At the conclusion of the meal, Burroughs said politely--
"I regret the necessity of tying you up again."
"And I," said the German, with equal courtesy, though his eyes were blazing, "I regret to be ze cause of so much trouble."
Burroughs called in his servant and the sentinels, and by their hands Reinhardt was again bound. Chin Tai caught sight of the ear-wads lying beside the German"s plate.
"He wantchee he "nother time all-same?" he asked his master.
"Your conversation--is it not finished?" the German interposed. "One is incomplete wizout ears."
"I"m afraid you must remain incomplete for a while," said Burroughs.
"Put them in, Chin Tai; then tell those fellows they can clear away the food and eat what"s left. I want you."
As soon as the door was closed behind the guard, Burroughs took Errington and Chin Tai to the window, and the three remained for some minutes in earnest conversation.
"Now," said Burroughs at last to the servant, "you know what you have to do. First of all, cut off to the captain; he has finished his luncheon by this time--and say that I request the honour of waiting upon him on a matter of great urgency."
"Allo lightee, sah; my talkee he allo plopa."
And he went with an air of much self-importance to fulfil his errand, reflecting with a chuckle that Lo San was out of this.
CHAPTER XVII
THE DASH FROM THE YAMEN
Chin Tai returned in about twenty minutes.
"Captain he say hon"ble genelum come this time; he velly glad look-see."
"Good luck," said Errington as Burroughs got up. "If there"s any hitch, don"t mind about me."
Burroughs mumbled something and went out with his servant. The chair was awaiting him at the outer gate. Ordering two of the guards there to accompany him for appearance" sake, he had himself carried to the captain"s quarters hard by. On the way he noticed, without any appearance of concern, a large number of wild-looking warriors a.s.sembling to form, as he guessed, a guard of honour for the chief on his return. Many of the men scowled at him as he pa.s.sed. They did not distinguish one "foreign devil" from another. To many of the lower orders of Chinamen, all foreigners are poison.
Chung Pi had evidently been indulging freely in the pleasures of the table. He was breathing rather hard; melon seeds are very "filling"; and the number of thimblefuls of hot sam-shu, a fiery drink made of millet, which he had consumed had reddened his face and put him on very good terms with himself.
"Honourable stranger," he said, when Burroughs entered, "your honourable face is like the sun at noon-day. You have fed well?"
"Excellently, n.o.ble captain."
"You cracked many melon seeds?"
"Not a great number."
"Then you will never be fat. Will you take a little sam-shu?"
"Thank you, not now. Better reserve that until your august chief returns. There has been no further message from him?"
"No; but I have made preparations for greeting him. The bannermen and gong-beaters will go down to the river in due time, and we shall issue forth to greet the ill.u.s.trious Su Fing with bands of music."
"Would it not be fitting, n.o.ble captain, a deed worthy of your high renown, to meet your chief on the marvellous vessel of whose speed you have already made trial? Su Fing returns victorious; he would feel himself duly honoured if his trusty lieutenant met him while still a great way from the town, offering for his acceptance this matchless gift from a great nation."
"You speak well, ill.u.s.trious stranger. The gift is indeed a n.o.ble one.
But I fear that I cannot dispense with my afternoon nap. Sleep after meat is a gift of the G.o.ds."
"I would not deprive you of it for worlds. I must go down to the boat, to see that all is in order for the journey we propose to make. I will do that while you sleep."
"Not so. The boat pleases me, and drowsy though I am, I am disposed to accompany you. Perhaps Su Fing may give the vessel into my charge; it will be well, then, that I understand something of its qualities. I shall thereby be superior to any other officer of my chief"s, and the way of promotion will be open to me."
"By all means, n.o.ble captain."
"Yes. To be well fed is vain without true understanding. But tell me, what of the Englishmen? It was told me that one of them was so daring and wicked as to fire a shot at the other. The guards ought to have searched him; I have given orders that when the rejoicings are over they shall be soundly beaten with the leather."
"The man who attempted the crime is bound hand and foot. He can do no more mischief."
"It is well. I am fortunate in having another Englishman for Su Fing.
He hates all Englishmen, because they do not approve of his warlike deeds. Furthermore, he was wounded by an Englishman, and taken captive, and he suffered stripes and the cage. His heart will laugh when he knows that another of the hated race lies bound in his yamen. Now let us go."
He summoned his chairmen and armed escort, and was carried along with Burroughs down to the landing-stage, and on to the vessel. There he watched curiously as the Englishman overhauled the engine, and filled his petrol tank. When this was done, Burroughs took from the end of his watch-chain an Indian charm which had been given him by his mother, and made a few meaningless pa.s.ses with it over the throttle.
"Why do you do that?" Chung Pi asked.
"To ward off evil spirits," replied Burroughs. "We must have a lucky voyage."
"You do well. I myself, as you perceive, have a thread of red silk braided in my queue for the same purpose; and I wear a charm attached to a red string within my shirt. So we shall be doubly secure."
Burroughs, having satisfied himself that everything was in working order, was at leisure to answer the innumerable questions about the hydroplane with which the Chinaman plied him. They were such futile questions as a simple ignorant peasant might put. Burroughs felt that he was answering a fool according to his folly, and again had compunctions about making this guileless ignoramus his accomplice. It was clear that Chung Pi"s vanity was flattered by the idea of showing a new importance before the populace. The machine had become an obsession with him, and as he grew more and more wonder-struck at what Burroughs told him, the approaching arrival of his chief became of less interest to him than the prospect of making an impression on the home-coming warriors.
Time slipped away. Burroughs felt restless and impatient. Chung Pi had told him that the approach of the chief"s launch would be signalled by a man stationed on the roof of the yamen, which rose high above the surrounding country, and from which another signal station could be seen many miles distant. Burroughs dared not start until the signal was given; yet he felt that time was being wasted.
At last, turning to Chung Pi, he said that he had one great surprise in store for him. He had in fact two, but the second was to be revealed at the proper time.
"You have seen, n.o.ble captain," he said, "with what marvellous speed this vessel skims the water, but you have yet to see that it can also fly--even as a duck, which swims ordinarily on the surface, can at need raise itself upon its wings and take the air. But a duck cannot fly so well as this vessel."
"What end is there to the marvels you tell me!" exclaimed the captain.
"In truth I have heard of a flying boat, belonging to an Englishman at Sui-Fu; but I mocked at the tale, for men are liars."
"It is true. This boat is even as that of the Englishman; it flies quite as well."
"But how can a boat fly without wings?"
"I will show you."
Burroughs unfolded and spread out the canvas planes at the sides of the boat.