The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-04
.CAPSIzED.


faded until it was lost with other dis
tant sounds of the Chinese city.
Gone at last" said Dan. "They may
return, but for the present we have a
breathing spell. What will become of
us, l wonder? OF course. they believe
us dead at the legations"
Later on Wen show them that we
are very much alive" replied Alec.
Cheer up. Things might be worse, you
know. AS soon as it is daylight We'll
have a look about, and If it is safe to
stop on here until night comes again,
I'll try to reach Chow Yen's house and
bring back a supply of food. And he
will be sure to suggest some good
plan"
THAT sounds all right" said Dan.
You put fresh courage into me, old
fellow. l shouldn't mind If only my
people knew that we had escaped"
Alec made the cheering suggestion
that Chow Yen might get word to the
Legations, and finally, treasured by
the unbroken silence of their sur
roundings, both lads fell asleep on the
damp floor. beside the little princess
for whose sake they had braved such
frightful perils.
They woke to find the sun shining,
and the light revealed to them what
they suspected-that they were in a
udITOW space uHueTIedIn Lne IlOOT OF
a building. Alec took a cautious peep
UP and down the canal artery, and
then crept to the other hole in the ma
sonry, which looked in an opposite di-
rection. From IL he saw paved
courtyard hemmed in by blank walls,
and at the far end an exit that turned
sharply to the left.
II haven't heard a sound overhead,
so there can't be any people living
H. a. Ii H.
From what / know of the neighbour
hood l think 1t likely that we are un-
der some merchants warehouse"
ut would be fine place to hide, II
We could get in" said Dan.
THAT is what we must do, for 1t
really won't be safe to stop here. The
dog may return and start a row, and
it's ten to one the Boxers will come
back to search the vicinity by day
light"
Just then the Princess Loo Lao stir
red and opened her eyes. She had
shaken off the curtain in which Alec
had wrapped her, and from her dress
it was evident that she had been seized
by the kidnappers before retiring for
the night. She wore a long outer robe,
richly embroidered, and confined at the
waist by stomacher of gold filagree.
1t reached almost to her slippers which
were studded Win pearls. with Qer
fair complexion and regular features
she was very pretty. judged either by
an Oriental or European standard.
my father! o, my fatherl'
Those were her first words, spoken in
English. She was clearly familiar
with that tongue. and Dan, whom she
recognized, told her briefly what had
happened while she was unconscious.
She listened eagerly, with dread and
wonder growing in her dark eyes.
How brave you were" she cried.
MY father shall reward you
as you deserve. But alas! he
has been taken from mel 1t
was a false and lying message that
summoned MIN to the palace--he is in
the power OF the wicked Empress Dow
ager, who hates and fears him. | must
so to the Emperor and tell him of my
fathers danger. Take me, implore
you, to the gates of the Forbidden
City"
The lads exchanged perplexed
glances.
you shall see your father again"
Dan replied, but first we must all try
to reach the shelter of the legations,
and that can be done only by night"
The girl made no answer. Already
she had lapsed into an Indifferent,
dreamy mood, and lay with half-closed