IN THE CHINA SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 143, 16 June 1894, Page 6

IN THE CHINA SEA.

BY SEWAB2) W. HOPKINS.

CHAPTER XIV. VICTORY TOR THE RIGHT.

One day, shortly after I had seen the last of my orders faithfully carried out, I was in Galneor, ostensibly plying my trade as peddler, bub in reality looking over the ground with an eye to the future struggle. Ifc was nob my purpose to attack Quiental. The forces in the fortifications would have every advantage over my army in the fieldI did not, of course, dare build any Borb of protection above ground, and yet ib was my determination to win the coming battle with aa little loss of life among my own men as possible. And to do this, I reaolved that the scene of the firsbabruggle must be in Galneor. Suddenly I heard a crying among the women and a bitter wailing. I knew boo well what ib meanb. The cry ' The bax ! The tax I' had become a familiar one to my ears. The official tax-gatherer of Hea-Ko-Hi was going his rounds to gather in everything that had nob already been stolen or to insult and abuse the people. This particular tax-gatherer was a most Tillainous-looking scoundrel, and murder seemed to be his favourite sport. He rode a farish horse and waa followed by a horde of ruffians—eager for carnage or deviltry. They tramped through the houses of the Jumars, knowing no law save their own lust and greed. The women, seeing me near by, ran oub to beseech me to do something ab once to prevent further outrage. I hastily made a resolve and told one of the women to fly as rapidly as possible to the mines whore Garu-Saak worked, and tell him to get his men together, kill the guards and come to me. She darted off breathless and anxious. The tax-gatherer came riding down the street of Galneor with his eang of followers, swinging into all the houses, committing such depredations as they liked. When he reached me he stopped. Looking at me in a mocking way, he'took off his hat and bowed. Then suddenly becoming fierce, he exclaimed in the native language of the island : •Well! Dog of a Jumar! Why are you nob at work, instead of idling away the Governor's time in the street ?' •I am here for my dinner,' I replied, calmly. . 1 Take that for your dinner,' he said, giving me a severe blow in the face. My blood boiled wibh rage, yeb I held my peace. I knew that one error now. would ruin all. My time was coming, and I had been treated thus before. • See, he baa no bongue." He is a dumb beast,' shouted the tax-gatherer. His followers laughed merrily at this witty sally. . . •We will see if he can talk. Take thab, beast.' He pricked me with his sword. I stood in a circle of Chinamen. Oufaside, and around them, were the Jumar women. I hoped to see men among them soon. There waa no doubb that the tax-gatherer intended to goad me inbo open rebellion, that he might have an excuse for taking me before the Governors; 71 began to few lest he should do ib before assistance could arrive. * Oso-Bark heard of the trouble and came in from his farm.- Other farmers came in, and soon a number of Jumar men bad joined the women. : I made no reply to the officer. •Ha! You don't speak. Well, I'll make you sing then. Ha ! You will be a fine bird to sing before the Governor.' Ab his command they bound be, I was securely wound up in cords and thrown down in the streeb. • Lie there, dog, until I want you,' said my tormentor, * and if one of these beasts lets you lose I will kill him and you.' They turned their attention to other things, for the momenb leaving me alone. I hoped my messenger to the mines would fly on the wings of the winds, for I sorely needed my men around ma now, and there were not enough among the farmers to be of any service. The tax-gatherer and his crowd continued their pillage and plunder. Women were knocked down and ill-treated. At last I heard the deep voice of GaruSaak. He was bending over me. He had been running and was almost out of breath. One of his hands was bloody, telling of a conflict. 'Itis I, Oolek—Garu-Saak is here. What shall I do?' 'Cub me loobo.' Id an instant I was free and on my feet. ' How many men are with you V I asked. 1 Four hundred from the mines of South Mountain.' • Then order them to seize these Chinamen. Leb not one escape. Bind them securely.' 