Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER XV

  Dick and David Turn the Tables

  'Dick, it's time we were moving. Come along out of this hole, and giveme a hand to get us out of the city.'

  David had thrown back the bolts of the cell next to the one into whichhe had so boldly descended, and stood in the doorway holding a hugepaper lantern before him. He had taken it but a minute before from theroof of the passage, the operation being easy for the simple reason thatthere was a pulley and tackle, whereby the man who saw to thereplenishing of the lanterns could gain access to them. Now he wasstaring into the cell, his eyes fixed on the figure of his old comrade.

  'Come along, lad,' he called again softly, seeing that Dick did not movefrom his position on the basket, where he sat somewhat disconsolately.'Time we were moving.'

  It made him laugh to see the prisoner rise slowly to his feet and rubhis eyes as if he could not believe what they were telling him. Then hehad occasion to speak sharply. For it appeared that Dick had fallenasleep while seated, and imagining that he had heard David's voice in adream, and not when possessed of all his senses, he took it for grantedthat the figure at the door was actually that of the Tartar. He dashedforward swiftly, evidently with the intention of attacking.

  'Stop!' cried David sharply. 'Don't be a fool. Shake yourself, and thenyou'll see who I really am. Quick! We've no time to waste. We've heapsof work before us.'

  'Well, I never! You take my breath away. What next will you appear as?'gasped Dick, recovering his senses, and stepping forward to wringDavid's hand. 'What next? A Tartar under-officer now, and I suppose youhad to steal to get the clothing. To-morrow you'll be stalking about asthe deputy-governor.'

  'No, I shall not; but you will.'

  'I! Disguised as the deputy-governor! Look here, David, are you silly,or have I gone clean staring mad? I as Tsu-Hi, indeed! The rascal'ssafely tucked in bed at this moment.'

  'He is; agreed,' admitted David curtly, a grin on his lips.

  'As safe as houses in his gilded palace,' said Dick bitterly.

  'Wrong! He's not in his gilded palace. He's tucked safely in bed alongwith that pompous Tartar under-officer. He's tied up as if he were adangerous hyena.'

  Dick scratched his head energetically, and rubbed his eyes again. He wasseriously anxious about his old friend, who had so suddenly come tovisit him. The stubborn look on his face, his evident determination,and the curtness of his answer roused an awful suspicion in his mind.Was David mad, driven out of his mind by this sudden trouble? Then heshook his head.

  'It's I who am a fool,' he whispered. 'Here he is in Tartar uniform.That shows he's been moving. But this business of Tsu-Hi beats mealtogether; it knocks the stuffing entirely out of yours truly.'

  'It'll knock the stuffing out of someone else I know of.'

  David blurted out the words gruffly, while a frown crossed his forehead.

  'Sit down for a moment,' he said shortly. 'I'll tell you what's beenpassing. Don't ask a heap of questions. We're still in a beastly hole,and unless everything is in readiness we shall be too late to slip outof the city. Sit down; for goodness sake don't interrupt.'

  He sate himself down beside his friend, and told him as swiftly aspossible of Chang's visit, of his own escape, and of what had followed.

  'And now you're going to be Tsu-Hi,' he said abruptly. 'No use in mychanging these clothes. You can do the work as well as I can. Let's getalong into the other room, and then you can strip off your things anddress in Tsu-Hi's gorgeous raiment.'

  'And then?' asked Dick, beginning to grin and bubble over, for theadventure amused him vastly. 'And then, my noble sir, what do I do? Goto the palace and command the foreign devils to be brought before me.Sign their death warrants, and see them executed. Oh, Lor'! I see itall. Here's a splendid ending. We put this Tartar beggar into yourclothes, and Tsu-Hi into mine, and let Chang behead 'em as if they wereactually foreign devils.'

  He would have roared with laughing, had not David stopped him angrily.

  'Utter rot you do talk, Dick,' he said severely, though he was bound tosmile at the reckless jollity of his comrade. 'You become thedeputy-governor, and in due course you will go to the palace, and I withyou. For the moment, you've got to dress. Come along--no more jawing.'

  They crept along the passage to the cell in which Tsu-Hi and the Tartarlay together, where Dick quickly arrayed himself in the finery of thefallen governor.

