Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER XIII

  In a Chinese Prison

  If Chang, the man who had so unexpectedly and suddenly led an attackupon the little party journeying via Hatsu to interview Twang Chun, thegovernor of the province, imagined that he had left David in a conditionof terror at the thought of the execution he had threatened for theevening of the morrow, he was very much mistaken, and showed thereforethat he knew his prisoner very little indeed; for David was not the oneto be long down-hearted. It was not in his nature to give in without aserious struggle. No sooner had the door of his prison been banged andbarred, than his spirits rose wonderfully, while he set about seekingfor a remedy to enable him to beat his enemies. And the first thing thatcaused him joy was a discovery he made within a couple of minutes.

  'The fools!' he whispered to himself, chuckling. 'The fools! They tookme because I was idiot enough to fall asleep, but they forgot to searchmy pockets. Why, here is my magazine shooter, and here the letters I wascarrying. George! Mr. Chang, I shall have something to say when the timefor execution comes along; but I ain't going to wait for it if I canhelp; let's have a look at this cage they've put me in.'

  It was a long, narrow cell, with walls formed of hewn blocks of hardstone, and lit by a range of narrow windows placed close to the ceiling.The openings themselves were innocent of glass, or of the Chineseequivalent, namely, oiled paper. Otherwise, the floor was of stone, theceiling of a dusky white, while, save for himself and the basket inwhich he had been carried to the place, there was not another thingpresent. All was in darkness, except a wide stretch of floor on whichthe moonbeams played, as they crept up one of the walls till the brightpatch of light ended at an abrupt edge, a faithful _silhouette_ of therange of windows above placed on the outside wall of the prison.

  'Door as safe as houses; heard the bolts shot home,' David told himself.'Then I've got to reach those windows. Should say they're a good twelvefeet from the floor; perhaps the height's even greater. Couldn't reach'em I fancy, even with a big leap. However, I'll try; nothing liketrying.'

  There was nothing like keeping up his pluck either, which David did witha vengeance. He was even smiling as he stared up at the range ofwindows, with their edges so unnaturally abrupt as the moonbeamsstreamed past them, while one hand went every now and again to thedepths of the secret pocket in which his magazine pistol was lying. Thenhe walked over to the wall and felt the surface with his fingers.

  'One could get a grip with these cotton-padded soles, I should say.I'll try a running jump and see where it will land me.'

  He went back to the opposite wall, and squeezed hard against it; then hesprang forward, and leaping at the far wall endeavoured to run up it. Hesucceeded in gaining a point within two feet of the windows, or perhapsit was less. Then he tried again and again till he was exhausted.

  'No good; can't do it,' he told himself. 'I shall have to think ofsomething else.'

  He sat down on the basket and cudgelled his brains, but the more hethought and worried, the longer he stared at the range of windows, themore impossible the task seemed. Then he swung round swiftly. There wasa clatter outside the door, the bolts were being pushed back from theirsockets. A moment or two later the hinges creaked, while the door wasthrown open. A coolie entered at once, while a second held a lamp behindhim. There were half a dozen more just outside in a dimly lit passage,while in their midst stood none other than the Tartar under-officer.David rubbed his eyes, and wondered where he had seen the fellow before.Then hearing him speak, he remembered.

  'Put the food and water down,' he commanded, 'and leave. It is time thatwe were all in our beds. Do not go near the foreign devil. There isnever any saying when he and his may do injury to one of our people.'

  He eyed his prisoner with none too friendly a glance, and hurried thecoolie from the room. David heard the bolts shot to again, and the faintslither of departing feet. Then he rose to his feet with flushed faceand a new hope in his heart. Not a second thought did he give to thefood and water, for who could say that it was not poisoned? If EbenezerClayhill could hire a ruffian to come all that way to molest himanything might be expected. No, the food and drink did not attract him.Our hero was roused by the help which the lamp had brought him; for ithad shone on the basket on which he was seated, and in a flash Davidrealised that the affair was not merely a flimsy collection of wicker,but a well-made basket of considerable length, strengthened with piecesof bamboo, which, although light, kept the whole in shape, and gave itconsiderable power to resist weights placed within it. He picked it upwith an effort, and running his fingers along it, came upon the holesleft for the bamboo runners with which it was hoisted on the bearers'shoulders. Then, with the utmost care, and in deadly silence, he proppedit up on end against the wall, at the summit of which ran the range ofwindows. Would it reach high enough? David stepped back, and cast ananxious eye upward.

