"Because--oh, just look! here are all the people coming out to see
what's the matter."
He was right as to the people coming, for in twos and threes, as they
finished the refreshment of which they had been partaking, first one
path was filled and then another, the people coming slowly up and
stopping to listen, while Barkins stared at them in blank astonishment.
"Here Nat--Poet," he whispered, "look at 'em."
"I am looking," I said. "Isn't it just like a picture?"
"It's like an old firescreen," he said; "but I don't mean that. Look!
Hang me if the beggars don't seem to like it. Can't you stop him?"
"No, of course not."
"But how long will it be before he has run down?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "But look, aren't those like some of the
men we saw by the gates?"
I drew his attention to about half-a-dozen fierce-looking men in showy
coats and lacquered hats, who came up to the garden, stared hard at us,
and then walked in. Each of them, I noticed, wore a sword, and a kind
of dagger stuck in his belt, and this made me at once recall their
offensive looks and contemptuous manner towards us, and think of how far
we were away from the ship, and unarmed, save for the ornamental dirks
which hung from our belts, weapons that would have been, even if we had
known how to use them, almost like short laths against the Chinamen's
heavy, broad-bladed, and probably sharp swords.
"I say, Gnat," whispered Barkins, "those must be the chaps we saw at the
mandarin's gate. Never mind; we'll ask them to have something as soon
as old Ching has finished his howling."
But that did not seem likely to be for some time, and I began to think,
as I sat there noticing how the men were gradually closing in upon us,
that our position was not very safe, right away from the landing-place,
and that we had done wrong in stopping so long where we were. I knew
that the Chinese were obsequious and humble enough so long as they were
face to face with a stronger power, but if they had the upper hand,
cruel and merciless to any one not of their own nation, and that it was
wiser to give them a wide berth.
Then I began to think that the captain had been too ready to believe in
our prestige in giving us leave to go, and that we should have been
wiser if we had stayed on board. Finally, I had just come to the
conclusion that we ought to stop Ching in his howling or singing, which
grew more and more vehement as he saw that his audience was increasing,
when Smith jogged my elbow.
"I say," he whispered, "let's get away from here."
"Why?" I said, to get to know what he thought.
"Because I'm afraid those chaps with the swords mean mischief."
"I say, lads," said Barkins, leaning towards us, "aren't those chaps
crowding us up rather? What do they mean? Here, I'm senior, and the
skipper said I was to take care of you youngsters. We'll go back to the
wharf at once."
"What's the good?" said Smith. "The boat won't be there to fetch us off
till sundown."
"Never mind, let's get away from here," said Barkins decisively; "we
don't want to get in a row with the Chinese, and that's what they want."
"But they're quiet enough," I said, growing nervous all the while.
"Yes, they're quiet enough now," whispered Barkins; "but you look at
that big fellow with the yellow belt, he keeps on making faces at us."
"Let him; that will not hurt us."
"I know that, little stupid," he cried, "but what follows may. Look at
him now."
I looked up quickly, and saw the man turn away from looking at us, and
say something to his fierce-looking companions, who glanced towards us
and laughed.
"There," said Barkins, "I'm not going to be laughed at by those jolly
old pigtailed heathens. Here, Ching, old chap, we want to go."
As he spoke he gave our guide a sharp nudge, which made him turn round
and stare.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!"
"Do you hear? We want to go!"
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" howled Ching, beginning again.
"Yes, we want to go," I said anxiously.
"Ti--ope--I--ow!" he howled again, but as he gave forth his peculiar
sounds he suddenly struck--purposely--a false, jarring note, lowered the
instrument, seized one of the pegs as if in a passion, and began talking
to me in a low, earnest voice, to the accompaniment of the string he
tuned.
"Ching see now,"--_peng_, _peng_, _peng_--"bad men with
swords,"--_pang_, _peng_--"look velly closs,"--_pang_, _pong_--"wantee
fightee,"--_pang_, _pang_--"you no wantee fightee,"--_pung_, _pung_.
"No," I whispered anxiously; "let's go at once."
"No takee notice,"--_pang_, _peng_, _peng_. "All flee, walkee walkee
round one sidee house,"--_pang_, _pong_--"Ching go long other
sidee,"--_peng_, _peng_. "No make, hully--walkee velly slow over lit'
blidge,"--_ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _ping_, _pang_, _pang_.
The little bridge was just behind us, and I grasped all he said--that we
were to go slowly over the bridge and walk round the back of the house,
while he would go round the front and meet us on the other side.
_Bang_, _jangle_, _pang_, _pang_, _ping_, _ping_, _peng_, _peng_, went
the instrument, as Ching strummed away with all his might.
"Wait, Ching come show way," he whispered. And as I saw that the
mandarin's men were coming nearer and evidently meant mischief, Ching
raised his instrument again, and, after a preliminary flourish, began
once more, to the delight of the crowd. My messmates and I slowly left
our places and walked round the summer-house towards the little bridge
over one of the gold-fish tanks, moving as deliberately as we could,
while Ching's voice rang out, "Ti--ope--I--ow!" as if nothing were the
matter.
