So it went on for several days with the dust of the marching army thick
round him. He began to distinguish the many nationalities in this great
throng, and to realize that there were large differences which at first
he had not understood. He found that all these men, whom his
fellow-countrymen lumped together indiscriminately in the opprobrious
epithet of devils, marched separately. There were stories of open
disagreements which reached him in whispers from the native carriers and
carters who had been impressed into their service and who were marching
with the baggage.
"They do not speak the same language," he heard declared again and
again. "Sometimes we must rise in the middle of the night and start
suddenly because the others have gone ahead, breaking their word. Thus
there is confusion and counter-orders, and we do not know how it will
end."
To all this he nodded his head wisely and replied:--
"It is always like that. I, who have served them for a year and more,
know well. The most violent lead this way--the others follow obediently.
There is not long discussion as with us, each point being duly
considered. With them it is the quick plan that is found most
desirable."
All the carriers were closely guarded because many of them had tried to
escape. They lived in constant fear of battles, believing that all of
them would be killed. Whenever there was the sound of distant firing
they became concerned saying "Now our fate will soon be decided." In
this manner did the army march on.
On the fourth day Wang the Ninth was called before the great general by
the foreigner who spoke his language; and he went a little reluctantly
because he feared what was coming. There was a large gathering of
officers in many different uniforms, all talking earnestly together
under the trees because of the heat. He knew from the drawings and plans
that passed from hand to hand that it had to do with him--for that was
the way it had happened when his master had sent him on this journey.
He waited patiently his eyes following every movement and trying to
guess what it was about. The old general, when he had finished
discussing something, turned to the foreigner who spoke his language and
handed him a piece of paper with writing on it, of a bigger size than
the one he had brought. Wang the Ninth had hoped that this might not
come. Now he was sure that this was the answer to the message he had
carried, and that he would have to go.
The interpreter turned to him and made this long speech:
"Our Governing General bids me tell you that he has sent many messages
during the past weeks but it is evident from the paper you carried that
none have reached their destination. Thus of all who have been
despatched you are the only one who has been successful. Whether the
others accepted the charge for the money payment with no intention of
forcing their way through, or whether they were captured, we do not
know. But the loss of messages has occasioned military danger and
therefore plans have been changed: for in our messages we told how we
would advance and now it is necessary to change our plans. Our general
hopes that you will not refuse to go back as speedily as you came, since
our people in the capital may lose heart and be overpowered unless they
know that we shall soon arrive."
The boy fumbled with his hands.
"By good fortune I reached you," he said at length, "but it is not
certain whether this good fortune will take me back. That I can travel
quicker than the army is not to be believed." Thus he spoke hoping to be
relieved of this duty.
The interpreter was very gentle with him because he was demanding a
great sacrifice. He explained every point carefully.
"It is true the army is now advancing fast," he declared. "But there are
many tens of thousands of men belonging to many nations and it is
necessary for each nation to be consulted. Some are ready to proceed
more quickly than the others and it may be some ten days before we stand
in front of the walls of the capital. Then there is the fighting to be
considered. This may greatly delay us. It is true we have so far
triumphed easily. But the future is ever uncertain with an army. You,
who are fleet of foot may easily cover the distance, in three days."
"It is not so easy," said the boy now frowning hard. "Eight days did I
waste in overcoming obstacles to reach you. Now although the distance is
less all the roads are watched and full of soldiers. Much will I do for
my master; but should I now be captured there will be no mercy for me
and I shall die the slow death."
"Listen," rejoined the young man. "We know that careful watch is being
kept, and that the enemy has many scouts and spies even marching with
us. But for all this we have a plan. We will send you by horse to the
northwest with some horsemen. I myself will go too--so that you can
approach the capital by an unaccustomed road where there will be less
danger. Already have we found that only the direct roads are fortified:
twenty miles to the north the country is undisturbed and unguarded. This
our horsemen have reported to us."
He continued explaining. For many minutes he talked, showing each point
and how easy it would be; but all the time that he was talking Wang the
Ninth was frowning because fear had gained him.
"If it must be, it must be," he said, consenting at length, with
reluctance in his manner. "My master shall not say that I failed him.
But I am afraid--great fear has gained me."
The young man laughed.
"That is not true fear. That is but hesitation and doubt. Who will face
danger willingly and not hesitate if by another way there is safety? But
now it is a question of great moment. All ask your help."
The boy flushed.
"I shall go," he said abruptly.
Now the general came to him, and patted him on the shoulder as he stood
there and spoke in his own language commending him, so the interpreter
declared, and great pride filled him. Yet afterwards forebodings
returned to him; and he sat down in the fields with the message which
had been given him in his belt, and his eyes looking into the distance.
That afternoon the young man rode for many miles with him up behind a
trooper and with other horsemen accompanying them. They went at a gallop
far to the north. Only when the sunlight was gone did they set him down
on a rutted road that coiled away to the southwest. Quite near now were
hills and mountains.
"From here it is exactly 120 _li_--forty miles--to the nearest Gate of
the capital," declared the young man in his fluent vernacular. "It would
be possible in a single day to walk thither. But allow five days, then
one extra day to make your way through the city to the foreign quarter."
He unslung a big bag of blue cloth. "Here is sufficient to eat--here is
food for six days so that you need ask no one for assistance."
The boy took the package. There was a set expression on his face.
"I am ready," he said abruptly. "For two hours I shall travel. Then I
must rest. At dawn I start again. If I have good fortune tomorrow I
shall reach the city."
He scrambled on to the side-path running along the edge of the fields of
millet, and was soon lost to view.