The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
THE TIMES, WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1900

! head to the orifice without much trouble
I If the wrost came to the worst I had NJ
doubt that / could burst the thing open
| Blu; what if tainted? 1 was weak. Ny
brain throbbcd painfully: my body achet
| as though ii was covered with bruises
| What If the horror of the situation proved
| too strong for me'
1t was fearful thing to lie there star
| ing up at the dim, black roof of the vault
my ears straining to catch every sound:
silence about me. silence and the compan-
ionship of the dead! 1t was intolerable
insuffers.Dle; thought was fast driving me
deiirious. / longed for the coming OF the
wretches.
At last the iron door slid back and !
heard the patter of steps upon the stairs.
Then some one spoke in whisper. an
other answered, and shufiling Of bare
feet followed. Next, something was slid
upon the table. and I guessed that 1t was
the coffin of Wah Foo. Noiselessly they
went to work in the semi gloom, for, peer
ing through my eyelashes, l saw with joy
that they had not turned up the light.
Then shadow seemed to pass before my
eyes. The next moment I was being
screwed down.
Sounds now became indistinct but turn
ing my nostrils to the hole which / had
made | found that l could breathe with
comparative comfort; but as the heat sud-
denly grew intense pushed my finger
through the cloth. having little fear Of
discovery.
think Wah Foo must have been carried
UP first, for they seemed an unconsciona-
Bile time in coming for me. But at last
my turn came. and presently was lifted
off the table and carried UP the stairs
first which w. hut nil a
ant experience. Then, when we reached
the shop. we were set down, and heard
Wing Lee say. Quick. away with you,
or the day will catch you before you reach
the junk"
We were instantly picked up again and.
had no doubt, taken out into the street;
and presently, by the peculiar motion
of the men who carried US, / knew that
we were being hurried forward at a rapid
rate. The word Junk" had given me an
idea. / remembered how the Governor
had told me that he even had the junks
searched as they left the city. My non
appearance that night would put him more
keenly upon the alert than ever. l would
wait.
The journey was not long one, and as,
in my mind. 1 followed each movement of
my bearers, l knew when we were set
down in the junk. Then. to be sure, came
wait. filed with a horrible dread-a
dread which Increased when I heard
sounds which proclaimed the getting ready
for sea. Indeed. fearful that Chi's over
seer might not come, / was about to shout
and attempt to burst the coffin when I
heard man, speaking in authoritative
tones, say. What have you here?"
Two honorable corpses which We are
taking to their ancestral tomb at Wen
Choo," was the reply.
l put my mouth to the orince and
screamed with all my might: mo. no.
am not dead. These men are murderers
Seize them!''
For few moments something like con-
sternation ruled. Then there was much
talking and hurrying of feet, and present.
ly the lid of my coffin was wrenched off
and l was dragged out, more dead than
alive.
Well, there Is not much more to tell.
Wing Lee and his associates were arrest
ed, and confessions. wrung from them in
Chinese fashion. disclosed the fact that
they were responsible for the disappear
ance Of SO many young men, whom they
murdered for their money and then car
ried cat to sea.
You may be sure that my friend Chi did
not unnecessarily prolong the days of the
coffin maker OF Hangchow.-Carton Dave,
in the Strand Magazine.