  'Might,' he said, with a doubtful shake of his head. 'Might not; anyway,I'm going to reach those windows.'

  He gathered his somewhat ample allowance of Chinese garment about hisknees so as to free his legs, and began to clamber upward; and presentlyhe had reached the summit. To stand there and balance himself on the endwas no easy matter, and as if to persuade him of that fact the basketsuddenly canted, bringing itself and our hero with a crash to theground. Instantly his hand went to his pistol, while he crouched overthe fallen basket, endeavouring to regain his breath, for the jar of thefall had driven it out of his body. But there was not a sound from thepassage; not a sound from outside his prison. Not a foot stirred; noalarm was given.

  'Shows I'm in an out-of-the-way place, for that basket made no end of aclatter. When once beat, try again. Don't give up in a hurry.'

  He propped up the basket again, but this time with greater care, andswarmed up it, finding little difficulty in that part of the task, forit was almost as easy as climbing a ladder, there being numerous gapsaffording a foothold in the wicker. Then he steadily raised himself tohis full height, and stretched his arms above his head. The window waswithin two feet of his fingers.

  'And has to be reached. Can't get much of a spring here,' he thought,'but it's worth trying. I'll chance the fall, for if I miss, there's agood chance of coming down standing.'

  With a sharp kick he leaped at the window, and actually contrived togrip the edge with the fingers of one hand. But they slid off instantly,and within a second he was back on the floor of his prison, not soshaken or jarred on this occasion, but hot and desperate, exasperated athis want of good fortune. But as we have had occasion to remark before,David was nothing if not determined. It was that very characteristic inthe lad which troubled his stepmother, and which had, no doubt, carriedhim safely and successfully through many an undertaking. He propped thebasket into place again, ascending with all speed and caution, anddrawing in a long breath, made a huge spring at the window. On thisoccasion the fingers of both hands obtained a grip of the edge, andretained it. He hung in mid-air, flattened against the wall of hisprison, listening to the basket as it slid sideways, and finally camewith a crash to the floor. Then he pulled himself up, flung one armround a pillar dividing the window, and soon had himself hoisted higher.After that it was easy enough to squeeze his body through the narrowopening, and to lie there securely while he regained his breath.

  'And what now?' he asked himself, when he was again ready for furtherexertion. 'Outside here there's nothing that's very promising. We cameup stairs. That is to say, I recollect that my bearers carried me up aflight before entering the prison. That makes the drop below me prettybig, bigger than I'm anxious to tackle. But there's nothing else.'

  It did appear as if there were no other alternative, for as he cast hiseyes downwards David could detect nothing that offered a foothold belowhim. The smooth stone wall descended sheer to the street, which ranalong under the bright moonbeams some thirty or more feet under thewindow. It was not an impossible drop. On the other hand, it was nonetoo easy, and might very well result in a sprained ankle, or somethingequally
hampering and disagreeable. Then David did the wisest thingunder the circumstances. Bearing in mind the old motto, perhaps, 'lookbefore you leap,' he cast his eyes in all directions, first in front andthen behind him, without obtaining any encouragement, and then up overhis head. Ah! He could have shouted: the roof was within a few inches ofhis hand, a roof composed of large, flat tiles, with a deep channel ateach side, and sloping so gradually that to walk upon it should be easy.He reached up a hand, gripped the edge of the roof, and hoisted himselfcautiously upon it. Then he lay down flat, and rolled himself slowlyupward. For there was something to alarm him. A man was standing out inthe moon-lit road, and was gesticulating violently.

  'Seen me I'm afraid,' thought David. 'Wants to make sure before he kicksup a ruction; but they don't have me without a little trouble. Out hereon this roof I ought to be able to put up a fight that'll make themcareful. Bother that chap! He must have been hiding in the deep shadowover yonder, and have watched me as I clambered out of the window.'