'And the bell—the bell?' he said, eagerly. • No, not yet. Call your men together. Send some of them for some gunu. Get at these fellows and secure them.' A scene most indescribable ensued. The moaning? of the women turned to shrieks af rage and hate. The ferocity shown by them was as great—if indeed it was not greater in its bfoodthirstiness—than that of the men. But this strange characteristic was nob new to the world. It was so in the French revolution. Ib has been so in many struggles for supremacy. Tbe Chinese were taken by surprise. It is true, they fired a few shots, but the numbers of their assailants, the unexpected turn of affairs took away all power of concentrated action. The women seized axes and crowded in on them and hewed them down. 1 Bind them !' I commanded, and ropes were brought from a hundred houses near. Mr Avery, who had become one of the throng, now-ran np to me. He was visibly affected. 'Is it war, Crickmore ? Has ib come ? Has it come f he cried. 'My friend,' I eaid, patting my hand on faiß shoulder, * this is do place for yon. There are enough of us to Bo the fighting. 1 wish you would go ab once to Miss Arnold. Tell her what is being done, and stay with her until it is over.' I But can I not help you, Crickmore ? Is there nothing I can do ?' he asked. ' No, please do as I ask you. You will help me more by remaining with Miss Arnold and reassuring her, than in anything you might do out here. Go to Miss Arnold and tell her the first blow for liberty is struck. The fight is on.' I 1 will do as you say, Crickmore ; I will do as you sas. God be with you, boy, and sustain you. ' I called Gara-Saak and Oso-Bark and gave them orders to prevenb the escape of a single Chinaman. I placed Oso-Bark in charge of the prisoners. I eenb Garu-Saak and Poko-Bains with a force of men into tbe armoury to bring from there the necessary stores. Every face was set with determinntion. There were no tears, no moans, no cries. There was no faltering or lagging behind. The men who had borne so much in silence for twenty years now blazed with the pentup rage tbab was consuming them. I had with me the tiger—the lion. Vengeance was written on ever* brow- J

The men cams to me for instructions. There was no disorder anywhere. My organisation had been so thorough, my choice of officers so good, that everything was done without turmoil or misbake. Discipline reigned supreme. The force under Garu-Saak re-appeared from the cave with the guns and ammunition. The eyes of the tax-gatherer snapped angrily when he saw this unexpected display. 'What is this, dog of a Jumar?' be exclaimed, almost choking with rage. I made no reply. I called Garu-Saak, and said : 'Send a messenger to the mines at North Mountain and have the men from Galneor gather here at once. Let them take guns and shoob down the guards.' 1 That 18 good,' said Garu-Saak. «We left many Jumars dead at South Mountain when we broke away. And the bell is not to be rung ?' • Not yet. I expect the Governor, when he learns of the state of affairs, will send a force of cavalry here. We will silence them first, and then the alarm may me rung. Having disposed of the most formidable bub smallest branch ot hie army, we can surround bis infantry as the men gather from, the island when they hear the alarm/ •Good. I understand,' replied my general. My hope was thab Hen-KoHi would make the mistake of Bending a small force, which he would not do if the alarm-bells were heard all over Talmooch. I sent word to Bado-Ror to gather about six hundred of his bravest men and wait with them in the forest about Bromporrah until the forces of Hen-Ko-Hi had passed them on the way to Galoeor, then to follow them down and attack their rear while we were engaging their front. The men at Galneor were set to work to build a fort. In this the women rendered valuable assistance. They were eager enough to help. I aonb a messenger into the cave for my uniform and sword. For reasons of my own I did not wish to meeb Miss Arnold then. It was late in the afternoon when we heard the hurried tramp of horses' hoofs. The fort was built on tbab side of Galneor nearest) Bromporrah. In it I placed all the women at hand, and a force of eoldiers under Oso-Bark. To the right of the fort I stretched aline of ambush through the woods. The force thus detailed was under the command of Garu-Saak. To the left* I stretched a similar line and took command myself. We thus formed a funnel, the apex of which was the forti, and into the mouth of which led the Street of the Invaders. The sound of hoofs was most welcome. My men were becoming impatient for the fighs to begin. The shouts of the cavalry officers could now be beard. It was Tartar cavalry. This facb was surprising. The presence of those lawless horsemen so far away from their usual haunts was unexpected. It made mo urge my men more