Held by Chinese Brigands

ince the morning meal, so that Frank might not set forth upon his journey unprovided. He would certainly not be able to procure anything to eat in the desolate mountain region,

would have to rely solely upon his own initiative. All three lay down upon their straw mattresses, and pretended to sleep, breathing heavily and even snoring, in order to arouse no

rose stealthily upon his hands and knees, and slowly began to crawl towards the entra

as wonderfully clear; a full, round moon illumined the rugged mountain ridges, making them appear so white that they might have been snow-clad, whereas the valleys seemed by contrast

was on the same side of the boulder as himself. He was able to o

w, surveying the magnificent scene that extended before him. Perhaps, despite his brutal features, and low, receding forehead, there was at least a spark of sensibility, a small power to appreciate th

fro, stamping his feet from time to time, as if he suffered from the cold. Clearly, it would

d to the moonlight. Here he was sure he could not be see

xious. Perhaps the man never would sit down; perhaps he did not intend

, and then, seating himself upon the ground with his back resting against

as the opium bound to make him drowsy, but he had planted himself in the very situation that gave the boy his best opportunity. Frank i

he slope. He who is over-cautious will, however, accomplish nothing. The traveller who considers the pitfalls in his way and the many dangers that lurk upon the highroad makes little or

re stretched at full length upon their mattresses, looking up. No doubt each was unable to bear the continued suspense,

ly to learn whether or not he had been observed whilst he was crossing the narrow strip

s neck. He was careful not to make the slightest sound; he was fearful almost to breathe. He knew that the whole enterpris

hat the utmost caution was of far more importance than haste, he did not mov

moked his pipe of opium, and was now in that semi-dazed, self-satisfied condition that invariably follows an administration of the drug. The boy wormed himself forward, until he had gained the furthermost edge of

he most suitable means of descent, his heart for a moment failed him.

cend to eternity, to fade away into a great expanse of darkness that was like the sea. It occurred to h

s no affair of his what lay at the bottom of the valley; his immediate business was to descend from the

sy enough. In the face of the rock was a narrow cleft down which it would be quite easy to climb. Without hesitating an i

, could see the other, since the sharp corner of the rock intervened. However, the situation was so dangerous that Frank was

ot he was within sight of either of the men. He could but take the only possible precaution. Lying almost flat up

out of immediate danger. He had escap

f the valley, or he might work his way along the cliff, parallel to the bridle-path above, until, havi

whether the slope was accessible lower down. Besides, it migh

t, nor was there any need to do so. He could progress, if not

ld be safe to ascend to the path above by means of which he and his fellow-captives had been conducted to the ca

on his boots he was able to set forward running, knowing full well that every step lengthened the d

ous journey across the mountains. Sunrise found him still upon the ro

. By then he had consumed all the provisions he had brought with him from the cave. He was, indeed, almost famishing, and felt tempted to take almost any risk to procure something to eat. That afternoon he encountered several peasants, who all regarded him with undisguised cu

dressed himself to a little thin, prosperous-looking Chinaman of the middle clas

He was surprised at two things: first, he had never expected to meet with a European in such an out-of-the-way corner

ravelled fa

Kong," answ

s a lon

ortance," said Frank, "tha

ccept such hospitality as my miserable self is in a position to offer. I am a tea-grower," he continued. "M

to assist him in more ways than one. He readily accepted the man'

lighted to partake, in your palatial residence, of such nourishing and delicious prove

inaman

nary to me is that you appear to be acquainted with our forms of ceremony. As a general rule, the European cannot speak

k, "I have lived in

"Allow me to have the honour of condu

lking along a narrow bank that separated two flooded ricefields. Beyond they passed through a field of kiao-lian

rambling building, together with several outhouses and a fair-sized yard, the whole surrounded by a mud wall about eight feet in height. The bui

h, sharks' fins, larks' tongues, birds'-nest soup, small pieces of meat on little skewers, rice, millet and edible seaweed from Japan. Frank devoured all these delicacies with a relish. It was not the first time that he had eaten a Chinese din

t he should do so. He had a mind, however, to disguise himself, and he therefore be

elt-soled shoes. Thus attired, Frank Armitage bade his host adieu and crossed the tea-garden late that n

y of his coolies, or workpeople, lived. In bidding good-bye to him, Frank thanked the man from his heart for all his hospitality and kindness. He shook hands with himself in the approv

Whereupon the tea-grower took from his neck a long string of copper cash. These he threw over the boy's head, at the same time quoting C