Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER VI

  The Professor makes a Suggestion

  'So you've been fighting again, have you?' quizzed Mr. Jones, when hecame to visit David in the accident ward of the general hospital, towhich he had been conveyed straight from the store. 'And this time therehas been real bloodshed. Do you know that you have lain here preciselyfour weeks, two days short of a complete month?'

  'And a precious long time it does begin to feel,' came the jokinganswer, for the patient so ill but a short while before was now well onthe high road to recovery. 'I'm just longing to be out again. To-morrowI get up; in a week I am to be allowed out in the park. In two I shallbe back at my lodgings.'

  'Perhaps,' agreed Mr. Jones, drawling the word in a manner decidedlyprofessional. 'If you are well enough. If not--well, no matter for themoment. But you are strong enough to sign your name; listen to what Iread, and sign if you agree. Of course, I am not going to bother youwith a number of details. You can rely upon me implicitly; I will managethings for you.'

  He rapidly intimated certain matters to David in connection with theletter he had had from his father, and the will which Mr. EbenezerClayhill was so anxious to have settled. Then he obtained our hero'ssignature.

  'The next thing you will hear about the matter will be from the papers,'said Mr. Jones, as he bade farewell. 'I hope we shall be successful.'

  Imagine the interest of the public when it leaked out that the hero ofthe burglary near Bond Street was also the claimant through hissolicitor to have the execution of a certain will delayed. The papersrapidly obtained the whole story; for Mr. Jones, though accustomed, as arule, to professional taciturnness and silence, now opened his lips witha will, and told the whole story as he knew it.

  'Not that the tale will affect the judgment of this matter,' he told hisfriends. 'British justice is too evenly balanced for such a thing; butit will gain more friends for the boy. It will put his case as it is,not as others might garble it, and will obtain the sympathy of all.'

  And sympathy it did gain for our hero. Not only that; for informationhaving been received he would be out of hospital very shortly, the casewas put back for trial on a later date, no special reason being given.

  'Unless, of course, the Judge and jury are anxious to see you,' laughedMr. Jones, coming to see David again, and quizzing as was his wont. 'ButI'm glad to hear you are doing so well. In a week you come home.'

  'Home,' said David. 'Yes, to Constable Hemming's. He's been here toarrange.'

  'Home with me,' interrupted Mr. Jones, placidly. 'You must understandthat you are an invalid as yet. You require care and comfortablesurroundings. Not that I assert that Constable Hemming would deny youthose; but you will obtain them to greater degree where I live, in thecountry, outside London. Hemming knows of the suggestion and approves.By the way, he's Sergeant Hemming now--promoted for his share in thework of capturing those men. Now I'll see the House Surgeon and get hisreport.'

  'Oh, David?' said the latter, cheerily, when accosted by the solicitor.'Davie is going strong; we've had him examined under the Roentgen Rays.The bullet struck the fourth rib on the left side, and ought to havekilled him outright. But he has luck; he was born to be lucky it seems.The bullet turned along the rib, left it half way back, and emerged. Thetrouble with him is that the rib was fractured, and one of the brokenends pierced the lung. Hence bleeding from the mouth and other nasty andtroublesome symptoms; but he'll do now if he takes it easy for anothermonth. When can he go out, Mr. Jones? Let us say in a week's time.'

  Accordingly David was driven away from the hospital at the terminationof that period, deeply grateful for all the care and kindness shown him,and leaving many a friend behind. A motor car conveyed him to Mr. Jones'house, and thereafter he came under the care of that gentleman's wife.Three weeks later he attended the inquest on Henricksen, and there forthe first time gave a description of how he had seen the burglars comeinto the store, and of how he had been forced to hide himself. Thenfollowed the trial of the Admiral and of Spolikoff and Ovanovitch, thelatter two having by then recovered from their wounds. Needless to sayboth Judge and jury highly commended the behaviour of our hero.

  'Of course, we don't expect that you will care to come back to us,' saidthe manager of the store, when the trial was finished, 'though if youwish to come, we shall be glad to have you. But you are so well off nowthat you can look for something better. To begin with, our directorshave handed me a cheque for one hundred pounds, to be paid at once toyou.'

  David coughed at the intimation. It made him breathe so deeply that hisalready healed wound pained him. 'One hundred pounds,' he gasped.'That's enough to take me to China.'