The little crowd was between us and the mandarin's retainers, but it was
hard work to appear cool and unconcerned. Above all, it took almost a
superhuman effort to keep from looking back.
Smith could not resist the desire, and gave a sharp glance round.
"They're coming after us," he whispered. "We shall have to cut and
run."
"No, no," said Barkins hoarsely. "They'd overtake us directly. They'd
come down like a pack of wolves. We must be cool, lads, and be ready to
turn and draw at the last. The beggars are awful cowards after all."
We went on over the bridge, and, in spite of my dread, I made believe to
look down at the gold-fish, pointing below at them, but seizing the
opportunity to look out for danger.
It was a quick glance, and it showed me that the crowd from the
eating-house were taking no notice of us, but listening to Ching, who
had left his seat, and, singing with all his might, was walking along
one of the paths towards the front of the low building, while we were
slowly making for the back, with the result of crowding the mandarin's
men back a little, for the whole of the company moved with our guide,
carefully making room for him to play, and thus unconsciously they
hampered the movements of our enemies.
The distance was not great, of course--fifty yards altogether, perhaps,
along winding and doubling walks, for the Chinese are ingenious over
making the most of a small garden, but it was long enough to keep us in
an intense state of excitement, as from time to time we caught sight of
the men following us.
Then we saw that they had stopped to watch which way we went, and
directly after we knew that they were only waiting for us to be behind
the house to go back and hurry round and meet us.
At last we had passed to the end of the maze-like walk, and were
sheltered by the house from the little crowd and our enemies, with the
result that all felt relieved.
"I say," said Smith, "isn't this only a scare?"
"Don't know," said Barkins. "P'raps so; but I shan't be sorry to get on
board again. They think nothing of cutting a fellow to pieces."
"Let's make haste, then," I said; and, nothing loth, the others hurried
on past the back of the house, where the kitchen seemed to be, and
plenty of servants were hurrying to and fro, too busy to take any heed
of us. Then we turned the corner, and found that we were opposite to a
gateway opening upon a very narrow lane, which evidently went along by
the backs of the neighbouring houses, parallel with the main street,
which was, however, not such a great deal wider than this.
"Here's a way for us to go down, at all events," said Barkins, after we
had listened for a few moments for Ching's song, and the wiry notes of
his instrument.
"Yes, let's cut down at once," said Smith.
"Where to?" I said excitedly. "We can't find our way without Ching."
"No; and those beggars would hunt us down there at once," said Barkins.
"Won't do. I say, though, why don't they give us better tools than
these to wear?"
"Hark!" I said; "listen!"
We listened, but there was nothing but the murmur of voices in the
house, and not a soul to be seen on our side, till all at once I caught
sight of something moving among the shrubs, and made out that it was the
gay coat of one of the men from whom we sought to escape.
"Come on!" said Smith excitedly, and he threw open the gate leading into
the narrow lane, so that in another moment we should have been in full
retreat, had not a door behind us in the side of the house been opened,
and Ching appeared.
He did not speak, but made a sign for us to enter, and we were hardly
inside and the door thrust to--all but a chink big enough for our guide
to use for reconnoitring--when we heard the soft pat-pat of the men's
boots, then the rustle of their garments, and the tap given by one of
their swords as they passed through the gateway and ran down the narrow
lane.
"All gone along, catchee you," whispered Ching. "Come 'long other way."
He stepped out, made us follow, and then carefully closed the door.
"Now, come 'long this way," he said, with his eyes twinkling. "No
walkee fast. Allee boy lun after."
We saw the wisdom of his proceedings, and followed him, as he took us by
the way our enemies had come, straight out into the main street, down it
a little way, and then up a turning, which he followed till we came to
another important street parallel to the one by which we had come, and
began to follow it downward toward the waterside.
"Muchee flighten?" he said.
"Oh, I don't know," growled Barkins, who had the deepest voice of the
three. "It was startling. Did they mean mischief?"
"Mean chop chop. Allee bad wick' men. No catchee now. Ching velly
much flighten."
He did not look so, but chatted away with open, smiling face, as he
pointed first on one side then on the other to some striking-looking
shop or building, though he never paused for a moment, but kept on at a
good rate without showing a sign of hurry or excitement.
"How are we to get on board when we get to the river?" I said, as we
went on. "There'll be no boat till sundown."
"Ching get one piecee boat low all aboard ship."
"Can't you keep us in your place till our boat comes?"
The man shook his head. "Mandalin boy come burn um down, makee all lun
out. So velly hot. No stay. Get boat, low away."
"How far is it, do you think?" asked Smith.
"I don't know," said Barkins. "We seemed to be walking for hours in the
hot sun coming up. How far is it, Ching?"
"Velly long way. No look at garden now."
He pointed to one of the handsome gateways about which a party of armed
retainers were hanging, and, whispering to us not to take any notice, he
walked us steadily along.
But we were not to get by the place without notice, for the loungers saw
us coming, and strode out in a swaggering way--three big sturdy fellows
in blue and scarlet, and pretty well blocked the way as they stood
scowling at us.
"Look out," whispered Barkins, "ready with your toasting-forks, and then
if it comes to it we must run."
