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Title: The War Tiger
Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea
Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China
Author: Wiliam Dalton
Release Date: March 16, 2012 [EBook #39163]
Language: English
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THE WAR TIGER
OR,
ADVENTURES AND WONDERFUL FORTUNES
OF THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF
AND HIS LAD CHOW:
A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF CHINA
BY WILLIAM DALTON,
AUTHOR OF THE "WHITE ELEPHANT," ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. S. MELVILLE
PHILADELPHIA
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1884.
[Illustration: The Escape from the Pagoda.]
PREFACE.
As free use is made in the following story of the names of personages
who played important parts in and during the last Tartar Conquest of
China, the Author believes that a slight sketch of that turbulent epoch
may not be uninteresting to his readers.
Twenty-two dynasties have given some two hundred and forty Emperors to
the Celestial Kingdom; of these, two were Tartars, who obtained the
throne by conquest and bloodshed. In the course of time, however, the
first Tartar family, with the whole of their race, were either massacred
or driven from the land by a Chinese leader, who, by mounting the
throne, founded the celebrated family of the Mings.
The last of the Ming Emperors, Wey-t-song, had not been many years upon
the throne, when, from a wise and energetic man, he became so indolent,
and regardless of all but his pleasures, that the people became
oppressed by the magistrates; indeed, to use a Chinese phrase, to such
an extent did the "big fish eat all the little ones," that a famine grew
in the land, which caused the starving people to arise in rebellion
throughout the empire.
Taking advantage of this disorder, several ambitious lords collected
together bands of vagabonds, set themselves up as petty kings, and
plundered and oppressed the innocent people, till the land grew damp
with their tears.
At the same time, the chief, or king, of the Mantchou Tartars, learning
that China was like a house divided against itself, rode with a large
army upon the frontier of Pe-tche-Lee, the capital province.
The appearance, however, of this great enemy aroused what little
nationality remained, and three great lords came to the Emperor's
assistance. The first was Woo-san-Kwei, who, at the head of an army,
kept the Tartars at bay; the other two, Li-Kong and Chang, were sent
into different provinces, where, although bad men, being good generals,
they succeeded in crushing all other rogues but themselves. The
last-named generals, however, on their return, becoming enraged at the
Emperor's ingratitude, took up arms against him, and, finding no great
difficulty in subduing a people who preferred any other Chinese to their
Emperor, seized upon two of the richest provinces, and established
themselves as independent royalets, or petty kings.
Now, as in the great revolutions of England, America, and France, so in
China, anarchy brought forth its great men; but foremost among them all
stood Chin-Chi-Loong--a kind of Paul Jones, a pirate in the eyes of his
enemies, a patriot in those of his friends.
Found starving when a boy, by the Portuguese priests at Macao, they took
him under their care, taught him Christianity, and baptized him by the
name of Nicholas Gaspard. While quite a youth, he took service on board
a trading ship, in which humble position, the strength of his intellect
and will so soon exhibited itself, that at an early age he became second
in command, and his captain dying soon after, left him sole owner and
commander of the vessel and its rich cargo.
Then it was that his true character began to develop itself; he sought
to accumulate great wealth; for this purpose he traded with Japan, Siam,
and the Europeans, so assiduously, that at the outbreak of the
rebellion, he had become the richest merchant in an empire of rich
merchants; but what to him was of far greater importance, a powerful
sea-chief--for he then commanded and owned the greatest fleet that ever
sailed in the Chinese seas, and as he had taken care to arm every ship,
he became the terror of the three great contending parties; namely, the
Emperor, the rebels, and the Tartars, who, all in turn, at times,
offered great rewards for his head, and at others, for his services.
Remarkable, however, as were the fortunes of this sea-chief, they were
less so than those of his distinguished son, the hero of this story.
The Author will only add, that, although many of the adventures here set
down may not be found in the pages of Chinese history, if, entwining
information with amusement, they bring vividly before the mind's eye of
his young reader, the manners, laws, legends, superstitions, history, or
character of that great, though quaint people in whom more than a
thousand years have failed to make any material change, his satisfaction
will be the greater that he has again deserved well of those to whom his
gratitude is due for the kind, thorough, and hearty reception they gave
to the Adventures of "THE WOLF-BOY OF CHINA."
WILLIAM DALTON.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I.--The Young Sea Chief.--His Mission 11
II.--The Demon Ship.--The Boy Chow 19
III.--Adventures at Sea.--Rescue 29
IV.--The Innkeeper.--Alarming News 38
V.--Adventure in a Buddhist Monastery.--Chow's
Encounter with a Bonze 48
VI.--Thrashing the Gods.--The Boys taken Prisoners 55
VII.--Treachery of the Bonzes.--Nicholas sent to
Prison as a Traitor 61
VIII.--Chow sets out to discover some Thieves 69
IX.--Chow outwits a great Mandarin, and sets
out to rescue his Master 76
X.--Escape of Nicholas from Prison 81
XI.--Pursued by the Yah-yu.--The Boat Wreck 87
XII.--Nicholas again taken Prisoner 94
XIII.--Pagodas, their Antiquity and Uses 103
XIV.--A dangerous Descent 109
XV.--Nicholas discovers a Conspiracy, and makes
an unpleasant Entry into Pekin 114
XVI.--The Boys again in Trouble 126
XVII.--Nicholas resolves upon a dangerous
Adventure 136
XVIII.--The Imperial Gardens 145
XIX.--The Princess of the Mings, and the
Lady Candida 150
XX.--Danger of the Princess.--Her Rescue
by Nicholas 154
XXI.--Assembly of the great Princes of the Empire 163
XXII.--The Boy Prince and the Rival Generals 170
XXIII.--Audience with the Son of Heaven.--Nicholas
accuses a great Prince of Treason 178
XXIV.--Nicholas unveils a Rebel Chief 189
XXV.--Nicholas and the Prince have an Adventure,
and save the Life of Chow 197
XXVI.--Nicholas receives an important Command 210
XXVII.--The Rebels attack Pekin.--Treachery of
a General, and the Fight 214
XXVIII.--Attack on the palace.--Suicide of the
Emperor, the Princess wounded 221
XXIX.--The Secret Cavern.--The Princess saved
by the Boys 230
XXX.--A large Stock of Ladies, two taels
per sack 237
XXXI.--Chow makes a Discovery, and Nicholas
a Surprise 242
XXXII.--Nicholas punishes an ungrateful Innkeeper,
and escapes from his treachery 250
XXXIII.--An Overland Journey.--Attacked by Wolves,
and stopped by a Serpent 259
XXXIV.--Saved by a Musk Deer.--Stories of
wonderful Mountains 264
XXXV.--Treachery of the Guide.--The Princess
seized by Robbers 271
XXXVI.--Once more Prisoners, but with Friends.--The
Guide's Mistake 279
XXXVII.--Interview with the General.--Nicholas causes
Soldiers to be sent in search of the Princess 285
XXXVIII.--Cruel Death of the aged Woo.--A
Battle.--Bravery of the Boys.--Chow taken
by the Enemy 293
XXXIX.--The Rebels beaten.--Artfulness of the Tartar
King.--Chagrin and Disappointment of Nicholas 300
XL.--The Great Boy Emperor.--Nicholas meets with
a fearful Surprise 305
XLI.--Nicholas has an Interview with his Father,
and leaves Pekin forever 309
XLII.--The Rival Sea Chiefs.--Re-appearance of an
old Friend.--A comical Battle with the Tartars 314
XLIII.--Chow discovers his Mother and the
Princess.--Rescues them from the Tartars, and
relates his Adventures 320
XLIV.--A Sea Voyage.--The Colao relates the
Adventures of the Princess 329
XLV.--They reach the Palace of the Sea Chief
Koshinga 333
XLVI.--The King and Queen of Formosa.--Happy
Termination of the Story 336
THE WAR TIGER.
CHAPTER I.
THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.--HIS MISSION.
Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chinese
province of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, which
are so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble of
procuring food, and even fuel, from the main land.
These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of a
capacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch,
the first civilized people who established themselves upon the
neighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertile
land, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught.
It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden with
pearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many other
articles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the large
trading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violent
tempests so common to the China seas.
One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, some
distance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of European
build, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmed
about the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with an
officer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior to
the Mantchou Tartar conquest.
The afterpart of the deck was taken up with a tent formed of poles and
matting of bamboo, the interior of which was luxuriously fitted with
chairs, tables, and sofas, tastefully wrought from the wood of roses or,
as it is termed in this country, rose-wood. The walls, highly painted
and glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded and
japanned frames. Between these were long strips of satin up on which,
imprinted in colors and gold, were some of the choicest moral maxims
from the books of the philosopher Confucius.
The panes of the windows, four in number, were formed of stained
transparent paper. In the piers between, supported by glittering
branches, were painted lanterns, and from the ceiling, which shone with
colors and carvings of celestial blue and burnished gold, was suspended
a gong of pure silver. So far there could be no doubt that it was the
floating habitation of a wealthy Chinese, but then, curiously, there was
a total absence of those idols, altars, and burning incense, which to
this day are to be found in all Chinese vessels. The truth was, that
although a Chinese, the owner was a Christian, as was evinced by a niche
at one end of the room, in which stood a handsome _Priè Dieu_,
surmounted by a fine painting of Christ upon the cross.
At this altar, with his hands clasped, knelt a boy of seventeen, whose
high cheek bones, dark eyes, and long black hair, declared his Chinese
origin. His head and neck were bare, and his ample robe of green silk,
which reached nearly to his close fitting leather boots, was confined in
the middle by a crimson girdle, fastened by a clasp of agate stone. From
the girdle hung a short straight sword. Although a Chinese, the youth
was a Christian; one, indeed, of those whose faith had been gathered
from the teachings of the early European missionaries, whose
indefatigable exertions and untiring patience amidst much persecution,
contumely, and even martyrdom, will forever keep their names green in
the memories of the Chinese.
As the youth arose from his kneeling position, the report of a gun rang
through the air, so snatching up his cap of sable, he went on deck to
welcome the arrival of his father, who ascended the side of the vessel
followed by some half-dozen officers, attired like himself in loose
robes of thick brown silk, oiled to withstand the weather and without
one warlike vestment, except the short swords which hung from their
girdles.
Standing with his head bent forward and his arms straight by his sides,
the attitude of respect, the youth waited for his father to salute him,
after which he followed him through the rank of officers to the cabin,
when observing the gloomy aspect of the chief's countenance, he said
"Has my honored father, the great chief, not prospered with the
barbarian Hollanders?"
"To the full, my son, for like the greedy wolves they have purchased the
whole of my merchandise, and I have more than sufficient wealth to
destroy the vermin enemies who are turning the children of the Son of
Heaven from those habits of peace which have so long rendered them the
greatest and most prosperous of the world's people."
"Of what enemies does my honorable father speak? Surely there are none
but the savage Tartars."
"Of three, my son,--the Tartars, who are now within a few leagues of the
palace of Ten Thousand Years himself; the European savages, who under
pretence of commerce have obtained a footing, that, if not soon rooted
out, will last forever; and worse, by far worse,--for internal rebellion
is as destructive to an empire as to an household,--the rebel mandarins
who are now at open war with their holy sovereign."
"Is this treble sore fresh, that it should now so rankle the heart and
cloud the brow of my venerable parent?"
"Truly so, my son, for although long festering it has but now reached a
head," replied the chief, adding, "To the days of my great-grandsire the
empire had been free from the profane feet of barbarians.
"Then the different governments passed into the hands of cowardly
mandarins, whose weakness became the advantage of the pirate Li-Lao, who
ravaged the whole coast with fire and sword, and to get rid of whom the
puny officials sought the aid of the Portugals, who traded at one of the
outer ports. These barbarians, however, were brave; they sought, fought,
and killed the pirate, and destroyed his ships and, as a reward, were
permitted to settle at Macao."
"Surely, my father should be grateful to these Portugals, whose priests
first shed upon his eyes and heart the light of Christianity," said the
boy bowing reverently.
"They taught me for their own ends, and I would not trust the rats."
"But the red-haired barbarians of Formosa, from whom my father has just
returned, are they of the same race?"
"Not so, my son, these Dutch dogs are from a distant country called
Holland, where the people are so miserably poor they cannot afford even
a king."
"Then why, O my father, were such pauper barbarians permitted to place
the soles of their feet on the land of Formosa?"
"By fraud and artifice the rogues obtained their hold. During a tempest
one of their vessels was driven upon the coast: the crew finding the
island to be well situated to their wants, partly by presents, partly by
force, persuaded the simple inhabitants to give them only as much land
as could be encompassed by the hide of an ox, when the rogues cut the
hide into thousands of narrow slips, tied them end to end and therewith
measured the earth, to the great surprise and indignation of the
inhabitants, who, however, were too powerless to offer resistance. In a
short time they were joined by multitudes of their country men and
erected yonder fort, which they call the Castle of Zealand."
"Surely the fleet of my father can exterminate these wasps?" said the
boy, whom I shall for the future call by his Christian name of Nicholas.
But as at that moment an officer entered the cabin and reported the
approach of a strange ship, father and son went on deck, prepared to
give either a salute to a friend or a broadside to a foe.
The vessel proving to be a war junk and carrying the dragon flag of the
Emperor, they fired a salute of respect, when a signal was made from the
junk that she had on board the Mandarin, or Deputy-Governor of Amoy,
with a secret communication for the illustrious merchant Chin-Chi-Loong,
whereupon the chief bowed respectfully at the name of so great a
personage, and prepared to receive him with all the customary tedious
formalities.
This visit from so important a personage very much puzzled Nicholas, who
stood the whole time the mandarin was closeted with his father, leaning
against a gun, in deep thought. When the mandarin had finished and the
official had taken his departure, Nicholas returned to the cabin, where
he found the chief sitting thoughtfully with his hand upon the satin
wrapper of a letter, which from the great seals affixed and the
characters Hong Fong (guarded and sealed), he knew must be of great
importance and from some high personage.
"My information is truthful," said the chief; "there is treason among
the lords of the court, and the dogs believing Chin-Chi-Loong to be as
vile as themselves, have offered him the title of king and the island of
Formosa, if he will aid them with his ships, wealth, and men."
"What answer made my honorable father?" said Nicholas.
"A promise to consent, that the traitors may be caught like rats in a
trap."
"Surely this is not well, for why need the brave stoop to such
villainy?" replied the youth boldly.
Not noticing this reply, the chief became pensive for a few minutes,
then exclaimed, "Would that I could place a letter in the hands of the
Son of Heaven himself!"
"Surely that cannot be a difficulty," said Nicholas.
"Alas! my son, Wey-t-song is so resigned to his pleasures and the
company of the vile bonzes, that the audience-denying tablet is for ever
suspended at the gates of the inner palace."
"Truly it is a maxim that nothing is impossible to the brave. Let my
father place the letter in the hands of his son, and it shall reach the
imperial eyes!"
For a minute the chief gazed proudly at the boy, then passing his hand
across his eyes, as if to chase away some sad thought, said, "It shall
be so, but for nothing less than the safety of his Emperor would
Chin-Chi-Loong risk the life of his only son; but haste, and assume the
dress of a traveling merchant, while I prepare these important
characters."
Without another word Nicholas left the cabin, returning, however,
shortly afterward, dressed in a plain robe of coarse brown silk, with a
girdle of the same color, a couple of short swords beneath his garment,
and thick staff of bamboo.
"This promptness is good and bespeaks success," said the chief, laying
his hand on a letter which was enclosed in three wrappers of satin, the
outer being sealed in many places, adding, "Secure this packet beneath
thy inner robe, for upon its safety may depend the fate of the empire. I
know not by what means thou mayest reach the Emperor, therefore, when in
Pekin it would be well to seek the merchant Yang, in the great square,
who will aid the son of the great merchant of the south." Then taking
another letter from the table, he added, "As you pass through the city
of Hang-tcheou, seek out Father Adam, the chief priest of the
Christians, and place this in his hands; but guard it well, for the
contents are such that were they to meet the eyeballs of the bonzes it
might prove thy destruction."
Then placing a valuable ring on the boy's finger and telling him to take
what silver he might require, till he reached the merchant of Pekin, who
would supply him with more, he bid farewell to Nicholas, who, signalling
one of the consort ships, went on board, and was soon landed at the port
of Amoy.
CHAPTER II.
THE DEMON SHIP.--THE BOY CHOW.
Taking a passage in a merchant junk bound to the port of Ning-Po,
Nicholas continued his journey for some days without meeting with any
event of importance. The voyage was, however, rendered very tedious by
the idolatry of the sailors, who spent a great portion of their time in
offering up presents to a dirty little wooden god stuck behind a small
oil lamp, the odor from which was any thing but agreeable. They would
moreover frequently stop the ship to offer meat and incense to the
images of the sea goddess Ma-tsoo-po, which are perched upon almost
every promontory upon the Chinese coast.
They had been at sea, or rather along the coast, for these sailors never
venture far from land, six days, when the murky atmosphere, the heavy
swell of the waves as they rolled inward, and the fluttering flight of
the sea-fowl, betokened a coming storm; and the crew, trembling with
fear, thought of little else but making offerings to the dirty little
god, praying of him to stop the storm. A sailor and a Christian from his
childhood, Nicholas was no less disgusted with their cowardice than
their foolish superstition, and really fearing that the ship would be
dashed to pieces upon a rock, he earnestly entreated them to exert
themselves. His efforts, however, were useless, for their faith was firm
in the power of their gods, whose protection they sought to purchase in
the following curious manner:--
Taking a quantity of gilt paper, kept on board for the purpose, they cut
it into the shape of copper tchen, the only coin in the empire, and
threw them into the sea as a bribe to the goddess Ma-tsoo-po; but
finding that the marine lady's favor was not to be bought so cheaply,
the whole crew began to busy themselves in building a paper ship, which,
by the way, was so ingeniously constructed that it formed an exact model
of their own junk, being complete with masts, ropes, sails, flags,
compass, rudder, a crew, victuals, and even a book of accounts.
When this redoubtable vessel was finished they let it into the sea with
great ceremony, and amidst the deafening clatter of drums and
instruments, and their own shoutings to the goddess, to wreak her
vengeance upon the toy instead of her adorers' ship.
Nevertheless the hard-hearted goddess was not to be caught with tinsel,
for the storm raged with such terrible violence that the frail bark
would speedily have been dashed to atoms but for Nicholas, who, after
persuading a few of the least obstinate of the men to help him, set to
work and managed to keep her head so straight that they passed through
the channel without touching the rocks by which it was bounded on
either side. So fearful was the hurricane of circular winds that the
shivering crew could see trees torn up by the roots as easily as corks
out of bottles by corkscrews. At length, however, the storm subsided,
and the sailors believing that nothing less than a deity could have
enabled their vessel to live in such a storm, fell upon their knees
before Nicholas and thanked him for quelling the fury of the elements.
"Let my brothers toss their stupid idol into the sea, and offer up
thanks to the One true God of heaven, who alone has saved them," said
the boy.
Enraged at this insult to their god, the sailors gave full vent to their
disapprobation, and would have tossed the bold youth into the sea but
for a sudden cry from the look-out man.
"The wasps of the ocean! the wasps of the ocean are upon us!"
At this cry the crew took alarm, and ran to different parts of the
vessel, and armed themselves with pikes, swords, or any weapon upon
which they could place their hands.
Taking the glass from the trembling hands of the look-out man, Nicholas
endeavored to make out the cause of the alarm. It was a large floating
object at a great distance, and bore some resemblance to a ship, still,
notwithstanding the track it left behind in the water, he was doubtful;
but before he could make up his mind the captain snatched the glass from
his hands, glanced through it, declared his opinion that it was a wasp
of the ocean, or pirate, and ordered his vessel to be put back, with
the hope of outrunning her.
Then the first officer took the glass, and after gazing for some time,
said, "Truly, my brothers, this is no ship, but a frightful demon that
the insulted Ma-tsoo-po has sent from the bottom of the sea to devour us
for carrying this impious youth."
This was sufficient for the superstitious fear of the crew, who,
clustering toward Nicholas, with one voice cried, "Over the side with
the irreligious dog."
Seeing no other chance, the boy ran to the stern of the vessel, and,
keeping them at a distance with his sword, said, "Let my brothers open
their ears. Their servant has brought this calamity upon them, but will
yet save them from the anger of the demon by seeking him before he
reaches the vessel, for surely the demon will be satisfied with one
victim."
"The boy's words are good, and if he will pay for the boat it shall be
so, otherwise it is not well that we should lose its value," said the
artful captain, fearing he should lose any money Nicholas might have
about his person.
"Back, rat!" said he to the advancing captain, keeping him off with his
sword and springing side-ward on to the edge of the junk, adding, "Lower
the boat, with provisions, and I will give you silver; refuse, and I
will leap into the sea."
Fearing he would keep his word, the crew placed some rice cakes and a
small water cask in the boat and lowered it; and when Nicholas saw it
fairly afloat, and held but by one cord, he scrambled down the side like
a cat, drew his sword across the rope, threw a handful of silver upon
the deck, and pulled so hard at the oars that in a very short time he
was far out of the cowards' reach and on his way to the floating demon;
which, however he had no sooner caught full sight of than he laughed
till he could handle the oars no longer, for the terrible demon who had
scared the wits of the sailors proved to be neither more nor less than a
great tree which the circular winds had wrested from the earth with such
violence that the root had dragged with it a mass of earth and pebbles
sufficient to keep it afloat in a perfectly upright position, when, with
its spreading branches and lower boughs, it bore in the distance no bad
resemblance to a well-rigged vessel.
Rowing cautiously, for fear the tree might topple over and upset his
boat, he heard a faint cry. Surely it could not be human; he listened;
again he heard it; and looking upward you may imagine his astonishment
at seeing a boy sitting across one of the upper branches.
"Who cries for help?" said Nicholas.
"It is the miserable Chow, who must die if the benevolent stranger will
not aid him," was the reply.
"Canst thou swim, O Chow? If so, drop into the water, for I dare not
come nearer," said Nicholas; but scarcely had he spoken when a strong
gust of wind toppled the tree over with its great arms stretched out as
if to save itself from falling. Fortunately it fell in an opposite
direction to the boat. In the fall the boy was dashed so violently upon
the water, that becoming instantly senseless he would have sunk but for
Nicholas, who, getting hold of the long hair of his head, managed to
drag him into the boat. Upon recovering his senses he said, "Alas! then,
Yen-Vang has poor Chow after all."
"Thou art far away from the king of the lower regions, my poor Chow,"
said Nicholas.
"By the social relations, I am alive and on earth--no, on water--and
ungrateful to the benevolent stranger," said the boy, holding his head
with both hands, as if the better to comprehend his situation.
"Satisfy thy hunger and say how it happened that Chow came to be perched
like a wild goose on a masthead," said Nicholas, giving the boy some of
the rice cakes, which he devoured as ravenously as if he had not tasted
food for a week.
The lad, who had so unexpectedly made the acquaintance of Nicholas, was
a tall, bony youth of about sixteen, with a broad forehead, sparkling
black eyes, and covered with a coarse robe, so torn and tattered, that
he might have passed for a beggar of the lowest class.
When he had satisfied his hunger, Chow clasped the knees of his new
friend, and with tears of gratitude flowing down his cheek, said, "Chow
will be thy slave, O generous stranger, for truly it could be for no
other purpose that the gods have saved his life."
"Tush! talk not of slavery or gods, Chow, but say what is thy name,
surname, and the rank of thy family," said Nicholas.
"Truly, the story of Chow is as miserable as his own mean person. I am
from Tun-Hien, in Ching-Foo, in the province of Tche-Kiang. My father
was a mandarin of the fifth rank, who having taken a good degree, held
office under the governor of the fort, till one moon since, when the
terrible rebel, Li-Kong, took possession of the city in defiance of the
Son of Heaven himself, and massacred all who would not submit; my father
being one of the first to acknowledge the traitor, became the first to
be punished for his disloyalty to our holy Emperor, which happened as
thy servant will relate.
"One day, my mother, who was accounted very handsome, so far forgot the
social regulations laid down for women, as to stand gazing from a window
while a body of soldiers passed through the street. For that unbecoming
act, both my venerable father and myself suffered, for the officer
clattered at the door, when the servants not daring to refuse so
powerful a personage, admitted him to the house, when he ran into the
inner apartment of my mother, who was so alarmed at such barbarian
behavior, that she rose to leave, when the villain would have carried
her away but for thy insignificant servant, who clutched his throat and
so gashed his cheek that the waters even of the yellow stream will never
wash them out.
"Hearing the struggle, the soldiers came to the rogue's help, and would
have killed poor Chow, but for my father, who, returning at the moment,
compelled the officer, bad and bold as he was, to make his escape; but,
alas! no sooner had the rogue left, than instead of being grateful, my
father burst into loud lamentations, crying, 'Alas, alas! that ever so
mean a person was born, for thou hast insulted the chief favorite of the
prince, who will assuredly be revenged;' and so it proved, for the next
day we were all taken before the prince, who ordered the whole family to
be exterminated, and our house burnt to the ground; but what was worse,
alas! my father was not even strangled, but disgraced by being sent to
the yellow stream incomplete, for he was beheaded on the spot, and the
villain officer begged his wife as a slave, to which, in her misery, my
mother offered to consent if they would but spare the life of thy
miserable servant, her son. To this the prince consented, but the
officer was so enraged at the wound in his cheek, that he ordered me to
be dressed in beggar's rags, and beaten out of the town toward the sea.
Accordingly the wretches beat me till I could not stand, and left me to
starve and die on the sea-shore.
"For days and days I wandered in the hope that some fisherman would take
compassion upon me; but alas! none dared to encourage so treasonous a
youth for fear of suffering similar punishment; then, but for the hope
that retaining my miserable existence would some fortunate day enable me
to punish the villain, I should have thrown myself into the sea,
although even that consolation I could not seek without impiously
forgetting my duty to my father, for has it not been wisely said that we
should not live beneath the same heaven with the destroyer of our
parents?"
"It is a pagan doctrine, Chow; but how came you upon yonder perch?" said
Nicholas.
"Without hope, tired, and sad, I wandered along the coast till the great
storm sent the terrified wild animals in all directions; to escape from
them I climbed a tree upon the very verge of the sea, when shortly
afterward the wind-demon blew one great gust which carried it into the
sea, where its great spreading root and the earth around kept it
floating till the benevolent stranger came to my rescue."
"Thou shalt be revenged upon this villain officer, my poor Chow, and
upon the greater rogue, Li-Kong," said Nicholas.
"How,--what words are these? surely the benevolent stranger cannot be in
his senses to speak thus of men so powerful," replied the astonished
Chow.
"What would Chow do to obtain the punishment of his enemies? Would he
faithfully serve the stranger who has saved his life?"
"If these are the words of truth,--and who is thy mean servant that he
should doubt?--O wonderful stranger, Chow will be thy slave till he goes
to meet his ancestors."
"Then, surely as I have spoken, it shall be so. But how wouldst thou
know this vile rogue again?"
"Is it possible for a son to forget the slayer of his parent, even if
the wound in his face would not betray him?" said Chow, who gazing
earnestly in the face of Nicholas, added, "Art thou really a boy or a
man of short measure?"
"Truly, like thyself, a boy of long measure and ample fullness, whose
mean surname is Nicholas," said the other laughing.
"No, no, noble Nicholas, not like Chow; for if a boy, thou art like him
who became the Emperor Tait-sou, a little great man-boy," said Chow.
CHAPTER III.
ADVENTURES AT SEA.--RESCUE.
Having recovered his strength, Chow took a turn at the oars, and for an
hour pulled lustily, to get as far from the coast as possible, for fear
of being observed by any straggling party of the rebels who might pursue
them, when, if they searched Nicholas and discovered the letter,
farewell to the sea chief's schemes. This fear, however, soon became
absorbed in a greater; night came on, and brave sailor as he was,
Nicholas did not fancy being upon that stormy sea in such a fragile
boat.
Then Nicholas took the oars, and had not been pulling long, when he
perceived the glimmering of a light in the distance. He rested for a
moment; the light grew larger and nearer: this was hopeful; it might be
the lantern of a trading ship; yet fearful, for it might be a pirate.
The suspense was terrible, and like a gallant fellow he determined to
end it as soon as possible; for this purpose he pulled heartily, and was
rewarded at length by getting near enough to the stranger to distinguish
voices, then a few long pulls, and strong pulls, and he reached the
ship, when by the light from her lanterns perceiving some ropes hanging
out, he clambered up her side, telling Chow to follow. In another
second they both stood upon the deck, but also in the arms of men, who
would have stabbed them with their knives but for the presence of mind
of our hero, who exclaimed, "Fear not, brothers of the sea, we are not
pirates."
The men, however, not being so easily appeased, bound the arms of the
boys with ropes and took them into the presence of the captain, much to
the disgust of Chow, who said, "Truly it is a maxim that a servant
should follow his master, but our career will be one of short measure by
this strange frolic, O noble Nicholas."
"Silence, Chow, let not thy heart leap between thy lips at the first
threat of danger," said Nicholas angrily.
"The bravest war tiger would become a mouse with his body packed as
closely as a cotton ball," said Chow surlily.
The captain, however, no sooner saw Nicholas, than with a start of
surprise he ordered the sailors to leave the cabin, and took up a large
knife from the cabin table, when the terrified Chow cried, "Take the
worthless life of thy mean slave, O noble commander, but in the name of
thy ancestors spare my noble master."
Chow's fear became surprise in no small degree when the captain, without
noticing his prayer, not only cut the cords from the arms of Nicholas,
but made him a respectful bow.
"Thanks, worthy commander," said Nicholas, taking the knife and
releasing Chow.
"Truly the heavens have tumbled down a surprise," said Chow, with a
caper, adding, "Is the noble man-boy a good demon, that he can transform
enemies into friends with a glance of his eye?"
Without, however, satisfying Chow, Nicholas asked the captain to give
the boy a sleeping mat in another cabin, after which he said, "It is
well, O Yung, that you chanced to be at sea this night, or my noble
parent would have had to mourn his son." But little more passed, for
Nicholas was glad to seek a long rest, and possession of the sleeping
mat which the captain resigned to him.
The reason of this civility is easily explained--the vessel itself
belonged to the sea chief, and its commander was one of his officers in
charge on a voyage to Ning-Po, which port they reached the following
day. Having landed, the boys took leave of the captain, and sought a
lodging at one of the largest inns, where, after resting for a few days,
Nicholas began to prepare for his journey inland.
His first care was to furnish Chow with a becoming robe of stout silk, a
cap, trousers, and thick-soled leather boots. As soon as the boy had put
them on he began to caper about, crying, "My master is generous, and the
gods will reward him for making a poor boy decent enough to pay due
reverence to the tombs of his ancestors, for truly he could not worthily
sweep the dust from their resting-place in such unbecoming tatters; for
although Chow is poor, he is of worthy descent and honorable relations."
"Truly, Chow, thou art now fit to take a degree at the next examination
at Pekin, if we ever arrive there," said Nicholas.
"It is not reasonable that the noble Nicholas should laugh at his mean
servant, for at the examination of his Hien he passed so creditably
through the first two sacred books, that he would have obtained a
government promotion but for the villain who destroyed his house. _May
his soul pass into the body of a rat!_" said Chow gloomily.
"Pardon, O disappointed scholar. It was villainous to laugh, for it is a
wise saying, 'that the well to do should sympathize with the
unfortunate,'" said Nicholas, adding, as he took his cap, "But let us
now seek for a passage-boat, for it is also wisely said, 'that the
loiterer about the business of another is incapable of conducting his
own affairs.'"
When they reached the river, they engaged a passage to Hang-tcheou, and
having waited for a favorable tide, the barge was soon out of the river
into a canal, upon which for days they proceeded, at times being pushed
along by poles thrust into the water, at others, being drawn along by
coolies, or porters, an employment that affords a means of existence to
a vast portion of the population of China.
Tche-Kiang, through which they so leisurely traveled, is, perhaps, the
most fertile and beautiful of the eighteen provinces of China, and
large enough to contain the whole of Scotland and its adjacent islands.
Besides rivers, it is watered by some sixty canals, which serve not only
as an easy method of transit, but so to irrigate the great plains around
that they yield crops of rice, pulse, and cotton, twice and sometimes
thrice a year. It was pleasant to watch these canals pouring forth their
sparkling limpid streams to lave the feet of the neighboring hills and
mountains, which for many miles presented an aspect of singular beauty;
some, like carved and nature painted pyramids, being wrought into
terraces, which shot one out of the other, teeming with the yellow
grain, cotton, or tea-trees, while others were thickly sprinkled with
shady trees, which waved over sloping cemeteries of quaintly shaped
tombs and temples. It was a charming picture--nature dressed to the
verge of foppery--more, it was a glorious land, and smiling as if in
pride at its power of blessing the human race--and more again, that its
owners knew its worth and industriously stretched its blessings to the
utmost.
Then the boat came to a dike, or sluice, and they were about to enter
another canal at least fifteen feet beneath their level. To pass this,
the barge was hoisted by Coolies up an inclined plain of freestone by
means of ropes upon capstans and sheer strength of muscle, then gently
let down a slope upon the other side into the water, a mode adopted to
the present day to move even the largest vessels from canal to canal.
Thus pleasantly the young travelers were wafted through the province,
now through vast plains of rice, then by the sides of great hills
clustering with the tea-plant, on again through vast orchards of
mulberry-trees and the useful and curious tallow-plant; then again
through plantations of bamboo, that inseparable companion of the
Chinaman from the cradle to the grave--for it receives the infant,
corrects the boy, is the means of living for the man, and entwines the
corpse. Then again they passed through towns and cities, swarming with
busy workers at the silk-loom and multifarious handicrafts, and toiling
children, women, and men in the fields, till they passed another dike,
and then they were upon the beautiful lake Tsao-hou, about the naming of
which the following pretty story is told:--
"Many years ago there lived a priest of the Taouist religion, who had
obtained a reputation for his skill in magic. At the festival of the
feast of dragon boats, the priest went to sport in the river in honor of
his gods, but by some mischance he was drowned, and his body no where to
be found. His dutiful daughter, Tsao-hou, a girl fourteen years of age,
felt her father's loss so deeply that she wandered along the banks of
the river for seventeen days and nights, weeping and wailing over her
loss. At last she threw a large melon into the river, putting up the
prayer, 'May this melon sink wherever the body of my father lieth.' With
anxious eyes she watched the gourd as it floated on the surface of the
stream, until it stopped at a certain spot where it sank. The poor
damsel, frantic with grief, rushed to the place and plunged after it.
She too was drowned, but five days afterward her lifeless trunk rose to
the surface with her father's body in her embrace. Both were buried on
the river bank, and in commemoration of that incident the name of the
girl was given to the lake and a magnificent temple erected to her
name."
On the sixth day they came to Chao-Hing, the Venice of China, where the
canals are so numerous that any portion of the city may be reached by
boats. Imagine a city with, in place of streets, one large network of
water-roads, intersected with bridges, so light and fanciful that one
could imagine them to have been blown together by the breath of fairies,
and you will have some notion of Chao-Hing.
This city is celebrated alike for its silk-worms and book-worms. So
great is the reputation of the scholars of Chao-Hing that they are
sought for by the viceroys of provinces to fill government offices. Near
to this city and not far from the mountain of Asses (so called from its
being shaped in the form of that animal) is the sepulchre of the great
Emperor Yu, the model sovereign of China.
This prince obtained the throne by having saved the empire from the
deluge of water which in his time covered the lands; indeed, he must
have been no common engineer, for in thirteen years, by unwearied labor,
he leveled high mountains, embanked and confined great rivers within
their channels, drained lakes and marshes, enclosed rapid torrents with
banks, and divided rivers into canals, which not only gained a great
extent of country, but rendered the whole more fertile. It was the great
genius and wonderful energy of Yu that caused the reigning Emperor to
choose him for his successor in preference to either of the four
princes, his sons.
Among other remarkable things told of this Emperor, it is said that he
first taught the people to cultivate, sow, and manure lands, and divided
his dominions into nine provinces, causing as many great brazen vessels
to be made, on each of which a map of a province was engraved. In
succeeding times these vessels became very precious, for it was believed
that the safety of the state depended on their security, and that
whoever obtained them would also obtain the crown.
A qualification rare amongst kings was possessed by this useful prince.
He hated flatterers, and the only way to gain his favor was to tell him
of his faults. Moreover, Yu thought no employment so becoming a
sovereign as doing justice to the people; thus he gave access to his
subjects at all hours, and that no obstacle might be thrown in their
way, he had affixed to his palace gates a bell, a drum, and three
tables, one of iron, one of stone, and another of lead, upon either of
which people who wanted an audience were to strike.
The bell was to distinguish civil affairs, the drum for matters relating
to law or religion, the leaden table for the ministers, the tablet of
stone to denote a complaint of wrong done by some magistrate, and lastly
the iron tablet was to denote any very serious trouble. So rigorously
did Yu adhere to this rule, that it is said that he arose from table
twice in one day, and another day came three times out of his bath at
the sound of the bell.
Another story is, that when wine, which was first invented in his reign,
was shown to him, he expressed great regret, "for," said he, "this
liquor will cause the greatest trouble to the empire." But wise and
powerful as he was, Yu could not conquer sensuality; for in China, as in
most other countries, the love for strong liquors is potent.
CHAPTER IV.
THE INNKEEPER.--ALARMING NEWS.
For six more days the boys sailed along this canal till they came to
Hang-tcheou-fou, the terrestrial paradise of China, of which, in
conjunction with another great city, the people have a saying, "Heaven
is above, but Hang-tcheou and Foo-tcheou are below." As a combination of
work and pleasure, a great manufacturing city, and a fashionable and
healthful watering-place, this spot has not its equal in the world; for
as the province of Tche-Kiang is the most celebrated in the empire for
its growth of mulberry-trees and the finest silk-worms, so is its
capital, Hang-tcheou, celebrated for its looms and the quality and
quantity of those rare silks, satins, and taffetas, which no less
gladdened the eyes of the moderns than they surprised and delighted the
wealthy Romans, who, not knowing from whence they came, believed them to
be the handiwork of "furthest Ind."
Not alone the Manchester, but the Bath or Cheltenham of China, this city
is also famous for its scholars, and as being the residence of the
fashionables, if such a term may be used to a people who are proverbial
for having kept in manners, customs, laws, religion, and dress, and
even ideas, with little exception, to the pattern men and women,
fashioned and shaped by their early Emperors, Yaou and Yu, some four
thousand years ago; for the latter perhaps Hang-tcheou is chiefly
indebted to its vicinage to the celebrated lake See-ho. The waters are
so clear that the smallest pebbles may be seen shining like crystals
from the bottom. In the middle are two islands adorned with temples and
houses, wherein water parties, after taking their pleasure upon the
lake, resort for rest and refreshment. Upon piles driven into the bed of
the lake are large stone walks or pathways for pedestrians, which stretch
from the banks to the islands, with openings for boats, across which are
thrown fancifully wrought bridges. The banks are studded with temples,
mansions, monasteries, for the bonzes or priests of Buddah, as also a
small but beautiful palace for the use of the Emperor, when he makes a
tour through his southern provinces.
Near to this lake, and reposing in a valley beneath the foot of a
mountain, upon the summit of which, as if in guard over the dead for the
past forty centuries, the huge Lui-fung-ta, or tower of thundering
winds, is the great cemetery, or vale of tombs, a city in size, which is
kept reverentially clean, and strewn at stated periods with fresh
flowers, over which forests of willows weep for the departed.
One of the chief beauties of this famous lake I had almost forgotten to
mention. Its sides, where the water is shallow, are covered with the
clustering and rare flowers, lien-hoa, a plant so choice that it is
fostered in the innermost recesses of the houses of the great and
wealthy. Not unlike our own tulips, the Lien-hoa has a little ball
supported by a small filament similar to that formed in lilies; its
color varies, being at times violet, white, or a mixture of red and
white; it emits a fragrant odor; the fruit is as big as a small nut, and
the kernel is white and of good taste. The physicians esteem it, and
prescribe it for weak patients. The leaves are long, and swim upon the
water, communicating with the root by long strings. The dense
population, which has rendered it necessary to turn every atom to
account, has led the busy-bee genius of the people to make every
particle of this plant useful. The before-mentioned strings are used by
the gardeners to wrap round their goods, and the white and pulpy root is
eaten in summer for its cooling properties.
Although mid-day when they arrived at this city, you will not wonder
that it was nearly dark by the time they reached the gates, when I tell
you that the river was one vast floating town of vessels, the greater
part of which were arranged into streets, crowded with passing mandarin
junks laden with pleasure parties, and decorated with japan, gilding,
silk streamers, and that emblem of rank, the umbrella; government junks,
some of war, and others freighted with rice, silks, and other matters,
which had been given by the different townspeople as taxes in lieu of
money; then numerous junks laden with salt and other commodities, to say
nothing of the many thousands of San-pans or egg-house boats, in which
a vast portion of the poorer section of the Chinese reside, never being
permitted to come ashore without especial permission from the governor;
then again, the floating islands of trees, with their huts formed of
poles and matting of bamboo. Indeed just such a scene is a picture of
the every-day life presented on the canals and rivers of this country;
but particularly in the southern provinces, which so swarm with human
beings, that thousands are compelled from want of room on land to take
refuge on the water, where they not only live, but carry on their
various avocations.
Notwithstanding the haste of the boys to enter the city, as they passed
through the gates the great bell above them began to sound the first of
the five watches or divisions into which the night is divided, and the
crowds who thronged the narrow streets began to scamper in every
direction to their homes, for the law of China very wisely holds "that
the daylight is for labor and the night for repose." Greatly fatigued,
the young travelers sought the first inn where they regaled themselves
with a plentiful meal, foolishly forgetting the passing time: indeed,
before they had finished, they heard the sound of the second watch, when
the landlord made his appearance and begged of his honorable guests to
take their departure, much to the surprise of Nicholas, who had resolved
to go no further that night. "Surely," said he, "the perfection of
innkeepers would not turn away travelers who are willing to pay for
their entertainment and lodging."
"From what distant province can the honorable youth have journeyed, that
he knows not that the inns are full of the servants and officers of the
illustrious Ching-Ti, who has this day arrived, to fill with his form of
full measure the governor's sedan, and judgment seat?" said the
innkeeper.
"Truly the worthy innkeeper will pardon his younger brother for
observing that the name of the Mandarin of Hang-tcheou is Yang-ti, or
the eyeballs of his humble guest have become twisted, for Yang-ti is the
name upon this chop," replied Chow, producing a kind of passport which
had been given to him at the custom-house before entering the city.
"Where have been the ears of my honorable guest that he has not heard
that the noble Yang has completed the measure of his joys and sorrows in
this world?"
"Surely the noble governor cannot have passed so suddenly to the yellow
stream or the shadow kingdom of Yen-Vang," said Chow.
"There can be no doubt that it is a sad history, for greatly was the
good Yang loved, not only in this his last province, but in all those
over which he had ruled, never having retired from a government without
receiving the boots of honor," replied the innkeeper.
It may be as well to explain to you, that when the governor of a city
removes to another province, the people exhibit their approbation of his
wisdom and justice by paying him great honor. When he commences his
journey he finds, for a considerable distance along the road, tables
covered with silk placed at certain intervals, upon some of which are
laid burnt perfumes, candlesticks, waxlights, meats, pulse, and fruits;
and upon others, wine, and tea, ready for use. As soon as the popular
mandarin appears, the people fall upon their knees, bow their heads and
weep, offer him the things upon the tables, and present him with a pair
of new boots; they then pull off his old ones, and preserve them as
relics in a small cage, which they hang over the gates of the city
through which he passed.
"Will the worthy innkeeper relate the ill-doings that could have brought
this good magistrate to misfortune?" said Nicholas, guessing at the
innkeeper's meaning.
"Truly it was no less than a fondness for the religion of the Fan-Kwi."
"Surely that could be no crime under our good Emperor, who has
befriended the Christians, even to permitting the members of his family
to become followers of the Lord of Heaven," said Nicholas.
"It is true that the information may be incorrect, but such has fallen
into thy servant's ears; moreover it is said that the great Yang's
conduct has offended the bonzes at Pekin, who are all-powerful in the
palace of the Son of Heaven, whom they persuaded to send the
Christian-exterminating Lord Ching-Ti, with an order signed by the
vermilion pencil, to put Yang to death."
"Has the vile deed been performed?" said Nicholas hastily.
"Hush!" said the host in a low tone. "Surely such language will bring a
heavy punishment upon thy head."
"Has the noble mandarin suffered, O worthy man?" said Nicholas, whose
rising indignation outweighed his prudence.
"It has been wisely said, that it is of little use to repine at what
can't be recalled," replied the innkeeper, adding, "The soul of the
great Yang is now in search of a better habitation, but he left this
world with dignity, for the Son of Heaven, _may he continue the circle
of succession_, remembering his servant's good deeds, mercifully
permitted him to be his own executioner, and, moreover, gave him the
choice either of the silken cord, the gold leaf, or his own state
necklace."
"Truly if the great lords esteem these things as favors, thanks be to
Tien that thy servant is but a small weasel of a personage," said Chow,
making some very remarkable grimaces.
"When the noble Yang received the message, he called for the incense
table, burned perfume in honor of his royal master, chose the silken
cord, and having held it high above his head in token of his willingness
to obey the royal will, immediately strangled himself," said the
innkeeper, without noticing Chow's interruption.
That the boys did not shudder at this recital, may surprise you who are
not perhaps aware that this is a common method of showing the royal
gratitude for past services in the middle kingdom. Not only are these
three methods used as punishments, but as a means of suicide, which in
China, as in most unchristianized countries, is esteemed a meritorious
means of slipping through a difficulty. The gold leaf being taken in the
form of a pill, is washed down with water, which is supposed so to
expand the leaf and extend the stomach that life soon becomes extinct.
The death by the necklace is more uncommon. There is a bird of the crane
kind, on the crown of whose head is a scarlet tuft of down or velvet
skin, to which the Chinese believe the poison of the serpents which it
eats determines. This crest is frequently formed into a bead which is
concealed in the ornamental necklaces worn by the high officers of the
empire, for the express purpose of surmounting worldly difficulties, for
let this venom but touch the lip, and death instantaneously ensues.
There is a legend that the life of this bird extends to one thousand
years, that it is in its prime at sixty, when it can sing regularly and
beautifully every hour of the day, but that it cannot mount trees till
it reaches its thousandth year.
When the innkeeper had finished, the clanging of the watchman's bamboo
rattle in the streets reminded Nicholas of the lateness of the hour, and
he said, "But, even now, the worthy innkeeper has not informed his
younger brothers where they may find a lodging for the night.
