CHAPTER XVII
THE DASH FROM THE YAMEN
Chin Tai returned in about twenty minutes.
"Captain he say hon'ble genelum come this time; he velly glad look-see."
"Good luck," said Errington as Burroughs got up. "If there's any hitch,don't mind about me."
Burroughs mumbled something and went out with his servant. The chairwas awaiting him at the outer gate. Ordering two of the guards there toaccompany him for appearance' sake, he had himself carried to thecaptain's quarters hard by. On the way he noticed, without anyappearance of concern, a large number of wild-looking warriorsassembling to form, as he guessed, a guard of honour for the chief onhis return. Many of the men scowled at him as he passed. They did notdistinguish one "foreign devil" from another. To many of the lowerorders of Chinamen, all foreigners are poison.
Chung Pi had evidently been indulging freely in the pleasures of thetable. He was breathing rather hard; melon seeds are very "filling";and the number of thimblefuls of hot sam-shu, a fiery drink made ofmillet, which he had consumed had reddened his face and put him on verygood terms with himself.
"Honourable stranger," he said, when Burroughs entered, "your honourableface is like the sun at noon-day. You have fed well?"
"Excellently, noble captain."
"You cracked many melon seeds?"
"Not a great number."
"Then you will never be fat. Will you take a little sam-shu?"
"Thank you, not now. Better reserve that until your august chiefreturns. There has been no further message from him?"
"No; but I have made preparations for greeting him. The bannermen andgong-beaters will go down to the river in due time, and we shall issueforth to greet the illustrious Su Fing with bands of music."
"Would it not be fitting, noble captain, a deed worthy of your highrenown, to meet your chief on the marvellous vessel of whose speed youhave already made trial? Su Fing returns victorious; he would feelhimself duly honoured if his trusty lieutenant met him while still agreat way from the town, offering for his acceptance this matchless giftfrom a great nation."
"You speak well, illustrious stranger. The gift is indeed a noble one.But I fear that I cannot dispense with my afternoon nap. Sleep aftermeat is a gift of the gods."
"I would not deprive you of it for worlds. I must go down to the boat,to see that all is in order for the journey we propose to make. I willdo that while you sleep."
"Not so. The boat pleases me, and drowsy though I am, I am disposed toaccompany you. Perhaps Su Fing may give the vessel into my charge; itwill be well, then, that I understand something of its qualities. Ishall thereby be superior to any other officer of my chief's, and theway of promotion will be open to me."
"By all means, noble captain."
"Yes. To be well fed is vain without true understanding. But tell me,what of the Englishmen? It was told me that one of them was so daringand wicked as to fire a shot at the other. The guards ought to havesearched him; I have given orders that when the rejoicings are over theyshall be soundly beaten with the leather."
"The man who attempted the crime is bound hand and foot. He can do nomore mischief."
"It is well. I am fortunate in having another Englishman for Su Fing.He hates all Englishmen, because they do not approve of his warlikedeeds. Furthermore, he was wounded by an Englishman, and taken captive,and he suffered stripes and the cage. His heart will laugh when heknows that another of the hated race lies bound in his yamen. Now letus go."
He summoned his chairmen and armed escort, and was carried along withBurroughs down to the landing-stage, and on to the vessel. There hewatched curiously as the Englishman overhauled the engine, and filledhis petrol tank. When this was done, Burroughs took from the end of hiswatch-chain an Indian charm which had been given him by his mother, andmade a few meaningless passes with it over the throttle.
"Why do you do that?" Chung Pi asked.
"To ward off evil spirits," replied Burroughs. "We must have a luckyvoyage."
"You do well. I myself, as you perceive, have a thread of red silkbraided in my queue for the same purpose; and I wear a charm attached toa red string within my shirt. So we shall be doubly secure."
Burroughs, having satisfied himself that everything was in workingorder, was at leisure to answer the innumerable questions about thehydroplane with which the Chinaman plied him. They were such futilequestions as a simple ignorant peasant might put. Burroughs felt thathe was answering a fool according to his folly, and again hadcompunctions about making this guileless ignoramus his accomplice. Itwas clear that Chung Pi's vanity was flattered by the idea of showing anew importance before the populace. The machine had become an obsessionwith him, and as he grew more and more wonder-struck at what Burroughstold him, the approaching arrival of his chief became of less interestto him than the prospect of making an impression on the home-comingwarriors.
