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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } - -</style> -<title>THE CALL OF THE EAST</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="The Call of the East" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Thurlow Fraser" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1914" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="45061" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2014-03-05" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="The Call of the East A Romance of Far Formosa" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="The Call of the East A Romance of Far Formosa" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="call.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2014-03-06T04:43:15.602455+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45061" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="Thurlow Fraser" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="2014-03-05" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.20 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="the-call-of-the-east"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">THE CALL OF THE EAST</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>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 </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> -included with this eBook or online at -</span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: The Call of the East -<br /> A Romance of Far Formosa -<br /> -<br />Author: Thurlow Fraser -<br /> -<br />Release Date: March 05, 2014 [EBook #45061] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>THE CALL OF THE EAST</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 71%" id="figure-46"> -<span id="cover-art"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover art" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover art</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 66%" id="figure-47"> -<span id="they-came-over-the-last-bluff"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="They came over the last bluff (See page 186.)" src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">They came over the last bluff (See page </span><a class="italics reference internal" href="#id1">186</a><span class="italics">.)</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="x-large">THE -<br />CALL OF THE EAST</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><em class="italics large">A ROMANCE OF FAR FORMOSA</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">BY</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">THURLOW FRASER</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">Illustrated</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">TORONTO -<br />WILLIAM BRIGGS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container verso"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">Copyright, 1914, by -<br />FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container dedication"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">To -<br />Her who shared my life and -<br />suffered in the Beautiful Isle</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">FOREWORD</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In every port of the Orient the outposts of the -restless, aggressive West touch the lines of the -impassive East. Consuls, military and naval -officers, merchants, missionaries force the ideas and -ideals of the West upon the reluctant East. Many of -these representatives of western civilization are true -to the high standards of the nations and religions from -which they come. Many others fall to the level, and -below the level, of those they live among.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This story is an attempt to picture this life where -the East meets the West, in one small port and for -the one short period covered by the Franco-Chinese -War of 1884-85. Of the characters one, Dr. MacKay, -is unhesitatingly called by his own name. Sergeant -Gorman and one or two others of the subordinate -figures are drawn from life. The rest, including -the principal actors, are purely imaginary.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>T. F. -<br />OWEN SOUND, ONT.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<ol class="upperroman simple"> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#storm-signals">Storm Signals</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-lull">A Lull</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-typhoon">The Typhoon</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#parried">Parried</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#introductions">Introductions</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#on-the-defensive">On the Defensive</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#sparring-for-advantage">Sparring for Advantage</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#sinclair-s-opportunity">Sinclair's Opportunity</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-quiet-life">A Quiet Life</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#glorious-war">Glorious War</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-life-healer-is-come">The Life-Healer Is Come</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#matutinal-confidences">Matutinal Confidences</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#more-confidences">More Confidences</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-appeal-of-the-heroic">The Appeal of the Heroic</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-lure-of-the-east">The Lure Of The East</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#sergeant-whatisname">Sergeant Whatisname</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#wolves-and-their-prey">Wolves and Their Prey</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#to-the-rescue">To the Rescue</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#allister">Allister</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-infallible-experts">The Infallible Experts</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-language-of-song">The Language of Song</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#halcyon-days">Halcyon Days</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#impending-storms">Impending Storms</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-ball-begins">The Ball Begins</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-ball-proceeds">The Ball Proceeds</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-game-of-ball">A Game of Ball</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-charge-of-the-tamsui-blues">The Charge of the Tamsui Blues</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#unholy-confessors">Unholy Confessors</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#flags-of-truce">Flags of Truce</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-mystery-of-love">The Mystery of Love</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#ancestors-and-pedigrees">Ancestors and Pedigrees</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-man-and-a-woman">A Man and a Woman</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#my-children-in-the-lord">My Children in the Lord</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-soldier-of-the-legion">The Soldier of the Legion</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-language-of-paradise">The Language of Paradise</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#an-apparition">An Apparition</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#my-son-my-son">"My Son! My Son!"</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#rejected">Rejected</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-realized-dream">A Realized Dream</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-coward">The Coward</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#good-will-toward-men">"Good Will Toward Men"</a></p> -</li> -</ol> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">ILLUSTRATIONS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#they-came-over-the-last-bluff">They came over the last bluff</a><span> . . . . . . </span><em class="italics">Frontispiece</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#sinclair-threw-off-his-coat-rolled-up-his-sleeves-and-went-to-work">Sinclair threw off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, -and went to work</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-yell-from-one-of-the-chinese-attracted-the-attention-of-sinclair-and-gorman">A yell from one of the Chinese attracted the -attention of Sinclair and Gorman</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#i-ll-be-thinking-of-you-donald-and-you-ll-be-thinking-of-me">"I'll be thinking of you, Donald, and you'll be -thinking of me"</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="storm-signals"><span class="bold large">I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">STORM SIGNALS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Pardon me, Miss MacAllister! Is there any -way in which I can be of service to you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The young lady addressed turned quickly -from the deck-rail on which she had been leaning, -and with a defiant toss of her head faced her -questioner. A hot flush of resentment chased from her -face the undeniable pallor of a moment before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In what way do you think you can be of service -to me, Mr. Sinclair?" she demanded sharply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought that you were ill, and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And is it so uncommon to be sea-sick, or is it such -a dangerous ailment, that at the first symptom the -patient must be cared for as if she had the plague?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps not! But I am told that it is uncomfortable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a humorous twinkle in his eyes. At the -sight of it hers flashed, and the flame of her anger -rose higher.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"From that I am to understand, Mr. Sinclair, that -you are one of those superior beings who never suffer -from sea-sickness."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must confess to belonging to that class," he -replied good-humouredly. "I have never experienced -its qualms."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I abominate such people. They call themselves -'good sailors.' They offer sympathy to others, -and all the while are laughing in their sleeves. They -are insufferable prigs. I want none of their sympathy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Miss MacAllister, you misunderstand me. I -am not offering you empty sympathy. I am a medical -doctor, and for the present am in charge of the health -of the passengers on this ship."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, Dr. Sinclair, I am not in need of your care. -I never yet saw a doctor who could do anything for -sea-sickness. Their treatment is all make-believe. -They know no more about it than any one else. I do -not propose to be the subject of experiments. -Good-evening."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was again leaning on the rail, in an attitude -which belied her defiant words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-evening," replied the young doctor, as he -turned away with a scarcely perceptible shrug of his -shoulders, and with an expression of mingled -amusement and annoyance on his face. A low chuckle of -laughter caught his ear. He was passing the cabin -of the chief officer, and the door stood open.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is the matter with you, Mr. McLeod?" he -asked, the shade of annoyance passing from his face, -and a good-humoured laugh taking its place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come in and close the door."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You heard what she said?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. How do you feel after that, doctor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Withered; ready to blow away like a dry leaf in -autumn!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You look it," laughed the mate, as he glanced -admiringly at the big, handsome man who seemed to -take up all the available space in the little cabin, and -who was laughing as heartily as if some one else had -suffered instead of himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't she a haughty one?" continued the chief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is she, anyway? The captain made us -acquainted. But you know he doesn't go into -particulars. She was Miss MacAllister. I was Sinclair. -That was our first encounter. You witnessed the -second."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Her father is senior member of the big London -firm of 'MacAllister, Munro Co., China Merchants.' They -have hongs at every open port on the China -Coast. He is making an inspection of all their agencies -and has brought his wife and daughter along for -company. Being a Scot, he likes to keep on good terms -with the Lord, who is the giver of all good gifts. -So he is mixing religion with business. In the -intervals between examining accounts and sizing up the -stock in their godowns, he is visiting missions, seeing -that the missionaries are up to their pidgin, and -preaching to the natives through interpreters."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Easy seeing, McLeod, that you're a Scot yourself, -or the son of a Scot, from your faculty of -acquiring things. Where did you get all this about the -MacAllisters? They joined us only this afternoon -at Amoy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! But they were with us from Hong-Kong -to Swatow last trip. You missed that, doctor, -by going over to Canton. Miss MacAllister and I got -quite chummy. Bright moonlight; dead calm; too -hot to turn in and sleep! So we just sat out or strolled -up and down nearly all night. If you had been -there, I should have had no show. See what you -missed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If what I got to-day be a fair sample of what I -missed last trip, you're welcome to it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mate laid back his head and laughed with boyish -glee at the rueful look which came over his friend's -countenance, at the mere memory of the stinging -rebuff he had suffered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not imagine that your lady friend is always -in the humour she showed to-day, doctor. She is -pretty sick, and for the first time, too. She told me -before what a good sailor she was. Never missed a -meal at sea! Never had an inclination to turn over!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did she say that, McLeod? That she was a 'good -sailor'?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The vixen! And then you heard the way she has -just soaked it to me for being a 'good sailor.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>McLeod shook with laughter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be too hard on her, doctor. She has got -it good and plenty this time, and she's disgusted with -herself, disgusted with the sea, the boat, and -everything and everybody connected with them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She doesn't hesitate to express her disgust," -replied the doctor. "I blundered upon her at an -unlucky moment and received the full contents of the -vials of her wrath."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind; she will soon get over this. Then she -will be quite angelic."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess she got some Chinese chow at Amoy, -which didn't agree with her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps! But it doesn't need any chow to turn -over even good sailors on a sea like this. The Channel -can be dirty when it likes. This is one of the times -it has chosen to be dirtier than usual."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two young men had stepped out of the mate's -cabin and were leaning on the rail looking at the -turbulent sea through which they were steaming. The -coast-line had already faded out of sight in the -gathering gloom, but away to the northwest a great, white -light winked at slow intervals of a minute. The tide -was setting strongly in a southerly direction, and the -ship was breasting almost directly against it. The -southwest monsoon meeting the tidal current, and -perhaps several other wayward and variable ocean -streams which whisk and swirl through that vexed -channel, was kicking up a perfect chaos of broken -waves. Through this choppy turmoil the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> -ploughed her way, all the while pitching and rolling in -an exasperating fashion, no two successive motions -of the ship being alike. None but seasoned sailors -could escape the qualms of sickness in such a sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It certainly is nasty enough," said the doctor; -"and the appearance of the weather does not promise -much improvement."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The storm signals were hoisted as we weighed -anchor," replied McLeod. "They indicated a typhoon -near the Philippines, but travelling this way. The -captain thought that we could make the run across before -it caught us. But if we don't see some weather -before we cross Tamsui bar, I'm no prophet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Seven bells! Guess I had better polish up a bit -for dinner."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't throw away too much labour on yourself, -Sinclair. She'll not appear at table this evening."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">She</em><span> must have made considerable impression on -you, Mac, from the frequency with which your mind -recurs to her," retorted Sinclair, as the two separated -to make hasty preparations for dinner.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-lull"><span class="bold large">II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A LULL</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There were not many at dinner that evening. -The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> never had a very heavy -passenger list. Her cabin accommodation was -limited. On this trip half of the small number of -passengers were in no humour for dinner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Dr. Sinclair entered the saloon, the chief -officer, McLeod, was already at the table. His watch -was nearly due, and he did not stand upon ceremony. -Presently Captain Whiteley came in, and with him -a tall, broad-shouldered man of past middle age. -Sinclair had barely time to note the high, broad forehead, -and the square jaw, clean shaven except for a fringe -of side-whiskers, trimmed in old-fashioned style, and -meeting under the chin, before the captain introduced -him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. MacAllister, this is Dr. Sinclair, a Canadian -medical man, spying out the Far East, and incidentally -acting as our ship's doctor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Dr. Sinclair. -I have been in your country, and have a great -respect for the energy and progressiveness of your -countrymen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad to know that you have visited Canada, -Mr. MacAllister. It seems to me that most British -business men and British public men are lamentably -ignorant of Britain's dominions beyond the seas. It's -refreshing to meet one who has visited these new lands -and knows something of their possibilities."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It must be acknowledged that too many of us in -the British Isles are insular and conservative in our -ideas. But I have always felt that even in the matter -of trade we cannot make a success, unless we know -the people and the wants of the people with whom we -do business. Our firm's largest foreign trade is with -China, and this is my fourth visit to the China Coast. -But we have interests in Canada also, and in connection -with them I have spent some months in the Dominion."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am quite sure that your interests there will grow. -It is a great country. There is practically no limit -to its possibilities. Even the Canadians themselves -are only now discovering that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"With such a country, and with such possibilities -in it for a young man, I am surprised, Dr. Sinclair, -that you have forsaken it to seek your fortune on the -China Coast."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Seeking one's fortune, in the ordinary meaning of -that phrase, is not the only thing worth living for, -Mr. MacAllister. If that were the main object in life, -I should have remained in Canada."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The keen grey eyes of the successful business man -searched the young doctor's face, as if they would read -his very thoughts. But Dr. Sinclair did not answer -their questioning gaze, nor volunteer any explanation -of his statement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair thinks with you," broke in Captain -Whiteley, "that a man is better of seeing life in -different parts of the world, even though he may end up -by finding a snug harbour in some out-of-the-way -corner."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied the merchant, "that is wise, if he -can make any use of the experience gained."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I think that the doctor is nearly as much -interested in missions as you are, Mr. MacAllister, -judging from the way he visits them and studies them at -every port."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that so, Dr. Sinclair?" The keen eyes were -again reading his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am interested in anything which proposes to -make this old world better, and to help the men who -are in it. That's why I chose medicine as a profession. -I like to see things for myself. That's why I visit -missions."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what are your conclusions?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have hardly come to any conclusions yet. I have -been only a few months on the Coast. Tourists and -newspaper correspondents know all about the Far East -after spending ten or twelve hours at each of the -ports touched by the big liners. I am not a genius. -I cannot form conclusions so rapidly. But here is a -fellow-countryman of mine who knows more of missions -now than, in all probability, I ever shall know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he was speaking a man had entered the dining -saloon who would have attracted attention anywhere. -It was not his dress or his stature which would have -caused him to be noticed. Like the rest he wore a -close-fitting suit of white drill. He was of barely -middle height, though well-knit, wiry and erect. But -the quick, nervous movements, the piercing dark eyes, -which seemed to take in with one swift glance -everything and everybody in the room, betokened the fiery -energy of the soul which burned within. The high -forehead, a trifle narrow perhaps, and the straight -line of the mouth, with its firmly-closed lips, indicated -intensity of purpose and determination. A long black -beard flowed down on his chest, contrasting sharply -with the spotless white of his clothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. MacAllister, have you met Dr. MacKay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have not had that pleasure. Is this MacKay -of Formosa?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am MacKay."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a great pleasure to me to meet you. I have -heard so much of your work."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope it may have been good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What else could it be? I am told that it is -marvellous what you have accomplished in so short a time -and almost alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All have not that opinion of my work."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All who spoke of it to me had that opinion. If -what they told me is true, as I believe it is, how could -they think otherwise?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Different men have different methods. So have -different missions. Some can see no good in any but -their own. My methods differ from those of others. -They have not approved themselves to many of my -seniors in the mission fields of China."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall be glad to study your methods and see your -results for myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You shall have the opportunity."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The little group of officers and passengers were -ere this seated at the table. In addition to those -already mentioned there was the chief engineer, Watson, -a Scot from the Clyde. There was also a passenger, -a tea-buyer from New York.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The latter sat opposite Dr. MacKay at the mate's -left. He had been listening to the conversation with -a look of amused contempt on his flabby face. At the -head of the table the captain, the engineer, Sinclair, -and MacAllister formed one group, who were soon -deep in conversation. The tea-buyer took advantage -of their preoccupation to address his neighbour across -the table:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you are one of those missionaries."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Been gettin' a pretty fine collection of souls saved."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never saved a soul. Never expect to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mate chuckled to himself. But the point was -lost on the tea-buyer. He thought that he had scored.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glad to see that you have come round to my point -of view," he said; "and that there is one missionary -honest enough to acknowledge it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what is your point of view?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My point of view is that the red-skins and the -black-skins and the brown-skins and the yaller-skins -ain't got any souls, any more than a dog has."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not know of any reason why the colour of -a man's skin should affect his possession of a -soul." MacKay spoke very quietly. The tea-buyer began -to bluster.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Reason or no reason, no man is going to make me -believe that any of the niggers or Chinees or any of -the rest of them have souls. Christian or no -Christian, a nigger is a nigger, a Chinee is a Chinee, a -Dago is a Dago, and a Sheeny is a Sheeny from first -to last. All the missionary talk and missionary -money-getting is nothing but damned graft, and the -missionaries know it. Boy! One piecee whiskey-soda! -Chop-chop!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All lite! Have got." And the "boy," a Chinese -waiter perhaps sixty or seventy years old, quickly and -noiselessly brought the bottles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose you have had abundance of opportunity -to see and judge for yourself before you came -to those conclusions, Mr. Clark," said MacKay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was that in his tone which would have made -most men careful in their reply. But Clark was too -self-confident to be wary, and repeated whiskeys and -sodas had made him still less cautious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may bet your bottom dollar I have," he -replied. "I have known niggers and Dagos since I -was knee-high to a grasshopper; and I have spent every -season on the China Coast for the last five or six -years. Oh, yes! I know what I'm talking about. I -know them from the ground up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Doubtless you have visited many of the churches -and chapels at the different ports where you have done -business, and have for yourself seen the natives at -worship."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me visit their churches! Not on your life! What -do you take me for? I take no stock in any of their -joss pidgin. I'd sooner go to a native temple than -to a native church. But I've never been in either."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I am afraid that I must assist your memory, -Mr. Clark. You were in a native church."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me? Never!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If I am not mistaken, Mr. Clark, you were a -passenger on the American bark </span><em class="italics">Betsy</em><span>, when she was -wrecked on South Point, just outside of Saw Bay, a -year ago last November."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was. But I don't see what that has to do with -the subject we were discussing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The </span><em class="italics">Betsy's</em><span> boats were all smashed as soon as -they touched water." MacKay was speaking in the -dead level tones of suppressed emotion. But there -was something so penetrating in his voice that the -conversation at the other end of the table ceased, and -all were listening. "The Pe-po-hoan or Malay natives -there went out through the surf in their fishing-boats -and took every man off safely."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Clark uneasily, "that's all right -enough. But I reckon we could have made the shore -ourselves."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They took you to their village, called Lam-hong-o: -they opened their church: the preacher gave -up his own house to you: they made beds for you there -and fed you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Damned poor accommodation, and damned poor -grub! Boy! One piecee whiskey! Be quick about it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All lite! No wanchee soda? My can catchee."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No! Damn the soda!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All lite! All lite! Dammee soda!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall not say anything, Mr. Clark, of the return -those white men with souls made to those brown men -without souls who saved them. But I shall tell you -what would have happened if the missionaries had not -gone to Lam-hong-o; if there had not been a chapel -there; if those brown-skins had not been Christians. -Your ship would have been pillaged. Your heads -would have been cut off. Your carcasses would have -been fed to the sharks. But they were Christians. -So they saved you. They fed you. They clothed -you. They sent you home with all your belongings -that they were able to save from the sea."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right you are, MacKay!" exclaimed Captain -Whiteley, bringing his fist down on the table with a -thump which threatened to throw on the floor the few -dishes which the motion of the ship had not already -dashed out of the retaining frames. "Right you are! -Nearly thirty years ago I was on the </span><em class="italics">Teucer</em><span>, Captain -Gibson, as senior apprentice with rank of fourth mate. -We were bound from Liverpool to Shanghai, but ran -on the rocks a little farther down the East Coast than -the </span><em class="italics">Betsy</em><span> did. There were thirty-one of us all told. -We got ashore without the loss of a man. But when -those devils of natives were done with us, there were -only three of us left alive—the carpenter, an A.B., -and myself. And we wished that we were dead. We -would have been dead, too, before long. But after -being worked as slaves for nine months, a Chinaman, -who had been with the missionaries on the mainland, -bought us from the Malays, and rowed us out to the -first foreign ship he saw, the old </span><em class="italics">Spindrift</em><span>. She took -us to Shanghai."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the captain finished speaking MacKay rose -and left the table. As was his wont, he had eaten -sparingly and quickly. MacAllister was pressing -Captain Whiteley for more details of his captivity among -the head-hunters. McLeod was on the point of going -out to his watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was score one on you, Clark," he said to -his neighbour. "It doesn't pay to get too fresh even -with a parson."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see that it's any of your pidgin to stick -up for those fakirs," retorted the tea-buyer angrily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I don't make it my pidgin," replied McLeod, -"but it wasn't up to you to butt in on a man like -MacKay the way you did. He gave you what you -deserved."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He needn't have flared up so and brought in all -those mock-heroics about what those niggers of his -did. I was only jollying him. He made things a great -deal worse than they were."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He didn't make things half as bad as they were, -Clark. What about the way the native preacher's -daughter was used by the men to whom the preacher -gave up his house and his church? Those brown-skins -may have no souls. But MacKay believes they -have. To my thinking they have a good deal more -soul than the white-skins who did what was done -there. You fellows went the limit. I wonder that -MacKay let you off so easy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh!—Say!—Damn it, McLeod, that's going too -far.—I'll not stand for that.—Say!—Here!—McLeod!—Wait -and we'll break a bottle of champagne.—Here!—Boy! -One piecee champagne!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, thank you, Clark! It's my watch."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the door the chief officer paused and called back:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, Doc, when you are done feeding that big -body of yours, come up on the bridge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, Mac. I'll be with you."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-typhoon"><span class="bold large">III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE TYPHOON</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When Dr. Sinclair joined his friend on the -bridge, a very marked change had come over -the weather. It was intensely hot and sultry -even where the circulation of air was freest. The -wind was no longer blowing steadily from the south-west. -It came in short puffs, dying away entirely -between them, and veering around quarter of a circle. -The short, broken waves of earlier in the evening were -giving place to a long swell, coming up from the south. -The movement of the ship was much easier. One or -two passengers who had been unable to appear at -dinner had recovered sufficiently to come on deck and -escape the unbearable sultriness and stuffiness of the -cabins.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's coming all right, doctor. Going to catch us -sure. I don't care so much if it will only wait till -daylight. I have no ambition to be floundering around -this channel in a typhoon in the dark."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How's the glass?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Away down, and still going. Haven't seen it so -low since the big typhoon that cleaned up -Hong-Kong Harbour a couple of years ago."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What prospect is there that the big blow will hold -off till morning?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, pretty fair! The rain hasn't started yet, and -on this coast we generally get splashes of rain for -quite a few hours before the real thing begins. The -sea is rising, but not very fast yet. I don't think we'll -see very bad weather till to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just then a merry ripple of woman's laughter -sounded from away aft.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen to that, Sinclair," said the mate. "That -'sweet Highland girl' of yours has evidently -recovered sufficiently to come on deck. She's back there -talking to the captain. I hope he may be as gallant -as he sometimes is with our rare lady passengers, and -may bring her up here to view the scenery. I should -just like to see how you and she would act at your -first meeting after the little tiff you had to-day. I'm -interested in this case, doctor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What the deuce is the matter with you anyway, -McLeod? You are talking a lot of rot to me about -a young woman I have never seen before. Surely our -experiences so far have been unpropitious enough. If -it were not that I know about a little girl away back -on your own Island, I should say that those moonlight -promenades between Hong-Kong and Swatow had -turned your head."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind, Doc. You know that a bad beginning -makes a good ending. We people of Highland -blood have a sort of second sight. We can see a -bit into the future. I give you fair warning——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was another ripple of laughter, this time from -forward, almost under the bridge. Then a woman's -voice said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Captain Whiteley, I behaved myself most -shockingly to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely not, Miss MacAllister. I couldn't conceive -of your doing anything which wasn't charming."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You told me that you were a Yorkshireman, Captain -Whiteley. After such a speech as that I believe -that you must have been born near Blarney Castle. -But I really did behave shamefully."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I said just awful things to your doctor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what ever did Dr. Sinclair do to deserve those -'awful things'?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was all your fault, Captain Whiteley. When -you introduced him, you did not tell me that he was -a doctor. I was sea-sick, and—and in just dreadful -humour. He offered assistance. I did not know that -he was a medical doctor, sauced him, and sent him -about his business. And now what shall I do to make -amends? It was all your fault——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Anything more was lost to the ears of the two young -men on the bridge, as she and the captain strolled -slowly aft. But the rippling laughter reached their -ears from time to time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not very penitent, that!" laughed McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you catch on to the reason she gave for -saucing me, because she didn't know that I was a medical -doctor? It was just when she found out that I was a -doctor that she gave me the worst. Doesn't that beat -the Dutch?"</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'O woman! in our hours of ease,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Uncertain, coy, and hard to please,'"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>quoted McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the light of the binnacle lamp the two friends -looked into each other's eyes and laughed heartily. -There was no cynicism, no cheap scoff at a woman's -variableness. Instead there was that manly -healthy-mindedness which can afford to laugh at her -inexplicable ways, and honour and admire her still.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the way, McLeod, Dr. MacKay put it all over -Clark this evening, didn't he? I couldn't hear it all. -Caught just the last few sentences. But I thought, -from what I heard, that he was giving that old -Mormon some knockout blows."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right he was. But not half as much as he -deserved. There are some white men who come out -here who wouldn't be decent company for pigs. Clark -is one of them. I'm no paragon of virtue, and I don't -set up to preach to others. But there are a lot of -us on the China Coast who try to keep decent enough -not to be ashamed to go home once in a while and -look our mothers and sisters in the face. There are -a number of others who are simply rotten. They give -us all a bad name. Mormon! Yes, worse than that! -He could give points to old Abdul Hamid of Turkey."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A dash of warm rain driving before a sharp squall -of wind struck them. The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> was rising and -falling with the mighty heave of the great swells which -were following each other in regular succession from -the south, each apparently bigger than the last. -Captain Whiteley climbed the ladder to the bridge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Looks as if we were in for a bad night, Mr. McLeod."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir; and a worse day to follow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"From the way the sea is rising, I'm afraid we -cannot make Tamsui before it breaks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sure we cannot. I'll be satisfied if it only -waits till daylight. We may have our hands full even -with the light."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see that you have been making things snug. -That's right. I'll have a look at everything before -eight bells."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The captain went down to see that every preparation -was made. McLeod spoke to his companion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You had better turn in, Sinclair," he said. "Get -a bit of rest. You may be needed to-morrow. Good-night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-night, Mac."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>How long he was in his berth, how much of that -time he slept, how much was spent in more or less -conscious efforts to keep from being thrown about his -cabin, Sinclair did not know. Accustomed though he -was to the sea and to storms, there came a time when -he could remain in his berth no longer. The angle -at which the ship lay over told him that she was still -holding in her course of the night before. His cabin -was still on the lee side. He opened his door and -stepped out, grasping the hand-rail with all his might -to keep from being hurled off his feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such a sight met his eyes as is rarely seen even by -the sailor who spends his life at sea. The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> -was heeled over so far that it seemed hardly possible -that she could right herself. It appeared to be the -force of the wind rather than of the waves which -had thrown her on her beam ends, for she did not -recover herself as she ought to have done between the -assaults of the billows. Held in that position by sheer -wind pressure, she was deluged with water, rain, -spray, torn crests of waves—the air was full of them, -while ever and anon some mountainous roller, higher -than its fellows, swept across her decks in a smother -of green water and snowy foam.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So dark was it that at first Sinclair could scarcely -tell whether it was night or day. Presently he made -out some figures clinging desperately to anything which -would afford a hold of safety. He made his way -slowly towards them. They were McLeod and a -couple of the crew, looking to the lashings of the -boats.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Man, but it's a wild morning whatever!" roared -the mate in his ear, lapsing into the idiom of his native -province when his feelings were greatly stirred.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How is she standing it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fine, so far! The starboard boats are smashed. -No other damage done that I know of. But it's hard -to tell what may be happening to starboard. Nothing -to be seen but water!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The engines are working all right," said the -doctor, as he noted the steady throb and quiver running -like an undertone through the succession of terrific -shocks the ship was receiving from the waves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, and if they don't work all right, it'll not be -Watson's fault. Yon's a grand man whatever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mate was off, traversing the tilted deck with -marvellous agility and sureness of foot. The doctor -went below to see if he could be of any service to the -passengers. An hour or more passed, and he was -again on deck, working his way forward to get as -good a view as possible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There in the shelter of the forward cabin stood -Dr. MacKay. He was bareheaded; his long, black beard -was blowing in the wind; his white suit was drenched -as if he had been overboard; his keen eyes were -striving to pierce the murk of cloud and rain and spray -which turned the day almost into night. He seemed -to be expecting to get a glimpse of the land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was not clinging to the hand-rail, but had his -hands clasped behind his back. In spite of the -distressing angle at which the ship's deck was tilted, in -spite of her pitching and plunging, he seemed able to -accommodate himself to her every movement. A man -of big stature and splendid physical development -himself, Sinclair could not help pausing for some minutes -to admire the poise and self-control of that comparatively -small, spare, but erect and athletic figure. Then -he stepped a little nearer and shouted:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you often have storms like this in Formosa?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have seen as bad; perhaps worse: but not often."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you think that we're near Tamsui?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can we make the harbour?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not this time. We'll be late for the tide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A bad wind for putting about and getting out to -sea again!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of -His hand?'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that instant a tremendous billow tumbled on -board with such a weight of water that for some -moments it seemed as if the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> could not rise from -beneath it. It caught two Chinese deck-hands, tore -them from the bridge supports to which they were -clinging, and swept them helplessly from starboard to -port. Like a flash MacKay's left hand shot out, -grasped a thin brown wrist, and swung one of the -natives into the shelter of the cabin. But the other -was dashed with terrific force against the deck-rail, -where he lay motionless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair sprang forward to help him. A second -wave hurled him against the rail. He did not fall, -but performed some weird gymnastics in the effort to -keep his feet. And through the shrieking of the wind -and the roar of the waves he heard a clear, joyous -woman's laugh, the same as he had heard the night -before. There in the shelter of the cabin, on almost -the very spot where he had stood a moment before, -was Miss MacAllister, looking like the very spirit -of the storm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was too much. Even Sinclair's usually -unruffled temper began to give way. He caught up the -helpless Chinese as if he had been a child, and with -one quick spring was back to shelter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You seem to find it very amusing to see men hurt, -Miss MacAllister," he said almost fiercely.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I did not know that you were hurt, Dr. Sinclair, -or I should not have laughed. I am so sorry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm not hurt," said the young man even more -ferociously than before; "but this man is injured, -seriously injured, I'm afraid. He's still unconscious."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, but I was not laughing at him. I was laughing -at you. You would have laughed yourself if you -could have seen the figure you cut going across the -deck. Really, Dr. Sinclair, you would. I simply could -not help it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked up in his face with such a childlike -innocence of expression, such confidence in the validity -of the excuse, that even Dr. MacKay's somewhat stern -face relaxed, and he turned away to hide a smile. -As for Dr. Sinclair, he was helpless. He could not -remain angry under the circumstances. His -good-humoured laugh broke out as he replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must accept your confession, believe in your -penitence, and grant you absolution."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He and MacKay went below with the injured -Chinese, but in a few minutes reappeared on deck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have not seen your father to-day, Miss MacAllister," -said Dr. MacKay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is in his stateroom with mother. She is very -ill and he will not leave her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must congratulate you on being so good a sailor. -You do not show a symptom of sea-sickness. That -is quite remarkable in such a storm as this."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She shot a quick glance at Sinclair. He did not -seem to be paying attention to what they were saying. -But a quizzical smile playing about his eyes and mouth -betrayed his interest in the conversation and his -remembrance of what had taken place the evening -before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed, Dr. MacKay, I am not a good sailor at -all. I have been sea-sick when there was only a little -chop on the water. I was sea-sick yesterday. I should -have been sick to-day, only this storm is so interesting -that I have not had time to think about myself. -When the officers and crew are being tossed about -the deck by the waves, like dead leaves on a burn in -autumn, it is really too interesting and amusing to be -missed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rare smile lighted up the missionary's face as -he glanced at Sinclair. The latter accepted the -challenge, and a quick answer was on his tongue, when -McLeod hurried past. He paused long enough to say -to Sinclair:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're opposite the harbour, doctor, but we can't -make it." Then he ran up on the bridge to join -Captain Whiteley, who had not left it since midnight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The words were intended for Sinclair alone. But -a momentary lull in the storm made them louder than -McLeod anticipated. Sinclair's two companions -heard them. Yet neither showed any trace of -concern—neither the mature man who had faced death -scores of times on sea and on land, nor the young -woman who had never knowingly been in danger -before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The same brief lull in the force of the wind brought -an equally momentary gleam of light through the -darkness, which had up till then made noonday as gloomy -as a late twilight. That gleam lighted for a few short -seconds the landscape, and showed the storm-tossed -company where they were. There directly ahead was -the harbour of Tamsui, with the green and purple -hills beyond. There on the nearest hill-top was the -Red Fort which for two and a half centuries had -braved such storms as this. Just beyond it were the -low white bungalows of the mission, nearly hidden -in the trees, where anxious eyes were watching for one -who was on that battling ship. There, too, were the -black balls hanging on the yard-arm at the signal -station, saying that the tide was falling and the bar -impassable. And the two white beacons for a single -instant in line, and then widening apart, told the -seamen that not only the tempest but the ebb tide, -sweeping past the mouth of the harbour, was bearing them -full upon the long curving beach of sand and shells -which lay just to the north, where the surf was -beating so furiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It takes time to tell. But in reality the respite lasted -only a few seconds. Then the typhoon burst upon -them again, with apparently redoubled violence. The -darkness and the tumult of wind and waves were -appalling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder that you are not afraid," said Sinclair -to Miss MacAllister, losing sight of their passages -at arms in the seriousness of the situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Should I be afraid?" was her reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Most people would be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you afraid?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No: I do not think I am."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if you and the other officers who know -whatever danger there may be are not afraid, I do not see -why I should. They know the situation. I do not. -When they tell me that there is serious danger, it -will be time enough for me to be frightened."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then for the first time Sinclair turned upon her a -look of genuine admiration. Up to that moment she -had been to him a mischievous, teasing, whimsical -girl, with a quick wit and a ready tongue, who had -been amusing herself at his expense. Now he saw -another side to her character. There was a strong, -brave nature under the light, changeful surface -humours he had seen before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If she were not afraid, there was at least one -passenger who was. During the brief lull in the storm -Clark, the tea-buyer, had come on deck. He had -hardly reached it when the second fury of the typhoon -burst upon them. He was now clinging to the hand-rail, -with a face so flabby and ghastly that it was -terrible to look upon. He was not sea-sick. He was -too experienced a sailor for that. But he was afraid, -horribly afraid. As the murk and gloom closed down -again, and a gigantic wall of water broke over the -ship, making her shudder and struggle like a living -thing in death agony, Clark's voice was heard rising -in a scream above the roar of the elements:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"MacKay, for God's sake, why don't you pray?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>MacKay looked at the man clinging there in abject -terror. For a moment the keen, stern face softened -as if in pity. Then it seemed as if the memory of -something—was it of that wreck on the East Coast, -and the evil deeds done in the chapel and the preacher's -house there?—flashed through his mind. His face -hardened again, and in a voice like ice he replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Men who honour God when the days are fine do -not have to howl to Him for help in the time of -storm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What more the terror-stricken boaster of the -evening before may have said was lost on his companions, -for something was happening which engrossed all their -attention. Down in the engine-room bells jangled -sharply. The screw began to thresh the water at a -tremendous rate. The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> heeled still farther to -port, began to forge ahead, bumped something, was -caught by a mighty wave squarely on the stern, -righted herself, and plunged forward. Then Sinclair -realized what was happening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Everybody below!" he shouted. "Quick! The -next will catch us on this side. Dr. MacKay, help -Miss MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Seizing the helpless Clark, he flung him by main -strength into safety. They were scarcely under cover -when a big roller tumbled on board on the port side. -The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> had turned almost completely around, -and was fighting her way out to sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All afternoon and far into the night the brave little -vessel battled with the waves to get back to the coast -of the mainland. At last her anxious officers were -rewarded by a distant, hazy gleam of light through -the dense, water-laden atmosphere. Fifteen seconds -passed, almost minutes in length. Again the white -beam shot athwart the darkness. Then regularly and -growing ever nearer, at intervals of fifteen seconds, -the great white light flashed, showing the way to -safety. It was Turnabout lighthouse, behind which -lay Haitan Straits, winding among the islands, and -between them and the mainland shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Into one of their many natural harbours the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> cautiously felt her way, and cast anchor in -a quiet basin among the hills. There nothing but the -torrents of rain falling and the roar of the surf -beyond the island barrier remained to tell of the dangers -they had passed through. Then Captain Whiteley left -the bridge for the first time in more than twenty-four -hours. Neither he nor his chief officer had found a -chance to sleep for forty-eight hours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For years afterwards only three persons knew -exactly what happened on the bridge that day. Then -when Captain Whiteley was commanding a Castle boat -running to the Cape, and McLeod had a big trans-Pacific -liner, the quarter-master, who with a Chinese -sea-cunny had been at the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong's</em><span> wheel, felt -absolved from the promise he had made to McLeod to -keep the secret, and told what he knew.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the momentary lifting of the clouds showed -the captain that the wind combined with the ebb of -the tide had carried them past the line of entrance to -the harbour, towards the shoaling beach on which the -surf was beating, he shouted to his mate:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My God, McLeod, we're lost!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so bad as that yet, sir!" was the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There isn't room to turn and clear that shoal water. -To starboard it's stern on: to port it's broadside on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We haven't tried, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, for God's sake, McLeod, try!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The words had hardly left the captain's lips when -the engineer received the signal for full steam ahead, -and the mate, springing into the wheel-house, flung -himself on the wheel, and with the combined strength -of three men forced it over. The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> responded -gallantly. Her head swung directly towards the -dreaded shoal, passed it, and pointed out to sea. So -close was she that when the wind caught her stern it -dropped just for an instant between two rollers on -the hard, smooth sand. But the next one lifted her, -gave her churning screw a chance, and the ebb tide, -which a moment before had been threatening to send -her broadside to destruction, now helped to bear her -past the long receding curve of the sand bank, out -into the open sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was the tightest corner I ever was in," Whiteley -used to say afterwards; "and it was McLeod who -took us out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But McLeod, in a moment of confidence, said to -Sinclair:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Man, but that engineer, Watson, is the jewel -whatever! He let his second handle the levers, while -himself held pistols to the heads of the Chinese stokers, -and told them to shovel or die in their tracks. That's -what saved us. He's a jewel. I never saw his likes -whatever."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="parried"><span class="bold large">IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">PARRIED</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was a bright, calm summer day, perfect in its -tropical splendour, when the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> arrived off -the port of Tamsui. On the blue, smiling sea -and rich green shore not a trace remained of the -furious storm of two days before. Where, save for one -brief gleam, all had been hidden from sight by the -blackness of the tempest and the deluge of rain and -spray, there now lay before the ship's company as fair -a landscape as the eye could wish to look upon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Immediately in front of them was the broad, brimming -river, its sand-spits and oyster-beds hidden -beneath the waters of the full tide. On the right or -southern shore a mountain rose from its margin in -an isolated peak to the height of seventeen hundred -feet, clothed with dense verdure to the very summit. -To the left, on a hill and plateau two hundred feet -high, were the red brick buildings of the old Dutch -fort, the residence of the British consul, and the -mission schools, and the white bungalows of the missionaries -and customs officers. At the foot of this hill and -along the river bank, the mean buildings of the Chinese -town of Tamsui straggled off until lost to sight around -the curve. Its limits were marked by the little -forest of masts of the junks which lay along in front of -the town. In the centre of the river, directly -opposite the mission houses, a trim gunboat rested at -anchor. Over all rose the Taitoon Mountains in -successive ranges of green and purple and blue, the -highest and farthest summits blending with the unclouded -sky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Exclamations of delight burst from those of the -passengers who had never looked upon the scene -before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Father, isn't this just glorious?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It certainly is. I have often heard of the beauty -of Formosa, but this first view quite exceeds my -expectations."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was worth while experiencing that typhoon and -being delayed for two days. It heightens the -enjoyment of a scene like this. We should not have -appreciated it so much if we had been favoured with a -peaceful voyage. Do you not think so, Dr. MacKay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps you are right, Miss MacAllister. But -Formosa is always beautiful to me. It never loses -its charm. I have gone up and down it for more than -a dozen years. I never grow weary of it. It never -palls upon me. It is still to me as the first day I saw -it 'Ilha Formosa,' the Beautiful Isle. It always will -be Beautiful Formosa."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was an accent in his reply which spoke of -more than love for the scenery. Miss MacAllister -was not slow to detect it. She heard in it the -passionate devotion of a heroic soul to the cause to which -he had given his life. It struck a responsive chord -somewhere in her own being. It was with a softened -voice, a voice expressive of sympathy and admiration, -that she said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You love the island and its people, Dr. MacKay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Sinclair, who chanced to be standing near, as -once before during the storm, saw the veil of her -surface waywardness lifted and caught a glimpse of a -character beneath which was capable of serious -purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. McLeod, that sampan over there with the -flag is hailing us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the captain's voice which broke in on the -conversation of the group on deck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir," replied the chief. "It came out from -the pilot village, and has been waiting for us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what's up?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir. Hold on, they are signalling -from the Customs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In an instant the chief officer had a glass focussed -on the flagpole at the customs offices. The other -officers and the passengers stood silent while the little -fluttering oblongs and triangles of red, white, yellow, -and blue talked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do they say, chief?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait for a pilot. Danger."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A pilot! The devil! What do they take us for? -Some tramp which has never been here before? -Perhaps the typhoon shifted the bar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While he spoke, McLeod had swung his glass upon -the approaching Chinese boat. Two fishermen, standing -up and pushing forward on their long oars, were -driving it rapidly through the water. Their bodies, -naked to the waist, and their legs, bare save for the -shortest of cotton trousers, were covered with -perspiration and shone in the sun like burnished copper. -In the stern sat a Chinese in a dress which was an -indescribable cross between Chinese official robes and -a Western uniform.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a Chinese military or naval officer of some -kind, sir," said the mate. "They must be in a mix-up -with somebody. Perhaps the French have taken it -into their heads to annex Formosa."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sampan shot alongside, and with unexpected -agility the Chinese officer clambered up the -sea-ladder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The captain will please to excuse me," he said in -slow, precise English, "for offering to pilot his ship -into the harbour. The captain's skill as a pilot is -well known to me. The government of China regrets -to find itself in a state of war with the government -of France. Therefore, His Excellency, the Provincial -Governor of Formosa, has laid down mines for the -defence of the port of Tamsui. As I have knowledge -of the position of the mines, he has commanded me -to pilot the captain's ship past the mines into the -harbour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He concluded his little speech with a profound bow. -The captain's reply was brief:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The ship is yours, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another profound bow, and the Chinese officer was -in charge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Captain Whiteley turned to Mr. MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sorry, sir," he said, "that the French have -taken the notion to transfer their scrimmage with the -Chinese to Formosa just at this moment. It will -interfere with your plans."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It probably will interfere somewhat with our -movements. But, on the other hand, it may be of -advantage to us. We are out to learn, and are not -hampered by lack of time. I am deeply interested in -your pilot. He seems perfectly at home, and to know -his business thoroughly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not the slightest doubt of that! This is not the -first time he has navigated a ship. Very likely he has -spent years of apprenticeship on board a British or -American man-of-war."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is China getting her young man trained like that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are getting themselves trained. The -government isn't awake yet. But many of the young -men are. The old China is passing. This is one of -the pioneers of the new China which is coming. It -will take time. But when it does come, mark my -words, the Western nations will have to sit up and -take notice."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>, under the command of -her Oriental pilot, crossed the bar and zigzagged her -way slowly up the river, following invisible channels -through the field of hidden mines until she reached her -berth at the customs jetty.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Leaning on the rail, Sinclair watched with keenest -interest the little crowd of foreigners and natives -gathered on the shore and jetty, waiting for the passengers -to disembark. He had met a number of them on a -former trip to this port, and occasionally waved his -hand or gave a greeting to some one he recognized.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a sprinkling of officers of the Imperial -Maritime Customs, sunburned young Britons for the -most part, who had taken service under the brilliant -Irishman whose genius had saved the Chinese Government -from bankruptcy. There were the representatives -of the various foreign business firms, all British, -glad to leave their hongs for an hour, to experience -the little excitement caused by the coming of the weekly -steamer, and to welcome those whom they had almost -given up for lost. The foreign community doctor had -found time from his not very pressing duties to come -down to the landing and call a "Wie geht es Ihnen?" -to his confrère on board the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Contrasting with the close-fitting snow-white -garments of the foreigners were the long, blue, or mauve -silk gowns with, in some cases, sleeveless yellow -jackets over them, of the Chinese Christian preachers and -students who were there to do honour to Dr. MacKay. -Darting back and forth, chattering, screaming, -quarrelling in high-pitched nasal tones, were bronzed, -sweating, almost naked coolies, each trying to get ahead -of the other and earn the most cash.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a scene of which Sinclair never tired. -Fascinated by this strange mingling of the East and the -West he leaned over the rail, watching every -movement. A quick step approached him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, as soon as your duties here are done, -you will come to my house and be my guest. The -college coolies will bring up your baggage. If I am -not there, Mrs. MacKay will receive you and look -after your wants."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Dr. MacKay. I shall be very glad -to accept your hospitality for a time. I shall -probably be with you to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>MacKay was gone as quickly as he had come. A -minute or two later his native converts were receiving -him with the oft-repeated salutation: "Peng-an, -Kai Bok-su! Kai Bok-su, peng-an!" (Peace, Pastor -MacKay! Pastor MacKay, peace!).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the oldest preachers walked off with him up -the narrow, climbing path. The rest tailed out in -single file behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was another quicker and lighter step, accompanied -by the rustle of a woman's garments. Sinclair -turned to find himself face to face with Miss -MacAllister. Her eyes were sparkling with mischief, her -hand was extended in farewell:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye, Dr. Sinclair. I have enjoyed this -voyage so much. I hope that we shall meet again. But, -if we should not, I shall never forget your rescue of -that Chinese, the heroism and the grace you displayed. -Really, I never shall."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was premeditated, and she intended to escape the -moment the shaft was shot. But Sinclair was not so -nonplussed as he had been at their first encounter. -He held her hand firmly so that she could not get -away, long enough to reply:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye, Miss MacAllister. I am delighted to -know that I have given you pleasure. I should -be happy to make a similar exhibition of myself -any day, if it would only contribute to your enjoyment."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He released her hand and she escaped into the -saloon. The colour which overspread her face was -not all the flush of triumph. This time she had met -the unexpected.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well parried, Doc," said a voice beside him. -"That fair tyrant was beginning to think that you -were an easy mark. But you gave her as much as -you got this time.... Here's a chit for you.... -From the consulate."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where's the boy?" said Sinclair, taking the letter -McLeod held out to him. "I had better sign his -chit-book."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't need to. I signed for you. There's the -boy going back," replied the mate, pointing to a -Chinese in the dark blue and red uniform of the British -consul's service, climbing the steep path up to where -the old Dutch fort and the consul's house crowned -the lofty hill above them. "Don't think that you are -the only one to get a </span><em class="italics">billet-doux</em><span> like that. The -captain and I are among the favoured. It's a bid to -dinner at the consulate to-morrow evening."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair opened and glanced at the note. It was -a brief and formal invitation:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp request the pleasure of the company -of Dr. Donald Sinclair at dinner at 7:30 on Tuesday the -5th instant.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>H. B. M. Consulate, -<br />Tamsui, -<br />August 4th, 1884."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I guess I'll be able to go. Though I promised to -put myself in MacKay's hands to-morrow, and he may -have something else on for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No danger! MacKay knows everything that's going -on as well as the next one. He will not ask you -to do anything which will conflict with a dinner at -the consulate. If he's at home, he'll be there himself. -You just lay out to be present. Mrs. Beauchamp -is famous for the chow she provides. Where she gets -it out here off the earth, I don't know. And for -entertaining guests, she and Beauchamp haven't their -equals on the Coast."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're a great pleader, Mac. I'll give you my -word. I'll go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the Highland girl will be there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, McLeod, you're gone batty on that -subject. I know an address in Prince Edward Island. -If you continue to talk as foolishly as you have been -doing the last few days, I'll write and peach on you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no, you won't! But just to change the -subject, look at old De Vaux meeting them. He's so -excited that I shouldn't wonder to see him take an -apoplectic fit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. MacAllister, his wife, and daughter had just -left the boat. A large, fleshy man, with a clean-shaven, -florid face, bulging blue eyes, and all his features -except the double chin bunched unnecessarily close -together, was hurrying forward to meet them in a -state of perspiring excitement and nervousness. He -was carrying his white sun-helmet in one hand, -mopping his brows with a huge handkerchief held in the -other, and all the while the mid-summer tropical sun -was beaming down on his shining face, and on his -head with its quite inadequate covering of hair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. MacAllister! ... You cannot know what -pleasure it gives me to welcome you to Formosa.... -'Pon my soul, you cannot! ... I have been twenty -years in Formosa, and this is the greatest pleasure I -have experienced.... 'Pon my honour, it is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glad to see you again, Mr. De Vaux. If I -remember right, the last time we saw each other was -in our office at Amoy, five years ago last May."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is so, Mr. MacAllister.... Lord, what a -memory you have! ... I don't know another man -on the China Coast who would have remembered a -date like that.... 'Pon my soul, I do not!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. De Vaux, I wish you to meet my wife and -daughter. My dear, allow me to present Mr. De Vaux. -My wife, Mr. De Vaux. My daughter, Mr. De Vaux."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stout man bent double in profound bows, dropping -his hat to the very ground, gurgling something -almost inarticulate with excitement:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. MacAllister! ... I am so pleased! ... Bless -my soul! Miss MacAllister.... This is the -happiest moment of my life.... 