TREACHERY OF THE GUIDE.--THE PRINCESS SEIZED BY ROBBERS.
After a sojourn of three days in this hiding-place their provisions grew
short; moreover, it was probable that the enemy had left the village,
if, indeed, they had not taken their departure upon the first day;
therefore, it was arranged that one of the party should proceed upon a
tour of observation, and as the guide not only volunteered, but from his
profession seemed to be the most fitting person, he was sent. After an
absence of some hours, he brought them the information that not only had
the enemy left the neighborhood, but there was plenty of game at hand,
the great proof of which was the carcass of a yellow goat that he
carried across his shoulders; and so joyful was Nicholas at the news,
that he proposed their immediate departure.
"It would not be wise, O my young friend, for these thieves are artful,
and may be only lurking near till they can pounce upon us like tigers,"
said the innkeeper.
This advice being reasonable, and, fearing more for the princess than
himself, Nicholas readily agreed to remain for a few more days; but
then, tired of confinement, and knowing that one small kid would be
insufficient, he took his bow in his hands, saying, "Leave not this
place, O Chow, till I return."
"This may not be, O my master, for while here, there are two men, and a
strong room to protect the ladies; among the hills it will be as much as
two can do to protect each other from strolling thieves," said Chow;
which reasonable view, being supported by the princess and the
innkeeper, Nicholas was compelled, although against his will, to comply
with; and so the two youths started off in company.
Along mountain ridges, through valleys, and up steep crags, they toiled
for some hours without meeting man or beast. At length, however, as they
crossed a small hill covered with trees there was a rustling among the
underwood, and they heard the grunt of some animal. "It is a boar,
prepare thy bow," said Nicholas.
"No, no, master, no; he is running from us," said Chow, who was upon
higher ground and could see better. "See," he added, as Nicholas came by
his side, "he is sniffing something good; what can it be?" For a minute
they watched the animal, who was quietly sniffing the ground near a
small opening of the mountain. "See, he seeks the entrance, we must not
lose him," said Nicholas; and in another minute the boar fell over with
an arrow in his side when, drawing his sword, Nicholas ran up to it. The
animal, however, was too quick, for instead of being unduly alarmed at
the sudden attack, like a sensible beast, he had, with his teeth,
plucked the arrow from his body; an operation he effected so quickly,
that before Nicholas could stop, the boar met him half-way, tripped him
over, and, placing his huge paws upon the boy's face, would speedily
have killed him, but for another arrow which Chow had sent through the
brute's thick neck.
"That was a good aim, my brave Chow," said Nicholas, as he arose, and
passed his sword through the beast.
"The obstinacy of thy servant in coming with thee was good, O noble
Nicholas."
"Thou shalt be rewarded with a leg, at least," said Nicholas.
Thus satisfied with their foraging expedition, they carried the animal
between them till they came within a short distance of the refuge, when
they stopped to rest; but, starting suddenly Chow said, "Let us listen;"
and both put their ears to the ground. "Surely, it is plain, it is the
trampling of a large party of horses," replied Nicholas, rising to his
feet and running up a steep hill, "still there is nothing to be seen, no
living being--yet," he added, "it was the trampling of horses."
"It can not be otherwise," said Chow.
"Let us haste, then, O Chow!" and leaving the carcass of the boar upon
the ground, they ran till they reached the cavern. The camel and mules
were gone--their worst fears were confirmed; and Nicholas ascended the
stairs, followed by Chow, entered the room, when involuntarily placing
his hand upon his forehead, as if to assist his astonished vision, he
gave a scream of horror.
As for Chow, for a minute his astonishment deprived him of speech; then,
falling upon his face, he exclaimed, "My beloved mother!"
Well might they be horrified, for the princess and her attendant were
absent; the innkeeper, his wife and daughter, and the guide, were bound
with cords and gagged, so that they could neither move nor speak.
While Nicholas released the innkeeper, Chow performed a like office for
the women, when they all fell upon the guide, thumping him with their
fists, kicking him with their feet, and exclaiming, "Thou rat, thou
snake, thou shalt be strangled." As for the miserable fellow, with his
limbs bound and his mouth gagged, he could do nothing but roll his eyes
at them. Then being released by Nicholas, he would have got upon his
legs but for Chow, who threw him upon his back, and, stamping his foot
upon his breast, cried, "Lie there, thou dog, for thou art the villain."
"It is not so, Chow, or he would not himself be so bound and gagged,"
said Nicholas.
"Nevertheless, he is the traitor; he it was who brought the soldiers
upon us, who discovered our retreat," said the innkeeper, giving the
prostrate rogue another kick.