Time slipped away. Burroughs felt restless and impatient. Chung Pi hadtold him that the approach of the chief's launch would be signalled by aman stationed on the roof of the yamen, which rose high above thesurrounding country, and from which another signal station could be seenmany miles distant. Burroughs dared not start until the signal wasgiven; yet he felt that time was being wasted.
At last, turning to Chung Pi, he said that he had one great surprise instore for him. He had in fact two, but the second was to be revealed atthe proper time.
"You have seen, noble captain," he said, "with what marvellous speedthis vessel skims the water, but you have yet to see that it can alsofly--even as a duck, which swims ordinarily on the surface, can at needraise itself upon its wings and take the air. But a duck cannot fly sowell as this vessel."
"What end is there to the marvels you tell me!" exclaimed the captain."In truth I have heard of a flying boat, belonging to an Englishman atSui-Fu; but I mocked at the tale, for men are liars."
"It is true. This boat is even as that of the Englishman; it fliesquite as well."
"But how can a boat fly without wings?"
"I will show you."
Burroughs unfolded and spread out the canvas planes at the sides of theboat.
"Wonderful!" said the Chinaman. "It is very like a butterfly."
"How fine a thing it would be to fly to meet Su Fing, noble captain!That would indeed show at once the matchless qualities of this vessel,and the courage of the illustrious officer who so well fills the placeof the chief here."
Chung Pi's simple face expressed the longing and the terror which achild shows when he is invited for the first time to taste some newexperience--the first ride on an elephant, or on a hobby-horse at thevillage fair.
"If you would show me first," he said.
He stepped on to the landing-stage, and stood fascinated as the vessel,skimming the surface until it attained its lifting speed, rose into theair, circled, and returning, alighted gently at the very spot whence ithad started. Beyond measure delighted, Chung Pi hesitated no longer.Making sure that the red string sustaining his charm was securely abouthis neck, he entered the boat, and uttered childish exclamations ofwonderment and pleasure as the vessel once more performed the sameflight. On landing, he bore himself with a vainglorious swagger beforethe crowd of excited onlookers. He insisted on taking Burroughs back tohis own house for a few melon seeds and cups of tea, and talkedincessantly of the sensation he would make when he flew to meet Su Fing.
While they were at tea, with Chin Tai in attendance as interpreter, LoSan, enjoying a certain prestige as the servant of the kind German whohad brought so precious a gift, was entertained by the captain's escort.They were exchanging notes with him when the long-expected message wassignalled: the watchman on the roof of the yamen had seen a signal on ahill two miles away; the signaller there had received the message fromanother, and he from another. Su Fing was little more than an hour'sjourney distant. At once there was a ringing of bells and beating ofgong
s. Chung Pi, trembling with eagerness, came forth with Burroughs; aprocession was formed, and with an armed escort before and behind thechairmen carried their burdens down to the river.
At the landing-stage Lo San approached Burroughs, and said in anundertone--
"Su Fing he no lick all-same. Fellas he say Su Fing hab catchee numpaone beatin' Cheng Tu side. He belongey velly bad temper."
Rumour, flying swiftly through the country, had brought news that thechief, so far from being victorious, had been driven headlong from ChengTu by regular forces summoned from Tibet, and was now falling back onMeichow to recoup his losses. There was no doubt that Chung Pi hadheard the news; but Burroughs guessed that it was as much as his placewas worth to greet his master otherwise than as a conqueror.
This information, strange as it may appear, rendered Burroughs the moreanxious to set off on his trip up-river. Chung Pi was equally eager,for a different reason. They entered the boat, followed by Chin Tai andLo San. The ropes were cast off; Burroughs started the engine, and amidloud shouts from the assembled soldiery drawn up on the shore and aboutthe landing-stage in anticipation of the chief's arrival, and from therag-tag populace swarming on every patch of open space, the vessel ran afew yards up the river, planed as it gathered speed, and finally soaredsmoothly into the air.
Burroughs flew low, so that the trees that edged the river might preventthe spectators at the harbour from following too closely the directionof his flight. Chung Pi was as happy as a lark. He sat, beaming abland smile, in the seat which Errington had so often occupied. Whatvisions of greatness shone before his soaring soul! He wished that thehonourable stranger would rise higher, so that he might descend upon hischief like a celestial benediction. But the honourable stranger's moodseemed to have changed since he left the town. There, he was affable,condescending, communicative; he had a pleasant smile; now he wassilent, his lips were pressed together, his moustache appeared stern andforbidding. Chung Pi reflected that he naturally felt hisresponsibility.