'Pon my honour, it is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Above them on the deck Sinclair was saying to McLeod:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is this De Vaux, anyway? Of course, I know -that he is chief agent in Formosa of MacAllister, -Munro Co. But who is he and what are his antecedents?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is just the question," replied McLeod. "We -know, and we don't know. We know that the -Honourable Lionel Percival Dudley de Vaux is the oldest -known son of the late Lord Eversleigh, the oldest -brother or half-brother of the present lord. But why -he is out here sweltering and swearing in this -steambath of a climate while his younger brother enjoys the -cool shade of his ancestral parks and halls, and holds -down a seat in the Lords, no one seems to know. -Some say that he is the son of the late lord by a Scotch -marriage in his wild-oat stage; some that he is a son -born to the late lord by the countess dowager before -wedlock. At any rate, he was shipped to the Far -East as a boy, and here he has been these more than -twenty years, pensioned, they say, to keep out of -England."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He seems to be very excitable," said Sinclair, as -he looked down at the stout, perspiring individual, who -was still holding his hat in his hand, still bowing, still -gurgling in a high-toned voice, while his face and -head grew redder and shinier every moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, he is now. When he came out first, they say -that he was a regular Lord Chesterfield in his -manners. But he was here alone for years. No comforts -but drink and a yellow woman. He took to both. -These with the isolation and the climate have made -him what he is. When he meets a white woman he -loses his head completely. Any little irritation in -business sends him right up in the air. Then he -swears. We call him old De Vaux. In fact he has -hardly reached middle age. The life here is killing -him. If he doesn't die of apoplexy one of those days, -he'll commit suicide. And he's not a bad old soul. -Just the victim of his parent's wrong-doing. Poor -old De Vaux!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just then they heard Miss MacAllister saying in a -tone of utmost concern:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. De Vaux, will you not put on your hat? I am -so afraid that your head will get sunburned."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A sunstroke you mean, my dear," said her father, -"a sunstroke."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, father, I mean sunburned. Really, Mr. De -Vaux's head is becoming quite crimson."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord! ... Miss MacAllister! ... How good -of you to notice that! ... Bless my soul! ... I -never thought of it.... 'Pon my honour, I didn't! ... A -man should put on his hat in a sun like this.... -'Pon my soul, he should!..."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was still executing a sort of war-dance around -the ladies and still holding his hat in his hand. -Mr. MacAllister took him gently by the arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear De Vaux," he said, "it has been exceedingly -kind of you to come down to meet us as you -have done, and to provide those sedan chairs, for I -can see that it is you who have engaged them. With -your permission, we'll go to our quarters now. The -captain promised to see that our baggage was sent over -at once. After tiffin, I am sure that you will be so -good as to accompany me to call on the consul."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the four chairs were borne off along the narrow -road by the shore, McLeod said to Sinclair:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"MacAllister's a trump. He saved the situation. -Old De Vaux was just ready to go up like a balloon, -and—swear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Sinclair thought to himself as he turned away:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss MacAllister has found another victim."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="introductions"><span class="bold large">V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">INTRODUCTIONS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A few minutes before the time appointed for -dinner, Sinclair strolled over to the consulate. A -couple of the I.M.C. officers joined him on the -way. Out on the broad verandah the consul and his -wife were receiving their guests, taking every -advantage possible of the slight coolness of the evening air. -None had yet gone inside. Some lounged on the -verandah. Most were strolling about the grounds, on -the gravelled walks or the green of the tennis lawn -between the house and the old Dutch fort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many coloured paper lanterns hung from the -cocoanut and areca palms, were nestled in the clumps of -oleanders, or were strung on wires around the -verandah. On the side of the house shaded from the -sunset glow, native servants were already lighting them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a scene of rare beauty. The broad river -gleaming between its lofty banks: the green -mountain towering up on the opposite shore: the glassy -ocean stretching away to where the sun had sunk -to rest in its waters: the old fort lifting its dark, -massive walls and battlements, undecayed by centuries -of tropical storm and tropical sun, against the pale -yellow and rose and purple of the sunset sky: the -strange, rich vegetation of a tropic clime, amidst which -moved men and women in conventional evening dress, -as they would have done in the drawing-rooms of -England.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Save for the shrilling of the cicadas and the quiet -voices of the hosts and their guests, the air was as -still as if it had never known disturbance. Yet all -that day, from eight A.M. till nearly sundown, it had -quivered with the roar of heavy ordnance and the -rattle of machine guns. Less than twenty miles away, -across those hills to the east, the French fleet had -poured a tempest of shot and shell from its long naval -guns and mitrailleuses into the Chinese forts at -Keelung, and the Chinese had replied from their -Krupps and Armstrongs till their defences tumbled -about their ears. Now the game of war was over -for the day, and all seemed as peaceful as if it had -never been played. But the conversation of the guests -continually reverted to the tempest which had so -suddenly broken upon the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just at the hour set for dinner the little gunboat, -the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>, which had been away since early dawn, -was seen steaming up the harbour. As she passed -the consulate, a boat dropped from her and pulled -swiftly in towards the jetty. At the sight of it the -host and hostess led the way into the brightly-lighted -drawing-room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Commander Gardenier has made jolly good time," -said the consul. "We can well afford to wait a few -minutes for him. He'll be here directly. In the -meantime we can get acquainted."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While the host was busy with introductions, Sinclair -had time to consider the company. He had met almost -all before. But he had not by any means satisfied -his keen interest in their personal characteristics. -One by one he studied the men and women before -him, taking in with the celerity of one who has long -practised it as an art the physical type of each, and -estimating the mental peculiarities which lay behind -the outward forms.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The first was the consul. Of barely middle height, -but perfectly proportioned, every movement betrayed -muscles trained and developed by consistent physical -exercise. The keen, bright blue eyes, looking out of -a sunburned face, the small, closely-clipped moustache, -the nervous, vigorous movements, hardly needed the -confirmation of his short, quick sentences and decisive -accents to tell the story of his character. The -interests of his country would not suffer at his hands for -lack of courage or decision.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Beauchamp was a small woman, somewhat -delicate in appearance. Her slight figure was well -set off by the rich simplicity of her evening gown. -The quiet ease of her manners spoke of a lifetime -spent in the atmosphere of polite society.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In sharp contrast was Mrs. MacAllister—large, -stout, middle-aged, with raven black hair, and the -bright colour characteristic of her Highland people -still warm in her cheeks. Considering the occasion -and the tropic heat, she was over-dressed. More -noticeable still was the fact that she was not at home -in her present surroundings. With her husband she -had risen from a humble station in life to wealth, -and the entrée into social circles which wealth gives. -The wife of the great London merchant and financier -must not be overlooked. Oh, no! Indeed, she had -no desire to be overlooked. She had brought from -an almost menial position an exaggerated reverence -for the gentry, and the ambition to associate with -them. Yet she was never at ease in their company. -Her husband showed the poise of one who could adapt -himself to any position in life, and manifested no -embarrassment or awkwardness in any company. But -Mrs. MacAllister was never free from constraint at -social functions, and her attempts to appear at home -sometimes resulted in disaster.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was another married woman present—Mrs. Thomson, -the wife of Dr. MacKay's colleague. Youthful -in face and figure, she was dressed plainly, almost -to the verge of severity. But her quick wit and -vivacious manner gathered a little group of the guests -about her, and more than atoned for the commonplace -dulness of her husband.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Standing among some tropic plants just outside a -French window, Sinclair, unobserved himself, was able -to study each one in succession. But ever and anon -his eyes turned to where nearly half the men present -had gathered around the only other woman who was -there to grace the occasion. Miss MacAllister was -facing him, and he could note every play of expression -on her countenance. There was a rapid exchange of -conversation, and she had an answer for every one. -The rippling laughter he had heard on the deck of -the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> now sounded over the murmur of voices -in the drawing-room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a queenly stature and bearing!" Sinclair -thought to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was true. Miss MacAllister was taller than all -but one of the little circle of men gathered about -her. She held her small head, with its wavy crown of -rich brown hair, as if she were proud of her -commanding height. Her eyes, so dark a blue that in the -light of the candles they seemed black, looked right -over the heads of the men of average stature.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yet, if her height was masculine, there was nothing -masculine about her figure. Though well -proportioned and vigorous, it gave the general impression of -slightness. Neither was there a trace of masculinity -about the face. It was thoroughly feminine, with its -somewhat low forehead, its small, straight nose, the -rich, Highland colour in the softly-rounded cheeks, the -small chin, and the lips parted in merry laughter—a -thoroughly girlish face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Keeping himself in the shadow, and looking at her -in the bright light of the drawing-room, Sinclair -thought that rarely, if ever, had he seen a more -strikingly beautiful woman. He wondered that he had -not noticed it before. Then he laughed to himself -as he remembered that, during their short acquaintance, -he had so often suffered from her raillery that -he had been in little humour for appreciation or -admiration.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A pretty picture, that!" said McLeod's voice at his -shoulder. "I am glad to see you enjoying it, doctor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Until I get better acquainted I prefer looking on -to taking part in the conversation. It's an interesting -study."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't she a beauty? That evening rig sets her off -to perfection." McLeod generally used nautical terms -to describe dress, on which he was not an expert.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see that you are still on the same tack," replied -Sinclair, with a laugh. "But really I agree with you -that the 'rig' does suit her, and that she is a beauty. -Who is that tall, dark fellow who is trying to -monopolize the conversation with her?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"English remittance man. A younger son, no better -than he ought to be. Sent out here to be rid of -him. In a moment of weakness the I.G.[#] gave him a -place on the customs.... But here comes Beauchamp."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] Sir Robert Hart, Inspector-General of Chinese customs, was -familiarly known as the I.G.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Is this where you are, Sinclair? I have been -looking around for you. Have you met every one yet?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe so, Mr. Beauchamp, except the tall -gentleman talking to Miss MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come along then and I'll introduce you before I -have to receive Gardenier.... Miss MacAllister, I -am sure you will pardon me for interrupting your -conversation. I should like to make these gentlemen -acquainted.... Dr. Sinclair, the Honourable -Reginald Carteret of the Imperial Maritime Customs -staff.... Will you excuse me now? I see -Commander Gardenier at the door."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair saluted Carteret with the frank, easy -courtesy which suited so well his big, powerful frame and -pleasant countenance. The acknowledgment was a -slight, stiff bow and a brief:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glad to make your acquaintance, I'm sure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The tone and the words stung Sinclair. His face -lost something of its good-humour. His lips closed -tightly. A gleam of anger showed for an instant in -his blue eyes. The signs of irritation passed quickly. -But it was in a colder and more formal tone that he -uttered some commonplaces, to which Carteret made -a commonplace reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slight as were the changes of tone and manner, -they were not lost on Miss MacAllister. She had noted -the unconscious ease with which Sinclair had met -Carteret, and had been surprised at the superciliousness, -almost insolence, of the latter's response. She -had caught that momentary flash of the eye, betraying -the rising anger, immediately brought under control.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then as the two young men exchanged a sentence -or two of polite formalities, she mentally compared -them. Both were tall men—with the possible exception -of her father, much the tallest men in the company. -Neither was less than six feet in height. The -Englishman was the slighter of the two, though fairly -athletic in appearance. He was black-haired and -dark-eyed. A black moustache and well-trimmed pointed -beard gave him a foreign appearance and made him -look older than his five-and-twenty years.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Canadian was equally tall, but broad-shouldered -and deep-chested. The massive head with its abundance -of loosely-curled hair, so light in colour as to -be almost golden, the clear-cut features, fair complexion, -and singularly bright blue eyes reminded her of -pictures of idealized Vikings she had seen at home. -Perhaps it was more than a fanciful resemblance. -Sinclair's forefathers had come from Caithness to -Canada, and the blood of Norsemen probably flowed -in his veins. Though older by a couple of years than -the Englishman, Sinclair's fair, clean-shaven face -looked years younger than Carteret's. In spite of the -maturity of the broad, white forehead, it was almost -a boyish face, with its cheerful, eager outlook on -life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Allow me to apologize, Miss MacAllister, for having -interrupted your conversation with Mr. Carteret. -The consul simply projected me into the midst of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A heavy projectile, Dr. Sinclair, for so light an -explosive! With the thunder of the bombardment -still in our ears, I suppose that we cannot help talking -in terms of cannonading. But I assure you that no -apologies are necessary. I am ever so glad to meet -again a companion of our eventful voyage."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked so charmingly sincere that Sinclair -wondered to himself if she really meant it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Attention! The consul is marshalling the company -for dining-room parade," said Mr. Boville, the -commissioner of customs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Exactly seven minutes and forty seconds late," -said Carteret, looking at his watch. "Beauchamp -will not recover from this for a year. He'll have to -report it to the Foreign Office and ask that his leave -be postponed six months as a punishment."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why? Is Mr. Beauchamp so particular about -being punctual?" asked Miss MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Latest for an engagement he was ever known to -be, three minutes and fifteen seconds. That was -because of a typhoon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pity that there were not more like him!" said -the commissioner tartly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Commander Gardenier, you will conduct my wife -to the dining-room. Mr. MacAllister, will you take in -Mrs. Thomson? And Mr. Boville, Miss MacAllister. -The less fortunate gentlemen will follow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Offering his arm to Mrs. MacAllister, the consul -led the way.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="on-the-defensive"><span class="bold large">VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">ON THE DEFENSIVE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The commissioner of customs had the honour -of conducting Miss MacAllister to the table, -because his official position and his long years -of residence in the island gave him precedence over -the newcomers, or those who were engaged in -mercantile pursuits. In appearance he was ill-suited to be -the escort of such a young and queenly person. He -was middle-aged, very bald, rotund in figure, and so -short that his head was hardly level with her shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When she took Boville's proffered arm, she realized -how absurd their disproportionate statures must -appear. Involuntarily she glanced around to find -Sinclair. He was just offering his arm to McLeod, for -lack of a lady companion. A moment later she heard -their voices at her back, and knew that they had taken -their places in the little procession immediately behind -her and the commissioner. Then the voices ceased, -and instinctively she felt that they were laughing -silently. Her figure stiffened, and she held her head a -trifle higher than before. Her escort made the most -of his five feet one or two, but do his best he couldn't -get the shiny top of his head above her shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they entered the dining-room she caught a -glimpse of McLeod's face. He was laughing -undisguisedly. When she took her place at the table she -found herself facing Sinclair. He was not looking -at her. He was watching the last of the guests filing -in, and was trying to look unconcerned. But there -was a suspicious quivering of his mouth and a sparkle -in his eyes. Her quick Celtic blood took fire at once.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's laughing at me," she thought to herself. -"How dare he? There's no limit to the presumption -of those Canadians. But I'll teach him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Strange to say, she quite forgot how she had laughed -at him on board the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>. Stranger still, she -seemed to take no offence at the laughter of McLeod, -who also was a Canadian.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As soon as they were seated, the natives out on the -verandah began to pull the cords; the punkah began -to wave to and fro and creak. It wouldn't have been -a punkah if it hadn't creaked. The consul, who had -nerves, had striven to put an end to the creaking, -but had failed. The creak was an essential part of -the punkah. But there was no creaking about the -movements of the waiters. Noiseless as spectres, the -"boys" in their long blue gowns moved quickly in -and out, back and forth, their felt-soled shoes sliding -silently over the smooth tiled floor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Commander Gardenier, we have all been models -of patience. No one has asked you how the day went -at Keelung. But you cannot expect us to wait much -longer. Such virtue would be superhuman. Do tell -the company what all the noise was about to-day and -who got the better of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A murmur of applause greeted the consul's request, -and all eyes turned towards the bronzed sailor who -sat beside Mrs. Beauchamp. He seemed a little -uncomfortable under the expectant gaze of so many -eyes and answered modestly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not know that I can tell you much about it. -The French had three ships at it. On their part the -Chinese in the big new fort on the east side of the -harbour and in the old fortifications on the west side -were engaged. Between them they put up a pretty -scrap for a while."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really! Did the Chinese actually pretend to offer -any resistance to the French?" inquired Carteret.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was no pretending. They offered resistance, -and a very effectual one for a time," replied -Gardenier. "You know, Beauchamp, the lie of the -harbour?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul nodded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The old corvette </span><em class="italics">Villars</em><span> was anchored in the inner -harbour, opposite the south side of Palm Island. She -pelted away with her guns and mitrailleuses at the -new fort at a thousand-yard range. The little -gunboat </span><em class="italics">Lutin</em><span> lay close in shore on the west side and -hammered the old fortifications there. Admiral -Lespès, in </span><em class="italics">La Galissonnière</em><span>, lay in the outer harbour -and raked both sides with his long guns."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should think that he would be in little danger -there," said one of the merchants. "The Chinese -gunners couldn't hit a range of mountains, let alone a -ship, at that range."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is just where you are mistaken. They put -three holes into </span><em class="italics">La Galissonnière</em><span> just above water-line, -almost as soon as the game commenced. If they -didn't beat off the French to-day, it was not the fault -of their gunners. It was because their works could -not stand the French fire. The Chinese worked their -guns till their forts were knocked to pieces."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did the French land any men?" inquired Boville.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Gardenier. "When we left Keelung, -a landing-party of marines had just hoisted the -French flag on the ruined Chinese fort."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then Keelung is in the hands of the French?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. That is if by Keelung you mean a strip of -a few hundred feet wide around the harbour. But -the hills all around that again are occupied by the -Chinese."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Little difference that will make," said Carteret. -"The Celestials have had all they want. At the first -sign of a French advance they'll run, and never stop -running till they reach Taipeh."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm not so sure about that," replied Gardenier, -a trifle coldly. "In the first place, the French have -no land forces with which to make an advance. In -the second place, the Chinese are better fighters than -you give them credit for, Mr. Carteret. All they -need is a good leader, and I believe that they have -such a man in Liu Ming-chuan."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And in the third place," said Beauchamp, "the -Keelung climate is enough to defeat the French if -there were no Chinese. By the time their transports -arrive the northeast monsoon will be about due. -Then the Lord help them! One of the wettest spots -on earth. Boville, what is the annual rainfall over -there?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One hundred and fifty-eight inches on the average. -One year it lacked only an inch and a half of the -two hundred."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One hundred and fifty-eight inches," repeated -MacAllister. "That does not convey much meaning -to my mind. How does it compare with some climates -we do know? That of London, for example?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ashamed to say that I don't know London's rainfall," -said the consul. "All I remember is that it -seemed to do little else but rain there when I was a -boy. Boville? ... Carteret? ... You are -Londoners.... What? Do none of you -know? ... Shocking ignorance!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not want to put forward my opinion on the -climate of London in a company of Englishmen," said -Sinclair; "but I believe the rainfall there is about -twenty-five inches."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Easy seeing that you have not lived in England," -said Carteret, with the same contemptuous tone he -had already used when introduced to Sinclair. "A -hundred inches would be more like it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair is right," said Commander Gardenier, -who had been consulting a tiny memorandum book. -"No considerable part of the British Isles exceeds -eighty inches, and London has twenty-five."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister flashed a quick glance at -Sinclair. There was admiration in it; admiration that -he should know this simple scientific fact which those -who had better opportunities did not know. She had -noted this peculiarity in him before, his remarkable -fund of accurate information on all manner of -subjects.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then her mind took a curious twist. What right -had he to know the rainfall of London? What -business had this colonial to know a fact about London -which a company of Londoners did not know? It was -another proof of his presumption. She'd take some of -his self-confidence out of him. She'd teach him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The conversation drifted on about the climate, the -war, the probability of a bombardment at Tamsui, -the prospects of an easy victory which most conceded -to the French.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe that you are rating the Chinese too low," -said the consul, in reply to a number of expressions -of such views. "From what I have seen of the new -Imperial Commissioner, Liu Ming-chuan, he will give -the French more than they bargained for. As -Commander Gardenier says, leaders are what the Chinese -need. When they get a few more men trained in -Western ideas, they are going to surprise the world. -What do you think, Mr. De Vaux? You have known -them longer than any of us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my soul, Beauchamp, I believe you are -right! ... The Chinese are a smarter people than -they get credit for.... 'Pon my honour, they -are! ... And they're honest, too.... The last -time I was in America, a man I had business with in -New York said that he did not know how I could stand -living among those pig-tails, as he called them.... -He wouldn't live among them for a hundred thousand -a year.... It vexed me.... I told him that I'd -rather do business with a good Chinese firm any time -than with some Yankees.... 'Pon my soul, I -would! ... Do you know, that duffer cheated me -the very next day!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a burst of laughter at De Vaux's injured -tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a fact," he continued, his face and head -growing redder and his voice higher at every sentence. -"And to think of that scoundrel casting reflections on -the Chinese! ... Bless my soul! ... It vexes me -so! ... By——! ... I mean it's a thundering -shame the way the Chinese have been treated by some -white people."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What Mr. De Vaux says is true enough," said -the consul. "I am sorry Dr. MacKay is not here. -He could give us more information about the preparations -the Chinese have made than any one else. But -I understand that he has gone over to the vicinity of -Keelung to look after some of his converts who are -in the danger zone. Is that not so, Dr. Sinclair?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Sinclair. "He could hardly wait -for tiffin yesterday, he was in such a hurry to catch -the first launch up river."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I saw him landing from the launch at Twatutia," -added one of the merchants. "He barely bade me -the time of day, and set off on foot for Keelung at -such a rate that the Chinese with him had to run to -keep up. I never saw the like of him. I wonder that -the heat does not kill him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is perfectly marvellous the amount of work he -goes through, no matter how exhausting the heat -may be," said Mrs. Beauchamp. "No person need -ever tell me again that missionaries take easy times."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, I'm so sorry! I do believe that I -have all the wines here beside me, and your glasses -are empty. Will you not allow me to pass some to -you? Which shall it be, claret or sherry or port?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Miss MacAllister, speaking in so clear a -voice that it caught everybody's ear and attracted the -notice of all to the fact that, while the wines had -frequently circulated around the table, Sinclair's -glasses had never been filled. A slight flush, scarcely -noticeable under the tan, climbed into visibility above -the line which separated the sunburn from the white -of the broad forehead. The attention suddenly -concentrated on him was evidently unwelcome. But it -was with perfect courtesy and good-humour that he -replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No apologies are necessary, Miss MacAllister. To -do without wine is no privation to me. My glasses -are not empty because the wines have not been offered -to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! Perhaps you are a teetotaller."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you wish to so describe me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really! How interesting! I do not think that I -ever met one before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your own glasses have been filled, but, if I am not -mistaken, they are yet untasted, Miss MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! That's all very well for a woman. But -I mean a man. I am sure that I never before met a -man who couldn't enjoy a glass of wine, except some -ministers and very immature youths in Bands of Hope."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A laugh went round the table. Sinclair joined in -it. But the flush deepened on his forehead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear," interrupted Mr. MacAllister, "I am -afraid that you are forgetting your father. I am -practically a total abstainer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I know, father! But then you are an elderly -man, and something of a preacher, too. Such virtue -is to be expected in you. But Dr. Sinclair is a young -man and—a medical doctor. To find such extraordinary -rectitude in him is, as the Scotch would say, 'no -canny.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again the laugh went round at the doctor's -expense. The fair tyrant was getting even with him. -Mrs. Thomson, realizing the disadvantage he was at -in this verbal passage at arms with a woman, spoke -up in her fellow-countryman's behalf:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must remember, Miss MacAllister, that different -countries have different customs. In your home -surroundings it may have been a manly thing to use -intoxicants. Where Dr. Sinclair comes from one of -the highest standards of manliness is to be a total -abstainer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And pray tell us where such lofty standards -prevail?" asked Carteret. "Where was Dr. Sinclair -reared?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"On a Canadian farm." Sinclair's voice had a -defiant ring.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shouldn't think that it would be the most up-to-date -school of social usages in the world." Carteret's -tone was a trifle more insolent than before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps not, Mr. Carteret. But there was one -thing we did learn there. We learned——" A biting -retort was on his tongue. His eyes met those of the -hostess. He paused and softened it. "We learned to -give to others the same liberty of opinion as we claimed -for ourselves. You claim the liberty to use wine. I -do not interfere with your liberty. I claim the -liberty to abstain. I expect, Mr. Carteret, the same -courtesy in return."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret's face flushed a dark red. He, the son of -an English peer, to be taught a lesson in courtesy by -the son of a Canadian farmer. Before he had time -to frame an answer Mrs. Beauchamp interposed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair is perfectly right to claim liberty on -this question. Our social usages are apt to -become tyrannical. I like, every once in a while, to -see some one independent enough to revolt against -them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad to hear you say so, Mrs. Beauchamp," -said Commander Gardenier. "I was just beginning -to wonder where I came in. I am an abstainer. It -is not because I was trained to it from a boy, for I -wasn't. Nor is it because of any pledge. It is -because of my experience in the navy. I have seen so -many of the most promising careers in the service -come to nothing, and so many of my seniors go down -and out through drink, that I felt it my duty to give -it up. At our mess those who wish to drink even the -Queen's health in water are free to do so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This discussion must stop right now," broke in -the consul, "or, by Jove! every man at the table will -be confessing himself a teetotaller, except De Vaux -and myself. We shall not forsake the good old ways, -shall we, De Vaux?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul, no, Beauchamp! A little wine for -thy stomach's sake," replied De Vaux amidst a burst -of laughter, for this was one of the most evident -weaknesses of this scion of a noble house. Already his -high-pitched voice was noticeably thick.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the ladies retired to the drawing-room, leaving -the men to their cigars, wine, and black coffee. -Miss MacAllister knew that she had made Sinclair -uncomfortable for a time. But she had also the -consciousness that her little coup had not been so -successful as she had intended. Sinclair had come out -of the predicament she had contrived for him with -rather the better of her. And, curious as it may -seem, her feelings were a bit injured.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="sparring-for-advantage"><span class="bold large">VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">SPARRING FOR ADVANTAGE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I think we ought to have some music," said -Mrs. Beauchamp, as the men rejoined the ladies -in the drawing-room. "There is nothing which -takes me back home like the old home songs. I -believe that there is considerable talent in our company -this evening. May we not have some songs?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing in the world I like better! 'Pon my -soul, there isn't," exclaimed De Vaux, who was -talking very freely and was disposed to be gallant -towards the ladies. He raised his voice, trembling -perhaps with emotion, to a high pitch, and said: "Ladies -and gentlemen, permit me to have the honour on your -behalf of requesting our hostess to favour us with a -song. Bless my soul! I'd rather hear her sing to -the accompaniment of her guitar than Patti or -Albani, or any other of their prima donnas. 'Pon -my honour, I would! ... Mrs. Beauchamp, will -you not accede to our united request and give us the -happiness of hearing you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He finished with a bow intended to be as profound -as those of his Lord Chesterfield days. He seemed -unconscious of the limitations imposed on him by the -aldermanic proportions which had come to him since -his slim and graceful youth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Beauchamp rose with a smile which had more -of sadness than of mirth, glanced at her husband, -and permitted De Vaux to conduct her to a seat near -the piano and to bring her guitar. The consul sat -down at the piano, ran his fingers over the keys, -touching soft chords, to which the guitar was brought -into tune. Then to the accompaniment of the two -instruments Mrs. Beauchamp sang in a voice, not -strong, but sweet and sympathetic, a tender old -English love song.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By——! ... Bless my soul, I mean, it makes -me homesick to hear those old songs!" exclaimed De -Vaux, amidst the applause. His voice was high and -trembling. There was a suspicious redness and -moisture in his eyes. "I've been more than twenty years -in this forgotten island. But when I hear Mrs. Beauchamp -sing such a song as that I protest I want to -take the first boat home. 'Pon my honour, I do!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no! You'll not go back to England just yet, -De Vaux," said the consul. "We shouldn't know -Formosa without you. But I'll tell you what you -will do. You'll sing something for us yourself, will -you not?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, yes, De Vaux!" exclaimed several voices. -"Do sing something. Sing 'Rocked in the Cradle -of the Deep.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's De Vaux's Royal George," whispered -McLeod to Sinclair. "He always sings that. But he -won't sing it yet a while. He'll need a few more -drinks first."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my soul, it's awfully good of you to ask -me! I do not profess to be a singer. Really! -I do not.... But, since you have been so good as -to ask me, I shall do my best, on one condition, that -Mrs. Beauchamp will honour me by playing my -accompaniment.... Mrs. Beauchamp, will you be so -kind?" Another bow meant to be profound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, Mr. De Vaux, with pleasure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a voice which had once been a sweet tenor, but -was now fat and breathless, he sang, "Silver Threads -Among the Gold." He had to take a breath in the -middle of every long note. As for the high ones, he -just touched them. Then his breath failed him, -leaving the audience to imagine the rest. But when he -was rewarded with a round of applause he responded -with an encore, "In the Gloaming." His head was -becoming crimson with the effort. Perspiration -streamed down his face and neck, in spite of the -constant use of his handkerchief. His collar had melted -and fallen limply against his coat. The starch of his -shirt front had disappeared, leaving it but a -crumpled rag.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some of the guests were insisting on a third number, -when the consul came to the rescue:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This sort of thing mustn't go any further. If -my wife and De Vaux continue singing such sentimental -songs, they'll have us all homesick. We cannot -afford to ship all the English residents of North -Formosa by the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> to-morrow. Just to change -the current of your thoughts, I'll make a break and -give you something different."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took his place at the piano, and to his own -accompaniment sang with great spirit, in a strong -baritone voice, the old English song, "A Hunting -We Will Go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The applause was as enthusiastic as the spirit in -which he had sung, and he was pressed for an encore. -The consul replied with mock stage bows, but -refused to sing again. He had done his part in chasing -away the blue devils of homesickness. Now it was -some other body's turn to perform. He knew Miss -MacAllister could sing. Would she not continue the -good work and give them something rousing?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister did not wait to be urged, but -responded at once. Her voice was a rich, strong -soprano. With a verve and fire worthy of her choice, -she sang Lady Nairn's stirring war-song, "The -Hundred Pipers." To the insistent demand for another -song she replied with "The March of the Cameron -Men." With her stately figure at its full height, head -thrown back, and eyes which seemed to look away -beyond her tropic surroundings to the hills of old -Scotland, she sang as if possessed by the spirit of -generations of Highland ancestors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair, from his place over by the mantel-piece, -was looking at her with undisguised admiration.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't she magnificent? Yon's a prize for some -man! ... Sinclair, man, why don't you go in and -win? If you don't try, I'll be ashamed of you, -whatever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was McLeod. He was speaking in a low tone, -only for his friend's ear. But he who had been the -personification of coolness during the typhoon was -now fairly quivering with excitement. The songs of -his people had fired his blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You needn't be ashamed of me, Mac. I'm going -to try."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good for you! I'll back you to win."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't stake too much on me, Mac. I'm new to -this game. You might lose heavily. Carteret is -ahead of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That dirty snob!" exclaimed McLeod in a tone -of disgust. "He wants her in just the same way -as he wants every pretty woman he sees. And then -her money would help to repair the Carteret fortunes. -It's an insult to a good woman to mention him in -relation to her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All the same she and her family are not -supposed to know the things that you know against -him, whatever they may be. He belongs to a titled -family. That counts for a lot with most people who -have risen from the ranks. Her mother is greatly -taken with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, but the daughter is not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm not so sure about that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd stake my life on it. But look, Carteret is -going to sing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was evident that Carteret had expected to sing, -for he had just returned from the cloak-room with -a roll of music in his hand. He placed it on the -piano, and then turning to Miss MacAllister he -conducted her to the instrument with almost an excess of -courtesy. Yet his manners were easy and graceful. -If at times he seemed to exceed the requirements of -etiquette, his ultra politeness accorded well with his -Gallic cast of countenance and the cut of beard which -he affected.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His voice was a tenor, not very strong, but pure -in tone and evidently well-trained. The first -selection was "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes." It -was sung with feeling. The strength of his voice -accorded well with the size of the drawing-room, and -passion was thrown into the tender lines. As an -encore he sang another love song, still more amorous -in sentiment and manner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"His musical talent is Carteret's hope of promotion -if he remains in the customs," said Boville, who -was one of a little group of guests near to where -Sinclair stood. "He thinks that, if he could get the -opportunity to sing before the I.G., he would be -promoted to Pekin at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Or better still, if he should succeed in marrying -a handsome wife who is musical," said a merchant. -"I am told that the I.G. is even more considerate -of a subordinate with an accomplished wife than one -who possesses the accomplishments himself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He has the voice already, and now he seems to be -making a bold stroke for the gifted wife," -interjected another.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shouldn't wish Miss MacAllister any ill," replied -Boville. "But I do hope something will happen to -take him off my hands. If the I.G. wants him, he -will be most welcome to the fellow, so long as I am -well quit of him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair took no part in the conversation. But he -heard every word. The careless references to Miss -MacAllister hurt him in a way which surprised -himself. The callousness of the suggestion that -Carteret should get promotion by marrying her cut him -to the quick. How could any one entertain such an -idea?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he wondered at himself. What was Miss -MacAllister to him? A passing stranger, who had -taken it into her whimsical head to amuse herself -at his expense. Already she had succeeded in -making him feel most uncomfortable; indeed, for a time -something of a laughing-stock. What need he care? -She was nothing to him, and he was nothing to her -but the subject of an evening's laughter. What a -fool he had been to accept McLeod's challenge! He -would have to straighten that out in the morning. -Then they both would have shaken off the glamour -of that face and figure, and those martial Highland -songs which had so stirred their blood. They would -be in their cool senses then. They had not been when -the one had made and the other had accepted the -challenge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Miss MacAllister and Carteret were -still at the piano. She was slowly turning over some -music. He was bending low as if to see it, and -perhaps to choose another song. All the while he was -speaking to her in a soft voice, and she was making -monosyllabic replies. She realized that his head was -sinking lower and his face closer to hers. She felt -his hot breath on her face and neck and shoulder. -It was hot and heavy with wine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She turned her head slightly but quickly towards -him. She saw his eyes fixed greedily on the rich -beauties of form only half concealed by her low evening -dress. Her face flamed crimson, and she rose hastily -from the piano, disregarding his appeal that she -should play just one more selection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she passed from the instrument to a chair she -heard the consul say:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sinclair, you're the most confoundedly -comfortable-looking duffer I ever saw in a dress suit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's because the tailor who made my suit put -side pockets in the trousers," was the reply. "You -would be just as comfortable if you had pockets to -put your hands in. I have noticed you trying to get -them into the seams half a dozen times this evening."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right there. But it's not my fault. I laid -it on that tailor in Hong-Kong as a parting -injunction to put pockets in my trousers. And he -promised. When the suit arrived they had none, and I -was five hundred miles too far away to get my hands -on him and wring the beast's neck."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fortunate for the beast!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. But he'll get his punishment yet, that tailor -will. He has a lot to answer for. I have sworn -outwardly often, and inwardly more times than could -be numbered, whenever I have had these clothes on. -I envy you. You do look comfortable in that suit. -It fits you as if you had been born in it, and with -your hands in the trousers' pockets."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister, looking at Sinclair from the seat -she had taken near the French window, agreed with -the consul's judgment. The big Canadian was in -conventional evening dress, except for one slight -concession made to the heat of the climate. Instead of -the low-cut vest he wore a broad kamarband of black -silk about his waist. The only trace of jewellery -was the gold locket on the end of a black leather watch -guard, which hung over the kamarband. There was -a total absence of dressiness. But as the girl who had -been for years familiar with London drawing-rooms -looked at the strong, clean-cut features, the massive -head with its fair hair contrasting with the black -clothing, the lazy grace of the powerful frame -leaning against the mantel-piece, she thought to herself -that she had never seen a man who had on him more -of the marks of being to the manner born. Yet he -was the self-confessed son of a Canadian farmer, and -reared on a Canadian farm. She found it hard to -remain offended with this big, good-looking, -good-tempered man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Involuntarily she compared him again with Carteret, -the son of a noble English family. The latter -was now talking to Mrs. Beauchamp. She could see -that his ordinarily somewhat pallid face was flushed -and there was an expression in his eyes which was -not pleasant to see. She thought again of that greedy -look and of the hot breath, heavy with wine. She -turned her eyes once more towards Sinclair. He was -talking to the consul and smiling. The distinction -between the two young men took shape in her mind. -Sinclair was clean and his smile was frank and pure -as that of a child.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She heard the consul saying to him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"McLeod tells me that you sing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"McLeod tells a lot of things he knows very little -about. I shall have to lay an injunction upon him -to hold his peace."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right for some other time. But for -the present you do not deny the charge that you do -sing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll plead guilty to disturbing my neighbours -sometimes by singing college songs and such things. -But I have none of them here and no music for the -accompanist."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just what we want; something lively. If there's -a chorus, we'll all join in. Give me an idea how it -goes and I can chord for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beauchamp ran his fingers over the keys while -Sinclair hummed or lilted the tune. Soon the proper -chord was struck. Sinclair repeated the words of the -chorus till all got them. Then he sang a rollicking -college song. When he reached the chorus all joined -in, and for the first time the walls of the old Dutch -fort and the listening palms and oleanders and -magnolias heard the jolly abandon of "The Old -Ontario Strand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the chorus was reached the second time, Sinclair -relinquished the leadership of the air to Miss -MacAllister. She took it as if by prearrangement, -while he dropped into his rightful place and supplied -the undertone of a bass powerful enough to balance -the voices of all the rest of the company.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When it was finished there was an outbreak of -applause and even cheers, which showed that all -reserve had disappeared and the company were -prepared to give themselves up with childish delight to -singing. Another college song was sung with the -same spirit as the first, and Sinclair was pressed to -lead still another.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will," he said at last, "if you will allow me to -choose one as characteristic of our French Canadian -people as those we were favoured with by Miss -MacAllister are of the Highland Scotch."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In response to the general consent he sang some -verses of—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"En roulant ma boule roulant,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>En roulant ma boule,"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>and a number of the company joined in the simple -refrain. The song which had so often echoed on lake -and stream, by the evening campfire, where the paddle -dipped, or in the frosty stillness of the snow-laden -forests of the north rang out through the scented -darkness of the warm tropic night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A number of other songs were rendered by different -members of the party. Then Sinclair was -called for again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that my repertoire has come very -near the point of being exhausted," he said. "I have -only those songs the words of which I can remember, -and the selection is not very choice."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This time it was a plaintive negro melody of the -Sunny South. Again Miss MacAllister found herself -singing heartily with the rest in the refrain, -and after the first verse leading the chorus while -Sinclair sang bass. When the song was done she -suddenly said to herself:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a silly I am making of myself! I came in -here determined to get even with that doctor. And -here I am singing with him and for him like a sissy -in a Sunday-school concert. He can do his own -singing from now on. I'll pay him back yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rest were urging Sinclair to sing again, when -Miss MacAllister said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair has shown wonderful versatility in -his choice of songs this evening. English, French, -negro, he sings them all with equal facility. I -wonder if he would not favour us with a Canadian -Indian song. I have never heard any of their music. I -should so love to have the opportunity. Will you -not sing us one, Dr. Sinclair?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her face wore an expression of childlike innocence -and interest. But McLeod thought he saw a -mischievous gleam in her eyes. Mr. MacAllister looked -at his daughter with a puzzled face and shook his -head a little. The consul eyed her doubtfully, as -though trying to fathom the purpose behind this -request. He saw nothing but the appearance of almost -infantile guilelessness. Then he heard Sinclair -saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, Miss MacAllister. I am happy to do -anything in my power to serve you. Only it is a -little hard on Mr. Beauchamp to ask him even to -chord to a type of music he may never have heard -before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you so much, Dr. Sinclair. I am all -anxiety to hear you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then she added:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sure Mr. Beauchamp will be able to accompany -you. He is a man of infinite resource in music." For -she was afraid that Sinclair's concern about placing -the consul in a difficult position was only an -attempt to provide a loop-hole for his own escape.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A buzz of conversation broke out in the room while -Sinclair bent over the instrument, softly humming a -slow, stately measure, and the consul's fingers felt -for the harmonious chords. Soon the voice and the -chords were moving together in harmony.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That may be an Indian tune," said Beauchamp, -"but it sounds remarkably like certain bars from an -old sixteenth-century mass I had to practise when a -boy until my fingers were nearly worn out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps the Indians learned it from the early -Roman Catholic missionaries," was the quick reply. -"In any case, I fancy it is the sound of the language -Miss MacAllister wishes to hear rather than the -music."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you like, I shall play the tune for you. I -remember it perfectly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, I prefer the chords."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair straightened himself, and the buzz of -conversation instantly ceased. Then his voice rolled -forth to the slow, solemn air, words as melodious as -the notes of the music. At their first sound the -consul's head ducked below the level of the piano, which -hid him from most in the room. Sinclair gave him -a vicious dig in the ribs, but sang on without the -quiver of an eyelid. The full vowel sounds of the -unknown language brought out to perfection the tones -of his rich bass voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His eyes glanced around the room. All were -listening intently, and all, save Commander Gardenier, -had their eyes on him. He thought that he could -detect a grim smile on the naval officer's averted face. -Miss MacAllister had a keen look—was it a -suspicious look?—in her eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Under cover of the applause which followed the -consul turned on him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have the nerve to pass a chorus from a Greek -tragedy on a company like this for a Red Indian -war-song."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I plead guilty," replied Sinclair. "But I had to -do something or be again held up to ridicule as I was -at dinner. I thought that you were the only one -likely to recognize it and I knew that you would not -betray me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I acknowledge that you had to do something. For -some reason Miss MacAllister seems bound to make -game of you. She deserves what you have given -her, and I'll not give you away. But it was nervy -just the same." And the consul laughed indulgently -as he turned away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister did not join in the general -applause. But when it was done she said gravely:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Dr. Sinclair, for gratifying my whim -to hear a song in the Indian language. I had no -idea that it would be so beautiful. Thank you very -much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair's face flushed as he replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am only too glad to have been able to do -anything which has pleased you." At the same moment -he felt a pang of remorse for the deception.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had not long to think of it when he heard -Mrs. MacAllister saying to Commander Gardenier:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a barbarous jargon to be called a language!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied the officer drily, "but I have heard -a good many others more barbarous."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thomson, the missionary, remarked in his -slow way:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It—some—way—seems—to—me—that—I—have -—heard—some—thing—like—that—before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair had to act quickly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were a missionary once among the Indians -of Bruce Peninsula, were you not?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes—I—was."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You probably heard it there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well—perhaps—I—did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some of the guests rose to depart, and their -hostess rose with them. Before they had time to begin -to say farewell, Carteret said loudly enough to be -heard by all in the room:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. Beauchamp, before we go, may we not hear -Mr. De Vaux sing again? I know that we should all -be delighted to hear him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that we are imposing on Mr. De -Vaux," replied the hostess, who realized the -condition De Vaux ordinarily reached by that hour after -a dinner. "I think that he is tired. He has done -his part so well this evening that it seems unfair to -ask him for any more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sure, Mrs. Beauchamp, that Mr. De Vaux -will not feel it a hardship to sing again. He is our -foremost vocalist in Formosa. We want him to -uphold the honour of the local talent. Mr. De Vaux, will -you not sing for us 'Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep'?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord! ... Mr. Carteret—ladies and gentlemen—how -good of you to ask me! ... By——! ... Bless -my soul, I mean! ... It is good of you.... -I'm afraid.... I'm not in very good voice. But -since you insist—I'll try.... By——! ... I mean -'pon my honour, I shall!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Shall I play your accompaniment, De Vaux?" -said the consul, in response to an appealing look from -his wife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How good of you, Beauchamp! ... By——! ... 'Pon -my soul, I mean—it is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Purple-faced, perspiring, steadying himself by the -piano, The Honourable Lionel Percival Dudley De -Vaux sang, in a series of high-toned asthmatic gasps, -"Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the guests said their farewells and, preceded -by natives carrying lanterns, they began to move off -into the warm aromatic darkness of the southern -night.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="sinclair-s-opportunity"><span class="bold large">VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">SINCLAIR'S OPPORTUNITY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Sinclair and McLeod were awaiting their -opportunity to say good-night when one of the -consul's Chinese servants hastily entered and -handed his master a letter:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One boy b'long Kai Bok-su come Keelung side, -one piecee chit new sick-boy-man can catchee."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, boy," replied the consul. "Dr. Sinclair, -here's a letter for you from Dr. MacKay."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The doctor cut the letter open and read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"CHINESE CAMP, LOAN-LOAN, NEAR KEELUNG,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"Aug. 5th, 1884.</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"DEAR DR. SINCLAIR:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"As you are aware, a battle is raging. A number of the -Chinese have been killed. Many more are wounded. The end -is not yet. They have no doctors but native fakirs. They have -no medicines, no instruments, no knowledge of surgery. There -is dreadful suffering. Will you help? Never a better -opportunity to serve humanity and win the Chinese.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The consul will give you passports. The bearer of this -will guide you. A Hoa will come with you as far as Taipeh -and secure a permit from the governor. Mrs. MacKay and -Dr. Bergmann will give you a free hand with the Mission's -stock of medicines, and will help you to pack them. Will you -come?</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Yours,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"G. L. MACKAY."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Without a word Sinclair handed the open letter to -the consul, who had now bidden farewell to the rest -of the guests. He read it quickly and looked up:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are going?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"First launch in the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good! I'll have your papers ready."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Mr. Beauchamp. Good-night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll send the constable over to MacKay's with the -papers. Take care of yourself. Good-night, doctor. -Good-night, McLeod."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The first faint rose of dawn was showing in the -sky behind the great bulk of the Taitoon Mountains -when Sinclair stepped out on the broad verandah of -the missionary's bungalow, ready for his journey. -The Chinese student who was to guide him was -already there. A coolie bearing two round baskets -containing the medicines, instruments, and other -necessaries, balanced on the end of his long bamboo -carrying pole, came round the corner of the house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The iron gate at the foot of the garden clicked -sharply. A vigorous step sounded on the gravelled -walk. An erect, soldierly figure stepped out of the -darkness into the light streaming from the doorway, -rapped his heels together, saluted, and handed -Dr. Sinclair a packet of letters.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, Sergeant Gorman. You're sharp -on time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No credit to me, sir! It's the consul, sir! The -divil himself wud have to get up in the morning -before he went to bed at night to catch the consul -late."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no mistaking Sergeant Gorman's -native land. Sinclair laughed as he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose these are my passports."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right you are, sir! But wud you moind lookin' -at the last one furst, for, widout army conceit in -meself, it's the most important of thim all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair opened it and read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"H. B. M. CONSULATE, TAMSUI, Aug. 6th, 1884.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"DEAR DR. SINCLAIR:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I am presuming on your good nature to make a request of -you. Will you accept of Sergeant Gorman's assistance in your -volunteer Red Cross Service? Ever since the cannon fire began -yesterday morning, he has been aching to get into the field of -action. Your going is an opportunity. He will not be an -encumbrance. He has been at various times surgeon's assistant -and hospital sergeant. He speaks pidgin, and knows quite a -bit of vernacular. Commander Gardenier will spare me a man -to take his place. Feeling sure that you will grant my request -as soon as you read it, I have enclosed his passports with yours.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Wishing you a safe and speedy return, I am,</span></dt> -<dd><dl class="docutils first last"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Your obedient servant,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"H. R. L. BEAUCHAMP."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Sinclair read between the lines. It was not merely -the desire to gratify Sergeant Gorman's passion to -be in any fighting which might be handy which had -actuated the consul. It was solicitude for himself. -He was a stranger in the island. He did not know -the language. He had never been nearer war than -the annual camp of a brigade of Canadian militia. -This resourceful Irishman, with more than twenty -years of varied service, mostly in the Orient and -among Oriental peoples, would simply be invaluable -to him. The consul had been up all night arranging -for his convenience and safety. More to himself than -to any one else he exclaimed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Beauchamp's a trump!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' the right bower at that!" interjected Gorman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair dashed into MacKay's study, scribbled off -a hasty note of thanks, and was out again before the -sergeant had finished congratulating himself on his -good fortune.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must be off. There goes the launch's whistle," -said Sinclair, as he swung off with his long, powerful -strides, which put Gorman to his best gait and -made the natives drop into their peculiar little -jogging trot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Although the day had scarcely broken when they -left the house, and it was but a few hundred yards -down the steep hill to the beach, the impatient sun -of the South had already sprung into the heavens -when they reached the little jetty at which the launch -lay. A Hoa, the chief Chinese assistant of Dr. MacKay, -and McLeod were already there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hallo, Mac!" exclaimed the doctor. "I thought -you would be sleeping yet. It's more than decent of -you to turn out so early to see me off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am going with you as far as Twatutia," replied -McLeod. "The Chinese are so excited over this war -that they have not forwarded part of our cargo. I -am going up to see what persuasives I can apply to -the compradore. We have to sail by this afternoon's -tide and want to take a full cargo. We may not get -another chance for a while."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I certainly am in luck this morning," said -Sinclair. "You to keep me company as far as Twatutia; -A Hoa to get my passports viséd, and Sergeant -Gorman to act as my bodyguard and be generally -responsible for my safety and good conduct."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time the two friends and the Chinese -preacher had found for themselves as comfortable -positions as possible under the awning which covered -the decks of the little launch and sheltered them -from the rays of the sun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The launch was threading its way through a fleet -of junks which were hasting to get out to sea with -the ebbing tide. Some had already hoisted their huge, -brown, bat-wing sails and turned their watchful eyes -towards the open sea. Some were just lifting their -anchors, while priests from the neighbouring temple -rowed around them in boats with beating drums and -droning pipes, to frighten away the demons, propitiate -the goddess of the sea, secure for the sailors a -prosperous voyage, undisturbed by the French, and -incidentally to get for themselves and their temple a -substantial contribution. Some had not yet finished taking -cargo, and their crews were working with feverish -haste to get loaded in time not to miss the last of the -ebb. From them all came the ceaseless shrill, nasal -shouting of the Chinese seamen as they pulled at the -ropes, or heaved up the anchor or hauled away at the -tackle hoisting their cargo on board.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was all intensely interesting to Sinclair, who -never wearied of studying human life, especially when -it presented types and phases which were new and -strange to him. But he was not so much interested -in the Chinese as to fail to notice the large house, -with its cool-looking upper and lower verandahs, -looking out on the river, in which the MacAllisters were -quartered. He wondered if the maiden who had -teased him so were awake and plotting some new -mischief to make him or some one else uncomfortable. -Or was she sleeping as peacefully as if she had never -done a naughty deed in all her bright young life? It -was with a start, as if a guilty secret had been -discovered, that he heard McLeod's voice saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose your Highland girl is having her beauty -sleep. I never saw any one who to my mind needed -it less."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair was annoyed that McLeod so often seemed -to read his thoughts. It was a little tartly that he -replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you still harping at that? If I were a suitor -for that young lady's hand, I should have to look upon -you as a rival, you seem so smitten with her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not the slightest danger, Doc. The fact that a -fellow admires a girl's looks or style doesn't -necessarily mean that he has fallen in love with her. Oh, -no! I have my own dreams of a trip I hope to make -next year to Prince Edward Island, and if I come -back to the China Coast I'll not come back alone. -That's good enough for me. I admire Miss MacAllister. -I think she's splendid. But falling in love with -her! Not the slightest notion! Any interest I have -in her is on your account."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sorry, Mac. I shouldn't have said what I -did. I knew that you were as true as steel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all right, doctor. I've been jollying you too -much. And the way she acts sometimes makes it a -little hard to bear. But you'll win out in the end."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not know about that," said Sinclair, somewhat -gloomily. "The way she treated me last night -did not look much like it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind that. She would not treat you like -that if she were not taking more interest in you than -in any one else at present. She doesn't know just -what is the matter with herself. That is the way -she is taking to work it off. She'll change after a -bit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll yield to your superior knowledge of the ways -of women," said the doctor, with a laugh which had -but little mirth in it. "It may be all right. Just -the same, it doesn't look good to me.... Here -comes Sergeant Gorman. I had better see my -passports, and get him to instruct A Hoa what is to be -done when we get to Taipeh."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Opening the packet, he found copies of passports -in English, French, and Chinese. One addressed to -the French Commander read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSULATE,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"TAMSUI, August 6th, 1884.</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"</span><em class="italics">To the Officer in Chief Command of the French Forces at -Keelung</em><span>:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The bearer of this paper, Doctor Donald Sinclair, a British -subject, has volunteered his services as a medical doctor to the -sick and wounded of the Chinese army, at present engaged -before Keelung. He will observe strict neutrality, and will be -equally ready to perform humane offices and render skilled -medical and surgical assistance to any of the French troops, -should circumstances bring that within his power. Wherefore -I, the undersigned consul for Great Britain at Tamsui, do beg -the Officer in Command of the French Forces at Keelung, to -accord to the said Doctor Donald Sinclair protection and -liberty to perform his offices of mercy, in accordance with the -terms of the Geneva Convention. He will be accompanied by -one European assistant, likewise a British subject, Sergeant John -Gorman, and by one or more Chinese assistants, all wearing -the badge of the Red Cross.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span> "H. R. L. BEAUCHAMP, -<br />"Her Britannic Majesty's Consul."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Passports of a similar tenor were addressed to -the Chinese authorities.