PURSUED BY THE YAH-YU.--THE BOAT WRECK.
When the boat had run a sufficient distance from the prison, Sing, for
he it was who had so ably aided in the escape, putting a pole in the
hands of Nicholas, and taking one himself, they forced the little craft
along the waters with the greatest possible speed. As for Chow, not
finding another pole, and resolved not to be left out of the good work,
he took off his boots, threw his legs over the stern, and helped to
propel the boat by paddling against the water with his feet. By these
means, in a very short time, they arrived at the back of Sing's house,
which fortunately faced the canal. It was thus, indeed, that the
innkeeper had been enabled to pass to the prison in the little san-pan
which he had borrowed from a friendly boatman.
Going into the house to caution his wife against feeling alarmed at his
probably prolonged absence, he left them for a few minutes, and when he
returned they had no small cause to rejoice at his thoughtfulness, for
his wife had just heard from one of the prison attendants, who lived at
the inn, that about half an hour after their escape the relief guard of
gaolers had discovered their absence, and sent a body of yah-yu, both by
land and water, to recapture them.
"By the toe of the Emperor, the villain god has deceived me, for he
promised a fortunate day," said Chow.
"It is thy head and heart, and not the foolish images, that have
hitherto helped thee, Chow. We will now trust to the same aids, and by
the assistance of the One true God, these rogues shall not overtake us,"
said Nicholas.
"The noble youth is brave, but he may not perform impossibilities,"
replied Sing.
"Truly it is not far to the river," said Nicholas.
"The river!" exclaimed Sing, with affright. "Truly Fo himself could not
make a boat live upon the river such a night as this, at the full of the
moon."
"It is our only safety, for these rascal yah-yu dare not follow," said
Nicholas, who regarded the great and dangerous waters of the river as
his native element, adding, "If thou, Chow, but show a brave heart."
"Truly, my master, Chow fears not men, but surely it would be a vile
thing to anger the god of the waters, who may this night swallow all who
dare to pass from the estuary."
"Art thou an idiot, that after the exhibition at the monastery, the
folly of these toy gods of the bonzes is not imprinted upon thine
eyeballs?" said Nicholas, adding angrily, "But if thou fearest, hide
thee with the good Sing, and thy master will brave the torrents alone."
"This thing may not be, O noble Nicholas, for rather than leave thee,
thy servant would be a hundred times swallowed by Yen-Vang himself,"
said Chow.
"Thou art brave, youth, and may it please Fo to conduct thee safely to
thy journey's end," said Sing, adding with alarm, "But see, yonder is
the boat of the yah-yu, for surely no other would be in motion at this
hour of the night."
"Then," said Nicholas, looking at a red light which appeared to be fixed
at the prow of a moving boat, "we must labor for our lives, Chow."
Then taking a silent but hearty farewell of the innkeeper, the youths
clutched the poles and in another minute they were gliding along the
water street unheeded, except by the watchmen, whose questions they
answered with a few copper coins, and they pushed on through the dark
night, till nearly worn out with the exertion. The fact, however, that
they were toiling for their lives, lent them additional strength, so
after a short rest, away they went again in right good earnest; then the
hum of distant voices floated through the night air. Resting for a
moment Chow placed his ear near to the water, saying, "Truly they are
following us, but more, my master, we are near the great dike, which it
would be as easy to pass as to swallow a mountain."
"Courage, O Chow, let us pass the dike, and the rats will never overtake
us," said Nicholas, toiling harder than ever at the pole.
This dike or sluice divided from the canal the waters of the river which
Nicholas had been so anxious to reach, but as Chow knew they could not
get the boat hauled over by Coolies at that hour of the night, he could
perceive nought but a barrier that by arresting their progress, must put
them in the hands of their enemies; still not liking to disobey, he
toiled at his pole, and speedily the boat came alongside some twenty
others, which had arrived too late to be hauled over that night.