For some two miles Burroughs headed straight up the river. Then, wellclear of the town, he suddenly altered his course, leaving the river,flying inland, rising as he did so, in order to clear the tree-tops andto get a complete view of the city. The flying boat was describing acircle; presently it was heading on a straight course for Su Fing'syamen, that stood, bright and picturesque, a conspicuous object on itselevated site.
"But what is this?" said Chung Pi anxiously. "We are going back!"
Burroughs did not turn his head or open his lips. But Chin Tai,squatting a little in the rear of the captain, remembered theinstructions which his master had impressed upon him in that quiet talkby the window of the prisoner's room.
"Be not alarmed, noble captain," he said with obsequious reverence. "Myaugust master has forgotten the little charm which he carries to keepoff the evil spirits of the air. It would be terrible to start on soimportant a journey without this necessary talisman."
"But we have already started," Chung Pi objected. "And have I not thered silk in my queue, and my own charm about my neck? Will they notsuffice, O foolish one?"
"Heaven-born excellency," replied Chin Tai in still more submissivetones, "you perceive that we have started to return to the yamen. Weshall begin our real journey from there."
"But your illustrious master has the charm. He showed it me long ago."
For a moment Chin Tai was staggered; but ready wit coming to his aid, hesaid--
"This is another charm, noble captain--a better one. My august mastermust have left it in the yamen. Even the great are at times foolish."
"That is true," said Chung Pi, thinking of Su Fing. "Your illustriousmaster does well to be quite safe, but we waste much time."
"Very little, illustrious captain. Are we not flying swift as any bird?Your excellency will be amazed to see how fast we can go, before ourflight is finished."
Chung Pi was pacified. Indeed, he began to revel in his sensations.How smoothly the vessel flew! How delightful was the scene below--thetree-tops never beheld yet except by the birds of the air, the rollingriver, the woods and vales beyond; the city, so rapidly approaching, inits new aspect no longer a labyrinth of mean streets, but a picturesquepattern of masonry! Su Fing, with all his examinations, had neverlearnt these secrets of the air; Chung Pi began to wonder whether soignorant a man was fitted to be chief.
Burroughs steered straight for the yamen. It was a severe test of hisairmanship to alight on the narrow piece of ornamental water that gracedthe gardens, and to avoid the bridge that zigzagged across it from shoreto shore. He shaved it almost by a hair-breadth, and came safely downupon the lake's unruffled surface. Then he ran the vessel to the endnearest the yamen, and brought it up against the stone parapet of aterrace on which Su Fing was wont to walk of an evening, watching thegraceful movements of his swans, and meditating his projects againsttyranny.
And now Burroughs found his tongue. Speaking with a curt brevity thatsomewhat offended the captain's sense of what was due to his new-borndignity, he ordered--for it was more an order than a request--Chung Pito remain in the boat with Lo San; he himself with his servant wouldproceed to the yamen and fetch the charm. Lo San was nervous. He hadmade up his mind to throttle the captain if any harm befell "MassaBullows," or if he attempted in any way to interfere. But looking atthe big man, his muscular limbs, his sword and dagger, he felt that thetask might prove to be beyond his powers.
"Massa Bullows" had ordered him to turn the vessel round, so that itshead pointed towards the river, and to be ready to throw the engine intofirst speed as soon as he gave the word on his return. Having broughtthe boat again alongside the parapet, he sat waiting, with his eyesfixed on Chung Pi's half-sullen face.
Burroughs, meanwhile, had hurried with Chin Tai through the garden,crossed the rising terraces, and come round to the entrance of theyamen. The guards stood aside to let him pass. Without any appearanceof haste he entered, and reached the door of the room in which Erringtonand Reinhardt were still confined. The sentinels were clustered about awindow at one end of the passage, gazing with curiosity at the boat inwhich their captain sat. Chin Tai hailed them, and pointing to ChungPi, ordered the men to enter the room, release the bound prisoner, andmarch him down to the vessel. Burroughs watched them nervously, askinghimself whether his scheme would succeed. It was at this point that itthreatened to break down. He had calculated that all four men wouldflock into the room together, but only three did so, the fourthremaining outside.
"Watch this man," said Burroughs to Chin Tai, following the three meninto the room.
They were stooping over the German, fumbling with the knots which theyhad themselves tied, when Errington, who had moved unconcernedly towardsthe door, suddenly darted out. At the same moment Burroughs steppedback into the passage, pulled the door after him, and shot the bolt; andChin Tai sprang at the bewildered sentinel, caught him by the throat,and held on until he was half strangled. Then Burroughs drew from hispocket some cords and a piece of canvas he had brought from the boat,and with Errington's assistance gagged and bound the man.
