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diff --git a/old/55767-8.txt b/old/55767-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c988a9b..0000000 --- a/old/55767-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7124 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Boy Fortune Hunters in China, by L. Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boy Fortune Hunters in China - -Author: L. Frank Baum - -Release Date: October 18, 2017 [EBook #55767] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FORTUNE HUNTERS IN CHINA *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Glenn Krause, MFR, Stephen Hutcheson, -University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University -of South Florida and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: ] - - - - - The Boy - Fortune Hunters - in China - - - By - FLOYD AKERS - - Author of - "The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska," - "The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama," - "The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt" - - [Illustration: Publisher Logo] - - CHICAGO - THE REILLY & BRITTON CO. - PUBLISHERS - - - Other Books in - The Boy Fortune Hunters - Series - By FLOYD AKERS - - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt - - Cloth 12 mos. illustrated, 60 cents each. - - COPYRIGHT 1909 BY - THE REILLY & BRITTON CO. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. A Sea Tragedy 11 - II. Prince Kai Lun Pu 25 - III. Smiling at Death 32 - IV. A Startling Proposition 42 - V. The Halls of His Ancestors 53 - VI. "Old Death's-Head" 65 - VII. We Become Conspirators 76 - VIII. Dr. Gaylord's Proposal 86 - IX. We Outwit Mai Lo. 93 - X. An Unheeded Warning 102 - XI. An Unexpected Desertion 112 - XII. Mai Lo Makes a Discovery 121 - XIII. The Elephant Train 131 - XIV. The Chief Eunuch 139 - XV. The Royal House of Kai 150 - XVI. The Governor Shows His Teeth 156 - XVII. Wi-to Proves Faithful 165 - XVIII. The Sacred Apes of Kai 177 - XIX. The Pearl of Kai-Nong 186 - XX. "Three Little Maids from School" 199 - XXI. An Unlawful Interview 210 - XXII. The Secret Passage 220 - XXIII. The Treasure of the Ancients 233 - XXIV. The Royal Cabinet 244 - XXV. The Trap is Sprung 256 - XXVI. A Fearful Encounter 267 - XXVII. The Battle in the Corridor 280 - XXVIII. The Vengeance of the Ruby Scimitar 293 - XXIX. The Severed Head 304 - XXX. The Pool of the Devil-Fish 315 - - - - - FOREWORD - - -Those readers who have penetrated far into the Chinese Empire, as has -the author, will be quick to discover that he has substituted for the -name of the Thibetan Province one that will not be recognized. - -The reasons for this are evident. Ancestor worship is still the -prevailing creed of the most numerous class of Chinese, and a violation -of the sanctity of any ancestral chih, or underground tomb, would -naturally be resented if it disgraced a family so important as that of a -royal prince of the realm. - -The Chinese characters presented in the story are drawn from life. -Prince Kai Lun Pu is a well-known type of the liberal-minded, educated -young men who are the best guarantee of the future expansion of the -Celestial Empire. The rule of the Chief Eunuch still dominates every -palace in China, and even the efforts of the late Dowager Empress could -not restrain the encroaching powers of these masterful creatures. - -The manners and customs herein described will serve to acquaint those -who have not visited China with some of the most curious traditions of -that ancient race, while the adventures related, startling as they are, -are fully within the bounds of possibility. - - - - - The Boy Fortune Hunters in China - - - - - CHAPTER I. - A SEA TRAGEDY. - - -The sinking of the first-class passenger steamship _Karamata Maru_ in -the neighborhood of Hawaii on June 17, 1908, has been the subject of so -much newspaper comment that doubtless the reader imagines he knows all -the circumstances connected with the fatal affair. But I have carefully -read these newspaper reports and am astonished to find them quite -perverted and unreliable, the result of carelessness or ignorance on the -part of correspondents, the desire of officials to shield themselves -from blame and the tendency of editors to amplify scant material into -three-column articles with numerous "scare heads." - -I may well speak with authority in this connection, because it was our -ship, the _Seagull_, which first arrived at the scene of the disaster -and rescued the passengers and crew of the ill-fated _Karamata Maru_ -from their imminent peril So I shall tell you the story in my own way, -as it has an important bearing on the extraordinary events that -afterward took place--events which have led me to write this book, and -place on record a series of adventures so remarkable as to have been -seldom if ever equalled. - -To begin with, I beg to introduce myself as Sam Steele, of Chelsea, -Massachusetts, eighteen, years of age and filling the responsible -position of purser and assistant supercargo on the trim little -merchantman yacht, the _Seagull_. Indeed, I am one of the three owners -of our ship, the others being my father, Captain Richard Steele, and my -uncle, Naboth Perkins. My father is a seasoned and experienced seaman, -who has sailed in nearly every navigable part of the world. My uncle is -an expert trader and an honest man--a combination that accounts for his -great success in his profession. - -Circumstances placed me on shipboard at an early age, and in the course -of several long and eventful voyages I have encountered many adventures -and queer happenings that have made me richer in experience than most -young fellows. - -One may remain modest and unassuming, I think, and still bear witness to -the truth of adventures in which he has participated. It is not because -I love to speak of myself that I am telling my own story, but because I -have full knowledge of those events in which I bore a personal part, and -so am qualified to relate them. And you will discover, when I have -finished the tale, that I have not posed as a hero, but merely as a -subordinate actor in the drama--what, I believe, is called a "walking -gentleman" or "general utility man" in theatrical parlance. The theatre -being, at its best, a reflection of real life, the illustration is -permissible. - -It will be necessary to tell you something about the company assembled -aboard the _Seagull_ when she began her voyage from San Francisco early -in May to carry a cargo of mixed merchandise to Canton, China. - -The _Seagull_ has no regular itinerary, but sails a free lance in any -sea and to any country where it may be profitable for her to go. Both my -father and Uncle Naboth have adventurous natures, and prefer to let fate -direct their future rather than attempt to plan a succession of tedious -and uninteresting voyages which might mean surer gain but would afford -less excitement. This has resulted, however, in a neat fortune for each -of the _Seagull's_ three owners, and our success has encouraged us to -persist in our eccentric methods. In the merchant service our beautiful -ship is dubbed a "tramp," and I and my chums are called "the Boy Fortune -Hunters," Uncle Naboth "the Yankee Trader" and Captain Steele "crazy old -Peg-leg,"--because poor father has really a wooden leg, which in no way, -however, renders him less able as a skipper. But we laugh at this -harmless raillery and, well knowing that we are envied by many who thus -banter us, pursue our own way with unconcern. - -So it happened that after a prosperous voyage around the Horn, to -deliver a valuable cargo of tin-plate to the great canning factories of -Oregon and Washington, we had barely anchored in the bay at San -Francisco before we received a commission to sail to Canton with a cargo -of merchandise. This suited us all; but none better than me, for I had -long desired to visit China, Japan and the Philippines. Also it suited -Joe Herring, our cabin boy and my particular friend; and it suited -Archie Ackley, a well-to-do young fellow who had sailed with us on a -former voyage and passed as my chum. Archie was a reckless, adventurous -sort of chap, and had made the trip around the Horn on the _Seagull_ to -give a broken leg time to knit perfectly, the said leg having been -damaged in a foolish wrestling bout. - -I am sure you would shake your head dubiously if I were to recount all -of the characteristics of this youth which had endeared him to our -little ship's company. I should be obliged to say, for instance, that -Archie was stubborn as a mule, conceited as a peacock, reckless of all -conventionalities, and inclined to quarrel and fight on the slightest -provocation. But I should hasten to add that he was brave as a lion and -tender as a woman to those he loved. His loyalty had been fully proven -on the occasion of that former voyage to which I have referred, when he -accompanied us to Egypt and won our hearts completely. - -Archie was about my age; but Joe, our cabin boy, was a little younger, -and as staunch a friend and queer a character in his way as you will -ever be able to find on this astonishing earth. - -Joe is rich. He could purchase a mate to the _Seagull_ and never feel -the expenditure. He could sail on our craft, if he chose, as an honored -guest; but he prefers to remain a cabin-boy. Yet, in truth, there is -little caste among us, and if Joe prefers to have duties to occupy him -during a voyage, and fulfils those duties admirably, no one admires him -less for that reason. Captain Steele slaps him on the shoulder as fondly -and familiarly as he does Archie or me, and fat little Uncle Naboth -locks arms with Joe and promenades the deck with him for hours. - -A slight, stooping lad, is Joe, with great dark eyes, steady and true, -and a faint smile always curling his lips. His face is sensitive and -expressive, and in his slender frame lurk strength and agility that are -positively amazing when they are called into action. Yet he is a silent -fellow, though by no means unsociable, and when he speaks you are -inclined to pay attention, for you know that Joe has something to say. -We three boys were inseparable comrades at the time of which I am -writing, although perhaps Joe and I were a little closer to each other -than we were to Archie. - -The ship's crew were staunch and able-bodied seamen, carefully selected -by my father, and our engineers were picked men of proven ability. But I -must not forget to introduce to you two important characters in the -persons of our chef and steward. The former was a South Sea Islander -named Bryonia, and the latter another South Sea Islander named Nux. I -say "named" advisedly, for Uncle Naboth named them in this queer way -when he rescued the poor natives from an open boat years ago and -restored them to life by liberal doses of nux and bryonia--the only -medicines that happened to be in his possession at the time. They were, -of course, unable to speak English, at first; but they learned rapidly -and were devoted to Uncle Naboth, and afterward to me. Indeed, I had -come to regard both Nux and Bry as my own personal followers, and well -had they proven their claim to this title. They were nearly as dark as -Africans, but very intelligent and faithful in every emergency. In -addition to these qualities Bry was a capital cook, while as a steward -Nux was unsurpassed, and looked after our comforts in a way so -solicitous that he really spoiled us. - -We were about ten days out of the Golden Gate and had left Honolulu well -on our starboard quarter, when one evening we ran into a dense fog that -could almost be felt. It set the deck hands all coughing and wetted them -to the skin; so we all shut ourselves up aft in the cabin and Captain -Steele slowed the _Seagull_ down to half speed and kept the fog-horn -blowing every half-minute. We believed there was little danger in this -part of the broad Pacific, although every sailor dreads a fog as he does -a ghost and is uneasy until it lifts. - -Uncle Naboth and Archie played checkers on one end of the cabin table -while Joe and I had a quiet game of cribbage together. Father smoked his -pipe and darned stockings under the light of the swinging lamp, for Ned -Britton, the first mate, was in charge of the deck, and no better sailor -than Ned, or one more careful, ever was born. - -So we passed the evening of the 16th of June pleasantly enough, in spite -of the drenching fog outside, and when the watch changed all of us save -Captain Steele turned into our bunks and fell asleep without minding the -weird wail of the fog-horn in the least. It is the kind of noise you -forget to listen to when you get used to it. - -I was roused from my slumbers by the agitated shuffling of feet on the -deck overhead, the violent ringing of the engine bells for the ship to -go astern and a medley of shouts and orders through which my father's -clarion voice could be distinctly heard. - -Before I was fully awake I found myself standing on the floor and -fumbling with my clothes, instinct guiding me rather than knowledge of -what was impending. Danger there was, I realized, and I noticed that my -cabin was dimly lighted, as though by the break of day. A moment later I -rushed on deck, to find all crowding at the starboard bulwarks and -peering out into the mist. - -Suddenly--scarce a boat's length away, it seemed--there came a terrific -crash and a grinding of timbers, followed by shrieks and cries so -heartrending that I found myself shuddering with horror. Yet not a man -of us moved. We stood as if turned to stone. For it was not the -_Seagull_ that had struck; but behind the impenetrable curtain of the -fog a tragedy of the sea was being enacted that was terrible enough to -curdle the blood in our veins; for we realized that Death was claiming -his victims from the men and women of some unknown vessel. - -Then, by one of those marvelous transformations wrought by Nature, the -fog instantly lifted and dissipated, and there before us was a sight -that wrung moans, curses or shouts from our very hearts, so awful was -it. - -A big liner--the _Karamata Maru_, we afterward learned--had driven her -bow straight into the broad side of a great freighter, a derelict known -as the _Admiral Swain_, which had been abandoned in a storm a month -earlier. - -The _Karamata Maru_ had crushed through the sides of the derelict and -then her bow had lifted and slid high and dry across it, plunging the -stern of the liner deep into the sea. In this terrible position the -great liner trembled a moment and then broke in two. Her steel plates -buckled and crumbled like tin, and the crash that followed as she -splintered and tore asunder was greater than that when she struck. Again -we heard the screams and terrified cries of the poor victims and as the -sea rushed madly into the gaping compartments and the escaping steam -hissed from the open seams, scores of men and women threw themselves -into the water in an effort to escape what seemed a more horrible fate -than drowning. - -We saw and heard all this, for the _Seagull_ had lost headway and -floated gently a short distance from the scene of the tragedy. But the -next moment we awoke to action. Every life preserver and rope's end we -could muster flew overboard and our boats were manned and lowered in a -twinkling. Big Ned Britton, the mate, was the first to put off in the -cutter, and was picking the struggling forms from the sea long before -the whaler was on the scene and assisting in the work of rescue. I took -the gig myself and at once found my task so arduous that I had little -time to mark what the other boats were doing. I only know that we all -accomplished wonders, and every man, woman and child that managed to -float until we reached them was rescued. Fortunately the sea was calm, -and the light breeze that had dissipated the fog merely rippled the -waves. - -At last, as I looked around for more survivors, someone hailed me from -the wreck of the _Karamata Maru_ and I bade my men row swiftly to her -side. Already the great liner rode so low that the little group awaiting -me was almost on a level with my head, and I realized that I was in a -dangerous position in case she sank. The freighter also was filling -rapidly. - -First those on the _Karamata Maru_ lowered an injured man into the gig, -and two attendants--one the ship's doctor, I afterward learned--came -with him. - -"Hurry, gentlemen," I called to the others; but they shook their heads -and retreated from the side. - -"It's no use, sir," growled the doctor. "They're ship's officers and -won't leave their charge. Cast off, for God's sake, or we'll follow her -to the bottom when she sinks!" - -I obeyed, seized with a sudden panic at the warning words, and my men -rowed lustily from the dangerous neighborhood of the wreck. - -We reached the side of the _Seagull_ just as Ned had assisted the last -of his rescued passengers up the ladder, and I made haste to get my own -aboard. The injured man had fainted. I noticed that he was a Chinaman, -although dressed in European costume, and that he was an object of great -solicitude on the part of his attendant and the doctor. We put him in a -sling and hoisted him up the side, and after the others had followed and -I was preparing to mount the ladder myself a mighty shout from our deck -arrested my attention. I turned quickly, just in time to see the awful -climax to this disaster. The derelict and the liner sank together, and -the sea gave a great gasp and closed over them, whirling and seething -about the spot as if a thousand sea-monsters were disporting themselves -there. The suction was so great that had we not already caught the davit -falls the gig would have assuredly been drawn into the whirlpool, while -the ship to which I clung trembled in every beam, as if with horror at -the sight she had witnessed. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - PRINCE KAI LUN PU. - - -When I gained the deck of the _Seagull_ an affecting sight met my eyes. -It was crowded thick with despairing and agitated men and women, for all -had lost their possessions and many their friends and relatives within -the preceding half hour. Bry had brewed huge pots of coffee, for the -morning air was still chilly and the rescued ones had nearly all been -pulled from the water; so, our hearts full of pity for the poor -wretches, we tried to comfort and cheer them as well as lay within our -power. - -The collision happened at twenty minutes after five in the morning; by -six o'clock all the rescued were on the deck of the _Seagull_. We found -we picked up two hundred and eighteen out of the three hundred and -twenty-seven who had constituted the passengers and crew of the -ill-fated _Karamata Maru_. One hundred and nine, including the Japanese -officers, who deliberately went down with their ship, had perished. - -It was nine o'clock before the steamship _Nagasaki Maru_ hove in sight, -and eleven when she came alongside us. I make this positive statement -despite the inaccurate newspaper reports to the effect that the -_Nagasaki Maru_ was at the scene of the collision and assisted the -_Seagull_ to rescue the survivors. - -Of course the _Nagasaki Maru_, belonging to the same line as the lost -_Karamata Maru_, promptly transferred all the rescued ones to her own -decks; and that was just as well, because our ship was too small to -carry them all in comfort, and we were really under no obligations to do -more than we had already done. The _Karamata Maru_ had been bound for -Japan, so the _Nagasaki Maru_, being on her way to San Francisco, -undertook to leave the passengers and crew of her sister ship at -Honolulu until they could be picked up by some other west-bound ship. - -As they steamed away from us the poor survivors who swarmed upon her -decks saluted us with a hearty cheer of gratitude for our services, and -this appreciation fully repaid us. - -As I stood leaning over the rail and watching the fast receding -_Nagasaki Maru_, Joe touched my elbow. - -"Lunch is ready, Sam." - -Then I remembered that I had eaten nothing except a cup of Bryonia's -coffee since early morning, and I quickly went below. Already we had -steamed away upon our course and the midday sun was shining brightly -overhead. - -I found all our ship's officers assembled in the saloon except the -second mate, old Eli Trent, who had the deck watch, and during the meal -we naturally discoursed at length upon the exciting events of the -morning. - -I had nearly finished luncheon when our steward, Nux, whispered over my -shoulder: - -"Chinaman wants to see you, Marse Sam." - -"What Chinaman, Nux?" I asked in surprise. - -"Hurt man, Marse Sam. He in front stateroom." - -I looked inquiringly at my father. - -"We've took a passenger, Sam," said the Captain, calmly buttering his -toast. "The 'Chink' you took off'n the wreck is a high mandarin, a -prince, or suthin', and wanted to get home to China as soon as possible, -fer he's hurt bad." - -"We don't usually accept passengers," I remarked thoughtfully, "but if -this poor fellow is injured and homesick, it's our duty to do what we -can for him." - -"And that isn't much," added a gruff voice behind me, and the ship's -doctor from the _Karamata Maru_ dropped into a seat at the table and -began to eat. We watched him a moment in silence. Then I asked: - -"Is your patient very bad, Doctor----" - -"Gaylord; my name's Gaylord. I'm an Englishman, although I sailed on -that blasted Jap ship. And my patient, Prince Kai, is dying. He'll never -see China again." - -"Oh!" I exclaimed, really distressed, and the others echoed my sympathy. - -"He got jammed between the timbers," explained Dr. Gaylord, as he -continued his luncheon, "and although three of his attendants threw -themselves around him and met their own death in trying to shield him, -the Prince was badly smashed and can't possibly live more than a day or -two. It's a shame," he added, shaking his grizzled head, "for Kai Lun Pu -has just been made one of the five Viceroys of the Empire, and he's a -fine young fellow who had a promising future. The redemption of China, -gentlemen, must come through these young scions of the nobility who are -being educated at the colleges of England and America. They'll imbibe -modern, progressive ideas, and in time upset the old prejudices of the -Flowery Kingdom altogether." - -He turned and cast at me a scrutinizing gaze. - -"You're the young man who brought us off the wreck, I think?" - -I nodded. - -"The Prince has asked for you twice. Perhaps you'd better go to him now. -I've given him a hypodermic and he feels easier." - -"Why does he wish to see me?" I asked curiously. - -"Some fool notion of gratitude, I suppose. These educated Chinese are -very courteous and punctilious fellows. It's likely he wouldn't die -comfortably if he had neglected to thank you for your slight services." - -"Shall I go in alone?" I asked hesitatingly. - -"Yes; walk right in. The Death's-Head is with him," added the doctor -with a snort of contempt that I did not understand. - -So I softly turned the handle of the stateroom door and walked in. It -was not a pleasant errand to visit a dying man, and I wanted to get it -over with as soon as possible. - -The state cabin of the _Seagull_ was a roomy--almost -spacious--apartment, and we had fitted it up carefully for the use of -any important guest we might have aboard. It had never been used but -once before, and as I glanced around it I felt a pang that it was now to -be the scene of a death, and that a miserable Chinaman should put this -blemish upon it. - -Seated upon a stool beside the curtained bunk was the Chinese attendant -I had brought aboard with the Prince and the doctor. Immediately I -understood Dr. Gaylord's expression, "the Death's-Head," for this -Chinaman typified that mythical horror in feature and expression. -Perhaps I should say lack of expression, for his face was as immobile as -Death itself, of a pallid gray-green color, and the skin was drawn tight -as parchment over his high cheek-bones and across his thin lips. The -eyes were dark and bright, but conveyed no more animation or -intelligence than would glass eyes. He was dressed rather primly in a -suit of black broadcloth, cut in London fashion. - -As I entered, this attendant rose like an automaton and drew the -curtains of the bunk, muttering a brief sentence in Chinese. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - SMILING AT DEATH. - - -I advanced with a respectful bow and found myself looking squarely into -the eyes of the injured man. Then I gave a start of surprise, for a -young man--almost a boy, he seemed--was smiling at me from the pillows -as cheerily as if greeting an old friend who had come to take part in a -jubilation. - -In my recollections of him I have never thought of Prince Kai Lun Pu as -a Chinaman. His features bore certain characteristics of his race, -assuredly; but he was so thoroughly Europeanized, so cultured, frank and -agreeable in demeanor, that no one could possibly think of him otherwise -than as a royal good fellow whom it was a privilege to know. With his -poor maimed body covered by the counterpane, the pleasant--almost -merry--expression of his boyish face made one doubt that he had been -injured at all, and I thought he looked as little like a dying man as -anyone could. - -"You are young Mr. Steele," said he in perfect English, "and I am well -pleased to see you, sir; for you have rendered me a rare service and -have earned my lasting gratitude." - -"It was a simple duty," I responded, with an answering smile; "but I am -glad I was able to serve so important a personage, Prince." - -"Important?" said he, arching his eyebrows; "ah, perhaps you might find -me so, were we together in my own province of Kwang-Kai-Nong." A shadow -passed over his face, and he sighed; but next moment, with renewed -cheerfulness, he added, "but we are not in China, Mr. Steele, and aboard -your noble ship the humble passenger must defer to your own more -powerful individuality." He cast an amused glance at the Death's-Head -and said: - -"Defer, Mai Lo, to the noble American; defer for us both, since I am -helpless!" - -The attendant, outwardly unmoved and unresponsive, prostrated himself -before me, and then resumed his former position. I could not resist a -light laugh at the ridiculousness of the performance, and the Prince -joined in the merriment. Then, suddenly recollecting myself, I became -grave and asked: - -"Are you suffering, Prince? Do you think you are badly hurt?" - -The bright eyes regarded me intently for an instant, after which he -turned to the Death's-Head. - -"Leave me, Mai Lo; I would converse with my host," said he. - -The attendant again prostrated himself, this time to his Prince, and -retired without a word of protest. But almost immediately the Doctor -came hurrying in, and there was protest in both his words and demeanor. - -"Look you, Prince Kai," he said, "this is no time for reckless folly. I -gave you morphine to quiet your pain and enable you to sleep, and you -positively must not excite yourself and neutralize the effect of the -medicine." - -The young man gave him a look half whimsical, half sympathetic. - -"My dear Gaylord," said he, "you have, in your wisdom, numbered the -hours remaining to me, and I accept the decree as final. But why should -I sleep during those brief hours, when rest eternal will soon be mine?" - -The Doctor flushed and cast down his eyes. He was a good-hearted man, -and not yet calloused in the presence of death. The Prince smiled upon -him in kindly fashion and asked: - -"Is there an ample supply of morphine?" - -"There is ample, my Prince." - -"Then listen to my wish. I do not care to sleep, nor do I want to suffer -in the brief time you have allotted me. Let me secure all the pleasure I -am able to until the Earth Dragon completes his vengeance upon me. That -will be kind, dear Doctor, and your reward shall be provided for." - -The old surgeon took the Chinaman's hand and pressed it warmly. - -"Never mind the reward, my Prince," said he. "I'm out of a job just now, -and am glad to experiment upon you, so I shan't get rusty. Your wish -shall be respected." - -"Then leave me with Mr. Steele awhile," was the reply, "and see that Mai -Lo doesn't disturb us." - -The Doctor bowed with deference and withdrew. - -"Prince," said I, "they call me Sam aboard this ship, and I'll be glad -to have you do the same. I'm not much used to a handle to my name, and -if we're to be friends----" - -"We're to be friends, Sam," he rejoined, quickly; "so just squat upon -that stool and let us have a good chat together." - -I was really charmed with my new acquaintance, he was so animated, so -frank in admitting me to his friendship and so evidently grateful to me -for the slight service I had rendered him. His brightness made me forget -the pitiful fact that he had but a short time to live, until he himself -reminded me of it. - -I can imagine no more delightful a companion than Prince Kai Lun Pu must -have been before his terrible accident. He began by telling me much of -his history, in a whimsical, half facetious way that deprived the -relation of any affectation or egotism. - -A prince of the royal blood and related to the reigning Manchu family, -Kai had been early singled out for an important position in the empire -and sent to England to be educated. He had graduated from Oxford a year -before, and after a brief visit to his own country, where he held a long -consultation with the Emperor and that terrible old woman, Tsi An, the -Dowager Empress, he had toured Europe, Egypt and India, and afterward -visited the principal cities of the United States. This had enabled him -to study other nations and to note their manners and customs, and he was -returning to China as a Viceroy and a member of the Imperial Cabinet, to -which post he had already been appointed, when he met with the terrible -accident which was to cut short his brilliant career. - -So much this royal prince confided to me in our first interview; but he -cared less to talk of himself than to be amused, and soon he began to -question me as to my own history and adventures. - -Being willing to amuse the poor fellow, and having no duties that -required my attention, I passed the afternoon in relating the adventures -of my brief life. These seemed to astonish him greatly, and he -questioned me closely in regard to Alaska and Panama, where I had -voyaged with my father and Uncle Naboth, but which he had never visited. -I also told him some queer adventures of mine in Egypt, but he was more -familiar with that country. - -I feared to weary the young Prince with my long stories, but he would -not let me go. Twice during the afternoon Dr. Gaylord came in and -administered to his patient hypodermic injections of morphine, and these -must have kept him free from pain, for he made no complaints and -retained his bright cheerfulness until I finally insisted on leaving -him. - -Outside his door was the unemotional Mai Lo, standing as stiffly as a -statue. The attendant saluted me with great respect and immediately -entered his master's room. - -Dr. Gaylord was in the saloon smoking a cigar, and he nodded as I -approached and said; - -"Queer fellow, Prince Kai, isn't he?" - -"A very charming fellow, I think, Doctor." - -"Yes; and richer than Rothschild--or your Rockefeller," he added. "You -should have seen him arrayed in his native costume on board the -_Karamata Maru_, and surrounded by his four devoted followers. He was a -picture, I assure you, and dignified and gracious enough to warrant his -royal blood. Everyone liked him, heathen though he is." - -"Heathen!" I echoed, surprised. - -"Of course he's a heathen. But I admit he makes you forget that, for in -London and at Oxford he acquired the polish of an English gentleman. It -was only when I noted the rascals surrounding him that I realized he was -a Chinaman." - -"But they were faithful," I suggested. - -"To the death," said he, with a slight shudder. "They even tried to -oppose their frail bodies between him and the ship's splintering -timbers. Sir, it would have made you cringe to see their mangled -remains----as I did. But the sacrifice did no good at all." - -"You are sure he will die?" I asked. - -"I am positive. Surgical skill can do nothing to save him. If only old -Death's-Head had perished with him," he added, with a glance toward the -state cabin, "I should feel more reconciled. But Mai Lo happened to be -in a safe place, and escaped." - -"Is he old?" I asked musingly. - -"You never can tell a Chinaman's age from his looks," said the Doctor. -"Yet I would wager that Mai Lo is sixty, if he's a day. I'm told that at -home he's the governor of Prince Kai's native province, and a person of -consequence." - -"I don't like him," said I, frankly. - -"No one likes him, not even his young master," returned the Doctor. "By -the way, how old should you judge Kai Lun Pu to be?" - -"Perhaps the Prince is eighteen--or nineteen," I hazarded. - -"He is seven-and-twenty. These Chinese seem to age very slowly, unless -they're addicted to opium, like the coolies. Have a cigar, sir?" - -I shook my head and went on deck, where Archie and Joe at once collared -me with a demand to know what "His Royal Muchness, the Chink" had been -talking about all the afternoon. I was quite full of the subject and -told them as much as I knew about our injured passenger, adding that I -was sincerely sorry the poor fellow must die. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - A STARTLING PROPOSITION. - - -Next morning after breakfast I was again summoned to attend Prince Kai -Lun Pu. I may as well remark in this place that with the Chinese the -surname comes first, and Kai was my new friend's family name, as mine is -Steele. "Pu" with him stood in the place of "Sam" with me, and Lun was -his middle name. But as the Chinese name always means something, a free -translation of Kai Lun Pu into English would be "blossom of the tree," -Kai being a tree, or in some connections the root of a tree. So the -Prince's name was a very pretty and appropriate one, although it sounds -so queer to our uncomprehending ears. - -My new friend greeted me as cheerily as on the previous day, although I -noted the fact that dark circles had settled around his eyes and his -cheeks were a bit more hollow. The doctor was with him when I came in, -and I asked if his patient had slept. - -"Not a wink," he replied. "Our Prince does not intend to lose a moment -of life, and so I sat up with him until after midnight myself. Then he -talked to Mai Lo until daylight." - -"And that was time wasted," added the Prince, with a queer glance at his -attendant, "for Mai Lo has a limited vocabulary, although he is so wise -and experienced. I think he spoke six words to me in return for all my -chatter. So now I will excuse him from my presence until I require his -services." - -Mai Lo heard and prostrated himself humbly before his Prince, retiring -with the stealthy glide of a ghost. The doctor was preparing his -hypodermic syringe, and the sick man watched him thoughtfully. - -"Do you see much change in my condition?" he presently asked. - -"A little," answered the doctor. "Your vitality is wonderful. An -ordinary man would have succumbed long ago." - -"Am I sure of today?" enquired the Prince. - -The surgeon administered the hypodermic before replying. Then he said, -slowly: - -"While your heart retains its action you will live; but a clot may -interfere with the action at any time. I cannot promise you even today, -yet you may see the light tomorrow--or of several tomorrows." - -"But not many of them?" - -"Not many, Prince." - -"Ah, the Earth Dragon is relentless. I cannot reach China?" - -"No, indeed. To Shanghai or Hong Kong is two weeks. And there is another -thing that I must speak to you about. I have no means of embalming or -preserving your body." - -For a moment the Prince looked grave. Then he laughed again, lightly, -but I thought with little or no mirth. In spite of his Occidental -education Kai Lun Pu retained the prejudices of his forefathers and -longed to have his body carried to China and laid to rest in his -ancestral halls. - -"What a fuss old Mai Lo will make when I am cast into the sea!" he -remarked. "You'll have to put him in irons, Sam, or he'll run amuck -among you and cause mischief." - -"If he does he shall go after you," I promised. "That is, unless you -wish him preserved to carry out your bequests at home and convey your -messages to your friends." - -The Prince made a face so ridiculous that both Gaylord and I smiled at -him. - -"I will confide to you a secret," said he; "my servant is fully as -repulsive to me as he is to you. But he is a man of high birth, a -mandarin and the hereditary governor of my own province; so I had to -carry the fellow with me on my travels." - -"He looks like a dummy," I suggested. - -"And his looks are very deceptive," retorted the Prince. "Mai Lo is -remarkably subtle and observing, and as intelligent as he is proud and -ambitious. Really, until my accident occurred, I feared the fellow, -although I knew he would sacrifice his life for me if necessary. It will -be his duty after my death to return to his home, propitiate the Earth -Dragon, and then commit suicide; but the chances are Mai Lo will find a -way to avoid that. There will be too much to feed his ambition." - -"Will he inherit your estates?" inquired the doctor. - -"By no means. Mai Lo is noble, but not of the blood royal. My estates -will go to the Emperor, because I have no heir; my ancestral halls will -be sealed up and abandoned, and--I shall soon be forgotten." - -"Why so?" I asked. - -"Because I shall never become an ancestor myself," he responded, -laughing genuinely this time. "An absurd statement, isn't it, Sam? But -my countrymen are devoted Shintoists, or ancestor worshippers, and while -I have gained honor and respect in life through my powerful ancestry, in -death I lose all and am speedily forgotten." - -While I thoughtfully pondered this statement the doctor withdrew and -left us alone together. - -"Do you believe in this queer religion of ancestor worship, Prince?" I -inquired. - -"Of course not, Sam. I'm a mighty poor Chinaman, as far as our orthodox -traditions and religious observances are concerned. In fact my people -are not really religious at all, for they vilify and even thrash their -bronze and wooden gods if they do not behave properly, and the whole -ceremonial worship of China is a farce. I do not mind telling you that -even before I went to Europe my heart refused to acknowledge those -decayed ancestors of mine as more important than the dust to which they -have returned in the course of nature. But I kept the secret of my -apostacy to myself, and in order to secure ample funds to enjoy the -pleasures of Europe I even robbed my ancestral halls of a portion of -their treasure." - -"Oh!" I said. "Is there treasure, then, in your ancestral halls?" - -He smiled. - -"More than half the wealth of China--the accumulated wealth of -centuries--is tied up forever in this absurd manner," he replied. "My -family was old at the time of the Tartar invasion, and it has always -been wealthy. In my ancestral halls, in my province of Kwang-Kai-Nong, -lies a mass of treasure that would startle the world if it were to be -unearthed and publicly displayed. Yet no one has ever seen it in my -generation but myself." - -"I do not quite understand this system," I said, much interested in -these statements. - -"It is our immemorial custom," explained the Prince, "to bury with each -head of a family one-half the wealth he possesses, to be used by him -when his resurrection occurs at the end of the world. The remaining half -is inherited by his eldest son, his successor. A daughter never -inherits, you know. When the son dies, one-half his wealth is laid with -his body in the tombs of the ancestral halls, and so this accumulation -goes on from century to century, and half the wealth of the nation is -continually abstracted from its resources." - -"But suppose there is no son," said I. "What happens then?" - -"Then the line ends. In the case of a noble family, such as ours, the -confidential servant secretly seals up the ancestral halls and then -commits suicide, so that no one may ever discover where they are -located. If he hesitates to kill himself by the ninth day the other -servants promptly kill him; so his fate is really sealed in case his -lord dies without an heir." - -"And is Mai Lo your confidential servant in this case?" I asked -curiously. - -"You have guessed it," replied the Prince, smiling. "If I were sure he -would do his duty it would deprive death of half its sting; but I -suspect, Sam, that Mai Lo has as little respect for ancestor worship as -I myself, and it is my impression that he will rob the tombs of my -forefathers very freely before he seals them up forever." - -"But won't his fellow-servants kill him if he fails to commit suicide?" -I asked. - -"I could answer that question more positively if I knew the mind of Mai -Lo better," returned the Prince, more gravely than was his wont. Then he -brightened and said: - -"I am much interested in your friends Archie and Joe, who were so loyal -and brave in your Egyptian adventures, which you related to me -yesterday. Did you not say they were still your comrades?" - -"Yes, indeed, Prince. Both are now aboard the _Seagull_." - -"May I see them? Will you bring them here to see me?" he asked, eagerly. - -"They will be greatly pleased," I replied. "When?" - -"At once. You remember the doctor's warning." - -"I'll get them," said I, rising. - -"Send Mai Lo," suggested the Prince. I did so, asking the attendant, who -stood stiffly outside the door, to summon my friends to an audience with -Kai Lun Pu. - -In a few minutes Joe and Archie arrived, as eager as I knew they would -be to make the acquaintance of our interesting passenger. - -The Prince conversed with them upon various subjects for fully an hour, -pressing them for details of our former adventures and shrewdly drawing -out the characteristics of both the boys without their suspecting it in -the least. I felt quite proud of my friends, for although each in his -own way was odd to the verge of eccentricity, two more manly, truer -hearted fellows did not exist--or at least that was my opinion of them. - -The Prince seemed to approve of them, too, and with their quaint answers -and ways they certainly amused him--Archie bluff and outspoken and Joe -modest and retiring as a girl. - -Presently, as he lay back upon his pillows, Kai Lun Pu began to laugh. -He laughed again, seemingly much amused; and still again, with evident -enjoyment of some thought that had occurred to him. Archie and Joe -stared at him rather uneasily, and I own I had myself a fleeting -suspicion that his maimed body was finally affecting his mind. But the -next moment the Prince said, in his ordinary tones: - -"By all the big and little gods, I'll do it!" - -"Do what, Prince?" I asked, curiously. - -"Give you a new adventure to undertake," he replied, almost gleefully. -"You three boys are not tired of adventures, are you?" - -"Not much," returned Archie, stoutly. - -"And although you've found some small treasure already, you wouldn't -object to finding more, would you?" he continued, eyeing us closely. - -Our eager faces must have answered him; but I said, as calmly as I -could: - -"What is the proposition, your Highness?" - -"The proposition is simply this, Sam; I'm going to show you how to rob -my ancestral halls!" - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE HALLS OF HIS ANCESTORS. - - -I'm afraid we looked rather foolish at this suggestion. Archie was -open-mouthed and wide-eyed; Joe's sensitive face took on a frown, and I -felt myself flushing red. - -"You see, Prince," I said at last, shifting uneasily in my seat, "we've -been adventurers, but not buccaneers, and to _rob_----" - -"Nonsense!" cried Kai, laughing at us again; "the word 'rob' does not -mean to steal, even in your bungling English. And I used it -figuratively. To rob my ancestral halls would not be a sin, for you -would deprive no living person of what is his at present or might be his -in the future. As for the dead, my opinion is that my ancestors are very -dead; and, in case their bodies resurrect at the end of the world, they -won't mind whether they are wealthy or not. I tell you, Sam, I can -imagine no more foolish idea than to bury treasure with the dead, and -had I lived to return to China it was my firm intention to rob the -ancestral halls myself. In that case no one would ever know it, and -there would be no danger. Why, as I said before, I abstracted certain -jewels from the tombs years ago, and spent the proceeds in high living. -So, if I was willing to rob the ancestral halls myself, and approve of -your robbing them in my place, now that I am prevented, you need have no -scruples on the plea of morality. Listen, friends: I present to you -three--to Sam and Joe and Archie--all of the treasure contained in my -ancestral halls. It is yours--I give it freely--but you must go and -secure it, and that will be a dangerous expedition." - -"Why so?" asked Archie. - -"Because you won't have me to assist you," he replied. "Because you must -oppose the ancestral devotion, amounting to a religion, of the entire -Chinese nation. Because my own followers and servants would cut you down -in an instant if your errand were discovered, and----" - -He hesitated. - -"Any more interesting reasons?" I asked. - -"The strongest of all," said he. "Because I am convinced that Mai Lo -means to get the treasure himself." - -Joe gave a low whistle, and Archie looked especially thoughtful. - -"Is it worth while, then, for us to undertake the adventure?" I -questioned. - -"For centuries past one-half of the wealth of one of the richest -families in China has been placed in the vaults which I call my -ancestral halls," he returned. "This wealth consists of jade, precious -stones--especially rubies--pearls and stores of gold and silver. There -is enough to ransom a kingdom, and as I cannot use it myself I should -like you to get it--if you can. Your task would be difficult in any -event, for to rob any ancestral hall is a great crime in China. Even the -graves of the poor, which are stone or mud vaults with roofs of bamboo -and palm leaves, are respected by all. Yet your greatest danger is from -Mai Lo. If he cannot rob my ancestral halls himself he will try to -prevent anyone else from doing so." - -"Well, then," said Archie; "let's toss him overboard, while we have the -chance. He's only a Chinaman." The next instant, seeing the amused smile -on the Prince's face, he realized what he had said and began to -apologize. "It's so hard, sir," he added, "to think of you except as one -of ourselves." - -Perhaps the naive compliment pleased the Prince, for he laughed and -said: - -"It might be a _wise_ thing to cast Mai Lo into the sea. But I do not -think you will undertake murder, even to secure my treasure. So I will -do what I can to enable you to outwit the mandarin. Can you find me a -piece of paper and a small brush?" - -Joe got them from his cabin in a few moments, and while he was absent we -all sat in silence. - -I spread the piece of paper upon the coverlet in front of the Prince, -and dipped the brush in ink for him. His left arm was broken and -useless, but fortunately he could use his right arm and hand, though -with difficulty. At once he began writing in Chinese characters upon the -paper, and presently he finished and held out the brush for me to take. - -"You cannot read my signature, Sam," said he, "but it is there, and will -be recognized. It is an order to all my dependents to recognize you and -your companions as my guests for one year, and to serve you as -faithfully as they would myself. I have added that my spirit will watch -to see if I am obeyed and to take vengeance if I am not. That is, of -course, nonsense to us; but it ought to be effective with my people. -Take the paper, Sam, and guard it carefully. Stay! call in Mai Lo for a -moment." - -I did so, and the Prince said to his attendant in an easy tone: - -"Witness this order, Mai Lo." - -The mandarin glanced at the document, but though I watched him carefully -I could detect no sign of emotion in his glassy eyes, or even surprise -or interest upon his putty-like features. He took the brush from my hand -and obediently added his signature to that of the Prince. Then, at his -master's command, he again retired. - -I took the paper, folded it carefully, and placed it in my wallet. - -"Then you are decided to undertake the adventure?" asked the Prince, in -a pleased voice. - -I looked at Archie and Joe, and they both nodded. So I answered: - -"We will seek for the treasure, your Highness." - -"Good!" said he. "Now take the signet ring from my finger." - -I obeyed. It was a heavy gold band, curiously engraved and set with a -huge ruby. The stone had an upper flat surface, on which were cut three -strange characters. - -"Do not display this ring except in case of necessity," warned Kai Lun -Pu. "When you do, it will command obedience of every man in my province. -It will even be powerful with the Emperor. So keep it safely." - -I thanked him and stowed the ring in my pocket. - -"And now," said the Prince, "there is but one more thing I can do for -you, but that ought to prove of great assistance in your venture. Listen -carefully, all of you, for the secret I am about to confide to your ears -may not be written down in any way, and the memory alone must guard it. -Heretofore it has been handed down in my family from generation to -generation by confiding the knowledge to the eldest son, who alone -inherits. My ancestors would have died sooner than allow a stranger or -an alien to know this family secret; but I--I am different. In me the -shackles of tradition and foolish custom have been broken by a liberal -education and a knowledge of the great world whose existence many of my -countrymen do not even suspect." - -He paused a moment, as if in thought, and then continued as follows, -speaking slowly and distinctly but in a lowered voice: - -"It will be easy for you to locate the ancestral halls of the family of -Kai. It is near to my own palace, and you will first see a quaint but -beautiful house of polished bamboo, with an entrance on each of its four -sides. Each entrance is guarded by a god, and it will be wise for you to -pretend to propitiate these gods by offerings. Burn prayers for my -spirit's welfare before them. You must not enter this house, for it is -sacred; but I will describe it to you. - -"In the center is a stone walled pit, with steps leading downward. In -the center of the pit is a bronze tablet, which, when lifted, discloses -a passageway. This passage forms a long tunnel slanting into the earth, -and if you could follow it, it would lead you to the underground vault, -or chih, where my noble ancestors lie buried. This vault is cut from the -solid rock, and is a big domed chamber ornamented with the best art of -the ages that have elapsed since its construction. The tapestries are -said to be the best and most valuable in the whole Empire. Around the -sides of this chamber are the niches where repose the burial caskets of -my respected ancestors, and beside each casket are placed the chests, -urns and taborets containing one-half the wealth this ancestor died -possessed of. Do you understand this description?" - -"I can picture it perfectly," said I. - -"That is well. But now for the secret." Again he lowered his voice, with -an uneasy glance toward the door, behind which he knew Mai Lo was -stationed. Then he continued: - -"There is a second, or secret, entrance to the burial chamber, which no -one outside of the heir of our house has ever suspected. It was built -seven centuries ago by Kai Tai, a pious man who wished to worship in -secret at the tombs of his ancestors without the formal ceremony -required when entering the ancestral hall publicly. This private -entrance is also a tunnel, and leads from my palace itself. Now, my -friends, pay strict attention. There is, in the palace, a set of rooms -called the Suite of the Horned Fish, from its mode of decoration. These -are the apartments always occupied by the royal prince of our line, and -so they will be vacant when you arrive at the palace. The main doorway -to the Suite of the Horned Fish will doubtless be guarded night and day, -and it will not be wise for you to try to force an entrance therein. But -in the bend of the passageway just beyond the entrance is a tapestry -representing the Earth Dragon embracing a woman, and behind this -tapestry you will find a small ball or knob of bronze. Pull this ball -toward you, outward, and a private door will open leading directly into -my sleeping chamber. Once there, you are not liable to interruption. - -"In one corner of this chamber is a great statue of the first Kai in -armor. It is a dreadful thing, and used to frighten me when a boy; but -in its carving the statue shows great artistic skill. By pushing the -left foot sideways--it will require a strong pressure--a panel in the -wall back of the statue will be released. It is the entrance to the -secret passage and once you have found it the rest is easy. It leads to -one of the niches in the vault of my ancestors, the tapestries cleverly -concealing the doorway. By means of this passage you may convey all or a -part of the treasure to my chamber in the palace, and from there I must -leave you to your own ingenious devices to transport it safely to -Shanghai or aboard your ship. Have I made this quite plain to you, my -friends?" - -"Quite plain," we all answered, pleased to have the adventure so easily -arranged for us; and I added: - -"How can we thank you, Prince Kai?" - -He smiled. - -"I am well repaid in believing you will outwit old Mai Lo, and secure -the treasure he means to steal," was his reply. "If I possess spirit I -shall try to watch you and enjoy the fun." - -"Oh, don't do that!" exclaimed Archie with a shudder. - -"But you won't know it, and I haven't much faith in a spiritual -existence," he replied. - -"What have you faith in?" I asked, shocked to hear him speak so lightly -on his death-bed. - -"We Shintoists believe in our ancestors," said the Prince mockingly, I -thought; "and that has always made us more sensible than our Buddhist -neighbors. Also I have studied Christianity, Mohammedanism and -Theosophy, and they have led me to admire Confucius more. So I get back -to Shintoism in the end. I shall die in the faith of my ancestors, but -not hampered by their narrow prejudices, I hope." - -He sighed with this, and I thought his cheeks looked more sunken and his -skin more pallid than I had yet noticed them. So I said: - -"This has been a trying interview, your Highness, and you need rest. -Shall we retire?" - -He hesitated, and then nodded with a return of his old brightness: - -"Send in the doctor," said he, "it's time for more morphine." - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - "OLD DEATH'S-HEAD." - - -When we arrived on deck again the wind had freshened and the pleasant -spell of weather we had lately experienced seemed likely to leave us. -But our gallant _Seagull_ headed the waves merrily, with scarcely any -heaving of her swanlike body, and we knew her staunchness so well that -we did not dread any weather that might overtake us. - -Finding a sheltered position in the waist, we three boys eagerly -discussed our important interview with the Prince and the chances of -success in the adventure offered us. - -"He's made everything so blamed easy for us that it's like taking candy -from a babe," said Archie, gleefully. - -"He has certainly proved himself a generous friend," I assented. "It's a -pity he must die. I'd rather have him alive and my friend, than to get -the treasure. Eh, Joe?" - -"Exactly," answered Joe, in his quiet voice. - -"I like the chap, too," said Archie, "but our sentiment won't alter the -facts in the case, will it? Here's a treasure--and a whopper, too, I -imagine--calling to us to come and take it, and----" - -"And here's Mai Lo, who wants it himself," added Joe. - -"Oh, him!" cried Archie, scornfully. - -"Joe's right," said I, thoughtfully; "Mai Lo is a power to be reckoned -with. Even the Prince fears him." - -"I don't," declared Archie, "the man's a dummy. Anyone that'll kow-tow -and get on his knees the way this fellow does, is a coward and a sneak." - -"The doctor," said Joe, softly, "calls him 'Old Death's-Head.'" - -"Well, what of it?" - -"I'm afraid of Death." - -We both started at this; but Archie, recovering courage, asked: - -"What can one miserable Chinaman do, opposed to three Americans?" - -"Very little, in America," replied Joe. "But we're going to his own -country, to China, where old Death's-Head is a high mandarin, and the -governor of a province. He won't kow-tow there, for the Prince is his -only superior, and the Prince will be deep under the ocean soon." - -We thought this over. There was usually something to think over when Joe -made a long speech. - -"Do you mean, then, that you're scared out; that you won't undertake -this thing?" demanded Archie, finally. - -"No," said Joe, "I'm going to China. That is, if you fellows are game to -go with me." - -"That's the way to talk!" - -"But we're putting our heads in the jaws of a trap, and the least little -thing is likely to spring it," added Joe. - -Archie looked puzzled. - -"I can't understand why you take that view of it," he protested. "It -seems to me the thing's easy enough. We've got the Prince's letter to -his people, and the ring, and the secret of the private way into his -ancestral hall. If we bungle such a job as that, we ought to be hanged." - -"And will be, or worse. So we mustn't bungle it," said Joe. "Where is -this province of Kwang-Kai-Nong, Sam?" - -"I forgot to ask," I replied, wondering at my oversight. - -"China's a big country," suggested Joe. - -"I know. I'll inquire about the location, and how to get to it, the next -time I see the Prince." - -"Do," said Archie, "that'll help a lot." - -But I didn't see the Prince again. At the lunch table we found the -doctor, eating with apparent gusto but with an intent look on his face. - -"How's your patient, Doc?" Uncle Naboth was asking as I entered. - -"Why, I'm out of a job again," replied Doctor Gaylord, gravely. - -"Great Goodness! The man ain't dead, is he?" demanded my uncle. - -"He is, sir." - -I do not know why I had such a sudden sinking of the heart as I heard -this. Perhaps the noble young Chinaman had won from me more admiration -and affection than I had suspected, during the brief time I had known -him. - -I glanced at Joe and Archie, and they were looking mighty solemn. - -"Wasn't it rather sudden, Doc?" inquired Uncle Naboth, after a pause, -during which he stirred his tea energetically. - -"Yes, he might have lived another four-and-twenty hours. But he wore out -the morphine and began to suffer terribly. So I killed him." - -"What!" - -"Gave him an overdose of morphine, at his own request, and he went to -his long sleep with a smile of gratitude upon his face." - -There was another pause. - -"Ahem!" said Capt. Steele, clearing his throat, "was -that--er--er--strictly professional, Dr. Gaylord?" - -"It was strictly humane, Captain. The man was crushed and mangled from -the waist down, and according to all the laws of science and -common-sense has been as good as dead ever since the accident. He -couldn't have lived until now without the morphine. When that failed to -soothe him the end was bound to creep nearer by slow degrees, allowing -him to suffer horrible torments. I couldn't stand that, and he couldn't. -So he begged me to end it for him, and I did." - -"You're a good man, Gaylord," remarked Uncle Naboth, mopping his bald -head with his red bandanna. "I'm glad you had the courage to do it." - -"This Prince of China," said the doctor, leaning back in his chair and -thrusting his hands in his pockets, "was a royal good fellow. I had -observed him on shipboard, and was attracted by his cheerful, -intelligent face. When the _Karamata Maru_ broke up I left everyone else -to attend to Kai Lun Pu, until I discovered he was fatally injured. -Unfortunately all my surgical tools and requirements were out of reach, -and in the pockets of the clothes which I grabbed up before I rushed on -deck were only a small medicine case and my hypodermic outfit. I -assisted Mai Lo, the only one of the Prince's attendants who survived, -to get Kai off the wreck and safe aboard this ship, and at his urgent -request I remained with him, since the doctor of the _Nagasaki Maru_ -could look after the few survivors of the _Karamata Maru_ who were -injured. I am well paid for doing this, but I want to state that the -money did not influence me in the least." - -To look at the doctor was evidence of the truth of this statement; so we -merely nodded assent. - -"As soon as I had him settled in your cabin yonder," he continued, "I -told him that he was dying. Kai accepted the decree like a philosopher -and asked me how long I could keep him alive without suffering. It was -then that we made our bargain, and I promised he should die comfortably. -It seems he had certain family affairs to arrange with Mai Lo, who -represents him in his province, and afterward he had several long talks -with Sam and the other boys here." - -He paused to look from one to the other of us curiously, and the shrewd -glance from beneath his prominent gray eyebrows was rather -disconcerting. - -"By good luck," he went on, "the Prince finished his arrangements, -whatever they were, before the effect of the morphine wore out. When I -went to him a while ago I saw the time had come to fulfil my promise. I -asked him if he was ready and he said he was. So, in the parlance of the -Chinese, he sleeps with his ancestors." - -In the silence that followed we were all busy with our own thoughts. -Finally my father asked: - -"Where is Mai Lo?" - -"Burning prayers before the body. He's going to make trouble for us, -pretty soon." - -"How's that?" asked the Captain. - -"These Chinese believe it's a lasting disgrace to allow their bodies to -be buried anywhere but at home. Mai Lo has already asked me when I would -embalm the body; but I've been making inquiries and find there's no -material aboard the _Seagull_ that will enable me to preserve the corpse -of Kai Lun Pu until we can get him to China. He himself understood this, -and was willing to be cast overboard; but old Death's-Head has different -ideas, and when he learns what we are going to do he will make trouble, -as I said." - -"What can he do?" asked Uncle Naboth. - -"These Chinese have a disagreeable way of running amuck and slicing a -few people into mincemeat before they can be overcome. I won't say Mai -Lo will do that, but he will do something--anything in his power to -prevent us lowering his master's body into the sea." - -"He won't run amuck," said I, positively; "nor will he do anything that -will endanger his own life." - -"Why not, Sam?" asked my father. "Mai Lo's a queer chap. I can't make -him out at all. Seems to me he's likely to do anything." - -"Except endanger himself," I added. "The Prince knew Mai Lo better than -anyone, and from what he told me I believe Mai's more clever than you -suppose, and too ambitious to sacrifice his life for a mere whim." - -"It isn't a mere whim," said the doctor. "The Shintoists are ancestor -worshippers, and the sacredness of a dead body is part of their -religion. Mai Lo, if he's a good Shintoist, believes he himself will be -condemned by the spirits of his own ancestors if he allows his master to -be cast into the sea, whence it is impossible he can be resurrected when -the end of the world comes." - -"But _is_ Mai Lo a good Shintoist?" I asked. - -"Mm--I don't know. He claims to be; but the fellow puzzles me. Many of -the Chinese wear a mask of expressionless reserve; but Mai Lo is the -most incomprehensible being I have ever met. If he weren't clever he -wouldn't be a high mandarin, so we can't judge him by his terracotta -face and beady eyes." - -"Oh, well," remarked my father, "we can't endanger our own health by -keeping a decaying body on board, so whenever you're ready for the -ceremony, Doctor, we will give the Prince as decent a sea-burial as -possible. And that in spite of the old mandarin. By the way, Sam, see if -Mai Lo wants anything to eat." - -I arose and knocked softly upon the door of the state cabin. Presently -it was opened a mere crack and I caught a glimpse of Mai Lo's -expressionless face behind it. But when he saw me he closed the door -again quickly, before I had time to speak; and I heard the key click in -the lock. - -"Let the beast starve," I growled, turning away to go on deck; and the -others seemed to approve the sentiment, for they followed me without -protest. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - WE BECOME CONSPIRATORS. - - -"You'll find my first suggestion was good," said Archie, as we stood in -the shelter of the wheel-house, for the wind was half a gale by this -time. "The proper thing to do is to chuck old Death's-Head overboard." - -"It would certainly simplify matters," I agreed; "but unfortunately it -can't be done." - -"Then we ought to cultivate his friendship," said Joe. - -"How can we?" - -"I don't know; but it's a great mistake to allow him to think he's our -enemy." - -"Why so, Joe?" - -"We've got to go into his province to get the treasure. He's powerful -there, and we need his good will. He might make it pretty hot for us -otherwise." - -"True enough," said Archie, gloomily. "But you can't cultivate the -friendship of a dummy. He won't respond worth a cent." - -"He must have _some_ sentiment," suggested Joe; "his faithfulness to his -Prince proves that. Let's study him and try to discover how to reach his -gratitude, or self-esteem, or----" - -"Or what?" - -"How to further his ambition." - -"If the Prince is buried at sea," I said, reflectively, "Mai Lo will be -disgraced at home. If we can save him from this disgrace he ought to be -grateful, for it will give him a chance to carry out his ambitious -plans." - -"I thought he was obliged to commit suicide," said Archie. - -"So he is; but not immediately. First he must settle his master's -affairs, and that business ought to provide pretty fair pickings for an -unscrupulous man. Then he will be obliged to seal up the ancestral hall -and destroy all traces of any entrance to it, or even its existence. All -this takes time, and will give him a chance to complete his plans for -running away with his plunder, most of which will be stolen from the -tombs of the Prince's ancestors." - -"Will he dare do that?" asked Archie. - -"Mai Lo has seen a good deal of the world outside of China," said I, -"and such experience is bound to destroy many of the doctrines of his -religious belief. Contact with our western civilization made the Prince -an unbeliever in Shintoism, and perhaps did the same for Mai Lo." - -"Then why is he so set on lugging the body of the Prince to China? He -must know that this ancestor worship is a humbug." - -"He does. Also he knows that his people at home are still firm believers -in it. It is to save himself from disgrace that he will insist on taking -the body home." - -"I see," responded Archie. "But he can't do that, you know. There's no -way to embalm the Prince properly, and Captain Steele has already -decided to drop the body overboard." - -Looking aft I saw the doctor pacing the quarter-deck with his pipe in -his mouth, and suddenly the sight inspired me with an idea. - -"Boys," I said, "we've got to have some help in this affair. We can't -carry out the adventure all alone. Suppose we ask the doctor to join -us?" - -"Old Gaylord?" - -"Yes. He has good stuff in him, to my notion; and he says he's out of a -job." - -"A good idea," said Joe. - -"Won't he ask for too big a slice of the pie?" inquired Archie. - -"According to the Prince there's more treasure in his ancestral halls -than we could cart away in a year. If Dr. Gaylord will help us we won't -lose anything by giving him his share." - -"I don't see how he can help us a bit," declared Archie. "For my part -I'd rather have Ned Britton or Mr. Perkins. They're true blue and game -to fight to the last." - -"This isn't a matter that depends on fighting, Archie," I reminded him. -"Our whole ship's crew wouldn't make a showing against the thousands of -Chinamen if it came to open warfare. It's a question of ready wit, -courage and audacity." - -"Then I can't make out why you want the doctor," returned Archie, with a -puzzled look. - -"I know," said Joe, in his quiet voice. "I think I've caught Sam's idea, -and it's a good one." - -"What is it, then?" asked Archie. - -"With the doctor's help we can fool Mai Lo and save him from disgrace. -And that will win his gratitude. Eh, Sam?" - -"Quite right, Joe. Shall I call the doctor over?" - -They nodded, and at my summons Dr. Gaylord willingly joined our little -group. - -"Doctor," said I, "there's a conspiracy afloat. Do you want to join it?" - -He gave me a shrewd glance. - -"I knew there was something up," he said, "and I've been trying to study -out what secret Prince Kai confided to you. It has worried me almost as -much as it has Mai Lo." - -"Oh!" said I, with a gasp. "Does _he_ suspect anything?" - -"Mai Lo is no fool, and you were closeted with Prince Kai a long time. -Also, he witnessed an important paper, and I heard him ask the Prince -what had become of his ring." - -"What was the reply?" I inquired. - -"Prince Kai told him he had given it to Sam Steele for an important -purpose, and that he had appointed you to carry out his secret wishes. -Also he exacted a promise from Mai Lo to obey you and render you any -assistance you might demand." - -"Good!" I exclaimed. - -"Good as far as it goes," said the doctor, drily; "but it won't go far -with Mai Lo. He's likely to cut your throat some night if you leave your -door unlocked." - -"Then you distrust him?" I asked, uneasily. - -"More than that, Sam. I'm afraid of him. But let me have your story and -your proposal, and I'll tell you in a jiffy whether I'll join your -conspiracy or not." - -So I began by relating in full my various interviews with Prince Kai, in -the last of which Archie and Joe had been participants. I added that I -believed the Prince's idea of our robbing his ancestors arose from my -relation of our former adventures in search of a treasure, which I had -told him with a view to amusing him. Once the mischievous notion had -seized him, he began to plan ways to assist us, and I think he derived a -certain pleasure during his last hours in imagining our difficulties and -trying to overcome them. Another thing that doubtless influenced him was -the desire to outwit Mai Lo, whom he suspected, probably with good -reason, of a desire to rob the tombs himself. - -Dr. Gaylord listened to all the story without interruption, and I could -see that he was intensely interested. When I finished he smoked for a -time in silence, while we watched him rather anxiously. Finally he -knocked the ashes from his pipe and said, with decision: - -"It looks too pretty to miss, my lads, and if you see where an old -fellow like me can be of use to you, I'll stand by to the last. But I -want to warn you that we are taking big chances in this adventure, and -if any one of us escapes with a whole skin he'll be lucky. On the other -hand, I know something of the enormous wealth of these ancestral halls, -and if we succeed in our undertaking our fortunes will be made. That -won't mean much to you youngsters, of course; but it will enable me to -buy a snug farm in England and settle down to end my days in peace. So -I'm with you, lads, and you can count on my venturing as much as any of -you." - -"Do you know in what part of China the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong is, -doctor?" I inquired. - -"Surely. It's away up in the northwest, in the foothills of the -Himalayas--a most retired and out-of-the-way place; and that's what's -going to make our task doubly hard." - -"How can we get there?" asked Archie. - -"By starting at Shanghai, traveling up the Yang-tse-Kiang a thousand -miles or so to Ichang, and then cutting across country by elephant-train -to the edge of the world, which is the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong. -That's not very definite, is it? But the road to Kai-Nong, the capital, -is probably well known." - -"Mai Lo will show us the way," I said. - -The doctor looked at me blankly. - -"We shall be obliged to take my father and Uncle Naboth into our -confidence soon," I continued, "for the _Seagull_ must make straight for -Woosung anchorage, so that we may escort the body of Prince Kai to -Shanghai, and up the Yang-tse, while our ship goes to Canton to unload. -Then they can pick us up when we return." - -"Look here," said Dr. Gaylord, testily, "have you gone crazy?" - -"I hope not, sir." - -"Then what's this nonsense about escorting Prince Kai's body----" - -"To Kai-Nong, so he may rest with his ancestors," I interrupted. "That -will save Mai Lo from disgrace, and will enable him to return home in -triumph. To do this, he will gladly show us the way." - -The doctor's stare turned to a grin. - -"I begin to understand," said he. "So that is why you wanted me to join -your party." - -"Exactly," I replied. "We can't get along without you." - -"And the spoils of war?" - -"There shall be an equal division." - -"Very good!" said the doctor. "Very good indeed. The conspiracy is an -established fact, and the conspirators are bound to win." - -With a smile I glanced over his shoulder to where a motionless form -stood by the rail gazing steadfastly into the sea. The man was too far -away to have overheard us, but the sight of him froze my smile in an -instant. - -It was Mai Lo. - -"Come," I said abruptly; "let's go below and talk it over. It's getting -chilly here." - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - DR. GAYLORD'S PROPOSAL. - - -The doctor and I had an important interview with Mai Lo that very -evening. The man was evidently on guard before the door of his dead -master's room; for, the moment one of us approached the state cabin, -there was Mai Lo confronting him, although the mandarin had been seen at -quite another part of the ship a short time before. At such times the -expressionless face and unfathomable beady eyes were turned toward us -like those of a basilisk, and they impressed me with an uneasy sensation -in spite of the fact that I felt that he alone was helpless to oppose us -in anything we might decide to do. - -But it was not our cue at present to antagonize Mai Lo, but to win his -confidence. My father had already loudly declared in the Manchu's -hearing that the body of Prince Kai must be buried at sea, and -considering Mai Lo's prejudices it was not unreasonable to suppose that -he looked upon us as his enemies. - -Our first act in the comedy we were playing was to send Uncle Naboth to -explain to the attendant that Captain Steele regretted the necessity of -disposing of the body of his master at sea; but because the _Seagull's_ -medicine chest contained no drugs or chemicals with which to embalm or -preserve the body, there was no way to avoid this sea-burial if we -wished to preserve the health of all on board. - -Mai listened in apparent apathy to this explanation, which he had -doubtless understood before, and the doctor and I waited a couple of -hours to give him time to think it over before we sought him out and -with mysterious gestures beckoned him to follow us to my own cabin. This -he did, but would not close the door and sat in a position where he -could keep an eye upon the locked door of the state cabin. - -"Mai Lo," said I, "you know that Prince Kai and I became friends before -he died, and that he wished me to go to his palace at Kai-Nong and there -perform for him certain services, the details of which are secret and -must not be confided to anyone--even to you, his most faithful servant." - -He listened to me calmly, and then nodded his head. - -"The Prince well knew his body would be lowered into the waters of the -sea," I continued, "and he was resigned to the necessity. We Americans -do not care very much what becomes of our bodies when we are dead, but I -know you Chinese feel differently about it, and it has made me unhappy -to think I could not take the body of my friend Kai to China and place -it in the burial-halls of his ancestors. Dr. Gaylord and I