The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-18

behind them and tied, and then Ii
Sheng stepped up to them.
Your time is not yet" he said, with
a fiendish smile. Watch closely, and
learn what is in store for you"
The scene that followed, as two of
the native converts were dragged to
the affairs. is too narrowing to de-
scribe. The lads closed their eyes, but
they could not deaden their ears to
the awful sounds that lasted for near
ly a quarter of an hour. Gradually the
incantations drowned the shrieks of
the victims, and then fell an ominous,
eXpectant silence.
"Now for the foreign devils!" cried
several voices.
Bring them forward" directed Ii
Sheng, land let them be-"
But as he spoke there came sharp
sound that stifled the sentence on his
lips. Crack! crack-two rifles went off
in rapid succession. The double report
drew all eyes through the open door
to the courtyard, where two sentries
were posted. One lay kicking on the
flagstones, and the other was seen to
reel and clutch at pillar.
hoarse, mighty sound of cheer
ing rose. In the open gateway, where
Wisps of powder-smok were curling
laZily upward, doomed stalwart fig
ure-an American corporal of marines.
Others pressed behind him, British and
japanese tars elbowing one another. A
ringing word of command, and on they
swept at a quick trot.
Legation soldiers!" exclaimed Alec.
Can they save us?" Dan gasped.
Their voices were lost in the yelling
tumult that seemed to shake the tenn
pie roof. Panic and terror held sway
for a moment, and the Boxers thought
only of escape. Then, stirred to sui
len fury by their cool-headed leader,
Lii Sheng, they rallied and met the at
tack. Those nearest the door rushed
to the courtyard, where a volley from
the marines dropped several of them,
but failed to dishearten the rest. The
odds were fairly even, for while the
Boxers outnumbered their foes five to
one, with a single exception, they pos
sessed no firearms.
Temporarily forgotten even by the
Tiger himself, reprieved a second time
within an hour, the lads stood for halt
minute at the rear of the temple, lis
tening to the yells and cheers, to the
rife fire and the clash of steel. They
were dazed and confused, uncertain
which way to turn, and they might
have lost the passing opportunity Of
escape had it not been forced upor
them, and none too soon, in a most
strange manner. In two strokes of g
sharp weapon their wrists were deftly
cut loose, and sword was thrust into
Alec's hand.
"Off with you!" said a voice behind
them. Hasten for your lives"
With that the speaker was gone, lost
in the shouting crowd that was strug-
CLING toward the temple portico. The
light was dim, and the lads caught but
q hrfof r1iYn nf fhnfr hama
factor, who Enthusiastically wore a Box
er uniform. They could make no guess
at his identity, nor was the present a
time to puzzle over the mystery. Al
once they darted round the idol, and
ran several yards down the passage
Then, on the right, was a narrow turn
ing that showed gray glimmer at the
farther end. And straight ahead, ten
feet away. were the vague outlines OF
a door,
I'm sure the princess is in thereP'
exclaimed Alec. 1--WE must take her
with us"
by all means" Dan agreed. Hang
the risk"
AS yet their flight was undiscover-
ed but they had scarcely reached the
end of the corridor when there was q
rush of pattering feet behind them
and a couple of savage cries rang close
III I0elT EVEN IuCn lnCy
have darted back to the cross passage
Instead they drew the single bolt OF
the door, which swung on rusty hinges
as they bore their weight against it.
The pursuing Boxers, to the number
of five, were almost at the spot The
Tiger had doubtless sent them to make
an end of the two foreign devils, and
they were in haste to do the deed. But
they were a little too late. The door
I Il.
There is no fastening to the inner
side!" painted Dan, as he braced his
feet against the floor.
9TH settle couple more of the dew
lis, anyway Alec cried hoarsely
Hold on!" he added, in an eager tone
Bear hard-just a moment. Ready!
Out of the way, quick!"
With that, as Dan leaped nimbly
aside, there was a stunning crash that
shook the whole building. Alec had
overbalanced a huge idol, pedestal and
all, that stood to the left of the en-
trance, and now the bulky mass OF
| stone, several tons in weight, lay pros
trate across and against the bottom
of the door.
"Hurrah, they won't move that in a
hurry" Dan said.
tits a good thing the door opened in
wards" said Alec.
1t had all happened In a very few
minutes-the attack on the temple, the
remarkable episode of the severed
bonds, and the repulse of the would
be assassins. On breaking into the
room behind the bolted door the lads
had merely observed that the Princess
Loo-Lao was there, and then they had
to give their undivided attention to the
! FIVE Boxers. So now their hopefulness
turned to fresh anxiety and alarm by
the thought that the Legation party
| might be driven off, they at once pro-
ceeded to take stock Of their surround
ings.
This was the work OF half minute
! They were prisoners-and secure ones
apparently--in a sort of inner shrine OF
the temple which probably was used
| for special ceremonies. 1t was a small
square room with stone floor and walls
of beams and masonry. 1t contained In
| addition to the idol that Alec had uti-
lized for a barrier, two more massive
stone images, the one representing the
Joyful Bhudda, the other a figure OF
Kwanti. the God of War. There was nc
exit but by the door, and light and air
entered through a window, about three
foet by two, which was cut just under
the high ceiling.
"No chance Of getting up there" said
Dan.
"It doesn't look like IT," Alec assent
ed. "but II 1t comes to the worst wei
have to escape by that means or not