IN THE CHINA SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 142, 15 June 1894, Page 3

IN THE CHINA SEA.

Mr sbwaxd w. MOPKisra.

CHAPTER XIIL rWBPAIUjrQ *QB BATOJS.

Oso-Bab« cW# |bf ;.,gro«jl, yoe^mx of a snail lumpy beast, that) jva« honoured in Talmooch with the name of horae. This animal, ab th© time I made the acquaintance of its owner, was engaged in the honourable duty of ploughing the fields of OsoBark's fertile farm. He was taken from that ruabic pursuit and was harnessed to a lumbering, rickety vehicle, that Mr A very pronounced equal in all its attribute* to the historical * one-noes ehay.' This vehicle had only two wheels; and the body of it was so hung that the weight of it was sometimes in front of the axle and sometimes behind it. Thus, ati one' time, the freight of the load was sustained by the patient horse, while at another the weight of the horse was all that prevented the vehicle from tippine over backward. ' Behold me, then, with the reins of this fascinating turnout in my hands, furnished with a full supply of knick-knacks, made by the Jumar women, jaunting around Galneor and into the country beyond, even into Bromporrab, protending to sell my wares to my kinsmen. In this way I was in constant communication with my followers and fellow-slaves, without being suspected by the Chinese soldiers. Bnt suspected or unsuspected, I was not a favourite with the soldiers of Hen«Ko-Hi, I was insulted and abused on all sides. It was no unusual thing for a squad of these interesting rascals to rash me in the street, upaeb my cart, throw my goods all over the ground, and then jab a sword into my horse and send him clattering away, At these times I bad great difficulty in controlling my rage. I knew it would please the tormentors if I resented their notions, and gave them an opportunity to take me before the Governor for punishment. Bui that would ruin all my chances of obtaining freedom, and I meekly bore their abuse, biding my time for a sweeping revenue. I made, the acquaintance qf the principal men of Galneor, and while I proudly exhibited my goods to the women, I talked with and gave instructions to their husbands, Thus, while the wife of Poko-Bains ! was looking over my Btock of laces (which she had helped to make), that worthy him* self was telling me of the progress of the work that was laid out) for him, And if a Chinese soldier stood sullenly by looking at us, he was not the wiser for his pains, for to him and bis kind I was but a poor Jumar seeking to earn my living without having recourse to the bard work in the mines. Even into the mines I went, ostensibly to sell clothes to the miners, but really to sow the seed of revolution and bo learn more of my people and their country. It was in the mines thai 1 taw the groat' eat cruelties practised. I saw men who wore fainting from exhaustion prodded with the swords of the guard, until in despair the poor fellows would lie down and beg their tormentors to kill them outright and rid them of their misery. Sometimes this invitation pleased the Mongols and they accepted it. * I saw men, bleeding from wounds given by their heartless masters, thrown out on the mountain-side to die. Often my indignation nearly overthrew my prudence, but I knew that interference would simply cost me my own life, and I went stolidly about my business. In Bromporrah I first met the Kaleks-* race that was once distinct from