"Thy servant, noble youth, must have been born in an unfortunate hour,
that he cannot offer the advantages of his inn, but the truth has been
spoken, none but the servants and officers of the great Ching-Ti can
rest here to-night."
"Surely taels of silver are not so plentiful in this city that all will
refuse," said Chow.
"Truly for less than an ounce of silver two travelers might find a
lodging in the house of the bonzes."
"The priests of Fo are rogues," said Nicholas, giving utterance to an
opinion that has been popular in China from all time.
"The noble youth possesses a tongue that will place him in the cangue,
or procure him a branded cheek by this hour to-morrow, if he rules it no
better," said the innkeeper; but before the boy could reply, the man's
wife ran into the room, crying and beating her breast, and implored of
her husband to follow her to the bedside of their dying daughter.
Shocked that they had been the means of keeping the man from so holy a
duty. Nicholas apologized, and was about leaving the house, when with an
hysterical laugh, the man said, "See, O honorable youths, this woman has
but little faith in the power of the holy bonzes, who have been offering
sacrifices to Fo, to save the life of this pearl of my existence."
"By what means, O foolish man, can these bonzes save thy child's life?
Are not the physicians of Hang-tcheou famous for their skill?"
"Truly they are less than mice; they could not save my child, and I have
dismissed them for a holy bonze, whose influence over the god who
protects the lives of the young, has made him promise that my pearl
shall not become dissolved in death."
"She is passing from us now, O my husband," said the unhappy wife.
"It cannot be, woman; the god is but chastising you with a terrible
fear, for your want of faith; for how is it possible he can refuse so
trifling a favor as the life of a young girl, when I have daily offered
sacrifices of animals, and money, and burned incense at his altar?"
Shocked at the man's superstitious belief in the power of Fo, and his
brother idols, Nicholas made one other effort to shake it; finding,
however, that it was useless, he paid the bill, purchased a lantern for
himself and another for Chow, and they went on their way to the Buddhist
monastery, the only house wherein he could find shelter for that night.
CHAPTER V.
ADVENTURE IN A BUDDHIST MONASTERY.--CHOW'S ENCOUNTER WITH A BONZE.
To Londoners who find it an easy matter to pass, at any time of the
night, from one end of the metropolis to the other, it may appear that
Nicholas and Chow had no very difficult task before them. Such however,
was not the case, for in the first place, instead of open thoroughfares,
the great streets of the cities of China are barricaded at the ends with
chains, and the smaller ones with wicket-gates, at each of which is
placed a watchman, whose business it is to question every pedestrian,
and through the night to keep clanging a piece of hard wood against a
hollow bamboo cane, for the purpose of showing his watchfulness.
As the boys, by aid of their lanterns picked their way through the
streets, they found them deserted; with the exception of a few
stragglers, each of whom carried a lantern, upon which was
ostentatiously emblazoned his name and rank. Imagine all the gas lamps
in London extinguished, and their places supplied by a few dancing
will-o'-the-wisp kind of lanterns, and you will have a tolerable notion
of the appearance of the great cities of China by night. Dismal, truly,
but perhaps not more so than were the streets of London not many years
since, when they were lighted by flickering oil lamps. Again, as were
those of London at the very period when these adventures happened, the
streets are so narrow that a good-sized carriage or wagon cannot pass
through without danger to the people, but then the narrowness of the
streets was less pardonable in Londoners of that age, than in the
Chinese of the present, whose great people ride in sedan-chairs, and
whose little people walk, and convey their goods to and fro in narrow
carts, like barrows, with one centre wheel. The Celestials are at least
consistent in fitting their vehicles to their streets, which is more
than could be said of old London, with its gutter streets and heavy
lumbering coaches, types of which may be seen every day in the London of
the present time.
The street in which the inn was situated was one of the principal, and,
therefore, of great length, and along the pavement, which was in the
middle of the road, the boys trudged onward, passing every now and then
beneath one of the numerous Pai-ho, or arches, which are erected to the
memory of good magistrates and virtuous women, till they came to a
lattice-gate which led into a smaller street, when their progress was
arrested, for the watchman was not at his post. They waited for some
time, till becoming impatient, Chow kicked the gate, when there arose
such a queer hissing noise, that the boy fell upon his face, exclaiming,
"My master, my master the demons of Yen-Vang have swallowed the
watchman, and are guarding the gate in his stead."
"Thou art a foolish coward," said Nicholas, who clambered up the gate,
and after looking through the wicket for a minute let go his hold and
laughed immoderately. "O Chow, Chow, thou idiot! not to know a demon
from one of thine own kind; surely these demons are nothing but geese;"
and as the watchman opened the wicket Chow saw that the noise which had
alarmed him had been caused by a couple of those birds, which the
watchman had trained to cackle and hiss at the slightest noise, so that
he might take a comfortable nap, with the certainty of being aroused
when wanted by the hissing.
"Truly they must be barbarian geese, for I should have understood them
had they cackled in Chinese," said Chow.
To get the gate open was one thing, to pass through another, for
perceiving neither name nor rank upon the lanterns, the watchman
determined to detain the boys as suspicious characters, and for that
purpose began to clang upon his bamboo for assistance, when a personage
came up to the wicket, and both the watchman and Chow bent their heads
respectfully. From the yellow robe, the string of beads around his neck,
and his shaven head, Nicholas saw that he was a bonze, or priest of Fo.
As this reverend gentleman came through the gate he ran his fingers up
and down the beads, and muttered, "O Mi to-fo," and so would have
passed, but for Chow, who said, "Will the man of prayer pardon an
insignificant mouse for interrupting his holy meditations?"
"The dogs are vagabonds, perhaps robbers, who have no name, surname, or
profession on their lanterns, O holy bonze," said the polite watchman.
"What would the nameless night prowlers with the priest of Buddha?" said
the bonze.
"Truly nothing but a guide to the monastery, where they seek a lodging
for which they pray of the holy father to accept alms."
At the word alms the eyes of the bonze sparkled with delight, and having
lifted his lantern so as to get a full view of Nicholas, he said to the
watchman, "Thou rascal! thy dog's head hath less brains than these
geese, and thine eyeballs are of lead, or thou wouldst have seen that so
well-looking a youth must be of honorable descent; moreover, where was
thy charity, that thou wouldst not aid a traveler?"
"Surely the man would be wanting in sense who should suppose that he had
the wisdom and divining power of a holy bonze," replied the trembling
guardian of the night.
Not deigning, however to notice this observation, the bonze conducted
the boys along several streets, till they reached a building surrounded
by a high wall, through which, by means of a small gate, they passed to
an avenue of magnificent trees, paved with marble, and which led to a
large gateway, guarded upon each side by a very ugly stone god. Passing
through the gateway, they entered a small room lighted from the centre
by one large lantern, decorated with portraits of the god Fo, in every
variety of character. This god, as you may probably know, is represented
by almost every kind of animal, biped and quadruped, into which during
the lapse of centuries his soul is supposed to have passed. Around this
room, which was for every day use, were small idols of gilt copper, with
ghos-sticks burning before them; on the table, in the centre of the
room, stood a time measure, that must remind you of the period of our
own King Alfred. It is termed the hourly incense-stick, and is notched
at equal distances, and as from notch to notch the stick takes exactly
one hour to burn, it accurately marks the passing time.
This ghos-stick, so named from its being burned as incense in the
ghos-houses or temples of China, is compounded of sawdust mixed with
glue and scent, and evenly rolled into thin rods of two or three feet in
length; in fact, the very same brown stick adopted by smokers in this
country for its pleasant perfume, and continuing to burn till reduced to
ashes. Having introduced the boys to this room the bonze withdrew, and
shortly afterward sent a servant with blankets and sleeping mats, upon
which they stretched themselves, not a little pleased at the opportunity
of getting a good sleep after their day's fatigue.
Long before morning, however, Nicholas was suddenly aroused from his
slumbers, and to his surprise saw the bonze upon the floor, with Chow
pummeling him with his fists, and crying, "I have thee, I have thee,
thou slayer of people's parents."
Not knowing what to make of this strange scene, Nicholas caught Chow by
the arm and endeavored to pull him away; this, however, served but to
excite him the more, for he pummeled at the bonze harder than ever. The
behavior of the priest was still more surprising, for instead of showing
any indignation at this strange treatment, all he said was, "Harm the
youth not my son; he is possessed with a demon; he sleeps, poor boy, and
mistakes me for some terrible enemy."
This explanation Nicholas soon found to be correct, for poor Chow had
been battling in his sleep; but how the bonze came into the boy's
clutches was a mystery, and one that, worn out as he was with fatigue,
he did not just then care about solving, so that he could get Chow to
his mat again, which after considerable trouble he managed, by telling
him that he was an officer of justice and would see that his enemy
should be punished. After which Nicholas threw himself upon his mat,
fell into a sound sleep, and slept till he was awakened by the deep
tones of the monastery bell.
During the morning meal he related the adventure to the much-puzzled
Chow, who could remember nothing but that he had dreamed that the slayer
of his father suddenly entered the room, and after prowling about for
some time, first searched the robe of Nicholas, and then came to his
bed, when, thinking he was going to kill him, he attacked him in
self-defence; though how his enemy should have become transformed into
the bonze, who certainly had no business in the room, was a puzzle that
he could not make out.
The explanation of the bonze was, that he had entered his visitors'
apartment to see that they had been properly attended to by the
servant--an explanation not at all satisfactory to Chow, who as soon as
the priest left the room said, "Is my master's girdle safe? for these
holy fathers are great rogues."
Alarmed for the safety of his letters, Nicholas examined his girdle;
they were safe; when shocked at his insinuation, the repentant Chow
exclaimed, "Truly, my master, Chow is less than the least of little
dogs, and must crave the good father's forgiveness,"--which he took the
first opportunity of doing, by falling upon all fours before the priest
and knocking his forehead to the ground, till the latter in pity lifted
the boy upon his legs again.
CHAPTER VI.
THRASHING THE GODS.--THE BOYS TAKEN PRISONERS.
Anxious to deliver his father's letter to the Christian priest, yet
fearful of making inquiries where he was to be found, now he had heard
of the governor's enmity to Christianity, Nicholas determined to make
the effort alone, and having thanked the bonze for his hospitality and
presented him with half an ounce of silver, he was about proceeding in
his search, when the latter solicited him to join in the morning prayers
of the monastery; a solicitation he was too prudent to refuse, for fear
of awakening the suspicions of the bonzes, whom he knew to be the main
persecutors of his religion.
As for Chow, like the majority of his countrymen he was of no religion
in particular, but a little of each of the sects into which the Chinese
are divided; Confucian, Buddhist, and Taouist; he, therefore, willingly
followed Nicholas, who, with something like a feeling of disgust,
entered a spacious hall, the ceiling of which shone with gold and japan.
In the centre were placed three colossal representative gods of the
past, present, and future--the Buddha who is, and the Buddha who will
be--with a vase of incense and a lamp of burning tea oil before each. At
the sound of a small bell, a number of yellow-robed priests, with heads
shaven, clean and oily as bladders of lard, made their appearance and
commenced the ceremony; one rang a bell violently, while another
clattered like a watchman upon a hollow bamboo cane. This clamor was for
the purpose of arousing the attention of the gods, which, after a few
minutes, being supposed to be accomplished, the whole society of priests
knocked their heads upon the ground repeatedly; and when tired, they
began to chant hymns and create a fearful din by playing rough music
upon much rougher instruments; after which they marched out of the hall
regularly and in double file. Not a little pleased at the conclusion of
the ceremony, Nicholas followed, taking care, however, on leaving the
building, to choose an opposite direction to the bonzes.
The boys had not walked more than a hundred yards, when they came to the
foot of a small hillock, which served as a base or pedestal for a
shrine, in which, upon a raised platform, like a small boy upon a tall
stool, sat an ugly little god with a dragon's head, so glittering,
however, with gold and gaudy colors, that they knew it to be a private
idol that some foolish devotee had decorated at his own cost, with a
view to obtain some especial service from heaven. When within earshot of
this deity, they observed two bonzes come from behind the shrine,
attended by a servant, who, having prepared the incense table commenced
to bow their heads to the ground and mutter their prayers.
Not wishing either to join in, or interrupt the priests' devotions, the
boys took up their position behind the trunk of a large tree, where they
witnessed the following scene:--
Scarcely had the bonzes commenced their head knockings when a mob of the
lower class of people, with sticks and hammers in their hands, came
clamoring toward the shrine. They were led by a man, who had no sooner
reached the astute and kneeling priests, than with one kick he sent them
rolling over each other, saying at the same time, "Get thee hence, thou
rogues of bonzes, and let us deal with this villainous god." The bonzes,
seeing so many persons, arose and scampered off to their monastery for
help, when the _leader_, whom Nicholas now recognized as his friend, the
innkeeper, approached the idol, saying, "How now, thou dog of a spirit!
Have I not fed thee, lodged thee handsomely, and offered incense each
day at the cost of half my hard earnings, that thou shouldst save the
life of my daughter, who, notwithstanding, has been carried to the
yellow stream? Let us punish him, my friends, that he may deceive no
other father." As he uttered the last words, he struck off the arm of
the god with such force that it struck a bonze, who was at that moment
coming toward the idol in advance of some twenty of his brethren; at
which the people cried, "This is indeed a just retribution upon the vile
bonze."
"Do not the people fear the vengeance of the gods, that they behave
thus?" said the stricken priest, calmly, and dissembling his rage.
"Truly the gods may render us unfortunate," said one cowardly fellow,
and the superstitious crowd hesitated. Perceiving his advantage, the
bonze followed it up. "Surely," said he, "the people are not
unreasonable, like this man, who is ungrateful to the gods for taking
his daughter, as if, forsooth, his child were better than the children
of his neighbors."
"This is true. Why should one complain that he is not more fortunate
than the rest?" said the cowardly voice.
"As for the worthy Sing, the gods may pardon him, in consideration of
his great grief; but then he must desist from this profanity," said the
bonze.
"The bonze is generous, and his words are reasonable," said another.
"Are my friends unjust that they will not listen to an injured man,
whose injuries may be their own to-morrow?" said the innkeeper.
"This is reasonable also; let us hear Sing," cried several voices.
At that moment, Nicholas, who feared lest the artful bonzes should get
the better of the dispute, came forward, and said, "Why should the
worthy Sing waste words? surely he has been sufficiently injured; the
measure of his grief is full, for he will leave no descendant to fulfil
the necessary offices at his tomb."
"The words of the honorable youth are wise," said the fickle crowd; and
Nicholas continued, "That there has been robbery, there can be no
doubt, my friends; for, notwithstanding the god promised to cure the
daughter of this worthy man, she has passed to the yellow stream, and,
therefore, he is unworthy of his quality of godship, and should be
punished; therefore, in justice to the worthy Sing, let this temple be
pulled down, and the stupid idol pay the penalty in his own person."
To which the priest endeavored to reply, but the people would not listen
to him, and acting upon the suggestion of Nicholas, threw a cord round
the god's neck, pulled him to the ground, and belabored him with sticks
and hammers.
During the proceeding the priests, who were too wise to lose their
tempers, addressed a knot of lookers-on, vehemently threatening them
with terrible misfortunes, but at the same time declaring, that if Sing
would come to some agreement, the god, who was of a short temper, would
do what was reasonable on his part and prevent future evils. This had
the desired effect upon all but Sing and some of his friends, who
continued to belabor the idol till the converts to the bonze's opinion
drove them away, when, becoming broken into antagonistic parties, they
threw aside their weapons and fought each other with their fists, till a
body of yah-yu, or city police, entered upon the ground, and seizing
Sing, the principal bonze, and the two boys, as the chief rioters,
hurried them off to the police tribunal.
As for the mob, no sooner had the prisoners been removed, than mortified
at the profanity into which they had been hurried, they gathered
together the fragments of the deity, stuck them together as well as
possible, washed him, and fell at his feet, exclaiming, "In truth we
have been a little too hasty, but then your godship has been a little
too slow in performing your promises, and thus brought the beating upon
yourself. But still it is a good saying, that 'what has been done can't
be undone.' Let us, therefore, think no more of this matter, and if you
will forget what has passed we will repair thy temple and gild you over
again."
For fear that my reader may think this episode exaggerated, I must
assure him that similar scenes are even now of frequent occurrence--and
why not? For although idolaters, the Chinese are neither enthusiasts nor
fanatics. With the greater part, the worship of idols is an inheritance
which it would be impossible to reject;--it is custom they worship.
Moreover, like ourselves, they are a business-like people, and will have
money's worth for money; therefore, if they pay an idol for a certain
quantity of work, and he does not complete his contract, they give him a
sound thrashing--and the principle is not a bad one after all.
CHAPTER VII.
TREACHERY OF THE BONZES.--NICHOLAS SENT TO PRISON AS A TRAITOR.
With the proverbial rudeness of most small officials, the yah-yu threw
cords around the arms of the prisoners and dragged them along the
streets, amid the jeers and laughter of the populace, who, enjoyed the
prospect of the probable punishment of so serious an offence as rioting,
namely, being led about the streets with the cangue, a wooden collar as
large as a small table, around their necks; but in this the Chinese
crowd was not worse than others in Europe, for, with shame be it said, a
tendency to indulge in the minor miseries of their fellows is the cruel
propensity of most masses.
When they came to the tribunal they found it crowded with people, who
were standing upon either side of the hall, so as to form a lane by
which to approach the mandarin, who was sitting at a table, upon which
stood a box of bamboo reeds, tipped with yellow; upon his left side sat
the secretary, and upon his right stood three men with ominous-looking
bamboo canes in their hands. The first case heard was that of a youth
whose propensity for gaming had led him to squander a large sum of
money lent to him by his father for the purpose of commencing business.
I must tell you however, that before bringing the boy before a tribunal,
the father had fruitlessly tried every method of kindness. Having
listened patiently, the mandarin severly reprimanded the youth, then
taking fifty of the yellow-tipped reeds threw them on the ground as a
signal for the men with canes to give him fifty blows. Before, however,
they could obey, his mother, with tears in her eyes, threw herself at
the mandarin's feet, begging of him to pardon her son. Being a
kind-hearted man the magistrate complied, but ordering to be brought to
him a volume written by one of the emperors for the instruction of his
subjects, and opening it at a particular part, said, "Promise O youth,
to renounce gambling and to listen to your father's directions, and I
will pardon you this time; but that you may not forget, go and kneel in
the gallery of the hall of audience and learn by heart this chapter on
filial obedience, which till you repeat and solemnly promise to observe
obedience, you shall not depart from this tribunal."
The youth being delighted at this lenient sentence bowed his forehead to
the earth, and, moreover, I must tell you, kept his promise, although he
was three days learning the task. Such being the spirit of the laws, and
the paternal mildness with which they are for the most part carried out,
excepting only in cases of high treason, we need not wonder that this
great population has submitted to their rule for four thousand years.
When this case was over the chief of the yah-yu bowed to the ground and
charged his prisoners generally with rioting to the disturbance of the
public peace.
"What has the priest of Fo to say to this disgraceful charge? let him
open his lips," said the mandarin. Whereupon the bonze fell upon his
knees and accused the innkeeper of attacking the idol and leading a mob
to destroy the monastery.
"What sayest the innkeeper? for surely the offence is serious," said the
mandarin.
Then, bowing to the ground, the innkeeper related the morning's
adventure, stating that but for the assistance of Nicholas and Chow, the
bonze would have killed him, adding, "Truly, O jewel of justice, thy
mean servant demands the punishment of this rascal bonze and his
trumpery god, who, notwithstanding the sums paid to them, have permitted
his only child to be carried from this life."
Having listened patiently to both sides, the mandarin said, "It is true
that two offences have been committed, the one against the public peace,
and the other against a private person. The former, being the most
heinous, must be first dealt with; and, as without the bonze and the
innkeeper, there could have been no such disturbance, let both be
corrected with twenty blows. As for the two youths, who were drawn into
this disturbance, let them pay half a tael each to some poor person to
receive ten blows for them."
The sentence having gone forth, the men with the bamboos caught hold of
the culprits, threw them upon the floor, and they received a similar
punishment to that dealt out by a schoolmaster upon a refractory pupil;
after which, the delinquents, smarting with pain, humbly returned thanks
for this benevolent and fatherly correction.
"As for the second offence," said the mandarin, "it is clear that the
bonze is either a rogue or no good judge of the powers of the different
gods, and knew not to which to apply for this particular favor, an
ignorance that has caused the innkeeper to lose his goods; and, in
either case, is unfit for his office; therefore, if he is found within
the city walls after this night, he shall be placed in the cangue for
three moons. As for the god himself, who is the principal party
concerned, let him be plucked down from his seat as a useless and
malicious deity."
Thus compelled, by custom, to recognize the foolish superstition of Fo,
although he no more believed in it than you do, the mandarin humorously
punished the bonze.
The wily priest, however, had not quite played out his game, so,
dissembling his rage at the result of the trial, he fell upon his knees,
saying, "Pardon, O ever-flowing stream of justice, but the meanest and
most insignificant servant of Fo, dares claim a reward for a great act."
"What words are these, thou dog of a bonze?' said the angry official.
"If the eyeballs of thy contemptible servant are straight in their
sockets, he has seen placards bearing the character of the illustrious
tsong-tou (viceroy) of the province promising twenty taels for any
follower of the Christian priests, whose houses of prayer have been so
wisely destroyed.
"What useless words are these, for where in this city is such a dog to
be found, since they were hunted down by the illustrious governor? may
he live a thousand years," replied the mandarin.
"This was a terrible surprise to Nicholas, for not only did it convince
him that the persecution of the Christians had commenced, but that his
own mission had somehow been discovered by the priest; nor was he
disappointed, when the latter said, 'Truly, O grand canal of justice,
that turbulent youth is even now on a treasonable errand to the
Christian priest, Adam, who has so traitorously fled the city.'"
"These are dog's words, thou rogue of a bonze," said the boy.
Not regarding the interruption, the priest added, as he placed a paper
in the hand of the mandarin, "The dragon vision of the lord of justice
will discover to him that his servant's words are pearls of truth."
Having glanced at the paper, the mandarin said sternly to Nicholas,
"Thou art young to be concerned in treason, and yet these characters
warn the priest, Adam, against the great Ching-Ti, whom the anonymous
writer tells him is about to arrive at Hang-tcheou, specially charged by
the Son of Heaven to root out the Christian priests."
"As this is the first time, O mandarin, that thy servant's ears drink
in this intelligence he must have been innocent of the contents of that
packet," replied Nicholas.
"The youth is young; but, like the body of a snake, his words are
twirling and slippery. It is true, those characters may not have reached
his eyes, but it is equally true that he was the bearer, for the cover
is even now in his girdle," said the priest.
"Thy servant, O mandarin, cannot deny that he bore the letter, but it
was in ignorance that it was a crime," said Nicholas, taking the
envelope from his vest, now fully convinced that the bonze had picked
his girdle.
"Although it is certain that the writer is a traitor, it is not equally
so that this youth is an accomplice," said the mandarin, after examining
the envelope.
"The dog is a Christian, O lord of justice; and in the name of the Son
of Heaven, I claim the twenty taels," said the bonze, forgetting the
submission due to a magistrate, in his rage and fear that Nicholas might
escape.
"Thy words are dirt, thou turbulent rogue, for it is not clear that the
youth is a Christian," said the angry mandarin, adding kindly to
Nicholas, "Let the youth deny this charge and he shall be believed, for
his words are straight as the flying arrow."
Here was a chance, for it was evident the mandarin was his friend.
Still, notwithstanding that imprisonment for life, if not speedy death,
stared him in the face, Nicholas was too brave to forswear his Saviour,
and he replied, "If to be a Christian, O mandarin, is to merit death,
then am I ready to die."
Then the good-natured, but disappointed magistrate said sorrowfully,
"The youth is as brave as he is honest, and deserves a better fate; yet
must the commands of the great tsong-tou be observed, therefore let the
youth be conveyed to the great prison to await his sentence." Without a
word or the movement of a muscle, the boy permitted the attendants to
bind his arms.
This was too much for Chow, who, with a leap like that of a wounded
hare, cried, "The priest, O great lord, is a midnight thief." But such a
demonstration being against the rules of decency, the officers seized
and silenced the boy by clapping a gag in his mouth. Then the mandarin
ordered twenty taels to be given to the bonze, and the latter having
made the customary bow was about to depart, when the magistrate said,
"Now priest, relate by what means that letter came into thy possession,
for it is a maxim that justice should be equally balanced."
Then the bonze related how he met the boys, and took them to the
monastery, adding that as they were passing through a passage the letter
having fallen from the youth's girdle, he picked it up, and divining
that its contents were treasonous, retained the document for
examination.
"These are dog's words," exclaimed Chow, from whose mouth the gag had
been taken by the mandarin's order; "the priest is a rogue and a rat,
for he stole the paper at night while my noble master slept, and
although for hours thy servant believed it was a dream, and mistook the
bonze for an enemy, he now remembers that after filching the letter from
the girdle, the rogue opened the envelope, stole the contents, and then
by some mysterious means of his own closed it again."
The bonze being about to reply, the mandarin interrupted him, saying,
"Truly has it been said that although eggs are close things, the chicks
will out, for the rogue forgot to explain how the letter could leave the
pocket of its owner without the envelope. The theft is clear, and it is
but justice to the state that the thief should receive fifty blows, and
pay twenty taels of silver." This sentence was speedily executed upon
the roaring coward, whose back was still sore with the first beating,
and so he left the tribunal considerably worse off than he had come
before it.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHOW SETS OUT TO DISCOVER SOME THIEVES.
It was with no little distress of mind that Chow, who now loved Nicholas
as a brother, parted with him at the gates of the prison. He tore his
hair, beat his breast, and roared and capered as if in bodily as well as
mental agony. Never should he see his noble master again; the wicked
viceroy would kill him. O that he had not been a Christian, or so unwise
as to admit it! These, and many other foolish things, passed through his
mind, till he became wearied and fatigued. When more calm, he began to
upbraid himself with folly and cowardice, for giving way to useless
grief instead of setting his wits to work to aid him.
Like most Chinese, Chow believed, or at least followed, the mongrel
creed of the country, and he proposed to himself to seek the aid of the
gods; although even his faith in their powers had become weakened by the
exhibition of the morning; at length, however, it occurred to him to
seek the innkeeper, who being well to do, and an old inhabitant of
Hang-tcheou, could if willing, give material assistance; if not willing,
thought Chow, he must be the most ungrateful of human beings. So he went
off to Sing, who was not only glad to see him, but invited him to live
at the inn until they could hit upon some good scheme to rescue
Nicholas; and so, that night, they talked and talked the matter over,
till, becoming tired, they went to bed to sleep on it.
The next morning they compared notes as to their sleeping thoughts. The
result of Chow's was to get a mob together to burst open the prison
gates; at which very wise suggestion Sing laughed loudly, greatly to the
disgust of Chow, who became very angry, as he fancied the innkeeper
doubted his courage; but when Sing explained a little plan of his own he
capered about joyfully, and begged that they might commence immediately.
"Let us first ask the gods for a fortunate day," said Sing.
"Then will not the worthy Sing seek a temple at once?" said Chow.
This being agreed to, they started off to the suburbs, where, in a
retired spot, near the great lake, they found a divining temple.
These temples, which are sprinkled through the country, are always open
for the convenience of the people, who enter upon nothing of importance,
whether it be marrying, burying, buying, selling, house-building,
party-giving, or setting out upon a journey, without first seeking to
discover in the cup of destiny a fortunate day or hour for the proposed
undertaking.
Upon the altar stood a large wooden cup, filled with small sticks,
marked with certain mystic characters, representing both good and ill
luck. Taking up this cup, Sing began to give it sharp quick jerks,
while Chow, taking hold of a book that was hanging to the wall, searched
for marks to correspond with those upon the sticks which might be thrown
to the ground by Sing's jerking. With serious countenances they went
through this performance, Sing believing that by a peculiar scientific
twist of his wrist he could jerk out a few sticks of luck. For some
time, however, the sticks were obstinate, and would not move; then a
sharper jerk and one jumped out, then another, and another, three in
all; and Chow, having examined the luck spots very earnestly, groaned
with despair, for neither bore the required mark. Then, to propitiate
the god of wood, paint, and gold leaf, they burned incense and tinsel
paper, and, by way of reaching the cupidity of the deity, for it is
difficult to made a Chinese believe that even a god will "do something
for nothing," they placed some copper coins upon the altar, enough, I
suppose, to satisfy his greedy godship; for when, at the risk of
spraining his wrist, Sing gave the next jerk, out jumped two of the
lucky spotted sticks, and the oblique eyes of Chow began to smile so
satisfactorily that there really appeared to be some danger of their
meeting across his nose and melting into one big orb in the middle of
his forehead. Holding the sticks above his head, the boy capered about
with delight, crying, "Thanks to Tien, the day will be fortunate, for
the god has promised, and there is no rogue of a bonze present to
persuade him from his good intentions."
As for Sing, he was no less pleased, for, notwithstanding his previous
experience, his faith was entire in the cup of destiny, as it was,
indeed, in the gods.
Chow's delight was almost as great as if his master had been already
rescued. However, as soon as the first ebullition had subsided he began
to think how he should commence operations, and so, puzzling his brains,
he walked by the side of Sing, who was also quietly endeavoring to think
out some grand plan of proceeding. Thus they proceeded till they came
near the walls of the city, when their attention was aroused by a
terrible discord. Not a dozen yards from them was a small house (like
all Chinese habitations, one story high), before which stood the wall of
respect, so called, because like a brick curtain it hides the domicile
from the gaze of strangers. Near the doorway stood an elderly man with
two pieces of metal, which he kept clanging against each other, stopping
only at intervals to fulminate at the very compass of his voice, many
fearful curses and maledictions against thieves who had plundered his
house, fully believing that by the agency of the gods these curses would
reach and crush the thieves, wherever they might be.
"It is only old Hoang, the retired innkeeper," said Sing cooly, as if
not at all regretting the misfortunes of his successful rival. He could
not, however, have possessed any such paltry feeling, for he added,
"Will the venerable Hoang permit his younger brother to assist him in
discovering these rogues?"
"The offer of the worthy Sing is good and grateful to his mean brother,
but alas! nothing can avail old Hoang, for the Fong-Choui is his enemy,
and will not be satisfied till his house is destroyed," was the reply.
To explain what I must tell you, that it is one of the most remarkable
and foolish beliefs of the Celestials, that, apart from sanitary
reasons, the situation of a house may effect the happiness and fortunes
not only of its owner, but his descendants for several generations. The
demon who exercises this baneful influence is the Fong-Choui, or wind
and water. Thus, if a neighbor (it had been Hoang's case) builds his
house in a contrary direction and so that one of its corners is placed
opposite your own, your destiny is fixed, your only remedy being to have
it immediately pulled down. To obtain the removal of the house in
question, Hoang had applied to the mandarin, but as that officer had
received a larger bribe from the neighbor than he could afford, the
official recommended the old man to pull down his own house; but as this
would have ruined him, he had had recourse to the only other remedy,
which was, to erect upon the roof of his house a monster with a dragon's
head and a large forked tongue, so pointed at the unfortunate corner
that it would frighten away the Fong-Choui. That wind and watery
personage, however, was not so easily frightened, for the next day some
thieves entered his house and effected a very clever robbery.
By the aid of a mysterious engine (known, I suppose, only to the thieves
of China), which will burn great holes in the thickest wood without
causing either scent or flame, the rogues had entered Hoang's dwelling
in the night so quietly that when the old gentleman awoke in the morning
he found his bed without curtains or coverlid, and the room without
furniture, all of which, besides other things of value, had been taken
from the house.
"Surely thy dogs of servants must have been accomplices," said Chow.
"Not so, youth, for although I slept deep into the day, when I arose the
servants were all in such a deep slumber that I believed them in the
sleep of death."
"Surely my elder brother will seek the mandarin, and have the dogs'
heads searched for," said Sing.
"Alas! O worthy Sing, thy unhappy servant is under the baneful influence
of the Fong-Choui, and the mandarin dares not interfere."
Feeling deeply for the poor man, and not liking the idea of the thieves
escaping so easily, Chow asked, "Has the worthy and honorable Hoang
sought the mandarin?"
"It would be useless youth, without, indeed, a stranger would interfere,
and break the charm of the Fong-Choui."
"With the will of the venerable Hoang, his younger brother will seek the
tribunal of police," said Chow.
Delighted with the offer, Hoang led them through the rooms of his house,
which Chow examined with the talent of a detective police officer, and
after pacing about for some time he stumbled. Looking to see the cause,
he saw it was a small square box. "See," he said, "the robbers in their
flight have dropped some of their plunder."
"Surely that box must belong to the villains, for it has never before
darkened my eyes," said Hoang.
"Then by the toe of the Son of Heaven we have some clue to the way in
which the robbery was effected," said Chow, as he opened the box and
took out a little pyramid, resembling our own pastiles. Placing one to
his nose he said, "It is the baneful drug of Setchuen. Light but one and
place it near the nostrils of a sleeper, and it will be many hours
before he can be awakened. In this manner, O venerable friend, has the
house been robbed,--its inmates were under the influence of the drug."
"Thy discovery is great, and may lead to the capture of the thieves.
Would that so poor a man could reward such a benafactor."
However, as time was an object to Chow for the success of some plan,
which from the cunning brightness that flitted through his eye seemed
just then to have crossed his mind, he stopped the garrulous gratitude
of the old gentleman by begging the box of pastiles as his reward. This
being granted, he took a very formal leave, promising not to rest till
he had seen the mandarin himself.
CHAPTER IX.
CHOW OUTWITS A GREAT MANDARIN, AND SETS OUT TO RESCUE HIS MASTER.
As they walked to the inn Chow explained to Sing his plan for the rescue
of Nicholas, which, after some serious consideration and many words of
advice, the innkeeper approved; but as it could not be put in operation
before evening, as soon as they reached the inn they went into one of
the inner apartments, and while they refreshed themselves with a good
meal, chatted over the details.
After they had completed their arrangements, Sing led Chow to an
outbuilding, in which were two oblong coffins, the one sealed down, the
other with the lid half off. The first contained the body of Sing's
daughter, of whom he had been so fond in life that in death he kept her
in the same room with the open coffin which had been presented to him by
the girl as a filial offering.
Such gifts as this, which I dare say you will think a sombre one, are by
no means more rare among the Chinese than the preservation in their own
houses of the bodies of those they have loved. And just above an altar
upon which incense was burning, hung a portrait of the dead girl, before
which silently and with cheeks damped with tears of memory, Sing threw
himself reverentially, and prayed fervently for the other world
happiness of his child. Having, with as much real sympathy as mere
courtesy, joined in the ceremony for a short time, Chow arose, and left
the bereaved parent throwing cuttings of silver paper upon the burning
dish, in the belief that in the next world it would change into real
money for his daughter's use.
As when Chow reached the police tribunal he found it closed for the day,
he clattered upon a large gong or kettle drum, affixed to the door, a
piece of great daring on his part; for if his business did not strike
the mandarin as being of the greatest importance, he might make sure of
some fifty blows for his impudence, for the public officers in China are
quite as averse to doing too much for the public money as many that I
could name of our own.
The door was opened and the boy was shown into the hall of audience,
where he had not long to wait before the mandarin and four bamboo sticks
in waiting made their appearance. "How, dog! Why this clatter at our
gates when the tribunal is closed?" asked the surly grandee.
"Will the magnificent fountain of justice give his unworthy servant a
private hearing?" said the bold boy, glancing significantly at the
bamboo sticks in waiting.
"Let the fellow's mouth be opened with ten blows for his impudence,"
said the polite magistrate; but as the men were about to obey, Chow
thrust his hand into his robe, and pulling out a letter threw it into
the great man's lap, a piece of effrontery so beyond all precedent that
the bamboo sticks waiting stood aghast and ready at a glance from the
mandarin to immolate the profane boy. The magistrate, however, no sooner
opened the paper than in tremulous tones he exclaimed, "Leave us alone,
this fellow has matters of private importance to communicate."
This order having been obeyed, Chow broke through the rules of decency
and etiquette by speaking before he was spoken to. "A crime has been
committed within thy district, O mandarin, yet justice sleeps. Surely
this is not according to the sacred books," said he.
"What dog's words are these? of what crime speaks the youth?" said the
magistrate wildly.
"According to the sacred books, O mandarin, it is the magistrate's duty
to discover and punish crime within his district. Yet, not withstanding
the house of the retired innkeeper Hoang is in a well-guarded quarter of
the city, it has been broken into and its furniture and valuables
stolen; moreover what is more surprising in so populous a district, the
thieves have escaped."
"What words are these?" said the mandarin again, being in fact so
troubled that he knew not what to say.
"Truly, it is a shrewd maxim; 'that large fowls will not eat small
grain,' yet, the largest may be choked if too greedy, for there are
still larger birds to swallow them; in turn even thou mayst be stripped
of thy rank and offices, if not strangled," said Chow, adding, "Would
the lord of justice wish straighter words?"
The words proved straight enough to go direct to the mark, for the
mandarin fell upon his knees and begged Chow to accept half his fortune,
and although it would be letting his rogue off cheaply enough, the
rescue of Nicholas was his object, and he promised to forego using his
knowledge of the great man's delinquency, providing that he would give
him an order under the official seal that would admit him to his
master's prison. Rejoiced to purchase his safety so easily, the mandarin
not only gave the order, but also promised to see that Hoang's property
was restored to him within a few days. After this Chow gave a paper to
the magistrate, and left the tribunal well satisfied with the result of
his visit.
Now, as I dare say you are anxious to know how it came about that so
poor a boy could have such power over so great a personage, I will tell
you, and you will obtain some little knowledge how public affairs are
managed in China, and moreover, learn that dishonesty may sometimes
place the greatest official beneath the thumb of the smallest of
persons, as indeed it happened in this case.
When Chow was chattering over his plans with the innkeeper he examined
the box of pastiles, and on taking them out, discovered a paper at the
bottom, evidently placed there for security, as the thieves could not
have dreamt of leaving their most valuable implements behind. That paper
was an order for four men, whose names were mentioned, to pass to the
boats on the canal, with any quantity of goods, without questioning, and
was signed with the character of the mandarin, which accounted for the
thieves getting off with so many things, but it also proved that the
mandarin was in connivance with them, and was in the habit of granting
these passes to robbers in return for a large bribe. Now, as Chow could
write very well, he immediately composed a letter to the mandarin,
telling him the whole transaction, and, moreover, that the thieves were
well known to a friend of his, who, if he did not return by a certain
time that evening, would disclose the whole matter to the viceroy;
therefore it was not to be wondered that the great man trembled and
implored of Chow to accept half his fortune, for had it been brought
before the viceroy he would, as Chow more than, hinted, in all
probability have been strangled.
CHAPTER X.
ESCAPE OF NICHOLAS FROM PRISON.
Having, at the same time, secured an order for admittance to Nicholas
and the restitution of old Hoang's property, Chow went in search of a
shop, where he purchased a rope of silk, and returned to the prison,
which was next to the tribunal.
At that time far in advance, and even now not much worse than our own,
the prisons of China are large and spacious, and although some of the
most criminal of the inmates are loaded with chains, the greater number
are permitted to take exercise and converse with each other in an open
court during the day. Their health is cared for,--if any are ill a
physician attends them, and when a death takes place a report is sent to
the Emperor, who issues orders for an examination, something like our
inquests, into the cause, when should it appear that any of the officers
are at fault, they are immediately degraded and punished. When a
prisoner dies the body is not permitted to pass through the ordinary
doorway, but through an opening reserved for the purpose. It is seldom,
however, that deaths occur in these places, for should a person,
especially above the lowest rank in life, be in danger, he or his
friends pray that he may be taken without the walls to expire; indeed,
so infamous is it considered for a corpse to be taken through this dead
opening, that "May he be dragged through the prison hole" is the
greatest expression of evil a person can wish his enemy.
The prison in which Nicholas was confined was a large building, with its
front to the street and its back to the canal. There were three courts,
each having treble gates, well guarded by armed sentries. Chow found no
difficulty in passing the first two gates, but the third was under the
charge of the chief gaoler, who not only made him show the mandarin's
order, but ordered two soldiers to accompany the boy to his master's
cell, which was situated at the top of one of the four corners or
towers, and overlooking the canal.
The armed men he met at every turn, and the dismal-looking strength of
the halls, courts, doors, and staircases through which he passed, made
Chow feel very wretched, for not an atom of a chance could he see for a
prisoner to escape. However no sooner did he again get sight of Nicholas
than all difficulties vanished, his countenance brightened, and the
affectionate fellow fell at his feet and wept with joy.
"How is this? surely thou art not a Christian, my poor friend, that they
should bring thee here?" said Nicholas sorrowfully.
"Truly both servant and master are fortunate, for the mandarin has
permitted them to keep each other company."
For some minutes Chow squatted upon the floor with his head bent to the
ground, apparently in grief at his master's position. Really, he had
not calculated upon the presence of the two gaolers; it was an awkward
dilemma, still he was not one to stick at a difficulty, and so he began
to think. His were not pleasant thoughts, for it was just possible that
the mandarin on recovering from his fright might tremble at the probable
consequences of permitting the escape of Nicholas, and to make his own
peace confess the whole affair to the Christian-hating viceroy.
Having finished cogitating, Chow commenced a lively conversation with
Nicholas about any thing and every thing but what was most on his mind;
then he endeavored to chat with the surly gaolers; the attempt, however,
proved a failure, till he brought forth a porcelain bottle filled with
rice spirit. When the men grew better tempered, Chow said, "Is there any
law that will prevent the honorable guard from bestowing upon his
servants some hot tea, for surely it will refresh them?" Without making
any reply, one of the gaolers opened the door and called aloud for the
beverage.
Some minutes after swallowing the tea, Chow rolled over upon the floor,
and howled like a dog; which extraordinary proceeding so alarmed
Nicholas and the men, that one of the latter, throwing down his weapon,
fell upon his knees and began to rub the sufferer's stomach. "Will the
ungrateful villains let me die the dog's death for the want of a cup of
water?" Surprised as they were at such a remedy, the frightened men
provided the water, but at the same time pointed to the porcelain
flask.
For the hint the patient thanked them, but he knew it would be of no use
without hot water. Would the honorable gaolers get some?
That was another affair, for to ask for hot water would be to proclaim
that rice spirit was being drunk in the prison, when gaolers as well as
prisoners would be bambooed.
Then, having coaxed and importuned for some time fruitlessly, Chow held
his hand upon his stomach, and alarmed Nicholas with performing a long
series of tragic-comic grimaces and contortions, when seeing the men
begin to tremble at the heavy punishment that awaited them if a prisoner
died beneath their charge, he said, "Surely the noble guardians would
not have it proclaimed to the next visiting mandarin that they have been
drinking the prohibited spirit."
Perceiving now that they were upon the horns of a dilemma, the gaolers
hesitated. Then a bright thought came to one, and he said, "Truly, the
tea is cold; a fire-pan will warm it; and so it will not be suspected
that rice spirit has been brought into the prison." Thus settling the
matter to his satisfaction, the man procured a small dish of fire and a
cup of cold water, when Chow had another attack, and in his paroxysms
kicked over his tea-cup, and then very inconsistently clamored for cold
water. This request being complied with, the patient sipped and appeared
a degree better, for he then stood upon his feet and thanked his
deliverers, and, moreover, offered them some more spirit, an offence
which was repeated and accepted till both gaolers became very
good-humored and talkative, first to Chow, then to Nicholas. Finding
that they were busy with the latter, Chow sauntered up to the fire and
sat before it, as if to prevent another attack by its heat. Then a sweet
perfume pervaded the atmosphere, and so gradually increased in strength,
that, imperceptibly to themselves, the tongues of the men slackened by
degrees, their loud tones softened into silence, their heads waved
gently to and fro, till, overcome by the density of the air, they fell
sideways upon the ground. It was not far to fall, for they had been
squatting upon the floor during their jovial conversation. Then taking a
large sponge that he had been holding to his own nostrils, Chow held it
to the nose of Nicholas, who, not being intoxicated with spirit, soon
exhibited signs of returning animation, when creeping up to the drooping
gaolers, he passed something, not a sponge, near to their nostrils,
which seemed to have the effect of double locking their senses. Then
leading the half-insensible Nicholas to the window, he took a knife from
his girdle and cut away the painted paper panes, when the cold air soon
made the master as sensible as the servant.
Arresting by a sign, Nicholas's exclamations of surprise at these
proceedings, Chow pulled forth the silken cord, fastened one end to the
table, then tying his knife to the other end he let it gently down, and
hung out of the window with it in his hand, as if he had been fishing.
In a few minutes he obtained a bite, for the rope gave a jerk. This
being satisfactory, he whispered to his master to descend by the loops.
Nicholas complied, and in one minute found himself in the arms of some
person, and in another, carried into a small room, about large enough to
hold four men. A minute more, Chow entered the cabin, the boat began to
glide along the canal, and Nicholas comprehended the whole of Chow's
scheme. Now you have the reason of his delight in seizing upon the box
of pastiles, two of which he had managed to light while his back was
turned to the gaolers. The cold water Chow knew to be an antidote to the
stupifying effects of the perfume, if applied immediately, as in the
case of Nicholas. As for the boy's illness, that was a ruse, and a very
good one too, under the circumstances.
CHAPTER XI.
PURSUED BY THE YAH-YU.--THE BOAT WRECK.
When the boat had run a sufficient distance from the prison, Sing, for
he it was who had so ably aided in the escape, putting a pole in the
hands of Nicholas, and taking one himself, they forced the little craft
along the waters with the greatest possible speed. As for Chow, not
finding another pole, and resolved not to be left out of the good work,
he took off his boots, threw his legs over the stern, and helped to
propel the boat by paddling against the water with his feet. By these
means, in a very short time, they arrived at the back of Sing's house,
which fortunately faced the canal. It was thus, indeed, that the
innkeeper had been enabled to pass to the prison in the little san-pan
which he had borrowed from a friendly boatman.
Going into the house to caution his wife against feeling alarmed at his
probably prolonged absence, he left them for a few minutes, and when he
returned they had no small cause to rejoice at his thoughtfulness, for
his wife had just heard from one of the prison attendants, who lived at
the inn, that about half an hour after their escape the relief guard of
gaolers had discovered their absence, and sent a body of yah-yu, both by
land and water, to recapture them.
"By the toe of the Emperor, the villain god has deceived me, for he
promised a fortunate day," said Chow.
"It is thy head and heart, and not the foolish images, that have
hitherto helped thee, Chow. We will now trust to the same aids, and by
the assistance of the One true God, these rogues shall not overtake us,"
said Nicholas.
"The noble youth is brave, but he may not perform impossibilities,"
replied Sing.
