Held by Chinese Brigands

Twenty thousand dollars is by no means an impossible sum to a man who is a millionaire. Even the

alth. It never occurred to them that they might have asked twice as much, and secured it with no greater difficulty; for we meet the real miser more in fiction and in fable than in real life, and there are

ding in the palm of his hand the gol

e. "I trust you are r

hind his back was a score of his ru

nese language with difficulty, and his pronunciation was faulty. However, there is little do

said he. "Rumo

f the money is sent from Hong-Kong, and taken in safety to your hiding-place, what guara

ou?" asked the bandit, with a

his country--and I see no reason why you should not be numbered amongst them--to whom murder is a pa

and to his face and str

t," said he. "For myself,

the conditions are fulfilled on our

," said Cheong-Chau.

on," the judge answered, "but y

so," said

ge, "how much Cheong-Chau rev

ut stretched forth a hand, and

ged his shoulder

he to Mr Waldron. "I tell you frankly, I don't t

ss Chinese ink-box, a large piece of rice-paper and a writing-brush. "Write your letter," said the old man, "to the English Viceroy of Hong-Kong. Tell hi

s place?" ask

row path leads due north from the Five-Storied Pagoda. This path crosses the

understanding well the vagueness of al

keep. A woman child is no use in the world. From the day of her birth to the day of her death she does little else but talk. On the west side of the tower is a small wood, and in the centre of this wood is a glade where the birds sing in summer-time, whilst the water of the river makes sweet and pleasant music. In the glade are rocks; but in one

ry. A little after, Men-Ching left the cave, and the three whit

t the rascal said

d," replie

remembe

k no

be by no means easy to write. I shall have to explain matters v

e cave. Otherwise Sir Thomas might have asked for his own fountain pen. As it was, he was now obliged to write in English characters with a Chinese brush, and this w

d the letter by explaining the exact whereabouts of the "Glade of Children's Tears," describing the red stone beneath which the ransom money was to be hidden. He also expressed the opinion that it would be useless to endeavour to capture the brigands in the neighbourhood of the glade itself, and he strongly advised the Governor not to attempt to lay an ambush. He pointed out that such a plan would m

t of a torch, Frank and Mr Waldron looked over h

Mr Waldron, "that you d

in moments of delight--I know for a fact--they are capable of committing the most terrible atrocities. I don't wish to alarm you unnecessarily, Mr Waldron, but I tell you honestly that I fear the future. Sir John will send t

ver, came from his lips. He paced backwards and forwards in the cave like a wild beast that is hungry. For all that, u

speaking to himself. "Guess I can't look upon it

g the embers of the fire. A flame sprang forth that illumined the rugged walls of the cave. Here

ver before felt helpless. In the course of my life, I have found myself in a great many awkward places; but I have always been able to see a way out and I have made good i

pper cash, in the coinage of China, having the a