The Flying Boat

bing many different parts of the country. Disorder of one kind or another is always smouldering in China. Sometimes it is due to the oppression of t

irect incitement from without. Germany had always expected far greater things from her possession of Kiauchou than had actually sprung from it. Her appetite for colonial extension had grown by what it fed on, and been whetted especially by her successful deals with Fr

ether rightly or wrongly, Burroughs had begun to suspect, from various small matters that fell under his observation, that Reinhardt was such an agent. His comprador reported that the German had been seen in communication with the river pirate who had been captured in the attack on Mr. Ting. He said that it was whispered in nati

t as yet serious--no more alarming than the outbreaks that occur about every five years in one part or another--Burroughs shrewdly suspected that in this case the wish was father to the thought. It was becoming a favourite move of German diplomacy to send a gunboat to some centre of disorder, which c

equal number at stations on other parts of the river. No similar move had been considered necessary by any of the other Powers. The Chinese Government protested, explaining that the disorde

portance to keep the peace along the river, so that the

was rumoured among the Chinese that he had actually been in the camp of the revolutionaries, whose leader was none other than the river pirate of Mr. Ting's adventure. There was a very persistent

tion with a German firm brought him necessarily into closer contact with the little German colony, among whom there was a careless, card-playing section. Cards were practically the only recreation; and Errington, deprived of any steadying influence, fell more and more under the fascination of gambling. Absence for a time from Reinhardt dulled his suspicions of that gentleman's honesty, and when t

was persuaded by Reinhardt to join his card-parties. He proved more than a match for the German, who, piqued a

unch, and called on Errington. After a litt

sums you owe me--will it

ied Errington, with an uneasy laug

true, but zere are many who believe zat Ting has still moneys of your late fazer, my old friend. A compatriot of mine, a man I know, once heard your f

rrington, much surprised; "and my education was so expensive t

ands ze matter? You owe me five hundred dollars; I cannot afford in

very deep root, but this fresh hint that Mr. Ting might be actually turning to his own use mone

days after Reinhardt had made his suggestion. He called on Errington, as he had often done before, gave h

pride revolted against the course he was forcing himself to take. At last, j

ou mind lending me

an showed

nough?" he said. "It was

, bu

. I think with your pay, and your commission--velly good, if I hear tlue--

h himself: should he make a clean breast of it? Shame, an ill consc

He put on his spectacles, a curiou

don't

-play

onal rubber, is there?" said

t on the remors

the sto

k you for a slight favour you preach at me. You're rolling in money, and won't lift a finger to help a fellow. I don't want your money, thoug

ure, he said with quiet dignity: "You are the son of a gentleman who was my master and my flend, and I cannot say to you what I would say to any other man who insulted me so. I do not gludge the sum that you wish to bollow, but I am solly that you want money

n, muttering "Pledge my freedom to a Chin