The San Francisco call., 1904-04-10
CHAPTER VII.
A LAST SERVICE.


A LAST SERVICE.
AS we assembled to the temple Gener.
al Ling explained the plan which had
been formulated by the high priests
subject to the approval of Colonel Lii
The final service in the temple had beer
set for two o'clock on the next day, as
have said, and in the meantime every
preparation for the removal of the sar-
cophagus was to be made-hoors
opened, doors widened, trusses built
After the service, and not until then
were the priests to be made aware OF
the presence of the sarcophagus, and on
their shoulders 1t was to be brought ur
into the temple. Although Colonel
Oranoff had informed me that a new
sarcophagus would await the body al
the Russian Legation in Keinning, lest
the one at at Lynx Island be injured
during the transfer, General Ling had
already made a great wooden case in
which to place it preparatory to its re-
moval. The total burden would be
eight hundred pounds, which, he af-
f1rmed, could be borne down the face of
the hill by the fifty priests, with the aid
of blocks and tackling, without danger
to the sarcophagus, even IL the outer
case should be marred.
In this, as in all else, General Ling
seemed to be a most sensible and faith
full servant of the King. We had
reached the foot of the ladder which
would take US again to the temple
shrine, when the man suddenly sank to
the floor and he grasped my hand as 1
put one foot on the ladder. l turned,
and, from being the cool, far-seeing.
resolute man 1 had thought him, he
seemed to become a child as ne fairly
sobbed to me:
''Sir, you cannot guess what terrible
years these have been. Here, with only
fifty men, have been placed to watch"
and he nodded toward the room from
which We had come-"that which is
more precious to the King than life it
self. You may or may not know why.
The first year l could scarcely sleep,
for when / did, a sound as of distant
thunder came to my ears, and for days
thereafter ] could close my eyes no
more" Tears were running down the
poor mans pallid cheeks as he spoke.
But finally / learned TO sleep. sir, with
both eyes open, sitting upright at my
table. on which / balanced myself with
my elbows. But why do 1 tell you this?
that you may mention my faithful
ness to the King. OF it he knows little
more than my success. ] would that he
knew the fears 1 have undergone for
his sake and the eternal vigilance with
which his secret has been guarded. I
have become an old man in these forty
months and have little longer to live. l
have a son-Kin Ling, in the Quelparte
army. Tell the King he will serve him
faithfully as / have, and even uptil
death
There was something besides the
pathos of the mans plea that touched
me, the sense of the Justice of the
great reward which he seemed to feel
was due his laborious service. And he
asked it not for himself, but for an only
son. / promised then and there to
speak to the King" though / used the
words merely in the conventional sense.
He was pleased, and we ascended into
the lighter dimness of the temple, but
no one being in sight, as we entered the
inner court, 1 paused, fer 1 too had
to say:
But during these years, General
Ling, have there not been many whom
you have suspected of treachery?"
Yes, sir" he answered as quickly
and as frankly. Il have suspected all
but myself
Colonel Lip" / suggested.
Yes. Colonel Lii" he responded; then
he added after a pause and a shrewd
turn of his head: But not so much as
you"
You may trust me-" l said, holding
out my hand. He clasped it tightly,
for on my honor and faithfulness hung
the success or failure Of all these long
nights and days of watching, and he
answered almost pitifully:
There is nothing else to do
AS we entered the area without the
temple Colonel Ii appeared with the
horses, but / had other plans which
| communicated to him, and he rode off
alone. Calling General Ling, l asked
him to pilot me down the mountain
path.
Passing outside the monastery walls,
[ was taken to I footpath which went
down the rocky side of the canyon,
doubling back on itself frequently to
accomplish the feat. Once on the crest
Of the rocks the view was enhancing.
for the sun was just setting in the
mountains beyond Wun Chow The
bay below. so perfect in outline and
ovely in color. seemed a great opal in
he quiet, dying light. From a certain
raft just leaving the little pier at
Wun Chow, a weird sound came. A
stately figure in white was standing in
he prov beating a flabby drum, behind
which dozen men pulled at their oars.
irving the barge slowly across the bay.
General Ling informed me that this
ceremony was performed at the be-
ginning of each native month to keep
he devils of the sea from entering the
larbor.