The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-16
An Adventure
in China ~ ~
Copyright, 1901. BY Authors syndic.ts.)


an interview with the American min.
ger, anu standing there he expert.
ences a sense Of relief at the accom-.
Plishment of his mission, at the same
time being unable to resist feeling
of triumph. He feels that it is not
given to many to outwit eastern di.
plomacy and oriental craft.
He has been chosen for this deli.
cate and dangerous work chiefly Oh
account of his familiarity with the
topography of the country, having, in
his college vacations. accompanied a
friend who was engaged in civil en-
gineering in China, while devoting
his own researches to ancient manu-.
scripts of eastern poetry.
Walking slowly and thoughtfully
through the streets of the Imperial
City. he recalls the anxious, wan
faces Of the lcgstioncrs, who had
waited with such patience for help in
their more than dangerous situation,
and now, Just as they were beginning
t. lose hope, and all seemed dark. he
felt CXultant over the fact that he
had been the means of casting a ray
of light on their gloom.
His eXultation, however. is destined
TO he Shortlived. He suddenly feels
himself caught from behind. a strong
grip upon his throat, and, though he
struggles valiantly, he soon finds re.
siStancc to be useless. He feels that
death atarcs him in the face, but it
developed later that his nationality
preserved him from such danger.
II seemed that the authorities had
become suspicious and desired to eX-
might possess. They had no wish to
kill him. as his disappearance might
excite inquiry. They had not yet lost
al sense OF future danger.
They were averse to adopting any
ordinary means of torture. as it
might leave signs which would fortify
his subsequent complaint and cry foi
vengeance.
Therefore, with oriental subtlety,
they apply the sleep torture.
The sleep torture! Could mind OF
man conceive more cXcruciating ag-
ory? The victim is suspended in o
strong silicn net swung from the
ceiling by a slender cord of silk. 1t
eTcctually confines its tenant.
He is excessively wretched, for he
has inadequate room.
Attendants are in evidence whose
duty it is to prevent sleep. They are
not to permit moments uncon-
sciuu~ucss.
For more than As hours the prison
er has not slept. beginning at this
time, one OF the attendants who pos.
sessed psychic powers. thus describes
his sensations:
The man Is IN pain. His limbs ache. ="
Is oppressed with weariness. More - IL
this n dreadful destre overcomes hi' Z
+ Il lorgirg for sleep. He cries our MS
gods. but they 90 not answer. lie v lGers
Why this suffering has come rror m.
lie Erapples with it as with a mad ami
mol Stin there is no relief
Now he passes out OF this condition for
little while. lie becomes aware of bodily
suff ring more keen than all he has En-
Gured.
It comes first Just above the eyes. what
g that pain" h. cr'. :. A knife of molter
metal Is I'll Ist into his sl'u,l. The point
breaks and IS imbcdGeG there. 1t spr, dS
like quicksilver. His nerves shout and pro
tas' bi,' rly. The knife tries to regain its
point u trusts It's haft within the
wound The man feels such agony that his
languaga supplies no words. lie cannot
live nor die, he wonders If within his grasp
/ fuud has seized him
cannot tell more for the man has no
thoughts, The Hoiseless lips with which
Ia, brain would speak are closed, and on
ti IL o" comes n seal. coined with blood,
marked with unknown signs
Now the man thinks again. Riding upon
lis Hos be sees faint spocks They are
soft nd black like those of SCOT So soft
they are that pain IS not. Yet they be
wilder and confuse. They increase to mil
Mons. from out the upper lid in troopng
horI,s they pour, and falling down con-
.ceal the wOr.c. He thinks they come from
furnaces within his temples, whose fires
,'o uIcsas'HS.E this procession of gloom.
-" prdyS for change, and answering his
prayer change coNes quickly Each speCk
takes upon It a brighter hue. and in a mo-
II "t a tirge Of fir, peryades them all.
iA NUN with glowing flames and now
..' eyes are scorchrd and scanned with
scars. ''''
Ills thoughts change so that he for
gets his visions. How he longs for
S.Dnp.
Fires burn up his blood. The
room swings around him. No. it
is he who reels and turns. He thinks
that he stands upon one foot so
that on. the heel rests upon the
floor. The other foot is lost and