Before this was done, the sentinels bolted in the room had begun toyell, hammering on the door with the butts of their spears. The soundsattracted two or three servants of the yamen, who had nothing to dountil their master returned. They came running into the passage fromthe outer courtyard, just in time to see the two foreigners, and theChinaman, leap from the window on to the walk beneath. Instead ofopening the door of the prisoner's room, the servants ran yellingtowards the outer gate, to inform the guards that the English prisonerhad escaped, and was being pursued by the German and his boy. Theguards rushed up to the walk beneath the window, from which they couldsee Errington spring like a deer from terrace to terrace, with the twoothers close behind as if chasing him.
Burroughs had calculated that, even if Chung Pi should catch sight ofthem the moment they left the house, he would scarcely be able to graspand grapple with the situation durin
g the few seconds in which they weresprinting across the eighty yards of terraces that separated the yamenfrom the lakeside. They expected that his first movement would be tospring ashore, and Lo San had been ordered to lay the boat at the stepsleading up to the parapet so as to give him an opportunity of doing so.But they had not reckoned with the effect of their startling actionsupon the captain's wits, or with the clamour that had sprung up behindthem. The whole population of the yamen was streaming out into thegrounds, yelling at the top of their voices, many of them withoutknowing why. Su Fing's wife and children were drawn from their secludedquarters; cooks, scullions, hair-dressers, nurses, gardeners, all thepersonnel of the chief's establishment were out of doors.
Chung Pi, who had been sitting in impatient dudgeon in the boat, rose tohis feet at this extraordinary hullabaloo, and gazed in consternation uptowards the yamen, missing the three men, who were nearer to him, butpartially hidden by the shrubbery of the terraces. When they pulledthemselves up sharply at the stone parapet, leapt down the stairs, andstepped gingerly, as became the light framework of the craft, into thecanvas boat, he sank, utterly unstrung, on to one of the thwarts.
This unhappy consequence of a surfeit of melon seeds and sam-shu verymuch simplified the matter for Burroughs and Errington. They haddiscussed in the room in the yamen what they should do if the genialwarrior showed fight, and had come reluctantly to the conclusion that itmight be necessary to tumble him into the lake. It was shallow, andthere was no danger of so buoyant a man drowning. The fugitives weremuch relieved to find that it was unnecessary to adopt a violent coursewith him. It went against the grain to discommode physically so friendlya simpleton, to say nothing of the unwisdom of engaging in a tussle whena score or two pursuers were within a few yards of them.
At the moment of reaching the lakeside Burroughs signed to Lo San to putthe engine at full speed. Then dashing past the bewildered captain, heseized the steering-wheel as the vessel moved out. For a few yards theboat planed, but by the time it had gathered way, and Burroughs adjustedthe elevator and switched the engine on to the air tractor, the bridgewas perilously near. But for the zigzag construction of the bridge, theboat could hardly have been prevented from dashing into it. But aslight movement of the rudder caused it to clear the bridge where itdropped down towards the approach on the lakeside, and it soared overthe stonework with the narrowest of margins. From that point the groundsof the yamen were open for the space of more than a hundred yards,except for some clumps of shrubbery which were easily avoided. Free nowto employ the elevating planes, Burroughs sent the vessel aloft, clearedthe outer walls, dodged the trees beyond, and set his course straightfor the river.
By this time Chung Pi had partially regained his composure. Not a wordhad been spoken; everything had happened in the space of a minute ortwo. The captain's dominating feeling was annoyance that the strangerhad dared to bring the prisoner from the yamen without consulting him;indeed, in defiance of the contrary wish he had expressed earlier in theday. But he put it down to an ambitious desire to cut a figure beforethe chief; and since he, Chung Pi, would share in the glory of the feat,he decided to overlook the presumption and content himself by and bywith a reprimand.
His feeling changed, however, to amazement, suspicion and foreboding,when he saw that the flying boat, instead of turning up-river, skimmedover the tops of the houses in the contrary direction. He heard theshouts of the crowds below, the ringing of bells, the beating of gongs,and glancing to the right he saw with dismay the smoke of the chief'slaunch high up the river.
"We are going the wrong way!" he cried in desperation. "Su Fing is athand!"
"Be at ease, noble captain," said Lo San pleasantly. "We shall soon beat Sui-Fu!"
He flattered himself that the shock of this announcement would giveChung Pi "pins and needles inside," as he said afterwards; littleforeseeing that he himself was to have a succession of very unpleasantshocks before night.