were -conversing upon this subject, a short time ago, when he informed me that -his science had taught him a way to preserve a body for a long period -without the use of the usual drugs; but it is a method that requires -great skill and labor, and constant watching, and is, moreover, very -expensive." - -By this time Mai Lo was intensely interested; there was no doubt of -that. His gaze was fixed steadfastly upon my face and I thought there -was a faint gleam of curiosity in his eyes. - -He was silent at first; but I intended he should speak, and after a long -pause he did so. - -"The expense," said he, in a harsh, guttural voice, but fair English, -"is not to be considered. The estates of Prince Kai are ample to meet -any demand." - -"Just so," I replied easily. "Were it not so, my own fortune would -willingly be devoted to the honor of my friend. The question is not one -of money, but whether we can prevail upon Doctor Gaylord to give us his -time and services. He says the task is a difficult one; and, if he -undertakes to preserve the body of my friend and your master, he must -watch over it constantly and escort it in person to the halls of Prince -Kai's ancestors. I have promised to go with him and to take two of my -own friends to assist him and guard him; but the doctor knows something -of China and fears he will be molested and perhaps lose his life during -the long journey to the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong and back again to -Shanghai. It is this that makes him refuse the undertaking, so I have -decided to ask you if you cannot help us, and relieve Doctor Gaylord of -his fears." - -I spoke slowly, so that each word might be fully understood by the -Chinaman, and it was not long before he answered me. - -"China is a safe country at all times," said Mai Lo, and I noticed that -his raspy, guttural tones were as expressionless as his face. "But on -this mission, when one is in the service of Mai Lo, and favoring the -powerful family of Kai, the person of Doctor Gaylord would be sacred -from harm." - -There were several things about this brief assertion that I did not -like. The mandarin, so humble and subservient to his Prince that I had -come to regard him as a mere valet, now assumed that we would be "in the -service of Mai Lo" during our journey into the interior. Then, again, -our return trip was not assured; it would only be of interest to Mai Lo -to see that we arrived safely at the capital of Kai-Nong with the body. - -This struck the doctor, too; for he said, in his positive way: - -"If I go in safety I must return in safety. It won't do, Mai Lo, to give -me empty promises. Either you must show me, without the shadow of a -doubt, how I am to return to Shanghai with my American escort, or I -don't stir a step and the body of Prince Kai goes overboard." - -Mai Lo took a silver box from inside his richly embroidered robe and -abstracted some betel-nut and lime leaves, which he placed in his mouth. - -"What assurance do you demand?" he asked. - -"This," said the doctor. "You will yourself remain on board the -_Seagull_ as an hostage, until we return from Kai-Nong." - -Mai Lo remained silent a long time, while we watched him anxiously. At -last he spoke, as deliberately as before. - -"You imperil your own safety by this request," said he. "Without me to -protect you, your party might be attacked and slain." - -"I thought you said China was perfectly safe!" I exclaimed, -contemptuously. - -"It is perfectly safe wherever I go," he answered. - -We were both greatly disappointed at this position of Mai Lo, for we had -thought that by leaving him on board the ship we could carry out our -plans safely. China might be a dangerous country to travel in, but we -feared this incomprehensible mandarin more than anything else. - -"Oh, well," said the doctor, carelessly, "let us abandon the idea -altogether. I don't want the job, to be frank with you both, and I won't -run my head into danger if I can help it. So we'll say no more about -it." - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - WE OUTWIT MAI LO. - - -"There are other ways to assure your safety," said Mai Lo, as the doctor -rose as if to go. - -Then he turned his face toward me and asked: - -"Cannot the friend of Prince Kai trust the promises of his friend's -servant?" - -"No," I replied. "The Prince himself told me to trust no one." - -"You have his letter of authority and his ring." - -"He is dead," I answered, with a shrug. "I am not sure the commands of -the dead Prince are as powerful as those of his living servant. I am -told you are all-powerful in Kai-Nong, Mai Lo." - -"We who worship our ancestors obey the commands of the dead without -question, even if it costs us our lives," said the mandarin. - -This might be true, but I had little faith in Mai Lo being influenced by -the traditions of his people. Prince Kai had distrusted the man and -warned me to look out for any treachery from him. But it was not my -purpose to antagonize the mandarin at this juncture. - -"Satisfy the doctor, and you satisfy me," I declared, with assumed -indifference. - -"I will write an agreement," said Mai Lo, "in which I promise you safe -conduct to Kai-Nong and back to Shanghai. This you will deposit with the -American Consul at Shanghai. If I fail in my agreement he will send the -paper to the Emperor, who will at once order me beheaded." - -"Very good," said the doctor, somewhat to my surprise. "That will -satisfy us amply. Write the agreement and I will at once begin work upon -the body of Prince Kai. If I am to succeed no time must be lost." - -"And the price?" asked the mandarin. - -"Ten thousand taels, and all expenses of the journey." - -"It is agreed." - -Mai Lo composedly arose and went to the state cabin, which he entered. - -"It's just as well to accept his terms," said the doctor to me, in a low -voice. "What we want is to impress him with the fact that we rely upon -his protection. Then we'll watch him for evidences of treachery and be -upon our guard." - -"Would the Emperor behead him if he played false?" I asked, -thoughtfully. - -"Assuredly. Tsi An doesn't want any trouble with foreign countries just -now, and when we speak of the Emperor we really mean the old dowager, -Tsi An." - -Presently the Chinaman returned and handed the doctor a paper closely -written upon in Chinese characters. I looked at the document rather -suspiciously, being unable to read it; but the doctor promptly folded it -and put it in his pocket-book. Then he said in a brisk and business-like -tone: - -"Take me to the Prince, Mai Lo. I must get to work." - -Work he did, and to all appearances very energetically. While he made -his preliminary arrangements I had a long talk with father and Uncle -Naboth, and after explaining to them the details of the entire adventure -I obtained their permission to carry it out. Uncle Naboth wanted to go -with us to "see the country," he said; but I pointed out that it was a -long and tedious journey which my respected relative might not enjoy, -being quite stout and rather short of breath. Moreover, the cargo of -merchandise we were carrying needed his attention; and, if we boys -failed to secure the treasure we were to hunt for, it would be as well -to make the trip a profitable one in a more legitimate way. Finally it -was arranged that only Archie, Joe and I should proceed to -Kwang-Kai-Nong in the doctor's company, with the two black South Sea -Islanders, Nux and Bryonia, for body-servants. Numbers would not count -for much in the expedition, while courage, wit and caution would -accomplish more than an army. - -It would only delay the _Seagull_ a few days to stop at Woosung -anchorage before proceeding to Hong Kong on the way to Canton to unload -cargo, and the prospect of rich returns for this delay fully warranted -it. - -These matters being arranged, and my father and Uncle Naboth being -acquainted with the doctor's secret plans, we proceeded quietly to -complete our arrangements. - -Dr. Gaylord employed only the services of Mai Lo to prepare the body of -his Prince for the process of preservation, and it must be admitted that -the mandarin worked faithfully and willingly--almost I had said -cheerfully, except that such a word could never be applied to the -unemotional Mai Lo. - -These preparations being completed at midnight, Dr. Gaylord drove the -attendant away, claiming that his "secret process" would not allow the -presence of any one. And then the doctor, as he afterward told me, -rolled himself up in a blanket and behind the locked door slept -peacefully in the presence of the corpse until morning. - -Nor was Mai Lo again admitted to the state cabin, although he maintained -his position as guard outside the door, both day and night. - -As soon as breakfast was over I went to the carpenter and had him make a -pine box for a coffin. This we covered with black cloth and clamped with -heavy bands of iron. The cover was hinged and fastened down with three -Yale locks, in addition to a row of stout screws. - -This funeral strong-box was completed about the middle of the afternoon, -and Archie, Joe and I lugged it down to the saloon and deposited it -before the door of the state cabin. - -Very soon the doctor came out with his sleeves rolled up and looking -very business-like, although he had been reading a novel all day. He, -also, approved the chest; so we solemnly carried it into the state cabin -and deposited it upon the floor. Mai Lo was ordered to remain at the -door, but he kept it open and watched us intently from his position -there. The body lay upon the bunk swathed from head to foot in bandages, -which were thoroughly dampened, and gave out an odor which I knew to be -rum, as I had conveyed several bottles of this liquor to the room, -concealed in a gunny sack to puzzle Mai Lo. - -The lid of the Coffin being laid back, we gently lifted the body of the -Prince in our arms and deposited it in the box, wrappings and all. Then -the doctor sprinkled the corpse with more rum from a jar, and closed the -lid and locked it, placing the keys in his pocket. - -"Everything is all right, so far," he remarked to Mai Lo, as he put on -his coat and prepared to leave the room. "It will be necessary for me to -sprinkle the body with my secret preparation every few hours, especially -during the next week or ten days. In this work I shall require the -services of Sam Steele only. You will keep out of this room, my man, and -prevent any one from entering it without my orders, as the fumes of the -drugs might cause another death aboard." - -Mai Lo nodded and locked the door behind us, and I was greatly pleased -that the doctor had succeeded so far in his imposition. - -At seven o'clock the doctor and I again entered the state cabin and -remained there for half an hour, leaning out of the port-hole, which was -extra large in this cabin, and conversing together in low tones. Then we -emerged and passed the evening as usual, everyone on board seeming to -take little interest in the fact that we had a dead man in the state -cabin. - -The sailors, always a superstitious and suspicious lot, had asked some -questions of Archie and Joe, but when told that the doctor had preserved -the body, which was to be taken to Shanghai, they seemed satisfied with -the situation, although I knew every man Jack would have been relieved -to see the corpse lowered into the sea. - -The doctor rapped on my door at midnight, although I was not asleep and -had been eagerly awaiting the summons. - -Together we entered the state cabin, the door of which was unlocked by -Mai Lo, who seemed perpetually sleepless and alert. We first bolted the -door to prevent intrusion, and then lighted a lamp and began -preparations for the most important act in our comedy. - -My heart was beating strongly as I assisted the doctor to unlock the lid -of the box and silently lay it back. Then we lifted out the corpse and -the doctor swiftly and skillfully removed the bandages, disclosing the -still smiling face of the dead Prince. - -We had smuggled in at various times several heavy pieces of iron, and -these were now congregated in a gunny sack. We attached this sack to the -feet of the body, carried it to the port-hole and slid it out into the -water. It disappeared into the night almost without a sound, although I -thought I heard a faint splash at the stern. - -But now our task was only half accomplished. Bolsters and blankets were -bound together in such shape that they resembled in outline the form of -the Prince. Then the doctor carefully bandaged it, and when the dummy -was put in the coffin to replace the corpse it was difficult to realize -the substitution. With a sigh of relief we moistened the bandages anew -with rum, and then closed and locked the lid. - -Mai Lo was at his post when we left the state cabin. - -"Everything is progressing finely," remarked the doctor; but the stolid -attendant made no reply and we passed on to our own cabins. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - AN UNHEEDED WARNING. - - -The voyage of the _Seagull_ across the Pacific was safely accomplished -and with excellent speed. We crossed the Yellow Sea without incident and -in due time anchored at Woosung, which is at the mouth of the -Yang-tse-Kiang. This river is navigable for small steamers for several -hundred miles, but the yellow mud that it washes down from the foothills -of the interior mountain ranges forms a huge bar across the mouth, which -ocean steamships cannot cross. So passengers are obliged to disembark at -Woosung and take either the railway or a small steamer for the -twenty-five mile run up to Shanghai. - -Mai Lo decided upon the steamer. As soon as we anchored we went ashore -and made arrangements, and on the following morning our little party -prepared to follow him, and start at once upon our strange adventure. - -The Chinese Health Inspector for the port was curious and exacting. He -made us unlock the coffin of Prince Kai and when the swathed figure was -exposed he prodded it cautiously with his bamboo wand. Mai Lo was -indignant at this outrage, and protested so vigorously that the official -refrained from further investigation. He countersigned the doctor's -certificate of death from accidental injury, and allowed us to proceed. - -Until this time we had been uneasy lest Mai Lo should suspect the -imposture we had practiced. He had remained so stolid and indifferent -that, although we had allowed him at various times to see us saturating -the bandaged form with our rum, we could not feel really assured that he -believed the corpse of Prince Kai was still in our keeping. But the -mandarin's genuine anger at the meddling official--if voluble and -brusque phrases in Chinese may be construed as anger--fully restored our -confidence. - -The chest was solemnly rowed to the quay, just beneath one of the mud -forts, and placed aboard a smart little river steamer that was puffing a -cloud of black smoke from its funnel. Uncle Naboth came off with us in -another boat, for he was to accompany us as far as Shanghai and see us -started upon our real journey up the Yang-tse. We carried light baggage, -but concealed about our persons a plentiful supply of arms and -ammunition. - -Less than half a day's ride upon the winding yellow waters of the river -brought us to the important city of Shanghai--the most important in all -the Province of Chili. - -The doctor and I insisted upon conveying the important casket to the -Astor House, where we were to stop, and the proprietor gave us a private -room for it in an outbuilding and appointed several Chinese servants to -guard the supposed corpse of the Prince. - -Here, during the next few days, came several Chinese relatives of the -dead man to burn prayers for his peaceful repose before the little image -of a god and the wooden ancestral tablets which Mai Lo had set up at the -head of the casket. These prayers were printed in Chinese characters -upon rice paper, and when burned before the god were considered very -efficacious. - -At times the doctor and I continued to treat the bandages with rum, for -although Mai Lo was not often present upon these occasions we feared he -might have spies set to watch us, and so dared not neglect our -functions. - -The mandarin lived, during these days of our stay in Shanghai, in the -native city, and said he was busy perfecting arrangements for our long -trip to the Province of Kwang-Kai-Nong. - -Shanghai consists of a native city and an European city, besides four -conceded districts occupied by Americans, French, English and Germans. -These grants or concessions have their own judicial courts and are -guarded by their national marines, so that we found our surroundings -wholly American, and plenty of American faces greeted us in our -country's section of the city. - -This was at first quite reassuring; but one had only to walk into the -European section, patrolled by the handsome and gigantic Indian Sikhs, -or into the dirty native city, to realize that we were indeed upon -foreign territory. - -One of our first errands after our arrival was to visit the American -Consul, who received us very courteously. We told him of our contract to -escort the body of Prince Kai Lun Pu to the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong, -and that our agreement with Mai Lo provided for our safe return to -Shanghai. He shook his head dubiously and asked to see the contract. -This we produced, and waited patiently while the consul's interpreter -translated it in writing. When reduced to English the paper read as -follows: - - "Listen to the obligation which Mai Lo, High Mandarin and Governor of - the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong, in His Imperial Chinese Majesty's - Domain, hereby voluntarily agrees to perform: - - "Mai Lo will escort in honor and safety the person of the renowned - physician Gregory Gaylord, a subject of the Kingdom of England, from - the City of Shanghai, in the Province of Chili, to the City of - Kai-Nong in the Province of Kwang-Kai-Nong, and with him shall go the - Americans known as Sam Steele, Archie Ackley, and Joe Herring, with - their attendants, all in equal honor and safety. - - "And if Doctor Gregory Gaylord shall conduct the corpse of His Royal - Highness the Revered Prince Kai Lun Pu, well preserved and cared for, - upon this journey to the City of Kai-Nong, then will Mai Lo pay to - this Doctor Gregory Gaylord the sum of ten thousand taels in genuine - money of the Empire of China. - - "And if the Englishman and the Americans and their attendants before - mentioned do conduct themselves with honesty and faith, neither - stealing nor murdering upon the journey or while within the City of - Kai-Nong, then shall Mai Lo escort them each and every one in honor - and safety back again to the City of Shanghai and deliver them to the - American Consul in that city, unharmed. - - "And this Mai Lo shall do as soon as the foreign guests shall together - or separately make request to return to Shanghai, and all of the - expenses of guards and of food and of transportation shall be defrayed - from the private purse of Mai Lo, as a part of his contract and - obligations. - - "So Mai Lo, promising to be faithful in the names of his greatly - worshipped ancestors, agrees to do and will do, or forfeit his life, - his rank and his fortune. And that all men may know his intentions he - has here signed his name in witness. - - "Mai Lo." - -The doctor and I each read this translation in silence, but afterward -glanced at one another with grim forebodings. But the consul, who was -studying another copy, said to us thoughtfully: - -"This agreement is more frank and favorable than I feared it would -prove. Usually these unscrupulous mandarins insert such clauses in their -contracts that their subtle meanings may be construed in various ways, -thus giving them opportunities to violate the real meaning of their -promises. But here is a paper of a different sort, direct and concise -and with no subterfuges. I think you may trust yourselves to Mai Lo, -especially as he knows this document is in my possession; and I will -inquire carefully into the matter should any harm befall you. Without -the good-will of this powerful governor, however, I would advise you not -to undertake the dangerous journey into the far-away province of -Kwang-Kai-Nong. Indeed, I warn you that the City of Kai-Nong has -considerable evil repute, and is seldom visited by Americans or -Europeans. But Mai Lo is able to protect you even in that remote -capital." - -"We shall go," replied the doctor, briefly. "But if we do not return by -the first of September you must make inquiries concerning us; and -if----" - -"If?" said the consul, with an amused glance. - -"If you find we've disappeared, or anything has happened to us, please -see that Mai Lo is punished," concluded the doctor. - -"I will do all in my power," responded the consul. "The Chinese -character is complex, and crafty beyond measure. But I am sure Mai Lo -would not have executed this document unless he meant fairly by you. I -shall lock the original up in my safe, and you may keep the translation -to refer to in case of necessity." - -We thanked him and went our way, rather more gloomy than the consul -suspected. For we could not tell the American representative that our -errand to Kai-Nong was to carry away the treasure from Prince Kai's -ancestral halls, and that if we were caught doing this, Mai Lo might -easily construe our act as one of theft, and have us put to death. It -did not matter that we were acting according to the Prince's expressed -wishes. - -"Mai Lo must have suspected why we wanted to go to Kai-Nong, and so have -put in that dangerous clause," I said to the doctor. - -"True; the fellow has entrapped us very cleverly," replied Doctor -Gaylord. "Yet he may be innocent of any intent to do so." - -"I'm not going to bank on that," said I. "The consul knows the Chinese, -and he says they are crafty. Mai Lo seems to have no more intelligence -than a lump of putty, but for that reason he's doubly dangerous. You -can't tell how much he knows, or what he thinks." - -"If we object to that clause in the agreement, we shall acknowledge evil -intentions on our part," remarked the doctor; "and, if we say nothing, -he may find a way to use that same clause to excuse himself for our -murder." - -"Well," said I, grimly, "I've gone into this thing, and I'm going to -stay in--to the finish." - -"So am I," replied Doctor Gaylord; but I did not like the way he said -it. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - AN UNEXPECTED DESERTION. - - -No one can gain any adequate idea of the magnitude of the Empire of -China until he has journeyed up that great waterway, the Yang-tse-Kiang, -and observed the millions upon millions of natives that throng both the -river and its banks. For the first four hundred miles of its twisting, -serpentine course, the Yang-tse seems to wind through one successive -village, back of which the skilfully cultivated gardens and fields are -visible. The people as a rule seem peaceful and plodding; but we soon -discovered a deep-rooted antipathy for foreigners in their character -which induced them to regard us with scowling countenances or -mischievous jeers. Whenever we tied up at the river-bank they crowded -around to mock us and make faces at us like a pack of unruly schoolboys, -and we began to realize that we would be far from safe if we ventured -among them unprotected. - -Our steamer was a wheezy little flat-bottomed affair, which in spite of -its awkward appearance breasted the stream energetically and made fairly -good time. It had been chartered especially for our party by Mai Lo, and -was to carry us as far as Ichang, where we were to take mules and -elephants to Kai-Nong. - -Mai Lo was now a vastly different personage from the humble and -groveling attendant of Prince Kai whom we had first known. He boarded -the steamer at Shanghai clothed in gorgeous Chinese raiment of -embroidered silks and accompanied by a band of servitors from his own -province, whom he had picked up in the city. He was as silent and -undemonstrative as ever, but had assumed a new dignity of demeanor. His -commands were obeyed by all around him as readily as if he had been an -autocrat, or the Emperor himself, and whenever he spoke to any of our -party, which was but seldom, there was a suspicion of a sneer in his -harsh tones that was very annoying, although his words were so courteous -that we could not well find fault with them. - -It mattered very little to Archie, Joe or myself that Mai Lo assumed -these airs, but the doctor was uneasy and discontented, and more than -once expressed regrets that we had been foolish enough to undertake such -a risky adventure. Yet he continued to perform the duties he had -undertaken in a brisk, businesslike manner. At least three or four times -in every twenty-four hours the doctor and I entered the little room -where the supposed body of the Prince had been placed in state, -surrounded by flags and decorations, and moistened the bandages with the -rum. We had brought with us three large demijohns of the liquor, which -Doctor Gaylord had labelled "poison," so that we might continue the -farce until the end of our journey. - -Mai Lo, however, no longer guarded the corpse of his Prince in the same -jealous manner as he had on board the _Seagull_. This might easily be -accounted for by the fact that now there was no danger that could menace -the dead. The Chinese have an intense reverence for a corpse, and would -not molest one under any circumstances. - -"All the same," said the doctor, gloomily, "I wish Mai Lo would take a -little more interest in the remains of Prince Kai. His indifference -makes me suspect that the crafty mandarin knows more than we give him -credit for." - -Our little party was accorded excellent treatment on this voyage, and we -had little to complain of. Our South Sea Islanders had nothing to do, -and received almost as much deference as ourselves from the Chinese -aboard the steamboat, who looked upon Nux and Bryonia with unfeigned -curiosity. Our blacks were as grave and dignified as judges, and -conducted themselves in their customary admirable manner. I believe they -had themselves been princes, or at least nobles, in the half-civilized -island from whence they had come, and certainly their conduct under -trying circumstances had always been such as to win my confidence. - -We were eight days getting to Ichang, for the boat tied up at the bank -the greater part of each night, and resumed its journey at daybreak. The -Chinese boatmen have a horror of traveling by night, except those of the -pirate junks, who prefer the dark to cloak their movements. Sometimes, -of course, it is necessary to travel at night, and in consequence every -Chinese boat has an eye painted on each side of the bow so that the boat -can see where it is going in the dark and avoid running aground or into -the rocks. - -Ichang we found to be another important and densely populated city, and -to my surprise there were several European travelers there. A regular -line of steamers runs between Ichang and Shanghai. - -Doctor Gaylord met an old friend, a retired English officer, and seemed -overjoyed to see him, for they held a long and animated conversation -together that evening. - -Mai Lo put us up at the best hotel, but the proprietor objected to -receiving the "remains" of Prince Kai, and so the casket was left on -board the steamer until we were ready to start--the next morning but one -after our arrival. This made it necessary for the doctor and me to make -trips to the boat from the hotel, since we dared not neglect any of the -useless but impressive duties we had assumed in caring for the dummy -corpse. - -On the first of these excursions we were nearly mobbed by the natives; -but fortunately our entire band was together and Nux and Bryonia cleared -the way, using freely some stout lengths of bamboo. - -So the rabble did not press us too closely, and on our following trips -to the boat they were careful not to interfere with us, although they -jeered and mocked "the foreign pigs." - -The attitude of the natives seemed to make the doctor very nervous; but -the others of us did not mind their silly actions, as it was evident -that we were feared as much as we were hated. - -It appeared that Mai Lo had arranged for his caravan in -advance--probably by the Chinese Imperial Telegraph--so we were delayed -only two days in Ichang. The evening before we started Doctor Gaylord -was again engaged in earnest conversation with his tourist acquaintance, -and when we left him to go to bed--for we were to start at daybreak next -morning--they were still talking together. - -Joe aroused me next morning while it was still dark, and told me that I -had barely time to dress and get my breakfast. - -When the meal was finished--and Chinese breakfasts do not consume much -time--we all marched down to the river, from the banks of which the -caravan was to start. - -There were three elephants and some twenty spindle-legged mules in the -convoy, and our escort consisted of Chinese warriors carefully selected -by Mai Lo. - -The casket of Prince Kai was to ride in state upon one of the elephants, -and to be accompanied by the doctor and myself, as his assistant. The -doctor was late and had not yet arrived, so I personally directed the -removal of the casket from the cabin of the steamer and saw that it was -carefully loaded upon the elephant and secured just in front of the -howdah. The beast was profusely decorated with flags and streamers of -gay colors. The Chinese do not use black as mourning, and this was their -way of honoring the memory of the late Prince. Some of the flags were -embroidered with the regulation Earth Dragon, but others bore the figure -of the Sacred Ape, which was the especial emblem of the House of Kai. - -The doctor had not yet arrived by the time the elephant was loaded, and -we began to be impatient. Mai Lo came to me to inquire why the noble -physician was delayed, but I could not tell him. Messengers were sent -back to the hotel, and in the meantime I watched two of the puffing, -flat-bottomed little river steamers leave the bank a few rods away and -begin a race down the river toward Shanghai. They had disappeared around -the bend of the river a full half hour when a native touched my shoulder -and stealthily handed me a soiled bit of crumpled paper. - -I found it was a note from the doctor, and to my astonishment it read as -follows: - - "I have thrown up the job and gone back to Shanghai. Too dangerous to - tackle. I advise you to follow my example. Life is worth more than you - can possibly gain. - - "Gaylord." - -"So," said a harsh voice beside me; "the noble physician has run away." - -I turned with a start to face Mai Lo, who had insolently read the note -over my shoulder. - -"So it seems," I answered, blankly. - -"Run away!" exclaimed Joe and Archie, who were unable to comprehend this -desertion. - -"Gone back to Shanghai," I answered, handing them the paper. - -"Will you follow his example?" asked Mai Lo, calmly. "I must know at -once, as we are ready to start." - -We three boys, confronted by this trying emergency, glanced into one -another's eyes; but after exchanging this look I was prepared to answer -Mai Lo. - -"We are going to Kai-Nong," I said, with an air of unconcern. "Whenever -you are ready, we will begin the journey." - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - MAI LO MAKES A DISCOVERY. - - -Mai Lo looked at me a long time in silence. Then he said: - -"The noble physician is old and wise." - -"And that means that we boys are young and foolish," I retorted. "But -listen to me, Mai Lo. We have traveled in many lands, young as we are. -We have had adventures, and faced dangers. Some who decided to oppose us -are lying buried in Alaska, Panama, and Egypt--and we are here to travel -in your company to Kai-Nong." - -I am not given to boasting, but here was an occasion when a little -bombast might count in our favor; so I looked Mai Lo squarely in the eye -and took a step nearer to him as I spoke, that he might understand that -I was not afraid. Moreover, the mandarin was assuming airs of -superiority that I resented. It would never do to let him believe that -we were in his power. - -But no one could have told by Mai Lo's expression whether my speech had -impressed him or not. His eyes were like beads of glass, and I had begun -to believe that there were no muscles in his face at all. - -"What is your object in traveling to Kai-Nong?" he asked, after one of -his irritating pauses. - -"As a matter of fact, that does not concern you, my man," I replied. "A -higher authority than your own has given me a mission to perform, and if -I have any trouble with you I shall use the letter and ring of Prince -Kai to provide a separate escort to Kai-Nong." - -"I am your servant," said Mai Lo, in his rasping voice. - -"Please do not forget it," I rejoined, curtly. - -"I will put some of my own people on the elephant to guard the body of -my illustrious master," said he. - -"No; I will ride there myself, and perform the doctor's duties in -preserving the body. I have assisted him so long that I understand the -process perfectly, and I have a duplicate set of the keys in my pocket." - -Again the mandarin stared at me silently before he ventured to speak. -Then he said: - -"It is not necessary to continue that farce longer." - -It was my turn to stare now; and I heard Archie cough softly and Joe -give vent to a low whistle. - -"Farce!" I exclaimed indignantly. - -"Yes. The body of the mighty and magnificent Prince Kai is by this time -sufficiently preserved. Save yourself any further trouble concerning -it." - -"Oh, I intend to carry out the contract," I declared, hardly knowing how -else to reply to this astounding statement. - -"Do you intend to demand the ten thousand taels?" he asked. - -"Certainly. We have earned it already." - -"You shall have it," said Mai Lo, calmly. "This matter is between you -and me, and I will pay you the money in Kai-Nong. But let the casket -alone, hereafter, and save yourself trouble. Give me the keys." - -"In Kai-Nong, when I have the ten thousand taels." - -"Very well," was the ready reply. - -My easy victory assured me I was still master of the situation. For some -reason Mai Lo, finding he could not bulldoze me, was afraid to oppose me -openly. - -I ordered Nux and Bryonia to ride upon the elephant bearing the casket -of Prince Kai, and the mandarin made no objection to the arrangement. In -their native language, which I understood to some extent, I told the -blacks to keep their eyes open and their weapons handy, and at a signal -from us to hasten to our assistance. Then Archie, Joe and I mounted the -second elephant, while Mai Lo climbed the third one, followed by a -little withered Chinaman in yellow dress, whom I had never seen before. - -The escort mounted the mules, several of which bore our light baggage, -and then the word was given to start. - -Our mahout, or elephant driver, was a small Chinaman with an enormous -head but a merry and even jovial face that formed a sharp contrast to -that of the impassive Mai Lo. As we started I asked him a question, to -determine if he understood English, and he replied with a flood of -sing-song Chinese that formed a sentence a mile long. - -We were well out of the city gates before the speech ended, and when our -driver found we had ceased to pay any attention to him he threw back his -head and laughed as heartily as a schoolboy. - -Knowing that we could talk freely together in our howdah, we three began -to discuss earnestly the desertion of Doctor Gaylord and its bearing -upon our fortunes. - -"I'd like to know what scared him out," said Archie. "Doc wanted the -money and the treasure as badly as any of us, and his ten thousand taels -was a sure thing." - -"He was all right until he met that English friend at Ichang," I said. -"I believe he must have heard something from him about Mai Lo or the -country between here and Kai-Nong that took away his courage." - -"Perhaps," remarked Joe, thoughtfully, "Mai Lo himself has been talking -to Doctor Gaylord, and warned him not to go farther. You see, Mai Lo -knew all along about the imposture we practiced in regard to the body of -the Prince, and it may be that when the doctor found that his trick was -discovered he thought it time to dig out." - -"It's a mystery," I said, soberly, "and I'm rather sorry to lose the -doctor. He had a pretty level head usually, and would have been a great -help to us when we got to Kai-Nong." - -"Shall we get there, do you think?" asked Archie. - -"Of course." - -"I thought the jig was up when Mai Lo discovered there was a dummy in -the casket, instead of the body of Prince Kai," he continued. - -"Why so?" - -"Because Mai Lo was so dead set against our tossing the body overboard -while we were at sea. He would have defended it with his life, then. Why -does he take the discovery so quietly now?" - -"The explanation is very simple," I answered. "Chinese customs are -peculiar; and especially those that relate to ancestor worship. Should -Mai Lo return to Kai-Nong without the body of his dead prince he would -be eternally disgraced, and unless he at once committed suicide he would -be killed by the other servants of the Prince. So it was a matter of -life or death to him whether we tossed the body overboard or preserved -it and brought it to China." - -"But we really did toss it overboard; and Mai Lo knows it now," objected -Archie. - -"But no one else knows it," I explained. "It was brought to Woosung and -passed by the inspector as the mortal remains of Prince Kai. The -Shanghai papers reported the arrival of the body of the Prince, in the -care of his faithful servant, the noble governor, Mai Lo, and also gave -an account of the accident that caused his death. So now all China knows -that Mai Lo did his duty, and is escorting the remains of his master to -the ancestral halls at Kai-Nong." - -"I see," said Joe, nodding. "The secret is between Mai Lo and ourselves. -That is why he frightened the doctor away, and tried to prevent us from -continuing the journey to Kai-Nong." - -"Exactly," I returned. "Mai Lo has been saved--for a time, anyhow--from -committing suicide, by the very trick we played to deceive him. Perhaps -he saw through our game from the beginning; I do not know. But we played -into his hands, and so he let us go on. Now there is no further danger, -for he knows we dare not betray the imposture and it will be easy for -him to place the supposed body in the ancestral halls without its being -examined by anyone. Yet he preferred not to have us with him when he -should reach Prince Kai's palace." - -"Naturally," said Archie. - -"But this knowledge is a protection to us, anyhow," observed Joe. "Mai -Lo is sharp enough to know that if he plays us any tricks we will -explode the whole deception." - -"That idea is doubtless influencing him, even now," I said. "What we -have to fear is not open warfare, but trickery and secret assassination. -I don't know how powerful the letter and ring of Prince Kai will be in -his own province, of which Mai Lo is governor; but the Prince seemed to -think they would command obedience. Time will have to determine that." - -"What did you mean by saying that Mai Lo would be saved from suicide for -a time?" asked Archie. - -"Why, according to the rules and regulations of ancestor worship, he's -got to commit suicide in a short time, and there's no way of getting out -of it--except to disappear from China forever. The Prince was the last -of his royal line, and left no heir; so the rules oblige his chief -representative to seal up his ancestral halls and destroy all traces of -them, so that they will never be disturbed until the resurrection. -Before doing this, Mai Lo must convert one-half the fortune of Prince -Kai into gold, silver and jewels, and deposit the treasure beside his -coffin. When all this is accomplished--and it will require a little -time, although it must be done speedily--Mai Lo must commit suicide, in -order that the secret of the entrance to the ancestral vaults shall -perish from the knowledge of men. If he fails to kill himself, the other -servants will kill him." - -"Suppose," said Joe, slowly, "it was discovered that we shared the -knowledge of the entrance to Prince Kai's ancestral halls; what would -happen then?" - -"They would surely kill us," I answered. "But the secret entrance of -which the Prince informed me is unknown to any of his people--even to -Mai Lo. I do not fear discovery." - -"What _do_ you fear?" asked Archie. - -"I fear for our personal safety while we remain in Kai-Nong, and I am -not sure that we can find a way to remove the treasure to Shanghai, once -we have secured it," I answered. "But we have known all along that there -would be risks to run, and there's no need crossing these bridges until -we come to them. Prince Kai said it would be a question of wit and -courage; but he predicted that we would win." - -"So we shall!" declared Archie. - -"Of course," remarked Joe, easily. "Prince Kai ought to have known what -he was talking about." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE ELEPHANT TRAIN. - - -That overland journey of more than eight hundred miles by elephant train -is well worth describing, yet it has so little real bearing upon this -story that I shall pass it over as briefly as possible. - -In spite of our fears, Mai Lo treated us with great respect during this -journey, and the escort showed us the same consideration that they did -the mandarin. - -Elephant riding isn't at all disagreeable when you get used to the -swaying motion, and as we were sailors we quickly accustomed ourselves -to the amble of the big beasts. But to ride day after day is decidedly -tedious, and we were glad whenever a halt was called and we could -stretch our legs. - -During the first stage of our journey, which was through a densely -settled country, we made little more than thirty miles a day. But when -we reached Min-Kwa, which is on a shallow tributary of the Yang-tse, we -exchanged our elephants for horses--fine, spirited beasts--which enabled -us to make much better time. - -We now headed directly northwest, on a beeline from the Himalayas, and I -noticed that as we proceeded not only the character of the country but -that of the people changed. The placid, indifferent countenances of the -peasants were replaced by darker, fiercer features; for here were the -descendants of the Tartar horde that once over-ran and conquered the -Chinese. Also the women, instead of being small and insignificant in -appearance, and mild and docile in character, were handsome, powerful -creatures whose every action displayed energy and grace. I could not -help admiring them, although their glances denoted bitter hatred of the -foreigners--a feeling common throughout the Empire. - -The broad, smooth road--a magnificent thoroughfare, that would shame the -best of our American boulevards--sometimes lay through dense forests of -splendid trees, and again twined its way amid groves of bamboo; but -usually we passed through fields that were under cultivation. It -surprised me to observe the perfection of utility that pervaded the -country on every hand, until I remembered that here was the most ancient -civilization in the world. There were no waste places; the numerous -population demanded that every acre be cultivated. Stately walls of -excellent construction are used to divide the land, instead of the frail -fences we set up, and the bridges over dry streams or gullies would -excite the envy and admiration of our modern engineers. All the land -required irrigation, and Mai Lo informed me during one of our -conversations that the system of irrigation now employed dated back more -than two thousand years, and was still so satisfactory that it could not -be improved upon. - -"When America adopts our plan," said the mandarin, "irrigation will be a -success there; but not before. I have seen your methods, and they are -very imperfect." - -Chinese fruits were plentiful and cheap. Six big, delicious pears could -be purchased for one cash--about one-tenth of a cent; and bunches of -finger-shaped grapes as big as one's head we bought for two cash. Mai Lo -kept us well supplied with fruit, and indeed we fared luxuriously -throughout the entire journey. Always at night the mandarin selected a -native house and turned the inhabitants out that we might use it for our -own accommodation. I suppose his authority as a governor allowed him to -do such arbitrary things, for even the fierce Tartars humbly submitted -to his will. Sometimes we passed the night at villages, where there may -be always found comfortable inns; but wherever we slept Nux and Bryonia -by turns guarded the slumbers of us three Americans, while the withered -little imp of a Chinaman who rode with Mai Lo upon his elephant -performed the duty of guarding the mandarin. Mai Lo seemed to trust us -as little as we trusted him, yet we all realized it would be folly to -come to open warfare at this time. - -If anything happened to us, it would not be until we were at Kai-Nong; -we were quite sure of that. So, for the present we slept as placidly as -if on board our own beautiful _Seagull_. - -Only one disagreeable incident occurred in this portion of our journey. -Sometimes, when we camped early, our native escort amused themselves -with games; perhaps to restore their circulation after long periods of -riding. The most popular of these games was one called "shipsu." In -playing it two men had to grasp tightly a short bamboo rod with both -hands and then try to throw one another without releasing hold of the -bamboo. Any trick was allowable in this novel wrestling-match except -taking the hands from the bamboo, and it was therefore a -rough-and-tumble in which strength and skill were required. Usually our -men played shipsu among themselves, but one evening in an inn yard where -we were all watching the game, surrounded by a throng of villagers, a -sturdy Manchu offered to cope with one of Mai Lo's men and the challenge -was accepted. - -The struggle was long and interesting, and the combatants jostled the -bystanders by abrupt turns and side leaps. Finally the Manchu hurled his -antagonist to the ground, causing him to release his hold of the rod. -With a shout of victory the Manchu whirled the rod above his head and -then, happening to find himself near Bryonia, our tall South Sea -Islander, who had been silently looking on, the fellow struck him a -deliberate blow upon his head. Bry's fist shot out and the Manchu went -sprawling upon the ground, while a roar of rage went up from the -bystanders. Knives glistened all around us and our Chinese escort -promptly surrounded our little party and faced the natives expectantly. -But Mai Lo waived his hand, and to my astonishment the escort melted -away and left our black to face his enraged enemies alone. - -"Why did you do that, Mai Lo?" I demanded, angrily, while the natives, -perhaps suspecting some trick, hesitated to attack Bry. - -"Your man has committed a crime; he must die, and perhaps the other -black will die with him," replied the governor, calmly. - -While I stood dumfounded at this assertion I heard Joe say: - -"Be careful, Mai Lo. Archie is behind you with his revolver pointed at -your head. If anyone lays hands upon our black it will be the signal for -your own death." - -Mai Lo did not look around. He did not shrink or pale or display fear. -But he promptly waved his hand again and the escort once more closed -around us. - -Then the governor addressed the crowd in Chinese, and talked volubly for -a long time. In a language where it requires two hundred syllables to -say "good morning" it is probable that Mai Lo's address was brief and to -the point; anyhow, the sullen crowd melted away and left us alone, and -soon after we entered the inn and went to bed. - -The incident was not referred to again on either side, but it proved to -us how readily the governor was prepared to sacrifice any members of our -party, and so weaken our numbers, and it warned us to be constantly upon -our guard. I did not doubt but that Mai Lo had some plan in mind to -circumvent us when we got to Kai-Nong, and doubtless he was confident of -success; but we refused to be panic-stricken. - -"It looks as if we were in the dragon's jaws," remarked Archie, one day, -with a yawn. - -"I don't mind that," replied Joe, "if we can keep the dragon from -biting." - -"Nor I. But sometimes it looks dubious to me. We're about fifteen -hundred miles in the enemy's country, and the world has lost all track -of us. Perhaps----" - -"Perhaps, what?" I asked, impatiently. - -"Perhaps the noble physician was wise, after all." - -"Look here, Archie. What's the use of crying before you're hurt?" - -"It's my only chance," said he, with a grin. "If Mai Lo gets his work -in, I shan't be able to howl." - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - THE CHIEF EUNUCH. - - -About the middle of the seventeenth day we passed through a dark and -gloomy teak forest and came to a place where two stone towers stood, one -on either side of our road. Just behind these towers some fifty tents -were pitched, and a herd of elephants and horses were browsing near -them. The tents bore streamers with the Sacred Ape of Kai embroidered -upon them, and a throng of natives in gay costumes stood in a group -awaiting us. - -"What's up?" I called to Mai Lo, whose elephant was ambling close behind -our own. - -"These pillars," said he, "mark the boundary of Kwang-Kai-Nong. When we -pass them I shall be in my own territory." - -"Oh, and are these your people?" I inquired. - -"Yes. I have sent messengers ahead to warn them of my coming. So they -are here to receive the body of their prince." - -As we continued to advance the group stood motionless, and I had leisure -to examine them. They were finely formed fellows, tall and athletic, and -many of them wore beards, some jet black, some gray, some snow white. It -was easy to see that this reception committee was composed of the best -element of the Kaitos, probably most of them nobles and holding -important offices in the principality. - -The mahout in charge of the elephant which bore the casket of the Prince -now urged his beast slightly in advance of our party, and, as it passed -the gateway marked by the towering pillars, the members of the group -prostrated themselves and with loud wails and groans grabbed up the dust -from the road and scattered it over their bowed heads and bodies, until -they were a sight to behold. Then they raised themselves to their knees, -extended their arms skyward, and howled in concert like so many coyotes. -The din was ear-splitting, and while it continued Mai Lo descended from -his elephant and groveled with the others in the dust before the casket -of Prince Kai. - -Then two aged Kaitos advanced and raised the governor, and escorted him -to a tent. The others continued their cries until the casket had been -lifted from the elephant and conveyed into another tent--the largest and -most decorated one of the encampment. - -During this time we had remained unnoted observers of the scene; but -when the casket disappeared behind the walls of the tent the people, -having risen and dusted themselves, began to look upon us with -curiosity. Nux and Bryonia, who had dismounted with the casket and stood -like ebony statues beside the elephant, attracted most of the scrutiny, -but bore the ordeal with much dignity. - -I was pleased to observe in these people a lack of that ferocious hatred -that had marked the countenances of most of the Chinese we had -encountered. These men seemed more curious than antagonistic. When we -boys dismounted and stood among them they all inclined their bodies in -more or less lowly obeisance. - -Probably the messengers sent forward by Mai Lo had described us to these -people as the friends of the late Prince, for they seemed not surprised -to find us with the governor's party. - -The tent in which lay the casket of the Prince was at once surrounded by -a cordon of guards, armed with scimitars shaped like those of the -ancient Saracens. But no one entered the tent itself. - -The principal members of the reception party followed Mai Lo into his -tent, while others ushered us into still another tent, in which we found -couches spread, and low tables before them bearing refreshments of tea -and cakes. Here we remained all the afternoon. Nux and Bryonia stood -guard outside the entrance, stolidly bearing the gaze of the natives. - -When the sun went down there was another period of wailing throughout -the camp; but the noise soon ceased. Shortly afterward one of our -escort, who understood a few words of English, came to us with an -invitation to join "the noble governor and the great Wi-to" at the -evening banquet. - -I inquired who the "great Wi-to" might be, and was told that he was the -Chief Eunuch and Supreme Ruler of the palace of Prince Kai, and the most -important personage, in short, in Kwang-Kai-Nong after the illustrious -governor. - -When we entered the banquet tent we found about twenty of the most -important Kaitos assembled. A circle of low wicker tables stood in the -center of the tent, with rugs spread before them. At one side, in the -center of a small group, stood Mai Lo, arrayed in splendid costume, and -beside him stood a slender, stooping individual with a smooth shaven -face, whose magnificent robes caused even those of the governor to -appear plain. Around his neck was a chain of superb rubies. When Mai Lo, -in a pompous and somewhat haughty tone, presented us to Wi-to, the Chief -Eunuch gave us a whimsical look and raised a pair of bright, intelligent -eyes to meet our own. - -"The strangers are welcome," he said in a low, soft tone--the first -speech I had heard from a Chinaman that was not harsh and rasping since -my conversation with Prince Kai. His English was not so perfect as that -of the Prince, but much smoother than Mai Lo's, and it gave me a sense -of relief to find another English-speaking personage in this far-off -country. - -My notion of eunuchs had been that they were fierce creatures of -powerful build, usually Ethiopians, and greatly to be feared. I had -heard tales of their absolute power in the palaces of the nobles, and -that even the mighty Empress Tsi An had failed to curb the influence of -her palace eunuchs. So it pleased me to find Wi-to more agreeable in -manner and speech than the imperturbable governor, and I answered him as -pleasantly as I could, saying: - -"We have come on a sad mission, your Highness; to escort the remains of -your master and our beloved friend to his old home. Had the Prince not -requested us to come here, we should not have ventured to intrude upon -you at this unhappy moment." - -I did not know whether it was proper to address the Chief Eunuch as -"your Highness" or not; but perhaps the compliment pleased him, for he -smiled, then screwed up his face into a semblance of grief, then smiled -again. - -"We are deeply grieved and inconsolable," said he, cheerfully. "The -illustrious and royal Prince Kai, whose memory I serve as faithfully as -I did his person, has lived at Kai-Nong but little since he was a boy, -and we had hoped that upon his return he would command the affairs of -his province and become a mighty Viceroy of the Celestial and August -Emperor. But he has passed on to a greater Empire." - -Mai Lo now summoned us to the feast in a voice that I thought a trifle -impatient; but the eunuch paid no attention. He was examining Archie as -he had me, and asked him how he liked China. - -"I don't want to be impolite," said the bluff Archie, "and perhaps this -country is all right for the people who live here; but for my part I -prefer America." - -"That is natural," returned Wi, laughing; "and curiously enough, Prince -Kai had the same idea, or rather he preferred any part of Europe to his -old home. Did my duties permit, I too would travel." - -Mai Lo called again, and the eunuch turned and nodded. Then he said to -Joe: - -"I hope the journey has not tired the friend of my Prince?" - -"I'm as fresh as a daisy," said Joe. "But I can hardly call the Prince -my friend, although I knew and liked him. Sam, here, was the especial -friend of Prince Kai." - -That was what the shrewd eunuch had wanted to find out. He turned -good-naturedly toward the governor and asked his pardon for the delay, -in English. - -When we seated ourselves upon the rugs, I found that I was at the right -hand of the Chief Eunuch and Joe at his left. Archie sat next me, and -far away on the other side squatted Mai Lo, with dignified Kaitos on -either side of him. - -The meal was excellently prepared and served, though I had no idea of -what the dishes consisted. Wi-to plied me with questions concerning the -death of the Prince and the details of his accident. I gave him the -story as clearly as I could, and our conversation, held in low tones, -did not interrupt the chatter in Chinese going on around us. I asked -Wi-to where he learned to speak English, and he said that Prince Kai had -taught him. - -"It is an excellent language to converse in, and easier than our own," -said he, "for it is much more simple. And when my Prince and I talked -together no listeners could understand what he said. That is a great -convenience in palace life, I assure you." - -Two things of importance impressed themselves upon me during this -interview. One was the fact that the Chief Eunuch was not afraid of Mai -Lo, and was rather inclined to snub the governor, and the other that -Wi-to seemed disposed to be friendly toward us. - -Joe observed another fact that escaped me, and that was the evident -disfavor with which all the nobles present regarded the eunuch. They -treated him with great respect, but shunned his society, and Joe -declared that we had forfeited the general regard by hobnobbing with -him. - -This was disconcerting, at first, but when I came to think it over I -decided that it was best for us to be on a friendly footing with Wi-to, -whatever the others might think of us. For he was in command of the -palace, and the palace was to be the scene of our adventures. Mai Lo we -knew to be opposed to us, and therefore a friend such as the Chief -Eunuch was not to be despised. - -After the feast, which lasted far into the night, we all went out and -joined the throng which had congregated before the tent where the -supposed body of Prince Kai lay in state. There an interesting ceremony -was performed. First there was much wailing, grief being expressed in -childish "boo-hoos" accompanied by the clang of cymbals and gongs. The -uproar was deafening for a time, but gradually subsided. Then the people -advanced one by one to the entrance of the tent and there burned papers -cut into queer shapes. These papers represented the things Prince Kai -might need while his spirit was wandering in the land of the Genii, and -consisted of chairs, tables, chests, wearing apparel, jewelry, nuts, -fruit and the like. Many sheets of gold and silver tinsel were likewise -burned, the idea being to supply the Prince with wealth to purchase -whatever he might need in the mysterious country to which he had gone. - -The ceremony was interesting, as I said; but it grew tedious, and we -were glad when it was over and we were permitted to retire to our tent -for the night. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KAI. - - -Early next morning the procession was formed for the journey to -Kai-Nong, the capital city of the province. - -The casket of the Prince was loaded upon a magnificent elephant, which -was caparisoned from head to foot with silken streamers and bunting of -gorgeous colors. No one now rode beside the casket, but a guard of three -score warriors, each with the emblem of the Sacred Ape embroidered upon -the breast of his tunic, formed a cordon around the elephant and marched -solemnly beside it. - -Following the royal elephant came that of the governor, Mai Lo, and then -five elephants bearing the most important nobles. After these came our -own elephant, and behind it that of Wi-to, the Chief Eunuch. A troop of -horsemen, good riders and martial looking fellows, followed in our wake, -and in the rear were our former escort and the baggage animals. - -Before the royal elephant and its guards was a motley crowd of natives -beating gongs, clashing cymbals and wailing their nerve-racking -"boo-hoos." As we proceeded, men left their fields and gardens and the -wayside houses and joined these mourners, so that by noon there was a -black mob ahead of us for a quarter of a mile, all wailing and making as -much noise as they could--which I assure you was considerable. - -I was glad to be in the rear and as far away from the mourners as -possible, and it was with great relief that I saw before us, as we -mounted a slight eminence, the white walls of a great city. Behind it -towered the nearest peaks of the Himalayas, still many miles distant, -and the scene was picturesque and impressive. - -Another hour's riding brought us to the gates of the city, and here the -mob halted and redoubled its clamor while we all passed through. - -But now we found fresh crowds of the citizens awaiting us with tom-toms, -cymbals and gongs, and these caught up the wails of those outside and -made more noise than ever. The streets through which we passed were -broad and smooth, and lined with substantial dwellings of stone. On -either side of the streets, as we passed, were rows of prostrate forms -scattering dust upon their heads as evidence of grief for the death of -their prince. The bazaars were closed and the entire city of Kai-Nong -seemed in mourning. We afterward learned that the capital contains three -hundred thousand inhabitants, and is one of the most prosperous cities -of northwestern China. - -We had ridden fully a half hour through the streets, our ears saluted -every instant with the deafening and discordant notes of grief, when at -last we reached a vast garden surrounded by a high wall. - -Here we halted, being confronted by a group of officials headed by the -Fuh-yin, or mayor of the city. He evidently delivered an oration of much -power, judging from its length and the groans from our party which -interspersed it. At its conclusion Mai Lo made a brief reply from his -seat on the elephant. At the end of this the Fuh-yin and his officials -prostrated themselves while the royal elephant bore the casket through a -huge ornamental gateway into the gardens. - -And now, to my surprise, the elephant of the Chief Eunuch pressed -forward and that officer took the position of honor in the -procession--immediately following the casket. The guards, too, fell away -and remained outside the walls, while only the elephant of Mai Lo and -our own were permitted to pass the gateway. - -But once inside the gardens we saw that a new escort had been provided -for the royal remains. Sixty gorgeously appareled men, armed with -scimitars and broad axes, formed a circle around the elephant that bore -the casket and prepared to guard it. They were stalwart, erect fellows, -of proud bearing but evil and ferocious countenances, and each wore a -yellow turban coiled upon his head, with a golden clasp, in effigy of -the Sacred Ape, fastening the folds just above the forehead. - -These were the eunuchs, the palace guards, or servants and attendants of -the harem. For now we were within the palace grounds, and Wi-to had -assumed command of the procession. - -The wailing and clamor died away to a faint murmur behind us as we wound -in and out by intricate paths between stately trees and beside beds of -brilliant flowers; but from afar at moments we still heard the sounds of -grief, which were continued in the city until midnight. - -The gardens were of astonishing extent and were artistically planned and -carefully tended. The trees and shrubbery were thick in places. We -emerged from their shade to find beautiful gardens of flowers -surrounding us. Once in a while I caught glimpses of the buildings, -which seemed very ornate and constructed mainly of teak, mahogany and -dressed stone, all with tiled roofs, curved and serrated. - -At last we deployed into a broad space at the foot of a green mound, -upon which stood the palace and outbuildings, rambling structures so -numerous and extensive that they presented almost the appearance of a -village. - -The main building was a splendid one. Polished stone formed the walls, -and blue tiles the many gabled, turreted and curved intricacies of the -roof. Carved teakwood covered the face of the stone in many places. At -the great portico of the entrance the carving was elaborate almost -beyond relief. - -From the mound to the broad space where we had halted were terraces with -many steps leading up to the palace, and at intervals on these steps -were urns of graceful design, statues of wood and bronze and lamps of -artistic ironwork. - -We all dismounted here, and the mahouts led away the elephants. Some of -the eunuchs bore the casket of the Prince up the broad steps of the -terrace, while Wi-to bowed low, first to the Governor and then to us, -and welcomed us to the Royal House of Kai. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - THE GOVERNOR SHOWS HIS TEETH. - - -Followed by Nux and Bryonia, who never relaxed their vigilance over us, -we three boys attended the governor and the Chief Eunuch to the entrance -of the palace--the first foreigners to step foot in this retired -stronghold of an ancient race. - -At the carved portico Mai Lo turned and regarded us intently, and then -began a long lingo in Chinese to which the eunuch listened carefully. - -The casket had disappeared through the entrance; the army of eunuchs had -melted away and disappeared; we seemed quite alone with these two -natives, one of whom we knew distrusted and hated us. - -The result of the conversation was that we were shown into a broad, -lofty hall just within the entrance and asked to seat ourselves until -rooms could be prepared for our accommodation. - -The Chief Eunuch, who made this request, looked at us shrewdly and with -an expression more grave and reserved than he had yet shown us, and then -turned and entered a side room in company with the governor. - -We were much annoyed at this discourteous treatment. It was now the -middle of the afternoon, and we had eaten nothing since breakfast, at -daybreak. Wi-to certainly should have given us some food before leaving -us to sit in the hall awaiting his convenience. The pretence of -preparing rooms for us was absurd. With such an army of servants the -palace should have been, and doubtless was, perfectly appointed. But -here we were, seated upon stiff carved sofas in the great hall of the -palace, and here we must remain until it suited Mai Lo and the eunuch to -relieve us. - -The magnificence of the palace aroused our admiration in spite of our -annoyance. The floor was tiled and covered here and there with costly -rugs; the woodwork everywhere was elaborately carved, and every nook and -corner was crowded with rare ornaments and bric-à-brac, art treasures -which would have filled the soul of a collector with envy. On one face -of the wall was a display of ancient armor and weapons inlaid with gold -and silver and set with precious gems. At either side of the entrance -stood a huge bronze figure of the Sacred Ape, its grinning jaws filled -with ivory teeth and its eyes set with immense rubies. - -We had ample leisure to look around us, for no one came to our relief -during the next hour. Also we had time to discuss our situation. - -"What do you think it all means, boys?" I asked. - -"Looks as if they had allowed us to come this far so that they might -murder us," answered Archie, frowning. - -"Mai Lo must have said something to the Chief Eunuch that turned him -against us," remarked Joe. - -"That's my idea," I said; "but if I get a chance I intend to put a spoke -in Mai Lo's wheel. We've got to win the good will of the eunuch or we're -done for. He seems to have unlimited power in the palace." - -"Do you think Mai Lo has said anything about the--the body?" whispered -Archie, glancing suspiciously around. "Speak low, fellows; we don't know -how many ears may be listening behind that carving." - -"I'm quite sure Mai Lo won't betray his own secret," said I. "He has -probably warned the eunuch not to trust us, as we might steal the whole -palace." - -Joe had started to reply when a door opened and Mai Lo entered the hall -and approached us. - -"Why are we kept here waiting?" I demanded, trying to control my temper. -"I won't stand such treatment, Mai Lo, I assure you. We must be treated -with proper respect or something unpleasant is going to happen." - -He looked at me steadily. - -"Brave words," said he. - -"But we have deeds to back them," retorted Joe. - -"You'll force us to ruin if you're not careful, Gov'nor," added Archie, -savagely. - -"Yes," said I, as if the idea had just occurred to me; "if you think to -play us false, Mai Lo, it will cost you your life." - -He turned his glassy eyes from one to the other of us, and when I had -finished he asked, quietly: - -"Will you make a compact with me?" - -"We have one already," I replied, "deposited at the American consul's -office, at Shanghai." - -"But that is so far away," he said significantly. - -"What then?" I demanded. - -"Will you promise not to talk about what has occurred?" - -"What will you promise in return?" - -"To send you safely back to Shanghai at once--tomorrow." - -"We intend to remain here some time." - -"You cannot remain here alive." - -"Indeed!" I exclaimed. "If that is your game I will expose you now--to -the Chief Eunuch." - -"You will not see him again," said Mai Lo, slowly, "unless you promise -to return at once to Shanghai." - -"We are the guests of your Prince for a full year, if we care to remain. -Dare you oppose your Prince's orders?" I inquired. - -"I am now the supreme power in this principality," he replied. - -I turned to my comrades. - -"What do you say, boys?" I asked. - -"Don't give in," said Archie. - -"Let's fight it out," observed Joe, promptly. - -"Then your lives shall be the forfeit," announced Mai Lo, and before we -could stop him he blew a shrill blast upon a little silver whistle that -hung around his neck. - -But I saw the action and motioned to Nux and Bry. Instantly my blacks -had pounced upon the governor and drawn him behind us, holding him -secure, while from a dozen nooks about the hall sprang eunuchs with -drawn scimitars, who ran swiftly toward us. - -As the foremost approached I stepped forward and cried out: - -"Stop!" - -They knew no English, but they comprehended the action, and paused -irresolutely. - -"Order them away, Mai Lo," growled Archie. "Quick, you yellow monkey, or -I'll put a bullet through your head!" - -"Hold on, Archie," I called, still facing the eunuchs. Then I showed -them the ring of Prince Kai and said sternly: - -"Wi-to!" - -They understood at a glance, and lowering their weapons, bowed humbly -before me. Then one of them ran up the hall and disappeared, while we -stood motionless in our places. Mai Lo was held fast by the blacks, -Archie and Joe stood behind me with drawn revolvers and I faced the band -of eunuchs. - -Wi-to suddenly entered and came hastily toward us. - -"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, taking in the scene at a -glance. - -"Mai Lo has been hasty and summoned your men by mistake," I answered. -"He wishes you to send them away." - -Wi looked at the captive governor, who stood motionless with Archie's -revolver pointed directly at his left ear, and then the eunuch smiled as -if amused. - -"Is this true, most noble Governor?" he inquired. - -"It is true," answered Mai Lo, calmly. - -Then Wi laughed outright and clapped his hands. The men disappeared as -if by magic. - -At a signal from me the blacks released Mai Lo, who deliberately -rearranged his clothing. - -"I want a personal conversation with you, Wi-to," I said; "but first of -all we want something to eat, and proper entertainment." - -"Are you not the slaves of Mai Lo?" he asked. - -"No; we are his masters." - -Again I showed the ring of Prince Kai, and the effect was to send the -Chief Eunuch to his knees before me. - -"We are the friends and representatives of your dead master," I -continued, "and are here to carry out his orders. Mai Lo knows this -perfectly well, for Prince Kai ordered him to obey me as he would his -royal master, and he himself witnessed with his signature the authority -I bear. But he does not seem inclined to respect this order for some -reason of his own; so I appeal to you to protect and assist us." - -The eunuch rose and bowed gravely. - -"Your orders shall be obeyed," he said. - -"Not so," interrupted a harsh voice from the governor. "The ring was -stolen from me on the journey here." - -"I can disprove that statement," said I, easily, "and I am surprised -that Mai Lo, who is so soon to commit suicide, would dare to speak -falsely. Give us some food, Wi-to, and then we can talk further of this -matter. But I won't have the governor present at the interview." - -The eunuch nodded and turned away. - -"Follow me, if you please," said he. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - WI-TO PROVES FAITHFUL. - - -After being profusely fed we were ready for an important interview with -Wi-to; an interview that was to determine our standing in the Royal -House of Kai. - -The governor had left us in the hall and we had not seen him since; but -as it was now to be open warfare between us we did not care what his -future intentions might be. - -The Chief Eunuch had forborne to question us while we ate, and appeared -unusually thoughtful; but when we rose he ushered us into a little room -on the main floor which seemed to be his private office. It was -luxuriously furnished and we were given comfortable chairs. - -Nux and Bryonia accompanied us here, as they did everywhere; but Wi-to -seemed to disregard the precaution of having any of his own men present -at the interview. - -He offered us cigars, and when we refused he lighted one himself and -leaned back in his chair. - -"What proof have you that the ring of Prince Kai was not stolen?" he -asked. - -For answer I took the Prince's letter of authority from my pocketbook -and handed it to him to read. - -He perused it carefully and with a grave countenance; then folded the -paper, pressed it to his forehead and returned it to me. - -"The Prince is my master, whether he is here in the flesh or wandering -in the land of the Genii," said the eunuch. "He has given to you, Sam -Steele, the power to command his servants, and I, as one of the most -faithful of these, will obey you, even for the term of one year. But -much has happened since my noble master died, and Mai Lo has told me -strange things about you, which, if true, would annul even the authority -of the great Prince Kai. Let us talk together; tell me all that I do not -know." - -"You have heard how the Prince was injured, and how we brought him to -our ship and cared for him until he died," said I. - -"Now, before Prince Kai died, there were certain matters he wished to -attend to. At his palace in Kai-Nong were some possessions he wanted -taken to England and America and given to friends in those countries, -that they might cherish his memory. There were some papers in his yamen -here that he wished to destroy, that no eyes might read them. There were -some of his servants here that he wished to reward for faithful service. -All this he asked me and my two friends to do for him, in his name and -by his authority; and we promised Prince Kai Lun Pu it should be done." - -The eunuch had listened carefully, and I had tried to be as direct in -speech as I could, realizing that to make any blunder at this time would -prove fatal to our plans. - -"Why did not the Prince ask his governor to do all this? Has not Mai Lo -been a faithful servant and followed his master to the ends of the -earth?" asked Wi-to. - -"The Prince was very wise," I said. - -"He was very wise," repeated Wi-to, nodding. - -"He had traveled far and learned many things." - -"It is true." - -"Also he had learned how to read men's hearts, and he saw that the heart -of Mai Lo had changed since he had mixed with foreign people, and become -acquainted with foreign ways. Therefore the Prince no longer trusted Mai -Lo." - -"Yet Mai Lo has been faithful and brought the body of his master many -thousand li, that it may rest in peace in the halls of his ancestors," -remarked Wi. - -"True," I acknowledged. - -"Had the governor wished to be faithless he could have remained in -foreign lands and so preserved his life. By returning here he is forced, -as soon as his affairs and those of his Prince are arranged, to kill -himself--or be killed," said the eunuch, thoughtfully. - -"He has done all this," I replied, "and Prince Kai, who distrusted him, -expected him to act in this way. For the governor is very crafty and -full of tricks. To remain abroad would make him a poor man. Mai Lo wants -to be rich, and to pass his life in Europe, with many slaves and all the -luxuries of the Western civilization. So Prince Kai said to me that the -governor would come back to Kai-Nong, to get much treasure and with it -flee from this empire to Europe." - -Wi-to seemed genuinely astonished. - -"Where could Mai Lo get such treasure?" he asked. - -"His duty is to convert all the fortune of Prince Kai into cash and -deposit it in the ancestral chih, or tombs." - -The eunuch laughed. - -"Prince Kai has squandered all his fortune," said he. "Outside of what -his palace contains there is little or nothing to convert into cash." - -I own I was astonished at this statement, but I tried not to show it, -and continued: - -"Among other duties, Mai Lo is to seal up the ancestral chih, and -destroy all traces of its existence. Listen now, Wi-to, for this is the -important thing that was in the mind of Prince Kai; he declared to me -that Mai Lo would rob his ancestral halls of the great treasures -deposited there during the past ages." - -"Impossible!" gasped the eunuch, staring at me in amazement. - -"Mai Lo is no Shintoist," I explained. "His travels have made him a -renegade and taught him to despise the religion of his ancestors. He has -no intention of committing suicide, according to the traditions of your -people. Nor will he allow the vast treasures of the House of Kai to -remain sealed up in the burial halls when he has the power to enrich -himself with them. His power as governor of this province will enable -him to make secret arrangements to fly to Shanghai or Hong-Kong, and -from there to leave China forever and carry his stolen wealth with him." - -The eunuch arose and paced the floor thoughtfully. He was much agitated -at what I had said and was pondering my words carefully. - -"You have no faith in Mai Lo, yourself," I suggested, watching him -closely. "You know in your heart he is treacherous and false, just as -the noble Prince knew it." - -Suddenly he sat down and his brow cleared. - -"You must be right," he said. - -"That is why Prince Kai employed comparative strangers to do his -bidding," I went on. "We had not known him long, but he believed he -could trust us, and so he gave me his letter of authority and his ring, -that we might receive the support of his faithful servants in the tasks -we have undertaken." - -"And you think I will side with you against the powerful governor?" -asked the Chief Eunuch. - -"I am sure you will; and the Prince was sure," I answered, confidently. - -"But I can destroy you foreigners with a word, and sweep you from my -path. Then I can make an alliance with Mai Lo and together we could rob -the ancestral halls and escape to some other country to enjoy the -wealth. Yes, yes! It is a pretty plan, and we could do it easily." - -"But you will not," said Joe, while I stared aghast at the eunuch. - -"Why not?" he asked, turning to the boy with a curious expression upon -his face. - -"In the first place," replied Joe, "you are a faithful and true servant, -or Prince Kai, who knew men's hearts, would not have made you his Chief -Eunuch. From what I have seen of your followers I believe you are the -only gentleman of the whole lot." - -"I also am a eunuch," said Wi. "I am of lowly birth, and as a child my -parents sold me to the House of Kai to become a eunuch. My consent was -not asked. Why should I be faithful to my masters?" - -"It's your nature," asserted Joe. "I said you were a gentleman, and so -you are, as we Americans accept the word. With us a gentleman is he who -behaves as a gentleman should; not a person highly born. But there is -still another reason. A eunuch is of no use in the world outside of his -own province. Here you have power. In Europe you would be despised and -insulted. You don't know the big outside world, and you would be unhappy -there, in spite of your wealth." - -"You'd feel like a fish out of water," added Archie, nodding. - -Wi-to laughed, and the laugh was not forced, but merry and spontaneous. - -"Again you are right!" said he. "My Prince offered twice to take me away -with him to see the outside world, and I refused--for the very reasons -you have given. Now I will ask another question. Why should I not divide -the treasure with Mai Lo and remain here to enjoy it? No one would know -where my wealth came from." - -"I cannot answer that," said I, musingly; "if you are faithless enough -to do such a thing." - -"He is not faithless," persisted Joe. - -"Then you are answered, Wi-to," I declared, laughing. - -"I see I must answer my own question," said the eunuch. "This estate -will become the property of the Celestial and August Emperor, because -Prince Kai left no heir to inherit it. It may stand for many years -unoccupied, and in that case I may lead a life of ease and be the real -master here. If the Celestial and August Emperor should bestow this -estate and palace upon some mandarin or high official, it is the custom -to retain the services of the Chief Eunuch who has before ruled the -household. So, in any event, I have no incentive to be faithless." - -"Will you allow Mai Lo to carry out his plan to rob the ancestral -halls?" inquired Archie. - -"No. You are right in thinking that the governor and I are not friends, -for he has tried to interfere with my rights, and that I will allow no -man to do. Outside the palace walls Mai Lo commands the province of -Kwang-Kai-Nong; within this enclosure my word is law. But he has one -privilege within my domain which I cannot refuse him. By virtue of his -office he is the sole protector of the chih, or ancestral halls of the -House of Kai. He alone has the right to enter there, now that the noble -Prince Kai has gone to the Genii. For myself, although I have guarded -the entrance for many years, I have never seen the interior of the -building, nor do I know the way to the vaults beneath it. But although -Mai Lo may enter the halls he must not remove any of the treasure that -belongs to those ancestors of the House of Kai that lie buried there. It -will be my business to prevent that." - -"Very good," said I. "And now, Wi-to, since you have seen the written -instructions of Prince Kai, how do you intend to treat us who are here -to represent his interests?" - -"You shall be honored guests in this palace," was the prompt reply. - -"And will you protect us from the governor?" inquired Joe. - -"While you are inside the palace enclosure you shall be safely guarded -from Mai Lo and all other enemies. But remember my power does not extend -beyond this fu." - -With that he clapped his hands together and two eunuchs stepped forward -from behind a screen, so silently that their appearance startled me. -Speaking rapidly, Wi issued some orders to his men in Chinese, and then -turned again to us. - -"If the suite of rooms I have placed at your disposal is not -satisfactory," said he, "you may have your choice of any the palace -contains, excepting only the royal apartments. Your meals will be served -in your own rooms at such hours as you direct, and whatever you may -desire I shall be prompt to provide. This man," indicating the taller of -the two eunuchs, "is instructed to devote himself to your service. His -name is Tun; he is a Manchu and will be faithful. Tomorrow, if you -desire, I will myself show you through the palace and the gardens." - -"We thank you, Wi-to," said I. - -And then the eunuchs led the way and we followed them back into the -great hall, up the elaborate winding stairway and along several passages -until we came to a richly carved door. Tun opened this and motioned us -to enter. - -So we went in, followed by Nux and Bryonia; but the eunuchs remained -outside. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE SACRED APES OF KAI. - - -I am not much acquainted with palaces, but I venture to state that those -of European countries are not more magnificent, even when inhabited by -royalty, than that of this Manchu prince of the ancient line of Kai. It -is a mistake to think that the Chinese are half civilized, or wholly -uncivilized, as I myself had carelessly considered them until I visited -their Empire. They boast a civilization older than any other existent -nation; they were cultured, artistic and learned thousands of years -before the Christian Era, and while the inventions and clever utilities -of our modern Western civilization give us advantages in many ways over -the Chinese, we cannot withhold our respect and admiration for the -accomplishments of this ancient and substantial race. - -Our suite was so luxurious as to astonish us. It consisted of ten rooms, -five being sleeping rooms furnished in carved teakwood, mahogany and -rosewood. The bedsteads and other furniture were marvels of intricate -carving, and statues, vases and ornaments were everywhere. The floors -were strewn with costly rugs and the walls hung with priceless -tapestries. We called it the "Kite Suite," because these tapestries bore -many scenes in which kites were flying. - -We judged from the parting speech of Wi-to that we were not expected to -leave our apartments again that day, so we passed the evening in -perfecting our plans of procedure and discussing ways to further our -important undertaking. So far we had prospered in our adventure as well -as we could possibly expect. Mai Lo had exhibited considerable -foolishness and lack of foresight in his opposition to us, and we were -learning to despise the mandarin's enmity. But the Chief Eunuch was more -sagacious and discerning, and, as Prince Kai had warned us, he would -have no hesitation in cutting us down if he discovered us robbing the -ancestral halls of Kai. So we knew that we must plan shrewdly in order -to deceive Wi-to, and that above all we must retain his confidence and -good will. - -We talked long over our plans, but found that we could not map out a -definite program without knowing more of the palace and its -surroundings. And much must be left to chance and circumstance. - -Our meals were served in one of the rooms of our suite. The food -provided was not such as we were accustomed to at home, but it was -deliciously cooked and seasoned, and many of the dishes we learned to -enjoy with relish. The meal of that evening will serve as a sample of -the dinners we ate while in Prince Kai's palace: - -First, there was tea--and last, there was tea. But the first tea was -followed by shark-fin soup, pigeon-egg stew, bacon fritters with egg -batter, shredded duck, pickled watermelon seeds, fried mush of almond -meal, chicken combs, stewed mushrooms, almond cream custard, spiced -shellfish, bird's-nest pudding, olives and nuts, chicken soup, fresh -fish boiled and then mashed after the bones had been removed, snow -fungus, brains of yellow-fish, water lily seeds, some mysterious sweets, -and queer cakes, and then tea. I ought to say that every course was also -a rice course, because a bowl of rice was placed in front of each one of -us and kept full by the attendants throughout the meal. Also we were -served, between teas, a sickish sweet wine which was warm and sparkling, -but which none of us could drink. The Chinese use their fingers a good -deal in eating; and, instead of finger-bowls, the attendants pass us -from time to time towels that had been dipped in hot water. The funny -part of it was that our only implements were ivory chop-sticks, and we -had much amusement in trying to use these, until our man Tun perceived -our difficulties and brought us some Syrian spoons, inlaid with gold, -which had probably been purchased by some Kai as curiosities. With these -we made out very well. - -The palace seemed to throng with eunuchs. There had been sixty in the -procession, but those were not all the palace contained. When our meals -were served there was a eunuch to wait upon each one of us, and a dozen -more to carry in and remove the dishes. These men were invariably -respectful and even humble, but they were an ill-looking crew, and we -were never at ease in their presence. - -As none of Wi's men seemed able to speak English, except Tun, and he -very imperfectly, the Chief Eunuch himself came to us in the morning. He -asked whether we would like to examine the palace and grounds. We -accepted the invitation with alacrity. - -Proceeding down the passage we turned a circular elbow where hung a -splendid tapestry on which was represented the Earth Dragon, with its -coils encircling the figure of a woman, who struggled vainly to escape. -The horrible grinning teeth of the monster were close to her despairing -face, and my heart beat fast as I recognized this tapestry as the one -Prince Kai had told us concealed the secret door to his sleeping -chamber. - -Archie and Joe recognized it, too, and I feared their significant looks -might attract the notice of Wi; but he had no knowledge of the secret -himself and so proceeded calmly along the main passage. - -Presently we came to an elaborately carved doorway, above which was an -ivory fish, with two horns upon its head. Before this doorway stood a -sleepy looking eunuch who saluted his chief as we passed by. - -"This," said Wi, "is the entrance to the Suite of the Horned Fish, the -royal apartments. I am sorry I cannot allow you to see them, but -entrance is prohibited except to those of the royal line of Kai. -Opposite, however, is the Suite of the Pink Blossoms, and that is well -worth your inspection." We entered many suites on this upper floor of -the palace, and admired their splendor and magnificence. Then we -descended the great stairway and inspected the state and family -apartments, the royal dining hall, and many other rooms, all gorgeous -beyond description. The wealth of bronzes, paintings, ornaments and -tapestries was wonderful, and was doubtless the accumulation of -centuries of cultured and wealthy princes of Kai. - -We passed out at the rear of the palace. A stately flower-garden filled -the space between the main building and the numerous outbuildings. All -these were located upon the mound, and there were many handsome trees -and curious shrubs to lend beauty and shade to the scene. The -outbuildings were interesting and consisted of the storehouses, the -artisan's home, the artist's house, the house of the weavers, the -kitchens and the servants' quarters. Also there were several beautiful -summer-houses and retreats, pagoda-shaped and very cool and inviting. - -On the further slope of the mound we observed an odd-looking pagoda -built of stone pillars supporting a yellow-tiled roof, above which -floated many gay pennants. As we drew near we found the central part to -consist of a circle of stout brass bars, within which were imprisoned a -dozen or more gigantic apes. The beasts set up a series of sharp, -barking cries as we approached, and when we stood before the cage they -sprang at the bars and shook them angrily, as if they longed to escape -and tear us to pieces. Never have I beheld such fierce and horrible -beasts as these. Wi-to, who first made obeisance and then stood calmly -looking at them, explained that they were the Sacred Apes of the House -of Kai, and were tended with reverent care, having their own corps of -servants to minister to them. - -They were covered with short gray hairs and their limbs were remarkably -powerful. Their eyes were bright and fierce, but gleamed with -intelligence. Among them I noticed one enormous fellow who seemed to -dominate the band. He did not attack the bars as did the others, but -squatted in the center of the cage, with his head slightly bent forward -and his grinning teeth wickedly displayed. - -"This is the King Ape, Fo-Chu by name," said Wi, seeing my eyes fixed -upon this dreadful creature. "He is very old--some say a hundred -years--and his strength equals his age; Fo-Chu has nine executions to -his credit in my own time; how many he has killed since he came here I -cannot guess." - -"Who were his victims?" I asked, with a shudder, as the cruel eyes of -the King Ape chanced to meet mine. - -"His attendants, usually. But there is a story of how Kai-Tu-Ghai, the -grandfather of our late Prince, wearying of life because of dissensions -in his harem, opened the door of this cage and shook hands with Fo-Chu. -When they found Kai-Tu-Ghai he was nothing but shreds, for the King Ape -had lapped up every drop of his blood." - -"What a horrible death!" I exclaimed. - -"Of course this added to the importance of Fo-Chu," continued Wi, with a -slight smile, "for he was afterward held more sacred than before, -containing, as he does, the soul of Kai-Tu-Ghai. That is why he is the -King Ape and the most sacred of all the band, for in him still lives the -spirit of an ancestor of the House of Kai, and it is believed that -Fo-Chu will live to the end of the world and protect the fortunes of -this royal house. When he kills an attendant we say that Kai-Tu-Ghai was -angry, as it is his privilege to be, and what is left of the slave is -buried with high honor." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - THE PEARL OF KAI-NONG. - - -We were glad to turn away from these disgusting and fearful creatures, -and Archie asked our conductor: - -"Is there a harem connected with the palace?" - -"Of course," said Wi; "but you are not permitted to visit it." - -"Had the late Prince many wives?" inquired Joe. - -"He had none at all. In the harem lives his sister, a young girl but -sixteen years of age. Her mother is long since dead, but she has nine -aunts, now well advanced in years, to keep her company. They were the -wives of Kai-Tien, the father of Prince Kai Lun Pu." - -"And was the Prince fond of his sister?" I asked, remembering that he -had never mentioned her. - -"He scarcely knew her. She was a mere child when he went to England, and -during his brief visits to Kai-Nong afterward he seldom entered the -harem." - -"Will she inherit none of his property?" asked Archie. - -"She inherits nothing. But she is entitled to a home in the harem as -long as she lives, and our Celestial and August Emperor will doubtless -attend to her welfare. Nor-Ghai, as she is named, is quite beautiful, -and she will be presented to the Most Serene Emperor as a candidate for -his harem, in a few months." - -This was almost as horrible as the story of the King Ape, and I was glad -our approach to a beautiful building put an end to the conversation. - -We had descended from the mound and passed through a grove of willow -trees, finding before us the edifice I have referred to. It was very -ornamental in design, and was built almost entirely of bamboo wands -polished to a mirror-like surface. The workmanship was everywhere -exquisite, and the carving so delicate and flowerlike that I was amazed. -The building was not extensive, being perhaps thirty feet square, and on -each of its four sides was a flight of steps leading up to a platform -before an entrance. - -"Oh," said I, "this must be the House of Ancestors." - -"You are right," said a harsh voice beside me, and turning I beheld the -expressionless, putty-like countenance of Mai Lo. He reminded me of "old -Death's-Head" more forcibly than ever, and I was not at all pleased to -have him intrude upon us. - -"What are you doing here?" I demanded angrily. - -"This is my domain," he replied, with a sweep of his arm. "I rule the -Ancestral Halls as their especial guardian." - -"You ought to be the Keeper of the Sacred Apes," I retorted, with a -sneer. - -"That is my function also," quietly answered Mai Lo. - -Somewhat at a loss how to proceed I turned again to gaze at the -Ancestral Halls which were to play so important a part in our -adventures. A guard paced slowly up and down before each entrance; not -one of the eunuchs, but a soldier in handsome costume and armed with a -naked scimitar. - -"Do you live in the palace grounds?" Joe asked the governor. - -"My residence is there," said Mai Lo, pointing to a large, substantial -building some distance away. "Prince Kai desired me to live near to the -Ancestral Halls. I have another house outside the walls, in the city." - -"Where is the body of Prince Kai?" suddenly demanded Archie. - -"It already rests in the chih of his ancestors." - -"Then you will seal up the vaults at once and tear down this beautiful -building?" I asked. - -"Very soon. When the business of the estate is settled," replied Mai Lo. - -"And then?" I continued. - -The governor did not reply, but I saw a smile curl the thin lips of the -Chief Eunuch. - -"Then," said Archie, carelessly, "Mai Lo will put a dagger into his -heart and join his prince in the Land of the Genii, as a faithful -servant should." - -Mai Lo turned his glassy eyes upon the speaker, but said nothing. -Evidently it was not pleasant to be reminded of such a duty, and Archie -did not gain in popularity with the noble governor by his speech. But we -were growing to despise Mai Lo, and cared little what he thought behind -the impassive mask of his parchment-like features. - -"I should like to see the inside of that building," remarked Joe. - -"It is forbidden," was the abrupt reply. "No one but Prince Kai and I -has been inside it during this generation." - -"Then how do we know that the body of Prince Kai rests in the tombs of -his ancestors?" I asked, maliciously, for I liked to annoy the noble -governor. - -"It is not required of you to know that, or any other business of this -province," returned Mai Lo. "I alone am responsible, and none dares -interfere with my duties. You are here on sufferance, young men; the -sufferance of Wi-to, who is making a mistake in harboring you. If you -abuse the hospitality extended you, I shall hold Wi-to responsible." - -"Hardly that, most wise and noble Governor," returned Wi-to, quietly. -"Your name is signed to the order given these young men by Prince Kai -himself." - -"I did not read the paper." - -"You were not required to read it," retorted the eunuch, smiling. "Your -signature merely vouches for the genuineness of the illustrious Prince's -order. I but obey that order. Those responsible are, first of all, the -Royal Prince, himself; and in his absence, Mai Lo, his legal -representative." - -It was now the turn of Wi-to to receive the glassy stare of the -governor; but as Mai Lo made no reply in words we considered that the -eunuch had scored a point. - -We now saluted the governor and retired to the mound of the palace, -where he did not attempt to follow us. - -"It is unfortunate," said Wi-to, thoughtfully, "that there are two -rulers here with powers so intermingled that there is likely to be -friction between them. It is the fault of our beloved Prince, who -intrusted the hereditary governor of his province with more honors than -are customary. But, alas! Mai Lo will soon sleep with his ancestors, and -his son Mai Tchin will rule in his place." - -"So the governor has a family," I remarked. - -"Yes. Mai Tchin is better than his father, but weak and undecided in -character. Also he has a daughter, Mai Mou, who is called the Pearl of -Kai Nong." - -"Is she so beautiful?" asked Archie. - -"So it is reported. My eyes have never been dazzled by the vision of her -presence," said the eunuch, gravely. - -"I thought Chinese women were not confined so closely to the harems," I -remarked. - -"They are not," was the reply. "Before they are married the women of the -nobles have much freedom, and wander at will in the gardens of their -home. Also the married women are allowed much freedom, and are permitted -to visit one another in their sedan chairs." - -We all laughed at this, and explained to Wi-to that this did not seem -any great privilege when compared to those of our American girls. But -the idea of allowing girls to meet and converse with strangers did not -appeal to the eunuch, who thought that Americans must take very little -interest in their female chattels to guard them so carelessly. - -When we got back to the palace Wi took us to his own room and said: - -"You are permitted the freedom of the entire palace, except the royal -apartments, and of the palace grounds except the Halls of Ancestors. -Wander where you will, and enjoy yourselves. When you are ready to tell -me the commands of our illustrious Prince, which you came here to -execute, I will assist you to carry them out. But there is no need to -hurry; you have a year, by command of Prince Kai Lun Pu, and I can -extend further courtesy to my master's guests if I so desire." - -Now, we had been waiting for an opportunity to speak of the matters we -were here to attend to, so I said to Wi: - -"Let us tell you now of the duties we are required to perform. We wish -to be as frank and open with you as possible, to show we are grateful -for your trust in us and your faithfulness to your master." - -He bowed low and waited for me to continue. - -"You must know that our Prince made many warm friends in Europe and -America, for every one loved him who knew him. He was entertained and -shown many favors that he greatly appreciated. On his death-bed Kai Lun -Pu remembered those friends, and wished to return the favors he had -received. So he asked me and my two comrades here, to travel to his city -of Kai-Nong and go to his palace here, and there select such ornaments, -ivories and bronzes as might suit the pleasure of those destined to -receive them. These things we were to choose from among the contents of -this palace, and he charged us to carefully pack them ourselves in cases -which you, Wi-to, would provide for that purpose. Then we are to carry -them back to our own country and distribute the gifts to those for whom -they are intended. I have a list of the names in my possession." - -I paused here, and again the eunuch bowed gravely. - -"Are you to take many of the treasures and precious relics from the -palace?" he asked. - -"No. We are not to take anything that is of great value. But among the -thousands of articles gathered here we will select modest gifts for the -friends of the Prince, and you will yourself see what we have selected -and advise us. If there is anything you prefer to have remain here, we -will respect your wishes. The idea is not to rob the palace of its -treasures; but the Prince gave us power to select whatever we pleased, -so it is our desire to consult you and your pleasure in making our -choice." - -He seemed pleased by this consideration on our part, and said: - -"We cannot quarrel over that matter, since you are so courteous. Are -there any other commands?" - -"Yes. We are to get certain books that are in the rooms which were -occupied by the Prince, and take them with us, to be given to His -Majesty, the King of England." - -I thought it was as well to add to our importance by naming this -important ruler as a friend of the Prince, and one who was to figure in -this gift distribution. I did not know positively that the Prince had -any books in the palace, but judged that a young man educated at the -English universities would be more than likely to own something of a -library. Moreover, books were heavy, and they would remove any suspicion -caused by the weight of the cases we wanted to carry away. - -Fortunately I had guessed correctly. The eunuch bowed gravely once more, -but said: - -"This is more difficult to carry out than the first order, for it is -forbidden to allow any one to enter the royal apartments but the -attendants." - -"We can arrange that by your bringing the books yourself to another -room, where we can choose what we wish," said Joe. - -The eunuch brightened. - -"Of course," said he, "that will make the order quite easy to fulfil." - -"There is a third order," I continued, "that will require more time and -perhaps be more difficult. The Prince wished me to look over all the -documents and papers contained in his private desk and destroy certain -ones I am to find among them. I suppose the desk is also in the royal -apartments; but that can likewise be brought to our rooms, where I may -make the examination at my leisure." - -After saying this I paused to see what effect it might have. I did not -know that the Prince had either a desk or papers; but again I had -guessed aright. - -"Have you the key to the great cabinet?" inquired Wi-to, thoughtfully. - -"Prince Kai said you would furnish the key." - -This was wholly a chance shot; but it hit the mark beautifully. - -"Very well," was the reply. Then he continued: "Our illustrious and -sublime Prince has indeed given you important duties to fulfil, but he -was right in saying that Wi-to would assist you to do his will." - -"He was sure of your loyalty," said I. - -For a time the eunuch sat thinking upon the information I had given him. -Then, suddenly raising his eyes, he inquired: - -"What reward are you to have for taking this long journey, and all the -trouble and expense of distributing the Prince's gifts to his friends?" - -For an instant I hesitated how to reply to this question, and I saw the -anxious looks on the faces of Archie and Joe, which warned me of the -importance of my reply. So I marshaled my wits and smiled at Wi-to to -gain time. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - "THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL." - - -The Chief Eunuch eyed me expectantly. He was a clever fellow in his way, -and had more than ordinary intelligence; but all his life had been -passed in this retired place and he judged people and things from his -own limited point of view. He could understand how his master might wish -to reward friends with costly gifts, because he had lived surrounded by -rare and precious objects of art. Likewise he supposed books precious, -because there were so few in the palace, and he had seen so much -intrigue in his life that it was but natural that the Prince wished to -destroy certain papers left in his desk before a successor obtained -possession of them. But he could not understand our undertaking the -commission to do these things without reward. So when I answered his -question, I said: - -"You must not suppose we are mercenary, or that we journeyed to Kai-Nong -solely for a reward; but Prince Kai did tell us we might each select a -jewel or ornament for ourselves while we were here." - -"That is just," said the eunuch. - -"But we will confess that the chief reason for favoring your Prince, -aside from our friendship for him, was a love of adventure. Mai Lo paid -our expenses here, and will pay to send us back if we demand it. We have -his contract. But if he is not able to do that, we have funds of our own -in Shanghai which we can draw upon. For, mark you, Wi-to, we are -important people in our own country." - -"I am sure of that," was the reply. "And if you have a contract with Mai -Lo, he must pay to send you back to Shanghai." - -"If he is alive. But he ought to commit suicide before long." - -"Oh, I see!" exclaimed the eunuch. "You intend to compel him to do -this?" - -"We intend to see that he doesn't rob the Ancestral Halls and run away -with the treasure. For that reason we may remain your guests longer than -would be required to execute the orders of Prince Kai, who greatly -feared that Mai Lo would rob his ancestors." - -"You shall remain as long as it pleases you," returned Wi-to, with -sparkling eyes. "And you may call upon me and all my followers to assist -you, in case the renegade governor tries to escape you." - -"Thanks; that was just what we expected," I exclaimed. - -Then, feeling well satisfied with our interview and our tour of -inspection, we left the Chief Eunuch and returned to our own rooms. - -"Do you think it wise to harp on the subject of Mai Lo's robbing the -Ancestral Halls?" asked Joe, when we were where we could not be -overheard. - -"Why isn't it wise?" I asked. - -"Why, the Chief Eunuch may get suspicious that something is up." - -"I want him to get suspicious of Mai Lo, and watch that old fox so -carefully that he won't get a chance to steal anything until we get -through. Besides, it will relieve us of any suspicions. Wi thinks it's -impossible for us to get to the burial vaults, because our enemy the -governor guards all entrances. And he's crafty enough to believe that we -wouldn't talk about robbing the Ancestral Halls if we had any idea of -doing it ourselves." - -"Sam's right," declared Archie. - -"I think so, too," acknowledged Joe. "But I began to fear we were -overdoing the thing. Our talk about the orders of Prince Kai worked all -right, didn't it?" - -"Why, it was all very reasonable to the eunuch," I said, "and we will -have no trouble in getting the packing cases to our rooms, where we can -replace the ornaments and books with the treasure." - -"It looks too easy altogether," said Archie, doubtfully. - -"You must remember Prince Kai planned it all, and he knew the conditions -here perfectly," answered Joe. "I imagine our greatest difficulty will -be in getting back to Shanghai. If the governor acts ugly and refuses us -an escort we won't get fifty miles without being murdered." - -"Don't let's worry about that," I said, sharply, for the thought had -already worried me a good deal. "That's another bridge that needn't be -crossed till we come to it." - -We were naturally eager to explore the Ancestral Halls and see what the -treasure consisted of which had been so freely given us by Prince -Kai--if we could take it. It might be much or little, but judging from -the wealth and magnificence of the palace the treasure buried in the -vaults was likely to be ample to satisfy us. - -After all, I think it was the adventure that charmed us, more than the -longing for gain. We had been set a difficult task, and boylike we -determined to accomplish it. - -Deciding it would not be wise to make any important move for the first -few days, we passed the time wandering about the palace or in the -grounds. We found that Wi-to trusted us fully now, and we were allowed -to do whatever we pleased without being annoyed by the watchful -attendance of the eunuchs. - -Wi asked me if we wanted a guard at the door of our chamber, and I -promptly answered No. There was no one in the palace except ourselves -and the eunuchs, and it was not necessary for them to guard us against -themselves. So we were left free to come and go as we pleased; but when -we wandered as far as the outer walls of the palace enclosure we found -eunuchs stationed at every gateway. We did not know whether we would be -allowed to pass these guards or not, but we made no attempt to do so, -preferring not to trust ourselves to the mercies of our enemy the -governor. - -Once in awhile we encountered Mai Lo in our walks, but he kept near to -the Ancestral Halls and paid no attention to us. He was supposed to be -settling up the estate of his dead master, but according to our -observations he seemed chiefly occupied in pacing the paths, in deep -thought. However, we let him alone and kept out of his way. - -It was while we were exploring an end of the garden where a thicket of -fruit trees grew that we met our first real adventure. - -The trees formed a regular jungle; but there seemed a well worn path -between them, so we followed on, winding this way and that, until the -sound of voices and laughter arrested our attention. The voices were -sweet and fresh and the laughter ringing and merry. - -While we paused to listen, hesitating whether to retreat or advance, a -sentence in English caught our ears, and we looked at one another in -surprise. Broken English it was, very quaintly and prettily uttered, and -in a girl's voice; but after hearing it none of us cared to run away. - -"Seen them I have--a peep--a view only--but they were young and -handsome, these foreign devils," said the voice. - -A peal of laughter greeted the remark, and the chatter went on in lower -tones. - -"We must be near the harem," whispered Archie. - -"Nonsense," cautiously replied Joe. "The harem's way back by the palace. -That's a sort of summer-house ahead of us." - -It was merely a circle of willows, with their branches mingling and -interlacing to form a roof. - -"If they've had a peep at us, whoever they are, I mean to have a peep at -them," said I; and without waiting for a reply I softly tip-toed toward -the willows. - -The others followed, but I did not heed them. Really I was hungry for -the sight of a girl, merely to relieve the monotony of our intercourse -with the harsh-featured eunuchs; but more than all I was curious. - -Halting at the circle of trees I found a place where I could see the -interior between the trunks, and then I paused spell-bound. - -A table of woven reeds was in the center of the leafy bower, and around -it were low chairs and settles of the same material. Seated at the table -were three young and pretty Chinese girls--and if you think a Chinese -girl cannot be pretty you should have seen this group as I saw it. - -One maid was leaning on her dainty elbows over the table, on which lay -an open book. She was not reading it, but looking earnestly at another -maid half reclining upon a bench opposite. Her eyes were dark and -smiling, her teeth white as pearls, her cheeks like rose leaves and her -hair had a wonderful arrangement of bows and knitting-needles--or some -such things--stuck this way and that to hold it all together. - -The girl reclining was even prettier, and wore a wonderful pink gown, -all embroidery and fluffy silk trimmings. I may not be describing all -this properly, but I am doing my best to tell you what I saw. - -There was a third girl sitting upon a stool and doing a bit of -embroidery--at least she had a needle and some work in her hands; but -she was not paying much attention to the work, for when I got to my -peep-hole it was this maid--a tiny, dainty, dimpled bit of a roguish -looking thing--who was engaged in talking. - -"I'll do it, Mai Mou--even if they beat me, or kill me!" she was saying, -impetuously; "I'll have a glance myself, this very evening, from my -window, and