place, till the whole of her empire be +recovered."</p> + +<p>"Who, O my brother, is this bold, brave man that thus shakes the world +by his power?"</p> + +<p>"A patriot, and a true Chinese, whose only ambition is to root out the +miserable Tartars from the land, and restore its throne to its ancient +Emperors," replied Nicholas; adding, "But the princess would see this +terrible sea chief." Then he led her through the double rows of troops, +which were drawn up the whole length between the castle and the shore, +and all of whom bent low with respectful loyalty as the daughter of +their late Emperor passed. When within the castle, he led her to a door +where a number of ladies in rich dresses stood ready to receive her. +"Now, O illustrious princess, will thy servant prepare the noble chief +for the great honor of thy visit," said Nicholas, leaving her to the +care of the ladies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE KING AND QUEEN OF FORMOSA.—HAPPY TERMINATION OF THE STORY.</h3> + + +<p>The pleasure of the princess had changed to grief; she felt disappointed +and desolate, for once fallen from her high rank, and having been thrown +by misfortune beneath the care of Nicholas, she had learned to regard +him as a brother; therefore, after the death of the Prince Yong-Li, +great had been her delight, by anticipation, of again meeting him—but +now, alas! the brave youth seemed changed. Was he not, indeed, one of +the officers of the great Koshinga, by whose command he had received +her, not as a dear friend, but with the cold and formal respect due to +that exalted rank, which, as it seemed about to rob her of her adopted +brother, was hateful to her?</p> + +<p>Thus, in a very melancholy mood, she followed the ladies through the +corridor into a suite of rooms, magnificently furnished with the spoils +from the well-laden ships of Li-Kong. She, who, more fortunate than most +princesses, had had the painful mantle of royalty torn from her +shoulders and been permitted for a season to taste the troubles of +ordinary mortals, which, compared to her former state, seemed luxury +itself, was again about to be petrified by state garments, and, like the +idols, her Christian teaching caught her to despise, placed upon a +throne high up out of the way of common humanity, and as her experience +had taught her, mocked with a false adoration.</p> + +<p>The morning came, however, and still she as much feared to meet the +chief as if he had been her greatest enemy. At last the terrible moment +of meeting came, and she was conducted by her ladies to the great hall +of the castle, which was hung with yellow cloth of gold. Not noticing +the crowd of officers around, who were bowing to the ground, she bent +her head downward, and as the ladies led her forward to the chair of +state, she heard, "Welcome to the Queen of Tai-ouan." The welcome was +echoed by a hundred voices; the princess looked up, the throne was +vacant, but by her side, and holding her hand, stood the terrible +Koshinga, at the sight of whom she trembled, but it was with joy, for +the great sea chief after all was neither more nor less than Nicholas, +the son of the merchant of the south, who, by his great abilities, +valor, and energy, had conquered a kingdom and crowned himself.</p> + +<p>Thus ends the troubles of the princess, Chow, Nicholas, and my story. I +will, however, add, that although by some unaccountable neglect the +historians of China have omitted to say one word about the queen, they +all state that not only was Koshinga, the great son of Chin-Chi-Loong, +crowned first King of Formosa, but in that capacity received ambassadors +from several of the monarchs of Europe.</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Tiger, by Wiliam Dalton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + +***** This file should be named 39163-h.htm or 39163-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/1/6/39163/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The War Tiger + Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea + Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China + +Author: Wiliam Dalton + +Release Date: March 16, 2012 [EBook #39163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE WAR TIGER + + OR, + + ADVENTURES AND WONDERFUL FORTUNES + + OF THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF + + AND HIS LAD CHOW: + + A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF CHINA + + BY WILLIAM DALTON, + + AUTHOR OF THE "WHITE ELEPHANT," ETC. + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. S. MELVILLE + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1884. + + + + +[Illustration: The Escape from the Pagoda.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +As free use is made in the following story of the names of personages +who played important parts in and during the last Tartar Conquest of +China, the Author believes that a slight sketch of that turbulent epoch +may not be uninteresting to his readers. + +Twenty-two dynasties have given some two hundred and forty Emperors to +the Celestial Kingdom; of these, two were Tartars, who obtained the +throne by conquest and bloodshed. In the course of time, however, the +first Tartar family, with the whole of their race, were either massacred +or driven from the land by a Chinese leader, who, by mounting the +throne, founded the celebrated family of the Mings. + +The last of the Ming Emperors, Wey-t-song, had not been many years upon +the throne, when, from a wise and energetic man, he became so indolent, +and regardless of all but his pleasures, that the people became +oppressed by the magistrates; indeed, to use a Chinese phrase, to such +an extent did the "big fish eat all the little ones," that a famine grew +in the land, which caused the starving people to arise in rebellion +throughout the empire. + +Taking advantage of this disorder, several ambitious lords collected +together bands of vagabonds, set themselves up as petty kings, and +plundered and oppressed the innocent people, till the land grew damp +with their tears. + +At the same time, the chief, or king, of the Mantchou Tartars, learning +that China was like a house divided against itself, rode with a large +army upon the frontier of Pe-tche-Lee, the capital province. + +The appearance, however, of this great enemy aroused what little +nationality remained, and three great lords came to the Emperor's +assistance. The first was Woo-san-Kwei, who, at the head of an army, +kept the Tartars at bay; the other two, Li-Kong and Chang, were sent +into different provinces, where, although bad men, being good generals, +they succeeded in crushing all other rogues but themselves. The +last-named generals, however, on their return, becoming enraged at the +Emperor's ingratitude, took up arms against him, and, finding no great +difficulty in subduing a people who preferred any other Chinese to their +Emperor, seized upon two of the richest provinces, and established +themselves as independent royalets, or petty kings. + +Now, as in the great revolutions of England, America, and France, so in +China, anarchy brought forth its great men; but foremost among them all +stood Chin-Chi-Loong--a kind of Paul Jones, a pirate in the eyes of his +enemies, a patriot in those of his friends. + +Found starving when a boy, by the Portuguese priests at Macao, they took +him under their care, taught him Christianity, and baptized him by the +name of Nicholas Gaspard. While quite a youth, he took service on board +a trading ship, in which humble position, the strength of his intellect +and will so soon exhibited itself, that at an early age he became second +in command, and his captain dying soon after, left him sole owner and +commander of the vessel and its rich cargo. + +Then it was that his true character began to develop itself; he sought +to accumulate great wealth; for this purpose he traded with Japan, Siam, +and the Europeans, so assiduously, that at the outbreak of the +rebellion, he had become the richest merchant in an empire of rich +merchants; but what to him was of far greater importance, a powerful +sea-chief--for he then commanded and owned the greatest fleet that ever +sailed in the Chinese seas, and as he had taken care to arm every ship, +he became the terror of the three great contending parties; namely, the +Emperor, the rebels, and the Tartars, who, all in turn, at times, +offered great rewards for his head, and at others, for his services. + +Remarkable, however, as were the fortunes of this sea-chief, they were +less so than those of his distinguished son, the hero of this story. + +The Author will only add, that, although many of the adventures here set +down may not be found in the pages of Chinese history, if, entwining +information with amusement, they bring vividly before the mind's eye of +his young reader, the manners, laws, legends, superstitions, history, or +character of that great, though quaint people in whom more than a +thousand years have failed to make any material change, his satisfaction +will be the greater that he has again deserved well of those to whom his +gratitude is due for the kind, thorough, and hearty reception they gave +to the Adventures of "THE WOLF-BOY OF CHINA." + +WILLIAM DALTON. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--The Young Sea Chief.--His Mission 11 + + II.--The Demon Ship.--The Boy Chow 19 + + III.--Adventures at Sea.--Rescue 29 + + IV.--The Innkeeper.--Alarming News 38 + + V.--Adventure in a Buddhist Monastery.--Chow's + Encounter with a Bonze 48 + + VI.--Thrashing the Gods.--The Boys taken Prisoners 55 + + VII.--Treachery of the Bonzes.--Nicholas sent to + Prison as a Traitor 61 + + VIII.--Chow sets out to discover some Thieves 69 + + IX.--Chow outwits a great Mandarin, and sets + out to rescue his Master 76 + + X.--Escape of Nicholas from Prison 81 + + XI.--Pursued by the Yah-yu.--The Boat Wreck 87 + + XII.--Nicholas again taken Prisoner 94 + + XIII.--Pagodas, their Antiquity and Uses 103 + + XIV.--A dangerous Descent 109 + + XV.--Nicholas discovers a Conspiracy, and makes + an unpleasant Entry into Pekin 114 + + XVI.--The Boys again in Trouble 126 + + XVII.--Nicholas resolves upon a dangerous + Adventure 136 + + XVIII.--The Imperial Gardens 145 + + XIX.--The Princess of the Mings, and the + Lady Candida 150 + + XX.--Danger of the Princess.--Her Rescue + by Nicholas 154 + + XXI.--Assembly of the great Princes of the Empire 163 + + XXII.--The Boy Prince and the Rival Generals 170 + + XXIII.--Audience with the Son of Heaven.--Nicholas + accuses a great Prince of Treason 178 + + XXIV.--Nicholas unveils a Rebel Chief 189 + + XXV.--Nicholas and the Prince have an Adventure, + and save the Life of Chow 197 + + XXVI.--Nicholas receives an important Command 210 + + XXVII.--The Rebels attack Pekin.--Treachery of + a General, and the Fight 214 + + XXVIII.--Attack on the palace.--Suicide of the + Emperor, the Princess wounded 221 + + XXIX.--The Secret Cavern.--The Princess saved + by the Boys 230 + + XXX.--A large Stock of Ladies, two taels + per sack 237 + + XXXI.--Chow makes a Discovery, and Nicholas + a Surprise 242 + + XXXII.--Nicholas punishes an ungrateful Innkeeper, + and escapes from his treachery 250 + + XXXIII.--An Overland Journey.--Attacked by Wolves, + and stopped by a Serpent 259 + + XXXIV.--Saved by a Musk Deer.--Stories of + wonderful Mountains 264 + + XXXV.--Treachery of the Guide.--The Princess + seized by Robbers 271 + + XXXVI.--Once more Prisoners, but with Friends.--The + Guide's Mistake 279 + + XXXVII.--Interview with the General.--Nicholas causes + Soldiers to be sent in search of the Princess 285 + + XXXVIII.--Cruel Death of the aged Woo.--A + Battle.--Bravery of the Boys.--Chow taken + by the Enemy 293 + + XXXIX.--The Rebels beaten.--Artfulness of the Tartar + King.--Chagrin and Disappointment of Nicholas 300 + + XL.--The Great Boy Emperor.--Nicholas meets with + a fearful Surprise 305 + + XLI.--Nicholas has an Interview with his Father, + and leaves Pekin forever 309 + + XLII.--The Rival Sea Chiefs.--Re-appearance of an + old Friend.--A comical Battle with the Tartars 314 + + XLIII.--Chow discovers his Mother and the + Princess.--Rescues them from the Tartars, and + relates his Adventures 320 + + XLIV.--A Sea Voyage.--The Colao relates the + Adventures of the Princess 329 + + XLV.--They reach the Palace of the Sea Chief + Koshinga 333 + + XLVI.--The King and Queen of Formosa.--Happy + Termination of the Story 336 + + + + +THE WAR TIGER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.--HIS MISSION. + + +Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chinese +province of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, which +are so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble of +procuring food, and even fuel, from the main land. + +These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of a +capacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch, +the first civilized people who established themselves upon the +neighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertile +land, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught. + +It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden with +pearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many other +articles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the large +trading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violent +tempests so common to the China seas. + +One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, some +distance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of European +build, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmed +about the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with an +officer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior to +the Mantchou Tartar conquest. + +The afterpart of the deck was taken up with a tent formed of poles and +matting of bamboo, the interior of which was luxuriously fitted with +chairs, tables, and sofas, tastefully wrought from the wood of roses or, +as it is termed in this country, rose-wood. The walls, highly painted +and glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded and +japanned frames. Between these were long strips of satin up on which, +imprinted in colors and gold, were some of the choicest moral maxims +from the books of the philosopher Confucius. + +The panes of the windows, four in number, were formed of stained +transparent paper. In the piers between, supported by glittering +branches, were painted lanterns, and from the ceiling, which shone with +colors and carvings of celestial blue and burnished gold, was suspended +a gong of pure silver. So far there could be no doubt that it was the +floating habitation of a wealthy Chinese, but then, curiously, there was +a total absence of those idols, altars, and burning incense, which to +this day are to be found in all Chinese vessels. The truth was, that +although a Chinese, the owner was a Christian, as was evinced by a niche +at one end of the room, in which stood a handsome _Prie Dieu_, +surmounted by a fine painting of Christ upon the cross. + +At this altar, with his hands clasped, knelt a boy of seventeen, whose +high cheek bones, dark eyes, and long black hair, declared his Chinese +origin. His head and neck were bare, and his ample robe of green silk, +which reached nearly to his close fitting leather boots, was confined in +the middle by a crimson girdle, fastened by a clasp of agate stone. From +the girdle hung a short straight sword. Although a Chinese, the youth +was a Christian; one, indeed, of those whose faith had been gathered +from the teachings of the early European missionaries, whose +indefatigable exertions and untiring patience amidst much persecution, +contumely, and even martyrdom, will forever keep their names green in +the memories of the Chinese. + +As the youth arose from his kneeling position, the report of a gun rang +through the air, so snatching up his cap of sable, he went on deck to +welcome the arrival of his father, who ascended the side of the vessel +followed by some half-dozen officers, attired like himself in loose +robes of thick brown silk, oiled to withstand the weather and without +one warlike vestment, except the short swords which hung from their +girdles. + +Standing with his head bent forward and his arms straight by his sides, +the attitude of respect, the youth waited for his father to salute him, +after which he followed him through the rank of officers to the cabin, +when observing the gloomy aspect of the chief's countenance, he said +"Has my honored father, the great chief, not prospered with the +barbarian Hollanders?" + +"To the full, my son, for like the greedy wolves they have purchased the +whole of my merchandise, and I have more than sufficient wealth to +destroy the vermin enemies who are turning the children of the Son of +Heaven from those habits of peace which have so long rendered them the +greatest and most prosperous of the world's people." + +"Of what enemies does my honorable father speak? Surely there are none +but the savage Tartars." + +"Of three, my son,--the Tartars, who are now within a few leagues of the +palace of Ten Thousand Years himself; the European savages, who under +pretence of commerce have obtained a footing, that, if not soon rooted +out, will last forever; and worse, by far worse,--for internal rebellion +is as destructive to an empire as to an household,--the rebel mandarins +who are now at open war with their holy sovereign." + +"Is this treble sore fresh, that it should now so rankle the heart and +cloud the brow of my venerable parent?" + +"Truly so, my son, for although long festering it has but now reached a +head," replied the chief, adding, "To the days of my great-grandsire the +empire had been free from the profane feet of barbarians. + +"Then the different governments passed into the hands of cowardly +mandarins, whose weakness became the advantage of the pirate Li-Lao, who +ravaged the whole coast with fire and sword, and to get rid of whom the +puny officials sought the aid of the Portugals, who traded at one of the +outer ports. These barbarians, however, were brave; they sought, fought, +and killed the pirate, and destroyed his ships and, as a reward, were +permitted to settle at Macao." + +"Surely, my father should be grateful to these Portugals, whose priests +first shed upon his eyes and heart the light of Christianity," said the +boy bowing reverently. + +"They taught me for their own ends, and I would not trust the rats." + +"But the red-haired barbarians of Formosa, from whom my father has just +returned, are they of the same race?" + +"Not so, my son, these Dutch dogs are from a distant country called +Holland, where the people are so miserably poor they cannot afford even +a king." + +"Then why, O my father, were such pauper barbarians permitted to place +the soles of their feet on the land of Formosa?" + +"By fraud and artifice the rogues obtained their hold. During a tempest +one of their vessels was driven upon the coast: the crew finding the +island to be well situated to their wants, partly by presents, partly by +force, persuaded the simple inhabitants to give them only as much land +as could be encompassed by the hide of an ox, when the rogues cut the +hide into thousands of narrow slips, tied them end to end and therewith +measured the earth, to the great surprise and indignation of the +inhabitants, who, however, were too powerless to offer resistance. In a +short time they were joined by multitudes of their country men and +erected yonder fort, which they call the Castle of Zealand." + +"Surely the fleet of my father can exterminate these wasps?" said the +boy, whom I shall for the future call by his Christian name of Nicholas. + +But as at that moment an officer entered the cabin and reported the +approach of a strange ship, father and son went on deck, prepared to +give either a salute to a friend or a broadside to a foe. + +The vessel proving to be a war junk and carrying the dragon flag of the +Emperor, they fired a salute of respect, when a signal was made from the +junk that she had on board the Mandarin, or Deputy-Governor of Amoy, +with a secret communication for the illustrious merchant Chin-Chi-Loong, +whereupon the chief bowed respectfully at the name of so great a +personage, and prepared to receive him with all the customary tedious +formalities. + +This visit from so important a personage very much puzzled Nicholas, who +stood the whole time the mandarin was closeted with his father, leaning +against a gun, in deep thought. When the mandarin had finished and the +official had taken his departure, Nicholas returned to the cabin, where +he found the chief sitting thoughtfully with his hand upon the satin +wrapper of a letter, which from the great seals affixed and the +characters Hong Fong (guarded and sealed), he knew must be of great +importance and from some high personage. + +"My information is truthful," said the chief; "there is treason among +the lords of the court, and the dogs believing Chin-Chi-Loong to be as +vile as themselves, have offered him the title of king and the island of +Formosa, if he will aid them with his ships, wealth, and men." + +"What answer made my honorable father?" said Nicholas. + +"A promise to consent, that the traitors may be caught like rats in a +trap." + +"Surely this is not well, for why need the brave stoop to such +villainy?" replied the youth boldly. + +Not noticing this reply, the chief became pensive for a few minutes, +then exclaimed, "Would that I could place a letter in the hands of the +Son of Heaven himself!" + +"Surely that cannot be a difficulty," said Nicholas. + +"Alas! my son, Wey-t-song is so resigned to his pleasures and the +company of the vile bonzes, that the audience-denying tablet is for ever +suspended at the gates of the inner palace." + +"Truly it is a maxim that nothing is impossible to the brave. Let my +father place the letter in the hands of his son, and it shall reach the +imperial eyes!" + +For a minute the chief gazed proudly at the boy, then passing his hand +across his eyes, as if to chase away some sad thought, said, "It shall +be so, but for nothing less than the safety of his Emperor would +Chin-Chi-Loong risk the life of his only son; but haste, and assume the +dress of a traveling merchant, while I prepare these important +characters." + +Without another word Nicholas left the cabin, returning, however, +shortly afterward, dressed in a plain robe of coarse brown silk, with a +girdle of the same color, a couple of short swords beneath his garment, +and thick staff of bamboo. + +"This promptness is good and bespeaks success," said the chief, laying +his hand on a letter which was enclosed in three wrappers of satin, the +outer being sealed in many places, adding, "Secure this packet beneath +thy inner robe, for upon its safety may depend the fate of the empire. I +know not by what means thou mayest reach the Emperor, therefore, when in +Pekin it would be well to seek the merchant Yang, in the great square, +who will aid the son of the great merchant of the south." Then taking +another letter from the table, he added, "As you pass through the city +of Hang-tcheou, seek out Father Adam, the chief priest of the +Christians, and place this in his hands; but guard it well, for the +contents are such that were they to meet the eyeballs of the bonzes it +might prove thy destruction." + +Then placing a valuable ring on the boy's finger and telling him to take +what silver he might require, till he reached the merchant of Pekin, who +would supply him with more, he bid farewell to Nicholas, who, signalling +one of the consort ships, went on board, and was soon landed at the port +of Amoy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DEMON SHIP.--THE BOY CHOW. + + +Taking a passage in a merchant junk bound to the port of Ning-Po, +Nicholas continued his journey for some days without meeting with any +event of importance. The voyage was, however, rendered very tedious by +the idolatry of the sailors, who spent a great portion of their time in +offering up presents to a dirty little wooden god stuck behind a small +oil lamp, the odor from which was any thing but agreeable. They would +moreover frequently stop the ship to offer meat and incense to the +images of the sea goddess Ma-tsoo-po, which are perched upon almost +every promontory upon the Chinese coast. + +They had been at sea, or rather along the coast, for these sailors never +venture far from land, six days, when the murky atmosphere, the heavy +swell of the waves as they rolled inward, and the fluttering flight of +the sea-fowl, betokened a coming storm; and the crew, trembling with +fear, thought of little else but making offerings to the dirty little +god, praying of him to stop the storm. A sailor and a Christian from his +childhood, Nicholas was no less disgusted with their cowardice than +their foolish superstition, and really fearing that the ship would be +dashed to pieces upon a rock, he earnestly entreated them to exert +themselves. His efforts, however, were useless, for their faith was firm +in the power of their gods, whose protection they sought to purchase in +the following curious manner:-- + +Taking a quantity of gilt paper, kept on board for the purpose, they cut +it into the shape of copper tchen, the only coin in the empire, and +threw them into the sea as a bribe to the goddess Ma-tsoo-po; but +finding that the marine lady's favor was not to be bought so cheaply, +the whole crew began to busy themselves in building a paper ship, which, +by the way, was so ingeniously constructed that it formed an exact model +of their own junk, being complete with masts, ropes, sails, flags, +compass, rudder, a crew, victuals, and even a book of accounts. + +When this redoubtable vessel was finished they let it into the sea with +great ceremony, and amidst the deafening clatter of drums and +instruments, and their own shoutings to the goddess, to wreak her +vengeance upon the toy instead of her adorers' ship. + +Nevertheless the hard-hearted goddess was not to be caught with tinsel, +for the storm raged with such terrible violence that the frail bark +would speedily have been dashed to atoms but for Nicholas, who, after +persuading a few of the least obstinate of the men to help him, set to +work and managed to keep her head so straight that they passed through +the channel without touching the rocks by which it was bounded on +either side. So fearful was the hurricane of circular winds that the +shivering crew could see trees torn up by the roots as easily as corks +out of bottles by corkscrews. At length, however, the storm subsided, +and the sailors believing that nothing less than a deity could have +enabled their vessel to live in such a storm, fell upon their knees +before Nicholas and thanked him for quelling the fury of the elements. + +"Let my brothers toss their stupid idol into the sea, and offer up +thanks to the One true God of heaven, who alone has saved them," said +the boy. + +Enraged at this insult to their god, the sailors gave full vent to their +disapprobation, and would have tossed the bold youth into the sea but +for a sudden cry from the look-out man. + +"The wasps of the ocean! the wasps of the ocean are upon us!" + +At this cry the crew took alarm, and ran to different parts of the +vessel, and armed themselves with pikes, swords, or any weapon upon +which they could place their hands. + +Taking the glass from the trembling hands of the look-out man, Nicholas +endeavored to make out the cause of the alarm. It was a large floating +object at a great distance, and bore some resemblance to a ship, still, +notwithstanding the track it left behind in the water, he was doubtful; +but before he could make up his mind the captain snatched the glass from +his hands, glanced through it, declared his opinion that it was a wasp +of the ocean, or pirate, and ordered his vessel to be put back, with +the hope of outrunning her. + +Then the first officer took the glass, and after gazing for some time, +said, "Truly, my brothers, this is no ship, but a frightful demon that +the insulted Ma-tsoo-po has sent from the bottom of the sea to devour us +for carrying this impious youth." + +This was sufficient for the superstitious fear of the crew, who, +clustering toward Nicholas, with one voice cried, "Over the side with +the irreligious dog." + +Seeing no other chance, the boy ran to the stern of the vessel, and, +keeping them at a distance with his sword, said, "Let my brothers open +their ears. Their servant has brought this calamity upon them, but will +yet save them from the anger of the demon by seeking him before he +reaches the vessel, for surely the demon will be satisfied with one +victim." + +"The boy's words are good, and if he will pay for the boat it shall be +so, otherwise it is not well that we should lose its value," said the +artful captain, fearing he should lose any money Nicholas might have +about his person. + +"Back, rat!" said he to the advancing captain, keeping him off with his +sword and springing side-ward on to the edge of the junk, adding, "Lower +the boat, with provisions, and I will give you silver; refuse, and I +will leap into the sea." + +Fearing he would keep his word, the crew placed some rice cakes and a +small water cask in the boat and lowered it; and when Nicholas saw it +fairly afloat, and held but by one cord, he scrambled down the side like +a cat, drew his sword across the rope, threw a handful of silver upon +the deck, and pulled so hard at the oars that in a very short time he +was far out of the cowards' reach and on his way to the floating demon; +which, however he had no sooner caught full sight of than he laughed +till he could handle the oars no longer, for the terrible demon who had +scared the wits of the sailors proved to be neither more nor less than a +great tree which the circular winds had wrested from the earth with such +violence that the root had dragged with it a mass of earth and pebbles +sufficient to keep it afloat in a perfectly upright position, when, with +its spreading branches and lower boughs, it bore in the distance no bad +resemblance to a well-rigged vessel. + +Rowing cautiously, for fear the tree might topple over and upset his +boat, he heard a faint cry. Surely it could not be human; he listened; +again he heard it; and looking upward you may imagine his astonishment +at seeing a boy sitting across one of the upper branches. + +"Who cries for help?" said Nicholas. + +"It is the miserable Chow, who must die if the benevolent stranger will +not aid him," was the reply. + +"Canst thou swim, O Chow? If so, drop into the water, for I dare not +come nearer," said Nicholas; but scarcely had he spoken when a strong +gust of wind toppled the tree over with its great arms stretched out as +if to save itself from falling. Fortunately it fell in an opposite +direction to the boat. In the fall the boy was dashed so violently upon +the water, that becoming instantly senseless he would have sunk but for +Nicholas, who, getting hold of the long hair of his head, managed to +drag him into the boat. Upon recovering his senses he said, "Alas! then, +Yen-Vang has poor Chow after all." + +"Thou art far away from the king of the lower regions, my poor Chow," +said Nicholas. + +"By the social relations, I am alive and on earth--no, on water--and +ungrateful to the benevolent stranger," said the boy, holding his head +with both hands, as if the better to comprehend his situation. + +"Satisfy thy hunger and say how it happened that Chow came to be perched +like a wild goose on a masthead," said Nicholas, giving the boy some of +the rice cakes, which he devoured as ravenously as if he had not tasted +food for a week. + +The lad, who had so unexpectedly made the acquaintance of Nicholas, was +a tall, bony youth of about sixteen, with a broad forehead, sparkling +black eyes, and covered with a coarse robe, so torn and tattered, that +he might have passed for a beggar of the lowest class. + +When he had satisfied his hunger, Chow clasped the knees of his new +friend, and with tears of gratitude flowing down his cheek, said, "Chow +will be thy slave, O generous stranger, for truly it could be for no +other purpose that the gods have saved his life." + +"Tush! talk not of slavery or gods, Chow, but say what is thy name, +surname, and the rank of thy family," said Nicholas. + +"Truly, the story of Chow is as miserable as his own mean person. I am +from Tun-Hien, in Ching-Foo, in the province of Tche-Kiang. My father +was a mandarin of the fifth rank, who having taken a good degree, held +office under the governor of the fort, till one moon since, when the +terrible rebel, Li-Kong, took possession of the city in defiance of the +Son of Heaven himself, and massacred all who would not submit; my father +being one of the first to acknowledge the traitor, became the first to +be punished for his disloyalty to our holy Emperor, which happened as +thy servant will relate. + +"One day, my mother, who was accounted very handsome, so far forgot the +social regulations laid down for women, as to stand gazing from a window +while a body of soldiers passed through the street. For that unbecoming +act, both my venerable father and myself suffered, for the officer +clattered at the door, when the servants not daring to refuse so +powerful a personage, admitted him to the house, when he ran into the +inner apartment of my mother, who was so alarmed at such barbarian +behavior, that she rose to leave, when the villain would have carried +her away but for thy insignificant servant, who clutched his throat and +so gashed his cheek that the waters even of the yellow stream will never +wash them out. + +"Hearing the struggle, the soldiers came to the rogue's help, and would +have killed poor Chow, but for my father, who, returning at the moment, +compelled the officer, bad and bold as he was, to make his escape; but, +alas! no sooner had the rogue left, than instead of being grateful, my +father burst into loud lamentations, crying, 'Alas, alas! that ever so +mean a person was born, for thou hast insulted the chief favorite of the +prince, who will assuredly be revenged;' and so it proved, for the next +day we were all taken before the prince, who ordered the whole family to +be exterminated, and our house burnt to the ground; but what was worse, +alas! my father was not even strangled, but disgraced by being sent to +the yellow stream incomplete, for he was beheaded on the spot, and the +villain officer begged his wife as a slave, to which, in her misery, my +mother offered to consent if they would but spare the life of thy +miserable servant, her son. To this the prince consented, but the +officer was so enraged at the wound in his cheek, that he ordered me to +be dressed in beggar's rags, and beaten out of the town toward the sea. +Accordingly the wretches beat me till I could not stand, and left me to +starve and die on the sea-shore. + +"For days and days I wandered in the hope that some fisherman would take +compassion upon me; but alas! none dared to encourage so treasonous a +youth for fear of suffering similar punishment; then, but for the hope +that retaining my miserable existence would some fortunate day enable me +to punish the villain, I should have thrown myself into the sea, +although even that consolation I could not seek without impiously +forgetting my duty to my father, for has it not been wisely said that we +should not live beneath the same heaven with the destroyer of our +parents?" + +"It is a pagan doctrine, Chow; but how came you upon yonder perch?" said +Nicholas. + +"Without hope, tired, and sad, I wandered along the coast till the great +storm sent the terrified wild animals in all directions; to escape from +them I climbed a tree upon the very verge of the sea, when shortly +afterward the wind-demon blew one great gust which carried it into the +sea, where its great spreading root and the earth around kept it +floating till the benevolent stranger came to my rescue." + +"Thou shalt be revenged upon this villain officer, my poor Chow, and +upon the greater rogue, Li-Kong," said Nicholas. + +"How,--what words are these? surely the benevolent stranger cannot be in +his senses to speak thus of men so powerful," replied the astonished +Chow. + +"What would Chow do to obtain the punishment of his enemies? Would he +faithfully serve the stranger who has saved his life?" + +"If these are the words of truth,--and who is thy mean servant that he +should doubt?--O wonderful stranger, Chow will be thy slave till he goes +to meet his ancestors." + +"Then, surely as I have spoken, it shall be so. But how wouldst thou +know this vile rogue again?" + +"Is it possible for a son to forget the slayer of his parent, even if +the wound in his face would not betray him?" said Chow, who gazing +earnestly in the face of Nicholas, added, "Art thou really a boy or a +man of short measure?" + +"Truly, like thyself, a boy of long measure and ample fullness, whose +mean surname is Nicholas," said the other laughing. + +"No, no, noble Nicholas, not like Chow; for if a boy, thou art like him +who became the Emperor Tait-sou, a little great man-boy," said Chow. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ADVENTURES AT SEA.--RESCUE. + + +Having recovered his strength, Chow took a turn at the oars, and for an +hour pulled lustily, to get as far from the coast as possible, for fear +of being observed by any straggling party of the rebels who might pursue +them, when, if they searched Nicholas and discovered the letter, +farewell to the sea chief's schemes. This fear, however, soon became +absorbed in a greater; night came on, and brave sailor as he was, +Nicholas did not fancy being upon that stormy sea in such a fragile +boat. + +Then Nicholas took the oars, and had not been pulling long, when he +perceived the glimmering of a light in the distance. He rested for a +moment; the light grew larger and nearer: this was hopeful; it might be +the lantern of a trading ship; yet fearful, for it might be a pirate. +The suspense was terrible, and like a gallant fellow he determined to +end it as soon as possible; for this purpose he pulled heartily, and was +rewarded at length by getting near enough to the stranger to distinguish +voices, then a few long pulls, and strong pulls, and he reached the +ship, when by the light from her lanterns perceiving some ropes hanging +out, he clambered up her side, telling Chow to follow. In another +second they both stood upon the deck, but also in the arms of men, who +would have stabbed them with their knives but for the presence of mind +of our hero, who exclaimed, "Fear not, brothers of the sea, we are not +pirates." + +The men, however, not being so easily appeased, bound the arms of the +boys with ropes and took them into the presence of the captain, much to +the disgust of Chow, who said, "Truly it is a maxim that a servant +should follow his master, but our career will be one of short measure by +this strange frolic, O noble Nicholas." + +"Silence, Chow, let not thy heart leap between thy lips at the first +threat of danger," said Nicholas angrily. + +"The bravest war tiger would become a mouse with his body packed as +closely as a cotton ball," said Chow surlily. + +The captain, however, no sooner saw Nicholas, than with a start of +surprise he ordered the sailors to leave the cabin, and took up a large +knife from the cabin table, when the terrified Chow cried, "Take the +worthless life of thy mean slave, O noble commander, but in the name of +thy ancestors spare my noble master." + +Chow's fear became surprise in no small degree when the captain, without +noticing his prayer, not only cut the cords from the arms of Nicholas, +but made him a respectful bow. + +"Thanks, worthy commander," said Nicholas, taking the knife and +releasing Chow. + +"Truly the heavens have tumbled down a surprise," said Chow, with a +caper, adding, "Is the noble man-boy a good demon, that he can transform +enemies into friends with a glance of his eye?" + +Without, however, satisfying Chow, Nicholas asked the captain to give +the boy a sleeping mat in another cabin, after which he said, "It is +well, O Yung, that you chanced to be at sea this night, or my noble +parent would have had to mourn his son." But little more passed, for +Nicholas was glad to seek a long rest, and possession of the sleeping +mat which the captain resigned to him. + +The reason of this civility is easily explained--the vessel itself +belonged to the sea chief, and its commander was one of his officers in +charge on a voyage to Ning-Po, which port they reached the following +day. Having landed, the boys took leave of the captain, and sought a +lodging at one of the largest inns, where, after resting for a few days, +Nicholas began to prepare for his journey inland. + +His first care was to furnish Chow with a becoming robe of stout silk, a +cap, trousers, and thick-soled leather boots. As soon as the boy had put +them on he began to caper about, crying, "My master is generous, and the +gods will reward him for making a poor boy decent enough to pay due +reverence to the tombs of his ancestors, for truly he could not worthily +sweep the dust from their resting-place in such unbecoming tatters; for +although Chow is poor, he is of worthy descent and honorable relations." + +"Truly, Chow, thou art now fit to take a degree at the next examination +at Pekin, if we ever arrive there," said Nicholas. + +"It is not reasonable that the noble Nicholas should laugh at his mean +servant, for at the examination of his Hien he passed so creditably +through the first two sacred books, that he would have obtained a +government promotion but for the villain who destroyed his house. _May +his soul pass into the body of a rat!_" said Chow gloomily. + +"Pardon, O disappointed scholar. It was villainous to laugh, for it is a +wise saying, 'that the well to do should sympathize with the +unfortunate,'" said Nicholas, adding, as he took his cap, "But let us +now seek for a passage-boat, for it is also wisely said, 'that the +loiterer about the business of another is incapable of conducting his +own affairs.'" + +When they reached the river, they engaged a passage to Hang-tcheou, and +having waited for a favorable tide, the barge was soon out of the river +into a canal, upon which for days they proceeded, at times being pushed +along by poles thrust into the water, at others, being drawn along by +coolies, or porters, an employment that affords a means of existence to +a vast portion of the population of China. + +Tche-Kiang, through which they so leisurely traveled, is, perhaps, the +most fertile and beautiful of the eighteen provinces of China, and +large enough to contain the whole of Scotland and its adjacent islands. +Besides rivers, it is watered by some sixty canals, which serve not only +as an easy method of transit, but so to irrigate the great plains around +that they yield crops of rice, pulse, and cotton, twice and sometimes +thrice a year. It was pleasant to watch these canals pouring forth their +sparkling limpid streams to lave the feet of the neighboring hills and +mountains, which for many miles presented an aspect of singular beauty; +some, like carved and nature painted pyramids, being wrought into +terraces, which shot one out of the other, teeming with the yellow +grain, cotton, or tea-trees, while others were thickly sprinkled with +shady trees, which waved over sloping cemeteries of quaintly shaped +tombs and temples. It was a charming picture--nature dressed to the +verge of foppery--more, it was a glorious land, and smiling as if in +pride at its power of blessing the human race--and more again, that its +owners knew its worth and industriously stretched its blessings to the +utmost. + +Then the boat came to a dike, or sluice, and they were about to enter +another canal at least fifteen feet beneath their level. To pass this, +the barge was hoisted by Coolies up an inclined plain of freestone by +means of ropes upon capstans and sheer strength of muscle, then gently +let down a slope upon the other side into the water, a mode adopted to +the present day to move even the largest vessels from canal to canal. + +Thus pleasantly the young travelers were wafted through the province, +now through vast plains of rice, then by the sides of great hills +clustering with the tea-plant, on again through vast orchards of +mulberry-trees and the useful and curious tallow-plant; then again +through plantations of bamboo, that inseparable companion of the +Chinaman from the cradle to the grave--for it receives the infant, +corrects the boy, is the means of living for the man, and entwines the +corpse. Then again they passed through towns and cities, swarming with +busy workers at the silk-loom and multifarious handicrafts, and toiling +children, women, and men in the fields, till they passed another dike, +and then they were upon the beautiful lake Tsao-hou, about the naming of +which the following pretty story is told:-- + +"Many years ago there lived a priest of the Taouist religion, who had +obtained a reputation for his skill in magic. At the festival of the +feast of dragon boats, the priest went to sport in the river in honor of +his gods, but by some mischance he was drowned, and his body no where to +be found. His dutiful daughter, Tsao-hou, a girl fourteen years of age, +felt her father's loss so deeply that she wandered along the banks of +the river for seventeen days and nights, weeping and wailing over her +loss. At last she threw a large melon into the river, putting up the +prayer, 'May this melon sink wherever the body of my father lieth.' With +anxious eyes she watched the gourd as it floated on the surface of the +stream, until it stopped at a certain spot where it sank. The poor +damsel, frantic with grief, rushed to the place and plunged after it. +She too was drowned, but five days afterward her lifeless trunk rose to +the surface with her father's body in her embrace. Both were buried on +the river bank, and in commemoration of that incident the name of the +girl was given to the lake and a magnificent temple erected to her +name." + +On the sixth day they came to Chao-Hing, the Venice of China, where the +canals are so numerous that any portion of the city may be reached by +boats. Imagine a city with, in place of streets, one large network of +water-roads, intersected with bridges, so light and fanciful that one +could imagine them to have been blown together by the breath of fairies, +and you will have some notion of Chao-Hing. + +This city is celebrated alike for its silk-worms and book-worms. So +great is the reputation of the scholars of Chao-Hing that they are +sought for by the viceroys of provinces to fill government offices. Near +to this city and not far from the mountain of Asses (so called from its +being shaped in the form of that animal) is the sepulchre of the great +Emperor Yu, the model sovereign of China. + +This prince obtained the throne by having saved the empire from the +deluge of water which in his time covered the lands; indeed, he must +have been no common engineer, for in thirteen years, by unwearied labor, +he leveled high mountains, embanked and confined great rivers within +their channels, drained lakes and marshes, enclosed rapid torrents with +banks, and divided rivers into canals, which not only gained a great +extent of country, but rendered the whole more fertile. It was the great +genius and wonderful energy of Yu that caused the reigning Emperor to +choose him for his successor in preference to either of the four +princes, his sons. + +Among other remarkable things told of this Emperor, it is said that he +first taught the people to cultivate, sow, and manure lands, and divided +his dominions into nine provinces, causing as many great brazen vessels +to be made, on each of which a map of a province was engraved. In +succeeding times these vessels became very precious, for it was believed +that the safety of the state depended on their security, and that +whoever obtained them would also obtain the crown. + +A qualification rare amongst kings was possessed by this useful prince. +He hated flatterers, and the only way to gain his favor was to tell him +of his faults. Moreover, Yu thought no employment so becoming a +sovereign as doing justice to the people; thus he gave access to his +subjects at all hours, and that no obstacle might be thrown in their +way, he had affixed to his palace gates a bell, a drum, and three +tables, one of iron, one of stone, and another of lead, upon either of +which people who wanted an audience were to strike. + +The bell was to distinguish civil affairs, the drum for matters relating +to law or religion, the leaden table for the ministers, the tablet of +stone to denote a complaint of wrong done by some magistrate, and lastly +the iron tablet was to denote any very serious trouble. So rigorously +did Yu adhere to this rule, that it is said that he arose from table +twice in one day, and another day came three times out of his bath at +the sound of the bell. + +Another story is, that when wine, which was first invented in his reign, +was shown to him, he expressed great regret, "for," said he, "this +liquor will cause the greatest trouble to the empire." But wise and +powerful as he was, Yu could not conquer sensuality; for in China, as in +most other countries, the love for strong liquors is potent. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE INNKEEPER.--ALARMING NEWS. + + +For six more days the boys sailed along this canal till they came to +Hang-tcheou-fou, the terrestrial paradise of China, of which, in +conjunction with another great city, the people have a saying, "Heaven +is above, but Hang-tcheou and Foo-tcheou are below." As a combination of +work and pleasure, a great manufacturing city, and a fashionable and +healthful watering-place, this spot has not its equal in the world; for +as the province of Tche-Kiang is the most celebrated in the empire for +its growth of mulberry-trees and the finest silk-worms, so is its +capital, Hang-tcheou, celebrated for its looms and the quality and +quantity of those rare silks, satins, and taffetas, which no less +gladdened the eyes of the moderns than they surprised and delighted the +wealthy Romans, who, not knowing from whence they came, believed them to +be the handiwork of "furthest Ind." + +Not alone the Manchester, but the Bath or Cheltenham of China, this city +is also famous for its scholars, and as being the residence of the +fashionables, if such a term may be used to a people who are proverbial +for having kept in manners, customs, laws, religion, and dress, and +even ideas, with little exception, to the pattern men and women, +fashioned and shaped by their early Emperors, Yaou and Yu, some four +thousand years ago; for the latter perhaps Hang-tcheou is chiefly +indebted to its vicinage to the celebrated lake See-ho. The waters are +so clear that the smallest pebbles may be seen shining like crystals +from the bottom. In the middle are two islands adorned with temples and +houses, wherein water parties, after taking their pleasure upon the +lake, resort for rest and refreshment. Upon piles driven into the bed of +the lake are large stone walks or pathways for pedestrians, which stretch +from the banks to the islands, with openings for boats, across which are +thrown fancifully wrought bridges. The banks are studded with temples, +mansions, monasteries, for the bonzes or priests of Buddah, as also a +small but beautiful palace for the use of the Emperor, when he makes a +tour through his southern provinces. + +Near to this lake, and reposing in a valley beneath the foot of a +mountain, upon the summit of which, as if in guard over the dead for the +past forty centuries, the huge Lui-fung-ta, or tower of thundering +winds, is the great cemetery, or vale of tombs, a city in size, which is +kept reverentially clean, and strewn at stated periods with fresh +flowers, over which forests of willows weep for the departed. + +One of the chief beauties of this famous lake I had almost forgotten to +mention. Its sides, where the water is shallow, are covered with the +clustering and rare flowers, lien-hoa, a plant so choice that it is +fostered in the innermost recesses of the houses of the great and +wealthy. Not unlike our own tulips, the Lien-hoa has a little ball +supported by a small filament similar to that formed in lilies; its +color varies, being at times violet, white, or a mixture of red and +white; it emits a fragrant odor; the fruit is as big as a small nut, and +the kernel is white and of good taste. The physicians esteem it, and +prescribe it for weak patients. The leaves are long, and swim upon the +water, communicating with the root by long strings. The dense +population, which has rendered it necessary to turn every atom to +account, has led the busy-bee genius of the people to make every +particle of this plant useful. The before-mentioned strings are used by +the gardeners to wrap round their goods, and the white and pulpy root is +eaten in summer for its cooling properties. + +Although mid-day when they arrived at this city, you will not wonder +that it was nearly dark by the time they reached the gates, when I tell +you that the river was one vast floating town of vessels, the greater +part of which were arranged into streets, crowded with passing mandarin +junks laden with pleasure parties, and decorated with japan, gilding, +silk streamers, and that emblem of rank, the umbrella; government junks, +some of war, and others freighted with rice, silks, and other matters, +which had been given by the different townspeople as taxes in lieu of +money; then numerous junks laden with salt and other commodities, to say +nothing of the many thousands of San-pans or egg-house boats, in which +a vast portion of the poorer section of the Chinese reside, never being +permitted to come ashore without especial permission from the governor; +then again, the floating islands of trees, with their huts formed of +poles and matting of bamboo. Indeed just such a scene is a picture of +the every-day life presented on the canals and rivers of this country; +but particularly in the southern provinces, which so swarm with human +beings, that thousands are compelled from want of room on land to take +refuge on the water, where they not only live, but carry on their +various avocations. + +Notwithstanding the haste of the boys to enter the city, as they passed +through the gates the great bell above them began to sound the first of +the five watches or divisions into which the night is divided, and the +crowds who thronged the narrow streets began to scamper in every +direction to their homes, for the law of China very wisely holds "that +the daylight is for labor and the night for repose." Greatly fatigued, +the young travelers sought the first inn where they regaled themselves +with a plentiful meal, foolishly forgetting the passing time: indeed, +before they had finished, they heard the sound of the second watch, when +the landlord made his appearance and begged of his honorable guests to +take their departure, much to the surprise of Nicholas, who had resolved +to go no further that night. "Surely," said he, "the perfection of +innkeepers would not turn away travelers who are willing to pay for +their entertainment and lodging." + +"From what distant province can the honorable youth have journeyed, that +he knows not that the inns are full of the servants and officers of the +illustrious Ching-Ti, who has this day arrived, to fill with his form of +full measure the governor's sedan, and judgment seat?" said the +innkeeper. + +"Truly the worthy innkeeper will pardon his younger brother for +observing that the name of the Mandarin of Hang-tcheou is Yang-ti, or +the eyeballs of his humble guest have become twisted, for Yang-ti is the +name upon this chop," replied Chow, producing a kind of passport which +had been given to him at the custom-house before entering the city. + +"Where have been the ears of my honorable guest that he has not heard +that the noble Yang has completed the measure of his joys and sorrows in +this world?" + +"Surely the noble governor cannot have passed so suddenly to the yellow +stream or the shadow kingdom of Yen-Vang," said Chow. + +"There can be no doubt that it is a sad history, for greatly was the +good Yang loved, not only in this his last province, but in all those +over which he had ruled, never having retired from a government without +receiving the boots of honor," replied the innkeeper. + +It may be as well to explain to you, that when the governor of a city +removes to another province, the people exhibit their approbation of his +wisdom and justice by paying him great honor. When he commences his +journey he finds, for a considerable distance along the road, tables +covered with silk placed at certain intervals, upon some of which are +laid burnt perfumes, candlesticks, waxlights, meats, pulse, and fruits; +and upon others, wine, and tea, ready for use. As soon as the popular +mandarin appears, the people fall upon their knees, bow their heads and +weep, offer him the things upon the tables, and present him with a pair +of new boots; they then pull off his old ones, and preserve them as +relics in a small cage, which they hang over the gates of the city +through which he passed. + +"Will the worthy innkeeper relate the ill-doings that could have brought +this good magistrate to misfortune?" said Nicholas, guessing at the +innkeeper's meaning. + +"Truly it was no less than a fondness for the religion of the Fan-Kwi." + +"Surely that could be no crime under our good Emperor, who has +befriended the Christians, even to permitting the members of his family +to become followers of the Lord of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +"It is true that the information may be incorrect, but such has fallen +into thy servant's ears; moreover it is said that the great Yang's +conduct has offended the bonzes at Pekin, who are all-powerful in the +palace of the Son of Heaven, whom they persuaded to send the +Christian-exterminating Lord Ching-Ti, with an order signed by the +vermilion pencil, to put Yang to death." + +"Has the vile deed been performed?" said Nicholas hastily. + +"Hush!" said the host in a low tone. "Surely such language will bring a +heavy punishment upon thy head." + +"Has the noble mandarin suffered, O worthy man?" said Nicholas, whose +rising indignation outweighed his prudence. + +"It has been wisely said, that it is of little use to repine at what +can't be recalled," replied the innkeeper, adding, "The soul of the +great Yang is now in search of a better habitation, but he left this +world with dignity, for the Son of Heaven, _may he continue the circle +of succession_, remembering his servant's good deeds, mercifully +permitted him to be his own executioner, and, moreover, gave him the +choice either of the silken cord, the gold leaf, or his own state +necklace." + +"Truly if the great lords esteem these things as favors, thanks be to +Tien that thy servant is but a small weasel of a personage," said Chow, +making some very remarkable grimaces. + +"When the noble Yang received the message, he called for the incense +table, burned perfume in honor of his royal master, chose the silken +cord, and having held it high above his head in token of his willingness +to obey the royal will, immediately strangled himself," said the +innkeeper, without noticing Chow's interruption. + +That the boys did not shudder at this recital, may surprise you who are +not perhaps aware that this is a common method of showing the royal +gratitude for past services in the middle kingdom. Not only are these +three methods used as punishments, but as a means of suicide, which in +China, as in most unchristianized countries, is esteemed a meritorious +means of slipping through a difficulty. The gold leaf being taken in the +form of a pill, is washed down with water, which is supposed so to +expand the leaf and extend the stomach that life soon becomes extinct. +The death by the necklace is more uncommon. There is a bird of the crane +kind, on the crown of whose head is a scarlet tuft of down or velvet +skin, to which the Chinese believe the poison of the serpents which it +eats determines. This crest is frequently formed into a bead which is +concealed in the ornamental necklaces worn by the high officers of the +empire, for the express purpose of surmounting worldly difficulties, for +let this venom but touch the lip, and death instantaneously ensues. + +There is a legend that the life of this bird extends to one thousand +years, that it is in its prime at sixty, when it can sing regularly and +beautifully every hour of the day, but that it cannot mount trees till +it reaches its thousandth year. + +When the innkeeper had finished, the clanging of the watchman's bamboo +rattle in the streets reminded Nicholas of the lateness of the hour, and +he said, "But, even now, the worthy innkeeper has not informed his +younger brothers where they may find a lodging for the night. + +"Thy servant, noble youth, must have been born in an unfortunate hour, +that he cannot offer the advantages of his inn, but the truth has been +spoken, none but the servants and officers of the great Ching-Ti can +rest here to-night." + +"Surely taels of silver are not so plentiful in this city that all will +refuse," said Chow. + +"Truly for less than an ounce of silver two travelers might find a +lodging in the house of the bonzes." + +"The priests of Fo are rogues," said Nicholas, giving utterance to an +opinion that has been popular in China from all time. + +"The noble youth possesses a tongue that will place him in the cangue, +or procure him a branded cheek by this hour to-morrow, if he rules it no +better," said the innkeeper; but before the boy could reply, the man's +wife ran into the room, crying and beating her breast, and implored of +her husband to follow her to the bedside of their dying daughter. + +Shocked that they had been the means of keeping the man from so holy a +duty. Nicholas apologized, and was about leaving the house, when with an +hysterical laugh, the man said, "See, O honorable youths, this woman has +but little faith in the power of the holy bonzes, who have been offering +sacrifices to Fo, to save the life of this pearl of my existence." + +"By what means, O foolish man, can these bonzes save thy child's life? +Are not the physicians of Hang-tcheou famous for their skill?" + +"Truly they are less than mice; they could not save my child, and I have +dismissed them for a holy bonze, whose influence over the god who +protects the lives of the young, has made him promise that my pearl +shall not become dissolved in death." + +"She is passing from us now, O my husband," said the unhappy wife. + +"It cannot be, woman; the god is but chastising you with a terrible +fear, for your want of faith; for how is it possible he can refuse so +trifling a favor as the life of a young girl, when I have daily offered +sacrifices of animals, and money, and burned incense at his altar?" + +Shocked at the man's superstitious belief in the power of Fo, and his +brother idols, Nicholas made one other effort to shake it; finding, +however, that it was useless, he paid the bill, purchased a lantern for +himself and another for Chow, and they went on their way to the Buddhist +monastery, the only house wherein he could find shelter for that night. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +ADVENTURE IN A BUDDHIST MONASTERY.--CHOW'S ENCOUNTER WITH A BONZE. + + +To Londoners who find it an easy matter to pass, at any time of the +night, from one end of the metropolis to the other, it may appear that +Nicholas and Chow had no very difficult task before them. Such however, +was not the case, for in the first place, instead of open thoroughfares, +the great streets of the cities of China are barricaded at the ends with +chains, and the smaller ones with wicket-gates, at each of which is +placed a watchman, whose business it is to question every pedestrian, +and through the night to keep clanging a piece of hard wood against a +hollow bamboo cane, for the purpose of showing his watchfulness. + +As the boys, by aid of their lanterns picked their way through the +streets, they found them deserted; with the exception of a few +stragglers, each of whom carried a lantern, upon which was +ostentatiously emblazoned his name and rank. Imagine all the gas lamps +in London extinguished, and their places supplied by a few dancing +will-o'-the-wisp kind of lanterns, and you will have a tolerable notion +of the appearance of the great cities of China by night. Dismal, truly, +but perhaps not more so than were the streets of London not many years +since, when they were lighted by flickering oil lamps. Again, as were +those of London at the very period when these adventures happened, the +streets are so narrow that a good-sized carriage or wagon cannot pass +through without danger to the people, but then the narrowness of the +streets was less pardonable in Londoners of that age, than in the +Chinese of the present, whose great people ride in sedan-chairs, and +whose little people walk, and convey their goods to and fro in narrow +carts, like barrows, with one centre wheel. The Celestials are at least +consistent in fitting their vehicles to their streets, which is more +than could be said of old London, with its gutter streets and heavy +lumbering coaches, types of which may be seen every day in the London of +the present time. + +The street in which the inn was situated was one of the principal, and, +therefore, of great length, and along the pavement, which was in the +middle of the road, the boys trudged onward, passing every now and then +beneath one of the numerous Pai-ho, or arches, which are erected to the +memory of good magistrates and virtuous women, till they came to a +lattice-gate which led into a smaller street, when their progress was +arrested, for the watchman was not at his post. They waited for some +time, till becoming impatient, Chow kicked the gate, when there arose +such a queer hissing noise, that the boy fell upon his face, exclaiming, +"My master, my master the demons of Yen-Vang have swallowed the +watchman, and are guarding the gate in his stead." + +"Thou art a foolish coward," said Nicholas, who clambered up the gate, +and after looking through the wicket for a minute let go his hold and +laughed immoderately. "O Chow, Chow, thou idiot! not to know a demon +from one of thine own kind; surely these demons are nothing but geese;" +and as the watchman opened the wicket Chow saw that the noise which had +alarmed him had been caused by a couple of those birds, which the +watchman had trained to cackle and hiss at the slightest noise, so that +he might take a comfortable nap, with the certainty of being aroused +when wanted by the hissing. + +"Truly they must be barbarian geese, for I should have understood them +had they cackled in Chinese," said Chow. + +To get the gate open was one thing, to pass through another, for +perceiving neither name nor rank upon the lanterns, the watchman +determined to detain the boys as suspicious characters, and for that +purpose began to clang upon his bamboo for assistance, when a personage +came up to the wicket, and both the watchman and Chow bent their heads +respectfully. From the yellow robe, the string of beads around his neck, +and his shaven head, Nicholas saw that he was a bonze, or priest of Fo. +As this reverend gentleman came through the gate he ran his fingers up +and down the beads, and muttered, "O Mi to-fo," and so would have +passed, but for Chow, who said, "Will the man of prayer pardon an +insignificant mouse for interrupting his holy meditations?" + +"The dogs are vagabonds, perhaps robbers, who have no name, surname, or +profession on their lanterns, O holy bonze," said the polite watchman. + +"What would the nameless night prowlers with the priest of Buddha?" said +the bonze. + +"Truly nothing but a guide to the monastery, where they seek a lodging +for which they pray of the holy father to accept alms." + +At the word alms the eyes of the bonze sparkled with delight, and having +lifted his lantern so as to get a full view of Nicholas, he said to the +watchman, "Thou rascal! thy dog's head hath less brains than these +geese, and thine eyeballs are of lead, or thou wouldst have seen that so +well-looking a youth must be of honorable descent; moreover, where was +thy charity, that thou wouldst not aid a traveler?" + +"Surely the man would be wanting in sense who should suppose that he had +the wisdom and divining power of a holy bonze," replied the trembling +guardian of the night. + +Not deigning, however to notice this observation, the bonze conducted +the boys along several streets, till they reached a building surrounded +by a high wall, through which, by means of a small gate, they passed to +an avenue of magnificent trees, paved with marble, and which led to a +large gateway, guarded upon each side by a very ugly stone god. Passing +through the gateway, they entered a small room lighted from the centre +by one large lantern, decorated with portraits of the god Fo, in every +variety of character. This god, as you may probably know, is represented +by almost every kind of animal, biped and quadruped, into which during +the lapse of centuries his soul is supposed to have passed. Around this +room, which was for every day use, were small idols of gilt copper, with +ghos-sticks burning before them; on the table, in the centre of the +room, stood a time measure, that must remind you of the period of our +own King Alfred. It is termed the hourly incense-stick, and is notched +at equal distances, and as from notch to notch the stick takes exactly +one hour to burn, it accurately marks the passing time. + +This ghos-stick, so named from its being burned as incense in the +ghos-houses or temples of China, is compounded of sawdust mixed with +glue and scent, and evenly rolled into thin rods of two or three feet in +length; in fact, the very same brown stick adopted by smokers in this +country for its pleasant perfume, and continuing to burn till reduced to +ashes. Having introduced the boys to this room the bonze withdrew, and +shortly afterward sent a servant with blankets and sleeping mats, upon +which they stretched themselves, not a little pleased at the opportunity +of getting a good sleep after their day's fatigue. + +Long before morning, however, Nicholas was suddenly aroused from his +slumbers, and to his surprise saw the bonze upon the floor, with Chow +pummeling him with his fists, and crying, "I have thee, I have thee, +thou slayer of people's parents." + +Not knowing what to make of this strange scene, Nicholas caught Chow by +the arm and endeavored to pull him away; this, however, served but to +excite him the more, for he pummeled at the bonze harder than ever. The +behavior of the priest was still more surprising, for instead of showing +any indignation at this strange treatment, all he said was, "Harm the +youth not my son; he is possessed with a demon; he sleeps, poor boy, and +mistakes me for some terrible enemy." + +This explanation Nicholas soon found to be correct, for poor Chow had +been battling in his sleep; but how the bonze came into the boy's +clutches was a mystery, and one that, worn out as he was with fatigue, +he did not just then care about solving, so that he could get Chow to +his mat again, which after considerable trouble he managed, by telling +him that he was an officer of justice and would see that his enemy +should be punished. After which Nicholas threw himself upon his mat, +fell into a sound sleep, and slept till he was awakened by the deep +tones of the monastery bell. + +During the morning meal he related the adventure to the much-puzzled +Chow, who could remember nothing but that he had dreamed that the slayer +of his father suddenly entered the room, and after prowling about for +some time, first searched the robe of Nicholas, and then came to his +bed, when, thinking he was going to kill him, he attacked him in +self-defence; though how his enemy should have become transformed into +the bonze, who certainly had no business in the room, was a puzzle that +he could not make out. + +The explanation of the bonze was, that he had entered his visitors' +apartment to see that they had been properly attended to by the +servant--an explanation not at all satisfactory to Chow, who as soon as +the priest left the room said, "Is my master's girdle safe? for these +holy fathers are great rogues." + +Alarmed for the safety of his letters, Nicholas examined his girdle; +they were safe; when shocked at his insinuation, the repentant Chow +exclaimed, "Truly, my master, Chow is less than the least of little +dogs, and must crave the good father's forgiveness,"--which he took the +first opportunity of doing, by falling upon all fours before the priest +and knocking his forehead to the ground, till the latter in pity lifted +the boy upon his legs again. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THRASHING THE GODS.--THE BOYS TAKEN PRISONERS. + + +Anxious to deliver his father's letter to the Christian priest, yet +fearful of making inquiries where he was to be found, now he had heard +of the governor's enmity to Christianity, Nicholas determined to make +the effort alone, and having thanked the bonze for his hospitality and +presented him with half an ounce of silver, he was about proceeding in +his search, when the latter solicited him to join in the morning prayers +of the monastery; a solicitation he was too prudent to refuse, for fear +of awakening the suspicions of the bonzes, whom he knew to be the main +persecutors of his religion. + +As for Chow, like the majority of his countrymen he was of no religion +in particular, but a little of each of the sects into which the Chinese +are divided; Confucian, Buddhist, and Taouist; he, therefore, willingly +followed Nicholas, who, with something like a feeling of disgust, +entered a spacious hall, the ceiling of which shone with gold and japan. +In the centre were placed three colossal representative gods of the +past, present, and future--the Buddha who is, and the Buddha who will +be--with a vase of incense and a lamp of burning tea oil before each. At +the sound of a small bell, a number of yellow-robed priests, with heads +shaven, clean and oily as bladders of lard, made their appearance and +commenced the ceremony; one rang a bell violently, while another +clattered like a watchman upon a hollow bamboo cane. This clamor was for +the purpose of arousing the attention of the gods, which, after a few +minutes, being supposed to be accomplished, the whole society of priests +knocked their heads upon the ground repeatedly; and when tired, they +began to chant hymns and create a fearful din by playing rough music +upon much rougher instruments; after which they marched out of the hall +regularly and in double file. Not a little pleased at the conclusion of +the ceremony, Nicholas followed, taking care, however, on leaving the +building, to choose an opposite direction to the bonzes. + +The boys had not walked more than a hundred yards, when they came to the +foot of a small hillock, which served as a base or pedestal for a +shrine, in which, upon a raised platform, like a small boy upon a tall +stool, sat an ugly little god with a dragon's head, so glittering, +however, with gold and gaudy colors, that they knew it to be a private +idol that some foolish devotee had decorated at his own cost, with a +view to obtain some especial service from heaven. When within earshot of +this deity, they observed two bonzes come from behind the shrine, +attended by a servant, who, having prepared the incense table commenced +to bow their heads to the ground and mutter their prayers. + +Not wishing either to join in, or interrupt the priests' devotions, the +boys took up their position behind the trunk of a large tree, where they +witnessed the following scene:-- + +Scarcely had the bonzes commenced their head knockings when a mob of the +lower class of people, with sticks and hammers in their hands, came +clamoring toward the shrine. They were led by a man, who had no sooner +reached the astute and kneeling priests, than with one kick he sent them +rolling over each other, saying at the same time, "Get thee hence, thou +rogues of bonzes, and let us deal with this villainous god." The bonzes, +seeing so many persons, arose and scampered off to their monastery for +help, when the _leader_, whom Nicholas now recognized as his friend, the +innkeeper, approached the idol, saying, "How now, thou dog of a spirit! +Have I not fed thee, lodged thee handsomely, and offered incense each +day at the cost of half my hard earnings, that thou shouldst save the +life of my daughter, who, notwithstanding, has been carried to the +yellow stream? Let us punish him, my friends, that he may deceive no +other father." As he uttered the last words, he struck off the arm of +the god with such force that it struck a bonze, who was at that moment +coming toward the idol in advance of some twenty of his brethren; at +which the people cried, "This is indeed a just retribution upon the vile +bonze." + +"Do not the people fear the vengeance of the gods, that they behave +thus?" said the stricken priest, calmly, and dissembling his rage. + +"Truly the gods may render us unfortunate," said one cowardly fellow, +and the superstitious crowd hesitated. Perceiving his advantage, the +bonze followed it up. "Surely," said he, "the people are not +unreasonable, like this man, who is ungrateful to the gods for taking +his daughter, as if, forsooth, his child were better than the children +of his neighbors." + +"This is true. Why should one complain that he is not more fortunate +than the rest?" said the cowardly voice. + +"As for the worthy Sing, the gods may pardon him, in consideration of +his great grief; but then he must desist from this profanity," said the +bonze. + +"The bonze is generous, and his words are reasonable," said another. + +"Are my friends unjust that they will not listen to an injured man, +whose injuries may be their own to-morrow?" said the innkeeper. + +"This is reasonable also; let us hear Sing," cried several voices. + +At that moment, Nicholas, who feared lest the artful bonzes should get +the better of the dispute, came forward, and said, "Why should the +worthy Sing waste words? surely he has been sufficiently injured; the +measure of his grief is full, for he will leave no descendant to fulfil +the necessary offices at his tomb." + +"The words of the honorable youth are wise," said the fickle crowd; and +Nicholas continued, "That there has been robbery, there can be no +doubt, my friends; for, notwithstanding the god promised to cure the +daughter of this worthy man, she has passed to the yellow stream, and, +therefore, he is unworthy of his quality of godship, and should be +punished; therefore, in justice to the worthy Sing, let this temple be +pulled down, and the stupid idol pay the penalty in his own person." + +To which the priest endeavored to reply, but the people would not listen +to him, and acting upon the suggestion of Nicholas, threw a cord round +the god's neck, pulled him to the ground, and belabored him with sticks +and hammers. + +During the proceeding the priests, who were too wise to lose their +tempers, addressed a knot of lookers-on, vehemently threatening them +with terrible misfortunes, but at the same time declaring, that if Sing +would come to some agreement, the god, who was of a short temper, would +do what was reasonable on his part and prevent future evils. This had +the desired effect upon all but Sing and some of his friends, who +continued to belabor the idol till the converts to the bonze's opinion +drove them away, when, becoming broken into antagonistic parties, they +threw aside their weapons and fought each other with their fists, till a +body of yah-yu, or city police, entered upon the ground, and seizing +Sing, the principal bonze, and the two boys, as the chief rioters, +hurried them off to the police tribunal. + +As for the mob, no sooner had the prisoners been removed, than mortified +at the profanity into which they had been hurried, they gathered +together the fragments of the deity, stuck them together as well as +possible, washed him, and fell at his feet, exclaiming, "In truth we +have been a little too hasty, but then your godship has been a little +too slow in performing your promises, and thus brought the beating upon +yourself. But still it is a good saying, that 'what has been done can't +be undone.' Let us, therefore, think no more of this matter, and if you +will forget what has passed we will repair thy temple and gild you over +again." + +For fear that my reader may think this episode exaggerated, I must +assure him that similar scenes are even now of frequent occurrence--and +why not? For although idolaters, the Chinese are neither enthusiasts nor +fanatics. With the greater part, the worship of idols is an inheritance +which it would be impossible to reject;--it is custom they worship. +Moreover, like ourselves, they are a business-like people, and will have +money's worth for money; therefore, if they pay an idol for a certain +quantity of work, and he does not complete his contract, they give him a +sound thrashing--and the principle is not a bad one after all. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TREACHERY OF THE BONZES.--NICHOLAS SENT TO PRISON AS A TRAITOR. + + +With the proverbial rudeness of most small officials, the yah-yu threw +cords around the arms of the prisoners and dragged them along the +streets, amid the jeers and laughter of the populace, who, enjoyed the +prospect of the probable punishment of so serious an offence as rioting, +namely, being led about the streets with the cangue, a wooden collar as +large as a small table, around their necks; but in this the Chinese +crowd was not worse than others in Europe, for, with shame be it said, a +tendency to indulge in the minor miseries of their fellows is the cruel +propensity of most masses. + +When they came to the tribunal they found it crowded with people, who +were standing upon either side of the hall, so as to form a lane by +which to approach the mandarin, who was sitting at a table, upon which +stood a box of bamboo reeds, tipped with yellow; upon his left side sat +the secretary, and upon his right stood three men with ominous-looking +bamboo canes in their hands. The first case heard was that of a youth +whose propensity for gaming had led him to squander a large sum of +money lent to him by his father for the purpose of commencing business. +I must tell you however, that before bringing the boy before a tribunal, +the father had fruitlessly tried every method of kindness. Having +listened patiently, the mandarin severly reprimanded the youth, then +taking fifty of the yellow-tipped reeds threw them on the ground as a +signal for the men with canes to give him fifty blows. Before, however, +they could obey, his mother, with tears in her eyes, threw herself at +the mandarin's feet, begging of him to pardon her son. Being a +kind-hearted man the magistrate complied, but ordering to be brought to +him a volume written by one of the emperors for the instruction of his +subjects, and opening it at a particular part, said, "Promise O youth, +to renounce gambling and to listen to your father's directions, and I +will pardon you this time; but that you may not forget, go and kneel in +the gallery of the hall of audience and learn by heart this chapter on +filial obedience, which till you repeat and solemnly promise to observe +obedience, you shall not depart from this tribunal." + +The youth being delighted at this lenient sentence bowed his forehead to +the earth, and, moreover, I must tell you, kept his promise, although he +was three days learning the task. Such being the spirit of the laws, and +the paternal mildness with which they are for the most part carried out, +excepting only in cases of high treason, we need not wonder that this +great population has submitted to their rule for four thousand years. + +When this case was over the chief of the yah-yu bowed to the ground and +charged his prisoners generally with rioting to the disturbance of the +public peace. + +"What has the priest of Fo to say to this disgraceful charge? let him +open his lips," said the mandarin. Whereupon the bonze fell upon his +knees and accused the innkeeper of attacking the idol and leading a mob +to destroy the monastery. + +"What sayest the innkeeper? for surely the offence is serious," said the +mandarin. + +Then, bowing to the ground, the innkeeper related the morning's +adventure, stating that but for the assistance of Nicholas and Chow, the +bonze would have killed him, adding, "Truly, O jewel of justice, thy +mean servant demands the punishment of this rascal bonze and his +trumpery god, who, notwithstanding the sums paid to them, have permitted +his only child to be carried from this life." + +Having listened patiently to both sides, the mandarin said, "It is true +that two offences have been committed, the one against the public peace, +and the other against a private person. The former, being the most +heinous, must be first dealt with; and, as without the bonze and the +innkeeper, there could have been no such disturbance, let both be +corrected with twenty blows. As for the two youths, who were drawn into +this disturbance, let them pay half a tael each to some poor person to +receive ten blows for them." + +The sentence having gone forth, the men with the bamboos caught hold of +the culprits, threw them upon the floor, and they received a similar +punishment to that dealt out by a schoolmaster upon a refractory pupil; +after which, the delinquents, smarting with pain, humbly returned thanks +for this benevolent and fatherly correction. + +"As for the second offence," said the mandarin, "it is clear that the +bonze is either a rogue or no good judge of the powers of the different +gods, and knew not to which to apply for this particular favor, an +ignorance that has caused the innkeeper to lose his goods; and, in +either case, is unfit for his office; therefore, if he is found within +the city walls after this night, he shall be placed in the cangue for +three moons. As for the god himself, who is the principal party +concerned, let him be plucked down from his seat as a useless and +malicious deity." + +Thus compelled, by custom, to recognize the foolish superstition of Fo, +although he no more believed in it than you do, the mandarin humorously +punished the bonze. + +The wily priest, however, had not quite played out his game, so, +dissembling his rage at the result of the trial, he fell upon his knees, +saying, "Pardon, O ever-flowing stream of justice, but the meanest and +most insignificant servant of Fo, dares claim a reward for a great act." + +"What words are these, thou dog of a bonze?' said the angry official. + +"If the eyeballs of thy contemptible servant are straight in their +sockets, he has seen placards bearing the character of the illustrious +tsong-tou (viceroy) of the province promising twenty taels for any +follower of the Christian priests, whose houses of prayer have been so +wisely destroyed. + +"What useless words are these, for where in this city is such a dog to +be found, since they were hunted down by the illustrious governor? may +he live a thousand years," replied the mandarin. + +"This was a terrible surprise to Nicholas, for not only did it convince +him that the persecution of the Christians had commenced, but that his +own mission had somehow been discovered by the priest; nor was he +disappointed, when the latter said, 'Truly, O grand canal of justice, +that turbulent youth is even now on a treasonable errand to the +Christian priest, Adam, who has so traitorously fled the city.'" + +"These are dog's words, thou rogue of a bonze," said the boy. + +Not regarding the interruption, the priest added, as he placed a paper +in the hand of the mandarin, "The dragon vision of the lord of justice +will discover to him that his servant's words are pearls of truth." + +Having glanced at the paper, the mandarin said sternly to Nicholas, +"Thou art young to be concerned in treason, and yet these characters +warn the priest, Adam, against the great Ching-Ti, whom the anonymous +writer tells him is about to arrive at Hang-tcheou, specially charged by +the Son of Heaven to root out the Christian priests." + +"As this is the first time, O mandarin, that thy servant's ears drink +in this intelligence he must have been innocent of the contents of that +packet," replied Nicholas. + +"The youth is young; but, like the body of a snake, his words are +twirling and slippery. It is true, those characters may not have reached +his eyes, but it is equally true that he was the bearer, for the cover +is even now in his girdle," said the priest. + +"Thy servant, O mandarin, cannot deny that he bore the letter, but it +was in ignorance that it was a crime," said Nicholas, taking the +envelope from his vest, now fully convinced that the bonze had picked +his girdle. + +"Although it is certain that the writer is a traitor, it is not equally +so that this youth is an accomplice," said the mandarin, after examining +the envelope. + +"The dog is a Christian, O lord of justice; and in the name of the Son +of Heaven, I claim the twenty taels," said the bonze, forgetting the +submission due to a magistrate, in his rage and fear that Nicholas might +escape. + +"Thy words are dirt, thou turbulent rogue, for it is not clear that the +youth is a Christian," said the angry mandarin, adding kindly to +Nicholas, "Let the youth deny this charge and he shall be believed, for +his words are straight as the flying arrow." + +Here was a chance, for it was evident the mandarin was his friend. +Still, notwithstanding that imprisonment for life, if not speedy death, +stared him in the face, Nicholas was too brave to forswear his Saviour, +and he replied, "If to be a Christian, O mandarin, is to merit death, +then am I ready to die." + +Then the good-natured, but disappointed magistrate said sorrowfully, +"The youth is as brave as he is honest, and deserves a better fate; yet +must the commands of the great tsong-tou be observed, therefore let the +youth be conveyed to the great prison to await his sentence." Without a +word or the movement of a muscle, the boy permitted the attendants to +bind his arms. + +This was too much for Chow, who, with a leap like that of a wounded +hare, cried, "The priest, O great lord, is a midnight thief." But such a +demonstration being against the rules of decency, the officers seized +and silenced the boy by clapping a gag in his mouth. Then the mandarin +ordered twenty taels to be given to the bonze, and the latter having +made the customary bow was about to depart, when the magistrate said, +"Now priest, relate by what means that letter came into thy possession, +for it is a maxim that justice should be equally balanced." + +Then the bonze related how he met the boys, and took them to the +monastery, adding that as they were passing through a passage the letter +having fallen from the youth's girdle, he picked it up, and divining +that its contents were treasonous, retained the document for +examination. + +"These are dog's words," exclaimed Chow, from whose mouth the gag had +been taken by the mandarin's order; "the priest is a rogue and a rat, +for he stole the paper at night while my noble master slept, and +although for hours thy servant believed it was a dream, and mistook the +bonze for an enemy, he now remembers that after filching the letter from +the girdle, the rogue opened the envelope, stole the contents, and then +by some mysterious means of his own closed it again." + +The bonze being about to reply, the mandarin interrupted him, saying, +"Truly has it been said that although eggs are close things, the chicks +will out, for the rogue forgot to explain how the letter could leave the +pocket of its owner without the envelope. The theft is clear, and it is +but justice to the state that the thief should receive fifty blows, and +pay twenty taels of silver." This sentence was speedily executed upon +the roaring coward, whose back was still sore with the first beating, +and so he left the tribunal considerably worse off than he had come +before it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHOW SETS OUT TO DISCOVER SOME THIEVES. + + +It was with no little distress of mind that Chow, who now loved Nicholas +as a brother, parted with him at the gates of the prison. He tore his +hair, beat his breast, and roared and capered as if in bodily as well as +mental agony. Never should he see his noble master again; the wicked +viceroy would kill him. O that he had not been a Christian, or so unwise +as to admit it! These, and many other foolish things, passed through his +mind, till he became wearied and fatigued. When more calm, he began to +upbraid himself with folly and cowardice, for giving way to useless +grief instead of setting his wits to work to aid him. + +Like most Chinese, Chow believed, or at least followed, the mongrel +creed of the country, and he proposed to himself to seek the aid of the +gods; although even his faith in their powers had become weakened by the +exhibition of the morning; at length, however, it occurred to him to +seek the innkeeper, who being well to do, and an old inhabitant of +Hang-tcheou, could if willing, give material assistance; if not willing, +thought Chow, he must be the most ungrateful of human beings. So he went +off to Sing, who was not only glad to see him, but invited him to live +at the inn until they could hit upon some good scheme to rescue +Nicholas; and so, that night, they talked and talked the matter over, +till, becoming tired, they went to bed to sleep on it. + +The next morning they compared notes as to their sleeping thoughts. The +result of Chow's was to get a mob together to burst open the prison +gates; at which very wise suggestion Sing laughed loudly, greatly to the +disgust of Chow, who became very angry, as he fancied the innkeeper +doubted his courage; but when Sing explained a little plan of his own he +capered about joyfully, and begged that they might commence immediately. + +"Let us first ask the gods for a fortunate day," said Sing. + +"Then will not the worthy Sing seek a temple at once?" said Chow. + +This being agreed to, they started off to the suburbs, where, in a +retired spot, near the great lake, they found a divining temple. + +These temples, which are sprinkled through the country, are always open +for the convenience of the people, who enter upon nothing of importance, +whether it be marrying, burying, buying, selling, house-building, +party-giving, or setting out upon a journey, without first seeking to +discover in the cup of destiny a fortunate day or hour for the proposed +undertaking. + +Upon the altar stood a large wooden cup, filled with small sticks, +marked with certain mystic characters, representing both good and ill +luck. Taking up this cup, Sing began to give it sharp quick jerks, +while Chow, taking hold of a book that was hanging to the wall, searched +for marks to correspond with those upon the sticks which might be thrown +to the ground by Sing's jerking. With serious countenances they went +through this performance, Sing believing that by a peculiar scientific +twist of his wrist he could jerk out a few sticks of luck. For some +time, however, the sticks were obstinate, and would not move; then a +sharper jerk and one jumped out, then another, and another, three in +all; and Chow, having examined the luck spots very earnestly, groaned +with despair, for neither bore the required mark. Then, to propitiate +the god of wood, paint, and gold leaf, they burned incense and tinsel +paper, and, by way of reaching the cupidity of the deity, for it is +difficult to made a Chinese believe that even a god will "do something +for nothing," they placed some copper coins upon the altar, enough, I +suppose, to satisfy his greedy godship; for when, at the risk of +spraining his wrist, Sing gave the next jerk, out jumped two of the +lucky spotted sticks, and the oblique eyes of Chow began to smile so +satisfactorily that there really appeared to be some danger of their +meeting across his nose and melting into one big orb in the middle of +his forehead. Holding the sticks above his head, the boy capered about +with delight, crying, "Thanks to Tien, the day will be fortunate, for +the god has promised, and there is no rogue of a bonze present to +persuade him from his good intentions." + +As for Sing, he was no less pleased, for, notwithstanding his previous +experience, his faith was entire in the cup of destiny, as it was, +indeed, in the gods. + +Chow's delight was almost as great as if his master had been already +rescued. However, as soon as the first ebullition had subsided he began +to think how he should commence operations, and so, puzzling his brains, +he walked by the side of Sing, who was also quietly endeavoring to think +out some grand plan of proceeding. Thus they proceeded till they came +near the walls of the city, when their attention was aroused by a +terrible discord. Not a dozen yards from them was a small house (like +all Chinese habitations, one story high), before which stood the wall of +respect, so called, because like a brick curtain it hides the domicile +from the gaze of strangers. Near the doorway stood an elderly man with +two pieces of metal, which he kept clanging against each other, stopping +only at intervals to fulminate at the very compass of his voice, many +fearful curses and maledictions against thieves who had plundered his +house, fully believing that by the agency of the gods these curses would +reach and crush the thieves, wherever they might be. + +"It is only old Hoang, the retired innkeeper," said Sing cooly, as if +not at all regretting the misfortunes of his successful rival. He could +not, however, have possessed any such paltry feeling, for he added, +"Will the venerable Hoang permit his younger brother to assist him in +discovering these rogues?" + +"The offer of the worthy Sing is good and grateful to his mean brother, +but alas! nothing can avail old Hoang, for the Fong-Choui is his enemy, +and will not be satisfied till his house is destroyed," was the reply. + +To explain what I must tell you, that it is one of the most remarkable +and foolish beliefs of the Celestials, that, apart from sanitary +reasons, the situation of a house may effect the happiness and fortunes +not only of its owner, but his descendants for several generations. The +demon who exercises this baneful influence is the Fong-Choui, or wind +and water. Thus, if a neighbor (it had been Hoang's case) builds his +house in a contrary direction and so that one of its corners is placed +opposite your own, your destiny is fixed, your only remedy being to have +it immediately pulled down. To obtain the removal of the house in +question, Hoang had applied to the mandarin, but as that officer had +received a larger bribe from the neighbor than he could afford, the +official recommended the old man to pull down his own house; but as this +would have ruined him, he had had recourse to the only other remedy, +which was, to erect upon the roof of his house a monster with a dragon's +head and a large forked tongue, so pointed at the unfortunate corner +that it would frighten away the Fong-Choui. That wind and watery +personage, however, was not so easily frightened, for the next day some +thieves entered his house and effected a very clever robbery. + +By the aid of a mysterious engine (known, I suppose, only to the thieves +of China), which will burn great holes in the thickest wood without +causing either scent or flame, the rogues had entered Hoang's dwelling +in the night so quietly that when the old gentleman awoke in the morning +he found his bed without curtains or coverlid, and the room without +furniture, all of which, besides other things of value, had been taken +from the house. + +"Surely thy dogs of servants must have been accomplices," said Chow. + +"Not so, youth, for although I slept deep into the day, when I arose the +servants were all in such a deep slumber that I believed them in the +sleep of death." + +"Surely my elder brother will seek the mandarin, and have the dogs' +heads searched for," said Sing. + +"Alas! O worthy Sing, thy unhappy servant is under the baneful influence +of the Fong-Choui, and the mandarin dares not interfere." + +Feeling deeply for the poor man, and not liking the idea of the thieves +escaping so easily, Chow asked, "Has the worthy and honorable Hoang +sought the mandarin?" + +"It would be useless youth, without, indeed, a stranger would interfere, +and break the charm of the Fong-Choui." + +"With the will of the venerable Hoang, his younger brother will seek the +tribunal of police," said Chow. + +Delighted with the offer, Hoang led them through the rooms of his house, +which Chow examined with the talent of a detective police officer, and +after pacing about for some time he stumbled. Looking to see the cause, +he saw it was a small square box. "See," he said, "the robbers in their +flight have dropped some of their plunder." + +"Surely that box must belong to the villains, for it has never before +darkened my eyes," said Hoang. + +"Then by the toe of the Son of Heaven we have some clue to the way in +which the robbery was effected," said Chow, as he opened the box and +took out a little pyramid, resembling our own pastiles. Placing one to +his nose he said, "It is the baneful drug of Setchuen. Light but one and +place it near the nostrils of a sleeper, and it will be many hours +before he can be awakened. In this manner, O venerable friend, has the +house been robbed,--its inmates were under the influence of the drug." + +"Thy discovery is great, and may lead to the capture of the thieves. +Would that so poor a man could reward such a benafactor." + +However, as time was an object to Chow for the success of some plan, +which from the cunning brightness that flitted through his eye seemed +just then to have crossed his mind, he stopped the garrulous gratitude +of the old gentleman by begging the box of pastiles as his reward. This +being granted, he took a very formal leave, promising not to rest till +he had seen the mandarin himself. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CHOW OUTWITS A GREAT MANDARIN, AND SETS OUT TO RESCUE HIS MASTER. + + +As they walked to the inn Chow explained to Sing his plan for the rescue +of Nicholas, which, after some serious consideration and many words of +advice, the innkeeper approved; but as it could not be put in operation +before evening, as soon as they reached the inn they went into one of +the inner apartments, and while they refreshed themselves with a good +meal, chatted over the details. + +After they had completed their arrangements, Sing led Chow to an +outbuilding, in which were two oblong coffins, the one sealed down, the +other with the lid half off. The first contained the body of Sing's +daughter, of whom he had been so fond in life that in death he kept her +in the same room with the open coffin which had been presented to him by +the girl as a filial offering. + +Such gifts as this, which I dare say you will think a sombre one, are by +no means more rare among the Chinese than the preservation in their own +houses of the bodies of those they have loved. And just above an altar +upon which incense was burning, hung a portrait of the dead girl, before +which silently and with cheeks damped with tears of memory, Sing threw +himself reverentially, and prayed fervently for the other world +happiness of his child. Having, with as much real sympathy as mere +courtesy, joined in the ceremony for a short time, Chow arose, and left +the bereaved parent throwing cuttings of silver paper upon the burning +dish, in the belief that in the next world it would change into real +money for his daughter's use. + +As when Chow reached the police tribunal he found it closed for the day, +he clattered upon a large gong or kettle drum, affixed to the door, a +piece of great daring on his part; for if his business did not strike +the mandarin as being of the greatest importance, he might make sure of +some fifty blows for his impudence, for the public officers in China are +quite as averse to doing too much for the public money as many that I +could name of our own. + +The door was opened and the boy was shown into the hall of audience, +where he had not long to wait before the mandarin and four bamboo sticks +in waiting made their appearance. "How, dog! Why this clatter at our +gates when the tribunal is closed?" asked the surly grandee. + +"Will the magnificent fountain of justice give his unworthy servant a +private hearing?" said the bold boy, glancing significantly at the +bamboo sticks in waiting. + +"Let the fellow's mouth be opened with ten blows for his impudence," +said the polite magistrate; but as the men were about to obey, Chow +thrust his hand into his robe, and pulling out a letter threw it into +the great man's lap, a piece of effrontery so beyond all precedent that +the bamboo sticks waiting stood aghast and ready at a glance from the +mandarin to immolate the profane boy. The magistrate, however, no sooner +opened the paper than in tremulous tones he exclaimed, "Leave us alone, +this fellow has matters of private importance to communicate." + +This order having been obeyed, Chow broke through the rules of decency +and etiquette by speaking before he was spoken to. "A crime has been +committed within thy district, O mandarin, yet justice sleeps. Surely +this is not according to the sacred books," said he. + +"What dog's words are these? of what crime speaks the youth?" said the +magistrate wildly. + +"According to the sacred books, O mandarin, it is the magistrate's duty +to discover and punish crime within his district. Yet, not withstanding +the house of the retired innkeeper Hoang is in a well-guarded quarter of +the city, it has been broken into and its furniture and valuables +stolen; moreover what is more surprising in so populous a district, the +thieves have escaped." + +"What words are these?" said the mandarin again, being in fact so +troubled that he knew not what to say. + +"Truly, it is a shrewd maxim; 'that large fowls will not eat small +grain,' yet, the largest may be choked if too greedy, for there are +still larger birds to swallow them; in turn even thou mayst be stripped +of thy rank and offices, if not strangled," said Chow, adding, "Would +the lord of justice wish straighter words?" + +The words proved straight enough to go direct to the mark, for the +mandarin fell upon his knees and begged Chow to accept half his fortune, +and although it would be letting his rogue off cheaply enough, the +rescue of Nicholas was his object, and he promised to forego using his +knowledge of the great man's delinquency, providing that he would give +him an order under the official seal that would admit him to his +master's prison. Rejoiced to purchase his safety so easily, the mandarin +not only gave the order, but also promised to see that Hoang's property +was restored to him within a few days. After this Chow gave a paper to +the magistrate, and left the tribunal well satisfied with the result of +his visit. + +Now, as I dare say you are anxious to know how it came about that so +poor a boy could have such power over so great a personage, I will tell +you, and you will obtain some little knowledge how public affairs are +managed in China, and moreover, learn that dishonesty may sometimes +place the greatest official beneath the thumb of the smallest of +persons, as indeed it happened in this case. + +When Chow was chattering over his plans with the innkeeper he examined +the box of pastiles, and on taking them out, discovered a paper at the +bottom, evidently placed there for security, as the thieves could not +have dreamt of leaving their most valuable implements behind. That paper +was an order for four men, whose names were mentioned, to pass to the +boats on the canal, with any quantity of goods, without questioning, and +was signed with the character of the mandarin, which accounted for the +thieves getting off with so many things, but it also proved that the +mandarin was in connivance with them, and was in the habit of granting +these passes to robbers in return for a large bribe. Now, as Chow could +write very well, he immediately composed a letter to the mandarin, +telling him the whole transaction, and, moreover, that the thieves were +well known to a friend of his, who, if he did not return by a certain +time that evening, would disclose the whole matter to the viceroy; +therefore it was not to be wondered that the great man trembled and +implored of Chow to accept half his fortune, for had it been brought +before the viceroy he would, as Chow more than, hinted, in all +probability have been strangled. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ESCAPE OF NICHOLAS FROM PRISON. + + +Having, at the same time, secured an order for admittance to Nicholas +and the restitution of old Hoang's property, Chow went in search of a +shop, where he purchased a rope of silk, and returned to the prison, +which was next to the tribunal. + +At that time far in advance, and even now not much worse than our own, +the prisons of China are large and spacious, and although some of the +most criminal of the inmates are loaded with chains, the greater number +are permitted to take exercise and converse with each other in an open +court during the day. Their health is cared for,--if any are ill a +physician attends them, and when a death takes place a report is sent to +the Emperor, who issues orders for an examination, something like our +inquests, into the cause, when should it appear that any of the officers +are at fault, they are immediately degraded and punished. When a +prisoner dies the body is not permitted to pass through the ordinary +doorway, but through an opening reserved for the purpose. It is seldom, +however, that deaths occur in these places, for should a person, +especially above the lowest rank in life, be in danger, he or his +friends pray that he may be taken without the walls to expire; indeed, +so infamous is it considered for a corpse to be taken through this dead +opening, that "May he be dragged through the prison hole" is the +greatest expression of evil a person can wish his enemy. + +The prison in which Nicholas was confined was a large building, with its +front to the street and its back to the canal. There were three courts, +each having treble gates, well guarded by armed sentries. Chow found no +difficulty in passing the first two gates, but the third was under the +charge of the chief gaoler, who not only made him show the mandarin's +order, but ordered two soldiers to accompany the boy to his master's +cell, which was situated at the top of one of the four corners or +towers, and overlooking the canal. + +The armed men he met at every turn, and the dismal-looking strength of +the halls, courts, doors, and staircases through which he passed, made +Chow feel very wretched, for not an atom of a chance could he see for a +prisoner to escape. However no sooner did he again get sight of Nicholas +than all difficulties vanished, his countenance brightened, and the +affectionate fellow fell at his feet and wept with joy. + +"How is this? surely thou art not a Christian, my poor friend, that they +should bring thee here?" said Nicholas sorrowfully. + +"Truly both servant and master are fortunate, for the mandarin has +permitted them to keep each other company." + +For some minutes Chow squatted upon the floor with his head bent to the +ground, apparently in grief at his master's position. Really, he had +not calculated upon the presence of the two gaolers; it was an awkward +dilemma, still he was not one to stick at a difficulty, and so he began +to think. His were not pleasant thoughts, for it was just possible that +the mandarin on recovering from his fright might tremble at the probable +consequences of permitting the escape of Nicholas, and to make his own +peace confess the whole affair to the Christian-hating viceroy. + +Having finished cogitating, Chow commenced a lively conversation with +Nicholas about any thing and every thing but what was most on his mind; +then he endeavored to chat with the surly gaolers; the attempt, however, +proved a failure, till he brought forth a porcelain bottle filled with +rice spirit. When the men grew better tempered, Chow said, "Is there any +law that will prevent the honorable guard from bestowing upon his +servants some hot tea, for surely it will refresh them?" Without making +any reply, one of the gaolers opened the door and called aloud for the +beverage. + +Some minutes after swallowing the tea, Chow rolled over upon the floor, +and howled like a dog; which extraordinary proceeding so alarmed +Nicholas and the men, that one of the latter, throwing down his weapon, +fell upon his knees and began to rub the sufferer's stomach. "Will the +ungrateful villains let me die the dog's death for the want of a cup of +water?" Surprised as they were at such a remedy, the frightened men +provided the water, but at the same time pointed to the porcelain +flask. + +For the hint the patient thanked them, but he knew it would be of no use +without hot water. Would the honorable gaolers get some? + +That was another affair, for to ask for hot water would be to proclaim +that rice spirit was being drunk in the prison, when gaolers as well as +prisoners would be bambooed. + +Then, having coaxed and importuned for some time fruitlessly, Chow held +his hand upon his stomach, and alarmed Nicholas with performing a long +series of tragic-comic grimaces and contortions, when seeing the men +begin to tremble at the heavy punishment that awaited them if a prisoner +died beneath their charge, he said, "Surely the noble guardians would +not have it proclaimed to the next visiting mandarin that they have been +drinking the prohibited spirit." + +Perceiving now that they were upon the horns of a dilemma, the gaolers +hesitated. Then a bright thought came to one, and he said, "Truly, the +tea is cold; a fire-pan will warm it; and so it will not be suspected +that rice spirit has been brought into the prison." Thus settling the +matter to his satisfaction, the man procured a small dish of fire and a +cup of cold water, when Chow had another attack, and in his paroxysms +kicked over his tea-cup, and then very inconsistently clamored for cold +water. This request being complied with, the patient sipped and appeared +a degree better, for he then stood upon his feet and thanked his +deliverers, and, moreover, offered them some more spirit, an offence +which was repeated and accepted till both gaolers became very +good-humored and talkative, first to Chow, then to Nicholas. Finding +that they were busy with the latter, Chow sauntered up to the fire and +sat before it, as if to prevent another attack by its heat. Then a sweet +perfume pervaded the atmosphere, and so gradually increased in strength, +that, imperceptibly to themselves, the tongues of the men slackened by +degrees, their loud tones softened into silence, their heads waved +gently to and fro, till, overcome by the density of the air, they fell +sideways upon the ground. It was not far to fall, for they had been +squatting upon the floor during their jovial conversation. Then taking a +large sponge that he had been holding to his own nostrils, Chow held it +to the nose of Nicholas, who, not being intoxicated with spirit, soon +exhibited signs of returning animation, when creeping up to the drooping +gaolers, he passed something, not a sponge, near to their nostrils, +which seemed to have the effect of double locking their senses. Then +leading the half-insensible Nicholas to the window, he took a knife from +his girdle and cut away the painted paper panes, when the cold air soon +made the master as sensible as the servant. + +Arresting by a sign, Nicholas's exclamations of surprise at these +proceedings, Chow pulled forth the silken cord, fastened one end to the +table, then tying his knife to the other end he let it gently down, and +hung out of the window with it in his hand, as if he had been fishing. +In a few minutes he obtained a bite, for the rope gave a jerk. This +being satisfactory, he whispered to his master to descend by the loops. +Nicholas complied, and in one minute found himself in the arms of some +person, and in another, carried into a small room, about large enough to +hold four men. A minute more, Chow entered the cabin, the boat began to +glide along the canal, and Nicholas comprehended the whole of Chow's +scheme. Now you have the reason of his delight in seizing upon the box +of pastiles, two of which he had managed to light while his back was +turned to the gaolers. The cold water Chow knew to be an antidote to the +stupifying effects of the perfume, if applied immediately, as in the +case of Nicholas. As for the boy's illness, that was a ruse, and a very +good one too, under the circumstances. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PURSUED BY THE YAH-YU.--THE BOAT WRECK. + + +When the boat had run a sufficient distance from the prison, Sing, for +he it was who had so ably aided in the escape, putting a pole in the +hands of Nicholas, and taking one himself, they forced the little craft +along the waters with the greatest possible speed. As for Chow, not +finding another pole, and resolved not to be left out of the good work, +he took off his boots, threw his legs over the stern, and helped to +propel the boat by paddling against the water with his feet. By these +means, in a very short time, they arrived at the back of Sing's house, +which fortunately faced the canal. It was thus, indeed, that the +innkeeper had been enabled to pass to the prison in the little san-pan +which he had borrowed from a friendly boatman. + +Going into the house to caution his wife against feeling alarmed at his +probably prolonged absence, he left them for a few minutes, and when he +returned they had no small cause to rejoice at his thoughtfulness, for +his wife had just heard from one of the prison attendants, who lived at +the inn, that about half an hour after their escape the relief guard of +gaolers had discovered their absence, and sent a body of yah-yu, both by +land and water, to recapture them. + +"By the toe of the Emperor, the villain god has deceived me, for he +promised a fortunate day," said Chow. + +"It is thy head and heart, and not the foolish images, that have +hitherto helped thee, Chow. We will now trust to the same aids, and by +the assistance of the One true God, these rogues shall not overtake us," +said Nicholas. + +"The noble youth is brave, but he may not perform impossibilities," +replied Sing. + +"Truly it is not far to the river," said Nicholas. + +"The river!" exclaimed Sing, with affright. "Truly Fo himself could not +make a boat live upon the river such a night as this, at the full of the +moon." + +"It is our only safety, for these rascal yah-yu dare not follow," said +Nicholas, who regarded the great and dangerous waters of the river as +his native element, adding, "If thou, Chow, but show a brave heart." + +"Truly, my master, Chow fears not men, but surely it would be a vile +thing to anger the god of the waters, who may this night swallow all who +dare to pass from the estuary." + +"Art thou an idiot, that after the exhibition at the monastery, the +folly of these toy gods of the bonzes is not imprinted upon thine +eyeballs?" said Nicholas, adding angrily, "But if thou fearest, hide +thee with the good Sing, and thy master will brave the torrents alone." + +"This thing may not be, O noble Nicholas, for rather than leave thee, +thy servant would be a hundred times swallowed by Yen-Vang himself," +said Chow. + +"Thou art brave, youth, and may it please Fo to conduct thee safely to +thy journey's end," said Sing, adding with alarm, "But see, yonder is +the boat of the yah-yu, for surely no other would be in motion at this +hour of the night." + +"Then," said Nicholas, looking at a red light which appeared to be fixed +at the prow of a moving boat, "we must labor for our lives, Chow." + +Then taking a silent but hearty farewell of the innkeeper, the youths +clutched the poles and in another minute they were gliding along the +water street unheeded, except by the watchmen, whose questions they +answered with a few copper coins, and they pushed on through the dark +night, till nearly worn out with the exertion. The fact, however, that +they were toiling for their lives, lent them additional strength, so +after a short rest, away they went again in right good earnest; then the +hum of distant voices floated through the night air. Resting for a +moment Chow placed his ear near to the water, saying, "Truly they are +following us, but more, my master, we are near the great dike, which it +would be as easy to pass as to swallow a mountain." + +"Courage, O Chow, let us pass the dike, and the rats will never overtake +us," said Nicholas, toiling harder than ever at the pole. + +This dike or sluice divided from the canal the waters of the river which +Nicholas had been so anxious to reach, but as Chow knew they could not +get the boat hauled over by Coolies at that hour of the night, he could +perceive nought but a barrier that by arresting their progress, must put +them in the hands of their enemies; still not liking to disobey, he +toiled at his pole, and speedily the boat came alongside some twenty +others, which had arrived too late to be hauled over that night. + +Nicholas, however, knowing the influence of money, determined to get +over the difficulty. So fetching the lantern from the cabin, he so +shaded its light with his robe, that while it could not be seen by their +pursuers, he could see moored some distance from them a little fleet of +san-pans. This he had expected, so gently pushing the boat alongside one +of them he tapped upon the egg-like roof, and in another minute a man +put out his head, when putting a piece of silver in his hand, as an +earnest of a greater reward, the boatman acquiesced, and in a few +minutes more he had aroused some of his fellows, who very nimbly set +about mooring their boats till they had drawn them across the canal, so +as to form a barricade, in the event of the enemy making its appearance; +after which the boatman fastened a stout rope around the stern of the +boys' boat, got into his own, and cautioning them to hold on by the roof +of the cabin, with the assistance of some dozen of his mates in their +boats, forced the little craft to the summit of the stone slope, when +all clinging to the rope, let her slide gently down the other side into +the river, when silently the san-pans moved back to their moorings, so +that upon their arrival at the dike the yah-yu must have been strangely +puzzled at the boy's escape from their clutches. + +The dangers of the river, however, were far greater than Nicholas had +calculated, for the great stream upon whose bosom they had embarked, was +at times as tempestuous as the ocean, and they possessed neither oars +nor sails; as for the poles, the great depth of the river rendered them +useless. Again, the night was so dark, that except by the feeble light +of their lantern they could not see each other's faces; their only +consolation was, that the waters were then as smooth and tranquil as +those of the canal, except that a rapid current seemed to be sweeping +them along without an effort of their own. + +"May the great god Fo protect us against Ma-tsoo-po, to whom we can +offer no incense," said Chow. + +"How! Can it be that one so brave on land should be so great a coward +upon water?" said Nicholas. + +"Truly it is a maxim, my master that, 'all are cowards who can't help +themselves.' Chow in the waters would be less than the least of little +fishes, for he cannot swim," was the gloomy reply. + +"It is also a maxim, 'that the gods forsake those who forsake +themselves,'" said Nicholas, adding, "But it is fatigue, my poor Chow, +that destroys thy courage; get thee, therefore, into the cabin and rest +for a time, while I keep watch." + +"Nay, Fo protect us, or we are food for the favorites of the god of the +waters," replied Chow, as the boat at that moment made a tremulous +movement, which so alarmed Nicholas, that clutching hold of Chow's arm, +he said, "Now put forth all thy energies or we are lost, for the 'bore' +is upon us." + +This was sufficient, for in the presence of real danger Chow soon drove +away the troubled fancies of his brain. + +"The poles are our only chance," said Nicholas, and, quickly as thought, +they fastened their poles to the sides, so that they stretched out like +two great arms. "Let us but keep our whole weight steadily upon the +handles, and we may keep her course straight," said Nicholas; and no +sooner had they thrown themselves across the poles than a noise like +that of distant thunder rumbled through the air; it was the great tide +wave rolling like a mountain toward them. Now they could not escape; so, +commending their souls to Heaven, they awaited its approach with +suspended breath. It came, and, with a roar, caught up the boat, +carrying it to a height of fifty feet; in another second the boys were +covered with a cold sweat at the narrowness of their escape, which had +been owing to their precaution. Then followed a calm, as if the anger of +the watery element had subsided. The boys slackened their hold of the +poles, and so they continued for two hours, going they knew not whither. +Suddenly the boat began to rock. + +"To your pole, Chow," cried Nicholas. No sooner had he complied, than +they found they had entered upon a rapid, for the little craft shot +forth almost with the velocity of an arrow. Then came the first faint +streaks of daybreak, and they trembled, for they saw that they had +entered a narrow creek. "Steady, for our lives, there is hope yet, for +yonder vessel may see us," said Nicholas. The vessel to which he alluded +was a large junk, so skilfully handled that she seemed to be stemming +the torrent. Gaining hope, the boys clung to their only chance, namely, +keeping the poles in their fixed positions. Another half hour, however, +and their strength became exhausted, the poles quivered, the boys felt +they could not hold out much longer; still another determined effort; +their minds lent strength to their limbs. Then the first light of the +sun, an eastern sun, shone upon the junk, and disclosed a huge painted +eye (the government emblem), at the sight of which, and screaming aloud +"The yah-yu!" Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being +thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas +snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel. They were in a +whirlpool--nothing could save them--then came a fearful crash, and +neither Chow nor Nicholas could distinguish more. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +NICHOLAS AGAIN TAKEN PRISONER. + + +With the wild whirling of the waters ringing in his ears, and the great +painted eye before his vision, Nicholas stared around. Where could he +be? He was lying upon a mat, in a small low room; he sat up, endeavored +to comprehend his position, and the san-pan, the bore, the torrent, the +whirlpool, all flashed across him--but where could he be? There before +him stood a copper god, hideously grinning at a pan of burning incense. +Surely it must be the cabin of a junk--but what?--whose? Possibly the +yah-yu's. It must be so; and, brave as he was, he shuddered. Then, +looking out of the window, he could see nothing but a vast extent of +paddy (rice in the husks) fields. Then he saw the junk was passing along +a canal, which, from its width, he knew must be the great Imperial +Canal. Then Chow--poor Chow--and as he believed him to have been +swallowed up in the waters, the gallant boy burst into tears; and this +great grief banished every selfish thought from his mind. Then he +trembled for the safety of his letters; but, feeling beneath his robe, +he found them secure. Again he wept for Chow, and, happening to look at +the god, the hideous little brute seemed to be rejoicing at his +troubles, and in momentary rage he knocked the deity off its perch with +his fist, with such violence that the pain and blood upon his lacerated +knuckles immediately reminded him of the stupidity of the act, and he +laughed at his folly; but reflecting that the captain of the vessel +might visit such an insult to the image upon himself he replaced it in +its original position. + +At that moment the door opened, and Chow entered with a tray, upon which +were two cups, a jar, and other materials for a meal, and in his +surprise exclaiming "Chow!" the latter was so much startled that he +nearly dropped the tray. + +"May Tien be thanked; my master is far from Yen-Vang." + +"Where are we, O Chow?" said Nicholas, recovering from his surprise; but +the boy would answer no questions until Nicholas had partaken of the +meal. + +As soon as by eating and drinking, he had satisfied Chow that he was +really alive, the latter said, "Truly the gods must have been favorably +disposed toward the noble Nicholas, to have kept him alive for so many +days and nights, without brains in his head or food in his mouth." + +"What words are these, O Chow?" said Nicholas, placing his hand to his +forehead, as if making an effort to decipher the boy's meaning. + +"Let my master open his ears," said Chow; adding, "Worn out with my +exertions in the boat, I no sooner perceived the terrible eye than I +loosened my hold of the pole, and either from fright or fatigue, became +insensible; the water, however, revived me, and looking for my master, I +saw him lying by my side upon a shelving edge of rock, for, thanks be to +Fo, we had dashed upon the rock, the servant with out harm, but the +master receiving such a blow that it deprived him of his senses; when, +alarmed for his life, I shouted to the crew of the junk for help, and +begged of them to take us on board, but the rats refused, saying, that +as the gods had evidently reserved us for drowning, to resist would be +to provoke Ma-tsoo-po. Then, as my only hope, I shouted to them that I +had secured a traitor for whose head fifty taels were offered." + +"Surely thou art not a rogue." But not noticing this, Chow continued, +"The hope of so much silver made the rogues carry us on board, and then +poor Chow could have swallowed fire, for when he begged of them to use +means to recall thee to thy senses, the dog of a captain said, 'Know +thou rat of a boy, that if fifty taels are offered for the rascal's +head, it will save trouble to lop it off at once.' Then Fo sent a +thought into my brainless head, and falling at the captain's feet, I +told him that so great were thy crimes, that although fifty taels would +be given for thy head, five hundred and a mandarin's button would be +given for thy whole body. + +"Then said the captain, 'the dog utters words of wisdom,' and fearing to +lose the silver, if you died, he commanded a physician who happened to +be on board to make thee sound and whole, and moreover, promised to +reward me with ten taels if I helped to bring thee round." + +But as they heard approaching footsteps, Chow said softly, "Get thee to +thy mat, it is the physician; do not let him bring thee to thy senses, +or we are lost." + +By the time Nicholas had lain down, an elderly man, with a small funnel +and a porcelain cup in his hands, entered the cabin, and with as much +meaningless mystery of manner as one of our doctors, knelt by his side +and commenced the comical operation of feeling his pulse, or rather +pulses, for the physician's hands and fingers traveled up and down the +boy's body like a flea in search of a choice bite. Having gone through +this performance, he placed the funnel in the patient's mouth, and +poured down his throat a decoction of the gen-seng root, a plant which +the Chinese believe will cure all ills; and, disagreeable and difficult +as it was, Nicholas swallowed it, which so delighted the old gentleman +that he left the cabin chuckling, but telling Chow on no account to +attempt to awake him for the next three hours, as he was assured that +nature was bringing him to by her own means. + +"Verily the old cheat believes I have a fever," said Nicholas, jumping +up as soon as the doctor had left the cabin. + +Chow, who had been gazing from the window of the cabin while the +physician was present, no sooner saw him leave than he said, "We shall +leave the dogs now;" adding, "Let the noble Nicholas remain senseless +till Chow returns," and without another word he left the cabin. + +For some time Nicholas remained quiet upon the mat, but getting tired he +arose, and looking out of the window he saw that the junk was in the +middle of the canal, and from the great quantity of boats knew they were +near to some great city. He had not, however, been looking long, when to +his surprise he saw one of these san-pans come alongside the junk, and +taking Chow on board, paddled off to the shore, where he remained for +some time, and then was brought back to the junk. What could that mean? +Surely Chow was not playing him false. No he was ashamed of the thought. +The boy must be concocting some scheme for his benefit; but hearing +footsteps he resumed his position upon the mat, and in another minute +the physician and Chow entered. This time the doctor only went through +the pulse performance, saying, "Now if the rascal would but move a limb +it would show that Fo and the immortal drug had sent the blood into his +muscles." + +A comical notion came into the patient's head; it was dangerous, but it +might prevent the necessity of the funnel being put in his throat, and +so with a slight yawn he suddenly gave the old gentleman such a kick on +the shins that he started with surprise, but delighted that his +treatment had succeeded, he said, "Truly the rogue is getting his +strength," and hopped out of the room, uttering maledictions upon the +sailors for robbing him of his gen-seng. + +"What meant the rat by those words?" said Nicholas, and he was more +than satisfied when Chow told him the following story: The doctor placed +implicit faith in the wonderful curative powers of the famous gen-seng, +a quantity of which he carried about with him, ready for any accident +that might happen. Knowing this, Chow had managed to secure the whole, +and, as he anticipated, when the old gentleman discovered his loss he +grew furious, and told the captain that Nicholas would die. The captain +being in fear of losing his reward, had all the men searched, and not a +few beaten with the bamboo. It was all of no use. What was to be done? +Chow offered to go ashore and procure some; the captain agreed, a signal +was made for a boatman, who, as we have seen, came off to the junk, took +Chow ashore, from whence he returned with the much-prized plant, which, +by the way, he had no greater trouble in obtaining than putting his hand +in a hole in the lining of his outer garment. + +While in the boat Chow had made good use of his time, for he had bribed +the boatman to bring his little craft alongside the junk about the +middle of the third watch. + +The night is divided into five watches; the first begins at seven and is +distinguished by a single stroke, which is repeated every minute till +the second watch, when two blows are given, and so with the third, +fourth, and fifth. + +Anxiously did they await the treble sound; at length it came,--one, two, +three,--and they stood with breathless expectation; about the tenth +minute of the third watch there was a tap at the paper window, when +pulling out his knife, Chow ran the blade around the paper, and the next +moment the end of a rope was thrown through. Making this fast to a hook +within the cabin, Nicholas crept legs foremost through the hole, and +catching hold of a rope swang himself into the san-pan. Chow followed, +and they crawled into the little cabin, when the san-pan glided away, +not, however, without arousing one of the sailors, who believing that +the boat had crept alongside with some nefarious design upon the +property of the vessel, sharply warned the boatman of the danger of any +such attempt, as he was on the _qui vive_. The boatman, however, having +given a satisfactory reply, he pushed onward, and after passing through +a little world of junks, san-pans, and barges, they managed to effect a +landing without being noticed. After which, the man having fastened his +boat led them through the suburbs till they reached a small mud hut, +from the top of which issued a wreathing column of flame and smoke. + +"It is the hut of a sentry," exclaimed Nicholas, who knew that the +signal huts were distributed at distances of about a mile apart +throughout the interior, as a warning to all would-be depredators that +the police were on the alert, and this being precisely the kind of place +they should have avoided, he said, "For what purpose has the worthy +boatman brought us to this hut." + +"Truly, my master, we are in safe hands, for the man on duty is the +boatman's brother and will let us hide here till morning," said Chow, +and the next moment they were within the hut partaking of a portion of +the soldier's fare of hot tea and rice bread. + +After some little time the boatman said, "Truly it is not often that +brothers meet, and it is well that we should have a fraternal +conversation." + +When the men left the hut Chow took a paper from his robe, leant over a +fire, and having perused it, said, "The dog is a rogue, he would give us +shelter to-night but to betray us in the morning." + +"What words are these? Truly the boatman knew us as nought but two poor +travelers." + +"My master's thoughts are generous," replied Chow; adding, as he handed +Nicholas the paper, "Let the noble man-boy read for himself." + +Taking the paper, Nicholas read, "Let the noble commander offer a +handsome reward, and the rascals who have escaped shall be again placed +in his hands." + +"Truly this is villainy; but how fell this paper into thy hands, O +Chow." + +"Is it not a maxim that wickedness defeats its own ends?" said Chow; +adding, "As thy servant was getting from the window of the junk into the +san-pan, that paper fell into his hand. Doubtless the rascal boatman +threw it upon the deck, from whence by accident, it fell into my hands." + +"Truly it must have been thrown by the hand of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +"We will defeat the rascals, for fortunately I have saved one of the +thieves' pastiles," said Chow, pulling one of the pyramids from beneath +his robe. + +Then as they heard the footsteps of the soldier they squatted before the +fire, pretending to be in earnest conversation. The man joined them, and +having poured some hot water into a cup, took a pinch of tea-dust from a +little packet and made himself a cup of that beverage. But while the +soldier was drinking, and probably chuckling at the good round sum he +should obtain in the morning for Chow and Nicholas, the latter pulled +his arms behind, and held them till Chow tore enough of his coarse loose +garment to form a ligature, with which he secured them; then throwing +him upon his back, and leaving Nicholas to prevent his rolling over, he +pulled from his robe a portable lantern, unfolded it, lit the wick, then +lighting the pastile, at arm's length he held it beneath the soldier's +nostrils till he became stupid, and indeed, until he became insensible, +when, rolling him over and leaving the pastile burning, they left the +hut, taking good care to secure it from the outside. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PAGODAS, THEIR ANTIQUITY AND USES. + + +Alone, unarmed, in a strange country, at night, and pursued by enemies, +the boys stood for a time to consider their next steps. Fortunately, at +that moment the moon began to shine more brightly, and they saw at the +distance of some few hundred yards the giant form of a pagoda rising +from the summit of a hill, with its quaint polygon form, varnished green +tiles, and gilded bells hanging from every point. + +"Truly the gods have directed our footsteps to a resting-place till the +morning," said Chow. + +This was indeed a fortunate discovery, for, knowing that most of the +pagodas were untenanted, they might hide there; and with lightened +hearts they walked onward, till they came to a valley, or cemetery, +filled with tombs, and through which they walked till they came to the +base of a hill, at the top of which was the entrance to the pagoda. +Having reached one of the gates, they found it locked, a difficulty that +was soon surmounted by Chow, who cast his lantern toward one of the +windows of the lower story, and, as he expected, found that, like the +majority of these quaint structures, this one was in ruins; so, by means +of the shoulder of Nicholas, he climbed through a window, and speedily +opened the gate, when they found themselves in an apartment lined with +black varnished tiles, nearly all of which were carved with gilded +idols. + +"Thank Heaven, we are safe from the rats," said Nicholas. + +"And may sleep, O my master," said the fatigued Chow, laying himself at +full length upon the floor, an example that was speedily followed by +Nicholas, who, like Chow, notwithstanding the danger that surrounded +them, fell into a sound sleep. + +These singular, and frequently beautiful buildings, towering upward in +various heights upon the rising grounds, like an unequally grown forest +of quaint spires, form the chief characteristic in Chinese scenery. As +if the builders believed luck to be found in odd numbers, they are +either of seven, nine, or thirteen stories, and moreover, all shaped +from the model of the famous Tower of Nankin, which, after an existence +of nine hundred years, has so recently been wantonly destroyed by the +iconoclastic insurgents, who are, at the present time, making every +effort for the extermination of the Mantchou Tartars. + +As for the origin of these structures, it is of so remote a date, that, +even in four thousand years old China, there is as much difference of +opinion as about the origin of the round towers of Ireland. Some of the +learned writers assert that they were erected monumentally to great and +good people, others that they were intended as watch-towers in time of +war. + +A very probable theory is that they are of Indian origin, having been +introduced by the priests of Buddha, for the purpose of saving the holy +relics, thumbs, fingers, toes, or any other portions of the body of the +god that might from time to time be found, or rather palmed upon the +superstitious people by the bonzes. By way of illustrating this theory, +I will relate to you some of the popular legends. The first is really a +wild-goose story. + +The primitive Buddhists of India were not under such strict rules of +diet as the sect afterward became; that is, not vegetarians, but at +liberty to eat veal, venison, and goose flesh. Well, it happened that on +a certain day, as a party of priests were seated in the open air, a +brace of wild geese flew above them, which caused them to exclaim, "Our +wish is that these fowls would do a benevolent act," when one of the +birds immediately dropped down dead. Upon which remarkable event, the +priests cried, "This goose brings down a prohibition to abstain from +flesh; we must therefore consider its meritorious act." Whereupon they +erected a building over the poor goose, which they called pagoda, which +word, translated from the Indian word, tsang-po, into Chinese, is +equivalent to wild goose. + +Of this same pagoda, which still exists, another legend is given. + +"Nearly six hundred years after the introduction of Buddhism into China, +a priest of the sect was sent to India to collect and translate into the +Chinese language the sacred books of Budd. On his return with the +volumes, he brought also a model of a pagoda; in commemoration of +which, and also as a receptacle for the sacred books, the Emperor +erected a pagoda." If this legend is true, and it certainly is more +probable than any of the others, it is curious, as during the reign of +this same Emperor, in the year 636, a Christian teacher first came from +India to China, and was not only encouraged by the Emperor, but was +authorised by a royal decree to preach Christianity among the people. + +Another legend states that in the year 256 a foreign priest of the +Buddhist religion appeared at the capital, and performed many strange +and supernatural feats, which, reaching the ears of the Emperor, caused +him to send for the priest, of whom he inquired if Buddha could +communicate any divine emblems. The priest replied, that Buddha had left +some traces of himself on earth, particularly bone relics, which +possessed miraculous powers. The Emperor, scarcely believing the story, +told the priest that if any such bone could be found, he would erect a +great pagoda. To this the story goes on to say, that the priest, +twenty-one days after, brought one of the god's bones in a bottle, and +presented it to his majesty, and that when taken into the palace, it +lighted up the whole building. Then comes the most astonishing portion +of the legend. In his haste to inspect this wonderful bone, the Emperor +turned it out of the bottle, into a large copper vessel, when the bone, +probably a leg bone, of its own accord kicked the massive basin with +such violence that it became shivered into a thousand pieces. This, you +would imagine, was in all conscience sufficiently prodigious to weaken +his majesty's nerves. The priest, however insisted upon exhibiting +another wonder, telling the emperor that so matchless were the qualities +of this bone, that diamond or steel could not scratch it, fire could not +scorch it, nor the heaviest hammer smash it; indeed, to injure this +precious bone in any way would be to perform one of the labors of +Hercules. This, however, was too much for the belief of the Emperor, and +so he ordered his stoutest blacksmith to take his heaviest hammer and +make the attempt; the priest, however got the best of it, for no sooner +did the hammer touch the bone than it crumbled into atoms, when, +probably, in delight at its success, this clever bone shone with such +effulgence that it weakened the eyes of all beholders. After this the +monarch wanted no more proof of the godship of Buddha, kept his promise, +and built the first pagoda in China. + +Most of these legends have a close connection with Buddhism and its +priests; it is, therefore, most probable that these pagodas have, from +their introduction into China in the middle of the first century of the +Christian era, been used in connection with the bonzes. This opinion is +entertained by the learned Chinese scholar, the Rev. Mr. Milne, who +says, "Among the Chinese themselves it is a common saying. In pagodas +they save and preserve the family of Buddha. Usually priests of this +order are in charge of the pagoda, and sit at the doors of the most +famous and frequented, to receive gratuities from visitors. Pagodas are +situated generally on Buddhists' lands, and there are in their vicinity, +or around their base, temples or monasteries for Buddhist priests. +Within those pagodas that are at all in a state of preservation, +Buddhist idols, relics, pictures, and books are deposited. The histories +of these buildings throughout the empire, at least the earliest of them, +are crammed with Buddhist tales and fictions." So interesting are these +extraordinary monuments of antiquity, as being the probable and supposed +depositories of Buddhist writings and Indian documents, which, should +they ever be brought to light will not only throw a light upon the early +intercourse between China and Hindostan, but elucidate the mystery which +now hangs over the history of the religion of ancient India, a matter of +importance to every intelligent being, that at the risk of being +tedious, I could not forbear having a little gossip with my young reader +on the subject. But now to return to our young heroes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A DANGEROUS DESCENT. + + +When Nicholas opened his eyes, he found Chow awake and on the look-out +at the aperture by which he had entered the previous evening. He called +to him, but the boy's whole attention was evidently too much engaged for +him to reply. Surely, thought Nicholas, the enemy must be in close +pursuit, and in an instant, he was upon his legs and by the side of +Chow, who exclaimed, "The rascals have discovered our retreat, and we +are lost after all!" + +"Surely thy fears deceive thy eyeballs," said Nicholas; but, looking for +himself, he saw coming through the tombs in the direction of the pagoda, +not only the soldier and the treacherous boatman, but the captain of the +junk. + +"The rogues will arouse the bonzes at the monastery," said Chow. + +"Truly the rats are not so senseless. They know we are unarmed, and hope +to take us without letting the bonzes share the reward; but let us +ascend, it is our only chance," said Nicholas, leading the way up a +steep staircase to the next story; but, hearing voices beneath, he +added, "Let us clamber to the top and lie quiet, when they may perhaps +give up the search." So they ascended the next staircase, but when they +came to the third story they were vexed to find the stairs fallen so +completely to ruin that they could proceed no higher. Fortune, however, +favored them, for looking around they saw a ladder, which had probably +been left by the bonze, whose business it was to exhibit the ancient +ruin for the convenience of visitors. To ascend was the work of a +minute, but before they had reached the uppermost round of the ladder +they heard their pursuers enter the lower apartment, when, quickening +their movements, they soon reached the seventh story. Now, as like a +pyramid, the building diminished in bulk as it increased in height, the +top was so small that they could but just pass through the small +aperture into the little room, which, fortunately, was in such a +dilapidated state, that the roof near the central pole or spire, which +ran up the interior from the base to the apex, and was surmounted by a +kind of large button, was nearly off. + +Once in this room, they set about fortifying their position, by pulling +up a few of the loose flooring-boards and throwing them over the well +hole by which they had entered. It was a happy thought, for as they were +laying the last board over the hole, they saw the soldier upon the first +round of the top ladder. In a moment they squatted down with their whole +weight upon the boards, and as the aperture was so small that but one +man could ever attempt to pass through at a time, they were secure. + +For at least two hours they remained in that position, which proved +such a formidable obstacle to the entrance of the man, that tired out, +he determined to consult with his companions as to some other means of +destroying the boys. Then, leaving Chow upon the boards watching through +a hole for the man's next attempt to force their position, Nicholas +ascended through a hole in the crumbling roof, looked around for some +few minutes, then descending, said, "We will escape from the roof." + +"Where are our wings, O, my master? for without them we shall become +very small pieces of broken china by the time we reach the bottom," said +the astonished Chow. + +"In our garments," said Nicholas, taking off his robes and tearing the +inner one into narrow slips, which being sufficient explanation for +Chow, he followed his master's example, and by plaiting them together +they managed to form a long rope with loops for hand holes at intervals. + +The manufacture of this rope took them some hours, during which time +they expected every minute that the enemy would attempt to force the +entrance with a great log of wood or bar iron; fortunately, however, +little dreaming that there was the most remote possibility of escape for +the boys, the enemy had resolved to starve them into a surrender. + +It was near dusk when they had completed their labor. Nothing could be +better, for if they could escape now they would reach the town before +the closing of the gates; therefore, resolving upon the attempt, they +pulled aside one of the boards and listened again. Fortune was in their +favor, for, by the conversation that was going on among the men, they +heard, that, tired of waiting, the soldier was gone in search of some +heavy instrument that would force an entrance. Then Nicholas longed for +a couple of big bamboos, that they might fight their way through them; +not, however, being able to command the use of such weapons, they +determined to make use of the rope the minute the men returned. + +Having arrived at this determination, Nicholas reascended the roof and +watched until he saw the soldier coming toward the pagoda, carrying a +huge block of wood, when throwing the rope around the centre column or +spire, so that they could pull it after them, leaving no trace of their +means of escape, he signaled to Chow to follow. He swung on to the rope, +keeping both ends in his hands, and lowered himself on to the projecting +canopy or fringe of the second story, and by a swing of the body reached +the terrace, where he waited for Chow, whose legs he guided in his +descent, after which they pulled down the rope, and by performing the +same feat at each story, reached the ground at the portion of the +building opposite to the door, and as he had calculated, where there +were no openings by which they could be seen from within. + +Once upon the ground, Chow gave a caper of joy, and proposed to scamper +off immediately. Nicholas, however, having effected the escape, like a +wise general, wished to protect his retreat from pursuit. To do this, +they entered the lower apartment of the pagoda, which, as they had +expected, they found empty; then ascending the next story, they could +see the enemy above them in consultation. It was the story with the +loose ladder. So removing their only means of descent, they carried it +with them some distance from the pagoda, and hastened toward the town, +heartily rejoicing at the success of their scheme, and laughing merrily +at the plight of their pursuers, who, when found in the pagoda, would be +punished as thieves, or if they dared to explain the cause of their +presence in the pagoda, would be severely bambooed for not informing the +nearest mandarin of the escape of such an important prisoner as the +runaway Christian. + +As they reached the city just before the closing of the gates, they +found so many persons hastening to their homes, that they passed through +without being noticed, and speedily procured a lodging at the nearest +inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +NICHOLAS DISCOVERS A CONSPIRACY, AND MAKES AN UNPLEASANT ENTRY INTO +PEKIN. + + +The next morning they laughed heartily when the innkeeper told them that +the bonzes of the monastery in the suburbs had taken some rogues who had +been found concealed in the pagoda before the police tribunal, and that +the mandarin had ordered all of them a severe bambooing. + +Greatly as he enjoyed this news, Nicholas was too wise to wish to remain +in the city any longer than possible, for he knew that the enraged junk +captain would leave no effort untried to retake them; he, therefore, +engaged a passage for himself and Chow in a barge that was proceeding to +Tching-Kiang. + +Once on board the passage boat and floating down along the royal canal, +they felt secure, for surely no mishap could now happen to interrupt +their journey; and so, indeed, they arrived at Tching-Kiang, where, as +this city was on the banks of the Yang-tse, which here interrupts the +course of the canal, they were compelled to disembark and remain one +night. + +The next morning Nicholas sent Chow to purchase a sword, a bow, and some +arrows, in place of those taken from him in the prison. During his +absence, he sat talking to the wife of the innkeeper, for amongst the +lower classes, the women are permitted to have greater intercourse, as +indeed is necessary, to enable them to assist in earning the family +living. He had not been chatting for any length of time when there arose +a great hubbub in the street, and, looking out of the window, what was +his surprise to see Chow running, as if for his life, followed by an old +gentleman, who stopped every now and then to take breath and shake his +fists angrily at the mob, who, believing it to be a race, shouted for +mere fun. A glance, however, made Nicholas aware of the true character +of the pursuer, and he begged of the woman to aid him in saving the life +of his friend, who was being hunted by a madman, who if he caught him, +he would kill him. + +Before she could reply, Chow ran up to the door; the woman opened it, +let him in, and shut it again in the face of the old gentleman, whose +stomach, being of extreme protuberance and what his countrymen call full +measure, received such a blow that, what with loss of breath and +fullness of indignation, his big body toppled over his short legs, and +he lay upon the ground with his little head turned upward, like a turtle +gasping at falling heat drops. + +"Truly we are lost, for the old rat is the physician," said Chow. + +"Can the worthy woman aid us?" said Nicholas, fairly baffled. + +"Let the youths follow," said the good-natured Woman; adding, "Whither +would they be taken?" + +"To the river," replied Nicholas, not knowing where else to say. + +Then conducting them to the back of the house, where stood several sedan +chairs that her husband let out for hire, the woman told them to jump +into one of them, gave instructions to two Coolies who were waiting for +a job, wished them a prosperous journey, drew the curtains, and thus, in +about an hour's time, the boys were set down upon the banks of the great +Yang-tse, when, having rewarded the Coolies for their trouble, they +walked leisurely along in search of a boatmen to carry them to the +opposite side. + +"Truly, O Chow, thou wert born in an unfortunate hour," said Nicholas. + +"My master's words are true; still, the hundred families' lock must have +been hung around thy servant's neck, or he could not have escaped so +great a danger as this." + +"Open thy lips to a good purpose, and say how this matter happened," +said Nicholas, laughing. + +"Well, having made the purchases, I came to the quay where the +passage-boats discharge their passengers, when, _may I be punished for +forgetting my masters affair_, I could think of nothing but the villain +who slew my noble parent, and who, I thought, might possibly be among +the soldiers who had just arrived from Pekin, and were embarking to go +to Nankin, which, they say, is even now besieged by the rebels. The +notion, fit only as it was for the head of a goose, could not be helped, +and I stood gazing at the war-tigers. Well, thy servant had not been +long looking, when an old gentleman seized him by the arm, saying, +'Thou dog, thou stolest both my patient and my gen-seng;' and, seeing +that it was the physician, I jerked off his hand, took to my heels, and, +fearing for the safety of my master should the crowd stop me, I +frightened them by calling out, 'Beware, my brethren, of the madman,' +and as that made the frightened people stand aside, I was enabled to +reach the inn in safety." + +"Truly this was well done," said Nicholas; but as, at that moment, they +had arrived at a great swamp of paddy, or rice-fields, which stretched +for miles inland down to the very edge of the river, and was covered +with water of sufficient depth to enable the shallow boats to sail for +miles into the interior, their progress was stopped, when Nicholas said, +as he pointed to a multitude of men, women, and children, who, at some +little distance, with their trousers tucked up to the knees, appeared to +be amusing themselves with paddling about in the water, "Let us catch +the eyeballs of one of yonder shrimp hunters." + +These people were a species of jacks-in-the-water, who, as they stalked +about every now and then pulled their legs out of the mud, and taking +something from it, deposited it in a small bag which they had by their +sides. They were mud fishers in search for prawn, shrimps, and other +small fish, which, when felt by the foot, they dexterously seized +between the toes. This is only one instance in which these poor people +show themselves as clever with the foot as the hand and another proof +of the old axiom, that necessity is the mother of invention. + +For some time they endeavored to call the attention of one of these +people without avail; then, holding up a copper coin and shouting, a man +came to them, and soon after fetched a boatman, who, for a small sum, +engaged to row them in search of a ferry-boat. + +The little boat paddled through the fields, past men engaged in wild +geese catching, and huge duck boats, from the sides of which, down +inclined boards, hundreds of those birds were waddling into the fields, +as industriously earning their living among the rice stubble as the mud +fishers. + +These duck keepers are a class peculiar to the Chinese. Their boats are +large and roomy, with a broad board extending around the sides for a +promenade for the birds, which are as dear to their masters as the pig +is to the Irishman. The birds have the largest apartment of the floating +house. In the morning the ducks waddle round the promenade at their +pleasure, except after the rice harvest has been gathered, when the +boards are inclined, and they walk up and down the slope at their will; +and so well are they brought up, that, if hundreds of them are out upon +a cruise, they will instantly return to the boat at their master's +whistle. + +Once in the boat, Nicholas had no wish to leave it, till he had crossed +the river. This he had some difficulty in persuading the man to do, for +it was three leagues broad at that part. The sight, however of a piece +of silver strengthened his courage, and, fixing up his little sail of +bamboo matting, he made the attempt, when, after some hours, they +reached the opposite banks, dismissed the boatman, and felt as pleased +as a fugitive between whom and the bloodhounds a vast water track has +passed. + +Having crossed the great river, they had no fear of further pursuit, so, +hiring two sedan chairs, they reached Kin-Chow the same evening. The +next morning they again took passage upon the Royal Canal, down which +they traveled for some days, till they arrived at Yang-Chow, a city +celebrated for its manufacture of salt and singing girls. These poor +creatures are matter of commerce with the merchants, who have taught +them to sing, paint, and play on musical instruments, when they can sell +them for very large sums of money to the great lords, who purchase them +for the recreation of their households. + +Resting at this city for one day, they again started upon their journey, +and in a few weeks arrived at Tien-sin, from which place they proceeded +by a small canal to Tsing-Chow, the nearest place to Pekin, where they +landed. + +"Thanks be to Tien, my master, we shall soon be in the venerable city +itself." + +"Thou art fond of Pekin, Chow?" + +"The tombs of thy servant's ancestors are near its walls," said Chow, +gloomily. + +"Why, in the name of the social relations, art thou as dull as a +tailless peacock?" said Nicholas. + +"It is filial pity, for last night I dreamt that I should discover in +Pekin the dog who slew my venerable parent, and should I die without +searching him out, the tombs of my ancestors would refuse to hold me." + +"These are wild words and foolish fancies, Chow," said Nicholas; adding, +as he beheld the boy stare in the faces of the passers-by, "Moreover, if +thy manners are so barbarous, thou wilt surely get into trouble;" and, +believing that occupation or a mission would drive these thoughts from +Chow's mind, he stopped at the house of a dealer in horses, and, having +bargained for two, said, "Thou art well informed of the ins and outs of +Pekin, Chow?" + +"Every rat-hole, my master," was the reply. + +"Then for fear that the hour may be too late ere I reach the city, take +one of these horses and hasten to the great square, where thou wilt find +one Yang, a wealthy merchant; seek his presence, and inform him that the +son of his correspondent, the great merchant of the south, would beg a +lodging of him while he remains in the capital." + +"Thy commands shall be obeyed," said Chow, turning a sumersault on to +the back of one of the horses, and in another instant was at full gallop +toward Pekin. + +Nicholas then sought a house of refreshment, and, having regaled himself +with a cup of hot tea and rice cakes, mounted the other animal, +intending to follow Chow. + +The distance, however, was longer than he had calculated; moreover he +took the longest road, so that by the time he reached within view of the +walls, towers, and yellow roofs, of the imperial city, the gates were +closed for the night, and none would be permitted to pass without a +searching scrutiny; so, although much vexed, he determined to seek a +lodging at an inn he had passed on the road. However, the innkeeper +addressing him, rudely said, "How is this, that a mere boy should be +without the walls at this hour? Has he no respect for his parents, who +will assuredly be punished for their neglect?" + +"Is the worthy innkeeper of barbarian parents, that he would refuse to +lodge a youth, who, tired and weary, has but just arrived from a long +journey, and is willing to pay handsomely?" said Nicholas, showing him +about an ounce of silver. + +"Truly the vision of thy servant must have been dull, that he could not +before perceive that the youth before him was nobly allied and of great +respectability," said the man, now that he greedily eyed the precious +metal. "Yet," he added, "it is not possible that the noble youth can +lodge beneath this roof, for the inn is already crowded with merchants, +who enter Pekin at daylight." + +"Then will I trouble the most perfect of innkeepers no longer," replied +Nicholas, believing the man to be an extortioner. + +"The words of thy servant are as true as the sacred books, but if the +noble youth will bestow a fee upon the porter he can procure a lodging +at yon mansion," replied the man, as he pointed to a large house near +the inn. + +"What words are these? Yonder mansion is the palace of some noble +mandarin, who will deservedly chastise thee for thy insolence in making +his house a common inn." + +"Not so, O noble youth, for although the front is fair to look at, the +house is in ruins and under the care of a porter. The mandarin is in a +far distant province, if, indeed, as is reported, he is not at this +moment in rebellion against the Emperor." + +"Tien forbid that a true-born Chinese should soil the soles of his boots +with the dust of a traitor's door stone," said Nicholas. + +"Thy servant said it was but rumored, O loyal youth," replied the +innkeeper; adding angrily, "Truly if thou refusest this thou wilt get +none other lodging." + +"Truly it may be but scandal, therefore show me to this porter, and thou +shalt be rewarded for thy trouble," replied Nicholas. + +The innkeeper then conducting him to one of the smaller of the three +doors in the wall of respect, which, as with all the houses of the +great, are built before the house, summoned the porter, who for a piece +of silver took charge of his horse, introduced him into a small room, +which led from one side of the great central hall, and leaving him a +sleeping mat withdrew, when Nicholas laid himself at full length, glad +enough to get the opportunity of getting a good night's rest. + +Nicholas had not slept long before he was awakened by the sound of +voices, which he could hear so clearly and distinctly that he knew it +proceeded from some adjoining room. More vexed, however, at the +disturbance than curious to listen to the conversation, he turned over +and tried to sleep, but then the tones became louder, and he fancied he +heard his father's name. If so, it evidently concerned him; therefore in +self-defence, he must listen; and, setting up on his mat, he saw that he +was in a double room divided by folding doors, between the crevices of +which came a glimmering light, so creeping softly forward, he peeped +through. There at a table, beneath a painted lantern, the light from +which played upon their faces, sat two men of tall stature and +soldier-like appearance, but neither of whom could he at first +recognise. A minute more, however, and he fancied that in one he could +trace familiar features; still he could not recall them to his memory. +He listened attentively, for the taller man spoke earnestly for some +time of such matters that made the boy burn with rage and horror. When +he had concluded, the other smiled and said, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, we have secured the ambitious pirate of the south. May the time +for action speedily arrive." No sooner had he spoken, than, like a +glimpse of light in a cavern, the recognition flashed across the boy's +mind. The last speaker was the mandarin envoy who had visited his +father's vessel, and he trembled for the safety of the Emperor's letter. +It was consolatory, however, that should they meet, the mandarin would +not know him, for they had not met on board the vessel. When the +mandarin had spoken, his companion said, "Hush, general! no tiles, for +walls may have ears; but enough, I am satisfied." Then after whispering +together for some little time, they arose, and Nicholas crept back to +his mat. The moment after to his horror, the doors were thrown open, and +the prince exclaimed, "How! we are betrayed; what rogue is this?" + +"Silence, my prince, he sleeps, and can have heard nothing," said the +other, cutting down the lantern from the other room and holding it +before the pretending sleeper, who, notwithstanding his perilous +position, did not move a muscle. The boy, however, had a harder trial +yet, for drawing his dagger, the prince exclaimed, "True, general, he +may not have heard--but, he may--and as dead dogs can't bark--" but, as +the prince was about to strike, and the brave boy was mentally preparing +to clutch at the weapon, with both hands, the mandarin caught the arm of +the would-be assassin, led him into the other room, whispered with him, +and then they both left the house, after securing all the doors from the +outer side. + +Bathed in a cold sweat, Nicholas arose and examined the room, to find +some means of escape, for he little doubted that they would speedily +return. It was useless, and he made up his mind to await the chapter of +accidents. For some time fear kept him awake, but at length nature would +have her way and he fell off to sleep. + +When he awoke he found a party of yah-yu and the porter of the house at +his side; the latter looking at him maliciously, said, "Take the vile +dog before the police tribunal, he is a thief and a rogue." + +"Silence, rascal! for thou knowest that I am no thief, but a traveler +who paid thee for a night's lodging." + +"Away with the young rogue," said the porter; and, binding him hand and +foot, Nicholas was made to make his first entry into Pekin amid the +shouts of the rabble, who were delighted that so vile a house-breaker +and thief should be caught. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE BOYS AGAIN IN TROUBLE. + + +Smarting with indignation at the accusation, which had evidently been +made for the purpose of getting him transported to the penal province, +Nicholas was taken before the police mandarin like a common thief. When, +however, they reached the tribunal, they found the magistrate engaged +examining witnesses on the part of a military mandarin who had been +insulted in the public streets. "Let the worthy officer state his +complaint," said the mandarin. + +"Know, O fountain of justice," said the officer, joining his hands above +his head, and bowing nearly to the ground three successive times, "that +as thy servant was riding through the great square, a young man, +possessed either with demons or samshu, jumped so rudely before me that +I stumbled and fell to the earth, and when he stared me full in the face +like a hungry wolf, I remonstrated, but the rascal held me down, +continuing to stare with glaring eyeballs; he then tore the plaster from +this wound which I received on my cheek in fighting the rebels of +Chen-si, and began to dance round me most frantically with a drawn +sword, crying, 'Thou villain, slayer of honest folks' parents, I have +found thee at last, and will cut thee into pieces small enough for +mince pies.' Alarmed at this violent rudeness, I could but say, 'Hold, +dog, I am a soldier of the Emperor.' 'Ah, ah! I know thou art, thou +villain,' said he. 'I have received a wound,' said thy servant. 'Ah, ah! +I know thou hast, thou villain,' again said the madman. 'Begone, dog, +what wouldst thou do?' said I. 