  'How do I look, old chap?' he asked, posing beneath the lantern, andbefore the eyes of the man he was representing. 'A bit of a sport, Ithink. What? Ain't I handsome?'

  'You're an idiot!' declared David crossly, though he was bound to laugh.'Tsu-Hi looks as if beheading wouldn't be enough for you. But let's getto business. Tie your own clothing into a bundle. Now, let me have it.'

  Gripping the rope which dangled from the window-frame, and holding thebundle between his teeth, David swarmed up till he was able to get agrip of the edge above. He straddled it at once, and then whistledsoftly. At once Jong's figure shot from the shadow. The Chinaman creptinto the centre of the road.

  'Catch!' called David, tossing the bundle; 'and pick up the one I threwbefore. 'Listen to this, Jong. Mr. Dick and I have captured Tsu-Hi.We'll be coming out in a moment, when we shall go direct to the palace.Once there, you'll have to bring out the ponies without delay, and getour goods packed on them. I shall want a cart also.'

  He waved to the man, and slid into the room again, slipping down therope as if he were a sailor.

  'Where'd it come from?' asked Dick, nodding to the dangling cord. 'Whofixed it?'

  'I did. Jong is outside; he threw it up to me.'

  'Then you could have slipped down then and there, and got clear away?Ain't that it?'

  'I suppose so,' admitted David grudgingly.

  'My uncle! Then why didn't you?'

  Dick turned sharply upon him, his face serious, a flush on his cheeks.

  'Why didn't you?' he demanded fiercely.

  'Because--oh, look here,' said David lamely, 'we're wasting time. What'sthe good of jawing?'

  'Why didn't you?' demanded Dick again, his manner resolute, ignoring hiscomrade's efforts to change the conversation; then, finding that Daviddid not answer, he clapped a hand on his shoulder.

  'All right,' he said, with a curtness which matched that of the lad whohad released him. 'I know well enough. It's one up for you, anyway.Could have escaped, but wouldn't, simply because there was a wretchedbeggar owning to the name of Dick still left in the building. Right, myboy, I'm not going to forget it. Now, what orders?'

  'Glad you've returned to business,' exclaimed David. 'What orders?'

  'Yes. You give 'em. This is your own little affair. What are they? Callup the garrison, march to Chang's quarters, and then set fire to thecity? Eh? What are they?'

  The merry fellow was bubbling over again at the thought of his ownimpertinence. He smacked his thigh loudly, as he considered what areversal of fortune the night had shown to the various parties. It madehim giggle hugely to see Tsu-Hi, trussed indeed, glaring from over thetop of the greasy bandage with which David had had the temerity tosecure the gag that silenced him. In fact, Dick was ready for any pieceof mischief that David cared to invent, and, if he were backward, thisyoung fellow was ready himself to supply the want, and urge a plan whichfor recklessness would easily have matched that of his comrade. But thenhe was a merry, light-hearted youngster. He wanted the depth andstability that David enjoyed. The latter put a stop to his chatter witha sudden movement.

  'Don't imagine we're out of the wood yet,' he said. 'I've got my plans,but whether we can carry them out is another matter. First and foremost,we have to collar Chang. I've seen him already in a room on a higherlevel than this, located on the other side of the building. You're game,I suppose?'

  Dick led the way to the door, his eyes flashing. 'Game for anything,' hecried. 'But I'll be silent and cautious. You can trust me.'

  'Then come along; bring the lantern with you. If we meet any one don'tutter
a word. Pass them in silence. Recollect that you aredeputy-governor, the chief official of the city, to whom all will giveobedience. And one thing more. This Chang is expecting a call from you.When we reach the room pass in boldly. I shall make a jump at him.'

  Picking up the lantern Dick fell in beside David, and the two passedinto the passage, having first, however, inspected their prisoners. TheTartar under-officer was breathing stertorously, and was still evidentlyunconscious. As for Tsu-Hi, he was as helpless as a baby. All he coulddo was to glare at the foreign devils; for his eyes were the only partsthat the unfortunate governor could completely control. They pulled thedoor shut after them, and shot the bolts. Then they hastened past thecell in which Dick had been imprisoned, closing the door as they did so,and proceeded up the flight of stone steps which led from the far end ofthe passage. Nor had they much difficulty in calculating where Chang wasin residence. For David had a fair bump of locality, and his meanderingson the roof of the prison had given him invaluable information. He cameto a halt opposite a narrow door, and motioned to Dick to move alongfarther. Then he slid to the floor, and applied his eye to the crevicewhich existed beneath the woodwork. A moment later he was on his feet,his face beaming.