"Truly it is not far to the river," said Nicholas.
"The river!" exclaimed Sing, with affright. "Truly Fo himself could not
make a boat live upon the river such a night as this, at the full of the
moon."
"It is our only safety, for these rascal yah-yu dare not follow," said
Nicholas, who regarded the great and dangerous waters of the river as
his native element, adding, "If thou, Chow, but show a brave heart."
"Truly, my master, Chow fears not men, but surely it would be a vile
thing to anger the god of the waters, who may this night swallow all who
dare to pass from the estuary."
"Art thou an idiot, that after the exhibition at the monastery, the
folly of these toy gods of the bonzes is not imprinted upon thine
eyeballs?" said Nicholas, adding angrily, "But if thou fearest, hide
thee with the good Sing, and thy master will brave the torrents alone."
"This thing may not be, O noble Nicholas, for rather than leave thee,
thy servant would be a hundred times swallowed by Yen-Vang himself,"
said Chow.
"Thou art brave, youth, and may it please Fo to conduct thee safely to
thy journey's end," said Sing, adding with alarm, "But see, yonder is
the boat of the yah-yu, for surely no other would be in motion at this
hour of the night."
"Then," said Nicholas, looking at a red light which appeared to be fixed
at the prow of a moving boat, "we must labor for our lives, Chow."
Then taking a silent but hearty farewell of the innkeeper, the youths
clutched the poles and in another minute they were gliding along the
water street unheeded, except by the watchmen, whose questions they
answered with a few copper coins, and they pushed on through the dark
night, till nearly worn out with the exertion. The fact, however, that
they were toiling for their lives, lent them additional strength, so
after a short rest, away they went again in right good earnest; then the
hum of distant voices floated through the night air. Resting for a
moment Chow placed his ear near to the water, saying, "Truly they are
following us, but more, my master, we are near the great dike, which it
would be as easy to pass as to swallow a mountain."
"Courage, O Chow, let us pass the dike, and the rats will never overtake
us," said Nicholas, toiling harder than ever at the pole.
This dike or sluice divided from the canal the waters of the river which
Nicholas had been so anxious to reach, but as Chow knew they could not
get the boat hauled over by Coolies at that hour of the night, he could
perceive nought but a barrier that by arresting their progress, must put
them in the hands of their enemies; still not liking to disobey, he
toiled at his pole, and speedily the boat came alongside some twenty
others, which had arrived too late to be hauled over that night.
Nicholas, however, knowing the influence of money, determined to get
over the difficulty. So fetching the lantern from the cabin, he so
shaded its light with his robe, that while it could not be seen by their
pursuers, he could see moored some distance from them a little fleet of
san-pans. This he had expected, so gently pushing the boat alongside one
of them he tapped upon the egg-like roof, and in another minute a man
put out his head, when putting a piece of silver in his hand, as an
earnest of a greater reward, the boatman acquiesced, and in a few
minutes more he had aroused some of his fellows, who very nimbly set
about mooring their boats till they had drawn them across the canal, so
as to form a barricade, in the event of the enemy making its appearance;
after which the boatman fastened a stout rope around the stern of the
boys' boat, got into his own, and cautioning them to hold on by the roof
of the cabin, with the assistance of some dozen of his mates in their
boats, forced the little craft to the summit of the stone slope, when
all clinging to the rope, let her slide gently down the other side into
the river, when silently the san-pans moved back to their moorings, so
that upon their arrival at the dike the yah-yu must have been strangely
puzzled at the boy's escape from their clutches.
The dangers of the river, however, were far greater than Nicholas had
calculated, for the great stream upon whose bosom they had embarked, was
at times as tempestuous as the ocean, and they possessed neither oars
nor sails; as for the poles, the great depth of the river rendered them
useless. Again, the night was so dark, that except by the feeble light
of their lantern they could not see each other's faces; their only
consolation was, that the waters were then as smooth and tranquil as
those of the canal, except that a rapid current seemed to be sweeping
them along without an effort of their own.
"May the great god Fo protect us against Ma-tsoo-po, to whom we can
offer no incense," said Chow.
"How! Can it be that one so brave on land should be so great a coward
upon water?" said Nicholas.
"Truly it is a maxim, my master that, 'all are cowards who can't help
themselves.' Chow in the waters would be less than the least of little
fishes, for he cannot swim," was the gloomy reply.
"It is also a maxim, 'that the gods forsake those who forsake
themselves,'" said Nicholas, adding, "But it is fatigue, my poor Chow,
that destroys thy courage; get thee, therefore, into the cabin and rest
for a time, while I keep watch."
"Nay, Fo protect us, or we are food for the favorites of the god of the
waters," replied Chow, as the boat at that moment made a tremulous
movement, which so alarmed Nicholas, that clutching hold of Chow's arm,
he said, "Now put forth all thy energies or we are lost, for the 'bore'
is upon us."
This was sufficient, for in the presence of real danger Chow soon drove
away the troubled fancies of his brain.
"The poles are our only chance," said Nicholas, and, quickly as thought,
they fastened their poles to the sides, so that they stretched out like
two great arms. "Let us but keep our whole weight steadily upon the
handles, and we may keep her course straight," said Nicholas; and no
sooner had they thrown themselves across the poles than a noise like
that of distant thunder rumbled through the air; it was the great tide
wave rolling like a mountain toward them. Now they could not escape; so,
commending their souls to Heaven, they awaited its approach with
suspended breath. It came, and, with a roar, caught up the boat,
carrying it to a height of fifty feet; in another second the boys were
covered with a cold sweat at the narrowness of their escape, which had
been owing to their precaution. Then followed a calm, as if the anger of
the watery element had subsided. The boys slackened their hold of the
poles, and so they continued for two hours, going they knew not whither.
Suddenly the boat began to rock.
"To your pole, Chow," cried Nicholas. No sooner had he complied, than
they found they had entered upon a rapid, for the little craft shot
forth almost with the velocity of an arrow. Then came the first faint
streaks of daybreak, and they trembled, for they saw that they had
entered a narrow creek. "Steady, for our lives, there is hope yet, for
yonder vessel may see us," said Nicholas. The vessel to which he alluded
was a large junk, so skilfully handled that she seemed to be stemming
the torrent. Gaining hope, the boys clung to their only chance, namely,
keeping the poles in their fixed positions. Another half hour, however,
and their strength became exhausted, the poles quivered, the boys felt
they could not hold out much longer; still another determined effort;
their minds lent strength to their limbs. Then the first light of the
sun, an eastern sun, shone upon the junk, and disclosed a huge painted
eye (the government emblem), at the sight of which, and screaming aloud
"The yah-yu!" Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being
thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas
snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel. They were in a
whirlpool--nothing could save them--then came a fearful crash, and
neither Chow nor Nicholas could distinguish more.
CHAPTER XII.
NICHOLAS AGAIN TAKEN PRISONER.
With the wild whirling of the waters ringing in his ears, and the great
painted eye before his vision, Nicholas stared around. Where could he
be? He was lying upon a mat, in a small low room; he sat up, endeavored
to comprehend his position, and the san-pan, the bore, the torrent, the
whirlpool, all flashed across him--but where could he be? There before
him stood a copper god, hideously grinning at a pan of burning incense.
Surely it must be the cabin of a junk--but what?--whose? Possibly the
yah-yu's. It must be so; and, brave as he was, he shuddered. Then,
looking out of the window, he could see nothing but a vast extent of
paddy (rice in the husks) fields. Then he saw the junk was passing along
a canal, which, from its width, he knew must be the great Imperial
Canal. Then Chow--poor Chow--and as he believed him to have been
swallowed up in the waters, the gallant boy burst into tears; and this
great grief banished every selfish thought from his mind. Then he
trembled for the safety of his letters; but, feeling beneath his robe,
he found them secure. Again he wept for Chow, and, happening to look at
the god, the hideous little brute seemed to be rejoicing at his
troubles, and in momentary rage he knocked the deity off its perch with
his fist, with such violence that the pain and blood upon his lacerated
knuckles immediately reminded him of the stupidity of the act, and he
laughed at his folly; but reflecting that the captain of the vessel
might visit such an insult to the image upon himself he replaced it in
its original position.
At that moment the door opened, and Chow entered with a tray, upon which
were two cups, a jar, and other materials for a meal, and in his
surprise exclaiming "Chow!" the latter was so much startled that he
nearly dropped the tray.
"May Tien be thanked; my master is far from Yen-Vang."
"Where are we, O Chow?" said Nicholas, recovering from his surprise; but
the boy would answer no questions until Nicholas had partaken of the
meal.
As soon as by eating and drinking, he had satisfied Chow that he was
really alive, the latter said, "Truly the gods must have been favorably
disposed toward the noble Nicholas, to have kept him alive for so many
days and nights, without brains in his head or food in his mouth."
"What words are these, O Chow?" said Nicholas, placing his hand to his
forehead, as if making an effort to decipher the boy's meaning.
"Let my master open his ears," said Chow; adding, "Worn out with my
exertions in the boat, I no sooner perceived the terrible eye than I
loosened my hold of the pole, and either from fright or fatigue, became
insensible; the water, however, revived me, and looking for my master, I
saw him lying by my side upon a shelving edge of rock, for, thanks be to
Fo, we had dashed upon the rock, the servant with out harm, but the
master receiving such a blow that it deprived him of his senses; when,
alarmed for his life, I shouted to the crew of the junk for help, and
begged of them to take us on board, but the rats refused, saying, that
as the gods had evidently reserved us for drowning, to resist would be
to provoke Ma-tsoo-po. Then, as my only hope, I shouted to them that I
had secured a traitor for whose head fifty taels were offered."
"Surely thou art not a rogue." But not noticing this, Chow continued,
"The hope of so much silver made the rogues carry us on board, and then
poor Chow could have swallowed fire, for when he begged of them to use
means to recall thee to thy senses, the dog of a captain said, 'Know
thou rat of a boy, that if fifty taels are offered for the rascal's
head, it will save trouble to lop it off at once.' Then Fo sent a
thought into my brainless head, and falling at the captain's feet, I
told him that so great were thy crimes, that although fifty taels would
be given for thy head, five hundred and a mandarin's button would be
given for thy whole body.
"Then said the captain, 'the dog utters words of wisdom,' and fearing to
lose the silver, if you died, he commanded a physician who happened to
be on board to make thee sound and whole, and moreover, promised to
reward me with ten taels if I helped to bring thee round."
But as they heard approaching footsteps, Chow said softly, "Get thee to
thy mat, it is the physician; do not let him bring thee to thy senses,
or we are lost."
By the time Nicholas had lain down, an elderly man, with a small funnel
and a porcelain cup in his hands, entered the cabin, and with as much
meaningless mystery of manner as one of our doctors, knelt by his side
and commenced the comical operation of feeling his pulse, or rather
pulses, for the physician's hands and fingers traveled up and down the
boy's body like a flea in search of a choice bite. Having gone through
this performance, he placed the funnel in the patient's mouth, and
poured down his throat a decoction of the gen-seng root, a plant which
the Chinese believe will cure all ills; and, disagreeable and difficult
as it was, Nicholas swallowed it, which so delighted the old gentleman
that he left the cabin chuckling, but telling Chow on no account to
attempt to awake him for the next three hours, as he was assured that
nature was bringing him to by her own means.
"Verily the old cheat believes I have a fever," said Nicholas, jumping
up as soon as the doctor had left the cabin.
Chow, who had been gazing from the window of the cabin while the
physician was present, no sooner saw him leave than he said, "We shall
leave the dogs now;" adding, "Let the noble Nicholas remain senseless
till Chow returns," and without another word he left the cabin.
For some time Nicholas remained quiet upon the mat, but getting tired he
arose, and looking out of the window he saw that the junk was in the
middle of the canal, and from the great quantity of boats knew they were
near to some great city. He had not, however, been looking long, when to
his surprise he saw one of these san-pans come alongside the junk, and
taking Chow on board, paddled off to the shore, where he remained for
some time, and then was brought back to the junk. What could that mean?
Surely Chow was not playing him false. No he was ashamed of the thought.
The boy must be concocting some scheme for his benefit; but hearing
footsteps he resumed his position upon the mat, and in another minute
the physician and Chow entered. This time the doctor only went through
the pulse performance, saying, "Now if the rascal would but move a limb
it would show that Fo and the immortal drug had sent the blood into his
muscles."
A comical notion came into the patient's head; it was dangerous, but it
might prevent the necessity of the funnel being put in his throat, and
so with a slight yawn he suddenly gave the old gentleman such a kick on
the shins that he started with surprise, but delighted that his
treatment had succeeded, he said, "Truly the rogue is getting his
strength," and hopped out of the room, uttering maledictions upon the
sailors for robbing him of his gen-seng.
"What meant the rat by those words?" said Nicholas, and he was more
than satisfied when Chow told him the following story: The doctor placed
implicit faith in the wonderful curative powers of the famous gen-seng,
a quantity of which he carried about with him, ready for any accident
that might happen. Knowing this, Chow had managed to secure the whole,
and, as he anticipated, when the old gentleman discovered his loss he
grew furious, and told the captain that Nicholas would die. The captain
being in fear of losing his reward, had all the men searched, and not a
few beaten with the bamboo. It was all of no use. What was to be done?
Chow offered to go ashore and procure some; the captain agreed, a signal
was made for a boatman, who, as we have seen, came off to the junk, took
Chow ashore, from whence he returned with the much-prized plant, which,
by the way, he had no greater trouble in obtaining than putting his hand
in a hole in the lining of his outer garment.
While in the boat Chow had made good use of his time, for he had bribed
the boatman to bring his little craft alongside the junk about the
middle of the third watch.
The night is divided into five watches; the first begins at seven and is
distinguished by a single stroke, which is repeated every minute till
the second watch, when two blows are given, and so with the third,
fourth, and fifth.
Anxiously did they await the treble sound; at length it came,--one, two,
three,--and they stood with breathless expectation; about the tenth
minute of the third watch there was a tap at the paper window, when
pulling out his knife, Chow ran the blade around the paper, and the next
moment the end of a rope was thrown through. Making this fast to a hook
within the cabin, Nicholas crept legs foremost through the hole, and
catching hold of a rope swang himself into the san-pan. Chow followed,
and they crawled into the little cabin, when the san-pan glided away,
not, however, without arousing one of the sailors, who believing that
the boat had crept alongside with some nefarious design upon the
property of the vessel, sharply warned the boatman of the danger of any
such attempt, as he was on the _qui vive_. The boatman, however, having
given a satisfactory reply, he pushed onward, and after passing through
a little world of junks, san-pans, and barges, they managed to effect a
landing without being noticed. After which, the man having fastened his
boat led them through the suburbs till they reached a small mud hut,
from the top of which issued a wreathing column of flame and smoke.
"It is the hut of a sentry," exclaimed Nicholas, who knew that the
signal huts were distributed at distances of about a mile apart
throughout the interior, as a warning to all would-be depredators that
the police were on the alert, and this being precisely the kind of place
they should have avoided, he said, "For what purpose has the worthy
boatman brought us to this hut."
"Truly, my master, we are in safe hands, for the man on duty is the
boatman's brother and will let us hide here till morning," said Chow,
and the next moment they were within the hut partaking of a portion of
the soldier's fare of hot tea and rice bread.
After some little time the boatman said, "Truly it is not often that
brothers meet, and it is well that we should have a fraternal
conversation."
When the men left the hut Chow took a paper from his robe, leant over a
fire, and having perused it, said, "The dog is a rogue, he would give us
shelter to-night but to betray us in the morning."
"What words are these? Truly the boatman knew us as nought but two poor
travelers."
"My master's thoughts are generous," replied Chow; adding, as he handed
Nicholas the paper, "Let the noble man-boy read for himself."
Taking the paper, Nicholas read, "Let the noble commander offer a
handsome reward, and the rascals who have escaped shall be again placed
in his hands."
"Truly this is villainy; but how fell this paper into thy hands, O
Chow."
"Is it not a maxim that wickedness defeats its own ends?" said Chow;
adding, "As thy servant was getting from the window of the junk into the
san-pan, that paper fell into his hand. Doubtless the rascal boatman
threw it upon the deck, from whence by accident, it fell into my hands."
"Truly it must have been thrown by the hand of Heaven," said Nicholas.
"We will defeat the rascals, for fortunately I have saved one of the
thieves' pastiles," said Chow, pulling one of the pyramids from beneath
his robe.
Then as they heard the footsteps of the soldier they squatted before the
fire, pretending to be in earnest conversation. The man joined them, and
having poured some hot water into a cup, took a pinch of tea-dust from a
little packet and made himself a cup of that beverage. But while the
soldier was drinking, and probably chuckling at the good round sum he
should obtain in the morning for Chow and Nicholas, the latter pulled
his arms behind, and held them till Chow tore enough of his coarse loose
garment to form a ligature, with which he secured them; then throwing
him upon his back, and leaving Nicholas to prevent his rolling over, he
pulled from his robe a portable lantern, unfolded it, lit the wick, then
lighting the pastile, at arm's length he held it beneath the soldier's
nostrils till he became stupid, and indeed, until he became insensible,
when, rolling him over and leaving the pastile burning, they left the
hut, taking good care to secure it from the outside.
CHAPTER XIII.
PAGODAS, THEIR ANTIQUITY AND USES.
Alone, unarmed, in a strange country, at night, and pursued by enemies,
the boys stood for a time to consider their next steps. Fortunately, at
that moment the moon began to shine more brightly, and they saw at the
distance of some few hundred yards the giant form of a pagoda rising
from the summit of a hill, with its quaint polygon form, varnished green
tiles, and gilded bells hanging from every point.
"Truly the gods have directed our footsteps to a resting-place till the
morning," said Chow.
This was indeed a fortunate discovery, for, knowing that most of the
pagodas were untenanted, they might hide there; and with lightened
hearts they walked onward, till they came to a valley, or cemetery,
filled with tombs, and through which they walked till they came to the
base of a hill, at the top of which was the entrance to the pagoda.
Having reached one of the gates, they found it locked, a difficulty that
was soon surmounted by Chow, who cast his lantern toward one of the
windows of the lower story, and, as he expected, found that, like the
majority of these quaint structures, this one was in ruins; so, by means
of the shoulder of Nicholas, he climbed through a window, and speedily
opened the gate, when they found themselves in an apartment lined with
black varnished tiles, nearly all of which were carved with gilded
idols.
"Thank Heaven, we are safe from the rats," said Nicholas.
"And may sleep, O my master," said the fatigued Chow, laying himself at
full length upon the floor, an example that was speedily followed by
Nicholas, who, like Chow, notwithstanding the danger that surrounded
them, fell into a sound sleep.
These singular, and frequently beautiful buildings, towering upward in
various heights upon the rising grounds, like an unequally grown forest
of quaint spires, form the chief characteristic in Chinese scenery. As
if the builders believed luck to be found in odd numbers, they are
either of seven, nine, or thirteen stories, and moreover, all shaped
from the model of the famous Tower of Nankin, which, after an existence
of nine hundred years, has so recently been wantonly destroyed by the
iconoclastic insurgents, who are, at the present time, making every
effort for the extermination of the Mantchou Tartars.
As for the origin of these structures, it is of so remote a date, that,
even in four thousand years old China, there is as much difference of
opinion as about the origin of the round towers of Ireland. Some of the
learned writers assert that they were erected monumentally to great and
good people, others that they were intended as watch-towers in time of
war.
A very probable theory is that they are of Indian origin, having been
introduced by the priests of Buddha, for the purpose of saving the holy
relics, thumbs, fingers, toes, or any other portions of the body of the
god that might from time to time be found, or rather palmed upon the
superstitious people by the bonzes. By way of illustrating this theory,
I will relate to you some of the popular legends. The first is really a
wild-goose story.
The primitive Buddhists of India were not under such strict rules of
diet as the sect afterward became; that is, not vegetarians, but at
liberty to eat veal, venison, and goose flesh. Well, it happened that on
a certain day, as a party of priests were seated in the open air, a
brace of wild geese flew above them, which caused them to exclaim, "Our
wish is that these fowls would do a benevolent act," when one of the
birds immediately dropped down dead. Upon which remarkable event, the
priests cried, "This goose brings down a prohibition to abstain from
flesh; we must therefore consider its meritorious act." Whereupon they
erected a building over the poor goose, which they called pagoda, which
word, translated from the Indian word, tsang-po, into Chinese, is
equivalent to wild goose.
Of this same pagoda, which still exists, another legend is given.
"Nearly six hundred years after the introduction of Buddhism into China,
a priest of the sect was sent to India to collect and translate into the
Chinese language the sacred books of Budd. On his return with the
volumes, he brought also a model of a pagoda; in commemoration of
which, and also as a receptacle for the sacred books, the Emperor
erected a pagoda." If this legend is true, and it certainly is more
probable than any of the others, it is curious, as during the reign of
this same Emperor, in the year 636, a Christian teacher first came from
India to China, and was not only encouraged by the Emperor, but was
authorised by a royal decree to preach Christianity among the people.
Another legend states that in the year 256 a foreign priest of the
Buddhist religion appeared at the capital, and performed many strange
and supernatural feats, which, reaching the ears of the Emperor, caused
him to send for the priest, of whom he inquired if Buddha could
communicate any divine emblems. The priest replied, that Buddha had left
some traces of himself on earth, particularly bone relics, which
possessed miraculous powers. The Emperor, scarcely believing the story,
told the priest that if any such bone could be found, he would erect a
great pagoda. To this the story goes on to say, that the priest,
twenty-one days after, brought one of the god's bones in a bottle, and
presented it to his majesty, and that when taken into the palace, it
lighted up the whole building. Then comes the most astonishing portion
of the legend. In his haste to inspect this wonderful bone, the Emperor
turned it out of the bottle, into a large copper vessel, when the bone,
probably a leg bone, of its own accord kicked the massive basin with
such violence that it became shivered into a thousand pieces. This, you
would imagine, was in all conscience sufficiently prodigious to weaken
his majesty's nerves. The priest, however insisted upon exhibiting
another wonder, telling the emperor that so matchless were the qualities
of this bone, that diamond or steel could not scratch it, fire could not
scorch it, nor the heaviest hammer smash it; indeed, to injure this
precious bone in any way would be to perform one of the labors of
Hercules. This, however, was too much for the belief of the Emperor, and
so he ordered his stoutest blacksmith to take his heaviest hammer and
make the attempt; the priest, however got the best of it, for no sooner
did the hammer touch the bone than it crumbled into atoms, when,
probably, in delight at its success, this clever bone shone with such
effulgence that it weakened the eyes of all beholders. After this the
monarch wanted no more proof of the godship of Buddha, kept his promise,
and built the first pagoda in China.
Most of these legends have a close connection with Buddhism and its
priests; it is, therefore, most probable that these pagodas have, from
their introduction into China in the middle of the first century of the
Christian era, been used in connection with the bonzes. This opinion is
entertained by the learned Chinese scholar, the Rev. Mr. Milne, who
says, "Among the Chinese themselves it is a common saying. In pagodas
they save and preserve the family of Buddha. Usually priests of this
order are in charge of the pagoda, and sit at the doors of the most
famous and frequented, to receive gratuities from visitors. Pagodas are
situated generally on Buddhists' lands, and there are in their vicinity,
or around their base, temples or monasteries for Buddhist priests.
Within those pagodas that are at all in a state of preservation,
Buddhist idols, relics, pictures, and books are deposited. The histories
of these buildings throughout the empire, at least the earliest of them,
are crammed with Buddhist tales and fictions." So interesting are these
extraordinary monuments of antiquity, as being the probable and supposed
depositories of Buddhist writings and Indian documents, which, should
they ever be brought to light will not only throw a light upon the early
intercourse between China and Hindostan, but elucidate the mystery which
now hangs over the history of the religion of ancient India, a matter of
importance to every intelligent being, that at the risk of being
tedious, I could not forbear having a little gossip with my young reader
on the subject. But now to return to our young heroes.
CHAPTER XIV.
A DANGEROUS DESCENT.
When Nicholas opened his eyes, he found Chow awake and on the look-out
at the aperture by which he had entered the previous evening. He called
to him, but the boy's whole attention was evidently too much engaged for
him to reply. Surely, thought Nicholas, the enemy must be in close
pursuit, and in an instant, he was upon his legs and by the side of
Chow, who exclaimed, "The rascals have discovered our retreat, and we
are lost after all!"
"Surely thy fears deceive thy eyeballs," said Nicholas; but, looking for
himself, he saw coming through the tombs in the direction of the pagoda,
not only the soldier and the treacherous boatman, but the captain of the
junk.
"The rogues will arouse the bonzes at the monastery," said Chow.
"Truly the rats are not so senseless. They know we are unarmed, and hope
to take us without letting the bonzes share the reward; but let us
ascend, it is our only chance," said Nicholas, leading the way up a
steep staircase to the next story; but, hearing voices beneath, he
added, "Let us clamber to the top and lie quiet, when they may perhaps
give up the search." So they ascended the next staircase, but when they
came to the third story they were vexed to find the stairs fallen so
completely to ruin that they could proceed no higher. Fortune, however,
favored them, for looking around they saw a ladder, which had probably
been left by the bonze, whose business it was to exhibit the ancient
ruin for the convenience of visitors. To ascend was the work of a
minute, but before they had reached the uppermost round of the ladder
they heard their pursuers enter the lower apartment, when, quickening
their movements, they soon reached the seventh story. Now, as like a
pyramid, the building diminished in bulk as it increased in height, the
top was so small that they could but just pass through the small
aperture into the little room, which, fortunately, was in such a
dilapidated state, that the roof near the central pole or spire, which
ran up the interior from the base to the apex, and was surmounted by a
kind of large button, was nearly off.
Once in this room, they set about fortifying their position, by pulling
up a few of the loose flooring-boards and throwing them over the well
hole by which they had entered. It was a happy thought, for as they were
laying the last board over the hole, they saw the soldier upon the first
round of the top ladder. In a moment they squatted down with their whole
weight upon the boards, and as the aperture was so small that but one
man could ever attempt to pass through at a time, they were secure.
For at least two hours they remained in that position, which proved
such a formidable obstacle to the entrance of the man, that tired out,
he determined to consult with his companions as to some other means of
destroying the boys. Then, leaving Chow upon the boards watching through
a hole for the man's next attempt to force their position, Nicholas
ascended through a hole in the crumbling roof, looked around for some
few minutes, then descending, said, "We will escape from the roof."
"Where are our wings, O, my master? for without them we shall become
very small pieces of broken china by the time we reach the bottom," said
the astonished Chow.
"In our garments," said Nicholas, taking off his robes and tearing the
inner one into narrow slips, which being sufficient explanation for
Chow, he followed his master's example, and by plaiting them together
they managed to form a long rope with loops for hand holes at intervals.
The manufacture of this rope took them some hours, during which time
they expected every minute that the enemy would attempt to force the
entrance with a great log of wood or bar iron; fortunately, however,
little dreaming that there was the most remote possibility of escape for
the boys, the enemy had resolved to starve them into a surrender.
It was near dusk when they had completed their labor. Nothing could be
better, for if they could escape now they would reach the town before
the closing of the gates; therefore, resolving upon the attempt, they
pulled aside one of the boards and listened again. Fortune was in their
favor, for, by the conversation that was going on among the men, they
heard, that, tired of waiting, the soldier was gone in search of some
heavy instrument that would force an entrance. Then Nicholas longed for
a couple of big bamboos, that they might fight their way through them;
not, however, being able to command the use of such weapons, they
determined to make use of the rope the minute the men returned.
Having arrived at this determination, Nicholas reascended the roof and
watched until he saw the soldier coming toward the pagoda, carrying a
huge block of wood, when throwing the rope around the centre column or
spire, so that they could pull it after them, leaving no trace of their
means of escape, he signaled to Chow to follow. He swung on to the rope,
keeping both ends in his hands, and lowered himself on to the projecting
canopy or fringe of the second story, and by a swing of the body reached
the terrace, where he waited for Chow, whose legs he guided in his
descent, after which they pulled down the rope, and by performing the
same feat at each story, reached the ground at the portion of the
building opposite to the door, and as he had calculated, where there
were no openings by which they could be seen from within.
Once upon the ground, Chow gave a caper of joy, and proposed to scamper
off immediately. Nicholas, however, having effected the escape, like a
wise general, wished to protect his retreat from pursuit. To do this,
they entered the lower apartment of the pagoda, which, as they had
expected, they found empty; then ascending the next story, they could
see the enemy above them in consultation. It was the story with the
loose ladder. So removing their only means of descent, they carried it
with them some distance from the pagoda, and hastened toward the town,
heartily rejoicing at the success of their scheme, and laughing merrily
at the plight of their pursuers, who, when found in the pagoda, would be
punished as thieves, or if they dared to explain the cause of their
presence in the pagoda, would be severely bambooed for not informing the
nearest mandarin of the escape of such an important prisoner as the
runaway Christian.
As they reached the city just before the closing of the gates, they
found so many persons hastening to their homes, that they passed through
without being noticed, and speedily procured a lodging at the nearest
inn.
CHAPTER XV.
NICHOLAS DISCOVERS A CONSPIRACY, AND MAKES AN UNPLEASANT ENTRY INTO
PEKIN.
The next morning they laughed heartily when the innkeeper told them that
the bonzes of the monastery in the suburbs had taken some rogues who had
been found concealed in the pagoda before the police tribunal, and that
the mandarin had ordered all of them a severe bambooing.
Greatly as he enjoyed this news, Nicholas was too wise to wish to remain
in the city any longer than possible, for he knew that the enraged junk
captain would leave no effort untried to retake them; he, therefore,
engaged a passage for himself and Chow in a barge that was proceeding to
Tching-Kiang.
Once on board the passage boat and floating down along the royal canal,
they felt secure, for surely no mishap could now happen to interrupt
their journey; and so, indeed, they arrived at Tching-Kiang, where, as
this city was on the banks of the Yang-tse, which here interrupts the
course of the canal, they were compelled to disembark and remain one
night.
The next morning Nicholas sent Chow to purchase a sword, a bow, and some
arrows, in place of those taken from him in the prison. During his
absence, he sat talking to the wife of the innkeeper, for amongst the
lower classes, the women are permitted to have greater intercourse, as
indeed is necessary, to enable them to assist in earning the family
living. He had not been chatting for any length of time when there arose
a great hubbub in the street, and, looking out of the window, what was
his surprise to see Chow running, as if for his life, followed by an old
gentleman, who stopped every now and then to take breath and shake his
fists angrily at the mob, who, believing it to be a race, shouted for
mere fun. A glance, however, made Nicholas aware of the true character
of the pursuer, and he begged of the woman to aid him in saving the life
of his friend, who was being hunted by a madman, who if he caught him,
he would kill him.
Before she could reply, Chow ran up to the door; the woman opened it,
let him in, and shut it again in the face of the old gentleman, whose
stomach, being of extreme protuberance and what his countrymen call full
measure, received such a blow that, what with loss of breath and
fullness of indignation, his big body toppled over his short legs, and
he lay upon the ground with his little head turned upward, like a turtle
gasping at falling heat drops.
"Truly we are lost, for the old rat is the physician," said Chow.
"Can the worthy woman aid us?" said Nicholas, fairly baffled.
"Let the youths follow," said the good-natured Woman; adding, "Whither
would they be taken?"
"To the river," replied Nicholas, not knowing where else to say.
Then conducting them to the back of the house, where stood several sedan
chairs that her husband let out for hire, the woman told them to jump
into one of them, gave instructions to two Coolies who were waiting for
a job, wished them a prosperous journey, drew the curtains, and thus, in
about an hour's time, the boys were set down upon the banks of the great
Yang-tse, when, having rewarded the Coolies for their trouble, they
walked leisurely along in search of a boatmen to carry them to the
opposite side.
"Truly, O Chow, thou wert born in an unfortunate hour," said Nicholas.
"My master's words are true; still, the hundred families' lock must have
been hung around thy servant's neck, or he could not have escaped so
great a danger as this."
"Open thy lips to a good purpose, and say how this matter happened,"
said Nicholas, laughing.
"Well, having made the purchases, I came to the quay where the
passage-boats discharge their passengers, when, _may I be punished for
forgetting my masters affair_, I could think of nothing but the villain
who slew my noble parent, and who, I thought, might possibly be among
the soldiers who had just arrived from Pekin, and were embarking to go
to Nankin, which, they say, is even now besieged by the rebels. The
notion, fit only as it was for the head of a goose, could not be helped,
and I stood gazing at the war-tigers. Well, thy servant had not been
long looking, when an old gentleman seized him by the arm, saying,
'Thou dog, thou stolest both my patient and my gen-seng;' and, seeing
that it was the physician, I jerked off his hand, took to my heels, and,
fearing for the safety of my master should the crowd stop me, I
frightened them by calling out, 'Beware, my brethren, of the madman,'
and as that made the frightened people stand aside, I was enabled to
reach the inn in safety."
"Truly this was well done," said Nicholas; but as, at that moment, they
had arrived at a great swamp of paddy, or rice-fields, which stretched
for miles inland down to the very edge of the river, and was covered
with water of sufficient depth to enable the shallow boats to sail for
miles into the interior, their progress was stopped, when Nicholas said,
as he pointed to a multitude of men, women, and children, who, at some
little distance, with their trousers tucked up to the knees, appeared to
be amusing themselves with paddling about in the water, "Let us catch
the eyeballs of one of yonder shrimp hunters."
These people were a species of jacks-in-the-water, who, as they stalked
about every now and then pulled their legs out of the mud, and taking
something from it, deposited it in a small bag which they had by their
sides. They were mud fishers in search for prawn, shrimps, and other
small fish, which, when felt by the foot, they dexterously seized
between the toes. This is only one instance in which these poor people
show themselves as clever with the foot as the hand and another proof
of the old axiom, that necessity is the mother of invention.
For some time they endeavored to call the attention of one of these
people without avail; then, holding up a copper coin and shouting, a man
came to them, and soon after fetched a boatman, who, for a small sum,
engaged to row them in search of a ferry-boat.
The little boat paddled through the fields, past men engaged in wild
geese catching, and huge duck boats, from the sides of which, down
inclined boards, hundreds of those birds were waddling into the fields,
as industriously earning their living among the rice stubble as the mud
fishers.
These duck keepers are a class peculiar to the Chinese. Their boats are
large and roomy, with a broad board extending around the sides for a
promenade for the birds, which are as dear to their masters as the pig
is to the Irishman. The birds have the largest apartment of the floating
house. In the morning the ducks waddle round the promenade at their
pleasure, except after the rice harvest has been gathered, when the
boards are inclined, and they walk up and down the slope at their will;
and so well are they brought up, that, if hundreds of them are out upon
a cruise, they will instantly return to the boat at their master's
whistle.
Once in the boat, Nicholas had no wish to leave it, till he had crossed
the river. This he had some difficulty in persuading the man to do, for
it was three leagues broad at that part. The sight, however of a piece
of silver strengthened his courage, and, fixing up his little sail of
bamboo matting, he made the attempt, when, after some hours, they
reached the opposite banks, dismissed the boatman, and felt as pleased
as a fugitive between whom and the bloodhounds a vast water track has
passed.
Having crossed the great river, they had no fear of further pursuit, so,
hiring two sedan chairs, they reached Kin-Chow the same evening. The
next morning they again took passage upon the Royal Canal, down which
they traveled for some days, till they arrived at Yang-Chow, a city
celebrated for its manufacture of salt and singing girls. These poor
creatures are matter of commerce with the merchants, who have taught
them to sing, paint, and play on musical instruments, when they can sell
them for very large sums of money to the great lords, who purchase them
for the recreation of their households.
Resting at this city for one day, they again started upon their journey,
and in a few weeks arrived at Tien-sin, from which place they proceeded
by a small canal to Tsing-Chow, the nearest place to Pekin, where they
landed.
"Thanks be to Tien, my master, we shall soon be in the venerable city
itself."
"Thou art fond of Pekin, Chow?"
"The tombs of thy servant's ancestors are near its walls," said Chow,
gloomily.
"Why, in the name of the social relations, art thou as dull as a
tailless peacock?" said Nicholas.
"It is filial pity, for last night I dreamt that I should discover in
Pekin the dog who slew my venerable parent, and should I die without
searching him out, the tombs of my ancestors would refuse to hold me."
"These are wild words and foolish fancies, Chow," said Nicholas; adding,
as he beheld the boy stare in the faces of the passers-by, "Moreover, if
thy manners are so barbarous, thou wilt surely get into trouble;" and,
believing that occupation or a mission would drive these thoughts from
Chow's mind, he stopped at the house of a dealer in horses, and, having
bargained for two, said, "Thou art well informed of the ins and outs of
Pekin, Chow?"
"Every rat-hole, my master," was the reply.
"Then for fear that the hour may be too late ere I reach the city, take
one of these horses and hasten to the great square, where thou wilt find
one Yang, a wealthy merchant; seek his presence, and inform him that the
son of his correspondent, the great merchant of the south, would beg a
lodging of him while he remains in the capital."
"Thy commands shall be obeyed," said Chow, turning a sumersault on to
the back of one of the horses, and in another instant was at full gallop
toward Pekin.
Nicholas then sought a house of refreshment, and, having regaled himself
with a cup of hot tea and rice cakes, mounted the other animal,
intending to follow Chow.
The distance, however, was longer than he had calculated; moreover he
took the longest road, so that by the time he reached within view of the
walls, towers, and yellow roofs, of the imperial city, the gates were
closed for the night, and none would be permitted to pass without a
searching scrutiny; so, although much vexed, he determined to seek a
lodging at an inn he had passed on the road. However, the innkeeper
addressing him, rudely said, "How is this, that a mere boy should be
without the walls at this hour? Has he no respect for his parents, who
will assuredly be punished for their neglect?"
"Is the worthy innkeeper of barbarian parents, that he would refuse to
lodge a youth, who, tired and weary, has but just arrived from a long
journey, and is willing to pay handsomely?" said Nicholas, showing him
about an ounce of silver.
"Truly the vision of thy servant must have been dull, that he could not
before perceive that the youth before him was nobly allied and of great
respectability," said the man, now that he greedily eyed the precious
metal. "Yet," he added, "it is not possible that the noble youth can
lodge beneath this roof, for the inn is already crowded with merchants,
who enter Pekin at daylight."
"Then will I trouble the most perfect of innkeepers no longer," replied
Nicholas, believing the man to be an extortioner.
"The words of thy servant are as true as the sacred books, but if the
noble youth will bestow a fee upon the porter he can procure a lodging
at yon mansion," replied the man, as he pointed to a large house near
the inn.
"What words are these? Yonder mansion is the palace of some noble
mandarin, who will deservedly chastise thee for thy insolence in making
his house a common inn."
"Not so, O noble youth, for although the front is fair to look at, the
house is in ruins and under the care of a porter. The mandarin is in a
far distant province, if, indeed, as is reported, he is not at this
moment in rebellion against the Emperor."
"Tien forbid that a true-born Chinese should soil the soles of his boots
with the dust of a traitor's door stone," said Nicholas.
"Thy servant said it was but rumored, O loyal youth," replied the
innkeeper; adding angrily, "Truly if thou refusest this thou wilt get
none other lodging."
"Truly it may be but scandal, therefore show me to this porter, and thou
shalt be rewarded for thy trouble," replied Nicholas.
The innkeeper then conducting him to one of the smaller of the three
doors in the wall of respect, which, as with all the houses of the
great, are built before the house, summoned the porter, who for a piece
of silver took charge of his horse, introduced him into a small room,
which led from one side of the great central hall, and leaving him a
sleeping mat withdrew, when Nicholas laid himself at full length, glad
enough to get the opportunity of getting a good night's rest.
Nicholas had not slept long before he was awakened by the sound of
voices, which he could hear so clearly and distinctly that he knew it
proceeded from some adjoining room. More vexed, however, at the
disturbance than curious to listen to the conversation, he turned over
and tried to sleep, but then the tones became louder, and he fancied he
heard his father's name. If so, it evidently concerned him; therefore in
self-defence, he must listen; and, setting up on his mat, he saw that he
was in a double room divided by folding doors, between the crevices of
which came a glimmering light, so creeping softly forward, he peeped
through. There at a table, beneath a painted lantern, the light from
which played upon their faces, sat two men of tall stature and
soldier-like appearance, but neither of whom could he at first
recognise. A minute more, however, and he fancied that in one he could
trace familiar features; still he could not recall them to his memory.
He listened attentively, for the taller man spoke earnestly for some
time of such matters that made the boy burn with rage and horror. When
he had concluded, the other smiled and said, "Truly, O illustrious
prince, we have secured the ambitious pirate of the south. May the time
for action speedily arrive." No sooner had he spoken, than, like a
glimpse of light in a cavern, the recognition flashed across the boy's
mind. The last speaker was the mandarin envoy who had visited his
father's vessel, and he trembled for the safety of the Emperor's letter.
It was consolatory, however, that should they meet, the mandarin would
not know him, for they had not met on board the vessel. When the
mandarin had spoken, his companion said, "Hush, general! no tiles, for
walls may have ears; but enough, I am satisfied." Then after whispering
together for some little time, they arose, and Nicholas crept back to
his mat. The moment after to his horror, the doors were thrown open, and
the prince exclaimed, "How! we are betrayed; what rogue is this?"
"Silence, my prince, he sleeps, and can have heard nothing," said the
other, cutting down the lantern from the other room and holding it
before the pretending sleeper, who, notwithstanding his perilous
position, did not move a muscle. The boy, however, had a harder trial
yet, for drawing his dagger, the prince exclaimed, "True, general, he
may not have heard--but, he may--and as dead dogs can't bark--" but, as
the prince was about to strike, and the brave boy was mentally preparing
to clutch at the weapon, with both hands, the mandarin caught the arm of
the would-be assassin, led him into the other room, whispered with him,
and then they both left the house, after securing all the doors from the
outer side.
Bathed in a cold sweat, Nicholas arose and examined the room, to find
some means of escape, for he little doubted that they would speedily
return. It was useless, and he made up his mind to await the chapter of
accidents. For some time fear kept him awake, but at length nature would
have her way and he fell off to sleep.
When he awoke he found a party of yah-yu and the porter of the house at
his side; the latter looking at him maliciously, said, "Take the vile
dog before the police tribunal, he is a thief and a rogue."
"Silence, rascal! for thou knowest that I am no thief, but a traveler
who paid thee for a night's lodging."
"Away with the young rogue," said the porter; and, binding him hand and
foot, Nicholas was made to make his first entry into Pekin amid the
shouts of the rabble, who were delighted that so vile a house-breaker
and thief should be caught.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE BOYS AGAIN IN TROUBLE.
Smarting with indignation at the accusation, which had evidently been
made for the purpose of getting him transported to the penal province,
Nicholas was taken before the police mandarin like a common thief. When,
however, they reached the tribunal, they found the magistrate engaged
examining witnesses on the part of a military mandarin who had been
insulted in the public streets. "Let the worthy officer state his
complaint," said the mandarin.
"Know, O fountain of justice," said the officer, joining his hands above
his head, and bowing nearly to the ground three successive times, "that
as thy servant was riding through the great square, a young man,
possessed either with demons or samshu, jumped so rudely before me that
I stumbled and fell to the earth, and when he stared me full in the face
like a hungry wolf, I remonstrated, but the rascal held me down,
continuing to stare with glaring eyeballs; he then tore the plaster from
this wound which I received on my cheek in fighting the rebels of
Chen-si, and began to dance round me most frantically with a drawn
sword, crying, 'Thou villain, slayer of honest folks' parents, I have
found thee at last, and will cut thee into pieces small enough for
mince pies.' Alarmed at this violent rudeness, I could but say, 'Hold,
dog, I am a soldier of the Emperor.' 'Ah, ah! I know thou art, thou
villain,' said he. 'I have received a wound,' said thy servant. 'Ah, ah!
I know thou hast, thou villain,' again said the madman. 'Begone, dog,
what wouldst thou do?' said I. 'Slay thee, and burn thy house, even as
thou didst my parents, villain;' whereupon the rascal would have slain
thy servant upon the instant but for the timely aid of this good
merchant Yang," said the soldier, pointing to a stout elderly man who
stood by his side.
Now, guessing at once that this terrible prisoner must be Chow, Nicholas
felt no surprise when he saw the poor fellow, with his arms tied behind
him, dragged before the mandarin, who said, "What says the murdering
thief to this charge?"
"What can the unfortunate Chow say, most beneficent father and mother of
justice, but that it was all a mistake, and that thy unworthy slave has
ever been taught that no man should exist beneath the same heaven with
the murderer of his parents?" said Chow, as he cast some comical glances
at the bamboo canes.
"What words are these? What has this most wise maxim to do with thy
case, fellow?" said the mandarin.
"Much, O magnificent judge, for thy slave's father was destroyed by the
chief officer of the rebel Li-Kong, whom this worthy war-tiger
unfortunately resembles, both in the wound on the cheek, and the length
of his hair."
"If thy words are not false, then thou art a worthy but unfortunate
servant of the holy lord our Emperor," said the mandarin; "but who will
assure us of this?'
"Truly will I, O learned judge," cried out Nicholas.
"Who is this dog, that speaks without prostrating his mean person at the
feet of justice?" said the mandarin.
"A thief and a rascal, who is awaiting to be tried," cried the porter
who had accused Nicholas.
"By the beard of Confucius, this is daring; give the dog a dozen
strokes," said the mandarin.
"Stay thy command, O running fountain of justice; let not thy celestial
ears be profanely filled by the tongues of dogs," shrieked Chow with
fear, as soon as he saw that his master was a prisoner.
The mandarin would have visited this daring interruption with a heavy
punishment, but for some words whispered in his ears by the merchant
Yang, and which caused him to smile and say, "The honorable merchant
Yang has answered for thy truth boy; but that for the future you may not
be liable to such mistakes, we will give thee a fatherly correction."
The mandarin then pulled fifty reeds from the case, and threw them upon
the floor, whereupon two of the footmen caught hold of Chow, took off
his robe, and held him on the floor, while another administered fifty
blows, after which Chow got upon his legs, made a very wry face, and
twisted and writhed about like an eel making an effort to walk upon the
tip of his tail.
"Leave off twisting and twirling thyself out of nature, thou dog, and
return thanks to his high justiceship for his kindness in correcting so
miserable an affair as thy mean self," said one of the footmen.
With one eye glaring upon the footman, and the other smiling upon the
mandarin, Chow held his hands behind his back to assuage the pain, and
made two or three attempts to bend his back, but failing, dropped
suddenly on his knees, and bowing his head to the ground, said, but with
a twist of his back or grimace between every word, "Thy correction--O
father--and mother--of justice, is beneficial, but like physic would
be----"
"What, boy?" said the mandarin, laughing.