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sergeant Gorman, you know Chinese. Tell A Hoa -what we want him to do when we get to Taipeh. -He is to get these viséd and, if possible, to get a -special permit from the governor. It will carry more -weight than the passports."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir! I'll make him understand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sergeant Gorman's mastery of the language was -not perfect. But the Chinese preacher required -little instruction. He knew better than either Sinclair -or the sergeant what should be done. Before becoming -a Christian he had been private secretary to a -mandarin in an official position at Pekin. He had -travelled much on the mainland as well as in -Formosa, and was well acquainted with official procedure -both in peace and in war. Scarcely had Sergeant -Gorman begun his explanations when his -"Ho! ... Ho! ... An-ni ho! ... Put-tsi ho!" (Good! good! -That's good! Very good!) showed that he -fully understood what was expected of him.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-quiet-life"><span class="bold large">IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A QUIET LIFE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Meanwhile McLeod and Sinclair were -studying the sergeant. He was a man of -perhaps forty-five years, but could pass for -much younger. Five feet eight or nine inches in -height, he was broad-shouldered and sturdily built. -No matter where he might be or how dressed, there -could be no mistaking that he had been a soldier. -Long military training spoke in every movement. -His thick hair was a red-brown, with the emphasis -on the red. So was his heavy, fierce-looking -moustache. So were his bristling eyebrows. So were his -eyes. His face, save where it was ordinarily covered -by the band of his sun-helmet, was pretty nearly the -same shade.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He talked rapidly; very rapidly; so rapidly that his -words often stumbled over one another in their -eagerness to get out, until he actually stuttered. When he -tried, he spoke English with just enough Irish accent -to make it sweet on his tongue. But when he didn't -try, and that was most of the time, the brogue was -rich and thick. Nearly always he had the peculiarly -Irish trick of repeating the last words of a closing -sentence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How long has Gorman been here?" asked Sinclair -in a low tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only a couple of months," replied McLeod. -"Came over with us from Amoy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How does it come that a sergeant with his record -of service should end up by being consulate -constable in an out-of-the-way corner like Tamsui?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Search me! I can't tell you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Probably the old story of a man who has served -his Queen and country well and then been dropped, -to live or die wherever he may chance to fall."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and none of the blockheads who have -commanded him have sense enough to know how much -good service they could get out of a man like that, -if they would only give him a chance to rise. -Instead they turn him adrift like a worn-out horse."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps he has a history behind him. It seems -to me that most men out here, except you and I, -Mac, have histories. Here he comes. Perhaps he -will talk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sergeant crossed the little deck, stood at -attention, and saluted:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have the honour to report, sir, that I have given -the Chinese, A Hoa, the instructions you commanded -and that he seems to understand them very well, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sergeant. There is nothing further -to be done until we reach Twatutia. Be seated."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the way, sergeant, I notice by the passport -that your name is John Gorman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I used to know a Sergeant John Gorman on the -police force in Kingston, Canada. They say that, -when the college boys were out on a frolic and -raising cain, he could do more to keep them within bounds -with a smile and a bit of blarney than all the rest of -the force could do with their batons."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, but he'll be from Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky, -in County Cork. All the people there -are Gormans, an' most of thim are John Gormans. -An' as for the shmile, all the Gormans have it. They -get it whin they're childer, sayin' the name of their -native place. An' whin they grow up, no matther -where they go, the shmile wan't come off—the divil -a bit will it come off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right there, sergeant," said McLeod. -"You have the smile, sure enough. But it never -shows to best advantage until you say the name of the -place where you were born. What's this it is, again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Exactly! That's a name to make any one smile."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, Misther McLeod, but you shud have seen -it on me whin I furst left the ould place. Me face -was all shmile. But on the Afghan border wan day, -an ould black-face of a Pathan—may the divil fly -away wid him!—tuk a pot shot at me from betune -two rocks. He got me through the two cheeks of me, -an' siv'ral of me teeth. After the wounds healed up -I never had me natural shmile ag'in,—wud you -bel'ave me I niver was able to shmile natural ag'in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you get back at him at all?" inquired McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's jist what was hurtin' me. For while I -was spittin' out me teeth, an' in no condishun to take -aim, the onderhanded, tricherous Afghan was dodgin' -away through the rocks. But me next in file in the -Munsters, he was a Scotchman from Aberdeen got -a squint of him as he bint double, goin' round the -corner of a pricipice, an' be the blissin' of Hiven, took -a chip off the stern works of him—a mortial good -shot, for the target he hit was the only part in -sight."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how did you know that he was hit?" asked -McLeod. "Did you take him prisoner?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Divil a bit! A wounded Pathan can crawl loike -a wounded snake. But eighteen months afterwards I -was up in the hills, wan of an escort of the p'ace -envoys. The very first day wan of the native policemen -pointed out an ould black-face among the chiefs an' -tould me that was the man that put the bullet through -me two cheeks. An' be the powers, that ould haythen -cud no more sit down than I cud shmile. The shot -of me next in file had spoiled the joint in the middle -of him. It was the furst rale comfort that had come -to me since the day I was shot. I began to laugh whin -I saw him shtandin' up shtiff as a ramrod whin the -others sat; or lyin' on his back, shtraight as a -yardstick whin the rest were reclinin'-loike on the divans. -The more I thought of it, the more I laughed, an' -the shmile of the Gormans began to come back to me -little by little. But I'll niver have the shmile ag'in -that I had in Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky—sure as -I'm livin', I'll niver shmile ag'in as I used to whin I -left Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did you come to leave -Sleeahtballymack-what-a-ghalicky?" inquired Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Shure, docther, an' it wasn't me own doin'. To -the best of me ricolliction it was the doin' of -Providence, wid a bit of help from the priests, an' me -father, an' the government, an' the recruitin' sergeant -thrown in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did they all come to the help of Providence?" -asked the doctor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faix, but you're of an inquirin' turn of moind, -docther; beggin' your pardon for makin' so bould as -to tell you that same."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all right, sergeant. Go on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, docther, to make a long story short, it -began this way. Me father was an indepindint farmer, -wid a bit of land right forninst the dure of the church -at Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky, an' a hundred -pounds in a bank in Cork. He was gittin' on in -years. Me mother was dead, an' I was the only -choild. What does me father do but tips an' wills -his land to the Church for masses, me to be a priest, -an' the money to the college that was to educate me. -You'll onderstand that the land an' the money were -not to be paid over till me father was dead an' done -wid thim, d'ye see? But I was to go to school -at wanst to be trained for a priest, d'ye onderstand?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I see the plan."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, widout even so much as sayin' 'by your -l'ave,' they packed me off to the Classical School in -Skibbereen, to learn Latin an' the other dead-an'-gone -languages. To make a long story short, it -didn't agree wid me, an' I didn't agree wid it. It -wasn't the languages. I cud get thim all right. It -was this business of bein' a priest. Moind ye, I'm -not sayin' annything ag'in the Church. I was born -a Catholic, an' I'll die a Catholic. But bein' a priest -wint ag'in me grain. To repeat ould dead prayers for -dead people, in dead languages, which nobody prisint -but the blissed Lord Himself cud onderstand, an He -tired of hearin' thim centuries before you were born; -to hear ould wives confessin' their sins which they -shudn't tell to anny man, barrin' another ould wife -loike thimselves; to live on the fat of the land while -the Paddies an' Dinnies an' Mickies were livin' on -pitaties an' salt, wid now an' ag'in a taste of -butthermilk—it didn't seem to me givin' value for the money -received.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' thin I was gettin' to be a bit of a gossoon, an' -sometoimes I was afther thinkin' of me farm at -Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky, which wasn't moine -ayther, for it was willed to the Church. They often -tould me that whin I was a priest I wud have no use -for the farm. They said that a half-acre of purgatory -was worth more to a priest than the best two-hundred-acre -farm in County Cork. But they all had their -well-cultivated garden plots in purgatory, an' bedad -but they wanted me farm as well—d'ye moind. They -were afther me farm in County Cork as well.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not to be wearyin' you wid the details of me -autybiography, the longer I was at it the less I loiked -it, an' the more I had differences of opinion wid the -priests of the college, 'speshully wid the wan they -called the Prefect of Discipline, which is the polite -name for the Wallopin' Masther. Jist as I was gettin' -tired of the b'atin's, an' was thinkin' of runnin' -away an' joinin' the navy for the sake of a quiet loife, -the English Government came to the assistance of -Providence, an' betune the two they got me out of -bein' a priest—thanks to the government an' the -Hivenly Lord, I got out of bein' a priest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How in the world did the government come to -interfere with your course in the college?" inquired -Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The government did not interfere directly, as you -moight say. It didn't make what you moight call a -frontal attack. It jist made a kind of divarshun in -the rear. It appointed me father a Jay Pay."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A Jay Pay!" exclaimed McLeod. "What kind -of a pay is that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Misther McLeod, it's a Jay Pay, jist. A -Justice of the P'ace for the District of West Cork."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I understand!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir! It appointed me father a Jay Pay for -West Cork. An', docther, did you ever hear of -annything foolisher in your loife? To appoint a man a -Jay Pay who was sixty-foive years ould, foive fut -two inches high, weighed only seven stone, and had -never learned how to use the two hands of him or -the proper twisht to give a blackthorn? Wud you -tell me now, fwhat was the use of makin' a Justice of -the P'ace in West Cork out of a little ould man who -cud nayther use his hands nor twirl a shillelagh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It does appear unreasonable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Onreasonable? Begorra, it was wurrse than that. -There was no sinse to it. An' anny man that knows -West Cork will tell you the same. But the ways of -the governmint are loike the ways of Providence, past -foinding out. Anny way, it meant that me course for -the priesthood was brought to a speedy conclusion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it was this way. Me father was appointed -a Jay Pay, wid headquarters at Bantry. The very -furst case he troied was wan of assault committed by -Micky Murphy on Paddy O'Leary whin he was seein' -Biddy O'Hea home afther mass. They were pretty -well matched, and wan got as much damage as the -other. So me father jist bound both of thim over -to kape the p'ace. Wud you belave me, just to show -th'ir contimpt for the law an' for a little ould man -loike that bein' made a Jay Pay, by common consult -they fought it out forninst the very dure of his court, -while the local consthables held their coats an' Biddy -O'Hea was referee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thin was me chanst. Before that me father wud -hear nothin' for me but bein' a priest. Now he -appointed me a speshull consthable. He wanted me to -go to Dublin an' take some lessons wid me hands an' -wid a shtick from a profissor of the science. I tould -him that it was quite unnecessary. Anny likely -gossoon of eighteen or nineteen who had spint three years -contindin' wid the Wallopin' Masther of that school -in Skibbereen had all the science he was likely to need -as a speshull consthable. An' be the powers, me -father had no reason to repint of his choice. There was -no more contimpt shown for the law whin he held -court—shure as the saints are in hiven, niver a wan -showed anny more contimpt of court in West Court, -but he was sorry for the day he was born.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not to be wearyin' you wid particulars, this wint -along for about three years. Thin me father got too -feeble to do the wurrk, an' the governmint appointed -an associate Jay Pay. That was the ind of me service -as a speshull consthable. The new Jay Pay stood -six fut three, an' weighed two hundred an' fifty -pounds. I was out of a job.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But there was no lack of divarshun. From -Mullaghareirk to Ballingurreen, from Clonakilty to -Ballydehob, from Musheramore to Teampeall-na-bo'ct, -every Rory of the Hills that had iver been in me -father's court, or iver had a relation there, was lyin' -for me wid his shillelagh, an' sometimes an ould rusty -fowlin'-piece. It wasn't healthy for me in West Cork -anny more. The priests cud have made it safe -enough. But I had wanst studied to be a priest, an' -had continded wid the Prefect of Discipline, d'ye see? -An' thin there was the hundred pounds in the bank -in Cork, an' the farm forninst the dure of the church -in Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky, d'ye moind? They -wud be surer if I was out of the way. So, for the -sake of a quiet loife, I tuk the Queen's shillin' an' -went away to the wars—God pardon me if I'm not -speakin' the truth, it was for a quiet loife I left West -Cork, an' was shipped out wid the Munsters to the -wars in Indy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you ever see your father again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Niver! He doied a twelvemonth after I left for Indy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have you ever been back to see the old place -where you were born?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wanst. Tin years afther I enlisted, I got l'ave -an' wint back from Indy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the farm——?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was still there. They hadn't moved it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who had it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The priests."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was the money still in the bank in Cork?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Divil a bit!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you inquire?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What did they tell you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They tould me that they had expinded the hundred -pounds, an' the value of the farm, an' a little -more in masses an' prayers to get me father -out of purgatory. They said that I was a bit in -their debt, an' that they would need a trifle yet -for they hadn't got him quite free. I asked thim if -that was God's truth they were speakin'. They tould -me that it was. 'Thin,' says I, 'if you know so much -of what's goin' on in purgatory, wud you jist give -me father a message from me? Jist tell him to ask -the Blissed Lord to open the dure and let him out, -an' I'll stake me sowl's salvation on it that the Lord -will do it at wanst, and niver ask him for a farm or -a hundred pounds in the bank. For me father was -a man that niver willingly hurted a chicken.' An' -wid that I left them wid me farm an' the hundred -pounds. But it's many a cintury me father will be -restin' on the beds of flowers in glory before the fires -of purgatory will have burned that farm an' the -hundred pounds out of the sowls of the black dragoons -who defrauded me of me inheritance. An' that's -God's truth I'm tellin' you. An' moind ye, it's -a Catholic I was born and a Catholic I intind to die."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a time the three white men sat in silence, each -busy with his own thoughts. The broad river streamed -past them, gleaming in the sun, bearing its fleet of -fishing boats and market boats and here and there -a cargo boat, with big mat sails, dropping down with -the current and tide, laden with tea or sugar or -camphor or coal. The low green shores were quick with -the life of a dense population. Beyond these the blue -and purple hills rose and stretched away in wavy lines -of colour till the far-off lofty peaks blended with the -sky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. Sinclair turned from the natural scenery to look -again at the Irish soldier who was to be his companion -in the new and unaccustomed scenes which lay before -him. Sergeant Gorman was looking out over river -and plain and mountain. But his eyes were those -of one who did not see. There was a far-away look -in them. Dreams slept in their red-brown depths. He -interested Sinclair strangely. He was a rare specimen -in the doctor's field of research, human kind. He -wanted to know more of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have put in most of your service in the Far -East, Sergeant Gorman?" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have, sir. All except two years spint at the Cape."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mostly in India?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mostly, wid spells at Aden and in Burmah. Thin -I was sint to Hong-Kong, where I picked up the -pidgin. I put in my last years of service in the -Straits, where I learned a bit of the lingo spoken here. -At the Straits all the wurrk is done by Chinese from -Amoy, the same people as these in Formosa. Thin, -as there was nothing for a time-expired soldier to do, -an' the climate was too hot for the wife an' childer, -I came north to Amoy an' tuk service ag'in wid some -more has-beens, to guard the consulate an' do a bit -of police wurrk in the Settlement durin' the trouble -wid the French. But, begorra, it was out of the -fryin'-pan into the fire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How was that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me mother-in-law came to live wid us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was hard lines," said McLeod sympathetically.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, an' if you'd known her you'd say that from -the heart."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How long did you stand it?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Six weeks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And then——?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thin I heard that the French were beloike to kick -up a shindy in Formosa. So for the sake of a quiet -loife I exchanged to Tamsui. An' here I am off to -the wars ag'in an' enjoyin' p'ace an' happiness—by the -blissin' of Hiven, enjoyin' p'ace an happiness."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="glorious-war"><span class="bold large">X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">GLORIOUS WAR</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The launch had reached the landing-place at -Twatutia. The little party stepped ashore. -A parting grasp of the hand from McLeod, -and Dr. Sinclair, Sergeant Gorman, A Hoa and the -student guide stepped into chairs, to be borne to the -governor's yamen in the adjoining walled city of -Taipeh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The governor was not at home. He had already -left for Keelung to take personal charge of the -defences. But the deputy he had left in Taipeh seemed -to have imbibed some of the active and progressive -spirit of Liu Ming-chuan. He read a Chinese copy -of the passports, listened carefully to A Hoa's -courteous and polished explanations, affixed the official -seals, and wrote a brief order to all officials, civil and -military, to extend all courtesy and afford every -assistance to the distinguished foreigners who were -volunteering their services to the Chinese forces. There -were none of the old-time red-tape evasions and -delays of Chinese officialdom. He was another of the -pioneers of a new China.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A Hoa returned to Tamsui, having fulfilled his -commission. The rest pushed on towards the camp at -Loan-Loan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before they left the city they met in the streets -many natives who were plainly refugees from Keelung -and the vicinity. Once outside the walls, they saw -the narrow road as it wound and zigzagged through -the rice-fields, dotted with town and country people, -hurrying as best they could towards the capital for -safety. The farther they advanced the denser grew -the stream of fugitives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rice-fields were left behind with the plain near -Taipeh. The road began to pass through a more and -more mountainous region. It grew narrower and -narrower, until it was a mere foot-path, sometimes -threading the bottom of a ravine and sometimes clinging -precariously to the face of a hill which was almost -a precipice; now dropping down to the very margin -of the river or fording a tributary stream, and now -far up on a mountain side. And all the way, like a -huge, writhing, variegated snake, appearing on the -hillsides and open spaces, disappearing in the ravines, -in the long grass or groves of bamboos, that endless -line of refugees wound its slow length along.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is about twenty miles from Taipeh to Keelung. -After the first ten miles the throng of fugitives -became so dense that it was very difficult for the chairs -to proceed. Honest fathers of families laden with all -they could carry of their poor household possessions; -rascally banditti and sneak thieves taking advantage -of the general disorder and distress to loot their -neighbours' deserted houses, and even to snatch from the -hands or shoulders of the defenceless the few valuables -they were trying to save; women hobbling along -on their little feet with infants strapped to their backs, -and older children, whom they were ill-able to help, -clinging to their hands; maidens terror-stricken by the -tales of the imaginary atrocities of the foreign devils, -and scarcely less afraid of the real atrocities of their -own rascally fellow-countrymen, especially of many of -the braves from the mainland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At long intervals a sedan-chair pressed its way -through the throng, bearing a sick or wounded officer -back to the capital. Wounded regulars in white or -red or maroon tunics and straw hats limped along, -adding a touch of colour to the writhing serpent. -Irregular levies in the ordinary dark-blue cotton -clothing of the Chinese coolies were hastening home, glad -of the success of the French attack, so that they might -get an opportunity to desert with their arms and all -the loot they could lay their hands upon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The flight had its comedies and its tragedies. But -the comedies only played lightly over the surface of -the general tragedy. A coolie jogged along with two -huge baskets swinging from the ends of the bamboo -carrying-pole. In one were a small pig and a number -of live ducks and hens. Balancing these in the other -basket were his two children.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some farmers, making an effort to save their -livestock, drove a number of pigs and a herd of -water-buffaloes into the midst of the long line of refugees. -But frightened by the yells and execrations, pounded -with staffs and bamboo yokes, and jabbed by the -knives, spears, and bayonets of the soldiers, they -stampeded along the narrow way through the midst of the -procession. The pigs, running between the feet of the -weary plodders, upset many. But the buffaloes, with -their huge bulk and enormous horns, flung them right -and left and trampled some to death, till their mad -rush turned off at an angle from the road being -followed. Over all rose a continual clamour of shrill, -high-pitched voices—talking, scolding, cursing, crying, -screaming hysterically.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One old woman with white hair, hobbling painfully -along with the aid of a staff, stopped again and again, -saying that she could go no farther. Each time her -son, who was laden with the most precious of his -household goods, reasoned with her, pled with and -adjured her to try again. He was backed by all the -members of the family. After much shrill altercation, -she would make another attempt and struggle along -a short distance. At last she stopped, sat down by -the wayside, and, in spite of all they could do, refused -to budge an inch. Her poor little bound feet could -carry her no farther. Seeing that persuasion was in -vain, the son put down his load of valuables. He -looked hesitatingly from his mother to his poor -possessions, and from them back to his mother again. -Filial piety prevailed, and crouching down he lifted -his mother on his back and trudged on, leaving his -chattels by the way. He had not gone a hundred -feet when there was not an article left. But there -were other old and feeble, other women and children, -who had none to carry them. They were left beside -the road to live or die.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A man dressed in a long gown of mauve silk, -evidently a prosperous merchant, was trudging along, -followed closely by his wife, a couple of young maidens, -evidently daughters, and some younger children. -One of the bandits who had been enrolled as soldiers -and had deserted was hurrying past. Like a flash he -snatched at a cord he saw around the merchant's neck, -jerked a bag of money from within his clothes and -with a tug which well-nigh strangled him wrenched it -away. Recovering himself a little the merchant, with -a scream of anger, struck the robber over the head -with his staff. Instantly the ruffian levelled his gun -and blew out his victim's brains, in the midst of the -shrieking women of his household. Then, darting -into the long grass and bamboos, he made his escape. -There was none to avenge. There were none save -the weeping women to care. Fear and the instinct of -self-preservation made them all brutes. The throng -pressed blindly on, trampling the still quivering body -of the murdered man under their feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were many more women and children in the -flight than men. It was not merely because some of -the men had willingly taken service against the enemy, -and others had been impressed. In many cases it was -because the husbands and fathers had fled first and -left their wives and children to fare as best they could. -Love plays so small a part in Chinese home life that -there was little bond to bind husbands to wives. A -wife is purchased in much the same way as any other -domestic animal. When it came to a choice between -his individual safety by unencumbered flight and -incurring some risk by waiting to save his wife, many -a Chinese husband unhesitatingly chose the former. -The women of such families had to seek safety as -best they could. Great numbers of them were among -the fugitives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These defenceless women were the special prey of -the irregular levies, deserters, and banditti, who were -everywhere searching for loot and committing deeds -of violence. Taking advantage of the crowding and -confusion caused by the passing of Sinclair's chair at -a narrow part of the road, one scoundrel snatched -some jewellery from several unprotected women, -twisted bracelets from their arms, and even twitched -earrings from their bleeding ears. It was right in -front of Sergeant Gorman's chair. Then the robber -sprang past the chair on the side next the mountain -in his attempt to escape. He was not quick enough.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, you dirty thavin' blackguard, take that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A fist shot out of the little opening in the side of -the covered chair, and a blow like that of trip-hammer -caught the Chinese on the jaw and dashed him against -the steep hillside. Then, with a spring which knocked -his forward chair-bearer off his feet, Gorman was out -in the open ready for action.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was none too soon. Supple as a cat, the Chinese -had rolled over and, lying on the ground, was already -taking aim. But Gorman was too quick. The rifle -was dashed aside and discharged harmlessly along -the mountain slope. In another instant it was -wrenched out of the hands of the Chinese and flung -across the path, down the bank into the river. Then, -gripping his adversary by the neck-band of his short -blue jacket, the Irishman, with one tremendous heave -of hand and foot together, lifted the Chinese clear -of the ground and pitched him headlong after his -rifle. The last wild scream of rage and fear ended -in the splash of the falling body. The swift dark -water swept it out of sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begorra, an' ye'll not abuse definseless women anny -more!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the first sound of Gorman's voice mingling with -the shrill clamour of the Chinese, Sinclair had sprung -from his chair with a big .44 revolver in his hand, -ready for action. He did not know what had brought -on the scrimmage. But a glance showed him that, -while Gorman was quite able to cope with the present -situation, there was a possibility of serious danger. -A few long strides brought him to where the sergeant -had just flung his opponent down the bank into the -river.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The screams of terror of the women redoubled at -the sight of the two foreigners. The size of Sinclair, -the fierce vigour of Gorman, the fair complexions, -the foreign dress and foreign weapons of both, brought -to mind the stories they had heard from infancy of -the great, green-eyed, red-faced, hairy barbarians who -came from over the sea, who knew not the rules of -good conduct, and who, whenever they got the chance, -maltreated the sons and daughters of Han.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Cries of "Ang-mng! Ang-mng!" (Red-heads), -"Hoan-a-kui!" (Foreign devils) rose above the -inarticulate shrieks of fear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sergeant Gorman was equal to the occasion. Utterly -unmindful of the wild disorder about him, he -busied himself gathering up the articles of jewellery -which the thief had dropped in the struggle. Then -with his best Chinese and profound bows he returned -these to the women from whom they had been torn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment the terrified women could not realize -his meaning. When they did, their shrill cries of -"Ang-mng!" and "Hoan-a-kui!" gave place to that -of "Ho-sim! Ho-sim!" (Good heart).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the same time the student guide, getting an -opportunity to make his voice heard, was explaining -that these were not Frenchmen, but Englishmen, that -they were friends of the missionary, Kai Bok-su, and -that they were doctors going to heal the Chinese who -had been wounded in the battle with the French. -Again the cry "Ho-sim!" (Good heart) rose from the -fugitives. Only some of the rascally looters looked -at them with evil eyes and sullen faces.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sending their chairs back, Dr. Sinclair, Sergeant -Gorman, and their Chinese companions proceeded on -foot. Before long they turned off into a path leading -in an easterly direction and soon touched the Chinese -lines. The order from the governor's deputy gained -them courteous treatment, and they were conducted to -the general's headquarters at the village of Loan-Loan.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-life-healer-is-come"><span class="bold large">XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE LIFE-HEALER IS COME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Dr. MacKay had prepared the Chinese -commander for their coming. Liu Ming-chuan -lost no time in meaningless formalities. He -read their passports, thanked them for coming, issued -orders giving Dr. Sinclair a free hand in dealing with -the sick and wounded, and in half an hour saw him -beginning his work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad you have come," said MacKay. "I -was sure you would." The keen black eyes looked -straight into Sinclair's blue ones. "I was sure you -would," he repeated. "You want to do good to -humanity. I never saw a time when it was more needed. -God sent you here for this very time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope that may be true," replied Sinclair. "For -the present we must get busy. Have many wounded -been brought in?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"More than a hundred. But I believe that there -are many more in the various forts or on the open -hillsides, lying where they fell. There has been no -system about collecting the wounded."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That will be for you to organize, sergeant—an -ambulance corps."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad, sir, an' if they'll give me the men I ask -for I'll train them till they can pick up a wounded -man before he falls."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's what we want, sergeant. Meanwhile, -Dr. MacKay, what accommodation can they give us? -Just as we went into the governor's you spoke of a -hospital. Have you succeeded in improvising one?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's where we are going now. You can see -for yourself. Here we are."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He turned into a narrow lane. As he did so the -pungent odour of disinfectants reached their nostrils. -Another sharp turn and he stopped at the door of a -long, low, but well-built house of durable burned -brick. They had approached it from the back. On -the other side two long buildings extended from each -end of the main structure, at right angles to it, with -it forming three sides of a square and enclosing a -large paved courtyard. The fourth side had been -shut in by a high fence of interwoven bamboos. But -this had been cleared away. Now the courtyard -opened directly on a beautiful, swift-flowing stream, a -branch of the Tamsui River. Mountains clothed with -verdure from base to summit rose from the farther -shore. A soft breeze blew up the river and, eddying -in the courtyard, modified the intense heat. A clump -of feathery bamboos nodded gracefully over the -buildings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the earthen floor of the houses, on the -cobblestones which paved the courtyard, on the ground -outside, quicklime had been plentifully scattered. A -strong odour of carbolic told that other precautions -had been taken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair passed through the building with long, swift -strides, his eyes seeing everything. He paused when -he reached the river bank and noted the means -provided for the disposal of sewage. Then he turned -to MacKay:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Had any provision been made for this before you -arrived?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"None."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Had the Chinese done nothing to care for their -wounded?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did their doctors help you to get this hospital -in shape?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No. They opposed me all they could."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"MacKay, you're a marvel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not praise me. You have not looked at the -wounded yet. They are suffering. You must remember -that I am not a qualified medical doctor. I am -a preacher of the gospel. I know little of medicine, -and almost nothing of surgery."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The more wonder that you have accomplished so much!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is my work. My Master not only healed the -souls of men, but relieved the suffering of their -bodies. To the best of my ability I try to do the same."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right. That's what we're here for—to -make life better for as many as we can. There are -a lot here who need our help. Let us get busy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They stepped again into the main building and stood -in the narrow passage between the rows of bare trestle -boards which served as beds. Wounded men were -lying there as close together as was possible and yet -leave room for a doctor to step in beside them. There -was a hum of conversation, but very little moaning, -and rarely a cry of pain. The Chinese, so noisy in -their times of sorrow or of joy, so clamorous in their -excitement, are strangely silent in pain and bear -suffering stoically.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. MacKay lifted his voice so that all could hear, -speaking in Chinese.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Friends," he said, "the physician of whom I told -you has come. Listen to him. Submit to his -treatment. Do what he tells you. He will heal you. He -will give you your lives again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the sound of his voice all other voices were -hushed. Thin brown forms turned painfully on the -bare boards; rows of black heads were raised from the -hard bolsters; black eyes looked out of bronze or -ghastly yellow faces at the fair giant who towered -above the black-bearded missionary; from lip to lip the -word passed down the lines:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I-seng lâi![#] I-seng lâi!" (The doctor is come. -Literally, the life-healer is come.)</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>[#] Pronounced, Ee-see-ung li.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without a word Sinclair threw off his coat, rolled -up his sleeves, and went to work. Sergeant Gorman -and one of MacKay's students went first, preparing -each case for treatment. Sinclair followed, with -MacKay to assist and interpret and another student to -carry basins of water.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 66%" id="figure-48"> -<span id="sinclair-threw-off-his-coat-rolled-up-his-sleeves-and-went-to-work"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Sinclair threw off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work" src="images/img-115.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Sinclair threw off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wounds were nearly all caused by shells or -shrapnel. There were no clean wounds by rifle -bullets. The range had been too great and the Chinese -too well protected behind their fortifications. The -mitrailleuses had accomplished little. They were -noisy, terrifying, spectacular, but ineffective. Only -once had a machine gun done much execution. A part -of the fortifications on the east side of the harbour -had been rendered untenable by the heavy shell-fire. -A body of Chinese regulars were retreating to the new -fort in too close formation. The marines working -a mitrailleuse in the </span><em class="italics">Villars'</em><span> tops, found their range -perfectly and poured a stream of bullets into their -midst, killing many and threatening the whole -detachment with extermination. But just at the critical -moment the quick-firer jammed, and all the oaths and -efforts of the squad could not get it into working -order again until the Chinese were under cover.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sights were all the more ghastly, the suffering -the more intense, the prospects of recovery the -fewer because the death-dealing had been done by -shell and shrapnel. There was nothing clean-cut -about their work. A fragment of shell had shorn -away a man's left shoulder, taking with it the joint, -but missing the axillary artery and part of the great -breast muscle, by which the arm still hung.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair glanced at MacKay. The latter understood:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better not have an amputation first thing. They -are ignorant and suspicious."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought so. Anyway, I do not want to take -time to amputate now. We'll dress it and amputate -later."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A shrapnel shell had exploded close to another's -side. The hip, part of the pelvis, and much of the -flesh had been shredded away, exposing the working -of the organs of the abdomen. It was not good to -see. From that ghastly rent blood-poisoning had -already set in. There was nothing to be done. They -made him as easy as possible on the hard boards of -his cot, administered an opiate, and left him to sleep -till the last sleep should fall upon him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One had been struck just above the ear, and a chip -of his skull three inches in diameter shot away, -leaving his brain uncovered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He will die. We'll make him comfortable in the -meantime."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A fragment had caught another on the cheek, and -his lower jaw was gone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better if he would die, too. It would be a mercy -to let him out easy. But, no; if God gives him a -chance, so must I. We'll patch him up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>More to himself than to any one else, he was speaking -in a low tone. All the while the doctor's hands -were busy dressing, soothing, trimming, mending, -healing those poor, shattered bodies of ignorant -Asiatic peasants, the weak atoms of humanity which a -great European nation had sent her mighty -engines of death to destroy—the pitiful trophies of -glorious war. And not one of those brown or -yellow men had the faintest glimmer of an idea what -the war was about, or why his poor body had been -maltreated so. The foreign devils had come to take -his land and he had been set to defend it. That was -all he knew.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Stranger still was what these other foreign devils -were doing. They were trying to heal him. One -set of foreign devils by their magic had knocked his -fortifications to pieces, mangled his body, and brought -him to the verge of death. And now another set of -foreign devils, by some other magic, were patching -his broken body together again and bringing it back -to life. He could not understand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But some way or another those last foreigners grew -into his confidence. There was something in the -words of that barbarian with the long black beard, -who spoke their language more perfectly than they -did themselves, which quieted him and gave him hope. -There was something about the great, red-haired -giant,[#] who did not seem to understand their -language at all and yet seemed to understand at once -what his sufferings were and how to heal them, which -inspired him with confidence. It might be magic -he was using, but it must be good magic. Before him -men were writhing restlessly on their wooden beds, -sometimes moaning, occasionally uttering an agonized -"ai-yah," ever and anon asking plaintively for water -or tea. Behind him they lay back peacefully and, with -few exceptions, went to sleep.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] The Chinese do not distinguish between the different shades -of fair hair. All that is not jet black, is called red.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>So all down the rows of improvised cots heads were -raised, yellow or brown faces were turned, and black -eyes, some anxious, some curious, still more wistful, -watched every movement of the foreign doctor. His -size, the massive head with its crown of wavy, fair -hair, his huge shoulders, his bare arms, powerful and -white beside their skinny brown ones, all were noted. -Why did he wash his hands so often? It was a part -of his magic. What was he going to do with that -knife? Was he going to cut the man's heart out? -No, he used it on one farther down, and now the man -was sitting up drinking tea. So they watched, and -so confidence grew. And at every movement the -doctor made from cot to cot, the word "I-seng lâi" (the -life-healer is coming) was passed from one to another -of the patients.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun had sunk behind the hills and night was -coming on. Smoky Chinese lamps and one good -lantern belonging to MacKay were lighted. Still -Sinclair worked on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You had better stop long enough to get something -to eat," said MacKay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, MacKay; but I haven't time just now. -Minutes mean lives to some of these men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you must take a cup of tea. The boy will -bring some to you here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Standing at the foot of a cot studying a case, he -hastily gulped down several tiny native cups of tea, -without either sugar or milk. Then he was at work -again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The night was wearing on—the dark, close, hot -night, with a temperature only a couple of degrees -cooler than in the middle of the day. Still he worked -swiftly, certainly, almost silently. What a transformation -from the evening before, at the consul's -dinner party! The lazy grace of the big, powerful frame, -which had caught the consul's eye, was gone. Every -line of the body, every play of muscles spoke of -intense, forceful energy, and yet energy which was -under perfect control. The physical strength which -enabled him to lift a man like a child in his hands, or -draw with apparent ease a dislocated hip-joint back -into its place—the same self-controlled strength made -his touch in another case as light as that of a -delicate woman. The look of good-humoured interest -with which he had studied the characteristics of his -fellow-guests, or bandied repartee with Miss -MacAllister, or amused the company with his songs, was -gone. It was still a kindly face, a face which inspired -confidence in even those ignorant Chinese soldiers -over whom he bent. But no one who looked into -that face would lightly trifle with the man in his -present mood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every one present felt it. MacKay, something of -an autocrat in his own sphere, read the face of the -man beside him and never, except at his command to -interpret for him or to give desired assistance, -offered a suggestion. A group of Chinese officers came -in, manifesting their usual supercilious air towards -foreigners. Talking loudly and pushing inquisitively -forward, they got in Sinclair's way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell these fellows to shut their mouths and keep -out of my road."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>MacKay interpreted it, more courteously perhaps, -but forcibly. It was in silence and at a respectful -distance that the Chinese officers continued to look -on. Presently some more came in, louder spoken -and more inquisitive than the first.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell that last bunch to get out. The rest can -stay if they want. Tell their senior officer to set a -guard. I'll have no more in here except on business."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was done.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The night wore on. Some of the hopeless cases -found relief in death. From time to time others were -brought in to take their places. Some of these had -now been nearly forty-eight hours since being -wounded, lying out in the long grass and brushwood -of the hillsides or crawling slowly, painfully towards -safety. Worse still, some had been through the hands -of native quack doctors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The brief, grey dawn, followed by the swift sunrise, -took the place of the night. Still Sinclair worked -on, for still the pleading, wistful eyes of suffering -men were watching his movements and still he heard -them say in words whose meaning he had come to -understand:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I-seng lâi" (The life-healer comes).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he straightened himself after bending over a -patient, Sergeant Gorman saluted him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Excuse me, sir; but a bad case has just come in. -If I am not mistaken, it is more in need of immediate -treatment than any of the others I have seen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The jocular manner, the excessive brogue, the -constant tendency to bulls and repetitions had dropped -from Sergeant Gorman like a cloak. His manner -was serious; his accent hardly noticeable; his bearing -that of a thoroughly capable and efficient officer -on important duty.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is the injury, sergeant?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A hand shot off at the wrist. The poor devil tied -a cord around it to stop the blood. Been that way -for two days without dressing. It's badly swollen, -gangrened, and fly-blown."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, sergeant. I guess we'll have to -amputate at once. Where is the patient?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In the operating tent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Swiftly, surely the work was done, and the man -carried back to a cot of boards in the improvised -hospital.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair was turning back to the wards to attend -to other cases when an exclamation from MacKay -arrested him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lee Ban! Is it possible?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A sampan had come down with the current and -run its bow ashore at the hospital. A man was lifted -out and deposited on the bank, up which he crawled -painfully on hands and knees. His face was drawn -and ghastly with suffering. His clothing, which had -once been rich, was torn to ribbons.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Lee Ban, one of the wealthiest merchants -of Keelung. He had sent his family away to safety -earlier, but had to stay himself till the day of the -bombardment. When escaping from the town a shell -had exploded near his chair. A fragment had passed -through the bottom of it, at the same time shearing -away the entire calf from one of his legs. He had -paid the chair-bearers generously. But they fled for -their lives and left him where he lay. He had the -name of being the most charitable citizen of Keelung, -and he saw many a one that day whom he had helped -with his means. But they rushed past him, utterly -unheeding. War had kindled in them the primal -instinct of self-preservation, and had subordinated every -human feeling to brute fear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He bound his leg as best he could and started to -crawl towards safety. All day he crept on hands and -knees, and through the night until he lay exhausted -and unconscious. In the morning he bribed some -soldiers who were searching for wounded to carry him -to the camp. They took him to a native doctor, who -plastered the great open wound with a mixture of -mud and cow-dung. Then he heard that Kai Bok-su -was here, and the foreign doctor. He had himself -brought to them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While he told his story in Chinese to MacKay, -Sergeant Gorman and his helpers had carried him to a -cot and were unbandaging the leg for the doctor's -inspection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For the love of heaven!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The great, gaping wound, extending from the knee -to the ankle, was alive with maggots.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This also is one of the glories of war.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="matutinal-confidences"><span class="bold large">XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">MATUTINAL CONFIDENCES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Eight o'clock on the morning Dr. Sinclair left -Tamsui for the front found the consul in the -breakfast room. Clean-shaven, dressed in spotless -white, he looked as cool and fresh, and was as -prompt to the minute, as if he had enjoyed a perfect -night's rest. A moment or two later Mrs. Beauchamp -entered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, Harry. I am afraid that I have -disgraced myself by being late," she said with a little -mock anxiety.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not at all, my dear. My wife is never late. I -think my watch is a few seconds fast."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Harry. You always find an excuse -for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no! it is not that," replied her husband, as if -ashamed that he should allow any partiality to cause -him to swerve from his rigid rule of punctuality. -"Really, I am a little ahead of time. I'm deuced -hungry this morning. I could hardly wait for Ah Soon -to get breakfast ready."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What time did you come to bed last night? I -believe that I did not hear you at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You certainly did not. You were sleeping so -soundly that the French might have bombarded Tamsui -and come ashore and carried you off without you -waking."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Harry! I think that's real mean of you. You -know perfectly that I know your step and movements -so well, that I sleep just as soundly when you are -moving about as when there is absolute silence. But -any other person's step would waken me at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right there. I do not believe that you -heard me this morning, either."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I did not. What time did you rise? I think -it is not a bit fair of you to steal out of bed like -that without awaking me. And then to wait down -here with your watch in your hand to catch me ten -seconds late! I do not like that. I have a mind to -get offended."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold! This is getting tragic.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>'You've ungently, Brutus,</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Stole from my bed . . . . . . . .</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>You stared upon me with ungentle looks.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>. . . . . . then you scratch'd your head,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>And too impatiently stamped with your foot.'</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Let's change the subject. May I have another cup of -coffee?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What an anti-climax! From high tragedy to hot -coffee! How shocking!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is Constance?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I fancy that she is sleeping yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was she not put to bed at her usual time?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. But the amah says that, once the singing -began, she wakened up and insisted on getting out -where she could hear it better. She was out on the -upper verandah all the time. So she didn't waken as -early as usual. But she'll be down soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She should have been made stay in bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, well! we cannot tie her down too hard and -fast. She dearly loves singing, and she has taken -a most extraordinary fancy to Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not mind how much fancy she may take to -Sinclair. But there are some of the others who were -here last night whom I do not want her to meet any -more than she must. By the way, Sinclair is off to -the war."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Off to the war! What to do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To give his services as a doctor to the Chinese and -to try to organize a Red Cross corps for them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How interesting! But is it not very dangerous -for a foreigner to venture among the Chinese just -now? Especially one who is a stranger and does not -know the language?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a little. But Dr. MacKay is over there at -present. I also let Sergeant Gorman go with Sinclair. -Each is an expert in his own line. They are -all pretty shrewd. I do not think that they are likely -to get into trouble. Gardenier is lending me a man -to take Gorman's place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When did they leave?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the first launch this morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A light was dawning on Mrs. Beauchamp's mind:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was no mention of this at dinner last -evening. When did Dr. Sinclair decide to go?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just after he bade you good-night. He got a -letter from MacKay, asking him to go, and decided at -once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And all the arrangements had to be made, passports -and everything else drawn up between then and -the first launch this morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul's eyes were dancing and his face was a -study:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It had to be done."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You base deceiver! After all your talk about my -sleeping so soundly, you were never in bed at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul laid back his head and laughed till even -the grave, slant-eyed Celestial waiter hurried into the -room to see if there was need of assistance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You missed me a whole lot, didn't you, Gwen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not want to talk to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes, you do! We'll change the subject again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You needn't. I shall not talk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, you will. How ever did Miss MacAllister -get such a spite at Sinclair as she showed last evening?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Spite!" (with immense contempt). "Spite!" -(still more contemptuously).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I do not know what else you would call it. -She made game of him and bally-ragged him at every -turn. If he hadn't been so well able to take care of -himself, I should have had to interfere and protect -him, since he was our guest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you think that it was because she had a spite -at him? It's a lot a man, even a married man, knows -about the ways of a woman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll acknowledge it, Gwen. 'There be three things -which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I -know not,' and the most wonderful of the four are -the ways of a maid with a man." He took the chance -that she would not notice the inversion; and she did -not. "Solomon was much more married than I am, -and he did not understand the ways of a woman, -Gwen. It's not fair to expect it of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She did not know whether to laugh or not. It was -hard to resist the serio-comic, mock-penitent -expression on his face. She felt like punishing him by -breaking off the conversation. But the subject was -too interesting to drop. That was what he had -counted on, and he judged wisely.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should have thought that a man who had been -married nearly a dozen years, and who had such a -wide ante-nuptial experience, ought to be able to -recognize the symptoms when a woman is falling in -love."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean to say that the way Miss MacAllister -treated Sinclair last evening is a symptom that she -is falling in love with him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looks more to me like cruelty to animals."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She'll make up for the cruelty afterwards."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Or falling in love with the other fellow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it isn't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But you didn't act like that with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You silly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Serious! I mean it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You caught me before I was old enough to know -any better. I was hopelessly gone before I knew -what was the matter with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you sorry?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, Harry; you know that I'm not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their hands touched for a moment across the corner -of the little breakfast table. Their eyes looked at each -other as they had looked in the days when he, the -young student interpreter, who had just got his first -step in the service and was home on his first furlough, -with all the romance about him of having lived in the -Far East amidst far, strange peoples, won the love of -the young girl, fresh out of a boarding-school. A flush -suffused her delicate face, making it look very -youthful and beautiful.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was in a gentle tone that the husband continued:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You really think that this is what is the matter -with Miss MacAllister, that she is in danger of losing -her heart to the big Canadian doctor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I do. She told me that they had a bit of -a tiff coming over on the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>, and that she -sauced him shamefully. But he got back at her before -they left the boat, and now she wants to get even. -She knows that there is something wrong with her, -and has a suspicion what it is. That is what -makes her so hard on him. She doesn't want to -give in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A case of playing with fire?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I fancy it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it may be only a passing flirtation, quite -harmless to all concerned. But if it is anything more, -and she has a notion of turning this Asiatic trip of -hers into a matrimonial venture, by Jove! I believe -that big doctor, with all his notions about being a -missionary, is the best investment she could make in -these parts."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Her mother doesn't think so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What has she in view?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A title."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Carteret?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The thundering old fool!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Harry!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I mean it. If you weren't here, Gwen, I'd swear. -It's always the way with those tradespeople who have -started as peasants or domestics and made money. -They would sell themselves or their daughters to the -devil for a title. If Beelzebub, the prince of the devils, -came along they would marry a daughter to him, so -as to be able to speak of her as Her Royal Highness -the Princess of the Devils."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Harry, stop! You mustn't say that. Surely -Mr. Carteret is not so bad as that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's not far short of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You never told me that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are a lot of things I don't tell you. They -wouldn't be pleasant for you to hear, nor for me to -tell. And, anyway, in this little hole-in-the-corner of -the world you have to associate with all those fellows -more or less. It's easier for you if you do not know -too much about them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But the men here are not all bad, are they?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no! No! I wouldn't have you think that. -Some of them, I think most of them, are as good as -you could get at home. But there are others. And -Carteret is one of the others."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. MacAllister does not know that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps not. But she has seen enough of the -world to know the difference between a man like -Sinclair and one like Carteret."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that it is the title. She told me that -his father, the present lord, is an old man and -cannot live long; and that his older brother, the present -heir, is dying of consumption—as she expressed it, -'has only one lung.' So she thinks that Carteret is -sure to succeed to the title soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; and in the meantime the two brothers love -each other so that the heir will not hear of this -prospective supplanter being nearer to him than China -is to England. Esau and Jacob! And Mrs. MacAllister -would give her daughter to that scavenger, -and the MacAllister money to fix up the Carteret estates, -just to have a title in the family! Gwen, I want -to swear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Harry, you are shocking!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't help it, Gwen. I must swear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Harry, if it will save you from injury——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's damnable! ... Thanks, awfully, Gwen. I -feel some better now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope that you'll not have another attack for -some time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we'll have to talk about something else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a marvellously versatile entertainer Dr. Sinclair -is! I think that he is quite a wonder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is better, he has both brains and gumption. -He was as keen on getting to the front as a hound on -a scent. But, unlike most hounds, he didn't give -tongue. He said nothing. Just went, and that at -once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was afraid that it would come to a passage at -arms between him and Carteret? Did you ever hear -so much insult put into the tone of voice as Carteret -did last evening?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It will be a bad day for Carteret when he pushes -Sinclair too far. Most men from Sinclair's country -don't take much stock in titles. They would pull a -peer's nose just as soon as a peasant's. That's the -kind of Sinclair.... Hallo, Puss, what time is this -to be getting down to breakfast?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, daddy. This is a lovely time to be -getting down, much nicer than eight o'clock. -Good-morning, mother. Have you been up long?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Long enough to have my breakfast eaten. I hear -you were a bad girl last evening, Constance—that -you didn't stay in bed or go to sleep till all -hours."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Constance—a tall, straight child of nine, with -step as light and graceful as that of a fawn, and a -wealth of dark-brown curls framing her clear-cut -features and frank eyes—did not seem to be very -penitent:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, mother, it was just lovely to hear the singing. -I could have listened to you, and daddy, and Miss -MacAllister, and Dr. Sinclair all night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wise child!" remarked her father, somewhat -grimly. "She knows the proper selection to make -and whom to put first."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There were others singing, Constance, besides the -ones you mentioned," said her mother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes; I know. I did not recognize some -of the voices. But I knew Mr. Carteret's and -Mr. De Vaux's."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Carteret is a fine singer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I suppose. But I didn't like the way he sang. -He put such a funny tone in his voice. He kind -of—— Oh, I don't know how to describe it. It -sounded like the way Carlo used to howl after daddy -sent Fan over to Amoy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good heavens!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Mr. De Vaux's voice was just like my singing -doll after I burst the bellows in her. She could -give only one squeak, and then had to wait till I put -some more wind into her before she could give another."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That'll do, Constance; we've had enough of your -opinions on singing. Get busy with your breakfast -or you'll get none."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, daddy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Boy! You tell coolie boys to roll the lawn. Tennis -this afternoon. Can savey?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All lite! All lite! My can savey. Loll lawn. -A-paw phah-kiû" (Afternoon strike-ball).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, goody! Dr. Sinclair will be here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, Constance; Dr. Sinclair will not be here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, mother?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He has gone away over to Keelung to care for -the sick and wounded after the battle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, mother!" The finely-curved lips trembled -A big tear stole out of each eye.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, do you think that he might get killed?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, Connie. I do not think that he is in any -danger."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The big tears rolled down the cheeks and dropped.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, will he come back?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I think that he may come back in a little -while."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm so glad!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove! I'll have to watch that Sinclair. He -makes conquests of both old and young."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="more-confidences"><span class="bold large">XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">MORE CONFIDENCES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the building at the foot of the hill, near the -shore, occupied by MacAllister, Munro Co. partly -as a warehouse and partly as a residence for the -company's European employees, another matrimonial -</span><em class="italics">tête-à-tête</em><span> was taking place. De Vaux and his two -or three assistants, the representatives of the big -London firm in North Formosa, had found temporary -quarters in the buildings of the customs' compound -or with the staffs of other firms. Mr. and Mrs. MacAllister -and their daughter, with the native servants, -had the living-rooms of the big hong to themselves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was little more than seven o'clock, an extraordinary -hour for rising the morning after a late dinner. -But, with characteristic regularity of habits, -Mr. MacAllister was already up and shaving. As was -fitting at such an hour, he was clothed only in -pyjamas and slippers. But even those shapeless -garments were worn with an attention to neatness quite -lacking in most men whom a score and a half of years -of married life have made entirely indifferent to -personal appearance in the intimacy of the bed-chamber. -He had even taken the trouble to brush his hair, at -least what was left of it—another extraordinary -proceeding on the part of a man who was likely to be -seen by no person but his wife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The shaving process was nearly done. He was -carefully feeling the hard spots on each side of his -chin to see if any offending hairs had escaped the -relentless sweep of the razor and still projected within -its range.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hector, you are a most extraordinary man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The voice came from within the canopy of the -mosquito curtains draped around the high-posted iron -bed which occupied the centre of the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, my dear! Is it only now that you -have found that out?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are a most extraordinary man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What new marvel have you found in me, my -dear?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To think that there is only about one hour of -the twenty-four in this disgusting climate in which -one can sleep comfortably and you would not allow -me to have that, but must get up and disturb me by -shaving."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am exceedingly sorry if I have disturbed you, -my dear. But every time I wakened during the night -you were sleeping very peacefully, and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a bit of it! I have not slept at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And when I got up you were not only sleeping, -but snoring gently, and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all nonsense! I've been wide-awake all -night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And, although I have been about for nearly an -hour, you continued to snore very gently until a -moment before you spoke, and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hector, I'm astonished at you! You know -perfectly well that I never sleep in hot weather. I do -not understand why you ever chose to come to such -a country as this in the summer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And now you are looking thoroughly refreshed -and fit for anything, and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm more tired than when I went to bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And when you have your bath, and comb your -hair, and are dressed, you will be as fresh and -beautiful as you were when I brought you to London from -the Highlands thirty years ago."