fiercely, although ib was not necessary. But the reputation of the Tartw as a fighter iB pretty well established, and I knew we had hot work before us. There were two battalions, probably four hundred all told. On they came, galloping furiously, utterly ignorant of the trap thab was awaiting them. When tho head of the column entered the funnel formed by my forces I gave the order to fire. A thousand rifles blazed forth a simultaneous flash, one quick, sharp flash, and all was still again. The startled Tartars checked their horses. Numbers of them fell from their plunging steeds and lay groaning and dying on the ground. Hoarse cries came from their officers. Their commander was a man who knew nob the sensation of fear. He sab his horse like a Btatue, urging his men to rally. Gradually they overcame their stupor and gob together. Once more I gave the order to fire, and once more the rifles poured their deadly hail upon the cavalry. Horses and men went down together. For a moment it seemed as if they could nob rally again. The sudden, mysterious attack was too much for them. They were in an open road, while we were so hidden that they could nob tell our numbers or our location. Bub I heard the clatter of fresh hoofs. Another battalion was riding up. A cry of warning came from the bewildered cavalrymen who had already tasted two charges of lead, and the decimated ranks fell back on the reinforcements. A short consultation between the commanding officers followed', and the two commands separated. One seemed aboub to hold their present position, and were replacing their sabres with carbines, The other portion made a detour to the right, and started for Galneer past our rear. Giving my commands quickly, I led my men as fast as they could go through the trees that surrounded us. The cavalry were slowly working their way, and we soon confronted them and opened fire. This time they rose to the occasion. As one man they leaped from their horses and charged us with carbines. At the Bame momenb I heard firing from the other side, and knew tbab Garn-Saak had reopened on the other battalions. My men foughb desperately, but the Tartars were more than a match for them. We were gradually driven back, and I began to despair of winning the battle. I had calculated on the forces from Bromporrab attacking the enemy in the rear, 'but ib looked as if they would be too late. Defeat stared us in the face, and defeab meant death. Suddenly the air was rent by a great warcry. Hundreds of rifles barked their venomous voices in the rear of the Tartars. The Kalek battle-cry was hurled through the forest with the shouts of victory. Bado-Ror had come up. From this point on it was simply a question bow long the Tartars would continue to fighb before they fled or became wiped out. "Hand in band the men of Galneor and the men of Bromporrah fought the enemies of their country. And before the terrific onslaught of victorious, revenge even Tartars could nob stand. Finally the retnnanb of the once proud cavalry turned and fled. I did nob follow them. We would have plenty to do without) thab. Garu-Saak came running to me, and from the fort came Oso-Bark, followed by a shouting.crowd of women. • One battle won,' I said, as my generals reached my side. ' How many men have we loat ?' ' Aboub one hundred of mine,' said Garu-Saak. < I lost none,' said Oso-Bark. About fifty of my own men were missing, and I counted them as dead. lat once sent men to pick up the wounded and give them proper care. We found four hundred and seventy-five Tartars dead or dying in the woods and in the road. . ' Garu-Saak,' I said, after I had looked the situation over,' * we are not half done. The fight baa but just commenced. Order the alarm-bells rung ab once and call the entire army to arms.' ' Sir, it shall be done ab once,' he replied. Bado-Ror reported to me, and then.went back to his own forces. He had lost bub few men. From the great bells I had ordered placed in the trees an alarm rang out. The call to anna clanged in every portion of the island, wherever a Jumar or a Kalek dwelt. From every direction men came running in. Before morning I had an army of twelve thousand armed and drilled soldiers, and as many more men ready to pick up bheir arms as fast) as the ballets of the enemy left a (run unmanded. Before daybreak the women prepared

