The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-08
5: Is 81 81 e. Is e:
CHAPTER XIV,
ID who goes with uSi'

Shortly after breakfast koon-Si came
and helped us to dress in our Chinese
clothes, complete outfit Of which,
even to big cody hat and pendent
pigtail. had been provided. But 1t was
nevertheless long and dreary day we
spent shut up in the back parlor Of the
illustrious cousin. l thought the sun
would never set, and when at length
the shadows did begin to fall l seemed
unable to realize it. The carpenter had
paid us two or three short visits dur.
ing the day, but he had nothing to re.
port. All Yon, who had been dispatch.
ed on scouting expedition, was not
expected back until the evening, SC
that Jim and had nothing to divert
us but our own thoughts, and If mine
might be accepted as criterion Of his
they were not such as men gladly WEI!
come.
However, the day did eventually
draw to close, and when the dark
had come koon-Si entered with the
welcome Information that It was time
to start. Our small preparations were
hurriedly made. and we quickly fol
lowed the carpenter to the door.
"Where Is All Yon" asked my uncle
ale will meet us at the boat. Toe
many going together might excite sus
picion."
A wonderful fellow was the carpen
ter. He seemed to think Of everything
And, though personally ! did not like
the man, | had to admit that for oul
needs we could not have created bet
ter one.
Out into the street we went, our big
sutraw hats pulled well forward SO as
to shade the face, and In this manner
we pursued our way without raising
remarks or any undue curiosity from
the passersby. Koon-Si led us swiftly
and silently along, having previously
cautioned us not to speak; for, as he
said, the very streets have ears and
kung Is everywhere.
1t seemed to me that we were taking
q direction contrary to that from which
we had come, though this was no cause
for wonder, as the island was some
miles below the town. Nevertheless II
was anything but pleasant journey
and l heaved q sigh Of relief as We
gradually left the i'll smelling alleys
behind and came more into the strag
Cling streets which denoted the out
skirts of the town. These in turn gave
place to still more open country, and
presently we began the descent Of d
slope, at the bottom Of which though,
could detect the sparkle Of water.
'The river" said Jim.
"Yes," answered Koon-Si. Here VIC
ran embark with perfect safety, as we
are some distance below the town.
He led us on for another hundred
yards or so along the waters edge, and
then, stopping for minute and look
Ing round as if to locate the exact spot
he uttered the cry of night bird
Waiting little while, he signaled
again, hut this time the cry was varied
there being three distinct calls Almost
Immediately sound like an echo came
over the water, and this was followed
shortly after by the soft swish Of a
steering scull. Then from the gloom
which lay like a cloak upon the river
I saw a darker shadow emerge, and
presently boat grated Oh the shingle
At our feet.
Aboard quickly" said Koon.Si. "l'h(
wind is fair, and the current is strong
In two or three hours we shall b
abreast of Ching hi"
The boat was steadied for us, and w
Instantly scrambled aboard. The car
Denter followed, one Of the men showed
off, and presently we were spinning
. down the great river.
Jim and l sat in the little cabin aft.
structure with which every Chinese
sampan is rugged. KoonSi sat Oh the
after thwart, facing us, and Selling al
par laid to with will. A man on the
bench forward also tugged like gal
lev slave. A second sat still forward
+, Sf him and kept good lookout. Al
yon, our worthy servant, stood aft the
Dng steering scull in his hand.
1t was a strange journey, that rusl
Town the dark river and II the pecul
bar conditions were not without theil
efect on me 1t is small cause for won
, Ter. Jim was significantly mute, ant
| felt keenly that this was no occasion
Tor the use of idle words. knew tina
his thoughts had Travelled no farther
than the island of Ching-hi and thai
Trey wandered there at large. Ching
hi and Kung and the society. what
black world Of thought those tire
words conjured up! 1t seemed to nj
as though the whole misery of life wa
concentrated In them. and as the boa
rushed on and on, swinging blindly, a
D 1t were, toward destiny, thought q
NJ Cecil. Of my sins and of such things a
Va stir the Imagination when grea
event Is foreshadowed. Truly we wer
y In the hands Of fate, and prayed an
hoped.
For some time nothing but the swir
III Ing of the waters. the rising and fallin
Of the oars, the dirgelike sougLing I
the wind as It swept down the grc'
z black waterway. beat an accompii'