Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-01-10
Saint Maru's Beacon


fail TO go oGt to them, after admir-
ing the porcelain tsser, II ever Jos
visit Nankin. They are well on
their way to ruin /; relic Of the
days when Nankin vas the one and
only Celestial capital.
At Nankin the Grand Canal,
from Shanghai to Pekfn, crosses
the great Blue River, and from
Nankin to IRE sea the Blue River
is hardly different from tie ocean.
Often one bank or the other il out
Of sight, and in a storm the waves
almost equal the Atlantic. No
wonder when it overfows its banks,
American newspapers have fright
full tales Of devastation.
Being on Official business / was
taken to Nankin on board o man.
DARN junk. We reached the city
in the afternoon, and were to leave
early in the morning. My native
servant, Master Tao sen, was famil-
FAR with it, having spent most of his
life on the Blue River, and with
him for guide started at once TO
make the most of my short stay.
We visited the places Of interest
and walked about the porcelain
tower bat did not climb it-may
the dragon under the pagoda par
don mel Then | hired q wheel
barrow, the great national coach to
convey me to the tombs OF the
Mings.
The fellow who trundled it prom
ised to have me back in the city by
sundown, so | gave no attention to
the time, but looked about and lis
tened to Tao-sen, who trotted be-
side me, explaining everything.
whether he knew anything about it
or not. The sun went down, how
eyer, and the coolie moved slower
and slower each time that remind
ed him Of his promise. just out
side the city he left the road alto
eether, aud turned into grove
which in the darkness. appeared
filled with ruins. Here he started
to run. l turned to expostulate,
when he gave wheelbarrow a sudden
tip. 1t sent me sprawling on my
face, and, before could move,
goodness knows how many Chinese
were on top of me.
Ny hands and feet were tied. my
mouth was covered almost to suffo-
cation and was put into box of
about the size of an ordinary palan-
quin. ! heard them nail the cover
down, and felt myself being carried
away.
By the time the box was set down
again, / had worked one hand free
and my pocket knife quickly did
the rest. Not a syllable had reach
cd my ears, but there were other
suspicious noises and an unmistak
able motion. A narrow streak of
moonlight disclosed crack in one
end of the box. The knife devel-
oped it till l could see through.
First was the rough deck of Chi
nese junk. The long, swinging
arm Of the rudder was just in range.
Behind it rose the bullying stern.
There on raised platform were
two small cannon, wedged between
blocks, hidden from passing craft
by bamboo grating. There was
no doubt about it. the box was on
pirate junk, making very good
time down the big Blue River.
There was little occasion for grave
alarm. Those pirates had not box
ed me so carefully amply for the
pleasure Of killing me. A China
man rarely goes to expense unless
he sees profit ahead. Time was all
tat was necessary, for the lives of
the officers on the mandarin junk
would be forfeited il they failed to
deliver me to the Authorities at Pc
kin. Before it came to that, they
would find me, beyond doubt. |
determined TO make the most OF
quiet and fresh air while ! had it,
and wentlto sleep. When | awoke.
tSs junk was pfnngiSg salnug be-
fore the wind, the great sails creak-
ing as. orly the bullying sails of a
Chinese junk can creak. There
was intense excitement on deck.
but could not catch a word. My
first sleepy instinct was to call upon
Master Tao-sen for an explanation.
Ito always knew about everything.
But, by the way. where was Master
Tao sen ! lie was beside me when
] fell. but he had disappeared. rs