see what they are like." - -"But why need you care, Nor Ghai?" asked the reclining beauty, in a -soft, subdued voice. "What if Ko-Tua has seen these foreign devils, and -praises their beauty--what to you is it all?" - -"To me!" returned the impetuous one; "they knew my brother, who has gone -to join the Genii. I loved well our Lun Pu, who never knew me or cared -for me. Perhaps the fearful, handsome strangers will tell me of him." - -I knew who they were now--at least, two of them. Nor Ghai was the little -sister of the Prince--she was the girl with the embroidery. Mai Mou was -the daughter of our enemy the governor; she was well named the Pearl of -Kai-Nong. As for the third, the beauty with the book, who had been -called Ko-Tua and who claimed to have had a peep at us, I had no idea -where she belonged. - -But what I had overheard decided me upon a bold step. It would have been -bold even in America; here in China it was actually audacious. - -I saw the opening in the willows that formed the entrance to this leafy -pavilion, and crept toward it, motioning the boys to follow. When near -enough I boldly stepped out, walked into the pavilion and then paused as -if astonished at what I had discovered there. Archie and Joe were with -me, and we were greeted by a panicky chorus of muffled screams. Lucky it -was they were muffled, or the cries might have brought the eunuchs upon -us. Perhaps the frightened girls remembered this and screamed just loud -enough to show they were properly scared. - -"Pardon us, ladies, for intruding," I said, removing my cap and making a -low bow. "We are the foreign devils, and we're glad to make your -acquaintance." - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - AN UNLAWFUL INTERVIEW. - - -Really, we had created a sensation in the summer-house. The three -beauties were huddled together in a bunch as far away as the circling -willows would permit, and with clasped hands and wide open eyes they -were staring at us intently. - -"Permit us to introduce ourselves," said Joe, in his most polite manner. -"I am Joseph Herring, of America." - -"And I am Archie Ackley, of the same grand old country." - -"I am Sam Steele, at your service, ladies. Won't you sit down?" I -continued. "Now that we are here let us tell you all about Prince Kai -Lun Pu, and how he sent us to this place." - -"Go away!" said Mai Mou, in low tense tones. - -"Oh, no, we can't do that," said Joe. - -"But you must," persisted the Pearl. - -"Why so?" asked Archie, calmly seating himself at the table. - -"You will be sliced if you are found here," announced Nor Ghai, with a -dimpled smile, half frightened, half amused. - -"Sliced! What does that mean, little friend?" I asked. - -"You are bound to the plank and the axe begins at your feet and slices -you thin until you are dead--and long afterward." - -"Oh, that's nothing," said Archie, contemptuously. "We're not afraid." - -"If you care not to consider yourselves, then consider us," begged the -fair Ko-Tua. "If you are found here we shall be beaten with bamboos upon -the soles of our feet and cast into dungeons without food." - -"Don't worry," I said, assuringly. "I will not allow the eunuchs to harm -you." - -"How can you prevent it?" asked Mai Mou, curiously. - -"This is our authority," I replied, exhibiting the Prince's ruby ring. - -"Oh--h!" sighed Nor Ghai, gliding swiftly toward me. Then she knelt and -touched the ring with her rose-bud lips, saying: - -"It is his, Mai Mou! It is my brother's signet, Ko-Tua! We need fear -nothing, I am sure." - -"Then sit down and let's talk it over," I said, motioning toward the -chairs. - -Very timidly they approached, like frightened doves about to fly at the -least alarm, and then they plumped down upon a bench all together, with -their arms twined around each other for mutual encouragement. - -"How does it happen you speak English?" I inquired, pretending not to -notice their fears. - -"One of my father's wives lived at Hong-Kong before he brought her here, -and she taught us," replied Nor Ghai, simply. "Do you think we the -English speak with perfection?" - -"Nothing could be more perfect," laughed Archie. - -"Ah--h!" they murmured, looking at each other delightedly. - -"We the English talk much with ourselves," declared Ko-Tua, casting her -eyes down modestly to avoid Joe's stare. "We can faster talk in English -than in our own language." - -"That's a great blessing," said Archie; "you must have a lot to say to -each other." - -"And we study all the time, velly hard and good," added Mai Mou, looking -earnestly at Archie for approval. - -"I'm sure you are very wise and learned," said he. - -"Now," broke in Nor Ghai, wiggling expectantly in her seat, "tell me of -Lun Pu--all of Lun Pu--and how he came to join his ancestors, and how -you foreign dev--you, you----" - -"That's right. We're foreign devils." - -"How you came to Kai-Nong?" - -"Let me see," I rejoined; "you are the Prince's sister, I believe; Nor -Ghai by name." - -"How did you know?" she exclaimed, clasping her hands with a little -gesture of pleasure. - -"And this must be Mai Mou, the governor's daughter, called by all the -world the Pearl of Kai-Nong," added Archie. - -"How strange," she murmured. "Do you know everything?" - -"Not quite," laughed Joe. "For instance, we do not know who Ko-Tua is. -Will she tell us?" - -Now Ko-Tua was not the least charming of the little maids by any means. -Her features were not quite so regular as those of Mai Mou, nor so merry -and winning as those of Nor Ghai; but she was sweet and dainty as a -spring floweret and her eyes had a pleading and wistful look that was -hard to resist. So we were all greatly astonished when Mai Mou answered -Joe's question by saying: - -"Ko-Tua is my little mother; she is my father's new wife." - -"What!" I exclaimed. "Has the old governor been marrying since he -returned?" - -"No-no!" answered Ko-Tua, smiling and blushing. "I was married to the -noble Mai Lo six years ago." - -"Impossible! How old are you now?" - -She looked inquiringly at Mai Mou, who answered: - -"Fifteen summers has Mai Mou looked upon." - -"And you were married at nine!" - -"That must be it," she nodded, counting upon her slender fingers. -"Ten--'leven--tlelve--thirt'--fourt--fliftleen!" - -"It's preposterous!" cried Joe, indignantly. "The old rascal ought to be -sliced for daring to marry a child." - -"What is wrong?" asked Mai Mou, wonderingly. "Is not my little mother -beautiful? Is she not nice? Is not my father's harem well appointed and -comforting?" - -"Are you happy, Ko-Tua?" asked Joe, earnestly. - -"Oh, yes, foreign one. Only the birds are happier." - -"Then we won't slice Mai Lo," I announced, airily. - -I picked up the book that lay open upon the table and found it an -English translation of Plutarch. - -"Do you like this?" I asked. - -"Oh, yes!" they cried. And Ko-Tua added: "We are entertain much by its -stories." - -It seemed pretty heavy reading for young girls. - -"We have the Shakespeare and we have the verse songs of Blylon," -announced Nor Ghai, gleefully. "My brother, Lun Pu, gave them to my -father's wife who came from Hong Kong. But now you may tell us, foreign -ones, since you are with us so unlawfully, about my brother's accident." - -So we began the story, trying between us to tell it in such a way as to -remove all horror from the tragic incidents. But it seemed they loved to -dwell mostly upon those very details, having the same love for slaughter -and bloodshed that I have observed in the natures of some of our own -children. Even Nor Ghai had known the Prince so slightly that he was a -mere personage to her, and his untimely end was to these fair and -innocent girls but a romance that was delightful to listen to. - -With the telling of the story and answering the numerous questions -showered upon us, the hours passed rapidly, until finally Ko-Tua sprang -up and declared it was time for them to go, or Mai Lo's eunuchs would be -looking for her. - -"Will you come here again tomorrow?" I asked Nor Ghai, taking her little -hand in mine--a liberty she did not resent. - -She turned to the others. - -"Shall we come here tomorrow?" she inquired. - -Mai Mou looked at her "little mother." - -"Let us come," said Ko-Tua, after a little hesitation. "We shall then be -able to learn more of the English." - -Nor Ghai laughed at that and said, with a pretty courtesy: - -"We shall come." - -Then they glided from the pavilion with quick little steps that were not -ungraceful, and we stood silently in our places until all sounds of -their departure had ceased. - -We were much elated by this meeting, and had no thought of the danger we -might incur by arranging for a future interview with the charming -orientals. You must not think we had fallen in love with these Chinese -beauties, for that was not the case. I don't say that I shall never fall -in love; but when I do it will be with an American girl, and it won't -matter much whether she is beautiful or not, so long as I love her. - -But I think every well regulated young fellow is fond of chatting with -nice girls, and in this heathen country we were so beset with dangers -and had so little companionship outside of our circle of three, that it -was a pleasant change to meet these pretty maids and converse with them. - -"It's wrong, you know," remarked Archie, as we wandered slowly back to -the palace. "That is, from the standard of Chinese etiquette. We may -really get 'sliced' if we keep up the meetings, and even if we escape -that, the girls will be terribly punished if they're caught." - -"That's true," said Joe. "Do you think the ring would save us in this -case, Sam?" - -"I think it would with Wi, but we've got to figure on the old governor -finding out that we're associating with his wife and daughter. I'm -convinced that would make him furious." - -"Then let's go ahead," said Archie, grinning with delight. "It will do -me good to worry old Mai Lo into fits." - -"Oh, if he finds it out, he'll be sure to resort to slicing," said Joe, -"if he can get his hands on us." - -"Never mind," said I. "The girls come here to visit Nor Ghai, and that's -how we happened to meet them. It's different from our intruding into the -governor's harem, or even into the harem of the palace. If Mai Lo -doesn't want his wife and daughter to meet strangers he should keep them -safe at home." - -"The chances are he doesn't know they are in the habit of visiting Nor -Ghai," observed Archie. "Anyhow, I'm going to have all the fun I can, in -spite of old Death's-Head." - -That expressed our sentiments exactly. We were foolish, I admit; but -boys are apt to be foolish at times, and some great writer--I don't -remember his name--has said that a woman is at the bottom of every -misfortune. - -Here were three of them, and they looked harmless enough. So we -voluntarily thrust our heads into the trap. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE SECRET PASSAGE. - - -When we met the girls in the secluded pavilion the next afternoon, we -found that Nor Ghai had brought the Shakespeare and Byron, and she -begged us to explain certain passages in them that had puzzled the fair -students of English. This we did, and before we parted that day a -friendly footing had been established between us that was very pleasant -indeed. Of course another interview was arranged for, as all of us had -become reassured by our success in escaping observation, and if we still -had any qualms of fear we did not allow them to prevent future meetings. - -But the girls were more alive to the conditions surrounding them than we -were, and their fertile brains arranged a series of signals to let us -know whether it was safe to enter the pavilion or not, since at any time -one of the eunuchs or older members of the harem might see fit to -accompany them. Also they timed their stay by our watches, so as to -leave before there was a chance of their being sought for. - -All this savored of intrigue, but our meetings were harmless enough. I -don't say that little Nor Ghai was averse to a bit of flirtation, but -none of us encouraged her because we had no thought of flirting with our -new friends. We talked in boyish fashion and treated them exactly as if -we were brothers and sisters. - -Meantime the days flew swiftly by, and still Mai Lo paced the gravel -paths before the Ancestral Halls of Kai, and we hesitated to begin our -appointed task. But finally one evening, while talking over our plans -and chances of success, Joe proposed that we should explore the secret -passage and accustom ourselves to the way to the underground vaults; so -we promptly decided upon the adventure. - -At about ten o'clock, the usual time, we dismissed our eunuch, Tun, who -always remained in waiting until we retired for the night, and then, -instead of going to bed, we put out our lights and sat quietly in the -darkness until after midnight. - -Every time we had passed by the bend in the hall we had noticed the -tapestry of the dragon, but never had we ventured to disturb it to see -what was behind the hangings. We dared not show a light in this passage -because just around the bend was the guard of the royal apartments, -eternally pacing up and down to prevent anyone from penetrating to the -sacred precincts. - -We had, unfortunately, no candles; but I had unhooked a small oil lamp -from a bracket in one of our rooms, and matches were plentiful. When I -softly opened our door to listen, there was not a sound to be heard -throughout the palace except the steady footfalls of the distant guard; -so, being in our stocking-feet, we tip-toed along the corridor, feeling -our way in the darkness by keeping one hand on the wall, until we -reached the bend in the passage. - -We could not see the dragon tapestry, but knowing its exact location I -crept beneath the heavy drapery, followed closely by Archie and Joe, and -then began to feel for the bronze knob. - -Across the face of the wall in every direction we fumbled, and I had -almost begun to despair of finding it without a light when Joe grasped -my shoulder and guided my hand to a tiny projection far to the left. - -Yes; it was a knob, all right. I grasped it and pulled it toward me, and -at once we heard a faint swish, and a breath of colder air reached us. I -felt along the wall, and found an opening, through which I passed, -drawing the others with me. Another heavy tapestry was on this side of -the wall, and we crept beneath its folds on hands and knees. - -"Do you think it's safe to scratch a match?" I whispered. - -"It's got to be done, safe or unsafe," replied Joe, and in a moment a -faint light flared up, and Joe shaded it with his hands while I cast a -hurried glance at the tapestry. - -"No light can shine through that, I'm sure," said I. "Here, Joe; light -the lamp." - -I held it while he touched the match to the wick, and then we stood up -and gazed curiously around us. - -We found ourselves in a lofty sleeping chamber that was beautifully -furnished. The carved mahogany bedstead with its pagoda-like canopy -towered fully fifteen feet in height, and its curtains were -cloth-of-gold. Around the frieze, just above the heavy tapestry -hangings, was a row of embossed golden fishes with ivory horns, set in a -background of azure blue. Near to where we stood, at the left of the -secret panel, a number of bronze tablets were attached to the wall, -their faces engraved with Chinese characters. I supposed these to be the -tablets of ancestors, which every house contains in its inmost sanctum. -Before the tablets was a sort of altar, containing a vase for burning -incense and prayers. - -A broad archway, hung with stiff draperies, formed a communication with -the next room of the suite, and just beyond it stood a great carved -cabinet with numerous drawers and recesses and a writing shelf in the -center. This I thought must be the Prince's "desk" which I had asked the -Chief Eunuch to remove to my room, without realizing its size. That he -had promised to do so filled me with wonder, for I doubted if it could -be carried through the archway. - -Passing around the huge bedstead and holding the lamp before us, we -peered into the further corner of the room and with one accord shrank -back in sudden fear. For before us stood a gigantic form in glittering -armor, with a face-mask so terrible in expression that it might well -cause a sinking of the heart. And behind the mask glittered two cruel, -piercing eyes, while the right arm swung a scimitar as if about to -attack the beholder and hack him asunder. - -"Never mind," muttered Joe, with a low laugh. "It isn't alive, although -it looks it." - -"It's the statue we were searching for," said I. - -"No wonder it used to scare the Prince," remarked Archie. "Ugh! I -shouldn't want to own that fellow for an ancestor." - -"This was the first Kai," I rejoined. "They must have been giants in -those days, if he's a sample warrior." - -Then I leaned down and tried to press outward the left foot of the -statue, which stood flat upon the floor without any pedestal. It -resisted and I knelt down and tried again, pushing with all my strength -and using the other foot as a purchase. The foot gave a little--not more -than half an inch--and I heard a sharp click and a grating sound behind -the tapestries. - -"All right," said Joe, pushing aside the drapery while Archie held the -lamp. "The panel is open." - -The opening disclosed was about five feet high and not more than -eighteen inches wide, but it was sufficient to allow us to pass through -with ease. A secret passage, narrow and low, had been built in the great -side-wall of the palace, and a few paces from the panel a flight of -steps, made of stone, led downward. These continued to descend until we -had passed below the foundations of the building, when we entered a -tunnelled passage slanting straight into the earth. The walls were -protected with stone and cement, but there was a damp, musty smell in -the passage; and, as we advanced, numerous vermin, such as rats, lizards -and fat spiders, scampered away from the path to hide in the little -nooks between the stones. - -Archie, who went first, carrying the lamp, growled continually at these -pests, but I felt they could not be dangerous or the Prince would have -warned us against them. - -We traveled what seemed a very long distance to us, under the -circumstances; but I now believe the passage was a bee-line to the -burial vaults from the palace, and of course the vaults were located -some distance from the building that appeared above ground. But my sense -of direction was so confused that I would then, and even afterward, have -been unable to locate the vaults from the palace grounds. - -Finally we reached a steel door which was unlocked and opened easily. -Beyond this hung a tapestry, and pushing that aside we came to an -alcove, arched high above us and having a grating of bronze or similar -metal at the further side. - -In the center of the alcove lay a superb sarcophagus or burial casket, -set across two slabs of marble. This was of wrought bronze and bore upon -the cover a mask with a surprising resemblance to the statue of the -first Kai in the Prince's bedroom. - -We did not pause to examine it long, however, for all about the coffin -stood carven stands and taborets weighted with curious ornaments in -solid gold and silver, while upon a low table were several suits of -splendid armor, inlaid with gold and set with precious stones that -glistened brightly under the lamplight. Nor was this all. Ornaments of -green and yellow jade were scattered about, and at the foot of the -coffin stood a semi-circle of big jars of bronze. - -I thrust my hand into one of these jars and drew it out filled with -beautiful emeralds. - -"We don't need to go any farther, boys!" I exclaimed with a gasp. "Here -are riches enough, in this one niche, to satisfy a dozen fortune -hunters." - -Archie examined another vase and found rubies and pearls in it. The -third was quite empty, and so was the fourth, but the fifth and last one -contained many jade rings, bracelets and necklaces, with which were -mingled several large sapphires. - -"Yes," said Archie, sighing; "here's more treasure than the priests of -Luxor buried in the desert. But let's continue our explorations. This -can't be all of the ancestral chih, for only one ancestor is buried -here." - -"He must have been very rich in his lifetime, if this was but half of -his fortune," remarked Joe. "I wonder if he got it all honestly?" - -"Probably not," I replied. "This fellow is an ancient, and perhaps lived -in an age of robbing and pillaging. But come on, fellows; let's see if -we can pass those gratings." - -Only a catch, worked from either side, held the grating in place, and -swinging it open we passed into what was doubtless an immense domed -chamber, for our tiny lamp could not light more than a small portion of -it. On either side of the alcove from which we had emerged hung -magnificent tapestries worked in threads of gold and silver and -representing scenes of battles, processions and the like. The -workmanship was so fine on the first tapestry we examined that it seemed -impossible it could be anything but a painting, and a marvelous one at -that. But we found the other fifty or more sections hung around the -domed chamber to be equally perfect in execution. - -Beyond the tapestry hangings, each section of which was some sixteen -feet in width, was another grating leading to an alcove, and this system -we afterward found was continued all around the chamber. None of the -gratings were locked and all opened readily to our touch. The alcove we -next entered contained another splendid casket and even more golden -ornaments and precious gems than we had found in the first. We accounted -for the empty jars in the first alcove, which connected with the secret -passage, by the pilfering from them by Prince Kai, of which he had told -us. - -"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Joe, as we eagerly started to examine the -next alcove. "If we're not careful we're going to lose our bearings in -this big place and get lost. Before we wander any further away let's -mark the grating to the alcove we came from when we entered." - -That seemed good advice, so we retraced our steps until we reached the -first alcove, where Joe tied his handkerchief to the grating. Then, -feeling assured we could find the place again, we proceeded upon our -explorations. - -We had examined five or six of the chih, or alcoves of the dead, all of -which contained enormous wealth, when suddenly I stumbled against a low -stand just outside of a grating. Holding the lamp high to see what the -obstruction was, I found upon the stand a large lamp, nearly filled with -oil, and a box of London safety-matches. - -"Oho!" said I; "Mai Lo has been here." - -"I suppose he can now wander through these ancestral vaults at will, -since there is no one to forbid him," said Joe. - -"I hope he won't decide to come while we're here," remarked Archie, "or -our pretty plans will be nipped in the bud." - -"Oh, it isn't necessary for Mai Lo to lose sleep to enter these vaults," -I replied. "But it is as well to be on our guard, and I'm glad we found -the evidences of his visit." - -Entering the alcove before which the table and lamp stood, we looked -around with astonishment, for here was more evidence of Mai Lo's -presence in the tomb. This niche was evidently very rich in treasure, -and the vases and bowls of gems had been emptied into a great heap in -the center of the floor. From this heap some one had been assorting the -jewels into varieties and sizes. In one place were pearls, the finest of -which had been placed in one row, the next largest in a second row, and -so on. - -Rubies had been assorted in a similar way on another side of the chih, -and emeralds in a third place. No jewels seemed to have been taken away, -and from the size of the heap there was much more assorting to be done, -and the job was scarcely begun. - -The beauty of the row of great pearls appealed to Archie strongly, so he -picked them up, one by one, and placed them in the pocket of his jacket. - -"If anything should prevent our coming here again," he remarked, "these -pearls will well repay us for our journey to Kai-Nong." - -But he never suspected that they were likely nearly to cost us all our -lives. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - THE TREASURE OF THE ANCIENTS. - - -From alcove to alcove we went, finding in each a different class of -treasure, according to the wealth of the occupant and the period in -which he had lived. Here a scholar was laid, and beside him a mass of -parchment manuscripts, which either represented a half of his fortune or -had been purchased at such high prices that his heir preferred to bury -the manuscripts with his ancestor and keep the half of his wealth -represented by more tangible assets. In another place we found many -painted pictures, in another bales of silks, rotted and fallen to decay. -But usually the wealth of these ancestors of Kai Lun Pu consisted of -splendid gems and jewelry, ornaments of gold, silver and jade, and in -many cases golden coins of the Empire. Well might Prince Kai say that -his Ancestral Halls contained enough wealth to ransom a kingdom. To -carry it all away with us would have required a railway train or the -hold of a steamship. - -"What we must do," said Joe, who was a fair judge of gems and jewelry, -"is to select only rubies, emeralds and pearls, and perhaps some of the -fine jades. These may be carried in a small space, if we don't take too -many of them, and they'll sell more readily at home for cash." - -We quite agreed with him in this, and believed we would now be able to -order the packing cases of such a size as to fit our needs. We might -have some trouble in carrying our plunder through China to Shanghai, and -to strive to take too much of this almost inexhaustible wealth might -very easily cause us to lose it all. - -So eager and excited were we by the sight of this splendid -treasure-house that we lingered in the tombs a long time, and finally -reached an alcove where rested the casket we had made aboard the -_Seagull_, and which contained the bandaged pillows and bolsters that -had been substituted for the body of Prince Kai. - -It was still locked, and had not been disturbed in any way by Mai Lo; -nor was there any treasure beside it. From there on to the alcove where -we had entered, and where Joe's handkerchief was attached to the -grating, the niches were empty. These ancestral chih would have -accommodated several generations yet, had not the last of the royal line -perished without an heir. - -"Good gracious! It's after four o'clock!" exclaimed Archie, leaning over -to examine his watch by the flame of the lamp. - -"Then we must hustle back," I said, "for it begins to get daylight at -five, and we mustn't get caught in the passages of the palace." - -So we ran into the alcove of the first Kai and closed the grating behind -us. Then we thrust aside the tapestry, passed through the steel door, -and fastened it securely. A moment more and we were treading the tunnel -in single file back to the palace. - -The way was up hill now, and harder walking, but it did not seem so long -as it did when we came down. In a few minutes we had reached the stone -steps and were climbing them to the chamber of the Prince. - -The sliding panel behind the statue puzzled us a little, but we soon -discovered how to close it, and it caught in place with the same little -click that had released it when the foot was pushed aside. - -Without pausing again in the bed-chamber, we crept beneath the tapestry -and out of the panel door into the corridor, and then paused to listen -with bated breath. The guard could still be heard treading heavily -before the door to the Suite of the Horned Fish; so we took off our -shoes again, pushed aside the dragon tapestry, and noiselessly crept to -our own room. - -You may be sure we breathed easier when we were safe within our own -quarters, for day was just breaking and our return had been timed none -too soon. - -Nux and Bryonia, whom we had left to guard our rooms from possible -intrusion while we were absent, were mighty glad to see us back again, -and their eyes opened wide with astonishment when Archie displayed his -pearls as proof that we had found the treasure. - -But the night of excitement had wearied us greatly, so we all turned in -and slept like dead men until our faithful blacks called us to -breakfast. - -It was while we were at this meal that Joe uttered an exclamation, and -glancing up I saw his face go white and frightened. - -"What is it, old man?" I asked quickly. - -"My handkerchief!" he replied. "I left it tied to the grating of the -alcove!" - -We looked at one another in stupid bewilderment for a moment, trying -hard to think how to remedy such a blunder. But nothing could be done -for that day, anyhow, and if Mai Lo happened to visit the Ancestral -Halls during that time he would have ample proof that we had been there. - -"Of course he may not notice it," said Archie, comfortingly. - -"Why, it's a regular flag--white against all those dark hues of -tapestries and black spots of alcoves. Of course he'll notice it," -retorted Joe with a groan. - -"Not any more than he'll notice the absence of the pearls," I suggested. -"Mai Lo is evidently busy assorting the treasure he means to run away -with, and his first visit there will assure him someone else has been in -the vaults." - -"Oh, but without the handkerchief he would be unable to guess who it -was," answered Joe. "The handkerchief gives him just the clew he -needed." - -"Never mind," said I; "the governor can't do anything about it that I -can see. If he is onto our game, we are also onto his, and he won't dare -whisper to the people outside that he is visiting the vaults. When he -enters the building he is supposed to be praying, and he must not enter -the underground chih after laying the body of the Prince there. His only -legitimate business now is to seal up the vaults and destroy all traces -of them." - -"And then make an end of himself," added Archie. - -"Just so." - -But in spite of our brave talk we were decidedly uneasy over the way in -which we had bungled our adventure of the night, and as soon as -breakfast was finished we started out with one accord and took the path -that led to the Ancestral Halls. - -Nux followed us, but Bry remained in our rooms. This plan we had adopted -several days before, having only one of our blacks with us when we -ventured out of the palace and leaving the other to guard the entrance -to our apartments. The reason for this procedure was that we soon -expected to accumulate considerable treasure in our rooms, and we wanted -it understood that we permitted no intrusion further than the outer -reception-room. Indeed, Bry was guarding, this morning, a few pearls -that Joe estimated to be worth over fifty thousand dollars; and the way -he did it was to tie them in a handkerchief and carry them in his -pocket. As for separating our faithful servants, it was evident that -nothing could ever be done in this place by brute force, and a thousand -men would be of no more use to us than one. - -We sauntered carelessly along, so as not to convey the impression that -we had any object in our walk more than to get a bit of air and -exercise. Often we passed the magnificently attired household eunuchs, -singly or in groups; but we had now become familiar sights to these -creatures, and they merely touched their yellow turbans respectfully and -passed on. - -Around the outbuildings the place thronged with less important servants, -all under the general command of Wi-to and his lieutenants. Sounds of -industry came from the House of the Artisans, where the bronze, brass -and gold workers were busy. In front of the House of the Weavers were -groups throwing shuttles back and forth or spinning the threads to be -used in the looms. - -Kitchen servants passed and repassed in every direction, and this part -of the grounds was in many ways the most interesting of all, for here -beat the pulse that gave life to the whole establishment. - -Moving on, we took the path descending the mound toward the Ancestral -Halls--not the one that led past the cage of Sacred Apes, for we hated -those fearful creatures and avoided them--but a shaded, winding way that -was very pleasant, though it led past a pond of black water which was -said to be the home of a monster Devil-Fish. - -Before long we came to a halt directly in front of the north entrance of -the beautiful bamboo palace of the dead, and the soldier on guard, -radiant in the crimson and sapphire uniform of the governor's service, -waved his scimitar partly in salute and partly in warning. - -"Mai Lo?" I said to him, questioningly. - -He spoke no English, but could not fail to understand I was asking for -the governor; so he turned his thumb toward the entrance, to indicate -that his master was inside the building, and then resumed his strut back -and forth before the door. - -Well, that was all we wanted to know, and our hearts sank as we realized -that our enemy was even now in the underground chih examining the traces -of our midnight visit there. We slowly turned and retraced our steps as -far as a group of trees that stood a little way up the mound and -commanded an unobstructed view of the entire House of Ancestors. Here we -seated ourselves upon shady benches and passed the next two hours -moodily talking over the situation. - -At the end of that time we observed Mai Lo appear from the building by -the entrance nearest us. He was as deliberate and reserved in demeanor -as ever, and after a word to the guard he took the very path that led -past the trees where we were. - -"Let's get out," advised Archie, hastily. - -"No," said Joe, "let's stay and hear what the old duffer has to say. -Don't be afraid to talk up to him, Sam." - -"I won't," was my promise. - -Then we grimly awaited the governor's approach. He paced steadily up the -path, his hands clasped behind his back and his face turned square to -the front. - -So he reached the trees and came to a halt before our bench. Upon his -parchment-like yellow face there was no sign of expression; in the -bead-like eyes turned upon us was no ray of intelligence. - -Without doubt Mai Lo had been astounded by the discovery he had made -that morning: that we were able to penetrate to the sacred chih of the -Ancestors of Kai. If he was human, he must have been stirred to the very -depths of his nature. But here he stood, as passionless and cold as a -statue, his glassy stare wandering from one to another of us in turn, -but no word passing his thin, compressed lips. - -What a relief it would have been had he denounced us, threatened us, -cursed us for foreign devils and scoundrels! But no. He merely fixed his -soulless eyes upon us, and I began to realize how the ancient Greeks -might have got their idea of Medusa and the terrible gaze that turned -men to stone. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - THE ROYAL CABINET. - - -When the governor had gone--and he returned along the path as silently -as he had come, after his passionless inspection of us--we arose and -walked to the palace, finding mighty little to say on our own account. - -On the broad piazza that led into the main building of the palace we -found the Chief Eunuch, leaning heavily against a pillar. I had been -trying to communicate with Wi-to for several days, but Tun, who carried -our messages, always returned to say that his master was closely -occupied with his duties and begged to postpone the interview. During -these days we had neither seen nor heard of the Chief Eunuch, so I was a -little surprised to find him on the piazza. His face was haggard and -worn, his eyes puffy and bloodshot and his person untidy. - -"Good morning, Wi," said I, cordially. "Have you been ill?" - -He smiled at me rather childishly, and replied: - -"The Earth Dragon has had me in his coils--and nearly strangled me. -Ah--oh! how unhappy I have been! Who has such deep and dreadful sorrows -as poor Wi-to? Who suffers such horrible pangs? Who--but never mind. The -sun-god is smiling this morning, and the breeze is sweet and lovely. Are -my master's guests wholly content? Have they any orders for their lowly -servant?" - -I own this rambling, inconsequent speech somewhat puzzled me. Wi-to did -not seem himself; he was surely not at his best today. Ordinarily the -Chief Eunuch was the most intelligent, shrewd, courteous and agreeable -Chinaman we had met, save only Prince Kai Lun Pu. - -But I pretended not to notice his peculiar bearing and asked him when he -could have the desk of Prince Kai moved into our rooms. I wanted to -begin my work of inspection at once, I told him; but really the only -reason I made the request at all was to allay any suspicions he might -harbor. - -To my surprise he at once blew his whistle and brought a dozen eunuchs -running to answer the summons. Still leaning against the pillar Wi-to -chattered away in Chinese for a time until his men prostrated themselves -and hurried away to fulfil his commands. - -"The cabinet will come to you, my master," now answered the eunuch. "Is -there anything else I can do?" - -"Why, as regards the selection of the gifts----" - -"Don't hurry," he interrupted, rubbing one eye with his knuckles. "Tlake -it easy; much time; no hurry; only Mai Lo want you out of the way. Mai -Lo? Dlam Mai Lo! English dlam. Pah!" - -Really, I couldn't understand Wi-to in this peculiar condition, so we -left him still leaning against the post and went away to our own rooms. - -Pretty soon there was considerable racket in the passageway, and we sent -Bry to see what it meant. He returned grinning from ear to ear, and said -the eunuchs were moving a house. So we looked out, and there were some -twenty or more of the palace servants, perspiring and struggling with -the immense cabinet that had been standing in the Prince's bed-chamber. -How they ever moved it at all was a wonder; but move it they did, inch -by inch, and squeezed it through the great entrance door to our -reception-room. I had them place it against the wall nearest the door -and then they went away glad that the task was accomplished. - -It was an absurd thing to do, and in all reason and common sense we -should have been permitted to examine the cabinet where it originally -stood; but oriental prejudices are difficult things to overcome, and -since it was forbidden strangers to enter the royal apartments, the -mountainous cabinet had to come to Mahomet Sam. - -Now I had no right, as a matter of fact, to examine this private cabinet -of the royal line of Kai, and my request to do so was but a blind to -further our real plans. But since it was here, and since Wi-to had sent -me a bunch of keys to unlock the different compartments, the temptation -to look inside was irresistible. - -"It's this way," I said to the boys; "if we don't look over these -things, others who may not be as friendly to Prince Kai's memory are -sure to do so. The estate and palace will shortly pass to the Emperor, -who will either retain it for himself or give it to some favorite. So I -believe we are justified in seeing what this old mystery-box contains." - -They agreed with me fully, so we began the examination. First we opened -the desk part and found many documents in Chinese, sealed, signed and -filed in a very business-like manner. These we could not read, and their -importance was all unknown to us. Also there were numerous letters. One -bunch of yellow missives bore the Imperial Vermilion Seal of the -Emperor. - -In order to carry out our deception I tore up a number of the least -important looking papers and burned them in a brazier. At the bottom of -the heap of letters I found a book in which the Prince had written in -English a sort of diary, although the entries were seldom dated and -seemed to be whimsical sentences he had recorded merely to relieve his -mind. The poor fellow had had no one around him in whom he could -confide, as to an intimate friend; so he had made this little book his -confidant. - -Believing that here, if anywhere we would be likely to find clews to -guide us in our undertaking, we read this book aloud, so that among the -three of us, to say nothing of Nux and Bry, we might catch whatever -ideas it contained that might be of service to us. - -Many of the passages were sarcastic comparisons between the customs of -his own people and those of Europeans, and I must admit that, from -Prince Kai's point of view, the Europeans did not always come out best. -One entry that interested us was as follows: - -"What unselfish and responsible servants am I blest with! What competent -officials direct my affairs in my absence! Look upon them, oh my -ancestors, and pity me. At the head of my province is a man born to be -its governor who, lacking such birthright, would be unfit for the duties -of the humblest slave. Cold, unfeeling, ambitious and without honor, -this man works but for his own selfish interests, and lacks the strength -of intellect to ruin me for his own gain. Since I read him so truly he -cannot injure me; but what a farce is this hereditary right to govern a -great province such as Kwang-Kai-Nong! When Mai Lo lies with his -ancestors there will be his son to govern, a weak imbecile, helplessly -degenerate. I am quite certain I must find an excuse to behead both -father and son, that I may free myself of this incubus of the House of -Kai. - -"The Fuh-yin of the city of Kai-Nong is even a worse scoundrel than Mai -Lo. I have proof that he murdered his own brother, in order to become -mayor and rob the city of its revenues. Some day when I have time I -shall accuse and condemn my Fuh-yin, and invent a horrible execution -worthy of his sins." - -"In the palace the one power is the Chief Eunuch, who might make things -very unpleasant for me were he not by nature faithful and obedient to -his master. I made him chief when old Koa-Ming-Dhu was stabbed by one of -my father's wives, raising Wi-to from the ranks of the eunuchs. I -believe he is grateful, and so am willing to overlook his one weakness. -For Wi-to gets drunk periodically, and frequently stays drunk a week, -and while he is in this condition everything about the palace is -neglected." - -"I see," said Joe, when I read this extract. "That was the trouble with -Wi-to today. He's been on a drunk and is just coming 'round." - -"That is an unfortunate trait," I said, musingly. "For if we happened to -need the services of the Chief Eunuch and he failed us, being on one of -his sprees, we might lose our lives." - -Presently we found another interesting item in the book. It said: - -"I've been making a careful inspection of the riches contained in the -tombs of my ancestors. It seems strange that I am the first of our race -to abjure ancestor worship and look upon these dead effigies of my -forefathers as they really are--heaps of dust. Nothing could be more -foolish, according to the enlightened age in which I live, than burying -wealth in the tomb of its owner, where neither he nor any one else can -apply it to use. Yet so ingrained in my nature are racial prejudices -that it was long before I could induce myself to touch that wealth. When -finally I did so I took the contents of several jars in the chih of the -first Kai. The Jews to whom I sold the treasure in London robbed me, but -I obtained enough money to make a lavish display of wealth while I was -at college. But today I discovered a rare treasure indeed in the tombs -of my ancestors. It is in the chih of Kai-Abon, the seventh of our royal -race. The contents of his alcove seemed so unattractive that I had never -given the place much attention before; but today I discovered that the -great wealth of this prince was carefully arranged to deceive any one -who might be tempted by an open display. Turning over a heap of cheap -brass trinkets I uncovered a superb gem which has been known to the -world as the Beryl of Tartary. No one has ever known what became of this -family heirloom until now. I covered it up again, because the time has -not yet come when I can sell it or use it myself. In a corner was an old -scimitar with plaster and mud covering its surface. I rubbed away the -filth and found upon the handle the Seven Rubies of Persia, which one of -my ancestors won in battle. Each ruby is said to contain a drop of blood -from the heart of a king, and whoever wields this scimitar is considered -invincible, for the spirits of the seven kings fight for its champion. -This treasure I could not leave buried, so I have brought it to my -chamber and concealed it in the lower drawer of my cabinet. No one now -alive will know where I got it." - -"Hold on a minute," cried Archie. "Let's take a look at this wonderful -weapon." - -So we unlocked the lower drawer and at first could find nothing. But -Archie soon saw that the drawer was so deep that it must have a false -bottom. This was indeed the case, and when we had pried up this false -bottom with our knives, we came upon a chamois bag in which was the -famous scimitar. It had no sheath and the Prince had carefully polished -it. Its delicately tempered blade of blue steel was bright as a mirror. -The handle was of gold, and seven splendid rubies, blood-red in color, -were imbedded in the yellow metal. - -Also in the drawer were a necklace of magnificent pearls and a single -emerald as big as a pigeon's egg. These we gave to Bry to add to our -collection, but the scimitar we replaced in the top of the drawer, where -it could easily be obtained if required. Upon examination we found many -of the compartments of the cabinet empty. At a recent period -someone--probably the Prince--had evidently cleared it out. - -There was more written about the wonderful treasures in the tomb of -Kai-Abon, which there is no need to repeat in these pages. Nor were any -of the other entries in the book of especial interest to my patient -reader, although we read them all and got a clearer idea of Prince Kai's -inner nature than we had ever had before. Only once did he mention his -sister, Nor Ghai, and then it was merely to say that he intended some -day to send her to England or America to be educated according to modern -methods. - -We passed the rest of the day in the examination of this wonderful -cabinet, and when evening arrived we were undecided whether or not to -make another trip that night to the underground vaults. Somehow I could -not get that inscrutable glassy stare of the mandarin out of my mind, -and the recollection of it seemed to trouble my comrades as it did me. - -We finally decided to postpone our next trip through the underground -passage until we were prepared to carry away a portion of the treasure; -so we locked the cabinet, put the keys away and quietly went to bed. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - THE TRAP IS SPRUNG. - - -Next morning we found the Chief Eunuch quite recovered from his debauch -and as keen and attentive to his duties as ever. One of his men had -neglected his tasks while Wi-to was under the influence of liquor, so -his chief called him into his private office and cut him down with his -own scimitar. - -The incident created no excitement in the palace, and when we met Wi -after breakfast was over he was as smiling and complaisant as ever. But -it taught us how little human life was valued in this strange land. - -I ventured to ask the Chief Eunuch once again to assist me to select the -ornaments for Prince Kai's friends, and to my relief he consented -readily. So we walked through the state apartments and made choice of -some moderate-sized articles, of no great value but of considerable -weight. Also I chose two teakwood chests bound in bronze, with excellent -locks, in which I said that I would pack the books. - -Wi-to was pleased that we were so modest in our demands and showed no -disposition to rob the palace of its most rare and precious objects of -art. So when it came to a choice of our own gifts the eunuch declared -that he would himself make the selection, acting as the confidential -servant of his late master, whose generous nature he well knew. - -"I will send the gifts to your rooms," he said, "and the gifts for our -royal prince's friends shall be brought as well; and the packing-cases -as soon as our artisans can prepare them." - -We thanked him, and he added, cordially: - -"Do not let these preparations hasten your departure, I entreat you. It -is good to have guests in the palace. If you go away there will be -nothing for me to do but quarrel with Mai Lo." - -We had an appointment that afternoon to meet the girls in the willow -pavilion; so when the hour arrived we sauntered away from the palace and -lost ourselves in the shrubbery, afterward picking our way cautiously -toward the remote corner where the pavilion stood. - -The girls were all assembled and eagerly awaiting our coming, for we had -promised to tell them more about our American women, in whom they were -greatly interested, and to describe their dress and social privileges -and methods of amusement. I suppose that to these poor secluded -creatures, who experienced so little variety in their narrow lives, our -stories sounded like fairy tales. Some inkling of woman's position in -our western civilization they had gleaned from their copies of Byron and -Shakespeare, which, by the way, only Ko-Tua had the ability to read. But -the books could not answer questions, and the pretty maids were full of -questions today, some of which we were puzzled to answer. - -During our several interviews our relations with the little Chinese -beauties had become so friendly and free from constraint that they were -no longer afraid of us and we sat around the wicker table like brothers -and sisters. - -As Joe was describing a bit of modern finery Mai Mou exclaimed: - -"Ah! You can wear that when you become a widow, Ko-Tua." - -"A widow!" said I. "When will that be, Ko-Tua?" - -"I do not know; but before long, Sam. My husband must soon kill himself, -you know." - -"I've heard something of the sort. Will it make you unhappy to become a -widow?" - -"No, I shall be glad. I hate Mai Lo," she replied, simply. - -I glanced at Mai Mou. - -"And you, little Pearl?" I inquired. - -"I do not like my father, either," she replied. "But I do not know him -very well. Perhaps he is better than he seems." - -"No, he is worse," said Archie, positively. "I'm sure of it." - -"But when the time comes," continued Ko-Tua, raising her big, wistful -eyes, "my husband----" - -She gave a great start, and a look of horror spread over her beautiful -face and actually transformed it. For her eyes had caught some object -beyond our circle, and remained fixed and dilated. - -Mai Mou followed her gaze and gave a little cry that conveyed the agony -of a wounded deer. Nor Ghai stood up in her place and the smile faded -from her pallid face. - -Of course we boys whirled around at once, and there stood Mai Lo, just -within the entrance, his glassy stare taking us all in, his hands folded -tightly upon his broidered robe. - -That last posture was new to me and gave me the idea that at last the -mandarin was as much aroused as he had ever before been in his life. - -He must have enjoyed the confusion he had caused, for I confess that I -felt as guilty as a school-boy caught in the act of robbing an -apple-orchard. - -The discovery was so unexpected that for a time I could hardly -comprehend its import, but presently vague thoughts of possible -consequences to these innocent girls began to pass through my brain, and -they steadied me and made me grow angry instead of afraid. The other -boys must have felt the same way, for it was Archie who broke the -terrible silence by saying with a growl: - -"Shall I kill him, Sam?" - -I was almost tempted to consent, but when Archie drew his revolver and -cocked it with a cool deliberation, I put my hand on his arm and said: - -"Not yet." - -One thing puzzled me. Bryonia had come with us to a place within sight -of the pavilion, where we left him in the thicket of trees as a watch to -warn us of danger. But here was the mandarin, and Bry was still silent. -What could have become of our faithful black? - -Perhaps Archie's threatening attitude helped to unlimber the silent Mai -Lo's tongue, for without altering his position he said in his calm, -monotonous tones: - -"I suppose you are aware, young men, of the penalty for this outrage." - -"Outrage!" I cried, resentfully. - -"An outrage against the most sacred institution of China--the harem." - -"Fiddlesticks!" said Archie. "Don't be an ass, Mai Lo. You've traveled a -little and you know you're talking rot." - -"This is not America; it is Kai-Nong," said the governor, grimly. "You -have violated the sanctity of my family relations. You have disgraced -Nor Ghai, the daughter of the princely and royal Kais. For this our laws -have provided a relentless penalty--death!" - -"It is so," wailed the little Nor Ghai, bursting into tears. "You will -die--you will all be sliced! And I knew it and warned you." - -Mai Lo lifted his hand and Mai Mou and Ko-Tua crept obediently toward -him with bowed heads and passed out of the pavilion. I saw them push -through a hedge and in a flash realized why Bryonia had not seen the -approach of the governor. We were nearer to Mai Lo's house than the -palace, and there was probably a gate in the wall that had admitted the -girls and the governor from a direction opposite to that in which we had -ourselves come. - -Nor Ghai had started to follow her companions, but Mai Lo uttered a -harsh order in Chinese and she halted, standing like a statue. - -The mandarin clapped his hands, and four of his gaudily dressed soldiers -burst through the hedge and entered the pavilion, guarding its entrance, -There was no other way for us to escape. - -Mai Lo thoughtfully took a position behind his soldiers before he made -his next move. - -"If you will leave this place at once, without a moment's delay, and -travel straight to Shanghai," he said, deliberately, "I will spare your -lives. If not----" - -"Well, what then?" - -"I will summon my eunuchs and have you killed." - -"Go ahead!" I said, scornfully. - -"You refuse?" - -"Of course. We are not afraid of you." - -The mandarin blew a whistle, and through the hedge leaped a band of a -dozen fierce fellows wearing the governor's colors of crimson and azure. -They bore naked scimitars, and at a word from Mai Lo dashed past the -soldiers and flew toward us. - -Three revolvers cracked and three of the eunuchs fell, while others -stumbled over them; and as the fellows held back, startled at such -unexpected opposition, with one accord we saw our chance to escape. Each -seized a stool and swinging it for a weapon we leaped upon our enemies -and literally fought our way to the entrance. I tried to see Mai Lo and -brain him as a farewell token, but the wily mandarin had taken pains to -be out of the way. - -Once free of the imprisoning willows we fled with all our speed toward -the palace, and as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment -the soldiers and eunuchs were after us in hot chase. - -Emerging from the thicket into the palace gardens we came plump upon a -rescue party, consisting of Nux and Bry at the head of a band of eunuchs -led by Wi-to himself. - -Our pursuers halted until the governor came up, running with somewhat -undignified haste. He jabbered away to the Chief Eunuch, behind whose -men we had taken refuge, and Wi appeared both astonished and embarrassed -by what he heard. Turning to me, he asked: - -"Is it true? Have you forced yourselves into the presence of Mai Lo's -wife and daughter, and also of the Princess Nor Ghai?" - -"Why we have seen and talked with them, if that's what you mean," I -replied. - -"I demand the culprits," called Mai Lo. "In the name of the law, I -demand them!" - -"Go quick," whispered the Chief Eunuch, scowling. "Quick, for your -lives, to the palace!" - -We obeyed without question, sprinting along the paths at our best gait -and urged by the loud clamor of protesting voices behind us. - -Bry and Nux brought up our rear more leisurely, and Wi-to held back the -mandarin's gang of cut-throats until we had a good start. - -But after we had reached our apartments and bolted the outer door -securely we had not time fully to regain our breath before the shouts of -our pursuers were heard in the halls and passages. - -The noise calmed down presently, and after several minutes a sharp rap -came at our door. - -"It is I; admit me!" said the voice of the Chief Eunuch. - -Joe opened the door, but bolted it again as soon as Wi-to had stalked -into the room. - -The eunuch gazed upon each of us in turn with black looks. Then he said, -slowly and bitterly: - -"Why, in the name of Buddha, have you done the one thing that has -forfeited my right to protect you?" - -"Have we?" I asked, curiously. - -"Yes," he snapped, grinding his teeth savagely. "You are doomed. Even my -power cannot save you!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - A FEARFUL ENCOUNTER. - - -I have always believed Wi-to was the best friend we had in Kai-Nong, and -that he was quite willing to serve us to the best of his ability, thus -honoring the will of his dead master. But his oriental education and -surroundings had saturated his otherwise liberal mind with the -conventions and prejudices of his people; and he had a supreme contempt -for women and could not tolerate such an unwarranted act as we had -committed; in other words, making the acquaintance of three pretty and -interesting girls who were inmates of harems. - -So Wi-to stormed and paced the floor, in one breath condemning us to -horrible tortures and in the next trying to figure out a way to save us. - -Meantime we, the culprits, maintained an appearance subdued and -expectant, but could not bring ourselves to realize that we had merited -punishment. - -"I will not give you up to Mai Lo," declared the Chief Eunuch, -positively; "but he has the right to send his men to capture you. For a -time I can hold him at bay, but such delay cannot save you. If I -provided for your escape from the palace, which I might easily do, you -could not cross the province ruled by Mai Lo, and his influence as -governor of Kwang-Kai-Nong extends more or less throughout the Empire." - -"Where is Mai Lo now?" I asked. - -"He has returned to his house. But his soldiers are left to guard the -exits of the palace, and they are ordered to capture you alive or dead. -It is an insult to me to invade my territory in this way, and had you -been guilty of any other crime I could have driven away the slaves of -the governor. But a violation of the sanctity of the harem is so serious -that our laws allow the criminals to be taken wherever they seek -refuge." - -"We haven't been near the harem," protested Archie. - -"Your action is worse. You met the women clandestinely." - -"Are not foreigners sometimes introduced to Chinese women by their -lords?" I asked. - -"It is sometimes done in the coast cities, such as Shanghai and -Hong-Kong; but never where the ancient laws of our Empire prevail," said -the eunuch. "Besides, only the master of the harem can demand the death -penalty for its violation; so, had Mai Lo introduced you to his wife and -daughter, you would have had nothing to fear. As it is, the old serpent -will have your lives." - -"Not if we can help it," said I. "What would you advise us to do, Wi?" - -He paced up and down for a time in deep thought. Then he said: - -"Your only hope is to escape from Kai-Nong. Perhaps the governor will -not care to follow you, once you are out of his way." - -"We won't go until we have carried out the wishes of Prince Kai," I -returned, stubbornly. - -"You can do that very easily and quickly." He cast his eyes around the -room and noticed the ashes of the burnt paper in the brazier. "I see you -have examined the cabinet." - -I nodded. - -"The other work need not take you long," he continued. "I will at once -send the ornaments and cases here to your room, and you may pack them at -your leisure. Then my men will carry them for you to the border of -Kwang-Kai-Nong, and there await your coming. They will arouse no -suspicion, and you must disguise yourselves and travel separately to the -meeting place. The signet ring of the House of Kai will doubtless -protect you from interference on the journey. So, while the governor's -men are still guarding the exits of the palace, you will be on your way -out of the country. Yes! That is a good plan to follow." - -"But how can we get away if Mai Lo guards all the exits?" inquired Joe. - -"Ah, that is my secret. No one knows this palace as I do. There are -secret ways of which the governor does not dream." - -This statement made me uneasy until I remembered that Prince Kai had -assured me that the private passage to the underground vaults was -unknown to any member of his household but himself. - -To gain time we agreed to the suggestion of Wi-to, and the eunuch went -away to issue his commands. - -Before long all the ornaments, the two chests, and the packing-cases had -been brought to our rooms and placed at our disposal. Also Wi-to sent -our own gifts, and I was pleased to find that he had selected some -exquisite ivory carvings that were of great artistic value. Perhaps they -were worth more than all the other things we had chosen, and I was -delighted at the evidence of the Chief Eunuch's good will. - -Our evening meal was served in our rooms as usual, and was as sumptuous -as ever; but we had not our usual appetites and were glad when the -dragging, ceremonious meal was ended. - -"Of course," said Archie, "we've got to make a trip to the vaults -tonight and bring back all the treasure we can." - -That was inevitable; so we waited patiently until midnight and then -removed our shoes and stole softly down the passage to the dragon -tapestry. We took Bry with us and left Nux to guard our rooms. - -Being now acquainted with the way we proceeded more quickly than on the -first occasion and were soon treading the damp and musty tunnel leading -to the tombs. - -When we reached the alcove of the first Kai we looked for Joe's -handkerchief and found that it had been removed from the grating. This -was no more than we had expected. - -"My idea," said I, "is to go straight to the alcove of the seventh Kai, -old Abon, which the Prince's book declares is the richest of all. We'll -get that big beryl, for one thing, and anything else that seems -especially valuable." - -"All right," said Archie, unfastening the grating. "It must be the -seventh alcove to the left of this, for those on the right are still -vacant." - -Joe started first and I came next with the lamp. Archie and Bry were -just behind me. Suddenly we all stopped short. - -From out of the darkness of the vast domed chamber a harsh cry smote our -ears and we heard a rush of footsteps toward us. - -Spellbound, we stood peering into the gloom, expecting we knew not what. -And then into the dim circle of light made by our lamp there bounded a -huge gray form, which like a catapult hurled itself upon Joe. - -I gave a scream of fear, and the cry went echoing through the great dome -like the roar of a multitude. For in a flash I realized what had -happened. The great ape, Fo-Chu--the man-eater--had been loosed upon us. - -The body of the ferocious beast beat Joe down as if he had been a -feather, and sent him sprawling upon the floor. But at the same time the -ape, blinded by the violence of its own onslaught, struck its head with -terrific force against a grating and rolled over again and again before -it could recover itself. - -Instantly Bry seized Joe in his strong arms and fled back to the alcove -we had just left, and Archie and I were but an instant behind. Yet so -active was the great ape that, just as I pulled the grating to behind -me, he made a second leap, and the weight of his body against the bronze -bars sent me plunging head foremost into the alcove. The lamp flew from -my hand and was extinguished, while in my fall I threw down one of the -vases and its contents scattered themselves over the floor and rained -around me like hailstones. - -It was Archie who had presence of mind to throw the catch in place that -secured the grating, and so protect us from Fo-Chu, who raged and beat -upon the bars in his desire to reach us. - -In the darkness I struggled to my feet, while Bry lighted a match and -recovered the lamp, which, being metal, was not broken. Not much oil had -been spilled, and when the flame from the wick flared up we looked at -each other to see what damage had been done. The blood was streaming -from a cut in my cheek and Joe had a bump upon his forehead as big as a -goose-egg; but when we glanced at the horrible visage of the Sacred Ape, -who clung fast to the outside of the grating and regarded us with evil -eyes and vicious bared teeth, we were thankful enough that we had -escaped so lightly. - -"Here is another item of account against Mai Lo," growled Archie, -staring at the beast. - -"Yes," said I, while Bry bound up my cut with a handkerchief; "it's easy -enough to explain this little surprise. The governor is keeper of the -Sacred Apes, and discovering that we knew a way to enter the vaults he -loosed the old man-killer in them, expecting the ape to make an end of -us all." - -"He nearly succeeded," said Joe, tenderly feeling of his bruise. "I -thought when old Fo-Chu struck me that my game was up." - -"Well, what's to do now?" demanded Archie. - -"Let's take what is in this alcove and be satisfied," I suggested, -shuddering as I glanced at the ape and met its cruel gaze. - -Silently we began to gather up the scattered gems that littered the -floor. Bryonia had brought along a strip of tapestry from our rooms, and -we spread this upon the tiles and placed the gems upon it in a -glittering heap. - -We took such pearls, rubies and emeralds as seemed of good size and -color, but the jade and golden ornaments were too clumsy and big to be -utilized. When we had emptied the jars and vases we had a princely -fortune piled upon the cloth, yet it did not satisfy us. - -"You see, Prince Kai had robbed this alcove already," remarked Joe, "and -there is so much to be had in the other places that I hate to go back -and call this a night's work." - -"But what can we do?" I asked, eyeing the great ape who still clung to -the bars of the grating and fiercely watched our every movement. - -"Confound the beast!" exclaimed Archie, and threw a small emerald at the -brute. - -The jewel missed him and fell in the domed chamber. In a flash Fo-Chu -bounded after it, caught it in his claws, and examined it with almost -human shrewdness. Then he sprang at the grating again, and clung there -as before. - -"Good!" cried Joe. "I believe we can capture the ape and get him out of -the way for good. Shall we risk it?" - -When he explained his plan we thought it was worth a trial. On looking -around we found a chain necklace, with heavy links of gold set with -gems. Joe stood before the grating and waved the necklace just out of -reach of the beast's hand, tantalizing old Fo-Chu until he grew furious -and shook the bars with fierce energy. - -Then suddenly Joe released the necklace and sent it flying far into the -chamber. - -With a bound the ape was after it, and Joe released the catch and -skipped out of our alcove in an instant, running to the next grating to -the right, which he opened before Fo-Chu discovered he had been tricked. -But seeing Joe standing quietly at the next alcove the beast uttered a -snarl and with savage impetuosity hurled his huge body straight at his -proposed victim. Joe slid behind the wall and allowed the ape to fall -sprawling within the alcove. The next instant the boy was outside, -slamming the grating to and springing the catch. - -We who had watched this bold trick with bated breath now uttered a cry -of joy and dashed out of our retreat. - -"The tables are turned," said Joe, panting a little from his exertions. -"You are now our prisoner, Fo-Chu." - -The ape realized it and with blood-curdling yelps was furiously testing -the bars in his effort to escape. But they held securely and we knew we -were safe. - -The only danger was that the beast would discover the method of -releasing the catch; but Bry happened to have a small Yale lock in his -pocket, so we unearthed a heavy bronze chain from one of the alcoves, -and by tossing an object inside the niche induced Fo-Chu to dive for it. -This gave us a chance to snap the lock through its links. - -Knowing we were now masters of the situation we proceeded to the tomb of -Kai Abon and examined it with care. It yielded us about two quarts of -superb rubies, besides three dozen magnificent pearls and the great -beryl. From there we visited the place where Mai Lo had been assorting -his jewels, but found he had removed the heap and secreted his treasure -elsewhere. The vault of the third Kai, however, contained a vast store -of fine gems, and after we had secured these and added them to the -treasure already acquired, we were well satisfied with the result of our -night's adventure. - -Before we returned along the passage we went to take another look at the -Sacred Ape. He was squatting upon the floor of his alcove, motionless -but alert, and by the lamplight I thought his eyes glowed like two great -rubies. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - THE BATTLE IN THE CORRIDOR. - - -When we reached our rooms and behind bolted doors examined the contents -of the tapestry curtain, we were amazed at the splendor of the treasure -we had obtained. - -"But it isn't on board the _Seagull_ yet," Joe reminded us, and we -sighed regretfully as we realized the truth of this statement. Nux took -charge of the booty and then we all went to bed and tried to sleep; but -on my part the attempt was not very successful. I wakened every little -while with a start to see the glowing eyes of the great ape regarding me -from the darkness, or the great gray body hurtling through the air to -fall upon me; and my cheek pained me from the deep gash it had received. - -So I slept but fitfully until daybreak, when I rose to find Archie and -Joe already up and Bryonia making coffee over an alcohol stove. - -Our first care was to dispose of the jewels, and this we did by tearing -the leaves out of some of the books of Prince Kai, a big heap of which -had been sent us by the eunuch, and wrapping the gems in them. Afterward -we packed two boxes with them and nailed on the covers. To carry out the -deception we had planned, we next concealed in the empty drawers of the -cabinet enough ornaments to have filled the two boxes. - -So far our work had progressed very well, and we had just finished -breakfast and were congratulating ourselves on our progress when our -eunuch Tun ran in and told us that the governor's troops had been -ordered to advance upon our retreat and capture us in our rooms. - -"Send for Wi-to at once," I commanded. - -The eunuch hesitated. - -"No can," he said, with downcast eyes. - -"Why not?" asked Archie, impatiently. - -"Wi-to no see anybody," answered the man. - -"Great Cæsar! He isn't drunk again, is he?" I cried, recalling with -sudden fear what such a calamity would mean to us. - -The fellow was loyal to his chief and would not confess the truth; but -it was not hard to guess. It occurred to me that his annoyance over our -trouble about the women had sent him upon another spree, fast upon the -heels of the last one. But the loss of the Chief Eunuch's protection was -a serious thing to us just then, and evidently Mai Lo, having heard the -news, had decided to order an attack at once, a thing he would not -otherwise have dared do. - -"Shall we barricade the door?" I asked. - -"I've a better plan than that," replied Joe, who was a thoughtful fellow -and full of resource. "Let us stand in the passage outside and shoot -down any one who turns the corner by the dragon tapestry. There are two -reasons for adopting this plan. One is that we can reserve the use of -the secret panel in case we want to get to the vaults by way of the -underground passage, and the other is that we can retire into our rooms -as a last resort and bolt the door." - -"And in that case we'd be like rats in a trap," added Archie. - -I saw the wisdom of Joe's proposal and at once sent our two blacks with -revolvers to hold the passage. - -"Don't be afraid to shoot," I said. "It's our lives against theirs, and -if they find we mean business they may decide to let us alone." - -Nux and Bry grinned approvingly and took their stand in the passage, -while we remained to discuss the situation. - -Presently we heard the crack of pistols and howls of rage, and gained -the passage in time to see the governor's soldiers come crowding around -the bend while our blacks discharged their weapons with cool aim and -telling effect. - -The foremost wanted to draw back when they met with opposition, but -those behind, who could not see what was happening, pushed them along by -main force, and so dense was the pack of crimson and azure tunics that -Nux and Bry could not fire without hitting some of them. - -But there was another danger--that their very numbers would defeat us if -they obtained the advantage; so we all joined in the scrimmage and -poured a hail of bullets into the foe. Those who fell literally blocked -the bend in the passage, and at last their cries were heeded by those in -the rear and the mob surged back and disappeared from sight. - -We could hear their loud jabbering for a few minutes and then from the -sounds we knew they had all retreated to the lower hall of the passage. - -Presently a head slid slowly into view, which we recognized as that of -Tun. The eunuch signalled to us not to shoot, and then ran up to ask if -the soldiers could remove their dead and wounded. We gave permission at -once and then stood on guard while the fallen were dragged away. - -Pretty soon Tun came back to say that there would be no further attack -until the soldiers could find their governor and get from him further -orders. Just now Mai Lo was nowhere to be found. - -So we left Bry alone in the passage and sat down in our room to talk -over our predicament. - -Now it seems that just beyond the main doorway that led into our suite -of rooms this length of passage abruptly ended, and as it was hung with -tapestry we supposed it was a blank wall. But as Bry paced up and down -he was astonished to see the tapestry move. Then it was pushed aside and -a lovely girl emerged and signalled to him by placing her finger over -her lips. - -Our man understood and was discreet enough to show the girl into our -reception-room without a word. We sprang up amazed when Nor Ghai stood -before us, her hands crossed upon her breast and her head bobbing with -courtesies in a comical fashion. But as I looked at her I saw her eyes -were red with weeping; so I took her hand and said gently: - -"What is it, little friend? Have they dared to harm you?" - -"No--no--no!" she replied, hastily. "Wi-to has but told me not to leave -the palace. It is not for myself I weep, but for my poor companions," -and she broke down and sobbed bitterly. - -We three fellows looked uncomfortably enough at this exhibition of -female misery, and did not know how to comfort Nor Ghai. - -So to hide our embarrassment, Archie demanded in a rough voice: - -"What has old Death's-Head been doing to them?" - -"Who--who mean you?" sobbed Nor Ghai. - -"Why, the gov'nor, of course, Mai Lo." - -"Him--him has took away all their jewels and silks an' clothe poor -Ko-Tua an' Mai Mou in black cotton. An'--an'--" with fresh -sobs--"tomorrow him say him cut out both their tongues for talk with -foreign devils!" - -The little maid, in her misery, wasn't doing very well with her English; -but we understood. - -"The old scoundrel!" cried Archie, greatly shocked. - -"We mustn't allow this, boys," said Joe, with decision. - -"Why, it strikes me we're in rather bad shape to interfere," I -suggested, regretfully. - -"We _must_ interfere," declared Archie. "We got these girls into this -trouble by our rashness, and we must get 'em out of it again." - -"We've also got ourselves into trouble," I reminded him. - -"That doesn't make any difference," said Joe. "We're men and they're -just girls, and helpless in this heathen country. We've got to hunt up -Mai Lo and stop this little game before it's too late. If we can't save -the treasure and the girls both, let the treasure go to blazes!" - -Nor Ghai looked at him gratefully, and Archie gave him a sounding whack -on the shoulder. - -"Where is the governor?" I asked the girl. - -"I know not. But Ko-Tua, she run away and come to me, with Mai Mou. They -in my harem now." - -"Why, that's better than finding the governor," I said. "Don't let them -go home again, Nor Ghai." - -"I cannot help. The eunuchs will take them," she said. - -"Well, there's only one thing to be done," I announced, gravely. "They -must come here." - -"Ah, oh!" exclaimed the girl. "If they do that, Mai Lo cut off their -heads." - -"He won't get a chance," said Archie; "or if he does, he'll have to cut -off our heads too. Bring your friends here, Nor Ghai." - -She hesitated, looking from one to the other of us in bewilderment. - -"Have no fear, little friend," said I, gently. "Go and fetch Ko-Tua and -Mai Mou to us. In that way alone can you possibly save them." - -She nodded brightly, smiling through her tears, and tripped away. - -We watched the passage an hour; two hours. Then we began to fear that -Nor Ghai had in some way been prevented from returning. But no; she -appeared, finally, leading the governor's girl wife and daughter by -either hand, and then she explained that she had much trouble in -inducing her friends to accept our protection. - -To them the governor of Kwang-Kai-Nong was a mighty power, and they -feared to defy his authority by seeking the protection of three boys who -were foreigners and themselves fighting for their lives. - -Indeed, when I came to consider the matter from this point of view, I -was surprised that Nor Ghai had succeeded in winning them over. - -But here they were, finally, and Ko-Tua said to us in her simple way: - -"With no tongue a woman could not live happy, could she? So we do not -care if we lose our lives. We come to you and trust you, for Nor Ghai -says Wi-to is your servant, and Wi-to is almost as great as Mai Lo." - -I had my doubts of Wi-to's usefulness to us at this juncture, but did -not express them. As well as we could we impressed the maids with the -fact that we were not beaten yet and intended to put up a good fight to -the last. Nor Ghai told us that the news of our defeat of the soldiers -had already reached the harem, and had caused the condemned girls to -decide to place themselves under our protection. - -We had Nux lead Ko-Tua and Mai Mou to the further chamber of our suite, -and when they had entered we ordered the black to stand at the door and -guard them. - -Nor Ghai thanked us and went back to her harem. She said she was in no -danger, as no one had authority to punish her except Wi-to. There would -be a hunt for Ko-Tua and Mai Mou presently, but only Nor Ghai knew the -secret entrance to our corridor. - -When she had gone we felt our responsibilities overpowering us, and -tried to concoct some plan to force old Mai Lo to pardon his wife and -daughter. If we could not do that we must carry them away with us to -Shanghai; but in that case they would double our danger and we should -not know what to do with them after they were safe out of -Kwang-Kai-Nong. - -"I say, Sam," remarked Archie, after we had been thinking it over for a -long time, "this is one of those bridges you're always talking about. -Don't let's cross it till we come to it." - -After luncheon, which Tun and his helpers served as usual, we passed an -anxious and dreary afternoon. Tun had informed us that the captain of -the soldiers had still been unable to locate the governor to get his -commands, and seemed unwilling to attack us again without further -orders. Also we gleaned the information in a roundabout way that Wi was -still shut up in his room under the influence of a strong drink brewed -from rice. - -About three o'clock Archie slapped his leg and exclaimed: - -"I'll bet a cookie Mai Lo is in the vaults sorting treasure!" - -"I feel sure of it," said I. - -"Well, then," proposed Joe, after a pause, "let's go down and find him, -and have it out with the old rascal in the tombs of the ancestors." - -"In what way?" I asked. - -"Let's offer to divide with him. There's enough for us all. Who cares -what becomes of the governor--whether he suicides or not--so long as we -get out of this infernal country and back to Shanghai with our share of -the plunder?" - -"That's a clever idea, Joe!" I exclaimed. "There's no use fighting if a -peaceable arrangement can be made. Why haven't we thought of making a -bargain with Mai Lo before?" - -It did not take us long to prepare for the trip. The passage was still -deserted, but it was necessary to leave both Nux and Bry to guard the -entrance to the rooms, and the girls. - -So we three boys crept to the dragon tapestry, passed the secret panel -without being discovered and soon were creeping along the tunnel for the -third time on our way to the chih of the Ancestors of Kai. - -I carried with me the famous scimitar we had found in the cabinet--the -one with the seven great rubies set in the hilt. For our ammunition was -getting low, and if we found a need to use weapons in our present -adventure the scimitar might prove very handy. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - THE VENGEANCE OF THE RUBY SCIMITAR. - - -I think we had all forgotten that the King Ape had been left imprisoned -in the vaults. But when we entered the first alcove from the tunnel and -heard the monster barking and growling in the recess at our right, the -presence of the beast was recalled to us very forcibly. We paid little -attention to the ape just then, however, for we were eager to discover -whether or not the governor was really in the ancestral vaults. - -As we passed from behind the tapestry we put out our lamp, each of us -holding a few matches in our hands to use in case of emergency. - -The blackness was now intense, and as we crept stealthily in single file -toward the gate the gloom seemed to press upon us and embrace us. -Likewise the silence of the immense vaults, which had been hewn out of -solid rock beneath the great mound, was oppressive; for while the -jabbering of the King Ape and his violent shaking of his grating at -times reverberated through the dome with a thousand echoes, the hush of -death that otherwise pervaded the place was but rendered the more -effective. - -On the occasions of our former visits I had looked upon these chih as -mere treasure-houses; now, moving silently through the darkness, I -suddenly realized we were in a place of the dead, with many generations -of warriors, princes and imperial viceroys lying in state in their -heretofore inviolable tombs. Would not the spirits of these great -ancestors of Kai resent our intrusion? Spirits! I gave a start at the -recollection of a remark Kai Lun Pu had made on his deathbed: "If I find -that I possess a spirit I shall try to watch you, and enjoy the fun." - -I am not usually nervous, but I admit that when I recalled this -significant speech I shuddered and grasped the scimitar of Kai Abon more -tightly in my hand. - -"What in thunder's the matter with you, Sam?" growled Archie, who had -his hand on my shoulder. - -I did not care to say; but just then Joe, who was in advance of me, -touched the grating and whispered: - -"Here's the gate--stop a minute." - -He unfastened the catch and we passed into the great domed hall. - -On our right came a sudden rattling of the bars, where the monster ape -was still struggling to escape his prison. I reflected that he must be -getting hungry by this time, and hunger would make him more ferocious -than ever. But our first impulse was to peer anxiously around the great -chamber to discover if any light indicated the presence of Mai Lo. - -There it was! a faint glimmer coming from one of the alcoves far to the -right. - -"We've got him," muttered Archie, triumphantly. - -"Why, he's here, all right," I replied in a low tone, "but in order to -reach the place we must creep along the wall, so as not to get lost." - -"Come ahead, then," said Joe, and started feeling his way by keeping one -hand on the tapestry hangings that separated the various alcoves. - -Suddenly there came a violent rattling of metal near at hand and Joe -stopped so abruptly that I ran into him. - -"Say, fellows; we can't pass this alcove," warned Joe. "That infernal -monkey might reach out and grab us if we came too near." - -"Light the lamp," said I, "and hold it under your coat. Mai Lo is in an -alcove and he's too busy to notice us at this distance." - -Joe obeyed. As the light of the wick illuminated our surroundings we -found we had halted none too soon. The huge ape had his body pressed -close to the grating, which, to our astonishment, we saw was now a mass -of twisted and bent metal, so loosened and displaced by the constant -wrenching of the powerful beast that only the chain and lock with which -we had fastened it seemed to hold the grating in place. - -"He'll be out of there before long," remarked Joe, half fearfully. - -"Then we must dive into some alcove," I suggested. "But I guess the bars -will hold until we've had our talk with Mai Lo." - -Circling around the place so as to avoid the reach of the ape's long -arms we came to the tapestries beyond his den and continued our -progress, extinguishing the light as we drew nearer to the alcove from -whence came the glimmer we had first observed. - -We walked with stealthy tread and stood before the alcove without a -sound of our approach having been noted. - -The grating had been set wide open and held from swinging to by a big -vase set against it. In the center of the alcove a light burned upon a -low taboret, and near it squatted Mai Lo, absorbed in selecting and -arranging a mass of jewels piled up before him. - -So occupied was the governor with this pleasant task that he never -looked up until after we had entered and stood in a silent row before -him. - -Then his body gave a twitch beneath his broidered robes, but his passive -face showed no expression at all. Perhaps it was incapable of -expression. Even the eyes had no more animation beneath their surfaces -than shoe-buttons. - -"So you have escaped," he said. - -"Oh, there was nothing to escape," I answered with a smile. - -"My guards surrounded you." - -"They tried to, but there were not enough of them. And they are fewer in -number now than they were." - -He stared at us without reply; without altering his position. He even -rubbed the ruby that was in his hand against the satin of his sleeve as -if to polish it. - -"Hasn't all this nonsense gone far enough, Mai Lo?" I inquired. "Are you -not getting tired of opposing us when you know we can defy your power -and carry out our plans without your consent?" - -He calmly lowered his gaze and began to polish the ruby again. From the -distant alcove where Fo-Chu was confined came the ape's horrid growls -and the shaking of the bars; but the governor seemed little interested -in anything but the heap of plunder before him. - -"You have tried in various ways to destroy us," I went on. "You set your -eunuchs on us in the pavilion; you ordered your soldiers to cut us down -in the palace; you loosed the King Ape in these vaults to tear us to -pieces. But what is the result? We are here still, and free, and masters -of the situation." - -Mai Lo slipped the ruby in his pocket and took another from the heap -before him. - -"How can you enter the Ancestral Chih?" he asked. "My soldiers guard -every avenue of approach." - -"There are some things it is not necessary for you to know," I retorted; -"and that is one of them. But we did not come here to quarrel, but to -make peace with you." - -This seemed to interest him, for he transferred his beady gaze from the -gems to my face. - -"This constant opposition is annoying," I continued, "and while Prince -Kai Lun Pu gave to us the riches contained in these vaults, and showed -us how to secure them, we find there is more than we need, or can carry -back with us." - -"Prince Kai had no right to give you the wealth of his ancestors," said -Mai Lo. - -"Perhaps not. Neither have you any right to rob the Ancestral Halls. -Instead, you ought to seal them up, and commit suicide. But you won't do -that. You want to escape with enough treasure to make you rich for the -rest of your life." - -He regarded me intently, but made no reply. So I went on: - -"We do not care whether you escape or kill yourself, except that by -working together, instead of in opposition, we may all succeed in -getting away with the treasure. There's more than enough for us all." - -Still he made no reply. From the dome came a sudden crash of metal and -the wild yelp of the giant ape. But we all stood motionless, wrapped in -the importance of the governor's decision. - -"Well, what is it to be--war or peace?" I asked, impatiently. - -"War," he said, quietly. "You are miserable foreign pigs, and I will -kill you. Not one gem of this treasure shall you carry away. Your -knowledge of these chih has sealed your doom." - -I felt like striking the rascal with the naked scimitar I held--the -scimitar for which the seven kings fought whose life-blood was contained -in the seven rubies. But I resisted the temptation, while Archie -exclaimed: "Don't be a fool, Mai Lo!" - -"Your obstinacy may ruin us all," Joe added. - -"We don't intend to be killed," I observed, bitterly; "and you ought to -know that by this time. We----" - -I stopped short with a thrill of horror, for a sudden pattering of feet -reached my ears. The governor sprang up just as we three with one accord -shrank back against the wall, and the next instant the King Ape bounded -into the alcove, his eyes like balls of fire, his grinning teeth bared -viciously. - -Mai Lo alone confronted the beast, who faced his victim chattering with -an almost human expression of cruel joy. I saw the mandarin feel in his -breast and draw out a glittering poniard, while his eyes fastened -themselves upon those of the ape. An instant more and the brute sprang -forward and caught Mai Lo in his embrace. - -Once, twice, I saw the keen blade bury itself in the hairy breast of -Fo-Chu. Then the monster, with a shriek of mingled rage and agony, -thrust the man from him and bounded back against me, the sudden movement -sending me reeling against the wall. As I fell I extended my arm in -which I still clasped the ruby scimitar, and in a flash the ape had -snatched the weapon from my hand and with renewed screams swung it in a -gleaming circle around his head. - -But his attention was distracted from us, who stood motionless with -fear, toward the form of the governor, who was rising from the place -where he had fallen. And Fo-Chu remembered that the great pain in his -breast had been caused by the weapon of Mai Lo. So with a wild cry he -leaped forward and swung the scimitar with tremendous power. It caught -Mai Lo just above the shoulders, and the rarely tempered blade sheared -through bone and muscle. The head toppled with a dreadful thud to the -pavement, while for an instant the body stood erect and swaying. Then it -fell in a heap, and with a screech that chilled my very blood with -horror, the monster threw himself upon the body and rent it limb from -limb with a fury that was absolutely devilish. The cracking bones and -tearing flesh sickened me so that for the first time in my life I -fainted, losing all sense of danger and surroundings as I sank limply to -the floor. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - THE SEVERED HEAD. - - -"It's all right, Sam," said Archie, vigorously shaking me. "Sit up, old -man." - -I obeyed, opening my eyes to gaze fearfully around me. The lamp on the -taboret still burned steadily and crouching motionless upon the mangled -remains of Mai Lo was the form of the giant ape. Joe and Archie -supported me to my feet, peering into my face anxiously. - -"Is--is he dead?" I asked in a faint voice. - -"Dead as nails!" declared Archie, with a laugh. "Old Fo-Chu has saved us -a lot of trouble, while the governor kindly saved us from the beast by -giving Fo-Chu his quietus. It couldn't have been better if we had -planned it; but my! wasn't it a jolly fight?" - -"It was awful, boys!" I exclaimed. - -Joe nodded. - -"The horror of it nearly got me, too," he admitted. "But, as Archie -says, it was a fortunate thing for us, take it all in all." - -Feeling somewhat restored in strength I stooped down and picked up the -scimitar, which lay where the ape had dropped it. The blade was reeking -with warm blood, and I hastily wiped it clean with the rich tapestry -that hung upon the wall of the room. - -"The seven kings must have fought for the scimitar that time," I -observed. "It was a fearful blow." - -Together we rolled the great body of the dead ape over, with the idea of -getting together the remains of Mai Lo. But the nauseating heap of -flesh, mingled with shreds of the broidered robes that had enveloped it, -was so repulsive that we decided not to touch it. - -"Leave him with the ancestors of Kai," advised Joe. "We'll be away from -here before long." - -"I'll never enter this place again!" I declared, with a shudder, for my -nerves were still on edge. - -"Nor I," said Joe, hastily. - -"Then let's get all we want now," suggested Archie. - -We did. Without fear of further interruption we explored such alcoves as -we had not previously visited and appropriated the best of the treasure -they contained. We were all fairly well loaded when at last we returned -to the scene of the recent tragedy, where we added the heap of jewels -that Mai Lo had been examining. There was no time to assort them, so we -took them all. - -Archie seized the scimitar and hacked away a section of the tapestry, -and while I wondered what he was going to do he picked up the severed -head of Mai Lo by its queue and dropped it into the cloth, gathering up -the corners to form a bag. - -"What is that for?" I asked, wonderingly. - -"Why, it's proof that the governor is extinct," he said, with a grin. -"No one is allowed to enter this place, so we must establish the demise -of our dearly detested enemy in the upper world. Are you fellows ready?" - -"Come on," I said, picking up my burdens. - -We returned to the alcove of the first Kai and for the last time crept -behind the tapestry and emerged into the tunnel through the steel door. - -Silently we plodded along the incline, for the dreadful sight we had -witnessed and the repulsive burden Archie carried in his left hand -depressed us in spite of our attempt to appear cheerful. - -As we reached the flight of steps leading to the palace, Joe, who bore -the lamp, turned to me and said: - -"Going to take that thing home with you, Sam?" - -Then I remembered I was carrying the ruby scimitar. As I looked upon it -a horror of the weapon suddenly took possession of me. I set down my -bundles, snapped the blade across my knee, close to the handle, and cast -the ancient bit of steel upon the ground. The golden hilt, set with the -seven rubies of the kings, I slipped into my pocket. It is the one prize -of those I secured in Kai-Nong that I have never parted with. - -By the time we reached our rooms we found that twilight had fallen. Bry -met us at the door with the information that no one had disturbed him -during our absence. We placed our burdens in a corner and covered them -with a cloth, afterward retiring to our rooms to wash the grime from our -hands and faces. - -Tun came in shortly to ask if he should serve dinner, and told us that -Wi-to was "better now" and would be "alle light" by morning. - -We had little appetite for the meal, but made an attempt to eat. The -exciting events of the past few days were beginning to tell upon us and -there was little hope of relaxing the nervous tension until our strange -adventure had been accomplished. - -The death of Mai Lo had simplified matters very much. "Unless," said -Joe, "we are accused of his murder; in which case our goose is cooked." - -"That's why I brought the head," remarked Archie, glancing at the -corner. - -"That's why you ought not to have brought it," I objected. - -"But we must have peace and the good will of the natives in order to get -away safely with the treasure," he replied, sensibly enough. "Mai Lo has -committed suicide." - -"Suicide!" I exclaimed. - -"Certainly, my boy. It was up to him to make away with himself, thus -doing his duty and fulfilling the expectations of the people." - -I looked at him admiringly. - -"Will you please tell me, Archie," I said, "how we can convince the -people that Mai Lo cut off his own head?" - -"Why, tell 'em the truth," he returned. "Tell them Mai Lo gave the -Sacred Ape a scimitar and fought a duel with him. That would be a neat -way to suicide and appeal to their artistic sense. The ape got in the -first swipe and--and----" - -"And what?" - -"And here's the head to prove it," he answered triumphantly. - -I shook my head. - -"It won't do, old man. Such an absurd story, coming from us, his -enemies, would be enough to condemn us." - -We sat thinking over the situation for a time, and then Joe exclaimed -abruptly: - -"I have it! We will get Wi-to to tell the story." - -"That's better," I said, relieved. "He ought to be sober enough to act -the part tomorrow. But in the meantime what are we to do with the -governor's wife and daughter? They are in no further danger, so we -needn't keep them cooped up in that room any longer." - -"Send for them," suggested Joe. - -So we asked Nux to summon the two maids, and soon they toddled timidly -into our presence. - -"Ko-Tua," said I, solemnly, "you may go home and put on your widow's -gown." - -"What you mean, Sam?" she asked, eagerly. - -"Why, your respected husband, the admirable old villain Mai Lo, has had -the kindness to commit suicide." - -"Ah, oh!" cried both the girls, with one voice; and then to our -amazement they plumped down upon their knees and bowed their heads to -the floor and began wailing and beating their front hair with the palms -of their hands. - -We allowed their emotions full play for a time, but they kept up the -monotonous cries and self-inflicted blows longer than we thought -necessary. - -"Oh, shut up, Ko-Tua!" grunted Archie, stooping down to give the pretty -widow's shoulder a vigorous shake. "Stop the racket until you're in -public. You're not so eternally sorry, are you?" - -She looked up with a smile and slowly rose, Mai Mou demurely following -her example. - -"I'm glad," said Ko-Tua, frankly. "Now I no have tongue cut out. But Mai -Lo my husban', an' he dead, an'--oh, oh! ah-oh! oh-ah!----" - -"Hi! cut it out!" yelled Archie, as the widow relapsed into her wails. -"If you don't behave, I'll--I'll bring Mai Lo to life again!" - -She stopped at once. - -"You sure he dead?" inquired Mai Mou. - -"Absolutely sure," I replied. "He committed suicide, and we saw him do -it. But see here, young ladies; you mustn't mention this till tomorrow, -when public announcement is made. Do you understand? Go home and control -your grief until you hear the news from others, and then howl as much as -you please." - -They were puzzled at this order, but when we explained that our own -lives depended upon their silence they willingly promised to obey. - -At first we were all unable to figure out how they were to return to -their homes without being seen and causing gossip; but Bry proposed that -he should rap upon the door at the end of the passage and see if he -could not arouse Nor Ghai. - -The rapping had no effect for a time, and after a few attempts we -abandoned that idea and tried to think of something else. Meantime, as -our dinner-table still stood piled with eatables, we prevailed upon -Ko-Tua and Mai Mou to satisfy their hunger, which they did with ardor -but exquisite daintiness, smiling at us happily as they ate. - -"Really," whispered Archie, "if I'd known Mai Lo's death could cause so -much pleasure I'd have asked him to commit suicide long ago." - -Presently, without warning, Nor Ghai glided into the room and took in -the scene with one comprehensive glance. - -"I heard the knock, but could not come then, as I was not alone," she -explained. "Is there something you wish me to do?" - -"You might take these girls into your harem and keep them there," I -replied. - -"But Mai Lo's eunuchs will find them!" she exclaimed. - -"Never mind; there is nothing to fear. Mai Lo is dead." - -"Dead!" she repeated, clasping her little hands. - -"He has committed suicide," I answered. - -"Never! Mai Lo never suicide," she declared, positively. "If Mai Lo -dead, somebody kill him." - -"Somebody did," I replied, smiling at her shrewd knowledge of the -governor's character. "It was the Sacred Ape, Fo-Chu." - -"But Fo-Chu is escaped and lost. I heard it today." - -"Well, Mai Lo found him, and thought it was a good time to shuffle off -his mortal coil. You remember that in Shakespeare?" - -She nodded. - -"So Mai Lo shuffled." - -"Isn't it nice, Nor Ghai?" asked the widow, delightedly. Then with a -sudden thought: "Ah--oo! ah-oo! ah----" - -"Cut it out, Ko-Tua," warned Archie. - -"Her tongue!" gasped Nor Ghai. - -"No, that's quite safe; but she isn't supposed to use it for wailing -except in public. Take her to your rooms, little one, and don't fear for -her or Mai Mou any longer. Your troubles are nearly over, I'm sure." - -So Nor Ghai smiled also, and led her two friends away. The last we ever -saw of them were their pretty forms toddling up the passage with their -pretty faces turned over their shoulders to smile upon us. Then the -tapestry hid them and they were gone. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - THE POOL OF THE DEVIL-FISH. - - -That evening, being unable to sleep, we sat up late, packing our booty -into the chests furnished by the eunuch. They were light and strong and -so closely did the gems pack that we were able to get our ivories and -some other valuable ornaments into an extra case. Before we went to bed -all the boxes were tightly nailed, wound with cords, and the cords -sealed with wax. As the seals bore the impression of Prince Kai's signet -ring I felt sure they would be respected. - -Next morning we sent for Wi-to, and when he appeared, looking still a -bit "groggy," as Archie expressed it, we told him the story we had -invented to suit our necessity. - -"Mai Lo is dead," I began. - -The Chief Eunuch started. - -"You have killed him?" he asked. - -"No; he committed suicide." - -"Impossible!" - -"So I would have said had I not seen it," I answered, gravely. "And -perhaps, after all, the governor did not intend to fulfil his duty so -hastily. Sit down, Wi-to, and listen to the story." - -He sat down, but looked incredulous and uneasy. - -"While you were ill yesterday," I began, "we went out to take a walk." - -"With the governor's soldiers guarding every door?" he asked. - -"Why, you yourself have said there were secret passages that the -governor did not know of. You must not forget, sir, that we are the -trusted friends and emissaries of Prince Kai Lun Pu." - -This may or may not have satisfied him. Anyhow, he said nothing but -looked at me inquiringly. - -"We wandered through the grounds, trying not to meet anyone," I -continued, "until we came to the great pool by the rocks which your -people say is inhabited by the devil-fish." - -"It is true," said Wi-to. "I, myself, have seen the monster." - -I was much relieved to hear this, for it made my invention seem more -plausible. - -"While we stood looking into the pool," said I, "the governor suddenly -stepped from the grove of trees nearby and advanced toward us. He held a -naked scimitar in his hand, such as his soldiers use, and he seemed very -angry. He reproached us for making the acquaintance of his wife and -daughter and for opposing his soldiers, and declared we should not -escape him again." - -This struck the eunuch as quite reasonable. He began to look interested. - -"We were angry, and argued with him," I went on, "and while we were -quarreling Mai Lo suddenly gave a loud cry. We looked around and saw the -great ape called Fo-Chu, the King, leaping toward us from the grove." - -I paused and Wi-to said: - -"He escaped from the pagoda several days ago, and could not be found." - -"We were all frightened," said I, "for the beast seemed fierce and -excited. The governor alone was armed, and as Fo-Chu bounded forward Mai -Lo thrust out the scimitar, and ran it through the ape's body. But -Fo-Chu drew the blade from his own breast, swung it in the air, and with -one blow severed the governor's head from his shoulders. Then the ape -seized the body and leaped into the pool with it, and both sank quickly -beneath the black waters. I am quite sure the beast was dying at the -time, and perhaps the devil-fish grabbed them, for neither one came to -the surface again." - -As I finished the yarn the Chief Eunuch coughed and looked puzzled. - -"But although the bodies were gone," I added, "the head of Mai Lo -remained upon the ground where it had fallen." - -"Here it is," announced Archie, "we used to call him old Death's-Head, -and may be it is appropriate," and holding the horrible thing in his -hand, he advanced and laid it at the eunuch's feet. - -Wi-to grew pale and stared into the placid face of his enemy. Mai Lo -stared back at him, and I could not see that the beady eyes or parchment -face had changed at all in death. - -"Ugh!" said the eunuch, turning away. "It is certain the man is dead. -But who will believe your story?" - -"You will, to begin with," said I, confidently, "and you will make -others believe it." - -"How?" - -I brought some rice-paper, brush and ink from the cabinet, where there -was a store of such material, and laid them on the table. - -"Write the words I shall give you, in Chinese, as Mai Lo would have -written them," I said. - -The eunuch smiled as if suddenly enlightened, and accepted the task -cheerfully. - -"'Wishing to die, as it is my duty to do,'" I dictated, "'I have loosed -the Sacred Ape and trusted myself to his avenging hand. If I am dead -after we have met, all the world will know that Mai Lo, Governor of -Kwang-Kai-Nong and the trusted servant of Prince Kai Lun Pu, who lies -with his ancestors, has done his full duty.'" - -Wi-to nodded like an automaton and wrote with much skill upon the paper, -beginning at one of the bottom corners of the sheet and working up. - -The Chinese characters were neat and uniform, and when the document was -finished Wi-to laid down the brush with a sigh of content. - -"I have not used your words," said he, "but I have used the idea. And -the signature," he added, with a sly leer, "is the signature of Mai Lo -himself. I will now go and exhibit the head and the paper, and salute -Mai-Tchin as the new governor." - -So eager was he that he caught up the head by its queue and dragged the -grinning trophy away with him without having it wrapped into a neat -parcel, as I had intended should be done. - -Wi-to might not believe our story, but he was assuredly glad to be rid -of his long-standing foe, and we had given the wily eunuch the clew that -would enable him to deceive anyone who might be interested in knowing -how the governor met his death. - -I have beside me, as I write, a clipping from the Hong-Kong Gazette -announcing the death of the Governor of the Province of Kwang-Kai-Nong. -It states that he committed suicide according to Shinto requirements, -owing to the premature death of his master, Prince Kai Lun Pu, late -Viceroy of the Imperial Chinese Empire. - -Within an hour we left our rooms and ventured to walk out into the -palace and wander in the grounds again. The soldiers had all been -withdrawn and the palace eunuchs made humble obeisance to us as we -passed. - -There was no excitement apparent around the palace. The artisans were -busy with their tasks and the gardeners pruned and weeded as -deliberately as ever. But when we descended the mound we heard a loud -chorus of moans proceeding from the governor's house, and knew that his -death was now publicly recognized. - -The place was getting decidedly distasteful to us, and that evening we -told Wi-to that we had performed all the requests of Prince Kai and -wanted to return to Shanghai at once. He replied that he was sorry to -have us go, but appreciated the fact that the unpleasant incidents of -our visit must outweigh with us the pleasure we had had. - -Next morning we were waited upon by the new governor, who received us in -the state apartment of the palace. We found him a weak, undecided young -man, who seemed frightfully nervous at his sudden accession to power and -eager to get rid of us. We explained to him the terms of our contract -with his father, Mai Lo, and while we did not mention the ten thousand -taels, we insisted upon a proper escort to Ichang and payment of all the -expenses of the trip back to Shanghai. He agreed to every demand with -alacrity, and I could see he was in positive terror of the "foreign -devils." - -Within forty-eight hours the arrangements were all completed and the -train of elephants, horses and attendants gathered in the open space -before the palace. The eunuchs carried down our heavy cases and loaded -them upon the elephants, and while the bearers must have thought them -tremendously heavy they dared not complain, and the Chief Eunuch's -suspicions were in no way aroused. - -Wi-to seemed really grieved to lose his guests, and we thanked him -cordially for his hospitality and parted from him, both he and we -expressing the utmost good will. - -Our escort was led by a very polite fellow, who spoke amusing -pigeon-English and had evidently been instructed by Mai Tchin to show us -especial deference and obey our slightest command. - -The result was that we met with little annoyance from the natives along -the route, and reached Ichang with our entire treasure intact, after a -very agreeable journey. - -There we left our elephants and horses and boarded the steamer for -Shanghai, taking with us merely an escort of a dozen soldiers. These -richly dressed warriors commanded sufficient respect to insure our -safety on the trip. - -At Shanghai Uncle Naboth was waiting for us, and the dear old fellow was -overjoyed at our safe return. - -"Got any treasure?" he asked. - -We pointed to the sealed packing-cases which the porters were -laboriously unloading. - -"There's enough there, Uncle," I whispered, "to make us all rich as -Rockefeller--if we can get it safe aboard the _Seagull_." - -"Why, we'll hire a special steamer to transport it to Woosung," he -declared; and knowing Mr. Perkins as we did we were all relieved when -the treasure had been turned over to his care. - -We met Dr. Gaylord in Shanghai, and he was still "out of a job." He -seemed amazed that we had returned safely from our adventure and asked -us a thousand questions which we answered discreetly, without telling -him too much. But he was a good-hearted old fellow, and had been of much -service to us before his courage had failed him and led him to desert -our cause. Remembering this, I placed a small packet in his hands when -we parted at the wharf and asked him not to open it until after we had -gone. - -I hope it helped the good doctor to buy that farm in England which he so -much desired; for although the packet merely contained what Archie -described as "some of the loose plunder that was in our pockets," it -ought to have been sufficient to set the doctor up for life. - -Fortunately there are no customs officials at the port of Woosung, and -our chartered steamer puffed directly to the side of the _Seagull_ and -loaded us and our treasure on our own craft. - -We received a joyful welcome from my father and the officers and crew, -you may be sure, and before we had told all of our story we were well -out at sea and were homeward bound. - -I have often wondered if our visits to the Ancestral Halls of the House -of Kai have ever been discovered, or the treasure we abstracted at the -instance of the Prince ever missed. - -But from the far-away Province of Kwang-Kai-Nong to the deck of the -wandering _Seagull_ is a far cry, and it is unlikely we shall ever know -what happened in Kai-Nong after our departure. - -Since that time we "Boy Fortune Hunters" have been through many other -experiences, not all rewarded with equal profit, but, I can assure you, -quite as thrilling; and some of these I purpose to relate at another -time. Some of our earlier adventures, such as those with which we -entertained the dying Prince Kai, may be read in "The Boy Fortune -Hunters in Alaska," "The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama," and "The Boy -Fortune Hunters in Egypt." - - - THE END. - - - _Up-to-the-Minute Boys' Books_ - - The Airship Boys Series - _By_ H. L. SAYLER - - ILLUSTRATED BY F. R. HARPER - -This is one of the most fascinating, besides being one of the most -timely and technically accurate series of boys' books yet published. Mr. -Sayler is not only first, but, we think, without a rival in this new -field of boys' literature which offers so much in the way of invention, -exploration and adventure. The first two volumes are: - - The Airship Boys - _or, The Quest of the Aztec Treasure_ - AND - The Airship Boys Adrift - _or, Saved by an Aeroplane_ - - Each, fully illustrated, with handsome cover and striking wrapper in - colors, $1.00 - - - _For sale wherever books are sold_ - - - _Good Books for Girls_ - - The Aunt Jane Series - By Edith Van Dyne - - Aunt Jane's Nieces - Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad - Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville - Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work - -"Aunt Jane's Nieces" chronicles the real doings of real girls in a most -interesting manner. "Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad" tells of a delightfully -adventurous trip through Europe, and the third volume describes their -summer holiday on a farm "at Millville." In the last story the "Nieces" -are shown at work in the political arena. - - _Illustrated 12mos. Uniform cloth binding, stamped in colors, with - beautiful colored inlay_ - - Price 60 cents each - - - Annabel - By Suzanne Metcalf - -A bright, swiftly-moving story of a young girl just blossoming into -womanhood, and of a boy struggling for a start in life. - - _12mo. Dainty cloth binding, with inlaid design and six duotone - illustrations by H. Putnam Hall_ - - Price 60 cents - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy Fortune Hunters in China, by L. 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