"More agreeable if it were tasteless, yet thy mean servant thanks thee,
noble judge, for this care of his mind;" and Chow hopped among the
bystanders.
When Chow had been disposed of, the porter formerly charged Nicholas
with entering the mansion at night for the purpose of robbery.
"Who art thou boy; thy name, surname, and from what province?" said the
mandarin kindly.
"The mean name of thy unworthy servant is Nicholas, of the province of
Fokien, from whence he has traveled on special affairs to a worthy
merchant of Pekin, named Yang."
"So far thy words are truth," said the mandarin, to the astonishment of
Nicholas; "but what answer can the youth make to the charge of this
man?"
"That it is vile and false, and that the dog is a traitor in league with
rebels, who happening to meet with thy servant last night at the same
house, are fearful that he may have discovered their plots, and so hope
to destroy him."
At that moment there arose a great bustle in the court, and a cry of
"Make way for the illustrious deputy-general of the nine gates," and a
military mandarin, with a tiger painted on his breast, a gold button and
a peacock's feather in his cap, both of which bespoke his high rank,
entered the tribunal, and testified to the guilt of Nicholas, who
recognizing in him the man who had been addressed the previous night by
the title of general, exclaimed, "Behold, O Mandarin, one of the
traitors."
Great was the effect of the new comer upon the judge, for, not paying
the least attention to the exclamation of Nicholas, he said, "Truly
falsehood will not flow from the lips of the Heaven-appointed
deputy-general. As for thee (turning to Nicholas,) vile dog, as thy
guilt is now clear, thou shalt receive one hundred blows, and be
banished for life."
Now, while the mandarin was speaking, Chow happening to get a full view
of the general's face, rushed through the crowd, crying, "It is the
villain, it is the destroyer of my parents,' and in another moment he
had clutched the general by the throat, thrown him upon the ground, and
would have strangled him, but for the help of the footmen, who speedily
seized him, bound his arms, and carried him with Nicholas to the
prison.
"This fancy, that every officer you meet is the destroyer of your
parents, will prove thy destruction, my poor Chow," said Nicholas, as
soon as they were alone in the prison.
"There can be no doubt it is the villain, for saw you not the wound upon
his cheek? but, alas! my trouble is the greater that I slew him not
before we were shut up in a cage like two dogs for fattening."
"Thy liberty at least was secure, but for thy foolish attack upon the
mandarin of war."
"By the vermillion pencil itself, Chow cares not for liberty, if they
ruin his noble master."
Then Nicholas began to think upon his miserable position,--sentenced to
be beaten with the bamboo to him worse than death, for, being born upon
the coast, unlike most Chinese, he had never been subjected to such a
degradation; and then to be banished for life, at the very commencement
of his career,--it was horrible. Greater, however, was his anxiety for
the safety of his father's letters. Could he but send a message to the
merchant Yang,--alas! that was impossible. Should he give it to Chow?
No; for he knew not what punishment awaited the boy for assaulting so
great an officer. He was indeed at his wit's end, and he prayed to the
Almighty for aid.
"Let not the noble Nicholas be so sad, for truly the gods can never
desert the innocent and unfortunate," said Chow, while tears of
affection wetted his cheeks; adding, "I will pray of them to take my
worthless life in exchange for thy liberty."
"I can not, do not doubt thy affection, my good Chow, but place not my
faith in these foolish deities; there is but One true God, whose Son
died on the cross to save mankind, and in Him I trust in my hour of
difficulty."
"My master is of the religion of the Fan-Kwi (foreign devils.) Will
their god aid him in the hour of his troubles?" replied Chow,
despondingly.
"Thou wilt see Chow," replied Nicholas, angrily.
"Truly, but in the mean time the bamboo will cut us into strips like an
umbrella in a storm," said Chow, making such queer contortions and
grimaces, that in spite of his troubles Nicholas could not help
laughing. "Then," he added, "thy servant has a scheme that will save
thee, my generous master."
"Open thy lips, O wise and prudent youth," said Nicholas.
"The noble Nicholas has a father?"
"Truly, a noble one."
"Then, as Chow has neither father, mother, nor aught else, but hatred
for his father's slayer and gratitude to the preserver of his life----"
"What words are these?" said Nicholas, impatiently.
"The good Nicholas has money; let him give it to Chow, and he will bribe
the mandarin to slit him into ribbons in thy stead," said Chow,
seriously.
"Silence, Chow! this scheme of thine is offensive," said Nicholas, not
without a tear at the boys devotion.
"Alas! of what use is a friend if he will not be serviceable in the hour
of need?" said Chow.
Their conversation was interrupted by the opening of the door.
"It is the illustrious Yang himself, who spoke good words to the
boy-correcting mandarin; may he be turned into a bamboo himself in the
next world," exclaimed Chow with a writhe of remembrance.
"Thou art the son of the good merchant, my correspondent?" said Yang.
"The face of the worthy merchant, is welcome in the hour of difficulty,"
said Nicholas.
"That difficulty is past, for thou art released," replied Yang, leading
him to a covered vehicle, into which Chow followed, and all three
proceeded to the merchant's house, where they found a substantial meal
awaiting them, a portion of which Chow carried with him to another
apartment.
"Will the venerable Yang say by what fortunate chance he was enabled to
confer upon the son of his correspondent such an everlasting debt of
gratitude!" said Nicholas.
"Know then, my nephew, for my nephew thou art, being the son of my
adopted brother, that when the comical ape Chow brought thy message, I
watched for thy coming till evening, when knowing that you could not
pass through the gates that night, I lodged Chow in my house. This
morning I went to meet you, telling Chow to follow close behind my
chair. Passing through the great square we met with the military officer
whose affair took us to the tribunal, where by means of a small present
secretly conveyed to the mandarin, I succeeded in getting the foolish
fellow off with a mere fatherly correction, which the dispenser of
justice was compelled to give him for form's sake. This affair being
settled, judge my horror at finding you charged with so fearful a crime.
However, I was prepared; for Chow, while listening to his own accuser,
had seen you in the custody of the yah-yu, to whom I went, and by means
of a bribe made them tell me the reason of your being in that plight.
When I had learned the particulars, I whispered to the mandarin that I
would present him with a handsome sum in silver if he would treat you
leniently. But when the favorite general of the Prince Li-Kong appeared,
the affair took another turn, and for fear of losing his own head, the
mandarin was compelled to condemn you. Yet, sad as this was, it was to
be managed with money. So by giving a handsome sum to an already
condemned criminal, the poor wretch agreed to suffer in your place."
"How! what rascality is this? Surely the innocent shall not suffer. The
mandarin must be sought," said Nicholas.
"Hist, hist, my good nephew! it is all over; for, foreseeing your
objection, the money was handed over to the man's family and he himself
dispatched at once to the penal settlement for condemned criminals."
"It is a vile practice, O Yang," said Nicholas with disgust.
"It is a common one," replied the merchant; adding, "but what brings the
son of the great merchant to Pekin? he is young to be entrusted so great
a journey."
"Are then the special secrets of my noble parent of so little value that
they may be wafted about the very air of this vile city of Pekin?" said
Nicholas.
"Pardon thy servant, O noble youth, who seeks to know thy affairs that
he may help to render them prosperous."
"The worthy Yang must forgive the haste of a boy who so far forgets his
duty to his elder," said Nicholas.
That night the boys slept at Yang's house.
CHAPTER XVII.
NICHOLAS RESOLVES UPON A DANGEROUS ADVENTURE.
The following morning when Nicholas saw the merchant, he said,
"Yesterday the worthy Yang would have learned the object of my visit to
Pekin. I would gain admittance to the imperial palace. Will he aid me?"
"Alas! my nephew, nothing can be more difficult, for it is crowded with
bonzes, and I fear worse--rebels, who swarm around the royal person like
hornets; but whom seekest thou within the outer palaces?"
"Even the Son of Heaven himself, at the feet of whose throne I would
kneel."
"Is the youth bereft of his senses? does he not know that it is certain
death to pass the prohibited wall of the inner palace?"
"May then the illustrious Prince Woo-san-Kwei be found within the
palace?" asked Nicholas.
"Nay, even if thou couldst boast the friendship of the great
Woo-san-Kwei thou wouldst not be safe. The prince is too honest and
brave to be much in favor just now. Wouldst thou be safe, youth, thou
must seek the Prince Li-Kong."
"The vile traitor," muttered Nicholas at the name.
"Hist, hist! thou wilt assuredly lose thy head, boy," said Yang, placing
his finger upon his lips.
"Let the friend of the merchant of the south open his lips to a purpose.
Can, or can he not, aid me to gain admittance within the palace? for it
is my father's command that I should seek the Emperor or the Prince
Woo-san-Kwei, and at the peril of my life he must be obeyed," said
Nicholas firmly.
"Since thou art determined, take this," said Yang placing a ring on the
boy's finger; adding, "It will pass thee through the guards of the outer
palaces and courts as far as the prohibited wall, and then proceed no
further, as you value your life, but await the approach of one of the
officers of the guard, to whom you must show that ring, and tell him
that you have business with the red-girdled Prince Woo-san-Kwei;
further, be prudent, or thou wilt seek thy death."
"The worthy Yang has indeed filled me with gratitude," said Nicholas,
who then sent Chow for a chair. When the boy returned he asked his
master to what part of the city he would be carried.
"To the palace."
"By the five social relations the noble Nicholas is tired of this world,
for he has no sooner escaped one death than he seeks another," said
Chow.
"Wag not thy foolish tongue, O Chow, but if thy heart fails thee stay
behind."
"And leave the noble Nicholas to go to the world of spirits alone? that
would indeed be base. No, no; Chow will follow; but my noble master has
forgotten his sword, he may require it," said the boy.
"I am sufficiently armed," replied Nicholas showing the hilt of a small
dagger beneath his robe, adding, "Now let us proceed."
They then passed through the streets, which swarmed with people who were
as busy as bees in a hive, some making purchases of itinerant
tradespeople, viewing the wonderful feats of jugglers, mountebanks, or
players, listening to the marvelous narratives of _vivà voce_ novelists,
or testing their fates with cheating fortune-tellers. As they approached
the palace, they found crowds of people gazing at the great observatory,
upon the top of which the astronomers of the court, in full dress, were
engaged in watching the heavens. When they arrived at the wall which
confined the city of buildings that made up the imperial residence,
Nicholas dismissed the chairman, and they passed into the first court,
which was as large and full of houses as a small country town. It took
half an hour to walk through; and as they had to traverse seven more of
these courts, which took them three hours, you may imagine the great
extent of the whole palace. The last but one was surrounded with the
palaces of the princes of the red girdle, or those more distant in blood
from the throne. This court was crowded with mandarins, officers,
eunuchs, and soldiers of the Emperor, who were earnestly peering through
telescopes at the sun, which from a deep blood red became yellow and
dim, and gradually more and more opaque, till the whole world seemed to
be enveloped in darkness, and darkness blacker than midnight, for there
was no moon.
When the earth's light became extinguished, the mandarins fell flat upon
their faces, moaning aloud, while the noise from thousands of drums
shook the very walls.
"Let us fall upon our faces, O my master, and pray to the terrible
dragon," exclaimed Chow, suiting the action to the word, and endeavoring
to drag Nicholas with him. As, however, Nicholas was averse to this
superstition, he refused to comply, and stood looking upon the people as
if they had been performing for his especial and solitary benefit.
Whatever was the superstition, it laid firm hold of Chow, who, long
after the light had returned to the heavens and the other people to
their feet, continued to moan, kick his legs, and knock the earth with
his forehead. At length, after repeatedly calling to him in vain,
Nicholas turned him upon his back, when, opening his eyes and finding
the light had returned, he jumped upon his feet, and, as the sweat of
fear rolled from his brow, said, "Thank the gods, the greedy monster of
a dragon has not swallowed the sun and moon. O master, what would become
of us all; what would become of day and night without the sun and moon?"
"Art thou foolish, O Chow, to believe that this eclipse was caused by
the effort of a monster dragon to swallow the heavenly luminaries?"
"Who is thy servant, O noble Nicholas, that he should doubt, when
learned mandarins believe?" said Chow.
"Know, O Chow, that the mandarins believe in it no more than thy
master, but perform a ceremony handed down to them by their ancestors."
When the people who had been praying of the dragon not to swallow the
poor sun and moon began to disperse, the boys continued their journey
till they came to the outer or prohibited wall of the inner palace,
when, pointing to a soldier who stood at the gate with a naked sabre in
his hand, Chow said. "Look, my master, to pass yon tiger of war will be
to seek Yen-Vang in the other world," and at the same moment the soldier
said, "Are the slaves tired of their lives that they approach the
prohibited wall without bowing to the earth?"
Having performed the required ceremony, Nicholas presented the
merchant's ring to the soldier, saying, "Let the eyes of the war tiger
rest upon this token, for by its means his servant would seek the
illustrious yellow girdle, Woo-san-Kwei."
"The power of the token may not be doubted, for it bears the character
of the prince; yet may the noble youth not see the barbarian-subduing
prince, for he is in council with the colaos," said the soldier.
"Then, by the toe of the Emperor, (may he live ten thousand years,) we
are as good as in our coffins; for know, O my master, it is death to
sleep within the walls of the palace," said the trembling Chow.
"Surely," said Nicholas, placing a piece of silver in the soldier's
hand, "the brave warrior can secure lodging within the walls for a youth
whose duty compels him to risk his life rather than leave the palace
without speaking with the great Woo-san-Kwei."
"Truly it will be hazardous," but before the soldier could finish his
reply, the officer of the night came up with the relief guard.
"Who are these vile dogs that are so openly seeking their death?" said
he.
"This youth, O noble commander, bears the ring of the great
Woo-san-Kwei, whose presence he seeks; but as the patriot prince cannot
be seen, with the noble commander's permission the youth shall lodge
with me this night."
"The noble and unfortunate Ki utters judicious words, and shall command
in this thing," replied the officer, to the surprise of Nicholas, who
could not comprehend an officer of the guard being so politely
submissive to a man so much his inferior.
The permission, however, did not extend to Chow, whom the officer
undertook to convey back again out of the palace.
"Then slit me into bamboo slips, thou Captain of war tigers, for the
servant dare not leave his master," said Chow, who refused so
obstinately that the soldiers had to carry him away.
As Ki led the way through the streets and passages on the way to his
quarters, Nicholas was not a little surprised to find that he was
respectfully saluted by all whom they passed. Again, instead of the
common room appropriated to soldiers of his humble station, his quarters
consisted of a house by itself. Neither could Nicholas get rid of his
puzzle, till Ki said, "Has the name of the colao Ki ever fallen into the
ears of the honorable youth?"
"Truly so; for whose ears could be so dull as not to have drunk in his
fame as a wise minister of state?"
"Yet such is the viscissitude of fortune, that the colao is now before
thee, O youth, plucked of the peacock feather, and the golden ball torn
from his cap."
"The great and good colao degraded to a mean soldier! Are such things
possible? O unfortunate man!" said Nicholas, bowing respectfully to the
fallen noble.
"The purest sky is sometimes shaded by the blackest cloud. The cloud
over the head of Ki is the Prince Li-Kong, to whom every thing is now
possible; but open thy lips, youth, and send forth thy wishes with the
Prince Woo-san-Kwei. If it be to ask promotion to some office, know that
he has none to give, for the shadow of Li-Kong stands between him and
the Majesty of China."
"Thy servant seeketh nothing for himself, O noble Ki, but to serve the
Emperor, to whom through the great Woo-san-Kwei, he would present a
petition."
"All petitions now pass through the Prince Li-Kong," said Ki
sorrowfully.
"Then, by the vermilion pencil, I will seek the Emperor himself, O noble
Ki."
"Thou wouldst be slain in the attempt, O daring boy; there is but one
means."
"Name it, O noble Ki, and thy name shall be buried in my heart," said
Nicholas impetuously.
"It would be but to condemn thee to death."
"Thou art laughing at me, O noble Ki," replied Nicholas bitterly.
"Not so, youth; and since thou hast set thy heart upon the venture, open
thine ears to the only means," said Ki; adding, "Know that the Emperor
has one young and beautiful daughter, who apart from the bonzes and
Li-Kong, alone dares to present a petition to his majesty."
"Again, I say, thou art laughing at me, O cruel Ki; for how is it
possible for a strange youth to pass the guard that surrounds the palace
of the ladies?"
"Know then, further, that every morning the princess, with her ladies,
walks in those gardens just beyond the prohibited wall; through the
outer gate you can pass by means of this key," said Ki, giving him a
key; adding, "Near the inner wall there is a tall mulberry-tree, up
which you must climb, and so reach the top, and fall into the gardens;
then hide thyself till the royal lady passes. She will be attended by
the lady Candida Hiu, at whose feet throw thyself, proclaim thy mission,
and she will influence her beautiful mistress to deliver thy petition to
the Emperor; but remember, O youth, should you cross the path of one of
the eunuchs of the palace thy hours are numbered."
"Noble Ki, I am thy servant for life," said Nicholas, kneeling and
clasping the knees of the old colao; adding, "but say, O Ki, who is this
Lady Candida Hiu?"
"The pupil of the good Christian fathers whom the bonzes would have
massacred, the Lady Candida is the friend and teacher of the princess,
and but for her influence over her royal mistress, the punishment would
be death for worshiping in any of the many churches erected by the lady
herself."
"Art thou then a disciple of the Saviour of mankind, O Ki?"
"To the teaching of the lady Candida Hiu am I indebted for having
forsworn the stupid worship of Fo and the selfish philosophy of
Confucius," replied the colao; adding, "But ask no more, O youth, for to
speak of Christ out of the pale of that lady's influence is to earn
disgrace, if not death." So saying the ex-minister retired, leaving
Nicholas to his own thoughts.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE IMPERIAL GARDENS.
The next morning Nicholas proceeded on his mission, and, as the courts
of the palace were crowded with soldiers and mandarins of various ranks,
in waiting to receive the great lords of state, who were that day to
have audience with the Emperor, he managed to pass through the crowd
without being once challenged. With but little difficulty, he found the
door mentioned by Ki, and passing through by means of the key, he
entered a narrow lane between two walls. Near the inner wall stood the
mulberry-tree, up which he clambered quickly, for he knew not who might
enter the passage. When, by means of one of the branches, he had gained
the top of the wall, his eyes drank in a new pleasure. There, before,
beneath were the magnificent gardens of the inner palace, and so charmed
were his senses that for a minute it seemed as if the penalty of death
were but a small price for the vision. The enclosed grounds were of many
miles extent, and so varied in their arrangement, that they might have
served for a model of the empire itself. There was something of most
things natural and artificial in China: towering mountains cut into
terraces and planted with trees of rarity and beauty; fertile valleys
laid out in orange groves and intermingled with murmuring rivulets;
then bridges of tinted marble, wrought to resemble flying dragons, whose
eyes and scales were fashioned from colored metals, flew across small
lakes of clear, transparent water, in which, as a paradise of their own,
gamboled shoals of gold and silver fish, which at that time had not been
brought to Europe; then orchards of fruit trees, making the morning air
redolent with the mingled scents of rare specimens of pears, apples,
peaches, citrons, apricots, muscadine grapes, pomegranates, and oranges.
The sides of the main canal, from which the dripping rivulets sprang,
were embossed with cypress and mulberry-trees, whose feet seemed planted
in a sprinkled fringe of water melons. On this canal, with its awning of
yellow silk and golden fringe, floated the gilded japanned pleasure
barge of the ladies.
For a time the boy's head swam with a new sensation. Such, thought he,
must have been the garden of that Emperor whose jealousy of the powers
of the cruel winter over his summer beauties caused him to waste the
revenue of a kingdom and the industry of a whole people in creating a
garden of artificial flowers, forgetting that the annual decay was alone
the cause of the ever-living freshness and perfume of nature.
Then the sweet scents and beauteous sight tired Nicholas, for he thought
of the suffering, starving people. Surely it should not be possible for
such a paradise to exist in the midst of so much treason and
rotten-heartedness, and then the bold sea boy thought of his own rough
life, and became disgusted with himself for dwelling upon so much
sensuousness, for he knew that the empire had never smiled and prospered
with a happy, peaceable and well-fed people, except when the Emperor had
set the example of temperance and labor; and, moreover, that luxury and
indolence had ever preceded the downfall of dynasties; and then by far
more interesting became the cotton, the tallow and the mulberry-trees
that Heaven had bestowed upon the land of China for the support of its
hundreds of millions, and which had no vocation in such a garden of
luxury.
As it must be interesting to my young readers, I will give a description
of these singularly valuable trees. The seed of the cotton shrub is sown
by the husbandmen on the same day that they get in the harvest. When the
rain has moistened the earth the shrub thrusts itself forward to a
height of about two feet, and in the month of August gives forth a
yellow or a red flower, which fades into a pod, which on the fortieth
day after the appearance of the flower divides itself into three parts,
each containing a wrapping of pure white cotton, similar in size to the
ball of the silk-worm. At this period, the husbandmen fasten the ball to
the pod, leaving it till the following year, when the fibres of the
cotton become so securely fastened to the seeds, that the husbandman is
compelled to separate them by means of two thin rollers, one of wood and
the other of iron, placed so close to each other, that in passing the
cotton between them, the naked seed is exuded from behind. The cotton
is then carded and ready to be converted into calico, an employment that
gives food to many thousands of people.
Of equal value and more curious is the tallow-tree, which lights the
whole of the empire. While the leaves and long stalks of this plant
cause it to resemble the aspen and the birch, its trunk and branches
resemble in shape, height, and size the cherry-tree. From the grey bark,
spring long elastic branches, the leaves of which grow but from the
middle to the end, where they finish in a tuft, where the fruit grows in
a hard brown husk of triangular form. The husk generally contains three
kernels, covered with a thin substance resembling white tallow. When the
husk begins to open and fall away, the fruit gradually appears. Each
kernel contains another of the size of a hemp seed, which from its
oleaginous nature is converted into oil.
To make the tallow, the shell and kernel are beaten together in boiling
water till the surface becomes covered with fat, which when cold,
condenses; then, by adding fair proportions of linseed oil and wax to
give consistency, they have produced the material which, when shaped
around a wick of hollow reed, produces the candles in use in China. Thus
does nature and the ingenuity of the people create from this
extraordinary tree a double means of lighting the empire.
As for the mulberry-tree, it is so well known that I need but tell you,
that after rice, the Chinese consider its culture as a sacred duty, and
deservedly so, for by feeding the silk-worm, it not only clothes the
people, but silk, being in immense demand over the known world, is the
primary means of giving them employment; indeed the mulberry-tree is an
"institution," and of such ancient date, that even in four thousand
years old China, which contains the oldest records in the world, there
is no authentic record of its discovery. There is a legend, however,
"that, till the days of Ti-Long, the wife of the Emperor Hoang-ti, the
people were savages, and used the skins of animals for clothing, but her
far-sighted majesty noticed that as the people were many, and the
animals few, they would soon become short of garments, when, like the
parent of invention, she was pushed to a discovery that worms might be
made the greatest manufacturers of her empire;" and that there is some
truth in this fable seems likely, as, from the earliest times, the
Empress of China has had a portion of the grounds of the palace planted
as a mulberry grove, where, at certain periods of the year, she goes in
state, to show her interest in the silk manufacture, by gathering three
mulberry leaves, and unwinding a quantity of silk. Lastly, I may tell
you, that the most learned men and the greatest ministers have devoted a
great portion of their lives to teach the people "how to bring up and
feed silk worms, so as to obtain the greatest quantity and best quality
of silk."
Is it not unjust that the race of worms should have been so long
despised, when, for thousands of years, one of their representatives has
been at the base of the prosperity of the largest, most populated, and
longest-enduring empire since the foundation of the world?
CHAPTER XIX.
THE PRINCESSES OF THE MINGS, AND THE LADY CANDIDA.
Enwrapped as the mind of Nicholas had been in the delicious scene around
him, no sooner did he reach the ground than a bitter feeling arose that
his beloved Emperor should be content to repose in such soft and costly
indolence, while millions of his subjects were being plundered by
rapacious nobles. In deep thought he reached the far-famed mulberry
orchard, where, for a time, he stood contemplating the industry of the
marvelous little worms whose number and color cast a sickly hue over the
broad green foliage of the trees, then in full leaf. Passing through
this orchard, he came in front of a mimic palace, hewn out of rock
crystal, and which glittered in the sun, so that it was some minutes
before his dazzled vision could perceive that he was near the imperial
menagerie and aviary, where were kept the rare beasts and birds
presented to the Emperor by his tributary kings. The sight was curious,
and he would have stopped, but for the rustling of leaves in the
orchard, and the sound of soft footsteps, that warned him of his
imprudence, and made him seek shelter in a small pagoda, from whence,
through a kind of loophole which fronted the menagerie, he could see
without being seen. Now his heart beat tremulously; the footsteps might
be those of the princess and her ladies. He was right in his conjecture,
for scarcely had he placed himself at the loophole, when two ladies,
attended by female slaves, who held above the heads of their mistresses
umbrellas of embroidered yellow silk deeply fringed with gold, came
toward the menagerie. The princess was of middle height, with a form as
graceful and elastic as a fawn; her face, like those of all of her race,
was broad, but fair almost as a European blonde, yet looked the fairer
from its contrast with the raven hair and eyelashes which beneath the
thin brows shaded a pair of tiny jet black eyes, which like the purest
diamonds, compensated by fire for their deficiency in size, and with the
delicately small mouth, parted by a pair of thin pouting lips, lit up
her sweet countenance with animation and vivacity. Of her hands and feet
I can say nothing, for they were hidden beneath the ample folds of her
long gold-embroidered robe of yellow satin. Upon her head she wore a
kind of crown of rich silk, decorated upon each side with a
"fong-hoang," the phoenix of China, which it is believed has but once
appeared, and whose next advent will be the fore-running of the golden
age. The extended wings of the little birds, which were of frosted gold,
and sparkling with jewels, rested upon the forepart of the crown, so
that while their beaks fell over the forehead, the spreading plumage of
their tails afforded a graceful crest upon its summit; moreover they
appeared to come with a tiny parterre of artificial flowers, which were
fastened with a bevy of silver bodkins, whose heads were formed out of
pearls, diamonds, and rubies; but far beyond her rare beauty and costly
attire was the artlessness of her manner, which, arising from a virtuous
heart and cultivated mind, won the love of all with whom she came in
contact.
As for Nicholas, he was bewitched, and from the moment his eyes rested
upon her, he lost all doubt of the success of his mission.
Of the lady in attendance I will only say, that she was of maturer age,
and of fuller form. More plainly attired than the royal lady, she wore a
robe of green silk, embroidered with flowers of the same color, and a
head-dress of silk, slightly sprinkled with large pearls; her brow was
high, and her features regular and handsome, but seemingly shadowed with
care for the interests and ministers of Christ, to whose doctrines she
had long been a convert; for this lady was no other than the illustrious
Candida Hiu, of whom the colao had spoken to Nicholas. Her history was
remarkable, and may be told in a few lines. The Emperor at the
commencement of his reign, had been so favorably disposed to the
Christian religion, that, although not a convert himself, he had
permitted many of the lords and ladies of his court to embrace its
tenets; chief and most sincere among the proselytes had been the prime
minister, Paul Syu, whose influence over his weak-minded master had
enabled him to protect the missionaries from the jealous bonzes and
pagan mandarins around. No sooner, however, had this good man gone to
his grave, than the bonzes accused the Christians of endeavoring to
subvert the reigning family, and so artfully did they intrigue, that the
Emperor ordered the Christians to leave China, and a terrible
persecution took place, when all the court but the Lady Candida and the
son and daughter of the monarch, returned to the worship of Fo. As I
have said, the Emperor's love was so great for his beautiful daughter,
that he permitted the princess and her friend Candida to follow the
dictates of their own hearts; hence it was that the good lady had been
able to protect her fellow-Christians from the rapacity of the bonzes
and mandarins, even to obtaining permission for them to remain in Pekin.
Further, to show her zeal, she founded at her own cost no less than
thirty churches in different parts of the empire, and had vast numbers
of religious books translated into Chinese, which she distributed by
means not only of blind beggars, but vagabond fortune-tellers, whom she
paid handsomely to stand at the corners of streets, and read the Gospel,
in place of practicing upon the credulity of the populace with their
vile falsehoods. Such were the two ladies now within a few yards of
Nicholas.
CHAPTER XX.
DANGER OF THE PRINCESS.--HER RESCUE BY NICHOLAS.
As the princess and her friend approached, Nicholas almost felt ashamed
of his intrusion upon their privacy. Should he not appear to them in the
despicable light of an eaves-dropper? Then he would determine to come
forward, but fell back again in dread of giving offence. Then the ladies
began a conversation, and he dared not interrupt them.
"This then, dear Candida, is the sin-fin that my royal parent values so
highly," said the princess, looking at a large black ape of the
ourang-outang species, which sat grinning, with its elbows upon its
knees.
"Truly, dear princess, this is the wonderful beast that the Prince
Li-Kong has presented to the Emperor, from the wild province of
Yun-nan," said Candida.
"Candida is surely laughing at her pupil, for is it not said that this
Li-Kong is chiefest of the rebels, who have so lately been disturbing my
royal parent's repose?"
"Alas! my princess, that it should be necessary to pour words of grief
into thy sweet ears," said Candida, sorrowfully.
"What words are these, Candida? What grief can come in such a place of
repose? Truly you terrify without answering my question," said the
princess, angrily.
"But that my sweet mistress alone possesses the ear of the Emperor, and
may open it for the benefit of the starving millions of the empire, her
friend and servant would not grieve her," replied the lady.
"Tell me, O Candida, if thou wouldst not vex thy mistress, what mean
these words," said the princess, pettishly; adding, "Surely you would
not protect the traitor Li-Kong."
"It is of that prince thy servant would speak," said the lady; adding,
"Know then, O princess, that, angered at some refusal of thy royal
father, the Prince Li-Kong, fled from the court, placed himself at the
head of a robber army, and being joined by thousands of the starving
people, among whom he made himself popular, took possession of two of
the largest provinces, and caused himself to be proclaimed as Emperor,
and took the title of Tien-Chun (He that obeys Heaven), persuading the
people that he had been appointed by Heaven to deliver them from the
cruelty of the Emperor and his ministers."
"Dared the dog say this? Surely my royal father is the parent of his
people."
"Nay, O princess, for as it was the duty of my father, the great
minister, so is it mine, at the risk of death, to speak the truth. Until
within the last moon, the greater part of the empire was in the hands of
robbers and assassins, justice was openly sold by the mandarins to the
highest bidder, the husbandmen of the hills and fields and the tradesmen
in the streets were dying by thousands of starvation, while the Son of
Heaven was shut up in his palaces intent upon nothing but his pleasures
and the society of the bonzes."
"Candida, dear Candida, thou who art so truth-loving that thou darest
even to rebuke thy Emperor, canst thou tell thy friend and mistress that
while all is so calm, beautiful, and happy within these walls, there can
be so much misery without?" said the princess, trembling with fear.
"Even worse, O dear princess, for while the imperial storehouses are
groaning with grain, thousands of people are dying of starvation within
the walls of Pekin," replied Candida.
"I dare not doubt thy words, O Candida, yet I will not believe that my
great parent would keep close the public storehouses while his children
were starving," said the princess.
"It is even worse, O princess, for the daily distribution of food has
been withheld," said Candida.
With a vacant stare the princess gazed into the face of her friend for a
moment, then with a flood of tears upon her cheeks, fell into her arms;
but recovering her presence of mind, she said, "Truly this is a
calamity; surely I have heard such things ever precede the downfall of
dynasties; but I will to my father's presence, and dutifully implore him
on my knees;" and she moved toward the palace as if to act upon her
resolution, but Candida caught her in her arms, saying, "It would not
be seemly, O princess, nay, it would be useless, for the Prince Li-Kong
now possesses the Emperor's confidence."
"What words are these, O Candida? Thou art indeed laughing at thy
mistress, for didst thou not say the traitor was in open rebellion?"
"True, my princess, he was, till, for some vile purpose, he made his
submission to Ten Thousand Years, who, as he brought the heads of some
chiefs of the rebels, pardoned him, in the belief that his rebellion had
been a trick, a pretence whereby he had the better subdued the other
rebels."
With indignation in her heart at the traitor Li, and her eyes swimming
with tears, she placed her hands affectionately in those of her
friend--before, however, she could speak she shrieked with fright. The
sin-fin had broken his cage and stood as erect as a man, clattering his
teeth and grinning in her face, with his great paws upon her neck. The
princess fainted; not so the Lady Candida for she boldly clutched hold
of the brute, who, however, without relinquishing his grasp of the
princess, caught the Lady Candida by her head-dress and hair, and
dragged them both in the direction of the lake, looking savagely at the
screaming attendants, who scampered off as fast as their legs would
carry them; and so rapid were the movements of the brute, that he
reached the verge of the water before Nicholas could thrust his sword
into his hirsute side, a bit of a surprise that caused the beast to
leave his hold of the ladies, when "scotched" but not killed, and
catching sight of his real enemy, he uttered a savage scream and sprang
at him with extended claws, but so neat was the spring that the weapon
of Nicholas passed through his heart, when he gave one last terrific
leap and rolled over dead.
The fright, the horror of feeling themselves in the sin-fin's clutches,
and the revulsion of feeling at the unexpected relief, made the ladies
forget, as you may well imagine, the lesser terror of seeing a strange
youth within the prohibited walls. As for Nicholas, he thought only of
them both. However, seeing they had been more frightened than hurt, and
that they were now regarding him with a mixed expression of gratitude,
surprise, and even anger, for so great is the modesty of women, and such
the force of the custom in China, that rescue from death itself was
scarcely sufficient to suppress the instinctive anger they felt at the
intrusion of a boy in so sacred a place; perceiving all this at a
glance, Nicholas fell upon his knees, saying, "Pardon, O great princess,
for thus thy yellow girdle betokens thee. Let the life of thy mean
servant be the penalty for his unpardonable intrusion, and he will not
regret it, since he has been the means of saving the daughter of his
Emperor, and the Christian-protecting Lady Candida, from the fangs of a
vile beast."
"Rise, O youth, for it is not seemly that thou shouldst kneel at the
feet of her whose life thou hast saved, and say what chance hath brought
thee hither," said the royal lady, smiling with sweet gratitude.
"Surely, O princess, chance can have no influence over the children of
God, who must have sent thy servant hither as a manifest of his watchful
care for those who obey his word and protect his worshipers," replied
Nicholas earnestly.
"Then thou art of the Lord of heaven's religion. But who art thou, O my
poor youth, who thus seekest certain death by thy presence here?" said
Candida, looking tremulously around, for fear of the approach of any of
the eunuchs of the palace.
"Let this, O princess, bespeak the reason of thy servant's intrusion,
where even the daring Li-Kong cannot foil his purpose," replied
Nicholas, falling upon his knees and presenting his father's letter to
the princess, who handed it to Candida, who no sooner glanced at the
characters upon the envelope than she said angrily, "This is from the
rebel pirate, Chin-Chi-Loong."
"Should thy servant's tongue be torn from his mouth, he would say those
words are false, lady. The noble chief is neither pirate nor rebel; if
so, thy servant would not have risked his life to place that letter in
the hands of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas firmly.
"If thy words are true, youth----" but as the Lady Candida spoke, a body
of armed eunuchs entered the garden, so, giving the letter back to
Nicholas, she said, "Haste youth, for thy life;" but knowing the attempt
would be useless, he stood his ground firmly.
"No, lady," said he; "thy servant came here to place that letter in the
hands of the Emperor." Before he could say more the men had drawn around
him.
"Tie the dog hand and foot," said the chief.
"Not so, O Lun-Yin," said the princess.
"Thy slave dare not disobey the laws, O illustrious daughter of the
Mings," replied the chief, bowing to the earth.
"Then convey the youth to the presence of the Emperor, for he has
treason to disclose, but let not his limbs be bound at the peril of your
life, and we will answer to our great father," said the princess.
When the ladies withdrew toward the inner palace the eunuchs led
Nicholas through the small gate into a spacious court, which was crowded
with soldiers, bonzes and servants, in attendance upon the great lords,
who were then in council with the Emperor. Passing through the crowd
they entered a magnificent archway of veined marble into a vast court,
across which ran a canal of water, so pellucid that shoals of gold and
silver fish could be seen playing around the stems of the white-leaved
lien-hoa at the bottom. Across this canal was thrown a bridge of
glittering white marble, supported upon each bank by lions sculptured
from the same material. From this bridge Nicholas could see that the
whole court was surrounded with marble terraces, which led through small
doorways into the imperial treasure rooms, which were full of precious
metals, jewels, valuable furs, rare vases, and costly robes, and a
variorum collection of silks, that had been presented from the chief
manufactories of the empire. Other rooms contained bows, arrows,
saddles, and even specimens of the choicest teas to be found in China.
Leaving the treasures they entered the great court of the princes of the
blood, whose palaces shone with gilding, japan, and varnish, through
which they passed by a small side-gate into the hippodrome, or
horse-racing court, which was crowded with mandarins of arms and
letters, of inferior rank, besides the state chairs, and horse guards
belonging to the princes. As they entered the hippodrome they saw a
group of war mandarins gathered around a person who was clamoring for
something that the mandarins must have deemed very absurd, for although
so near the inner palace, they laughed loudly. Perceiving, however, the
chief of the eunuchs, they became suddenly grave, and bowed to the
ground three times.
"How is this? Are the dogs tired of their lives, that they venture to
make this unseemly uproar within the very hearing of the Son of Heaven
himself?" said that officer angrily.
"Truly, the all-powerful Yin would risk his flowery existence, laughing
at this paper tiger, who is mad enough to demand an audience with the
Son of Heaven," replied one of the mandarins. Before, however, the chief
of the eunuchs could reply, the person in question had thrown himself at
his feet, crying, "Pardon, O mighty officer of the palace, thy slave,
who seeks a master bereft of his senses, and who is now wandering about
the palace in search of the Son of Heaven. May he vanquish his
enemies."
"Thou, then, art the servant of this dog who has profaned the imperial
gardens?" said the chief of the eunuchs; adding, before Nicholas could
interfere for Chow, "Let the dog be taken to the prison, as he will
doubtless be strangled with his master when the will of the Emperor is
known."
Then, in obedience to this command, the boy was hurried away, and
Nicholas led forward to the court of the inner palace.
CHAPTER XXI.
ASSEMBLY OF THE GREAT PRINCES OF THE EMPIRE.
The audience-chamber of the Emperor was a vast square hall of great
height. The ceiling was of pale green, sculptured in devices, and
decorated with paintings, charged at intervals with the Emperor's crest
in gold. The walls were smooth and without other ornament than the
carved window frame, which was set with panes of richly painted paper.
The roof was supported by rows of columns, elaborately sculptured and
japanned, which rested upon a pavement of the rarest veined marble, of
so high a polish that it reflected the whole interior.
In the centre stood a lofty alcove, above which, upon a drapery of
yellow silk, were embossed in pale blue enamel the words "Ching Hoang,"
(Holy Emperor). Beneath, upon a dais, ascended by a flight of broad
steps was a throne of frosted gold, surmounted and upheld by dragons of
the same metal, but burnished, and whose claws rested upon a carpet of
blue velvet, besprinkled with the same monsters in silver.
Opposite the throne upon a raised platform, were placed several vessels
of the precious metals, filled with incense, which, as it burned, sent
forth a delicious perfume, and candlesticks ingeniously wrought into the
shape of animals.
From the throne to the end of the wall, ranged so as to form an alley,
stood the great officers of state, attired in large flowing robes of
silk, flounced with gold, and bearing on their breasts the insignia of
their different dignities; those belonging to the military department
wearing golden buttons on their caps and tigers or lions on their
breasts, while the civil officers, who were of higher rank, wore birds
in place of beasts. At the back of these mandarins were other officers,
bearing umbrellas of silk brocade, fringed with gold; there were also
many who wore the button of an inferior rank, and who wore large fans of
silk, embroidered with gold; others with large standards, sprinkled with
golden stars, dragons, the sun, and the moon in all its quarters, to
represent the twenty-eight mansions of the heavens, and their
conjunctions and oppositions with the sun, as they appear in the
intersections of the circles, which the astronomers call the dragon's
head and tail. Near the walls stood a number of mandarins of inferior
rank, both civil and military, bearing maces, axes, hammers, and swords.
Upon the steps of the throne stood the princes of the blood, attired in
the costumes of their civil or military rank, the only tokens of their
imperial blood, being the large yellow or red girdle, and the circle
instead of the square in which the bird or beast is worn upon the
breast.
The left hand being the place of honor in China, on that side of the
throne stood the imperial but unfortunate Prince, Yong-Li, a youth of
fifteen years of age, near to whom stood the aged Woo, whose office,
that of a colao or censor, was at once the most dangerous and most
popular in the empire, his duty being to check the great mandarins, and
even the Emperor himself, in the wrong exercise of their authority. This
officer may be termed the representative of that public opinion in China
which moulds its irresponsible despotism somewhat to the shape of a
constitutional government. One step lower, in the full costume of
tsong-tou (a great viceroy), stood the Prince Woo-san-Kwei. This prince
was the son of the censor Woo, and one of the most remarkable men of his
time. He was tall and stately, and, like the rest of the nobles of the
Ming dynasty, wore his hair in long and luxuriant tresses; moreover,
like his parent Woo, he wore the circle upon his breast, and around his
waist the girdle of red, which betokened him to be of the second rank of
the princes of the blood. Upon the opposite side of the throne, and one
step nearer, as became his closer relationship to the monarch, stood the
first prince of the yellow girdle, Li-Kong, a man whose influence upon
those tempestuous times was as remarkable for bad as that of
Woo-san-Kwei was for good; he was also a tang-tou.
Next this prince, in their robes of office, stood the colaos, or
ministers of state, and with them an officer whose bird-embroidered robe
and cap betokened him a mandarin of letters of the highest rank in the
great college of Han-Lin. This officer was tutor to the heir to the
throne, but in addition held an office so peculiar that I do not think
you will accuse me of tediousness if I tell you something about it. He
was the chief historian of the empire, an appointment which, if carried
out with similar integrity, would be creditable to other empires besides
China.
"These historians," says a writer who resided within the walls of the
palace thirty years, "consist of a certain number of men, who, for their
learning and impartiality are purposely chosen for this office. Their
business is to observe narrowly not only the actions but the words of
the Emperor, which, without communication with the others, each must
write upon a loose piece of paper, and put it through a chink into an
office set apart for the purpose.
"In these papers both the Emperor's virtues and faults are set down with
the same liberty and impartiality. 'Such a day,' say they, 'the
Emperor's behavior was unseasonable and intemperate; he spoke after a
manner which became not his dignity. The punishment which he inflicted
on such an officer was rather the effect of his passion than the result
of his justice. In such an affair, he stopped the sword of justice, and
abrogated the just sentence of the magistrate.' Or else, 'The Emperor
entered courageously into a war for the defence of his people and for
the maintenance of the honor of his empire; and, notwithstanding the
commendations given him by his flatterers, he was not puffed up, but
behaved himself modestly, his words were tempered with all the sweetness
and humility possible, which made him more loved and admired by his
court than ever.'
"Such is the way in which they record down all that occurs; but that
neither fear on the one side, nor hope on the other, may bias men to
give a partial record of the Emperor, the office wherein these papers
are kept is never opened during the life of the sovereign, or while any
of his family sit upon the throne. When, however, the imperial dignity
passes into another family, all these loose memoirs are gathered
together, compared, and a history composed, that either hands down the
Emperor as an example to posterity, or exposes him to the censure and
odium of the nation, if he has been negligent of his own duty and his
people's good. Thus is it the interest of the Emperor to be circumspect,
and cautious how he behaves himself during his reign."
With reference to the history of events and the progress of the people
generally, it is the custom for each city to keep an exact record of
every memorable event as it happens, its most remarkable places and
inhabitants, good or bad; moreover, of their manners and customs; and
although there are many who, by offering bribes to the governor, obtain
honorable mention in these annals, upon the whole the accounts are
considered to be tolerably accurate, for at the end of every forty years
the mandarins of every city assemble and examine the accounts, and
expunge what they deem unfit to remain recorded.
Theoretically, the will of the emperor is the only law; the lives,
fortunes, and worldly happiness of his subjects depend upon its wildest
caprice; but, in reality, it is only theoretically, for in the words of
another great authority, who not only resided at the court of Pekin some
thirty years, but absolutely held office therein. "One would imagine
that this unlimited power of the Emperor would often occasion very
unfortunate events in the government, and indeed it sometimes hath, as
nothing in this world is without its alloy of inconvenience, yet so many
are the provisions and so wise the precautions which the laws have
prescribed to prevent them, that a prince must be wholly insensible of
his own reputation and even interest, as well as the public good, who
continues long in the abuse of his authority; for if he hath any regard
for his own reputation, there are three things which will prevail with
him to govern by justice, not passion: first, the old laws, given from
the foundation of the empire, have laid it down as a standing maxim,
that kings are properly the fathers of their people, _and not masters
placed upon the throne only to be served by slaves_. The words in
italics contain a doctrine, by the way, that our first James strived so
hard to inculcate, that it ultimately led to a revolution in England,
not very dissimilar to that in China, of which I am now writing. Such
having been the teaching of those law-givers, Confucius and others, who
are to the present day venerated as deities in China, the Emperor's
proudest title of honor has been in all ages Ta-fou" (that is,
grandfather).
This theory of what the Emperor should be, is so deeply imprinted in the
minds of the people and the mandarins, that, when they offer praises,
whether deserved or not, it is based upon his presumed affection for his
people. The teachers and philosophers continually set forth in their
books that the state is but a large family, and that he who knows how
to govern the one is best capable of governing the other; so that, if
the Emperor neglects, never so little, the practice of this maxim, he
may be a great warrior, an able politician, a learned man, and yet meet
with neither love nor esteem from his people. Indeed, they value him
only as they believe he is, or is not, a father to them.
Thus, as I have shown you, not only the censor, but, in a lesser degree,
every mandarin may tell the Emperor of his faults, provided it be in a
manner agreeable to that veneration and profound respect which is due to
his office. The manner, however, in which this is done, is somewhat
roundabout. The mandarin who perceives any thing in the Emperor's
conduct contrary to the maxims laid down in the sacred books, draws up a
request, in which, after having set forth the respect which he bears
toward his majesty, he most humbly prays that he will please to reflect
upon the ancient laws and good examples of his great predecessors. This
request lies upon a table among many other petitions, which are daily
presented and which the Emperor is obliged to read; and if he does not
change his conduct, the petition is repeated again and again till the
end has been gained, or the mandarin himself punished for his
presumption. The latter, however, never happens, except with bad and
tyrannical Emperors.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE BOY PRINCE AND THE RIVAL GENERALS.
