The Secret of the Ruins
Blank despair was written on the faces of the Professor and his party as
columns of suffocating smoke were swept into their quarters; for all
realised that in a very short space of time they would be smothered.
More than that, the flames had now got such a hold of the bales of straw
and fodder that the heat was terrible, driving every member of the party
into the farthest corner, and even causing the enemy outside hastily to
retreat up the stairway. And there, at the summit, looking down into the
excavations which exposed this small portion of the ancient ruins they
gloated over the foreign devils and their helpers, shrieking in their
mad delight, and bawling every insult that their degraded minds could
think of.
'I fear it looks like a case with us,' gasped the Professor, tying a
handkerchief about his mouth and nose, an example which the others were
swift to follow. 'We're in a horrible trap, with no way out of it, I
fear.'
'Unless, monsieur, we could dash at the barrier and kick all the bales
aside,' said Alphonse, coughing violently, for the exceeding pungency of
the smoke made breathing difficult and speech next door to impossible.
'I am ready to make the attempt. It is better than being scorched here
in this corner.'
At once he started forward, and with him Dick Cartwell, both eager to do
something. But who could face such dense smoke, or the hot flames which
poured in over the top of the barrier? Not Alphonse, even with all his
dash and pluck. Nor Dick, with his reckless disregard of the
consequences.
'It is sad but inevitable then,' declared Alphonse, with a resigned
shrug of his shoulders. 'Monsieur, I have the honour to bid you
farewell. I lose a good and generous master.'
'And I a brave and willing servant. But, Alphonse, where is Monsieur
David? I have not seen him since we retired from the barrier, and the
smoke is so thick now over there that one can see nothing. Where is the
lad? I begin to feel anxious.'
It was like the Professor to think of his comrades at such a time. But
the question brought a shout from Dick.
'He's over here, sir,' he called out 'As soon as they fired the bales I
saw him dart back into the room, and couldn't imagine why. Running away
from the thick of an attack isn't like him. David, where are you?'
'Here,' came the crisp and half-stifled answer, while the figure of our
hero loomed darkly before them, his face muffled in the half of a
garment which he had secured from somewhere. 'Come along this wall of
the room with me. I realised when they fired that heap of stuff that our
position would be untenable, and went to the men who have been working.
They have managed to break a hole through the wall, and one has just
slipped to the other side. Of course, if the place is filled with sand
we can do nothing. I have hopes, though, that it will be clear, for how
else could he have been able to pass through.'
Choking and coughing the party crept along the wall, keeping close to
the base; for the smoke rose to the ceiling, and the latter being of
great height gave it space in which to distribute itself. But in spite
of that, the supply of air down below was small, to say the least of it.
They had hardly proceeded more than ten feet when there came a cry of
triumph from a point just in front of them, while the click of a metal
instrument was heard.
'Come quickly. Come, Excellencies,' called the voice of the head man who
controlled the excavators. 'Our comrade reports that the far side is
quite clear. Some one has been at work there before us. Let us pass
through at once, else we shall be suffocated.'
The words brought them rushing forward, and a gust of wind happening at
that moment to sweep the smoke and flames away from the room, all saw
that a hole had been cut through the wall, which being massively built,
had resisted the efforts of a number of men armed with crow-bars for
some time, but once the first stones were removed the rest was easy. The
Professor took in the situation at a glance.
'I believe this will save the situation,' he cried, snapping his
fingers, and then coughing so violently that his remarks came to a
sudden ending. However, in a few moments he had regained his breath.
'See for yourselves,' he shouted, showing greater excitement than David
had ever seen him display before. 'The draught enters by this hole, and
is already sweeping the smoke from our quarters. It is driving the
flames out into the covered way. Now, let the men pass through as
quickly as possible. I shall stay here and attempt to save our goods and
chattels.'
'And I too,' declared David, overjoyed that his men had been so
successful. 'There are also the ponies; the poor beasts are up there in
the far corner and must be almost stifled. Still, as we have lived
through it, so also may they.'
'Monsieur, I also shall remain,' announced Alphonse. 'You will need
helpers. I will go to the ponies.'
