CHAPTER IX.
CHOW OUTWITS A GREAT MANDARIN, AND SETS OUT TO RESCUE HIS MASTER.
As they walked to the inn Chow explained to Sing his plan for the rescueof Nicholas, which, after some serious consideration and many words ofadvice, the innkeeper approved; but as it could not be put in operationbefore evening, as soon as they reached the inn they went into one ofthe inner apartments, and while they refreshed themselves with a goodmeal, chatted over the details.
After they had completed their arrangements, Sing led Chow to anoutbuilding, in which were two oblong coffins, the one sealed down, theother with the lid half off. The first contained the body of Sing'sdaughter, of whom he had been so fond in life that in death he kept herin the same room with the open coffin which had been presented to him bythe girl as a filial offering.
Such gifts as this, which I dare say you will think a sombre one, are byno means more rare among the Chinese than the preservation in their ownhouses of the bodies of those they have loved. And just above an altarupon which incense was burning, hung a portrait of the dead girl, beforewhich silently and with cheeks damped with tears of memory, Sing threwhimself reverentially, and prayed fervently for the other worldhappiness of his child. Having, with as much real sympathy as merecourtesy, joined in the ceremony for a short time, Chow arose, and leftthe bereaved parent throwing cuttings of silver paper upon the burningdish, in the belief that in the next world it would change into realmoney for his daughter's use.
As when Chow reached the police tribunal he found it closed for the day,he clattered upon a large gong or kettle drum, affixed to the door, apiece of great daring on his part; for if his business did not strikethe mandarin as being of the greatest importance, he might make sure ofsome fifty blows for his impudence, for the public officers in China arequite as averse to doing too much for the public money as many that Icould name of our own.
The door was opened and the boy was shown into the hall of audience,where he had not long to wait before the mandarin and four bamboo sticksin waiting made their appearance. "How, dog! Why this clatter at ourgates when the tribunal is closed?" asked the surly grandee.
"Will the magnificent fountain of justice give his unworthy servant aprivate hearing?" said the bold boy, glancing significantly at thebamboo sticks in waiting.
"Let the fellow's mouth be opened with ten blows for his impudence,"said the polite magistrate; but as the men were about to obey, Chowthrust his hand into his robe, and pulling out a letter threw it intothe great man's lap, a piece of effrontery so beyond all precedent thatthe bamboo sticks waiting stood aghast and ready at a glance from themandarin to immolate the profane boy. The magistrate, however, no sooneropened the paper than in tremulous tones he exclaimed, "Leave us alone,this fellow has matters of private importance to communicate."
This order having been obeyed, Chow broke through the rules of decencyand etiquette by speaking before he was spoken to. "A crime has beencommitted within thy district, O mandarin, yet justice sleeps. Surelythis is not according to the sacred books," said he.
"What dog's words are these? of what crime speaks the youth?" said themagistrate wildly.
"According to the sacred books, O mandarin, it is the magistrate's dutyto discover and punish crime within his district. Yet, not withstandingthe house of the retired innkeeper Hoang is in a well-guarded quarter ofthe city, it has been broken into and its furniture and valuablesstolen; moreover what is more surprising in so populous a district, thethieves have escaped."
"What words are these?" said the mandarin again, being in fact sotroubled that he knew not what to say.
"Truly, it is a shrewd maxim; 'that large fowls will not eat smallgrain,' yet, the largest may be choked if too greedy, for there arestill larger birds to swallow them; in turn even thou mayst be strippedof thy rank and offices, if not strangled," said Chow, adding, "Wouldthe lord of justice wish straighter words?"
The words proved straight enough to go direct to the mark, for themandarin fell upon his knees and begged Chow to accept half his fortune,and although it would be letting his rogue off cheaply enough, therescue of Nicholas was his object, and he promised to forego using hisknowledge of the great man's delinquency, providing that he would givehim an order under the official seal that would admit him to hismaster's prison. Rejoiced to purchase his safety so easily, the mandarinnot only gave the order, but also promised to see that Hoang's propertywas restored to him within a few days. After this Chow gave a paper tothe magistrate, and left the tribunal well satisfied with the result ofhis visit.
Now, as I dare say you are anxious to know how it came about that sopoor a boy could have such power over so great a personage, I will tellyou, and you will obtain some little knowledge how public affairs aremanaged in China, and moreover, learn that dishonesty may sometimesplace the greatest official beneath the thumb of the smallest ofpersons, as indeed it happened in this case.
When Chow was chattering over his plans with the innkeeper he examinedthe box of pastiles, and on taking them out, discovered a paper at thebottom, evidently placed there for security, as the thieves could nothave dreamt of leaving their most valuable implements behind. That paperwas an order for four men, whose names were mentioned, to pass to theboats on the canal, with any quantity of goods, without questioning, andwas signed with the character of the mandarin, which accounted for thethieves getting off with so many things, but it also proved that themandarin was in connivance with them, and was in the habit of grantingthese passes to robbers in return for a large bribe. Now, as Chow couldwrite very well, he immediately composed a letter to the mandarin,telling him the whole transaction, and, moreover, that the thieves werewell known to a friend of his, who, if he did not return by a certaintime that evening, would disclose the whole matter to the viceroy;therefore it was not to be wondered that the great man trembled andimplored of Chow to accept half his fortune, for had it been broughtbefore the viceroy he would, as Chow more than, hinted, in allprobability have been strangled.
The War Tiger Page 11