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hector, it iss flattering me you would be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was sitting up now under the canopy of mosquito -curtains. If an outsider could have looked in, -he would probably have agreed that her husband was -flattering shamefully. Unlike him, neatness in -private was not one of her virtues. Her hair, black and -luxuriant as in her girlhood, was tossed and tousled. -The flesh, which had grown upon her with years, -ungirt and unrestrained, flowed shapelessly with every -movement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But her face was still fresh in colour and comely -in form. A little care about her appearance in the -privacies of life would have made her perennially -attractive to him, as attractive as when he had taken her -as a bride. Perhaps at the moment she felt this. At -any rate, the words of compliment and admiration -were as sweet to the ears of the middle-aged woman -as they had been to the young girl of thirty years -before. Her little irritation about the disturbed -slumbers and his chaffing manner passed like a summer -cloud. Unconsciously she fell back into the accent -of her girlhood when she said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hector, it iss flattering me you would be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He dressed with as much care of his personal -appearance as if he were in London. Then he went out -for a walk along the shore, pausing under the shade -of some great banian trees to enjoy the magnificent -scenery. Presently he returned to the room where -his wife was now almost ready for breakfast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Our friends on board the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> and the -</span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> are all up and active. But there is no stir -anywhere else except among the Chinese. Neither De -Vaux nor any of his staff have put in an appearance."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They have fallen into the ways of this climate," -replied his wife, "and sleep when it is possible to -enjoy sleep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid De Vaux will not be in condition to -do much to-day. He drank heavily last evening. He -has been in our employ a long time, and as a rule -has done very well. But I wish that he drank less."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must remember, Hector, the class to which -Mr. De Vaux belongs. He is of noble family."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All the more reason why he should keep control -of himself. I was ashamed of him last night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Hector, people of rank all drink. You must -not forget that Mr. De Vaux is a man of birth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Probably he was born some time, my dear. But -from all accounts there does not seem to be much -reason to be proud of the manner of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Hector, you ought to make allowance for -the nobility. They have privileges which common -people have not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They certainly seem to take them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's not fair to people of rank, Hector. They -have always been accustomed to do these things. Now -with Dr. Sinclair, for example, it is quite different. -He belongs to the common people and never had the -chance to be anything else but respectable. But -Mr. De Vaux and Mr. Carteret are men of quality. You -couldn't expect them to be teetotallers and—and——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Decent," supplied her husband.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I didn't mean just that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But that's about the fact," persisted Mr. MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No; I never heard anything against them. Mr. De -Vaux has lived out here a long time. He may have -fallen into the ways of the East. But I think that -Mr. Carteret is a perfect gentleman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her husband looked at her keenly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He seemed to be willing to pay a good deal of -attention to Jessie last evening."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," she replied, without returning his gaze. -"He appears to be very much attracted by her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was she attracted to him in return?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why shouldn't she be? He is a handsome and -most accomplished young man, and has the best -prospects of succeeding to the title and estates."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is a younger son."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; but the heir has only one lung."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her husband gave a short laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have known one-lungers to live a long time," -he said. "You mentioned Dr. Sinclair a moment -ago. Whatever offence did Jessie take at him which -led her to treat him so disagreeably?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister had just finished dressing and -arranging her hair, and was taking a last look at -herself in the mirror. She closed her lips tightly, threw -back her head, and gave a little sniff:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you think she was offended at him," she said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What else could make her act the way she did -last evening?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish that I could believe that you are right. -But I am afraid that you are not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not believe that she was a bit offended."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if she wasn't, I cannot see what possessed -her to act so badly. She did everything she could -to make him uncomfortable. I feel as if I ought to -make some explanation of her conduct or offer some -apology."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was another sniff as she answered tartly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would be wiser not to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But her behaviour was inexcusable and must have -seemed so to Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All the better if it should remain so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She made no answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It seems to me," he continued, "that both you -and she are inexplicable sometimes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is because you have the usual stupidity of -a man about everything in which women are concerned."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-appeal-of-the-heroic"><span class="bold large">XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE APPEAL OF THE HEROIC</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Is Jessie ready for breakfast?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, she was ready before we were. She -is on the verandah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think we had better sit down. There is no use -waiting any longer for De Vaux. I am afraid that -he is not in a condition to appear. You had better -call Jessie."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment the tall, graceful figure of their -daughter appeared in the bright light of the -verandah, was framed for an instant in the doorway, and -then came in, seeming to bring a wealth of light and -brightness into the somewhat gloomy apartment -where they were to breakfast. What a picture she -made! The rich rose of her cheeks, the masses of -her brown hair, the deep violet eyes were brought -into sharp contrast with the white of her tropic -attire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her father's eyes rested on her proudly, but fondly. -Her mother too was proud of her rare young beauty, -as it seemed to irradiate the room and drive away -the shadows. But her pride in her daughter was -different from the father's. Mr. MacAllister thought -of her only as their daughter—beautiful, winsome, -teasing sometimes, but so true in her love and -dutifulness that she had never really caused an anxious -thought. He loved her for her own sake, and hers -alone. He felt a twinge of pain every time the thought -entered his mind that the day would come when she -would be separated from them. Mrs. MacAllister -thought of her as possessed not only of grace and -beauty, but of that culture and social training which -she herself so sadly lacked. She thought of her as -qualified to be a queen in the world of society; dreamed -of the day when she should bear a great, old family -name, perhaps that of a noble house, and should shed -a reflected glory on the MacAllisters, who had -acquired wealth and luxury, but could not contrive a -history. Hers was a love of ambition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Was the attitude of the daughter towards her -father and mother an instinctive though perhaps -unconscious response to the differing attitudes of her -parents to her?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, father! Good-morning, mother!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The conventional phrases were identical in form. -But there was a world of difference in the accent. She -kissed her mother somewhat perfunctorily. But she -threw her arms around her father's neck, kissed him -tenderly, and laid her proud head with its wealth of -hair for a moment on his shoulder. Then she lifted -it and asked very demurely:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is not Mr. De Vaux to breakfast with us this -morning?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He promised to do so. But it is already nearly -half an hour past the time we appointed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps he is still being 'Rocked in the Cradle -of the Deep.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whist, Jessie, lass! You mustn't make fun of -people's weakness."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Father, why do men, when they find themselves -getting drunk, take another glass of whiskey and soda, -'just to straighten up'? It seems to me that every -glass of it they take makes them sillier and more -stupid than they were before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why do you ask me, Jessie? You know that I -am almost a teetotaller. You should answer that -question yourself. You were championing the cause of -drinking last evening against Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, father, that's not fair." A slight flush -appeared on her neck and flowed upwards, deepening -the rich colour of her face. "You know that I didn't -mean that, especially when there were men around -me drinking themselves into imbecility."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, why did you say it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her father's eyes, kindly but keen, were searching -her face. She felt a fresh wave of hot blood -mounting upwards:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I don't know! You ought to have learned -by this time that a woman cannot always give -reasons even to herself why she does things."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, whatever you did it for, you succeeded in -making Dr. Sinclair very uncomfortable for a while."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He deserves to be made uncomfortable," she -flashed back. "He makes other people feel very -uncomfortable sometimes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She glanced at her mother. Mrs. MacAllister's lips -were tightly closed. Her nose was elevated a bit. -She was about to sniff at something. She had not -time. A high-pitched voice was heard outside:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Get out of my way, boy. Bless my soul! Chop-chop! -You are most exasperating."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A heavy footstep sounded on the stairway leading -to the second story, where the living-rooms were. -There were short gasps of laboured breathing, and -De Vaux burst into the room, peering blindly in the -semi-darkness after the brilliant sunshine without.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-morning, Mr. De Vaux. You are just in -time to join us at breakfast. We thought something -had occurred to detain you. But we have just this -moment sat down. Pardon us for not waiting on you. -We are delighted that you are able to be with us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister was kind, almost effusive, in her -welcome. But De Vaux could find no words to -excuse his delinquency:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. MacAllister! ... I have disgraced -myself.... 'Pon my soul! ... Mr. MacAllister! ... This -never happened to me before.... 'Pon my -honour, as a gentleman! ... I'm ashamed of -myself.... Miss MacAllister! ... To think that I -was to have the honour of having breakfast with -you—and—I was late! ... Bless my soul! ... I do -not know what to think of myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The head of the firm was gravely considerate and -courteous towards the firm's agent, whose weakness -he had noted the evening before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Accidents will happen sometimes, Mr. De Vaux. -Allow me to assure you that you have caused us no -inconvenience this morning. Will you not be seated -and have breakfast with us?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With some difficulty the stream of De Vaux's apologies -and the succession of his bows were interrupted, -and he was induced to be seated. But his face was -purple and his eyes were bulging and bloodshot. Miss -MacAllister could not resist the temptation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. De Vaux," she said, "I am afraid that you -have hurried too much in the heat. The blood has -rushed to your head. I am really concerned lest you -should have an attack of apoplexy. I have always -been so afraid of apoplexy since our old butler died -of an attack after celebrating patriotically but -unwisely the bombardment of Alexandria. Will you -not allow me to order a cold soda for you? Boy, -one piecee soda, ice cold!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All lite! All lite! One piecee ise col' soda!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What more she might have said remains unknown, -for a warning look and a shake of the head from her -farther prevented her pursuing her victim any farther. -As it was, De Vaux was in a state of gurgling, -stuttering impotence:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul! ... Miss MacAllister! ... Who -else would have thought of it? ... Lord! ... Miss -MacAllister! ... You have the kindness of an -angel.... 'Pon my soul, you have! ... I assure -you that I am quite well.... Nothing the matter -with me.... Except that I sat up a little late with -Carteret.... Talked over the delightful evening -we had.... Nothing else, I assure you.... 'Pon -my honour!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And how is Mr. Carteret this morning?" inquired -Mrs. MacAllister solicitously. "I hope that he is -very well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear Mrs. MacAllister, make your mind easy -about that. He is sleeping quite naturally and -soundly.... 'Pon my word of honour, he is! ... The -commissioner tried to waken him to go to the -office.... But he couldn't.... Not even with a -bucket of water.... 'Pon my soul, that's the -truth! I never saw a man sleep so soundly.... -But he will be all right by this afternoon. He will -waken up for tennis.... He's our best tennis -player.... Bless my soul! There's no danger of -his missing the tennis."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister had tried to control herself -through this exposé. But by the time De Vaux had -finished the merry peal of laughter rang out without -restraint. Her mother looked annoyed and mortified. -Her father, scarcely able to conceal a smile, was -diplomatically trying to lead De Vaux to some other -subject.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you chance to hear any more news of how -the day went at Keelung, Mr. De Vaux?" he asked. -"Have any reports come in from the Chinese side?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul! ... How did I forget to tell -you? ... I met Captain Whiteley as I came -down.... Mrs. MacAllister, that is one of the -reasons why I was late.... 'Pon my word! I was -so upset and ashamed of myself that I could not -present my apologies.... I beg your pardon, -Mr. MacAllister.... Captain Whiteley told me that -Dr. Sinclair was off to the front this morning before -daybreak.... By——! ... 'Pon my soul, I mean, -I was never so surprised in my life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair! Off to the front!" Mr. and -Mrs. MacAllister spoke together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied De Vaux. "He has gone to serve -as a doctor with the Chinese army.... Never heard -of a man taking such risk.... It's sheer -suicide.... By——! ... 'Pon my soul, it is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister glanced at her daughter, and her -husband's eyes followed. Miss MacAllister was -sitting up very erect and looking straight at De Vaux. -Her lips were parted. Her face had paled a little. -But her eyes were dark and glowing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did any one go with him?" she asked abruptly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe that Sergeant Gorman, the constable at -the consulate——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I mean did any of the gentlemen go? Any of the -gentlemen we met at the consulate last evening?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why! Bless my soul! No! ... Not that I -know of!" stuttered De Vaux.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish that I were a man," she flashed back. "I -would not see one man go out to a dangerous duty -alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But—but, my dear Miss MacAllister," blurted out -De Vaux. "We did not know that he was going.... -'Pon my honour as a gentleman, we did not! ... He -left before we were awake."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's one advantage of being a teetotaller," was -the quick reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister elevated her nose and gave her -characteristic sniff:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think that Dr. Sinclair is simply foolhardy. It -is perfectly absurd for a man to risk his life for the -sake of those dirty Chinese. I do not know how any -one can bear to live among them, let alone having -to touch them." (De Vaux got very red.) "And as -for going into a whole army of them to heal their -wounds, it's simply Quixotic" (she pronounced it -Kwy-so-tic), "that's all it is; Quixotic."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux winced at the pronunciation—perhaps -also at the sentiment. He began to gurgle unintelligibly. -As usual, Mr. MacAllister came to the rescue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was with the hope of getting an opportunity -to do medical work among these people that Dr. Sinclair -came to this country. I should think that the -present situation offers him an admirable opening. A -physician or surgeon who is really in love with his -work does not stop to consider whether his patients -are attractive or not. His one thought is to heal them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is all very good to talk about sacrificing oneself -to do good," replied his wife tartly. "And when I -am at home I just love to hear missionary sermons, and -sometimes to attend women's missionary meetings. -But to come out here and live among those natives -and think you can make them any better and get them -to know anything about the religion which educated, -intelligent white people believe in, is sheer foolishness. -I am very much disappointed in Dr. Sinclair. It is -nothing but foolishness."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think that it is just splendid to do something -like that," said her daughter. "Just think of it, to -be over there where hundreds of men are being brought -in wounded and to be the only one who can do anything -for them! And to have those poor creatures -wonder at the cures! Why wasn't I a man?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and have one of the dear, grateful creatures -stick a knife into you when your back is turned," said -her mother sarcastically.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But her daughter paid no attention to the interruption:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. De Vaux, do you know the country over -there, around Keelung, where the fighting is going -on? Of course you do. Won't you tell us all about it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So through the remainder of the breakfast she plied -De Vaux with questions, and brought out the fact -that he had really a remarkable store of knowledge -about the island and its inhabitants. And all the -while the father looked on, and occasionally thought of -her conduct the evening before, and wondered. But -her mother looked unutterable things, ever and anon -interjected an acid remark, which served as pickles to -the bill of fare, and frequently sniffed.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-lure-of-the-east"><span class="bold large">XV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE LURE OF THE EAST</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Mountain and river, land and sea slept that -afternoon in the wealth of sunshine which -flooded the earth. A scarcely perceptible -sea-breeze ever and anon caused the lighter foliage -to tremble. The great fronds of the palm trees hung -absolutely motionless, the air quivered in the heat. -Millions of cicadas shrilled in the trees and -shrubbery. In some way or another their ceaseless -quavering, shrilling notes seemed to fit in with the quivering -wavelets of atmosphere, until one came to look upon -them as cause and effect and inseparably associated. -That tremulous atmosphere would not be complete -without those quavering notes. The notes would not -be complete without the atmosphere.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The native birds were all silent. Only the -English sparrows seemed utterly indifferent to the heat. -They fluttered and chirped and fought just as -cheerfully as they would have done in the soft climate of -their native England or amid the Arctic frosts of a -Western Canadian January.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Human life was almost as quiescent as that of the -birds. Down by the water-front of the town a -number of junks were hastily loading in order to put to -sea with the late afternoon tide. Around the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> -a little fleet of cargo boats clustered, busily discharging -their lading into her hold. McLeod had evidently -been successful in his trip up-river. On the downs -back of the consulate and the mission buildings Chinese -soldiers were mounting cannon of many ages and -designs on their earthworks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These were the only signs of activity. The -soldiers and cannon were the only indications of war. -A great quiet rested over the beautiful landscape, a -peace as cloudless as that summer sky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Clang-clang! Clang-clang! Clang-clang! Clang-clang! -Eight bells! Four o'clock! The brazen notes -rang out from the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>. Like an echo they were -answered, only in silver tones as soft and sweet as -those of a cathedral chime. Involuntarily one looked -around for the church-spire and waited to hear the -hymn tune come floating on the air. But there was -no church, and there was no holy hymn. It was the -bell of the trim little gunboat, </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>, resting out -there on the bosom of the river striking the hour of -four.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A group of white-clad figures appeared on the -bright green of the consulate lawn. Other figures clad -in white, men and women, were moving in ones and -twos along the narrow road on the top of the hill or -through the shrubbery of the consul's garden to join -them. It might be a tropic land and a day of tropic -sunshine. The natives of that land, all save those -who were compelled to work, might be seeking shelter -from the sun and waiting for the cool of the evening -before again exposing themselves to its rays. But, -like the sparrows from his home land, the Englishman -could not rest. The sun had no terrors for him. If -he had no work to do, he would have sport. The -whole English-speaking population who could get -away from their duties, whether residents or -transients, were assembling for the afternoon game of -tennis.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yet they were not foolhardy in their exposure to -the sun. They took precautions. Indeed, the -striking thing about their sport was the trouble they had -taken to make it comfortable and enjoyable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The lawn, if it could not boast the carpet of green -velvet which characterizes an English lawn, was well -covered with close-set grass. In spite of the efforts -of the great slugs to burrow it into holes and throw -up pyramids of earth, daily rolling had kept it firm -and smooth. A green wall of hedge, reënforced by -wire netting, surrounded it. The big bulk of the old -Dutch fort sheltered half of it from the rays of the -declining sun. An oblong of sail-cloth, stretched -between two tall masts, shaded the other half. The -players had rarely ever occasion to be exposed to -the sun. Chinese coolies, in the dark blue and red -uniforms of the consul's service, two behind the -players and two at the net, picked up the balls and handed -them to the players. Long, comfortable settees and -chairs, and a table laden with cool drinks, nestled -against the hedge in the shadiest corner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, Mr. Beauchamp, this is the luxury of tennis. -A canopy to shelter us! Coolies in livery to pick -up the balls! I'm surprised that you do not have -proxies to run for us, as they do in cricket when the -veterans play. You really ought to have native boys -to do the running."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're working on it, Miss MacAllister; we're -working on it. Soon we'll be able to give it to the -world. Brand new game! Tropical tennis! Latest -thing in sport! Four players to a side! Two in the -inner courts and two in the outer! Only two rackets -to a side! Native boys in liveries of smiles and -sunshine to carry rackets from back to forward players -and vice versa, as occasion to meet the ball requires. -Great discovery! Carteret and I are working on it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Magnificent, Mr. Beauchamp! Magnificent!" -exclaimed Miss MacAllister amidst a burst of laughter. -"You and Mr. Carteret will be catalogued with -Columbus and Sir Isaac Newton among the great -benefactors of the race. When will you be able to -bestow it upon mankind? I do hope that it may be -while I am here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would have been before this, were it not that -Carteret and I differ on a small point, a mere detail."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what is that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think it sufficient to provide the players with -easy-chairs in which to rest between strokes. But -Carteret wants them to be permanently suspended in -hammocks, and that the balls must be so served as to -enable the players to return them without arising from -a reclining position."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a peal of laughter at the consul's little -absurdity. Carteret joined in with the rest. But his -pallid face flushed at the palpable thrust at his -well-known indolence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Commander Gardenier was unable to come. But -his second in command, Lieutenant Lanyon, a young -Irishman, was delighted to escape the routine of duty -on board ship for a day ashore and the company of -some attractive ladies. With the headlong courage -of his race, whether in love or in war, he immediately -asked Miss MacAllister to be his partner in the first -set, without waiting to see if that were agreeable to -his host, who was arranging the players. His frank, -boyish, open-eyed admiration of his choice was so -good to see that the consul, usually a bit of an -autocrat in all such matters, laughingly accepted the -situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret, will you take my wife as partner and -defend the honour of the island? These two reckless -young visitors have evidently taken it upon themselves -to challenge the residents."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, Mr. Beauchamp. I shall be delighted -to have so skilful a partner as Mrs. Beauchamp. We -shall endeavour to give a good account of ourselves. -From their manner I should judge that our opponents -are perfectly confident of winning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked to where the young naval officer and Miss -MacAllister were standing. They were already deep -in conversation and apparently entirely oblivious to -the rest of the company. He heard Lanyon say:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove! luck has come my way to-day. Little -did I think when we were ordered to Tamsui that -there would be such fortune before me as to meet -any one like you. It does my heart good just to look -at you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister laughed merrily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you always express yourself so frankly on -so short acquaintance, Mr. Lanyon?" she asked. -"I'm afraid that I cannot believe much of that. I -think that you are Irish. You probably said the same -thing to the last partner you had."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By my soul, I did not. How could I? She was -forty if she was a day, and ugly as sin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His partner's laugh pealed out again. There was -no resisting such an implication.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very nicely put, Mr. Lanyon. Now I know that -you are Irish."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just then Mrs. Beauchamp called to them:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, come, Mr. Lanyon. I cannot allow this. -You are monopolizing Miss MacAllister and -delaying the play."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By my faith," was the quick reply, "it's myself -that would be mortial glad to monopolize her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Mr. Lanyon, this is shocking. On less than -half an hour's acquaintance, too! If you say anything -more like that I'll not be your partner."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, if there's any danger of your leaving me, -I'll take it all back with my mouth; but I'll think it -in my heart just the same."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret's pale face, a little paler to-day than usual, -had the same expression of studied contempt as when -he met Sinclair the evening before. His lips parted -to utter some sarcastic remark when Mrs. Beauchamp -interposed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's your service, Miss MacAllister. Will you -not begin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a moment the lawn was animate with the quick-moving -white figures of the players, and the blue and -red of the attendant coolies. The contestants were -all experts at the sport, and the set might have been -prolonged indefinitely had it not been that Lanyon -would not serve a fast ball to Mrs. Beauchamp. Again -and again she assured him that she was quite -capable of receiving a fast service and that he must -not throw the game away. But the young lieutenant's -Irish gallantry would not allow him to volley such -balls at her as he drove at Carteret. On the other -hand, the latter had no such scruples, but played to -win. Consequently he and his partner did win rather -handily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the set was over and others had taken their -places, Carteret found an opportunity to engage Miss -MacAllister in conversation as they were seated in -the shade of the old fort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was disappointed not to have the pleasure of -being your partner," he said. "I had been looking -forward to it all day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Instantly there flashed into her mind the picture -of him De Vaux had painted that morning at breakfast, -and she could scarcely repress a laugh. She -wondered to herself how much of the day he had -been in a condition to think of her. But she answered -readily:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should be very pleased to be your partner for -a set, Mr. Carteret. There will probably be an -opportunity later. You are an expert at tennis."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We all ought to be experts in this place," he -replied. "We get plenty of practice. Outside of office -hours there are only two pastimes open to us—cards -on wet days and tennis when the weather is fine."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why," she exclaimed, "I should not have thought -that! From what I have seen of Tamsui, I think that -it is quite lively. With dinners and tennis, with -warships coming and going, with always the possibility of -seeing a row among the Chinese or between them -and somebody else, I think it must be really exciting -living here. I should think that it would be great -sport."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may think so, Miss MacAllister, from what -you have seen of it. But the condition you have seen -is quite abnormal. We do not have London merchants -nor ladies from London drawing-rooms visiting us -every week. Neither do we have the company of naval -officers on ordinary occasions. Perhaps, if we had -more ladies, we might have the attention and -protection of our gallant seamen more frequently."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His voice had the sneering tone of the evening -before. Miss MacAllister's eyes flashed ominously. -He saw the danger signal and quickly changed the tone -and the topic:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, Miss MacAllister, as a general rule this -place is beastly dull. There are so few to associate -with. No matter how enjoyable their company may -be at first, it simply becomes unbearable when you -have no one else, don't you know?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you think that is a universal rule, Mr. Carteret?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He saw that he had made a tactical blunder, beat -a hasty retreat, and executed a flank attack:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I assure you, Miss MacAllister, that I had -reference only to those with whom one is forced to -associate in the casual relations of life. We are not -associated by choice, but by the caprice of fortune -or by compulsion. And the realization of the -compulsion makes the association the more unbearable. -We get to hate the very sight of one another."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can quite understand that," she replied. "I -learned that when I had to spend a year in a very -select boarding-school, with a principal and teachers -whom I hated, and not one girl of whom I could make -a real friend. I was more alone than if I had been -like Robinson Crusoe on his island."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was quick to pursue the advantage:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is it exactly. I should be far less lonely -if I were entirely alone or if I had only one -companion, so long as that companion were congenial."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked sympathetically at him, but did not -speak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is the tragedy of life in the Far East," he -continued. "That is why so many men take to -drink."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She thought of the evening before and of what De -Vaux had let out at breakfast. She said nothing; -so he went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is why so many men become inveterate gamblers; -why so many who came out with high hopes of -accomplishing something end by committing suicide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he talked on in this strain, quietly, yet evidently -with deep feeling, Miss MacAllister began to ask -herself if she had not, in her own mind, judged this -young aristocrat too harshly. Perhaps he was not so -bad as she had thought him the evening before, when -she had refused any longer to play his accompaniments. -Perhaps there was some excuse for his being -in the condition which De Vaux had blundered out to -them that morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At any rate, he seemed to be revealing to her -another side of his character. She had met him first as -the graceful, polished man of the world, a little cynical -perhaps, and yet so courteous in his manners towards -her as to hide the unpleasant characteristics. She had -noted his contemptuous attitude towards Sinclair, his -look and tone of studied insult. She had caught a -glimpse of the greedy, lustful expression in his eyes -as he bent over her at the piano, and, before the -evening was done, the leer of intoxication.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But here was another aspect which she had not -looked for. Without appearing to seek sympathy, he -was appealing to her feelings, and in spite of herself -she responded:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had not thought of the life out here in that -way," she said. "It had appeared quite fascinating -to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So it appears to nearly everybody at first. But -after a while it palls upon them. At last it becomes -unbearable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then why do they not go home, or to Australia -or America or somewhere else where they would be -among their own people?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are forgotten at home. We should be -strangers there. And as for Australia or America, -life out here unfits a man to succeed in lands where -everybody must be his own servant and where there -is no road to success but by hard work."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A little ray of comprehension shot into Miss -MacAllister's mind. It was with a touch of impatience -that she answered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Mr. Carteret, you do not mean to say that -you have been long enough here to unfit you for work -anywhere else. If you do not like the life, why do -you stay here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Pro bono familiæ</em><span>," he replied with a bitter laugh. -"Because of the affection of my beloved elder -brother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The consul tells me that he enjoys himself here," -she said, avoiding any discussion of his family -affairs. "He says that there is very good shooting -and some of the best sea-bathing he has ever -experienced."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is welcome to the shooting, tramping over the -hills and through the rice fields in a climate like this. -As for the bathing, any pleasure in it is spoiled by -the walk home in the heat afterwards."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that instant the consul, who was playing, returned -a ball with such a screw on it that after falling -in his opponent's court it bounded back over the net. -His opponent, in a mad effort to return it, plunged -headlong into the net and fell. In celebration of which -achievement the consul threw his racket high in the -air, turned a handspring, and ended up by reversing -himself and walking across the court on his hands, -with his feet in the air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Splendid, Mr. Beauchamp!" cried Miss MacAllister. -"Brilliantly done! Especially the gymnastic -performance!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right-oh, Miss MacAllister!" exclaimed a deep -voice behind her. "The consul is acrobat enough to -make a shining success as a sailor man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Captain Whiteley, come up to drink a cup of -tea and say good-bye before casting off for Hong-Kong.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Captain Whiteley, I'm so glad to see you -before you go! But what is this I hear? You have -let your doctor go off to Keelung to carve Chinese, -and perhaps be carved himself. I am surprised at you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not my fault, I assure you, Miss MacAllister. He -was bound to go. He is of age. I could not restrain -him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think it is just splendid of him to go. That -is the sort of thing I admire in a man. If I were a -man, that is what I should like to do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am awfully glad, Miss MacAllister, that Sinclair -has at last done something which pleases you. -I was beginning to be afraid that you were offended -with him past the possibility of reconciliation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked at him sharply. His face was lamblike -in its innocence, but his eyes were twinkling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That will do, Captain Whiteley. You have said -quite enough."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The telltale colour deepened in her face, and her -mother, who was talking to Carteret nearby, heard -and saw, closed her lips tightly, and sniffed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The little party of white-clad players were still on -the lawn when the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> moved down the river, -zigzagged her way through the field of mines, and -once well beyond the bar steamed straight out over -the motionless sea in the path of red-gold light from -the setting sun. It seemed the breaking of the one -link between them and the outside world. In the soft -stillness of that evening in the Orient, London with -its mud and smoke, its roar of traffic, its drab colours -and familiar, unromantic life, seemed so far away -that it might have belonged to another world.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Strange to say, it was not of London that Miss -MacAllister was thinking. Again and again she -surprised herself thinking of the big, fair-haired -Canadian doctor. She tried to picture to herself his -surroundings amid the sick and suffering, the men -torn with shot and shell. She could not help -contrasting them with the peaceful environment of the -consul's tennis party, where men had been enjoying -themselves in the company of the ladies, and -incidentally emptying long glasses of whiskey and soda -or sipping tea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She recalled the looks of the man himself, his -clean-cut features, straightforward gaze, his good-humour -even when she was badgering him, and the hearty, -boyish laugh when he and McLeod were plotting some -mischief together. Involuntarily she contrasted him -with the cynical discontent, the weary air and self-pity -of the man with whom she had talked that afternoon. -If Sinclair could have known her conclusions, -he would have been well content.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="sergeant-whatisname"><span class="bold large">XVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">SERGEANT WHATISNAME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>But Sinclair did not know. Perhaps at that -moment he was not thinking much about her. He -was just entering on his long night's work -among the wounded. Every power of mind was -concentrated on the problem of those pain-racked human -beings and how to relieve their sufferings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And yet ever and anon, when he had finished an -operation and his mind relaxed as his hands almost -mechanically followed the familiar process of -bandaging, a picture floated before his eyes. It was only -a transparency, through which he could see every line -of the brown limb or body he was binding up with -care But it was as clear to him as though it had -been done on canvas by the brush of a painter. It -was the picture of a proudly-carried head, with a -crown of brown hair, a beautiful oval face with rich -colour, dark violet eyes dancing with fun, and full red -lips parted in a teasing laugh, which made the hot -blood tingle in his face at the very memory of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the days passed by he had more time to think -of that face. The first strenuous days over, the -pressure on his time and strength relaxed somewhat. A -number of the greatest sufferers died. But in the -majority of cases the singular toughness and marvellous -recuperative power of the Chinese seconded his skilful -surgery. Many a man who, if he had belonged to -any Western nation, would have been invalided home, -never to be able to rejoin the colours, in ten days or -two weeks' time left the hospital and returned to his -regiment. There were but few wounded being -brought in. The French were unable to advance -beyond the shore line. The Chinese were unable to -dislodge the French from the foothold they had obtained. -Consequently, for nearly a month after the bombardment -there was little fighting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The weather, though exceedingly hot, was not -unhealthy. In any case, those who might be sick -preferred to go to their own doctors for medical -treatment. While they acknowledged the superiority of -the foreigner in surgery, they unhesitatingly -maintained that their own physicians were unequalled in -their knowledge of medicine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The most common disease was the ever-present malarial -fever. It was caused by two devils—the negative -devil who industriously fanned the victim to give -him chills and the positive devil who worked a -furnace overtime to give him his spells of fever. As -the foreign surgeon was a stranger to the country and -supposed to have little acquaintance with those diligent -devils, the preference was given to the incantations -of native priests or the indescribable decoctions -of native doctors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As a result, Sinclair's duties had grown lighter -every day. The service, which at first had taxed to the -utmost even his splendid strength and vigour, had -become less and less arduous, until, except for the -necessity of living on native food, he had come to look -upon it as a sort of picnic. Most of the dressings and -all the preliminary examinations of new cases he was -able to leave to his assistants. Dr. MacKay had gone -to visit his converts at various places where bands -of freebooters, taking advantage of the disturbed state -of the country, had thrown themselves upon the -defenceless Christians, robbing, maltreating, torturing, -and sometimes putting to death. But he left behind -his student companions, whose knowledge of dressing -wounds and giving simple treatments and acting the -part of nurses, relieved the surgeon of much of his -burden.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But it was principally on Sergeant Gorman that he -had learned to rely. Every day revealed some new -capability in that versatile Irishman. It was, -however, in drilling and instructing an ambulance brigade -that his capability was most evident. He was a -master of the art of teaching men any form of military -drill. But he was more than that. He was a born -leader of men. Sinclair marvelled at the rapidity -with which these uncouth, chattering Chinese -peasants, who never by any accident had kept step for a -dozen paces, and who never ceased their jabbering at -any command given by their own officers, were reduced -to silence and mastered squad and stretcher drill. -They were raw material to begin with. Some of them -were worse. The Chinese officers had drafted into -this service some of the roughest characters in their -regiments, to be rid of them. Yet these, who were -accustomed to threaten to shoot their own officers -when an unwelcome command was given, gave -absolute and prompt obedience to this red-headed foreign -devil, whom they had never seen till a few days -before, who spoke their language imperfectly, and -carried no weapon save a bit of a withe he had cut for -a swagger-stick.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Sinclair looked on he could not help but -wonder at the shortsightedness and snobbery in the -British army, which made officers of callow youths who -knew nothing of war or leadership, and many of -whom never would, and refused a commission to a -man like this, whose mastery of men amounted to -genius.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The middle of the month had passed. It was drawing -towards sunset of a hot August day. The two men -who had already grown into a fast friendship were out -where the courtyard of their improvised hospital -opened on the bank of the river. One of the wings -and a clump of bamboos sheltered them from the still -ardent rays of the sun. The evening breeze was just -beginning to breathe along the river.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. Sinclair was stretched on a long, bamboo -reclining chair, which had been sent him from the -headquarters of General Liu Ming-chuan. His hands were -clasped behind his head. He was looking up at the -sky, where an occasional fleck of cloud was changing -from white to gold and crimson in the light of the -sunset. In his white trousers, white canvas shoes, -white negligée shirt, open at the neck, and with the -shadow of a smile playing about his eyes and mouth, -he looked the very personification of whole-hearted -content. Sergeant Gorman was sitting opposite to -him on a camp-chair of his own construction, smoking -a short dudeen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That afternoon General Liu Ming-chuan, accompanied -by his staff, had paid a visit of inspection -to their hospital. With a frankness and candour -which could not be misunderstood, he had commended -the work they had done, and on his own behalf and -that of China had thanked them for their services. -While his visit and appreciation were pleasant to them -personally, it meant more than that. Henceforth -there was to be no more of the open opposition they -had experienced from the native doctors and priests, -and even from some of the officers. It was no -wonder that Sinclair was feeling well content.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know, Gorman, this job suits me fine. If -I could get a permanent sit at something like this, -with enough salary to live decently, I think I could -be happy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' if you do," replied Gorman, dropping back -into the brogue as he always did when he was in -good-humour, whether fighting or chatting with a -friend—"an' if you do, wud you jist kape me in -moind as your furst assistant?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That I would," replied Sinclair. "I do not know -how I should get along without you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begorra, an' it's glad I am to hear you say so; -for it's more p'ace of moind I have here than iver I've -had since the furst toime me mother-in-law came to -bliss me home wid her prisince—since she furst beamed -upon us like the sun thr'u' a gatherin' storm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The only thing which catches me here is the grub. -I do not like this Chinese chow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith thin, it seems to like you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're gettin' fat on it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you really think so?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad and I don't think so. I'm sure of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair solicited tested the tightness of his belt; -lazily raised himself and examined it to find out at -what hole it was buckled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Afraid you're wrong this time, Gorman. Not -getting it round the waist anyway. Buckled in the -same hole and not a bit tighter than before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thin you're gettin' it round the jaws of you. -Checks and double chin loike a howly father starvin' -in Lent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely it's not so bad as that! I'll have to get -more exercise. Nothing like training to keep down -flesh. Run four or five miles of a morning. That's -what will do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad thin, if that's thrue, that American gineral -the Chinese have must have run all the way from -Ameriky. Did iver you clap your two eyes on such -a split-the-wind?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He sure is thin," replied Sinclair in the idiom of -his native land. "As we used to say in Canada, he'd -be handy to send on an errand down a pump."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith," replied the Irishman, determined not to -be beaten in exaggeration, "the pump would need to -have a good valve or he'd leak out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have it," laughed Sinclair. "I'll quit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, what do you make of him, anyway?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"New England Yankee by his twang. Vermont by -his build. Been in the South by his pronunciation -of some words. But when he swears Montana is -written all over him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, if that isn't divilish cliver of you to spot -him loike that! Now, isn't it? But did ever you hear -such a name? Silas Z. Leatherbottom! Be the powers, -if I had a name loike that, I'd change it or die -in the attempt. Silas Z. Leatherbottom!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would have been a mighty handy name to have -had when you were under the Wallopin' Master," -retorted Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whisht now, docther dear. It's unfeelin' of you -to call up painful memories. May the saints forgive -me, but I cannot sit comfortable an' think of him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair's boyish, care-free laugh rang out as -Gorman left his camp-stool and began to pace restlessly -up and down, making grimaces and gestures, half -vengeful, half humorous.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be the powers of Knocktopher, but it wud be -a pleasure jist to be twishtin' this bit of a shtick about -the big body of him. The yells of him wud be the -sw'atest music in me ears, barrin' always the lament -at me mother-in-law's wake."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Egskews me, gentlemen" (with a marked emphasis -on the "me"). "Egskews me for intrewding -on yewr private deliberations. But I had a leetle -proposition to make to one of yew gentlemen, an' I -reckoned thet yew wouldn't object to me droppin' in -on yew t' talk it over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly not, General Leatherbottom," replied -Sinclair, rising to receive him. "We are delighted -to have you call. Have a seat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sergeant Gorman had clapped his swagger-stick -under his left arm, clicked his heels together, stood at -attention, and saluted as if by instinct.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Naow, by the Jumpin' Jemina, thet's what I call -neatly done. Thet's whar yew Britishers get away -on us. When it comes to fightin' we kin fight. Don't -take no second place to ennybody I ever met, an' I've -met some few in my time. But when it comes to -takin' Indians or niggers or Chinks in hand lickin' -them into shape, an' teachin' them haow to fight -civilized thet's whar you've got us beat to a stand-still."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was a tall man, a very tall man, two or three -inches over six feet. But he was narrow-shouldered -slab-sided, and marvellously thin. His small head -seemed lost in a great cavern of a sun-helmet. A long, -faded, yellow moustache drooped over the hollow -cheeks and angular jaws. He sat down on the -proffered camp-chair, hitching a holster containing a huge -.44 Colt round a little more to one side, to allow him -to sit back with comfort. His legs were so long that -his knees stuck up at an acute angle. When he threw -one over the other, they were so thin that they seemed -to twine around each other in serpentine fashion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He accepted a pipe, lighted it, leaned forward with -one sharp elbow on a sharp knee, the hand helping -to hold the pipe in his mouth as he talked. The other -arm was across his knee and the long, bony hand -hanging down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ef yew gentlemen will egskews me, I'll make my -proposition, an' we'll perceed to bizness. But fust -I'd like t' give yew a leetle of my auttybiography, so's -yew'll understand the sityewation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With many quaint oaths and ingenious expletives, -he told how he had served as a private in a Vermont -infantry regiment in the Civil War, had been wounded -and taken prisoner. After the war he had drifted -into the cavalry and been engaged in Indian wars in -the Dakotas and Montana. He was with Benteen's -companies when Custer and his three hundred were -massacred by the Sioux under Sitting Bull and Crazy -Horse. Then he had turned miner, and after much -experience in the Black Hills, as well as in Montana -and Idaho, had drifted to Formosa and had been engaged -in developing gold workings but a little distance -from where they sat when the war broke out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' naow, gentlemen, I'm a general of brigade in -the service of His Imperial Majesty of China, gettin' -'s much dust in a month 's I could in a year of minin'. -An' thet's why I am fur the time bein' a dewtiful -subject of His Imperial Bigness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mebbe yew'll b'lieve me, I hev seen sum fightin'. -An' I ain't partiklar ef I see sum more. An' I hev -idears whar t' plant an army, an' haow t' plan a -defence or lay a trap. But this bizness of drillin' Chinks -so's they'll walk t'gether, an' shoot t'gether, and dew -what they're told without all talkin' at once like the -sisters at a meetin'-house sewin'-bee, an' all gettin' -tied up into a gol-durned tarnation tangle, thet's what -knocks the spots off yewrs trewly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Naow, gentlemen, my proposition is thet the -sergeant here jest step over with me to General Liew, -an' take service with him till the end of the war. The -general was mighty pleased with thet ar ambulance -corpse of yourn. He'd make you a kurnel, second in -command of a brigade. An' the spondoolix! Lots of -it! Got it to burn! More'n a candidate for congress -at election time! Money don't count with him no -haow. Ef yew lick these ar Chinks into fightin' -shape, I'll plan the campaign an' we'll whale those -</span><em class="italics">parley-voos</em><span> into the sea in no time. Then we'll get a -concession an' the gold mine. Naow, what dew yew -think of thet?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That sounds pretty good, sergeant," said Sinclair. -"It looks like a chance for you.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thet's what I call a putty payin' proposition. Will -yew take it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, sir; I think not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Leatherbottom opened his small, light-blue eyes as -wide as the cavernous depths of their sockets would -allow, removed the pipe from his mouth, and spat far -out into the river:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Naow will yew tell me haow it is thet yew will -not take on a payin' proposition like thet? Dew yew -forget the spondoolix?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, will yew tell me why?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have fought for twenty-four years under one -flag. There is only one other that I would fight -under."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I presyewme thet is the stars and stripes, the flag -of the Yew.S.A.?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is not, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, will yew tell me what flag it is?" asked the -general in evident surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The green flag with the golden harp, the flag of -a self-governing Ireland!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But there ain't no army 'lowed to carry sech a -flag."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, till there is, I'll still fight under the old -flag and the old queen I have served more than half -my life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' yew air an' Irishman?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' a Roman Catholic?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wall—I'll—be—gol—durned!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sergeant Gorman's moustache and eyebrows fairly -bristled. The little, shrewd blue eyes of the Indian -fighter were quick to notice it:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Egskews me, sergeant; I ain't meant no offence. -'Twas only thet I had been informed thet the Irish -will hev a Fourth-of-July celebration the day the -Yewnion Jack gits out of thet ar island fur good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you were misinformed, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wall, I reckon it's a case of live an' l'arn. When -I was t' hum I thought the Yew.S.A. were putty near -the hull thing. When I came out here I putty soon -found out they warn't. When I was in our country, -a-listenin' to the politicians, I thought every Irishman -was jest thirstin' fur the blood of the English. I came -out here an' naow yew tell me they ain't. Will you -egskews me? I hev sum things t' l'arn yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, sir. We all make mistakes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank yew. But why yew'd refewse t' change -yewr flag when yew knew thet the spondoolix was -sure, thet beats me. Oh, wall, I reckon every man -has his own way of lookin' at things. Say, doctor, -whar's the elder?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean Dr. MacKay?';</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sartin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, he left several days ago to visit some of his -converts. I guess the heathen have been roughing -things a bit and making it hot for the Christians. He -went to see if he could help them out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do he carry weepons?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wall, thet beats all. I've seen some putty nervy -things. I've seen whar Custer an' his three hundred -rode slap-bang into Sittin' Bull an' his red devils on -the Little Big Horn, an' got skulped, every man of -them. But they hed guns an' hed a chance. But t' go -out among these ar yellow heathen, when they're -rampagin' fur the blood of furriners, without so much 's -even a .32 t' put the fear of God into them thet's -what I call temptin' Providence. It's givin' Providence -a chance t' let them dew their durndest and save -itself the trubble of interferin'."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun had gone down and the moon had taken -its place riding in silver radiance across the -cloudless sky. General Leatherbottom rose to go. -Sinclair and Gorman accompanied him through the -hospital to the street door. A squad of the sergeant's -ambulance corps, who were on guard, presented arms -with the precision and unity of European veterans.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With democratic freedom the general thrust his -long, bony hand first into Sinclair's, then into -Gorman's:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never seen the beat of thet ambulance corpse of -yourn, fur the time yew've had 'em. But, by the -Jumpin' Jemina, I'd like to hev seen yew lickin' the -regiments of my brigade into shape."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="wolves-and-their-prey"><span class="bold large">XVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">WOLVES AND THEIR PREY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The end of August found the French and -Chinese in the same state of impasse. As a -consequence there was little bloodshed, and few -wounded were being brought into the hospital. If it -had not been for the shocking carelessness of the -Chinese in handling firearms and explosives, there -would have been almost none. Time began to hang -somewhat heavy on the hands of Dr. Sinclair and his -assistant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Getting mighty slow here," he remarked to -Gorman one day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Slower than promotion for merit in the service," -was the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You haven't it so bad. You can always amuse -yourself drilling 'that ambulance corpse of yourn,' as -General Leatherbottom calls it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Divil a bit: There's nothin' more for me to t'ache -thim. Tuk till it loike ducks to wather. Can -imitate me till if they were wanst in service outfit I'd -swear it was the multiplication table of meself -a'marchin' down the road."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair laughed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's just what I've been noticing," he said. -"When you took hold of them every man jack toed -in. Now they all turn their toes out at a little more -than an angle of forty-five degrees, just as you do. -And right down to that little spindly chap, twenty-five -inches around the hips, they all strut as if they were -as broad in the beam as yourself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad thin, I'm not the only wan! It's the same -wid your bhoys inside. They're jist reduced copies -of yourself. They bate Banagher for imitation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Suppose we leave those fellows to look after things -for a couple of days and run over to Tamsui while -business is slack. If things were to brighten up a -bit here, we might not get another chance."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, an' I'm wid you. But, begorra, we had better -see to it that each of us has a bit of a shtick an' -a gun handy. I hear that there are disturbances -iverywhere, an' it's little manners the haythen are -showin' to Europeans since the Frinch shtarted to mix -it up wid thim."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The last time he passed, Dr. MacKay told me -that there was a good deal of rioting and some -murdering. But he seemed to go about his work as if -it were perfectly safe. And, so far as I could find -out, he never carries any weapons."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"May the saints preserve him, that is a man! I -was born a Roman Catholic, an' I intind to die a -Roman Catholic. But, if it was advice about me sowl's -salvation I was wantin'—and betune you an' me I'm -needin' it badly enough—it's to him I'd go rather than -to a church full of the priests that are feedin' fat on -me paternal estate."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their arrangements were soon made, and they were -off. Even on the much-travelled way between the camp -before Keelung and the capital there were evidences -of disorder and lawlessness. Bands of marauders -were out. Many of them were well armed, as they -included numbers of irregular levies who had deserted -with the arms and ammunition with which they had -been supplied when they enlisted. Wayfarers had -been robbed, and some who resisted had been -murdered. Lonely farmhouses were looted and burned. -In some cases the men were killed and the women -foully abused. Some considerable towns had been -attacked and terrorized into paying tribute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But it was on the native Christians that the heaviest -blow fell. Nearly everywhere they were hounded -down, their little churches were destroyed, their -houses were ransacked, their goods pillaged, and -themselves cruelly beaten and tortured. Even when -they succeeded in reaching hiding-places, they were -often betrayed by their own relatives and given over -to the inhuman cruelties of the heathen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So serious was the danger that the consul issued -a warning to his nationals and those of other nations -for whom he acted not to venture beyond the limits -of the port, where they could be under the protection -of the gunboat, as well as of the Chinese garrison. At -that moment Dr. MacKay, Sinclair, and Gorman were -the only white men who were outside of the protection -of large forces of disciplined soldiers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Several times on their way Sinclair and his -companion were faced by armed men. But they moved -resolutely forward. As the marauders opened up to -let them pass Sinclair caught the word "I-seng" (the -life-healer), while Gorman laughed to hear himself -described as "Añg-mñg-kui (the red-haired devil). -Their reputations had preceded them and stood them -in good stead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Elsewhere tragedies were being enacted. Five or -six miles south of the road which they were travelling, -nestling in among the foothills of the great -mountain-chain which occupied all the centre of the -island, was the prosperous town of Sin-tiam. There -the missionary had gathered together a congregation -of worshippers and built a church of unplastered -stone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With the eye for beauty in nature which characterized -him, he had chosen a site at one end of the -town, where a little dell smiled between some -verdured hills and the river. In front of the church -door lay a beach of shingle, round which curved the -swift, clear green waters of the Sin-tiam River. Its -farther bank rose steeply from the water's edge, a -hillside luxuriant with trees and vines, ferns and grasses, -their vivid green all starred with roses and -morning-glories, or the massed beauties of myrtle-trees and -honeysuckle. Behind the first abrupt hill rose higher -hills, and beyond these mountains, in whose -impenetrable jungles and savage retreats the wild -headhunters had their home. Behind these again giant -peaks towered into the heavens.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Into this paradise of beauty, bloodthirsty, heathen -men burst and their rage turned it into a perdition. -Early one fair summer morning the black flags of a -party of marauders were seen approaching the town. -The respectable citizens, whether heathen or Christian, -hurriedly closed and barricaded their shops and -houses. The worst element of the population rushed -out to join the freebooters.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Like a pack of hungry wolves they entered the -town on the run, yelling, screaming, beating drums, -blowing horns, firing their guns. It was evident that -they had a concerted plan, for they did not halt, but -with yelp and yell and animal snarl they swept -through to the far end, where the Christian church -was situated. They poured into the native preacher's -house, which adjoined the church. It was deserted. -At the first alarm some of the Christians had rushed -to the church, and hurried their pastor and his -family by a circuitous route to a safe hiding-place. They -knew that he would be the first victim. They hoped -that their own obscurity would be their protection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a vain search for the preacher, the black-flags -returned to loot his house and destroy everything they -could not carry away. Then they began to search -for other victims. Unfortunately in their haste the -pastor and his friends had forgotten the roll of church -members, which was in the drawer of the desk on the -church platform. It was the death warrant of some -of the flock.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With yells of savage delight the persecutors tore -it open and began to read out the names:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was a tolerably well-to-do merchant. At the -mention of his name the mob scented plunder, and -the most active fairly fought with one another in -the rush to be foremost for the spoil. Lee Soon -had sent his wife and daughter to a hiding-place in -a forsaken mine in the neighbourhood. With his -young son he remained to take care of his property. -On the first assault of the mob he tried to parley with -them and offered them gifts if they would leave him -unmolested.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you think that we would take part when we -intend to get all?" was the jeering reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll have no parley with friends of the foreign -devils," yelled others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All the while a rain of bricks and stones fell on -the barricades he had hastily put up. Others climbed -on the roof and tore off the tiles. In a short time -a breach was made and they rushed in. Lee Soon was -seized by the hair and dragged out over the piles of -bricks and rubbish. Every one who could get a kick -at him, a blow with a bamboo pole or the butt of a -gun, gave it with insensate fury. At last he lay -bleeding and unconscious in the midst of the street. But -the mob still trampled upon him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now will you go into the barbarian's religion?" -cried one.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is your God now?" shrieked another.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile others were stripping the house and shop -of its contents. Others still were searching high and -low for the women of the household. Enraged at -not finding them, they dragged out his son, Lee Ien, -a mere youth, kicking and beating him as they had -done his father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He has given his sisters to the foreign devils."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Might as well give them to the beasts, for the -foreign devils are the offspring of beasts."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll teach him to give the women of our -country to foreign devils."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dragging the unfortunate youth to a tree, they -threw the end of his long braid of hair over a branch -and pulled until he was lifted off the ground. Then -they spit on him, jeered him, and prodded him with -their poles, making his body swing to and fro.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now will you forsake this Jesus faith and go back -to the gods of your ancestors?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Around his neck and from various parts of the torn -scalp blood was oozing and trickling down. The -body writhed in agony. The youth, really only a -boy in years, was alone, ringed round by foes. From -the drawn, quivering lips came the prayer:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord Jesus Christ, help me! Jehovah God, give -me strength!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A wild yell arose from another part of the town. -More victims had been found. There was more loot. -Those who had been torturing Lee Ien were anxious -to get a share. They released their hold on his hair -and rushed off with the others. He fell in a limp -heap on the ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With the physical toughness of his race, he soon -recovered and hurried to where he had last seen his -father. He found that a heathen neighbour, more -pitiful than the rest, had carried him into a place of -safety and had brought him back to consciousness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tan Siong had escaped, but came back to help some -of his fellow-believers. He accomplished this and -effected their escape. But it was by sacrificing -himself. He was caught, and being a man of some -prominence special tortures were devised. Sharp-edged -splits of bamboo were placed between the fingers of -both hands. Cords were wound tightly around the -fingers, pressing the angles of the bamboo into the -flesh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you forsake the black-bearded foreign devil?