  'Misser Davie, Misser Davie.'

  The words came to him as if in a nightmare. David could not believe thathe had actually heard them. He put his fingers to his ears and rubbedthem vigorously. But he had no sooner removed them than the words cameagain, 'Misser Davie, Misser Davie.'

  'Awfully queer,' he thought, mopping his forehead with the tail end of avoluminous sleeve, 'I could have sworn that that----'

  'Misser Davie, am dat youself, Misser Davie?'

  It was undoubtedly some one calling him, and that some one was the mandown below in the street. The figure gesticulated even more violently,while the voice was raised to a higher pitch.

  'Am dat youself, Misser Davie? Dis Jong, John Jong, de China boy, what'syou sarvint.'

  It set David's heart beating like a sledge hammer. He slid at once tothe very edge of the roof and stared over.

  'Jong,' he called. 'That you? What's all this business about?'

  'Not know't all, Misser. Me asleep, den hear a noise, and hide under de_kang_. Men come into de place and look for me. Den hear dem going awaycarryin' baskets.'

  'Carrying me, Jong. I was a prisoner till a moment ago. I've just creptout of the cell in which they placed me.'

  'Where Misser Dick, den?' asked Jong, promptly.

  'Dick? Isn't he with you?'

  David asked the question anxiously, for the safety of his friend hadgiven him cause for great anxiety, even in spite of his own sadcondition. He had not seen that second basket borne along behind him,and had no idea that his chum Dick was also a prisoner. 'Where is he?'he demanded eagerly.

  'Not know; but Jong follow de fellers, and see dem carry you both indere in de baskets. Den him wait here to see what happening. Not knowwhat to do, Misser Davie. If me go back to de palace, den Tsu-Hi takeme.'

  David whistled in a low key. This was indeed a facer, though, to tellthe truth, the presence of Jong in the street below was a wonderfulfillip to both courage and spirits. But Dick; what was he to do abouthis friend?

  'Can't leave him all alone, that's certain,' he told himself without theleast hesitation. 'Supposing I go on a tour of inspection, for it seemsto me that there is no one watching or listening. Look here, Jong,' hecalled out gently, 'stay where you are and watch. I'm going to find Mr.Dick, if it's possible.'

  Promptly he crept away over the roof, his feet making not so much as asound as he went, for his native shoes were as soft as bedroom slippers.Then he came to a sudden halt. David's old characteristic asserteditself. His desire to be practical, to have a plan always where such waspossible, came to the fore, and he lay flat again cogitating, trying todecide how to proceed.

  'No use ranging round and round aimlessly,' he told himself. 'Where'sDick most likely to be kept a prisoner? That's the question. Where's hebeen put? If only I can find the cell I'll manage somehow to get athim.'

  A couple of minutes later he was sidling slowly again to the very edgeof the roof, for higher up there was no opening. The slight slope of thebig tiles led to a wall some five feet in height, rising abruptly at thehighest edge of the roof, and capped itself by a second roof of huge,artistic tiles, which overhung their support far more than was the casedown below. This second part went steeply upward to the summit, wherethe ridge was capped with a number of ludicrous and marvellously wroughtdragons. It was a dead end as it were, not only to the building in thatpart, but also to David's hopes in that direction. Obviously there wasnothing to be done there, and equally obviously the wall below him,through which he had contrived to squeeze by way of the window offeredsomething far more likely. For was it not in the bounds of possibilitythat the range of windows was continued, and, if so, why should Dick notbe held a prisoner in a cell into which one of the openings gave lightand air?

  'Hist! Jong! are you still there?'

  The figure of the Chinaman steeped out into the white road, silhouettedblackly against it, and fore-shortened from the aspect from which ourhero observed him.

  'Misser Davie, here John Jong.'

  'I may want a rope; got one?'

  'Find him easy; I go now to look. Be back and hide along here till youwant me.'

