The Washington times., 1901-08-11


eating booths or the opium dens
Through the half-raised blinds Of tn
palka, however. 1 had noted one individu
al w::o tramped steadily in the same di
rection with ourselves. He was a bis
tall Chfnaman. though the details of hi
features and dress l. could not distin
guish in the prevailing darkness. H
walked little to the rear. and seeming
ly with some set purpose though he new
er looked about nor behind him. blu
steadily ahead. There was nothing in hi
demeanor to arouse suspicion, and blu
that he was almost the only traveller /,
our direction 1 should probably not hav
noticed him. pointed the man out Il
1bbotson. but he saw nothing worthy o
| comment
| Presently we came in sight of the gate
| The street was now entirely deserted
| save for the single lone Chinaman. our
| selves. and the four mammals who bore
our palanquin. All at once the latter
stopped. Not a word had been spoken
yet the action was simultaneous and done
as in obedience to some mysterious au-
thoritative command. Scarcely had the
palka rested when the big Chinaman who
had attracted my attention crossed owe,
and came forward, placing his hand on
the edge of the carriage as though with
the purpose OF addressing us. The next
instant four hidden blinds OF solid wood
dropped as if operated by a secret spring.
and closed us in on all sides.
LAS you value your lives keep quietr'
Missed the Chinaman III subdued but dis
tinct tones. as the blinds fell and we
found ourselves in utter darkness.
Immediately the paIka began to move
forward. and We could tell by the sounds
of words which reached US indistinctly
through the blinds that the strange Chi
naman was giving orders tc our carriers.
L imagined that L also heard 4 whispered
colloquy in a tongue that was European,
rather than Chinese, but of this 1 was Mt
certain.
So taken by surprise were Ibbotson and
myself, and with such despatch had the
whole affair been conducted, that the
palka had already proceeded some yards
on its way before We collected ourselves
sufficiently to take in the situation. Then
Ibbotson sprang to his feet and hammer
ed violently upon the shutters.
Stop he cried. ''or I'll shootr At the
same time lie drew a revolver and cooked
it loudly, as though the sound of the trig
ger. which none but ourselves heard, lent
emphasis to the threat.
But the palanquin did not stop. and
though l added my voice to his and tore
violently at the shutters, no attention was
paid to us.
III shoot" shouted Ibbotson again.
Halt" 1 cried in turn. Let us outi''
But the four carriers continued on, with
their steady, swinging gait, and only a
muttered monosyllable from their leader
answered our outcries,
We tore frantically at the doors which
enclosed us. but they were firm and would
not yield Ibbotson fired his revolver at
haphazard through the wooden frame.
The report nearly deafened us in the con-
fined space, and the smoke almost suffo-
Gated US. The palla did not stop. Some
one smote on it warningly from without,
and again came the voice of the big Chi
naman: Keep quiet, If you wish to
livei"
1t must have been something like three
hours afterward when the palka bearers
stopped and We were set unceremoniously
upon the ground. Our efforts at intimida-
thong our captors having failed, we had
resigned ourselves to await developments,
and had made no further outcry.
THE palanquin was then allowed to rest
for some moments. We were evidently on
a ledge of rock, for the palka came down
with an unpleasant bump and tilted to
one side, throwing Ibbotson on top of me.
After a few seconds consultation among
out captcrs 1t was moved again, tilted a
bit, first to one side and then to the other.
and from the sounds we concluded that
the two handles by which it had been car
ried were being removed.
Then followed further preparations, of
what nature we are unable to make out,
and again we were carried a few yards.
A rope was passed around the box of the
palka and fastened at the top. We Were
shufied few feet further. the box jerked
in one direction, and launched
suddenly over the edge of some abyss. We
found ourselves sinking rapidly. and the
creaking overhead told us that We were
being let down by a rope, fastened TO the
one which had been bound around the
palka.
Desperate at the situation which now
to confront us. we threw the full
weight of our bodies against one OF the
sides of our prison. But whatever i'm
preston our united energies might have
made on the unsupported partitions the
rope which now bound them together
served to retain the palka intact.
.hoGgh in reality it probably occupied not
move than a full minute. when we came
o an abrupt stop at the bottom of what
ever it was into which we had been low
cred. The palka rested easily enough
where it landed. and we could discern
~ the creaking of another rope that we |
we're not the only ones who were being |
ct down. A moment later second buck !
. N, ne nd he in, |
tide clambered out. The rope which had |
pound us was unfastened. the shutters |
shot back into their mysterious recess. |
md we were able to look about
That which met our view was not in |
ipiritng. In the darkness we could make |
,ut only the indistinct sides of what ap- |
,eared to be the shaft of an old NINE
Ne were on ledge. in front of which a |
irift, or tunnel, of uncertain length dis |
appeared into the side. Below us the Dit |
continued in a saning direction and was |
HE'D with water almost to where we
itood.
Four Cinnamon stood guard about us,
while fifth. the tall Manchu who had adj
dressed US, held a dark lantern in one
land, the fitful glimmer of which reveal
d the features Of our captors but imper-
ectly, and lit up only a small circle about
Is
Why have you brought us here?" l
emanded. stepping forward and speaking
With degree OF assumed assurance
which by no means felt. IF it is ran
ON you want take us back to Pekin. for
OF a tael Will you get here?"
Follow me-" said the Chinaman, sim
ly
Then. as we still showed a disposition
D rebel, he added: You'd better come
nd keep quiet. There are three men
lore up at the top who will shoot you
own like dogs if you try TO escane.