And go he did, with Dick creeping through the smoke after him. As for
David, he seized a crow-bar, and with the help of others attacked the
wall furiously. Meanwhile every one of the men who had joined them in
such great haste that morning, and who to do them but justice, had shown
a brave front, and had done their utmost to help in the defence, crept
through the gap in the wall, each man carrying something with him. Jong
and his friends too, made the most of the time at their disposal. Now
that the smoke was clearing, and the heat decidedly less, they bustled
about, gathering the belongings of the party, and were soon passing them
through to their comrades on the far side.
'You can take it more easily now, David, lad,' sang out the Professor.
'This gap has checkmated the attempts of those fellows. There's a
perfect gale coming through, and one can see nicely now, and feel quite
comfortable in this atmosphere. It'll be an eye-opener to the enemy to
discover us gone when the flames die down. Ah, here's Alphonse and
Dick.'
One by one the latter led the ponies towards the gap, many of the poor
beasts being almost exhausted. But they were able to use their legs, and
were soon forced through to the far side. Then Dick and Alphonse
followed David, and lastly, the Professor crept through the gap.
'Now pile all the stones into the hole again,' said our hero,
superintending the job. 'As soon as the place is cool enough those
gentlemen will return, and we shall want another barrier. Quick with it.
Those bales are nearly burned out now, and a starving mob don't wait for
much. A little heat under foot will be nothing if they can only appease
their hunger. Poor beggars! I'm sorry for them. But then, what would you
have? This is a case of saving one's self.'
Less than ten minutes later a man descended the stairway, and peeped
over the barrier. His shout of amazement brought a crew of cut-throats
racing after him; then such yells of anger and disappointment arose as
they discovered the chamber empty that the men who had joined the
Professor that morning were terrified. There was a determined rush for
the gap, now more than half-filled, a rush which Chu-Li and two of his
comrades checked instantly. Indeed, the enemy bolted at once from the
chamber.
'Pick off every man you can see,' said David, staring over the barrier
of stones. 'Don't let any one enter the room. This is a much easier
place to defend than the other. Ah! They're moving. What new game are
they up to?'
The whole party listened to the shouts of the enemy, and were amazed to
see them bolting from the covered way. Chu-Li slid through the gap like
an eel, and ran to the door. Then he waved his arms frantically, and
rushed back to his comrades.
'They are bolting, Excellencies!' he shouted. 'They are completely gone.
I heard firing above, and caught sight of several soldiers. I believe a
relief party has arrived.'
Five minutes later there was no doubt of the fact, for when the
Professor and his staff clambered up the stairway there was a troop of
Chinese cavalry drawn up. Not a troop of men armed with ancient bows and
arrows, but soldiers that China is training now-a-days, armed with
modern weapons, equipped to the last button, able to manoeuvre with
the best. A dapper little officer spurred forward, saluted in German
style, and at once addressed the Professor in the purest English.
'I have the honour to speak with the Professor who undertakes
excavations, is it not so?' he demanded. 'Then let me explain. Five
thousand troops were sent into these parts by His Excellency, Twang
Chun, to arrest the movement of people from the plague-stricken country,
and to break up the gangs of half-starved and dangerous men prowling
about. I heard yesterday that a mob had passed west with the intention
of evading me. I rode this way before sunrise, and met your messenger. I
have the pleasure to find that I am in time.'
Near at hand the remainder of the gang which had attacked the party at
the ruins were huddled together in a forlorn group, surrounded by
soldiers, while the plain was dotted with the bodies of those who had
shown fight, and had fallen. It was clear, in fact, that the danger had
passed altogether.
'I give you the thanks of every one here,' said the Professor, gripping
the little officer's hand. 'You came in time and have done us a great
service. Step down below and see what happened.'
'Truly, you put up a fine defence,' declared the commander of the troop
of horsemen, as he inspected the chamber below. 'That gap undoubtedly
saved the situation, and not my arrival. Still, those desperate men
would have fought on till you or they were conquered. I am vastly
interested in this work which you have undertaken. How strange that you
should have hit upon another part from which all debris had been
cleared?'
It was more than strange; it was almost beyond belief. For when the
matter came to be thoroughly investigated the Professor declared that
they had stumbled upon the path by which Edward Harbor had gained
entrance to the interior parts of the ruins.
