Part 8 (1/2)
”I can't tell you,” was the answer. ”But it was never believed you could make a quick jump to the capital city. There maybe things to do on the way there. That is why you have to escort. I don't like this diplomacy game, but have to obey orders.”
”What I want to know,” Jimmie broke in, ”is how Ned got away. They had him tied up plenty last time I saw him. And, after he got away, how did he happen to blunder into the company of our escort? China is a land of mystery, all right!”
”They didn't watch me closely,” Ned replied, modestly, ”after they took you away, and when I did get out of the house I had only to follow one of my captors. Believing that I was safely tied, my captors talked a lot about having the marines waiting in the wrong house while they disposed of the Boy Scouts!”
”This man Rae?” asked the officer. ”Was he there with your captors?
That's one of the men we must take.”
”Oh, he is the man that caused us to be taken,” Jimmie cut in. ”I'd like to break his crust for him. I'm gettin' sick of bein' tied up in every case, like the hero in a Bowery play!”
”Was there a c.h.i.n.k who spoke English like a native?” asked Jack.
”There were two.”
”Dressed in native costume?”
”Yes, and looking bored and weary.”
”Then they're the men that sat with the others in a grinning row up against the wall,” Frank exclaimed. ”Do you think they are Chinamen?”
”Disguised Englishmen,” Ned replied.
”That's my notion,” Frank went on. ”Oh, we'll get this all ironed out directly! If we could find Hans we might start off with a thorough understanding of how the game was carried out here.”
The rain now slacked a little, and here and there stars showed through ma.s.ses of hurrying clouds. The boys led their steel horses to the door and prepared to mount.
”Plenty of mud,” Jack suggested.
In the little pause caused by the marines getting out their machines a dull, monotonous sound came to the ears of the party. It was such a sound as the Boy Scouts had heard on the rivers of South America, when the advance of their motor-boat was blocked, and hundreds of savages were peering out of the thickets.
”What is it?” asked Jack.
”Sounds like the roaring of a mob,” answered the officer. ”You understand that a word will stir the natives to arms against foreigners.
As there is no knowing what this fake Lieutenant Rae and the men we drove away from this house may have said to the c.h.i.n.ks, we may as well be moving. It may be safer out on the road!”
”I should say so!” exclaimed Jack. ”We can't fight a whole nation, can we? Look there! That was a rocket, and means trouble.”
The distant murmur was fast growing into a roar, and rockets were flecking the clouds with their green, red, and blue lights. Shadowy figures began to show in the darkness, and a group was seen ahead, in the street which led away toward Peking.
”More dangerous than wild beasts!” exclaimed the officer. ”Be careful to keep together and in the middle of the road, when we get under way, for if one of us gets pulled down there's an end of all things for him!”
”It is too bad we can't stay long enough to find Hans,” Ned said.
”If we remain here five minutes longer,” the officer replied, ”someone will have to come and find us. Are you ready?”
All were ready, and the next moment sixteen motorcycles shot out into the street and headed northwest for Tientsin, which city lay in the direct path to Peking. The group in the road ahead parted sullenly as the squadron pressed on its outer circle and the company pa.s.sed through without mishap.