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pastor MacKay has never done me anything but -good. He healed me when I was sick. He saved my -son's life when he had the fever. Why should I -forsake him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The cords were drawn more tightly. The blood -oozed out around his nails and along the edges of the -bamboo.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you give up the barbarian's religion and go -back to the gods our ancestors worshipped from of old?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The gods our ancestors worshipped are only idols. -They cannot see or hear or understand our prayers. -I cannot go back to them. I believe in Jehovah God, -maker of heaven and earth——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A rifle butt fell with a sickening thud on his head -and, with the blood still oozing from his finger-tips, -Tan Siong lay senseless on the earth. His tormentors -rushed off to find other victims to rob and maltreat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the morning wore away. There were about -forty families of Christians. Probably the majority -of the individuals in them escaped with their lives, -and by keeping in hiding did not suffer torture. But -all lost their possessions. Many were put to the test -of indescribable physical agony. Yet they did not -deny their faith.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were two, a man and his wife, so humble -that they thought they might be overlooked. They -could not flee. They were both between sixty and -seventy years of age. The wife's feet, crushed and -broken by being bound for a lifetime, would not bear -her in flight. Her husband, with a devotion rare -in a Chinese and the more beautiful because of its -rarity, determined to stay with her and meet his fate -whatever it might be. They hoped that their -insignificance might save them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Lim Tsu had for many years been a maker of -idols. Then he had lost faith in those gilded bits of -wood or plaster he had so long offered to others to -worship. He had heard strange words from some -native Christians. Then he had heard them from the -lips of the foreign pastor. After long hesitation he -gave up the beliefs of his fathers, gave up the -practices of a lifetime, what was harder still, gave up the -means of a livelihood, and accepted the Christian -faith. From that hour Lim Tsu was a marked man. -He was the worst of renegades.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His name and that of his wife, Oo-a, were nearly -the last upon the communion roll, for they had been -but recently received. When they were read out a -howl like that of a pack of wild beasts went up from -the mob, and with one consent they flocked pell-mell -towards the humble cottage of the former image-maker. -He heard them coming, and with his aged -wife met them outside the door. Was it something -in the calm demeanour of the old couple, standing -quietly there with the summer sun shining on their -whitening heads, which awed them? The ones in front -paused, irresolute. Those behind pressed them forward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Friends, whom do you seek?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lim Tsu, the idol-maker."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lim Tsu, the idol-maker, is not here. But Lim -Tsu, the worshipper of the living God, is here. -Friends, I am Lim Tsu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The leaders of the mob quailed before the quiet -dignity of the old man. But the crowd behind -pressed them on. They held a hurried consultation -while the old Christian and his wife stood quietly -waiting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were seized by the arms and led towards the -river. The spot chosen was the beach of clean shingle -in front of the church. Unlike the other prisoners -who had been taken that day, they were not beaten. -But the feeble old woman hobbled painfully over the -stones. Her husband encouraged her:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If they drown us, it will not take long. Just a -moment and it will all be over. Then we'll not be -old any more. Your feet will not pain you any longer. -I'll not have the fever. We'll not have to worry about -getting rice to eat. Just a moment and all these -things will be forgotten. In heaven there is no -suffering."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As their feet touched the edge of the water they -were halted. One of the leaders said to them:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lim Tsu, you used to make images of the gods. -You used to worship the spirits of your ancestors. -You used to perform the rites as our fathers have -done since ages eternal. But now in your old age -you have been bewitched by the foreign devils and -joined the Jesus belief. If you leave the barbarian's -religion and go back to the faith of your fathers, -it will be well. You will be safe and men will honour -you. If you do not, we will drown you both."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Friends," came the quiet, firm reply, "I do not -believe in idols. I made them for many years. I -know that they are only wood or stone or earth or -plaster. I know that I can knock them down and -break them, or throw them into the fire and burn -them. How could they help me? Now I worship -the true God, who made the earth and the sea and -the sky, who made us all, for we are His children. -And I worship Jesus Christ, His Son, whom He sent -into the world to save me. You may drown us if you -will. But we will not give up the Jesus belief."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yells of rage burst from their persecutors. They -were pushed forward into the water up to their knees. -Again the offer was made, and again refused.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Execrations, foul language, inarticulate screams of -rage rose from the throng on the bank. The old -couple were pushed farther into the stream. The water -had risen to the old man's arm-pits. It was up to -the woman's throat. Again they were halted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lim Tsu and Oo-a, his wife, will you give up the -Jesus belief? If not, we will drown you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old woman's thin treble rose in answer:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I cannot give up the Jesus belief. Jesus is my -Saviour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may drown us if you will," answered her -husband. "That will not hurt us much. It will soon -be over. But we can never deny the Lord Jesus."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a few moments the mob-leaders paused. They -were plainly nonplussed by such constancy. Even the -rabble on the bank hushed their howling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Oo-a's grey head swam on the surface of the clear -green stream. She turned her face upward. Before -her were the steep green hills, thick with trees and -ferns and grasses, and all starred with flowers, on -which she had looked since her childhood. A bird -sang in the thicket. The cicadas shrilled ceaselessly -in the hot sunshine. All the world was at peace. Why -was man so cruel? She lifted her eyes to the blue -sky which bent over her. Her thin tremulous voice -was heard in prayer:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pe Siong-te."[#]—"Father God, help a weak old -woman. Make her strong to confess her Lord. For -Jesus' sake."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] Pronounced, Pay Seeong-tay.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Then the old man lifted up his voice, and she joined -him in that immortal prayer which ever circles the -world around and runs through all time:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Goan ê Pe ti thî nih."[#]—"Our Father, who art -in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom -come, Thy will be done——"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] Pronounced, Go-an ā Pay tee thee neeh.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Their voices were silenced by the waters. Their -captors had plunged them under and held them there. -The fair flowers still bloomed on the high bank. The -birds sang on. The cicadas shrilled their monotonous -melody. The sun poured down its wealth and bounty -on the evil and on the good. Only a few bubbles -rising to the surface told where the souls of the two -martyrs had been set free to go home to God.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just plain, ignorant old Chinese peasants! Alone -amidst their enemies, all unknown and unknowing, -unsupported by and unthinking of the world's applause! -Yet without a murmur they died for their faith. -Even an Apostle Paul could do no more.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="to-the-rescue"><span class="bold large">XVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">TO THE RESCUE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Two days later Dr. Sinclair and Sergeant -Gorman were nearing the capital on their way -from Keelung to Tamsui. Sometimes they -talked and laughed. Sometimes they walked in -silence one following the other along the narrow trail, -each busy with his own thoughts. Sinclair was -thinking of a perplexing, teasing young woman of queenly -stature and bearing, with eyes and mouth which -haunted him in spite of his determination to persuade -himself that he was unconcerned. He knew that she -was still in Tamsui. McLeod had sent him a note -the last time the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> was in port. Mr. MacAllister -had made trips to various ports on the mainland, -and to South Formosa. But his wife and daughter -remained at Tamsui in the congenial company -and care of Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair wondered to himself in what humour he -would find this wayward maiden who had so suddenly -been projected into his life, and now occupied so -large a place in his thoughts. Why was she so -capricious with him? She was not like that with others. -With Captain Whiteley or McLeod or Mr. Beauchamp -she was amiability itself. Apparently she treated -Carteret quite differently from him. Even with -himself there had been moments when she had been -cordial and kind. In those brief spells of friendliness -she was irresistibly fascinating.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But most of the time she seemed to bend all her -energies to making him feel uncomfortable. Why did -she do it? Was it possible that McLeod was right? -Or was it that his approaches were disagreeable to -her and she was trying to make him keep his distance? -That was much more likely. But he would find out. -He was not going to make a fool of himself by -pushing himself in where he was not wanted. He closed -his teeth firmly. His lower jaw was set and stern. -He would find out this time. He would either make -or mend it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he did not.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had hardly made the aforementioned resolution -when it and even the object of his thoughts were -driven out of his mind altogether. From a high bank -beside the road, covered with a thicket of bamboo, -a native boy of fourteen or fifteen years dropped into -the middle of the pathway at Sinclair's feet. His face -was drawn with fear. His eyes had a strained, -hunted look. Without any of the customary salutations, -he poured forth a stream of nervous, fluent -Chinese, in which Sinclair could catch nothing but his -own title of "I-seng" and "Kai Bok-su" (Pastor MacKay).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here, Gorman, can you make anything out of -what he says? There is evidently trouble somewhere, -and Dr. MacKay is in it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hould on, boy! Go aisy! Fwhat the divil wud -you expect a Christian man to make out of such a -jabber as that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then in Chinese:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You talk too fast. Speak slowly. Don't be -afraid. If there is any trouble, we'll help you out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Getting a grip of himself, the excited boy told them -that he was the son of one of the Christians of -Sintiam. He related the events of two days before. He -said that Dr. MacKay had heard of what had taken -place and, in spite of the pleadings of his converts, -had insisted on going to the help of those who were -still in danger. He was already there, and if the -black-flags caught him they would assuredly kill him. -He, the boy, had been sent out to look for some -Chinese troops, but had found them instead. Would -they come to Pastor MacKay's rescue?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begorra, an' that we will!" exclaimed Gorman, -as he gave his heavy stick a couple of fancy twirls -around his head, felt for his revolver to assure -himself that it was there, and plunged into the carrier -coolie's basket to get more cartridges.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell the coolie to go on to Taipeh and wait for -us there. Tell this boy to guide us to Sin-tiam by -the shortest route. He needn't try to hide us. We -don't care if those devils do see us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair spoke in sharp, incisive tones. Instinctively -the sergeant came to attention and saluted. It -was the accent of command.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In another moment they had left the main road, -which they had been following, plunged through the -bamboos, and headed directly south. Soon their guide -picked up a blind pathway which zigzagged through -a labyrinth of rice-fields, dropped into shady ravines, -or climbed a projecting spur of rock. The afternoon -sun blazed down upon them. But with relentless -energy they pressed on. Peasants working in their -fields uttered loud cries of wonder, not unmixed -with alarm, as the two foreigners strode silently, -determinedly past. The native boy never ceased -from his steady run. The long, powerful strides -of the two whites pressed continually on his heels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day was wearing on as they drew near their -destination. The by-path they were following did -not join the main road entering the town, but led -over some wooded hills nearly at right angles to the -principal highway. While still unable to see the town, -they heard wild yells and occasional shots. Their -rapid walk quickened into a run.</span></p> -<p class="pnext" id="id1"><span>As they came over the last bluff, through an -opening in the shrubbery they could see the end of the -town where the main road entered it. Just emerging -from between the houses was a man dressed in white -and wearing a sun-helmet. It was MacKay. He was -walking steadily, resolutely out along the road which -led towards the capital. Behind him, in close but -irregular order, was a band of natives—men, women, -and children. Among them were a few sedan chairs, -evidently carrying aged and wounded. Pressing upon -their rear, crowding upon them on either side, -threatening to block the road in front, was a screaming, -jeering, cursing mob. Black flags were waving over -their heads; guns were discharged; mud and filth were -thrown; howls like those of beasts of prey burst from -them in chorus.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The situation was obvious. MacKay had appealed -to the Chinese authorities at the capital to protect -the Christians. They had replied that they could not -protect them in outlying districts like Sin-tiam, but -would protect them if they came to the capital, where -there was a garrison. He was endeavouring to bring -the survivors to where their lives would be safe. They -had lost their homes, their property, their church. -They had only their lives left. He was trying to save -these.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the mob were determined that they should not -escape. They crowded closer and closer on the native -Christians, but still opened up before the missionary. -His cool, resolute demeanour, the instinctive -recognition of unruffled courage and conscious superiority -made them give way. As the little band passed out -of the town they began to fear that their prey was -going to give them the slip. Bricks and stones were -flung. Jostling passed into interchange of blows. -Shouts of "Kill the barbarian. He is not very big. -Tear the foreign devil in pieces" mingled with -inarticulate yells of rage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly with a surge from behind the mob flung -themselves like wolves on their prey. The Christian -maidens, always the first victims, were being dragged -away, their terror-stricken shrieks mingling with the -fiendish yells of their captors. Sedan chairs were -overturned. Men and women were beaten down. The -hopelessly outnumbered Christians were fighting -desperately for their lives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the first sound of the onslaught, MacKay turned -back. He would save his people or share their fate. -The muzzle of a rifle was jabbed against his chest. -Like a flash he thrust it up with his left hand and -it was discharged harmlessly past his ear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the last time that Chinese freebooter ever -pulled a trigger. Simultaneously with the explosion -of the rifle Sinclair's stick came down on his head -and cracked his skull like an eggshell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The same instant, with a wild "Hurroosh!" -Gorman was into the melee. MacKay's Highland blood -was up, too. Alongside of his bigger and heavier -companions he was proving that his slight, sinewy frame -had not for nothing gone through more than a dozen -years of strenuous training in that tropic clime.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a few minutes it was rough-and-tumble fighting, -with foot and fist and shillelagh. Friends and -foes were so mixed together that Sinclair and -Gorman were afraid to use their revolvers. But the -terror those big, fiercely-fighting foreigners inspire -in the hearts of a Chinese mob fell on the rioters. -They loosed their holds on their prey and fled in wild -disorder, hurried by the barking of the two revolvers -and the fall of some in whom the bullets had found -their mark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Dr. Sinclair; Sergeant Gorman. You -have done me, and you have done my poor people, a -great service."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It seems that we did happen to come at the right -time," replied Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You didn't happen. God sent you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps that is the right way to put it, Dr. MacKay. -At any rate, we are glad to have been here. -Now we must look at those people. I am afraid that -some of them are pretty badly hurt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All three turned their attention to caring for the -sufferers and to making them as comfortable as -possible. When they reached the capital Sinclair -found it necessary to remain there several days to -care for some who were most seriously injured.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before he felt free to leave them to make his -intended trip to Tamsui word came that there had been -some sharp skirmishes around Keelung and a -considerable number had been wounded. So he and -Gorman turned back to duty.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was the reason why he did not at that time -succeed in making or mending his relations with Miss -MacAllister. Perhaps it was better for him that it -was so. His exploit in coming to the rescue of -MacKay was likely to stand him in better stead than a -premature demand for explanations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Sinclair did not know that. He was not versed -in the ways of women. Like most men in love, if -he had been allowed his own way, he would have made -a mess of it. When Providence came to his rescue -and sent him back to Keelung without seeing Miss -MacAllister, he was inclined to fall out with Providence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But his sense of duty and his habitual good-humour -prevailed. And when he saw again the strained, eager -looks of the wounded men, saw hope come into their -faces as the word passed from lip to lip, "I-seng lâi" -(the life-healer has come), he was glad that he had -done his duty. He was at his chosen work.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="allister"><span class="bold large">XIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">ALLISTER</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>On the morning of the 24th of September, -Sinclair, looking down from a mountain height -on the town and harbour of Keelung, saw one -of the warships get up steam and put out to sea. -Watching it with his glasses, he saw it heading north, -and then west, till even the trailing smoke disappeared -beyond the far blue coast line which curved away -towards the northernmost point of the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd give something to know where that Frenchman -is heading for and what mischief he has in mind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad, an' if he doesn't do more than he's been -doin' here these last six weeks, he'd better give up -the job."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's just the reason why I think that he may -be intending to try his hand somewhere else. He -can't do any more damage here without a land force. -But there are other places where he could—Tamsui, -for example."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begorra, an' if I thought there was goin' to be a -shindy there, it's not one minute longer I'd spind -kickin' me heels around this ould dead-an'-alive camp. -I'd be makin' for Tamsui as fast as the two legs -of me cud carry me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So would I. But there doesn't seem to be any -movement among the rest of the fleet. We'll just -keep a sharp lookout and perhaps we'll get some word -from Tamsui. If there's anything doing there, I'm -blamed if I am going to be stewed up here and miss -the fun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two days later Sinclair was again at his lookout. -From the departure of that first French warship which -had steamed away to the west, either he or Gorman -had kept a constant watch on the movements of the -French fleet. Perhaps it was all because of his -anxiety to be where he was most needed. Perhaps there -were other reasons which he did not mention to -Sergeant Gorman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had found a shady seat for himself beneath the -wide-spreading fronds of a tree-fern, and through -his glasses was carefully scanning the squadron of -men-of-war in the harbour below. A footstep sounded -on a rock near him. It was Gorman:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A letter for you from Dr. MacKay. A boy has -jist arrived wid it. I thought that you moight want -to see it at wanst."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Gorman," he replied, tearing it open. -"Just as we thought. He says that the </span><em class="italics">Château -Renaud</em><span> arrived off Tamsui on Wednesday.... -That's the day we saw her leave here.... -Over-hauled the </span><em class="italics">Welle</em><span> yesterday, and the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>, too.... -Then Mac's at Tamsui. Boys, but I'd like to see -him! ... Says that the consul has got a hint -somewhere that the French are going to bombard -Tamsui.... What did I tell you, Gorman? ... Thinks -we had better come back there at once and take his -boys with us.... So do I.... Says your ambulance -corps can take care of any wounded there are -likely to be here.... Of course they can. Whether -they can or not, I'm going."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Another moving!" exclaimed Gorman, who had -been using the glasses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! By Jove, you're right!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair was manifesting unwonted excitement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'd better start at once if we want to get through -this evening. Pretty nearly thirty miles of a walk -if we should happen to miss the launch. I'd like to -get there before the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> sails. I want to see -McLeod."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gorman's left eye, which was invisible to Sinclair, -winked and that side of his face assumed a most -comical expression. The other eye looked straight -out at the landscape, and the other side of his face -was judicial in its seriousness. He was a man of -some perception.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' you think that the hospital here will get along -widout us?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course it will! I'm going to Tamsui."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith and you're a man afther me own heart. -Let the hospital go to Ballyhack. I'm wid you.... -There she goes headin' for the west. The </span><em class="italics">parley-voos</em><span> -are plottin' somethin' an' we want to be there whin -it happens."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Late that afternoon practically the whole foreign -population of North Formosa and the officers of the -</span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> were gathered on the deck of the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>. -Captain Whiteley and McLeod were giving what they -called their "Farewell At Home!" After their -experience of the day before they were doubtful -whether they would be allowed to enter the port again -so long as the Frenchmen stayed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was perhaps the largest party of foreigners which -had ever gathered in North Formosa. Consular, -mission and custom staffs, merchants, the doctor, naval -officers, visitors, and hosts, they numbered thirty or -more. The measure of uncertainty, the spice of a -possible peril, added zest to their intercourse. Just -out of sight over the projecting ridge of the hill to -the north of the harbour, the </span><em class="italics">Château Renaud</em><span> was -lying at anchor. That very day the long, low, sinister-looking -</span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span> had slipped into the very mouth of the -harbour. She could be plainly seen from where they -sat chatting and sipping their tea on the deck of -the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>. Every one felt that these engines -of war were big with potentialities of danger and -death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As usual, since her arrival in Formosa, Miss -MacAllister was the centre of attraction. Bald-headed -seniors like De Vaux and Boville vied with young -men like Carteret and mere youths like Lanyon for her -company and her smiles. But for reasons best known -to herself she chose to give those privileges in much -the largest measure to McLeod. As one of the hosts -he had not in any way tried to monopolize her. But -she showed so marked a partiality for his companionship -that it did appear as if he had the monopoly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It seems as if no person but a seaman has any -show with the ladies to-day," said Carteret with that -indefinable bitterness of tone which he so often used. -It called attention to the fact that each of the ladies -present was deep in conversation with an officer of -one or other of the ships.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By my faith, it can't be the sea which is the -attraction," retorted Lieutenant Lanyon, "for none of -them will look at me. In Miss MacAllister's case it -is the clannishness of the Scotch," he continued, loud -enough for her to hear. "If McLeod weren't a Mac, -he'd have no more show than I have, and that's no -show at all, at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He thought that he would draw her by his very -boldness, as he had done on more than one occasion -before. All the satisfaction he got was:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Mr. Lanyon, please do not let everybody -on board know that you cannot get a lady to talk to -you. There's mother. She has just finished her -conversation with Captain Whiteley. I know that she -will take pity on you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Lanyon joined as heartily as the rest in the laugh -at his own expense, and, accepting her suggestion, was -soon amusing himself and Mrs. MacAllister with his -boyish tales of adventures and scrapes in the navy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Miss MacAllister was saying to McLeod:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, Mr. McLeod, I do not know what some -of these men are made of. To think that they could -sit here doing the little routine work of their offices, -with battles going on within twenty miles of them, -and never so much as go to see what a battle is like! -I wanted to go myself. But father and the consul -wouldn't let me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must remember, Miss MacAllister, that the -majority of things which are called men are not men. -They are only dressed up to look like men. When -they get in danger or any other place which needs -men, all the man in them disappears and there is -nothing left but the clothes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But Dr. MacKay says that Dr. Sinclair and Sergeant -Gorman have not been in any real danger since -they went over there. He says that the Chinese -respect them too much to molest them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; but that is where the difference comes in. -Sinclair is a man. So is Gorman. So is MacKay. -The Chinese know it, and they are safe. But some -of the others—not all, only some—are not men. They -wouldn't be safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish that I were a man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you were, I venture to say that you would be -a soldier."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had a brother once. He was a soldier."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I did not know that you ever had a brother. You -never told me that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time they had left the company on the -forward deck and, walking away aft, were leaning on -the rail. She was in a more subdued and meditative -mood than McLeod had ever seen her before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," she said, "I never told you. I rarely tell -anybody. I do not know why I am telling you now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>McLeod listened in sympathetic silence. He knew -that behind this fact of the brother of whom she -seldom spoke there must be a tragedy. If she wished -to tell him, he would listen. But if she did not, he -would respect her reserve and not seek to pry into -its privacy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My brother was an officer in a crack English -cavalry regiment. He fought in Egypt and was -mentioned in despatches after Tel-el-Kebir. But he was -the only Scottish officer in the regiment, and the only -son of a tradesman. The rest were Englishmen and -sons of do-nothing aristocracy. They never ceased -twitting Allister about being a Highland kern, and -that his father was a shopkeeper, and had started life -as an errand boy. The fact that he was mentioned -in dispatches made them worse. They were jealous."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She paused for a moment. McLeod did not speak. -She glanced at him. His face was set. One hand was -clenched. The other gripped hard on the rail. She -understood and went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Two of them were especially insulting. At mess -one evening they went beyond endurance. Allister -was not quick with his tongue. He was slow of speech -and could not answer them. But there was another -way open, and he took it. He was big and strong, -as big and strong as Dr. Sinclair. But not fair like -Dr. Sinclair. He was dark like mother. He called -the two of them out from mess, and with his bare -hands gave the biggest of them a terrible thrashing. -The other ran to his tent for his sword and revolver. -When Allister went after him, for his Highland blood -was up and nothing could stop him, the coward hid -behind the excuse that they must fight as gentlemen. -But when it came to fighting with revolvers, the -Englishman who had been thrashed claimed that it was -his right to fight the duel, as it was he who had -been beaten. And the coward was glad to let him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She paused again. Her face was pale, but her eyes -showed the fire which burned within. McLeod was -breathing hard, as if in a physical struggle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was quickly arranged and quickly over. Out -there on the sand in the moonlight they faced each -other and fired only once. Allister was not hit. The -Englishman was shot through the lung. The regimental -doctor said that he could live only an hour. -He could not check the flow of blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A few minutes afterwards Allister rode out of -camp towards Alexandria. His orderly, who was -Highland like himself, brought us word that he could -not stand the thought of what it would mean to father -and mother and me, that he should be tried and -convicted of murder. That was two years ago to-day. -Since that we have never heard a word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For the first time in her recital McLeod spoke: -"Did the Englishman die?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, he did not. He is now strong and well. -What is better, he bitterly repented the wrong he did -my brother. He came to father and mother seeking -our forgiveness, and was forgiven. Now he is -helping to search the world for Allister. What became -of the coward we never heard, except that he was -dismissed from the service for cowardice. We never -knew his name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is the real reason why your father is spending -so much time in those out-of-the-way places of -the Far East. He hopes to get word of your -brother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. Mother is convinced that Allister is dead. -But father and I cannot believe it. We believe that -he is living, and that we shall find him. And -father believes that it will not be very long. He told -me only this morning that he was convinced that it -would be soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The Highland second sight."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. God grant that it may be so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Amen!" said McLeod solemnly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some minutes they leaned on the rail in silence. -Her eyes were fixed on the water, which was flowing -upstream with the rising tide. McLeod was looking -away up the river to where he could distinguish the -little passenger launch emerging from a fleet of cargo -boats and bat-winged junks. It was steaming straight -down the river at full speed. Presently he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what's up. The launch is heading for -us instead of going to her jetty."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are some Europeans on her," Miss MacAllister -replied. "I can see two men wearing -helmets under the awning. They evidently are coming -on board."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then she uttered a faint cry. One of the men had -stepped from under the awning and stood at his full -height on the bow of the launch. The next instant he -took off his helmet and waved it at McLeod. The -sunlight gleamed on a mass of fair hair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh!" she said. "It is Dr. Sinclair. As he stood -up I thought it was Allister. Their figures are -exactly alike. But it was foolish of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>McLeod seemed hardly to heed what she was -saying. He had climbed on the rail, was frantically -waving his white cap, and yelling like a schoolboy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What cronies you two are!" she said with mock -severity, but laughing all the while. "Talk about the -Scotch being clannish! You Canadians beat anything -I ever met for clannishness."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just some Canadians," answered McLeod. "Will -you excuse me?" he called back as he went below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Those two must be desperately in love," she said -to herself as she smilingly responded to Sinclair's -courteous salutation from the bow of the launch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next instant McLeod had hold of both -Sinclair and Gorman and was ushering them up the -companion-way. The sergeant would have declined. But -McLeod would take no refusal. The company present -were his and Captain Whiteley's guests. And -whoever they chose to invite would have to be received -as such. And not only Sinclair, but the consul and -others who had known him noticed that Gorman's -brogue and exaggerated Irishisms were dropped as -easily as if they had all been assumed, and the Irish -noncom was as much at ease and as correct in his -behaviour as any of those who boasted gentle birth.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-infallible-experts"><span class="bold large">XX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE INFALLIBLE EXPERTS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The next evening (it was a Saturday) Dr. Sinclair -dined with the MacAllisters. To his surprise, -and much to his delight, he was the only -guest. For the first time he saw something of their -home life. He saw, too, Miss MacAllister in a role -different from anything he had seen before. Up to -this time he had always met her as a passenger or -a guest, with no responsibilities save those of -amusing and being amused. She had been the centre of -an admiring circle, free to be as whimsical or -wayward as the fancy of the moment suggested. That -evening she shared with her mother the duties of -hostess and devoted herself to making the evening -pleasant for their guest. And Sinclair thought that never -before had a single evening brought him so much -enjoyment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He wondered at the change. Was it another side -of her character? Or was it that she had changed -her attitude towards himself? The previous -afternoon he had noticed that she received him with a -frank cordiality which had surprised and delighted -him. But she had been just as ready with gay banter -and raillery as ever, especially when talking to Lanyon -or any others of the guests who pressed their -attentions upon her. This evening there was none of that. -Bright and entertaining she certainly was. But there -was not a trace of the whimsical, teasing spirit she -had formerly manifested, nor a word which could -make him feel uncomfortable. As the evening sped -away he felt himself becoming more and more -fascinated. He had met many beautiful and attractive -women, but never one who cast such a spell over him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister was not extremely cordial. She -did not wax enthusiastic over him as she had done -over De Vaux and Carteret. But she was a Highland -hostess in her own home. And though it might -be only a temporary home in a foreign land, and -though she had not been anxious to have Dr. Sinclair -for dinner, she had too much of the hospitality of -her native hills to do otherwise than endeavour to -make him feel that he was welcome there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. MacAllister was cordiality itself. In Sinclair -he found a kindred spirit. His interest in men, to -whatever race they might belong, his keen insight -and trained powers of observation, were refreshing -to the shrewd business man after the many men he -met who went about the world with eyes which did -not see. From the moment they sat down to dinner -until they rose from it he plied Sinclair with -questions and compared the doctor's observations with -his own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have had a great opportunity of studying -the Chinese during the last couple of months," he -said. "I envy you. Since you went over to Keelung -I have visited Foochow, spent another short spell -in Amoy, and travelled over a considerable part of -south Formosa. But I have felt all the time that -I really did not get into touch with the natives. I -couldn't speak their languages. I was staying always -in the homes of foreigners. I came into contact with -the Chinese only, as it were, at second hand. But -for one who has just arrived among them, you have -had a remarkable experience and an exceptional -opportunity. I envy you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It has been an opportunity, though of course too -short to form anything like final conclusions. -Nevertheless, I saw enough to convince me that the -greater part of the information about China which -is being served up to the Western world by so-called -authorities is absolutely unreliable. The ten-day -tourists and meteoric newspaper correspondents get only -surface impressions, and even these are generally -wrong."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We had one of them here while you were at -Keelung and father was in the South," said Miss -MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that so? I had not heard. Who was it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. F. L. Y. Urquhart, the famous traveller and -authority on China."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed! How long did he stay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Arrived from Foochow on the gunboat </span><em class="italics">Falcon</em><span> in -the forenoon. Called on the consul, the commissioner -of customs, and ourselves. Lunched on the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>. -Went up river in the afternoon. Stayed one hour, -and returned by the same launch. Had tennis and -tea at the consulate. At 6.30 put off to join the -</span><em class="italics">Falcon</em><span> again and sailed immediately for Amoy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I suppose had the fate of Formosa settled."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! Quite!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The French will have the island in their possession -in a month or six weeks at the outside. Their -transports with large land forces and escorted by naval -reinforcements have already passed the Suez. Before -them the Chinese army will run like sheep, and -the inhabitants will submit without a blow. Once the -French flag is hoisted it will never be taken down. -Formosa is lost to Britain through the stupidity of old -Lord Littlengland, the Foreign Secretary. He refused -to accept it when China actually offered to cede -it to Britain to keep it out of the hands of the French, -as he had absolute assurance from Li Hung-chang -himself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Excellently done!" exclaimed Sinclair, laughing -at her mimicry of the assurance of the expert. "Did -he not call on Dr. MacKay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No. I suggested that he should. He replied that -he put no reliance on the opinions of missionaries. -They were all narrow-minded fanatics, who couldn't -take a broad, large-minded view of the situation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So he missed the one man who knows more of -the probabilities of this war than all the rest of us -taken together?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, he missed him entirely. Said that he didn't -care to meet him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is it exactly. It is just such self-conceited -experts, who know all about China when they have -been ashore at half a dozen seaports during the hours -of call of a passenger liner and who refuse to learn -from those who do know, who have given our -Western nations such an exaggerated idea of their own -superiority and of China's inferiority."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you think that the Chinese have been -underestimated as soldiers," said Mr. MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I certainly do. For one thing, I have never seen -nor heard of among any other people anything like -the ability of the Chinese to bear pain. I was -compelled to perform without anæsthetics operations so -painful that most Europeans or Americans would -rather have died than have endured them. Yet the -Chinese bore them with little more than an -occasional groan or a suppressed 'ai-yah.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, then, is it that they have made such a poor -showing when opposed to European troops? I have -always been informed that it was the lack of physical -courage."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is not because of the lack of courage. It is -the lack of training and the lack of leadership. -Going into battle vain, self-confident, and contemptuous -towards the foreigners, they have suddenly found -themselves exposed by incompetent commanders, -mowed down by the foreign weapons, disconcerted by -well-ordered movements of trained men, and helpless -to meet foreign strategy. The inevitable panic -followed, and they ran."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But we have been told again and again by the -experts that it is impossible to drill the Chinese; that -they will never be anything else than a mob."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I wish those experts could have seen -Sergeant Gorman and his ambulance corps. He was -given some of the toughest material in Liu -Ming-chuan's army. In a month's time they moved like -clock-work. As the American general they have over -there said, I'd just like to see Gorman 'lickin' a -regiment into fightin' shape.' General Gordon proved -what could be done with a Chinese army during the -Tai-ping rebellion. If China only had a few native -General Gordons, the world would soon receive -notice that China was to be left alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that not just where the difficulty lies, the lack -of able, patriotic leadership? The authorities tell us -that there is no patriotism in China. They say that -every man is for himself, or at most for his own city -or province, but he cares nothing for the country as -a whole."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That may have been true in the past, and doubtless -still is true of the mass of the people. But it -is no longer true of many of the younger and better -educated men. There are young officers in the army -who are just as patriotically Chinese, whether they -come from the North or Centre or South, as we are -British, whether we be from Britain or Canada or -Australia. They are learning more from defeats than -they would from victories. Some day before very -long China will produce a man whom his countrymen -will follow. Then it will say 'Hands off!' to the -world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think is the country's greatest need -at the present moment? The missionaries say, -Christianity. Hart, the Inspector General of Customs, -who has lived half a lifetime in China, and the -American Minister at Pekin endorse the missionaries' -opinions. The special correspondents and the experts -say political reform. What do you think?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Christianity, most emphatically. The political -reforms will follow. When the new China appears in -the world its leaders will be Christians."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister, who had been listening with -ill-concealed impatience, threw back her head and -sniffed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair," she said, "do you really think that -it makes any difference with these Chinese whether -they call themselves Christians or heathens?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am quite sure of it, Mrs. MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I don't believe that a Christian Chinese is -one bit different from a heathen Chinese. They are -both just dirty Chinese."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you could see the difference between Dr. MacKay's -students, who were with me as nurses and -hospital assistants, and their heathen neighbours," -replied Sinclair, "you would not say that. I have never -seen nurses or medical students in a hospital at home -more cleanly, faithful or efficient, or more apt to -learn. Their people were just common, ignorant -Chinese peasants. I know of no explanation of the -difference between these boys and others of their class, -except that these were Christians and the others were -not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see that you quite agree with my husband in -this. But I do not. When we were at home it seemed -romantic to hear about foreign missions. But when -I came out here, and saw those ignorant natives, and -heard some of them called Christians, it quite -disgusted me. And Dr. MacKay actually asked us to -go to the native church and sit at the Lord's Table -with them. I was so surprised at him that I did not -know what answer to make. I do not believe that -they are real Christians at all. What was it Mr. Carteret -called them? Oh, yes! Rice Christians! He -said that they were 'rice Christians.' That means -that they were in it for what they could get out of -it. Mr. Carteret said that he had never known a real -Christian among them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair had intended to allow the subject to drop -when he saw that for some reason his hostess held -very pronounced views on it, different from his own. -But her quoting Carteret as an authority on the -sincerity or reality of religious beliefs touched him to -the quick. He answered very quietly but firmly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All over the south of Scotland, from the Atlantic -to the North Sea, in churchyard or hillside or lonely -moor, are to be found flat slabs or tall monuments, -marking the spots where the Covenanters of two -hundred years ago were slain or where their bodies -were laid to rest. Some of them were gentlemen of -birth. Some were cultured ministers. But the great -majority were plain people, sometimes ignorant -people; just ordinary hard-working, unlearned Scottish -peasants. Yet the places where they died are sacred -to-day. Monuments are erected to them. Books are -written about them. They are held up before us -as the martyrs and heroes of our Church. Why? -Because they died rather than deny their faith.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Less than a month ago and less than twenty miles -from here, some plain people—merchants, farmers, -artisans—were asked to deny their faith. They -refused. They were beaten. They were tortured. They -were hanged by the hair of the head. Two of them -were drowned. Their religion was the same as that -of the Scottish Covenanters. They died for it just -as willingly as the Covenanters did. They were -Chinese. If we say that the Scottish sufferers were -martyrs and heroes, I do not know how we can refuse -to say the same of the Chinese."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had spoken quietly, in a low tone of voice. But -the very quietness of his manner had deepened the -impression of tense feeling, of emotion kept under -firm control. His words had grown eloquent in spite -of himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he ceased there was perfect silence for some -minutes. Miss MacAllister was looking wonderingly -at him. He had always seemed so good-humoured, -so easy-going that she had sometimes asked herself -if he was really capable of deep, passionate feeling. -At an unexpected moment she had got her answer. -There was no mistaking the passion of admiration -for a heroic deed which possessed him, the indignant -protest against an injustice. It was all the more -impressive because it was so restrained. For reasons -which perhaps she could not explain to herself she -felt a thrill of pleasure at recognizing this note of -passion in his voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister also sat silent for a time. Then -she said in a very different tone from that which she -had used before:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps you are right, Dr. Sinclair. I had not -looked at it in that light."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is not easy for any one of us to be entirely just -to peoples so unlike us as are the Chinese," said her -husband. "Yet, when we get down to the mainsprings -of their conduct, we find that they are pretty -much the same as our own."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-language-of-song"><span class="bold large">XXI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE LANGUAGE OF SONG</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When dinner was over, Sinclair asked Miss -MacAllister if she would play and sing for -them. "I have not heard a song," he said, -"nor the sound of a civilized instrument since the -evening at the consulate, just after we landed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment her eyes danced mischievously. A -question about that Indian song of his trembled upon -her lips. But she thought better of it, deciding not -to say anything which might mar the evening by any -misunderstanding. So she replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that you will hardly call this piano -a civilized instrument after you have heard it. It has -almost ceased to be an instrument at all. Its age, the -climate, and the lack of a tuner have combined to make -it a mere caricature of a piano. But, if you'll try to -imagine that the weird sounds it produces are music, -I shall do my best."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your voice will more than compensate for any -deficiencies in the instrument," he said as he conducted -her to the piano.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, I am surprised at you. I didn't think -that you would flatter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not flattering. I mean it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She bent over the music; but he could see the warm -colour flow up the side of her neck and face. He -wondered if he had been too bold. Had he displeased -her? She kept her head bent down and slowly turned -the leaves of a song folio which rested on the keys. -He could see little of her face. Had he by his -rashness annoyed her and brought discord into that -delightful evening?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently she seemed to have made a choice. She -gave him one quick, shy glance, and he saw her face. -The blush still lingered there, but there was no trace -of displeasure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Would you like me to sing this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She laid the folio open on the piano. Sinclair's -heart gave a leap. She had chosen a love song. It -was not indeed a maiden's tale of love, but the love -of a man for a maid. Nevertheless, it was a woman's -song, and a woman's tenderness breathed through both -words and melody of immortal "Annie Laurie."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You could not have chosen anything I should have -liked better. 'Annie Laurie' will never grow old."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She sang the first verse alone. Then she said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought that you were going to sing with me. -Will you not put in a bass?" And a little -mischievously: "It will at least help to drown the -discords of this old instrument."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was enjoying your voice so much," he replied, -"that I did not wish to spoil the pleasure by adding -mine. But, if you wish it, I'll join you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Other songs, mostly old Scotch favourites, followed. -Sinclair noted that she did not choose war-songs as -when she sang at the consulate. Her mood was -different, and she chose those into which the singers -of her race had poured all their pathos and their -tenderness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they talked in the intervals, and sometimes -prolonged the selection of a song, the hesitation and -mutual reserve wore off and soon they found themselves -conversing with the quiet confidence of those who had -long been friends. There seemed to be no room for -misunderstandings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again and again Sinclair caught himself wondering -if this were the same girl who had badgered him so -unmercifully a few weeks before. Or was this -present situation only a bright dream, from which he -would awaken to find himself still the object of her -badinage and laughter? "Well," he thought to -himself, "dream or no dream, I'll enjoy it while it lasts -and hope that I may be long in waking up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But there were a few things which reminded him -that it was not a dream. Mrs. MacAllister did not -enter quite so heartily into sympathy with her -daughter's mood as did Dr. Sinclair. Perhaps it was not -to be expected. More than once she endeavoured to -interject her disapproval of their choice of songs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are you going to sing next, Jessie?" she -asked when three love songs had followed one -another without a break.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Robin Adair.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister sniffed audibly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not think much of your choice," she said -tartly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You like it, father, do you not?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes, Jessie! It suits me very well. Sing it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When it was sung Mrs. MacAllister returned to -the attack:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why do you not sing something lively instead of -those lonesome pieces? It gives me a creepy feeling. -Dr. Sinclair is just back from the war. Can you not -sing him some fighting song, such as 'Bonnie -Dundee' or 'Scots Wha Ha'e wi' Wallace Bled'?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, I do not feel like singing fighting songs -this evening. We are likely to have fighting enough -soon. But if Dr. Sinclair has become so bloodthirsty -as a result of his service at the front, I'll try to -satisfy him. Must you give vent to your feelings in a -war-song, Dr. Sinclair?" A gleam of fun shot -through the mock anxiety of her face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not at all, Miss MacAllister. I saw enough of -glorious war to do me for a little while. The glory -of it is mostly in the songs. There is little glory -in the actuality. Anyway, I am enjoying myself too -much as it is to take the chance of spoiling it by a -change."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister answered by a warning shake of -the head, the severity of which was disarmed by the -accompanying smile. But her mother set her lips -close together, elevated her nose, and sniffed very -audibly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All unheeding, the young people chose another -Scottish song, "Bonnie Charlie's Noo Awa." As the -plaintive words and the wailing notes rang out,</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Mony a heart will break in twa</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Should you ne'er come back again,"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Mr. MacAllister slipped out of the room into the -verandah which looked over the river to the tall dark -peak beyond.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the lament of the chorus rose into a cry and -died away in a sob:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Will ye no come back again?</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Will ye no come back again?</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Better lo'ed ye canna be.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Will ye no come back again?</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Mrs. MacAllister rose and hurriedly followed her -husband.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A late moon was rising over the great bulk of the -Taitoon range, shedding its pale light on the -brimming river, save where the houses of the town and -the clustered junks cast long, dark shadows. Out in -mid-stream the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> swam on the mirror-like -surface. The call of a night bird rang plaintively across -the water. Within, the voices of the singers rose again -in the last stanza:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Sweet's the lav'rock's note and lang;</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Liltin' wildly up the glen;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>But aye to me he sings ae sang,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Will ye no come back again?"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the dark shadow of the deep verandah a man and -woman, both middle-aged, pressed close to each other. -His arm was around her waist. Her head was on -his shoulder. As he caressed and soothed her his -tears fell on her face and mingled with her own. It -was not of a long-dead prince they were thinking. -It was of a lost son of whom they did not know -whether he was living or dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The silver tones of the gunboat's bell rang out on -the sweet night air, striking six times. Sinclair -pulled out his watch with a look of incredulity:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eleven o'clock! Miss MacAllister, I am ashamed -of myself. I had no idea it was so late. I have been -enjoying myself so much that this evening has passed -like a dream."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad that you have enjoyed it. The time -has passed very quickly to me, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You do not know what pleasure it gives me to -hear you say so. It has been to me the pleasantest -evening of my life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She blushed at the implication, gave him the reward -of a smile, and rose hurriedly from the piano:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where are father and mother? I must find them -to bid you good-bye."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="halcyon-days"><span class="bold large">XXII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">HALCYON DAYS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The next three days were to Dr. Sinclair a -continuation of that evening's dream. They were -full of incident. But what made them still -more pleasant and memorable was the fact that he -often met Miss MacAllister, and that she was -uniformly kind and seemed to enjoy his company. It -is true that after Saturday evening they did not again -meet alone. But no matter how gay the company -might be, nor how much chaffing and repartee was -passing among them, she never reverted to the attitude she -had adopted during the first week of their acquaintance. -She did not try to make him feel uncomfortable, -nor did she cause a laugh at his expense.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On Sunday morning at nine o'clock there was a -service in the little native church, a few rods from -the hong of MacAllister, Munro Co. In addition to -the local Christians there were many refugees present -who had fled from their homes in the inland villages, -having lost everything but their lives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Communion of the Lord's Supper was -observed, Dr. MacKay presiding, assisted by his -missionary colleague and some of the oldest native -preachers. Mr. MacAllister and his daughter, Dr. Sinclair, -an engineer and a petty officer from the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>, and -one member of the customs staff sat with the wives of -the missionaries and the native converts. The -service was conducted in Chinese. Consequently the words -were unintelligible to most of the foreigners present. -Yet they were conscious of the tense feeling, the close -and reverent attention, the spirit of prayer of the -native worshippers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once only did the officiating missionary use the -English language. He was administering the wine, -and spoke the words of a formula in Chinese. The -audience had been silent and reverent before. Now -the silence could be felt. He repeated it in English:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which -is shed for many for the remission of sins: Drink ye -all of it. It may be that many of you will drink no -more of the fruit of the vine until that day when you -drink it new in the Kingdom of God.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the service was over Sinclair walked slowly -along the narrow street with Miss MacAllister and her -father. For a time they were silent, as if each were -letting the impression of it sink into the mind. Miss -MacAllister was the first to speak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have never thought myself religious," she said. -"I am afraid that I have been like so many others, -a member of a church because it is customary and -respectable. But if the spirit and atmosphere which were -in that little Chinese church this morning prevailed in -our big churches at home, I think I could be religious."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that you are underestimating your -own interest in religion," replied her father. "And -perhaps you are mixing, just a little, reverent feelings -and actually living as a Christian. They are very -different things. But it is true that the spirit of worship -I have found in many of those native churches has -made the services of a considerable proportion of our -home churches appear mere barren, lifeless formalism -in comparison. The West may have again to learn -from the East the devotion and self-forgetfulness of -Christianity."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They had reached a point in the narrow, crooked -street which commanded a view of the harbour and -of the sea beyond. An exclamation from Sinclair -directed their attention seaward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A small merchant steamer was seen coming towards -the harbour. As she drew near a puff of smoke -streamed out from the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span>, and after an interval -the heavy boom of a cannon floated along the water. -The little merchantman promptly reversed. A boat -from the Frenchman ran alongside. After half an -hour's delay the boat pulled away again, and the -</span><em class="italics">Fokien</em><span> steamed slowly in, picking up a pilot as she -came. Her captain had satisfied the search party that -she had no contraband of war on board.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the afternoon Sinclair and Miss MacAllister met -at a service conducted in English in the little mission -college for the benefit of the foreign community. The -missionaries, the consul and his wife and daughter, -the officers and a detachment of men from the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>, -and the MacAllisters attended. Very few of the other -foreign residents took advantage of it. Most of them -had shed their church-going habits and their interest -in religion of any kind as soon as they came to the -Far East.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even Carteret's desire to stand well with the -MacAllisters could not overcome his rooted aversion to -attending a Christian service of any kind. Mrs. MacAllister -was much surprised at his absence in view of -the readiness with which he had expressed his -opinions on the sincerity of the Chinese converts and his -apparent interest in matters spiritual. She thought -that he must be weary from his duties during the -week and must feel the need of resting on the -Sabbath. Otherwise she was sure that he would have -been present, as he was so much interested in -religion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It might have been a revelation to her to have known -how the pious young man was at that moment -engaged. In company with Clark, the tea-buyer, and -two other kindred spirits, he was enjoying a game -of baccarat, while sundry bottles of various brands -decorated the table. Before that Sabbath day reached -the midnight hour, Clark and his two companions were -to subside in more or less restful positions on the -floor, there to lie in stertorous, swinish slumber till -well on in the morrow. But Carteret, who was -banker in the game, though his pale face was flushed -and his eyes were glassy, was able to reach his room -with comparatively steady step; was able to feel with -satisfaction that in his pockets rested securely the -spare cash of his three comrades, together with -various I.O.U.'s. He was a pious young man, much -interested in religion, and greatly distressed by the -insincerity of the native converts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile, most of those who had been at the service -had accepted the consul's invitation to ascend to -the top of the old Dutch fort, and from that lofty -point of vantage survey the scenery and watch any -movements on board the French warships.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is that away to the northwest, just north -of where the sun will set?" said Sinclair. "Is that -an evening cloud or is it a trail of smoke from a -steamer?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Commander Gardenier's glass was on it in an instant:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is the smoke of a steamer, and she is coming -directly this way. Looks as if she were from Foochow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They watched her while she came over the rim of -the horizon and drew rapidly nearer. Now the -Frenchmen could see her, and there was a movement -on board. But she evidently did not see them against -the background of the coast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Up goes her flag. She sees the Frenchman and -is letting them know who she is. She is British. -What do you make of her, Boville?" handing him -the glass. "You know most of the boats along the -Coast."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She's a long way off; but she looks like the -</span><em class="italics">Waverly</em><span>, a tramp. If it is, she is almost sure to -have contraband on board. By Jove! she's putting -about!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A long jet of smoke spirted out from the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span>. -The report went volleying off among the hills.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A blank!" exclaimed Gardenier. "I believe that -fool captain is going to run for it. He's stoking for -all he's worth and heading straight across the -channel. He must be crazy. He hasn't a chance in the -world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I fancy he has no chance on that smooth sea," -replied Boville. "But if there was a gale blowing -or better still, a typhoon, Archie Scott would drive -that old tub of his through at full speed where -Monsieur of the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span> would have to heave to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But there was no prospect of a storm that calm -evening and the warship was tearing through the -water. Another jet of flame and smoke streamed out -from her. A little plume of spray rose close to the -bow of the fleeing steamer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all up with Archie this time," laughed -Gardenier. "The Frenchman is too fast for him. That -shot brought him to his senses."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The daring little merchantman was boarded, and -just as the sun set she was seen steaming back -towards Foochow, while the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span> returned to her -place of guard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is quite exciting," said Miss MacAllister. -"I had little idea when we sailed from Amoy that -I was going to get so near to actual war."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I only hope that you may not get any nearer," -replied the consul, a little grimly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Mr. Beauchamp? Do you think that there -is much prospect of there being fighting right here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I really can't say. I don't know what is in the -minds of those Frenchmen. But I do not like the -way they are acting. It is pretty much the way they -manoeuvred before they bombarded Keelung."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wouldn't that be great? To be in the midst of a -bombardment!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's not so romantic as it is to read about it in -the papers," said the consul. "What do you think, -Sinclair? Hallo! What's this? Look here, doctor, -I'll have you arrested for alienating the affections of -my daughter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The remark caused all eyes to be turned towards -Sinclair. He was seated on one of the battlements. -On his knee was perched Constance Beauchamp. One -arm was thrown around his neck. With the other -hand she was caressing and arranging the heavy -waves of his fair hair. A flush appeared under the -tan of his face. Before he had time to reply Constance -broke in:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, daddy, I was just asking Dr. Sinclair why -he did not let his hair grow long and fall in big curls -on his shoulders. Then he would be so handsome. -He would be just like the picture of Harold -Fair-Hair, King of Norway, in the last story-book Aunt -Jo sent me from England. Dr. Sinclair, won't you -let your hair grow? Do! For me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair's face had crimsoned at the sudden -attention drawn to him and the frank admiration of the -little maid. But he was too gallant to refuse:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I couldn't resist that appeal. I'll promise. I'll -not get my hair cut again until you give me leave."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, goody! I knew you would do it for me. -You're lovely."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I admire your courage, doctor, more than your -good sense," laughed her father. "But it is always -the way. A big man can be twisted around the fingers -of the littlest maid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the one whose presence at this little scene had -made the blood tingle in Sinclair's face more sharply -than all the others thought to herself:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a child's instinctive attraction to a true man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That scene on the ramparts of the old Dutch fort -became one of the most cherished treasures in the -picture-gallery of her memory.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="impending-storms"><span class="bold large">XXIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">IMPENDING STORMS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Well, Mr. De Vaux, I see that the French -fleet has arrived. Has the commander -given any intimations of his intentions yet?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul, Mr. MacAllister! ... Is it -possible that you have not heard? ... These boys are -most exasperating. They'll be the death of me -yet.... 