'The whole thing is perfectly clear,' he said. 'He excavated a few yards
to our right, and gained a spot at the back of the chamber in which we
took refuge. Some of his diggers also worked on our side, but ceased,
perhaps because the prospect was more promising elsewhere. To-morrow we
will pursue the search more thoroughly.'
Let the reader imagine what a condition of excitement David was thrown
into when it became established without shadow of doubt that he was
actually treading in the steps his father had followed. For three days
after the attack made by the band of Chinese he worked with the
excavators, removing debris from parts which had evidently been cleared
not so long ago, but to which the wind had again swept masses of sand.
It was remarked, also, that on this side no objects of art or of any
value were come upon.
'Been removed by those before us, proving we are in their works,' said
the Professor. 'This is indeed most interesting. It must have been here
that your father made that will, David, and here also, alas, that he
lost his life. Chang fell upon him in the ruins, I am told, and even
secreted his gains in these parts. Be patient, lad. Something may yet
come of this quest of yours, though one can hardly hope that it is
possible.'
On the morning of the fourth day the excavators came to a wall which had
been broken through, and on passing to the far side discovered another
covered way, as dark as pitch, but altogether free of sand and debris.
David led them eagerly till they came to a part where the ruins had
fallen in entirely, and where sand blocked their path. But three hours'
work cleared it, and allowed them to proceed, there being still evidence
of the fact that others had been before them. It was with a sudden
fluttering of the heart that he realised that they were passing
somewhere near to that tower which had so often attracted his notice.
And then he gave vent to a shout of amazement; for undoubtedly
excavators had been before them. The covered way led beneath the walls
surrounding the tower into a wide, open space, from which the height of
the surrounding walls had kept more than a little sand blowing. There
was a wide doorway at the foot of the tower, the posts of which were
tottering, while, now that he was so close, he observed that the
original crown of the tower had gone, and one wall, the far one,
crumbled away entirely. But the fallen stones helped to form a chamber,
and that was piled with objects of every description.
'Here, undoubtedly, were stored all the bronzes which your father
unearthed,' said the Professor, surveying the scene and inspecting the
objects. 'This is a find, though it makes one feel sad, remembering what
misfortune befell him. Ah! As I live, that is baggage.'
There was not a doubt about it. The sandy surroundings had preserved
things wonderfully, and in one corner, covered with dust, was
undoubtedly a pile of baggage, while there were cases galore, a box of
cash for the payment of the workers, arms, and a hundred other things.
'Here you see the items for which that scoundrel Chang committed the
foul murder,' declared the Professor. 'David, Dick, we will see into
that baggage.'
More than one of the trio trembled as the locks were broken. For the
first time for many a day David wore a pasty complexion. There was a
subdued air of excitement about the lad which his comrades felt rather
than saw. Then there came a sharp exclamation from the Professor as the
last of the cases was opened, the others having been found to contain
clothing only. There was a tin despatch-box nestling in one corner. He
dragged it out and presented it to our hero.
'It belonged to your father; it is yours,' he said kindly. 'Open, lad.
We will leave you if you wish it.'
'Stay, please,' came the answer. 'If I am to enjoy success I shall want
your congratulations. If not, perhaps you will condole with me. In any
case I have done what I decided was the right thing under the
circumstances. I have come to this spot to set at rest a dispute which
has been a good deal more than bitter.'
Cool and calm now that he was faced with the despatch-box, David broke
the lock by inserting the edge of a spade beneath the lid. Then he
slowly withdrew the contents.
'Five pounds in English coin, two notes of the value of fifty pounds,
and a draft on a bank at Hong-Kong,' he said, his tones not in the least
ruffled. 'A packet of letters tied with string. One to my stepmother. I
shall hope to deliver it. One to myself. I am glad. Perhaps you will
excuse my opening it at the moment. And one to Mr. Jones, his solicitor.
Nothing else, Professor.'
'Open the last of the letters then, lad. Open! Open!' cried the leader
of the party eagerly. 'If that does not contain the will, then look into
your own. Quick, boy! The suspense makes me nervous.'
