Burroughs caught at the idea that Reinhardt, as soon as he knew of Errington"s plight, would at once communicate with the rebels on his behalf.
Reinhardt was at Pa-tang. Burroughs considered whether he should go there and call upon him. But reflecting that he would find him at the opium-shop, he came to the conclusion that it would be imprudent and possibly useless to open the matter to him there. He was thinking of sending him a note when, from his window, he saw the motor launch coming down-stream, and steering towards the town. Reinhardt must have paid only a pa.s.sing call at Pa-tang, he thought.
He sent Chin Tai down to the harbour to discover if the German landed from the vessel. In twenty minutes the man returned with the news that Reinhardt had gone to his own bungalow. Instantly putting on his hat, Burroughs hurried to see the German.
"Ah, Mr. Burroughs, zis is an honour," said Reinhardt, as his visitor was shown in. "It is ze first time you visit my little house; I hope it will not be ze last."
"Thanks, I"m sure," said Burroughs. "I"ve come on a private matter of importance, Mr. Reinhardt. You"ve heard about Errington?"
"What! Has he apsconded?"
"Absconded! What on earth do you mean? He"s shut up in Su Fing"s yamen at Meichow."
"Indeed! Zat surprise me. Zat is a little awkward for your friend."
"Your friend too, Mr. Reinhardt," said Burroughs bluntly. "I am glad you didn"t know it. I came to ask if you would use your influence with Su Fing to get the poor chap released."
"My influence! Wiz Su Fing! Himmel, do you not know zat Su Fing is ze leader, ze motor spirit, of zis insurrection? Zat he violates law and order? And you speak of me, a German, having influence wiz him? My dear boy," he went on, laying his hand on Burroughs" arm, "you are young, wiz not much experience; zerefore I forgive ze insult."
Burroughs drew his arm away, and was on the point of blurting out the common talk of the place; but his habit of self-restraint came to his aid.
"I didn"t intend any insult," he said. "If you take it so, I apologize.
But anyhow, Mr. Reinhardt, don"t you think that strong representations on your part, on behalf of Ehrlich Sohne, might prove very effectual?
Even Su Fing has a wholesome respect for the Kaiser, you may be sure."
"Wizout doubt, but zat enters not into ze business. It is not a matter zat concerns Ehrlich Sohne: your friend no longer is in zeir employ."
"What?"
"I am sorry," said the German, with a shrug; "but it must be. He was so very irregular, you know; let ze business go all to pieces; piled up debts--I beg your pardon?"
In his honest indignation Burroughs had let fall a word, but pulled himself up in time: it was not his cue at present to quarrel with the German.
"Ze firm could not stand no more," Reinhardt went on, "so zey have dismissed him: I have ze cheque for his zree munce salary."
"It"s an unfortunate affair," said Burroughs, as calmly as he could.
"Still, even though he is no longer a servant of your firm, you have yourself been so thick with him that I"m sure you will do all you can, as a merely personal matter."
"So zick! Yes; and what is ze consequence? He is in my debt; he bleed me, sir: he owe me five hundred dollars and more. He promised to pay me wizin a week; ze week is past: he did not pay; and now he is a prisoner: I never see my money. You say, do somezink for him; what has he done for me? You ask me to spend my money, risk my life, for a young fool wiz no principle, no backbone, as you say--for a fellow zat sponge on me, and zen cheat me----"
The German was working up to a fine heat of spurious indignation; but he was suddenly checked by an abrupt movement on Burroughs" part. White with anger the young Englishman had clenched his fist and raised his arm to strike. But he curbed himself as Reinhardt shrank back.
"This is your house," he said, in a fierce low tone, "and for the moment I am your guest. You may think yourself lucky. If I hear of your repeating any of the lies you have just uttered, I swear I"ll thrash you within an inch of your life--you mean hound!"
He could not help catching the man by the collar and shaking him. Then, flinging him off, he hurried out of the house.
CHAPTER XII
THE PRICE OF A MOUSTACHE
A man in a rage cannot think clearly; and Burroughs was in such a heat of indignation with Reinhardt that it was some time before he was able to devote himself calmly to the still unsolved problem. The solution came to him presently in a flash: he must save Errington himself. He could not leave his friend to an unknown fate; something must be done; he alone could do it. His flying boat was the fastest craft on the river. He must fly up to Meichow, get Errington out of the yamen by hook or crook, and bring him back. If he were discovered and pursued, his speed, whether on the water or in the air, would give him at least a good chance of escape.
He sent for his comprador.
"I"m going up to Meichow, Sing Wen," he said. "You"ll be in charge during my absence. If any one inquires for me, tell nothing."
"Hai galaw! No can do!" cried the astonished Chinaman. "Fly boatee velly good: no can get inside plison; China fellas look-see Yinkelis[#]
man; makee plenty bobbely, catchee all-same."
[#] English.
"Could you make me look like a Chinaman?"
"Plaps can do," said the comprador, doubtfully. "Yinkelis man no can talkee Chinee all-same; he no smart inside."
"That"s true. I wish I could talk Chinese like Reinhardt. But look here: why shouldn"t I go as a German? Mr. Errington"s firm is German; and if there is any hanky-panky between the Germans and the rebels I shall be all right in Meichow; at any rate I can bluff it out."
"My no aglee all same."
"I don"t want you to agree; you"ve nothing to do with it."
"Supposey you catchee tlouble, what my tellum boss Shanghai side? He say my no do plopa pidgin let you go wailo."
"I"ll leave a note saying that I went against your advice, so that in case anything happens to me my father won"t hold you responsible. You needn"t say any more: it"s fixed. You must make me look as much like a German as you can; darken my eyebrows, crop my hair. I can"t grow a moustache, worse luck."
Feeling that an awkward situation might arise if he made any change in his appearance at Sui-Fu, he decided to run up to the creek below Pa-tang, and do on board the boat what little was possible to disguise himself. He set off when the Europeans were taking their midday meal, accompanied by Sing Wen, who would leave him at Pa-tang, and by Chin Tai and Lo San, the latter because he had already visited Meichow, and knew something of the conditions there.
Very reluctantly the comprador proceeded to carry out his master"s instructions. An hour"s work with burnt cork and scissors changed the Englishman"s appearance pa.s.sably to that of a young German.
While Sing Wen was putting the finishing touches to his work, Burroughs saw Reinhardt"s launch pa.s.s the mouth of the creek in the direction of Pa-tang.
"Not after me?" he said. "He"s probably going for his smoke; don"t you think so?"
"Yes, sah: Ma.s.sa Leinhadt velly fond smokee."
"Well, I only wish I had his moustache. I"d give a hundred dollars down for one like it."
He felt that all that was wanted to complete his transformation was a thick moustache like the one that Reinhardt brushed and tended with such affectionate care.
"It"s a pity he has come, though," he went on. "I mustn"t start before dark, in case he sees the boat, or hears it. And I ought to keep that opium fellow"s mouth shut. Sing Wen, you"d better go and tell your disreputable relative that it"ll pay him to say nothing about me."
"Velly good, sah," said the comprador. "Hai! My fo"get one ting. No hab got no chow-chow.[#]"