Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
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the road, not far distant, stood a forsaken ruin; and through a winding ravine near by ran a little brook, in which the camels could quench their thirst
While waiting, and before it was quite dark, Kin-Fo and his companions seated themselves in the ruins, and ate a lunch with an appetite sharpened by their long journey.
The conversation, however, was not spirited. Once or twice Kin-Fo directed it to Lao-Shen, and asked the guide who this Tai-ping was, and if he knew him. The guide shook his head as if he were not positive, and avoided answering as much as possible.
“Does he ever come into the province?” asked Kin-Fo.
“No,” answered the guide; “but Tai-pings from his band have passed the Great Wall several times, and it would not be well to meet them. May Buddha save us from the Tai-pings!”
At these responses, which the guide evidently did not know were considered very important by his questioner, Craig and Fry looked at each other, and frowned, drew out their watch, consulted it, and finally shook their heads.
“Why should we not remain quietly here till daylight?” said they.
“In these ruins!” exclaimed the guide. “I prefer the flat country, where there is less danger of being surprised.”’
“But we agreed to be at the Great Wall this evening,” answered Kin-Fo. “I must be there, and I will.”
This was said in a tone that admitted of no discussion. Even Soun, who was already half dead with fear, dared not protest.
The repast being over,—it was nearly nine o’clock,—the guide rose, and gave the signal to depart.
Kin-Fo then went towards his steed, and Craig and Fry followed him.
“Sir,” said they, “have you decided to place yourself in the hands of Lao-Shen?”
“I have fully decided,” answered Kin-Fo: “I must have my letter at any price.”
“It is playing for a very high stake,” they resumed, “to go into the Tai-ping’s camp.”
“I have not come thus far to draw back now,” replied Kin-Fo. “You are free not to follow me if you do not wish.”
The guide lighted a little pocket-lantern, and the two agents approached, and consulted their watch a second time.
“It would certainly be more prudent to wait till to-morrow,” they urged.
“Why so?” answered Kin-Fo. “Lao-Shen will be as dangerous to-morrow or day after to-morrow as he is to-day. Let us start.”
“Let us start,” repeated Fry-Craig.
The guide heard the last part of this conversation, and several times during the halt, when the two agents wished to dissuade Kin-Fo from going on, a certain look of dissatisfaction was seen on his face; and now, when he saw them renewing their objections, he could not restrain a gesture of impatience.
This did not escape Kin-Fo, who was quite determined not to yield an inch. But his surprise was extreme, when the guide, as he assisted him to mount his beast, leaned over, and whispered in his ear,—
“Beware of those two men!”
Kin-Fo was about to ask him to explain his words; but the guide motioned to him to be silent, gave the signal for departure, and the little band ventured out into the country through the dark night.
Had a slight mistrust entered the mind of Fry-Craig’s charge? could the unexpected and inexplicable words of the guide counterbalance with him their two months’ devotion? No, certainly not! And yet Kin-Fo wondered why Fry-Craig had advised him to put off his visit to the Tai-ping’s camp, or to give it up. Was it not in order to join Lao-Shen that they suddenly left Pekin? Was it not also for the interest of the Centenary’s two agents that their charge should get possession of that absurd and compromising letter? Their objections, therefore, were incomprehensible.
Kin-Fo did not show the feelings which disturbed him, and took his place again behind the guide. Craig-Fry followed him, and they travelled thus for two long hours.
It must have been near midnight when the guide, stopping, pointed to a long black line in the north, which was faintly defined against the some what lighter background of the sky. Behind this line rose a number of hills, silvered by the rising moon, which was not yet above the horizon.
“The Great Wall!” said the guide.
“Can we cross it this evening?” asked Kin-Fo.
“Yes, if you insist upon it,” answered the guide.
“I do.”
The camels having stopped, the guide said, “I am going to reconnoitre the pass. Wait for me here.” And he left.
Just then Craig and Fry approached Kin-Fo.
“Sir!” said Craig.
“Sir!” said Fry.
“Have you been satisfied with our services during these two months that we have watched over your person by the orders of the Honorable William J. Bidulph?”
“Perfectly satisfied.”
“Would you please sign this little paper, sir, to show that you have nothing but praise to say of our able and loyal services?”
“A paper!” answered Kin-Fo, somewhat surprised at the sight of a leaf torn from a note-book, and which Craig presented him.
“This certificate,” said Fry, “will perhaps bring us a compliment from our employer, and, no doubt, extra pay.”
“Here is my back, which you can use as a desk, sir,” said Craig, bending over.
“And here is the ink which will enable you to give us this written proof of your kind opinion,” said Fry.
Kin-Fo laughed, and signed the paper.
“And now,” he asked, “why all this ceremony in this place, and at this hour?”
“In this place,” answered Fry, “because it is our intention not to accompany you farther.”
“At this hour,” added Craig, “because in a few moments it will be midnight.”
“And what matters the hour to you?”
“Sir,” continued Craig, “the interest that our insurance company felt for you”—
“Will cease in a few moments,” added Fry.
“And you can kill yourself”—
“Or have yourself killed”—
“As much as you please!”
Kin-Fo, without understanding a word, looked at these two agents, who spoke in the most amiable tone. At this moment the moon rose above the horizon, and its first beam shone on them.
“The moon!” cried Fry.
“And to-day is the 30th of June!” cried Craig.
“It rises at midnight”—
“And your policy not being renewed”—
“You are no longer insured by the Centenary.”
“Good-evening, Mr. Kin-Fo!” said Craig.
“Mr. Kin-Fo, good-evening!” said Fry.
And the two agents, turning about, soon were lost to sight, leaving their client stunned.
The steps of the camels which bore away these perhaps rather too practical Americans were hardly out of hearing, when a troop of men, led by the guide, sprang upon Kin-Fo, who tried in vain to defend himself; and on Soun, who tried in vain to run away.
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