  'Hardly, I think; but there is some more. Spolikoff and Ovanovitch weremuch wanted by the police for extradition to their own country. They area dangerous class of criminal who have infested this country of late. InRussia they were Anarchists, and are known to have held up and robbed atrain. Russia became too hot for them, and so they came to thesehospitable shores to continue robbing. There was a reward offered fortheir apprehension. You, of course, obtain that. The sum is threehundred pounds.'

  Little wonder that David gasped again. When he agreed to remain on watchat the store he was almost penniless. True, he had a few pounds by him,as well as a bicycle, while there was always the small allowance whichwas due to him; but the prospect of earning much was by no meansbrilliant. And here were four hundred pounds--four hundred shiningsovereigns, to do with as he liked, to pay his passage to China if hewished it.

  'Then off I go to China!' he cried, when he had recovered from hisastonishment at such good fortune. 'I'll sail on the first opportunity.'

  'Which means that you will go when I, as your appointed guardian, allowyou to do so,' exclaimed Mr. Jones, severely, endeavouring to hide asmile; for David's eagerness and enthusiasm delighted this gentleman.Mr. Jones was the sort of man whom a stranger would imagine never evensmiled, much less laughed outright. David had himself always consideredhim somewhat of a wet blanket; but he did not know him so well then. Asa matter of fact the solicitor was the prince of good fellows, andkind-hearted to a degree. And it was true that he had constitutedhimself David's guardian.

  'Till the court has put me in that position officially,' he said, 'and,of course, till you are fit again; for then I am well aware that youwill kick over the traces, and put up with no interference. Now, David,hand over that money to me. I'll give you a formal receipt for it, andwhen you need money you can have it, and without a question. For themoment I'll take care of it. Golden sovereigns have a way of burningholes in the pockets of young people.'

  When at length the case in which our hero was so interested came beforethe courts, he was perfectly restored to health; and his straightforwardevidence, the narrative of how he had set out from home to make his ownway in the world, and his adventures _en route_ won for him thegood-will of hosts of people. The whole case read like a romance, andproved wonderfully attractive, while Mr. Ebenezer, who was compelled togive evidence, as was also his wife, provided the villains to thisall-absorbing drama. Then came the intimation that David had decided togo to China, there to make inquiries and search for his father's will.

  'As a sensible man I suppose I ought to throw cold water on thatscheme,' declared the judge, 'but, honestly, it has my sympathy. I likethe pluck of the claimant.'

  It appeared that others did also. For while Mr. and Mrs. EbenezerClayhill were thoroughly exposed, and held up to public execration,David became more of a hero, and the following day received a mostimportant letter.

  'DEAR SIR'--it ran--'Having read the facts of your appeal to the courts, and being, moreover, an old friend of your father's, I have the pleasure to offer you a post on the staff I am collecting to take to China. We go to investigate old Mongolian Cities, the ruins of which have been long since located. I understand that your father was also interested in this work. We sail in rather less than a month, and should you accept this proposal, your passage will be
paid, as also the return, while the question of salary can be arranged in the immediate future. Kindly write by return.'

  David telegraphed. 'Coming. Delighted,' he sent, laconically, though hewas not given as a rule to such abruptness, while the following morningfound him at the address which headed the letter he had received. Ashort, stout, clean-shaven man rose from a seat as he was announced andadvanced towards him with outstretched hand.

  'David Harbor?' he asked, with a welcoming smile.

  'Yes, sir. Come on the receipt of a letter from Professor Padmore.Is--er--are you--?'

  The little gentleman laughed outright now, beaming on our hero, whilehis fleshy chin shook visibly. 'Am I the Professor?' he shouted, puttinga hand on David's shoulder. 'You don't think I look like one, now doyou? Admit to that. As a Professor I should be as bald as a coot, wearenormous goggles, stutter a trifle, and be somewhat deaf. Eh! isn't thatit?'

  David couldn't help laughing; the little man's good temper was strangelyinfectious. Nor did he attempt to deny what had been said; it was trueenough. Professors were often enough the class of individual painted bythis gentleman. 'You're so different, sir,' he blurted out. 'You're----'

  'I'm Professor Padmore, a terrible person, I do assure you,' chuckledthe little man, 'and I happen also to have been a friend of yourfather's. A fine man, David, a gallant fellow, but rash, a trifle rash.Trusted the Chinese too far. That was the cause of the whole trouble.Well now, sit down. Smoke?'