  'There's a light in there,' he whispered, 'and I'm sure I saw his legs.Half a minute while I make another inspection.'

  This second time he was sure that he could see the feet of someindividual, though whether it were Chang or some one else there was nosaying. It was a man. That was sufficient.

  'I'll give a knock,' he whispered. 'When he calls I'll push the dooropen and announce Tsu-Hi. Enter at once without hesitation. But first,pull that cap well down over your eyes. That'll do. Walk straight acrossthe room. He's nearly certain to follow. Then I'll jump on his back. Gotit?'

  Dick grinned. He had got the plan securely. The effort he was about tomake was just the one to delight him. It appealed to his merry mind, forthe idea was so bold that there was huge excitement in the attempt tocarry it out. How he longed to bring about the discomfiture of thisrascal, for David had told him enough to allow him to gather what hadhappened, though it was hard to believe that the man who had married hisfriend's stepmother could from England, so far away, control the actionof an accomplice in China. Chang was an out and out ruffian, he toldhimself, but nothing in comparison with Ebenezer Clayhill.

  'Righto!' he smiled. 'I'm ready. You bet, I'll be his haughtinesshimself.'

  'Enter,' came a sharp summons from inside, as David knocked. 'Enter, andwelcome.'

  'I don't think,' muttered Dick, with a grin. 'Open it, David, my boy.'

  It would have done the Professor's jovial heart a world of good could hehave seen how the young fellow carried himself. It seemed that Dick wasa born actor. He waited tranquilly for David to push the door open, andthen, with hands tucked well within his sleeves, and his magazine pistolsecured within one of them, he advanced pompously and slowly, casting asingle glance at the individual who had summoned him to enter. It wasChang without a doubt. He had risen from the table pen in hand--for hehad been writing--and stood aside to allow free passage to hisExcellency, kow-towing deeply.

  'His Excellency, Tsu-Hi,' announced David, mimicking as well as he wasable the voice of the Tartar he represented.

  'Enter, and welcome to His Highness.'

  Chang kow-towed even more deeply, turning as Dick passed him. A secondlater he was sprawling on the floor, for David had leaped upon him,gripping him by the neck with both hands and capsizing him completely.As for Dick, he turned instantly, raced to the door and closed it, andthen very coolly presented his weapon at the head of the individual towhom he had made a visit.

  'Just one word,' he whispered, in execrable Chinese, 'and there won't bea Chang left to worry us. Just one little word, my friend.'

  'Get up!' commanded David, for Chang had become of a sudden but a limpheap of terrified humanity. 'Don't worry him with your Chinese, dearboy. He understands and speaks English as well almost as we do. Butlisten to this, you rascal. If you stir an inch or make a sound you'llbe shot without mercy. Now, stand there. No humbug, mind you.'

  Leaving Dick still with his weapon at Chang's head David went to thedoor and completely closed it, having first of all peeped out into thepassage. Then he returned, and sat himself down in the seat which therascal had but lately vacated. There was an ornamental ink-pot withinreach, while the pen which Chang had been using lay on the floor wherehe had dropped it. And just in front of David was a sheet of Chinesepaper, on which the rascal had been writing. It is not the sort of thingthat a decent Englishman does to read correspondence meant for otherpeople. But here there was more than sufficient excuse. Chang might havebeen putting down some orders respecting his prisoners. David picked upthe paper and held it closer. Then he started violently; for theChinaman was using English, and the letter was addressed to EbenezerClayhill.

  'SIR--This is to inform you that David Harbor, he of whom you spoke to me, has come by a misfortune at Hatsu, a walled city in northern China. He was accused with another of bringing plague to the people, and though the Governor attempted to protect him, the mob seized him during his Excellency's absence. He was beheaded this morning. Such news entitles your servant to the payment of one thousand pounds. Be so good as to mail it to the firm of Kung Kow, at Shanghai. Within I send you an official notice of the death vouched for by the British Consul.

  CHANG.'

  David gasped. The words made him tingle all over. He glared at theprisoner as if he could eat him. And then he laughed. He rocked to andfro on the low Chinese stool, stifling his merriment as well as he wasable.