'Pon my honour, they will! ... I was -with the consul when Admiral Lespès' messenger -arrived, and the consul gave me the notice to read.... -Extraordinarily decent of the consul! ... I sent the -boy to you that very minute with a chit. Did he not -deliver it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll have him flogged, Mr. MacAllister.... 'Pon -my soul, I will.... It is the only way to deal with -them, Mr. MacAllister.... Now, where can he -be? ... Stopped somewhere along the road, playing -fantan and gambling away his month's -wages! ... By——! ... 'Pon my word, I mean it's most -exasperating.... Flogging is the only thing to cure -them when they start gambling. Isn't that your -experience, Carteret?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think that they all ought to be flogged," replied -Carteret languidly. "Never yet met a Chinese who -was good for anything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Opinions may differ on that point, Mr. Carteret," -said Mr. MacAllister sharply. "But, De Vaux, you -have not yet told me what notice the French admiral -sent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By——! ... Bless my soul, I mean how stupid -of me! I beg a thousand pardons, Mr. MacAllister.... -How did I forget that? ... Those boys -annoy me so. I really cannot think of what I am -doing. 'Pon my soul, I cannot! ... But Admiral -Lespès' notice! Would you believe it, he says that -he will bombard the town to-morrow morning at seven -o'clock.... Did ever you hear of such an atrocity?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How do you do, Mr. De Vaux? Did I hear you -say just now that Tamsui was to be bombarded? Or -was I mistaken?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss MacAllister, you are perfectly correct.... -I am sure that you are never mistaken.... 'Pon -my soul, I am! ... You are quite right. I am -sorry to say that Tamsui is to be bombarded in the -morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh I'm so glad! That is, I'm not glad that it is -to be bombarded. But I am glad that since it is going -to happen it should take place while we are here. I -should have been so disappointed to have missed it. -How do you do, Mr. Carteret?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Since the ladies have arrived, we had better -proceed to luncheon at once," said Mr. MacAllister. -"We do not know what developments there may be -this afternoon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As soon as they were seated at the table Mrs. MacAllister -turned to Carteret and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you really think, Mr. Carteret, that the lives -of the foreign residents will be endangered by the -bombardment?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There will be very little danger, I assure you, -Mrs. MacAllister. The French will direct their fire at -the earthworks and the camps on the downs. As soon -as they plump a few shells among them the whole -Chinese army will run like sheep, and the -bombardment will be over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am so glad to hear you say so, Mr. Carteret. -It was what I felt myself. But it is a relief to know -that one who has lived here and knows the natives -is of the same opinion. You think that the French -will take possession of the town early in the day?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Assuredly! Before to-morrow night there'll not -be a Chinese soldier nearer than Taipeh."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not believe that the French are going to -have it so easy as that," broke in De Vaux. "'Pon my -soul, I do not! ... The Chinese will give them more -than they reckon upon. Mark my words.... -Dr. MacKay thinks the same, and he knows more about -the Chinese than any of us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Mr. De Vaux," replied Mrs. MacAllister, -"you must remember that Dr. MacKay is married -to a Chinese woman. Really, I never got such a shock -as when I heard that. My opinion of missionaries -went down to zero. To take a Chinese woman as his -wife! How could he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux's face became very red. Carteret -maintained his attitude of cynical composure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose it was one of the sacrifices he felt -himself called upon to make in order to do the Lord's -work," he replied sneeringly. "These fanatics will -justify any insanity by claiming that the Lord -commanded them to do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister's colour deepened. Her eyes -flashed ominously. Her father's face was grave, to -the verge of sternness. Before either of them could -speak De Vaux interposed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. MacKay is not the only one who thinks that -the Chinese will put up a resistance," he said. "When -I was coming along, Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Black of the -</span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> were busy at the Mission Hospital, getting -it ready to take care of a lot of wounded. 'Pon -my honour as a gentleman, they're right. There'll -be fighting here to-morrow. By——! I mean, 'pon -my soul, there will!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister sniffed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not depend much on Dr. Sinclair's judgment," -she said, "since he went over to Keelung to -be a surgeon among the Chinese. I was very much -surprised at him. I cannot understand how he can -endure being among those dirty natives. It would -make me sick. And to handle their bodies and treat -their wounds! ... It's loathsome, perfectly -loathsome. I am astonished at Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair evidently has not your feelings about -it, Mrs. MacAllister," said Carteret in his most -contemptuous tone. "He is a Canadian, and on his -paternal farm was probably not accustomed to any -more savoury surroundings than he finds among the -Chinese. Doubtless, he feels very much at home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next moment he bitterly repented having -spoken. Miss MacAllister sat up very straight. Her -eyes gleamed at him like two dagger-points. Her face -flushed crimson, and then paled with anger:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Carteret, that remark of yours was entirely -uncalled for. Dr. Sinclair is a gentleman. You are -not a gentleman or you would not have made such -a statement."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Jessie!" cried her mother in horrified accents. -"What are you saying? You did not mean that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I did mean it, and I do mean it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. MacAllister, who usually with ready tact -softened such acerbities, maintained a grim silence. De -Vaux threw himself into the breach and made an -excited, stuttering attempt at mediation, compelling -Miss MacAllister to laugh against her will.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of this, and in spite of Carteret's abject -apology and retraction, a tense feeling pervaded the -atmosphere throughout the remainder of the luncheon, -and all were glad when it was over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To Miss MacAllister the remainder of the day was -no less trying. She realized that her sudden flame -of indignation had surprised her into betraying to -prying and unfriendly eyes feelings toward Dr. Sinclair -which she had not before dared to confess to -herself. She knew that her mother had been bitterly -chagrined by her open espousal of the big Canadian's -cause and by the merciless snub she had given that -ambitious woman's pet aristocrat. But she knew her -mother too well to imagine for one instant that this -scene, painful though it was, would make her desist -from the purpose to which she had set her mind. -She had not long to wait for the proof of the truth -of her conclusions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That afternoon the ladies were left pretty much -to their own devices. Some of the men were busy -preparing for the morrow. Others who had little -to do were on the old fort or other vantage points, -watching the warships which lay just outside the -harbour, and were speculating in an inexpert fashion on -the probabilities and prospects of the following day. -All of which speculations and prophecies the following -day proved to be false. But in the meantime the -idle ones grew eloquent over their own imaginings, -and, like most armchair experts, persuaded themselves -that they did know something about war and the -respective fighting qualities of French marines and -Chinese soldiers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Taking advantage of her husband's absence, Mrs. MacAllister -called her daughter into her room. After -some preliminary fencing, she plunged into the -subject she had in mind:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is no need of my concealing from you, -Jessie, how deeply I was grieved and disappointed by -your conduct towards Mr. Carteret to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very sorry to have hurt your feelings, -mother. But I am not sorry for telling Mr. Carteret -the truth and giving him what he deserved."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not understand what you mean by saying -that you gave Mr. Carteret what he deserved."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, Mr. Carteret took advantage of his -privileges as our guest and of the friendship we have -showed him to make an unwarranted and ungentlemanly -attack on another friend of ours, who has also -been our guest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tut, tut, Jessie! Mr. Carteret did not say -anything about Dr. Sinclair which should make any -sensible person angry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He made statements about Dr. Sinclair which -were not true; and he made them in the most -insulting way possible."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is merely a matter of opinion, my dear. -Dr. Sinclair himself acknowledged that he was born and -reared on a Canadian farm. And though I will -acknowledge that he has done remarkably well, considering -that, to a gentleman of Mr. Carteret's birth -and training he is just a peasant, nothing more than -a common peasant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, mother, to Mr. Carteret we are just -peasants, nothing more than common peasants. Your -father was a shepherd, and father's was a peasant -farmer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister coloured at the thrust, but tried -to evade it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie," she said, "what is the use of always -humiliating your father and mother by continually -reminding them that they were born poor? We have -risen above that now and associate with the best in -the land. People should be judged by what they are, -and not by what they were born to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is exactly what I think, mother. By that -standard Dr. Sinclair, who was born on a Canadian -farm, is a gentleman. And Mr. Carteret, who was -born in an English castle, is not a gentleman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For shame, Jessie, to talk like that! You have -no right to say that of Mr. Carteret. You humiliated -him at our own table to-day, and he bore it -like a gentleman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Like a coward, you mean!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And by getting indignant on behalf of Dr. Sinclair," -continued the mother, without paying any heed -to the daughter's interjection, "you practically said -to everybody that you were in love with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I said no such thing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Both Mr. De Vaux and Mr. Carteret understood -it that way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care a fig what they understood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And when Dr. Sinclair hears of it he will -understand it the same way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He will do no such thing. He is too much of a man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister spoke bravely. But the thrust -had gone home. If there was one thing she dreaded, -it was the thought that she should make herself cheap, -that she should appear to offer her love instead of -having her love sought and won. The thought stung. -But she would not acknowledge it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, has Dr. Sinclair spoken to you of marriage?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, I cannot understand what makes you -imagine such things. Dr. Sinclair has never spoken -of the subject of marriage, even in the remotest and -most impersonal way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Has he ever told you that he loves you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, I refuse to discuss this subject any -further. It is absurd."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may say that it is absurd if you wish, Jessie. -But, after the way you acted to-day, I thought -that there must surely be some ground for your -championship of him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again the implication stung. Had she been -making herself cheap? Was her secret which she had -refused to acknowledge to herself laid bare before -everybody? She winced at the thought. But she -said nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her mother pursued her advantage:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Mr. Carteret has followed the only course -open to a gentleman of birth and breeding. He has -honourably come to your father and mother and has -asked our permission to be considered a suitor for -your hand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was that permission given?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, what do you take us for? Do you think -that we have no care about your future? The heir -presumptive to the title and estates of Lewesthorpe -would be considered one of the catches of a London -season."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, tell me, did father accept Mr. Carteret -as a prospective lover and husband for me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, certainly.... That is—— You know -your father's way.... He did not put it in so many -words, but he gave what was equivalent to his -consent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is to say that father told Mr. Carteret I -could choose for myself. Now, mother, is that not -what father said?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, perhaps it was something like that. But, -at any rate, it was the same thing as giving his -consent. He made no objections to Mr. Carteret's trying -to win you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is just what I thought. Of course you gave -your hearty consent and approval."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, my daughter. What kind of a mother -would I be if a handsome and accomplished young -gentleman, a gentleman of birth and prospects, should -offer you his heart and hand,—what kind of a mother -would I be not to encourage his suit?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, mother, he can keep his heart and hand. -I will have none of them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, do not make rash statements, which you -may regret. I am not asking you to promise to marry -Mr. Carteret. I only asked you to give him a chance -to win your love."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, it is no use. I'll never love Mr. Carteret."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Jessie, think of his prospects. His father -is a feeble old man. His death is expected any day. -The present heir has only one lung."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care if he had only quarter of one lung. -It would make no difference to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Jessie, stop and think of it. Mr. Carteret will -then be Lord Lewesthorpe, and you would be the -Countess of Lewesthorpe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, there is no use in your talking like that. -I do not care if he were the Prince of Wales. I -would not pledge myself to try to love a man whom I -do not respect."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, I am bitterly disappointed in you. You -are all I have. If Allister were living it would be -different." Tears, real tears, of grief and mortification -sprang into the older woman's eyes and began -to roll down her cheeks. "If I had Allister, it would -be different. He would build up the family. But I -have only you, and you will not do anything I wish. -I am grievously disappointed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, you are not fair to me. I have tried -to do what you wanted. But you are asking of me -what I cannot do. I cannot give myself body and -soul to a man I despise, a man I can never love."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But think of the title, Jessie, and the estates, and -the old mansion built in the time of Queen Elizabeth. -And think of the place you would have in society. -You would learn to love him if you would only let -yourself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother is it possible that you think that I could -love a man for these things? I must love him for -himself, or not at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I suppose that you will tell that low-born, -penniless Canadian doctor that you love him," said -her mother bitterly. "Next thing you'll be wanting -to marry him and settle down here as a missionary -among those dirty Chinese."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The taunt stung again as it had stung before. The -quick blood flamed into her face and passionately she -flashed back:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have not the slightest intention of marrying -Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the defiant answer of maidenly pride, fired -by the insinuation that she had allowed her feelings -to cause her to transgress the limits of maidenly -reserve. In her sudden anger she was fighting against -the dictates of her own heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But her mother, in the determination to satisfy her -pitiful ambition, did not hesitate to seize the unfair -advantage and wrest her daughter's words, giving -them a meaning which had not been intended:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very glad to hear you say, Jessie, that you -will not marry Dr. Sinclair. Your attitude towards -him the last few days gave to me as well as to others, -and I am quite sure to Dr. Sinclair himself, the -impression that you were in love with him. I am glad -to have it from your own lips that it was nothing more -than a passing fancy, a harmless flirtation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Miss MacAllister waited to hear no more. She -could not contradict her mother's artful twisting of -her words without confessing her love. She could -not do that, for Dr. Sinclair had not confessed his, -nor had he asked for hers. She was trapped. Her -mother had trapped her and she could find no escape.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She fled from her mother's room, ran to her own, -and in a passion of tears of anger and shame threw -herself on a couch. Was what her mother had said -true? Had she exposed her heart to the vulgar gaze? -Did they all think that she was offering her love -to Sinclair without its being sought? She would teach -them. They would not say that again.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-ball-begins"><span class="bold large">XXIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE BALL BEGINS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Boom! Boom!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two jets of smoke spirted out from the new -earth battery on the spur of the hill running -down to the pilot village by the beach. The light -sea-breeze met them, lifted them in balloon-shaped clouds, -and carried them slowly backwards over the battery -and against the hills. The earth trembled with the -heavy explosions of the Krupps. One shell splashed -a little to the left of the </span><em class="italics">Triomphante</em><span>, and a trifle -short. The other plume of spray rose directly -beyond the warship and so close that it showed how near -the Chinese gunner had come to his target.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove! the Chinese have opened the ball. They -did not wait for the Frenchman to start. It's only -twenty to seven."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul clicked his watch shut as he spoke, and -turned his binoculars on the French fleet. Sinclair -and Sergeant Gorman, who stood with him on the top -of the old fort, had their glasses turned in the same -direction. They had not long to wait. On board the -</span><em class="italics">Triomphante</em><span> men could be seen running to their -stations. In less than two minutes a puff of smoke -streaming out from her told that the duel was on. -Before the boom of the big naval gun had travelled -across the intervening two miles or more of space -other jets of smoke poured out from the </span><em class="italics">Triomphante</em><span>, -the </span><em class="italics">Galissonnière</em><span>, and the </span><em class="italics">Duguay Trouin</em><span> as they lay -strung across the mouth of the harbour. To the -north and east of the first of these a little cloud, rising -and floating on the breeze, told where the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span> lay -close in shore, hidden from sight by the hills.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The second of October had come, and with it the -bombardment. In spite of its imminence, most of -the foreign residents were calmly enjoying their -morning nap when the tempest broke upon them. Of -course there were exceptions. The officers and men -of the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> were at their places, ready for any -duty. Dr. MacKay's working day had begun hours -before. The commissioner of customs had been down -to the offices to take a last inventory before the storm -of iron and fire in which they were likely to be -destroyed should begin. He had been joined by -Mr. MacAllister and his daughter, who were looking for a -point of vantage from which to see the opening of -the battle. These and the group at the consulate were -the only ones astir. The rest were peacefully -slumbering, prolonging the morning doze to the last -moment, though they knew that the bombardment -was announced to commence at seven o'clock sharp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their drowse was rudely broken in upon. Within -fifteen minutes from when the first gun was fired -the four ships and the Chinese batteries were putting -up a tremendous concert. The earth rocked with the -bellowings of the great guns and the bursting of shells. -The </span><em class="italics">Triomphante</em><span> and the </span><em class="italics">Galissonnière</em><span> ever and anon -alternated a broadside with the independent firing of -single guns. Even Carteret was awakened when the -windows of his room were shattered and a great slab -of plaster fell from the ceiling, bringing his mosquito -curtain down on top of him in a tangled ruin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You will be going down to the hospital shortly, -doctor?" said the consul.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, if the French keep it up like this, I guess we'll -have something to do there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you drop into Thomson's and tell them that -my wife and Constance will call for them in a -few minutes and accompany them to the rendezvous?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll tell them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Dr. MacKay and his family—do you think -that there is any use of our trying again to get him -to go to some safer place?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, there is no use. He has his students there, -and a lot of his preachers and converts with their -wives and families. To send them to any of the -interior towns would mean Sin-tiam over again. They -are in less danger here from the French shells than -they would be from the heathen mobs. He will not -leave them. If they are going to be in danger, he -will be in danger with them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I fancied that it would be that way with him. -Well, I think all the more of him for it. Now I -must go and get my family down to the rendezvous -and see that the rest of the British residents are -under the best cover possible. Hallo! Who's that on -the beach road below the custom house?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The commissioner, Mr. MacAllister, and Miss -MacAllister," said Sinclair, who had his glasses on -them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What the deuce are they doing there?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Looking for a good place from which to see the -fun," laughed Sinclair, though his face showed more -anxiety than mirth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Boville ought to have more sense," snapped the -consul. "Last evening he was in a great fluster about -seeing that everybody was safe at the rendezvous -before the ball began. But I suppose that Miss -MacAllister has coaxed him, and he couldn't resist."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite likely," replied the doctor, while an odd -little smile played around his eyes and the corners -of his mouth. "They are turning back now. -Mr. MacAllister has taken charge. He has the young lady -by the arm and they are heading for home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove! she needs some one whom she can't -twist round her fingers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two men laughed; Sinclair a little doubtfully, -as if he was not too sure that such a thing was -possible; the consul with the air of conscious superiority -which needs not fear. They little knew what the -day had in store for them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must be off. It's getting pretty hot over -there, and it may swing around this way any minute. -Sergeant, would you stay here a little while and -watch Monsieur </span><em class="italics">Lespès</em><span>? If he seems inclined to pay -his compliments to the town as well as to the -batteries, run up the red signal. But don't stay here -after this is in the line of fire. I don't want you -to get your head knocked off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir! I shall thry not to come down -to you wid me head in me hand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair and the consul ran down the dark -stairway within the old fort and hurried away, the -latter to his house close by, the former to MacKay's -to get his instruments and then to Thomson's to give -them the consul's message. Gorman stood alone on -his watch-tower, looking out upon the scene.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The solid old memorial of Dutch and Chinese -workmanship stood on the most prominent angle of the -hill which thrust itself forward towards the sea. For -two and a half centuries it had braved siege and storm -and the wasting forces of tropical typhoons, of rain -and sun and clinging, insidious tropical vegetation. -In a line with it, along the brow of the hill facing -the harbour, were the consul's house, Dr. MacKay's -bungalow and that of his colleague, and the residences -of the customs officers. Just behind MacKay's house -were the two mission schools. In a parallel line -below the hill and mostly close to the shore were the -customs house, then after a considerable interval -MacAllister, Munro Co.'s, Reid & Co.'s, Dr. Bergmann's -house, and the Mission Hospital, right in the native -town. Away at the far end of the town, a mile -beyond the other foreign residences on a little eminence -facing the river, were the house and godowns of Scott -& Co., known as Peeatow. Over each foreign building -flew the British flag, save where Dr. Bergmann -had hoisted the flag of his fatherland. Out in -mid-stream, right in front of MacAllister, Munro Co.'s, -the trim, workmanlike </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> floated on the rising -tide.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The residence and godowns of Mr. MacAllister's -firm had been chosen as the rendezvous. They were -in a sheltered position in what was almost a little -cove between the hill and the river. There -Commander Gardenier had sent a force of ten -bluejackets under a petty officer. As Gorman moved his -glass from point to point to fix all in his memory a -boat pulled away from the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> carrying another -guard of eight men to Peeatow, where a number of -foreigners had elected to remain, because of its -distance from the ships of war.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sergeant turned again to the artillery duel. -All over the open downs to the north shells were -furrowing the hard, dry soil, ricochetting from knoll to -knoll, and exploding harmlessly on the grass. The -points where the fewest shells fell were the hollows -in which the Chinese camps were sheltered. In spite -of the hurtling showers of projectiles which at -times filled the air, these seemed to be practically -immune.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Howly Moses!" said Gorman to himself, "if -that's the kind of shootin' the Frinchies do, the only -safe spot in tin square miles is the man they're aimin' -at."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then a great, clumsy blue-grey water buffalo, the -draught beast of the island, disturbed in its -accustomed pasture grounds by thundering guns and -cracking shells, went lumbering across the common a short -distance away. Its ugly snout was thrown forward, -its great curved horns laid back against its shoulders. -A shell plumped into the ground under its belly and, -exploding instantly, blew the buffalo into ten -thousand fragments.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Furst casuality!" exclaimed Gorman. "Private -Wather Buffalo of the Furst Battalion, Tamsui Blues, -General Soon's heavy brigade. Turned into mince -meat. Chewed and partly digested. Dead and mostly -missin'."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next instant it was:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"May the divil fly away wid that gunner! Fwhat -the blazes does he mane by shootin' there? Does the -omadhaun think that he has killed all the haythen -Chinese in the island, that now he's thryin' to kill the -Christian white people?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A shell from the </span><em class="italics">Galissonnière</em><span> had passed in a great -arc over his head. Its sound was that of a -long-drawn whine mingled with the rush of a sudden -gust of wind. It exploded between the Girls' School -and Dr. MacKay's house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If it's the Chinese he's tryin' to hit, I wud call -that a mortial bad shot. I'll wait to see if that wan -was only an accident, or if they're goin' to presint us -wid anny more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did not wait long. Another rush and whine -and a shell passed a little to his left, almost on a level -with the spot where he stood and, exploding on the -common just back of Thomson's bungalow, threw a -cloud of earth high in the air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was enough. The red flag fluttered up to the -top of the tall signal staff, from which it did not -come down for more than twelve hours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A moment later the consul came out of his house, -accompanied by his wife and little daughter and a -couple of native servants, to make their perilous way -to the rendezvous. He glanced up at the danger -signal:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are they at it already, sergeant?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are, sir; the worse luck to thim. Make the -best time you can, sir, an' march in open order."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, sergeant. But don't you stay up -there to be hit. You can't be of any more service -now. Get to cover somewhere. You might be needed -at the hospital."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul's little group strung out along the -narrow road following the brow of the hill past the two -mission houses. As they came to Dr. MacKay's they -saw the missionary pacing to and fro on his verandah. -The consul called to him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not very safe there, Dr. MacKay. I think you</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>had better do as the rest are doing, bring your family -down into the shelter below the hill."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The missionary stopped his rapid, nervous pacing -backward and forward, lifted his hat in salute, and -replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Mr. Beauchamp. I have all the protection -I need: 'Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror -by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they spoke a projectile drove deep into the -ground of the garden between them, but did not -explode. Undisturbed, the missionary resumed his -walking up and down, while the consul hurried after his -family. At their gate Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, -accompanied by Dr. Sinclair, joined them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Run for it! Run!" Beauchamp shouted as the -now familiar rush and moan of a shell was heard. -The nimblest of them had hardly quickened their -pace when it hit the very edge of the almost perpendicular -cliff a few yards behind them, ricochetted at -an angle to its original course, and plunged into the -harbour. Without more ceremony they did run, -stringing out until separated by wide intervals, turned -sharply down the face of the hill by a narrow path -and stone steps which led under some spreading -banians, and in a few minutes were at the door of -the rendezvous. The shells screamed through the air -overhead, skipped along on the hard earth of the -hills, or splashed into the river below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wasn't that fun, daddy? You should have been -able just to see you and mother run. It was better -than a show."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul's little daughter was dancing and -clapping her hands with delight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not much fun that I could see, Constance," -replied her father grimly. "I prefer some other kind -of a show."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I like this best, father. And it would have -been ever so much more fun if Mr. De Vaux had been -with us. Wouldn't it have been great to see him run, -hear him puff, and say, 'Bless my soul'?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That will do, Constance. It wouldn't have been -very great if one of us had got blown up by a shell."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, daddy, we had Dr. Sinclair with us. He -would have fixed us up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sublime faith! By Jove! doctor, you have an -admirer here who will not go back on you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair laughed, slipped his arm around the little -maid as she pressed to his side, ran his fingers through -the heavy, dark-brown curls, smiled into those frank -child eyes which looked so straight into his, and passed -on to the hospital to join Drs. Black and Bergmann.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile, Sergeant Gorman, coming from the -consulate towards the town, had stopped to ask -Dr. MacKay if there was any service he could render.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"From the way the Frenchmen are shootin', I do -not expect that we'll have manny cases in the hospital, -barrin' it may be some of ourselves, if there's anny of -us left to patch the rest together. So I moight as well -be doin' an odd job for you, if there's annything that -would be of service to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing that I know of just now, sergeant! -Nothing! We have made all the preparations we -could think of. We are in the hands of God. But -your offer is itself a service. I thank you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A shell drove into the ground in a plantation of -young banian trees just to the west of the house. Its -explosion threw up a miniature volcanic eruption of -gravel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad, Dr. MacKay, I have been safer in manny -a battlefield than we are at this very minute."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my -deliverer; my God, my strong rock, in Him will I -trust.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thin, sir, you have better fortifications around -you than a great manny of us have."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A petty officer from the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> came up the garden -walk, saluted, and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you Dr. MacKay, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Commander Gardenier sent me to present his -compliments, and to invite you to bring your family and -your valuables and come on board the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>. He -says that you are in great danger here and that no -place on shore is safe. A boat is waiting at the jetty, -sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His words were interrupted by the weird moan of -a shell, followed by an ear-splitting crack. The air -was full of smoke and dust and flying fragments of -metal and stone. It had struck a big boulder directly -in front of the house, on the edge of the narrow road -at the foot of the garden.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they recovered from the shock, MacKay was -speaking as quietly as if nothing had happened:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give Commander Gardenier my thanks. Tell him -that I am deeply indebted to him for his thoughtfulness. -Say to him that I have no valuables save these." He -swept his arm around the semi-circle of native -converts, preachers, students, and simple believers. -"He could not accommodate all these. It is not his -duty. They are subjects of China. But these are my -valuables, my children in the Lord. Since I cannot -take them with me, I shall stay with them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall tell him, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sailor saluted and withdrew.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Sergeant Gorman told Sinclair of it at the -hospital he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was born a Catholic, an' I'll die a Catholic. But -whin I see that man up there on the hill an' thin think -of that college in Skibbereen, an' the priests that have -me little farm, that isn't mine neither, at -Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky, -I'll tell ye it isn't the memory of -the priests that kapes me a Catholic. It is because I -am an Irishman an' I hate the name of a turncoat."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-ball-proceeds"><span class="bold large">XXV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE BALL PROCEEDS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"This is a sudden and unceremonious inroad -of uninvited guests, Mr. MacAllister," said -the consul as he entered. "Awfully sorry -to crowd you so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no necessity for apologies, Mr. Beauchamp. -We are only too glad to share with all any -shelter or safety our situation may afford. Will you -not stay and be as comfortable as the circumstances -will allow?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks, very much. I cannot stay just now. I -see that you have every one from the hill except -MacKay and his family and those who are at the hospital. -But there are others who have taken refuge at Scott -& Co.'s bungalow. I want to look in at the hospital, -and then go on to Peeatow. I shall leave this party -in your care and that of Boville. If it gets too hot -here, signal Gardenier, and he will take you all on -board. I shall be back in an hour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was off, following the narrow, crooked, rough-paved -Chinese street, his quick, nervous step carrying -him rapidly on his tour of inspection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. MacAllister went up to the living-rooms where -the ladies were with De Vaux, Thomson the missionary, -Clark the tea-buyer, Boville, Carteret, and -practically the whole customs staff. The house never -ceased shaking with the continual discharge of the -cannon. Ever and anon the sharp splitting crash of a -bursting shell, some nearer, some farther away, gave -the nervous a start. Less frequently could be heard, -even within the house, the mingled whine and whirr -of a passing projectile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not one of the ladies showed a sign of fear. -Mrs. Beauchamp was quiet and self-controlled. Perhaps -there was a trace of anxiety as her eye followed the -light, fawn-like movements of Constance, or when -she thought of her husband out trying to assure -himself of the safety of others. But there was no fear. -Mrs. MacAllister was at her best. Whatever her -faults might be, timidity was not one of them. She -belonged to a war-like people. Her colour was high -Her dark eyes shone with a strange fire. She looked -a score of years younger than she was. Her husband -was struck by the change in her. He found an -opportunity to say:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You look beautiful to-day, Flora."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am thinking of you, Hector. If you have -to go out into danger, I want to go with you. -Now I know why Allister would be a soldier. -And I know what Jessie would mean when she -says she wishes she wass a man. I nefer knew -before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was deeply moved. The instinct of a fighting -race had suddenly come to life with the sound of -battle and the accent of her childhood's speech was back -upon her tongue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked around for her daughter. Miss MacAllister -was standing near a window talking to Boville. -She was drawn up to her full height, dwarfing -the rotund commissioner of customs. Her cheeks -were burning. Her eyes had an almost unnatural -light. Her bosom was heaving with the short, quick -breath of one in struggle. Perhaps for the first time -in her life Mrs. MacAllister understood her daughter's -feelings. But she did not understand how much -their interview of the day before had added to their -intensity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Boville, I really cannot stay in here and not -be able to see what is going on. I simply cannot. Let -us go out on the verandah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, Miss MacAllister. I do not know that -it is any more dangerous there. I shall be glad to -go with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So shall I!" exclaimed Mrs. Thomson, whose -natural vivacity had likewise been quickened by the -excitement of the occasion. "I must go out. If there's -any danger, let's take it in the open, and not shut up -here like rats in a hole."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her husband made a slow and feeble protest. But, -with a half-defiant "You may hide in here if you want -to," she ran out where she could get a view. -Meanwhile, Constance Beauchamp danced in and out, -bringing reports of what was to be seen to her mother, -who remained sedately inside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A heavy projectile splashed in the river midway -between the company's jetty and the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>. Another -dropped on a cargo boat lying at the jetty, smashing -through its bottom. The boat immediately filled and -sank. A third drove into the soft mud of the shore -close by and exploded, bespattering the whole vicinity -with slime. There was a moan and rush nearer still, -a shrill human shriek, a splitting crash, and a small -native house spouted up a cloud of dust and splinters -and fragments of sun-dried brick. Then it collapsed -in a little heap of debris. In that heap were the bodies -of an old Chinese peasant and his wife, and a little -child. The great guns of the French Republic's -battleships had claimed some notable victims.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the first sound of the shell Miss MacAllister and -Mrs. Thomson were unceremoniously rushed into the -house by Boville and De Vaux. The latter showed a -presence of mind and courage in time of danger of -which his excitability on ordinary occasions had given -little promise. The shower of fragments rattled -harmlessly on the roof and walls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a few minutes they appeared to be safe. But -they did not have a long respite. There was a terrific -crash and rending. The house shook as if in the grip -of an earthquake. A great, gaping hole appeared in -the back corner of the room on a level with the floor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Out on the verandah! Quick!" yelled Boville.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't stop there! Bless my soul! To the far -end!" echoed De Vaux.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With one exception all ran to the end of the -verandah farthest from where they expected the -explosion to take place. For a moment or two there was -dead silence as hearts stood still in expectancy of the -death-dealing shock. Then a quick step was heard -running up the stairs and into the room they had left. -The next instant Sinclair stepped out on the verandah.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope no one was hurt," he said. "There is no -immediate danger now. It's a dead one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A heavy shell from the </span><em class="italics">Triomphante</em><span> had ricochetted -from the hill behind, struck the back of the house just -above the level of the floor of the room in which the -refugees were, passed through the wall and floor, and -landed amid the boxes of tea piled in the lower story. -Dr. Sinclair was just entering the storeroom on the -ground floor at that moment, and soon satisfied -himself that it could do no more harm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His assurance was received with a chorus of grateful -exclamations. In the midst of them Mrs. MacAllister -turned to Carteret and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very glad to see, Mr. Carteret, that you are -perfectly safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She had not failed to notice that he had been the -first to reach a place of safety, and had ensconced -himself in the corner farthest from the expected danger. -She had got a glimpse of the man's character. She -could forgive drunkenness and gambling, and some -other things which need not be mentioned. These -were the privileges of the nobility. But cowardice! -She despised that. Her voice was icily cold when she -said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very glad to see, Mr. Carteret, that you are -perfectly safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret's pale face, paler than usual, flushed. But -with ready effrontery he carried himself through:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Mrs. MacAllister; I am very glad to -see that every one is perfectly safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment Sinclair's voice was heard saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the matter in here? Was any one hurt?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stepped into the room again, followed by all the -rest. From a dark corner came broken ejaculations, -mingled with the names of the deity:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, God! Oh, God! ... Lord! ... Lord! ... Oh, -God, have mercy on my soul!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Peering through the semi-darkness after the glare -of the bright sunshine outside, they discovered Clark -on his hands and knees under a heavy teak table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hallo, Clark!" exclaimed Sinclair. "What are -you doing there? Are you hurt?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, God! ... No! ... We'll all be killed.... -Lord! ... Lord! ... The shell! ... Oh, God! -Have mercy on my soul!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord bless my soul!" exclaimed De Vaux in his -high-pitched voice. "Is the man a coward?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord have mercy on my soul!" prayed Clark, -under the table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My God! ... This is disgraceful," stuttered De -Vaux. "I never heard of the like.... Bless my -soul!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, God! ... Have mercy on my soul!" echoed Clark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sounds like a Free Methodist prayer-meeting!" -remarked Sinclair, with a laugh, in which the rest -joined.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother, doesn't Mr. Clark get under the table -and whine just like Carlo when father whipped -him for keeping company with those nasty Chinese -dogs?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hush, Constance! Don't you say another word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair reached under the table and began to pull -Clark out:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come along, Clark! The Lord's going to give -you another chance with that soul of yours. Perhaps -you will have it in better shape by the time you get -the next call."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When a few minutes later a boat from the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span> -arrived to take all to the gunboat for greater safety, -Clark found his legs with amazing expedition. -Indeed, he would have been the first person in the boat -if it had not been that Lieutenant Lanyon, who was -in command, caught him by the collar and jerked him -back on the jetty with the warning:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ladies first, sir, or by my faith you don't go at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile on the exposed hill-top MacKay, his -wife and children, and his Chinese converts, who had -no souls, remained calm and unmoved amidst the -ceaseless whirr and whine of the flying projectiles -and the crash of bursting shells.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-game-of-ball"><span class="bold large">XXVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A GAME OF BALL</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>During the afternoon the French fire -slackened. By four o'clock it had died away to -scattering shots. The party of refugees had -spent most of the forenoon on board the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>, had -lunched at Peeatow, and now were back at their -morning rendezvous. Some of the men had remained at -Peeatow. Clark, the hero of the teak table incident, -was not one of them. Evidently believing that a special -divinity had been assigned to watch over the ladies, -he kept very close to them, so that he might share in -that divinity's protection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair had spent the day at the hospital, though -there was not much to do there. The all-day -bombardment had wounded less than a score of -Chinamen. But when he visited the rendezvous in the -morning he noticed that Miss MacAllister seemed to avoid -him. He was not the man to push himself in where -he was not wanted, and so stayed away. But they -met in the late afternoon. It was she who contrived it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is Miss MacAllister?" said Mrs. Beauchamp -to that young lady's mother. "I have not -seen her for some time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I really do not know. I had not missed her. But -now that you mention it, I have not seen her since we -came back. She may be in her room."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Constance, would you go to Miss MacAllister's -room and see if she is there?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no, mother, she is not in her room! I know. -I heard her dare Mr. Carteret to have a game of -tennis. She said that she would get Dr. Sinclair, too. -She has gone away up to our place to play tennis."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To play tennis!" both ladies exclaimed in horror.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Constance. "Mr. Carteret did not -want to go one bit. He was scared. I know. He tried -to make all sorts of excuses. It was because he was -so scared. I know. He looked just as frightened as -he could look. But Miss MacAllister made him go. -Isn't she dandy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Constance, quick, run and ask your father to come -here!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the consul heard what his wife had to tell, -he uttered one brief, emphatic word, not loud but deep, -grabbed his hat, and ran down the stairs. Breathlessly -climbing the steep hill behind, he had just turned the -corner of the customs compound when he heard the -moan of a shell coming from the direction of the -</span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span>, which had moved from her former position -and was lying well within the mouth of the river. It -exploded in the air between the two mission bungalows. -A fragment cut its way clean through the -cottage roof of Thomson's bungalow, going in at one -side and coming out at the other, leaving a great -gaping hole in the tiles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove!" said the consul to himself, "if that -had been a percussion, or if the Frenchman had given -it one second longer, Thomson would have been minus -a house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He caught a glimpse of swiftly-moving white -figures on his lawn and quickened his pace. He called -a cheery greeting to MacKay as he passed and ran -down into the little hollow between the missionary's -house and his own. Just then he heard Sinclair's -strong voice calling:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fifteen—love! ... Thirty—love! ... Forty—love! ... Game!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What an expert! Just look at the cool, confident -way he serves those balls. And we might as well try -to stop a French shell with our rackets as return his -service. Mr. Carteret, it's your service. Now play up -or he'll win this set."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment the consul ran through the gate in -the hedge into the midst of the players:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What the deuce is the meaning of this? Miss -MacAllister? Dr. Sinclair?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Mr. Beauchamp, I'm so glad you have come! -We needed another player to complete a doubles. -Dr. Sinclair has been playing singles against -Mr. Carteret and me. Won't you join in? There's a -gentleman's racket on the settee right before you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss MacAllister, this is no time for fooling. I -want to know what is the meaning of this. Carteret, -you are a resident of the East and know what it means -to disobey the orders of a consul. Why are you here -and not at the rendezvous?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ask the young lady," replied Carteret, with a -shrug of his shoulders and a curl of his lip.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks, Adam! Since the blame is to be thrown -back on Eve, she'll reply. I got tired of being stewed -up in the house with men who crawled under the -table whenever there was a hint of danger. So I came -up here. Besides, I do not believe that it is nearly -so dangerous here as there. Not a shell has come near -us since we came, and I have not seen where one has -fallen about here all day. And, if they did start to -shoot at us, Dr. Sinclair keeps us jumping about so -lively after his balls that the Frenchmen could never -hit us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It took all Beauchamp's self-control to maintain the -gravity of his countenance. But he managed it -somehow, and answered as sternly as he could:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This foolishness must stop. I'm responsible for -your lives and I'm not going to have you stuck up -here for targets."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Mr. Beauchamp," was the nonchalant reply, -"we have won the first set from Dr. Sinclair. He -has very nearly won the second from us. It would -be cowardly of us to run away now without giving -him a chance to finish it. I'm sure Mr. Carteret would -never consent to that. Mr. Carteret, it's your -service. We must get moving or we all may be -killed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think, Mr. Beauchamp," said Sinclair, "that -what Miss MacAllister says is about right. There -really appears to be less danger here than down in -the town. Whether or not the French gunners have -respected the consulate, their shells have done little -damage just here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the consul was not to be put off so easily:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss MacAllister, Mr. Carteret, Dr. Sinclair, I -command you to stop this game and to go down to -the rendezvous."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Beauchamp, may I ask you one question?" Her -voice was almost infantile in its innocence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, Miss MacAllister. If it be a short one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You remember the Canadian Indian song Dr. Sinclair -sang at the consulate the evening after we -arrived? Was that really Indian?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How do you think I know? I never lived among -the Indians. It was all Greek to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's exactly what I thought. It was Greek to -me. Mr. Carteret, it's your service. Please play -ball."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul gave a long, low whistle, shrugged his -shoulders, and said to himself:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So that's where the wind lies. I fancy I might -as well let them fight it out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair's face crimsoned at her words; then paled -a little. His jaw set hard and he returned Carteret's -service with such a volley that neither of his -opponents, though ordinarily better players than he, had -any chance. In a few minutes he announced abruptly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Game! Set!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Set—all! We must play the rubber. I suppose -you are willing to have a deciding set, Dr. Sinclair?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, Miss MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was something in his face and voice she had -never seen or heard there before. She looked at him -curiously—a little anxiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They exchanged courts, Sinclair taking the north -or exposed end of the lawn, while his opponents had -the south end and were sheltered behind the fort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul looked at them for a moment, then seized -a racket and joined Sinclair:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you young people are bound to be fools, I suppose -I might as well jump into it and be a fool, too. -It may finish the set so much the quicker."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not a long one. Miss MacAllister played -well. But her partner, Carteret, usually an expert at -tennis, was nervous and playing wretchedly. On the -other hand, Sinclair, who ordinarily served well but -was weak on the return, completely excelled himself. -He drove his balls over the net with a savage strength -which made his opponents' efforts to return them -entirely hopeless. And on the return, where he was as -a rule only moderately skilful, he let nothing pass him. -Beauchamp played his usual swift, tricky, cheerful -game.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The last game of the set had come. It was Sinclair's -service.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Play ball! ... Fifteen—love!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He crossed to his left-hand court and lifted his -racket. There was a long whine, a rush of wind, -and a terrific crash. A slanting black groove was -scored across the green almost at Sinclair's feet, and -the earth thrown high in the air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Down! Down! Everybody down!" yelled the consul.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Play ball!" shouted Sinclair, and drove a vicious -service at Carteret. "Thirty—love!" he continued, -and strode back to his right-hand court to serve -again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But there was no use continuing the game. Carteret, -who had flung himself on the ground, arose with -a hanging jaw and ghastly face, and a nerve too -shaken to play any more that day. Miss MacAllister -had thrown herself on a settee at the end of the lawn, -her face covered with her hands to shut out the sight. -The consul, though he had shouted to the others to -down, had remained standing himself. He was -staring fixedly at Sinclair:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Doctor, you beat the devil."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing to get excited about, Beauchamp! Percussion -fuse! If it did not explode when it hit the -corner of the fort, it wasn't likely to when it went into -the soft soil."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, that's all right. But you hadn't time to work -that out before you served again. Besides, it passed -within a yard of where you were standing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what if it did? A miss is as good as a mile. -There was no use going up in the air about it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, Sinclair. What the devil ever -induced you to play this fool game, anyway?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The consul looked at him in silence for a minute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, perhaps you had," he said slowly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll leave you to see those people back to the -rendezvous, Beauchamp. Carteret may need a stretcher. -I see that Miss MacAllister is quite able to walk. I'm -going to MacKay's."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He turned to go. As he did so he heard Miss MacAllister -pronounce his name. He thought that she was -only saying a conventional farewell. He lifted his hat -and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-afternoon, Miss MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without looking in her direction he was gone.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-charge-of-the-tamsui-blues"><span class="bold large">XXVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE CHARGE OF THE TAMSUI BLUES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>During the week which lay between the first -and second bombardments, Dr. Sinclair and -Miss MacAllister saw very little of each other. -The doctor was busy. But that was not the main -reason why he did not meet Miss MacAllister. The -previous week, no matter how busy he was, he could -always find time to meet her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fact was that circumstances had changed. He -did not want to see her. Between the halcyon days -of the previous week and the gloom of this one some -painful episodes had occurred. The stormy interview -between mother and daughter had taken place. In -her indignation the young lady had determined to -make it plain to everybody in general, and to Dr. Sinclair -in particular, that she was not enamoured of -him and was not offering her love where it had not -been sought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In some respects she succeeded beyond her expectations. -Sinclair was convinced. More than that! He -was convinced that all along she had been only -playing him. That reference to the song he had sung -at the dinner made assurance doubly sure. All through -those days when she had been so fascinatingly kind -she had only been leading him on so that her revenge -might be the sweeter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If Sinclair had been a melodramatic individual, he -would probably have torn out whole handfuls of his -fair hair, thrown them two or three feet above his -head in the direction of the high heavens, and raved -some foolish and incoherent ravings, telling his wrongs -to the winds and the wild waves, if they cared to -listen. If he had been a profane person, he would -have sworn picturesquely and would have asked -Sergeant Gorman or some one else equally vigorous to -kick him down the steep hill, on which the consulate -was built, and up again for being a fool.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he was neither melodramatic nor profane, he -did neither of those things. He merely made up his -mind in a cool, determined way that he would avoid -Miss MacAllister as much as the narrow limits of their -little community would allow, and when he was forced -to meet her he would not grow enthusiastic over her, -to say the least. When he met Gorman he did not -ask to be kicked, but said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, sergeant, there are going to be some -lively times round here, or I'm no prophet. The -French are not going to be satisfied with bombarding. -And if they land a force and it comes to rifle-fire and -perhaps the bayonet, there'll be some Chinese hurt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right you are, docther. The shells don't take -manny lives, barrin' thim that the noise scares to -death. But the rifle bullets, they're the little divils -that do the wurrk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, supposin' that you get leave again and we -offer our services to General Soon to organize an -ambulance brigade."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm wid you, docther, from the drop of the hat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So it came about that all that week Sinclair and -Gorman were out on the wide commons in the vicinity -of the Chinese camps, with squads of Chinese detailed -for that service, to use General Leatherbottom's -expression, "lickin' them into shape." Gorman gave -them drill. Sinclair taught them how to splint and -bandage, to put on a tourniquet and check the flow -of blood, to make improvised stretchers and carry -patients without irritating their wounds past recovery.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Soon the fair-haired "Life-healer" was nearly as -well known and as popular among General Soon's -yellow-skinned, slant-eyed hordes as he had become -in Liu Ming-chuan's army before Keelung. But none -of these Chinese soldiers knew how much of the -training they received they owed to the fact that the -"Red-haired Life-healer" had been badly used by the -"barbarian girl" at a game of "phah-kiû," or strike ball.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day Sinclair and Gorman were out as usual -drilling their corps and training them in the principles -of first aid. An exclamation of "Tai-eng-kok -lang" (British people) from some of their men caused -them to look up. Passing them some distance away -were Miss MacAllister and Carteret. The latter was -carrying an easel, for among his accomplishments he -included considerable skill in sketching and painting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were making their way towards a little -eminence which commanded a magnificent view in all -directions. Carteret had asked her to take a walk, that -he might point out the beautiful scenery. She had -accepted the invitation in the hope of meeting Sinclair, -whom she had not seen since he had so abruptly left -the tennis lawn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fwhat the divil is the spalpeen takin' the lady -there for, wid thousands of Chinese soldiers rampagin' -around for some diviltry to do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair took one look, then lowered his head, and -went doggedly on with his work, giving the Chinese -ambulance corps a demonstration of how to splint a -broken thigh. Gorman looked at him wonderingly for -an instant; then without a word joined him, pulling -the shortened leg out into position and explaining -each movement in the vernacular.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile, the prime danger to which Miss -MacAllister and Carteret were exposed was not from the -Chinese soldiers. A herd of water-buffaloes were -feeding on the short grass of the downs. Docile as -these huge beasts are with the little native herd boys, -they are often exceedingly vicious towards strangers, -especially those dressed in a style to which they are -unaccustomed. Now they were irritated by the -bombardment and frequent ill-usage by the soldiers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the sight of the man and woman in foreign dress -they began to show signs of excitement. Crowding in -a dense mass of blue-grey, hairless bodies, they moved -in arcs of a circle, of which the centre was the object -of their intended attack. Their ugly snouts were -thrust forward on a level with their shoulders. Their -great, curved horns lay back on their necks. They -pressed closer and closer behind the two foreigners. -Suddenly one enormous brute with a snort threw -itself forward in a charge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A yell from one of the Chinese attracted the -attention of Sinclair and Gorman. Miss MacAllister had -turned to face the beast, with the light walking-stick -she carried upraised in her hand. Carteret flung his -easel at it, but did not interpose himself between his -companion and the danger.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 80%" id="figure-49"> -<span id="a-yell-from-one-of-the-chinese-attracted-the-attention-of-sinclair-and-gorman"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="A yell from one of the Chinese attracted the attention of Sinclair and Gorman." src="images/img-259.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">A yell from one of the Chinese attracted the attention of Sinclair and Gorman.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a shout Gorman sprang to his feet and started -to run, waving a heavy stick in his hand. He had -not taken a half-dozen paces when a rifle cracked -behind him. A bullet sang past and the great blue -beast plunged forward on its knees, then rolled over -on its side almost at Miss MacAllister's feet. -Gorman glanced back. Sinclair was lying on the ground, -in the act of throwing another shell into the breach -of the rifle he held in his hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better go on, Gorman, and drive off the rest of -the herd. You may have to escort these people home. -It's not safe for them to be out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With some shouts and a few resounding thwacks -of his stick on their tough hides, Gorman drove off -the buffaloes, and then turned savagely on Carteret:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tearin' ages! Fwhat in the name of all the saints -possessed you to bring the young lady -here? ... Fwhat? ... For a walk! ... Faith, an' if it -hadn't been for the docther here, God bless him!—it's -a walk her young ladyship wud have been takin' to -hivin and you to hell this very minnit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You make very fine distinctions, Sergeant Gorman," -said Carteret sarcastically.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Distinction, is it? Begorra, the only man that has -come out of this wid distinction is Dr. Sinclair here. -An' you had better be afther thankin' him that the -angels and the divils are not this minnit holdin' a -celebration over your two souls respectively."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of the danger she had just passed through, -this was too much for Miss MacAllister's gravity. -Her merry peal of laughter rang out at the evident -discomfiture of Carteret. It was with eyes dancing -with fun as well as full of gratitude that she met -Sinclair as he came to inquire courteously for her -well-being. He received her warm thanks quietly and -made light of his skill as a shot, which she praised so -highly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am only too glad to be of any service to you. -As for the shot, that was nothing. I have been -accustomed to hunting in Canada since I was a small -boy. I had to learn to take sure aim and shoot -quickly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret thanked him in courteous terms, but without warmth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair did not wait for any further conversation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is really not safe for you to be out here without -an armed escort," he said; "when the country is -so disturbed and there are so many camp-followers -about. Even we who are in a sense in the Chinese -service always carry arms. Sergeant Gorman will see -you safely home. I am on duty here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did not mention the obvious fact that Sergeant -Gorman was also on duty. But Miss MacAllister did -not fail to notice it, and understood. She thanked -him as bravely as she could, and turned away with her -escort. But it was some time before even Gorman's -quaint humours and repetitions could draw a laugh -from her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was the only time Sinclair and Miss MacAllister -met that week.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="unholy-confessors"><span class="bold large">XXVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">UNHOLY CONFESSORS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>That evening De Vaux and Carteret sat in the -latter's quarters in the buildings of the -customs compound. There were a number of -other occupants of the room. De Vaux and Carteret -sat on chairs, at least they did during the earlier part -of the evening. The others sat on the table. They -were highly honoured and necessary guests. They -consisted of sundry bottles of Scotch whiskey, a nearly -equal number of bottles of soda, and a varied -assortment of bottles of wine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret felt that he needed some comfort and -sympathy after the exciting experiences of the day. He -had called in the guests, who now sat on the table to -comfort him. De Vaux, as being somewhat permanently -installed in Carteret's quarters, was helping to -entertain. Indeed, De Vaux had a singular facility -in entertaining and being entertained by guests of this -nature.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A man needs something after such experiences as -I have had those last few days," said Carteret, pouring -out a glass of whiskey and starting to fill up with -soda. "Talk about war! By Jove! I have been in -more uncomfortable places in the last five days than -I was in a whole campaign in Egypt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so much soda, Carteret! Not so much -soda! ... it spoils the flavour and weakens the -effect. 'Pon my honour, it does! ... If my nerves -are shaky and I want the taste to stay in my mouth, -a little less than half soda is my rule."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To the devil with the taste! There's lots more -taste where this came from. But you're right. My -nerves are all on the jump."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The consul tells me that you had a narrow escape. -Those infernal water-buffaloes! Bless my soul! -I'm more afraid of a herd of them than a whole -regiment of Chinese.... 'Pon my word, I am."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So am I, the ugly brutes! And if the girl had -got killed or injured there would have been the very -deuce to pay. The consul and her father would have -blamed me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The consul blames you as it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, that's the way with Beauchamp. He's an -Englishman. But he's down on his own countrymen -and his own class, and all for those damn boors of -Canadians. He thinks more of MacKay and that -upstart doctor than he does of a whole colony of -English."