  He held out a cigarette case, but David shook his head.

  'Never mind then,' smiled the Professor. 'No harm if you don't. You maylater on. You're plenty young enough yet--too young, in fact. Boys whosmoke are fools, fools, sir, with a capital F to it. But I wrote you,yes, I saw the name in the paper, and was attracted by the case. It wasso unusual, the majority of such disputes are so commonplace. All aresordid; this one had peculiar features. It so happened, too, that I waswanting a young fellow, a gentleman, you understand, to come out toChina with me. Well then, there you were, openly stating your desire togo to China. You were just the man for my situation, while I was justthe opportunity you were looking for. Good; I wrote. You are coming;there'll be danger and hardships innumerable.'

  He had lit a cigarette by now, and turned on the hearth rug at his finalwords to stare hard at David. He found the latter laughing.

  'Eh? What?' he asked pleasantly.

  'Nothing, sir,' declared David, 'only everything is so jolly and sopleasant I was just thinking then that you were just the reverse of theusual Professor. You ought to be very severe and unbending to youngfellows.'

  'Whereas I am not. Exactly so; to tell the truth I feel young myself, asyoung as you do, and try hard to forget that the years are going along,and that I am getting stouter as they go. But I can be severe. David,there will be many dangers to be faced, and many hardships. I want youto know that I want you to be fully prepared. And though I am pleasantenough as a general rule, there is one thing to learn--withoutdiscipline, without one recognised leader, and one only, no expeditioncan be a success. This expedition must succeed. I have led severalothers, but this is more important than all. Absolute obedience to myorders must be the rule, and you must be prepared to give it.'

  For a few brief seconds the character of the little man seemed to haveentirely changed, while certainly his facial appearance had done so. Forof a sudden he became stern. Lines wove themselves across his forehead,while the half-closed eyes regarded David in a manner which impressedhim. He realised then, if he had not done so before, that ProfessorPadmore could be a very different gentleman to the jolly individual whohad welcomed him a few minutes earlier, could be stern and dictatorial,and could lead men whenever needed, and however pressing the danger.

  'I am prepared to give the same obedience I should give in the army,'said David, soberly. 'As for the dangers and hardships, they come in inthe day's work. I do not look for ease and enjoyment out in China. Mybusiness is serious. I shall not succeed with it until I have travelledfar and had many an adventure.'

  'Then you will do for me. Sit down there; now for your salary.'

  It took but a few moments to decide that item, and then the Professorproceeded to outline his project.

  'There are these Mongolian cities,' he said. 'Well, I have already donesome excavating, and have brought some rare objects home with me; butthere are thousands still lying buried for every one we have unearthed.We go to find them. Our ship carries us to Hong-Kong. There wedisembark and remain for a while till we have obtained the necessaryservants, some of whom I have employed before. Then we take steamer forShanghai, and finally travel to Pekin. When we leave the city for thenorth, our real work will begin. You still wish to come? You are notfrightened?'

  David laughed again. He could not help himself; for the Professor wasonce more the jovial, pleasant comrade, treating the young fellow as ifhe himself were one also. 'I will come, and only too happy to be one ofthe party, sir,' he said. 'How many do you take?'

  'We shall be four sailing from England. When we march from Pekin thereshould be twenty of us all told. Labourers for the task of digging canbe obtained at the various spots we visit. Now for an outfit I shallpurchase that for you; I have a list by which I always go. Longexperience has taught me what is wanted.'

  It was no use for David to exclaim at such generosity, and to mentionthe fact that he had plenty of money. The Professor silenced him atonce.

  'Put it away, sir,' he said. 'Put it into a safe investment. Don't worryabout it till you come home. By then it will have grown wonderfully. Butcome along now; we'll drive to the house which always provides myequipment.'

  When David returned to Mr. Jones' roof that evening he had been measuredfor a couple of thick tweed suits, of a brownish, khaki colour. Likewisefor two pairs of strong boots and gaiters.