  The dark figure slid again into the dense shadow in the far edge of theroad, and though David stared and stared into it, not a movement couldhe discern, not a sound did he catch. Not a sound? Then what was that?Surely voices? Yes, without shadow of doubt. He kneeled up to listen,and then, as if he had forgotten all thought of the windows, one ofwhich, if they did indeed exist, might give access to Dick, he wentcrawling off up the slope to the erection above it. And arrived there hehastened along the wall till he came to the edge, when he slipped roundthe corner. About ten feet away there was a large gap in this other sideof the building, and a soft light was streaming from it. Voices werealso issuing into the night air. David crawled forward without amoment's hesitation, halted when close to the gap, which was, as amatter of fact, another large window, and craned his neck round theedge. Down below him, twenty feet perhaps, there were a number ofChinese, and amongst them the rascally Tartar under-officer who hadadmitted them to the city. The men were stretched lazily on a long_kang_, which did service as bed for all of them, and were discussingmatters idly. David listened for a while, then, creeping past theopening, hastened to a second of equal size, and from which also a rayof light issued. A glance into the place caused him suddenly to duck hishead and retreat a little.

  'Chang, Chang, of all people, eating his supper, and writing as he doesso. If only I dared.'

  If only he had none others to think of, save himself, David could haveshot the man where he sat, though such an act would have gone hardagainst his conscience and his ideas of what was proper and fair play.But there was Dick to be considered, and Dick was somewhere in thebuilding.

  'Mustn't wait,' he told himself, 'no good to be obtained by staring downat that fellow. Chang was the name he gave himself. I shall remember,and one of these days I shall hope to meet him under differentcircumstances. Now for those other windows.'

  He slipped back to his old position, crawled to the edge of the roof onto which he had at first climbed, and hung his head over it. Yes, therewas a long row of windows, all in darkness, any of which might giveaccess to the cell in which his comrade was a prisoner.

  'Can't remember which I came from myself,' he groaned. 'But I'll try thelot of them. First thing is to get down, then I'll make my way from oneto the other.'

  To an active lad the task was nothing out of the ordinary, and in alittle while David was seated on the edge of one at the far corner ofthe building. He peered at once into the interior, and, with the aid ofthe moon's rays, was able to make out the opposite wall and the actualdimensions of the place. It appeared to be empty, but the dark shadowdirectly beneath him might contain someone. He called Dick's namegently, repeating it till he was sure that he could not be there.

  'Even if he were asleep he'd hear that,' he told himself. 'But evenDick, the happy-go-lucky Dick, wouldn't be asleep now. This businesswould be far too upsetting for an
y man. I'll get along to the next. Ah!not there. That's the crib from which I so lately scrambled.'

  There was no doubt on the last question, for the moonbeams played on theplatter of food and the jar of water which had been brought to him, andhe realised that this was indeed the cell he had so lately vacated, forthe two objects were in precisely the same position in which he had seenthem placed. More than that, the edge of the huge basket which hadcontained his own perspiring and wriggling body was peeping out of theshadow. At once he went crawling on again, peeping into four othercells, only to find each one tenantless. Then a gentle hail from belowattracted his attention.

  'Masser Davie, I'se got a rope; what den?'

  Jong's strange figure stood outlined on the white road again, his faceas clearly seen as in broad daylight, so powerfully did the moon playupon it.

  'I found de rope along de road here, and borrowed him for a little. Youfound de oder one? You found Masser Dick?'

  There was a note of anxiety in the faithful celestial's voice, and aresponding note in that of David's. For his lack of success was makinghim feel desperate. Supposing he could not find his chum? Could he leavethe place and desert him entirely? Never.

  'I'm game to do something desperate,' he breathed. 'If I don't find himin this place I'll slip along to the palace where we were givenquarters, and tackle Tsu-Hi. The rascal must have been an accomplice inthis attack, and with him under my pistol I could do a great deal, avery great deal I imagine.'

  He sat still for a little while, running the plan over in his head. Anddesperate as it undoubtedly was, he decided then and there that if hefailed in his quest for Dick he would carry the idea out. It should beneck or nothing. It should be Tsu-Hi's life or Dick's. Then anotherinspiration floated across his mind.