Thus were the great princes and lords of China awaiting the coming of
their imperial master, and with something like impatience, for often, of
late, had his majesty kept them waiting for hours, and then granted no
audience at all. Such, however, was not to be the case then, for soon
the sounds of wind instruments were heard, pages and eunuchs entered
from the door which led to the imperial apartment, followed by the
favorite body attendants of the sovereign, then the Emperor
himself;--and the mandarins in the body of the hall, and the lords upon
the steps of the throne, bent their heads till their foreheads touched
the floors, in which position they remained, awaiting the command of the
monarch to arise. Wey-t-song, the last of the Ming Emperors, was of
middle height and spare figure, at least for a Chinese, whose notion of
manly beauty consists of large and bulky form; he was attired in a robe
of yellow silk, embroidered with five-clawed dragons, a necklace of
costly pearls, and a golden girdle fastened around his waist by a
jeweled clasp; his high cap or crown of purple satin, sparkled with
jewels, and was decorated with the peacock's feather, which fell upon
his long black hair; his boots were of purple satin, and fitted tightly
to the shape of the feet; as for his hands, they were hidden beneath the
folds of his robe.
When the Emperor had seated himself upon the throne, a graceful movement
with his ample sleeves gave the sign for the kneeling courtiers to
arise, and they stood with their arms straightened and eyes turned upon
the ground, pretending that the sight of so much majesty was too
dazzling for their vision.
Thus, for a time, all was silent, till the censor Woo, falling upon his
knees, and holding above his head his silver seal of office, gravely
said, "Since our lord has vouchsafed us his heavenly audience, and the
door of the imperial apartments is no longer disfigured by the
audience-denying tablet, it is the duty of the meanest of his slaves to
open his lips, even at the risk of his life."
"Rise, thou venerable noble, for it is not seemly that one who is at
age's extremity should kneel, even before the Emperor. Rise, noble Woo,
for thy years demand that thy petition should be heard standing," said
Wey-t-song, aiding the aged man to his feet.
"Alas! dread prince, thy servant's days have been too long, for he has
lived to see a successor of the great Emperors, Yu and Yaou, forget that
Heaven had made him the father of his people," said Woo, sadly.
"What words are these? Surely the noble Woo presumes upon his age, for
has it not been wisely said that the will of the Emperor is
omnipotent?"
"It is written in the sacred books, O prince, that it is equally
criminal in the Emperor and the subject to violate the laws. Truly the
life of the minister is the property of his sovereign, but the dignity
of his office belongs to the country, which is even now torn into shreds
by maladministration," replied the firm old noble; adding, "For when the
Emperor becomes negligent of his duty, and sinks into a lover of luxury
and ease, the spirit of indolence must pervade the occupant of every
mandrinate; so, at the present time, every viceroy and governor has
grown to think himself the sovereign, instead of the father and teacher
of his province; each minister, in defiance of the law, sells places to
those unfit to occupy them; and thus the people, being oppressed, have
arisen in rebellion over the empire, to the advantage of rogues and
thieves, who await but the finding of some bold bad man to enable them
to change, O prince, thy very dynasty. Yet surely this is not without
cause, for hath it not been asked, 'Why hath Heaven placed the Emperor
upon the throne, if not to be our parent?' and therefore he ought not to
make himself feared, but in proportion as he deserves to be loved for
his goodness and virtue; therefore, at the risk of his life, the censor
dares tell his dread sovereign that while the people are suffering, the
Emperor should forget his pleasures, fast in his palace, punish the
offending mandarins, remit the taxes of the suffering provinces, and
employ his whole thoughts in alleviating their misfortunes. Like the
Emperors of old, he should lament night and day till the evils are
remedied. Such are the words of the aged Woo, who hath lived through
the reigns of six of thy illustrious predecessors, and they have been
called forth, O dread prince, by thy neglect of the petitions which he
has laid upon the imperial table. If thy slave offendeth, O prince, let
his worthless head be the penalty, for he has done his duty; and the old
noble again fell at the feet of Wey-t-song, who, giving way to a
paroxysm of passion, rose, and, placing his hand upon the hilt of his
sabre, exclaimed, 'What words are these old man? Is the Emperor a slave
that thou darest so far?' But, despot and even cruel as he was, the age
and daring of the old noble had excited in the eyes of the surrounding
courtiers such unmistakable gleams of satisfaction, that, really afraid
of proceeding to extremities, he fell back upon his throne, saying,
"Arise, noble Woo, and that in the licence of thy office thou hast
uttered words of wind against thy Emperor, the rebel-subduing General
Li-Kong will testify."
Upon this, the Prince Li-Kong, falling upon his knees, said, "Truly, O
august and sovereign Emperor, the age of the noble Woo must have
diminished his eyeballs, or he would have seen in the Imperial Gazette
that the Emperor, our father, having heard of the rebellion in the
provinces, had despatched his mean servant, myself, with a correcting
army, and that thy unworthy relation had secured a lasting internal
peace."
"And thy reward, prince?" said the Emperor."
"The generalship of the home armies, and the favor of my great
sovereign, who will not open his heavenly ears to the words of these
rogues, who accuse thy servant and mean relation of ingratitude and
treason."
"This reminds us that the reward is inadequate to thy services, most
princely Li. Let it therefore be proclaimed throughout the empire that
the grateful Wey-t-song is about to bestow upon the kingdom-soothing
Prince Li-Kong the hand of his only daughter in marriage," said the
Emperor.
But before the prince could thank the Emperor, the General Woo-san-Kwei
fell upon his knees before the throne, saying, "The humblest but most
devoted of thy servants would dare to claim the heavenly ears of his
most august prince."
"If the barbarian-subduing general has aught to counsel let him open his
lips."
"Then, truly, O dread Emperor, it must be at the risk of my life; for so
many moons has thy servant been engaged in defending the frontiers of
the empire against the Tartar barbarians, that he has lost the
submissive tones fitted to thy heavenly ears," said Woo-san-Kwei.
"Let the general open his lips, for although his words may be more
warlike, they cannot be rebellious, like those of his noble parent."
"The words of the noble Woo flowed from his heart, O prince, and were
approved by his son, who now, as in duty bound, would counsel his
sovereign, that, although the services of the rebel-exterminating
general have been great, his reward has been greater than his merits,
for does he not hold the golden seals of the highest military command?
As for the princess, she is the daughter of the empire, and too exalted
to be bestowed upon the noble Li-Kong. Remember O Emperor, it will be
the duty of the historians to record that the Emperor Wey-t-song,
instead of commanding, had been weak enough to purchase the services of
a powerful lord, tainted with treason, with the only daughter of his
house; setting aside the wise custom of his ancestors, who bestowed
their daughters upon tributary kings, whereby alliances were formed for
the prosperity of the empire," said the Prince Woo-san-Kwei; adding, "At
the risk of his life has thy servant spoken, O prince, for fear that thy
too great generosity may smear thy page in history."
Scarcely dissembling his enmity, Li-Kong spoke, "Truly my sovereign is
too generous to permit the envy of his servant's enemies to have weight
in his dragon ears."
"The kingdom-soothing general speaks well, for who is this turbulent
lord, and what the value of his services, that he dares be so
rebellious?" said the Emperor; adding, angrily, "Let the dog be
arrested;" when the young prince threw himself before the throne, and
said--
"Let my illustrious parent not so far forget his royal dignity as to
vent his anger upon the honest Woo-san-Kwei, who has saved the kingdom
from the Tartars, and offered his counsel only by right of his high
rank. No, O my sovereign, rather let the hand of my dear sister be
withheld until the Prince Li has further proved his merits, by showing
to his Emperor that he has really performed those wonderful feats of
conquest which he now boasts, but all others deny."
At this speech a half-suppressed murmur of approbation rang through the
hall, which brought a heavy frown upon the forehead of Wey-t-song. As,
however, he really feared a quarrel with either of these powerful
princes, he said, "Though young, the words of the Prince Yong-Li are
wise, for it is not fitting that our people should be feasting and
rejoicing at the marriage of our daughter, while it is not certain that
the rebels are subdued, and the Tartars upon the frontiers. It is,
therefore our will that our daughter's hand be withheld till entire
peace be restored."
Then the whole court bowed to the ground three times in submission to
the imperial will, and the Emperor moved the sleeves of his robe, as a
token that the audience was at an end, when the chief of the eunuchs ran
quickly up the avenue formed by the court, till he reached about half
way, when he stood with his head erect and his arms by his side for a
minute, then having performed the usual prostrations, he ran to the foot
of the throne, where he threw himself upon his knees.
"Is the slave mad, that he dares intrude in this our highest
council-chamber?" said the Emperor.
"The life of the slave is in the hands of his master, yet must he
perform his duty. Treason is within the very walls, O my sovereign."
At the word treason the blood of Tait-sou became weak as water, for the
royal face became livid with fear. He grasped his sabre, saying, "What
says the slave?"
"Two boys, O dread sovereign, have been found within the prohibited
wall; one even within the sacred precincts of the imperial gardens."
At the words two boys there was a half-suppressed titter, probably at
the little cause the Emperor had had to fear; but at the mention of the
garden of the inner palace, the aged Woo said, "Surely, O great
sovereign, the worthy eunuch has overstepped his duty; these young
slaves should have been handed over to the police tribunals."
"The noble Woo is right," replied the Emperor. "What has the dog of a
eunuch to say for intruding in our presence with such matters?"
"The will of the Emperor is the life-blood of the meanest of his slaves,
and but little else is that of the princess in whose presence one of the
dogs was found, and at whose command he is brought hither," replied the
trembling eunuch.
"The profane slave!" muttered the surrounding mandarins, clutching the
hilts of their swords.
"The will of our beloved daughter is law; let the audacious slave be
brought before us," said the Emperor.
CHAPTER XXIII.
AUDIENCE WITH THE SON OF HEAVEN.--NICHOLAS ACCUSES A GREAT PRINCE OF
TREASON.
Nicholas was led into the hall between two inferior mandarins, and had
no sooner prostrated himself at the foot of the throne, than the Prince
Li-Kong said, "Surely the eyes of the Emperor of the earth are too holy
to be darkened by such mean dogs as this. Let the common executioner
deal with him, for there can be no doubt of his guilt."
"Stop not the fountain of justice at its very source, O my sovereign,
for when was it that a good king refused to listen to the meanest of his
slaves?" said Woo; but before the Emperor could reply, one of the great
officers of the palace ran up to the steps of the throne, performed the
prostrations, and being commanded to speak,
"The great and beautiful princess, thy daughter, begs an audience of her
illustrious father," said the officer.
The Emperor having signified his assent, the princess, accompanied by
the Lady Candida, and both veiled, knelt before the Emperor, who,
lifting her from her kneeling position, said affectionately, "Truly my
daughter must have matter of weighty import upon her lips, thus to
break through the delicacy of her sex and rank."
"Pardon, great prince, if thy daughter has forgotten what is due either
to her parent or her sex, but it is a common saying, 'that those who
forget favors conferred upon them are unfit to live,' and therefore thy
daughter would protect the life of one who saved her from a cruel
death," said the princess.
"Has the safety of the pearl of my life been endangered?" said the
Emperor, trembling at the possibility of such a catastrophe, and placing
his hands upon her head; adding, "What words are these, my daughter, for
is not the empire crowded with those who would deem happiness if it were
to save their princess from danger."
"Not one of whom could have saved her from the savage sin-fin, who,
having escaped from his cage, had seized her, when yonder bold youth
slew the beast."
The Lady Candida then described the whole scene in the gardens to the
Emperor, who forgetful of the desecration of the place by the profane
feet of Nicholas, nay, of every thing but the escape of his beloved
child from a fearful death, commanded the release of Nicholas; but again
the general Li-Kong stepped forward.
"It is true," said he, "that the beautiful and illustrious princess has
been saved from great peril, and the whole empire will rejoice; yet it
is a maxim, 'that the laws should be enforced even upon the imperial
kindred.' Moreover, my sovereign, in his generosity, forgets that the
cage of the beast could not have opened itself, and that the slave
merits death for being in the garden."
"Though not generous, the words of the rebel-exterminating general are
just," replied the weak prince; adding, to Nicholas, sternly, "What says
the boy; what traitorous errand brought him within the sacred gardens of
our palace?"
"The life of the slave belongs to the master. The personal safety of thy
servant, O great prince, was nothing when he desired to place in thy
hands a letter of the greatest moment, from one far greater than the
lords around thy throne."
"These are wild words, O youth; for know you not that it was the duty of
our chief colao to receive thy letter?" said the Emperor, interrupting.
"Mean as is thy servant, O prince, he knew that treason was within the
palace, and that the letter would never reach thy royal hands;
therefore, that it should not fail to do so, I sought the imperial
gardens with the daring hope of meeting thy royal daughter, knowing that
if my life were sacrificed, my mission would be fulfilled," said
Nicholas; adding, "Such has been the crime, and the criminal awaits his
punishment."
"This letter," said the Emperor.
"Is here, great prince," and Nicholas presented the document to
Wey-t-song, who tore open the seals, and for some minutes became lost in
the perusal of its contents, after which, to the surprise of the court,
he placed it beneath his vest, saying, "This letter must be for the
consideration of our inner council. Youth, thy honesty and loyalty are
beyond doubt, and we permit thee to name thy own reward."
"Thy slave, O prince, would ask one so great, that the greatest of thy
tributaries would seek it upon his knees," was the reply, to the
astonishment of the lords, who expected it would be nothing less than
the hand of the princess. "No less, indeed, than a private audience,"
added Nicholas, which, with a smile at this novel and modest request,
the Emperor granted.
"May this not be a trap, O my prince, to beguile thy person within reach
of the assassin's dagger?" said the artful but baffled Li-Kong.
"The dagger to be feared by thy sovereign, base prince, is beneath thine
own vest," said Nicholas.
"Dares the dog so far?" said the exasperated Li-Kong.
"Forget not thy dignity, O noble Li," said Woo-san-Kwei, touching that
prince upon the shoulder, and adding, "Yet it is but just that such an
assertion, made in the very presence of the Emperor, should be
verified."
The Emperor came to the rescue, saying, "Open thy lips, youth, for, well
as we think of thy honesty, thou hast uttered words against the noblest
of our yellow girdles, which as they are true or false merit reward or
punishment."
Thus challenged Nicholas fell upon his knees, and related his adventure
at the palace of retirement, declaring that the two men were plotting
the dethronement of the Emperor, and that the chief of the two was the
Prince Li-Kong himself. At this bold and circumstantial accusation, the
young Prince Yong-Li and the great lords on the steps of the throne,
placed their hands upon their swords, and alternately glancing at
Li-Kong and Nicholas, awaited the command of the Emperor to seize either
accuser or accused. For an instant the lips of Li-Kong quivered with
fear or rage, but, recovering his equanimity, he gave a signal with his
hand, when a large body of military mandarins came around him, and fell
upon their knees before the Emperor, when Li said, "Are the services of
thy servant so soon forgotten, have the rebels been no sooner chastised,
and peace restored within the empire, that the exterminator and his
officers should be as mice before the words of this less than a dog? O
my sovereign! let these officers be questioned, and they will prove that
on the night of which the dog speaks, their general was engaged in
discovering a new conspiracy among the Fan-Kwi priests."
"What words are these, O prince?" said the Emperor, whose alarm had been
artfully turned in another direction. "Have we not honored these
priests, even to making their chief the president of our high board of
mathematics?"
"Yet such is the ingratitude of the barbarians, O my Emperor, that, in
league with the outer barbarians, they seek to overthrow the empire."
"Let my guards instantly secure every villain priest within the walls of
the city," said the terrified Emperor.
"Thy slaves have been diligent, and thy command anticipated, O Emperor;
the miserable chief of the mathematics and his brethren have been
carried before the three tribunals, their guilt proved, and most
mercifully adjudged to be strangled; the sentence but awaits the
vermilion pencil of the Emperor," said Li-Kong.
"The judges have failed in the duties of their office by so mild a
sentence, for which let them all be degraded three degrees of rank, and
the priests be cut into ten thousand pieces," said the Emperor.
"If the crime be proved, the sentence is light; if not, terrible must be
thy remorse, O my sovereign, for the learned father's services have been
great. Surely, then, thy wisdom alone should seek to discover the guilt
or innocence of this enormous culprit, or much-injured priest," said
Woo.
"The words of the venerable Woo, O my royal father, are worthy of his
years and the imperial dignity; let not thy indignation rather than thy
justice adjudge this priest, but command that he be brought before
thee," said the young prince, earnestly.
"Thy words are but reasonable, my son; we will examine the Christian dog
ourselves," said the Emperor. When, at a signal, the aged missionary,
Adam Schaal, was brought before the throne, so laden with iron chains
that his form was bent to the shape of a bow; still, with his long white
hair and beard, and the unflinching, piercing blue eye of his German
race, he looked, as he was, a willing martyr for the cause of his
Saviour.
At the sight of his old favorite thus humiliated, even the Emperor
melted with pity and doubt as to his guilt. "Can it be under heaven,"
said he, "that so holy a body should contain so vile a heart? Have we
not protected and fostered thee and thy companions in the heart of our
empire, giving thee permission to build thy temples and even to convert
the people to thy religion; nay, moreover, raised thee to the first rank
among the learned? Canst thou answer, thou villainous old man?"
"It is even these favors, O mighty Emperor, that have raised the envy of
the enemies of Christ, who, jealous of the success of thy servant's
cause, seek to destroy him, that they may triumph over his religion; and
if their malice should prevail, the Christian priest will die blessing
the great Emperor who enabled him to do so much good."
"What says the accuser to these words?" said the Emperor, sternly, more
than half believing in the father's innocence.
"Stand forth, O Hung," said Li-Kong; when a mandarin of the second
degree fell before the throne and held above his head some medals, a
book, and a chaplet of beads, saying, "Are not these proofs of the old
rogue's guilt?"
"They are, O my sovereign, the mysterious symbols and secret marks used
by the initiated in the great conspiracy, which is now insidiously
spreading throughout the empire, and known to each other."
"How! what dog's words are these, thou ignorant slave? Dost thou not
know that these are the symbols of the Lord of heaven's religion?"
replied the Emperor, who, at the beginning of his reign, having
befriended the missionaries, and made himself master of the mysteries
and symbols of their religion, was far beyond most of his nobles in
intelligence.
"It is so alleged, O dread sovereign, by the villains, for their own
vile ends, and should it be even so, the Son of Heaven can not doubt
this proof of guilt," replied the mandarin, placing a letter in the
Emperor's hands.
For some time there was a dread silence; when, however, the Emperor had
perused the document, his eye sparkled with rage, and he exclaimed,
"Truly the proof is overwhelming, and it is to the viceroy of Quang-Tung
the Emperor owes the discovery of this villainy. Bring hither the
petition of the criminal tribunal for the villain's execution. Moreover,
let it go forth through the earth that every Christian dog be
exterminated;" and the court having prostrated themselves three times in
token of obedience, one of the colaos presented the petition or sentence
to the Emperor, which as he was about to confirm, by affixing the
signature of the vermilion pencil, Nicholas threw himself at the foot of
the throne, crying at the risk of his life, "O great Emperor, thy slave
dares proclaim the extreme villainy of the great viceroy of Quang-Tung,
whose jealousy and envy of the favors his royal master has bestowed upon
the good father has caused him to seek his life."
"Is the boy pirate mad that he dares so insolently presume upon his
small services, as to interrupt the course of justice?" exclaimed the
angry Emperor.
Taking from his vest the letter his father had given him for Father
Adam, Nicholas said, boldly, "This letter, O great sovereign, thy
servant was commanded by his parent to place in the hands of the priest
Adam. Should it contain treason, the Emperor can punish on the spot, for
both the priest and the son of the writer are in his hands. Should it be
otherwise, his royal generosity will know how to reward."
No less surprised than appeased by the boy's vehemence, Wey-t-song
commanded the censor Woo to proclaim aloud its contents, to which the
nobles, as they were friends or enemies of the priests of Christ,
listened with divided attention. The document was lengthy and tedious,
and directed by Chin-Chi-Loong, the merchant of the south, to his
illustrious teacher and religious parent, the Father Adam Schaal,
warning him that the viceroy of Quang-Tung, in conjunction with the
bonzes of the court, whom he had bribed at Pekin, had organized such a
scheme that it could not fail to appear clear that the Christian priests
in China were at the head of a conspiracy to dethrone the Emperor, at
whose feet he advised the Father Adam immediately to prostrate himself
and demand an investigation, promising speedily to send proofs of the
viceroy's villainy to Pekin.
"The wickedness of this viceroy must be great, O my sovereign," said
Woo, when he had concluded.
"Truly the great father of the empire will not believe the miserable
charge of a wretched pirate against one of his highest officers," said
Li-Kong savagely; but making an angry motion to the prince for silence,
the Emperor said, "What says the priest?"
"Truth, O great sovereign, is deeply emeshed in falsehood, that time
alone can unravel; yet, had that letter reached thy servant's hands, his
imperial master would have been saved an act of injustice; of, not
receiving the great merchant's warning, the cruel viceroy succeeded, the
storm of persecution burst over Hang-tcheou-fou, the churches of Christ
were destroyed, and their priests loaded with chains whipped, tortured
upon the rack, and otherwise degraded, it being only by the providence
of the Almighty that thy servant was enabled to escape and reach Pekin
in safety--where, alas! the persecution followed, and burst out with
redoubled fury; thy servant, the head of his Church, being the first to
feel and glory that he was the first to suffer for the cause of Christ."
"Can these words be true, O Woo? Has such villainy taken place in the
land?" said the Emperor.
"Such things, O great prince, have been done in thy holy name by roguish
ministers, who (_may I be pardoned for my boldness_) have taken
advantage of the luxurious retirement of their Emperor to serve their
own vile ends," replied Woo.
"Then be it the care of the upright censor to see that these miserable
mandarins, who have so traitorously brought their Emperor's name into
contempt and hatred, be exterminated with their whole families," said
Wey-t-song, who was as impulsive for good as for bad.
"Surely my great father may be upon the brink of great injustice; he
may be sacrificing the lives of many devoted servants. It would be but
justice that accusers and accused should be confined till the matter is
sifted, and the truth discovered," said the young prince.
"The prince, our heir, has wisdom beyond his years; his words are good,
and shall be followed," said the Emperor. At which there was an
indecorous murmur of satisfaction, which was, however, instantly
suppressed by the Emperor making the signal with his sleeves, that the
audience was at an end.
CHAPTER XXIV.
NICHOLAS UNVEILS A REBEL CHIEF, AND OBTAINS A TITLE.
When Nicholas arose the following morning, his first care was for the
safety of Chow, whom he discovered to be still in the custody of the
criminal tribunal, where by the laws, he would be kept till the will of
the chief colao became known. Feeling, however, satisfied that the boy
would meet with no harm, now that he himself was in such high favor, he
prepared for the promised private audience; and scarcely had he donned
the state habiliments, which had been supplied to him by the
chamberlain, than he received the imperial summons, and having been
conducted through a series of large courts, he was shown into the
innermost apartment of the palace, where in deep thought over a letter,
sat the Emperor; upon the left (the place of honor) stood the young
prince; upon his right, the aged Woo.
Having complied with the court etiquette by running quickly up the
apartment, throwing himself on his knees, and performing the kow-tow,
the Emperor commanded him to arise, and, placing his hand upon the
letter, said, "The noble youth, then, is the son of the daring writer of
these terrible characters, which declare most boldly that the noblest
of our generals and relations is a traitor and rebel."
"The life of thy servant, O great prince, is at the will of his
sovereign if those characters are not as truthful as the sacred books
themselves," replied Nicholas.
"We dare not doubt them, youth, if these other characters are not forged
by some villain," said the Emperor, placing a letter in the hands of
Woo; adding, "Let the venerable Woo, who knoweth all things, declare the
pencil that portrayed them."
Falling upon his knees and taking the letter, the aged man said, "Truly,
O prince, these characters are from the hand of the General Li-Kong,
whose treason is indeed stupendous, for he offers the supreme command of
the four seas, and the sovereignty of the barbarous island of Formosa,
to the merchant pirate, providing that sea chief will, with his
multitudinous ships and great wealth, aid him (may the sound of the
words not deprive me of reason) in subverting the dynasty of his holy
Emperor. The crime, O my sovereign, is too huge to be conceived, and its
author should be hewn into ten thousand pieces. Yet the eyes, nay, the
very reason of thy aged servant, may be failing him, therefore it
behoves us to have greater proof that these characters are not forged;
for, though great is the cunning of villainy, surely so great a crime
cannot exist beneath heaven."
"The words of the aged noble are magnanimous, for surely the Prince
Li-Kong is the enemy of him and his; yet, though magnanimity is taught
by the sacred books, it must not endanger the life of our great
sovereign and father," said the Prince Yong-Li; adding, "Surely Li-Kong
is famous for his vileness; his character is known to us all, yet if
greater proof be wanting, let it be sought from the lips of this noble
youth, whose life will be the penalty of so false an accusation."
"It would ill become so mean a person to traduce so great a general as
the Prince Li-Kong, yet the safety of his sovereign must unseal his
lips. Know, then, dread Emperor, that the General Li-Kong is at this
very moment plotting thy ruin," said Nicholas, who then gave in detail
the conversation he had heard at the palace of retirement, which the
Emperor had no sooner heard than he said hastily, "Convey our command, O
noble Woo, to the general thy son, to search for this traitor, and bring
him in chains before us."
"Thy servant is unfortunate, for this is not possible, my sovereign. The
brave Woo-san-Kwei, knowing his duty too well to remain in idleness at
Pekin, while the Tartar-barbarians were harassing his army like hungry
wolves,--truly the body was of little use without the head,--departed
for his command after the council yesterday," replied Woo.
"How!" said the Emperor passionately; "dared the general take his
departure without an audience of leave."
"Let not thy wrath, O great sovereign fall upon the head of thy faithful
servant, who presumed so far because his Emperor has, of late, foregone
the salutary ceremonies laid down by his ancestors," said the aged
minister.
Angry at this rebuke yet feeling its truthfulness, the weak prince
despairingly threw himself backward in his chair, when the young prince
said "Surely the throne should be defended by its heir. Thy son, O my
Emperor and parent, will depart with the guards of the palace and bring
this arch-traitor to his father's feet;" and not receiving a denial, the
prince respectfully took his leave, when, having recovered his
equanimity, the Emperor again took up Chin-Chi-Loong's letter.
"Truly, boy," said his majesty, "this daring pirate, thy father, knows
more than the Emperor or his ministers. How know we that he is not as
great a traitor as the prince he denounces, for surely by commerce alone
he could not have obtained this wealth of ships, men, and money, which,
like a king, he so insolently offers to his sovereign and master?"
"Truly, O great Emperor, if my illustrious parent were a traitor, he
would not have placed the life of his only son, thy mean servant, in so
great a danger," said Nicholas.
"The words of the youth, O prince, are as true as his deeds are brave,"
said Woo; adding, "Let then thy slave pray that the sunshine of the
Emperor's favor may fall upon his race; for, fearing that the intentions
of this great merchant were treasonous, I have long caused his actions
to be watched and his ships to be harassed by the sea mandarins; but
indeed with little use, for the noble Chin-Chi-Loong overcame them all,
to the disgrace of the board of arms of thy empire.
"How! did the slave pirate dare to overcome our sea tigers?" said the
Emperor in a rage.
"He has presumed, O prince to chastise traitors who wielded thy royal
commission but for their own purposes, which, if a crime, he now offers
to amend by sending his only son to beg that he may receive an order,
signed by the vermilion pencil, to command that great fleet in his
sovereign's name alone. The powerful pirate, for whose head the
Emperor's ministers have offered great rewards, now places himself and
his fortune at the disposal of the Son of Heaven," said Nicholas.
So great an offer having restored the Emperor to a better humor, he
said, "It is a presumptuous request, yet loyal, if this bold man can
give us a guarantee that he intends not playing us false."
"That guarantee is the life of thy servant, his only son, O my prince,"
replied Nicholas.
"These words are good and loyal, O my Emperor; for surely if this bold
merchant hath sought wealth and power for his descendants, lo! he places
his heir in thy hands," said Woo.
"The words of the aged Woo are wise and far-seeing. We grant this bold
man's petition, and should he help us to root out from the land this
growing rebellion we will secure to him the island promised by the
villain Li-Kong. As for thyself, brave youth, to whom we are so greatly
indebted, we grant thee the title of Princess-defending Tiger of War,
and appoint thee to a command in the guards of the palace; and,
moreover, will keep thee in our favor, of which this shall be a token,"
said the Emperor, taking from his girdle an embroidered purse, and
handing it to Nicholas, who fell reverently upon his knees and held his
hands above his head to receive the present.
At that moment the Prince Yong-Li entered, threw himself at the foot of
the throne, and said, "Thy son, O my sovereign, is deserving of
punishment, for the traitor has escaped."
"Escaped!" repeated the Emperor, bitterly.
"Truly so, my father; no sooner did the council of yesterday disperse,
than, fearing the discovery of his guilt, he assembled his officers and
guards and quitted the city."
"Let the fleetest of our horsemen follow immediately," added the
Emperor.
"It would be in vain, my father, for ere they can overtake him the
traitor will be in the midst of his own troops and province," replied
the prince.
"It would be wise to have the gates closely guarded and the defences of
the city examined," said Woo.
"The villain dares not carry his treason so far as to invade our
capital," replied Wey-t-song.
"Let not the generous nature of my prince carry him too far, for by
insidious arts and treacherous gifts this Li-Kong has gained the hearts
of the people of the provinces, and is vile enough to attempt the
greatest of crimes," said the minister.
"By the tombs of our ancestors, the venerable noble is wise, and we
should be prepared for the vilest of crimes. Let the barbarian-subduing
General Woo-san-Kwei and his army be recalled from Leao-tong."
"And so exchange a small traitor for the Tartar king, who, though a
barbarian, is brave and powerful; rather let my royal father call around
him in council the doctors of war and the ablest of his generals, who
from the military books will doubtless find sure means of defending the
city," said the prince; adding, "Then, O my sovereign parent, let the
army be assembled, and permit thy son and this noble youth to meet the
rebel on his way. Let this be so, my Emperor, and thy son will bring the
traitor's head to thy feet, or be himself brought there upon his own
shield."
"Thy heart is brave, but thy years too few, O my son, for so great a
trust," replied the Emperor.
"At my years the illustrious Tait-sou, the founder of our race, planted
the first seeds of his glory in the field," said the young prince,
warmly.
"The royal prince, thy chosen heir, is both wise and brave, my
sovereign, for his name and rank will be a banner, around which the
loyal will flock as plentifully as locusts, while his youth and bravery
will shame the rebels into submission," said the censor.
"The counsel of the venerable Woo is bold," said the Emperor; adding,
"After the council of war my son shall seek to emulate the bravery of
his ancestors."
"The tongue of thy son is too feeble to speak his thanks, my sovereign,"
exclaimed the impetuous prince, falling upon his knees.
CHAPTER XXV.
NICHOLAS AND THE PRINCE HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND SAVE THE LIFE OF CHOW.
The morning after the audience Nicholas wrote to his father a detailed
account of his adventures, and the disgrace and danger of the great
Christian father, who, he assured him, would be destroyed, if proofs of
his innocence were not speedily produced. When he had placed the letter
in the hands of the flying-horse, or court messenger, who was about to
start with the imperial cang-ho, he went in search of Chow, and, to his
surprise, found the boy had been released under an order signed by
Li-Kong, immediately before his abrupt departure. This, however, but
puzzled him the more, for surely had the boy been released he would have
sought out his master and friend. Then he began to fear that Chow had
been decoyed away by some of the many designing traitors he more than
suspected to be hovering about the palace, for the purpose of finding
from the servant the history of the master. He sat for some time
pondering what to do, and at length resolved upon searching through the
whole city. With this determination he arose to depart, when he heard
the trampling of footsteps, and the chief officer of the imperial prince
entered the apartment, followed by four men, carrying a litter, which
they placed upon the ground.
"The son of the great Emperor (may he live ten thousand years) sends the
noble youth a royal robe, and arms, in token of his amity and
brotherhood," said the officer, bowing to the ground.
At the name of the prince, Nicholas performed the ko-tow, and ordered an
incense table to be brought, that he might receive the royal message
with befitting respect. The officer, however, added, "Further, O noble
stranger, that all men may know his gratitude for the safety of his
beloved sister, the great prince commands that the ceremony of the
incense may be dispensed with, for the son of the Son of Heaven holds
the noble youth as his brother in love as well as arms. Moreover, that
he may prove his sincerity, the prince will wave his illustrious rank
and visit the preserver of the princess his sister." So saying the
eunuch withdrew.
The present consisted of a complete military equipment befitting his new
rank:--the war cap or helmet, a robe, embossed with plates of gold, both
for ornament and protection, boots of rich costly leather, sword,
shield, bow, and quiver of arrows, each of which bore the imperial
crest, the five-clawed dragon. Delighted more with the gift than its
costliness, Nicholas did not stay to examine the present, for fear the
prince might speedily arrive; and he was right, for he had scarcely
finished attiring himself in his new uniform before Yong-Li,
unannounced, entered the room.
In an instant Nicholas threw himself at his feet, and began to pour
forth his gratitude, but, taking his hand, the prince said, "Arise,
these are not times for ceremonies between brothers, banded together in
so holy a cause; the sacred books themselves intended them alone for
times of peace and luxury."
"May those times soon return, O my prince," said Nicholas.
"May my brother's wish be realised; but to obtain peace we must earn it
by the sword," replied the prince; adding, gloomily, "I come from the
board of generals and doctors of war."
"Upon what has their wisdom determined, O prince?"
"Nothing--they are dogs, traitors all; each general of a section
declared the walls to be impassable by an enemy, and that the troops
were numerous, well exercised, and prepared for a sudden attack," said
the prince.
"These are the words of indolent cowards or designing traitors, but your
royal father the Emperor----"
"Was present," said the prince; "but, alas! so loves his ease and the
counsel of his bonzes, that he gave a ready ear to their reports, nay,
promoted them all one step for their vigilance."
"Surely my prince lifted his voice in council?" said Nicholas.
"My brother, yes; but it was as the sound of a zephyr amidst the
roarings of a hurricane; that of a youth among the aged and did but
cause his majesty to forbid my seeking the rebel Li-Kong in the field."
"Then, my prince, our farther-seeing eye balls must be used for the
benefit of the blind," said Nicholas.
"Thus it is that I seek thy companionship in a journey round the walls,
when, if I find them as I expect, woe be to the indolent cowards who
dare deceive their Emperor," said the prince.
Nicholas then followed them to the courtyard, where they found awaiting
them a squadron of the body guard with two richly caparisoned horses,
one of which Yong-Li presented to Nicholas, and they proceeded upon
their journey amidst the lavish adorations of thousands, who bowed to
the earth as they rode through the streets.
"If my prince would truly see the manner in which the officers and
soldiers perform their duties, would it not be wise for him to proceed
in a chair and with the attendants only of a mandarin of the third
order?" said Nicholas.
"Thy words are good," replied the prince, ordering the soldiers to stop
at the house of a mandarin, who, having formerly been his military
tutor, he knew would keep his rank concealed. Shortly afterward they
were met by some soldiers who were conveying several malefactors to the
place of execution. Seeing the prince, the soldiers and prisoners knelt
with their faces to the ground till he had passed. No sooner, however,
had he passed the unhappy men than the son of the Emperor, with tears in
his eyes, said, "How unhappy is the lot of a prince, to witness such a
sight as that!"
"Surely, my prince, the rogues deserve their punishment, the law awards,
and the safety of the state demands it," said Nicholas.
"Truly, I weep not, my brother, at the punishment of these men, for
without rewards and punishments the good are not encouraged, and the
wicked are not restrained; moreover, chastisement is as necessary to the
government of a kingdom, as bread is for the sustenance of the people.
But I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old when the
virtues of the prince served as a bridle to the people, and his example
was sufficient to restrain the vices of his subjects without other
chastisement."
The warlike nature and education of Nicholas not permitting him to
sympathize with the kind-hearted Yong-Li, he maintained a respectful
silence, not however, without a fear for the fate of a prince whose
amiable nature was so unfitted for such turbulent times. When they
reached the house of the mandarin, the prince dismissed his guard, and,
having borrowed from that officer his robe, cap, and chair of state, and
a garment of plain green silk for Nicholas, the two youths entered the
chair and proceeded on their journey with the usual attendants, one of
whom went before, as a kind of _avant-garde_, and with a whip to beat
them a passage through the crowded streets. At the first guard-house the
prince stepped out of the sedan, made himself known to the sentries, and
passed in; when, instead of finding the troops engaged in exercising,
or in any of the many games permitted by the board of war, some were
gambling, some goading crickets with their chopsticks till the insects
killed each other, some were singing profane songs, and disporting in
the most riotous and unseemly manner, while many who had been drinking
deeply, and still held the spirit cups in their hands were reeling about
the pavement, but most remarkable of all, no officers except those of
the most subordinate grade were to be seen.
"These, then, are the vile dogs to whom the defence of the Imperial City
is entrusted. These are the rogues whom the traitor generals commended,"
said the prince, indignantly; adding, "Truly the royal house is punished
for its sins, for this looketh indeed like the decadence of a dynasty."
"These are but the hands, O my prince for whose acts the heads must be
made accountable," said Nicholas.
"Nevertheless the dogs shall be punished, my brother; but let us
return," said the prince, going to the gate, where the sentry,
recognizing the prince, fell at his feet. "Rise, dog, and as thou
wouldst save thy miserable head, say who is the general of this
section," said Yong-Li.
"The noble Leang, O Grandson of Heaven," replied the trembling soldier.
"Cans't thou be honest and silent as to my visit?"
"Both, as thy slave values his miserable life," replied the soldier.
"I will trust thee, man, and if I find you so, only till the rising of
to-morrow's sun, thou shalt be promoted," said the prince; adding, "This
rogue Leang must be degraded, and thou, O noble Nicholas, take his
command." Thus they visited some half-dozen of the chief and most
important points of the fortified walls with similar results. With the
works themselves he was satisfied, as was also Nicholas, who, young as
he was, had often examined the fortifications of the southern province;
and, indeed, the whole line of coast between Siam and Japan.
"Nought, my prince, but the treachery of the defenders, or the
death-dealing cannon of the red-haired barbarians from the West, could
effect an entrance into the city," said he.
"Has my brave brother then seen in use those terrible instruments of war
that can crumble the strongest towers of stone to the dust, from beyond
the reach of bow-shot?" said the prince.
"Such has been thy servant's fortune, O my prince; it could not be
otherwise, for they are used on board the war-ships of my noble father."
"By the tombs of my ancestors, thou art a bold boy," replied the prince;
adding, with vehemence,
"As I hope to continue the circle of succession, I would forfeit ten
years of life to be in possession of a few, that we might sweep these
rebels and Tartars from the face of the earth."
At that moment there arose a great clamor of voices, and, looking out of
the chair, the prince saw a great crowd assembled upon one of the canal
bridges, when, having ordered the attendant with the whip to beat a
passage through the people, they witnessed the following extraordinary
sight:--
Upon a high platform, near the edge of the bridge, stood a large tub,
the top of which was covered with some flimsy material, like silk or
cotton, through which something, that in the distance bore a resemblance
to a human head, bobbed up and down like a jack-in-the-box. Upon the
platform, around the tub, stood six priests.
"How lowly must the dynasty of the great Tait-sou have fallen, that
these miserable bonzes are permitted thus shamefully to extort money
from the people," said the prince.
"If thy servant's eyeballs play him not false, O my prince, yonder
priests are preparing to sacrifice a human life to their wretched gods,"
said Nicholas.
Not waiting to hear more, the prince leaped from the chair, and,
followed by Nicholas forced a way through the crowd till they reached
the platform.
All, however, that could be seen of the victim was the forehead, nose,
and eyes; the latter rolled so convulsively and glared so terribly,
that, notwithstanding the crowd, Nicholas would have attempted a rescue,
had not the prince caught hold of his arm, saying, "Stay, my brother, it
is the duty of a prince to see justice done;" then addressing the chief
bonze, he said, "What crime can this man have committed, O miserable
priest, that he should be thus tortured without the presence of the
officers of the tribunal of justice?"
"Great has been his crime, O noble youth, and self sought his
punishment," replied the bonze, taken aback by the bold tone of the
prince; adding, as he pointed to the head, which bobbed suddenly as he
spoke, "He admits my words."
"Open thy lips to the purpose, priest, and as you value your wretched
life, let us hear his crime," replied the indignant prince.
"The youth must be a stranger to the capital, indeed, if he has not
heard the order of the Son of Heaven, which commands that the villain
Christians, who have taken advantage of the great Emperor's kindness to
raise and nourish a rebellion throughout the land, should be destroyed."
"Such an order has reached thy servant's ears," said the prince, bowing
lowly at the name of his father.
"Know, then, that this wretch was long the slave and follower of one of
these Christian dogs--see, he admits it, (and the head bobbed up again;)
but, fortunately, the gods changing his heart in time, sent him to our
pagoda repentantly declaring his villainy and demanding his punishment
(here the head gave another bob of acquiescence) from the priests of Fo,
who, consulting the gods, obtained permission for him to choose his own
chastisement: his choice was to leap from this platform into the canal."
"But the canal is deep, and the man will drown, priest," said the
prince, sternly.
"Surely the youth is strangely ignorant that such a feat is a happiness
thousands would willingly seek. We have but given him the preference but
for his zeal and virtue. (Here the head again gave an acquiescent bob.)
Again, at the bottom of the canal he will be met by charitable spirits,
who will not only welcome him with honor, but conduct him to the yellow
stream." So saying, the bonzes commenced preparations for the final act
of the tragedy.
The prince, however, unable any longer to restrain his rage, drew his
sword, exclaiming, "Desist, thou murdering rogue; release thy victim
immediately."
This violence to their priests so aroused the anger of the pagan crowd,
that they would probably have torn Yong-Li to pieces, but for Nicholas,
who, beating them backward, cried, "Back, slaves! would you molest the
son of your Emperor, the good prince Yong-Li?" and the terrified slaves
instantly fell upon their faces. The bonze, though no less dismayed at
the presence of the prince, was quicker witted, and said, "Surely the
magnificent son of the Son of Heaven would not arrest the flight of a
happy soul, impatient to be on its way to the yellow stream."
"Let the miserable wretch speak for himself," said the prince.
"He dares not so anger the gods, who would not only condemn him, but
destroy the whole city in their wrath," replied the bonze, giving a sly
signal to his brethren to surround the tub, in the event of a rescue
being attempted.
[Illustration: Chow in the hands of the Bonzes.]
"Nevertheless, the wretch shall be saved," said the prince; adding,
aloud, "Let the deluded rascal open his lips, or he shall be left to his
fate."
At this, the head gave another and stronger jerk upward, but without
rising further through the silk, and the eyes rolled and glared more
terribly than ever. At which the bonze said, "Cannot the heavenly eyes
of the great prince see that the poor creature is suffering from such
violent language? See, he is almost distracted and will assuredly expire
with grief at so much profanity."
"This is some foul trick, my prince," said Nicholas, who leaped upon the
platform so quickly, that, striking one of the priests, he fell against
four others, and all were sent flying into the midst of the crowd, who,
in their turn, began to pummel them severely for falling so heavily upon
their heads and shoulders.
Once upon the platform, Nicholas lost no time in cutting asunder the
silk covering of the tub, when, lo! the victim shot up with the rapidity
of a rocket, dragging with him, by the hair of his head, a small bonze,
in whose hand was the dagger which he had been from time to time
plunging into the victim's calves in order to make him utter the
responses.
But what was the surprise of the prince when the hands of the intended
victim were unbound and the gag removed from his mouth, to see him fall
at the feet of Nicholas, clasp his legs, and exclaim, "My noble, noble,
master, this is indeed a joyful meeting. Nought but the God of the
Christians could have saved Chow's life."
The wretched face, the bleeding legs of the poor boy, so filled the
heart of Nicholas with indignation and sorrow, that while tears fell
down his cheeks, all he could say was, "My poor, poor friend Chow, this
is indeed a fortunate day."
"Then the sacrifice was not thine own seeking, my poor fellow?" said the
prince.
"My own seeking, O mighty son of Ming? Look at thy slave's legs, which
the rascals have punctured into lace-work. Surely, had Chow sought the
yellow stream, he would have chosen to go in a perfect and decent
manner." Then the boy would have fallen, but for Nicholas, who held him
in his arms, when he said, "I demand justice on the rogues, O great
prince, for I am the servant of the noble Nicholas, thy friend, and was
with him a prisoner in the Palace Royal, till the night of the audience,
when a eunuch came to me and said the Emperor had signified his gracious
wish that poor Chow was to be chopped into ten thousand pieces, but that
a great lord taking compassion on me would save my life, and give me
great promotion, if I would watch and note down the words and actions of
my noble master."
"Didst thou hear the name, surname, and title of the villain lord, O
Chow?" said the prince.
"Thy slave was not so fortunate, great prince."
"What answer didst thou make, O Chow?" said Nicholas.
"That they might not only cut thy servant into as many pieces as they
chose, but never bury them in the tombs of his ancestors, before he
would comply. Whereupon, they gave poor Chow over to these rascal
bonzes, who intended to torture him with a dagger in that tub, till
agony caused him to leap into the canal."
"Sad must have been thy sufferings, my poor Chow," said the prince; who
then ordered his attendants to convey the boy to the palace, in order
that the imperial doctors might attend him. Then sending for a body of
yah-yu, he ordered them to take the bonze and his assistants to the
great prison, to await a trial; after which they returned to the palace.
"Thanks be to Tien, my brother, we have saved thy friend from those vile
bonzes," said the prince.
"Would O prince, that we could as easily save the servants of the true
God of heaven from their villainies," replied Nicholas, thinking of the
sufferings of the Christian fathers.
CHAPTER XXVI.
NICHOLAS RECEIVES AN IMPORTANT COMMAND.
On the day following the visit of the prince to the military stations, a
change was made among the officers. Some were bambooed, some
reprimanded, and others sent into confinement. The post of Leang, who
held the command of five hundred men under the General Kin, being given
to Nicholas, he took Chow with him as a kind of sub-officer, and as the
wounds of the latter fortunately proved to be only in the flesh, he soon
became well enough to caper with delight at the chance his new position
might give him of meeting the slayer of his father.
For some time Nicholas had little else to do but keep his men at their
posts, and exercise them in the use of the matchlock, which, although
the Chinese then knew so little about it, that the rebound of the stock
did as much mischief to the owner as the barrel did to his enemies, he
had long practised on board his father's ships. Then, again, he would
exercise them in sword, and bow and arrow practice, and the use of their
shields.
