Part 10 (2/2)

”Oh,” said Helen breathlessly, ”we must overtake her! We must get her to give us the _miriok_. We can't let her escape with it in this manner, for what then could we do about poor Choi-So and Mr. Kit-ze?”

”Yes,” replied Dorothy, ”we must get it back. I am like you, Helen, I can't bear to see the old woman get off with it. Oh, every time I think of that poor man Choi-So and his melancholy, pleading eyes, I feel that we must keep on, that we must overtake her and secure the image by some means!”

”Why,” said Helen suddenly, ”I have forgotten to tell her about the _yen_ I have for her.” Then she began to call, holding up her purse: ”See! I have _yen_ for you. Stop and let me tell you about it.”

At last she had used the magic words. At sound of them, twice repeated, the _mutang_ slackened her pace. Then she turned her head. Encouraged by these signs, Helen renewed her efforts.

They were now some distance into the village, and a half-mile or more from the sampan. The red glow of the coming morning had fully dyed the east. Already there were signs of stirring life in the huts about them.

Then too, the noise of running feet and of Helen's loudly spoken words had attracted attention. One by one forms began to appear on the street.

Soon there was quite a group in the neighborhood of the pursued and pursuers. By the time Helen had succeeded in gaining the old _mutang's_ interest, there were many curious spectators surrounding them.

”What is all this commotion about?” asked one man as he approached. Then as he noted the _mutang_ he stopped respectfully. The old woman had now paused in her running, and had turned toward Helen. ”What were the words? Say them again.”

Helen repeated them.

”Why are you running after me in this way? Why do you offer me _yen_?”

she now asked angrily.

Helen told her as simply and as plainly as she could.

At this the old woman's eyes blazed more than ever. But she seemed to take a second thought, and asked cautiously, ”How many _yen_?”

”Two,” replied Helen, closely watching her face.

The old woman shook her head vigorously, then began to stamp. ”Too little! too little!” she said. ”Your head is under your arm to think I'd be such an idiot!”

Then she set off again.

”Three!” called Helen desperately, for she knew this was the limit of her resources so far as _yen_ were concerned.

”No! no!” shouted the old woman. ”Too little! too little! Five or none.”

As the last sentence was uttered, she turned to see its effect on Helen, but as there was not the response she expected, she renewed her efforts to get beyond their reach.

”Oh, if I only had my purse too!” said Dorothy. ”But I gave it to my brother yesterday just before we left Mr. Ko's.”

In her despair Helen called after the old woman again and again to stop, to turn back with them to the sampan, promising her the _yen_ she desired if only she would do so, and further a.s.suring her that no harm should come to her, for Helen knew Mallard would gladly supply the amount of _yen_ she lacked. She would tell him about the _miriok_. She had been intending to do it the first favorable opportunity.

There was now quite a hubbub in the street, for in addition to Helen's calls and Dorothy's added entreaties, there were the shrill cries of defiance of the old _mutang_ herself. People had come running from all directions, and their loudly voiced questions and exclamations added to the noise. Among others there came five runners, the court officers of a near-by _yangban_ (gentleman), who was serving as magistrate.

When they saw the two girls they began to cry out something against the hated foreigners, and three of them at once took Helen and Dorothy into custody, while the other two hastened away to capture the _mutang_. They were too hardened to mind the old sorceress and her wiles. Moreover, the court was no respecter of persons.

Helen and Dorothy were now much frightened and, for the first time, began to realize what they had done in setting off on this mad chase after the old _mutang_.

Helen was the first to recover herself. ”I guess,” she said, ”it won't be so dreadful. They won't dare hurt us. And soon our dear ones in the sampan will come to the rescue, for surely we can get them word. Anyhow, it won't be long ere they miss us, and they'll search the town over till they find us.”

A young man, whom Helen declared looked more honest than any of the others, was soon engaged, in consideration of the offer of two of Helen's smaller silver pieces, to carry the news of their predicament to the sampan. But alas for Helen's confidence! After securing the silver he had taken only about a dozen steps toward the river when, overcome by curiosity to see the thing out, he turned back.

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