  'Chang, why not?' he asked himself. 'If he has the power to manage athing like this, he will have further power. With a pistol to his headhe would undo what he has already managed to bring about. But itwouldn't be quite as good as the deputy-governor. What's that, Jong?'

  'You sit still dere while I throw up de rope. Now, catch him.'

  A coil left the Chinaman's hand, and thrown with dexterity whizzed justin front of David. He caught it with ease, and at once slipped it abouthis shoulders.

  'Remain there,' he said. 'I'm going on looking for Mr. Dick.'

  'Den you take heap of care. Dere's a light a little farder along dewall.'

  Jong's arms slid out and his finger pointed.

  Craning his neck and stretching out from the wall as far as possibleDavid thought he could detect a beam of light coming from a window alittle farther along. But he was not sure, for the moon was so strongand clear that it stifled every other ray of light, just as the sun'srays quench a fire. However, Jong could see, and guided by him hescrambled to the roof again, crawled along it, and then leaned over.

  'A light sure enough. Better investigate--here goes.'

  He was over the edge in a twinkling, and since greater caution wasneedful here, he dropped the toes of his padded shoes very gently on theframing of the window. Then getting a grip of the upper edge he stoopedand peeped into the interior. A paper lantern hung from the ceiling andshowed him a bare room, with the same stone walls. But in the farcorner there was a narrow _kang_ on which a man was seated. He raisedhis head as David looked in, appearing to have heard a sound. And thebrief glimpse our hero obtained told him that this was the Tartarunder-officer, the officious individual with whom he had already come incontact.

  'Evidently got tired of the others and come to bed. Hallo! here comesanother of them.'

  Right opposite him was the doorway, the door being half open, andthrough this stepped the same man who had brought the jar of water andthe platter of food. A bunch of keys jangled at his girdle, while theman yawned widely.

  'Prisoners safe,' he said. 'I shall now go to my rest.'

  'One moment. You have fed them? Our friend who came to the city to warnus gave strict orders to that effect.'

  The gaoler nodded sleepily. 'They are fed,' he answered surlily. 'Theone nearly an hour ago, the second who is placed next to you this veryminute. Now I go to take food and drink to the principal apartment. Thestranger of whom you speak, and who indeed seems to be of the greatestimportance, tells me that his Excellency comes to talk with him.'

  'S-s-she! not a word more. Forget that, friend,' said the Tartar,eagerly, his voice hardly raised above a whisper. 'Remember that hishighness Tsu-Hi is ignorant as yet of these matters. He goes the roundson the walls. When he returns to the palace and discovers that hisguests are gone he will raise an uproar. He will make good his face forthe enquiries which must certainly follow. Mention not the name of thedeputy-governor in this affair if you wish to live longer. There, go; Itoo am sleepy. But wait. You said his Excellency--er--this guest comesnow to speak with our friend?'

  'He comes now; he is expected any moment.'

  'Then I will have a word with him. He must know that I too have had ashare in this business. Perhaps it will fall out that I shall regain thepost which I lost but lately. Ah! foreign devils were the cause of myundoing. Willingly will I slay all with whom I come in contact.'

  'The ruffian! That's the sort of fellow I've got to deal with, is it?'muttered David, who had listened eagerly, and, thanks to his ownquickness and keenness to learn the language, had managed to pick up thegist of the conversation. 'So Chang and the deputy-governor are hand inglove in this affair, and the deputy seeks to throw dust in the eyes ofthe authorities, in other words to make his face good, as is the sayingin this queer country. Why! If this isn't my opportunity! Supposing Ifind Dick and hoist him out, we are still in a walled city. We've stillto get clear away, and very little chance of doing that as matters are.If this isn't the very thing I've been wanting.'

  He shrank back as the gaoler left the room, lurching sleepily, andwatched the Tartar as he too stepped towards the door. A moment laterthe man was gone, leaving the room empty.

  'My turn now. Here goes to clear up the whole business.'

  With reckless courage, and yet without neglecting his usual caution,David first peered into every corner of the room. Then he rapidly madefast his rope to the centre pillar of the window, waved to Jong in thedeep shadow beyond, and at once slipped inside the building. A secondlater he was sliding down to the floor of the place in which the Tartarhad been sitting.