"Open thy lips, thou rascal; say what has become of the two ladies, or I
will slay thee," said Nicholas.
"Speak, thou rogue," said Chow, almost breathless with anxiety.
"Truly it was the misfortune and not the crime of thy servant; for had
he not been chosen as thy guide, this thing could not have happened,"
replied the trembling fellow.
"Open thy lips to a purpose, thou rogue; give me a clue to the track of
these robbers, and thy life shall be spared," said Nicholas, more
anxious to rescue the princess than to punish the guide, who, gaining
courage from the promise, said, "Truly, then, the princess is on her way
to the camp of the Emperor."
This was too much for Nicholas, who fell upon the man, and would have
killed him, but for Chow, who, in his turn, becoming more calm, said,
"Let the rogue earn his life by enabling us to follow these thieving
rats."
Perceiving the wisdom of this, Nicholas removed his hand from the throat
of the rogue, who said, "Truly this is a heavy misfortune; for till thy
servant left this place, he intended no mischief, when in the mountains
he met with a party of soldiers, who have been pursuing us all the way
from Kin-Chow for the purpose of earning the reward offered for the
princess."
"How is this possible, thou rogue?" said Nicholas.
"On the day of the festival, these soldiers landed on their way to
gather troops for the service of the Emperor Li, whom they were ordered
to join on the borders of the province; on the same day that thy outrage
upon the person of my uncle, the innkeeper of Kin-Chow, was discovered,
and the venerable man in his indignation told the soldiers that the
princess, for whom so large a reward was offered, was on the road to
Lao-yang, accompanied by a woman, two youths, and his nephew, who might
be known by the name of Leang, and who would, doubtless, when he heard
of the affront put upon his uncle, aid in capturing the whole party. The
soldiers, anxious to obtain the reward, pressed forward with such haste,
that, but for our crossing the platform, they would have overtaken us,"
said the guide; adding, "And would that they had, for then thy servant
would have been innocent."
"If innocent, then, thou rogue, what hath since caused thee to become a
traitor," said Nicholas.
"When the soldiers informed the nephew of the affront offered to his
venerable uncle, how under heaven and the social laws could he refuse to
aid in the punishment of such offenders?"
"How came it, O thou great rogue, that the soldiers should repay thy
great services with so much ingratitude?"
"Truly thy mean servant is not a god, that he can foresee the
ingratitude of mankind."
"These are dog's words, O noble youth," said the innkeeper; adding,
"This fellow had promised the thieves to keep thee under some pretence
till they came up, when they intended to have sold thee as a slave; and
finding that they had missed a portion of their expected prize, partly
in their rage, and partly that the rogue should not claim a portion of
the reward, they first beat and then left him as you found him, not
doubting that upon your return you would kill so false a rascal."
"Shall we not kill the traitor, who has stolen my beloved mother and the
princess?" said Chow, very fiercely.
"Truly we will do better--make him useful," said Nicholas; adding, "Is
the rogue certain that these soldiers have proceeded to Lao-yang?"
"It must be so, for it is to that city the Emperor Li is marching to
besiege the rebel Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide.
"Thou rascal, to call so great a thief an emperor, and so great a
general a rebel," said Chow, menacing him with his fist; adding, as he
again bound his arms to his side, "Thou shalt at least be in safe
keeping till either the princess be discovered, or thy day arrives to be
strangled."
The excitement past, then came despair. The soldiers had stolen the
mules and camel; it was, therefore, useless to attempt to overtake them,
even if their numbers had been sufficiently large. What was to be done?
and they both sat with their heads upon their hands. Nothing! At length
Nicholas said, "Bring the rogue with us, we will seek the General
Woo-san-Kwei."
"The roads are dangerous, and may be filled with rebels," said the
innkeeper.
"Then must we fight our way through the vermin," said Nicholas.
"This rogue shall go before and get the first sword in his wretched
body," said Chow, jerking the rope by which he held the guide, whose
teeth chattered together with terror at the notion.
Then telling the innkeeper where to find the dead boar, Nicholas bade
him and his family farewell.
"May the great Tien aid thee!" said the woman.
"Leave us thy name, O noble youth, that it may be marked on the memories
of our descendants," said the innkeeper.
Nicholas took the man aside, and whispered in his ear.
"It is a terrible name," said the man, bowing his head to the ground.
"It is a good one, and the son will restore thee thy village, O worthy
man, if the rebels take not his life," said Nicholas.
"The princess, the princess, and my beloved mother," exclaimed Chow.
"Are protected by Heaven till we rescue them from the hands of the
villain Li," said Nicholas, and they proceeded on their journey.