The Blue Dragon: A Tale of Recent Adventure in China

by Kirk Munroe

  Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

  The Blue Dragon

  A TALE OF RECENT ADVENTURE IN CHINA

  BY Kirk Munroe

  AUTHOR OF THE "MATES SERIES" THE "PACIFIC COAST SERIES" "FORWARD MARCH" ETC.

  ILLUSTRATED

 

  NEW YORK AND LONDON HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 1905

  Copyright, 1904, by Harper & Brothers.

  _All rights reserved._

  Published October, 1904.

  "A HORSEMAN FLED BEFORE THEM"]

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND 1

  II. AMERICA'S UNFRIENDLY WELCOME 10

  III. ROB TO THE RESCUE 18

  IV. A TRIUMPH FOR JO'S ENEMIES 26

  V. THREATENED VIOLENCE 35

  VI. THE SHERIFF TAKES PROMPT MEASURES 44

  VII. THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT 52

  VIII. JO'S ENEMIES PREPARE A TRAP 61

  IX. JO FINDS THAT HE IS SOME ONE ELSE 70

  X. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO CHINA 79

  XI. ACCEPT A KINDNESS AND PASS IT ALONG 88

  XII. FROM THE GOLDEN GATE TO THE PEARL RIVER 97

  XIII. IN THE WORLD'S MOST MARVELLOUS CITY 106

  XIV. A TURN OF FORTUNE'S TIDE 116

  XV. IN THE HEART OF UNKNOWN CHINA 125

  XVI. "FISTS OF RIGHTEOUS HARMONY" 134

  XVII. LEAPING INTO UNKNOWN BLACKNESS 143

  XVIII. A SUPPER OF SACRED EELS 151

  XIX. AN EXHIBITION OF THE RAIN-GOD'S ANGER 160

  XX. ROB MAKES A STARTLING DISCOVERY 169

  XXI. THE REFUGEES OF CHENG-TING-FU 178

  XXII. A CHARGE AND A RACE FOR LIFE 187

  XXIII. STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE 196

  XXIV. THE TIMELY EXPLOSION OF A BOILER 204

  XXV. IN CHINA'S CAPITAL CITY 213

  XXVI. WAR CLOUDS 222

  XXVII. CHINA DEFIES THE WORLD 231

  XXVIII. FIGHTING SIXTY FEET ABOVE GROUND 241

  XXIX. JO HEAPS COALS OF FIRE 250

  XXX. THE CAPTURE OF PEKIN 260

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  "A HORSEMAN FLED BEFORE THEM" _Frontispiece_

  MAP SHOWING ROUTE FOLLOWED BY AUTHOR _Facing p._ 1

  "AS POOR JO LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL, ROB DASHED INTO THE MELEE" 20

  "HIS MADLY YELLING PURSUERS WERE NOW CLOSE UPON HIM" 140

  "THE FUGITIVES MADE A CAUTIOUS ENTRY INTO THE SACRED PRECINCTS" 152

  "HE WAS ABLE TO GAZE CALMLY AT HER WHEN THEY ONCE MORE WERE ESCORTEDPAST THE CATHEDRAL" 184

  "SO THEY DROVE ON, MILE AFTER MILE" 204

  "THE SAVAGES FLED IN DISMAY BEFORE THAT CHARGE OF YELLING AMERICANS" 248

  TO MY READERS

  The Blue Dragon, chosen as a title for this story, is the nationalemblem of China, adopted as such by a desire to flatter and propitiatethat spirit of evil considered to be the most powerful. As the dragonis believed to be big enough and strong enough to overcome and devourall the other wicked genii who continually vex Chinese life, the wisemen of the "Black-haired People" thought it best to have him on theirside, and consequently accorded him the highest honor in their powerto bestow. As we of America chose the eagle, strongest of visible airspirits, for our national emblem, so the Chinese chose the most powerfulof invisible spirits in whose existence they believe as firmly as we doin the existence of things that we can see, hear, or feel.

  In the story thus entitled, I have endeavored to give an idea of whatChina has been, is, and may become through education and development,how she is regarded, and how her people are being treated by othernations, and what causes she has for resentment against those who aretaking advantage of her feebleness to despoil her.

  While travelling in China, and trying to gain the Chinese point ofview, I met so many charming people, so many men of intelligence andliberal education, honorable, broad-minded, and devoted to the upliftingof their unhappy country, that I became exceedingly interested in theircause, and anxious to aid it. With this object in view I am striving,through the medium of a story, to present it to those young Americanswho, in the near future, will be called upon to decide the ultimate fateof the great Middle Kingdom. With them, more than with any other people,even including the Chinese themselves, will rest the decision, whetherChina shall remain a nation, open to the unobstructed commerce of theworld, or become a series of petty colonial possessions devoted onlyto the interests of their several ruling powers. That my young readersmay be guided to a wise and just solution of this great problem, is thesincere hope of their friend,

  KIRK MUNROE.

  BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA,

  _January, 1904_.

  MAP SHOWING ROUTE FOLLOWED BY AUTHOR]

  THE BLUE DRAGON