The Last Ditch

h the cell was so small that his body had been forced to adjust itself to it during sleep. The table was also stationary. The door was of heavy black wood, intended to preserve sile

the disc for answer. He was about to make further outcry when he heard a peculiar scuffling step in a distan

i n

ing against him. He heard the scuffling step depart and wondered what he was in for. There was no doubt in his mind regarding t

he was at first inclined to doubt his senses. The right side of his face witnessed to

repeated. "Or w

Majesty's cruiser Dunedin, and that they were about to anoint the vow in a bar-room close to the water-front. He wondered if all the lights had gone out at that instant or just his own. He patted his face in several places, re

peated. "Yes, tha

his call was touched with a different respect. Listening wa

i n

ing," said t

ner explained his need for drink in Chinese and found himself making signs of

ecause it had been tested and failed. The awe had to do with thirst. He had felt this before and b

holding out his hand. The white man took the hand and tried to recall where he had seen that face before. It had nothing to d

said Dr. Ti Kung,

garette," the oth

ase was pro

n't a touch of he

hments," said Dr. Ti K

u hear of m

oub

altogether there when it happened-just a so

king, you know. I recognized you at once, waited until you were not engaged. We had a short ride in my 'rickshaw up to the street of the Everlasting Spring. Here

f-shaven face. However, a certain appreciation formed in his

after

man whom the American had called to through the chink, scuffed in with glasses a

closed: "I mean the lock-up, t

ou're merely in one of

urned white

Some conscript mess I got

g men in these chambers together with a set of questions and a large quantity of white paper, leaving them in quiet contemplation until the ques

, looking about at the thi

with narrowed lids through the smoke. "It so happened that this place was at hand when

rd the other, saying apologetically, "You'll have to excuse me,

t time, I believe, was at a certain

seven years. I have yo

is morning," bea

ame. Romney was

in use here? I know the expressio

?" repeat

. That's the w

h the examination papers. The hall-boy came at your call. His du

said Romney

ed to the stimulant which Ti Kung had ordered. Romney laughed. He wouldn't even have been able to think as coherently as this, but for the two recent drinks. It was a deep ironical laugh from somewhere within, possibly from the soul of things.... Running-and a victory had thrilled him. Cheap things to thrill over. He hadn't asked much in those days. Now he was an

certain two weeks would rush back and make a monkey of him. No, this was a false note-this idea of regaining form. He didn't want form among men. Nothing would be interesting. The Immortal had spoiled all the rest. Even China would bore him. And she was gone-on her own blessed h

o. They had all commented upon it. They had always found Ti Kung on the dot, without haste, without raising his voice. It was so now.... Why had he stopped to pick up a ruffian white man on the stree

hat are we going to

in three days,"

s were full of fire, yet hard-held, steady and kind; full of reason and order. Three days. Ti Kung meant three days. There was no lying, no leaning in that. He had a design. There was something

moment of self-examination, he did not know i

pared th

a 'rickshaw this time. I have ordered a carriage.

across his chin. The

on't let's think of it. You will