'Slay thee, and burn thy house, even as +thou didst my parents, villain;' whereupon the rascal would have slain +thy servant upon the instant but for the timely aid of this good +merchant Yang," said the soldier, pointing to a stout elderly man who +stood by his side. + +Now, guessing at once that this terrible prisoner must be Chow, Nicholas +felt no surprise when he saw the poor fellow, with his arms tied behind +him, dragged before the mandarin, who said, "What says the murdering +thief to this charge?" + +"What can the unfortunate Chow say, most beneficent father and mother of +justice, but that it was all a mistake, and that thy unworthy slave has +ever been taught that no man should exist beneath the same heaven with +the murderer of his parents?" said Chow, as he cast some comical glances +at the bamboo canes. + +"What words are these? What has this most wise maxim to do with thy +case, fellow?" said the mandarin. + +"Much, O magnificent judge, for thy slave's father was destroyed by the +chief officer of the rebel Li-Kong, whom this worthy war-tiger +unfortunately resembles, both in the wound on the cheek, and the length +of his hair." + +"If thy words are not false, then thou art a worthy but unfortunate +servant of the holy lord our Emperor," said the mandarin; "but who will +assure us of this?' + +"Truly will I, O learned judge," cried out Nicholas. + +"Who is this dog, that speaks without prostrating his mean person at the +feet of justice?" said the mandarin. + +"A thief and a rascal, who is awaiting to be tried," cried the porter +who had accused Nicholas. + +"By the beard of Confucius, this is daring; give the dog a dozen +strokes," said the mandarin. + +"Stay thy command, O running fountain of justice; let not thy celestial +ears be profanely filled by the tongues of dogs," shrieked Chow with +fear, as soon as he saw that his master was a prisoner. + +The mandarin would have visited this daring interruption with a heavy +punishment, but for some words whispered in his ears by the merchant +Yang, and which caused him to smile and say, "The honorable merchant +Yang has answered for thy truth boy; but that for the future you may not +be liable to such mistakes, we will give thee a fatherly correction." +The mandarin then pulled fifty reeds from the case, and threw them upon +the floor, whereupon two of the footmen caught hold of Chow, took off +his robe, and held him on the floor, while another administered fifty +blows, after which Chow got upon his legs, made a very wry face, and +twisted and writhed about like an eel making an effort to walk upon the +tip of his tail. + +"Leave off twisting and twirling thyself out of nature, thou dog, and +return thanks to his high justiceship for his kindness in correcting so +miserable an affair as thy mean self," said one of the footmen. + +With one eye glaring upon the footman, and the other smiling upon the +mandarin, Chow held his hands behind his back to assuage the pain, and +made two or three attempts to bend his back, but failing, dropped +suddenly on his knees, and bowing his head to the ground, said, but with +a twist of his back or grimace between every word, "Thy correction--O +father--and mother--of justice, is beneficial, but like physic would +be----" + +"What, boy?" said the mandarin, laughing. + +"More agreeable if it were tasteless, yet thy mean servant thanks thee, +noble judge, for this care of his mind;" and Chow hopped among the +bystanders. + +When Chow had been disposed of, the porter formerly charged Nicholas +with entering the mansion at night for the purpose of robbery. + +"Who art thou boy; thy name, surname, and from what province?" said the +mandarin kindly. + +"The mean name of thy unworthy servant is Nicholas, of the province of +Fokien, from whence he has traveled on special affairs to a worthy +merchant of Pekin, named Yang." + +"So far thy words are truth," said the mandarin, to the astonishment of +Nicholas; "but what answer can the youth make to the charge of this +man?" + +"That it is vile and false, and that the dog is a traitor in league with +rebels, who happening to meet with thy servant last night at the same +house, are fearful that he may have discovered their plots, and so hope +to destroy him." + +At that moment there arose a great bustle in the court, and a cry of +"Make way for the illustrious deputy-general of the nine gates," and a +military mandarin, with a tiger painted on his breast, a gold button and +a peacock's feather in his cap, both of which bespoke his high rank, +entered the tribunal, and testified to the guilt of Nicholas, who +recognizing in him the man who had been addressed the previous night by +the title of general, exclaimed, "Behold, O Mandarin, one of the +traitors." + +Great was the effect of the new comer upon the judge, for, not paying +the least attention to the exclamation of Nicholas, he said, "Truly +falsehood will not flow from the lips of the Heaven-appointed +deputy-general. As for thee (turning to Nicholas,) vile dog, as thy +guilt is now clear, thou shalt receive one hundred blows, and be +banished for life." + +Now, while the mandarin was speaking, Chow happening to get a full view +of the general's face, rushed through the crowd, crying, "It is the +villain, it is the destroyer of my parents,' and in another moment he +had clutched the general by the throat, thrown him upon the ground, and +would have strangled him, but for the help of the footmen, who speedily +seized him, bound his arms, and carried him with Nicholas to the +prison. + +"This fancy, that every officer you meet is the destroyer of your +parents, will prove thy destruction, my poor Chow," said Nicholas, as +soon as they were alone in the prison. + +"There can be no doubt it is the villain, for saw you not the wound upon +his cheek? but, alas! my trouble is the greater that I slew him not +before we were shut up in a cage like two dogs for fattening." + +"Thy liberty at least was secure, but for thy foolish attack upon the +mandarin of war." + +"By the vermillion pencil itself, Chow cares not for liberty, if they +ruin his noble master." + +Then Nicholas began to think upon his miserable position,--sentenced to +be beaten with the bamboo to him worse than death, for, being born upon +the coast, unlike most Chinese, he had never been subjected to such a +degradation; and then to be banished for life, at the very commencement +of his career,--it was horrible. Greater, however, was his anxiety for +the safety of his father's letters. Could he but send a message to the +merchant Yang,--alas! that was impossible. Should he give it to Chow? +No; for he knew not what punishment awaited the boy for assaulting so +great an officer. He was indeed at his wit's end, and he prayed to the +Almighty for aid. + +"Let not the noble Nicholas be so sad, for truly the gods can never +desert the innocent and unfortunate," said Chow, while tears of +affection wetted his cheeks; adding, "I will pray of them to take my +worthless life in exchange for thy liberty." + +"I can not, do not doubt thy affection, my good Chow, but place not my +faith in these foolish deities; there is but One true God, whose Son +died on the cross to save mankind, and in Him I trust in my hour of +difficulty." + +"My master is of the religion of the Fan-Kwi (foreign devils.) Will +their god aid him in the hour of his troubles?" replied Chow, +despondingly. + +"Thou wilt see Chow," replied Nicholas, angrily. + +"Truly, but in the mean time the bamboo will cut us into strips like an +umbrella in a storm," said Chow, making such queer contortions and +grimaces, that in spite of his troubles Nicholas could not help +laughing. "Then," he added, "thy servant has a scheme that will save +thee, my generous master." + +"Open thy lips, O wise and prudent youth," said Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas has a father?" + +"Truly, a noble one." + +"Then, as Chow has neither father, mother, nor aught else, but hatred +for his father's slayer and gratitude to the preserver of his life----" + +"What words are these?" said Nicholas, impatiently. + +"The good Nicholas has money; let him give it to Chow, and he will bribe +the mandarin to slit him into ribbons in thy stead," said Chow, +seriously. + +"Silence, Chow! this scheme of thine is offensive," said Nicholas, not +without a tear at the boys devotion. + +"Alas! of what use is a friend if he will not be serviceable in the hour +of need?" said Chow. + +Their conversation was interrupted by the opening of the door. + +"It is the illustrious Yang himself, who spoke good words to the +boy-correcting mandarin; may he be turned into a bamboo himself in the +next world," exclaimed Chow with a writhe of remembrance. + +"Thou art the son of the good merchant, my correspondent?" said Yang. + +"The face of the worthy merchant, is welcome in the hour of difficulty," +said Nicholas. + +"That difficulty is past, for thou art released," replied Yang, leading +him to a covered vehicle, into which Chow followed, and all three +proceeded to the merchant's house, where they found a substantial meal +awaiting them, a portion of which Chow carried with him to another +apartment. + +"Will the venerable Yang say by what fortunate chance he was enabled to +confer upon the son of his correspondent such an everlasting debt of +gratitude!" said Nicholas. + +"Know then, my nephew, for my nephew thou art, being the son of my +adopted brother, that when the comical ape Chow brought thy message, I +watched for thy coming till evening, when knowing that you could not +pass through the gates that night, I lodged Chow in my house. This +morning I went to meet you, telling Chow to follow close behind my +chair. Passing through the great square we met with the military officer +whose affair took us to the tribunal, where by means of a small present +secretly conveyed to the mandarin, I succeeded in getting the foolish +fellow off with a mere fatherly correction, which the dispenser of +justice was compelled to give him for form's sake. This affair being +settled, judge my horror at finding you charged with so fearful a crime. +However, I was prepared; for Chow, while listening to his own accuser, +had seen you in the custody of the yah-yu, to whom I went, and by means +of a bribe made them tell me the reason of your being in that plight. +When I had learned the particulars, I whispered to the mandarin that I +would present him with a handsome sum in silver if he would treat you +leniently. But when the favorite general of the Prince Li-Kong appeared, +the affair took another turn, and for fear of losing his own head, the +mandarin was compelled to condemn you. Yet, sad as this was, it was to +be managed with money. So by giving a handsome sum to an already +condemned criminal, the poor wretch agreed to suffer in your place." + +"How! what rascality is this? Surely the innocent shall not suffer. The +mandarin must be sought," said Nicholas. + +"Hist, hist, my good nephew! it is all over; for, foreseeing your +objection, the money was handed over to the man's family and he himself +dispatched at once to the penal settlement for condemned criminals." + +"It is a vile practice, O Yang," said Nicholas with disgust. + +"It is a common one," replied the merchant; adding, "but what brings the +son of the great merchant to Pekin? he is young to be entrusted so great +a journey." + +"Are then the special secrets of my noble parent of so little value that +they may be wafted about the very air of this vile city of Pekin?" said +Nicholas. + +"Pardon thy servant, O noble youth, who seeks to know thy affairs that +he may help to render them prosperous." + +"The worthy Yang must forgive the haste of a boy who so far forgets his +duty to his elder," said Nicholas. + +That night the boys slept at Yang's house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +NICHOLAS RESOLVES UPON A DANGEROUS ADVENTURE. + + +The following morning when Nicholas saw the merchant, he said, +"Yesterday the worthy Yang would have learned the object of my visit to +Pekin. I would gain admittance to the imperial palace. Will he aid me?" + +"Alas! my nephew, nothing can be more difficult, for it is crowded with +bonzes, and I fear worse--rebels, who swarm around the royal person like +hornets; but whom seekest thou within the outer palaces?" + +"Even the Son of Heaven himself, at the feet of whose throne I would +kneel." + +"Is the youth bereft of his senses? does he not know that it is certain +death to pass the prohibited wall of the inner palace?" + +"May then the illustrious Prince Woo-san-Kwei be found within the +palace?" asked Nicholas. + +"Nay, even if thou couldst boast the friendship of the great +Woo-san-Kwei thou wouldst not be safe. The prince is too honest and +brave to be much in favor just now. Wouldst thou be safe, youth, thou +must seek the Prince Li-Kong." + +"The vile traitor," muttered Nicholas at the name. + +"Hist, hist! thou wilt assuredly lose thy head, boy," said Yang, placing +his finger upon his lips. + +"Let the friend of the merchant of the south open his lips to a purpose. +Can, or can he not, aid me to gain admittance within the palace? for it +is my father's command that I should seek the Emperor or the Prince +Woo-san-Kwei, and at the peril of my life he must be obeyed," said +Nicholas firmly. + +"Since thou art determined, take this," said Yang placing a ring on the +boy's finger; adding, "It will pass thee through the guards of the outer +palaces and courts as far as the prohibited wall, and then proceed no +further, as you value your life, but await the approach of one of the +officers of the guard, to whom you must show that ring, and tell him +that you have business with the red-girdled Prince Woo-san-Kwei; +further, be prudent, or thou wilt seek thy death." + +"The worthy Yang has indeed filled me with gratitude," said Nicholas, +who then sent Chow for a chair. When the boy returned he asked his +master to what part of the city he would be carried. + +"To the palace." + +"By the five social relations the noble Nicholas is tired of this world, +for he has no sooner escaped one death than he seeks another," said +Chow. + +"Wag not thy foolish tongue, O Chow, but if thy heart fails thee stay +behind." + +"And leave the noble Nicholas to go to the world of spirits alone? that +would indeed be base. No, no; Chow will follow; but my noble master has +forgotten his sword, he may require it," said the boy. + +"I am sufficiently armed," replied Nicholas showing the hilt of a small +dagger beneath his robe, adding, "Now let us proceed." + +They then passed through the streets, which swarmed with people who were +as busy as bees in a hive, some making purchases of itinerant +tradespeople, viewing the wonderful feats of jugglers, mountebanks, or +players, listening to the marvelous narratives of _viva voce_ novelists, +or testing their fates with cheating fortune-tellers. As they approached +the palace, they found crowds of people gazing at the great observatory, +upon the top of which the astronomers of the court, in full dress, were +engaged in watching the heavens. When they arrived at the wall which +confined the city of buildings that made up the imperial residence, +Nicholas dismissed the chairman, and they passed into the first court, +which was as large and full of houses as a small country town. It took +half an hour to walk through; and as they had to traverse seven more of +these courts, which took them three hours, you may imagine the great +extent of the whole palace. The last but one was surrounded with the +palaces of the princes of the red girdle, or those more distant in blood +from the throne. This court was crowded with mandarins, officers, +eunuchs, and soldiers of the Emperor, who were earnestly peering through +telescopes at the sun, which from a deep blood red became yellow and +dim, and gradually more and more opaque, till the whole world seemed to +be enveloped in darkness, and darkness blacker than midnight, for there +was no moon. + +When the earth's light became extinguished, the mandarins fell flat upon +their faces, moaning aloud, while the noise from thousands of drums +shook the very walls. + +"Let us fall upon our faces, O my master, and pray to the terrible +dragon," exclaimed Chow, suiting the action to the word, and endeavoring +to drag Nicholas with him. As, however, Nicholas was averse to this +superstition, he refused to comply, and stood looking upon the people as +if they had been performing for his especial and solitary benefit. + +Whatever was the superstition, it laid firm hold of Chow, who, long +after the light had returned to the heavens and the other people to +their feet, continued to moan, kick his legs, and knock the earth with +his forehead. At length, after repeatedly calling to him in vain, +Nicholas turned him upon his back, when, opening his eyes and finding +the light had returned, he jumped upon his feet, and, as the sweat of +fear rolled from his brow, said, "Thank the gods, the greedy monster of +a dragon has not swallowed the sun and moon. O master, what would become +of us all; what would become of day and night without the sun and moon?" + +"Art thou foolish, O Chow, to believe that this eclipse was caused by +the effort of a monster dragon to swallow the heavenly luminaries?" + +"Who is thy servant, O noble Nicholas, that he should doubt, when +learned mandarins believe?" said Chow. + +"Know, O Chow, that the mandarins believe in it no more than thy +master, but perform a ceremony handed down to them by their ancestors." + +When the people who had been praying of the dragon not to swallow the +poor sun and moon began to disperse, the boys continued their journey +till they came to the outer or prohibited wall of the inner palace, +when, pointing to a soldier who stood at the gate with a naked sabre in +his hand, Chow said. "Look, my master, to pass yon tiger of war will be +to seek Yen-Vang in the other world," and at the same moment the soldier +said, "Are the slaves tired of their lives that they approach the +prohibited wall without bowing to the earth?" + +Having performed the required ceremony, Nicholas presented the +merchant's ring to the soldier, saying, "Let the eyes of the war tiger +rest upon this token, for by its means his servant would seek the +illustrious yellow girdle, Woo-san-Kwei." + +"The power of the token may not be doubted, for it bears the character +of the prince; yet may the noble youth not see the barbarian-subduing +prince, for he is in council with the colaos," said the soldier. + +"Then, by the toe of the Emperor, (may he live ten thousand years,) we +are as good as in our coffins; for know, O my master, it is death to +sleep within the walls of the palace," said the trembling Chow. + +"Surely," said Nicholas, placing a piece of silver in the soldier's +hand, "the brave warrior can secure lodging within the walls for a youth +whose duty compels him to risk his life rather than leave the palace +without speaking with the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"Truly it will be hazardous," but before the soldier could finish his +reply, the officer of the night came up with the relief guard. + +"Who are these vile dogs that are so openly seeking their death?" said +he. + +"This youth, O noble commander, bears the ring of the great +Woo-san-Kwei, whose presence he seeks; but as the patriot prince cannot +be seen, with the noble commander's permission the youth shall lodge +with me this night." + +"The noble and unfortunate Ki utters judicious words, and shall command +in this thing," replied the officer, to the surprise of Nicholas, who +could not comprehend an officer of the guard being so politely +submissive to a man so much his inferior. + +The permission, however, did not extend to Chow, whom the officer +undertook to convey back again out of the palace. + +"Then slit me into bamboo slips, thou Captain of war tigers, for the +servant dare not leave his master," said Chow, who refused so +obstinately that the soldiers had to carry him away. + +As Ki led the way through the streets and passages on the way to his +quarters, Nicholas was not a little surprised to find that he was +respectfully saluted by all whom they passed. Again, instead of the +common room appropriated to soldiers of his humble station, his quarters +consisted of a house by itself. Neither could Nicholas get rid of his +puzzle, till Ki said, "Has the name of the colao Ki ever fallen into the +ears of the honorable youth?" + +"Truly so; for whose ears could be so dull as not to have drunk in his +fame as a wise minister of state?" + +"Yet such is the viscissitude of fortune, that the colao is now before +thee, O youth, plucked of the peacock feather, and the golden ball torn +from his cap." + +"The great and good colao degraded to a mean soldier! Are such things +possible? O unfortunate man!" said Nicholas, bowing respectfully to the +fallen noble. + +"The purest sky is sometimes shaded by the blackest cloud. The cloud +over the head of Ki is the Prince Li-Kong, to whom every thing is now +possible; but open thy lips, youth, and send forth thy wishes with the +Prince Woo-san-Kwei. If it be to ask promotion to some office, know that +he has none to give, for the shadow of Li-Kong stands between him and +the Majesty of China." + +"Thy servant seeketh nothing for himself, O noble Ki, but to serve the +Emperor, to whom through the great Woo-san-Kwei, he would present a +petition." + +"All petitions now pass through the Prince Li-Kong," said Ki +sorrowfully. + +"Then, by the vermilion pencil, I will seek the Emperor himself, O noble +Ki." + +"Thou wouldst be slain in the attempt, O daring boy; there is but one +means." + +"Name it, O noble Ki, and thy name shall be buried in my heart," said +Nicholas impetuously. + +"It would be but to condemn thee to death." + +"Thou art laughing at me, O noble Ki," replied Nicholas bitterly. + +"Not so, youth; and since thou hast set thy heart upon the venture, open +thine ears to the only means," said Ki; adding, "Know that the Emperor +has one young and beautiful daughter, who apart from the bonzes and +Li-Kong, alone dares to present a petition to his majesty." + +"Again, I say, thou art laughing at me, O cruel Ki; for how is it +possible for a strange youth to pass the guard that surrounds the palace +of the ladies?" + +"Know then, further, that every morning the princess, with her ladies, +walks in those gardens just beyond the prohibited wall; through the +outer gate you can pass by means of this key," said Ki, giving him a +key; adding, "Near the inner wall there is a tall mulberry-tree, up +which you must climb, and so reach the top, and fall into the gardens; +then hide thyself till the royal lady passes. She will be attended by +the lady Candida Hiu, at whose feet throw thyself, proclaim thy mission, +and she will influence her beautiful mistress to deliver thy petition to +the Emperor; but remember, O youth, should you cross the path of one of +the eunuchs of the palace thy hours are numbered." + +"Noble Ki, I am thy servant for life," said Nicholas, kneeling and +clasping the knees of the old colao; adding, "but say, O Ki, who is this +Lady Candida Hiu?" + +"The pupil of the good Christian fathers whom the bonzes would have +massacred, the Lady Candida is the friend and teacher of the princess, +and but for her influence over her royal mistress, the punishment would +be death for worshiping in any of the many churches erected by the lady +herself." + +"Art thou then a disciple of the Saviour of mankind, O Ki?" + +"To the teaching of the lady Candida Hiu am I indebted for having +forsworn the stupid worship of Fo and the selfish philosophy of +Confucius," replied the colao; adding, "But ask no more, O youth, for to +speak of Christ out of the pale of that lady's influence is to earn +disgrace, if not death." So saying the ex-minister retired, leaving +Nicholas to his own thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE IMPERIAL GARDENS. + + +The next morning Nicholas proceeded on his mission, and, as the courts +of the palace were crowded with soldiers and mandarins of various ranks, +in waiting to receive the great lords of state, who were that day to +have audience with the Emperor, he managed to pass through the crowd +without being once challenged. With but little difficulty, he found the +door mentioned by Ki, and passing through by means of the key, he +entered a narrow lane between two walls. Near the inner wall stood the +mulberry-tree, up which he clambered quickly, for he knew not who might +enter the passage. When, by means of one of the branches, he had gained +the top of the wall, his eyes drank in a new pleasure. There, before, +beneath were the magnificent gardens of the inner palace, and so charmed +were his senses that for a minute it seemed as if the penalty of death +were but a small price for the vision. The enclosed grounds were of many +miles extent, and so varied in their arrangement, that they might have +served for a model of the empire itself. There was something of most +things natural and artificial in China: towering mountains cut into +terraces and planted with trees of rarity and beauty; fertile valleys +laid out in orange groves and intermingled with murmuring rivulets; +then bridges of tinted marble, wrought to resemble flying dragons, whose +eyes and scales were fashioned from colored metals, flew across small +lakes of clear, transparent water, in which, as a paradise of their own, +gamboled shoals of gold and silver fish, which at that time had not been +brought to Europe; then orchards of fruit trees, making the morning air +redolent with the mingled scents of rare specimens of pears, apples, +peaches, citrons, apricots, muscadine grapes, pomegranates, and oranges. +The sides of the main canal, from which the dripping rivulets sprang, +were embossed with cypress and mulberry-trees, whose feet seemed planted +in a sprinkled fringe of water melons. On this canal, with its awning of +yellow silk and golden fringe, floated the gilded japanned pleasure +barge of the ladies. + +For a time the boy's head swam with a new sensation. Such, thought he, +must have been the garden of that Emperor whose jealousy of the powers +of the cruel winter over his summer beauties caused him to waste the +revenue of a kingdom and the industry of a whole people in creating a +garden of artificial flowers, forgetting that the annual decay was alone +the cause of the ever-living freshness and perfume of nature. + +Then the sweet scents and beauteous sight tired Nicholas, for he thought +of the suffering, starving people. Surely it should not be possible for +such a paradise to exist in the midst of so much treason and +rotten-heartedness, and then the bold sea boy thought of his own rough +life, and became disgusted with himself for dwelling upon so much +sensuousness, for he knew that the empire had never smiled and prospered +with a happy, peaceable and well-fed people, except when the Emperor had +set the example of temperance and labor; and, moreover, that luxury and +indolence had ever preceded the downfall of dynasties; and then by far +more interesting became the cotton, the tallow and the mulberry-trees +that Heaven had bestowed upon the land of China for the support of its +hundreds of millions, and which had no vocation in such a garden of +luxury. + +As it must be interesting to my young readers, I will give a description +of these singularly valuable trees. The seed of the cotton shrub is sown +by the husbandmen on the same day that they get in the harvest. When the +rain has moistened the earth the shrub thrusts itself forward to a +height of about two feet, and in the month of August gives forth a +yellow or a red flower, which fades into a pod, which on the fortieth +day after the appearance of the flower divides itself into three parts, +each containing a wrapping of pure white cotton, similar in size to the +ball of the silk-worm. At this period, the husbandmen fasten the ball to +the pod, leaving it till the following year, when the fibres of the +cotton become so securely fastened to the seeds, that the husbandman is +compelled to separate them by means of two thin rollers, one of wood and +the other of iron, placed so close to each other, that in passing the +cotton between them, the naked seed is exuded from behind. The cotton +is then carded and ready to be converted into calico, an employment that +gives food to many thousands of people. + +Of equal value and more curious is the tallow-tree, which lights the +whole of the empire. While the leaves and long stalks of this plant +cause it to resemble the aspen and the birch, its trunk and branches +resemble in shape, height, and size the cherry-tree. From the grey bark, +spring long elastic branches, the leaves of which grow but from the +middle to the end, where they finish in a tuft, where the fruit grows in +a hard brown husk of triangular form. The husk generally contains three +kernels, covered with a thin substance resembling white tallow. When the +husk begins to open and fall away, the fruit gradually appears. Each +kernel contains another of the size of a hemp seed, which from its +oleaginous nature is converted into oil. + +To make the tallow, the shell and kernel are beaten together in boiling +water till the surface becomes covered with fat, which when cold, +condenses; then, by adding fair proportions of linseed oil and wax to +give consistency, they have produced the material which, when shaped +around a wick of hollow reed, produces the candles in use in China. Thus +does nature and the ingenuity of the people create from this +extraordinary tree a double means of lighting the empire. + +As for the mulberry-tree, it is so well known that I need but tell you, +that after rice, the Chinese consider its culture as a sacred duty, and +deservedly so, for by feeding the silk-worm, it not only clothes the +people, but silk, being in immense demand over the known world, is the +primary means of giving them employment; indeed the mulberry-tree is an +"institution," and of such ancient date, that even in four thousand +years old China, which contains the oldest records in the world, there +is no authentic record of its discovery. There is a legend, however, +"that, till the days of Ti-Long, the wife of the Emperor Hoang-ti, the +people were savages, and used the skins of animals for clothing, but her +far-sighted majesty noticed that as the people were many, and the +animals few, they would soon become short of garments, when, like the +parent of invention, she was pushed to a discovery that worms might be +made the greatest manufacturers of her empire;" and that there is some +truth in this fable seems likely, as, from the earliest times, the +Empress of China has had a portion of the grounds of the palace planted +as a mulberry grove, where, at certain periods of the year, she goes in +state, to show her interest in the silk manufacture, by gathering three +mulberry leaves, and unwinding a quantity of silk. Lastly, I may tell +you, that the most learned men and the greatest ministers have devoted a +great portion of their lives to teach the people "how to bring up and +feed silk worms, so as to obtain the greatest quantity and best quality +of silk." + +Is it not unjust that the race of worms should have been so long +despised, when, for thousands of years, one of their representatives has +been at the base of the prosperity of the largest, most populated, and +longest-enduring empire since the foundation of the world? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE PRINCESSES OF THE MINGS, AND THE LADY CANDIDA. + + +Enwrapped as the mind of Nicholas had been in the delicious scene around +him, no sooner did he reach the ground than a bitter feeling arose that +his beloved Emperor should be content to repose in such soft and costly +indolence, while millions of his subjects were being plundered by +rapacious nobles. In deep thought he reached the far-famed mulberry +orchard, where, for a time, he stood contemplating the industry of the +marvelous little worms whose number and color cast a sickly hue over the +broad green foliage of the trees, then in full leaf. Passing through +this orchard, he came in front of a mimic palace, hewn out of rock +crystal, and which glittered in the sun, so that it was some minutes +before his dazzled vision could perceive that he was near the imperial +menagerie and aviary, where were kept the rare beasts and birds +presented to the Emperor by his tributary kings. The sight was curious, +and he would have stopped, but for the rustling of leaves in the +orchard, and the sound of soft footsteps, that warned him of his +imprudence, and made him seek shelter in a small pagoda, from whence, +through a kind of loophole which fronted the menagerie, he could see +without being seen. Now his heart beat tremulously; the footsteps might +be those of the princess and her ladies. He was right in his conjecture, +for scarcely had he placed himself at the loophole, when two ladies, +attended by female slaves, who held above the heads of their mistresses +umbrellas of embroidered yellow silk deeply fringed with gold, came +toward the menagerie. The princess was of middle height, with a form as +graceful and elastic as a fawn; her face, like those of all of her race, +was broad, but fair almost as a European blonde, yet looked the fairer +from its contrast with the raven hair and eyelashes which beneath the +thin brows shaded a pair of tiny jet black eyes, which like the purest +diamonds, compensated by fire for their deficiency in size, and with the +delicately small mouth, parted by a pair of thin pouting lips, lit up +her sweet countenance with animation and vivacity. Of her hands and feet +I can say nothing, for they were hidden beneath the ample folds of her +long gold-embroidered robe of yellow satin. Upon her head she wore a +kind of crown of rich silk, decorated upon each side with a +"fong-hoang," the phoenix of China, which it is believed has but once +appeared, and whose next advent will be the fore-running of the golden +age. The extended wings of the little birds, which were of frosted gold, +and sparkling with jewels, rested upon the forepart of the crown, so +that while their beaks fell over the forehead, the spreading plumage of +their tails afforded a graceful crest upon its summit; moreover they +appeared to come with a tiny parterre of artificial flowers, which were +fastened with a bevy of silver bodkins, whose heads were formed out of +pearls, diamonds, and rubies; but far beyond her rare beauty and costly +attire was the artlessness of her manner, which, arising from a virtuous +heart and cultivated mind, won the love of all with whom she came in +contact. + +As for Nicholas, he was bewitched, and from the moment his eyes rested +upon her, he lost all doubt of the success of his mission. + +Of the lady in attendance I will only say, that she was of maturer age, +and of fuller form. More plainly attired than the royal lady, she wore a +robe of green silk, embroidered with flowers of the same color, and a +head-dress of silk, slightly sprinkled with large pearls; her brow was +high, and her features regular and handsome, but seemingly shadowed with +care for the interests and ministers of Christ, to whose doctrines she +had long been a convert; for this lady was no other than the illustrious +Candida Hiu, of whom the colao had spoken to Nicholas. Her history was +remarkable, and may be told in a few lines. The Emperor at the +commencement of his reign, had been so favorably disposed to the +Christian religion, that, although not a convert himself, he had +permitted many of the lords and ladies of his court to embrace its +tenets; chief and most sincere among the proselytes had been the prime +minister, Paul Syu, whose influence over his weak-minded master had +enabled him to protect the missionaries from the jealous bonzes and +pagan mandarins around. No sooner, however, had this good man gone to +his grave, than the bonzes accused the Christians of endeavoring to +subvert the reigning family, and so artfully did they intrigue, that the +Emperor ordered the Christians to leave China, and a terrible +persecution took place, when all the court but the Lady Candida and the +son and daughter of the monarch, returned to the worship of Fo. As I +have said, the Emperor's love was so great for his beautiful daughter, +that he permitted the princess and her friend Candida to follow the +dictates of their own hearts; hence it was that the good lady had been +able to protect her fellow-Christians from the rapacity of the bonzes +and mandarins, even to obtaining permission for them to remain in Pekin. +Further, to show her zeal, she founded at her own cost no less than +thirty churches in different parts of the empire, and had vast numbers +of religious books translated into Chinese, which she distributed by +means not only of blind beggars, but vagabond fortune-tellers, whom she +paid handsomely to stand at the corners of streets, and read the Gospel, +in place of practicing upon the credulity of the populace with their +vile falsehoods. Such were the two ladies now within a few yards of +Nicholas. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DANGER OF THE PRINCESS.--HER RESCUE BY NICHOLAS. + + +As the princess and her friend approached, Nicholas almost felt ashamed +of his intrusion upon their privacy. Should he not appear to them in the +despicable light of an eaves-dropper? Then he would determine to come +forward, but fell back again in dread of giving offence. Then the ladies +began a conversation, and he dared not interrupt them. + +"This then, dear Candida, is the sin-fin that my royal parent values so +highly," said the princess, looking at a large black ape of the +ourang-outang species, which sat grinning, with its elbows upon its +knees. + +"Truly, dear princess, this is the wonderful beast that the Prince +Li-Kong has presented to the Emperor, from the wild province of +Yun-nan," said Candida. + +"Candida is surely laughing at her pupil, for is it not said that this +Li-Kong is chiefest of the rebels, who have so lately been disturbing my +royal parent's repose?" + +"Alas! my princess, that it should be necessary to pour words of grief +into thy sweet ears," said Candida, sorrowfully. + +"What words are these, Candida? What grief can come in such a place of +repose? Truly you terrify without answering my question," said the +princess, angrily. + +"But that my sweet mistress alone possesses the ear of the Emperor, and +may open it for the benefit of the starving millions of the empire, her +friend and servant would not grieve her," replied the lady. + +"Tell me, O Candida, if thou wouldst not vex thy mistress, what mean +these words," said the princess, pettishly; adding, "Surely you would +not protect the traitor Li-Kong." + +"It is of that prince thy servant would speak," said the lady; adding, +"Know then, O princess, that, angered at some refusal of thy royal +father, the Prince Li-Kong, fled from the court, placed himself at the +head of a robber army, and being joined by thousands of the starving +people, among whom he made himself popular, took possession of two of +the largest provinces, and caused himself to be proclaimed as Emperor, +and took the title of Tien-Chun (He that obeys Heaven), persuading the +people that he had been appointed by Heaven to deliver them from the +cruelty of the Emperor and his ministers." + +"Dared the dog say this? Surely my royal father is the parent of his +people." + +"Nay, O princess, for as it was the duty of my father, the great +minister, so is it mine, at the risk of death, to speak the truth. Until +within the last moon, the greater part of the empire was in the hands of +robbers and assassins, justice was openly sold by the mandarins to the +highest bidder, the husbandmen of the hills and fields and the tradesmen +in the streets were dying by thousands of starvation, while the Son of +Heaven was shut up in his palaces intent upon nothing but his pleasures +and the society of the bonzes." + +"Candida, dear Candida, thou who art so truth-loving that thou darest +even to rebuke thy Emperor, canst thou tell thy friend and mistress that +while all is so calm, beautiful, and happy within these walls, there can +be so much misery without?" said the princess, trembling with fear. + +"Even worse, O dear princess, for while the imperial storehouses are +groaning with grain, thousands of people are dying of starvation within +the walls of Pekin," replied Candida. + +"I dare not doubt thy words, O Candida, yet I will not believe that my +great parent would keep close the public storehouses while his children +were starving," said the princess. + +"It is even worse, O princess, for the daily distribution of food has +been withheld," said Candida. + +With a vacant stare the princess gazed into the face of her friend for a +moment, then with a flood of tears upon her cheeks, fell into her arms; +but recovering her presence of mind, she said, "Truly this is a +calamity; surely I have heard such things ever precede the downfall of +dynasties; but I will to my father's presence, and dutifully implore him +on my knees;" and she moved toward the palace as if to act upon her +resolution, but Candida caught her in her arms, saying, "It would not +be seemly, O princess, nay, it would be useless, for the Prince Li-Kong +now possesses the Emperor's confidence." + +"What words are these, O Candida? Thou art indeed laughing at thy +mistress, for didst thou not say the traitor was in open rebellion?" + +"True, my princess, he was, till, for some vile purpose, he made his +submission to Ten Thousand Years, who, as he brought the heads of some +chiefs of the rebels, pardoned him, in the belief that his rebellion had +been a trick, a pretence whereby he had the better subdued the other +rebels." + +With indignation in her heart at the traitor Li, and her eyes swimming +with tears, she placed her hands affectionately in those of her +friend--before, however, she could speak she shrieked with fright. The +sin-fin had broken his cage and stood as erect as a man, clattering his +teeth and grinning in her face, with his great paws upon her neck. The +princess fainted; not so the Lady Candida for she boldly clutched hold +of the brute, who, however, without relinquishing his grasp of the +princess, caught the Lady Candida by her head-dress and hair, and +dragged them both in the direction of the lake, looking savagely at the +screaming attendants, who scampered off as fast as their legs would +carry them; and so rapid were the movements of the brute, that he +reached the verge of the water before Nicholas could thrust his sword +into his hirsute side, a bit of a surprise that caused the beast to +leave his hold of the ladies, when "scotched" but not killed, and +catching sight of his real enemy, he uttered a savage scream and sprang +at him with extended claws, but so neat was the spring that the weapon +of Nicholas passed through his heart, when he gave one last terrific +leap and rolled over dead. + +The fright, the horror of feeling themselves in the sin-fin's clutches, +and the revulsion of feeling at the unexpected relief, made the ladies +forget, as you may well imagine, the lesser terror of seeing a strange +youth within the prohibited walls. As for Nicholas, he thought only of +them both. However, seeing they had been more frightened than hurt, and +that they were now regarding him with a mixed expression of gratitude, +surprise, and even anger, for so great is the modesty of women, and such +the force of the custom in China, that rescue from death itself was +scarcely sufficient to suppress the instinctive anger they felt at the +intrusion of a boy in so sacred a place; perceiving all this at a +glance, Nicholas fell upon his knees, saying, "Pardon, O great princess, +for thus thy yellow girdle betokens thee. Let the life of thy mean +servant be the penalty for his unpardonable intrusion, and he will not +regret it, since he has been the means of saving the daughter of his +Emperor, and the Christian-protecting Lady Candida, from the fangs of a +vile beast." + +"Rise, O youth, for it is not seemly that thou shouldst kneel at the +feet of her whose life thou hast saved, and say what chance hath brought +thee hither," said the royal lady, smiling with sweet gratitude. + +"Surely, O princess, chance can have no influence over the children of +God, who must have sent thy servant hither as a manifest of his watchful +care for those who obey his word and protect his worshipers," replied +Nicholas earnestly. + +"Then thou art of the Lord of heaven's religion. But who art thou, O my +poor youth, who thus seekest certain death by thy presence here?" said +Candida, looking tremulously around, for fear of the approach of any of +the eunuchs of the palace. + +"Let this, O princess, bespeak the reason of thy servant's intrusion, +where even the daring Li-Kong cannot foil his purpose," replied +Nicholas, falling upon his knees and presenting his father's letter to +the princess, who handed it to Candida, who no sooner glanced at the +characters upon the envelope than she said angrily, "This is from the +rebel pirate, Chin-Chi-Loong." + +"Should thy servant's tongue be torn from his mouth, he would say those +words are false, lady. The noble chief is neither pirate nor rebel; if +so, thy servant would not have risked his life to place that letter in +the hands of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas firmly. + +"If thy words are true, youth----" but as the Lady Candida spoke, a body +of armed eunuchs entered the garden, so, giving the letter back to +Nicholas, she said, "Haste youth, for thy life;" but knowing the attempt +would be useless, he stood his ground firmly. + +"No, lady," said he; "thy servant came here to place that letter in the +hands of the Emperor." Before he could say more the men had drawn around +him. + +"Tie the dog hand and foot," said the chief. + +"Not so, O Lun-Yin," said the princess. + +"Thy slave dare not disobey the laws, O illustrious daughter of the +Mings," replied the chief, bowing to the earth. + +"Then convey the youth to the presence of the Emperor, for he has +treason to disclose, but let not his limbs be bound at the peril of your +life, and we will answer to our great father," said the princess. + +When the ladies withdrew toward the inner palace the eunuchs led +Nicholas through the small gate into a spacious court, which was crowded +with soldiers, bonzes and servants, in attendance upon the great lords, +who were then in council with the Emperor. Passing through the crowd +they entered a magnificent archway of veined marble into a vast court, +across which ran a canal of water, so pellucid that shoals of gold and +silver fish could be seen playing around the stems of the white-leaved +lien-hoa at the bottom. Across this canal was thrown a bridge of +glittering white marble, supported upon each bank by lions sculptured +from the same material. From this bridge Nicholas could see that the +whole court was surrounded with marble terraces, which led through small +doorways into the imperial treasure rooms, which were full of precious +metals, jewels, valuable furs, rare vases, and costly robes, and a +variorum collection of silks, that had been presented from the chief +manufactories of the empire. Other rooms contained bows, arrows, +saddles, and even specimens of the choicest teas to be found in China. +Leaving the treasures they entered the great court of the princes of the +blood, whose palaces shone with gilding, japan, and varnish, through +which they passed by a small side-gate into the hippodrome, or +horse-racing court, which was crowded with mandarins of arms and +letters, of inferior rank, besides the state chairs, and horse guards +belonging to the princes. As they entered the hippodrome they saw a +group of war mandarins gathered around a person who was clamoring for +something that the mandarins must have deemed very absurd, for although +so near the inner palace, they laughed loudly. Perceiving, however, the +chief of the eunuchs, they became suddenly grave, and bowed to the +ground three times. + +"How is this? Are the dogs tired of their lives, that they venture to +make this unseemly uproar within the very hearing of the Son of Heaven +himself?" said that officer angrily. + +"Truly, the all-powerful Yin would risk his flowery existence, laughing +at this paper tiger, who is mad enough to demand an audience with the +Son of Heaven," replied one of the mandarins. Before, however, the chief +of the eunuchs could reply, the person in question had thrown himself at +his feet, crying, "Pardon, O mighty officer of the palace, thy slave, +who seeks a master bereft of his senses, and who is now wandering about +the palace in search of the Son of Heaven. May he vanquish his +enemies." + +"Thou, then, art the servant of this dog who has profaned the imperial +gardens?" said the chief of the eunuchs; adding, before Nicholas could +interfere for Chow, "Let the dog be taken to the prison, as he will +doubtless be strangled with his master when the will of the Emperor is +known." + +Then, in obedience to this command, the boy was hurried away, and +Nicholas led forward to the court of the inner palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ASSEMBLY OF THE GREAT PRINCES OF THE EMPIRE. + + +The audience-chamber of the Emperor was a vast square hall of great +height. The ceiling was of pale green, sculptured in devices, and +decorated with paintings, charged at intervals with the Emperor's crest +in gold. The walls were smooth and without other ornament than the +carved window frame, which was set with panes of richly painted paper. +The roof was supported by rows of columns, elaborately sculptured and +japanned, which rested upon a pavement of the rarest veined marble, of +so high a polish that it reflected the whole interior. + +In the centre stood a lofty alcove, above which, upon a drapery of +yellow silk, were embossed in pale blue enamel the words "Ching Hoang," +(Holy Emperor). Beneath, upon a dais, ascended by a flight of broad +steps was a throne of frosted gold, surmounted and upheld by dragons of +the same metal, but burnished, and whose claws rested upon a carpet of +blue velvet, besprinkled with the same monsters in silver. + +Opposite the throne upon a raised platform, were placed several vessels +of the precious metals, filled with incense, which, as it burned, sent +forth a delicious perfume, and candlesticks ingeniously wrought into the +shape of animals. + +From the throne to the end of the wall, ranged so as to form an alley, +stood the great officers of state, attired in large flowing robes of +silk, flounced with gold, and bearing on their breasts the insignia of +their different dignities; those belonging to the military department +wearing golden buttons on their caps and tigers or lions on their +breasts, while the civil officers, who were of higher rank, wore birds +in place of beasts. At the back of these mandarins were other officers, +bearing umbrellas of silk brocade, fringed with gold; there were also +many who wore the button of an inferior rank, and who wore large fans of +silk, embroidered with gold; others with large standards, sprinkled with +golden stars, dragons, the sun, and the moon in all its quarters, to +represent the twenty-eight mansions of the heavens, and their +conjunctions and oppositions with the sun, as they appear in the +intersections of the circles, which the astronomers call the dragon's +head and tail. Near the walls stood a number of mandarins of inferior +rank, both civil and military, bearing maces, axes, hammers, and swords. +Upon the steps of the throne stood the princes of the blood, attired in +the costumes of their civil or military rank, the only tokens of their +imperial blood, being the large yellow or red girdle, and the circle +instead of the square in which the bird or beast is worn upon the +breast. + +The left hand being the place of honor in China, on that side of the +throne stood the imperial but unfortunate Prince, Yong-Li, a youth of +fifteen years of age, near to whom stood the aged Woo, whose office, +that of a colao or censor, was at once the most dangerous and most +popular in the empire, his duty being to check the great mandarins, and +even the Emperor himself, in the wrong exercise of their authority. This +officer may be termed the representative of that public opinion in China +which moulds its irresponsible despotism somewhat to the shape of a +constitutional government. One step lower, in the full costume of +tsong-tou (a great viceroy), stood the Prince Woo-san-Kwei. This prince +was the son of the censor Woo, and one of the most remarkable men of his +time. He was tall and stately, and, like the rest of the nobles of the +Ming dynasty, wore his hair in long and luxuriant tresses; moreover, +like his parent Woo, he wore the circle upon his breast, and around his +waist the girdle of red, which betokened him to be of the second rank of +the princes of the blood. Upon the opposite side of the throne, and one +step nearer, as became his closer relationship to the monarch, stood the +first prince of the yellow girdle, Li-Kong, a man whose influence upon +those tempestuous times was as remarkable for bad as that of +Woo-san-Kwei was for good; he was also a tang-tou. + +Next this prince, in their robes of office, stood the colaos, or +ministers of state, and with them an officer whose bird-embroidered robe +and cap betokened him a mandarin of letters of the highest rank in the +great college of Han-Lin. This officer was tutor to the heir to the +throne, but in addition held an office so peculiar that I do not think +you will accuse me of tediousness if I tell you something about it. He +was the chief historian of the empire, an appointment which, if carried +out with similar integrity, would be creditable to other empires besides +China. + +"These historians," says a writer who resided within the walls of the +palace thirty years, "consist of a certain number of men, who, for their +learning and impartiality are purposely chosen for this office. Their +business is to observe narrowly not only the actions but the words of +the Emperor, which, without communication with the others, each must +write upon a loose piece of paper, and put it through a chink into an +office set apart for the purpose. + +"In these papers both the Emperor's virtues and faults are set down with +the same liberty and impartiality. 