The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-08

with the savage yells of the Chinese
soldiers. A bugle blared the alarm
across the Flu. and a couple of rifles
went off. However. as it was seen
that the enemy was not ready to push
their doubtful advantage and make an
attack, the excitement abated.
where's young Drury?' exclaimed
Cocket. looking anxiously about him.
"'E was workin' alongside of you.
Nick"
The Russian dug the pulverized soil
from his eyes with one hand, and with
the other pointed to the sunken end OF
the trench.
THE lads down yonder-clean swai-
lowed up he answered hoarsely.
With a wild cry Kin Soon sprang
into the cutting and seized pick.
Save hint" he begged. Save my
young master"
But the appeal brought no response,
for it was a useless thing that the
Chinaman asked his comrades to do.
I'VE are lost. There is no hope for
us. That spying dog will fetch the
Boxers here, and they won't have to
search long to find the movable stone.
Alas, that I should have brought this
peril upon you! And yet the sword
scarcely hangs closer over US than does
death by starvation"
He who spoke was Ping Tang. The
place was the gloomy. ill-lit chamber
within the wall OF the imperial city,
and the time was just after dark on
the evening of the tenth of August, the
same day that had witnessed the ex-
plosion in the grounds of the Su Wang
Flu. The little group were huddled
on the floor, Ping Tang uttering self
reproaches and old Nan-Ho wringing
her hands with brief and terror, while
Dan Killigrew and the Princess Loo
Loa stared with set faces at the flick
ering candle. Ping Tang, after going
forth that evening to search for food
in the adjacent parts of the city, had
returned empty-handed and with an
alarming story to tell. He had been
seen-seen by the dusky figure of a
man who must have followed him back,
and who had glided stealthily away as
the lad peered out at him from the
shelter of the thornbushes. Doubtless
the fellow was a spy of the Tigers,
and he would report to his master with
all haste.
"If there is anything to/be done, it
must be done at once" said Dan, after
a brief interval of silence. IF we get
away from here before the Boxers
come, could we find another hiding
placer"
Ping Tang shook his head. 'T know
"a hOhS' aU ASPHeN. We sAo"Ao ga
be captured"
'Hurrah, I've just thought OF some
thingl" exclaimed Dan. 'sThose dis
guises you brought with you a month
ago. when we couldn't make use or
them. If there is time to rig ourselves
out, we ought to stand a pretty fair
chance Of getting through to the Legal
tions.'
Watt"
That single word Ping Tang spoke
ominously. He slipped from the room,
was gone Ave minutes, and returned
with deeper despair than ever showing
on his yellow face.
There is no hope; the DISCUSSES are
useless he said. 81 opened the slab
couple of inches and listened. heard
footsteps creeping slowly by, to and
fro. just beyond the thorn bushes. Two
men must have seen me, and while one
has gone to seek Ii Sheng, the other
remains here to watch
Silence followed this disheartening
announcement; the end was now in
evitable.
Promise me. my SON. begged old
Nan-Ho, that you will plunge a knife
into my heart rather than let the Box
ers take me alive"
Perhaps we shall yet escape them,
good mother" said the Princess Loo
Lao, quite clamly. "Since all else has
failed, you must trust yourselves to
me. have long had a plan in mind.
and the time has come to try it, now
when our lives hang by thread"
Nothing can help u.s." Dan said Bit
terly.
Loo Lao ignored the remark. How
far will the spy have to go in search OF
LII Sheng?" she asked.
ITO one of the camps outside the Lee
cation quarter" Ping Tang answered.
"Then it may be two hours before
the Boxers arrive?"
That is likely" was the reply.
And could you slip away from the
man who is watching the wall. and
carry a message for me?"
1T is possible" assented Ping Tang
"Well, If you can do that, there is
more than a hope for u.s." a
What do you mean, Princess?" Dan
asked incredulously. What can help
us now" Aar
This" replied the girl, and putting
a hand to her bosom she produced q
heavy gold ring. curiously carved. that
was strung on fine chain worn round
her neck.
ITO be Continuedl