Such was his employment till intelligence arrived that the rebel Li-Kong
was on his march to besiege Pekin with a large army, when, seeking an
audience of the Emperor, he threw himself at the foot of the throne,
and prayed to be sent with a party of flying horse to make observations,
and drive the people of the neighboring towns and villages into the
capital for protection. His zeal, however, was useless; for, placing his
whole faith in the bonzes and intriguing nobles around him, who laughed
to scorn the idea of so improbable an event as the invasion of so great
a capital by a mere rebel, Wey-t-song angrily commanded Nicholas to keep
to his posts upon the walls, where he remained, till wearied with
inaction he longed to return to his father's fleet. Wait a little
Nicholas, and there will be action enough.
More than once during the reign of Wey-t-song had famine stalked through
the land, but then he had struggled to stem the torrent by opening his
purse and granaries. Now, however, that nature withheld her ordinary
supplies, a rebel army crowded the approaches to the capital, so that
provision could not be brought in, and the dearth of food grew so great,
that a pound of rice could not be purchased for less than its weight in
silver, and the flesh of horses, rats, dogs, cats, and mice had become
so rare, that even rotten skins were bought for human food. The Emperor
wickedly kept close within the luxurious apartments of his inner palace,
caring but little for the starving people, so that he and the great
mandarins could revel in their luxurious ease and pleasures.
Now, as indolence will spread as fast as nettles, the officers of the
army, instead of attending to their duties, spend the greater part of
their night-watches in gambling and drinking so hard, that had the
enemy come upon them suddenly they must have surrendered. Yet the
imperial troops were so numerous and the defences so strong, that with
anything like a good show of fighting the rebels could have been beaten
back, if not indeed entirely destroyed. As, however, these officers must
have been fully aware of all this, it is only reasonable to suppose they
were playing another little game of their own, that we shall soon see.
Thus weeks passed away, without more than mere rumors of the movements
of the rebel Li-Kong, who, it was said, was fast approaching the
capital, and sacking towns or destroying the people on his march. There
one day came a number of men to the eastern gate, reporting themselves
to be fugitives, who had been driven to seek protection in the capital
from Li, who was on his march by the eastern suburbs; and as also they
brought the joyful intelligence that a vast quantity of rice was on the
road from the southern provinces, under the charge of a body of
merchants, who had managed to evade the rebels by taking a different
route, they were received with open arms and treated handsomely.
Then, as the General Kin feared that the starving people would set upon
the wagons as they entered the city, he came out on the day of their
arrival with a large body of soldiers to escort the food to the
storehouse, where it could be fairly distributed. But so eager was the
general to secure the grain from a sudden rush of the hungry people,
that he encompassed the procession with his troops so perfectly, that
neither wagons nor the fugitive tradesmen who accompanied them could be
seen by the crowd. Moreover Kin kept close the wagons till they were
safe within the fore-court of the storehouses. After performing his
duty, the general astonished Nicholas by carrying his indefatigability
so far as to personally inspect the walls, post the sentries, and
examine the flints of their matchlocks, all of which was very puzzling,
for not only was there no enemy to be seen, but the deserters and
fugitives reported that the attack, if made at all, would be upon the
opposite walls of the city, whither, in fact, Kin had sent already a
great part of the soldiers who had hitherto been posted upon that side.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE REBELS ATTACK PEKIN.--TREACHERY OF A GENERAL, AND THE FIGHT.
It was the middle of the third watch; Nicholas was dreaming of the rebel
Li-Kong, the Emperor, the princess, the soldiers, and his father's
fleet. A sudden grip upon his arm made him set bolt upright upon his
sleeping mat, and there stood Chow, in a state of great excitement,
holding in his arms his master's habiliments and accoutrements, as if
the place had been on fire, or he had suddenly turned thief, and was
about commencing business upon his master's clothes.
"Awake, O my master, we are caught like rats in a trap; the rebels are
upon us!"
"What words are these, Chow?" said Nicholas, leaping off the mat, taking
the clothes and attiring himself.
"The General Kin means harm; let us escape, my master;" and Chow pointed
to the open window.
"Thou art a coward, Chow, draw thy sword, and follow," said Nicholas,
rushing with his own weapon in his hand to the walls, where, to his
dismay, he found the sentries helplessly intoxicated and lying in all
directions; but worse, there, against the walls, leaned a ladder, by
which means a body of troops were about to ascend.
"Softly, Chow," said Nicholas; and like cats they crept toward the
ladder upon their knees. Another minute, and a soldier stood upon the
uppermost round with a lighted torch in his hand.
"See, the rat makes a signal that all is right," said Nicholas, and in
another instant a blow from his fist sent the torch-bearer spinning
through the air over the heads of his fellows; then with a yell of rage
the man's next comrade jumped upon the parapet, and being received with
a violent blow in the stomach from Chow's fist, followed his companion
in arms. Another made the same attempt, but picking up the torch which
had fallen upon the ramparts, Chow dashed the burning brand in his face,
when with a wild howl of pain, the soldier fell backward, sweeping the
scaling party off the ladder as clean as if he had been a thirty-two
pound cannon ball. Then, making the most of their advantage, the boys
caught hold of the ladder and threw it over upon the discomfited rebels,
who lay sprawling at the foot of the walls.
Then, holding the torch above his head, as a signal for assistance,
Nicholas indeed saw that treachery was in high quarters, for the whole
line of walls appeared to be deserted. As for Chow, he had no sooner
succeeded in arousing the men from their stupor, and placed some at the
great guns, and others along the walls, so that another scaling party
would come within range of their matchlocks, than, perceiving a body of
the enemy moving to the front he pointed one of the cannons and applied
the torch to the touch-hole; a flash--a roar followed; but the only
effect it had upon the rebels was to cause them to send forth loud
shouts of exultation. Well they might exult, for the guns were harmless.
"The villain Kin has had the balls withdrawn," exclaimed Chow.
"Our matchlocks are useless, they have been robbed of their flints,"
said the soldiers, who had attempted to fire them at the same time as
Chow had fired the cannon.
"Then back, and brain the dogs with them as they mount the walls," said
Nicholas, as the enemy was about attempting another escalade; adding,
"Haste thee, O Chow, to the Prince Yong-Li, and pray of him to send
assistance to his brother, who dares not quit his post with life;" when,
as without a word Chow disappeared from the rampart, Nicholas snatched
up a matchlock, and so placed himself and men beneath the breastwork
that the arrows might pass over their heads, and many were the sealers
who reached the uppermost round of the ladder to be dashed headlong
among their comrades by the brave youth and his little band; and so they
would have held out for some time, but for a shower of bullets from the
matchlocks of a body of soldiers who made their appearance upon the
walls, headed by the General Kin himself.
"Seize the dog!" said the traitor, pointing to Nicholas.
"Thou great rogue,"--before, however, Nicholas could say more he was
gagged, his arms bound with cords, and taken by the soldiers to his own
room, amid the shoutings of the rebels, who now seemed to be entering
the city from all sides.
But why had they not killed him at once? for what reason had they
brought him there?
He was not left long in suspense, for no sooner had Kin secured the
entrance of his brother rebels into the city than he entered the room,
and first examining the cords that bound the boy's arms, to see that
there was no possibility of his getting free, he ordered the soldiers
from the room, and said, merrily, "The young war tiger is brave, but he
is no match for the fire-eater Kin."
"Let the dog without a heart unbind the arms of his prisoner, and he
shall discover," was the fierce reply.
"What shall thy servant discover, O brave youth?"
"His villain body hurled out of the window."
"Knows not the youth that I can slay him as if he were a venomous rat?"
"Do this, and I will thank thee for not letting me outlive such hateful
treason, thou villain."
"But the youth is young, brave, and should live in honor and high
promotion."
"He would be more honored in dying for his Emperor."
"That Emperor is the chosen of Tien, the great Li-Kong, who would have
the young war tiger live to serve him."
"These are snake's words, the rogue Li-Kong is as false as his coward
slave Kin, who fears to trust himself with an unbound youth."
"Thou rat, thou pirate, I will slay thee," said the enraged general,
drawing his sword.
"Do this, and my vision will be for ever shut out from so much
villainy," was the calm reply.
"Now let the young war tiger open his ears, and if he is reasonable he
shall be free," said the general, getting the better of his rage.
"Then unbind his arms, thou dog."
"Truly, if thou wilt promise to serve the great Emperor Li-Kong."
"Even if so much treason existed in my heart, how could so mean a person
serve so great a prince?"
"Is he not the son of the great merchant of the south, who rules the
four seas?"
"If the dull rogue hath discovered his prisoner's birth, how is this
that he dares to think that when free he would let so great a traitor
live, after such an execrable proposition?"
Greatly perplexed at this rebuff, Kin could make no reply. Suddenly, the
booming of cannon, the roar of millions of voices, and the clash of
arms, sounded through the night air, and he said, "Hear you that cannon,
boy? It is the terrible mouthpiece of the fugitive tradespeople, who
accompanied the rice wagons."
"O thou miserable rogue," exclaimed Nicholas, as it now flashed across
his mind that the rice wagons and the fugitive tradespeople had been the
ruse by which Li-Kong had obtained an entrance into the city for his
troops. "O that he was free, for there were guards enough yet to save
the imperial family."
"It is a maxim, that it is no use repining for the past, O youth. By his
tyranny and oppression Wey-t-song has forfeited the throne to the
heaven-selected Li-Kong, whose troops now fill the streets, and who will
confer upon the young war tiger high rank, and upon his parent, the
great sea chief, a kingdom, if he will submissively rule the seas as a
tributary. See the success of the great Li," he added, as the room, nay,
the whole sky became illuminated, "the palace is in flames--let the
young war tiger give his answer."
"If it is adverse?" asked Nicholas.
"The head of the son will be sent to the father."
Then bitter were the feelings of Nicholas--for himself? no! for he felt
it his duty to die; but for his father, for the princess--still there
was a chance of escape. Should he comply? surely a promise to traitors
would not be valid. He considered for a moment--it was but for a
moment--and even the bold sea-boy had not courage enough to--tell a lie.
Perceiving his hesitation, the countenance of Kin brightened. "The noble
youth is reasonable; he consents," said he.
"No, thou false rogue."
"Then he dies a miserable death," said the enraged Kin, calling to his
guard. There was no reply, but a scuffle in the passage, and the sound
of angry voices, when, pale with fear, the general opened the door, and
the next minute was--in the arms of Chow, who held him till the
soldiers of the prince, who accompanied him, had bound the traitor as
tightly as a mummy.
"It is our turn now, thou vile rogue," said Chow, as he cut the cords
that bound his master.
"This is well accomplished my brave Chow; but now let us leave the
traitor and haste to the palace," said Nicholas.
"It is hopeless, O my master, for the outer palace is in flames, and
surrounded by the rebels."
"Is it not a maxim that no effort is hopeless to the brave?"
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ATTACK ON THE PALACE.--SUICIDE OF THE EMPEROR, THE PRINCESS WOUNDED.
Having dismissed the soldiers, the two boys mingled with the vast crowd
that was surging toward the palace with deafening cheers for Li-Kong,
who, by the treachery of the general, aided by those of his own troops
who for weeks past had been passing into the city under the pretence of
being fugitive tradespeople, had now reached the very walls of the outer
palace without opposition. Indeed, so great were the numbers of the
rebel troops and the mass of people who joined on their way, that when
they came in sight of the palace walls the imperial soldiers fled in
dismay, and so well had the rebel chief, and his brother traitors near
the person of the Emperor, organized the conspiracy, that it was not
until the outer palace was in flames that Wey-t-song became aware that
Li-Kong had even entered Pekin. Then, however, like another
Sardanapalus, his energies became aroused, and he collected together
some few hundreds of his body guard, and determined to sell his life as
dearly as possible, and till morning he held out; for so well did his
guards handle the bows, and so clumsily did the rebels use their
matchlocks, that it was early morning before the latter could effect an
entrance to the inner palace.
When, however, the broad light of morning came, what with the force of
numbers, and their being enabled to use their matchlocks to greater
advantage, they soon forced the gates and rushed into the great court
_en masse_. Being among the first to enter, Nicholas and Chow beheld the
Emperor, in the uniform of one of his own officers, exhorting his troops
to die with him rather than to succumb to rebels. After a short fight,
however, the coward guards threw down their arms, and shouted, "Long
life to the heaven-bestowed Emperor Li-Kong." Indignant at their
cowardice, Nicholas would have rushed among them, but for Chow, who
whispered the danger of the princess.
For a minute the fraternization of the guards appeased the rebels--it
was only for a minute--then they shouted for the head of the vile
Wey-t-song, and one of the guards pointing to the inner palace, they ran
in that direction like a herd of hungry wolves, killing all, men, women,
or children, whom they met in their way; then they came to the ladies'
palace, and with hideous shouts of exultation, set it on fire; and the
poor women, at least those who were not destroyed by the flames, ran
from all quarters, but, alas! only to fall by the swords of the fiends,
or, if escaping the latter, to perform, to them, the sacred duty of
throwing themselves headlong into the canals, that they might not
survive the downfall of their imperial master.
More infuriated than the rebels, and with a wild hope of saving the
Emperor and the princess, Nicholas ran through the burning palace, as if
seeking death from the falling timbers; but, alas no clue could be found
to those he sought. At length he thought of the imperial gardens, a
place that the rebels, in their anxiety to plunder the palace, had
forgotten.
"So, while Chow went in an opposite direction, he took the path leading
to the mulberry grove, and there, upon a mound, he discovered the object
of his search--both Emperor and princess; but, to his horror, the first
dead, and hanging by his own girdle from the bough of a prune-tree, and
the princess senseless, expiring from a deep wound in her side, from
which the blood was flowing copiously. Shocked so that the blood in his
veins seemed congealed, Nicholas cut down the dead Emperor with his
sword, then stanched the wound of the princess with his silk girdle, ran
to the lake, filled his cap with water, and sprinkled it in her face,
when, joy! the pale face resumed the hue of life--still she was
insensible, and he miserable, for he knew not what other means to adopt
for her restoration. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps--it
might be a rebel, and he clutched his sword, determined to die before
the royal lady should be taken from him--but no, it was Chow, who,
having lost himself for some time in the mazes of the garden, had
reached the spot by mere accident; and no sooner did the faithful fellow
perceive the tragic scene, than he fell upon his knees and wept.
"Truly the villains will speedily be here, and we shall be lost if we
can not discover some hiding-place," said Nicholas.
"The gods must intend our escape from this den of thieves, for I have
just crept out of yonder cavern," said Chow, pointing to a thick bush at
some short distance from where they were standing.
Then, without more words, they bore the senseless girl to the spot
indicated by Chow, and pushing aside the brushwood, entered a cavern
lighted from the top by a small grating, and laid her upon the floor.
The stanching of the blood, the cold water, and the movement, revived
her, when she exclaimed, "This terrible dream--where am I? who art thou,
thou terrible man?"
"Fear not beautiful daughter of the Ming, for thou art in the hands of
thy own servants, who have saved thee----"
"Saved me!" she said, with a vacant gaze at Nicholas; then, as if
remembering some terrible occurrence, added, "From my royal father, who
plunged his dagger in my side, that his daughter might escape the
villain Li-Kong, but the Emperor, my parent, O noble youth?"
"Alas! unfortunate princess----"
"Enough--enough--I remember all--the holy Emperor has saved himself the
disgrace of falling into the power of the traitor. But why then," she
added, bitterly, "has the worthless life of a daughter of his own blood
been saved?"
"To be the most valued jewel in the throne of her brother the Emperor
Yong-Li," said Nicholas.
"By restoring my worthless life thou hast brought shame and disgrace
upon the daughter of thy Emperor, for hath it not ever been the custom
of the daughters of the Son of Heaven to kill themselves upon the
downfall of their sovereign?"
"The princess is of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, who alone giveth
and taketh life," replied Nicholas.
"Thou art right, noble youth, and the descendant of Tait-sou will bear
her misfortunes more as becomes a Christian than a daughter of China,"
said the princess; adding, sorrowfully, "but the remains of my beloved
parent----"
"Shall be saved from the profane hands of rebels if the princess will
remain within this cavern," replied Nicholas; who, followed by Chow,
returned to the mound, where for a minute he stood contemplating all
that remained of the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty. "Alas! poor
prince, that thy virtues should have been clouded with so many faults.
See, O Chow, how bitterly he felt the ingratitude of his petted and
pampered guards," said Nicholas, reading some lines that the Emperor had
written in his own blood upon the border of his robe, and which
were:--"The heavens are in thy favor, O Li-Kong; yet, although my
subjects have basely abandoned me, I beseech of thee, as their parent,
to wreak thy vengeance on my body; but save, O save my deluded people."
"The rebels come this way," said Chow.
"Let us hide till they have passed," said Nicholas, and snatching up
his cross-bow, he ascended the nearest tree, believing that Chow had
done likewise.
The new comers were two officers of Li-Kong.
"It was in this direction, O Lee, near the mulberry grove, that the
woman slave saw the princess fly," said one, looking about.
"So said the heaven-bestowed Li," replied the other; but perceiving the
body of the deposed sovereign, rebel as he was, his inherited awe for
the majesty of the Emperor caused him to throw himself upon the ground,
saying, "This then, O my poor prince, is the end of thy glories! indeed
thy punishment has been severe, may it lead thy successor to avoid thy
faults."
"Get thee to thy feet, O Quang, for the Emperor who can forsake his
people well merits that they should forsake him in his extremity;
moreover, should the heaven-bestowed Li see thee, he will cause thy
foolish head to be chopped from thy shoulders, for, like a hungry tiger,
he cares but little whether his food be friends or enemies, so that he
can satisfy his appetite."
"Thy words are good," said Quang, rising to his feet; adding, "Yet the
most ravenous beast becomes satisfied."
"True, O Quang, but when this morning the great Li for the first time
sat upon the golden throne of state, it trembled and tottered."
"A sad omen, O Lee; surely his majesty should have chosen a fortunate
day."
"Truly, according to the chief bonze, it is an omen, signifying that
while the body of Wey-t-song remains whole, the heaven-bestowed Emperor
is in danger, and it is this that has angered him; but see, he comes,"
and both fell to the earth before the rebel general, who approaching
with his great officers, said, "Have you discovered the princess, you
crawling slaves?"
"At the risk of their lives thy slaves must deliver their miserable
intelligence to the fortunate and heaven-bestowed founder of the most
magnificent of dynasties," said Quang.
"Let the slave open his lips."
"The great princess has escaped with the Christian woman Candida,"
replied the trembling Quang.
"Escaped!" exclaimed the tyrant; "then let it be proclaimed throughout
the empire that he who can bring her unarmed to our feet, shall receive
high promotion, and the weight of his mean body in gold;" but at that
moment, for the first time, seeing the body of the Emperor, he
exclaimed, "The great traitor to his people has been too fortunate in
having been permitted to close a luxurious career with the honorable
punishment of self-destruction; he should have been exhibited alive in a
cage;" then reading the lines upon the dead sovereign's robe, "See thou,
O Quang, that the miserable body be cut into a thousand pieces, and
distributed far from the tombs of his royal ancestors," said this
new-made sovereign, with less generosity than the second Emperor of the
Tartar race, who some years after, while hunting, happening to see in
the distance the monument which had been erected to the memory of the
unfortunate Wey-t-song, quitted his horse, and falling upon the earth,
said, with tears in his eyes, "O Prince! O Emperor! worthy of a better
fate, you know that your destruction was not owing to us, your death
lies not at our door, your own subjects brought it upon you, it was they
that betrayed you; it is therefore upon them, and not on my ancestors,
that heaven must send down vengeance."
As you may imagine, this arrested the attention of Nicholas, who became
deeply interested, and, as he listened, it was with difficulty he could
keep down his indignation. He had smiled as he heard of Lee's terror at
the omen, groaned at the slaughter of the people, rejoiced at the escape
of the Lady Candida, the more so as the soldiers believed that she had
carried away the princess with her, which would at least throw them off
the right track; then at the sight of the brutal Li he had instinctively
placed an arrow on his bow, but the danger of the princess taught him
prudence, and he did but nervously twitch the string; when, however, Li
spoke of the dead Emperor his heart throbbed with indignation, and he
was nigh losing his presence of mind; then when Li delivered the order
for the mutilation of the body, every vein in the boy's forehead and
neck seemed bursting with rage, which, when the tyrant struck the corpse
with his foot, he could no longer suppress; no human power could keep it
back, and just missing the tyrant's throat so narrowly that its feather
brushed his necklace, an arrow pierced the bark of the tree against
which he was standing.
"See with what vigilance the guards have sought for traitors, when this
could so nearly reach the mark," said the brave rogue, coolly, but
holding his shield in readiness for the next.
Unlike Li-Kong, whose courage was as remarkable as his crimes, the teeth
of his officers chattered, and their knees knocked together with fear,
as if the arrow had been a thunderbolt from their own gods; when,
however, they recovered, they placed their shields before their faces
and rushed to the direction from whence the arrow had flown, and would
soon have discovered Nicholas but for a huge lion, who, finding the door
of his cage open, rushed upon the group with such unmistakable
intentions, that not only the officers, but Li-Kong, brave as he was,
fled in terror to the palace, with the beast at their heels. You will
little wonder at the extreme fright of the soldiers, when I tell you
that this lion was the only animal of his kind in China, having been
presented to the late Emperor by a foreign king, or they would probably
have met the brute face to face.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE SECRET CAVERN.--THE PRINCESS SAVED BY THE BOYS.
"Thou hast had a narrow escape, O most prudent master," said Chow,
coming forth when he saw the coast clear.
"Had I been taken, it would have been a just punishment for missing my
mark; but by what fortunate chance did that savage beast escape from his
cage, O Chow?" replied Nicholas, descending the tree.
"That chance, O my master was the foresight of thy servant, who
unfastened the door of the cage of that four-footed brother of Yen-Vang,
neither knowing nor caring whether he might not himself be the first
meal, so that the noble Nicholas escaped."
"It was well done, my brave Chow; yet surely that rebel rogue must be
protected by some demon to have escaped so narrowly both arrow and lion;
but let us haste to the cavern, or they may return."
Now, although the whole of this adventure had not occupied more than an
hour, Nicholas was greatly in fear for what might have happened to the
princess, an anxiety reciprocated by the princess, who, as soon as she
saw them again, exclaimed, "Thank heaven, the noble youth is saved;"
then added reproachfully, "But he has not performed his promise, for he
brings not the sacred remains of his royal master;" when, however,
Nicholas related the adventure, although in great anguish of mind at
being denied the sacred right of paying the last office of respect to
the corpse of her parent, she was overjoyed at their escape.
"Escape, O great princess; thy small servant is not clever and gifted,
like the mole, or he would eat a hole through the end of this rat-trap;
for to attempt it by the entrance would be to submissively ask the
traitor Li-Kong to cut us all into ten thousand pieces," said Chow.
"The words of the brave Chow are reasonable, for truly this cavern is
but a trap," said Nicholas.
"It is not so; push thou against the end of the cavern," said the
princess.
"Truly we are fortunate," said Nicholas with astonishment, as he found
the end giving way, and disclosing to his vision a long narrow passage.
"It was made by the great Tait-sou, and leads to an unfrequented suburb
of the city; by this means he could leave the palace alone, and by
mixing among the people judge for himself how the mandarins were
respected by them," said the princess.
"Surely they will follow us here," said Nicholas.
"Not so, noble youth; for the secret is known but to few. It was the
sole vile act of the great Tait-sou's reign that he caused this passage
to be made by condemned prisoners, whom he afterward slew, that they
might not divulge the secret," said the princess, adding, "Let us trace
its course."
Then, helping the wounded girl to walk, they proceeded down the passage
for a considerable distance, till their progress was arrested by a door;
pushing this, however, they found themselves in a small cavern, lighted,
like the one at which they had entered, by a small grating from above.
"How is it possible, O noble Nicholas, that we can pass through the
roaring rebels, who are, doubtless, without?" said Chow.
"It is a reasonable question, O noble youth; truly we had better remain
here till night," said the princess.
But, having considered for a minute, Nicholas said, "Not so, great
princess; remain thou here with Chow, and thy servant will find some
means of deliverance;" whereupon he borrowed from Chow his less
conspicuous cap, robe, and boots, then felt his way up a flight of
narrow steps, till his head struck against a trap-door; lifting this
gently, he found himself in a small stone room, the door of which stood
open; passing this, he came into an oblong court, and saw at once that
the place had been erected as a tomb, and, moreover, that he was at the
most remote end of a valley of tombs. So far he believed the princess to
be in a place of safety, for none, even in those rebellious days, would
dare to enter the ancestral tomb of another.
Crossing this valley of sepulchres with inverted face, as if in deep
contemplation after visiting the tomb of his ancestors, he came into the
open road, where a vast crowd were floating onward into the city, mad
with excitement, and shouting, "Many years' life to the heaven-sent
Emperor!" he mixed with them, and so, safely passed onward to the house
of the merchant Yang, who no sooner saw him than he ordered an incense
table, and returned thanks to Fo for his safety. "For," said he, "thy
servant made but little doubt that the son of the great Chin-Chi-Loong
had been slain."
"The son of the merchant of the south lives to avenge the death of his
Emperor," said Nicholas.
"Hist! hist!" said the merchant, pale with fear, lest some servant might
hear the words; adding, "Truly Wey-t-song but merited his fate."
"Art thou also a traitor, O Yang?" exclaimed Nicholas, indignantly.
"The rich need be cautious, for is it not a maxim, that a successful
rebel is more to be feared than a dead Emperor, O noble Nicholas?"
Indignant as he was at this disloyalty, Nicholas, remembering the
necessity of the princess, dissembled his anger, and said, "Is the
worthy Yang under sufficient obligation to Chin-Chi-Loong to serve his
son?"
"Even to the extent of his life and fortune."
"Then I will trust thee," said Nicholas, dropping the usual formality of
speech, and telling him the whole of his adventure of the morning.
"Truly, O youth, this is a dangerous affair; but Yang dares not break
faith with the great chief who may some day be master of us all," said
the merchant, trembling with fear.
"This, then, is just; I would have the head-dress and mourning garb of a
widow, and the coarse robes of two Coolies."
"This is a cautious method of proceeding, and shall be done," said Yang,
who left the room, leaving the impatient youth walking to and fro with
great anxiety. The articles, however, not being very difficult to obtain
in that part of the city, the merchant soon returned with them packed up
in a small bale; then, hastily thanking Yang, Nicholas took the bale
with him some little distance from the house, and paid two Coolies to
carry him in their sedan to the gate of the valley of tombs; having
arrived there, he jumped out of the chair, and paid the Coolies
handsomely, telling them to leave it near the gate, and to fetch him
again in two hours' time; when, not in the least doubting the honesty of
so generous a customer, the Coolies went off to spend their earnings at
a wine-shop, and Nicholas proceeded cautiously to the cavern.
Having explained his scheme to the princess, he left her in the cavern
to attire herself in the widow's weeds, while he and Chow proceeded to
the tomb above, to assume the garbs of Coolies.
This being done, he gave Chow some silver and sent him off to the
wine-shop, after which he assisted the princess up the steps, and,
supporting her, they slowly walked through the valley, till they came
within a short distance of the gate, when, to the delight of Nicholas,
Chow came up to them and said:--
"I found the two sots drinking like fishes, and when I told them a
merchant wished to hire them, they laughed heartily, saying, that they
had already been engaged by too good a passenger to stir for the next
two hours."
Then, assisting the princess into the chair, Nicholas and Chow took the
place of the Coolies, and so carried it to the house of Yang.
As Yang had prepared the ladies of his family to receive a young girl,
who, he said, was about to be taken into a distant province by her
brother, as soon as the troubles had subsided, the princess was warmly
received in the Hall of Ancestors, and immediately conducted to the
inner apartments of the house. Cleverly as this was managed, Nicholas
now trembled for the safety of the princess; indeed, she could be safe
no where, but with the Lady Candida, or the Prince Yong-Li, both of whom
he believed to have fled to Woo-san-Kwei, in Leao-tong, therefore,
difficult as was the task, he determined to take her to that province.
As for Yang, whose loyalty was stronger toward the family of Nicholas
than to the imperial line, and who really wished a person likely to
prove so dangerous as the princess out of his house, he offered his
advice and assistance; and as a small junk belonging to him was about to
proceed to Tien-sin, on the banks of the Pei-ho (or white river) with a
cargo of goods in exchange for salt, he offered to place it at the
command of Nicholas, who, when at the mouth of the river, would find it
no difficult matter to make a voyage through the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee,
and of Leao-tong, to some town upon the coast.
This being arranged, they determined that the junk should start as soon
as she was laden, and that the princess should embark as a young widow,
whose husband having been killed in the rebellion, was returning to see
her friends in Leao-tong. But then the princess could not travel without
a female attendant,--and whom could they trust? that seemed their
greatest difficulty. It was surmounted, however as you will see in the
next chapter.
CHAPTER XXX.
A LARGE STOCK OF LADIES, TWO TAELS PER SACK.
Previously to his successful march upon Pekin, Li-Kong had besieged the
capital of the great province of Honan, which, after a few days' hard
fighting, he succeeded in taking; when by way of punishing the
inhabitants for their brave resistance, he ordered a slaughter so large
and indiscriminate that for many after years his name was used as a
bugbear to frighten children; so insatiable was his appetite for
decapitation, that, like Nero, he longed that the millions had but one
neck, that he might strike the whole of their heads at a blow.
The mightiest rivers, however, can but run their course, and so at
length, in the event of his making himself Emperor, he might have some
subjects left, he commenced to banish and to pardon, and by way of
rewarding his soldiers, one day when he was in a good humor, he
commanded them to sell the whole of the remaining women prisoners in the
public market-place, and keep the money; but as the soldiers asked such
high prices, and the fathers, husbands, and brothers, of Honan, had been
robbed of their property, after a two days' sale a large stock of
ladies remained on hand, which they were obliged to take with them to
Pekin, where, after the conquest, they hoped to obtain better prices.
Tyrants are, however, capricious; and so, being offended with his
soldiers for not discovering the princess, with hideous humor Li-Kong
ordered the women to be placed in sacks, and sold with other plunder at
two taels each.
Now it so happened that on the morning of the sale, Chow was passing
through the market-place, and seeing a crowd of people examining the
sacks, which were arranged in rows and tied at the necks, with small
breathing holes near the top, he stopped to watch the progress of the
cruel comedy. Anxious fathers, brothers, and husbands, who had followed
the army from Honan, for the purpose of rescuing their female relatives,
bought sack after sack at the reduced price, each, when the purchase was
completed, tearing them open; the greater number, however, giving vent
to fearful cries, when they discovered that their chance in the lottery
proved a blank; others, recognizing a wife, daughter, or sister, would
become almost frantic with joy. Many, before purchasing, would slip
behind a sack, rip it with a knife, to have a peep, and get rewarded
with a sound caning for their artfulness.
Well there were only half a ton, or at least five sacks of ladies left
for disposal, when a great lout of a countryman drew up in his cart,
jumped out, and after looking at his almanac, said, "Truly this is a
fortunate day, and I am likely to get a good wife cheap; so, although
two taels is all I have obtained for my last crop of rice, I will trust
to Fo; for young or old, handsome or ugly, I must have a wife to help me
till my grounds." Just then a shrill scream issued from one of the
sacks. "Who knows," continued the countryman, "but the gods may have
sent that scream to direct my choice, for if the woman is neither young
nor pretty she may be well dressed, and, consequently the wife or
daughter of some wealthy mandarin, who will purchase her of me, and so
make my fortune?"
"Let the noble paddy bird make his choice quickly," said a soldier.
"There are the two taels, most illustrious war tiger," said the
countryman, giving the money and taking his choice.
"We will see thy choice," said one of the soldiers, about to open the
sack.
"Nay, illustrious soldier, it would offend the gods if other eyes but
mine saw my prize." So saying, the man took the sack up in his huge
arms, lifted it into the cart, and drove slowly away, followed by Chow,
who was curious to discover the kind of prize the wise-acre had drawn.
Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man no sooner reached an
unfrequented part of the suburbs than he stopped by the bank of a canal,
pulled a knife from his pocket, ripped open the sack; but then a change
came o'er his dream, for with his body bent double, his two hands upon
his knees, and his bullet head thrown to the extreme stretching of his
neck, he stared with disgust for at least a minute, then in a paroxysm
of rage, the disappointed ruffian placed his hands upon the woman's
shoulders, screaming, "Thou vile old bamboo stick!"
The trembling woman fell upon her knees and prayed for mercy.
"Has the wretched woman no friend who will purchase her?"
"Truly the friends and relations of thy servant have been slain by the
soldiers; she has no friend in the world."
"Thou hast robbed me of my money, thou antique rat, and shall be
punished," said the brute, who, first striking her to the ground, picked
her up in his arms, and would have thrown her into the canal but for
Chow, who, going to the back of the cart, caught hold of the man's legs
and dragged him on to the ground, when, not comprehending the wherefore
of his wheelbarrow position, the fellow began to roar for mercy, but
turning his face and finding his enemy to be a mere youth, he sprang
upon his legs and attacked him with his clenched fists. For a time they
had a hard fight, after the fashion of the Chinese, who are as much
given to that sport, pastime, or brutality, as the English themselves.
At length, however, with one well-directed blow, Chow settled the
transaction, when, admitting himself to be soundly thrashed, as all
women-beaters should be, the bully fell upon his knees, and said, that
if the woman were a relation he was sorry for what he had done in the
moment of vexation at losing his money, and moreover, begged that Chow
would purchase her again for half the amount he had paid.
"Take the whole, thou miserable dog," said Chow, throwing down two taels
that Nicholas had given him in the morning, to purchase a thick robe for
the voyage to Leao-tong, then, lifting the poor creature from the cart,
he laid her upon the bank of the canal, and by dashing water in her face
brought her to her senses. But why does Chow suddenly fall at her feet,
kiss the hem of her garment, take both her hands in his own, gaze in her
face for a moment, and then, throwing his arms around her neck, sob like
an infant. Surely there was some good reason for such strange
conduct?--We shall see.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CHOW MAKES A DISCOVERY, AND NICHOLAS A SURPRISE.
While Chow had been engaged in his adventure with the countryman, Yang
received intelligence from the commander of his junk, that the vessel
was laden, and only awaited his orders for sailing. So far,
circumstances were favorable for the voyage to Leao-tong, and if they
could but secure a proper attendant for the princess they might set out
that evening. That was the great difficulty to be got over. Many plans
were suggested, but all seemed so fraught with danger of discovery, that
they were well nigh at their wit's end. While Nicholas and Yang were
discussing the matter, there was a great hammering upon the gong at the
door. It was Chow, who in another minute stood before them. Alone? No,
but to the astonishment of Nicholas, accompanied by a woman, so veiled
that no feature could be seen.
"How! what means this? Who is this woman?" exclaimed Nicholas.
"The noble Nicholas bestowed two taels upon his servant."
"What words are these?" replied Nicholas, impatiently; adding, "Hast
thou bought the robe?"
"Pardon, O noble master, but thy servant can better do without a robe
for the rest of his life than the glorious purchase he has made with
those taels."
"What purchase is this, thou rogue?" said Nicholas, vexed that he could
get no direct answer.
"His dearly beloved lost mother, O my master."
"Thy mother! What words are these?"
Then, when Chow had related the scene with the sacks, and his adventure
with the countryman, and how that it resulted in the discovery of his
mother, who stood before them, Nicholas heartily and sincerely
congratulated him, as did also the merchants, who ordered the servants
to take her to the inner apartments, all of which so gratified the
delighted Chow that he fell at the feet of Nicholas, kissed the hem of
his robe, and with tears of gratitude and joy told them that his mother
had made her escape from the slayer of her husband, but having been
retaken, the enraged mandarin had ordered her to be sold with the other
women. So, O noble Nicholas, has the great Tien rewarded thy servant for
endeavoring to rescue what he thought to be a strange woman from a
villain, who was about casting her in the canal.
Now, nothing could be more fortunate for all parties than this discovery
of Chow's, for as the mother would not leave Chow, nor Chow leave his
mother or his master, if he could help it, it was speedily settled that
no better attendant could be found for the princess, and so it was
arranged that they should start at once.
The merchant, partly by his great interest with the usurper's
government, and partly by bribes, secured a com-ho or passport for
himself and family; sedan chairs were procured, and the whole party
passed through the city to the river, where the junk was awaiting them.
Then, having seen them safe on board and given instructions to his
captain to obey Nicholas, he placed a purse of silver in the youth's
hands, took his leave, and left the travelers to pursue their journey,
and with but one interruption from a river mandarin, who stopped their
progress to examine their cam-ho, the junk proceeded down the Pei-ho, or
white river.
The junk was upon a small scale something like what the houses of our
merchants were, when, proud of their profession, they had their
residences attached to their warehouses, one-half being occupied by the
cargo, and the other divided into rooms, each of which was furnished in
accordance with the quality of its tenant. The two usually set aside for
the ladies of the family were tenanted by the princess, who, as became
her rank and sex, kept herself secluded from the eyes of the male
passengers and sailors.
For several days they continued their voyage down the river, till by the
fields of millet seed, pulse, and turnips, the numerous mud hovels, the
shoals of small boats, and the thousands of starving men, women, and
children, who were paddling about the fields, and the very city of huge
salt stacks upon the banks, they saw that they were approaching the town
of Tien-sin, at which place, in consequence of the number of vessels
which had arrived that day laden with timber, they were delayed for
some time before the captain could unload his vessel and take in a cargo
of salt.
As in our own manufacturing counties many thousands of poor mechanics
and artisans make little livings for themselves and great fortunes for
their employers, so in Tien-sin, the most miserably poor and shrivelled
portion of the vast population in China produce a commodity which places
their masters, the salt dealers, among the most wealthy merchants in the
Empire. While the captain is unloading his cargo I will tell you how
these people produce this common edible.
In addition to the pits of salt, which, like coal, are found in many of
the provinces, there are many places where it is discovered by scattered
spots of gray earth. To obtain this salt, they level the surface of the
earth as smooth as glass and in a sloping direction so that the water
will run off. When dried by the sun, and the white particles of salt are
seen, they first raise it in small heaps, like haycocks, then spread it
upon sloping tables with ledges, and pour soft water upon it, which, as
it soaks in, extracts the salt and runs into an earthen vessel by means
of a small channel. The earth thus drained is not wasted, but laid
aside, so that after a few days, when dry, they reduce it to a fine
powder, and replace it in the spot from whence it was taken, when, after
six days, it is again mixed with particles of salt, which are again
extracted as before, so that not one atom becomes lost.
While the men are thus engaged in the fields, the women and children are
employed in huts, in boiling the salt water in large iron basins, which
they place over an earthen stove, with holes made in such a manner that
the fire heats all the basins alike. When the salt water has boiled some
time, it becomes thick, and changes slowly into a very white salt, which
is stirred with an iron spatula till it becomes quite dry.
When the captain had exchanged his cargo for an other of dates, which he
intended again to exchange profitably in Leao-tong for peas and drugs,
Nicholas purchased a quantity of furs and mats, which he soon found to
be necessary; for, as they approached further to the north, the winds
blew keenly, and the iceblocks floated so numerously as frequently to
impede their voyage; indeed, the cold was so intense that nothing but
the fear of losing life or liberty, or the love of gold, would have
induced any one to make the voyage in that inclement season (it was in
November). Indeed, by the time they had passed the mouth of the Pei-ho
and got into the gulf of Pe-tche-Lee, the snow fell so heavily, and the
north winds blew so keenly, that, breaking through all discipline, the
sailors lighted fires upon the deck, and laid near them, drinking rice
spirit so copiously, that had not Nicholas, who knew so well how to
manage such insubordinates, thrown the spirit tubs overboard, they must
have foundered upon the _Sha-loo-poo-teen_ islands. As it was, so long
and so rough was the passage across the gulf, that the princess became
fearfully ill; so much so, indeed, that at one time they feared she
would have died. At length, however, they came to an anchor off the
coast of Kin-Chow, a distance of seven miles from the shore, and so
planted with dangerous rocks that they were compelled to make
fire-signals for the townspeople to put off to them in their lighters or
barges.
As the people have these lighters always ready for the purpose, it was
not long before several answered the signal, and came alongside.
Choosing the most commodious, Nicholas caused a large fire to be lighted
in the cabin, where the princess, who was too ill to walk, was lifted on
board, and the lightermen rowed them the roughest seven miles of their
journey. Nicholas and Chow paced the deck in no very good humor, as they
were obliged to entrust themselves to the slow movements of the boatmen,
who neither for love nor money would hasten their pace. Moreover, as the
sea rolled so heavily, the distance was lengthened by their being
compelled to take a circuitous course between and around the dangerous
rocks.
When the boatman, who, although slow, were sure, brought them beneath
the huge rocks which form the sea-walls of Leao-tong, Chow looked up
with amazement. "Surely," said he, "Yen-Vang must have built these great
rocks to prevent the province from falling upon the heads of the people
in his watery dominions;" adding, as he saw some little birds, like
swallows, flying about the rocks, "Truly, if my eyeballs are straight,
those little creatures promise us some of the soup of life."
"Truly our eyeballs play us false, O Chow, for these birds are seldom
found but on the coast of Tonquin, Java, and Cochin-China," said
Nicholas doubtfully.
"It is true that the servant has not the wisdom of his master, yet the
stomach and the nose are excellent diviners. Moreover, it is said that
this bird-nest soup is strengthening to the weak. The princess is weak,
O my master, and Chow would obtain some of those nests."
Then, as they were near a jutting point of the rock of no very difficult
ascent, Nicholas ordered the barge to stop, while Chow ascended and
procured some half-dozen of the nests, from which to the present day,
one of the most popular dishes of China is made.
As Nicholas had said, these birds' nests are seldom found except on the
coasts of Java, Cochin-China, and Tonquin. The birds are not unlike
swallows, as to their feathers; the nests, which they build high up in
the clefts of the rocks, are supposed to be composed of small sea-fish,
fastened together by means of a viscous juice, which distils from the
beaks of the little creatures, and serves as a gum to fasten the nests
to the rock. They are also seen to take the froth that floats upon the
sea, with which they cement every part of their nests, in the same
manner that swallows build with mud and clay. This matter being dried,
becomes solid, transparent, and of a greenish color; but, while fresh,
it is generally white.
When Chow had procured these nests, the boatmen resumed their toil, and
in a short time reached the harbor; Chow landed first, and having
procured a litter, the princess and his mother were conveyed through the
rows of dirty-looking granite houses, which form the town of Kin-Chow,
till they arrived at a small inn.
CHAPTER XXXII.
NICHOLAS PUNISHES AN UNGRATEFUL INNKEEPER, AND ESCAPES FROM HIS
TREACHERY.
Rejoiced that the tedious sea-voyage was at an end and that the princess
would, in all probability, by a few day's rest, gain health and strength
sufficient for the long land journey before them, you may guess the
vexation of Nicholas, on arriving at the inn, to find a crowd of persons
around the door enjoying the following scene. The innkeeper was kneeling
before the chair of a tax-gathering mandarin, surrounded by his bamboo
sticks in waiting, who seemed to have in their charge three beggars.
_Mandarin._--"Thrice hath the dog's hide been corrected, and yet his
tribute is not ready."
_Innkeeper._--"Is it not true, O tribute-collecting lord, that but
little may be gleaned from an empty purse?"
_Mandarin._--"Therein is thy crime, slave, that having thrice received
our paternal correction, thy vile purse should still remain empty. Know,
thou mean dog, that the purse of the subject should be ever at the
service of the Emperor."
_Innkeeper, giving his empty purse._--"The laws of the empire must be
obeyed, there is thy servant's purse."
_Mandarin, angrily._--"Would the vile innkeeper laugh in our face?"
_Innkeeper._--"Surely, O great mandarin, the owner of an empty purse
hath but little cause for laughing!"
_Mandarin._--"Thou incorrigible dog, where hath been thy industry, that
thou hast not sufficient even to pay thy taxes?"
_Innkeeper._--"Truly the wars and the robbers have driven from the
province its trade, and thy servant hath not rice sufficient to sustain
life in the mean bodies of himself and family."
_Mandarin._--"If these are straight words, the dog's life cannot be of
value to him; let him, therefore, pay the debt he owes to the Emperor,
by humbly begging of the Tartar-subduing General, Woo-san-Kwei to let
him offer his carcass of full measure to the barbarians, that he may
shield the life of a better man."
_Innkeeper._--"Truly, O fountain of wisdom the officers of the
rebel-subduing general have already stolen from thy servant his four
sons."
_Mandarin._--"Stolen, thou vile rat! Let the rogue receive twenty blows
for this word of disrespect, and fifty for half the debt he owes to the
Emperor."
In an instant the innkeeper was thrown upon his face, and while one man
held his head, and another his feet, a third belabored the poor fellow
till he roared again. When the punishment was concluded, and the
innkeeper had, according to custom, thanked the official for his
kindness, the mandarin said, "Such is the punishment of rogues who will
not pay their taxes;" adding, "But that the cheating innkeeper may not
escape too easily, let him provide food and lodging for these three poor
people till his debt be paid."
"May thy servant inquire the amount of this innkeeper's debt; for it is
fitting that the taxes should be paid?" said Nicholas, coming forward to
the astonishment of the official, who said, sternly, "The sum, bold
stranger, is one ounce of silver."
"Then, may thy servant be permitted to pay this silver; for he would
engage for himself and sister the man's house, which cannot be large
enough for these poor people also?"
"Truly it may not be refused," replied the mandarin, taking the money,
and rescinding his order for the accommodation of the poor people; but
adding, as he left the spot, "It is a maxim that people should settle
their own debts before paying those of others."
"Where is the justice now, my master; for although he has received the
debt in full, that rat of the taxes hath not taken back the blows from
this poor man's hide?" said Chow, fortunately for himself in such soft
tones that he could not be heard by the mandarin. More pleased than
otherwise at the scene which they had considered good fun, the crowd
dispersed; when, silencing the noisy gratitude of the innkeeper, who,
after all, had been more frightened than hurt with the blows which had
been dealt out to him, as much as a matter of form as a punishment,
Nicholas and his party entered the inn, and having secured the two best
rooms, one for the princess and her attendant, the other for himself and
Chow, he gave the bird's nests to the wife of the innkeeper for the use
of the ladies.
As for themselves, the boys made a good meal, and then whiled the time
away in conversation till it became dark, when they both sought their
beds; which, queer as it may seem to you--being nothing but piles of
bricks shaped to the human form, and heated from beneath with charcoal,
the flame and heat of which are dispersed by pipes joined to an upright
tube, which carries the smoke through the roof--they greatly enjoyed
after their long journey.
