Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-03-26
CHAPTER XVII.

some means or other he succeeded IN
convincing us that we were too late
for the train to Shanghai, and per-
suaded us to save time by making the
trip in fast yacht he provided for us.
We never saw Shanghai. This is the
place we were brought to. We were
not killed, for some reason or other.
But everything was done to me that
would almost kill me, and yet let me
live. I suppose Ralston had the same
experience. 1 understood from yell
low fend, who fed and also tortured
me, that we were to be held alive un-
til the return of Gambok Smell"
"Gambok Smell is dead. You would
have waited long time for him. The
miscreant died by my hand"
We had reached the north tower.
We entered Oh the ground floor. 1t
was dark and gloomy. l had never
been there before. Garu-Saak led
the way with torch. Behind him
went three others with torches. Then
came Langston, Captain Harwood and
myself.
'T see no sign of dungeon" I
said. "Langston, you must be mis-
taken"
"No, I am not. located the place
too we'll to be mistaken. Under the
tower nearest the sea. l know it is
here somewhere. "
"Here is hole leading to a floor
below this" said Garu-Saak.
''Can we get through it?" asked.
"I think so. / will lead the way"
He led us into a damp, stone cellar.
It was q small apartment, from which
led three iron doors. Two of these
were shut, and one was open.
"This is the place" said Langston,
shuddering, as if with some horrible
recollection. "That open cell is mine.
When my keeper came to feed me, /
strangled him and fed. Oh! Don't
ask me how / reached the ship that
lay at the wharf yonder. I could not
tell. But [ got there. I hid myself
in her hold until she landed. Happily,
it was at Hong Kong. But my story
will keep. I think Ralston is behind
one of those doors. Ralston! Ralston!
Do you hear me?"
Langston's voice rang through the
grewsome place, but it brought no an
swer.
"Garu- -Saak, can these doors be
broken down?" ! asked.
"No, sire; they are very strong.
They can be cut away, but it will take
time"
"There are keys to these DOORS"
said Langston. "The fellow who
came to feed me every day had a bunch
of big keys. But 1 don't know where
they were kept"
"The Chinaman who fed you may
be among our prisoners, / said.
eff he is, his throat must be made
of iron. 1 left him for dead" said
Langston grimly.
II have an idea. We will go into
the palace and have all the male pris-
oners brought before us. If your
jailer is alive, you may find him
among them"
"The scoundrels all look alike to
me-" said Captain Harwood.
II could tell this fellow among
Million" replied Langston. "He had
q most fiendish face. 1t is one that
could not easily be forgotten. The ex-
pertinent is worth trying,at any rate.
We proceeded to climb the stone
steps out of the dungeon, and [ or
dered Garu- -Saak to have the prisoners
brought before us, in the long corridor.
I led the way thither.
As we passed the door of the execu-
tive room, said:
"There is the blood of Hen Kohl.
Your shot came through that broken
window"
"And good shot it was, too," re-
piled the captain.
The prisoners could be heard shuf-
fling along on the stone floor. 1t was
not pleasing sight when the dirty
creatures came filing before us. They
had about them look suggestive of
crime and an odor suggestive of
opium. Bah! [ felt not throb of
pity for all those we had sent to their
last accounts. And these were the
criminals of Pekins! They had been
masters of Talmooch for twenty years.
Preceded and followed by a strong
guard, they filed in and lined up be-
fore us.
"Now pick out your man," I said to
Langston.
The poor fellow looked weak and
dwarfed. He scanned the faces of the
prisoners closely, shaking his head
as he turned from one to another.
"This is the fellow" he said point
ing to one of them. "'That tiend
knows all about the dungeons and
about us. I am almost glad l didn't
kill him."
The face of the Chinaman to whom
he pointed was face that, once seen,
could never be forgotten.
The eyes were cruel and cunning.
The mouth was murderous in its ex-
preston. When followed Lang
ston's finger, and my eye hit upon
that devilish face, my heart almost
stopped beating.
It was the imp had seen in San
Francisco, in the house i'll Sand
Street, in the room with Annie Raj
ston.
NV blood rose hot within me when
recognized him. I strobe forward,
caught him by the neck and hurled
him out of the line.
To nIx s..Nx l.