He wiped his face with his handkerchief and then fixed his eyes on the
letters. David opened the one addressed to Mr. Jones, the friend who had
helped him so much in England, and smoothing out the sheet read the
contents slowly. 'It is a business letter purely,' he explained. 'This
is what my father says: "Dear Mr. Jones, I have to-day sent away under
separate cover the last will and testament I shall ever make, and you
will find that it is duly signed and attested. I need merely mention the
contents briefly, so that you may draft out something similar for my
inspection and signature on my return to England, for posts in this
country are precarious. I leave an annuity of five hundred pounds to my
wife. The rest in trust for my son, David, till he is twenty-five years
of age, when he will have it absolutely. Trusting this may find you
well, as it leaves me. Yours truly, Edward Harbor."'
Dick looked positively glum as he listened. 'Bad luck!' he exclaimed. So
the will's gone. Lost somewhere between this and Pekin.'
But the Professor chuckled loudly. 'That document is as good as any
other,' he cried. 'Put alongside with the letter which was before the
courts in England, it clearly shows Edward Harbor's wishes. See, it is
clearly dated. David, you are to be heartily congratulated.'
No need to say that our hero was delighted. It pleased him wonderfully
to know that in spite of many difficulties he had carried out his
intentions. He smiled even when he considered what his stepmother would
have to say, not a satirical smile, nor one of triumph, merely one
expressive of pleasure.
'She'll put it down to my obstinacy and to good luck,' he thought. 'She
won't know anything about the dangers and difficulties the Professor and
all of us have gone through. Heigho! I'm glad it has turned out like
this.'
Three months later he received a note from Mr. Jones in reply to the one
he had sent. There were hearty congratulations and an assurance of the
writer's good feeling. Then came an announcement of the utmost moment.
'You have done well, David,' ran the letter, 'but when you ask me of
what value is the document you sent me, I say none, for circumstances
have arisen which alter everything. Mr. Ebenezer Clayhill died soon
after you quitted the country, while I regret to say that your
stepmother followed him swiftly.'
'Then, after all, the journey wasn't necessary,' cried our hero. 'I'm
awfully sorry to hear about the step-mater and Mr. Ebenezer. But--no,
I'm not a bit sorry I came to China. I've enjoyed nearly every moment of
this trip, and excavating is a job which suits me admirably.'
A year later he returned to England with his comrades, and by then had
imbibed such a fondness for investigating ruins and ancient places that
he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and the Professor.
David made a handsome allowance from his income to a home for the sick
and needy; for those scenes he had witnessed had made a lasting
impression on him. Then he went again to China. He is there at this
moment, prying into the secrets left by the ancients.
* * * * *
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
_At the Villafield Press, Glasgow, Scotland_
* * * * *
BY CAPTAIN F. S. BRERETON
=The Great Aeroplane.= A Thrilling Tale of Adventure.
=A Hero of Sedan.= A Tale of the Franco-Prussian War.
=How Canada was Won.= A Tale of Wolfe and Quebec.
=With Wolseley to Kumasi.= The First Ashanti War.
=Roger the Bold.= A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico.
=With the Dyaks of Borneo.= A Tale of the Head Hunters.
=Foes of the Red Cockade.= A Story of the French Revolution.
=A Knight of St. John.= A Tale of the Siege of Malta.
=Indian and Scout.= A Tale of the Gold Rush to California.
=John Bargreave's Gold.= Adventure in the Caribbean.
=Roughriders of the Pampas.= A Tale of Ranch Life in South America.
=Jones of the 64th.= A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree.
=With Roberts to Candahar.= A Tale of the Third Afghan War.
=A Hero of Lucknow.= A Tale of the Indian Mutiny.
=A Soldier of Japan.= A Tale of the Russo-Japanese War.
=Under the Spangled Banner.= The Spanish-American War.
=In the King's Service.= A Tale of Cromwell's Invasion of Ireland.
=In the Grip of the Mullah.= Adventure in Somaliland.
=With Rifle and Bayonet.= A Story of the Boer War.
=One of the Fighting Scouts.= A Tale of Guerrilla Warfare in South Africa.
=The Dragon of Pekin.= A Story of the Boxer Revolt.
=With Shield and Assegai.= A Tale of the Zulu War.
=A Gallant Grenadier.= A Story of the Crimean War.
End of Project Gutenberg's Under the Chinese Dragon, by F. S. Brereton