'Such a day,' say they, 'the +Emperor's behavior was unseasonable and intemperate; he spoke after a +manner which became not his dignity. The punishment which he inflicted +on such an officer was rather the effect of his passion than the result +of his justice. In such an affair, he stopped the sword of justice, and +abrogated the just sentence of the magistrate.' Or else, 'The Emperor +entered courageously into a war for the defence of his people and for +the maintenance of the honor of his empire; and, notwithstanding the +commendations given him by his flatterers, he was not puffed up, but +behaved himself modestly, his words were tempered with all the sweetness +and humility possible, which made him more loved and admired by his +court than ever.' + +"Such is the way in which they record down all that occurs; but that +neither fear on the one side, nor hope on the other, may bias men to +give a partial record of the Emperor, the office wherein these papers +are kept is never opened during the life of the sovereign, or while any +of his family sit upon the throne. When, however, the imperial dignity +passes into another family, all these loose memoirs are gathered +together, compared, and a history composed, that either hands down the +Emperor as an example to posterity, or exposes him to the censure and +odium of the nation, if he has been negligent of his own duty and his +people's good. Thus is it the interest of the Emperor to be circumspect, +and cautious how he behaves himself during his reign." + +With reference to the history of events and the progress of the people +generally, it is the custom for each city to keep an exact record of +every memorable event as it happens, its most remarkable places and +inhabitants, good or bad; moreover, of their manners and customs; and +although there are many who, by offering bribes to the governor, obtain +honorable mention in these annals, upon the whole the accounts are +considered to be tolerably accurate, for at the end of every forty years +the mandarins of every city assemble and examine the accounts, and +expunge what they deem unfit to remain recorded. + +Theoretically, the will of the emperor is the only law; the lives, +fortunes, and worldly happiness of his subjects depend upon its wildest +caprice; but, in reality, it is only theoretically, for in the words of +another great authority, who not only resided at the court of Pekin some +thirty years, but absolutely held office therein. "One would imagine +that this unlimited power of the Emperor would often occasion very +unfortunate events in the government, and indeed it sometimes hath, as +nothing in this world is without its alloy of inconvenience, yet so many +are the provisions and so wise the precautions which the laws have +prescribed to prevent them, that a prince must be wholly insensible of +his own reputation and even interest, as well as the public good, who +continues long in the abuse of his authority; for if he hath any regard +for his own reputation, there are three things which will prevail with +him to govern by justice, not passion: first, the old laws, given from +the foundation of the empire, have laid it down as a standing maxim, +that kings are properly the fathers of their people, _and not masters +placed upon the throne only to be served by slaves_. The words in +italics contain a doctrine, by the way, that our first James strived so +hard to inculcate, that it ultimately led to a revolution in England, +not very dissimilar to that in China, of which I am now writing. Such +having been the teaching of those law-givers, Confucius and others, who +are to the present day venerated as deities in China, the Emperor's +proudest title of honor has been in all ages Ta-fou" (that is, +grandfather). + +This theory of what the Emperor should be, is so deeply imprinted in the +minds of the people and the mandarins, that, when they offer praises, +whether deserved or not, it is based upon his presumed affection for his +people. The teachers and philosophers continually set forth in their +books that the state is but a large family, and that he who knows how +to govern the one is best capable of governing the other; so that, if +the Emperor neglects, never so little, the practice of this maxim, he +may be a great warrior, an able politician, a learned man, and yet meet +with neither love nor esteem from his people. Indeed, they value him +only as they believe he is, or is not, a father to them. + +Thus, as I have shown you, not only the censor, but, in a lesser degree, +every mandarin may tell the Emperor of his faults, provided it be in a +manner agreeable to that veneration and profound respect which is due to +his office. The manner, however, in which this is done, is somewhat +roundabout. The mandarin who perceives any thing in the Emperor's +conduct contrary to the maxims laid down in the sacred books, draws up a +request, in which, after having set forth the respect which he bears +toward his majesty, he most humbly prays that he will please to reflect +upon the ancient laws and good examples of his great predecessors. This +request lies upon a table among many other petitions, which are daily +presented and which the Emperor is obliged to read; and if he does not +change his conduct, the petition is repeated again and again till the +end has been gained, or the mandarin himself punished for his +presumption. The latter, however, never happens, except with bad and +tyrannical Emperors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE BOY PRINCE AND THE RIVAL GENERALS. + + +Thus were the great princes and lords of China awaiting the coming of +their imperial master, and with something like impatience, for often, of +late, had his majesty kept them waiting for hours, and then granted no +audience at all. Such, however, was not to be the case then, for soon +the sounds of wind instruments were heard, pages and eunuchs entered +from the door which led to the imperial apartment, followed by the +favorite body attendants of the sovereign, then the Emperor +himself;--and the mandarins in the body of the hall, and the lords upon +the steps of the throne, bent their heads till their foreheads touched +the floors, in which position they remained, awaiting the command of the +monarch to arise. Wey-t-song, the last of the Ming Emperors, was of +middle height and spare figure, at least for a Chinese, whose notion of +manly beauty consists of large and bulky form; he was attired in a robe +of yellow silk, embroidered with five-clawed dragons, a necklace of +costly pearls, and a golden girdle fastened around his waist by a +jeweled clasp; his high cap or crown of purple satin, sparkled with +jewels, and was decorated with the peacock's feather, which fell upon +his long black hair; his boots were of purple satin, and fitted tightly +to the shape of the feet; as for his hands, they were hidden beneath the +folds of his robe. + +When the Emperor had seated himself upon the throne, a graceful movement +with his ample sleeves gave the sign for the kneeling courtiers to +arise, and they stood with their arms straightened and eyes turned upon +the ground, pretending that the sight of so much majesty was too +dazzling for their vision. + +Thus, for a time, all was silent, till the censor Woo, falling upon his +knees, and holding above his head his silver seal of office, gravely +said, "Since our lord has vouchsafed us his heavenly audience, and the +door of the imperial apartments is no longer disfigured by the +audience-denying tablet, it is the duty of the meanest of his slaves to +open his lips, even at the risk of his life." + +"Rise, thou venerable noble, for it is not seemly that one who is at +age's extremity should kneel, even before the Emperor. Rise, noble Woo, +for thy years demand that thy petition should be heard standing," said +Wey-t-song, aiding the aged man to his feet. + +"Alas! dread prince, thy servant's days have been too long, for he has +lived to see a successor of the great Emperors, Yu and Yaou, forget that +Heaven had made him the father of his people," said Woo, sadly. + +"What words are these? Surely the noble Woo presumes upon his age, for +has it not been wisely said that the will of the Emperor is +omnipotent?" + +"It is written in the sacred books, O prince, that it is equally +criminal in the Emperor and the subject to violate the laws. Truly the +life of the minister is the property of his sovereign, but the dignity +of his office belongs to the country, which is even now torn into shreds +by maladministration," replied the firm old noble; adding, "For when the +Emperor becomes negligent of his duty, and sinks into a lover of luxury +and ease, the spirit of indolence must pervade the occupant of every +mandrinate; so, at the present time, every viceroy and governor has +grown to think himself the sovereign, instead of the father and teacher +of his province; each minister, in defiance of the law, sells places to +those unfit to occupy them; and thus the people, being oppressed, have +arisen in rebellion over the empire, to the advantage of rogues and +thieves, who await but the finding of some bold bad man to enable them +to change, O prince, thy very dynasty. Yet surely this is not without +cause, for hath it not been asked, 'Why hath Heaven placed the Emperor +upon the throne, if not to be our parent?' and therefore he ought not to +make himself feared, but in proportion as he deserves to be loved for +his goodness and virtue; therefore, at the risk of his life, the censor +dares tell his dread sovereign that while the people are suffering, the +Emperor should forget his pleasures, fast in his palace, punish the +offending mandarins, remit the taxes of the suffering provinces, and +employ his whole thoughts in alleviating their misfortunes. Like the +Emperors of old, he should lament night and day till the evils are +remedied. Such are the words of the aged Woo, who hath lived through +the reigns of six of thy illustrious predecessors, and they have been +called forth, O dread prince, by thy neglect of the petitions which he +has laid upon the imperial table. If thy slave offendeth, O prince, let +his worthless head be the penalty, for he has done his duty; and the old +noble again fell at the feet of Wey-t-song, who, giving way to a +paroxysm of passion, rose, and, placing his hand upon the hilt of his +sabre, exclaimed, 'What words are these old man? Is the Emperor a slave +that thou darest so far?' But, despot and even cruel as he was, the age +and daring of the old noble had excited in the eyes of the surrounding +courtiers such unmistakable gleams of satisfaction, that, really afraid +of proceeding to extremities, he fell back upon his throne, saying, +"Arise, noble Woo, and that in the licence of thy office thou hast +uttered words of wind against thy Emperor, the rebel-subduing General +Li-Kong will testify." + +Upon this, the Prince Li-Kong, falling upon his knees, said, "Truly, O +august and sovereign Emperor, the age of the noble Woo must have +diminished his eyeballs, or he would have seen in the Imperial Gazette +that the Emperor, our father, having heard of the rebellion in the +provinces, had despatched his mean servant, myself, with a correcting +army, and that thy unworthy relation had secured a lasting internal +peace." + +"And thy reward, prince?" said the Emperor." + +"The generalship of the home armies, and the favor of my great +sovereign, who will not open his heavenly ears to the words of these +rogues, who accuse thy servant and mean relation of ingratitude and +treason." + +"This reminds us that the reward is inadequate to thy services, most +princely Li. Let it therefore be proclaimed throughout the empire that +the grateful Wey-t-song is about to bestow upon the kingdom-soothing +Prince Li-Kong the hand of his only daughter in marriage," said the +Emperor. + +But before the prince could thank the Emperor, the General Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon his knees before the throne, saying, "The humblest but most +devoted of thy servants would dare to claim the heavenly ears of his +most august prince." + +"If the barbarian-subduing general has aught to counsel let him open his +lips." + +"Then, truly, O dread Emperor, it must be at the risk of my life; for so +many moons has thy servant been engaged in defending the frontiers of +the empire against the Tartar barbarians, that he has lost the +submissive tones fitted to thy heavenly ears," said Woo-san-Kwei. + +"Let the general open his lips, for although his words may be more +warlike, they cannot be rebellious, like those of his noble parent." + +"The words of the noble Woo flowed from his heart, O prince, and were +approved by his son, who now, as in duty bound, would counsel his +sovereign, that, although the services of the rebel-exterminating +general have been great, his reward has been greater than his merits, +for does he not hold the golden seals of the highest military command? +As for the princess, she is the daughter of the empire, and too exalted +to be bestowed upon the noble Li-Kong. Remember O Emperor, it will be +the duty of the historians to record that the Emperor Wey-t-song, +instead of commanding, had been weak enough to purchase the services of +a powerful lord, tainted with treason, with the only daughter of his +house; setting aside the wise custom of his ancestors, who bestowed +their daughters upon tributary kings, whereby alliances were formed for +the prosperity of the empire," said the Prince Woo-san-Kwei; adding, "At +the risk of his life has thy servant spoken, O prince, for fear that thy +too great generosity may smear thy page in history." + +Scarcely dissembling his enmity, Li-Kong spoke, "Truly my sovereign is +too generous to permit the envy of his servant's enemies to have weight +in his dragon ears." + +"The kingdom-soothing general speaks well, for who is this turbulent +lord, and what the value of his services, that he dares be so +rebellious?" said the Emperor; adding, angrily, "Let the dog be +arrested;" when the young prince threw himself before the throne, and +said-- + +"Let my illustrious parent not so far forget his royal dignity as to +vent his anger upon the honest Woo-san-Kwei, who has saved the kingdom +from the Tartars, and offered his counsel only by right of his high +rank. No, O my sovereign, rather let the hand of my dear sister be +withheld until the Prince Li has further proved his merits, by showing +to his Emperor that he has really performed those wonderful feats of +conquest which he now boasts, but all others deny." + +At this speech a half-suppressed murmur of approbation rang through the +hall, which brought a heavy frown upon the forehead of Wey-t-song. As, +however, he really feared a quarrel with either of these powerful +princes, he said, "Though young, the words of the Prince Yong-Li are +wise, for it is not fitting that our people should be feasting and +rejoicing at the marriage of our daughter, while it is not certain that +the rebels are subdued, and the Tartars upon the frontiers. It is, +therefore our will that our daughter's hand be withheld till entire +peace be restored." + +Then the whole court bowed to the ground three times in submission to +the imperial will, and the Emperor moved the sleeves of his robe, as a +token that the audience was at an end, when the chief of the eunuchs ran +quickly up the avenue formed by the court, till he reached about half +way, when he stood with his head erect and his arms by his side for a +minute, then having performed the usual prostrations, he ran to the foot +of the throne, where he threw himself upon his knees. + +"Is the slave mad, that he dares intrude in this our highest +council-chamber?" said the Emperor. + +"The life of the slave is in the hands of his master, yet must he +perform his duty. Treason is within the very walls, O my sovereign." + +At the word treason the blood of Tait-sou became weak as water, for the +royal face became livid with fear. He grasped his sabre, saying, "What +says the slave?" + +"Two boys, O dread sovereign, have been found within the prohibited +wall; one even within the sacred precincts of the imperial gardens." + +At the words two boys there was a half-suppressed titter, probably at +the little cause the Emperor had had to fear; but at the mention of the +garden of the inner palace, the aged Woo said, "Surely, O great +sovereign, the worthy eunuch has overstepped his duty; these young +slaves should have been handed over to the police tribunals." + +"The noble Woo is right," replied the Emperor. "What has the dog of a +eunuch to say for intruding in our presence with such matters?" + +"The will of the Emperor is the life-blood of the meanest of his slaves, +and but little else is that of the princess in whose presence one of the +dogs was found, and at whose command he is brought hither," replied the +trembling eunuch. + +"The profane slave!" muttered the surrounding mandarins, clutching the +hilts of their swords. + +"The will of our beloved daughter is law; let the audacious slave be +brought before us," said the Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AUDIENCE WITH THE SON OF HEAVEN.--NICHOLAS ACCUSES A GREAT PRINCE OF +TREASON. + + +Nicholas was led into the hall between two inferior mandarins, and had +no sooner prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, than the Prince +Li-Kong said, "Surely the eyes of the Emperor of the earth are too holy +to be darkened by such mean dogs as this. Let the common executioner +deal with him, for there can be no doubt of his guilt." + +"Stop not the fountain of justice at its very source, O my sovereign, +for when was it that a good king refused to listen to the meanest of his +slaves?" said Woo; but before the Emperor could reply, one of the great +officers of the palace ran up to the steps of the throne, performed the +prostrations, and being commanded to speak, + +"The great and beautiful princess, thy daughter, begs an audience of her +illustrious father," said the officer. + +The Emperor having signified his assent, the princess, accompanied by +the Lady Candida, and both veiled, knelt before the Emperor, who, +lifting her from her kneeling position, said affectionately, "Truly my +daughter must have matter of weighty import upon her lips, thus to +break through the delicacy of her sex and rank." + +"Pardon, great prince, if thy daughter has forgotten what is due either +to her parent or her sex, but it is a common saying, 'that those who +forget favors conferred upon them are unfit to live,' and therefore thy +daughter would protect the life of one who saved her from a cruel +death," said the princess. + +"Has the safety of the pearl of my life been endangered?" said the +Emperor, trembling at the possibility of such a catastrophe, and placing +his hands upon her head; adding, "What words are these, my daughter, for +is not the empire crowded with those who would deem happiness if it were +to save their princess from danger." + +"Not one of whom could have saved her from the savage sin-fin, who, +having escaped from his cage, had seized her, when yonder bold youth +slew the beast." + +The Lady Candida then described the whole scene in the gardens to the +Emperor, who forgetful of the desecration of the place by the profane +feet of Nicholas, nay, of every thing but the escape of his beloved +child from a fearful death, commanded the release of Nicholas; but again +the general Li-Kong stepped forward. + +"It is true," said he, "that the beautiful and illustrious princess has +been saved from great peril, and the whole empire will rejoice; yet it +is a maxim, 'that the laws should be enforced even upon the imperial +kindred.' Moreover, my sovereign, in his generosity, forgets that the +cage of the beast could not have opened itself, and that the slave +merits death for being in the garden." + +"Though not generous, the words of the rebel-exterminating general are +just," replied the weak prince; adding, to Nicholas, sternly, "What says +the boy; what traitorous errand brought him within the sacred gardens of +our palace?" + +"The life of the slave belongs to the master. The personal safety of thy +servant, O great prince, was nothing when he desired to place in thy +hands a letter of the greatest moment, from one far greater than the +lords around thy throne." + +"These are wild words, O youth; for know you not that it was the duty of +our chief colao to receive thy letter?" said the Emperor, interrupting. + +"Mean as is thy servant, O prince, he knew that treason was within the +palace, and that the letter would never reach thy royal hands; +therefore, that it should not fail to do so, I sought the imperial +gardens with the daring hope of meeting thy royal daughter, knowing that +if my life were sacrificed, my mission would be fulfilled," said +Nicholas; adding, "Such has been the crime, and the criminal awaits his +punishment." + +"This letter," said the Emperor. + +"Is here, great prince," and Nicholas presented the document to +Wey-t-song, who tore open the seals, and for some minutes became lost in +the perusal of its contents, after which, to the surprise of the court, +he placed it beneath his vest, saying, "This letter must be for the +consideration of our inner council. Youth, thy honesty and loyalty are +beyond doubt, and we permit thee to name thy own reward." + +"Thy slave, O prince, would ask one so great, that the greatest of thy +tributaries would seek it upon his knees," was the reply, to the +astonishment of the lords, who expected it would be nothing less than +the hand of the princess. "No less, indeed, than a private audience," +added Nicholas, which, with a smile at this novel and modest request, +the Emperor granted. + +"May this not be a trap, O my prince, to beguile thy person within reach +of the assassin's dagger?" said the artful but baffled Li-Kong. + +"The dagger to be feared by thy sovereign, base prince, is beneath thine +own vest," said Nicholas. + +"Dares the dog so far?" said the exasperated Li-Kong. + +"Forget not thy dignity, O noble Li," said Woo-san-Kwei, touching that +prince upon the shoulder, and adding, "Yet it is but just that such an +assertion, made in the very presence of the Emperor, should be +verified." + +The Emperor came to the rescue, saying, "Open thy lips, youth, for, well +as we think of thy honesty, thou hast uttered words against the noblest +of our yellow girdles, which as they are true or false merit reward or +punishment." + +Thus challenged Nicholas fell upon his knees, and related his adventure +at the palace of retirement, declaring that the two men were plotting +the dethronement of the Emperor, and that the chief of the two was the +Prince Li-Kong himself. At this bold and circumstantial accusation, the +young Prince Yong-Li and the great lords on the steps of the throne, +placed their hands upon their swords, and alternately glancing at +Li-Kong and Nicholas, awaited the command of the Emperor to seize either +accuser or accused. For an instant the lips of Li-Kong quivered with +fear or rage, but, recovering his equanimity, he gave a signal with his +hand, when a large body of military mandarins came around him, and fell +upon their knees before the Emperor, when Li said, "Are the services of +thy servant so soon forgotten, have the rebels been no sooner chastised, +and peace restored within the empire, that the exterminator and his +officers should be as mice before the words of this less than a dog? O +my sovereign! let these officers be questioned, and they will prove that +on the night of which the dog speaks, their general was engaged in +discovering a new conspiracy among the Fan-Kwi priests." + +"What words are these, O prince?" said the Emperor, whose alarm had been +artfully turned in another direction. "Have we not honored these +priests, even to making their chief the president of our high board of +mathematics?" + +"Yet such is the ingratitude of the barbarians, O my Emperor, that, in +league with the outer barbarians, they seek to overthrow the empire." + +"Let my guards instantly secure every villain priest within the walls of +the city," said the terrified Emperor. + +"Thy slaves have been diligent, and thy command anticipated, O Emperor; +the miserable chief of the mathematics and his brethren have been +carried before the three tribunals, their guilt proved, and most +mercifully adjudged to be strangled; the sentence but awaits the +vermilion pencil of the Emperor," said Li-Kong. + +"The judges have failed in the duties of their office by so mild a +sentence, for which let them all be degraded three degrees of rank, and +the priests be cut into ten thousand pieces," said the Emperor. + +"If the crime be proved, the sentence is light; if not, terrible must be +thy remorse, O my sovereign, for the learned father's services have been +great. Surely, then, thy wisdom alone should seek to discover the guilt +or innocence of this enormous culprit, or much-injured priest," said +Woo. + +"The words of the venerable Woo, O my royal father, are worthy of his +years and the imperial dignity; let not thy indignation rather than thy +justice adjudge this priest, but command that he be brought before +thee," said the young prince, earnestly. + +"Thy words are but reasonable, my son; we will examine the Christian dog +ourselves," said the Emperor. When, at a signal, the aged missionary, +Adam Schaal, was brought before the throne, so laden with iron chains +that his form was bent to the shape of a bow; still, with his long white +hair and beard, and the unflinching, piercing blue eye of his German +race, he looked, as he was, a willing martyr for the cause of his +Saviour. + +At the sight of his old favorite thus humiliated, even the Emperor +melted with pity and doubt as to his guilt. "Can it be under heaven," +said he, "that so holy a body should contain so vile a heart? Have we +not protected and fostered thee and thy companions in the heart of our +empire, giving thee permission to build thy temples and even to convert +the people to thy religion; nay, moreover, raised thee to the first rank +among the learned? Canst thou answer, thou villainous old man?" + +"It is even these favors, O mighty Emperor, that have raised the envy of +the enemies of Christ, who, jealous of the success of thy servant's +cause, seek to destroy him, that they may triumph over his religion; and +if their malice should prevail, the Christian priest will die blessing +the great Emperor who enabled him to do so much good." + +"What says the accuser to these words?" said the Emperor, sternly, more +than half believing in the father's innocence. + +"Stand forth, O Hung," said Li-Kong; when a mandarin of the second +degree fell before the throne and held above his head some medals, a +book, and a chaplet of beads, saying, "Are not these proofs of the old +rogue's guilt?" + +"They are, O my sovereign, the mysterious symbols and secret marks used +by the initiated in the great conspiracy, which is now insidiously +spreading throughout the empire, and known to each other." + +"How! what dog's words are these, thou ignorant slave? Dost thou not +know that these are the symbols of the Lord of heaven's religion?" +replied the Emperor, who, at the beginning of his reign, having +befriended the missionaries, and made himself master of the mysteries +and symbols of their religion, was far beyond most of his nobles in +intelligence. + +"It is so alleged, O dread sovereign, by the villains, for their own +vile ends, and should it be even so, the Son of Heaven can not doubt +this proof of guilt," replied the mandarin, placing a letter in the +Emperor's hands. + +For some time there was a dread silence; when, however, the Emperor had +perused the document, his eye sparkled with rage, and he exclaimed, +"Truly the proof is overwhelming, and it is to the viceroy of Quang-Tung +the Emperor owes the discovery of this villainy. Bring hither the +petition of the criminal tribunal for the villain's execution. Moreover, +let it go forth through the earth that every Christian dog be +exterminated;" and the court having prostrated themselves three times in +token of obedience, one of the colaos presented the petition or sentence +to the Emperor, which as he was about to confirm, by affixing the +signature of the vermilion pencil, Nicholas threw himself at the foot of +the throne, crying at the risk of his life, "O great Emperor, thy slave +dares proclaim the extreme villainy of the great viceroy of Quang-Tung, +whose jealousy and envy of the favors his royal master has bestowed upon +the good father has caused him to seek his life." + +"Is the boy pirate mad that he dares so insolently presume upon his +small services, as to interrupt the course of justice?" exclaimed the +angry Emperor. + +Taking from his vest the letter his father had given him for Father +Adam, Nicholas said, boldly, "This letter, O great sovereign, thy +servant was commanded by his parent to place in the hands of the priest +Adam. Should it contain treason, the Emperor can punish on the spot, for +both the priest and the son of the writer are in his hands. Should it be +otherwise, his royal generosity will know how to reward." + +No less surprised than appeased by the boy's vehemence, Wey-t-song +commanded the censor Woo to proclaim aloud its contents, to which the +nobles, as they were friends or enemies of the priests of Christ, +listened with divided attention. The document was lengthy and tedious, +and directed by Chin-Chi-Loong, the merchant of the south, to his +illustrious teacher and religious parent, the Father Adam Schaal, +warning him that the viceroy of Quang-Tung, in conjunction with the +bonzes of the court, whom he had bribed at Pekin, had organized such a +scheme that it could not fail to appear clear that the Christian priests +in China were at the head of a conspiracy to dethrone the Emperor, at +whose feet he advised the Father Adam immediately to prostrate himself +and demand an investigation, promising speedily to send proofs of the +viceroy's villainy to Pekin. + +"The wickedness of this viceroy must be great, O my sovereign," said +Woo, when he had concluded. + +"Truly the great father of the empire will not believe the miserable +charge of a wretched pirate against one of his highest officers," said +Li-Kong savagely; but making an angry motion to the prince for silence, +the Emperor said, "What says the priest?" + +"Truth, O great sovereign, is deeply emeshed in falsehood, that time +alone can unravel; yet, had that letter reached thy servant's hands, his +imperial master would have been saved an act of injustice; of, not +receiving the great merchant's warning, the cruel viceroy succeeded, the +storm of persecution burst over Hang-tcheou-fou, the churches of Christ +were destroyed, and their priests loaded with chains whipped, tortured +upon the rack, and otherwise degraded, it being only by the providence +of the Almighty that thy servant was enabled to escape and reach Pekin +in safety--where, alas! the persecution followed, and burst out with +redoubled fury; thy servant, the head of his Church, being the first to +feel and glory that he was the first to suffer for the cause of Christ." + +"Can these words be true, O Woo? Has such villainy taken place in the +land?" said the Emperor. + +"Such things, O great prince, have been done in thy holy name by roguish +ministers, who (_may I be pardoned for my boldness_) have taken +advantage of the luxurious retirement of their Emperor to serve their +own vile ends," replied Woo. + +"Then be it the care of the upright censor to see that these miserable +mandarins, who have so traitorously brought their Emperor's name into +contempt and hatred, be exterminated with their whole families," said +Wey-t-song, who was as impulsive for good as for bad. + +"Surely my great father may be upon the brink of great injustice; he +may be sacrificing the lives of many devoted servants. It would be but +justice that accusers and accused should be confined till the matter is +sifted, and the truth discovered," said the young prince. + +"The prince, our heir, has wisdom beyond his years; his words are good, +and shall be followed," said the Emperor. At which there was an +indecorous murmur of satisfaction, which was, however, instantly +suppressed by the Emperor making the signal with his sleeves, that the +audience was at an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +NICHOLAS UNVEILS A REBEL CHIEF, AND OBTAINS A TITLE. + + +When Nicholas arose the following morning, his first care was for the +safety of Chow, whom he discovered to be still in the custody of the +criminal tribunal, where by the laws, he would be kept till the will of +the chief colao became known. Feeling, however, satisfied that the boy +would meet with no harm, now that he himself was in such high favor, he +prepared for the promised private audience; and scarcely had he donned +the state habiliments, which had been supplied to him by the +chamberlain, than he received the imperial summons, and having been +conducted through a series of large courts, he was shown into the +innermost apartment of the palace, where in deep thought over a letter, +sat the Emperor; upon the left (the place of honor) stood the young +prince; upon his right, the aged Woo. + +Having complied with the court etiquette by running quickly up the +apartment, throwing himself on his knees, and performing the kow-tow, +the Emperor commanded him to arise, and, placing his hand upon the +letter, said, "The noble youth, then, is the son of the daring writer of +these terrible characters, which declare most boldly that the noblest +of our generals and relations is a traitor and rebel." + +"The life of thy servant, O great prince, is at the will of his +sovereign if those characters are not as truthful as the sacred books +themselves," replied Nicholas. + +"We dare not doubt them, youth, if these other characters are not forged +by some villain," said the Emperor, placing a letter in the hands of +Woo; adding, "Let the venerable Woo, who knoweth all things, declare the +pencil that portrayed them." + +Falling upon his knees and taking the letter, the aged man said, "Truly, +O prince, these characters are from the hand of the General Li-Kong, +whose treason is indeed stupendous, for he offers the supreme command of +the four seas, and the sovereignty of the barbarous island of Formosa, +to the merchant pirate, providing that sea chief will, with his +multitudinous ships and great wealth, aid him (may the sound of the +words not deprive me of reason) in subverting the dynasty of his holy +Emperor. The crime, O my sovereign, is too huge to be conceived, and its +author should be hewn into ten thousand pieces. Yet the eyes, nay, the +very reason of thy aged servant, may be failing him, therefore it +behoves us to have greater proof that these characters are not forged; +for, though great is the cunning of villainy, surely so great a crime +cannot exist beneath heaven." + +"The words of the aged noble are magnanimous, for surely the Prince +Li-Kong is the enemy of him and his; yet, though magnanimity is taught +by the sacred books, it must not endanger the life of our great +sovereign and father," said the Prince Yong-Li; adding, "Surely Li-Kong +is famous for his vileness; his character is known to us all, yet if +greater proof be wanting, let it be sought from the lips of this noble +youth, whose life will be the penalty of so false an accusation." + +"It would ill become so mean a person to traduce so great a general as +the Prince Li-Kong, yet the safety of his sovereign must unseal his +lips. Know, then, dread Emperor, that the General Li-Kong is at this +very moment plotting thy ruin," said Nicholas, who then gave in detail +the conversation he had heard at the palace of retirement, which the +Emperor had no sooner heard than he said hastily, "Convey our command, O +noble Woo, to the general thy son, to search for this traitor, and bring +him in chains before us." + +"Thy servant is unfortunate, for this is not possible, my sovereign. The +brave Woo-san-Kwei, knowing his duty too well to remain in idleness at +Pekin, while the Tartar-barbarians were harassing his army like hungry +wolves,--truly the body was of little use without the head,--departed +for his command after the council yesterday," replied Woo. + +"How!" said the Emperor passionately; "dared the general take his +departure without an audience of leave." + +"Let not thy wrath, O great sovereign fall upon the head of thy faithful +servant, who presumed so far because his Emperor has, of late, foregone +the salutary ceremonies laid down by his ancestors," said the aged +minister. + +Angry at this rebuke yet feeling its truthfulness, the weak prince +despairingly threw himself backward in his chair, when the young prince +said "Surely the throne should be defended by its heir. Thy son, O my +Emperor and parent, will depart with the guards of the palace and bring +this arch-traitor to his father's feet;" and not receiving a denial, the +prince respectfully took his leave, when, having recovered his +equanimity, the Emperor again took up Chin-Chi-Loong's letter. + +"Truly, boy," said his majesty, "this daring pirate, thy father, knows +more than the Emperor or his ministers. How know we that he is not as +great a traitor as the prince he denounces, for surely by commerce alone +he could not have obtained this wealth of ships, men, and money, which, +like a king, he so insolently offers to his sovereign and master?" + +"Truly, O great Emperor, if my illustrious parent were a traitor, he +would not have placed the life of his only son, thy mean servant, in so +great a danger," said Nicholas. + +"The words of the youth, O prince, are as true as his deeds are brave," +said Woo; adding, "Let then thy slave pray that the sunshine of the +Emperor's favor may fall upon his race; for, fearing that the intentions +of this great merchant were treasonous, I have long caused his actions +to be watched and his ships to be harassed by the sea mandarins; but +indeed with little use, for the noble Chin-Chi-Loong overcame them all, +to the disgrace of the board of arms of thy empire. + +"How! did the slave pirate dare to overcome our sea tigers?" said the +Emperor in a rage. + +"He has presumed, O prince to chastise traitors who wielded thy royal +commission but for their own purposes, which, if a crime, he now offers +to amend by sending his only son to beg that he may receive an order, +signed by the vermilion pencil, to command that great fleet in his +sovereign's name alone. The powerful pirate, for whose head the +Emperor's ministers have offered great rewards, now places himself and +his fortune at the disposal of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas. + +So great an offer having restored the Emperor to a better humor, he +said, "It is a presumptuous request, yet loyal, if this bold man can +give us a guarantee that he intends not playing us false." + +"That guarantee is the life of thy servant, his only son, O my prince," +replied Nicholas. + +"These words are good and loyal, O my Emperor; for surely if this bold +merchant hath sought wealth and power for his descendants, lo! he places +his heir in thy hands," said Woo. + +"The words of the aged Woo are wise and far-seeing. We grant this bold +man's petition, and should he help us to root out from the land this +growing rebellion we will secure to him the island promised by the +villain Li-Kong. As for thyself, brave youth, to whom we are so greatly +indebted, we grant thee the title of Princess-defending Tiger of War, +and appoint thee to a command in the guards of the palace; and, +moreover, will keep thee in our favor, of which this shall be a token," +said the Emperor, taking from his girdle an embroidered purse, and +handing it to Nicholas, who fell reverently upon his knees and held his +hands above his head to receive the present. + +At that moment the Prince Yong-Li entered, threw himself at the foot of +the throne, and said, "Thy son, O my sovereign, is deserving of +punishment, for the traitor has escaped." + +"Escaped!" repeated the Emperor, bitterly. + +"Truly so, my father; no sooner did the council of yesterday disperse, +than, fearing the discovery of his guilt, he assembled his officers and +guards and quitted the city." + +"Let the fleetest of our horsemen follow immediately," added the +Emperor. + +"It would be in vain, my father, for ere they can overtake him the +traitor will be in the midst of his own troops and province," replied +the prince. + +"It would be wise to have the gates closely guarded and the defences of +the city examined," said Woo. + +"The villain dares not carry his treason so far as to invade our +capital," replied Wey-t-song. + +"Let not the generous nature of my prince carry him too far, for by +insidious arts and treacherous gifts this Li-Kong has gained the hearts +of the people of the provinces, and is vile enough to attempt the +greatest of crimes," said the minister. + +"By the tombs of our ancestors, the venerable noble is wise, and we +should be prepared for the vilest of crimes. Let the barbarian-subduing +General Woo-san-Kwei and his army be recalled from Leao-tong." + +"And so exchange a small traitor for the Tartar king, who, though a +barbarian, is brave and powerful; rather let my royal father call around +him in council the doctors of war and the ablest of his generals, who +from the military books will doubtless find sure means of defending the +city," said the prince; adding, "Then, O my sovereign parent, let the +army be assembled, and permit thy son and this noble youth to meet the +rebel on his way. Let this be so, my Emperor, and thy son will bring the +traitor's head to thy feet, or be himself brought there upon his own +shield." + +"Thy heart is brave, but thy years too few, O my son, for so great a +trust," replied the Emperor. + +"At my years the illustrious Tait-sou, the founder of our race, planted +the first seeds of his glory in the field," said the young prince, +warmly. + +"The royal prince, thy chosen heir, is both wise and brave, my +sovereign, for his name and rank will be a banner, around which the +loyal will flock as plentifully as locusts, while his youth and bravery +will shame the rebels into submission," said the censor. + +"The counsel of the venerable Woo is bold," said the Emperor; adding, +"After the council of war my son shall seek to emulate the bravery of +his ancestors." + +"The tongue of thy son is too feeble to speak his thanks, my sovereign," +exclaimed the impetuous prince, falling upon his knees. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NICHOLAS AND THE PRINCE HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND SAVE THE LIFE OF CHOW. + + +The morning after the audience Nicholas wrote to his father a detailed +account of his adventures, and the disgrace and danger of the great +Christian father, who, he assured him, would be destroyed, if proofs of +his innocence were not speedily produced. When he had placed the letter +in the hands of the flying-horse, or court messenger, who was about to +start with the imperial cang-ho, he went in search of Chow, and, to his +surprise, found the boy had been released under an order signed by +Li-Kong, immediately before his abrupt departure. This, however, but +puzzled him the more, for surely had the boy been released he would have +sought out his master and friend. Then he began to fear that Chow had +been decoyed away by some of the many designing traitors he more than +suspected to be hovering about the palace, for the purpose of finding +from the servant the history of the master. He sat for some time +pondering what to do, and at length resolved upon searching through the +whole city. With this determination he arose to depart, when he heard +the trampling of footsteps, and the chief officer of the imperial prince +entered the apartment, followed by four men, carrying a litter, which +they placed upon the ground. + +"The son of the great Emperor (may he live ten thousand years) sends the +noble youth a royal robe, and arms, in token of his amity and +brotherhood," said the officer, bowing to the ground. + +At the name of the prince, Nicholas performed the ko-tow, and ordered an +incense table to be brought, that he might receive the royal message +with befitting respect. The officer, however, added, "Further, O noble +stranger, that all men may know his gratitude for the safety of his +beloved sister, the great prince commands that the ceremony of the +incense may be dispensed with, for the son of the Son of Heaven holds +the noble youth as his brother in love as well as arms. Moreover, that +he may prove his sincerity, the prince will wave his illustrious rank +and visit the preserver of the princess his sister." So saying the +eunuch withdrew. + +The present consisted of a complete military equipment befitting his new +rank:--the war cap or helmet, a robe, embossed with plates of gold, both +for ornament and protection, boots of rich costly leather, sword, +shield, bow, and quiver of arrows, each of which bore the imperial +crest, the five-clawed dragon. Delighted more with the gift than its +costliness, Nicholas did not stay to examine the present, for fear the +prince might speedily arrive; and he was right, for he had scarcely +finished attiring himself in his new uniform before Yong-Li, +unannounced, entered the room. + +In an instant Nicholas threw himself at his feet, and began to pour +forth his gratitude, but, taking his hand, the prince said, "Arise, +these are not times for ceremonies between brothers, banded together in +so holy a cause; the sacred books themselves intended them alone for +times of peace and luxury." + +"May those times soon return, O my prince," said Nicholas. + +"May my brother's wish be realised; but to obtain peace we must earn it +by the sword," replied the prince; adding, gloomily, "I come from the +board of generals and doctors of war." + +"Upon what has their wisdom determined, O prince?" + +"Nothing--they are dogs, traitors all; each general of a section +declared the walls to be impassable by an enemy, and that the troops +were numerous, well exercised, and prepared for a sudden attack," said +the prince. + +"These are the words of indolent cowards or designing traitors, but your +royal father the Emperor----" + +"Was present," said the prince; "but, alas! so loves his ease and the +counsel of his bonzes, that he gave a ready ear to their reports, nay, +promoted them all one step for their vigilance." + +"Surely my prince lifted his voice in council?" said Nicholas. + +"My brother, yes; but it was as the sound of a zephyr amidst the +roarings of a hurricane; that of a youth among the aged and did but +cause his majesty to forbid my seeking the rebel Li-Kong in the field." + +"Then, my prince, our farther-seeing eye balls must be used for the +benefit of the blind," said Nicholas. + +"Thus it is that I seek thy companionship in a journey round the walls, +when, if I find them as I expect, woe be to the indolent cowards who +dare deceive their Emperor," said the prince. + +Nicholas then followed them to the courtyard, where they found awaiting +them a squadron of the body guard with two richly caparisoned horses, +one of which Yong-Li presented to Nicholas, and they proceeded upon +their journey amidst the lavish adorations of thousands, who bowed to +the earth as they rode through the streets. + +"If my prince would truly see the manner in which the officers and +soldiers perform their duties, would it not be wise for him to proceed +in a chair and with the attendants only of a mandarin of the third +order?" said Nicholas. + +"Thy words are good," replied the prince, ordering the soldiers to stop +at the house of a mandarin, who, having formerly been his military +tutor, he knew would keep his rank concealed. Shortly afterward they +were met by some soldiers who were conveying several malefactors to the +place of execution. Seeing the prince, the soldiers and prisoners knelt +with their faces to the ground till he had passed. No sooner, however, +had he passed the unhappy men than the son of the Emperor, with tears in +his eyes, said, "How unhappy is the lot of a prince, to witness such a +sight as that!" + +"Surely, my prince, the rogues deserve their punishment, the law awards, +and the safety of the state demands it," said Nicholas. + +"Truly, I weep not, my brother, at the punishment of these men, for +without rewards and punishments the good are not encouraged, and the +wicked are not restrained; moreover, chastisement is as necessary to the +government of a kingdom, as bread is for the sustenance of the people. +But I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old when the +virtues of the prince served as a bridle to the people, and his example +was sufficient to restrain the vices of his subjects without other +chastisement." + +The warlike nature and education of Nicholas not permitting him to +sympathize with the kind-hearted Yong-Li, he maintained a respectful +silence, not however, without a fear for the fate of a prince whose +amiable nature was so unfitted for such turbulent times. When they +reached the house of the mandarin, the prince dismissed his guard, and, +having borrowed from that officer his robe, cap, and chair of state, and +a garment of plain green silk for Nicholas, the two youths entered the +chair and proceeded on their journey with the usual attendants, one of +whom went before, as a kind of _avant-garde_, and with a whip to beat +them a passage through the crowded streets. At the first guard-house the +prince stepped out of the sedan, made himself known to the sentries, and +passed in; when, instead of finding the troops engaged in exercising, +or in any of the many games permitted by the board of war, some were +gambling, some goading crickets with their chopsticks till the insects +killed each other, some were singing profane songs, and disporting in +the most riotous and unseemly manner, while many who had been drinking +deeply, and still held the spirit cups in their hands were reeling about +the pavement, but most remarkable of all, no officers except those of +the most subordinate grade were to be seen. + +"These, then, are the vile dogs to whom the defence of the Imperial City +is entrusted. These are the rogues whom the traitor generals commended," +said the prince, indignantly; adding, "Truly the royal house is punished +for its sins, for this looketh indeed like the decadence of a dynasty." + +"These are but the hands, O my prince for whose acts the heads must be +made accountable," said Nicholas. + +"Nevertheless the dogs shall be punished, my brother; but let us +return," said the prince, going to the gate, where the sentry, +recognizing the prince, fell at his feet. "Rise, dog, and as thou +wouldst save thy miserable head, say who is the general of this +section," said Yong-Li. + +"The noble Leang, O Grandson of Heaven," replied the trembling soldier. + +"Cans't thou be honest and silent as to my visit?" + +"Both, as thy slave values his miserable life," replied the soldier. + +"I will trust thee, man, and if I find you so, only till the rising of +to-morrow's sun, thou shalt be promoted," said the prince; adding, "This +rogue Leang must be degraded, and thou, O noble Nicholas, take his +command." Thus they visited some half-dozen of the chief and most +important points of the fortified walls with similar results. With the +works themselves he was satisfied, as was also Nicholas, who, young as +he was, had often examined the fortifications of the southern province; +and, indeed, the whole line of coast between Siam and Japan. + +"Nought, my prince, but the treachery of the defenders, or the +death-dealing cannon of the red-haired barbarians from the West, could +effect an entrance into the city," said he. + +"Has my brave brother then seen in use those terrible instruments of war +that can crumble the strongest towers of stone to the dust, from beyond +the reach of bow-shot?" said the prince. + +"Such has been thy servant's fortune, O my prince; it could not be +otherwise, for they are used on board the war-ships of my noble father." + +"By the tombs of my ancestors, thou art a bold boy," replied the prince; +adding, with vehemence, + +"As I hope to continue the circle of succession, I would forfeit ten +years of life to be in possession of a few, that we might sweep these +rebels and Tartars from the face of the earth." + +At that moment there arose a great clamor of voices, and, looking out of +the chair, the prince saw a great crowd assembled upon one of the canal +bridges, when, having ordered the attendant with the whip to beat a +passage through the people, they witnessed the following extraordinary +sight:-- + +Upon a high platform, near the edge of the bridge, stood a large tub, +the top of which was covered with some flimsy material, like silk or +cotton, through which something, that in the distance bore a resemblance +to a human head, bobbed up and down like a jack-in-the-box. Upon the +platform, around the tub, stood six priests. + +"How lowly must the dynasty of the great Tait-sou have fallen, that +these miserable bonzes are permitted thus shamefully to extort money +from the people," said the prince. + +"If thy servant's eyeballs play him not false, O my prince, yonder +priests are preparing to sacrifice a human life to their wretched gods," +said Nicholas. + +Not waiting to hear more, the prince leaped from the chair, and, +followed by Nicholas forced a way through the crowd till they reached +the platform. + +All, however, that could be seen of the victim was the forehead, nose, +and eyes; the latter rolled so convulsively and glared so terribly, +that, notwithstanding the crowd, Nicholas would have attempted a rescue, +had not the prince caught hold of his arm, saying, "Stay, my brother, it +is the duty of a prince to see justice done;" then addressing the chief +bonze, he said, "What crime can this man have committed, O miserable +priest, that he should be thus tortured without the presence of the +officers of the tribunal of justice?" + +"Great has been his crime, O noble youth, and self sought his +punishment," replied the bonze, taken aback by the bold tone of the +prince; adding, as he pointed to the head, which bobbed suddenly as he +spoke, "He admits my words." + +"Open thy lips to the purpose, priest, and as you value your wretched +life, let us hear his crime," replied the indignant prince. + +"The youth must be a stranger to the capital, indeed, if he has not +heard the order of the Son of Heaven, which commands that the villain +Christians, who have taken advantage of the great Emperor's kindness to +raise and nourish a rebellion throughout the land, should be destroyed." + +"Such an order has reached thy servant's ears," said the prince, bowing +lowly at the name of his father. + +"Know, then, that this wretch was long the slave and follower of one of +these Christian dogs--see, he admits it, (and the head bobbed up again;) +but, fortunately, the gods changing his heart in time, sent him to our +pagoda repentantly declaring his villainy and demanding his punishment +(here the head gave another bob of acquiescence) from the priests of Fo, +who, consulting the gods, obtained permission for him to choose his own +chastisement: his choice was to leap from this platform into the canal." + +"But the canal is deep, and the man will drown, priest," said the +prince, sternly. + +"Surely the youth is strangely ignorant that such a feat is a happiness +thousands would willingly seek. We have but given him the preference but +for his zeal and virtue. (Here the head again gave an acquiescent bob.) +Again, at the bottom of the canal he will be met by charitable spirits, +who will not only welcome him with honor, but conduct him to the yellow +stream." So saying, the bonzes commenced preparations for the final act +of the tragedy. + +The prince, however, unable any longer to restrain his rage, drew his +sword, exclaiming, "Desist, thou murdering rogue; release thy victim +immediately." + +This violence to their priests so aroused the anger of the pagan crowd, +that they would probably have torn Yong-Li to pieces, but for Nicholas, +who, beating them backward, cried, "Back, slaves! would you molest the +son of your Emperor, the good prince Yong-Li?" and the terrified slaves +instantly fell upon their faces. The bonze, though no less dismayed at +the presence of the prince, was quicker witted, and said, "Surely the +magnificent son of the Son of Heaven would not arrest the flight of a +happy soul, impatient to be on its way to the yellow stream." + +"Let the miserable wretch speak for himself," said the prince. + +"He dares not so anger the gods, who would not only condemn him, but +destroy the whole city in their wrath," replied the bonze, giving a sly +signal to his brethren to surround the tub, in the event of a rescue +being attempted. + +[Illustration: Chow in the hands of the Bonzes.] + +"Nevertheless, the wretch shall be saved," said the prince; adding, +aloud, "Let the deluded rascal open his lips, or he shall be left to his +fate." + +At this, the head gave another and stronger jerk upward, but without +rising further through the silk, and the eyes rolled and glared more +terribly than ever. At which the bonze said, "Cannot the heavenly eyes +of the great prince see that the poor creature is suffering from such +violent language? See, he is almost distracted and will assuredly expire +with grief at so much profanity." + +"This is some foul trick, my prince," said Nicholas, who leaped upon the +platform so quickly, that, striking one of the priests, he fell against +four others, and all were sent flying into the midst of the crowd, who, +in their turn, began to pummel them severely for falling so heavily upon +their heads and shoulders. + +Once upon the platform, Nicholas lost no time in cutting asunder the +silk covering of the tub, when, lo! the victim shot up with the rapidity +of a rocket, dragging with him, by the hair of his head, a small bonze, +in whose hand was the dagger which he had been from time to time +plunging into the victim's calves in order to make him utter the +responses. + +But what was the surprise of the prince when the hands of the intended +victim were unbound and the gag removed from his mouth, to see him fall +at the feet of Nicholas, clasp his legs, and exclaim, "My noble, noble, +master, this is indeed a joyful meeting. Nought but the God of the +Christians could have saved Chow's life." + +The wretched face, the bleeding legs of the poor boy, so filled the +heart of Nicholas with indignation and sorrow, that while tears fell +down his cheeks, all he could say was, "My poor, poor friend Chow, this +is indeed a fortunate day." + +"Then the sacrifice was not thine own seeking, my poor fellow?" said the +prince. + +"My own seeking, O mighty son of Ming? Look at thy slave's legs, which +the rascals have punctured into lace-work. Surely, had Chow sought the +yellow stream, he would have chosen to go in a perfect and decent +manner." Then the boy would have fallen, but for Nicholas, who held him +in his arms, when he said, "I demand justice on the rogues, O great +prince, for I am the servant of the noble Nicholas, thy friend, and was +with him a prisoner in the Palace Royal, till the night of the audience, +when a eunuch came to me and said the Emperor had signified his gracious +wish that poor Chow was to be chopped into ten thousand pieces, but that +a great lord taking compassion on me would save my life, and give me +great promotion, if I would watch and note down the words and actions of +my noble master." + +"Didst thou hear the name, surname, and title of the villain lord, O +Chow?" said the prince. + +"Thy slave was not so fortunate, great prince." + +"What answer didst thou make, O Chow?" said Nicholas. + +"That they might not only cut thy servant into as many pieces as they +chose, but never bury them in the tombs of his ancestors, before he +would comply. Whereupon, they gave poor Chow over to these rascal +bonzes, who intended to torture him with a dagger in that tub, till +agony caused him to leap into the canal." + +"Sad must have been thy sufferings, my poor Chow," said the prince; who +then ordered his attendants to convey the boy to the palace, in order +that the imperial doctors might attend him. Then sending for a body of +yah-yu, he ordered them to take the bonze and his assistants to the +great prison, to await a trial; after which they returned to the palace. + +"Thanks be to Tien, my brother, we have saved thy friend from those vile +bonzes," said the prince. + +"Would O prince, that we could as easily save the servants of the true +God of heaven from their villainies," replied Nicholas, thinking of the +sufferings of the Christian fathers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +NICHOLAS RECEIVES AN IMPORTANT COMMAND. + + +On the day following the visit of the prince to the military stations, a +change was made among the officers. Some were bambooed, some +reprimanded, and others sent into confinement. The post of Leang, who +held the command of five hundred men under the General Kin, being given +to Nicholas, he took Chow with him as a kind of sub-officer, and as the +wounds of the latter fortunately proved to be only in the flesh, he soon +became well enough to caper with delight at the chance his new position +might give him of meeting the slayer of his father. + +For some time Nicholas had little else to do but keep his men at their +posts, and exercise them in the use of the matchlock, which, although +the Chinese then knew so little about it, that the rebound of the stock +did as much mischief to the owner as the barrel did to his enemies, he +had long practised on board his father's ships. Then, again, he would +exercise them in sword, and bow and arrow practice, and the use of their +shields. + +Such was his employment till intelligence arrived that the rebel Li-Kong +was on his march to besiege Pekin with a large army, when, seeking an +audience of the Emperor, he threw himself at the foot of the throne, +and prayed to be sent with a party of flying horse to make observations, +and drive the people of the neighboring towns and villages into the +capital for protection. His zeal, however, was useless; for, placing his +whole faith in the bonzes and intriguing nobles around him, who laughed +to scorn the idea of so improbable an event as the invasion of so great +a capital by a mere rebel, Wey-t-song angrily commanded Nicholas to keep +to his posts upon the walls, where he remained, till wearied with +inaction he longed to return to his father's fleet. Wait a little +Nicholas, and there will be action enough. + +More than once during the reign of Wey-t-song had famine stalked through +the land, but then he had struggled to stem the torrent by opening his +purse and granaries. Now, however, that nature withheld her ordinary +supplies, a rebel army crowded the approaches to the capital, so that +provision could not be brought in, and the dearth of food grew so great, +that a pound of rice could not be purchased for less than its weight in +silver, and the flesh of horses, rats, dogs, cats, and mice had become +so rare, that even rotten skins were bought for human food. The Emperor +wickedly kept close within the luxurious apartments of his inner palace, +caring but little for the starving people, so that he and the great +mandarins could revel in their luxurious ease and pleasures. + +Now, as indolence will spread as fast as nettles, the officers of the +army, instead of attending to their duties, spend the greater part of +their night-watches in gambling and drinking so hard, that had the +enemy come upon them suddenly they must have surrendered. Yet the +imperial troops were so numerous and the defences so strong, that with +anything like a good show of fighting the rebels could have been beaten +back, if not indeed entirely destroyed. As, however, these officers must +have been fully aware of all this, it is only reasonable to suppose they +were playing another little game of their own, that we shall soon see. + +Thus weeks passed away, without more than mere rumors of the movements +of the rebel Li-Kong, who, it was said, was fast approaching the +capital, and sacking towns or destroying the people on his march. There +one day came a number of men to the eastern gate, reporting themselves +to be fugitives, who had been driven to seek protection in the capital +from Li, who was on his march by the eastern suburbs; and as also they +brought the joyful intelligence that a vast quantity of rice was on the +road from the southern provinces, under the charge of a body of +merchants, who had managed to evade the rebels by taking a different +route, they were received with open arms and treated handsomely. + +Then, as the General Kin feared that the starving people would set upon +the wagons as they entered the city, he came out on the day of their +arrival with a large body of soldiers to escort the food to the +storehouse, where it could be fairly distributed. But so eager was the +general to secure the grain from a sudden rush of the hungry people, +that he encompassed the procession with his troops so perfectly, that +neither wagons nor the fugitive tradesmen who accompanied them could be +seen by the crowd. Moreover Kin kept close the wagons till they were +safe within the fore-court of the storehouses. After performing his +duty, the general astonished Nicholas by carrying his indefatigability +so far as to personally inspect the walls, post the sentries, and +examine the flints of their matchlocks, all of which was very puzzling, +for not only was there no enemy to be seen, but the deserters and +fugitives reported that the attack, if made at all, would be upon the +opposite walls of the city, whither, in fact, Kin had sent already a +great part of the soldiers who had hitherto been posted upon that side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE REBELS ATTACK PEKIN.