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I shouldn't like to say that. Beauchamp has -always been awfully decent with me. 'Pon my soul, -he has! ... But he is vexed at you. He says that -you ought to be deported."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only wish he would deport me! Anyway, he -can't till the next boat. And on it he's going to have -to deport his wife and Mrs. Thomson and Miss MacAllister. -That will hurt him worst of all. Don't you -fret. There'll be no deporting by that boat, unless I -deport myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are pressing your case with Miss MacAllister -deuced hard.... How is it looking? You should -have some results by this time. 'Pon my honour, you -should!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret drained his glass and filled it again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The mother's with me. She knows that the heir -has only one lung."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the father?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Says nothing one way or the other. Don't think -that he is quite satisfied with my religious -principles."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul! Could you blame him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not if he knew all about them. But, thank the -Lord, he doesn't!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret laughed disagreeably, cynically as he spoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux took his cigar out of his mouth, blew a -cloud of smoke into the air, and tipped his long glass -so high that one might fancy that he feared lest even -the moisture adhering to its sides should escape him. -He set it down and wiped his lips with a sigh of -satisfaction. Then he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what about the young lady herself?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An uncertain quantity."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Has she given you no sign?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Signs enough sometimes that she wished I was in -Jericho, or at the North Pole, or some other equally -remote and cheerful place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why? What's the matter?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just at present she's taken with that Canadian -peasant's muscles. Like the rest of the women, she -is more attracted by the body of a man than by his -birth or brains."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He laughed again, and his laugh was unpleasant to hear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux gulped down another drink and answered -with a little bit of angry stutter:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You've said enough, Carteret.... By Jove! there -are lots of decent women.... If you and I -haven't met many of them, it's our own fault.... -'Pon my honour, it is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There may be. But they are not in the Far East. -When I was in Shanghai, every woman in the -settlement had her price, if you only knew what it was."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know what they are in Shanghai," -replied De Vaux. "But I do know what they are in -some other places, and I'll stake my honour on it they -are not all like that. 'Pon my soul, they're not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Name one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. Beauchamp."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bound by conventionalities and kept in a glass -case by her husband," sneered Carteret. "Get her out -of that and she'd be just like the rest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux struggled to his feet, his face purple, his -voice choking with rage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret," he stuttered in his high voice, "that's -a lie—-a damned lie! ... If you don't take -it back"—he shook his fist across the table—"if you -don't take it back, by God, I'll expose you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret paled, sat up in his chair, and took the -pipe out of his mouth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, De Vaux," he said, "don't make a -confounded fool of yourself. One would think that -you were the lady's husband. I didn't mean anything. -I was only joshing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, that's a kind of joshing I don't like when -it is about my friends.... 'Pon my soul, I don't!" -replied De Vaux, settling himself back into his chair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, De Vaux, there'll be no more of it. -What'll you have? ... Let's break a bottle of -champagne."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was irresistible, and in a few minutes De -Vaux's good-humour was restored. Presently he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you have hopes of winning the fair MacAllister yet?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure of it when I get her away from here and -can use the title as a bait."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The title! Is it so near as that? Have you had -any word?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Had word from my agent and solicitor by the -last boat. My dearly beloved brother's cough is quite -distressing. He has been ordered to Mentone for -the winter. The agent does not think that he will -ever get there. And, if he does, he's sure that he'll -never get back. The old man is taking on about it. -He's not at all in love with the idea of the succession -of the heir presumptive. They do not think that -he will live through the autumn. If October does not -finish him, November will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux had little reason to love his own parents -and family, whoever they were. But the cynical -heartlessness of Carteret grated on him. He turned -the conversation a little:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you intend to leave the island soon?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the next trip of the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span>, if the French -do not bottle us up for the winter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And then you'll bring matters to a conclusion with -Miss MacAllister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. Her people intend to spend the winter in -Hong-Kong. So do I. If the old man and my beloved -brother are only sufficiently obliging to depart -in peace with reasonable expeditiousness, I shall be -Lord Lewesthorpe. You know what that means in -the colony. I haven't yet seen the tradesman's -daughter who could resist. They are all falling over each -other in their willingness to exchange their money -for a title. Quite envious of the preëminent success -of their fair American cousins, as the newspapers -say, in getting so many titles knocked down to them. -The mother is ready to bid mine up. The decayed -Lewesthorpe fortunes need the money more than I -need the girl."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Drunk as he was getting to be, De Vaux was disgusted -with the callousness of his companion. He sat -silent for a few minutes, looking straight at -Carteret out of his bulging, bloodshot eyes. Then he -blurted out:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret, what are you going to do with the -Chinese girl?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing in particular," was the reply, with a -cynical laugh. "Any of you fellows can have her, -if you want her. If not, and the French take this -beastly island, one of them will take her. They are -generally ready for an </span><em class="italics">affaire d'amour</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you are going to desert that Chinese girl -and her child—your child—and let them go to the -devil? And then you're going to ask Miss MacAllister -to marry you, she of course knowing nothing of -the other?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course. Why not? It won't hurt her so long -as she doesn't know anything about it. If she does -find it out afterwards, she can make the best of it. -It would be the same if she married any other man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret, you are a scoundrel.... 'Pon my -soul! ... That's what you are—a double-dyed -scoundrel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret rose to his feet and faced De Vaux across -the table. His face was pale and ugly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come now, De Vaux. A little of that goes a long -way. If I am a scoundrel, you are five times as much -a scoundrel. For, if my arithmetic and memory are -right, that is just the number of half-breed youngsters -I counted in your house up river."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Vaux stood for some moments gasping for -breath and struggling to get control of himself. He -was dangerously near the apoplectic fit which had -been so often foretold for him. But he passed the -danger point, recovered himself, and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Carteret, your memory and your arithmetic -were right. There </span><em class="italics">were</em><span> five. But they are all the -children of one woman. And that woman, though -she is a Chinese, is just as much my wife as things -out here go as if the banns had been published and the -service read.... 'Pon my honour, she is! ... I -am educating my children. They are safe in -Hong-Kong at the present moment.... Bless my soul, I -had a letter from the oldest by the last mail.... -More than that, Carteret, since I have had that Chinese -woman, I have never sought a white woman, and -never intend to.... Thank God, I have a little bit -of a man in me yet!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all old woman's sentiment, De Vaux. I -didn't think you were such a molly-coddle. Wouldn't -it make a furore in society if I was to take a Chinese -tea-girl home to be the Countess of Lewesthorpe? I -have none of your fastidious notions. I intend to -have a woman suited to my position, and money to -keep it up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And leave the girl and the kid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, by God, I'll have nothing more to do with you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And De Vaux meant what he said. But another -bottle was broken, and then another. And when the -dawn peeped in, De Vaux was stertorously slumbering -on a long bamboo and rattan chair, and Carteret was -hidden under his mosquito curtains.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="flags-of-truce"><span class="bold large">XXIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">FLAGS OF TRUCE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Looks as if we might have something doing -to-day, sergeant. I shouldn't be surprised if -we should have an interesting day. What do -you make of those boats away there to the north?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Transports, docther. They're not men-o'-war, -and what else could merchant ships be doin' there -except waitin' for a chanst to land soldiers?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder where the other warships are. I can -make out only the </span><em class="italics">Galissonnière</em><span> and the </span><em class="italics">Vipère</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Maybe they're close in shore, behind that hill -yonder. If they are goin' to put a landin' party ashore, -they'll be needin' to cover it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the eighth of October, six days after the -previous bombardment. Sinclair and Gorman were, -as was their custom, on the top of the Dutch fort, -trying to foresee what might be the developments of -the day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The morning wore on until nine o'clock. Suddenly -spirts of flame shot out from the two French -warships which were in sight, and the thunder of their -guns mingled with the distant boom from others which -were hidden behind the northern hills. A transport -appeared close to the shore, near the last stretch of -beach visible from the fort. Another was probably -hidden by the hills. The rattle of the machine guns -covering the landing of the troops filled up the -intervals between the booming of the big guns.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the first report the consul joined them on the -lookout. Boville, MacAllister, Commander -Gardenier, and one or two others came later. With the -consul's permission, Gorman left to personally -superintend the work of his ambulance corps, of which he -was very proud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't let the Chinese mistake you for a Frenchman," -called Sinclair after him. "The Hakkas might -fill you with slugs from their old match-locks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, an' it's a poor opinion you have of their -intilligence, to say nothin' of the insult you're offering -meself," was the reply of Gorman, as he ran down -the stair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's the first load!" exclaimed the consul, as -a boat filled with troops pulled from the transport to -the beach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Boat after boat followed, discharging their cargoes -of armed men, who formed up on the beach and then -marched away out of sight behind a spur of hills. -Soon the volleys of rifle-fire joined the crash of -machine guns in forming an interlude between the -thunder of the cannon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>An hour passed away. As a week before, most of the -residents of the hill-top had repaired to the rendezvous -at MacAllister, Munro Co.'s. But the consul and his -companions were still on the top of the fort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There comes the first of the Chinese wounded," -said Sinclair. "It's some of Gorman's corps who are -carrying him. I can see the red cross."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A moment later he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There come more. The French must be doing -some execution. There are already more wounded -in sight than we had all day last Thursday. It's the -rifle-fire which counts."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Singly or in groups, the squads of stretcher-bearers -could be seen filing across the common on their way to -the Mission Hospital.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must go now. We are going to have our hands full."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Down! Down!" roared Gardenier.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every one fell flat behind the battlements. There -was a crash and the old fort trembled to its foundations. -They sprang to their feet and looked over. A -shell had struck it squarely a few feet above the -ground. But the solid brick walls, eight feet thick, -built by conscientious workmen two hundred and fifty -years before, had hurled it back and were hardly even -dented by the terrific impact.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Soon afterwards Sinclair left for the Mission -Hospital down in the town. There he joined Dr. Bergmann -in time to receive the first of the wounded. But -they came so fast that before long the two doctors -had to signal for Black of the </span><em class="italics">Locust</em><span>. As the -afternoon came on the number increased. The hospital -was small, and soon not only the operating-room and -the wards, but the courtyard as well, were crowded -with between one hundred and twenty and one -hundred and thirty wounded men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The forenoon passed into the afternoon; the -afternoon wore slowly away. Up and down between the -lines of rude plank cots the three doctors moved, with -bare arms and clothing stained with blood. Several -of the Christian students acted as nurses and assisted -at the dressings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The noon hour had passed, but they took no time -for lunch. A messenger arrived from the rendezvous -with an invitation from Mrs. Beauchamp and -Mrs. MacAllister to go there for tiffin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I fancy that we had better accept this," said -Black. "We have more time now than we shall have -later. But these are slaughter-house clothes in which -to go to tiffin with ladies."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Das ist true," replied Bergmann. "Ve vill slip -in mine house and vill get some clothes. I can fit -Dr. Black. But Dr. Sinclair, I know not. He ist so big."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right, Bergmann. Somebody has to -stay here and look after those fellows. You two go -ahead and have tiffin. Present my compliments and -regrets. If there is not too big a rush when you come -back, I'll have something then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His two confrères hastened away. Sinclair went -on with his work silently, swiftly, determinedly. -Again the pain-drawn faces appealed to him. Again -the wistful eyes followed him. Again the word -passed from lip to lip, "I-seng lâi" (The Life-healer -comes).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some belonged to regiments which had been in the -camp before Keelung and had known him there. -Some had come to know him during their ambulance -work of the past week. Some had heard of him. -Some were mainland men from the North, speaking -a different tongue. But all caught the phrase, and -from every plank bed he heard the word passed to the -next, "I-seng lâi" (The Life-healer comes). And -he worked on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Bergmann and Black returned, and with -them a blue-jacket of the rendezvous guard, with a -pressing invitation for him to go for tiffin. He looked -at the invitation; then at the ever-increasing number -of suffering men:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give my thanks to the ladies who sent you and -say from me that there are so many wounded here -now that I cannot find it in my heart to leave them. -I can do very well without food till dinner-time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir. I shall tell them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The blue-jacket saluted and withdrew. Sinclair -went on with his work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A half-hour passed. Again the blue-jacket appeared -accompanied by a native bearing on his carrying-pole -a pair of the many-storied bamboo baskets in which -the Chinese convey warm provisions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A chit for you, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took the note the sailor handed him and glanced -at the address. It was in an unfamiliar feminine hand. -Opening it quickly, he read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Will Dr. Sinclair be so good as to accept the accompanying -refreshments from me?</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"JESSIE MACALLISTER."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In spite of the mood of intense concentration which -was always on him when he was at work, in spite of -his rigid self-control, a slow flush showed in his face, -doubtful under the tan, but certain when it climbed -above the border-line of the sunburn. It was not so -much the act, though that in itself would have been -enough to quicken his pulses. It was the form of the -brief epistle. She had started to write a purely formal -note, but had ended by making it warmly -personal.... "From me. Jessie MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have no paper on which to write an answer, -except a leaf out of a pocketbook. You will have -to make apologies for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall do my very best, sir," replied the sailor, -with a grin, as he took the hastily-scribbled note of -thanks, for the big, kindly doctor had, without an -effort, got the good-will of this man, as he did of -nearly every man his life touched.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair hastily swallowed several cups of tea, ate -a piece of chicken, and, telling his student assistants -to distribute the rest among the wounded, turned -again to his work of mercy. But all the while four -words kept writing and re-writing themselves upon -his brain: "From me. Jessie MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the first time that he had seen her full name -written. It had always been "Miss MacAllister." Certain -definite pictures had been formed in his mind -with which that appellation was connected. -Sometimes stately and magnificent, sometimes teasing and -whimsical; sometimes kind, sometimes cruel; those -clear-cut portraits were connected inseparably with -the name "Miss MacAllister." But some way "Jessie -MacAllister" was different. It suggested something -more intimate, more confidential, more tender -than the other had ever done. What could it mean?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again and again he asked himself that question: -"What could it mean?" Was she only playing with -him? The week before the last bombardment she had -been exceedingly kind. Then she had suddenly turned -and treated him cruelly. Was she trying the same -trick again? His jaw set and his lips closed tightly. -She wouldn't catch him like that again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But another thought would pass through his mind. -This was different. There was something about this -two-line note which he had never experienced -before.... "From me. Jessie MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair had made up his mind resolutely after that -tennis game that he would not put himself in the way -of receiving such treatment again. When he set his -mind to anything, he was firm to the verge of -stubbornness. He knew that. And with all the -stubbornness of his nature he had resolved to have nothing -more to do with Miss MacAllister than the laws of -politeness required.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But somehow "Jessie MacAllister" did not seem -just the same. Do his best, he could not be -indignant and angry with her in the same degree as he -had been with "Miss MacAllister." He knew that -the fortifications of his resolution were shattered. He -knew that the four words, "From me. Jessie MacAllister," -had made a breach in them. They had been -standing not quite a week.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Strange to say, the thought that they were broken, -and the means by which it was effected, gave him a -secret pleasure, a sense of lightness and exultation -such as he had not felt for six whole days. To be -consistent with himself, to maintain his self-respect -and reputation for firmness, he made a pretence at -repairing the breach and rebuilding the fortifications. -But all the while the two-line note with its signature -was stowed away in an inner pocket, which had an -intimate relation to the spot beneath which his strong -heart beat a little faster than usual. With a new -hope and enthusiasm he toiled on among the wounded -all the rest of the day. But the toil was light and -the afternoon sped away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile, the bombardment had come to an end. -The French attack had failed. Entangled in a maze -of swampy rice-fields, their landing-party had been -fiercely attacked by the Chinese. They were compelled -to retreat to their boats, carrying their wounded -with them, but abandoning their dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wild Hakka tribesmen with General Soon's -army, following the practice they had learned in -border warfare against the Malay savages of the hills, -had cut off the heads of the fallen French soldiers -and exposed them on poles at the Chinese camp and -in the market-place of Tamsui. Consul Beauchamp -and Commander Gardenier had indignantly protested -to General Soon. The Chinese commander had at -once ordered that the bodies and heads of their fallen -foes should be buried and promised that it should not -occur again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the danger of the situation to the European -residents and visitors had been revealed. While -General Soon and many of his officers and men were -deeply grateful for the services rendered by the -Mission Hospital, the doctors, and Sergeant Gorman's -ambulance corps, the foreigners stood in serious peril. -A great European nation, a first-class military power, -had been beaten back by the Chinese in an attempt -to capture Tamsui. The savage instincts of the -irregular and undisciplined levies of the Chinese army -had been aroused by their success. There was no -knowing the hour when these would break out in a -general massacre. The consul resolved that all -foreign women and children, and such of the men as -duty did not compel to stay, should leave the island -at the first opportunity.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-mystery-of-love"><span class="bold large">XXX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE MYSTERY OF LOVE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A day or two after the second bombardment the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> again appeared off the harbour. The -French detained her long enough to satisfy -themselves that she carried no munitions of war, and -then allowed her to enter the port. Nearly the whole -foreign community was at the dock to receive her. -It was only thirteen or fourteen days since she had -been there before. But to those who had been in the -midst of war's alarms it seemed as many weeks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Of course, Sinclair was there to give McLeod a -hearty greeting. There was little time to talk, as -the chief officer had to oversee the discharging of -the cargo. Sinclair joined him in this, his knowledge -of the ship and of conditions ashore making his -assistance most valuable. He had his countryman's -knack of turning his hand to anything. By the -afternoon they had so rushed the work that they were -able to knock off and have a comfortable chat in the -dining saloon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After they had discussed the bombardment and the -landing, the prospects of more fighting and the -possibility of a blockade, and had laughed till their sides -ached at the oddities and eccentricities brought out by -the unusual situation, McLeod said suddenly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, Doc, you have not told me anything about -the Highland girl. How is she?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just as big a conundrum as ever, Mac."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Have you not been getting along well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No! I don't know where I'm at."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why? I thought from the way she spoke of you, -and the way she received you when you came back -from Keelung, that things were bound to go like a -house on fire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Mac, for a few days I was feeling pretty -good myself. I thought that I was making great -progress. But the day of the first bombardment my -castle in the air was blown sky-high and there has -hardly a fragment of it come back to earth yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He then told of the tennis game and of how -disgusted with himself he had been. To his surprise -McLeod did not take it very seriously. He expressed -concern at Sinclair's narrow escape from the shell, -but rather laughed about the rest of the incident, -especially at his friend's having left the lawn in a -tantrum, as he called it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You would have been madder than I was," -retorted Sinclair, "if you had been in my place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course I should—if I had been in your place, -because like you I should not have looked for the right -reason for her actions—that is, if I had been in your -place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't understand what you are driving at," said -Sinclair, with a trace of irritation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all right, Doc. Never mind now. Go on -and tell us some more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Sinclair related the incident of the "charge -of the Tamsui blues," and Gorman's remarks to Carteret, -McLeod laughed so heartily that the doctor had -to join him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all very well for you to laugh like that," he -said, a little ruefully, when McLeod stopped for a -moment. "You have nothing at stake. But it's -different with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You'll laugh about it yet, just as heartily as I -have done. Probably more so. Haven't you another -yarn up your sleeve? I know that you have. Go on. -Give us another."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did. He told about Clark praying under the -teak table, and De Vaux dancing and stuttering -around it. Sinclair was a good story-teller, and -before he was through with the Free Methodist -prayer-meeting McLeod's laughter could be heard the length -of the ship. Sinclair had forgotten his love troubles, -and his laugh, mingled with his chum's, was as -rollicking and care-free as that of a schoolboy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the midst of it Captain Whiteley's voice was -heard outside:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What in the world's going on in here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A lady's voice replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's those two lovers. They should never be separated. -Either one is quite inconsolable without the other."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The door was pulled open, and the two young men, -vainly endeavouring to choke down their laughter, -rose to receive Miss MacAllister, her father, and the -captain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two men did not remain long. Mr. MacAllister -wanted to take Captain Whiteley to see some of -the damage wrought by the shells. A few minutes -after they left McLeod suddenly remembered that -there were some duties connected with discharging or -taking cargo which he had to attend to at once. -Almost before they knew, Sinclair and Miss MacAllister -were left alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some moments neither spoke. Ordinarily both -were good conversationalists, able to acquit -themselves with credit in any company. But now, left to -each other's company, each seemed suddenly bereft of -speech. Sinclair probably never thought so quickly -on any other occasion in his life. But with all his -thinking he entirely failed to think of anything to -say. If he had thought of anything, it is doubtful -if he could have said it. His heart was pounding so -hard and fast that he experienced a slight suffocating -sensation. But he didn't open the door. He had that -much presence of mind. He didn't open the door to -let the outside air or any one else in. Though -speechless, he was not bereft of reason.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Miss MacAllister who first recovered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair," she said, "I want you to forgive me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Sinclair began to wonder what she had done -that he should forgive. Could she ever have done -anything for which she needed to ask his forgiveness?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Miss MacAllister," he stammered, "what—what -am I to forgive? You never did anything——"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Dr. Sinclair, you know that I did. Last -Thursday; you remember. I acted shamefully, and"—there -was a little break in her voice—"I nearly -caused you to be killed.... Can you ever forgive me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I could forgive you anything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But you were very angry. You went away angry, -and when I tried to call you back you wouldn't stop -to speak to me. I wanted to ask your forgiveness -then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss MacAllister, I suppose that I was angry. It -is I who ought to ask your forgiveness.... I didn't -mean to be angry. But I felt hurt.... You had -been so kind just before that day.... I was foolish -enough to hope that you would continue to be kind. -But when that day came you were different, and it -hurt.... Miss MacAllister, I can't keep it back. I -love you.... That's why it hurt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was sitting by one of the small windows of the -saloon, with one arm resting on its sill. Through the -conversation she had kept her head lowered. As his -accents grew warmer, she turned towards the -window, and seemed to be gazing on the water, which -the northeast monsoon, driving against the current, -was raising in choppy waves. He had risen and was -standing in front of her. He could not see her -averted face, and she made no answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know that it must seem absurd and presumptuous -of me. I'm a poor and unknown missionary -doctor. But I love you.... I tried not to. But I -couldn't help it.... I resolved never to mention it -to you.... But we were left alone here together -and—I just couldn't help myself.... I had to tell you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without turning her face, she extended her right -hand to him. He caught it in his and, dropping on -one knee, pressed his lips to it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad you told me, Donald."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment he could hardly believe his ears. He -looked up in a dazed, wondering fashion. Her face -was no longer averted. Shy, blushing, but smiling, it -was turned towards him, and their eyes met. Almost -incredulously, wonderingly he asked:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean that?" (He did not dare say her name.)</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Donald."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He bowed his head again over the hand he held, -and felt her other hand laid softly, timidly on his wavy -masses of fair hair. For a few moments it rested -there like a benediction. When she lifted it he rose -and, turning her face up to his, gravely, reverently -pressed upon her lips the sacramental kiss of pledged -love.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a time they sat silent. His arm was around -her. Her head was on his shoulder. Her forehead -and the crown of rich brown hair were touching his -cheek. Neither wanted to speak. Each was trying -to comprehend the mystery of love, the mystery of -two souls who had held aloof from each other, and -had fenced with each other, and had strenuously -asserted their independence of each other. But all the -time they had been restless and dissatisfied. Then -suddenly and unexpectedly they had been forced to -confess that they could not be happy apart. And -immediately in that confession they had found joy -unutterable. Over and over again it passed through their -minds. And when they were done they understood -it no more than when they began. But they knew -the fact.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At length he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, where did you learn my name?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She slipped her hand into her bosom and drew out -a leaf torn from a pocketbook. It was his note of -thanks for the refreshments she had sent to the -hospital. It was signed, "Donald Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And where did you get mine, Donald?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From an inner pocket close to his heart he brought -out her note ending with the words: "From me. Jessie -MacAllister."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If it had not been for those four words, I do not -think that I could ever have had the courage to tell -you that I loved you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm so glad that I wrote them. I tried to end that -note in formal fashion, but, before I knew, I had -written those words. I sealed it in a hurry for fear I -should think twice and change them." Her face was -hidden against his breast now.... "And—I know -you will think me silly—after the blue-jacket left, I -ran out to call him back.... But I was too late."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's once I can thank God for a person's being -late," he said, as he lifted her face to his own and -kissed her again, but with more of the passion and -abandon of love than before. And the wonder of it -grew upon him. Over and over again he kept asking -himself, Was this the proud young beauty of whom -he had stood in awe? Was this blushing, tender girl -yielding herself to his embraces and responding to -his kisses,—was this the sprightly, mischievous belle -of the dinner party who had teased him, and made -game of him, and held him up to be laughed at by -the assembled guests? It was almost incredible. But -it was true. And the mystery of love deepened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were silent for a while. Thoughts were too -busy and too happy for speech. Then she said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Donald, I know that this will sound awfully -improper. But I do not want mother to know of what -has taken place for some time. She would be so -disappointed and angry that she would make rash -statements. And afterwards, even if she were convinced -that she had been wrong, she is so determined that -she would not go back on them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was afraid that she did not like me, Jessie."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is not that she dislikes you. It is because she -is ambitious that I should marry a man with a title."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret, for example," said Sinclair, with a smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Carteret. And I hate him," she replied, with -a flash of indignation. "I shudder every time he -comes near me. But mother has accepted him as a -suitor. She has not been so taken with him of late, -since the first bombardment, and especially since the -charge of Sergeant Gorman's Blues. She knew that -he played the coward both times. But that is all -forgotten again. He has the title."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Has Carteret succeeded to the title?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. He got word by the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong's</em><span> mail. The -heir with the one lung died of hemorrhage while -crossing the Channel. His father died of shock when he -was told of it. Carteret is now Lord Lewesthorpe. -With mother the title has blotted out all his sins. She -is more insistent than ever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, if Carteret bothers you, I'll wring his neck, -and the Lewesthorpe title can go looking for another -heir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no, Donald, you mustn't!" she said, in a -little alarm, as she felt the big muscles against which -she leaned swell with sudden passion. "You mustn't. -Leave it to me. Mother is determined. But I can be -determined, too. And father will not let me be pushed -too far."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll do whatever you want.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, Donald. If mother knew now that -I had let you speak to me of love, she would never -forgive me. But she will change. There is -something coming which will change her. I do not know -what it is. But I know that it is coming. We are -Highland, you know. It is the second sight."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The lovers sat for a while longer. Then she looked -at her watch:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Donald! Do you know that we have been -here nearly two hours?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It seemed to me like five minutes," was the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She gave a merry laugh and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If time always passes so quickly, we'll be old -before we know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish that I could be sure that the days after -you leave would only pass as quickly," he said, a trifle -sadly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They'll pass, Donald. I'll be thinking of you, and -you'll be thinking of me, and the days will go. But -what will Mr. McLeod be thinking of us, that we have -stayed here so long? And isn't it strange that none -of the Chinese boys ever came into the saloon in -those two hours?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair laughed his happy, boyish laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Trust McLeod!" he said. "Probably he could -explain the prolonged absence of the boys, as well as -his own."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She looked at him archly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not sure now that I have done wisely in -giving you my undivided love, Donald. I am afraid -that I am not getting the same in return. I am really -jealous of Mr. McLeod."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The method of his reply need not be described. -She was satisfied with it. And when they stepped -out and met McLeod on the deck he knew without -being told.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="ancestors-and-pedigrees"><span class="bold large">XXXI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">ANCESTORS AND PEDIGREES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The last night of the stay of the MacAllisters -in Tamsui had come. They were to sail for -Hong-Kong on the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> the next day. -With them were going Mrs. Beauchamp and -Constance, Mrs. MacKay and her children, Mr. and -Mrs. Thomson, Carteret, Clark, and a number of others of -the foreign community. The consul had ordered that -all the foreign women and children should leave North -Formosa. A number of the men who had no taste -for the scenes and chances of war were going with -them. Mr. MacAllister feared the possibility of a -blockade and so chose to go to Hong-Kong, where he -could freely prosecute his search.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As there had been on the evening after their arrival, -so there was the evening before their departure -a dinner at the consulate. This time the guests left -early. Many of them were preparing for a hasty -departure. They knew that their hostess had likewise -much to occupy her time for the few remaining hours. -Sinclair had gone on board the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> to have a -farewell talk with McLeod. Sergeant Gorman, who -had been dining with the second officer and the second -engineer, joined them by their invitation. They were -sitting on the after deck, sheltered from the raw wind -of the northeast monsoon. The conversation drifted -from point to point of recent events. McLeod and -Sinclair led Gorman on to tell in his inimitable way -incident after incident, while they laughed like a pair -of schoolboys out on a frolic.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You never told me, sergeant, how you got along -with Miss MacAllister and Carteret the day you saw -them safely home after the charge of the Tamsui -Blues."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gorman cocked an eye at Sinclair, with an expression -which was irresistibly comical.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I knew that it wud come," he said. "You did -nobly, docther. You held your whisht for a full -week. But I knew it wud come."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right, Gorman," replied Sinclair, laughing -to hide a little confusion. "That's all right. But -that's not the subject under discussion. You tell us -how you enjoyed your walk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did I enjoy it? How could I do anything -else but enjoy it, wid the young lady talkin' to me, -and askin' me questions about me experiences in the -wars, an' about the camp and the hospital at Keelung; -and the two bright eyes of her lookin' at me so -friendly loike. Fwhat kind of a man wud I be that -wudn't enjoy it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So the young lady talked to you all the way -home?" said McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," said Gorman with a wink at McLeod, which -distorted all one side of his face, "she didn't know -that I was a married man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>McLeod laughed gaily at Sinclair. The latter took -Gorman's banter good-naturedly. He could afford -to be indulgent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did Carteret take your monopolizing her?" -he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He tould me that it wud become me to have less -to say in the prisince of me betters. 'Begorra,' sez -I, 'barrin' her young ladyship here, there's none of -them prisint that I can see,' sez I. 'An' whin it -comes to savin' young ladies from General Soon's -Tamsui Blues, be the powers I haven't been seein' -me betters around here, exceptin' Docther Sinclair, -may the angels make his bed in glory,' sez I. Wid -that the young lady fires up and sez, 'The divil a -bit of it,' sez she. 'We don't want the doctor to go -to glory yet,' sez she."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! What! What's that, Gorman!" exclaimed -McLeod, while Sinclair was fairly shrieking with -laughter. "You don't mean to tell us that Miss -MacAllister said that—'the divil a bit of it.' Did -she say that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, Mr. McLeod, now you're spoilin' me story. -If she didn't say that in so manny wurrds, she thought -it annyway. An' fwhat's the difference? But I'll -take me affydavit on it that she did say that she didn't -want the docther here to go to glory yet. An' I'm -jist tellin' the docther for his comfort, for be that -sign, they were very encouragin' wurrds."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did Carteret try to sit on you again?" inquired -Sinclair when they ceased laughing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He did. 'Sergeant,' sez he, 'you're too free with -your tongue. Your company is offensive,' sez he. -'You may consider your services dispensed with. -And I shall consider it my duty to report you to the -consul.' 'Bedad,' sez I, 'if you had been a little -freer wid your courage, you wudn't have needed me -company. As for me services,' sez I, 'I'm not under -your orders. I was sint to see this young lady safely -home,' sez I. 'An' I cudn't think of lavin' her in -your care, for fear you might chanst to meet a -fieldmouse by the way, an' you moight run, an' lave -her to be devoured by the feroshus wild beast,' -sez I.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wid that the young lady tuk to laughin' an' -laughed so that I cudn't finish wid the spalpeen for -sayin' that he'd report me to the consul. I was jist -goin' to be afther tellin' him that afther a consultashun -together wid the consul, I had decided to deport him -from the island. But the young lady sez, sez she, -'Mr. Carteret, if I wish to talk to Sergeant Gorman, -I do not see why you should object. I hope that you -will not interfere with him again, and I'm sure that -Sergeant Gorman will not say anything more to offend -you.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then the rest of your walk was quite peaceful -and agreeable," said Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was," replied the sergeant. "You see the -young lady and I talked all the rest of the way. An' -that spalpeen of a Carteret was as paceful as you -plase, walkin' on the other side of her, kind of sulky -an' hang-dog loike, for niver another wurrd did she -say to him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must have enjoyed it, for I never before -knew you to take so long a time on so short an -expedition."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, docther, I wudn't have thought it of you. -But seein' that it's troublin' you, I'll just make your -moind aisy by tellin' you that I wasn't wid the young -lady all the toime. Part of it I was wid her mother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did Carteret tell her mother what had really -happened?" asked McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hadn't the honor of hearin' what he did tell -her. But she wasn't jist taken wid it, for she asked -me to wait, an' afther the spalpeen was gone, she -tould me to step in, for she wanted to have some -conversashun wid me. 'Wid pleasure, ma'm,' sez I. -'Sergeant,' sez she, 'are these water-buffaloes -dangerous to people?' 'That all depinds on the people,' -sez I. 'But are they not very ferocious beasts?' sez -she. 'Ag'in that depinds,' sez I. 'If there's a bit of a -shillelagh wid a man behind it, they're as p'aceful -as lambs in spring-time. But if there's nothin' but -a paint-brush, wid a good-for-nothin' omadhaun at -the back of it,' sez I, 'thin they bate Bengal tigers.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wid that she got very red. 'Mr. Carteret's a -gentleman,' sez she. 'Maybe,' sez I. 'He's -well-born,' sez she. 'The divil,' sez I."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You would say that," interrupted McLeod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, Mr. McLeod, there you'd be afther spoilin' -me story agin. An' now that you call it to me moind, -I didn't say that nayther, seein' that it was a lady I -was talkin' to. Fwhat I did say was this, that I didn't -know that he was anny better born than the rest of -us; an' though I did not remember much about the -occasion, I always onderstood that me own mother, -considerin' her opportunities, had brought me into -the wurrld jist about as nately as a duchess could -have done.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wid that she gave a bit of a laugh, an' sez, 'No -doubt, Sergeant Gorman! But I didn't mean it just -that way,' sez she. 'I meant that his ancestors have -been men of rank and noble birth for generations.' 'As -for that,' sez I, 'I don't take much stock in me -pedigree,' sez I. 'A man don't go far wid his -ancesthors till he foinds wan he'd loike to trade off -for some wan else. But seein' that they are both -dead an' done wid, he can't do it convaniently. To -illustrate, I'll jist tell your ladyship how it happened -to mesilf,' sez I.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Wanst whin I was in Indy, I tuk it into me moind -to go home to Ireland an' hunt up me ancesthors. -I came to me birthplace, Sleeahtballymackcurraghalicky -in County Cork, an' tould the ouldest man in -the place who I was an' what was me business. "Yis," -sez he, "yis; I don't know you; but I've hard of you, -an' I knowed your fader. Your name is John Gorman. -Your fader's was Shon Jay Pay. His fader was -Shon Mor. An' his fader was another Shon who -was hanged by the English for bein' a Rory of the -Hills." 'An', ma'am,' sez I, 'wud you believe me, I -didn't pursue me ancesthors anny farder—shure as -I'm a livin' man. I didn't pursue me dead an' gone -ancesthors anny farder.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>'But,' sez she, wid a little laugh, 'Mr. Carteret's -ancestors were not like that. They were noblemen. -His father is an earl. His oldest brother is the heir. -But his father is an old man, and cannot live long, -and the heir has only one lung, and when he dies, -Mr. Carteret will succeed to the title and the -estates.' 'Well, ma'am,' sez I, 'if it's my opinion you want, -it's this. The heir shud trade off his wan lung wid -an auctioneer for his two, an' give him £100,000 to -boot. For it's little honor will be done to the title, -an' little profit to the estates, if that spalpeen of a -Carteret gets thim,' sez I, 'beggin' your ladyship's -pardon for talkin' so freely in your prisince.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thin she got very red agin. Afther a bit she -sez, 'Thank you, Sergeant Gorman, for your opinions,' -sez she. 'Here's a guinea for you.' 'Thank you, -ma'am,' sez I, 'but I'm nayther a lawyer to be sellin' -me gab for money, nor a beggar to be takin' charity,' -sez I. 'I'm the son of an Irish gentleman.' Wid that -she looked at me kind of curious loike, an' sez, -'Pardon me, Mr. Gorman, for offering it to you. -But just the same I want to thank you for your -services to my daughter and to me,' an' she reached out -her hand an' shook hands wid me rale friendly loike."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Sinclair, McLeod, and Gorman separated that -night, Sinclair saw before him the possibility of a -change of attitude on the part of Mrs. MacAllister -towards Carteret and himself.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-man-and-a-woman"><span class="bold large">XXXII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A MAN AND A WOMAN.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The day of departure had come. The </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> -was floating on a full tide, ready to cast -off. Those who were remaining were down -to bid farewell to those who were going. -Impedimenta had been stored away, and all had gathered -in two groups on the promenade deck. Dr. MacKay, -his wife and children, Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, and -a number of native students and preachers, formed -one group. The Beauchamps, the MacAllisters, -Commander Gardenier, Boville, Carteret (for the -residents still called him by the name by which they had -known him all along), and most of the young men of -the customs and mercantile staffs, formed the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. Sinclair, who had been busy helping in the -hasty preparations for departure, walked forward -along the side of the deck next the dock. Miss -MacAllister disengaged herself from the little group -and stepped to the rail, as though to watch the last -incidents of the embarkation. They met on the very -spot where they had stood that memorable evening -on which the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> put out from Amoy to face -the capricious seas of the Channel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What a change had come in their relations! They -knew that many eyes were watching them. Their -words, if spoken above a whisper, would be audible. -There could be no demonstration, scarcely even a -sign of understanding or affection. Yet there was -the attitude of perfect confidence. And when their -eyes met, they spoke a language which both understood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This scene must have grown very familiar to you -in the last two and a half months," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," she replied. "For that reason one is apt -to pass over many of the features of it without noting -them. I want to impress on my memory every detail."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't it strange," he said in a very low tone, "that -this little port in a strange land, should so quickly -have become a sacred spot to us?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The most sacred spot in all the world," she replied -softly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some one called to them, and they both turned at -once, and stood side by side facing the company.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a magnificent-looking pair they make!" -exclaimed Mrs. Thomson, in a sudden enthusiasm -forgetting that the voice would carry to the ears of -all present.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was that what you called us to hear?" Miss -MacAllister flashed back. "It certainly was worth -while. Do you not think so, Dr. Sinclair?" She -laughed gaily, a little defiantly, for she had seen the -expression on her mother's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I certainly do. And I'm proud to shine with the -reflected light of beauty," he replied.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, you! You are worse than they are."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She turned hastily to the rail again, to hide her -blushes. Her mother set her lips very tightly together, -lifted her head very high, and sniffed. She was more -intent than ever on forcing her daughter to marry -Carteret. Whatever doubts of his suitability to be a -good husband she may have entertained, had vanished -with his actual succession to the title. A peerage -can cover a multitude of sins.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All aboard!" rang out in English and Chinese. -Men sprang to the hawsers to cast off. At that instant -a sedan chair, with sweating bearers on the run, -reached the dock and was dropped at the end of the -gang plank. An unusually pretty Chinese girl of -seventeen or eighteen years, richly dressed, and -bearing in her arms a child of a few months old, stepped -hastily out of it, and ran for the gangway as fast as -her bound feet would carry her. One look at the -child was enough to learn its story. Almost as dark -as a Chinese in complexion, the features were -distinctly European. It was a Eurasian, the child of a -European father and an Asiatic mother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the sight of the sedan chair Carteret had turned -abruptly from the group on deck, and had run down -the ladder. The next instant his voice was heard by -those who leaned on the rail, speaking, not loudly, -but in tones of restrained fury.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put that woman off. Don't let her on board this -boat," uttered to the accompaniment of savage oaths.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stand back, Mr. Carteret. It is not for you to -say who will be a passenger on this boat. This woman -has money to pay her passage, and she has the same -rights as you have. Make way there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was McLeod's voice, clear and cold and hard as -steel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair and Miss MacAllister did not look at each -other for some moments. The others on the deck -heard only very imperfectly what was said below. -Some of the men talked continuously and loudly, so -that the women might not hear. When Miss -MacAllister's eyes did meet Sinclair's, they had in -them such a look of confidence and content that the -memory of it never faded from his mind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no opportunity for them to speak such -farewells as their hearts craved. Once she had the -chance to whisper,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll be thinking of you, Donald, and you'll be -thinking of me."</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 62%" id="figure-50"> -<span id="i-ll-be-thinking-of-you-donald-and-you-ll-be-thinking-of-me"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=""I'll be thinking of you, Donald, and you'll be thinking of me"" src="images/img-297.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">"I'll be thinking of you, Donald, and you'll be thinking of me"</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>His answer was,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I'll come to you, Jessie, though all the world -try to keep us apart."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the general farewells were said, Constance -Beauchamp shook hands with Sinclair gravely, -sedately; stood for an instant irresolute, and then with -a movement as light as that of a fawn, sprang into -his arms, clasped hers around his neck and kissed him -again and again, before them all. She had another -parting boon to bestow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am going away where I can't see you, Dr. Sinclair. -You may get your hair cut whenever you -wish. But keep one of the curls for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Miss MacAllister looking on, felt no jealous -pang.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Amidst waving hats and handkerchiefs, the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> swung out into the stream, and started on -her voyage, with her strangely assorted freight of -humanity, going to their various destinies. Among -those surely none were more tragic than the destinies -of a man, of a woman, and of their child. He was -bound for an English earldom, and a seat in the House -of Lords. She was to drift into a native brothel, -frequented by the degraded of all nationalities, in -the great cosmopolitan port of Hong-Kong. Their -child was to grow up in the streets of that tropical -city, a nameless, mongrel waif, never to know his -father's face, till he should stand as his accuser before -the judgment seat of God.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="my-children-in-the-lord"><span class="bold large">XXXIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">MY CHILDREN IN THE LORD</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Dr. MacKay, you are not well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know that, Dr. Sinclair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have a temperature, I'm sure. Have -you taken it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How's that? I thought that you were careful to -watch your health. You told me that you could not -afford to be sick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I am, as a rule. But I could not take it this -time till my wife left. She would not have gone if -she had known."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You should have gone yourself. The strain has -been too much for you. Knowing the shape you are -in, why didn't you take a trip to Hong-Kong, or at -least to Amoy, and rest a while?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That would be to play the part of a hireling -shepherd. 'He that is an hireling, and not the -shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf -coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf -catcheth them and scattereth the sheep. The hireling -fleeth because he is an hireling and careth not for the -sheep.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair was silent while he counted the pulse, and -awaited the report of the thermometer. When he -looked at it, his face was grave.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it?" asked MacKay. "You need not -hesitate to tell me. Is it high?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Too high for a man to have and be walking about. -One hundred and three and four-fifths."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If it were malaria, I should not mind. I have -worked for days on the East Coast with an average -of one hundred and three. But this is not malaria. -I cannot be deceived in it. I know malaria too well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is the trouble?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In my head."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I thought. We must get you to bed. I'll send -a chit to Bergmann. He is your doctor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was the beginning of the fight for life. -MacKay was battling with all the determination of -his nature against cerebral meningitis. The battle -was not very long, but it was exceedingly sharp. By -his bedside all the time sat one or other of the three -doctors. This stern, reserved, intensely concentrated -man had won their respect and admiration, and no -effort was spared to save his life. Native students, -trained in the elements of nursing, glided noiselessly -in and out of the room. Over at the college, where -the native preachers, elders, and students assembled, -a continuous prayer-meeting was in progress, these -yellow and brown-skinned men who "ain't got no -souls," praying with the simple faith of little children -that their beloved pastor might be restored to health.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the white bed in the middle of the room, beneath -its drapery of mosquito curtains, MacKay's burning -head turned ceaselessly from side to side, day and -night, day and night without sleep. And day and -night, day and night he talked, talked, talked, -sometimes in English, sometimes in Chinese, talked without -pause or cessation about his converts, the church which -he had brought into being.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My people! ... My people! ... My children -in the Lord! ... Who will take care of them? -My sheep! ... My poor sheep! ... Left without -a shepherd! ... Who will feed them! ... My -little lambs! My little lambs! ... Who will protect -them from the wolves? ... O God! I commend -them to Thee! ... My children! My children in the -Lord!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day the raving suddenly ceased. Sinclair, -startled by the unwonted silence, stepped to his -bedside and threw back the curtains. MacKay was sitting -bolt upright in bed. The fire of the fever was still -in his face and eye. But his voice was perfectly -natural, his manner calm and collected.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, what shall I do for my people? If -I die, there is no one to take care of them. -Mr. Thomson is not able now—perhaps never will be able. -No person could come from Canada for a year, and -when one would come, he would need another year or -two for the language. Some of the native preachers -are able, but none of them have authority to take the -lead of their fellows. What shall I do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not worry about that now," replied Sinclair -soothingly. "There is the Good Shepherd still to lead -His sheep. Leave it to Him. It is for you now to -recover your strength."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am resolved what to do," MacKay went on, as -if without noticing Sinclair's reply. "I shall ordain -A Hoa and Tan He,[#] the two ablest of the preachers. -That will give them authority to lead their brethren. -That will make them pastors, shepherds of the sheep. -It's irregular, I know. A presbytery should ordain. -I'm not a presbytery. It's unusual. But unusual -circumstances demand unusual methods. If I live, the -church lawyers at home will crucify me for it. If I -die, they'll condone my action, praise me in public, -and scarify me in private. But neither their praise -nor their blame can touch me then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>[#] Pronounced, Hay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The church lawyers be hanged, hanged in their -own red tape!" exclaimed Sinclair savagely. "They -have never seen anything but their own little parishes, -and they think their tuppenny parochial rules can be -applied to the whole world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know, Dr. Sinclair, I know. What saith the -Scripture? 'Where there is no vision the people -perish.' But I am resolved that my people shall not -perish.... Leng-a," he said in Chinese to the -student nurse, "call A Hoa and Tan He to come here. -Call all the other preachers, the students and elders -to come at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a few minutes the room was full of native -Christians, while others stood in the hall on one side, -or out on the verandah on the other. Briefly and -impressively MacKay explained to them the need and -his resolve, charged the two preachers to accept the -holy office, asked them the prescribed questions, and -then, when they had knelt beside his bed, he laid a -hand upon the head of each and reverently, solemnly -said in Chinese,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only -King and Head of the Church, and by the authority -He has given me when He committed to me the care -of these His people, I invite you to take part of this -ministry with me, and commit to your care these my -children in the Lord."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tears glistened on the faces of the natives. Sobs -broke from many of them. But the sick man -continued resolutely, now in English,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, I have written to the Foreign -Mission Committee of our Church, asking them to appoint -you a medical missionary in North Formosa. That -is your desire?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If they grant my request—I do not say that they -will—but if they do, do you promise to stay with -these people as long as you may find it possible so to -do, to heal their souls as well as their bodies, and to -give these native brethren your counsel, according -as the Lord gives you wisdom?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am content."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With the benediction the Chinese softly withdrew. -The sick man fell back exhausted on the pillows, soon -to be tossing and raving in delirium again. But over -in the little college building the native Christians, led -by their two new-made pastors, bowed themselves -continuously in prayer for the life which was more -than any other life to them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Was it in answer to those prayers that ice was -unexpectedly brought into that port in that tropic -clime? Who knows? So many things are veiled -from our eyes! But certain it is that when the ice -was heaped about his fevered head, MacKay fell into -a sweet, childlike sleep, from which he did not awake -for thirty-six hours. And when he awoke he was -saved.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few days later, under compulsion from the three -doctors, he sailed on board the </span><em class="italics">Fokien</em><span> to join his -family in Hong-Kong and rest. The day afterwards -the French admiral declared a blockade, and Formosa -was sealed against the world.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-soldier-of-the-legion"><span class="bold large">XXXIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE SOLDIER OF THE LEGION</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>For the five months from October till March -Dr. Sinclair and Sergeant Gorman were with -the Chinese forces before Keelung. For those -five months rain fell almost continuously. Clouds -drifted in from the sea, trailed through the valleys, and -crept up the mountain sides, discharging their burdens -of water as they went. The earth was sodden under -foot. Walls and roofs sweated moisture. Tents and -clothing mildewed. Food moulded and rotted in the -constant wet. Scarcely ever a gleam of sunshine broke -through the leaden canopy of cloud to cleanse the -reeking earth and atmosphere. For one period of -forty-five days the rain never ceased for an hour.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All through the wretched winter French transports -arrived bringing reinforcements, and left again -carrying sick and wounded men. All through the winter -a succession of petty conflicts took place, a series of -harassing, ineffectual actions was fought. A French -column would issue from Keelung, plunge through -roads which were nought but channels of liquid mud, -struggle up dripping heights, through the tall grasses -and ferns and brush, exposed to the fire of concealed -sharp-shooters, and drive the enemy from the top at -the point of the bayonet, only to find that their labour -and the price of blood paid was all in vain. In some -cases the small forces they were able to spare could -not hold the heights against the rallying Chinese. In -others immediately behind they discovered higher and -more strongly fortified posts dominating those that -they had captured.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All the while the French cemetery on the east -side of the harbour, which they had named La -Galissonière, was growing more and more populous -at an alarming rate. Typhoid fever, malarial fever, -cholera were far more dangerous than the bullets and -knives of the Chinese. In spite of the numbers of sick -and wounded men sent home to France, by the time -the winter had passed into summer seven hundred of -the small force employed had been laid away in the -rain-soaked, wave-beaten beach at Keelung.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile still heavier losses were suffered by the -Chinese. The superior discipline and arms of the -French more than compensated for their inferiority -in numbers, and enabled them to work havoc in the -close-set ranks of the Chinese. The little hospital at -Loan-Loan was always filled with wounded. Sometimes -they overflowed into the neighbouring houses -requisitioned by the military authorities for the -purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Among these wounded men Sinclair and Gorman -worked almost day and night. When a battle was in -progress, one or other went out with the ambulance -corps, gave the wounded first aid on the field, and -forwarded them to the hospital for fuller treatment -there. Under leaden skies and the incessant -downpour of rain, with insufficient medicines and -equipment, and subsisting on poor native food, they worked -on week after week, month after month.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Perhaps what was hardest to bear was the fact -that during all those months not a word reached them -from the outside world. The blockade had effectually -excluded all mails. Gorman heard nothing from his -family in Amoy. Sinclair had never a line from -Hong-Kong.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad," said Gorman one day, "this is a time -when a man would be glad to be afther seein' the -shape of a letter, even if it were only from his -mother-in-law."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let me have a look at your tongue, and a feel of -your pulse, Gorman!" exclaimed Sinclair, reaching -for the sergeant's wrist. "I knew that you were in a -bad way. But I had no idea that you were so far -gone as that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Och, docther, but wudn't I show you the iligances -of an Irish jig, if the ould lady wud only write to me -that she was dead an' p'acefully departed. Then I -cud go home to me wife an' childer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a time when men were tested. Daily, hourly, -Sinclair thought of the girl he loved, spending the -winter in Hong-Kong, subject to the attentions and -solicitations of the now titled Carteret, and the -pressure brought to bear by her mother. His hands would -clench and his jaws set hard. But he was sure that -Jessie MacAllister would do her part. Over and over -again her farewell words kept running through his -mind, "I'll be thinking of you, Donald, and you'll be -thinking of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The longest and dreariest months will always come -to an end. When February had passed, the skies -began to clear sometimes. The first week of March -had some beautiful days.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With this came renewed activity on the part of the -French. In a series of actions lasting five days, March -3d to 7th, they succeeded in capturing some of the -strongest Chinese positions on the mountain-tops near -Loan-Loan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair had chosen for his field hospital and -ambulance station a situation at the back of the post most -strongly fortified by the Chinese. It was a mountain -with a steep, almost perpendicular ascent, covered with -grass and ferns and bamboos, on the side of the French -attack. In this cover the Chinese irregulars were -hidden. The crest of the hill was crowned by an -interwoven fence of sharpened bamboos, a veritable -chevaux-de-frise. Three other lines of entrenchments -extended along the face of the hill, and had to -be crossed by the assailants before the main position -of the Chinese could be reached.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Behind the bamboo stockade, on the slope which -led down towards the valley in which the river and -the town lay, was a strong force of regular troops. -Their right was commanded by the American, Silas -Z. Leatherbottom; their left by a young Chinese officer, -trained abroad. Gorman was with the right; Sinclair -with the left.