Nicholas, however, knowing the influence of money, determined to get
over the difficulty. So fetching the lantern from the cabin, he so
shaded its light with his robe, that while it could not be seen by their
pursuers, he could see moored some distance from them a little fleet of
san-pans. This he had expected, so gently pushing the boat alongside one
of them he tapped upon the egg-like roof, and in another minute a man
put out his head, when putting a piece of silver in his hand, as an
earnest of a greater reward, the boatman acquiesced, and in a few
minutes more he had aroused some of his fellows, who very nimbly set
about mooring their boats till they had drawn them across the canal, so
as to form a barricade, in the event of the enemy making its appearance;
after which the boatman fastened a stout rope around the stern of the
boys' boat, got into his own, and cautioning them to hold on by the roof
of the cabin, with the assistance of some dozen of his mates in their
boats, forced the little craft to the summit of the stone slope, when
all clinging to the rope, let her slide gently down the other side into
the river, when silently the san-pans moved back to their moorings, so
that upon their arrival at the dike the yah-yu must have been strangely
puzzled at the boy's escape from their clutches.
The dangers of the river, however, were far greater than Nicholas had
calculated, for the great stream upon whose bosom they had embarked, was
at times as tempestuous as the ocean, and they possessed neither oars
nor sails; as for the poles, the great depth of the river rendered them
useless. Again, the night was so dark, that except by the feeble light
of their lantern they could not see each other's faces; their only
consolation was, that the waters were then as smooth and tranquil as
those of the canal, except that a rapid current seemed to be sweeping
them along without an effort of their own.
"May the great god Fo protect us against Ma-tsoo-po, to whom we can
offer no incense," said Chow.
"How! Can it be that one so brave on land should be so great a coward
upon water?" said Nicholas.
"Truly it is a maxim, my master that, 'all are cowards who can't help
themselves.' Chow in the waters would be less than the least of little
fishes, for he cannot swim," was the gloomy reply.
"It is also a maxim, 'that the gods forsake those who forsake
themselves,'" said Nicholas, adding, "But it is fatigue, my poor Chow,
that destroys thy courage; get thee, therefore, into the cabin and rest
for a time, while I keep watch."
"Nay, Fo protect us, or we are food for the favorites of the god of the
waters," replied Chow, as the boat at that moment made a tremulous
movement, which so alarmed Nicholas, that clutching hold of Chow's arm,
he said, "Now put forth all thy energies or we are lost, for the 'bore'
is upon us."
This was sufficient, for in the presence of real danger Chow soon drove
away the troubled fancies of his brain.
"The poles are our only chance," said Nicholas, and, quickly as thought,
they fastened their poles to the sides, so that they stretched out like
two great arms. "Let us but keep our whole weight steadily upon the
handles, and we may keep her course straight," said Nicholas; and no
sooner had they thrown themselves across the poles than a noise like
that of distant thunder rumbled through the air; it was the great tide
wave rolling like a mountain toward them. Now they could not escape; so,
commending their souls to Heaven, they awaited its approach with
suspended breath. It came, and, with a roar, caught up the boat,
carrying it to a height of fifty feet; in another second the boys were
covered with a cold sweat at the narrowness of their escape, which had
been owing to their precaution. Then followed a calm, as if the anger of
the watery element had subsided. The boys slackened their hold of the
poles, and so they continued for two hours, going they knew not whither.
Suddenly the boat began to rock.
"To your pole, Chow," cried Nicholas. No sooner had he complied, than
they found they had entered upon a rapid, for the little craft shot
forth almost with the velocity of an arrow. Then came the first faint
streaks of daybreak, and they trembled, for they saw that they had
entered a narrow creek. "Steady, for our lives, there is hope yet, for
yonder vessel may see us," said Nicholas. The vessel to which he alluded
was a large junk, so skilfully handled that she seemed to be stemming
the torrent. Gaining hope, the boys clung to their only chance, namely,
keeping the poles in their fixed positions. Another half hour, however,
and their strength became exhausted, the poles quivered, the boys felt
they could not hold out much longer; still another determined effort;
their minds lent strength to their limbs. Then the first light of the
sun, an eastern sun, shone upon the junk, and disclosed a huge painted
eye (the government emblem), at the sight of which, and screaming aloud
"The yah-yu!" Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being
thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas
snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel. They were in a
whirlpool--nothing could save them--then came a fearful crash, and
neither Chow nor Nicholas could distinguish more.