The next morning Nicholas visited the princess, and to his surprise and
delight found that she had recovered her strength. "This is indeed joy,
O my princess!" said he, kneeling; when, taking him by the hand, the
royal lady said, "Kneel not before her whom thou hast so much
befriended, O noble youth; for it is naught but the poor fatherless girl
La-Loo who is before thee, and would indeed be thy sister."
"This is not possible; the daughter of the Ming can never be less in the
world than its princess--first in beauty as in rank," said Nicholas.
"The daughter of the Ming, or the girl La-Loo, be she whom she may,
noble youth, will travel alone through this dreary province in search of
her brother, if she can not journey as thy sister."
"Then be it so, for thy servant dares not disobey, O beautiful La-Loo!"
said Nicholas; adding, "Is it the will of the princess, to proceed upon
her journey?"
"The will of her adopted brother is the will of La-Loo," replied the
princess, and Nicholas left the room; but pushing the door before him,
imagine his surprise to find the innkeeper at the threshhold with his
little head upward, his short arms stretched forward from his great
body, and his legs in the hands of Chow, who appeared to be pulling him
from the door.
"Release thy mean servant from the hands of this vile person, O noble
youth, or his legs will be pulled as easily from his body as those of a
crab," said the man, piteously looking in the face of Nicholas.
"The rascal, the rogue, the elephant in size, but mouse in honesty, was
listening to thy conversation, O my master," said Chow.
"Let the mean rat rise upon his bamboo legs," said Nicholas; adding,
"What has the dog learned of his guests' affairs?"
"Truly so grand a mien could belong to none but the son of a king, and
so beautiful a lady, could be none other than a princess," said the man.
"Thou rascal," said Nicholas; but adding, more prudently, "Canst thou be
honest, and serve us?"
"For ever, O noble youth," replied the innkeeper.
"Trust not so small a mouse," said Chow.
"The innkeeper shall be rewarded according to his merits. Let him
conduct his guest to the merchants of the town, and he shall receive
some silver," said Nicholas, quitting the house with the man, who led
him to the various dealers and merchants, from whom he purchased a
camel, a mule, a tent, provision, and in short all things necessary for
a long journey overland.
When he had made these purchases, he whispered some secret instruction
in the ear of Chow, and sent him with the animals and articles back to
the inn; after which he said, "Will the worthy innkeeper open his lips
in a temple, and promise to keep to himself the secret he has
discovered?"
"Truly the noble youth does not doubt that the words of his servant are
straight?" replied the man, evasively.
"The worthy innkeeper must do this, or forfeit these two ounces of
silver," replied Nicholas, exhibiting the money, which had the desired
effect.
"There is but one temple for this poor town, and that is upon the
mountain without the walls."
"To that we will proceed, if the worthy innkeeper will show the way."
The man obeyed; they passed through the gates of the town into a narrow
road, which led them to the foot of a high mountain, near the summit of
which stood a small temple.
"It would be better to seek an altar within the inner apartments of thy
servant's inn, the gods would be equally as attentive to his promise,
and the noble youth would be saved the necessity of climbing so steep a
hill."
"Truly this temple can not be used often, or some easier means of ascent
would be made," said Nicholas.
"The words of the noble youth are wise, for truly this temple is but
used on the festivals of the first of the month."
"When is the next festival, O worthy innkeeper?"
"To-morrow."
"Then ascend."
Obeying, the innkeeper commenced climbing the narrow and slippery stairs
cut in the hill side; when they reached the top and stood in the temple
before a huge wooden god, who seemed to form part of the back wall of
the temple, out of which he had been cut, Nicholas, pointing to one of
the arms of the idol, said, "Truly, the god hath been neglected and
requires painting." Turning his back to Nicholas to examine the idol,
the man gave a shriek of alarm. Nicholas had taken a cord from his vest,
thrown it over his arms, and made him as harmless as if he had been in a
straight jacket.
"What means the youth; is he a robber?"
"Silence thou ungrateful hog," said Nicholas, pulling him toward the
idol, to which he secured his body, legs and arms.
"Now, thou dog, open thy lips, and say what fell into thine ears whilst
thou wast listening at the door of the ladies' apartments."
"Truly, thy mean servant could not hear much, for little was said by the
princess."
"Then how, thou trembling rogue, couldst thou know it was a princess who
spoke?"
"Thy servant divined that the lady must be of exalted rank; for in the
first place, had she not been a great lady escaping from the province of
Pekin, she would not have crossed the gulf in such weather, neither
would so noble a youth as thyself have treated a sister with such
exalted respect."
"Thou art a cunning dog, whose words are dust; and if thou dost not
admit that thy vile ears were at that door before the time when thou
wert caught, I will slay thee," said Nicholas, drawing his short sword,
and holding it threateningly.
"Pardon, O noble youth; but as iron can not resist the lode-stone,
neither can the ears of thy servant resist a secret: he did--did
listen," said the man trembling with fear.
"What didst thou hear, dog?" the sword was now at his throat.
"That the Emperor Wey-t-song was slain, and that the Emperor Li had
offered a great reward for the Princess of the Mings."
"Should I kill thee, thou mean rat, thou wouldst but meet thy merits."
"The magnanimous youth would not soil his sword with the blood of so
mean a person."
"No; but thou shalt remain here till we are beyond the reach of harm
from thy vile tongue."
"Surely the noble youth would not starve so ill-conditioned a person,"
said the man in a whining tone. "Thou art now safe, thou rogue, and I
will pay thee the two taels I promised; but if even when released from
thy bondage when the temple is visited to-morrow, thou speak but the
name of the lady you have seen, I will return and punish thee, if it is
years to come." So saying Nicholas threw the silver upon the floor,
closed the door of the temple, descended the mountain, and made as much
haste as possible back to the inn.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.--ATTACKED BY WOLVES, AND STOPPED BY A SERPENT.
By the time Nicholas returned to the inn, Chow had prepared every thing
for their departure; the camel was laden with a litter for the two
ladies, behind which were two tents, rough sleeping mats, furs and a
supply of food and fuel.
"All is prepared, O noble Nicholas, according to thy order," said Chow.
"Thou art as nimble as thou art brave, Chow," said Nicholas, passing to
the room of the princess, whom he found with the mother of Chow well
wrapped in furs.
"It is well that thou art prepared, O beautiful and illustrious La-Loo,
for the villain innkeeper heard our conversation, and I doubt not
intended to earn the rebel Li-Kong's reward." At this the limbs of the
princess trembled, and her face became pale with fear.
"Let us haste then, O noble brother, for La-Loo fears that demon
Li-Kong, and would rather that her parent's blow had proved effective
than fall into his power."
"The weather is severe and the journey drear, and fraught with dangers
of savage beasts and still more savage men," said Nicholas, as fearful
of the danger of proceeding as of remaining; adding, "At least the
innkeeper can not return till to-morrow, and early morning would be less
dangerous than the darkness of this winter's night."
"The last of the line of the great Tait-sou have the courage of their
ancestors. Let us on our journey, my brother," said the princess.
Without another word Nicholas led the princess and her attendant to the
camel, and assisted them into the litter.
"Surely," said La-Loo, "there are times when women should have the
courage of men. An arrow sped by my hand would be as useful as one from
the bow of my brother."
Understanding the meaning Nicholas gave the princess his own bow, and
quiver full of arrows.
"Truly my venerable and beloved parent can pull a bow-string to save her
life," said Chow giving his bow and arrows to his mother.
"This is not well, Chow, for we are left unarmed, except with our short
swords, which will be of little use," said Nicholas.
"The noble Nicholas left Chow to provide for the journey, and so,
knowing that female arms, like female tongues, can fight when the time
comes, he provided weapons for each," said Chow, taking two bows from
the sides of the mule.
"Thou hast the wisdom and foresight of a colao, O Chow," said Nicholas,
laughing; then adding, seriously, "But the guide."
"Is here, O noble stranger, and as he hopes to have his tomb well
dusted, will conduct thee safely to the distant mountains," said a
youth, stepping forward with an unlighted torch in his hand.
Nicholas then mounting behind the camel, Chow upon the mule, and the
guide taking hold of the cord which was tied to the great animal's
mouth, they proceeded on their journey, and as it was just within the
time of closing the gates, they passed out of the town into the open
country of teas and drugs; and so quickly did they travel, that before
night came on they had reached a narrow gorge between two mountains,
which was good, inasmuch as they would be protected from the keen winds.
The darkness came on, and the guide lighted his torch, which flamed so
terrifically, that they might have passed for one of our slow night
trains.
So for some hours they traveled, till they came to a forest so dense
with trees that the guide would go no further, and they pitched the two
tents, one for the ladies, and the other for themselves, surrounding
both with a great fire, made of stubble, to keep off the wolves or other
beasts of prey. The following morning they resumed their journey, till
as they were leaving the forest, they could hear the distant howling of
wolves; the camel exhibited its fright by making strange noises, and the
mule grew restless, snorted, and every now and then turned its head as
if to look for its enemies. The whole party fixed arrows in their bows,
ready for an attack, and for some time their hearts palpitated with
alarm. Ordering the little caravan to stop, Nicholas sent Chow to
examine the probability of an attack. He had been absent half an hour
when they heard the trampling of horses near at hand. What could it
mean? surely they were not pursued? Then came Chow, who, running
forward, said, "We are lost, O my master, for there are banditti near."
"On my brother, on, for these rogues are doubtless the troops of the
rebel Li-Kong," exclaimed the princess, as she leant forward from the
litter with the bent bow in her hand; and onward they went, with open
ears, and as noiselessly as possible; passing along the side of a
mountain into which the wood opened, till they came to a gorge, when the
guide stopped, and proposed that they should make a _détour_, in order
to avoid the passage of the mountain platform.
"It is not possible, my master; for to the right are the banditti, to
the left the wolves. Let us keep onward and dare this platform;" and
again they proceeded through the gorge. Still the wolves kept up their
dreary howling, and the trampling of the banditti, if banditti they
were, seemed at no greater distance from them than the animals; at
length they passed through the gorge, when a sight was before them that
would have caused the stoutest hearts to quail. There, leading from the
gorge, was the platform of which the guide had spoken. It was supported
by rafters, which stood out some six feet from the rock, a mere shelf,
without edge or railing, at least five hundred feet above the level of
the sea, which the mountain skirted.
"It would be death to cross with these animals; we must turn back and
make the _détour_," said the guide.
"Open thy ears. We dare not, O noble Nicholas," said Chow! "for the
wolves are upon us."
"Onward, my brother, for there are sounds of more terrible beasts than
wolves. Let us trust ourselves in the hands of Providence," said the
princess.
Seeing the knees of the guide knocking together with fear, Nicholas
said, "Get thee to the rear, and follow the mule, thou coward;" then,
dismounting, he caught hold of the reins in the nostrils of the camels
and averting his eyes from the chasm beneath, led the sure-footed beast
along the platform. They had reached midway, when the wolves, with a
howling concert, made their appearance at the commencement of the
platform; and as Chow, who brought up the rear, led the mule, he felt
the animal tremble, and fearing that if the wild brutes ventured across
the platform the terrified beasts would be the means of precipitating
the whole party into the abyss, he trembled with anxiety. It was a
fearful situation, but the brave youth retaining his presence of mind,
crept to the flanks of the mule, and only in time, for one of the wolves
who had ventured along the platform, followed by the pack, received an
arrow in his brain, and as he rolled over into the abyss beneath, its
companions stood with their fore feet stretched forward, and their ears
bent, as if astonished, when another arrow flew among them, but so
intent had Chow become in this fight, that he was unconscious that the
progress of the rest of the party had been stopped midway. For the cause
of this we must return to Nicholas; who, as he led the camel, to his
horror, saw issuing from a fissure in the rock the head of a serpent of
the most venomous kind. He fixed an arrow in his bow, but a moment's
thought, and he dared not fire, for should he miss the reptile it would
be upon them instantly. What should he do? His sword--yes--he drew it;
but then he dared not leave the camel's head, and he called to Chow,
little thinking that he was in a more terrible position than himself.
"Let fly thy arrow, my brother; should you miss, here is my bow," said
the princess, leaning forward.
Still Nicholas would not move. The situation was fearful; the wolves on
one side, the deadly serpent on the other; indeed words are wanting to
paint the dread anxiety and terror of all, even the animals who stood
transfixed, with their hearts beating against their sides in the agony
of fear.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SAVED BY A MUSK-DEER.--STORIES OF WONDERFUL MOUNTAINS.
Relief came, but so imperceptibly that it stole over them. A perfume so
strong filled the air that the animals coughed, the great snake writhed,
and approached nearer to them; they were lost; no, the perfume had
entered the nostrils of the reptile; its movement was languid, another
second, and their deliverer appeared. It was a musk-deer, or roe-buck,
who had pursued the serpent till it had lost it in the fissure for a few
minutes only, when, recovering its trail, the deer had pursued it to the
platform, where, with one grip at its neck, it killed it, when, startled
at the cavalcade, it retraced its steps, not at all to the regret of
Nicholas, for, valuable as the musk animal was, his gratitude was too
great to have killed it. Having crossed the platform, Nicholas saw the
predicament of Chow, who was still employed in keeping the wolves at
bay. He had fired many arrows, yet had killed but three, while others
sat crouching, as if neither liking to recede or advance, waiting, in
fact, for the boy's back to be turned, before they made an attack; so
keeping poor Chow in one terrible position, not daring to turn his back
or to fire his last remaining arrow, for fear that it should miss. The
tables, however, were turned, when Nicholas, followed by the guide, both
with fixed bows, came to his rescue; one flight more from the three
bows, and the now terrified beasts scampered off, when Chow returned to
the other side of the platform with Nicholas, and the whole party
offered up thanks to Heaven for their miraculous preservation.
It is in the mountains of Pe-tche-Lee that the musk-deer is generally
found by hunters, who find a good market, not only for the musk, but the
body, which is in great esteem; and that I may account to you in a
reasonable manner for the providential escape of the travelers, I must
tell you that the flesh of serpents is the favorite and most common food
of this roe-buck, who kills them with ease, however large or numerous;
for no sooner does he come near than the serpent becomes overpowered
with the scent of the musk; and so well is this fact known to the
mountaineers, that when they go to cut wood or make charcoal in the
mountains, they carry about their persons a few grains of this musk, and
rest and sleep without fear from the venomous snakes, which might
otherwise destroy them.
The travelers resumed their journey, and continued till it became dark,
when they pitched their tents upon an open plain, lighted a circle of
fire around their encampment, and remained for the night; so, for at
least three months, they continued this tedious journey, keeping within
a few miles of the sea-coast, through mountains, plains and forests,
till they reached a small village, at the base of the mountain chain of
Lao-yang, where they were once more enabled to rest beneath the roof of
a house, without fear of traitors, for Lao-yang was the head-quarters of
the governor and general of the province, Woo-san-Kwei.
As they were passing the ridges of these mountains, the guide kept his
eyes fixed upon their green sides, as if in deep thought. "Surely my
brother can see nothing wonderful in these tree-growing hills," said
Chow.
"Thy mean servant was dreaming of his native province, of which these
mountains reminded him, although compared with those of my native
Chen-si they are dirt heaps."
"The mountains of my brother's province of Chen-si are doubtless great,
but they are mole-hills to those of Fokien, where thy unworthy brother
was born," said Chow.
"Why, what words are these? Does not the whole world know that Chen-si
has a mountain of the shape of a cock, and which sometimes crows so loud
that it may be heard for ten miles?"
"Fokien has a mountain which is so high that its summit can not be seen,
and foretells storms by moving its great body to and fro like a tree
with the wind."
"It is a dirt-hill compared to another in Chen-si, that at the sound of
a drum breathes forth fire and flame."
"Rat's flesh! thy mountain is nothing to the good hill of Fokien, which
makes thieves so giddy when they gaze upon it, that they drop down their
plunder and run for their lives," said Chow.
"That may be useful, my brother, but how can its qualities be compared
to another of my mountains, which has the power of conferring
immortality upon all who live thereon?" replied the guide.
"It is even of doubtful merit compared to the mountain of Fokien, which
has grown into the exact shape of the god Fo, and is so large that its
eyes are three miles round, and its nose ten miles long." The guide
having no other on his list, turned sulkily aside, and so ended this
conversation, which, I may tell you, did not spring from the
imaginations of either, for the assertions on both sides are accredited
by the people of China.
Delighted at the probability of their being near the end of their
journey, and as much so at the prospect of a few days' rest, you may
imagine the dismay of the party at being awakened early the next morning
by a great tumult. What could it mean? They were not long in doubt, for
the master of the inn came to them with tears in his eyes. "Arise, O
worthy strangers, this is an unfortunate day for us all; the thieves,
the rats of the ocean have landed," said he.
"What words are these, O worthy friend?" said Nicholas, jumping to his
feet.
"The Emperor Li is marching a great army to beseige Lao-yang, where the
great Woo-san-Kwei is encamped; but far worse, the sea wasps have
landed within a day's journey, and are scouring the country, joined by
the rogues and thieves of the province, and the people are flying with
what goods they can collect to the places of refuge; if the noble
stranger is wise he will follow," said the man, leaving the room to make
preparation for the departure of himself and family.
Of the places of refuge, of which the man spoke, there were many in the
province of Leao-tong. Some were in the open plains, encompassed by
strong walls, and entrenched ditches of great depth; others were erected
upon the summits of mountain crags, and approachable only by great
ladders, or secret steps in the rock.
Fearing for the safety of the princess, Nicholas lost no time in
securing the aid of the innkeeper, who, for a handsome present, and in
compassion for the ladies, offered to secure them a safe asylum. So when
the greater portion of the terrified inhabitants of the little hamlet
had fled to their different places of refuge, taking with them the bulk
of their property, the innkeeper, placing his wife and daughter in a
cart, led the way through a defile of the mountain, and many times was
he stopped by his flying neighbors, who implored of him to seek a safer
place than the open mountains, where the rogues could so easily follow.
Keeping steadily along the ridge, while they were in sight, the last had
no sooner disappeared than he turned through a great cleft, just large
enough for the cart and camel to pass, when, pointing to a crag which
hung over the summit, at a great height, he said, "The rogues will not
reach us there."
"Are we birds, that we can fly?" said Chow, with astonishment.
When they had proceeded some distance through the opening, they came to
another and narrower cleft, cut out of its sides, to pass through which
they were compelled to unharness the mules and camel, when they entered
a wide, open space, like a courtyard.
"Even now we want wings, my brother," said Chow, shuddering, as he gazed
upward at the great height.
"Our wings are here," said the man, turning aside what appeared to be a
huge block of rock, but was only an ingenious imitation, when before
them there was a flight of steps, steep, and so narrow, that they looked
as if the ascent would squeeze a fat man a foot taller.
However, pleased at the discovery of such a place of refuge, they did
not stop to examine it, but passed onward; the princess first, and the
other women followed by the men, who carried articles of food, fuel, or
raiment with them. Having reached the uppermost step, they crept through
a hole large enough only for one person, and found themselves in one
large room, the roof of which was indeed the summit of the rock. In the
walls were small loopholes, from which could be seen many miles of
country; there was also a large space in one side for a fire, which was
immediately made use of by Chow, who had carried the fuel. Then the
guide was sent to fetch other matters, after which they all sat down
upon their mats, and partook of hot tea and rice cakes.
"Truly this is a wonderful place," said Nicholas, who, although he knew
that places of refuge were common in all the frontier provinces, had no
notion of their real strength and security.
"See," said the man, pointing to some huge stones near the entrance, and
some heavy bars of iron hanging upon the walls, "should the dogs
discover our retreat, they may be crushed as small as tea-dust."
"Truly they could but starve us out."
"Not so, noble youth," said the man pointing to a massive slab of rock;
and adding, "This is a door and leads to another part of the mountain."
"Truly our ancestors were wise."
"Necessity made them so, O youth; for two thousand years this border
province has been invaded at intervals by the Tartar barbarians."
When night came on, the men of the party descended to the cavern
beneath, the women kept to the turret, and were rocked to sleep by the
roaring wind, which brought to them the flame, smoke, and sparks, from
below. They, however, were secure, although the enraged rogues had made
a bonfire of their village--and they slept.
CHAPTER XXXV.
TREACHERY OF THE GUIDE.--THE PRINCESS SEIZED BY ROBBERS.
After a sojourn of three days in this hiding-place their provisions grew
short; moreover, it was probable that the enemy had left the village,
if, indeed, they had not taken their departure upon the first day;
therefore, it was arranged that one of the party should proceed upon a
tour of observation, and as the guide not only volunteered, but from his
profession seemed to be the most fitting person, he was sent. After an
absence of some hours, he brought them the information that not only had
the enemy left the neighborhood, but there was plenty of game at hand,
the great proof of which was the carcass of a yellow goat that he
carried across his shoulders; and so joyful was Nicholas at the news,
that he proposed their immediate departure.
"It would not be wise, O my young friend, for these thieves are artful,
and may be only lurking near till they can pounce upon us like tigers,"
said the innkeeper.
This advice being reasonable, and, fearing more for the princess than
himself, Nicholas readily agreed to remain for a few more days; but
then, tired of confinement, and knowing that one small kid would be
insufficient, he took his bow in his hands, saying, "Leave not this
place, O Chow, till I return."
"This may not be, O my master, for while here, there are two men, and a
strong room to protect the ladies; among the hills it will be as much as
two can do to protect each other from strolling thieves," said Chow;
which reasonable view, being supported by the princess and the
innkeeper, Nicholas was compelled, although against his will, to comply
with; and so the two youths started off in company.
Along mountain ridges, through valleys, and up steep crags, they toiled
for some hours without meeting man or beast. At length, however, as they
crossed a small hill covered with trees there was a rustling among the
underwood, and they heard the grunt of some animal. "It is a boar,
prepare thy bow," said Nicholas.
"No, no, master, no; he is running from us," said Chow, who was upon
higher ground and could see better. "See," he added, as Nicholas came by
his side, "he is sniffing something good; what can it be?" For a minute
they watched the animal, who was quietly sniffing the ground near a
small opening of the mountain. "See, he seeks the entrance, we must not
lose him," said Nicholas; and in another minute the boar fell over with
an arrow in his side when, drawing his sword, Nicholas ran up to it. The
animal, however, was too quick, for instead of being unduly alarmed at
the sudden attack, like a sensible beast, he had, with his teeth,
plucked the arrow from his body; an operation he effected so quickly,
that before Nicholas could stop, the boar met him half-way, tripped him
over, and, placing his huge paws upon the boy's face, would speedily
have killed him, but for another arrow which Chow had sent through the
brute's thick neck.
"That was a good aim, my brave Chow," said Nicholas, as he arose, and
passed his sword through the beast.
"The obstinacy of thy servant in coming with thee was good, O noble
Nicholas."
"Thou shalt be rewarded with a leg, at least," said Nicholas.
Thus satisfied with their foraging expedition, they carried the animal
between them till they came within a short distance of the refuge, when
they stopped to rest; but, starting suddenly Chow said, "Let us listen;"
and both put their ears to the ground. "Surely, it is plain, it is the
trampling of a large party of horses," replied Nicholas, rising to his
feet and running up a steep hill, "still there is nothing to be seen, no
living being--yet," he added, "it was the trampling of horses."
"It can not be otherwise," said Chow.
"Let us haste, then, O Chow!" and leaving the carcass of the boar upon
the ground, they ran till they reached the cavern. The camel and mules
were gone--their worst fears were confirmed; and Nicholas ascended the
stairs, followed by Chow, entered the room, when involuntarily placing
his hand upon his forehead, as if to assist his astonished vision, he
gave a scream of horror.
As for Chow, for a minute his astonishment deprived him of speech; then,
falling upon his face, he exclaimed, "My beloved mother!"
Well might they be horrified, for the princess and her attendant were
absent; the innkeeper, his wife and daughter, and the guide, were bound
with cords and gagged, so that they could neither move nor speak.
While Nicholas released the innkeeper, Chow performed a like office for
the women, when they all fell upon the guide, thumping him with their
fists, kicking him with their feet, and exclaiming, "Thou rat, thou
snake, thou shalt be strangled." As for the miserable fellow, with his
limbs bound and his mouth gagged, he could do nothing but roll his eyes
at them. Then being released by Nicholas, he would have got upon his
legs but for Chow, who threw him upon his back, and, stamping his foot
upon his breast, cried, "Lie there, thou dog, for thou art the villain."
"It is not so, Chow, or he would not himself be so bound and gagged,"
said Nicholas.
"Nevertheless, he is the traitor; he it was who brought the soldiers
upon us, who discovered our retreat," said the innkeeper, giving the
prostrate rogue another kick.
"Open thy lips, thou rascal; say what has become of the two ladies, or I
will slay thee," said Nicholas.
"Speak, thou rogue," said Chow, almost breathless with anxiety.
"Truly it was the misfortune and not the crime of thy servant; for had
he not been chosen as thy guide, this thing could not have happened,"
replied the trembling fellow.
"Open thy lips to a purpose, thou rogue; give me a clue to the track of
these robbers, and thy life shall be spared," said Nicholas, more
anxious to rescue the princess than to punish the guide, who, gaining
courage from the promise, said, "Truly, then, the princess is on her way
to the camp of the Emperor."
This was too much for Nicholas, who fell upon the man, and would have
killed him, but for Chow, who, in his turn, becoming more calm, said,
"Let the rogue earn his life by enabling us to follow these thieving
rats."
Perceiving the wisdom of this, Nicholas removed his hand from the throat
of the rogue, who said, "Truly this is a heavy misfortune; for till thy
servant left this place, he intended no mischief, when in the mountains
he met with a party of soldiers, who have been pursuing us all the way
from Kin-Chow for the purpose of earning the reward offered for the
princess."
"How is this possible, thou rogue?" said Nicholas.
"On the day of the festival, these soldiers landed on their way to
gather troops for the service of the Emperor Li, whom they were ordered
to join on the borders of the province; on the same day that thy outrage
upon the person of my uncle, the innkeeper of Kin-Chow, was discovered,
and the venerable man in his indignation told the soldiers that the
princess, for whom so large a reward was offered, was on the road to
Lao-yang, accompanied by a woman, two youths, and his nephew, who might
be known by the name of Leang, and who would, doubtless, when he heard
of the affront put upon his uncle, aid in capturing the whole party. The
soldiers, anxious to obtain the reward, pressed forward with such haste,
that, but for our crossing the platform, they would have overtaken us,"
said the guide; adding, "And would that they had, for then thy servant
would have been innocent."
"If innocent, then, thou rogue, what hath since caused thee to become a
traitor," said Nicholas.
"When the soldiers informed the nephew of the affront offered to his
venerable uncle, how under heaven and the social laws could he refuse to
aid in the punishment of such offenders?"
"How came it, O thou great rogue, that the soldiers should repay thy
great services with so much ingratitude?"
"Truly thy mean servant is not a god, that he can foresee the
ingratitude of mankind."
"These are dog's words, O noble youth," said the innkeeper; adding,
"This fellow had promised the thieves to keep thee under some pretence
till they came up, when they intended to have sold thee as a slave; and
finding that they had missed a portion of their expected prize, partly
in their rage, and partly that the rogue should not claim a portion of
the reward, they first beat and then left him as you found him, not
doubting that upon your return you would kill so false a rascal."
"Shall we not kill the traitor, who has stolen my beloved mother and the
princess?" said Chow, very fiercely.
"Truly we will do better--make him useful," said Nicholas; adding, "Is
the rogue certain that these soldiers have proceeded to Lao-yang?"
"It must be so, for it is to that city the Emperor Li is marching to
besiege the rebel Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide.
"Thou rascal, to call so great a thief an emperor, and so great a
general a rebel," said Chow, menacing him with his fist; adding, as he
again bound his arms to his side, "Thou shalt at least be in safe
keeping till either the princess be discovered, or thy day arrives to be
strangled."
The excitement past, then came despair. The soldiers had stolen the
mules and camel; it was, therefore, useless to attempt to overtake them,
even if their numbers had been sufficiently large. What was to be done?
and they both sat with their heads upon their hands. Nothing! At length
Nicholas said, "Bring the rogue with us, we will seek the General
Woo-san-Kwei."
"The roads are dangerous, and may be filled with rebels," said the
innkeeper.
"Then must we fight our way through the vermin," said Nicholas.
"This rogue shall go before and get the first sword in his wretched
body," said Chow, jerking the rope by which he held the guide, whose
teeth chattered together with terror at the notion.
Then telling the innkeeper where to find the dead boar, Nicholas bade
him and his family farewell.
"May the great Tien aid thee!" said the woman.
"Leave us thy name, O noble youth, that it may be marked on the memories
of our descendants," said the innkeeper.
Nicholas took the man aside, and whispered in his ear.
"It is a terrible name," said the man, bowing his head to the ground.
"It is a good one, and the son will restore thee thy village, O worthy
man, if the rebels take not his life," said Nicholas.
"The princess, the princess, and my beloved mother," exclaimed Chow.
"Are protected by Heaven till we rescue them from the hands of the
villain Li," said Nicholas, and they proceeded on their journey.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
ONCE MORE PRISONERS, BUT WITH FRIENDS--THE GUIDE'S MISTAKE.
With sorrowful hearts the two boys took leave of the houseless family,
and proceeded along the ridges of the mountains till they came to the
entrance of a great wood. Chow had custody of the guide, whom he held by
the rope, and pressed forward or jerked backward, as his sense of
indignation at the loss of his mother arose or subsided. At times he
would so slacken the rope that the man could scarcely feel his thraldom;
then again, when he thought of the hopelessness of again recovering his
mother, he would clench his teeth and pull it so violently, that the
miserable guide would fall backward; whereupon Chow would say, "Get thee
upon thy bamboo legs, thou rogue, or I will drag thee like a bale of
demon's goods, as thou art;" and the fat body of the coward would shake
like a blanc-mange, rise upon its legs, and commence a trot, when, after
a little while, Chow would give another tug at the rope, saying, as the
man tottered backward, "O, thou wouldst escape, wouldst thou, thou mouse
of fat measure, who hath stolen the cream of our lives?"
"Truly thy servant has been unfortunate, O noble youth, yet if his body
is shaken like a jelly of cold soup, he cannot guide thee through this
city of trees."
"The rogue's words are good, Chow, we cannot find our way through these
trees without his aid," said Nicholas; adding, "Fasten the rope around
thy arm, so that he cannot slip from thy hands."
"Truly the advice of my master is good," said Chow; and as they were
then passing through a thick copse, he fastened the rope around his own
body, saying, "Now, thou rat, honesty will for once reverse things, and
take its place behind roguery, for surely I hear footsteps, and should
they be those of thieves, thy thick head may serve to blunt the points
of their arrows."
The sounds were unmistakable, and the guide fell backward, trembling so
violently that he could not walk, till, taking hold of his shoulders,
Chow pushed him forward, saying, "On, thou coward, on;" and so they went
along the narrow path, till the sounds became more distinct. Then a
voice shouted to them, "stop!" when, trembling more than ever, the guide
threw one shoulder backward, and one foot forward, in order to prop
himself against the propelling Chow, at the same time exclaiming, "Stay,
O generous youth,--for the love of Fo, stay!--or the body of thy servant
will become a cushion for arrow-heads."
"Silence, thou dog," said Nicholas; adding in a whisper to Chow, "Let us
remain quiet, for doubtless it is some thief."
Then came the twang of a bow, and an arrow flew by, in its flight
clipping the ear of the miserable guide, who, now fairly frightened
out of his senses, twisted round like a teetotum, and fell upon the
ground, carrying Chow with him, exclaiming, "These are the thieves,
these are the thieves, O honorable war tiger."
And before Chow had disengaged himself from the rogue, they were all
three dragged into an open glade, where they found themselves surrounded
by a party of cavalry, the guide upon the ground trembling, and Nicholas
and Chow with their arms folded defiantly.
[Illustration: Nicholas and Chow taken Prisoners.]
"Who are the dogs? what their names, surnames, and rank?" said the
officer.
"Travelers who have no fear of rebel rogues," replied Nicholas
dauntlessly, believing them to be troops of Li-Kong.
"Take my life, but save that of my venerable mother," said Chow, in a
similar belief.
"These rogues are robbers, who would take a faithful and valiant subject
of the great Emperor Li-Kong a prisoner to the town of the thief
Woo-san-Kwei," said the guide, jumping upon his feet, with a most
warlike mien, knowing that if with the soldiers of Li-Kong he was with
friends.
"What means the slave? Who art thou, thou empty rice tub?" said the
officer.
"It may please the fierce tiger of war to be amused at the person of his
servant; but if he be a rice-tub, he can serve the Emperor."
"Emperor!--what Emperor, thou ox?" said the officer.
"The great Li,--may he live ten thousand years."
"Thy name, surname, and rank?" said the officer.
"The mean name of thy insignificant servant is Leang, and he is the
unworthy nephew of Ling, the innkeeper, of Kin-Chow," replied the guide,
not doubting that he was in the hands of rebel troopers.
"Then truly, Leang, the unworthy nephew of Ling, is a dangerous though a
comical rogue."
"The noble tiger of war is pleased----"
"To have thee strangled with thine own girdle for being a follower of
the great thief Li-Kong," said the officer; adding, as he turned to his
soldiers, "Let this be done."
At this unexpected result, the terribly mistaken guide's face became
paler and longer, and falling upon his knees, he said, "Let the
magnificent commander be generous to an insignificant and withered
mouse, who is nothing but a poor and faithful guide, as these noble
youths, whom he hath conducted all the way from Kin-Chow to the town of
the great Woo-san-Kwei, can testify."
"Bend thy neck at the name of the great prince, thou rogue," said the
officer, striking him on the back with his sword, and the guide fell
flat--that is, as nearly so as his protuberant stomach would
permit--when the officer added laughingly, "Truly the animal is fat
enough to kill at once; yet, as the rebels may cause us a siege so long
that we may be short of provender for our horses, let him be kept in a
strong cage till that time arrives;" then beckoning to a soldier, the
latter seized the horrified guide and tied him before him on his saddle.
Then turning to Nicholas and Chow, who, notwithstanding their serious
position, had been laughing heartily at the merited misery of the guide,
the officer said, "Are the rogue's words truth? Do my brothers seek the
presence of the great Woo-san-Kwei?" Then when Nicholas had related to
the officer the whole of their adventures from Kin, Chow alone
prudentially keeping back the fact that the lady of high rank was the
princess, he said, "What were the numbers of these rogues?"
"There could have been no less than twenty, O noble commander," said
Nicholas.
Then turning to his second-in-command, the officer said, "Let the rogue
of a guide be kept tied before thee on thy saddle, O Ching; take fifty
horsemen, and return not to the camp till thou bringest these ladies
with thee. If the rogue of a guide directs thee so that thou art
successful, he shall be rewarded; if not, strangled."
"Will not the noble commander let these horsemen be placed under the
charge of his younger brother, who truly hath the greater right to bring
these rogues to punishment?" said Nicholas, imploringly.
"This may not be, my brother; for, although I doubt not thy honesty, it
would be at the risk of my life that I let thee pass from my sight till
thou hadst been taken before the prince."
Although vexed that the chance of rescuing the princess, and punishing
the soldiers who had made her prisoner, had been denied to him,
Nicholas felt too well pleased at the slightest possibility of her being
rescued, to complain; and, therefore, without another word, the boys
followed the troops upon their march to Lao-yang, not by any means
regretting that they had fallen into the hands of this foraging party of
Woo-san-Kwei's army.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
INTERVIEW WITH THE GENERAL.--NICHOLAS CAUSES SOLDIERS TO BE SENT IN
SEARCH OF THE PRINCESS.
Unlike any place Nicholas had seen since he left his father's fleet,
Lao-yang exhibited sure signs of the determination and energy of its
commanders. Surrounded by a deep ditch of great width, its formidable
walls were manned at every point with the picked and most disciplined
men from the northern provinces--soldiers who had been fighting for many
years against the invading Tartars--and armed to the teeth with swords,
cross-bows, shields, helmets, and breast and back plates. At short
distances were planted small brass cannon, or bombards, which, although
they had been set aside for so many years that the art of using them had
become forgotten, Woo-san-Kwei had not only brought again into use, but
taught his troops to serve effectually. Then, again, although the
matchlock men were fewer than upon the walls of Pekin, they had been so
well exercised in the use of that weapon that they could handle it
nearly as well as bows and arrows,--a great matter at that period, as
you will understand when I tell you that some few years previously, when
matchlocks were first introduced, to defend a frontier town against the
Tartars, the latter were so much astonished at a weapon which possessed
the magic power of slaying them at so great a distance, that they fled
in dismay, when, making a sortie, or onset, the Chinese destroyed many
thousands. The next assault, however, the Tartars provided their front
ranks with shields of wood, so large and thick, that they were as safe
from bullets, as they would have been behind walls, consequently the
fire of the Chinese proved useless; moreover, before they could reload,
the second rank of the Tartars scaled the walls and fell upon them so
quickly, that even those who had time to load handled their pieces so
clumsily and nervously that the rebound knocked them over, and the whole
garrison were killed. This affair so disgusted the Chinese with the
matchlock, that henceforward they kept it more as a matter of show, or
to use when there was no chance of coming to close quarters, than as a
regular weapon of war.
With greater foresight, the General Woo-san-Kwei had not only re-adopted
the weapon, but, by incessant practice, and offerings of rewards and
promotion to those who exhibited peculiar dexterity, he succeeded in
forming a good body of matchlock men.
When they had passed through the gates, the officer left Nicholas and
Chow to amuse themselves as best they might, while he proceeded to
report the arrival of himself and his prisoners (for in that light he
regarded them) to the prince general.
Had Nicholas entrusted his name, or that of the princess, to the
officer, there can be no doubt that the general would have granted him
an immediate interview; as it was, he had to wait till the following
day. Previously, however, to seeking the audience, he went to the great
square, where, to his surprise, he saw a large body of troops drawn out
under arms, with their banners and wind instruments, as if to receive
some important personage, and officers were galloping to and fro between
the palace and the great gates. The meaning of all this puzzled him.
Truly it would be unfortunate if Woo-san-Kwei should be about to take
his departure upon some expedition. The riddle, was, however, soon
explained; for, even while he was pondering, the general's own bodyguard
passed to the gate; when, drawing themselves up on either side, a
noble-looking horseman, followed by a train of some twenty others, rode
into the city, and was escorted to the palace; but, great as this
personage evidently was, the Chinese soldiers kept a dread and sullen
silence, making no movement except to involuntarily clutch the triggers
of their pieces, or the strings of their bows. As for Nicholas, he
stared with astonishment, grasped the hilt of his sword--the sight was
indeed extraordinary. A Mantchou prince and his train of Tartars, those
most dreaded enemies of the empire, within the very palace of the
barbarian-subduing general, not in chains, but as a friend, received
with honor.
Indignant at the sight, Nicholas rudely grasped the arm of a soldier,
saying, "Can my brother tell a stranger how it is that such barbarian
thieves are within these walls? Surely the kid does not invite the wolf
to its own bosom!"
"Would my brother keep his head upon his shoulders and not be thrown
from the walls like a dead rat, he will not seek to know the
barbarian-exterminating general's secrets," said the surly soldier;
adding, however, directly afterward, "The Tartar dogs may have come to
offer their submission."
Whatever might have been the business of the Tartar prince with the
Chinese general, it did not last an hour, for in less than that time he
left the city, and shortly after the officer who had brought Nicholas
into the town conducted him to the presence of the general, who, in full
military costume, surrounded by a great number of officers, was standing
(a rare thing for a Chinese grandee) at a table, busily engaged in
examining some papers.
Having performed the same ceremony of running up the middle of the
apartment, and bowing to the ground, as at an audience of the Emperor,
he awaited the command of the prince to rise, which being given,
Woo-san-Kwei no sooner saw his features than he said, "This is indeed a
fortunate day, that brings to us the son of Chin-Chi-Loong. Thy
presence, bold youth, is welcome; yet," he added sternly, "so brave a
servant should have died defending his imperial master."
"The silken voice of the illustrious general is music to his servant,
whose words must not fall into the ears of all," replied Nicholas,
glancing at the officers around.
"This is but wisdom, youth," replied the prince, motioning to the
officers to withdraw from the apartment, after which he said, "Let the
noble youth open his lips;" whereupon Nicholas gave a faithful recital
of his adventures from the time that Woo-san-Kwei had himself left Pekin
for the army. During the recital, the general listened attentively, at
intervals giving vent to exclamations of surprise, rage, or approval.
When, however, Nicholas related the escape of the princess, he said,
warmly, "Noble youth, thy wisdom, like thy bravery, is beyond thy years;
and when these rebel dogs have been swept from the earth, thou shalt
have the kingdom that thy father seeketh." Then, when the enthusiasm of
the moment had passed, bethinking himself, he said, "But truly the
servant of the Mings forgets his duty to the daughter of his murdered
Emperor; lead me to her, O youth."
Then Nicholas, for the first time in his life, trembled; an arrow
through his heart would have been more welcome than that command, and
falling upon his knees, as if he had betrayed a sacred trust, he said,
"These words should be my last, O general. The princess is in the power
of the rebel Li-Kong."
So like a thunder-clap did these words fall upon the mind of the
Woo-san-Kwei, that for a moment he was speechless, but recovering
himself, he said, "Thou dog, if these words are true thou shalt die;"
but becoming calmer, he commanded Nicholas to finish his story, and when
the youth had brought it up to the moment of the audience, the general
said, "Thou art, indeed, a brave youth; but this rogue Leang, knows he
the road the woman thieves took?" Then, however, without waiting for an
answer, and knowing that action was more likely to recover the princess
and her attendant than useless sorrow or anger, he ordered the
attendance of one of his officers, telling him to send out parties of
soldiers in different directions in search of the princess.
Then Nicholas fell upon his knees, and prayed to lead the party himself.
"This cannot be, brave youth, for thou art too serviceable to have thy
person risked in a province so wild that no stranger can journey through
without a guide."
"Then, O illustrious prince, thy servant dares not meet the heavenly
eyes of the Prince Yong-Li, in whose service he has undertaken this long
journey," said Nicholas.
"Truly it was an unfortunate day for the son of Woo when he fell under
the displeasure of the young Emperor, his royal master," said the
general, gloomily.
"Can it be under heaven that Yong Li has forgotten the great services of
his most illustrious general?"
"Such is his servant's misfortune," said the general.
"Then," said Nicholas, "let thy servant seek the young Emperor, and upon
his knees pray of him to open his heavenly ears to the fragrant advice
of the great Woo-san-Kwei."
"This cannot be, for his majesty (_may he continue the circle of
succession_) has left Lao-yang in anger."
"This, then, is indeed an unfortunate day, O my general," said
Nicholas, with astonishment; adding, "Surely the cause must have been
great for so much anger from so mild a prince."
"Let the noble youth open his ears, and he shall hear how this calamity
fell out," said the general; adding, "When his majesty, after the death
of his father, so happily escaped the hands of the great thief Li, he
fled to the army of his servant, and desired that the whole of the
Tartar-subduing army of Leao-tong should be immediately led to Pekin for
the purpose of destroying the rebels. Alas! the grief of the prince had
destroyed his reason; the plan was not possible, for in my absence the
barbarians would have overrun the northern province. Well, for a time
the prince submitted to his servant's advice, till one day an envoy
arrived from the dog Li, who commanded me to proclaim him Emperor
throughout the province, offering, as the price of my obedience, a
kingdom; threatening, if I refused, to march against this city with a
million of men."
"The illustrious general could make but one answer to so infamous a
proposal," said Nicholas.
"And that was to offer a reward of ten thousand taels to the brave man
who should lay the head of so black a dragon at my feet," said the
general; adding, "Soon after came the news that Li was on his march,
with a vast army, to chastise me for the insult, and I began to prepare
to receive him; but, finding that the number of my troops was so small
that the multitudinous army of the rebels would hew them to pieces in
the first battle, rather than suffer such a disgrace, and permit so
vile a criminal to remain unpunished, I dared to propose to make peace
with the Tartar king conditionally, that he would help me to drive this
rogue from the land. This proposition was indignantly resisted by the
prince, when (may I be pardoned for so daring an act) I became but the
more resolved, and immediately sent a special envoy to the Tartar, who,
in return, sent by his brother, the great Amavan, a promise to add to my
little army one hundred thousand of his bravest troops. Scarcely,
however, had a day elapsed after the departure of my envoy to the
Tartar, then the royal Yong-Li left the city in anger."
"Truly, general, the prince was wise, for although in war and council
all men are mice by the side of the great Woo-san-Kwei, surely in this
his wisdom must have failed him, for, O general, is it reasonable to
bring in tigers to chase away dogs?" said Nicholas, warmly.
To which Woo-san-Kwei made no reply, but terminated the audience to keep
down his anger.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CRUEL DEATH OF THE AGED WOO.--A BATTLE.--BRAVERY OF THE BOYS.--CHOW
TAKEN BY THE ENEMY.
With terrible anxiety, Nicholas awaited the return of the party sent in
search of the princess, but when evening came and they brought not the
slightest clue, his grief grew beyond all bounds, and he resolved to
seek the general's permission to go himself in search, but, as on the
following day, a deserter from the enemy brought news that the main body
of the rebels was within a few miles of Lao-yang, he was compelled to
remain with Woo-san-Kwei, at least till the enemy had been destroyed or
beaten back from whence they came.
Then terrible preparations were made for a close fight, in the event of
the enemy assaulting the town before the arrival of the Tartars; but
when Li-Kong came in sight, with an army so vast that it covered the
country for miles, the hearts of Woo-san-Kwei's troops grew faint, for
should the Tartars deceive them, they were lost, for against such
numbers it was impossible they could hold out many days. Still, the
greatest coward grew courageous when he thought of the merciless cruelty
of Li, knowing it would be a far more easy death to fall upon the walls
than into his hands, and so for days they held out bravely against the
attacks which had now become incessant. Then, through the continued
efforts, both by day and night, made by the two youths, to sustain the
courage of the troops, the latter recovered their spirits, and so
gallantly did the boys help in repelling the assailants, that they were
praised by the general in front of the whole army.
Fourteen days had they defended the town, when the provisions became so
scarce, that, again losing hope, the troops grew mutinous and threatened
to throw down their arms, when, upon the fifteenth, upon a hill that
arose far behind the rebel army, there shot up to the heavens a vast
body of blue fire, upon which, forgetting their troubles, the soldiers
became frantic with joy, offered thanks to Fo, and returned to their
duties with renewed energy; and no wonder, for it was the signal that
the Tartars were on their march to relieve them.