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the last day of the five. On an opposing hill -which they had captured two days before, the French -camp was plainly to be seen. Early in the morning -the movement of troops began. A column moved off -the open plateau and disappeared in the fog which -hung in the valley, as if to attack the Chinese right. -Before long heavy firing was heard in that direction, -and Chinese troops were moved across from the left -to strengthen the right under the American.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Unexpectedly rifle firing broke out under the curtain -of mist in the valley directly in front. The French -mountain guns on the opposite hill began to search -the Chinese left. In an interval of the firing the order -"</span><em class="italics">Baïonnettcs au canon! En avant!</em><span>" floated up to -where Sinclair stood with some Chinese officers on -the crest. The loud "Hourras!" of the French -soldiers mingled with the shrill yells of the Chinese, -and the crackling of rifles. The French were charging -the first line of entrenchments with the bayonet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was taken, and they pressed their retreating foes -on to the second. It too was captured, and in the -same way the third. All the while their progress -could be judged only by the sounds which came up -through the canopy of fog.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now the helmets of the Europeans began to appear -through the veil of mist. They were at the foot of -the last steep ascent, with its bamboo palisade at the -top. The Chinese defenders poured on them a perfect -hail of bullets. The ascent was so steep, the storm of -lead so terrible, that even those seasoned troops shrank -from it. The foremost, a company of the Bataillon -d'Afrique, swung off to the left in search of an easier -ascent and less deadly fire. Another company of the -same regiment dashed straight at the steep hill-side. -But the deadly fire of the Chinese mowed the foremost -of them down. A company in a different uniform, -which had been held in reserve, two hundred strong, -was ordered to their support. On they came with a -rush, cheering each other in a perfect babel of tongues. -The "En avant" of their officers was echoed in -almost every language of Europe. It was a company of -the famous </span><em class="italics">Légion Étrangère</em><span>, the Foreign Legion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their polyglot cries mingled with the French of -the Bataillon d'Afrique, as in regimental rivalry they -struggled up that terrible ascent. Bamboo scaling -ladders were placed, only to be thrown down. Men -climbed them, only to be crushed by the rocks which -the Chinese hurled upon them in savage hand-to-hand -warfare. But the assailants did not draw back. -French, Austrians, Germans, Italians, Corsicans, -Poles, men of Alsace-Lorraine, exiles from every land -of Europe, they struggled desperately up. They -fought their way to the palisade, hewed gaps in it, -and formed on top.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Chinese irregulars, driven in on their regular -troops, threw the latter into confusion. In spite of -the gallant efforts is of their young commander, most of -them broke and fled. Not so their leader. Rallying -a hundred or so of his broken army, he led them in -a bayonet charge against their foes. A volley -decimated their ranks. When the smoke cleared away, -the young officer was seen leading those who remained -to the attack. Another volley rang out, leaving him -only a handful of men. But once more the gallant -Chinese gathered the little group around him, and -dashed at the invaders. When the smoke of a third -volley cleared away there were none left to charge. -The brave young pioneer of the new China which is -to be, had died on the field he was determined to hold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The American general, Leatherbottom, realized -when it was too late that the French had deceived him -by a false attack on the right, while their real objective -was the weakened left, commanded by the young -Chinese. He explained to Sinclair afterwards,</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Thet's whar these 'ar Europeans get the start on -me. When it comes t' fightin', I kin fight. Don't yew -make enny mistake about thet. But when it's a question -of military evolyewtions an' tictacs, thet's whar -they've got me beat by a mile."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And certain it was that when the Chinese left position -was captured, and the right was forced to retreat, -the French were kept from coming to close quarters -by the deadly shooting of one rifle in the Chinese -rearguard. And that rifle was in the hands of the general -of the retreating force, the long, slab-sided Vermonter, -Silas Z. Leatherbottom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Dr. Sinclair, realizing that the day was -lost to the Chinese, was forwarding the wounded with -all possible speed, down into the valley towards a -place of safety. As the Chinese left was broken, he -had come down with a long line of stretchers, bearing -wounded who had been picked up under fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he descended to the level of the ravine which -encircled the mountain, he saw within a hundred yards -of him a squad of the Foreign Legion, hurrying along -the ravine, either seeking an easier ascent to the field -of battle, or making an attempt to cut off the Chinese -retreat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly out of a dense grove of bamboos on the -hill-side spirted streams of flame and smoke. The -stout, fair-complexioned sub-lieutenant who was -leading them, threw up his arms, staggered, caught the -trunk of a tree-fern which saved him from falling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Mein Gott im Himmel!</em><span>" he screamed. "</span><em class="italics">Je suis -tué! En avant, mes camarades! Vorwärts!</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were his last words. But they were typical -of the character of the Legion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A sergeant of almost gigantic size sprang forward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Vers la gauche!</em><span>" he shouted. "</span><em class="italics">Charges à la -baïonnette! En avant!</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good for you, sergeant!" yelled an exile of -Ireland fighting under a foreign flag. "Give the yellow -divils a taste of the steel. Hurroosh!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They dashed at the bamboos. But the withering -fire cut them down. Not a man reached the -ambuscade but the big sergeant. A bullet hit him. He fell; -rose to his feet, and made a couple of paces forward. -Another hit him on the leg. He raised himself on a -foot and a knee. A heavy stone thrown at a few yards -struck him on the head. He went down silent and -motionless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With wild screams the Chinese irregulars burst -from their cover, brandishing long knives and racing -with each other to be first to reach their victims. It -was not merely their lust for blood which clamoured -to be satisfied. Still more was it their lust for gain. -There was a price set upon French heads.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Anticipating the result, and knowing what would -follow, Sinclair dashed down the steep, grass-covered -side of the ravine at the top of his speed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait a little!" he yelled in his imperfect Chinese. -"Stop that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the irregulars were Hakka tribesmen from the -savage border, speaking a different language from that -he was learning. They probably did not understand -him. If they did, they were not to be baulked of their -rewards by the orders of the foreign doctor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Already the bloody knives were at work. Several -were quarrelling over the body of the lieutenant, for -there was a higher price for the head of an officer. -Two or three had thrown themselves upon the -sergeant. This was the nearest body to Sinclair. One -of the knives was lifted. At a dozen paces Sinclair's -big revolver spoke. The Chinese flung backwards -down the slope, throwing his glittering knife high in -the air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was a language they all could understand. -For a moment they seemed disposed to resist. But -the big foreign doctor was already among them, his -revolver barking with the rapidity of a machine gun, -and at every spirt of flame a man went down. Behind -him came a number of well-armed regulars, who had -been detailed to convoy the ambulances. The irregulars -broke and fled. But they carried away with them -the head of every man of that little squad save the -sergeant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The broken leg with its great gaping wound was -hastily bandaged and supported by splints. The torn -shoulder and the cut head had the blood staunched. -Then the unconscious man was placed on a stretcher -and borne to camp to be cared for in the same hospital -as the Chinese wounded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the line of stretchers moved down the ravine, -the tri-colour could be seen floating over the crest of -the mountain where the battle had been fought, and -the French bugles could be heard sounding "</span><em class="italics">au -drapeau</em><span>."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-language-of-paradise"><span class="bold large">XXXV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE LANGUAGE OF PARADISE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The war was practically over. The Chinese -could not dislodge the French from Keelung. -The French could not advance any farther into -the country.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What had they gained for all their expenditure of -blood and effort? They had not been able to make -themselves masters of a single foot of ground at -Tamsui. At Keelung they held the ruined town and -the harbour, and some outposts two miles from where -their warships lay. Beyond the range of their naval -guns they could not go. For such barren results, all -of which in three months' time they were to relinquish -again, they had sacrificed fully one thousand lives of -French soldiers and sailors, had disabled hundreds -more through wounds and disease, and had killed an -unknown number of Chinese, none of whom knew -what the war was about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It dragged on for another month and a half before -the blockade was raised and hostilities ceased. Six -weeks elapsed after that before Keelung was evacuated, -and the French squadron and transports sailed -away, leaving their silent city of the dead, their tale -of killed and wounded and missing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Through the month of March and half of April, -Sinclair laboured on among the wounded of the -Chinese army. He was their Life-Healer. By one of the -strange ironies of life two of those Hakka tribesmen -who had gone down before his revolver on the seventh -of March, were brought to him for treatment, and he -healed them. They looked with wonder, not unmixed -with fear, at the big fair-haired foreigner, who had -been so ferocious a day or two before. Now his -touch was as gentle as it before had been terrible, and -in his very word was healing. They did not understand. -It was a part of the foreign devil's madness. -It was a part of his magic.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But there was one over whom Sinclair spent more -time than over any other. It was the big sergeant of -the Foreign Legion. He was desperately wounded, -and for a long time lay silently unconscious. From -that stage he passed into one of delirium. Then he -raved, sometimes in French, sometimes in German, -sometimes in English, sometimes in a jumble of -languages like the Babel of tongues in the famous corps -to which he belonged. But there was one language -which he used more than all the others, and when he -used it, his voice was soft and his accents tender, like -those of a child talking to his mother, or of a lover to -his beloved. That language Sinclair did not understand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Day after day, night after night, he sat by the -wounded man's bed in the tent where he and Gorman -had their quarters. Every moment he could get off -duty among the Chinese he was at his post. There -was something about this French sergeant which -attracted him strangely. He was big and dark, with -jet black hair and large, dark eyes. When he was -wounded his face, save where it was covered by thick, -black, stubbly whiskers, was tanned to a dark brown. -But as the days and weeks of illness passed by, the -sunburn faded from his face, and left his skin clear, -almost to transparency. Then Gorman shaved him, -"to make the poor craythur a little more comfortable -loike." The fineness of the features at once struck -Sinclair. Was it only fancy, or was it a fact that he -had somewhere seen some one who resembled this -man? He racked his brain to recall who it was, or -where he had seen that expression and form of face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't think. But I know that I have seen that -face or its counterpart somewhere."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The big dark eyes of the patient opened, and began -to wander over every object in the tent. Then the -wounded man began to talk. It was in the language -Sinclair did not understand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder would Gorman know anything of that," -he said to himself. "He has a little bit of each of -a score of tongues."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A native boy ran for the sergeant. He came quickly. -The wounded soldier was silent when he entered, -and Sinclair was afraid that he would not speak again. -Presently his eyes began to rove around. Then he -spoke in a low, soft voice, words of the unknown -tongue. For a few moments Gorman stood silent with -a puzzled look on his face, as if unable to get the sense -of what was being said. Then with a sudden start he -lifted his hands above his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be all the saints in glory, docther, do you not -know that? It's what you'll have to speak whin you -get to hiven. It's Gaelic. Not Irish, but Scotch! -The man's a Highlander.... He's jist a bit of a -gossoon ag'in, wid his mother croonin' over him and -puttin' him to sleep, an' him not wantin' to go. Och, -the poor bhoy! The poor bhoy! An' the divils had -nearly cut off his head!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair sprang to his feet, his face as pale as death, -his whole frame trembling with excitement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gorman," he said, with the slow emphasis of -absolute conviction, "it's Miss MacAllister's brother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be the love of God, docther, I believe that you are -right."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know that I'm right, Gorman. It's Allister -MacAllister. I was trying to place his resemblance -to some one I knew. Now I know what that resemblance -is. It is neither to Miss MacAllister nor her -mother. It is something between the two. He has -his mother's colour of hair and eyes, and form of -face, with his sister's expression."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right you are, docther. An', docther, he mustn't die."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He must live, if human power can save him, and -God's mercy will spare him," was the solemn reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half-an-hour later a speedy runner left for Tamsui, -bearing a letter to Drs. Bergmann and Black, with an -account of the case of the wounded Frenchman, a -request for needed medicines, and the hope that one -of them might be able to come over to the camp before -Keelung for a consultation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They both came. They held a consultation, spoke -many kind words of what Sinclair had accomplished, -and returned to Tamsui to tell of the most wonderful -work they had ever seen accomplished by one doctor -against such obstacles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day after they left, Sinclair sat by his patient -in the tent by the river side. The spring sun was -shining gloriously, drawing up the moisture from the -saturated earth. The rippling of the river, the scent -of the flowers, the song of the birds floated into the -tent where the sick man lay. Sinclair had been looking -out on the flowing water. Something drew his gaze -towards the patient's cot. The large dark eyes were -fixed on him, no longer wandering and restless, but -intelligent, full of questioning and wonder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where am I?" he asked in French.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"With friends," was the reply in the same language.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did I get here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were wounded, sergeant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The last word seemed to help his memory.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I remember. We had taken the fort on the Table, -and were trying to capture Fort Bamboo, on the South -Mountain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, that's it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did we capture it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But some of us ran into an ambuscade in the -bamboos."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and you were wounded. I've been trying to -fix you up again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you a doctor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are not one of the doctors of the Legion. I -do not remember you. Do you belong to the Zephyrs -or l'Infanterie de Marine?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To neither. I am a volunteer doctor. But you -have talked enough. I do not want you to tire yourself. -I want you to get better. You must go to sleep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That afternoon General Liu Ming-chuan visited the -hospital to personally announce that an armistice was -likely to be arranged, to thank Dr. Sinclair for his -invaluable services, and to tell him that both he and -Sergeant Gorman were recommended for various -buttons and rings of jade, daggers, and feathers of -honour.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now," he concluded, "is there any request with -which the honourable physician will deign to -honour me, that I may have the pleasure of -granting it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is, Your Excellency," replied Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will the honourable physician name it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That Your Excellency will graciously condescend -to grant that the wounded French prisoner be handed -over to me, that I may restore him to his aged father, -of whom he is the only son."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The honourable physician's request is granted; -and may the young man comfort the heart of his -father, and do honour to his ancestors."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A week later Sinclair and Gorman left the Chinese -camp for Tamsui, carrying with them in a specially -constructed litter the man whom they were convinced -was the long-lost son and brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Of their suspicions concerning him, the wounded -man knew nothing. He indeed knew where he was -and how he came to be there. He knew that he had -been a prisoner in the Chinese camp. He knew that -he had been cared for and his life saved by a Canadian -missionary doctor and an Irish sergeant. He knew -that instead of leaving him in the hands of the Chinese, -they were taking him to the foreign settlement at -Tamsui, until he should be strong enough to rejoin -his regiment. But for any hint they gave or aught he -suspected, he was nothing to them but Sergeant Alfred -Melnotte, of the 3d Company, 4th Battalion of the -Foreign Legion, reported by his company commander -as "</span><em class="italics">disparu</em><span>," missing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he reached Tamsui and was installed in a -large, airy room in Dr. MacKay's house, where the -soft April winds blew in, where he lay and luxuriated -in a great white bed, with its canopy of mosquito -curtains, such luxury as he had not known for years, -he wondered at the kindness of these strangers. But -to them as to all the other residents of Tamsui, he -was just "the French sergeant, Sergeant Melnotte."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="an-apparition"><span class="bold large">XXXVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">AN APPARITION</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In Hong-Kong the winter had passed in such a -round of gaieties as the colony could afford. -There were balls and dinner parties, state and -private, afloat and ashore. There were cricket matches -and military reviews in the city. There were races -and golf, and more cricket matches and picnics at -Happy Valley. A company of players of more or less -excellence, going from Australia to England or -America, from time to time came by way of -Hong-Kong, and perhaps for a week drew astonishingly -large houses, considering the smallness of the -European population. There were excursions to Macao, -and trips to Canton.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. MacAllister entered with the utmost zest into -the social life of the great southern city. Although -never at ease in society, always revealing to the -practised eye that she had not been accustomed to it in her -youth, the continual attendance at all manner of -functions, the association with people supposed to be of -social standing, had become her ideal of happiness. -In the sumptuous apartments her husband had taken -in the hotel, she entertained lavishly. Her wealth -covered all defects of education and training. -Perhaps the majority of those she met in the social life -of the colony were not so much better bred than -herself. And those who were, accepted her bountiful -hospitality, and did not laugh at her till her back was -turned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then she had far more compensating circumstances -than most who have to depend on their wealth for -admission into society. Her husband was keenly -intelligent, well-informed, and perfectly at home anywhere. -Her daughter was strikingly beautiful and accomplished. -The accepted suitor for that daughter's hand -was an earl. How could any colony be expected to -resist such a combination as that? Hong-Kong simply -surrendered at discretion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is true that Mr. MacAllister grew very weary of -the inanities of the social round. He was becoming -more and more anxious about his ill-success in getting -any trace of his son. It is true also that many noted -the fact that Miss MacAllister seemed to be very -indifferent towards her titled suitor. But, as she once -in confidence explained to McLeod, his acceptance by -her mother saved her from being bored by any other -of the aspiring young men she met.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carteret had been in Hong-Kong on several -occasions before and had been almost entirely ignored -by colonial society. But society is not to be blamed -for that. A younger son, on a small remittance, is a -very different proposition, even if the heir has only -one lung, from a real live earl, with the full income of -his estates at his disposal. Society has a keen -appreciation of the fitness of things. It regards not what -a man is, but what he has.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus the winter passed away. But it was not -without other incident. One day in January two young -men were talking in the rotunda of the hotel. They -were both officers of an English regiment then -forming part of the garrison. One had just returned from -leave, having arrived by the P. and O. liner the day -before. The other had been in the city with his regiment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove, Powell," said the former, "I got the -biggest fright of my life yesterday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How's that?" said the other. "Didn't know that -you ever got frightened."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll acknowledge that I'm not strong on -getting scared, unless there's a woman in the case. -Then I run every time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps! But that has not enlightened me as to -what gave you the fright yesterday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was this way. When we came to anchor we -found ourselves right alongside of the French -transport </span><em class="italics">Canton</em><span>, with troops for Formosa. She had a -battalion of the Légion Étrangère. I had heard of them -at Singapore, and knew that there was an old -schoolmate of mine on board—Du Marais, captain -commanding the first company. We chummed together -when I was studying French and drill at Saint Cyr. -So before coming ashore I went aboard the </span><em class="italics">Canton</em><span> -to look him up. Du Marais was there all right, brown, -black rather, but fit as a fiddle after campaigns in -Algiers. But it wasn't Du Marais who gave me the -scare."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You remember MacAllister of the —th Dragoon Guards?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who shot Standish after Tel-el-Kebir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course I do. His father and mother and -sister are in Hong-Kong now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I could swear that he was on board the -</span><em class="italics">Canton</em><span> in Hong-Kong Harbour yesterday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But he was reported killed by Arabs on his way -to Alexandria."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know. And that is what gave me the fright. As -I was talking to Du Marais a big sergeant passed and, -by the Lord, if Allister MacAllister is living that -sergeant was he! If he's dead that was his ghost. Du -Marais noticed me start and asked what was the -matter. I told him. He said that the sergeant was not -of his company and he did not know him, but that -he would inquire. He came back in a little and said: -'You must be mistaken. That was Sergeant Melnotte -of Lebigot's company. He is a Frenchman from -Besançon.' But I was convinced that it was -MacAllister or his ghost."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two young officers strolled away. They did -not notice a man sitting under a spreading tropical -plant and hidden still more by the home newspaper -he was reading. If they had noticed, they would -have seen that the newspaper trembled like an aspen -leaf in the palsied hands which held it. When they -were gone, Mr. MacAllister rose from behind the -plant. His face was pale as ashes, but his -movements were quick and decided. He hurried to the -harbour-master's office to ask about the -</span><em class="italics">Canton</em><span>. She had sailed for Formosa the evening -before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He returned to the hotel to write letters to Consul -Beauchamp, to Commander Gardenier, to Dr. Sinclair. -Under the stringent rules of the blockade, those -letters did not reach their destinations till their -usefulness was past. He set himself to devise means -to effect his own return to Formosa. It was not until -April that it could be accomplished. Meanwhile he -told neither his wife nor his daughter, lest their hopes -should be disappointed, and the disappointment should -be more than they could bear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the fourth of April the protocol was signed by -the representatives of France and China. As soon -as the news reached Hong-Kong the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> sailed -for Tamsui. She had on board two white passengers -for that port, Dr. MacKay and Mr. MacAllister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The forces of nature and of man seemed determined -to prevent her reaching there. When near her -destination a terrific storm forced her to run back -to the coast of China for shelter, as she had been -compelled to do the previous August. When she again -appeared off Tamsui a shot across her bows brought -her to. The French commander had not heard that -the blockade had been raised. Once more she had -to put about and steam for the Pescadores to get -authority from Admiral Courbet himself. From the -Pescadores to Amoy, and again to Tamsui, she carried -her impatient passengers before they were allowed -to land.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="my-son-my-son"><span class="bold large">XXXVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">"MY SON! MY SON!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The day the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> first appeared off the -harbour of Tamsui was one of deep anxiety to -Sinclair. While the other foreign residents -were almost delirious with joy at the prospect of the -removal of the blockade, he was disturbed and anxious. -He did not know who might be on board that boat. -He had a presentiment so fixed that he could not -shake himself free from it, that Mr. MacAllister was -coming back again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He dreaded the effect on his patient of the -meeting between father and son. The wounded man was -still weak. The doctor had not even hinted to him -that he was known. Indeed, he had no absolute proof -that this was Allister MacAllister. Yet he was -convinced that this was he. He felt that he ought to tell -him that he was known, and that his father was -coming. Deep as was his own disappointment at the still -further delay of word from Hong-Kong, it was -nevertheless with a feeling akin to relief that he saw the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> forced to steam away without entering port. -He resolved that his patient must be prepared for her -return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two young men had grown deeply attached to -each other. It was not strange. Sinclair had good -reason to like the man he believed to be Jessie -MacAllister's brother. Sergeant Melnotte had good -reason to be grateful to the man who had saved his life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But there was a deeper reason. It was the -instinctive attraction of mutually complementary -characters. Sinclair's invincible good-humour and -cheerfulness were as life-giving sunshine to the wounded -soldier, worn by hardship and suffering. Melnotte's -patient, uncomplaining endurance of intense pain, -his quiet but profound gratitude, appealed to Sinclair's -admiration for all that was heroic and manly. The -large, dark eyes followed his every movement with a -look of devotion and thankfulness which was pathetic. -It was the expression of dependence of one who had -been strong, but was now brought down to the weakness -of a child. In this gratitude Sinclair found his -opportunity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sergeant Melnotte," he said, "you are not French."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The invalid's face flushed a little, but he answered -quietly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What makes you think so, doctor? Do I not -speak French correctly?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! So far as I can see, you speak it -perfectly; much better than I do. But you are not -French."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How do you come to that conclusion?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When you were delirious you spoke Gaelic."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did I?" he asked quietly, as if holding himself -in hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you understand what I said?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No; but Sergeant Gorman did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man on the bed did not reply. His face assumed -a strained, hunted look. Sinclair sat on the -edge of the bed and laid his hand gently on his -patient's.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sergeant Melnotte," he said in a low, kind tone, -"you need be afraid of nothing from me. Are you -not Allister MacAllister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wounded man's hand gripped Sinclair's. A -spasm of pain crossed his face. He closed his eyes -and lay for a few moments very still. Then, -without opening his eyes, he said in English:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you know about Allister MacAllister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know his father, his mother, and his sister. I -know that they are searching the world for him. I -know that he disappeared and left no trace behind -him, because he thought he had killed a man." The -great, dark eyes were open now and looking in -unbelieving wonder into Sinclair's frank, kindly blue ones. -"But he didn't kill him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, do you mean to say that Captain -Philip Standish did not die?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, that is what I mean. He is alive and well, -and has been helping your father to search for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank God! Oh, thank God!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He covered his face with his hands. His lips moved -as if in prayer. Sinclair did not stir, nor utter a -word to disturb his thoughts and thankfulness. At -length he uncovered his face and looked up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair," he said in a voice scarcely above a -whisper, "where did you meet my people?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here in Tamsui.... No," he continued, in -answer to the eager, startled look, "they are not here -now. But they are not far away. They are in Hong-Kong."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Four days later the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> was again seen standing -in towards the harbour. After a very brief delay -the French allowed her to proceed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The whole foreign population except Sergeant -Gorman and the patient, whom he remained to care for, -were down at the dock. The native Christians were -there in a body in the hopes that Dr. MacKay might -be on board.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the first boat with the first news from abroad -for exactly six months zigzagged through the field -of mines and obstructions with which the mouth of -the harbour was blocked, every glass was focussed -upon her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's McLeod who is bringing her in," said Boville, -who was using the long customs telescope. "Whiteley -is not on the bridge. He is on deck with two -passengers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's MacKay next to him," said the consul. -"I can tell him by his size and the long black -whiskers against his white clothes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's the big man on MacKay's left?" asked -Sinclair, who wanted some one to confirm his own -impressions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looks like MacAllister," replied Boville. "Yes, -it is MacAllister. I can see him plainly now that she -has swung to starboard. I wonder what is bringing -him back to Formosa."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord, what shall I do to entertain him? ... I -haven't a thing to eat fit to offer a white man.... -'Pon my soul, I haven't!" spluttered De Vaux.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair and the consul glanced at each other -understandingly, and the latter said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Make your mind easy about that, De Vaux. With -your permission I shall be glad to entertain -Mr. MacAllister. I have a little foreign chow left. My wife -will probably have sent some more by this boat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With tears of joy, shrill cries of welcome, and -exclamations of thankfulness the natives received their -pastor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No less gladly, but hiding their feelings under jest -and laughter, the Britons welcomed their countrymen. -In the midst of the handshaking Beauchamp said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. MacAllister, you will be my guest this time. -Come away up to the consulate."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a brief word or two in an undertone to Sinclair, -the consul led his guest away. After a cheery -laugh and an exchange of banter with McLeod, the -doctor climbed the steep hill with MacKay and his -converts to the former's house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Twenty minutes later he looked from the verandah -and saw the consul and Mr. MacAllister coming. The -latter's face was pale as death. He was stooping -forward and trembling as if with palsy. But he was -covering the ground with such strides that the consul, -in spite of his agility, was almost running to keep -pace with him. As he drew near the verandah the -father broke into a run, and his trembling hands -caught Sinclair's:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"May I see him, doctor? May I see him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. He's expecting you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"God bless you, Dr. Sinclair! God bless you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the door of the room swung open the man on -the bed raised himself on his elbow and uttered one -word in Gaelic:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Athair!" (Father).</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My son! My son, Allister! My son! My son!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The father was on his knees beside the bed, holding -the great worn frame of his boy in his arms. The -son's arms were around the father's neck. They were -kissing each other, were crooning to each other in the -Gaelic. All the passion and the tenderness of the -Celtic nature was being poured forth, unrestrained. -The love of this man of business and his soldier son -was like the love of a man for a woman, and of a -woman for a man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half an hour later Sinclair and MacKay gently -opened the door. They were anxious about the -strength of the wounded man. The father was still -on his knees by the bed. The son's arms were still -around his neck. The father's voice was being lifted -up to God in prayer, still in the language of his native -hills. It was not a prayer of petition, but of -thankfulness. And the words they heard were these:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'For this my son was dead, and is alive again. -He was lost and is found.'"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="rejected"><span class="bold large">XXXVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">REJECTED</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>MacKay and Sinclair were sitting in the -former's study. It was the first moment they -had found in which to discuss their own -plans and prospects.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair," said MacKay, "you remember my -prophecy about the way the Church at home would -treat me, because I ordained those two native -preachers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I remember."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Read that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He handed Sinclair a letter. It was from an old -official of the Church. In dry, formal words he -recounted the misdemeanours and errors of which -MacKay was guilty in that "you did arrogate unto -yourself and usurp the functions of a Presbytery, and did, -by the laying on of your hands, without the presence -and without the authority of a Presbytery, ordain or -pretend to ordain to the office of the holy ministry -two native preachers: to wit, one A Hoa and one -Tan He."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After having recounted the pains and penalties -which the heinous offence might incur, the letter -closed with the consolation that, in view of his past -services and his zeal which had outrun his discretion, -the General Assembly would be petitioned to -condone his offence, and it might be pleased to grant -the prayer of the petition, on condition that he would -promise that it would never happen again. This -promise, it was trusted, would be forthcoming by -return mail.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he finished reading Sinclair sat in silence for -some moments, looking straight at MacKay. Then -he burst out:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The old fossil! Has he no imagination? Has he -no knowledge of conditions here? Has he no -common sense to apply to an uncommon situation?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looks like that," replied MacKay. "But -perhaps it is not all his fault. He has never seen -any Christian work except that in a congregation -of decent Ontario farmers, or in a city church -composed of the hereditary good. He has never been any -place where cut-and-dried Presbyterian rules could -not be applied as easily as a straight edge to a plane -surface."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A mere animated edition of Rules and Forms of -Procedure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But did you not explain to him the exceptional -situation, demanding exceptional treatment?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. I explained it very fully."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And could the old dry-as-dust not understand? -Could he not understand that at the time you did -this you were likely to die within twelve hours? Could -he not understand that, if you had died and you had -left no one to take the lead, all this work, this Church -you have builded, was likely to go to smash before -they could get another man capable of carrying it on? -Could he not understand that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, he could not understand. And if he could, -the total destruction of the native Church would be -nothing as compared with the calamity of having -broken a rule framed for the Church in Canada, but -not in China."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A case of man's being made for the rules, and -not the rules for man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Exactly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose he can't help it. He has been reared -in a groove. He lives in a groove. He will die in -a groove. And if he gets to heaven it will be through -a groove fenced in by rules and precedents."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you like to put it that way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But will you submit to it? Will you promise to -be good and not to do this wicked thing any more?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think I would."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If I didn't, I'd be suspended and have to give up -my work. I would submit to nearly anything rather -than leave these people. They are my children in -the Lord."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair made no reply. He was seeing more -deeply than ever into the secret springs of the life -of this stern prophet of North Formosa. He had not -wondered at his bearing hardship, at his facing -danger, at his seeming almost to court death. That was -what was to be expected of one of his nature. But -when he saw this fiery Celt meekly submit to the -rebukes of small and ignorant men, in order that -he might be permitted by their ill-grace to go on with -his work, he began to fathom the depth of his love -for the dark-skinned people of his island home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently MacKay spoke:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have another letter which touches you more -closely. It is the reply to my request that you should -be appointed a medical missionary. Do you care to -read it? Here it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair took it and read. It had evidently not -been written until after the Church at home had -received word of MacKay's recovery from his -serious illness. It opened with some very conventional -and perfunctory expressions of thanksgiving to the -Almighty for having "spared the life of His devoted -servant and restored him to such a large measure of -health."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then it proceeded to deal with the application for -Sinclair's appointment as a missionary. It was -"contrary to the usage of the Committee to appoint a man -who had not put in his application in regular form. -The Committee also preferred that the candidate for -appointment should appear in person before it, that its -members might be satisfied as to his fitness. Doubtless -Dr. Sinclair was all that Dr. MacKay represented him -to be. But the Committee felt that it would be unwise -to rely on Dr. MacKay's judgment in the matter, -especially in view of some recent regrettable occurrences....</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The Committee was very particular that its missionaries -should be men of deep spirituality, spending -much time in prayer, characterized by meekness and -humility, filled with love for the natives, ready to -make sacrifices and endure hardships in order that the -Kingdom of God might be established on the earth. -The Committee regretted that it could not accept -without reserve Dr. MacKay's judgment of the -candidate's fitness, especially in view of recent events.... -If Dr. Sinclair really desired appointment, he must -return to Canada and appear in person before the -Committee...."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he proceeded Sinclair's face was a study. When -he had read a page or more of this epistle he stopped, -glanced at MacKay, then turned to the last page, and -looked at the signature:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Your brother in the Lord,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"THADDÆUS CORNELIUS McGUFFIN."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Thaddæeus Cornelius McGuffin," he repeated. -"Who in the world is that? I thought that I knew -most of the Church officials at home. But I never -heard of him. Who is he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A young clerk who has been appointed to help -the convener of the Committee. A sort of office -assistant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And does he dare to write to you like that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see for yourself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The gall of him! What does he know of the qualities -needed in a missionary? Has he ever been in the -foreign field?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never been nearer to it than the suburbs of Toronto."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He talks about sacrifice and enduring hardships. -What has he sacrificed? What hardships has he -borne?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To the best of my knowledge he has never sacrificed -a meal of victuals or a night's rest. But these -are the men who talk most glibly of self-sacrifice. As -for hardships, I think the greatest he has ever known -has been to ride down to the office in a Toronto -street car."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's bad enough," laughed Sinclair, whose -good-humour was returning as the absurdity of this -office-hand's high and mighty attitude towards the -veteran missionary grew upon him. "But tell me, -Dr. MacKay," he continued, "what would they do -with me if I did go home and appear before the -Committee?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They would ask you a number of harmless questions -about your disposition and temper, and your -submissiveness to authority, your religious experience, -devotional practices, and habits of study—the -whole lasting perhaps fifteen minutes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And do they imagine that they would learn more -of me by that than you could testify of me after -having seen me among the natives for the last nine -months?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Evidently! Especially as my judgment is not to -be trusted since some recent events."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And for that fifteen-minute interview they would -expect me to travel ten thousand miles?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I'm not going. I shall not submit myself -to the inquisition of Thaddaeus Cornelius McGuffin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very glad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair looked at MacKay with surprise and -question in his eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am very glad that you will not go. You would -not be appointed if you did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How do you know?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Read the rest of the letter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You tell me the substance of it. Life's too -short to spend so much time reading McGuffin's -effusions."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your sins have found you out." MacKay's face -showed a gleam of grim humour as he spoke. "You -are not spiritual. You were accustomed to spend only -fifteen or twenty minutes in your morning devotions -instead of a full hour as required by McGuffin's -standards. You are not meek. You once thrashed a rough -who insulted a lady on the street instead of sweetly -reasoning with him. Then you took him to the -hospital to recover from the thrashing. You are not -sound. It is whispered that you said that you didn't -think Moses wrote the account of his own funeral in -the Book of Deuteronomy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Sinclair listened to this epitome of McGuffin's -catalogue of his shortcomings he went off into peals -of laughter, in which MacKay joined. The inner -nature of the quiet, reserved man had come out in the -intimacies of a rare friendship.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do they think that I would corrupt the morals -of the heathen?" Sinclair inquired as he recovered -himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Apparently. Perhaps you would batter your -heresies into them with your fists."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What would McGuffin have thought if he had -seen me at Sin-tiam or where the Hakkas were trying -to cut the head off poor young MacAllister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He wouldn't have seen you. He would have -swooned away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I suppose it is all off with me so far as -being a missionary under my own Church is -concerned."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am afraid that it is. I had set my heart on it. -We could have done so much together. You have won -the hearts of the natives in a wonderful way. I could -have left the medical work all to you. You would -have done great good. But it is an unrealized dream. -I am disappointed. But I am not discouraged. I am -accustomed to disappointments. I meet them often. -But discouraged? Never!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair gripped MacKay's hand in his powerful grasp:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad to have known you, MacKay. It has -done me good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I, you. But we'll say no more of that. What -are you going to do? Have you anything in view?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing. But something will always turn up -for a doctor. I'll find work somewhere, where the -sins of my past are not known."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just then there was a whoop outside. Then another -and another. Then the sound of a heavy footfall in a -war-dance on the verandah.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's Gorman!" exclaimed Sinclair. "What is -the matter with him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He sprang to the door, followed by McKay. -There was Gorman, executing the wildest kind of a -dance, bringing his feet down with a vigour which -threatened to split the tiles of the verandah, and all -the time waving a letter over his head to the -accompaniment of wild yells:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whoop! Docther! Hurroosh! Be the blissin' -of the saints! Whoop! Me mother-in-law's gone to -glory. Hurroosh!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dead!" exclaimed Sinclair. "When did it happen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Six weeks ago, be the blissin' of hiven! Whoop! -Won't the angels be havin' a divil of a time wid her -now! Hurroosh! That's always the way wid her. -The first month she's p'aceful as a suckin' lamb wid -its twinklin' tail. Thin she cuts loose, an' be the -middle of the second she bates Banagher. She'll jist -have hit her gait be now. Begorra but they'll jist be -wonderin' what they've got! Whoop! An' now me -wife an' childer for me, an' a quiet loife! Hurroosh!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-realized-dream"><span class="bold large">XXXIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A REALIZED DREAM</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, I owe you an apology. I -have a letter for you which I neglected to -deliver. I was so selfish in my gladness -yesterday that I forgot that I had this for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair rose from where he sat beside his patient -on the broad verandah and received from Mr. MacAllister -the letter. It was addressed in the same -hand as a little note he had carried in an inner pocket -until it was worn to fragments. In spite of his efforts -at self-control, the hot blood rushed to his face. The -keen grey eyes had a humorous twinkle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall keep Allister company for a while. When -you are ready, I should like to have a few minutes' talk -with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, I'll be back shortly," was all Sinclair -could say as he hurried to his room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It had been a bitter disappointment to him the day -before, when the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong's</em><span> mail was distributed, -that there was not so much as a note from Hong-Kong -for him. All through that long, lonesome winter he -had centred his anticipations around that first mail. -Now it had come. There were other letters for him. -But there were none from Hong-Kong. It was not -till then that he realized how much Jessie MacAllister -had been in his thoughts and how blank life would be -without her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But, with the stoicism which lay hidden under the -easy good-humour of his surface temperament, he -said nothing of his disappointment, even to McLeod, -and went about his duties outwardly as cheerful as -usual. He did not know how many letters in the -same handwriting were lying at Swatow and Amoy -and Foochow, awaiting an opportunity of transmission -to the blockaded Formosan coast. He did not -know of this letter, sent by her father's hand, that it -might be safely delivered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That letter was sufficient reward for all his waiting -and disappointment. It was so tender, so trusting, so -full of longing for his coming. Words which had -refused to leave her tongue during those few brief -hours of intercourse after their mutual confessions -flowed easily from her pen. Again the wonder came -to him that this girl who wrote to him with such -confidence and laid bare her heart to him should be the -same as she who had flouted him on the deck of the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> only a few short months before. He had -to read the letter again and again and look yet once -more at the signature—"Jessie MacAllister," to be -sure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was another thought. Her father must know -and be satisfied. That gave him no little comfort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But with this he suddenly remembered that he had -promised Mr. MacAllister to be back shortly. He -had no idea how long he had spent reading that -letter. He sprang to his feet and hurried out to the -verandah, where MacKay had joined the father and -son. At his apology for being longer than he had -expected there came again the little twinkle in the -grey eyes and the quiet reply:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No apologies are necessary. I, too, have not found -the time long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It did not entirely remove Sinclair's embarrassment. -But the business man went on in a serious tone:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dr. Sinclair, I am informed by Dr. MacKay that -your Church has refused to appoint you a medical -missionary."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Mr. MacAllister, they have rejected me. -They do not consider that I am sufficiently devout -or sufficiently orthodox to be trusted to heal the -heathen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes! Yes! I understand. I have seen a -lot of this in the church. There is a wrong -standard. A devotion and spirituality which is -too deep and real to be wordy is rejected, and -that shallow, spurious kind which vents itself in -talk is accepted. A man who says nothing but -sacrifices himself is given second place, and he who does -nothing but talk of self-sacrifice is put first. They -are less concerned about orthodoxy of life than they -are about orthodoxy of creed. But a better day is -coming. These things will right themselves by and -by. In the meantime you want work, do you not?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I certainly do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is a scheme I wish to lay before you. God -has just given me the greatest joy of my life. My -son, my Allister, has been restored to me. I want to -establish some permanent memorial of my gratitude, -something which will be of use and do good to men. -It was by a doctor that my son was saved from a -cruel death. It was by a doctor and in a hospital that -he was nursed back to health. It was by a doctor that -he has been restored to me, and will be restored to -his mother and sister. It seems to me that I could -give no more fitting token of my thankfulness than -to erect and equip a hospital and ask that doctor to -take charge of it. Dr. Sinclair, will you accept the -position?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. MacAllister, such a position has been the -dream of my life. I will accept it gladly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought you would. Now as to the place. Since -it was in North Formosa my son's life was saved, it -would be appropriate that in North Formosa the -hospital should be built. And there I intended to build -it and present it to the mission of the Canadian -Church. But, since your Church has refused your -application on what are to me entirely insufficient -grounds, the hospital will be erected in Hong-Kong -and presented to one of the missions there. In all -probability you will be able to do as great, or even -a greater, work there than here. Would you be -agreeable to that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite. I had hoped to be able to work under the -Church in which I was trained from childhood. But, -since it has rejected me, it is a matter of indifference -to me under what board I labour, so long as I am -doing the duty set before me. But there is one -request I wish to make."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish to take Sergeant Gorman with me as chief -of the staff of male nurses and attendants, whether -native or foreign. As you know, he is a Roman -Catholic, and some narrow-minded people may make -objections."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There will be no objections. It will be stipulated -in the deed of gift."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-coward"><span class="bold large">XL</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">THE COWARD</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>April had passed. The first week of May had -come, the hot May of the tropics. Yet there -was a sweetness, a certain morning freshness -about it. On her second trip after the blockade the -</span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> had borne back to Hong-Kong a little group -of passengers. They were Mr. MacAllister, his son, -and Dr. Sinclair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sergeant Gorman, who had returned to Amoy to -his family by the previous voyage of the boat, joined -them at that port and accompanied them to Hong-Kong. -As he expressed it to McLeod, he wanted -"jist to be in at the finish; jist to see the docther -fix bayonets an' take the fort wid one gallant -charge, an' see that spalpeen of a Carteret scattered -an' runnin' for cover in total rout and confushun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards midnight the </span><em class="italics">Hailoong</em><span> slipped into port. -There were few about and no guests in the rotunda -or corridors of the hotel to whom it was necessary for -Mr. MacAllister to introduce the young men by whom -he was accompanied.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the reunion which followed Mrs. MacAllister -forgot for the time her opposition to the friendship -between her daughter and Sinclair. Her gratitude -for his rescue of her son was deep and sincere. With -all the warmth of her Highland nature she thanked -him, till he blushed painfully and showed an -embarrassment under praise which he had never manifested -in the most trying moments of the ridicule he had -suffered when they were first acquainted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next day passed like a dream to Sinclair. -Father and mother were constantly with their long-lost -son. Sinclair and Miss MacAllister were left much -to themselves. In some way during those seven months -of separation they had grown acquainted with one -another. That sacred and never-to-be-forgotten hour -in which they had confessed their love had found them -almost strangers. It had been as one kneels to a -sovereign that he had knelt before her and gave her hand -the kiss of homage. It was with the grave reverence -of a sacred rite that he had sealed their vows of love -by pressing his lips to hers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But that was in the past now. Seven months had -slowly worn away; seven months in which thoughts -had been busy. And ever in the background of those -thoughts was the fact that they loved each other, and -had confessed their love, and neither had shrunk from -the other nor repelled a caress. The passion, the -abandon of love had grown during those months of -waiting. It knew that it would not be refused.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Donald, I have been so weary for you, so -lonesome and weary! I have dreamed of you out -there under the rains, among the wounded, and -facing the bullets.... Donald, I'm ashamed. I know -that it wasn't brave. But I couldn't help it. Often -and often I cried myself to sleep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her face was tear-wet now as he lifted it to his. -But it was smiling through its tears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jessie, it was the thought of you which kept me -up. It was because of you that I stayed at work. -If it hadn't been for you, I might have given up -before the end came.... I might not have been there -when Allister fell."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She shuddered at the thought and pressed closer -to him. But Allister was safe, and the suggestion of -what might have been now only served as a stimulus -to her love for the man to whom she had given her -heart before he had done that which was to bind her -to him by gratitude as well as by love.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But her mother was not yet ready to give up her -project of marrying her daughter to the Earl of -Lewesthorpe. He was still the suitor she had -accepted, if her daughter had not. She realized very -clearly that her daughter had no more inclination -towards him than when they came to Hong-Kong. -Indeed, it was the other way. On more than one -occasion her aversion to him had been so manifest as -to cause comment. But Mrs. MacAllister had resolved -to have her own way and gain her ambition. Not -even gratitude to Dr. Sinclair for his inestimable -service could bend her will.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If because she was grateful she had allowed him -some liberty that day without her watchful presence, -she had intended that evening to make it perfectly -plain that Lord Lewesthorpe was the only one who -would be countenanced as an aspirant for her hand. -With her love for social events, and a touch of the -melodramatic, she had invited a very few very select -friends for the evening. Most of them did not know -that she had a son. None save those who had -accompanied him from Formosa knew that her son was -in Hong-Kong.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Of course Captain Whiteley and Mr. McLeod were -among the guests. Her husband, son, and daughter -had insisted that Sergeant Gorman should be one of -the number. Remembering that he had once told her -that he was the son of an Irish gentleman, she -consented. Otherwise it was to be a surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a surprise. The guests arrived one by one -and were presented to Allister. The last to come was -the lion of the evening. Mrs. MacAllister greeted -him effusively and conducted him to where her -son sat in a great easy-chair, hidden by a group of -guests.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Allister, my son, I want you to meet one of our -most intimate friends, a particular friend of your -sister, the friend of whom I spoke to you to-day, his -lordship, the Earl of Lewesthorpe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Allister had risen to his feet. The two young men -were facing each other in silence. The young -aristocrat's dark countenance turned a ghastly yellow and -his jaw dropped. Allister's pale cheeks had a flush -of burning red and his great dark eyes fairly blazed -with anger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carteret! The coward!" burst from his lips. -On the blanched faces of the guests wonder and -consternation were written. But astonishment held -them dumb. Before any of them could speak -Carteret's ready self-assurance returned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lieutenant MacAllister," he said, "why not let -by-gones be by-gones? We have both made mistakes. -We have both suffered. These things belong to the -past. Why not let them die, and start afresh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If it were only the past, Carteret, I would let -them die. But it is the present. You were a coward -in the past. You are a scoundrel now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sinclair stepped quickly to Allister's side, for he -saw that he was becoming dangerously excited. -Mrs. MacAllister awoke out of her paralysis of surprise -to cry:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Allister! Allister, my son! What is the -meaning of this? Has the fever come back on you? Why -do you insult his lordship so? What is the meaning -of this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother," he said, "it is not fever. It is cool fact. -That is the man who ragged me all through my -service in the Guards. That is one of the men who -insulted me after Tel-el-Kebir. He is the one who was -too much of a coward either to take a thrashing or -to fight, and Standish was shot. That is the man -who has caused me to be an exile these nearly three -years, to suffer starvation and wounds under a -foreign flag. Yet I could forgive all that, as I have -forgiven Standish. But knowing that, and without your -knowing it, he has dared to speak love to my sister -and ask her hand in marriage. I'll never forgive him -that. Never!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Drawing herself up to her full height, Mrs. MacAllister -turned on her lion. Her raven black hair, her -flashing eyes, her high colour and large, strong frame -were the very embodiment of the fearless spirit of her -race:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lord Lewesthorpe, iss thiss true?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is very apparent that I am not welcome here," -he replied. "With your permission, I'll retire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad, an ye'd betther, ye cowardly spalpeen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gorman had made one quick step forward, with the -evident intention of helping him to retire, when -Sinclair's iron grasp closed on his shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right, docther; I was forgettin' meself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was the only departure Gorman made that -evening from the strictest rules of the conduct to be -expected of the son of an Irish gentleman. And -perhaps it wasn't a departure, either, but the most -characteristic act of all. In any case, he saw "that -spalpeen of a Carteret scattered an' runnin' for cover -in total rout an' confushun."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="good-will-toward-men"><span class="bold large">XLI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">"GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was Christmas Day. Not Christmas Day of the -North, with its clear frosty air, its robe of -virgin snow, its furs, its prancing horses, and tinkling -sleigh-bells. It was Christmas Day in the tropics, -with a summer sky and summer sun, with roses blooming -and rich tropical plants spreading their huge leaves -and casting a grateful shade in the botanical gardens. -A slight breeze from the northeast tempered the -warmth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a high day in Hong-Kong. In the early -forenoon services had been held and the age-old song -had been sung.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Glory to God in the highest,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>And on earth peace, good will toward men."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>At high noon in the Union Church, where men of -many creeds worshipped in harmony, Dr. Donald -Sinclair and Miss Jessie MacAllister were married with -simple, yet solemn, rites. The ceremony passed -without unusual incident, save that Constance Beauchamp -just missed kissing the groom before he had time -to kiss the bride. And when they turned to pass out -of the church Sergeant Gorman, in a stage whisper, -said to McLeod:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be all the saints above, McLeod, if the angels in -glory look anny purtier than thim two, glory's no place -for you an' me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the afternoon the Allister Thanksgiving -Hospital was formally opened by the governor of the -colony, and in the name of Him who came to heal -men's diseases it was dedicated to the work of -healing the diseases of men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the notables had dispersed to talk of the -merchant prince's munificent gift, when the guard of -honour had marched back to the barracks, and the music -of the bands had died away, a few who had special -interest in the work, or had come from far to be -present on that day, still strolled through the long, -cool corridors, the well-furnished wards, and the high, -centre-lighted operating-room. Consul Beauchamp -and his family and Dr. MacKay had come from Formosa -to be present. They stood with the donor, his -wife, and son.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This must be a great satisfaction to you, -Mr. MacAllister," the consul said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Mr. Beauchamp. I never before knew as I -know now that the pleasure of wealth is not in -making or keeping money, but in giving it away. What -do you think, Dr. MacKay?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was not thinking of that. I was thinking of my -little hospital with its poor equipment and its need -of a doctor to take charge. I am not covetous. But -I cannot help thinking that this hospital and the -doctor who is at the head of it might have been in North -Formosa, where it is needed even more than in -Hong-Kong. But there was no vision, and my people must -suffer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And when that hospital became not only a centre -of healing but developed a medical college in -connection with it, when the doctor at the head of it grew -to be such an authority on tropical diseases that he -was called to England to be dean of a great school -of tropical medicine, when he received honours from -medical colleges and societies the world over and a -knighthood at the hands of his sovereign, those who -knew him often thought of the day when he was -refused appointment as a medical missionary in the -little North Formosa Mission. And they wondered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Dr. Sinclair was not thinking of that then. He -had been showing his bride the great building her -father had erected, for she had arrived from England -only the evening before and had not found an -opportunity to see it. Together they walked on the deep, -cool upper verandah and looked out over the glorious -prospect of city and harbour, mountain and sea. Side -by side they stood under one of its arches, her hand -resting lightly in his.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is all so fairy-like," he said, "that even yet I -can scarcely persuade myself that it is not a dream."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a dream, Donald, the loveliest dream one -could wish. But what is best about it is that it is a -dream of delight which does not vanish with one's -waking."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To me the strangest thought of all is the way it -was brought about. I left home not knowing where -I was going, with only a vague idea that I might find -a place to do good somewhere. I have been given an -appointment beyond my fondest imaginings. What -is more than all beside, I have been given you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Behind the lattice-work which sheltered one end -of the verandah from the rays of the sun and from -the gaze of the inquisitive, her head rested on his -shoulder, her lips were lifted to his.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Donald," she said softly, "my story is even -stranger than yours. I came to the East with little -thought of anything but pleasure; with little purpose -in life, and no ambition to do good. I have been -given a brother and a husband, love and a life to live. -I did not deserve it. What does it mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It means that there is a hand shaping our destinies, -giving us a work to do, showing us a path to -tread. Are we willing to follow the leading of that -hand, Jessie?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Donald."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The measured step of drilled men sounded on the -steep gravelled road below. Sergeant Gorman and a -squad of the ambulance corps he had already trained -were bearing an injured man to the door. Arm in -arm Dr. Sinclair and his bride walked down to see the -first patient borne in. In a few moments more his -wedding coat was thrown off, his operator's apron and -sleeves slipped on, and Sinclair was at work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus without fuss or delay, refusing to be excused -even by the festivities of the marriage-day, the -Life-Healer and the fair woman who had been willing to -blend her destiny with his together entered on their -life-long labour of Good Will Toward Men.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>THE CALL OF THE EAST</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45061"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45061</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>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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