The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07

the dHli-AOfGiSn agitation.
Woe unto this wicked city!' he ex-
claimed. There Is madness in the very
air. Blind indeed are those in high places
who encourage these pigs of Boxers. Even
the Son of Heaven (the Emperor) is drunk
with folly" Turning to the lad he added:
rs there good news of thy honored par
ent, my SOM"
Alec paid no heed to the question for a
moment he had eagerly opened the let
ter, finding therein a smaller sealed en-
velope and two sheets of thin paper COW
cred with writing. As he read on his
breath came quicker and his face clouded
with keen disappointment.
IT rely on you," Capt Drury concluded
in paragraph that summed up the whole
of the communication, ito follow my in
structions. 1 wish it were otherwise but
in the present excited state of the coun-
try 1t would be madness either for me
to start for Pekin or for you to attempt
to travel to Shan Sc. So go without de-
lay to the shelter of the American lega-
ton and present to our minister in per-
son the enclosed letter, which contains
information of the greatest Importance
that came secretly to my knowledge. Had
l known what / know now l should not
have recalled you from Canton. There
can be no doubt that a general massa-
ere of the Europeans in the capital is
intended. But you will be safe at the le7
cation, and myself am in no peril here
since I am assured of the Viceroy's loyal
friendship and protection. / wish Kin
Soon to remain with you, rather than risk
his life needlessly on the return journey
My only fear is that he may be inter
cepted in the endeavor to reach Pekin."
The above Alec read aloud, emitting the
words of affectionate farewell He out
the letter and the sealed envelope in a
secure pocket of his jacket.
Then you do not journey to Shan Sep
Chow Yen exclaimed
mo, / must leave your friendly roof.
Chow Yen, and go at once to the Ameri-
can legation"
ut is well, my son. The wisdom of
the parent is not to be questioned And
indeed 1 know not how long 1 could be
ans wersble for your safety here"
Where my young master goes" said
Kin Soon, 81 go Also
Alec stood looking into the court
through a chink OF the shattered win
dow He was thinking of the miles of
country, teeming with fanatical foes, that
separated him from Shan Sc. The letter
had dealt him a sharp and unpleasant
blow.
Meanwhile, with gentle hands, the old
Chinaman bathed and bandaged Kin
Soons wound which was an ugly cut
penetrating nearly to the bone. Just as
the task was finished, and Kin Soon had
donned the clean tunic thoughtfully pro-
vded for him, a low word of alarm from
Alec drew his companions to the window
crack. Twenty yards away, at the far
end of the court, were clustered half a
dozen rough-looking men, two of whom
wore red sashes. They were bending over
the fiagstones, examining a spot at which
cDihpO
Boxers" gasped Kin Soon. What a
misfortune! Alas, they have tracked
me with the aid of the dog-I must have
lost a drop of blood here and there"
Chow Yen emptied the basin of stained
water down hole in the floor, thrust the
blood-soaked tunic after it, and hastily
| removed all other traces of his recent
surgical operation.
"You must go at once, my friends" he
| whispered, with chattering teeth, "else
| you will surely be killed I will let you
| out by the shop door"
That's a good PLAN" assented Alec.
Eyes, for your own sake, we had better
be off, - b.
Chow Yen drove his companions before
him into the shop. go quickly" he
urged. "Tarry not an instant"
| AS he spoke the rear door was assailed
with lusty blows, and several voices cla-
mored loudly for admittance. A moment
later Chow Yen was alone.
The sun was touching the horizon, and
the evening air was pleasant after the
heat of the day, when Alec and Kin soon
found themselves shut out in the Street
Of the Booksellers, which was deserted in
the immediate vicinity of Show Yen's
house. For prudent reasons they sepa-
rated at once with the understanding
that they would meet at the American
legation. Kin Soon strobe off to the right,
swinging his wounded arm as II nothing
was the matter with it, and carrying his
short sword concealed under his blouse
while the lad, bearing in the opposite dl-
rection, turned to the left before reach
ing the Grand Avenue.
At this hour a strange calm, hush OF
expectancy and doubt, as it were, pervad-
| ed the great city. Now and then dis
tant bell pealed, or a gong changed harsh-
Nv Most of the people had fiocked TO
see the arrival of the foreign troops out
many were left in the district through
which the young American picked MS
way. He had little more than mile TO
traverse allowing for cautious detours,
and as he walked along with an ar OF
holiness an unconcern, he encountered
nothing worse than derlslVe laughter GNU
| a few insulting epithets.
.SThe curs-they daren't do more than
| bark" he reflected.
But Alec's progress was not 10 De HI
smooth sailing, by any means. he was
close to the north wall of the chinese
town. and In a squalid, ill-smelling quar-
| ter Of poor shops, when of sudden an
| ominous shout rose behind him Glanclne
hack he saw four or five ruffians ap-
preaching with drawn swords
XIII the foreign devil! Stay the pig!
| they yelled.
The hue and cry throbbed in his wake
| as he made a turn to the left and bound
| ed through a narrow passage where Wo'
| men and children screeched at him from
dark doorways. But the greatest danger
Law in front, and from that quarter II
! came suddenly and threateningly In the
shane of a man wearing Boxer sash
who leaped out upon the fugitive from
the mouth of an alley on the right. yell
ing ferociously and brandishing knife
the ruf1an made vicious thrust at Close
quarters. NJ,
The lads promptitude and presence Of
mind barely saved him from death, FOL
as he grabbed the descending arm by the
wrist the keen-edged blade slashed across
the breast Of his jacket, ripping the clotf
as IL Il was paper. Instantly struggle
| ensued for the possession of the weapon
II was very brief, for Alec, though M
chung with a grip OF iron to his assail
ant. was quickly and dexterously trippec
IL