"You'll stick by us, Gnat," whispered Smith in a hasty whisper.
"I'll try," I said.
"Keep velly close," whispered Ching. "No takee notice. No talkee
closs. Ching speakee."
He said something in Chinese to the men, and led us in single file
between the two most fierce-looking, our prompt action taking them
somewhat by surprise, and, as we gave them no excuse for taking offence,
they only turned to gaze after us.
There were plenty of people in the street ready to stand and look at us,
and we met with no interruption from them, but I could not help seeing
the anxiety in Ching's face, and how from time to time he wiped his
streaming brow. But as soon as he saw either of us looking at him he
smiled as if there was nothing the matter whatever.
"No velly long now," he said. "Lot bad men to-day. You come walkee
walkee 'gain?"
"It's not very tempting, Ching," I said. "Why can't they leave us
alone?"
He tightened his lips and shook his head. Then, looking sharply before
him, he hurried us along a little more.
"Wish got ten--twenty--piecee soldier man 'longside," he whispered to
me, and the next minute he grasped my arm with a spasmodic snatch.
"What's the matter?" I said.
He did not speak, but looked sharply to right and left for a means of
escape. For, in spite of the cleverness of our guide, the mandarin's
men had been as cunning. They had either divined or been told that we
had made for the other street, and had contrived to reach the connecting
lane along which we should have to pass. Here they had planted
themselves, and just as we were breathing more freely, in the belief
that before long we should reach the shore of the great river, we caught
sight of them in company with about a dozen more.
We were all on the point of halting, as we saw them about fifty yards in
front, but Ching spoke out sharply--
"No stoppee," he said firmly. "Lun away, all come catchee and choppee
off head. Go 'long stlaight and flighten 'em. Englis' sailor foleign
debil, 'flaid o' nobody."
"There's something in that," said Barkins. "Right. Show a bold front,
lads. Let's go straight by them, and if they attack, then out with your
swords and let's make a fight for it."
I heard Smith say, "All right," and my heart was beating very fast as I
said the same.
Frightened? Of course I was. I don't believe the boy ever lived who
would not feel frightened at having to face death. For it was death we
had to face then, and in the ugliest shape. But Smith's words sent a
thrill through us.
"I say, lads," he said, "we've got to fight this time. If we begged for
our lives they'd only serve us worse; so let 'em have it, and recollect
that, if they kill us, the old _Teasers'll_ come and burn their town
about their ears."
"'Fraid, Ching?" I whispered; for he and I were in front.
"No 'flaid now," he whispered back. "Plenty flighten by and by."
He smiled as he spoke, and led us straight on to where the four
mandarin's men and the rough-looking fellows with them blocked the road,
and if for a moment we had shown any hesitation, I believe they would
have rushed at us like wolves. But Ching kept his head up as if proud
of acting as guide to three British officers, and when we got close up
he nodded smilingly at the men in the mandarin's colours, and then, as
if astounded at the little crowd standing fast, he burst out into a
furious passion, shouting at them in a wild gabble of words, with the
effect of making them give way at once, so that we passed through.
Then I heard him draw a panting breath, and saw that he was ghastly.
"Walkee walkee," he whispered. "Not velly fast. 'Top I say lun, and
lun fast alleegether."
At that moment there was a loud shouting behind, then a yell, and,
turning my head, I saw that the mandarin's men had their great blades
out, and were leading the men after us, shouting to excite themselves
and the little mob.
"Now lun!" cried Ching. "I showee way."
"No!" shouted Barkins. "Draw swords and retreat slowly."
We whipped out our weapons and turned to face the enemy, knowing full
well that they would sweep over us at the first rush, while a feeling of
rage ran through me, as in my despairing fit I determined to make the
big fellow opposite to me feel one dig of English steel before he cut me
down.
Then they were upon us with a rush, and I saw Ching dart in front and
cleverly snatch one of the clumsy swords from the nearest man. The next
moment he had whirled it up with both hands, when--
_Boom_--_Crash_!
There was the report of a heavy gun, whose concussion made the wooden
houses on each side jar and quiver as it literally ran up the narrow
street, and, to our astonishment, we saw the little mob turn on the
instant and begin to run, showing us, instead of their fierce savage
faces, so many black pigtails; the mandarin's men, though, last.
"Hooray!" we yelled after them, and they ran the faster.
"Now, velly quick," panted Ching. "Come back again soon."
We uttered another shout, and hurried along the lane to the principal
street, turned at right angles, and began to hurry along pretty rapidly
now, Ching marching beside us with the big sword over his shoulder.
But the scare was only temporary, the tremendous report was not
repeated, and before a minute had elapsed, our guide, who kept glancing
back, cried--
"Now, lun velly fast. Come along catchee catchee, and no big gun go
shoot this time."
He was quite right, and we took to our heels, with the yelling mob close
at hand, and so many people in front, that we felt certain of being run
down long before we could reach the waterside.
"And no chance for us when we do," muttered Barkins from close behind
me. "Oh, if a couple of dozen of our lads were only here! Why didn't
they send 'em?" he panted, "instead of firing as a signal for us to go
back on board."