  'The shirts and things of that description we can get ready made,' theProfessor said. 'In the hot weather you will wear cotton only, and thatsort of thing is best obtained in China. In the very cold weather, andoften at other times, we shall wear native costume. Now you will want amagazine pistol, of the same pattern as carried by us all, thusnecessitating only one class of ammunition for that sort of weapon, arifle, and a gun. Those, with a compass, will complete your equipment.Come here in a week's time, and we will see the clothes tried on.'

  Those were busy days for our hero. There seemed a thousand and onethings to be done, so much so that the hours flew. But at last the mostexciting day of all arrived. He bade farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, andwent over the river to see Sergeant Hemming and his wife. Then he joinedthe Professor, and together they drove to the docks. It was not till thefollowing morning, when they were well away at sea, that David wasintroduced to the two who were, besides the Professor, to be histravelling companions, and who went to complete the staff of theexpedition going to China to investigate Mongolian ruins.

  'David,' shouted the Professor, unceremoniously, as he leaned againstthe ship's rail talking with a passenger, 'come along and meet one ofthe band. Dick, this is David. David, Dick. Shake hands.'

  'You! Why, this beats me altogether!'

  The passenger who had been conversing with the Professor swung round,smiling, as the words were spoken, and stretched out his hand; but theinstant his eyes fell on our hero he started back in amazement. Thenext second he had leaped forward, and was shaking David's hand as if hewould never cease.

  'You! David Harbor of all people! You and I to be travelling companions,on the staff of the same expedition. This is too good!'

  It was Dick Cartwell, the young fellow to whom David had taken such afancy on his eventful ride up to London, the son of the lady who had sonarrowly escaped an accident in a runaway brougham.

  'Ripping!' ejaculated David on his part, delighted beyond anything. 'Inever asked the name of the other fellow. Just fancy it's being you!What a time we shall have together!'

  'Perhaps,' said the Professor, smiling at the keenness and thefriendship displayed by the two, and delighted beyon
d measure to findthat they knew one another, 'perhaps you will have the goodness toexplain. When Dick Cartwell came to me and begged of me to take him onthis trip, I hesitated.'

  He looked severely at the handsome young fellow, though there was asmile on his lips.

  'I say!' exclaimed Dick, protesting.

  'I hesitated,' went on the Professor, silencing Dick with upliftedfinger. 'I said to myself, I want a man, a steady man, used toexpeditions. Besides, I had just read about a certain David Harbor,quite a youngster, and I conceived that one young fellow would be ampletrouble and to spare. But I gave way, and here I find you known to oneanother. Did David tell you to come to me, sir?'

  Dick protested again, amid much laughter, and then turned abruptly onthe Professor. 'It's just all chance, sir,' he said. 'But the happiestchance imaginable. David and I became acquainted only a little whileago. He made my mother's acquaintance on the high road to London. Therewas almost a nasty accident. He stepped in in the nick of time.'

  'As he did in the case of the burglars. Tell me all about it,' asked theprofessor, in the peculiar jerky way he had. 'And so you saved thoseladies, David,' he said, a little later, becoming serious. 'I'm glad;you have shown now on more than one occasion that you have a cool headon your shoulders, and that is just what is wanted out in China. I hopeDick will cultivate similar coolness, and joking apart, I'm delighted tohave you both with me. Now to introduce you to the other member of ourparty. He has been with me once before, and is perfectly invaluable.Here he comes. Alphonse, _mon cher_.'

  The jovial Professor had set his eyes on the quaintest figure of a manimaginable, and called to him as he promenaded the deck. And at hissummons the passenger approached David and Dick and their employer inthe most humorous manner. A little man, smaller in fact than theProfessor, Alphonse was remarkably broad. His shoulders wereextraordinary in their width, while one was struck by the fact that hishead--a tiny, bullet-like head, covered with the shortest, bristly cropof hair, which stood upright everywhere--was sunk deep between theshoulders. For the rest, an extremely ample waistcoat expanse, short,thick legs, which nevertheless moved very swiftly, and a most engagingface made up the personality of Alphonse. From the long, pointed toesof his French boots, to the crown of his stubble-covered head, thepassenger was an oddity, while voice and jesture added to hiseccentricity.