Li-Kong must also have understood the signal, for from the moment of its
appearance one-half of his army began to manoeuvre, so as to present a
good front to the new enemy, while the other commenced a fierce assault
upon the town. Seeing assistance at hand, Woo-san-Kwei ordered his
troops to reserve their arrows and ammunition till their ally had so
weakened the enemy's rear that he could judiciously leave the town, and
attack them in front. When, however, the besieged slackened fire, the
assaulting party retired, and a body of their cavalry, holding their
great shields before them to receive stray arrows, rode forward to
within half a bow-shot from the walls, when they came to a dead halt.
"What mean the dogs? surely they escort an envoy from the rash rebel,"
said the general, commanding silence along the walls; and then ordering
one of his officers to shout to the party, that they might remove their
shields without fear.
This having been done, the men let fall their shields, when the sight
that presented itself caused the brave general to reel, so that he would
have fallen but for the support of Nicholas. As for Chow, he placed an
arrow in his bow, and would have sent it flying at the chief of the
party, had not an officer struck the arrow from its rest, saying, "How,
wouldst thou disobey the general?" and brought to his senses, the boy
stood stamping his feet, gnashing his teeth, and twitching the bow with
suppressed rage. Well might the sight cause such consternation on the
part of the general, for there upon horseback, heavily laden with
chains, sat his father the venerable Woo, with his long gray hair
flowing down his bared neck, accompanied by an executioner, who stood by
his side, holding a naked sabre.
[Illustration: The aged Woo brought in chains before the walls.]
"What would the General Li-Kong with Woo-san-Kwei, that he thus humbles
him?" said Woo-san-Kwei.
"Let the venerable Woo answer the question of his rebel son," said the
chief of the party.
Then with a glance of fierce defiance at his guards, the old noble said,
"It is well known, O my son, that the heavens, earth, and fate cause
strange vicissitudes of fortune; even so have they deposed the Emperor
Wey-t-song, and placed in his royal seat the Emperor Li-Kong, who, if
thou wilt make a virtue of necessity, acknowledge his dominion, and
serve him as a faithful tributary, will confer upon thee the title and
dignity of a king; but if thou refusest submission, the head of thy
parent will be the penalty. Such are the words the aged Woo hath been
commanded to deliver; it is now for his brave son to consider what he
oweth to him who gave him life."
So great was the indignation of the troops of Woo-san-Kwei, that but for
the danger of Woo, whom the rebels had placed in their front, they would
have shot down the whole party. As for the general, he stood for some
minutes bewildered; had it been his rank, fortune, or life, that was in
danger, his filial love would have prevented an instant's hesitation;
but was he not the son of a man whose whole life had been dedicated to
the people? alas! this knowledge made his agony the greater; for the
better the man, the greater reason his life should be saved at any cost.
At any? No--not at the cost of his honor, and the safety of the people,
whom this Li-Kong was decimating hourly.
With terrible patience the chief of the party awaited a reply. It was
given. Woo-san-Kwei fell upon his knees. "Pardon, O my venerable and
noble parent," said he aloud, "but it is not under heaven that thou
couldst wish thy son to do this thing; if it be so, let this be the
answer: He that is not faithful to the people will never be faithful to
his son; therefore, if you forget your duty and fidelity to the imperial
family, and the people, by demanding that thy son should be guilty of so
great a crime, no man will blame Woo-san-Kwei for forgetting his duty
and obedience to such a father." Then, turning to the chief, the general
added sternly, "Take back these words, thou dog: That the son of the
venerable Woo will die the dog's death rather than acknowledge so great
and cruel a thief as this Li-Kong."
"These are fragrant words, O my noble son; for hadst thou been guilty of
so monstrous a crime, the names both of father and son would have
sounded hateful in the ears of posterity: the father, that he had
brought up a son so basely; and the son, that he could save so bad a
parent," replied the venerable noble.
"Shall it go down to posterity that the noble Woo-san-Kwei was the
assassin of his parent?" said the chief of the party.
"Thou hast thy answer, dog, and if thou art within bow-shot longer than
the next five minutes thy miserable life shall be the forfeit," said the
general; adding sorrowfully, "Farewell, O my venerable parent. May the
great Tien pardon me, if I have not chosen virtuously."
"Thy choice, O noble son, will make happy the last moments of thy
father," said the old noble; when, interrupting him, the rebel chief
said, "Still thou shalt have another chance to save this old man's life,
thou obstinate rebel;" adding, "I will grant thee another hour, and if
within that time a fire is made upon your walls, I shall take it as the
token of your submission; but if at the end of the hour such a signal
has not been made, then shall a similar signal from the Emperor's camp
proclaim thy parent to be on his journey to the yellow stream."
After this the party hastened back to their camp, leaving the agonized
general standing in melancholy thoughtfulness, till just as the fifth
minute expired his attention was called to a small party of horsemen,
who, led by Nicholas and Chow, were at full gallop after the envoy. It
was rashness, nay, madness, for they were rushing upon the very outposts
of the enemy, and nothing less than a miracle could save the foolish
youths; when, turning to an officer, he cried, "Haste thee with what
horse you can collect to the rescue of those foolish boys."
The order was obeyed, and some two hundred horse galloped forward, and
reached them in time to save Nicholas alone; as for Chow, having
recognized in the chief of the party the mandarin who had slain his
father, he had galloped greatly beyond his own party, when the mandarin,
fearing for the safe custody of Woo, pressed forward with such haste,
that, getting far ahead of his own party, Chow found himself a prisoner
before he knew where he was. Enraged at his danger, Nicholas would have
followed, but for the soldiers sent by Woo-san-Kwei, who, coming up to
him, caught hold of the rein of his horse, and in the name of the
general commanded him to return to the city. By the time, however, he
returned to the town, Woo-san-Kwei had determined to make a dash at the
rebels with a faint hope of saving his father,--a hope that was not
unreasonable, especially as the advanced guards of the Tartars were now
seen to attack Li-Kong from the opposite side. The little army was
ready; the general was at their head; but before they had marched far, a
bright flame shot up from the camp of Li-Kong. The head of Woo-san-Kwei
fell upon the neck of his horse; he sobbed aloud, "The assassin has
taken thy life, my noble parent;" but arousing himself, he added, "For
this one deed, O thou villain, thou shalt be hunted from the land;" and
so great were the numbers of the Tartars, and the bravery of
Woo-san-Kwei and his little army, that before midnight Li-Kong had been
driven from his position with the loss of at least one-half of his great
power.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE REBELS BEATEN.--ARTFULNESS OF THE TARTAR KING.--CHAGRIN AND
DISAPPOINTMENT OF NICHOLAS.
At daybreak the battle was resumed; and with such terrible bravery did
the troops of Woo-san-Kwei and his ally the Tartar king fight, that
before noon the rebels fled in all directions; the main body, under Li
himself, retreating into the province of Pe-tche-Lee, where for many
weeks they were followed by the Tartars; and although the latter beat Li
in every engagement, and slew vast numbers of his troops, he managed so
cleverly that he reached Pekin; which city being well fortified and
manned by his adherents, he held out till the Tartars were reinforced by
many thousands of their brethren, who, now that the ancient barrier of
Leao-tong had been broken, flooded the empire like a mighty torrent.
Then Li, brave and able as he really was, saw the necessity of
retreating from the capital. To do this with profit to himself, the
artful rogue placed the whole of his troops upon and before the northern
walls; by this means he kept the soldiers employed and the enemy at bay
at least eight days and nights, during which time his more immediate
friends and faithful followers were engaged in carrying from the
imperial palace the vast treasures of jewels, gold, and silver,
collected by the Ming Emperors during the preceding two hundred and
eighty years, with which they escaped to Si-gnan, in the province of
Chen-si. Then, when the Tartar army entered the capital, although
terribly chagrined at the loss of so much treasure, they did but follow
Li-Kong a short distance, when they gave up the pursuit and returned to
Pekin, greatly to the vexation of Woo-san-Kwei, who, as you will see,
soon found that his new friends were as bad as his old enemies.
No sooner was Li-Kong expelled, than Woo-san-Kwei proclaimed the Prince
Yong-Li Emperor, and offered to pay the Tartar king an immense sum for
the use of his army, at the same time respectfully begging he would
withdraw his troops from the empire, as it was contrary to the sacred
books that so many foreigners should remain in the sacred capital; to
which polite request the Tartar made an equally polite reply: "We do
not," said he, "think it fit to leave yet, for there are many unsubdued
thieves who may cause as much trouble as this Li-Kong; moreover, this
arch-rebel is himself established in his province, and would doubtless
return if he found that we, whom alone he fears, had quitted China;
therefore, O noble Woo-san-Kwei, we are resolved to follow up our
victory, and exterminate every rogue in the land, so that you may
deliver the empire to Yong-Li in full peace and prosperity; as for the
payment for our services, we are not poor, and can wait till the kingdom
be settled. In the mean time, however, that which we chiefly desire is,
that the great Woo-san-Kwei shall recruit his army from our own, and
proceed to Chen-si to destroy the dog Li, while we, with our brave
Tartars, will endeavor to sweep from the southern provinces the rogues
and thieves who are now settled therein."
Deeply chagrined that he had replaced dogs with tigers, Woo-san-Kwei
could do nothing but obey--for in reality it was a command; and so he
proceeded into Chen-si, accompanied by Nicholas, where, after a campaign
of many months, he succeeded in destroying the power and army of
Li-Kong; as for the rogue himself, as his body was not found, it was
supposed that he had been killed, while endeavoring to escape in the
disguise of a private soldier.
Throughout the campaign in Chen-si, Nicholas had fought with terrible
energy, for he had hoped that when they took possession of Li-Kong's
palace, he should obtain at least some clue to the fate of the princess
and Chow, both of whom, if alive, he believed to be in the power of the
rebels. As, however, notwithstanding the highest rewards and the most
vigorous search, he failed in gaining the slightest clue, he felt
greatly pleased when they returned to Pekin, where he was not without
hope that the princess might be concealed, and if so, she was safe; for
doubtlessly, by the time they reached the city, their Tartar allies
would, according to their promise, have proclaimed her brother, the
Prince Yong-Li, Emperor.
So great and popular had been the successes of Woo-san-Kwei in Chen-si,
that as he rode toward Pekin the people came out, and falling upon their
knees, almost worshiped him as the restorer of peace and order. About
midway between Chen-si and Pekin, they were met by the great officers of
the Tartar king, who brought with them a vast body of troops, in order
to augment the state of the general's triumphal entrance into the
capital. Now this was very gratifying to Nicholas, for seeing the
Tartars pay so much respect to the great Ming general, he doubted less
than ever that, like faithful friends, if they had not already done so,
they would speedily restore Yong-Li to his throne--a gratification which
was considerably heightened, when, at the gates of the city, they were
met by a procession of great officers, both Tartars and Chinese, who, in
the name of the Emperor, greeted Woo-san-Kwei with the title of King of
Chen-si; so with difficulty the procession passed through the masses of
people, whose hoarse voices clamored, "Long life, ten thousand years, to
the Emperor."
"This, then," thought Nicholas, "is indeed a fortunate day; for not only
have these brave Tartars restored the Prince Yong-Li to his right, but
the amiable prince commences his reign by an act of gratitude; for,
forgetting his quarrel with Woo-san-Kwei, he rewards his great services
with the kingdom of Chen-si." Thus they rode onward till they came to
the palace, where the Emperor was waiting to do honor to the great
general.
Then, as Nicholas passed through the courts of the palace, he stared
with surprise, not unmixed with indignation, at the disproportion of the
numbers of Chinese to those of the Tartars. Yet again, surely it was but
gratitude on the part of the young Emperor to reward those who had
restored him to the throne of his ancestors; still a strange fear crept
over him, and he said, almost in a whisper, "Truly, O illustrious
prince, these barbarians have taken possession of the empire."
"It is as wise, O youth, to make a virtue of necessity, as it is
childish to resist the decrees of fate," said the general; and then a
pang of disappointment shot through the youth's heart; his illusion
vanished; moreover, he would have given his life to have avoided the
scene before him. They had entered the great hall of audience; there,
upon the golden dragon throne, surrounded by the warrior princes and
chiefs of Mantchouria, sat the Emperor. The Emperor, indeed! not
Yong-Li, but a Tartar child of six years of age. Heartsick, enraged, he
would have spoken. The general perceiving his misery, clutched his arm.
Nicholas checked his impatience, but nevertheless muttered, "Surely the
heavens will fall, for the great Woo-san-Kwei has proved a traitor."
CHAPTER XL.
THE GREAT BOY EMPEROR.--NICHOLAS MEETS WITH A FEARFUL SURPRISE.
Once having entered the rich empire of China, the Tartar king determined
to remain, and thus artfully sent Woo-san-Kwei, the only man he feared,
to chastise the rebels in Chen-si, so that he could the better introduce
more and more of the warrior tribes beneath his rule: moreover, he was
so cruel to those who resisted his army, and so generous and kind to
those who submitted freely, that the people, glad to get a sovereign who
had power enough to crush the rapacious nobles, unanimously hailed him
Emperor; before, however, he could be formally installed, he became
seized with a mortal illness, so, calling his brother Amavan, he created
him regent during the minority of his son Chun-ti, a child six years of
age.
Fortunately for the young Emperor, Amavan, unlike most Asiatic uncles,
proved faithful to his nephew, and, more fortunately still, Amavan
happened to be a great as well as a brave man, who conquered his enemies
as much by his intellect as his sword. Taking care, therefore, to have
an overwhelming number of troops in Pekin, he first sought to establish
the government by distributing the great offices of the empire equally
among his Tartars and the Chinese mandarins. Then to Woo-san-Kwei he had
represented by his ambassadors the folly of endeavoring to oppose the
great power of the new Emperor, and, moreover, the cruelty of bringing
upon the people the horrors of a civil war; while, if he would aid in
the firm settlement of the new dynasty, he should not only be created
King of Chen-si, but that, as the laws of the Chinese were the best in
the world, the Tartars should conform to them in every respect. To all
of which Woo-san-Kwei, being so entirely checkmated, could but submit,
retaining a hope that the time and opportunity might come when he should
be powerful enough to drive these Tartars from the land--a task which,
when too late, he found to be rather more difficult than bringing them
in.
Having thus, as he thought, gained over the Ming general to his cause,
and wishing to give the Chinese a proof that the young Emperor wished to
conciliate them, Amavan resolved that the greatest of their countrymen
should be received on his entry into Pekin with royal honors; and more,
that the same day should be the one chosen for his imperial nephew's
first grand levee.
I will now return to Nicholas, who, with hardly suppressed indignation,
was compelled to witness the following scene.
Having commanded the great lords, who were prostrate at the foot of his
throne, to rise, the child Emperor Chun-ti addressed them in a speech
that not only astonished the whole court, but remains to the present
day one of the marvels in the history of China.
"It is your strength and power more than my felicity, my dear and
generous uncle, and you, the rest of my noble commanders, which supports
my weakness, and makes me so undauntedly ascend this imperial throne. My
present assurance, and this chair's stability, is, I hope, as happy a
sign of my future prosperity as its tottering proved unfortunate to the
thief Li-Kong. You see my first step to the empire, but I know your
valor to be such that I look not only upon the kingdom of China as my
own, but conceive the empire of the world not only by me possessed, but
also established. The rewards due to such incomparable virtues shall be
no other than the riches of the empire and royal dignities."
At this extraordinary speech from the lips of so young a child, and
which, notwithstanding the silence of solemn historians on the subjects,
I believe must have been taught Master Chun-ti by his uncle, the artful
Amavan, the nobles fell upon their faces, as thankfully as a flock of
famished wolves at the sight of a good meal after a run of a great many
hundreds of miles.
After which the Emperor added, "And that it may be known throughout the
empire that we can reward merit, whether it be found in our Chinese
subjects or our own black-haired race, we bestow upon the rebel-subduing
Prince Woo-san-Kwei, the title of Pacifier of the Western World, and the
dignity and rank of King of Chen-si; may his appointment prove
fortunate to the people." Whereupon, to the disgust of Nicholas, the
Ming general knelt before the Emperor, and holding his hands above his
head, received the golden box, in which were placed the symbols of his
office.
After this Nicholas was pained not only to witness the bestowal of high
offices upon the Tartar chieftains, but, for worse, the acceptation of
dignities by Chinese mandarins, who had been profuse in their
professions of loyalty to the Ming family. Then, as the Emperor was
about to move his sleeves as a signal of the close of the audience, one
of the nobles announced the arrival of some great personage, whose name
his ears failed to catch, whereupon the regent Amavan said, "This man, O
my prince, is the greatest of your majesty's conquests," and in another
minute a personage of majestic height and figure, attired and attended
with all the magnificence of a king, entered the hall and fell at the
foot of the throne, and as he did so Amavan proclaimed his name and
titles, when Nicholas gave a cry of astonishment, and would have rushed
forward, but for Woo-san-Kwei, who, by whispering in his ear, caused him
to become as pale and almost as silent as marble. His surprise and
indignation was not wonderful, for the great man who knelt at the feet
of the Tartar chief was no less a personage than his own father,
Chin-Chi-Loong.
CHAPTER XLI.
NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER.
Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be the
traitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him,
Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to the
palace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarking
the absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants who
followed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and the
passages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "my
beloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at his
unfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief a
message by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter from
the south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the King
Pacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no other
than Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, after
their long absence from each other.
"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by the
tempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek the
sunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when the
first greeting was past.
"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life of
Chin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so great
a crime," said the chief.
"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiver
of stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surely
it was not given to thee by the Emperor Yong-Li," replied Nicholas.
"Is my son blind, that he cannot see that his parent is a prisoner to
these Tartar dogs?"
"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon their
prisoners?" said Nicholas.
"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commission
sent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the four
seas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels and
thieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effected
this great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain the
Emperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession of
the seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for many
months kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces at
bay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, I
still kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid of
my power, the Tartar king and his brother Amavan sent a great embassy,
assuring me they were allies of the great Woo-san-Kwei, who, to quell
the rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, had
prayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purged
the empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of the
Prince Yong-Li and leave the land."
"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," said
Nicholas.
"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in the
characters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of his
parent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, and
also assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting so
great and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe my
authority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title of
Pacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, I
had made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so that
speedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the first
opportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayed
into their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south,
suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in the
installation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to his
departure I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing this
to be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When,
however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a large
body of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately,
fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavan
persuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself in
the midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, he
informed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was his
nephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into the
rogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidable
army, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance of
prosperity the people would have beneath such an Emperor."
"Indeed it were better to die than dissemble, my father," said Nicholas,
with flashing eyes.
"Listen, my son. Well, taking advantage of my apparent joy, this Amavan
told me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, where
I should formally receive my title and kingdom from the imperial hands.
Thus had I the choice of entering Pekin as a captive or a king."
"The former would have been more worthy of the great sea chief, whose
ambition hath ruined him," said Nicholas.
"Is it possible that thou canst dare----"
"Pardon, O my father, but thy son will dare any thing and every thing
till he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands of
these barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither by
night nor day."
"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved."
"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "But
cannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape from
this rebellious city?"
"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to the
General Woo-san-Kwei."
"Then the noble Woo-san-Kwei is not a traitor to the Emperor Yong-Li,"
said Nicholas, eagerly.
"Hist!" replied the chief by way of caution; then adding, "He but waits
the opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars."
"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these double
ways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of his
parent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the city
unfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attire
of a small merchant, went to the river, and after some hard bargaining,
took a passage on board a trading junk, and left Pekin for ever.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE RIVAL SEA CHIEFS.--RE-APPEARANCE OF AN OLD FRIEND.--A COMICAL BATTLE
WITH THE TARTARS.
Once masters of Pekin, which being so near their native wilds, enabled
them to introduce hordes of their fellow-countrymen, the Tartars
conquered province by province, till they obtained possession of the
whole empire. The most difficult, however, to subdue, were the southern
districts, which edged the sea, and chiefly for this reason: that not
long after they succeeded in entrapping Chin-Chi-Loong, to their
surprise, there appeared another and a greater sea chief, whose fleet
was so large, and his successes so great in destroying the Tartar
settlements upon the coasts, and even the great towns up the
Yang-tse-Kiang, that the greater part of the Chinese, who had any spirit
or patriotism remaining, flocked to his standard, and swelled his fleet
and army to such a size, that the Tartar government, trembling with fear
for the capital itself, offered immense rewards for his head; and
finding that of no use, offered to give him the command of the seas, and
even a kingdom, if he would acknowledge their rule; but all this was of
no use: the terrible patriot TCHING-TCHING-KONG, (or Koshinga, as the
Portuguese did, and I shall for the future, name him,) would listen to
no other terms but their departure from the country, to which, but for
the sudden appearance on the coast of another formidable sea-chief,
named Yuen, they would in all probability have been compelled to yield.
Now the difference between these two chiefs was, that while Koshinga
protected the Chinese against the invaders, the chief Yuen was a mere
pirate, and, if booty were to be gained, destroyed both peoples alike.
Moreover, the latter seemed to have a great hatred for Koshinga; for,
although he dared not meet him in fair fight, if by chance he ever fell
in with a solitary ship of his fleet, he would wantonly sink it with all
its crew; and so terrible had the name of this Yuen become, that the
people upon the coast named him the Black Sea-dragon. Neither was it
possible to make out the object of this pirate. It could not have been
the desire of mere wealth, for the Tartar government, thinking him a
very desirable antagonist to Koshinga, offered him wealth, and the same
rank they had offered to his rival, provided he succeeded in destroying
the latter; but still, although Yuen hated the patriot sea chief, his
dislike to the Tartars was no less, for, like Koshinga, he destroyed
their houses and massacred their people at every opportunity. So at
length, giving up all hope of conquering either of his amphibious
enemies, Chun-ti issued an order that all the houses, cities, towns, and
villages, within ten miles of the sea, should be destroyed, chiefly, I
believe, to prevent the people from supplying them with provisions.
Well, one day, shortly after this order had been received, and the
inhabitants of a small town on the coast of Fokien were in high bustle
packing up their goods and chattels ready for departure, some by means
of carts, others, and the greater part, by junks and barges, a large
merchant junk stood in from the sea, entered the narrow creek into which
the river emptied itself, anchored, and would have remained unnoticed by
the soldiers, who were inspecting the carrying out of the Emperor's
orders, but for the appearance of a young man, who, stepping on shore,
was immediately seized by the order of the officer. "Who is the vile
slave, that he dares disobey the commands of the great Emperor?" said
the latter.
"Surely thy servant, who has but just entered the town, can be guilty of
no crime?"
"Are the words of the Emperor dirt, that they should have escaped the
ears of so small a dog?" said the officer.
"Truly these holy words have not fallen into the ears of thy mean
servant, O magnificent commander," returned the other.
"Then let the dog's ears be opened, and he shall hear," said the
officer, directing a soldier to proclaim the royal command, which was to
the effect that the long hair of every Chinese should be shaven from his
head, and the growth of a Tartar tail encouraged, in order that there
should be no difference between the two races.
When the stranger, however, heard the order, his eyes flashed, and his
lips quivered with rage, at the great badge of slavery the Tartars were
thrusting upon his countrymen; and he placed his hand beneath his robe,
as if clutching the hilt of a sword; but then, looking at the Tartar
troops, who had by this time surrounded him, and perceiving the folly of
resistance, he said, "Truly the ears of thy servant have not heard this
order."
"Let the dog obey, or he shall be strangled," was the only reply.
Then, with a look half tragic, half comic, and, taking his long flowing
locks in his hand, he said, "Surely the magnificent commander will give
his servant a few hours to prepare his head for so serious a farewell?"
The next minute, however, one of the barbers who accompanied the troops
for the purpose of performing the first operation upon the conquered
people, made his appearance, and, setting down his apparatus, began to
prepare his scissors and large knife, when, like a half-secured animal
whose dim instinct had just been aroused to the fact of the coming
slaughter, the stranger struck out with both fists, sending barber and
officer rolling one over the other, and darted off, followed by at least
a dozen arrows from the bows of the soldiers, who, however had been too
much surprised to aim properly.
Now, weak and effeminate as the Chinese had shown themselves in allowing
the empire to become so easily conquered by the Tartars, this insult was
always deeply felt even by those who had been compelled to submit, so in
a few minutes they gathered about the Tartars in great numbers, and
being inspired by the stranger's pluck, from hard words came to such
hard blows, that the bully Tartars were very glad to beat a retreat,
only promising to themselves a great revenge hereafter.
As for the stranger, he ran with such speed and blind terror, at the
notion of losing his beautiful hair, that he tumbled headlong over an
old sow into a litter of pigs, which were among the goods about to be
taken away; and, comical as was this scene, it might have been serious,
for the animal, seeing her family attacked by so formidable an enemy,
would have made it a personal matter, but for a mob of people who came
to the rescue of the stranger, at whose spirit in resisting the hateful
order they were so delighted, that they lifted him upon their shoulders;
when the youth, in his excitement, mistaking them for Tartars, put both
his hands to his locks, exclaiming, "You dogs, I will rather lose my
head than prove such a coward."
"A patriot! a hero! down with the Tartar thieves!" said the mob.
When the stranger, recovering from his fright, said, "Pardon, O my
brothers, for believing you to be such dogs."
Then the crowd gave more cheers, and asked where he would be taken to.
"Know any of you the residence of the colao Ki?" was the reply.
"To the house of the good Ki," exclaimed the mob, and in a few minutes
more they had deposited him at the gates of a great house not far
distant from the sea.
"What rogue is this who dares disturb the quiet of the noble Ki?" said
the servant who opened the gate.
"Let me pass, thou mean fellow," said the apparently mad-headed stranger,
rushing through halls and courts till he reached the door of the women's
apartments, which, to the horror of the servant, who now called for
assistance, he burst open, and, seeing two ladies, fell at the feet of
one of them, sobbing aloud, "Then my information is true, and I have
found thee again, my venerable and beloved parent." Need I tell you that
the stranger was no other than Chow?
"The gods punish me with a false vision, my eyeballs must be old, or it
is indeed my beloved son Chow," said the lady, throwing her arms around
her son's neck.
"The faithful friend of the noble Nicholas! Surely this is not
possible," said the princess, hysterically, so forgetting her rank in
her delighted surprise, that she embraced him as a brother, not a
little, I assure you, to the wonder and horror of the servants, and the
colao himself, who had hastened to the apartment to secure the daring
robber, as the frightened servant had reported, and which Ki believed
Chow to be, feeling certain that none but a thief would be guilty of so
profane an act as entering the sacred apartments of the ladies.
CHAPTER XLIII.
CHOW DISCOVERS HIS MOTHER AND THE PRINCESS.--RESCUES THEM FROM THE
TARTARS AND RELATES HIS ADVENTURES.
When the surprise had a little subsided upon both sides, Chow looked
around, listened anxiously for a moment, and then said, "This is a
fortunate day; the surprise, the joy is great, but, alas! it will be
short-lived, for the barbarians can neither forget nor forgive," and he
related his adventure with the soldiers; when, taking him by the hand,
the princess said, "Fear not, friend of my brother; the barbarians dare
not enter the house of Ki; for the usurper, barbarian as he is, has
bestowed honor upon the noble colao for his services to his late
Emperor, and as a consolation for his misfortunes; and in the house of
one upon whom Chun-ti has bestowed the honored title of 'Faithful to his
Prince,' no person dares enter unasked."
"Thy servant feared less for himself than for his beloved mother and the
illustrious princess, whom he is commanded by the noble Nicholas to
rescue from the degenerate soil of China, till it again owns its native
princess," said Chow; adding, "From the hour that the vile guide
betrayed the illustrious princess into the hands of the rogues, the
noble Nicholas has left no stone unturned to discover thy fate." Then,
repeating the history of their adventures to the time of his being taken
prisoner by Li-Kong, he added, "So enraged was the villain mandarin,
that, instead of killing me on the spot, he reserved me for a cruel
death upon our reaching Pekin; then, however, being driven from the
capital, he took me with him to Chen-si, where I was kept loaded with
chains in a damp hole for many months, till indeed the great rebel was
himself driven out of Chen-si, when, so ill that I could not walk, I was
taken from the prison and conveyed to the house of the physician, who
had been ordered to take charge of the sick and wounded, and
unfortunately I remained senseless so long, that when I recovered, I
discovered that not only had the great Woo-san-Kwei been the general who
had punished Li, but that my beloved master had been with him. Bitterly
regretting the misfortune that had caused me to miss him so narrowly, I
resolved on seeking him in the capital; and so without money or food,
but what I could beg on the road, I traveled, being compelled to rest
many days upon my journey.
"At length, however, I reached Pekin, when, to my great rage, not only
did I find that the Tartar prince had seized the throne, but that my
noble master had left the city in horror at the great treason of his
illustrious parent Chin-Chi-Loong. Then, weary of a world which
contained so much vileness and misfortune, I should have myself sought
the yellow stream, had it not occurred to me, that it would be
villainous to desert the beloved parent whom I had resolved to discover;
but, moreover, my master had taught me that it was a great crime; and,
trembling that I had ever contemplated such a thing, I rushed down to
the canal and engaged myself as a Coolie, for I thought the employment
would drive away my sorrow, and, perhaps, throw some lucky chance in my
way, and so it happened; for one day, carrying some goods for a
traveling merchant, the good man took a fancy to me, and offered to take
me with him into the province of Fokien. The offer gave me joy, for I
knew that if ever I found my master it would be near the sea, which he
loves as if he were a fish, and so it chanced; for one day, after many
months' traveling, we lodged at the town of Ho-a, when a few days
afterward the Chinese inhabitants became very joyful, and the Tartar
soldiers were greatly terrified at a report that the terrible Koshinga,
whose name just about that time had become famous, would land. Well, the
report proved true, for the sea chief appeared with a great fleet, and
drove the Tartars inland; when, feeling weary of my servitude, and
longing to fight against the usurping barbarians, I offered my services
to one of the commanders, and no sooner had I put in force that virtuous
resolution, than my fortunes began to mend, for in one of the ships I
found the noble Nicholas.
"Well, I will only tell the illustrious princess how that I kept by the
side of the noble Nicholas in all battles that have been fought by the
great Koshinga; but in the midst of our adventures and successes, both
the noble Nicholas and his servant were unhappy, for they pined to learn
the fate of the daughter of the Mings, whom the heavens had once
entrusted to their care. At every town upon the coast, from every man
who joined the fleet, did we endeavor to trace some clue, not omitting
to offer great rewards; it was all, however, useless, till one day a
Tartar prisoner was taken and brought to our ship, and as he had with
him a copy of the _Pekin Gazette_, which contains the officers of the
empire and the decrees of the Emperor, the noble Nicholas eagerly read
it to find out the movements of the barbarians, when, much to his
surprise, he saw that the noble Ki had been restored to his rank and
fortunes, and, moreover, was permitted to reside unmolested at his
native palace in Fokien. 'Thus, then, O Chow, we have a fortunate day;
here is a clue to the princess--for should she have escaped the villain
rebels, this old and faithful servant of her royal father will surely
know,' said the noble Nicholas."
"Truly the great Father of heaven hath directed, this even," said the
princess.
"Then, O my princess, the heart of thy servant leaped for joy; for he
knew that the clue to the illustrious daughter of the Mings would lead
to the discovery of his beloved mother, so upon his knees he begged his
noble master to let him search the coast of Fokien, a request he would
have granted, had not the whole fleet been ordered by the chief Koshinga
to attack and drive the barbarian Hollanders from the great island of
Formosa on that day. Then for nearly four moons was the fleet before
the castle of Zealand, which protects the island; and so well did the
barbarians fight, that we had no other hope but to starve them out; at
length, however, they were joined by the numerous ships of the
traitorous black dragon Yuen, and for the first time Koshinga was near
being defeated, till at length destiny led him to fill seven of his
ships with oil and inflammable materials, when, taking advantage of the
first north-easterly wind, he set them on fire, and sent them among the
ships of Yuen, the greater part of which being destroyed, the crews with
the black dragon sought the shores in their boats. Thus having got rid
of the fleet, the great Koshinga landed his troops, and after a great
battle killed the greater portion of the pirates, made the remainder
prisoners, and took possession of the country."
"Truly this Koshinga is a great war dragon," said the princess.
"And noble as he is brave; for although he punished the traitor pirates
with death, as enemies to their true Emperor, he permitted the miserable
Hollanders, who, being barbarians, could know no better, to pile up
their household goods in one of their ships and depart."
"Thou hast not said aught of the noble Nicholas during this terrible
fight," said the princess.
"Truly, O illustrious lady, he fought like the brave war tiger that he
is, and performed the greatest act of the fight; for with his own hands
he slew the villain Yuen."
"Then great was his destiny, for he has rendered the whole empire
grateful," exclaimed Ki.
"They owe the noble Nicholas more gratitude than the rebel Li-Kong, of
whose place of refuge, or fate, none have been able to imagine, since
the taking of Chen-si by the great Woo-san-Kwei."
"God is indeed great; thus may treason be for ever punished," said the
princess.
"But greater to thy servant was the capturing of the villain mandarin,
who killed his venerable parent. I had struck the rogue down with my
sword, and rejoicing that I had at last the opportunity of destroying so
great a villain, was about to kill him, when he saved his life by
uttering a few words."
"Is it under heaven that thou couldst save the life of the slayer of thy
parent?" exclaimed Chow's mother.
"Truly, my noble mother, for those words were 'Thy mother and the
princess.' Like magic they kept my sword suspended midway, and I said,
'What words are these, thou dog?' And the mean rogue said, 'If the noble
captain will save the life of his slave, he shall be restored to his
parent.' Need a son tell his mother that he promised when the rascal
said, 'That it had been known for a long time to him that the princess
was living in disguise in the house of the retired colao in Fokien, and
that had Li-Kong been successful in defeating Koshinga, it was the
rogue's intention to sail for the coast and seize the illustrious lady?"
"Truly Heaven is merciful in having destroyed such a villain," said the
princess.
"Then," added Chow, "delighted with the discovery, my enmity to the
rogue became lost in my anxiety to again see my parent; so I besought of
the noble Nicholas to send me in search of those lost pearls of our
existence, which he did with these words: 'Tell the illustrious princess
that the Tartar rogues will seize her if she does not seek the
protection of Koshinga, the friend of China and the Mings, of whose
favor her adopted brother Nicholas will assure her.' Thus commissioned,
I obtained one of the smallest junks of the fleet, had it repainted and
disguised to resemble a trading vessel, set sail from the island, and
landed this morning, when I so nearly fell into the hands of the rats of
Tartars. Such is the history of thy servant, and such his mission. It is
for the great wisdom of the princess alone, to consider whether the
daughter of the Mings may long remain in safety and undiscovered beneath
the dominion of the butchers of her race."
"Heaven is beneficent and thy words wise, O Chow," said the princess.
"Truly, daughter of my beloved master, thy safety would have been
endangered had we been permitted to remain here, for since the villain
mandarin knew thy secret, it is but reasonable to believe that it may be
in the possession of another who may part with it for a high price to
the Emperor Chun-ti. But since this cruel order has arrived, to destroy
all the houses for ten miles inland, the princess can find no safer
asylum than the country of the great patriot Koshinga," said the colao.
Never could there have been a more fortunate time for them to leave the
town; for, as all the inhabitants were hastening to obey the order of
the Emperor, and were busy with their own affairs, they could escape the
watchful eyes of the Tartars. So that very day they set about making
preparations for their departure, and before twenty-four hours had
passed, the whole party were on board Chow's ship and moving down the
stream; indeed, not a moment before it was necessary, for scarcely had
they got under way when a boat put off from the shore, filled with
Tartar soldiers, the chief of whom commanded them to stop.
"What would the Tartar dogs?" said Chow, standing upon the poop of the
vessel. The reply, however, was an arrow, which but narrowly missed the
breast of the brave fellow; who, however, taking no notice of the
missile, said, very coolly, as the soldiers reached the side of the ship
and demanded to be admitted on board, "What would the Tartar dogs on
board a quiet trading vessel?"
"The daughter of the miserable Ming," was the reply.
"Then only two at a time, my brother," replied Chow, acquiescing in
their request. And without waiting for further permission, the two
soldiers climbed up the side and stood on the deck, only, however, to
find themselves tightly clasped by armed men, who had been lying down in
readiness for them. At the same time Chow, assisted by some of his crew,
threw a heavy bar over the ship's side into the boat below, which
falling across the bows and sinking her, sent the soldiers into the
water struggling for their lives.
"Oh, oh!" said Chow to the two prisoners, "you are the affectionate
rogues who wanted a lock of my hair."
"Surely the magnanimous hero would not murder two poor men who were
doing their duty," was the reply.
"Truly it is said that fortune comes to every dog in its turn, and I am
the bow-wow now," said Chow to the Tartars, as he tied together the ends
of the long head-tails, of which they were so proud that they wished all
China to imitate them, and consequently now roared for fear of losing
them.
"Get you gone, you dogs!" said Chow; and the next moment the men were
toppled over into the river, plunging, kicking, and at every plunge
giving such reciprocal pulls at each other's tails that they became as
belligerent as two cats in a similar predicament, and the more so, that
the people upon the banks stood laughing heartily at their ridiculous
gyrations.
CHAPTER XLIV.
A SEA VOYAGE--THE COLAO RELATES THE ADVENTURES OF THE PRINCESS.
Once on board, they were safe, for although the junk had been painted to
resemble a trading ship, she was equipped with arms of every kind, and,
moreover, with men, who had been hidden below; and it was fortunate that
she was so well prepared, for when a Tartar junk put off after them, the
crew of the latter no sooner perceived the deck crowded with armed men,
and a flag hoisted at the masthead, displaying the terrible name of
Koshinga, than they relinquished the chase.
Once out at sea, the vessel was as quiet and happy as a holiday junk,
and Chow sought permission to enter the state cabin of the princess.
"Truly, my brave Chow, we have had a narrow escape from these
barbarians," said the princess; adding, "The words of the noble Ki were
wise, the secret must have been known, and sold to the usurper."
"Truly thy servant would willingly sacrifice his mean life, could he see
the great Yong-Li ascend the throne of his magnificent ancestors,"
exclaimed Chow; but, to his surprise, the beautiful eyes of the princess
became suffused with tears.
"It is not under heaven, O princess, that thy slave can have given thee
pain?" said Chow.
"Surely this is weak, for no tears should be found in the eyes of the
daughter of the Mings, but those caused by the suffering of the people,"
said the princess; adding, "Alas! my poor brother, with him has departed
the last hope of his race."
"What are these sad words, O my princess? Is it possible that the
Emperor Yong-Li can have left the earth?"
Then, with an effort to subdue her sorrow, she said, "Even so, my brave
Chow;" but, her grief overcoming her resolution, she could utter no
more, and Chow respectfully left the cabin, followed by the colao, who
thus related the adventures of the princess, and his mother, from the
time of their abduction by the strange soldiers:--
"When, O brave Chow, the robbers found they had obtained the great prize
they had so long been in search of, they hastened with all speed to the
sea-coast, where they hoped to find a ship that would take them to the
coast of Pe-tche-Lee, where the army of Li was reported to be encamped;
when, however, they reached the port, they heard that the Prince Yong Li
had quarrelled with Woo-san-Kwei, and having got together a great army,
had marched to the city of Chao-Hing, which, after a few days, he had
retaken from the Tartars, and caused himself to be proclaimed Emperor.
Then, when the cunning thieves heard this news, and also that Yong-Li
was reconquering the country all around, they bethought themselves that
Yong-Li would give them a much higher price for a sister that he loved
so dearly, than would Li-Kong for a princess whom he only hoped to make
his wife; so, making a virtue of a necessity, the rogues threw
themselves at the feet of the royal lady, implored pardon for their
roughness, and making a merit of their great crime, declared they were
the faithful servants of her house, and intended to take her to her
royal brother's court. Too glad to hear such news, she readily bestowed
upon them a pardon; and, moreover, promised them great rewards if they
would only conduct her in safety to her brother's presence.
"After some months' tedious and difficult traveling, they arrived at
Chao-Hing, where they found that the report was truthful, and that the
prince had really made a very great stride toward his throne. Well, the
rogues were rewarded, and the princess delighted at being not only
restored to her brother, but to the good and great Candida Hiu, who had
escaped to Chao-Hing some time previously, with myself, the ancient
servant of the imperial Mings; but, alas! fortune is capricious. A great
army of barbarians so encompassed the city, that we were unable to
procure food; still we held out, and the soldiers fought bravely, with
the hope of being soon relieved. Then some foul demon put it into the
head of the Tartar general, that the place might be taken without
fighting. So, seeing that the waters of the river were at a greater
height than had ever before been known, he first made a breach in the
walls, and then caused his army to cut away the dikes and embankments,
so that the waters rushed in such terrible force that the houses were
beaten down, and the city made one vast pool, in which three millions of
people were drowned, the Lady Candida among them. Fortunately, however,
the Emperor, the princess, and their servant, escaped the flood, and,
after many trials and difficulties, reached the court of the King of
Pegu, who, seeing the heir to so great a throne in such misfortune,
readily offered him one of his palaces for his residence; and there we
remained happily for some time, and might have continued till more
fortunate days, but that its coming to the ears of the Tartars, that the
Prince Yong-Li was under the protection of the King of Pegu, the latter,
for fear of being dethroned by his terrible neighbor, was compelled to
give the prince into the hands of the Tartar, who, taking him to Pekin,
there had him destroyed in a cruel and ignominious manner. Fortunately,
however, the Tartar did not know that the imperial La-Loo, was with her
brother, and so, aided by the King of Pegu, I traveled into my own
province of Fokien, taking the princess as my daughter, and thy mother
as her attendant; and no plan could be so safe, for the Tartar barbarian
had proclaimed that all those Chinese nobles who had suffered by the
tyranny of Wey-t-song, or Li-Kong, should be reinstalled in their former
rank and possessions, conferring upon me alone, for my long and faithful
services to my late master, the high and honorable title of 'Faithful to
the Emperor.'"
"Truly this is a sad and marvelous history," said Chow, taking a
respectful leave of the venerable noble, and proceeding to the duties of
the ship.
CHAPTER XLV.
THEY REACH THE PALACE OF THE SEA CHIEF KOSHINGA.
Oh! how the heart of the princess bled for the poor people, as sailing
along that coast she saw with what terrible haste the Emperor's command
had been obeyed. There, as far as the vision could pierce, ran, blazed,
crackled one cordon of fire; miles in thickness, this fearful belt
seemed as if it were to ward off the attack of worlds of savage beasts,
instead of one mortal man. Yet such was the shocking policy of the
Tartar despot, that to starve the great sea warrior from the coast, he
laid waste hundreds of miles, ruined millions of his new subjects, and
turned a fertile and populous land into a dreary wilderness.
For some days the little ship ploughed those waters, which, though
famous for their tempests, were, as if in augury of better fortunes, now
as placid as a lake, till at length they came in sight of the
Pescadores, from almost every point of which they could see the colors
of the victorious Koshinga. Then they reached the point of Formosa, upon
which the Hollanders had erected their fort, but from which now floated
the flag of the sea chief; then Chow sent up a signal, and in reply the
Dutch guns bellowed forth a salute. Shortly afterward some large barges
put off from the shore to the ship, the princess and her party took
their seats, and were speedily rowed to the shore, upon which she had no
sooner put her foot, than Nicholas fell upon his knees before her,
saying, "Welcome, illustrious daughter of the Mings, to the kingdom of
Koshinga."
"Surely, my brave and noble brother, this is but mockery; for the
daughter of the Mings is now but an outcast orphan," said the princess,
taking Nicholas by the hands and assisting him to rise.
"Not so, O illustrious, princess! for, like a brand from the flames,
this great and fertile island hath been plucked from the thieving
Tartars and Hollanders by Koshinga, that it may be restored to the
princess of China, as a resting-place, till the whole of her empire be
recovered."
"Who, O my brother, is this bold, brave man that thus shakes the world
by his power?"
"A patriot, and a true Chinese, whose only ambition is to root out the
miserable Tartars from the land, and restore its throne to its ancient
Emperors," replied Nicholas; adding, "But the princess would see this
terrible sea chief." Then he led her through the double rows of troops,
which were drawn up the whole length between the castle and the shore,
and all of whom bent low with respectful loyalty as the daughter of
their late Emperor passed. When within the castle, he led her to a door
where a number of ladies in rich dresses stood ready to receive her.
"Now, O illustrious princess, will thy servant prepare the noble chief
for the great honor of thy visit," said Nicholas, leaving her to the
care of the ladies.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE KING AND QUEEN OF FORMOSA.--HAPPY TERMINATION OF THE STORY.
The pleasure of the princess had changed to grief; she felt disappointed
and desolate, for once fallen from her high rank, and having been thrown
by misfortune beneath the care of Nicholas, she had learned to regard
him as a brother; therefore, after the death of the Prince Yong-Li,
great had been her delight, by anticipation, of again meeting him--but
now, alas! the brave youth seemed changed. Was he not, indeed, one of
the officers of the great Koshinga, by whose command he had received
her, not as a dear friend, but with the cold and formal respect due to
that exalted rank, which, as it seemed about to rob her of her adopted
brother, was hateful to her?
Thus, in a very melancholy mood, she followed the ladies through the
corridor into a suite of rooms, magnificently furnished with the spoils
from the well-laden ships of Li-Kong. She, who, more fortunate than most
princesses, had had the painful mantle of royalty torn from her
shoulders and been permitted for a season to taste the troubles of
ordinary mortals, which, compared to her former state, seemed luxury
itself, was again about to be petrified by state garments, and, like the
idols, her Christian teaching caught her to despise, placed upon a
throne high up out of the way of common humanity, and as her experience
had taught her, mocked with a false adoration.
The morning came, however, and still she as much feared to meet the
chief as if he had been her greatest enemy. At last the terrible moment
of meeting came, and she was conducted by her ladies to the great hall
of the castle, which was hung with yellow cloth of gold. Not noticing
the crowd of officers around, who were bowing to the ground, she bent
her head downward, and as the ladies led her forward to the chair of
state, she heard, "Welcome to the Queen of Tai-ouan." The welcome was
echoed by a hundred voices; the princess looked up, the throne was
vacant, but by her side, and holding her hand, stood the terrible
Koshinga, at the sight of whom she trembled, but it was with joy, for
the great sea chief after all was neither more nor less than Nicholas,
the son of the merchant of the south, who, by his great abilities,
valor, and energy, had conquered a kingdom and crowned himself.
Thus ends the troubles of the princess, Chow, Nicholas, and my story. I
will, however, add, that although by some unaccountable neglect the
historians of China have omitted to say one word about the queen, they
all state that not only was Koshinga, the great son of Chin-Chi-Loong,
crowned first King of Formosa, but in that capacity received ambassadors
from several of the monarchs of Europe.
THE END.
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