--TREACHERY OF A GENERAL, AND THE FIGHT. + + +It was the middle of the third watch; Nicholas was dreaming of the rebel +Li-Kong, the Emperor, the princess, the soldiers, and his father's +fleet. A sudden grip upon his arm made him set bolt upright upon his +sleeping mat, and there stood Chow, in a state of great excitement, +holding in his arms his master's habiliments and accoutrements, as if +the place had been on fire, or he had suddenly turned thief, and was +about commencing business upon his master's clothes. + +"Awake, O my master, we are caught like rats in a trap; the rebels are +upon us!" + +"What words are these, Chow?" said Nicholas, leaping off the mat, taking +the clothes and attiring himself. + +"The General Kin means harm; let us escape, my master;" and Chow pointed +to the open window. + +"Thou art a coward, Chow, draw thy sword, and follow," said Nicholas, +rushing with his own weapon in his hand to the walls, where, to his +dismay, he found the sentries helplessly intoxicated and lying in all +directions; but worse, there, against the walls, leaned a ladder, by +which means a body of troops were about to ascend. + +"Softly, Chow," said Nicholas; and like cats they crept toward the +ladder upon their knees. Another minute, and a soldier stood upon the +uppermost round with a lighted torch in his hand. + +"See, the rat makes a signal that all is right," said Nicholas, and in +another instant a blow from his fist sent the torch-bearer spinning +through the air over the heads of his fellows; then with a yell of rage +the man's next comrade jumped upon the parapet, and being received with +a violent blow in the stomach from Chow's fist, followed his companion +in arms. Another made the same attempt, but picking up the torch which +had fallen upon the ramparts, Chow dashed the burning brand in his face, +when with a wild howl of pain, the soldier fell backward, sweeping the +scaling party off the ladder as clean as if he had been a thirty-two +pound cannon ball. Then, making the most of their advantage, the boys +caught hold of the ladder and threw it over upon the discomfited rebels, +who lay sprawling at the foot of the walls. + +Then, holding the torch above his head, as a signal for assistance, +Nicholas indeed saw that treachery was in high quarters, for the whole +line of walls appeared to be deserted. As for Chow, he had no sooner +succeeded in arousing the men from their stupor, and placed some at the +great guns, and others along the walls, so that another scaling party +would come within range of their matchlocks, than, perceiving a body of +the enemy moving to the front he pointed one of the cannons and applied +the torch to the touch-hole; a flash--a roar followed; but the only +effect it had upon the rebels was to cause them to send forth loud +shouts of exultation. Well they might exult, for the guns were harmless. + +"The villain Kin has had the balls withdrawn," exclaimed Chow. + +"Our matchlocks are useless, they have been robbed of their flints," +said the soldiers, who had attempted to fire them at the same time as +Chow had fired the cannon. + +"Then back, and brain the dogs with them as they mount the walls," said +Nicholas, as the enemy was about attempting another escalade; adding, +"Haste thee, O Chow, to the Prince Yong-Li, and pray of him to send +assistance to his brother, who dares not quit his post with life;" when, +as without a word Chow disappeared from the rampart, Nicholas snatched +up a matchlock, and so placed himself and men beneath the breastwork +that the arrows might pass over their heads, and many were the sealers +who reached the uppermost round of the ladder to be dashed headlong +among their comrades by the brave youth and his little band; and so they +would have held out for some time, but for a shower of bullets from the +matchlocks of a body of soldiers who made their appearance upon the +walls, headed by the General Kin himself. + +"Seize the dog!" said the traitor, pointing to Nicholas. + +"Thou great rogue,"--before, however, Nicholas could say more he was +gagged, his arms bound with cords, and taken by the soldiers to his own +room, amid the shoutings of the rebels, who now seemed to be entering +the city from all sides. + +But why had they not killed him at once? for what reason had they +brought him there? + +He was not left long in suspense, for no sooner had Kin secured the +entrance of his brother rebels into the city than he entered the room, +and first examining the cords that bound the boy's arms, to see that +there was no possibility of his getting free, he ordered the soldiers +from the room, and said, merrily, "The young war tiger is brave, but he +is no match for the fire-eater Kin." + +"Let the dog without a heart unbind the arms of his prisoner, and he +shall discover," was the fierce reply. + +"What shall thy servant discover, O brave youth?" + +"His villain body hurled out of the window." + +"Knows not the youth that I can slay him as if he were a venomous rat?" + +"Do this, and I will thank thee for not letting me outlive such hateful +treason, thou villain." + +"But the youth is young, brave, and should live in honor and high +promotion." + +"He would be more honored in dying for his Emperor." + +"That Emperor is the chosen of Tien, the great Li-Kong, who would have +the young war tiger live to serve him." + +"These are snake's words, the rogue Li-Kong is as false as his coward +slave Kin, who fears to trust himself with an unbound youth." + +"Thou rat, thou pirate, I will slay thee," said the enraged general, +drawing his sword. + +"Do this, and my vision will be for ever shut out from so much +villainy," was the calm reply. + +"Now let the young war tiger open his ears, and if he is reasonable he +shall be free," said the general, getting the better of his rage. + +"Then unbind his arms, thou dog." + +"Truly, if thou wilt promise to serve the great Emperor Li-Kong." + +"Even if so much treason existed in my heart, how could so mean a person +serve so great a prince?" + +"Is he not the son of the great merchant of the south, who rules the +four seas?" + +"If the dull rogue hath discovered his prisoner's birth, how is this +that he dares to think that when free he would let so great a traitor +live, after such an execrable proposition?" + +Greatly perplexed at this rebuff, Kin could make no reply. Suddenly, the +booming of cannon, the roar of millions of voices, and the clash of +arms, sounded through the night air, and he said, "Hear you that cannon, +boy? It is the terrible mouthpiece of the fugitive tradespeople, who +accompanied the rice wagons." + +"O thou miserable rogue," exclaimed Nicholas, as it now flashed across +his mind that the rice wagons and the fugitive tradespeople had been the +ruse by which Li-Kong had obtained an entrance into the city for his +troops. "O that he was free, for there were guards enough yet to save +the imperial family." + +"It is a maxim, that it is no use repining for the past, O youth. By his +tyranny and oppression Wey-t-song has forfeited the throne to the +heaven-selected Li-Kong, whose troops now fill the streets, and who will +confer upon the young war tiger high rank, and upon his parent, the +great sea chief, a kingdom, if he will submissively rule the seas as a +tributary. See the success of the great Li," he added, as the room, nay, +the whole sky became illuminated, "the palace is in flames--let the +young war tiger give his answer." + +"If it is adverse?" asked Nicholas. + +"The head of the son will be sent to the father." + +Then bitter were the feelings of Nicholas--for himself? no! for he felt +it his duty to die; but for his father, for the princess--still there +was a chance of escape. Should he comply? surely a promise to traitors +would not be valid. He considered for a moment--it was but for a +moment--and even the bold sea-boy had not courage enough to--tell a lie. + +Perceiving his hesitation, the countenance of Kin brightened. "The noble +youth is reasonable; he consents," said he. + +"No, thou false rogue." + +"Then he dies a miserable death," said the enraged Kin, calling to his +guard. There was no reply, but a scuffle in the passage, and the sound +of angry voices, when, pale with fear, the general opened the door, and +the next minute was--in the arms of Chow, who held him till the +soldiers of the prince, who accompanied him, had bound the traitor as +tightly as a mummy. + +"It is our turn now, thou vile rogue," said Chow, as he cut the cords +that bound his master. + +"This is well accomplished my brave Chow; but now let us leave the +traitor and haste to the palace," said Nicholas. + +"It is hopeless, O my master, for the outer palace is in flames, and +surrounded by the rebels." + +"Is it not a maxim that no effort is hopeless to the brave?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ATTACK ON THE PALACE.--SUICIDE OF THE EMPEROR, THE PRINCESS WOUNDED. + + +Having dismissed the soldiers, the two boys mingled with the vast crowd +that was surging toward the palace with deafening cheers for Li-Kong, +who, by the treachery of the general, aided by those of his own troops +who for weeks past had been passing into the city under the pretence of +being fugitive tradespeople, had now reached the very walls of the outer +palace without opposition. Indeed, so great were the numbers of the +rebel troops and the mass of people who joined on their way, that when +they came in sight of the palace walls the imperial soldiers fled in +dismay, and so well had the rebel chief, and his brother traitors near +the person of the Emperor, organized the conspiracy, that it was not +until the outer palace was in flames that Wey-t-song became aware that +Li-Kong had even entered Pekin. Then, however, like another +Sardanapalus, his energies became aroused, and he collected together +some few hundreds of his body guard, and determined to sell his life as +dearly as possible, and till morning he held out; for so well did his +guards handle the bows, and so clumsily did the rebels use their +matchlocks, that it was early morning before the latter could effect an +entrance to the inner palace. + +When, however, the broad light of morning came, what with the force of +numbers, and their being enabled to use their matchlocks to greater +advantage, they soon forced the gates and rushed into the great court +_en masse_. Being among the first to enter, Nicholas and Chow beheld the +Emperor, in the uniform of one of his own officers, exhorting his troops +to die with him rather than to succumb to rebels. After a short fight, +however, the coward guards threw down their arms, and shouted, "Long +life to the heaven-bestowed Emperor Li-Kong." Indignant at their +cowardice, Nicholas would have rushed among them, but for Chow, who +whispered the danger of the princess. + +For a minute the fraternization of the guards appeased the rebels--it +was only for a minute--then they shouted for the head of the vile +Wey-t-song, and one of the guards pointing to the inner palace, they ran +in that direction like a herd of hungry wolves, killing all, men, women, +or children, whom they met in their way; then they came to the ladies' +palace, and with hideous shouts of exultation, set it on fire; and the +poor women, at least those who were not destroyed by the flames, ran +from all quarters, but, alas! only to fall by the swords of the fiends, +or, if escaping the latter, to perform, to them, the sacred duty of +throwing themselves headlong into the canals, that they might not +survive the downfall of their imperial master. + +More infuriated than the rebels, and with a wild hope of saving the +Emperor and the princess, Nicholas ran through the burning palace, as if +seeking death from the falling timbers; but, alas no clue could be found +to those he sought. At length he thought of the imperial gardens, a +place that the rebels, in their anxiety to plunder the palace, had +forgotten. + +"So, while Chow went in an opposite direction, he took the path leading +to the mulberry grove, and there, upon a mound, he discovered the object +of his search--both Emperor and princess; but, to his horror, the first +dead, and hanging by his own girdle from the bough of a prune-tree, and +the princess senseless, expiring from a deep wound in her side, from +which the blood was flowing copiously. Shocked so that the blood in his +veins seemed congealed, Nicholas cut down the dead Emperor with his +sword, then stanched the wound of the princess with his silk girdle, ran +to the lake, filled his cap with water, and sprinkled it in her face, +when, joy! the pale face resumed the hue of life--still she was +insensible, and he miserable, for he knew not what other means to adopt +for her restoration. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps--it +might be a rebel, and he clutched his sword, determined to die before +the royal lady should be taken from him--but no, it was Chow, who, +having lost himself for some time in the mazes of the garden, had +reached the spot by mere accident; and no sooner did the faithful fellow +perceive the tragic scene, than he fell upon his knees and wept. + +"Truly the villains will speedily be here, and we shall be lost if we +can not discover some hiding-place," said Nicholas. + +"The gods must intend our escape from this den of thieves, for I have +just crept out of yonder cavern," said Chow, pointing to a thick bush at +some short distance from where they were standing. + +Then, without more words, they bore the senseless girl to the spot +indicated by Chow, and pushing aside the brushwood, entered a cavern +lighted from the top by a small grating, and laid her upon the floor. +The stanching of the blood, the cold water, and the movement, revived +her, when she exclaimed, "This terrible dream--where am I? who art thou, +thou terrible man?" + +"Fear not beautiful daughter of the Ming, for thou art in the hands of +thy own servants, who have saved thee----" + +"Saved me!" she said, with a vacant gaze at Nicholas; then, as if +remembering some terrible occurrence, added, "From my royal father, who +plunged his dagger in my side, that his daughter might escape the +villain Li-Kong, but the Emperor, my parent, O noble youth?" + +"Alas! unfortunate princess----" + +"Enough--enough--I remember all--the holy Emperor has saved himself the +disgrace of falling into the power of the traitor. But why then," she +added, bitterly, "has the worthless life of a daughter of his own blood +been saved?" + +"To be the most valued jewel in the throne of her brother the Emperor +Yong-Li," said Nicholas. + +"By restoring my worthless life thou hast brought shame and disgrace +upon the daughter of thy Emperor, for hath it not ever been the custom +of the daughters of the Son of Heaven to kill themselves upon the +downfall of their sovereign?" + +"The princess is of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, who alone giveth +and taketh life," replied Nicholas. + +"Thou art right, noble youth, and the descendant of Tait-sou will bear +her misfortunes more as becomes a Christian than a daughter of China," +said the princess; adding, sorrowfully, "but the remains of my beloved +parent----" + +"Shall be saved from the profane hands of rebels if the princess will +remain within this cavern," replied Nicholas; who, followed by Chow, +returned to the mound, where for a minute he stood contemplating all +that remained of the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty. "Alas! poor +prince, that thy virtues should have been clouded with so many faults. +See, O Chow, how bitterly he felt the ingratitude of his petted and +pampered guards," said Nicholas, reading some lines that the Emperor had +written in his own blood upon the border of his robe, and which +were:--"The heavens are in thy favor, O Li-Kong; yet, although my +subjects have basely abandoned me, I beseech of thee, as their parent, +to wreak thy vengeance on my body; but save, O save my deluded people." + +"The rebels come this way," said Chow. + +"Let us hide till they have passed," said Nicholas, and snatching up +his cross-bow, he ascended the nearest tree, believing that Chow had +done likewise. + +The new comers were two officers of Li-Kong. + +"It was in this direction, O Lee, near the mulberry grove, that the +woman slave saw the princess fly," said one, looking about. + +"So said the heaven-bestowed Li," replied the other; but perceiving the +body of the deposed sovereign, rebel as he was, his inherited awe for +the majesty of the Emperor caused him to throw himself upon the ground, +saying, "This then, O my poor prince, is the end of thy glories! indeed +thy punishment has been severe, may it lead thy successor to avoid thy +faults." + +"Get thee to thy feet, O Quang, for the Emperor who can forsake his +people well merits that they should forsake him in his extremity; +moreover, should the heaven-bestowed Li see thee, he will cause thy +foolish head to be chopped from thy shoulders, for, like a hungry tiger, +he cares but little whether his food be friends or enemies, so that he +can satisfy his appetite." + +"Thy words are good," said Quang, rising to his feet; adding, "Yet the +most ravenous beast becomes satisfied." + +"True, O Quang, but when this morning the great Li for the first time +sat upon the golden throne of state, it trembled and tottered." + +"A sad omen, O Lee; surely his majesty should have chosen a fortunate +day." + +"Truly, according to the chief bonze, it is an omen, signifying that +while the body of Wey-t-song remains whole, the heaven-bestowed Emperor +is in danger, and it is this that has angered him; but see, he comes," +and both fell to the earth before the rebel general, who approaching +with his great officers, said, "Have you discovered the princess, you +crawling slaves?" + +"At the risk of their lives thy slaves must deliver their miserable +intelligence to the fortunate and heaven-bestowed founder of the most +magnificent of dynasties," said Quang. + +"Let the slave open his lips." + +"The great princess has escaped with the Christian woman Candida," +replied the trembling Quang. + +"Escaped!" exclaimed the tyrant; "then let it be proclaimed throughout +the empire that he who can bring her unarmed to our feet, shall receive +high promotion, and the weight of his mean body in gold;" but at that +moment, for the first time, seeing the body of the Emperor, he +exclaimed, "The great traitor to his people has been too fortunate in +having been permitted to close a luxurious career with the honorable +punishment of self-destruction; he should have been exhibited alive in a +cage;" then reading the lines upon the dead sovereign's robe, "See thou, +O Quang, that the miserable body be cut into a thousand pieces, and +distributed far from the tombs of his royal ancestors," said this +new-made sovereign, with less generosity than the second Emperor of the +Tartar race, who some years after, while hunting, happening to see in +the distance the monument which had been erected to the memory of the +unfortunate Wey-t-song, quitted his horse, and falling upon the earth, +said, with tears in his eyes, "O Prince! O Emperor! worthy of a better +fate, you know that your destruction was not owing to us, your death +lies not at our door, your own subjects brought it upon you, it was they +that betrayed you; it is therefore upon them, and not on my ancestors, +that heaven must send down vengeance." + +As you may imagine, this arrested the attention of Nicholas, who became +deeply interested, and, as he listened, it was with difficulty he could +keep down his indignation. He had smiled as he heard of Lee's terror at +the omen, groaned at the slaughter of the people, rejoiced at the escape +of the Lady Candida, the more so as the soldiers believed that she had +carried away the princess with her, which would at least throw them off +the right track; then at the sight of the brutal Li he had instinctively +placed an arrow on his bow, but the danger of the princess taught him +prudence, and he did but nervously twitch the string; when, however, Li +spoke of the dead Emperor his heart throbbed with indignation, and he +was nigh losing his presence of mind; then when Li delivered the order +for the mutilation of the body, every vein in the boy's forehead and +neck seemed bursting with rage, which, when the tyrant struck the corpse +with his foot, he could no longer suppress; no human power could keep it +back, and just missing the tyrant's throat so narrowly that its feather +brushed his necklace, an arrow pierced the bark of the tree against +which he was standing. + +"See with what vigilance the guards have sought for traitors, when this +could so nearly reach the mark," said the brave rogue, coolly, but +holding his shield in readiness for the next. + +Unlike Li-Kong, whose courage was as remarkable as his crimes, the teeth +of his officers chattered, and their knees knocked together with fear, +as if the arrow had been a thunderbolt from their own gods; when, +however, they recovered, they placed their shields before their faces +and rushed to the direction from whence the arrow had flown, and would +soon have discovered Nicholas but for a huge lion, who, finding the door +of his cage open, rushed upon the group with such unmistakable +intentions, that not only the officers, but Li-Kong, brave as he was, +fled in terror to the palace, with the beast at their heels. You will +little wonder at the extreme fright of the soldiers, when I tell you +that this lion was the only animal of his kind in China, having been +presented to the late Emperor by a foreign king, or they would probably +have met the brute face to face. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE SECRET CAVERN.--THE PRINCESS SAVED BY THE BOYS. + + +"Thou hast had a narrow escape, O most prudent master," said Chow, +coming forth when he saw the coast clear. + +"Had I been taken, it would have been a just punishment for missing my +mark; but by what fortunate chance did that savage beast escape from his +cage, O Chow?" replied Nicholas, descending the tree. + +"That chance, O my master was the foresight of thy servant, who +unfastened the door of the cage of that four-footed brother of Yen-Vang, +neither knowing nor caring whether he might not himself be the first +meal, so that the noble Nicholas escaped." + +"It was well done, my brave Chow; yet surely that rebel rogue must be +protected by some demon to have escaped so narrowly both arrow and lion; +but let us haste to the cavern, or they may return." + +Now, although the whole of this adventure had not occupied more than an +hour, Nicholas was greatly in fear for what might have happened to the +princess, an anxiety reciprocated by the princess, who, as soon as she +saw them again, exclaimed, "Thank heaven, the noble youth is saved;" +then added reproachfully, "But he has not performed his promise, for he +brings not the sacred remains of his royal master;" when, however, +Nicholas related the adventure, although in great anguish of mind at +being denied the sacred right of paying the last office of respect to +the corpse of her parent, she was overjoyed at their escape. + +"Escape, O great princess; thy small servant is not clever and gifted, +like the mole, or he would eat a hole through the end of this rat-trap; +for to attempt it by the entrance would be to submissively ask the +traitor Li-Kong to cut us all into ten thousand pieces," said Chow. + +"The words of the brave Chow are reasonable, for truly this cavern is +but a trap," said Nicholas. + +"It is not so; push thou against the end of the cavern," said the +princess. + +"Truly we are fortunate," said Nicholas with astonishment, as he found +the end giving way, and disclosing to his vision a long narrow passage. + +"It was made by the great Tait-sou, and leads to an unfrequented suburb +of the city; by this means he could leave the palace alone, and by +mixing among the people judge for himself how the mandarins were +respected by them," said the princess. + +"Surely they will follow us here," said Nicholas. + +"Not so, noble youth; for the secret is known but to few. It was the +sole vile act of the great Tait-sou's reign that he caused this passage +to be made by condemned prisoners, whom he afterward slew, that they +might not divulge the secret," said the princess, adding, "Let us trace +its course." + +Then, helping the wounded girl to walk, they proceeded down the passage +for a considerable distance, till their progress was arrested by a door; +pushing this, however, they found themselves in a small cavern, lighted, +like the one at which they had entered, by a small grating from above. + +"How is it possible, O noble Nicholas, that we can pass through the +roaring rebels, who are, doubtless, without?" said Chow. + +"It is a reasonable question, O noble youth; truly we had better remain +here till night," said the princess. + +But, having considered for a minute, Nicholas said, "Not so, great +princess; remain thou here with Chow, and thy servant will find some +means of deliverance;" whereupon he borrowed from Chow his less +conspicuous cap, robe, and boots, then felt his way up a flight of +narrow steps, till his head struck against a trap-door; lifting this +gently, he found himself in a small stone room, the door of which stood +open; passing this, he came into an oblong court, and saw at once that +the place had been erected as a tomb, and, moreover, that he was at the +most remote end of a valley of tombs. So far he believed the princess to +be in a place of safety, for none, even in those rebellious days, would +dare to enter the ancestral tomb of another. + +Crossing this valley of sepulchres with inverted face, as if in deep +contemplation after visiting the tomb of his ancestors, he came into the +open road, where a vast crowd were floating onward into the city, mad +with excitement, and shouting, "Many years' life to the heaven-sent +Emperor!" he mixed with them, and so, safely passed onward to the house +of the merchant Yang, who no sooner saw him than he ordered an incense +table, and returned thanks to Fo for his safety. "For," said he, "thy +servant made but little doubt that the son of the great Chin-Chi-Loong +had been slain." + +"The son of the merchant of the south lives to avenge the death of his +Emperor," said Nicholas. + +"Hist! hist!" said the merchant, pale with fear, lest some servant might +hear the words; adding, "Truly Wey-t-song but merited his fate." + +"Art thou also a traitor, O Yang?" exclaimed Nicholas, indignantly. + +"The rich need be cautious, for is it not a maxim, that a successful +rebel is more to be feared than a dead Emperor, O noble Nicholas?" + +Indignant as he was at this disloyalty, Nicholas, remembering the +necessity of the princess, dissembled his anger, and said, "Is the +worthy Yang under sufficient obligation to Chin-Chi-Loong to serve his +son?" + +"Even to the extent of his life and fortune." + +"Then I will trust thee," said Nicholas, dropping the usual formality of +speech, and telling him the whole of his adventure of the morning. + +"Truly, O youth, this is a dangerous affair; but Yang dares not break +faith with the great chief who may some day be master of us all," said +the merchant, trembling with fear. + +"This, then, is just; I would have the head-dress and mourning garb of a +widow, and the coarse robes of two Coolies." + +"This is a cautious method of proceeding, and shall be done," said Yang, +who left the room, leaving the impatient youth walking to and fro with +great anxiety. The articles, however, not being very difficult to obtain +in that part of the city, the merchant soon returned with them packed up +in a small bale; then, hastily thanking Yang, Nicholas took the bale +with him some little distance from the house, and paid two Coolies to +carry him in their sedan to the gate of the valley of tombs; having +arrived there, he jumped out of the chair, and paid the Coolies +handsomely, telling them to leave it near the gate, and to fetch him +again in two hours' time; when, not in the least doubting the honesty of +so generous a customer, the Coolies went off to spend their earnings at +a wine-shop, and Nicholas proceeded cautiously to the cavern. + +Having explained his scheme to the princess, he left her in the cavern +to attire herself in the widow's weeds, while he and Chow proceeded to +the tomb above, to assume the garbs of Coolies. + +This being done, he gave Chow some silver and sent him off to the +wine-shop, after which he assisted the princess up the steps, and, +supporting her, they slowly walked through the valley, till they came +within a short distance of the gate, when, to the delight of Nicholas, +Chow came up to them and said:-- + +"I found the two sots drinking like fishes, and when I told them a +merchant wished to hire them, they laughed heartily, saying, that they +had already been engaged by too good a passenger to stir for the next +two hours." + +Then, assisting the princess into the chair, Nicholas and Chow took the +place of the Coolies, and so carried it to the house of Yang. + +As Yang had prepared the ladies of his family to receive a young girl, +who, he said, was about to be taken into a distant province by her +brother, as soon as the troubles had subsided, the princess was warmly +received in the Hall of Ancestors, and immediately conducted to the +inner apartments of the house. Cleverly as this was managed, Nicholas +now trembled for the safety of the princess; indeed, she could be safe +no where, but with the Lady Candida, or the Prince Yong-Li, both of whom +he believed to have fled to Woo-san-Kwei, in Leao-tong, therefore, +difficult as was the task, he determined to take her to that province. +As for Yang, whose loyalty was stronger toward the family of Nicholas +than to the imperial line, and who really wished a person likely to +prove so dangerous as the princess out of his house, he offered his +advice and assistance; and as a small junk belonging to him was about to +proceed to Tien-sin, on the banks of the Pei-ho (or white river) with a +cargo of goods in exchange for salt, he offered to place it at the +command of Nicholas, who, when at the mouth of the river, would find it +no difficult matter to make a voyage through the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, +and of Leao-tong, to some town upon the coast. + +This being arranged, they determined that the junk should start as soon +as she was laden, and that the princess should embark as a young widow, +whose husband having been killed in the rebellion, was returning to see +her friends in Leao-tong. But then the princess could not travel without +a female attendant,--and whom could they trust? that seemed their +greatest difficulty. It was surmounted, however as you will see in the +next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A LARGE STOCK OF LADIES, TWO TAELS PER SACK. + + +Previously to his successful march upon Pekin, Li-Kong had besieged the +capital of the great province of Honan, which, after a few days' hard +fighting, he succeeded in taking; when by way of punishing the +inhabitants for their brave resistance, he ordered a slaughter so large +and indiscriminate that for many after years his name was used as a +bugbear to frighten children; so insatiable was his appetite for +decapitation, that, like Nero, he longed that the millions had but one +neck, that he might strike the whole of their heads at a blow. + +The mightiest rivers, however, can but run their course, and so at +length, in the event of his making himself Emperor, he might have some +subjects left, he commenced to banish and to pardon, and by way of +rewarding his soldiers, one day when he was in a good humor, he +commanded them to sell the whole of the remaining women prisoners in the +public market-place, and keep the money; but as the soldiers asked such +high prices, and the fathers, husbands, and brothers, of Honan, had been +robbed of their property, after a two days' sale a large stock of +ladies remained on hand, which they were obliged to take with them to +Pekin, where, after the conquest, they hoped to obtain better prices. + +Tyrants are, however, capricious; and so, being offended with his +soldiers for not discovering the princess, with hideous humor Li-Kong +ordered the women to be placed in sacks, and sold with other plunder at +two taels each. + +Now it so happened that on the morning of the sale, Chow was passing +through the market-place, and seeing a crowd of people examining the +sacks, which were arranged in rows and tied at the necks, with small +breathing holes near the top, he stopped to watch the progress of the +cruel comedy. Anxious fathers, brothers, and husbands, who had followed +the army from Honan, for the purpose of rescuing their female relatives, +bought sack after sack at the reduced price, each, when the purchase was +completed, tearing them open; the greater number, however, giving vent +to fearful cries, when they discovered that their chance in the lottery +proved a blank; others, recognizing a wife, daughter, or sister, would +become almost frantic with joy. Many, before purchasing, would slip +behind a sack, rip it with a knife, to have a peep, and get rewarded +with a sound caning for their artfulness. + +Well there were only half a ton, or at least five sacks of ladies left +for disposal, when a great lout of a countryman drew up in his cart, +jumped out, and after looking at his almanac, said, "Truly this is a +fortunate day, and I am likely to get a good wife cheap; so, although +two taels is all I have obtained for my last crop of rice, I will trust +to Fo; for young or old, handsome or ugly, I must have a wife to help me +till my grounds." Just then a shrill scream issued from one of the +sacks. "Who knows," continued the countryman, "but the gods may have +sent that scream to direct my choice, for if the woman is neither young +nor pretty she may be well dressed, and, consequently the wife or +daughter of some wealthy mandarin, who will purchase her of me, and so +make my fortune?" + +"Let the noble paddy bird make his choice quickly," said a soldier. + +"There are the two taels, most illustrious war tiger," said the +countryman, giving the money and taking his choice. + +"We will see thy choice," said one of the soldiers, about to open the +sack. + +"Nay, illustrious soldier, it would offend the gods if other eyes but +mine saw my prize." So saying, the man took the sack up in his huge +arms, lifted it into the cart, and drove slowly away, followed by Chow, +who was curious to discover the kind of prize the wise-acre had drawn. + +Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man no sooner reached an +unfrequented part of the suburbs than he stopped by the bank of a canal, +pulled a knife from his pocket, ripped open the sack; but then a change +came o'er his dream, for with his body bent double, his two hands upon +his knees, and his bullet head thrown to the extreme stretching of his +neck, he stared with disgust for at least a minute, then in a paroxysm +of rage, the disappointed ruffian placed his hands upon the woman's +shoulders, screaming, "Thou vile old bamboo stick!" + +The trembling woman fell upon her knees and prayed for mercy. + +"Has the wretched woman no friend who will purchase her?" + +"Truly the friends and relations of thy servant have been slain by the +soldiers; she has no friend in the world." + +"Thou hast robbed me of my money, thou antique rat, and shall be +punished," said the brute, who, first striking her to the ground, picked +her up in his arms, and would have thrown her into the canal but for +Chow, who, going to the back of the cart, caught hold of the man's legs +and dragged him on to the ground, when, not comprehending the wherefore +of his wheelbarrow position, the fellow began to roar for mercy, but +turning his face and finding his enemy to be a mere youth, he sprang +upon his legs and attacked him with his clenched fists. For a time they +had a hard fight, after the fashion of the Chinese, who are as much +given to that sport, pastime, or brutality, as the English themselves. +At length, however, with one well-directed blow, Chow settled the +transaction, when, admitting himself to be soundly thrashed, as all +women-beaters should be, the bully fell upon his knees, and said, that +if the woman were a relation he was sorry for what he had done in the +moment of vexation at losing his money, and moreover, begged that Chow +would purchase her again for half the amount he had paid. + +"Take the whole, thou miserable dog," said Chow, throwing down two taels +that Nicholas had given him in the morning, to purchase a thick robe for +the voyage to Leao-tong, then, lifting the poor creature from the cart, +he laid her upon the bank of the canal, and by dashing water in her face +brought her to her senses. But why does Chow suddenly fall at her feet, +kiss the hem of her garment, take both her hands in his own, gaze in her +face for a moment, and then, throwing his arms around her neck, sob like +an infant. Surely there was some good reason for such strange +conduct?--We shall see. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +CHOW MAKES A DISCOVERY, AND NICHOLAS A SURPRISE. + + +While Chow had been engaged in his adventure with the countryman, Yang +received intelligence from the commander of his junk, that the vessel +was laden, and only awaited his orders for sailing. So far, +circumstances were favorable for the voyage to Leao-tong, and if they +could but secure a proper attendant for the princess they might set out +that evening. That was the great difficulty to be got over. Many plans +were suggested, but all seemed so fraught with danger of discovery, that +they were well nigh at their wit's end. While Nicholas and Yang were +discussing the matter, there was a great hammering upon the gong at the +door. It was Chow, who in another minute stood before them. Alone? No, +but to the astonishment of Nicholas, accompanied by a woman, so veiled +that no feature could be seen. + +"How! what means this? Who is this woman?" exclaimed Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas bestowed two taels upon his servant." + +"What words are these?" replied Nicholas, impatiently; adding, "Hast +thou bought the robe?" + +"Pardon, O noble master, but thy servant can better do without a robe +for the rest of his life than the glorious purchase he has made with +those taels." + +"What purchase is this, thou rogue?" said Nicholas, vexed that he could +get no direct answer. + +"His dearly beloved lost mother, O my master." + +"Thy mother! What words are these?" + +Then, when Chow had related the scene with the sacks, and his adventure +with the countryman, and how that it resulted in the discovery of his +mother, who stood before them, Nicholas heartily and sincerely +congratulated him, as did also the merchants, who ordered the servants +to take her to the inner apartments, all of which so gratified the +delighted Chow that he fell at the feet of Nicholas, kissed the hem of +his robe, and with tears of gratitude and joy told them that his mother +had made her escape from the slayer of her husband, but having been +retaken, the enraged mandarin had ordered her to be sold with the other +women. So, O noble Nicholas, has the great Tien rewarded thy servant for +endeavoring to rescue what he thought to be a strange woman from a +villain, who was about casting her in the canal. + +Now, nothing could be more fortunate for all parties than this discovery +of Chow's, for as the mother would not leave Chow, nor Chow leave his +mother or his master, if he could help it, it was speedily settled that +no better attendant could be found for the princess, and so it was +arranged that they should start at once. + +The merchant, partly by his great interest with the usurper's +government, and partly by bribes, secured a com-ho or passport for +himself and family; sedan chairs were procured, and the whole party +passed through the city to the river, where the junk was awaiting them. +Then, having seen them safe on board and given instructions to his +captain to obey Nicholas, he placed a purse of silver in the youth's +hands, took his leave, and left the travelers to pursue their journey, +and with but one interruption from a river mandarin, who stopped their +progress to examine their cam-ho, the junk proceeded down the Pei-ho, or +white river. + +The junk was upon a small scale something like what the houses of our +merchants were, when, proud of their profession, they had their +residences attached to their warehouses, one-half being occupied by the +cargo, and the other divided into rooms, each of which was furnished in +accordance with the quality of its tenant. The two usually set aside for +the ladies of the family were tenanted by the princess, who, as became +her rank and sex, kept herself secluded from the eyes of the male +passengers and sailors. + +For several days they continued their voyage down the river, till by the +fields of millet seed, pulse, and turnips, the numerous mud hovels, the +shoals of small boats, and the thousands of starving men, women, and +children, who were paddling about the fields, and the very city of huge +salt stacks upon the banks, they saw that they were approaching the town +of Tien-sin, at which place, in consequence of the number of vessels +which had arrived that day laden with timber, they were delayed for +some time before the captain could unload his vessel and take in a cargo +of salt. + +As in our own manufacturing counties many thousands of poor mechanics +and artisans make little livings for themselves and great fortunes for +their employers, so in Tien-sin, the most miserably poor and shrivelled +portion of the vast population in China produce a commodity which places +their masters, the salt dealers, among the most wealthy merchants in the +Empire. While the captain is unloading his cargo I will tell you how +these people produce this common edible. + +In addition to the pits of salt, which, like coal, are found in many of +the provinces, there are many places where it is discovered by scattered +spots of gray earth. To obtain this salt, they level the surface of the +earth as smooth as glass and in a sloping direction so that the water +will run off. When dried by the sun, and the white particles of salt are +seen, they first raise it in small heaps, like haycocks, then spread it +upon sloping tables with ledges, and pour soft water upon it, which, as +it soaks in, extracts the salt and runs into an earthen vessel by means +of a small channel. The earth thus drained is not wasted, but laid +aside, so that after a few days, when dry, they reduce it to a fine +powder, and replace it in the spot from whence it was taken, when, after +six days, it is again mixed with particles of salt, which are again +extracted as before, so that not one atom becomes lost. + +While the men are thus engaged in the fields, the women and children are +employed in huts, in boiling the salt water in large iron basins, which +they place over an earthen stove, with holes made in such a manner that +the fire heats all the basins alike. When the salt water has boiled some +time, it becomes thick, and changes slowly into a very white salt, which +is stirred with an iron spatula till it becomes quite dry. + +When the captain had exchanged his cargo for an other of dates, which he +intended again to exchange profitably in Leao-tong for peas and drugs, +Nicholas purchased a quantity of furs and mats, which he soon found to +be necessary; for, as they approached further to the north, the winds +blew keenly, and the iceblocks floated so numerously as frequently to +impede their voyage; indeed, the cold was so intense that nothing but +the fear of losing life or liberty, or the love of gold, would have +induced any one to make the voyage in that inclement season (it was in +November). Indeed, by the time they had passed the mouth of the Pei-ho +and got into the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, the snow fell so heavily, and the +north winds blew so keenly, that, breaking through all discipline, the +sailors lighted fires upon the deck, and laid near them, drinking rice +spirit so copiously, that had not Nicholas, who knew so well how to +manage such insubordinates, thrown the spirit tubs overboard, they must +have foundered upon the _Sha-loo-poo-teen_ islands. As it was, so long +and so rough was the passage across the gulf, that the princess became +fearfully ill; so much so, indeed, that at one time they feared she +would have died. At length, however, they came to an anchor off the +coast of Kin-Chow, a distance of seven miles from the shore, and so +planted with dangerous rocks that they were compelled to make +fire-signals for the townspeople to put off to them in their lighters or +barges. + +As the people have these lighters always ready for the purpose, it was +not long before several answered the signal, and came alongside. +Choosing the most commodious, Nicholas caused a large fire to be lighted +in the cabin, where the princess, who was too ill to walk, was lifted on +board, and the lightermen rowed them the roughest seven miles of their +journey. Nicholas and Chow paced the deck in no very good humor, as they +were obliged to entrust themselves to the slow movements of the boatmen, +who neither for love nor money would hasten their pace. Moreover, as the +sea rolled so heavily, the distance was lengthened by their being +compelled to take a circuitous course between and around the dangerous +rocks. + +When the boatman, who, although slow, were sure, brought them beneath +the huge rocks which form the sea-walls of Leao-tong, Chow looked up +with amazement. "Surely," said he, "Yen-Vang must have built these great +rocks to prevent the province from falling upon the heads of the people +in his watery dominions;" adding, as he saw some little birds, like +swallows, flying about the rocks, "Truly, if my eyeballs are straight, +those little creatures promise us some of the soup of life." + +"Truly our eyeballs play us false, O Chow, for these birds are seldom +found but on the coast of Tonquin, Java, and Cochin-China," said +Nicholas doubtfully. + +"It is true that the servant has not the wisdom of his master, yet the +stomach and the nose are excellent diviners. Moreover, it is said that +this bird-nest soup is strengthening to the weak. The princess is weak, +O my master, and Chow would obtain some of those nests." + +Then, as they were near a jutting point of the rock of no very difficult +ascent, Nicholas ordered the barge to stop, while Chow ascended and +procured some half-dozen of the nests, from which to the present day, +one of the most popular dishes of China is made. + +As Nicholas had said, these birds' nests are seldom found except on the +coasts of Java, Cochin-China, and Tonquin. The birds are not unlike +swallows, as to their feathers; the nests, which they build high up in +the clefts of the rocks, are supposed to be composed of small sea-fish, +fastened together by means of a viscous juice, which distils from the +beaks of the little creatures, and serves as a gum to fasten the nests +to the rock. They are also seen to take the froth that floats upon the +sea, with which they cement every part of their nests, in the same +manner that swallows build with mud and clay. This matter being dried, +becomes solid, transparent, and of a greenish color; but, while fresh, +it is generally white. + +When Chow had procured these nests, the boatmen resumed their toil, and +in a short time reached the harbor; Chow landed first, and having +procured a litter, the princess and his mother were conveyed through the +rows of dirty-looking granite houses, which form the town of Kin-Chow, +till they arrived at a small inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +NICHOLAS PUNISHES AN UNGRATEFUL INNKEEPER, AND ESCAPES FROM HIS +TREACHERY. + + +Rejoiced that the tedious sea-voyage was at an end and that the princess +would, in all probability, by a few day's rest, gain health and strength +sufficient for the long land journey before them, you may guess the +vexation of Nicholas, on arriving at the inn, to find a crowd of persons +around the door enjoying the following scene. The innkeeper was kneeling +before the chair of a tax-gathering mandarin, surrounded by his bamboo +sticks in waiting, who seemed to have in their charge three beggars. + +_Mandarin._--"Thrice hath the dog's hide been corrected, and yet his +tribute is not ready." + +_Innkeeper._--"Is it not true, O tribute-collecting lord, that but +little may be gleaned from an empty purse?" + +_Mandarin._--"Therein is thy crime, slave, that having thrice received +our paternal correction, thy vile purse should still remain empty. Know, +thou mean dog, that the purse of the subject should be ever at the +service of the Emperor." + +_Innkeeper, giving his empty purse._--"The laws of the empire must be +obeyed, there is thy servant's purse." + +_Mandarin, angrily._--"Would the vile innkeeper laugh in our face?" + +_Innkeeper._--"Surely, O great mandarin, the owner of an empty purse +hath but little cause for laughing!" + +_Mandarin._--"Thou incorrigible dog, where hath been thy industry, that +thou hast not sufficient even to pay thy taxes?" + +_Innkeeper._--"Truly the wars and the robbers have driven from the +province its trade, and thy servant hath not rice sufficient to sustain +life in the mean bodies of himself and family." + +_Mandarin._--"If these are straight words, the dog's life cannot be of +value to him; let him, therefore, pay the debt he owes to the Emperor, +by humbly begging of the Tartar-subduing General, Woo-san-Kwei to let +him offer his carcass of full measure to the barbarians, that he may +shield the life of a better man." + +_Innkeeper._--"Truly, O fountain of wisdom the officers of the +rebel-subduing general have already stolen from thy servant his four +sons." + +_Mandarin._--"Stolen, thou vile rat! Let the rogue receive twenty blows +for this word of disrespect, and fifty for half the debt he owes to the +Emperor." + +In an instant the innkeeper was thrown upon his face, and while one man +held his head, and another his feet, a third belabored the poor fellow +till he roared again. When the punishment was concluded, and the +innkeeper had, according to custom, thanked the official for his +kindness, the mandarin said, "Such is the punishment of rogues who will +not pay their taxes;" adding, "But that the cheating innkeeper may not +escape too easily, let him provide food and lodging for these three poor +people till his debt be paid." + +"May thy servant inquire the amount of this innkeeper's debt; for it is +fitting that the taxes should be paid?" said Nicholas, coming forward to +the astonishment of the official, who said, sternly, "The sum, bold +stranger, is one ounce of silver." + +"Then, may thy servant be permitted to pay this silver; for he would +engage for himself and sister the man's house, which cannot be large +enough for these poor people also?" + +"Truly it may not be refused," replied the mandarin, taking the money, +and rescinding his order for the accommodation of the poor people; but +adding, as he left the spot, "It is a maxim that people should settle +their own debts before paying those of others." + +"Where is the justice now, my master; for although he has received the +debt in full, that rat of the taxes hath not taken back the blows from +this poor man's hide?" said Chow, fortunately for himself in such soft +tones that he could not be heard by the mandarin. More pleased than +otherwise at the scene which they had considered good fun, the crowd +dispersed; when, silencing the noisy gratitude of the innkeeper, who, +after all, had been more frightened than hurt with the blows which had +been dealt out to him, as much as a matter of form as a punishment, +Nicholas and his party entered the inn, and having secured the two best +rooms, one for the princess and her attendant, the other for himself and +Chow, he gave the bird's nests to the wife of the innkeeper for the use +of the ladies. + +As for themselves, the boys made a good meal, and then whiled the time +away in conversation till it became dark, when they both sought their +beds; which, queer as it may seem to you--being nothing but piles of +bricks shaped to the human form, and heated from beneath with charcoal, +the flame and heat of which are dispersed by pipes joined to an upright +tube, which carries the smoke through the roof--they greatly enjoyed +after their long journey. + +The next morning Nicholas visited the princess, and to his surprise and +delight found that she had recovered her strength. "This is indeed joy, +O my princess!" said he, kneeling; when, taking him by the hand, the +royal lady said, "Kneel not before her whom thou hast so much +befriended, O noble youth; for it is naught but the poor fatherless girl +La-Loo who is before thee, and would indeed be thy sister." + +"This is not possible; the daughter of the Ming can never be less in the +world than its princess--first in beauty as in rank," said Nicholas. + +"The daughter of the Ming, or the girl La-Loo, be she whom she may, +noble youth, will travel alone through this dreary province in search of +her brother, if she can not journey as thy sister." + +"Then be it so, for thy servant dares not disobey, O beautiful La-Loo!" +said Nicholas; adding, "Is it the will of the princess, to proceed upon +her journey?" + +"The will of her adopted brother is the will of La-Loo," replied the +princess, and Nicholas left the room; but pushing the door before him, +imagine his surprise to find the innkeeper at the threshhold with his +little head upward, his short arms stretched forward from his great +body, and his legs in the hands of Chow, who appeared to be pulling him +from the door. + +"Release thy mean servant from the hands of this vile person, O noble +youth, or his legs will be pulled as easily from his body as those of a +crab," said the man, piteously looking in the face of Nicholas. + +"The rascal, the rogue, the elephant in size, but mouse in honesty, was +listening to thy conversation, O my master," said Chow. + +"Let the mean rat rise upon his bamboo legs," said Nicholas; adding, +"What has the dog learned of his guests' affairs?" + +"Truly so grand a mien could belong to none but the son of a king, and +so beautiful a lady, could be none other than a princess," said the man. + +"Thou rascal," said Nicholas; but adding, more prudently, "Canst thou be +honest, and serve us?" + +"For ever, O noble youth," replied the innkeeper. + +"Trust not so small a mouse," said Chow. + +"The innkeeper shall be rewarded according to his merits. Let him +conduct his guest to the merchants of the town, and he shall receive +some silver," said Nicholas, quitting the house with the man, who led +him to the various dealers and merchants, from whom he purchased a +camel, a mule, a tent, provision, and in short all things necessary for +a long journey overland. + +When he had made these purchases, he whispered some secret instruction +in the ear of Chow, and sent him with the animals and articles back to +the inn; after which he said, "Will the worthy innkeeper open his lips +in a temple, and promise to keep to himself the secret he has +discovered?" + +"Truly the noble youth does not doubt that the words of his servant are +straight?" replied the man, evasively. + +"The worthy innkeeper must do this, or forfeit these two ounces of +silver," replied Nicholas, exhibiting the money, which had the desired +effect. + +"There is but one temple for this poor town, and that is upon the +mountain without the walls." + +"To that we will proceed, if the worthy innkeeper will show the way." + +The man obeyed; they passed through the gates of the town into a narrow +road, which led them to the foot of a high mountain, near the summit of +which stood a small temple. + +"It would be better to seek an altar within the inner apartments of thy +servant's inn, the gods would be equally as attentive to his promise, +and the noble youth would be saved the necessity of climbing so steep a +hill." + +"Truly this temple can not be used often, or some easier means of ascent +would be made," said Nicholas. + +"The words of the noble youth are wise, for truly this temple is but +used on the festivals of the first of the month." + +"When is the next festival, O worthy innkeeper?" + +"To-morrow." + +"Then ascend." + +Obeying, the innkeeper commenced climbing the narrow and slippery stairs +cut in the hill side; when they reached the top and stood in the temple +before a huge wooden god, who seemed to form part of the back wall of +the temple, out of which he had been cut, Nicholas, pointing to one of +the arms of the idol, said, "Truly, the god hath been neglected and +requires painting." Turning his back to Nicholas to examine the idol, +the man gave a shriek of alarm. Nicholas had taken a cord from his vest, +thrown it over his arms, and made him as harmless as if he had been in a +straight jacket. + +"What means the youth; is he a robber?" + +"Silence thou ungrateful hog," said Nicholas, pulling him toward the +idol, to which he secured his body, legs and arms. + +"Now, thou dog, open thy lips, and say what fell into thine ears whilst +thou wast listening at the door of the ladies' apartments." + +"Truly, thy mean servant could not hear much, for little was said by the +princess." + +"Then how, thou trembling rogue, couldst thou know it was a princess who +spoke?" + +"Thy servant divined that the lady must be of exalted rank; for in the +first place, had she not been a great lady escaping from the province of +Pekin, she would not have crossed the gulf in such weather, neither +would so noble a youth as thyself have treated a sister with such +exalted respect." + +"Thou art a cunning dog, whose words are dust; and if thou dost not +admit that thy vile ears were at that door before the time when thou +wert caught, I will slay thee," said Nicholas, drawing his short sword, +and holding it threateningly. + +"Pardon, O noble youth; but as iron can not resist the lode-stone, +neither can the ears of thy servant resist a secret: he did--did +listen," said the man trembling with fear. + +"What didst thou hear, dog?" the sword was now at his throat. + +"That the Emperor Wey-t-song was slain, and that the Emperor Li had +offered a great reward for the Princess of the Mings." + +"Should I kill thee, thou mean rat, thou wouldst but meet thy merits." + +"The magnanimous youth would not soil his sword with the blood of so +mean a person." + +"No; but thou shalt remain here till we are beyond the reach of harm +from thy vile tongue." + +"Surely the noble youth would not starve so ill-conditioned a person," +said the man in a whining tone. "Thou art now safe, thou rogue, and I +will pay thee the two taels I promised; but if even when released from +thy bondage when the temple is visited to-morrow, thou speak but the +name of the lady you have seen, I will return and punish thee, if it is +years to come." So saying Nicholas threw the silver upon the floor, +closed the door of the temple, descended the mountain, and made as much +haste as possible back to the inn. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.--ATTACKED BY WOLVES, AND STOPPED BY A SERPENT. + + +By the time Nicholas returned to the inn, Chow had prepared every thing +for their departure; the camel was laden with a litter for the two +ladies, behind which were two tents, rough sleeping mats, furs and a +supply of food and fuel. + +"All is prepared, O noble Nicholas, according to thy order," said Chow. + +"Thou art as nimble as thou art brave, Chow," said Nicholas, passing to +the room of the princess, whom he found with the mother of Chow well +wrapped in furs. + +"It is well that thou art prepared, O beautiful and illustrious La-Loo, +for the villain innkeeper heard our conversation, and I doubt not +intended to earn the rebel Li-Kong's reward." At this the limbs of the +princess trembled, and her face became pale with fear. + +"Let us haste then, O noble brother, for La-Loo fears that demon +Li-Kong, and would rather that her parent's blow had proved effective +than fall into his power." + +"The weather is severe and the journey drear, and fraught with dangers +of savage beasts and still more savage men," said Nicholas, as fearful +of the danger of proceeding as of remaining; adding, "At least the +innkeeper can not return till to-morrow, and early morning would be less +dangerous than the darkness of this winter's night." + +"The last of the line of the great Tait-sou have the courage of their +ancestors. Let us on our journey, my brother," said the princess. + +Without another word Nicholas led the princess and her attendant to the +camel, and assisted them into the litter. + +"Surely," said La-Loo, "there are times when women should have the +courage of men. An arrow sped by my hand would be as useful as one from +the bow of my brother." + +Understanding the meaning Nicholas gave the princess his own bow, and +quiver full of arrows. + +"Truly my venerable and beloved parent can pull a bow-string to save her +life," said Chow giving his bow and arrows to his mother. + +"This is not well, Chow, for we are left unarmed, except with our short +swords, which will be of little use," said Nicholas. + +"The noble Nicholas left Chow to provide for the journey, and so, +knowing that female arms, like female tongues, can fight when the time +comes, he provided weapons for each," said Chow, taking two bows from +the sides of the mule. + +"Thou hast the wisdom and foresight of a colao, O Chow," said Nicholas, +laughing; then adding, seriously, "But the guide." + +"Is here, O noble stranger, and as he hopes to have his tomb well +dusted, will conduct thee safely to the distant mountains," said a +youth, stepping forward with an unlighted torch in his hand. + +Nicholas then mounting behind the camel, Chow upon the mule, and the +guide taking hold of the cord which was tied to the great animal's +mouth, they proceeded on their journey, and as it was just within the +time of closing the gates, they passed out of the town into the open +country of teas and drugs; and so quickly did they travel, that before +night came on they had reached a narrow gorge between two mountains, +which was good, inasmuch as they would be protected from the keen winds. +The darkness came on, and the guide lighted his torch, which flamed so +terrifically, that they might have passed for one of our slow night +trains. + +So for some hours they traveled, till they came to a forest so dense +with trees that the guide would go no further, and they pitched the two +tents, one for the ladies, and the other for themselves, surrounding +both with a great fire, made of stubble, to keep off the wolves or other +beasts of prey. The following morning they resumed their journey, till +as they were leaving the forest, they could hear the distant howling of +wolves; the camel exhibited its fright by making strange noises, and the +mule grew restless, snorted, and every now and then turned its head as +if to look for its enemies. The whole party fixed arrows in their bows, +ready for an attack, and for some time their hearts palpitated with +alarm. Ordering the little caravan to stop, Nicholas sent Chow to +examine the probability of an attack. He had been absent half an hour +when they heard the trampling of horses near at hand. What could it +mean? surely they were not pursued? Then came Chow, who, running +forward, said, "We are lost, O my master, for there are banditti near." + +"On my brother, on, for these rogues are doubtless the troops of the +rebel Li-Kong," exclaimed the princess, as she leant forward from the +litter with the bent bow in her hand; and onward they went, with open +ears, and as noiselessly as possible; passing along the side of a +mountain into which the wood opened, till they came to a gorge, when the +guide stopped, and proposed that they should make a _detour_, in order +to avoid the passage of the mountain platform. + +"It is not possible, my master; for to the right are the banditti, to +the left the wolves. Let us keep onward and dare this platform;" and +again they proceeded through the gorge. Still the wolves kept up their +dreary howling, and the trampling of the banditti, if banditti they +were, seemed at no greater distance from them than the animals; at +length they passed through the gorge, when a sight was before them that +would have caused the stoutest hearts to quail. There, leading from the +gorge, was the platform of which the guide had spoken. It was supported +by rafters, which stood out some six feet from the rock, a mere shelf, +without edge or railing, at least five hundred feet above the level of +the sea, which the mountain skirted. + +"It would be death to cross with these animals; we must turn back and +make the _detour_," said the guide. + +"Open thy ears. We dare not, O noble Nicholas," said Chow! "for the +wolves are upon us." + +"Onward, my brother, for there are sounds of more terrible beasts than +wolves. Let us trust ourselves in the hands of Providence," said the +princess. + +Seeing the knees of the guide knocking together with fear, Nicholas +said, "Get thee to the rear, and follow the mule, thou coward;" then, +dismounting, he caught hold of the reins in the nostrils of the camels +and averting his eyes from the chasm beneath, led the sure-footed beast +along the platform. They had reached midway, when the wolves, with a +howling concert, made their appearance at the commencement of the +platform; and as Chow, who brought up the rear, led the mule, he felt +the animal tremble, and fearing that if the wild brutes ventured across +the platform the terrified beasts would be the means of precipitating +the whole party into the abyss, he trembled with anxiety. It was a +fearful situation, but the brave youth retaining his presence of mind, +crept to the flanks of the mule, and only in time, for one of the wolves +who had ventured along the platform, followed by the pack, received an +arrow in his brain, and as he rolled over into the abyss beneath, its +companions stood with their fore feet stretched forward, and their ears +bent, as if astonished, when another arrow flew among them, but so +intent had Chow become in this fight, that he was unconscious that the +progress of the rest of the party had been stopped midway. For the cause +of this we must return to Nicholas; who, as he led the camel, to his +horror, saw issuing from a fissure in the rock the head of a serpent of +the most venomous kind. He fixed an arrow in his bow, but a moment's +thought, and he dared not fire, for should he miss the reptile it would +be upon them instantly. What should he do? His sword--yes--he drew it; +but then he dared not leave the camel's head, and he called to Chow, +little thinking that he was in a more terrible position than himself. + +"Let fly thy arrow, my brother; should you miss, here is my bow," said +the princess, leaning forward. + +Still Nicholas would not move. The situation was fearful; the wolves on +one side, the deadly serpent on the other; indeed words are wanting to +paint the dread anxiety and terror of all, even the animals who stood +transfixed, with their hearts beating against their sides in the agony +of fear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +SAVED BY A MUSK-DEER.--STORIES OF WONDERFUL MOUNTAINS. + + +Relief came, but so imperceptibly that it stole over them. A perfume so +strong filled the air that the animals coughed, the great snake writhed, +and approached nearer to them; they were lost; no, the perfume had +entered the nostrils of the reptile; its movement was languid, another +second, and their deliverer appeared. It was a musk-deer, or roe-buck, +who had pursued the serpent till it had lost it in the fissure for a few +minutes only, when, recovering its trail, the deer had pursued it to the +platform, where, with one grip at its neck, it killed it, when, startled +at the cavalcade, it retraced its steps, not at all to the regret of +Nicholas, for, valuable as the musk animal was, his gratitude was too +great to have killed it. Having crossed the platform, Nicholas saw the +predicament of Chow, who was still employed in keeping the wolves at +bay. He had fired many arrows, yet had killed but three, while others +sat crouching, as if neither liking to recede or advance, waiting, in +fact, for the boy's back to be turned, before they made an attack; so +keeping poor Chow in one terrible position, not daring to turn his back +or to fire his last remaining arrow, for fear that it should miss. The +tables, however, were turned, when Nicholas, followed by the guide, both +with fixed bows, came to his rescue; one flight more from the three +bows, and the now terrified beasts scampered off, when Chow returned to +the other side of the platform with Nicholas, and the whole party +offered up thanks to Heaven for their miraculous preservation. + +It is in the mountains of Pe-tche-Lee that the musk-deer is generally +found by hunters, who find a good market, not only for the musk, but the +body, which is in great esteem; and that I may account to you in a +reasonable manner for the providential escape of the travelers, I must +tell you that the flesh of serpents is the favorite and most common food +of this roe-buck, who kills them with ease, however large or numerous; +for no sooner does he come near than the serpent becomes overpowered +with the scent of the musk; and so well is this fact known to the +mountaineers, that when they go to cut wood or make charcoal in the +mountains, they carry about their persons a few grains of this musk, and +rest and sleep without fear from the venomous snakes, which might +otherwise destroy them. + +The travelers resumed their journey, and continued till it became dark, +when they pitched their tents upon an open plain, lighted a circle of +fire around their encampment, and remained for the night; so, for at +least three months, they continued this tedious journey, keeping within +a few miles of the sea-coast, through mountains, plains and forests, +till they reached a small village, at the base of the mountain chain of +Lao-yang, where they were once more enabled to rest beneath the roof of +a house, without fear of traitors, for Lao-yang was the head-quarters of +the governor and general of the province, Woo-san-Kwei. + +As they were passing the ridges of these mountains, the guide kept his +eyes fixed upon their green sides, as if in deep thought. "Surely my +brother can see nothing wonderful in these tree-growing hills," said +Chow. + +"Thy mean servant was dreaming of his native province, of which these +mountains reminded him, although compared with those of my native +Chen-si they are dirt heaps." + +"The mountains of my brother's province of Chen-si are doubtless great, +but they are mole-hills to those of Fokien, where thy unworthy brother +was born," said Chow. + +"Why, what words are these? Does not the whole world know that Chen-si +has a mountain of the shape of a cock, and which sometimes crows so loud +that it may be heard for ten miles?" + +"Fokien has a mountain which is so high that its summit can not be seen, +and foretells storms by moving its great body to and fro like a tree +with the wind." + +"It is a dirt-hill compared to another in Chen-si, that at the sound of +a drum breathes forth fire and flame." + +"Rat's flesh! thy mountain is nothing to the good hill of Fokien, which +makes thieves so giddy when they gaze upon it, that they drop down their +plunder and run for their lives," said Chow. + +"That may be useful, my brother, but how can its qualities be compared +to another of my mountains, which has the power of conferring +immortality upon all who live thereon?" replied the guide. + +"It is even of doubtful merit compared to the mountain of Fokien, which +has grown into the exact shape of the god Fo, and is so large that its +eyes are three miles round, and its nose ten miles long." The guide +having no other on his list, turned sulkily aside, and so ended this +conversation, which, I may tell you, did not spring from the +imaginations of either, for the assertions on both sides are accredited +by the people of China. + +Delighted at the probability of their being near the end of their +journey, and as much so at the prospect of a few days' rest, you may +imagine the dismay of the party at being awakened early the next morning +by a great tumult. What could it mean? They were not long in doubt, for +the master of the inn came to them with tears in his eyes. "Arise, O +worthy strangers, this is an unfortunate day for us all; the thieves, +the rats of the ocean have landed," said he. + +"What words are these, O worthy friend?" said Nicholas, jumping to his +feet. + +"The Emperor Li is marching a great army to beseige Lao-yang, where the +great Woo-san-Kwei is encamped; but far worse, the sea wasps have +landed within a day's journey, and are scouring the country, joined by +the rogues and thieves of the province, and the people are flying with +what goods they can collect to the places of refuge; if the noble +stranger is wise he will follow," said the man, leaving the room to make +preparation for the departure of himself and family. + +Of the places of refuge, of which the man spoke, there were many in the +province of Leao-tong. Some were in the open plains, encompassed by +strong walls, and entrenched ditches of great depth; others were erected +upon the summits of mountain crags, and approachable only by great +ladders, or secret steps in the rock. + +Fearing for the safety of the princess, Nicholas lost no time in +securing the aid of the innkeeper, who, for a handsome present, and in +compassion for the ladies, offered to secure them a safe asylum. So when +the greater portion of the terrified inhabitants of the little hamlet +had fled to their different places of refuge, taking with them the bulk +of their property, the innkeeper, placing his wife and daughter in a +cart, led the way through a defile of the mountain, and many times was +he stopped by his flying neighbors, who implored of him to seek a safer +place than the open mountains, where the rogues could so easily follow. +Keeping steadily along the ridge, while they were in sight, the last had +no sooner disappeared than he turned through a great cleft, just large +enough for the cart and camel to pass, when, pointing to a crag which +hung over the summit, at a great height, he said, "The rogues will not +reach us there." + +"Are we birds, that we can fly?" said Chow, with astonishment. + +When they had proceeded some distance through the opening, they came to +another and narrower cleft, cut out of its sides, to pass through which +they were compelled to unharness the mules and camel, when they entered +a wide, open space, like a courtyard. + +"Even now we want wings, my brother," said Chow, shuddering, as he gazed +upward at the great height. + +"Our wings are here," said the man, turning aside what appeared to be a +huge block of rock, but was only an ingenious imitation, when before +them there was a flight of steps, steep, and so narrow, that they looked +as if the ascent would squeeze a fat man a foot taller. + +However, pleased at the discovery of such a place of refuge, they did +not stop to examine it, but passed onward; the princess first, and the +other women followed by the men, who carried articles of food, fuel, or +raiment with them. Having reached the uppermost step, they crept through +a hole large enough only for one person, and found themselves in one +large room, the roof of which was indeed the summit of the rock. In the +walls were small loopholes, from which could be seen many miles of +country; there was also a large space in one side for a fire, which was +immediately made use of by Chow, who had carried the fuel. Then the +guide was sent to fetch other matters, after which they all sat down +upon their mats, and partook of hot tea and rice cakes. + +"Truly this is a wonderful place," said Nicholas, who, although he knew +that places of refuge were common in all the frontier provinces, had no +notion of their real strength and security. + +"See," said the man, pointing to some huge stones near the entrance, and +some heavy bars of iron hanging upon the walls, "should the dogs +discover our retreat, they may be crushed as small as tea-dust." + +"Truly they could but starve us out." + +"Not so, noble youth," said the man pointing to a massive slab of rock; +and adding, "This is a door and leads to another part of the mountain." + +"Truly our ancestors were wise." + +"Necessity made them so, O youth; for two thousand years this border +province has been invaded at intervals by the Tartar barbarians." + +When night came on, the men of the party descended to the cavern +beneath, the women kept to the turret, and were rocked to sleep by the +roaring wind, which brought to them the flame, smoke, and sparks, from +below. They, however, were secure, although the enraged rogues had made +a bonfire of their village--and they slept. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +TREACHERY OF THE GUIDE.--THE PRINCESS SEIZED BY ROBBERS. + + +After a sojourn of three days in this hiding-place their provisions grew +short; moreover, it was probable that the enemy had left the village, +if, indeed, they had not taken their departure upon the first day; +therefore, it was arranged that one of the party should proceed upon a +tour of observation, and as the guide not only volunteered, but from his +profession seemed to be the most fitting person, he was sent. After an +absence of some hours, he brought them the information that not only had +the enemy left the neighborhood, but there was plenty of game at hand, +the great proof of which was the carcass of a yellow goat that he +carried across his shoulders; and so joyful was Nicholas at the news, +that he proposed their immediate departure. + +"It would not be wise, O my young friend, for these thieves are artful, +and may be only lurking near till they can pounce upon us like tigers," +said the innkeeper. + +This advice being reasonable, and, fearing more for the princess than +himself, Nicholas readily agreed to remain for a few more days; but +then, tired of confinement, and knowing that one small kid would be +insufficient, he took his bow in his hands, saying, "Leave not this +place, O Chow, till I return." + +"This may not be, O my master, for while here, there are two men, and a +strong room to protect the ladies; among the hills it will be as much as +two can do to protect each other from strolling thieves," said Chow; +which reasonable view, being supported by the princess and the +innkeeper, Nicholas was compelled, although against his will, to comply +with; and so the two youths started off in company. + +Along mountain ridges, through valleys, and up steep crags, they toiled +for some hours without meeting man or beast. At length, however, as they +crossed a small hill covered with trees there was a rustling among the +underwood, and they heard the grunt of some animal. "It is a boar, +prepare thy bow," said Nicholas. + +"No, no, master, no; he is running from us," said Chow, who was upon +higher ground and could see better. "See," he added, as Nicholas came by +his side, "he is sniffing something good; what can it be?" For a minute +they watched the animal, who was quietly sniffing the ground near a +small opening of the mountain. "See, he seeks the entrance, we must not +lose him," said Nicholas; and in another minute the boar fell over with +an arrow in his side when, drawing his sword, Nicholas ran up to it. The +animal, however, was too quick, for instead of being unduly alarmed at +the sudden attack, like a sensible beast, he had, with his teeth, +plucked the arrow from his body; an operation he effected so quickly, +that before Nicholas could stop, the boar met him half-way, tripped him +over, and, placing his huge paws upon the boy's face, would speedily +have killed him, but for another arrow which Chow had sent through the +brute's thick neck. + +"That was a good aim, my brave Chow," said Nicholas, as he arose, and +passed his sword through the beast. + +"The obstinacy of thy servant in coming with thee was good, O noble +Nicholas." + +"Thou shalt be rewarded with a leg, at least," said Nicholas. + +Thus satisfied with their foraging expedition, they carried the animal +between them till they came within a short distance of the refuge, when +they stopped to rest; but, starting suddenly Chow said, "Let us listen;" +and both put their ears to the ground. "Surely, it is plain, it is the +trampling of a large party of horses," replied Nicholas, rising to his +feet and running up a steep hill, "still there is nothing to be seen, no +living being--yet," he added, "it was the trampling of horses." + +"It can not be otherwise," said Chow. + +"Let us haste, then, O Chow!" and leaving the carcass of the boar upon +the ground, they ran till they reached the cavern. The camel and mules +were gone--their worst fears were confirmed; and Nicholas ascended the +stairs, followed by Chow, entered the room, when involuntarily placing +his hand upon his forehead, as if to assist his astonished vision, he +gave a scream of horror. + +As for Chow, for a minute his astonishment deprived him of speech; then, +falling upon his face, he exclaimed, "My beloved mother!" + +Well might they be horrified, for the princess and her attendant were +absent; the innkeeper, his wife and daughter, and the guide, were bound +with cords and gagged, so that they could neither move nor speak. + +While Nicholas released the innkeeper, Chow performed a like office for +the women, when they all fell upon the guide, thumping him with their +fists, kicking him with their feet, and exclaiming, "Thou rat, thou +snake, thou shalt be strangled." As for the miserable fellow, with his +limbs bound and his mouth gagged, he could do nothing but roll his eyes +at them. Then being released by Nicholas, he would have got upon his +legs but for Chow, who threw him upon his back, and, stamping his foot +upon his breast, cried, "Lie there, thou dog, for thou art the villain." + +"It is not so, Chow, or he would not himself be so bound and gagged," +said Nicholas. + +"Nevertheless, he is the traitor; he it was who brought the soldiers +upon us, who discovered our retreat," said the innkeeper, giving the +prostrate rogue another kick. + +"Open thy lips, thou rascal; say what has become of the two ladies, or I +will slay thee," said Nicholas. + +"Speak, thou rogue," said Chow, almost breathless with anxiety. + +"Truly it was the misfortune and not the crime of thy servant; for had +he not been chosen as thy guide, this thing could not have happened," +replied the trembling fellow. + +"Open thy lips to a purpose, thou rogue; give me a clue to the track of +these robbers, and thy life shall be spared," said Nicholas, more +anxious to rescue the princess than to punish the guide, who, gaining +courage from the promise, said, "Truly, then, the princess is on her way +to the camp of the Emperor." + +This was too much for Nicholas, who fell upon the man, and would have +killed him, but for Chow, who, in his turn, becoming more calm, said, +"Let the rogue earn his life by enabling us to follow these thieving +rats." + +Perceiving the wisdom of this, Nicholas removed his hand from the throat +of the rogue, who said, "Truly this is a heavy misfortune; for till thy +servant left this place, he intended no mischief, when in the mountains +he met with a party of soldiers, who have been pursuing us all the way +from Kin-Chow for the purpose of earning the reward offered for the +princess." + +"How is this possible, thou rogue?" said Nicholas. + +"On the day of the festival, these soldiers landed on their way to +gather troops for the service of the Emperor Li, whom they were ordered +to join on the borders of the province; on the same day that thy outrage +upon the person of my uncle, the innkeeper of Kin-Chow, was discovered, +and the venerable man in his indignation told the soldiers that the +princess, for whom so large a reward was offered, was on the road to +Lao-yang, accompanied by a woman, two youths, and his nephew, who might +be known by the name of Leang, and who would, doubtless, when he heard +of the affront put upon his uncle, aid in capturing the whole party. The +soldiers, anxious to obtain the reward, pressed forward with such haste, +that, but for our crossing the platform, they would have overtaken us," +said the guide; adding, "And would that they had, for then thy servant +would have been innocent." + +"If innocent, then, thou rogue, what hath since caused thee to become a +traitor," said Nicholas. + +"When the soldiers informed the nephew of the affront offered to his +venerable uncle, how under heaven and the social laws could he refuse to +aid in the punishment of such offenders?" + +"How came it, O thou great rogue, that the soldiers should repay thy +great services with so much ingratitude?" + +"Truly thy mean servant is not a god, that he can foresee the +ingratitude of mankind." + +"These are dog's words, O noble youth," said the innkeeper; adding, +"This fellow had promised the thieves to keep thee under some pretence +till they came up, when they intended to have sold thee as a slave; and +finding that they had missed a portion of their expected prize, partly +in their rage, and partly that the rogue should not claim a portion of +the reward, they first beat and then left him as you found him, not +doubting that upon your return you would kill so false a rascal." + +"Shall we not kill the traitor, who has stolen my beloved mother and the +princess?" said Chow, very fiercely. + +"Truly we will do better--make him useful," said Nicholas; adding, "Is +the rogue certain that these soldiers have proceeded to Lao-yang?" + +"It must be so, for it is to that city the Emperor Li is marching to +besiege the rebel Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide. + +"Thou rascal, to call so great a thief an emperor, and so great a +general a rebel," said Chow, menacing him with his fist; adding, as he +again bound his arms to his side, "Thou shalt at least be in safe +keeping till either the princess be discovered, or thy day arrives to be +strangled." + +The excitement past, then came despair. The soldiers had stolen the +mules and camel; it was, therefore, useless to attempt to overtake them, +even if their numbers had been sufficiently large. What was to be done? +and they both sat with their heads upon their hands. Nothing! At length +Nicholas said, "Bring the rogue with us, we will seek the General +Woo-san-Kwei." + +"The roads are dangerous, and may be filled with rebels," said the +innkeeper. + +"Then must we fight our way through the vermin," said Nicholas. + +"This rogue shall go before and get the first sword in his wretched +body," said Chow, jerking the rope by which he held the guide, whose +teeth chattered together with terror at the notion. + +Then telling the innkeeper where to find the dead boar, Nicholas bade +him and his family farewell. + +"May the great Tien aid thee!" said the woman. + +"Leave us thy name, O noble youth, that it may be marked on the memories +of our descendants," said the innkeeper. + +Nicholas took the man aside, and whispered in his ear. + +"It is a terrible name," said the man, bowing his head to the ground. + +"It is a good one, and the son will restore thee thy village, O worthy +man, if the rebels take not his life," said Nicholas. + +"The princess, the princess, and my beloved mother," exclaimed Chow. + +"Are protected by Heaven till we rescue them from the hands of the +villain Li," said Nicholas, and they proceeded on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +ONCE MORE PRISONERS, BUT WITH FRIENDS--THE GUIDE'S MISTAKE. + + +With sorrowful hearts the two boys took leave of the houseless family, +and proceeded along the ridges of the mountains till they came to the +entrance of a great wood. Chow had custody of the guide, whom he held by +the rope, and pressed forward or jerked backward, as his sense of +indignation at the loss of his mother arose or subsided. At times he +would so slacken the rope that the man could scarcely feel his thraldom; +then again, when he thought of the hopelessness of again recovering his +mother, he would clench his teeth and pull it so violently, that the +miserable guide would fall backward; whereupon Chow would say, "Get thee +upon thy bamboo legs, thou rogue, or I will drag thee like a bale of +demon's goods, as thou art;" and the fat body of the coward would shake +like a blanc-mange, rise upon its legs, and commence a trot, when, after +a little while, Chow would give another tug at the rope, saying, as the +man tottered backward, "O, thou wouldst escape, wouldst thou, thou mouse +of fat measure, who hath stolen the cream of our lives?" + +"Truly thy servant has been unfortunate, O noble youth, yet if his body +is shaken like a jelly of cold soup, he cannot guide thee through this +city of trees." + +"The rogue's words are good, Chow, we cannot find our way through these +trees without his aid," said Nicholas; adding, "Fasten the rope around +thy arm, so that he cannot slip from thy hands." + +"Truly the advice of my master is good," said Chow; and as they were +then passing through a thick copse, he fastened the rope around his own +body, saying, "Now, thou rat, honesty will for once reverse things, and +take its place behind roguery, for surely I hear footsteps, and should +they be those of thieves, thy thick head may serve to blunt the points +of their arrows." + +The sounds were unmistakable, and the guide fell backward, trembling so +violently that he could not walk, till, taking hold of his shoulders, +Chow pushed him forward, saying, "On, thou coward, on;" and so they went +along the narrow path, till the sounds became more distinct. Then a +voice shouted to them, "stop!" when, trembling more than ever, the guide +threw one shoulder backward, and one foot forward, in order to prop +himself against the propelling Chow, at the same time exclaiming, "Stay, +O generous youth,--for the love of Fo, stay!--or the body of thy servant +will become a cushion for arrow-heads." + +"Silence, thou dog," said Nicholas; adding in a whisper to Chow, "Let us +remain quiet, for doubtless it is some thief." + +Then came the twang of a bow, and an arrow flew by, in its flight +clipping the ear of the miserable guide, who, now fairly frightened +out of his senses, twisted round like a teetotum, and fell upon the +ground, carrying Chow with him, exclaiming, "These are the thieves, +these are the thieves, O honorable war tiger." + +And before Chow had disengaged himself from the rogue, they were all +three dragged into an open glade, where they found themselves surrounded +by a party of cavalry, the guide upon the ground trembling, and Nicholas +and Chow with their arms folded defiantly. + +[Illustration: Nicholas and Chow taken Prisoners.] + +"Who are the dogs? what their names, surnames, and rank?" said the +officer. + +"Travelers who have no fear of rebel rogues," replied Nicholas +dauntlessly, believing them to be troops of Li-Kong. + +"Take my life, but save that of my venerable mother," said Chow, in a +similar belief. + +"These rogues are robbers, who would take a faithful and valiant subject +of the great Emperor Li-Kong a prisoner to the town of the thief +Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide, jumping upon his feet, with a most +warlike mien, knowing that if with the soldiers of Li-Kong he was with +friends. + +"What means the slave? Who art thou, thou empty rice tub?" said the +officer. + +"It may please the fierce tiger of war to be amused at the person of his +servant; but if he be a rice-tub, he can serve the Emperor." + +"Emperor!--what Emperor, thou ox?" said the officer. + +"The great Li,--may he live ten thousand years." + +"Thy name, surname, and rank?" said the officer. + +"The mean name of thy insignificant servant is Leang, and he is the +unworthy nephew of Ling, the innkeeper, of Kin-Chow," replied the guide, +not doubting that he was in the hands of rebel troopers. + +"Then truly, Leang, the unworthy nephew of Ling, is a dangerous though a +comical rogue." + +"The noble tiger of war is pleased----" + +"To have thee strangled with thine own girdle for being a follower of +the great thief Li-Kong," said the officer; adding, as he turned to his +soldiers, "Let this be done." + +At this unexpected result, the terribly mistaken guide's face became +paler and longer, and falling upon his knees, he said, "Let the +magnificent commander be generous to an insignificant and withered +mouse, who is nothing but a poor and faithful guide, as these noble +youths, whom he hath conducted all the way from Kin-Chow to the town of +the great Woo-san-Kwei, can testify." + +"Bend thy neck at the name of the great prince, thou rogue," said the +officer, striking him on the back with his sword, and the guide fell +flat--that is, as nearly so as his protuberant stomach would +permit--when the officer added laughingly, "Truly the animal is fat +enough to kill at once; yet, as the rebels may cause us a siege so long +that we may be short of provender for our horses, let him be kept in a +strong cage till that time arrives;" then beckoning to a soldier, the +latter seized the horrified guide and tied him before him on his saddle. + +Then turning to Nicholas and Chow, who, notwithstanding their serious +position, had been laughing heartily at the merited misery of the guide, +the officer said, "Are the rogue's words truth? Do my brothers seek the +presence of the great Woo-san-Kwei?" Then when Nicholas had related to +the officer the whole of their adventures from Kin, Chow alone +prudentially keeping back the fact that the lady of high rank was the +princess, he said, "What were the numbers of these rogues?" + +"There could have been no less than twenty, O noble commander," said +Nicholas. + +Then turning to his second-in-command, the officer said, "Let the rogue +of a guide be kept tied before thee on thy saddle, O Ching; take fifty +horsemen, and return not to the camp till thou bringest these ladies +with thee. If the rogue of a guide directs thee so that thou art +successful, he shall be rewarded; if not, strangled." + +"Will not the noble commander let these horsemen be placed under the +charge of his younger brother, who truly hath the greater right to bring +these rogues to punishment?" said Nicholas, imploringly. + +"This may not be, my brother; for, although I doubt not thy honesty, it +would be at the risk of my life that I let thee pass from my sight till +thou hadst been taken before the prince." + +Although vexed that the chance of rescuing the princess, and punishing +the soldiers who had made her prisoner, had been denied to him, +Nicholas felt too well pleased at the slightest possibility of her being +rescued, to complain; and, therefore, without another word, the boys +followed the troops upon their march to Lao-yang, not by any means +regretting that they had fallen into the hands of this foraging party of +Woo-san-Kwei's army. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +INTERVIEW WITH THE GENERAL.--NICHOLAS CAUSES SOLDIERS TO BE SENT IN +SEARCH OF THE PRINCESS. + + +Unlike any place Nicholas had seen since he left his father's fleet, +Lao-yang exhibited sure signs of the determination and energy of its +commanders. Surrounded by a deep ditch of great width, its formidable +walls were manned at every point with the picked and most disciplined +men from the northern provinces--soldiers who had been fighting for many +years against the invading Tartars--and armed to the teeth with swords, +cross-bows, shields, helmets, and breast and back plates. At short +distances were planted small brass cannon, or bombards, which, although +they had been set aside for so many years that the art of using them had +become forgotten, Woo-san-Kwei had not only brought again into use, but +taught his troops to serve effectually. Then, again, although the +matchlock men were fewer than upon the walls of Pekin, they had been so +well exercised in the use of that weapon that they could handle it +nearly as well as bows and arrows,--a great matter at that period, as +you will understand when I tell you that some few years previously, when +matchlocks were first introduced, to defend a frontier town against the +Tartars, the latter were so much astonished at a weapon which possessed +the magic power of slaying them at so great a distance, that they fled +in dismay, when, making a sortie, or onset, the Chinese destroyed many +thousands. The next assault, however, the Tartars provided their front +ranks with shields of wood, so large and thick, that they were as safe +from bullets, as they would have been behind walls, consequently the +fire of the Chinese proved useless; moreover, before they could reload, +the second rank of the Tartars scaled the walls and fell upon them so +quickly, that even those who had time to load handled their pieces so +clumsily and nervously that the rebound knocked them over, and the whole +garrison were killed. This affair so disgusted the Chinese with the +matchlock, that henceforward they kept it more as a matter of show, or +to use when there was no chance of coming to close quarters, than as a +regular weapon of war. + +With greater foresight, the General Woo-san-Kwei had not only re-adopted +the weapon, but, by incessant practice, and offerings of rewards and +promotion to those who exhibited peculiar dexterity, he succeeded in +forming a good body of matchlock men. + +When they had passed through the gates, the officer left Nicholas and +Chow to amuse themselves as best they might, while he proceeded to +report the arrival of himself and his prisoners (for in that light he +regarded them) to the prince general. + +Had Nicholas entrusted his name, or that of the princess, to the +officer, there can be no doubt that the general would have granted him +an immediate interview; as it was, he had to wait till the following +day. Previously, however, to seeking the audience, he went to the great +square, where, to his surprise, he saw a large body of troops drawn out +under arms, with their banners and wind instruments, as if to receive +some important personage, and officers were galloping to and fro between +the palace and the great gates. The meaning of all this puzzled him. +Truly it would be unfortunate if Woo-san-Kwei should be about to take +his departure upon some expedition. The riddle, was, however, soon +explained; for, even while he was pondering, the general's own bodyguard +passed to the gate; when, drawing themselves up on either side, a +noble-looking horseman, followed by a train of some twenty others, rode +into the city, and was escorted to the palace; but, great as this +personage evidently was, the Chinese soldiers kept a dread and sullen +silence, making no movement except to involuntarily clutch the triggers +of their pieces, or the strings of their bows. As for Nicholas, he +stared with astonishment, grasped the hilt of his sword--the sight was +indeed extraordinary. A Mantchou prince and his train of Tartars, those +most dreaded enemies of the empire, within the very palace of the +barbarian-subduing general, not in chains, but as a friend, received +with honor. + +Indignant at the sight, Nicholas rudely grasped the arm of a soldier, +saying, "Can my brother tell a stranger how it is that such barbarian +thieves are within these walls? Surely the kid does not invite the wolf +to its own bosom!" + +"Would my brother keep his head upon his shoulders and not be thrown +from the walls like a dead rat, he will not seek to know the +barbarian-exterminating general's secrets," said the surly soldier; +adding, however, directly afterward, "The Tartar dogs may have come to +offer their submission." + +Whatever might have been the business of the Tartar prince with the +Chinese general, it did not last an hour, for in less than that time he +left the city, and shortly after the officer who had brought Nicholas +into the town conducted him to the presence of the general, who, in full +military costume, surrounded by a great number of officers, was standing +(a rare thing for a Chinese grandee) at a table, busily engaged in +examining some papers. + +Having performed the same ceremony of running up the middle of the +apartment, and bowing to the ground, as at an audience of the Emperor, +he awaited the command of the prince to rise, which being given, +Woo-san-Kwei no sooner saw his features than he said, "This is indeed a +fortunate day, that brings to us the son of Chin-Chi-Loong. Thy +presence, bold youth, is welcome; yet," he added sternly, "so brave a +servant should have died defending his imperial master." + +"The silken voice of the illustrious general is music to his servant, +whose words must not fall into the ears of all," replied Nicholas, +glancing at the officers around. + +"This is but wisdom, youth," replied the prince, motioning to the +officers to withdraw from the apartment, after which he said, "Let the +noble youth open his lips;" whereupon Nicholas gave a faithful recital +of his adventures from the time that Woo-san-Kwei had himself left Pekin +for the army. During the recital, the general listened attentively, at +intervals giving vent to exclamations of surprise, rage, or approval. +When, however, Nicholas related the escape of the princess, he said, +warmly, "Noble youth, thy wisdom, like thy bravery, is beyond thy years; +and when these rebel dogs have been swept from the earth, thou shalt +have the kingdom that thy father seeketh." Then, when the enthusiasm of +the moment had passed, bethinking himself, he said, "But truly the +servant of the Mings forgets his duty to the daughter of his murdered +Emperor; lead me to her, O youth." + +Then Nicholas, for the first time in his life, trembled; an arrow +through his heart would have been more welcome than that command, and +falling upon his knees, as if he had betrayed a sacred trust, he said, +"These words should be my last, O general. The princess is in the power +of the rebel Li-Kong." + +So like a thunder-clap did these words fall upon the mind of the +Woo-san-Kwei, that for a moment he was speechless, but recovering +himself, he said, "Thou dog, if these words are true thou shalt die;" +but becoming calmer, he commanded Nicholas to finish his story, and when +the youth had brought it up to the moment of the audience, the general +said, "Thou art, indeed, a brave youth; but this rogue Leang, knows he +the road the woman thieves took?" Then, however, without waiting for an +answer, and knowing that action was more likely to recover the princess +and her attendant than useless sorrow or anger, he ordered the +attendance of one of his officers, telling him to send out parties of +soldiers in different directions in search of the princess. + +Then Nicholas fell upon his knees, and prayed to lead the party himself. + +"This cannot be, brave youth, for thou art too serviceable to have thy +person risked in a province so wild that no stranger can journey through +without a guide." + +"Then, O illustrious prince, thy servant dares not meet the heavenly +eyes of the Prince Yong-Li, in whose service he has undertaken this long +journey," said Nicholas. + +"Truly it was an unfortunate day for the son of Woo when he fell under +the displeasure of the young Emperor, his royal master," said the +general, gloomily. + +"Can it be under heaven that Yong Li has forgotten the great services of +his most illustrious general?" + +"Such is his servant's misfortune," said the general. + +"Then," said Nicholas, "let thy servant seek the young Emperor, and upon +his knees pray of him to open his heavenly ears to the fragrant advice +of the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"This cannot be, for his majesty (_may he continue the circle of +succession_) has left Lao-yang in anger." + +"This, then, is indeed an unfortunate day, O my general," said +Nicholas, with astonishment; adding, "Surely the cause must have been +great for so much anger from so mild a prince." + +"Let the noble youth open his ears, and he shall hear how this calamity +fell out," said the general; adding, "When his majesty, after the death +of his father, so happily escaped the hands of the great thief Li, he +fled to the army of his servant, and desired that the whole of the +Tartar-subduing army of Leao-tong should be immediately led to Pekin for +the purpose of destroying the rebels. Alas! the grief of the prince had +destroyed his reason; the plan was not possible, for in my absence the +barbarians would have overrun the northern province. Well, for a time +the prince submitted to his servant's advice, till one day an envoy +arrived from the dog Li, who commanded me to proclaim him Emperor +throughout the province, offering, as the price of my obedience, a +kingdom; threatening, if I refused, to march against this city with a +million of men." + +"The illustrious general could make but one answer to so infamous a +proposal," said Nicholas. + +"And that was to offer a reward of ten thousand taels to the brave man +who should lay the head of so black a dragon at my feet," said the +general; adding, "Soon after came the news that Li was on his march, +with a vast army, to chastise me for the insult, and I began to prepare +to receive him; but, finding that the number of my troops was so small +that the multitudinous army of the rebels would hew them to pieces in +the first battle, rather than suffer such a disgrace, and permit so +vile a criminal to remain unpunished, I dared to propose to make peace +with the Tartar king conditionally, that he would help me to drive this +rogue from the land. This proposition was indignantly resisted by the +prince, when (may I be pardoned for so daring an act) I became but the +more resolved, and immediately sent a special envoy to the Tartar, who, +in return, sent by his brother, the great Amavan, a promise to add to my +little army one hundred thousand of his bravest troops. Scarcely, +however, had a day elapsed after the departure of my envoy to the +Tartar, then the royal Yong-Li left the city in anger." + +"Truly, general, the prince was wise, for although in war and council +all men are mice by the side of the great Woo-san-Kwei, surely in this +his wisdom must have failed him, for, O general, is it reasonable to +bring in tigers to chase away dogs?" said Nicholas, warmly. + +To which Woo-san-Kwei made no reply, but terminated the audience to keep +down his anger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +CRUEL DEATH OF THE AGED WOO.--A BATTLE.--BRAVERY OF THE BOYS.