  'Monsieur, I have the honour to hear you call,' said the little man,advancing at the Professor's summons, with little prancing steps whichmight have been employed by a professor of dancing, while he boweddeeply, flourishing a cap with a mighty peak, again, like his boots andhis whole person, entirely and convincingly French in origin. 'Youcalled Alphonse.'

  'To make him known to these two gentlemen. Alphonse, these are the twowho accompany us. I trust that they may be as well pleased with you whenour travels are over as I have been. Alphonse Pichart, David, Dick.'

  The three shook hands eagerly, with vast enthusiasm in the case of theFrenchman. Indeed, David found himself unconsciously wondering at thelittle man, and marvelling whence came all his energy. And how the faceof Alphonse attracted him. Beneath the stubbly, shock head of hair was awide forehead, a pair of honest, sparkling, blue eyes, a good nose, andstrong mouth and chin.

  Not a hair was visible on this shining, healthy-looking countenance tillone arrived at the chin, from which depended a peaky little beard, cutvery narrow and curling forward at the tip.

  'I shall have the honour and the pleasure to serve all three, then. Eh?'said Alphonse, backing and bowing once more, and replacing his hideoushat with a flourish. 'Monsieur can rely on me. I shall see to everyone's comfort. And now, if Monsieur will permit, I go to the cabins tounpack.'

  The Professor dismissed him with a nod and a smile.

  'The best of fellows,' he exclaimed. 'Came last expedition as cook andvalet.'

  'Cook and valet!' exclaimed David, surprised that such individualsshould be necessary, when the members of the expedition were obviouslygoing to a part where they would have to rough it. 'I thought we shoulddo our own cooking, or have a Chinaman for the job. As for a valet, why,clothes won't trouble us much I should think.'

  'Perhaps not,' came the answer. 'But then, Alphonse is more cook thanvalet. I shall tell you something. An army, it is said, lives on itsstomach. An exploring party does so, but in a different sense. The workis sometimes arduous, and all our attention will be required. Very well,one might have a good native cook. On the other hand one might very wellhave a villainous one. See the result--uncooked food, dyspepsia; you andI and Dick unfit for really good work. Lost time. Lost opportunities.Besides, Alphonse does more than cook or valet. He is shrewd, and has anabundance of courage. But you will see. He is the life and soul of theexpedition. He keeps us and himself all going.'

  Before the ship had been at sea a whole week, Dick and David found thisto be very true; for Alphonse was always smiling, always humorous. Andif there happened to be nothing in his actual words to make one laugh,his comical antics, his bows and flourishes always drew a smile, if nota roar of laughter, at which the little man beamed, for he was neverangered.

  No need to describe the voyage as far as Hong-Kong. It passed as othervoyages do, with numerous deck games amongst the passengers, anoccasional dance or concert, and one terrific gale, which swept thedecks clear of all but the crew and confined the passengers to thesaloon. Dick and David revelled in the movement of the ship. Not oncedid they shy from the saloon when the hours for meals arrived, nor feelsqueamish.

  'Just the lads for me,' the Professor told himself, rubbing his handstogether, his face shining with enjoyment and good health. 'Nothingmamby pamby about them. They will prove excellent companions.'

  At Hong-Kong the party transhipped to a coaster, and having reachedShanghai chartered a native boat.

  'Our journeying may be said to begin here,' said the Professor, as hewatched Alphonse arranging their belongings in the huge, roomy cabinaft. 'We run up the coast to a certain spot abutting on a portion of theGulf of Pechili. Then we land and inspect certain ruins of which I haveheard. From thence we can return to Shanghai, and take the train toPekin, or we can journey overland. My lads, to-morrow we shall don ourrougher clothing.'

  That cruise up the Gulf of Pechili proved to be a most enjoyableexperience, and David and his friend Dick made the most of every hour ofit. They fell in with the four native hands whom the Professor hadengaged at Hong-Kong, Chinese whom he had had in his service before, andhelped the crew of the huge, wide-built boat haul at the ropes, andhoist extra canvas on her. Then, at the Professor's wish, they studiedthe language for three hours every day, sitting amongst the men, or moreoften with the four engaged with the expedition. And even a week, theyfound, saw some improvement in their knowledge.

  'You have only to stick to it and you will become excellent linguists,'declared the Professor, 'and will find the power to converse mostvaluable. As for your instructors, a Chinaman when he takes an interestin anything is not to be beaten, and those servants of mine seem to havemade up their minds that you shall both learn to speak in a record shorttime.'

