The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

should ever comei We mustered twen-
ty men, four OF the priests belonging
within the temple walls having bolted
out OF the gates with the others, now
doubtless. prisoners, though 1 thought
Ling and Ii were secretly hoping that
they had gone to summon help.
The work went on more rapidly than
] feared il would, the aperture above
the box being found quite completed.
Slowly we lifted the dead weight by
sheer strength of arm and shoulder,
and, once in the narrow hallway, we
made a quick Journey TO the second
opening. and there lifted il again. ST.
iently We laid the treasured coffin or
the Queen in the area of the temple,
and covered it with a drapery made OF
the great curtain which had formerly
hung before the inner court.
This done. 1 bethought me of another
duty, and quickly let myself down into
the lower hallway, Fastening toward
the bloody antechamber. As l de-
scended the stone steps the skirt OF a
Quelpartien robe disappeared through
the door toward which 1 was hurrying.
Placing my hand on my revolver / went
on without fiinching. 1t was General
Ling, moved TO come here by a similar
motive. Together we moved the body
to the bed. and Ling (for I could no)
arranged il in proper position there.
He then came out with me, and de-
scended the wide stone steps weeping.
/ made a hurried round of our
guards. All was quiet No one had
appeared, though we could hear foot
steps of sentries without, walking
guard about the walls. and now and
again we heard stones rolling from the
sides of the canyon: when IL became
evident that our court was being
watched from those heights, the carry
ing of torches was forbidden.
returned to the temple. had con-
sidered the whole situation and had
determined, myself, to make the at
tempt 10 summon assistance. The offi-
GERS had just ended a discussion as /
entered, and 1 found had been antici-
pated. for messengers were to be
chosen by lot until an answer was re-
ceived from without. 1 went TO Ii and
quickly put an end to this arrange
ment.
You may draw my name first. Colo
mel Lii" said. "for 1 shall be the first
10 CO."
The good man raised his hands to
object, but / would not let him inter-
rupt. II can get through if another
can." continued, and. cnce through.
1 can quickest get our yacht into SER
vice and reach Wun Chow and my Co.'S
sacks"
But, sir" broke in rough old Ling,
you are more likely to drop dead in
your tracks once over the wall"
"As well dead there as here" said.
as grufly.
"Or captured alive and" This was
from Ii. He did not finish. for he saw
me start.
"Faugh." ] burst out. partly for my
own encoura cement Cfor LIS sugges-
tion would have daunted a more head
strong man even than MYSELF, Il do
not fear the towards. Moreover, for
eigner would fare better in their hands
than native
Ii, who knew me best. yielded first;
then Ling acquiesced, but inconsolable,
as one could well see. l guessed at a
selfish reason and spoke to him, and
what I said struck home.
IF 1 get through It will make your
son a captain. Let US not both die-for
his sake"
SO it came about that / attempted the
Journey down the cliffs of Lynx Island
that night, though il was certain, as old
Ling said while he helped me get ready
that / was running a most murderous
gauntlet. But in my heart ! preferred
It TO remaining in the temple. In such
times am quite a coward if ! cannot
be in action-msny a man has led a
rout because he could not lead a
charge.
AS ] crossed the court in the dark
ness the nearest sentry was standing
still, listening, and Ling. Ii and I
stopped, too. Now and again The
tramping Of many feet approached the
wall. retiring Immediately, but to re-
turn again. 1t was quite unintellisi-
BILE to me, but I noticed the men were
anxious that / be gone. / crossed to
the farther wall. where all was still.
AS the sentry without trudged by to-
ward the corner, ! sprang upon a
straw-thatched roof and climbed from
it TO the wall. where lay down, look
ing over. Nothing was audible save
the tread of the returning sentry. His
head was five feet below me. ] leaned
further over TO add my arms length
TO that of my sword. Unconscious Of
his peril, the fool walked under me.
and then sank lifeless to the ground
without a groan.
fell after him and not an instant
too soon, for at that moment a form
came quickly to the corner and. utter
ing a single but piercing exclamation.
fed into the darkness. / stopped once
to listen. All heard was the sound OF
rolling stones started from their places
by my feet.
But il was not my duty to inquire
into the method OF the campaign con-
Quoted by the besiegers of the temple.
Ny duty was to get my Cossacks at
the earliest possible moment, and
ran on to the crest Of the canyon. where
I paused to breathe before risking my
life on the cliffs below. The hillside
was all rocks. One by one I reached
for them and slid and fell forward to
the next, sometimes with good fortune.
but more often evil. Now and again I
paused in my fight to gain my breath,
or measure the extent of my latest in
jury.