the Jumarjj, but now closely allied by intermarriage for several generations, They were of still smaller physique than their kinsmen of Galneor, tnough resembling them in colour and mental attributes. The two cities were about) ten rmlea apart. A wide, smooth road led from Galneor to Bromporrah, and from there on toQuiental. This I found to be A continuation of the Street of the Invaders. The same style of nomenclature prevailed at Bromporrah that I had found in Galneor. The people of Bromporrah were, if possible, more dispirited than the Jnmars. They bad hai toe honour of giving to the island the last ruling family, all the members of which bad bean killed by Hen-Ko-Hi, I was received everywhere among them with a confidence that amazed me, No one questioned my authority or doubted the s access of my plans. I was jogging along one of the principal streets one day, and stopped before a comfortable-looking house in the best part of Bromporrah. In the garden was a woman planting corn. I took a tray of handkerchiefs from the cart and went to her. I How are you, good woman V I asked. ' Good womnn' is the nearest translation of the word • madam' in Jnmerefe, She eyed me a moment and then said: I 1 am as well as a Kalek woman can be with the burn of a Mantchoo thrust in her heart. 1 < Alas!' I said, 'And have you suffered, too?1 ' Yes,' she replied bitterly. * I have been so deep in sorrow that even death would seem welcome. See you this?' She showed me a mound in a corner of tbe garden. It was covered with fragrant and beautiful flowers. «Ibis a grave,'l said, •It is tbe grave of my heart, There lies the child of myself and Badoßor,' , I had beard of Bado-Rbr. Mr A very bad told me that be was the chief man of Bromporrah. 1 And your worthy hoaband—is he at work?' I trust be is well,' •Bado-Bor is well,' she said; 'he is within. 1 • Take me to him,' I said. • I want to speak to him.' • And who of the Jumars shall I Bay to him is bere? Are you a messenger from Garu-Saak or the Oolek ?' • I am the Oolek,' I replied. She bowed low and bade me follow her, I expected to see in Bado-Bor a noblelooking man such as were tbe chiefs of the Jumars. Imagine my surprise when I was ushered into tbe presence of a wizened little old fellow at least a foot or more shorter than myself. When we entered the room he eeemed to be very busy. He paid us scant attention. There were pots and jars scattered about, A hot fire glowed in a little stove. He was working with chemicals of some sort. Tbe expression of his face was fierce and rapt, He was thinking only of bis work, but he had become so fierce from constant thinking of his wrongs that bis face never lost its tigerish ferocity. I You are Bado-Ror,' I said when I went in. He looked up and nodded. ' This is the Oolek,' said bis wife. I 1 knew it,' was all he said. I waited in silence, amused at this cool reception. Tbe situation was one that might, if prolonged, become awkward. Suddenly bis eyes gleamed. •Ah ! I have it!' he exclaimed. He put down a jar in which he had been shaking some kind of mixture, and motioned for his wife to leave us. She bowed and departed. Plunging bis hand into the jar beheld out toward me a handful of white powder. He did not speak, but divining his wishes, I examined it, Flaring a email pinch of it on a stone, be struck it) a sharp, quick blow. An explosion was the result.. 'And what is that, Bado-Ror V J asked.