  Head and baffling winds delayed the progress of the boat immensely, sothat ten days after leaving Shanghai, she was only half way toward herdestination. Then there came a fair wind, lasting two whole days, whichbore her a long way in the right direction. But towards evening it fellaway altogether, leaving the huge native vessel wallowing in an oilyyellow swell, and slowly drifting landward.

  'Nothing to do but wait and hope for a change for the better,' saidAlphonse. 'Monsieur the Professor can sleep; the other gentlemen canwork at the language. Already they know more than I, who have beenmonths and months in the country.'

  But there were other things to attract the attention of our hero and hisfriend beside the Chinese language. Indeed, that very night there wasan interruption. Awakening in the small hours David listened for amoment to the flop of the swell as it heaved against the side of thevessel. Then he heard a chain rattle, while, an instant later, a gentlehail
came across the water. Throwing off the mosquito curtain, underwhich all now slept, he slid out of the deck cabin, and went to therail. There was a figure already there dimly seen against the placeswhere the swell broke at its summit and washed in white froth across thesurface. 'Hist!' David heard, and a moment later realised that it wasAlphonse.

  'Ah, ha, that is Monsieur David? Good,' he heard the little Frenchmanwhisper. 'I can trust Monsieur David. He has been in danger before; heunderstands caution.'

  'But--what is it? Why is there need for caution?' asked our hero,careful to keep his voice low, and wondering what the Frenchman couldmean. 'I heard someone hail us; there must be another ship.'

  At once Alphonse's arm swung out, he became as rigid as a board, whilehe pointed towards the bows of the vessel.

  'See there, Monsieur. You are right; there is a boat. She has comealongside, and so silently that few of us have heard her. Does Monsieurknow what she is here for?'

  David could not even guess, but then he had never been in the Gulf ofPechili before. However, Alphonse knew the part, and had an idea of itsdangers.

  'Listen, Monsieur,' he whispered. 'I saw a boat three days ago, andthought I detected signals passing between us and her. She sailed rightout of sight, but that night a lantern flashed right ahead of thisvessel. To-night I detected the same, but knowing that there was a calmI felt sure that none could approach us without our hearing, for theywould have to employ sweeps. _Bien!_ I would not sleep. I crawled out ondeck. I waited and watched. And presently a gentle breeze got up. Ourmen made no movement; they made no effort to put the vessel on hercourse, though they were moving about on the deck. Again I saw a lanternflash, and then, just a few minutes ago, I caught sight of a strangerapproaching us. Monsieur, that is a Chinese pirate. She comes to takeour weapons, and to loot those boxes the Professor carries with him.'

  'Then the sooner he is warned the better,' said David, his voice hardlyaudible. 'This is serious.'

  'Monsieur will perhaps go to the cabin and wake the two gentlemen,'suggested Alphonse, not a tremor in his words. 'I will remain andwatch.'

  'Listen to this,' whispered David, eagerly. 'I will warn the two in thecabin, and will then go to the four Chinese who form part of our staff.I will bring them back to our quarters as soon as possible. Meanwhile,if there is a movement in this direction, retire to the cabin yourself,and close the door firmly. It is the only means of entrance, except byway of a large port under the companion ladder leading to the roof ofthe cabin.'

  'And that?' asked Alphonse, still as cool as ever, as if this were aneveryday matter.

  'Will do for me and the four men,' declared David. 'If the main door isshut we will slip in there. Warn the others about it.'

  He was gone in a moment, and within the space of half a minute hadawakened the Professor and Dick. In a few words he related what washappening.

  'Stand by the door and admit Alphonse,' he said. 'I am going for the menwe engaged at Hong-Kong; they are to be trusted.'

  He took his magazine pistol from the rack in which all the weapons werehoused, and slid out on to the deck again. Then, bending low, he rantowards the hatchway which led to the quarters occupied by the menattached to the expedition. He was just disappearing down it when hiseyes fell upon some two dozen bent and dusky figures creeping along thedeck. A moment later one of them gave a sharp order, and at once, withshouts and cries, the whole party dashed toward the stern of the vessel.The attack on the Professor's party was about to begin. David's retreatwas entirely cut off by the enemy.