  'Of all the bits of cheek that I ever met, this really beatseverything,' he declared. 'Here, read it, Dick; I'll put my pistol tothis rascal's head willingly.'

  He rose from his seat, and with the practice he had already had with theGovernor of Hatsu, contrived to apply his revolver in a manner whichmade the trembling Chang squirm. Indeed, utter ruffian as Chang hadproved himself to be, not alone by his recent interview with our hero,but by reason of the words which he had written, it was not surprisingthat such an one should turn out to be a coward of the worstdescription. Cruelty and courage do not often go together. The man wholoves to browbeat others, and thrust his fellows into unpleasant places,likes least of all retaliation. Chang squirmed beneath the touch of thecold muzzle. He whined for mercy, and then sank in a dead faint on thefloor. Meanwhile Dick had slowly read the letter, and from what hisfriend had already told him was quick to gather its meaning. One mighthave expected the merry fellow to roar as David had done, to see thefunny point in this amazing writing; but there were some things whichDick resented, and this cold-blooded announcement of David's death,before that ceremony had taken place, rendered him furious.

  'Of all the cold-blooded diabolical plots I ever heard or read of thisis the worst,' he said. 'David, you will pocket that letter.'

  'Why?'

  'So as to prove the guilt of this Ebenezer Clayhill.'

  'No, thank you,' declared our hero, slowly, 'There's been enoughstirring of mud in our family. I don't want the world to know that I'vesuch a connection.'

  'Perhaps not. There's no need; the possession of this will make thatruffian retire from the position he has taken up with regard to you. Hewill no longer contend that his wife comes in for Edward Harbor'spossessions. Anyway, I'll pocket the letter. We can discuss the matterlater on. Now? What next. We kill this fellow.'

  He was as cool as possible as he made the request. There was an angryiciness about Dick to which David was entirely a stranger. But herealised some of the thoughts passing through his friend's mind, andappreciated his attitude.

  'Kill him,' he answered. 'Certainly not. For the moment it is necessarythat he and I should change places.'

  'What! More disguises? Why?'

  'Because Chang, the friend of Tsu-Hi, your own noble self, is a far moreimportant being than is the humble individual I at present represent.Let's take him
along to the place where we've left our prisoners. I'lldo the changing there. By the way, bring some paper and that pot of ink.Now, blow the light out. I'll see to this ruffian.'

  'He went out of the door, dragging the senseless body of Chang afterhim, and with Dick to help him soon arrived at the cell where Tsu-Hi layglaring. Then David clambered to the window, and looking out, called toJong. The faithful fellow popped out of the shadow instantly.

  'Come over to the door. I want to speak to you,' called David, andpromptly slid back into the prison. 'Now,' he said, when at last Jongwas before him, just within the passage. 'We've captured a man calledChang, who was the cause of this attack, and also Tsu-Hi, thedeputy-governor. Our aim and object is to get securely outside the city.Are you afraid to return to the palace with an order written by thegovernor himself? It needs courage, but the scheme should not fail. Thisis what his Excellency will write:--

  "Hand over to the bearer of this letter the six ponies and thepossessions of the foreign devils. Send also a cart with a strong animalbetween the shafts, and three men to help with the loading. Despatch aman to the northern gate of the city, and warn the guard that hisExcellency comes with two in his service. There must be no challenge. Hemust be passed through in silence, for he bears important prisoners."Now, Jong, are you afraid?'

  The Chinaman giggled. Perhaps he had caught some of David's ownenthusiasm, or some of Dick's reckless jollity.

  'Likee dat,' he said. 'Me go sure. Not know Jong 't 'all at de palace.Wait here for the letter?'

  'Yes. Then go quickly. Make no noise when you return, but wait outsidetill I fetch you. Then do as I order. I will be with you in a fewminutes.'

  The lad's busy brain had been exceedingly active, while he had mappedout a course of action likely enough to stagger the placid folks ofHatsu city, and one, moreover, which would probably defeat thedeputy-governor and the rascal who had aided and, indeed, instigated theattack made upon our hero and his comrades. David slipped back to joinDick, only to find Chang still semi-conscious. As for the others, theTartar snored stertorously, not having yet shaken off the effects of theblow he had received, while the deputy-governor, wriggling in his bonds,looked the quintessence of rascality.

