The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-29

one of the gates?" Dan ventured to
ask.
THAT is impossible" Captain Fang
replied. 1.-THE gates are watched: the
Empress Dowager lost no time in send
ing soldiers to all of them
Then how can we escape?" Alec
inquired, anXiously.
1T is doubtful if you cam" was the
curt answer, though I shall do all in
my power to carry out the plan that
his Majesty, the Emperor found means
to communicate to me. 1t may sue
coed, but only by courage and daring,
and by surrounding peril and diff
Guilty. The Son of Heaven greatly de-
sires that your lives should be spared"
That Captain Fang himself wished
the reverse. or at least cherished no
friendly feeling toward the fugitiyes,
was evident from the tone in which he
spoke, but the lads felt that he was
to be trusted, and that he would keep
his word and do all he could for them.
The soldier hung back a few yards,
for the obvious purpose of guarding
the rear and being able to give timely
warning. The officer led the way on
rapidly, refusing to answer any more
questions. and for more than half an
hour the little group threaded a part
of the Forbidden City that bristled
with danger, though fortunately they
managed to elude observation. No
definite noise of pursuit could be heard
behind, but the lads we'll knew. never
theless, that the Tiger. and his blood
thirsty companions were actively
searching.
1t was as bewildering and confusing
as a ribbit warren, this may quarter
of the Son of Heavens sacred abode,
and Gf ran faGNtna ting thinRE
were to be seen at every step. Cap
tain Fang, with a knowledge born Of
familiarity, turned and twisted, bur-
rowed and mounted, traversing courts
and passages, circling lofty buildings
of wonderful architecture, creeping
through cool grottoes and down ave-
nues lined with superb stone figures,
climbing broad steps of polished mar
BILE, unlocking carved gates and doors
that no man guarded, now pausing to
listen warily, now darting confidently
on. And unerringly the dragon SOL
der followed, keeping watch at the
rear.
eff we pull through this all right"
said Dan, nobody will believe us when
we tell our experiences"
Every likely" assented Alec. Never
before, should think, have foreign
ers been inside the Forbidden City Of
Pekin."
The way was upward now-steadily
up by weary steps that led between
shady trees and plants and carved fig
ures. Then a level eminence where
stood a tall, many balconied tower OF
pure copper, a sharp turn to the left
and next glimpse of fairyland, as it
seemed to them, burst suddenly upon
the lads vision-a -sloping path that
wound downward by flights of glitter
ing marble terraces, through flowers
and trees, to a great sheet of water
that matched and reflected the steel
blue of the night sky and the flashing
radiance of the stars. This was the
lake within the famous and beautiful
gardens of the Impelial Palace. Vague
objects thickly dotted its CLASSY sur
face and far across on the opposite
side, against the horizon, the western
wall of the Forbidden City doomed
dark and dim. 1t was a scene of en-
chantment, and very strange by con-
trast sounded the rattle of firearms
and the crash of cannon that told of
barbarian savagery and the lust OF
massacre.
GLORIOUS, isn't it?" whispered Dan.
"By Jove, 1 say, do you suppose the
lake has an outlet under the walls?"
"It is doubtful" Alec replied. Il new
er heard of one"
Then, how by all that's marvellous
are we going to escape?
10 Be Continued.