■ His grizzled faqa twist*} itself into a knowing smile. ' • •Oolek, the Jamara are doing good .work. They are wonderful 1q their skill. They are making for yon many guns. Bab what will you shoot in them? Water? Sand? Ha! Yon did nob think of that. Yon cannot) bay a handful of powder in Talmoooh. But this is powder. And When tbe guns of Poko-Bains are ready the rwder of Bado-Ror will be ready for them, have not told my wife—women talk. ThU must remain a secret), Oolek, between you and me. 1 <• I waa almost dumb with surpriae ab bha forethought as well as tbe skill or this man of sorrow. The genius of the Kalek had risen to meet the genius of the Jumars in a united fight for freedom. Were each men born to be slaves I I told Mr A very ot tbe powder, and once more bis hopes were raised a little higher. We J»ad a passage-way out from the riverbed to the cellar of Bado-Ror'n house. The powder, as fast as it was made, was carried into the caverns and stored where it would be safe and dry. ' . Mr Avery became an agitator of the most pronounced type. He visited all parts of the island nob inclosed within the walls of Quiental, and preached revolution to the people. The seed was sown in forbile soil. The results wera such as we could wish. ; ■ By the time we had been on the island three months 1 had established a socret league, extending from my cave under the Sacred Forest to the very walk of QuiantaL A system of communication was perfected, whereby I could at any time, from any portion of the island, send a message to a»y other porbion and receive an answer in no incredibly short epaca of time. By this means I hept myself informed at all times of all that was transpiring in Talmoooh. If a tax-gatherer left the portals of Quiental with a force of soldiers at his back I knew it as soon as he got away from the shadow of tbe wall. If Hen-Ko-Hi went) out into' the forest) roads to ride, accompanied by hia attendants, I knew it, and sometimes watched his course from a securely hidden nook in a tree top. We frequently thought tbat we were discovered and hastily prepared to meet our fate. But the protection of God was ours, and we were not found out). One guard, indeed, suspicious and inquisitive, followed me into Mr Avery's house and stealthily WBbohed me go into the 'underground pas* sage. Had he been satisfied with that he might have brought the Governor or bis representative to investigate, and would, no doubt, have reaped a rich reward. But bis eagerness led him too far, and I heard foptsteps behind me in the cavern. I turned and beheld the grinning face of bbc soldier. There was no time or room for sentiment. The fellow held in his handß the lives of Miss Arnold, Mr Avery and myself. I rushed to him and seized htm. He was armed, but so taken by surprise at ray temerity that) he was fatally slow to acb. I put my fingers around his throat and choked him to death, Then I threw his body into a deep wall, that, was apparently bottomless. 01 ibis occurrence I said nothing to MistmArnold or Mr Avery. But I was more watchful than ever of my foes. . ' ' : ■ Under the supervision of Poko-Bains, bhe bed of the river became a greatarmoury. The men worked industriously and skillfully. Iron was stoadily brought from the mines outside of Galneor, and taken through Mr Avery's house, into the oavea. Great care was constantly necessary. One error now —onp false move, and. our hopes and the freedom of Talmooch would be dashed to the ground for ever. The people knew this as well as I did. They appreciated the dangers as well bb the importance of the enterprise. They were cautious, brave and obedient. I had no fait to find with any of them. Now and then, when Hen-Ko-Hi or hia soldiers would perpetrate some new outrage, the .people would grow impatient, and cry out to me bo hasten the end." But I was loth bo declare war until I held the winning band in the great game. I restrained them in their fierce desire for immediate vengeance, and while they waited, their determination became strengthened and their convictions deeper, until I had under my control an army of men with but one mmdi one will, one purpose. Time Bped rapidly, even to us who so longed for freedom. The great work we had on hand so occupied our minds thab we found no time to mourn. It was enough to know that our plans were progressing. The rifle I had taken from Cha-Fong served as a model for Poko-Bains, and one by* one, or in dozens, similar guns were turned out from the workshops, and set aside to wait for the coming war. I completed my organisation. < In Galneor I bad, under the command of Garu-Saak and Osu-Bark, four thousand able-bodied and drilled men. This force was divided into regiments and companies. Suitable officers went chosen,' and the diaciplino was very good. In Bromporrah, under Badoßor, there were eight thousand men, of equal bravery, but nob so well drilled as the forces of Galneor. Under the cellars of some of the bpuses, powder and arms and bullets were quietly stored, The celebrated Jumar blade again became an important) fact, and Garu<Saak was a most striking specimen of soldier as he stood in the uniform of our army wibh tbe great steel destroyer buckled to bis waist. I had decided IP favour of a showy uniform. But the manufacture of these did not progress beyond a few tor the principal offiaers. I substituted one of them for the blood-stained one I bad taken from Oba-Fong, And in place of his boots I pub on a shiny pair of new ones turned out from a shop at Bromporrab, I looked like a soldier even if I didn't act like one. Bub I had a happy conceit that I was doing a» well under the circumstances as any one else could do. These things denote the steady growth of my plans. I bad been in Talmooch six mouths before we had the army under full discipline. One day Mr Avery and I were talking over our affairs and going over, one by one, all the details of the week. • Qrickmore,' said the old man, ' there is not a thing lef bto be done. Your plans are perfect, All fchnto is needed now is the word to strike,' • Yes, I have one more trifle perhaps— and perhaps an important factor—to arrange. I must have Garu-Saak hang, secreted in tree-tops, between here and Quienbal, several large bells. They must be near enough together, that an alarm, sounded from any one place, can be com* municabed throughout the island without delay, It will be dangerous and difficult work and will cause some delay.' 'You are a marvel. One would think you had been brought, up to this sorb of thing.' ' " Necessity is the mother,' 1 etc.—you know,'l replied, laughing. • What are you going to do next)?' he asked. 1 Wait,' I replied, examining a piece of Bbeel Poko-Bains bad brought) to no for inspection. ' Only wait.' (To be Continued.)