  'Prop him up,' commanded David. 'Now show him your pistol.'

  Dick did it with a vengeance. He demonstrated his power to the exceedingdiscomfort of Tsu-Hi, not to mention the damaging of his dignity.

  'Now loose his hands, and put the pen and ink and paper before him.That's right; I'm going to stir Chang into sensibility.'

  There was a jar of water in the cell, and David liberally sprinkled thecountenance of Chang with it. In a little while he had the fellow seatedon the edge of the kang.

  'Listen to this,' he commanded sternly; 'you will tell the Governor whatto write, and will see that he puts down what I dictate. If there is amistake, if there is a secret warning in his letter, then----'

  Dick jerked his head on one side in an expressive manner. 'You've prettywell guessed what'll happen,' he laughed drily. 'Just you don't befoxy.'

  Nor did Chang attempt such boldness. The man was in the depths ofterror, and thinking perhaps to lighten his own punishment, eagerlydictated David's words to the Governor. As for the latter, the revolvertickling the nape of his neck was such strong persuasion that he wrotewith a swiftness there was no gainsaying.

  'Tie him up again,' commanded our hero, when the note was finished.'Now, Dick, shoot this beggar if he dares to move while I'm absent. I ammerely going to the door. Let him get ready to make an exchange ofclothing.'

  He went at once into the passage, and handed the note to Jong, whoscanned it eagerly. 'Me lead samee as you, misser Davie,' he said. 'Disallee lightee. No one tink dat dat not come from Tsu-Hi. Ebely one leadyto obey.'

  He went off at a run down the moon-lit street, careless if he wereobserved, now that he had that important letter. David watched himdepart, and then strolled back to the cell. He began to feel that theworst part of their troubles were over, as if safety lay before them.The lines left his forehead as he thought of the success which hadalready attended their efforts, while he smiled a meaning smile as hebegan to pull off his clothing.

  'Strip yours,' he commanded Chang. 'Quick with it.'

  'And am I to dress in those of the Tartar, Excellency?' asked thewretch.

  'Just as you like. In any case I'm going to provide you with anothercovering. I don't fancy there'll be any chance of your getting cold.'

  'But, Excellency----' whined the man.

  'You be slippy and don't waste time talking,' cried Dick, beginning tofathom his chum's meaning. 'Going to provide him with another covering,eh?' he grinned. 'You don't mean that you're----'

  'Here, help me with these boots. I thought I should never be able to getinto them. Now I'm a bit doubtful that I'll be successful in pullingthem off. Ah, thanks. Chang, your shoes are far more comfortable. Don'tyou trouble to put these boots on. You won't want 'em. You ain't goingto walk.'

  'Because, you see,' added Dick, enjoying the discomfiture of the rascalimmensely, 'you'll be carried--carried, Chang. Got it?'

  It was evident that the wretch had, for he shivered and whined as he saton the edge of the _kang_. But David took no more notice of him for themoment. He coolly dressed himself in the clothes this secret enemy hadbeen wearing, and then walked out of the cell. A quarter of an hourlater, when Jong arrived on the scene, and the scrunch of wheels washeard outside on the road, two men stood ready to accompany the party.

  'Carry out the baskets,' whispered one, who seemed to be none other thanthe man who had come to warn the inhabitants of Hatsu of the foreigndevils. 'You will give all orders till we are out of the city.'

  It took but five minutes to load those two heavy baskets on the cart,and then the party set forward, Chang, and to all who peeped at him, thenoble deputy-governor following closely. David, as he stepped along thewhite, moon-lit road in the garments lately worn by Chang, could hardlybelieve that the fortunes of his little party had been so utterlychanged. It was hard to credit the fact that the pompous individualbeside him, at whose nod men cringed, was indeed, and in fact none otherthan, his chum Dick, while it brought a broad smile to a face, which hestruggled hard to keep impassive, when he thought of the contents of thebaskets. Could it actually be that those long, creaking shapes hid intheir depths the mighty Tsu-Hi, deputy-governor of the walled city ofHatsu, and Chang, conspirator, villain, the hired ruffian of EbenezerClayhill?

  But the gates of the city were yet before them. A challenge there, ashriek from the burdens the cart carried, the smallest untoward eventwould change their fortunes, and might yet land himself and Dick back inthe prison, there to await the execution which had been promised.