CHAPTER X.
ESCAPE OF NICHOLAS FROM PRISON.
Having, at the same time, secured an order for admittance to Nicholasand the restitution of old Hoang's property, Chow went in search of ashop, where he purchased a rope of silk, and returned to the prison,which was next to the tribunal.
At that time far in advance, and even now not much worse than our own,the prisons of China are large and spacious, and although some of themost criminal of the inmates are loaded with chains, the greater numberare permitted to take exercise and converse with each other in an opencourt during the day. Their health is cared for,--if any are ill aphysician attends them, and when a death takes place a report is sent tothe Emperor, who issues orders for an examination, something like ourinquests, into the cause, when should it appear that any of the officersare at fault, they are immediately degraded and punished. When aprisoner dies the body is not permitted to pass through the ordinarydoorway, but through an opening reserved for the purpose. It is seldom,however, that deaths occur in these places, for should a person,especially above the lowest rank in life, be in danger, he or hisfriends pray that he may be taken without the walls to expire; indeed,so infamous is it considered for a corpse to be taken through this deadopening, that "May he be dragged through the prison hole" is thegreatest expression of evil a person can wish his enemy.
The prison in which Nicholas was confined was a large building, with itsfront to the street and its back to the canal. There were three courts,each having treble gates, well guarded by armed sentries. Chow found nodifficulty in passing the first two gates, but the third was under thecharge of the chief gaoler, who not only made him show the mandarin'sorder, but ordered two soldiers to accompany the boy to his master'scell, which was situated at the top of one of the four corners ortowers, and overlooking the canal.
The armed men he met at every turn, and the dismal-looking strength ofthe halls, courts, doors, and staircases through which he passed, madeChow feel very wretched, for not an atom of a chance could he see for aprisoner to escape. However no sooner did he again get sight of Nicholasthan all difficulties vanished, his countenance brightened, and theaffectionate fellow fell at his feet and wept with joy.
"How is this? surely thou art not a Christian, my poor friend, that theyshould bring thee here?" said Nicholas sorrowfully.
"Truly both servant and master are fortunate, for the mandarin haspermitted them to keep each other company."
For some minutes Chow squatted upon the floor with his head bent to theground, apparently in grief at his master's position. Really, he hadnot calculated upon the presence of the two gaolers; it was an awkwarddilemma, still he was not one to stick at a difficulty, and so he beganto think. His were not pleasant thoughts, for it was just possible thatthe mandarin on recovering from his fright might tremble at the probableconsequences of permitting the escape of Nicholas, and to make his ownpeace confess the whole affair to the Christian-hating viceroy.
Having finished cogitating, Chow commenced a lively conversation withNicholas about any thing and every thing but what was most on his mind;then he endeavored to chat with the surly gaolers; the attempt, however,proved a failure, till he brought forth a porcelain bottle filled withrice spirit. When the men grew better tempered, Chow said, "Is there anylaw that will prevent the honorable guard from bestowing upon hisservants some hot tea, for surely it will refresh them?" Without makingany reply, one of the gaolers opened the door and called aloud for thebeverage.
Some minutes after swallowing the tea, Chow rolled over upon the floor,and howled like a dog; which extraordinary proceeding so alarmedNicholas and the men, that one of the latter, throwing down his weapon,fell upon his knees and began to rub the sufferer's stomach. "Will theungrateful villains let me die the dog's death for the want of a cup ofwater?" Surprised as they were at such a remedy, the frightened menprovided the water, but at the same time pointed to the porcelainflask.
For the hint the patient thanked them, but he knew it would be of no usewithout hot water. Would the honorable gaolers get some?
That was another affair, for to ask for hot water would be to proclaimthat rice spirit was being drunk in the prison, when gaolers as well asprisoners would be bambooed.
Then, having coaxed and importuned for some time fruitlessly, Chow heldhis hand upon his stomach, and alarmed Nicholas with performing a longseries of tragic-comic grimaces and contortions, when seeing the menbegin to tremble at the heavy punishment that awaited them if a prisonerdied beneath their charge, he said, "Surely the noble guardians wouldnot have it proclaimed to the next visiting mandarin that they have beendrinking the prohibited spirit."
Perceiving now that they were upon the horns of a dilemma, the gaolershesitated. Then a bright thought came to one, and he said, "Truly, thetea is cold; a fire-pan will warm it; and so it will not be suspectedthat rice spirit has been brought into the prison." Thus settling thematter to his satisfaction, the man procured a small dish of fire and acup of cold water, when Chow had another attack, and in his paroxysmskicked over his tea-cup, and then very inconsistently clamored for coldwater. This request being complied with, the patient sipped and appeareda degree better, for he then stood upon his feet and thanked hisdeliverers, and, moreover, offered them some more spirit, an offencewhich was repeated and accepted till both gaolers became verygood-humored and talkative, first to Chow, then to Nicholas. Findingthat they were busy with the latter, Chow sauntered up to the fire andsat before it, as if to prevent another attack by its heat. Then a sweetperfume pervaded the atmosphere, and so gradually increased in strength,that, imperceptibly to themselves, the tongues of the men slackened bydegrees, their loud tones softened into silence, their heads wavedgently to and fro, till, overcome by the density of the air, they fellsideways upon the ground. It was not far to fall, for they had beensquatting upon the floor during their jovial conversation. Then taking alarge sponge that he had been holding to his own nostrils, Chow held itto the nose of Nicholas, who, not being intoxicated with spirit, soonexhibited signs of returning animation, when creeping up to the droopinggaolers, he passed something, not a sponge, near to their nostrils,which seemed to have the effect of double locking their senses. Thenleading the half-insensible Nicholas to the window, he took a knife fromhis girdle and cut away the painted paper panes, when the cold air soonmade the master as sensible as the servant.
Arresting by a sign, Nicholas's exclamations of surprise at theseproceedings, Chow pulled forth the silken cord, fastened one end to thetable, then tying his knife to the other end he let it gently down, andhung out of the window with it in his hand, as if he had been fishing.In a few minutes he obtained a bite, for the rope gave a jerk. Thisbeing satisfactory, he whispered to his master to descend by the loops.Nicholas complied, and in one minute found himself in the arms of someperson, and in another, carried into a small room, about large enough tohold four men. A minute more, Chow entered the cabin, the boat began toglide along the canal, and Nicholas comprehended the whole of Chow'sscheme. Now you have the reason of his delight in seizing upon the boxof pastiles, two of which he had managed to light while his back wasturned to the gaolers. The cold water Chow knew to be an antidote to thestupifying effects of the perfume, if applied immediately, as in thecase of Nicholas. As for the boy's illness, that was a ruse, and a verygood one too, under the circumstances.