breakfast of coffee and rice and fruit; and I sent a note to Miss Arnold and Mr Avery, telling them of the events of the night and thab we were on our way to Quiental. I had no intention of attacking the walled city. I had no cannon. I knew that inside the walls there was heavy artillery. To attack a fortress like bbab wibh rifles was foolhardy, I knew thab Hen-Ko-Hi would send his army to pub down the rebellion of his subjects. And it was this army I was on my way to meet. As we marched toward .Quiental we passed . through Bromporrah, and the women came out of their houses and followed the army oub of the town singing wiir-Bongs and encouraging the men. Between Bromporrah and Quiental the narrow road broadened out into a wide plain. Here I ordered a halt. My army had not yet come to rest when I heard the bugles of the advancing foe. I hastily arranged my forces in much the tame way that 1 bad done before. Twelve thousand well-armed men are a goodly force when in close files and ranks. But when scattered around an ambush they Beemed a vast multitude. Ib was a delightful reception we were preparipg for the Governor's army. Garu-Saak and his men lay up along the eastern border of the plain. Bado-Ror and his brave Kaleks ranged along the western border. The southern end was formed by a detachment of Jumars and Kaleks under Oao-Bark. I was with Garu-Saak. To a person coming from the north, as were the soldiers of Hen-Ko-Hi, not a Jumar nor a Kalek could be seen until the flanks of Garu-Saak and Bado-Ror had been passed. Tbe head of the advancing column came into view. Generals in gaudy uniforms, riding snow-white horses, led the way. After them the infantry. The cavalry of Quiental bad been destroyed. As the column drew nearer I looked in vain for Hen-Ko-Hi. Thab worthy was careful enough nob to expose his precious carcase when there, was any fighting goiag on, however brave be might be when a crowd of women were to be subjugated. He was not with the army. When the head of the advancing column had reached the centre of the plain I gave tbe order to fire. • The roar of the rifles swept along the line. First Garu-Saak poured his deadly fire into the enemy from the east. Then BadoRor and his Kaleks dealt them a blow from the other Bide. Then the storm from the rifles of Oso-Bark met them in their very faces. Volley after volley was poured into the rapidly decreasing army, and the generals seemed to be übberly lost. Suddenly I lost my command of my army, and ceased to be a factor in the fighb. The war-cry of the Kaleks rang oub again, and Bado-Ror was seen advancing toward the Chinamen on a run. The entire army of Jumars and Kaleks threw aside all thoughts of safety, and rushing out on the plain, resolved itself into a greab circle which wenb coiling around the enemy like a serpenb. An endless ring of blazing rifles swepb around the doomed Mantchoos, and above the roar sounded the cry of victory. I stood silent and alone, a mere spectator of the thrilling sceoe. The Mantchoos did nob know how to attack this revolving volcano of death and fire. They formed a solid square, bub their firing was desultory and uncertain. The resulb of this was obvious. Nor could ib long be postponed. As file after file of Chinese went down, the merciless shouts of the Talmoochians reached my ears. Tbe endurance of the native army would hold out forever, ib seemed. I wondered how much longer they could keep up thai' gaib. The screaming, hissing, roaring human torrent that had swallowed np the army of Hen-Ko-Hi would rest only when that army was destroyed. I might as well have essayed to stay the forces of hell as to preach mercy to those men of Talmooch. The pent-up hatred of twenty years had broken forth, and I was powerless before ib. When it was over, there were two thousand Talmoochians dead upon the plain, and the entire army of Hen-Ko-Hi. We bad won. Mr Avery, Miss Arnold, and myself were free. The people of Talmooch were again a nation, and I was for the time its ruler. The tyrant and his courb were still ab Quiental, bub they could nob hold tho garrison against us now. Garu-Saak, Bado-Ror and Oso-Bark came running toward me, and the air was renb wibb cheers. 'Free! Free!' cried Garu-Saak, grasping my hand. ' You have made us free. You are king of Talmoocb. v ' 'I am —possibly. Bub before we go any farther into that, let us gob to Quiantal and finish our work.' • Yes, yes,' said Bado-Ror. 'We must hang—we musb catch the byranb before he makes his escape. Ho is the greatest prize of all.' I despatched a messenger once more to Galneor, to inform Mr Avery and Miss Arnold of our last great victory. 'Go quickly,' I eaid to the man. * Tell them the news of the new glory of Tftltnooch, and bring them to me ab once. You will find me at bhe palace of Quiental.1 (To be Continued.)