--CHOW +TAKEN BY THE ENEMY. + + +With terrible anxiety, Nicholas awaited the return of the party sent in +search of the princess, but when evening came and they brought not the +slightest clue, his grief grew beyond all bounds, and he resolved to +seek the general's permission to go himself in search, but, as on the +following day, a deserter from the enemy brought news that the main body +of the rebels was within a few miles of Lao-yang, he was compelled to +remain with Woo-san-Kwei, at least till the enemy had been destroyed or +beaten back from whence they came. + +Then terrible preparations were made for a close fight, in the event of +the enemy assaulting the town before the arrival of the Tartars; but +when Li-Kong came in sight, with an army so vast that it covered the +country for miles, the hearts of Woo-san-Kwei's troops grew faint, for +should the Tartars deceive them, they were lost, for against such +numbers it was impossible they could hold out many days. Still, the +greatest coward grew courageous when he thought of the merciless cruelty +of Li, knowing it would be a far more easy death to fall upon the walls +than into his hands, and so for days they held out bravely against the +attacks which had now become incessant. Then, through the continued +efforts, both by day and night, made by the two youths, to sustain the +courage of the troops, the latter recovered their spirits, and so +gallantly did the boys help in repelling the assailants, that they were +praised by the general in front of the whole army. + +Fourteen days had they defended the town, when the provisions became so +scarce, that, again losing hope, the troops grew mutinous and threatened +to throw down their arms, when, upon the fifteenth, upon a hill that +arose far behind the rebel army, there shot up to the heavens a vast +body of blue fire, upon which, forgetting their troubles, the soldiers +became frantic with joy, offered thanks to Fo, and returned to their +duties with renewed energy; and no wonder, for it was the signal that +the Tartars were on their march to relieve them. + +Li-Kong must also have understood the signal, for from the moment of its +appearance one-half of his army began to manoeuvre, so as to present a +good front to the new enemy, while the other commenced a fierce assault +upon the town. Seeing assistance at hand, Woo-san-Kwei ordered his +troops to reserve their arrows and ammunition till their ally had so +weakened the enemy's rear that he could judiciously leave the town, and +attack them in front. When, however, the besieged slackened fire, the +assaulting party retired, and a body of their cavalry, holding their +great shields before them to receive stray arrows, rode forward to +within half a bow-shot from the walls, when they came to a dead halt. + +"What mean the dogs? surely they escort an envoy from the rash rebel," +said the general, commanding silence along the walls; and then ordering +one of his officers to shout to the party, that they might remove their +shields without fear. + +This having been done, the men let fall their shields, when the sight +that presented itself caused the brave general to reel, so that he would +have fallen but for the support of Nicholas. As for Chow, he placed an +arrow in his bow, and would have sent it flying at the chief of the +party, had not an officer struck the arrow from its rest, saying, "How, +wouldst thou disobey the general?" and brought to his senses, the boy +stood stamping his feet, gnashing his teeth, and twitching the bow with +suppressed rage. Well might the sight cause such consternation on the +part of the general, for there upon horseback, heavily laden with +chains, sat his father the venerable Woo, with his long gray hair +flowing down his bared neck, accompanied by an executioner, who stood by +his side, holding a naked sabre. + +[Illustration: The aged Woo brought in chains before the walls.] + +"What would the General Li-Kong with Woo-san-Kwei, that he thus humbles +him?" said Woo-san-Kwei. + +"Let the venerable Woo answer the question of his rebel son," said the +chief of the party. + +Then with a glance of fierce defiance at his guards, the old noble said, +"It is well known, O my son, that the heavens, earth, and fate cause +strange vicissitudes of fortune; even so have they deposed the Emperor +Wey-t-song, and placed in his royal seat the Emperor Li-Kong, who, if +thou wilt make a virtue of necessity, acknowledge his dominion, and +serve him as a faithful tributary, will confer upon thee the title and +dignity of a king; but if thou refusest submission, the head of thy +parent will be the penalty. Such are the words the aged Woo hath been +commanded to deliver; it is now for his brave son to consider what he +oweth to him who gave him life." + +So great was the indignation of the troops of Woo-san-Kwei, that but for +the danger of Woo, whom the rebels had placed in their front, they would +have shot down the whole party. As for the general, he stood for some +minutes bewildered; had it been his rank, fortune, or life, that was in +danger, his filial love would have prevented an instant's hesitation; +but was he not the son of a man whose whole life had been dedicated to +the people? alas! this knowledge made his agony the greater; for the +better the man, the greater reason his life should be saved at any cost. +At any? No--not at the cost of his honor, and the safety of the people, +whom this Li-Kong was decimating hourly. + +With terrible patience the chief of the party awaited a reply. It was +given. Woo-san-Kwei fell upon his knees. "Pardon, O my venerable and +noble parent," said he aloud, "but it is not under heaven that thou +couldst wish thy son to do this thing; if it be so, let this be the +answer: He that is not faithful to the people will never be faithful to +his son; therefore, if you forget your duty and fidelity to the imperial +family, and the people, by demanding that thy son should be guilty of so +great a crime, no man will blame Woo-san-Kwei for forgetting his duty +and obedience to such a father." Then, turning to the chief, the general +added sternly, "Take back these words, thou dog: That the son of the +venerable Woo will die the dog's death rather than acknowledge so great +and cruel a thief as this Li-Kong." + +"These are fragrant words, O my noble son; for hadst thou been guilty of +so monstrous a crime, the names both of father and son would have +sounded hateful in the ears of posterity: the father, that he had +brought up a son so basely; and the son, that he could save so bad a +parent," replied the venerable noble. + +"Shall it go down to posterity that the noble Woo-san-Kwei was the +assassin of his parent?" said the chief of the party. + +"Thou hast thy answer, dog, and if thou art within bow-shot longer than +the next five minutes thy miserable life shall be the forfeit," said the +general; adding sorrowfully, "Farewell, O my venerable parent. May the +great Tien pardon me, if I have not chosen virtuously." + +"Thy choice, O noble son, will make happy the last moments of thy +father," said the old noble; when, interrupting him, the rebel chief +said, "Still thou shalt have another chance to save this old man's life, +thou obstinate rebel;" adding, "I will grant thee another hour, and if +within that time a fire is made upon your walls, I shall take it as the +token of your submission; but if at the end of the hour such a signal +has not been made, then shall a similar signal from the Emperor's camp +proclaim thy parent to be on his journey to the yellow stream." + +After this the party hastened back to their camp, leaving the agonized +general standing in melancholy thoughtfulness, till just as the fifth +minute expired his attention was called to a small party of horsemen, +who, led by Nicholas and Chow, were at full gallop after the envoy. It +was rashness, nay, madness, for they were rushing upon the very outposts +of the enemy, and nothing less than a miracle could save the foolish +youths; when, turning to an officer, he cried, "Haste thee with what +horse you can collect to the rescue of those foolish boys." + +The order was obeyed, and some two hundred horse galloped forward, and +reached them in time to save Nicholas alone; as for Chow, having +recognized in the chief of the party the mandarin who had slain his +father, he had galloped greatly beyond his own party, when the mandarin, +fearing for the safe custody of Woo, pressed forward with such haste, +that, getting far ahead of his own party, Chow found himself a prisoner +before he knew where he was. Enraged at his danger, Nicholas would have +followed, but for the soldiers sent by Woo-san-Kwei, who, coming up to +him, caught hold of the rein of his horse, and in the name of the +general commanded him to return to the city. By the time, however, he +returned to the town, Woo-san-Kwei had determined to make a dash at the +rebels with a faint hope of saving his father,--a hope that was not +unreasonable, especially as the advanced guards of the Tartars were now +seen to attack Li-Kong from the opposite side. The little army was +ready; the general was at their head; but before they had marched far, a +bright flame shot up from the camp of Li-Kong. The head of Woo-san-Kwei +fell upon the neck of his horse; he sobbed aloud, "The assassin has +taken thy life, my noble parent;" but arousing himself, he added, "For +this one deed, O thou villain, thou shalt be hunted from the land;" and +so great were the numbers of the Tartars, and the bravery of +Woo-san-Kwei and his little army, that before midnight Li-Kong had been +driven from his position with the loss of at least one-half of his great +power. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE REBELS BEATEN.--ARTFULNESS OF THE TARTAR KING.--CHAGRIN AND +DISAPPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS. + + +At daybreak the battle was resumed; and with such terrible bravery did +the troops of Woo-san-Kwei and his ally the Tartar king fight, that +before noon the rebels fled in all directions; the main body, under Li +himself, retreating into the province of Pe-tche-Lee, where for many +weeks they were followed by the Tartars; and although the latter beat Li +in every engagement, and slew vast numbers of his troops, he managed so +cleverly that he reached Pekin; which city being well fortified and +manned by his adherents, he held out till the Tartars were reinforced by +many thousands of their brethren, who, now that the ancient barrier of +Leao-tong had been broken, flooded the empire like a mighty torrent. +Then Li, brave and able as he really was, saw the necessity of +retreating from the capital. To do this with profit to himself, the +artful rogue placed the whole of his troops upon and before the northern +walls; by this means he kept the soldiers employed and the enemy at bay +at least eight days and nights, during which time his more immediate +friends and faithful followers were engaged in carrying from the +imperial palace the vast treasures of jewels, gold, and silver, +collected by the Ming Emperors during the preceding two hundred and +eighty years, with which they escaped to Si-gnan, in the province of +Chen-si. Then, when the Tartar army entered the capital, although +terribly chagrined at the loss of so much treasure, they did but follow +Li-Kong a short distance, when they gave up the pursuit and returned to +Pekin, greatly to the vexation of Woo-san-Kwei, who, as you will see, +soon found that his new friends were as bad as his old enemies. + +No sooner was Li-Kong expelled, than Woo-san-Kwei proclaimed the Prince +Yong-Li Emperor, and offered to pay the Tartar king an immense sum for +the use of his army, at the same time respectfully begging he would +withdraw his troops from the empire, as it was contrary to the sacred +books that so many foreigners should remain in the sacred capital; to +which polite request the Tartar made an equally polite reply: "We do +not," said he, "think it fit to leave yet, for there are many unsubdued +thieves who may cause as much trouble as this Li-Kong; moreover, this +arch-rebel is himself established in his province, and would doubtless +return if he found that we, whom alone he fears, had quitted China; +therefore, O noble Woo-san-Kwei, we are resolved to follow up our +victory, and exterminate every rogue in the land, so that you may +deliver the empire to Yong-Li in full peace and prosperity; as for the +payment for our services, we are not poor, and can wait till the kingdom +be settled. In the mean time, however, that which we chiefly desire is, +that the great Woo-san-Kwei shall recruit his army from our own, and +proceed to Chen-si to destroy the dog Li, while we, with our brave +Tartars, will endeavor to sweep from the southern provinces the rogues +and thieves who are now settled therein." + +Deeply chagrined that he had replaced dogs with tigers, Woo-san-Kwei +could do nothing but obey--for in reality it was a command; and so he +proceeded into Chen-si, accompanied by Nicholas, where, after a campaign +of many months, he succeeded in destroying the power and army of +Li-Kong; as for the rogue himself, as his body was not found, it was +supposed that he had been killed, while endeavoring to escape in the +disguise of a private soldier. + +Throughout the campaign in Chen-si, Nicholas had fought with terrible +energy, for he had hoped that when they took possession of Li-Kong's +palace, he should obtain at least some clue to the fate of the princess +and Chow, both of whom, if alive, he believed to be in the power of the +rebels. As, however, notwithstanding the highest rewards and the most +vigorous search, he failed in gaining the slightest clue, he felt +greatly pleased when they returned to Pekin, where he was not without +hope that the princess might be concealed, and if so, she was safe; for +doubtlessly, by the time they reached the city, their Tartar allies +would, according to their promise, have proclaimed her brother, the +Prince Yong-Li, Emperor. + +So great and popular had been the successes of Woo-san-Kwei in Chen-si, +that as he rode toward Pekin the people came out, and falling upon their +knees, almost worshiped him as the restorer of peace and order. About +midway between Chen-si and Pekin, they were met by the great officers of +the Tartar king, who brought with them a vast body of troops, in order +to augment the state of the general's triumphal entrance into the +capital. Now this was very gratifying to Nicholas, for seeing the +Tartars pay so much respect to the great Ming general, he doubted less +than ever that, like faithful friends, if they had not already done so, +they would speedily restore Yong-Li to his throne--a gratification which +was considerably heightened, when, at the gates of the city, they were +met by a procession of great officers, both Tartars and Chinese, who, in +the name of the Emperor, greeted Woo-san-Kwei with the title of King of +Chen-si; so with difficulty the procession passed through the masses of +people, whose hoarse voices clamored, "Long life, ten thousand years, to +the Emperor." + +"This, then," thought Nicholas, "is indeed a fortunate day; for not only +have these brave Tartars restored the Prince Yong-Li to his right, but +the amiable prince commences his reign by an act of gratitude; for, +forgetting his quarrel with Woo-san-Kwei, he rewards his great services +with the kingdom of Chen-si." Thus they rode onward till they came to +the palace, where the Emperor was waiting to do honor to the great +general. + +Then, as Nicholas passed through the courts of the palace, he stared +with surprise, not unmixed with indignation, at the disproportion of the +numbers of Chinese to those of the Tartars. Yet again, surely it was but +gratitude on the part of the young Emperor to reward those who had +restored him to the throne of his ancestors; still a strange fear crept +over him, and he said, almost in a whisper, "Truly, O illustrious +prince, these barbarians have taken possession of the empire." + +"It is as wise, O youth, to make a virtue of necessity, as it is +childish to resist the decrees of fate," said the general; and then a +pang of disappointment shot through the youth's heart; his illusion +vanished; moreover, he would have given his life to have avoided the +scene before him. They had entered the great hall of audience; there, +upon the golden dragon throne, surrounded by the warrior princes and +chiefs of Mantchouria, sat the Emperor. The Emperor, indeed! not +Yong-Li, but a Tartar child of six years of age. Heartsick, enraged, he +would have spoken. The general perceiving his misery, clutched his arm. +Nicholas checked his impatience, but nevertheless muttered, "Surely the +heavens will fall, for the great Woo-san-Kwei has proved a traitor." + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE GREAT BOY EMPEROR.--NICHOLAS MEETS WITH A FEARFUL SURPRISE. + + +Once having entered the rich empire of China, the Tartar king determined +to remain, and thus artfully sent Woo-san-Kwei, the only man he feared, +to chastise the rebels in Chen-si, so that he could the better introduce +more and more of the warrior tribes beneath his rule: moreover, he was +so cruel to those who resisted his army, and so generous and kind to +those who submitted freely, that the people, glad to get a sovereign who +had power enough to crush the rapacious nobles, unanimously hailed him +Emperor; before, however, he could be formally installed, he became +seized with a mortal illness, so, calling his brother Amavan, he created +him regent during the minority of his son Chun-ti, a child six years of +age. + +Fortunately for the young Emperor, Amavan, unlike most Asiatic uncles, +proved faithful to his nephew, and, more fortunately still, Amavan +happened to be a great as well as a brave man, who conquered his enemies +as much by his intellect as his sword. Taking care, therefore, to have +an overwhelming number of troops in Pekin, he first sought to establish +the government by distributing the great offices of the empire equally +among his Tartars and the Chinese mandarins. Then to Woo-san-Kwei he had +represented by his ambassadors the folly of endeavoring to oppose the +great power of the new Emperor, and, moreover, the cruelty of bringing +upon the people the horrors of a civil war; while, if he would aid in +the firm settlement of the new dynasty, he should not only be created +King of Chen-si, but that, as the laws of the Chinese were the best in +the world, the Tartars should conform to them in every respect. To all +of which Woo-san-Kwei, being so entirely checkmated, could but submit, +retaining a hope that the time and opportunity might come when he should +be powerful enough to drive these Tartars from the land--a task which, +when too late, he found to be rather more difficult than bringing them +in. + +Having thus, as he thought, gained over the Ming general to his cause, +and wishing to give the Chinese a proof that the young Emperor wished to +conciliate them, Amavan resolved that the greatest of their countrymen +should be received on his entry into Pekin with royal honors; and more, +that the same day should be the one chosen for his imperial nephew's +first grand levee. + +I will now return to Nicholas, who, with hardly suppressed indignation, +was compelled to witness the following scene. + +Having commanded the great lords, who were prostrate at the foot of his +throne, to rise, the child Emperor Chun-ti addressed them in a speech +that not only astonished the whole court, but remains to the present +day one of the marvels in the history of China. + +"It is your strength and power more than my felicity, my dear and +generous uncle, and you, the rest of my noble commanders, which supports +my weakness, and makes me so undauntedly ascend this imperial throne. My +present assurance, and this chair's stability, is, I hope, as happy a +sign of my future prosperity as its tottering proved unfortunate to the +thief Li-Kong. You see my first step to the empire, but I know your +valor to be such that I look not only upon the kingdom of China as my +own, but conceive the empire of the world not only by me possessed, but +also established. The rewards due to such incomparable virtues shall be +no other than the riches of the empire and royal dignities." + +At this extraordinary speech from the lips of so young a child, and +which, notwithstanding the silence of solemn historians on the subjects, +I believe must have been taught Master Chun-ti by his uncle, the artful +Amavan, the nobles fell upon their faces, as thankfully as a flock of +famished wolves at the sight of a good meal after a run of a great many +hundreds of miles. + +After which the Emperor added, "And that it may be known throughout the +empire that we can reward merit, whether it be found in our Chinese +subjects or our own black-haired race, we bestow upon the rebel-subduing +Prince Woo-san-Kwei, the title of Pacifier of the Western World, and the +dignity and rank of King of Chen-si; may his appointment prove +fortunate to the people." Whereupon, to the disgust of Nicholas, the +Ming general knelt before the Emperor, and holding his hands above his +head, received the golden box, in which were placed the symbols of his +office. + +After this Nicholas was pained not only to witness the bestowal of high +offices upon the Tartar chieftains, but, for worse, the acceptation of +dignities by Chinese mandarins, who had been profuse in their +professions of loyalty to the Ming family. Then, as the Emperor was +about to move his sleeves as a signal of the close of the audience, one +of the nobles announced the arrival of some great personage, whose name +his ears failed to catch, whereupon the regent Amavan said, "This man, O +my prince, is the greatest of your majesty's conquests," and in another +minute a personage of majestic height and figure, attired and attended +with all the magnificence of a king, entered the hall and fell at the +foot of the throne, and as he did so Amavan proclaimed his name and +titles, when Nicholas gave a cry of astonishment, and would have rushed +forward, but for Woo-san-Kwei, who, by whispering in his ear, caused him +to become as pale and almost as silent as marble. His surprise and +indignation was not wonderful, for the great man who knelt at the feet +of the Tartar chief was no less a personage than his own father, +Chin-Chi-Loong. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER. + + +Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be the +traitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him, +Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to the +palace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarking +the absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants who +followed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and the +passages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "my +beloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at his +unfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief a +message by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter from +the south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the King +Pacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no other +than Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, after +their long absence from each other. + +"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by the +tempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek the +sunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when the +first greeting was past. + +"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life of +Chin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so great +a crime," said the chief. + +"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiver +of stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surely +it was not given to thee by the Emperor Yong-Li," replied Nicholas. + +"Is my son blind, that he cannot see that his parent is a prisoner to +these Tartar dogs?" + +"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon their +prisoners?" said Nicholas. + +"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commission +sent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the four +seas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels and +thieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effected +this great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain the +Emperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession of +the seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for many +months kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces at +bay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, I +still kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid of +my power, the Tartar king and his brother Amavan sent a great embassy, +assuring me they were allies of the great Woo-san-Kwei, who, to quell +the rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, had +prayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purged +the empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of the +Prince Yong-Li and leave the land." + +"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," said +Nicholas. + +"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in the +characters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of his +parent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, and +also assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting so +great and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe my +authority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title of +Pacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, I +had made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so that +speedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the first +opportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayed +into their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south, +suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in the +installation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to his +departure I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing this +to be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When, +however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a large +body of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately, +fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavan +persuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself in +the midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, he +informed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was his +nephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into the +rogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidable +army, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance of +prosperity the people would have beneath such an Emperor." + +"Indeed it were better to die than dissemble, my father," said Nicholas, +with flashing eyes. + +"Listen, my son. Well, taking advantage of my apparent joy, this Amavan +told me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, where +I should formally receive my title and kingdom from the imperial hands. +Thus had I the choice of entering Pekin as a captive or a king." + +"The former would have been more worthy of the great sea chief, whose +ambition hath ruined him," said Nicholas. + +"Is it possible that thou canst dare----" + +"Pardon, O my father, but thy son will dare any thing and every thing +till he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands of +these barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither by +night nor day." + +"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved." + +"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "But +cannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape from +this rebellious city?" + +"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to the +General Woo-san-Kwei." + +"Then the noble Woo-san-Kwei is not a traitor to the Emperor Yong-Li," +said Nicholas, eagerly. + +"Hist!" replied the chief by way of caution; then adding, "He but waits +the opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars." + +"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these double +ways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of his +parent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the city +unfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attire +of a small merchant, went to the river, and after some hard bargaining, +took a passage on board a trading junk, and left Pekin for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE RIVAL SEA CHIEFS.--RE-APPEARANCE OF AN OLD FRIEND.--A COMICAL BATTLE +WITH THE TARTARS. + + +Once masters of Pekin, which being so near their native wilds, enabled +them to introduce hordes of their fellow-countrymen, the Tartars +conquered province by province, till they obtained possession of the +whole empire. The most difficult, however, to subdue, were the southern +districts, which edged the sea, and chiefly for this reason: that not +long after they succeeded in entrapping Chin-Chi-Loong, to their +surprise, there appeared another and a greater sea chief, whose fleet +was so large, and his successes so great in destroying the Tartar +settlements upon the coasts, and even the great towns up the +Yang-tse-Kiang, that the greater part of the Chinese, who had any spirit +or patriotism remaining, flocked to his standard, and swelled his fleet +and army to such a size, that the Tartar government, trembling with fear +for the capital itself, offered immense rewards for his head; and +finding that of no use, offered to give him the command of the seas, and +even a kingdom, if he would acknowledge their rule; but all this was of +no use: the terrible patriot TCHING-TCHING-KONG, (or Koshinga, as the +Portuguese did, and I shall for the future, name him,) would listen to +no other terms but their departure from the country, to which, but for +the sudden appearance on the coast of another formidable sea-chief, +named Yuen, they would in all probability have been compelled to yield. + +Now the difference between these two chiefs was, that while Koshinga +protected the Chinese against the invaders, the chief Yuen was a mere +pirate, and, if booty were to be gained, destroyed both peoples alike. +Moreover, the latter seemed to have a great hatred for Koshinga; for, +although he dared not meet him in fair fight, if by chance he ever fell +in with a solitary ship of his fleet, he would wantonly sink it with all +its crew; and so terrible had the name of this Yuen become, that the +people upon the coast named him the Black Sea-dragon. Neither was it +possible to make out the object of this pirate. It could not have been +the desire of mere wealth, for the Tartar government, thinking him a +very desirable antagonist to Koshinga, offered him wealth, and the same +rank they had offered to his rival, provided he succeeded in destroying +the latter; but still, although Yuen hated the patriot sea chief, his +dislike to the Tartars was no less, for, like Koshinga, he destroyed +their houses and massacred their people at every opportunity. So at +length, giving up all hope of conquering either of his amphibious +enemies, Chun-ti issued an order that all the houses, cities, towns, and +villages, within ten miles of the sea, should be destroyed, chiefly, I +believe, to prevent the people from supplying them with provisions. + +Well, one day, shortly after this order had been received, and the +inhabitants of a small town on the coast of Fokien were in high bustle +packing up their goods and chattels ready for departure, some by means +of carts, others, and the greater part, by junks and barges, a large +merchant junk stood in from the sea, entered the narrow creek into which +the river emptied itself, anchored, and would have remained unnoticed by +the soldiers, who were inspecting the carrying out of the Emperor's +orders, but for the appearance of a young man, who, stepping on shore, +was immediately seized by the order of the officer. "Who is the vile +slave, that he dares disobey the commands of the great Emperor?" said +the latter. + +"Surely thy servant, who has but just entered the town, can be guilty of +no crime?" + +"Are the words of the Emperor dirt, that they should have escaped the +ears of so small a dog?" said the officer. + +"Truly these holy words have not fallen into the ears of thy mean +servant, O magnificent commander," returned the other. + +"Then let the dog's ears be opened, and he shall hear," said the +officer, directing a soldier to proclaim the royal command, which was to +the effect that the long hair of every Chinese should be shaven from his +head, and the growth of a Tartar tail encouraged, in order that there +should be no difference between the two races. + +When the stranger, however, heard the order, his eyes flashed, and his +lips quivered with rage, at the great badge of slavery the Tartars were +thrusting upon his countrymen; and he placed his hand beneath his robe, +as if clutching the hilt of a sword; but then, looking at the Tartar +troops, who had by this time surrounded him, and perceiving the folly of +resistance, he said, "Truly the ears of thy servant have not heard this +order." + +"Let the dog obey, or he shall be strangled," was the only reply. + +Then, with a look half tragic, half comic, and, taking his long flowing +locks in his hand, he said, "Surely the magnificent commander will give +his servant a few hours to prepare his head for so serious a farewell?" + +The next minute, however, one of the barbers who accompanied the troops +for the purpose of performing the first operation upon the conquered +people, made his appearance, and, setting down his apparatus, began to +prepare his scissors and large knife, when, like a half-secured animal +whose dim instinct had just been aroused to the fact of the coming +slaughter, the stranger struck out with both fists, sending barber and +officer rolling one over the other, and darted off, followed by at least +a dozen arrows from the bows of the soldiers, who, however had been too +much surprised to aim properly. + +Now, weak and effeminate as the Chinese had shown themselves in allowing +the empire to become so easily conquered by the Tartars, this insult was +always deeply felt even by those who had been compelled to submit, so in +a few minutes they gathered about the Tartars in great numbers, and +being inspired by the stranger's pluck, from hard words came to such +hard blows, that the bully Tartars were very glad to beat a retreat, +only promising to themselves a great revenge hereafter. + +As for the stranger, he ran with such speed and blind terror, at the +notion of losing his beautiful hair, that he tumbled headlong over an +old sow into a litter of pigs, which were among the goods about to be +taken away; and, comical as was this scene, it might have been serious, +for the animal, seeing her family attacked by so formidable an enemy, +would have made it a personal matter, but for a mob of people who came +to the rescue of the stranger, at whose spirit in resisting the hateful +order they were so delighted, that they lifted him upon their shoulders; +when the youth, in his excitement, mistaking them for Tartars, put both +his hands to his locks, exclaiming, "You dogs, I will rather lose my +head than prove such a coward." + +"A patriot! a hero! down with the Tartar thieves!" said the mob. + +When the stranger, recovering from his fright, said, "Pardon, O my +brothers, for believing you to be such dogs." + +Then the crowd gave more cheers, and asked where he would be taken to. + +"Know any of you the residence of the colao Ki?" was the reply. + +"To the house of the good Ki," exclaimed the mob, and in a few minutes +more they had deposited him at the gates of a great house not far +distant from the sea. + +"What rogue is this who dares disturb the quiet of the noble Ki?" said +the servant who opened the gate. + +"Let me pass, thou mean fellow," said the apparently mad-headed stranger, +rushing through halls and courts till he reached the door of the women's +apartments, which, to the horror of the servant, who now called for +assistance, he burst open, and, seeing two ladies, fell at the feet of +one of them, sobbing aloud, "Then my information is true, and I have +found thee again, my venerable and beloved parent." Need I tell you that +the stranger was no other than Chow? + +"The gods punish me with a false vision, my eyeballs must be old, or it +is indeed my beloved son Chow," said the lady, throwing her arms around +her son's neck. + +"The faithful friend of the noble Nicholas! Surely this is not +possible," said the princess, hysterically, so forgetting her rank in +her delighted surprise, that she embraced him as a brother, not a +little, I assure you, to the wonder and horror of the servants, and the +colao himself, who had hastened to the apartment to secure the daring +robber, as the frightened servant had reported, and which Ki believed +Chow to be, feeling certain that none but a thief would be guilty of so +profane an act as entering the sacred apartments of the ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +CHOW DISCOVERS HIS MOTHER AND THE PRINCESS.--RESCUES THEM FROM THE +TARTARS AND RELATES HIS ADVENTURES. + + +When the surprise had a little subsided upon both sides, Chow looked +around, listened anxiously for a moment, and then said, "This is a +fortunate day; the surprise, the joy is great, but, alas! it will be +short-lived, for the barbarians can neither forget nor forgive," and he +related his adventure with the soldiers; when, taking him by the hand, +the princess said, "Fear not, friend of my brother; the barbarians dare +not enter the house of Ki; for the usurper, barbarian as he is, has +bestowed honor upon the noble colao for his services to his late +Emperor, and as a consolation for his misfortunes; and in the house of +one upon whom Chun-ti has bestowed the honored title of 'Faithful to his +Prince,' no person dares enter unasked." + +"Thy servant feared less for himself than for his beloved mother and the +illustrious princess, whom he is commanded by the noble Nicholas to +rescue from the degenerate soil of China, till it again owns its native +princess," said Chow; adding, "From the hour that the vile guide +betrayed the illustrious princess into the hands of the rogues, the +noble Nicholas has left no stone unturned to discover thy fate." Then, +repeating the history of their adventures to the time of his being taken +prisoner by Li-Kong, he added, "So enraged was the villain mandarin, +that, instead of killing me on the spot, he reserved me for a cruel +death upon our reaching Pekin; then, however, being driven from the +capital, he took me with him to Chen-si, where I was kept loaded with +chains in a damp hole for many months, till indeed the great rebel was +himself driven out of Chen-si, when, so ill that I could not walk, I was +taken from the prison and conveyed to the house of the physician, who +had been ordered to take charge of the sick and wounded, and +unfortunately I remained senseless so long, that when I recovered, I +discovered that not only had the great Woo-san-Kwei been the general who +had punished Li, but that my beloved master had been with him. Bitterly +regretting the misfortune that had caused me to miss him so narrowly, I +resolved on seeking him in the capital; and so without money or food, +but what I could beg on the road, I traveled, being compelled to rest +many days upon my journey. + +"At length, however, I reached Pekin, when, to my great rage, not only +did I find that the Tartar prince had seized the throne, but that my +noble master had left the city in horror at the great treason of his +illustrious parent Chin-Chi-Loong. Then, weary of a world which +contained so much vileness and misfortune, I should have myself sought +the yellow stream, had it not occurred to me, that it would be +villainous to desert the beloved parent whom I had resolved to discover; +but, moreover, my master had taught me that it was a great crime; and, +trembling that I had ever contemplated such a thing, I rushed down to +the canal and engaged myself as a Coolie, for I thought the employment +would drive away my sorrow, and, perhaps, throw some lucky chance in my +way, and so it happened; for one day, carrying some goods for a +traveling merchant, the good man took a fancy to me, and offered to take +me with him into the province of Fokien. The offer gave me joy, for I +knew that if ever I found my master it would be near the sea, which he +loves as if he were a fish, and so it chanced; for one day, after many +months' traveling, we lodged at the town of Ho-a, when a few days +afterward the Chinese inhabitants became very joyful, and the Tartar +soldiers were greatly terrified at a report that the terrible Koshinga, +whose name just about that time had become famous, would land. Well, the +report proved true, for the sea chief appeared with a great fleet, and +drove the Tartars inland; when, feeling weary of my servitude, and +longing to fight against the usurping barbarians, I offered my services +to one of the commanders, and no sooner had I put in force that virtuous +resolution, than my fortunes began to mend, for in one of the ships I +found the noble Nicholas. + +"Well, I will only tell the illustrious princess how that I kept by the +side of the noble Nicholas in all battles that have been fought by the +great Koshinga; but in the midst of our adventures and successes, both +the noble Nicholas and his servant were unhappy, for they pined to learn +the fate of the daughter of the Mings, whom the heavens had once +entrusted to their care. At every town upon the coast, from every man +who joined the fleet, did we endeavor to trace some clue, not omitting +to offer great rewards; it was all, however, useless, till one day a +Tartar prisoner was taken and brought to our ship, and as he had with +him a copy of the _Pekin Gazette_, which contains the officers of the +empire and the decrees of the Emperor, the noble Nicholas eagerly read +it to find out the movements of the barbarians, when, much to his +surprise, he saw that the noble Ki had been restored to his rank and +fortunes, and, moreover, was permitted to reside unmolested at his +native palace in Fokien. 'Thus, then, O Chow, we have a fortunate day; +here is a clue to the princess--for should she have escaped the villain +rebels, this old and faithful servant of her royal father will surely +know,' said the noble Nicholas." + +"Truly the great Father of heaven hath directed, this even," said the +princess. + +"Then, O my princess, the heart of thy servant leaped for joy; for he +knew that the clue to the illustrious daughter of the Mings would lead +to the discovery of his beloved mother, so upon his knees he begged his +noble master to let him search the coast of Fokien, a request he would +have granted, had not the whole fleet been ordered by the chief Koshinga +to attack and drive the barbarian Hollanders from the great island of +Formosa on that day. Then for nearly four moons was the fleet before +the castle of Zealand, which protects the island; and so well did the +barbarians fight, that we had no other hope but to starve them out; at +length, however, they were joined by the numerous ships of the +traitorous black dragon Yuen, and for the first time Koshinga was near +being defeated, till at length destiny led him to fill seven of his +ships with oil and inflammable materials, when, taking advantage of the +first north-easterly wind, he set them on fire, and sent them among the +ships of Yuen, the greater part of which being destroyed, the crews with +the black dragon sought the shores in their boats. Thus having got rid +of the fleet, the great Koshinga landed his troops, and after a great +battle killed the greater portion of the pirates, made the remainder +prisoners, and took possession of the country." + +"Truly this Koshinga is a great war dragon," said the princess. + +"And noble as he is brave; for although he punished the traitor pirates +with death, as enemies to their true Emperor, he permitted the miserable +Hollanders, who, being barbarians, could know no better, to pile up +their household goods in one of their ships and depart." + +"Thou hast not said aught of the noble Nicholas during this terrible +fight," said the princess. + +"Truly, O illustrious lady, he fought like the brave war tiger that he +is, and performed the greatest act of the fight; for with his own hands +he slew the villain Yuen." + +"Then great was his destiny, for he has rendered the whole empire +grateful," exclaimed Ki. + +"They owe the noble Nicholas more gratitude than the rebel Li-Kong, of +whose place of refuge, or fate, none have been able to imagine, since +the taking of Chen-si by the great Woo-san-Kwei." + +"God is indeed great; thus may treason be for ever punished," said the +princess. + +"But greater to thy servant was the capturing of the villain mandarin, +who killed his venerable parent. I had struck the rogue down with my +sword, and rejoicing that I had at last the opportunity of destroying so +great a villain, was about to kill him, when he saved his life by +uttering a few words." + +"Is it under heaven that thou couldst save the life of the slayer of thy +parent?" exclaimed Chow's mother. + +"Truly, my noble mother, for those words were 'Thy mother and the +princess.' Like magic they kept my sword suspended midway, and I said, +'What words are these, thou dog?' And the mean rogue said, 'If the noble +captain will save the life of his slave, he shall be restored to his +parent.' Need a son tell his mother that he promised when the rascal +said, 'That it had been known for a long time to him that the princess +was living in disguise in the house of the retired colao in Fokien, and +that had Li-Kong been successful in defeating Koshinga, it was the +rogue's intention to sail for the coast and seize the illustrious lady?" + +"Truly Heaven is merciful in having destroyed such a villain," said the +princess. + +"Then," added Chow, "delighted with the discovery, my enmity to the +rogue became lost in my anxiety to again see my parent; so I besought of +the noble Nicholas to send me in search of those lost pearls of our +existence, which he did with these words: 'Tell the illustrious princess +that the Tartar rogues will seize her if she does not seek the +protection of Koshinga, the friend of China and the Mings, of whose +favor her adopted brother Nicholas will assure her.' Thus commissioned, +I obtained one of the smallest junks of the fleet, had it repainted and +disguised to resemble a trading vessel, set sail from the island, and +landed this morning, when I so nearly fell into the hands of the rats of +Tartars. Such is the history of thy servant, and such his mission. It is +for the great wisdom of the princess alone, to consider whether the +daughter of the Mings may long remain in safety and undiscovered beneath +the dominion of the butchers of her race." + +"Heaven is beneficent and thy words wise, O Chow," said the princess. + +"Truly, daughter of my beloved master, thy safety would have been +endangered had we been permitted to remain here, for since the villain +mandarin knew thy secret, it is but reasonable to believe that it may be +in the possession of another who may part with it for a high price to +the Emperor Chun-ti. But since this cruel order has arrived, to destroy +all the houses for ten miles inland, the princess can find no safer +asylum than the country of the great patriot Koshinga," said the colao. + +Never could there have been a more fortunate time for them to leave the +town; for, as all the inhabitants were hastening to obey the order of +the Emperor, and were busy with their own affairs, they could escape the +watchful eyes of the Tartars. So that very day they set about making +preparations for their departure, and before twenty-four hours had +passed, the whole party were on board Chow's ship and moving down the +stream; indeed, not a moment before it was necessary, for scarcely had +they got under way when a boat put off from the shore, filled with +Tartar soldiers, the chief of whom commanded them to stop. + +"What would the Tartar dogs?" said Chow, standing upon the poop of the +vessel. The reply, however, was an arrow, which but narrowly missed the +breast of the brave fellow; who, however, taking no notice of the +missile, said, very coolly, as the soldiers reached the side of the ship +and demanded to be admitted on board, "What would the Tartar dogs on +board a quiet trading vessel?" + +"The daughter of the miserable Ming," was the reply. + +"Then only two at a time, my brother," replied Chow, acquiescing in +their request. And without waiting for further permission, the two +soldiers climbed up the side and stood on the deck, only, however, to +find themselves tightly clasped by armed men, who had been lying down in +readiness for them. At the same time Chow, assisted by some of his crew, +threw a heavy bar over the ship's side into the boat below, which +falling across the bows and sinking her, sent the soldiers into the +water struggling for their lives. + +"Oh, oh!" said Chow to the two prisoners, "you are the affectionate +rogues who wanted a lock of my hair." + +"Surely the magnanimous hero would not murder two poor men who were +doing their duty," was the reply. + +"Truly it is said that fortune comes to every dog in its turn, and I am +the bow-wow now," said Chow to the Tartars, as he tied together the ends +of the long head-tails, of which they were so proud that they wished all +China to imitate them, and consequently now roared for fear of losing +them. + +"Get you gone, you dogs!" said Chow; and the next moment the men were +toppled over into the river, plunging, kicking, and at every plunge +giving such reciprocal pulls at each other's tails that they became as +belligerent as two cats in a similar predicament, and the more so, that +the people upon the banks stood laughing heartily at their ridiculous +gyrations. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +A SEA VOYAGE--THE COLAO RELATES THE ADVENTURES OF THE PRINCESS. + + +Once on board, they were safe, for although the junk had been painted to +resemble a trading ship, she was equipped with arms of every kind, and, +moreover, with men, who had been hidden below; and it was fortunate that +she was so well prepared, for when a Tartar junk put off after them, the +crew of the latter no sooner perceived the deck crowded with armed men, +and a flag hoisted at the masthead, displaying the terrible name of +Koshinga, than they relinquished the chase. + +Once out at sea, the vessel was as quiet and happy as a holiday junk, +and Chow sought permission to enter the state cabin of the princess. + +"Truly, my brave Chow, we have had a narrow escape from these +barbarians," said the princess; adding, "The words of the noble Ki were +wise, the secret must have been known, and sold to the usurper." + +"Truly thy servant would willingly sacrifice his mean life, could he see +the great Yong-Li ascend the throne of his magnificent ancestors," +exclaimed Chow; but, to his surprise, the beautiful eyes of the princess +became suffused with tears. + +"It is not under heaven, O princess, that thy slave can have given thee +pain?" said Chow. + +"Surely this is weak, for no tears should be found in the eyes of the +daughter of the Mings, but those caused by the suffering of the people," +said the princess; adding, "Alas! my poor brother, with him has departed +the last hope of his race." + +"What are these sad words, O my princess? Is it possible that the +Emperor Yong-Li can have left the earth?" + +Then, with an effort to subdue her sorrow, she said, "Even so, my brave +Chow;" but, her grief overcoming her resolution, she could utter no +more, and Chow respectfully left the cabin, followed by the colao, who +thus related the adventures of the princess, and his mother, from the +time of their abduction by the strange soldiers:-- + +"When, O brave Chow, the robbers found they had obtained the great prize +they had so long been in search of, they hastened with all speed to the +sea-coast, where they hoped to find a ship that would take them to the +coast of Pe-tche-Lee, where the army of Li was reported to be encamped; +when, however, they reached the port, they heard that the Prince Yong Li +had quarrelled with Woo-san-Kwei, and having got together a great army, +had marched to the city of Chao-Hing, which, after a few days, he had +retaken from the Tartars, and caused himself to be proclaimed Emperor. +Then, when the cunning thieves heard this news, and also that Yong-Li +was reconquering the country all around, they bethought themselves that +Yong-Li would give them a much higher price for a sister that he loved +so dearly, than would Li-Kong for a princess whom he only hoped to make +his wife; so, making a virtue of a necessity, the rogues threw +themselves at the feet of the royal lady, implored pardon for their +roughness, and making a merit of their great crime, declared they were +the faithful servants of her house, and intended to take her to her +royal brother's court. Too glad to hear such news, she readily bestowed +upon them a pardon; and, moreover, promised them great rewards if they +would only conduct her in safety to her brother's presence. + +"After some months' tedious and difficult traveling, they arrived at +Chao-Hing, where they found that the report was truthful, and that the +prince had really made a very great stride toward his throne. Well, the +rogues were rewarded, and the princess delighted at being not only +restored to her brother, but to the good and great Candida Hiu, who had +escaped to Chao-Hing some time previously, with myself, the ancient +servant of the imperial Mings; but, alas! fortune is capricious. A great +army of barbarians so encompassed the city, that we were unable to +procure food; still we held out, and the soldiers fought bravely, with +the hope of being soon relieved. Then some foul demon put it into the +head of the Tartar general, that the place might be taken without +fighting. So, seeing that the waters of the river were at a greater +height than had ever before been known, he first made a breach in the +walls, and then caused his army to cut away the dikes and embankments, +so that the waters rushed in such terrible force that the houses were +beaten down, and the city made one vast pool, in which three millions of +people were drowned, the Lady Candida among them. Fortunately, however, +the Emperor, the princess, and their servant, escaped the flood, and, +after many trials and difficulties, reached the court of the King of +Pegu, who, seeing the heir to so great a throne in such misfortune, +readily offered him one of his palaces for his residence; and there we +remained happily for some time, and might have continued till more +fortunate days, but that its coming to the ears of the Tartars, that the +Prince Yong-Li was under the protection of the King of Pegu, the latter, +for fear of being dethroned by his terrible neighbor, was compelled to +give the prince into the hands of the Tartar, who, taking him to Pekin, +there had him destroyed in a cruel and ignominious manner. Fortunately, +however, the Tartar did not know that the imperial La-Loo, was with her +brother, and so, aided by the King of Pegu, I traveled into my own +province of Fokien, taking the princess as my daughter, and thy mother +as her attendant; and no plan could be so safe, for the Tartar barbarian +had proclaimed that all those Chinese nobles who had suffered by the +tyranny of Wey-t-song, or Li-Kong, should be reinstalled in their former +rank and possessions, conferring upon me alone, for my long and faithful +services to my late master, the high and honorable title of 'Faithful to +the Emperor.'" + +"Truly this is a sad and marvelous history," said Chow, taking a +respectful leave of the venerable noble, and proceeding to the duties of +the ship. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THEY REACH THE PALACE OF THE SEA CHIEF KOSHINGA. + + +Oh! how the heart of the princess bled for the poor people, as sailing +along that coast she saw with what terrible haste the Emperor's command +had been obeyed. There, as far as the vision could pierce, ran, blazed, +crackled one cordon of fire; miles in thickness, this fearful belt +seemed as if it were to ward off the attack of worlds of savage beasts, +instead of one mortal man. Yet such was the shocking policy of the +Tartar despot, that to starve the great sea warrior from the coast, he +laid waste hundreds of miles, ruined millions of his new subjects, and +turned a fertile and populous land into a dreary wilderness. + +For some days the little ship ploughed those waters, which, though +famous for their tempests, were, as if in augury of better fortunes, now +as placid as a lake, till at length they came in sight of the +Pescadores, from almost every point of which they could see the colors +of the victorious Koshinga. Then they reached the point of Formosa, upon +which the Hollanders had erected their fort, but from which now floated +the flag of the sea chief; then Chow sent up a signal, and in reply the +Dutch guns bellowed forth a salute. Shortly afterward some large barges +put off from the shore to the ship, the princess and her party took +their seats, and were speedily rowed to the shore, upon which she had no +sooner put her foot, than Nicholas fell upon his knees before her, +saying, "Welcome, illustrious daughter of the Mings, to the kingdom of +Koshinga." + +"Surely, my brave and noble brother, this is but mockery; for the +daughter of the Mings is now but an outcast orphan," said the princess, +taking Nicholas by the hands and assisting him to rise. + +"Not so, O illustrious, princess! for, like a brand from the flames, +this great and fertile island hath been plucked from the thieving +Tartars and Hollanders by Koshinga, that it may be restored to the +princess of China, as a resting-place, till the whole of her empire be +recovered." + +"Who, O my brother, is this bold, brave man that thus shakes the world +by his power?" + +"A patriot, and a true Chinese, whose only ambition is to root out the +miserable Tartars from the land, and restore its throne to its ancient +Emperors," replied Nicholas; adding, "But the princess would see this +terrible sea chief." Then he led her through the double rows of troops, +which were drawn up the whole length between the castle and the shore, +and all of whom bent low with respectful loyalty as the daughter of +their late Emperor passed. When within the castle, he led her to a door +where a number of ladies in rich dresses stood ready to receive her. +"Now, O illustrious princess, will thy servant prepare the noble chief +for the great honor of thy visit," said Nicholas, leaving her to the +care of the ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE KING AND QUEEN OF FORMOSA.--HAPPY TERMINATION OF THE STORY. + + +The pleasure of the princess had changed to grief; she felt disappointed +and desolate, for once fallen from her high rank, and having been thrown +by misfortune beneath the care of Nicholas, she had learned to regard +him as a brother; therefore, after the death of the Prince Yong-Li, +great had been her delight, by anticipation, of again meeting him--but +now, alas! the brave youth seemed changed. Was he not, indeed, one of +the officers of the great Koshinga, by whose command he had received +her, not as a dear friend, but with the cold and formal respect due to +that exalted rank, which, as it seemed about to rob her of her adopted +brother, was hateful to her? + +Thus, in a very melancholy mood, she followed the ladies through the +corridor into a suite of rooms, magnificently furnished with the spoils +from the well-laden ships of Li-Kong. She, who, more fortunate than most +princesses, had had the painful mantle of royalty torn from her +shoulders and been permitted for a season to taste the troubles of +ordinary mortals, which, compared to her former state, seemed luxury +itself, was again about to be petrified by state garments, and, like the +idols, her Christian teaching caught her to despise, placed upon a +throne high up out of the way of common humanity, and as her experience +had taught her, mocked with a false adoration. + +The morning came, however, and still she as much feared to meet the +chief as if he had been her greatest enemy. At last the terrible moment +of meeting came, and she was conducted by her ladies to the great hall +of the castle, which was hung with yellow cloth of gold. Not noticing +the crowd of officers around, who were bowing to the ground, she bent +her head downward, and as the ladies led her forward to the chair of +state, she heard, "Welcome to the Queen of Tai-ouan." The welcome was +echoed by a hundred voices; the princess looked up, the throne was +vacant, but by her side, and holding her hand, stood the terrible +Koshinga, at the sight of whom she trembled, but it was with joy, for +the great sea chief after all was neither more nor less than Nicholas, +the son of the merchant of the south, who, by his great abilities, +valor, and energy, had conquered a kingdom and crowned himself. + +Thus ends the troubles of the princess, Chow, Nicholas, and my story. I +will, however, add, that although by some unaccountable neglect the +historians of China have omitted to say one word about the queen, they +all state that not only was Koshinga, the great son of Chin-Chi-Loong, +crowned first King of Formosa, but in that capacity received ambassadors +from several of the monarchs of Europe. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Tiger, by Wiliam Dalton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TIGER *** + +***** This file should be named 39163.txt or 39163.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/1/6/39163/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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