The Mystery of the Forbidden City; OR, DR JACK'S WIDOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 128, 31 May 1901, Page 6

The Mystery of the Forbidden City; OR, DR JACK'S WIDOW.

CHAPTER XXXVII,

OUT OP THE DEPTHS.

It had been a revelation to Larry to witness this excess of physical energy on the part of the Chinese statesman and friend of the Viceroy, Li Hung Chang.

He had usually been so sphinx-like and impassive even under the most aggravating circumstances that when he thus cast aside his mask to attack that resisting door with so much zeal, Larry almost felt like throwing aloft the Chinese, winter hat. which adorned his head, and giving a lusty "huzza." it was an inspiring sight to him. Kai Wang was evidently nearer the point of being ''rattled" than ever before in Ms long- and eventful career.

Perhaps he had had his nerves shaken by the sight of that sleeping prisoner of the other dungeon, and was hardly himself. Avis had witnessed this odd break on the part, of their iruide with no little wonder, mixed with consternation.

She had grown so accustomed to placing unlimited faith in Kai Wang that his sudden and unexpected repulse sent a chill over her system. Involuntarily a low cry of alarm burst from her lips as the horror of the situation made itself felt. Her nerves had been wrought up to adesperate pitch, and this disaster capped the climax. Even bold Lord Rackett felt a thrill of actual dismay when he grasped the situation and realised what a fearful condition of affairs had arisen.

It must indeed be a peculiar nature that would not have experienced a sinking sensation after contemplating the disaster. Here they had come to rescue Evans from durance vile, with the result that they now shared his prison. Chinese vengeance is not a thing to be lightly defied, and woe to that soul so wretched and unfortunate as to fall beneath the. displeasure of native forces, once they gain the upper hand, for no more vindictive or cruel tyranny exists. Strange as it might appear, the one who would be expected least able to grapple with the new and overwhelming problem that had so suddenly arisen was the first to gain the mastery over alarming fears. Perhaps that cry from Avis pierced his loving" heart, and stirred into action the sluggish life currents that had lain dormant so long.

At least Dr. Jack was himself again, a man born to command, whom no difficulties could daunt; fertile in resources, bold in their successful application. These weeks of privation in the palace dungeon, labouring- under an uncertainty as to his fate, had cvi-

$t George Ratbtorne, Antfeor of 1 Liitte Miss JBllioM,' ' The Spider's Web,' ' Miai Pauline, ol Hew York,' 'The Captain of iae Kiiaer,1 'Hiaß Caprice,' etc, etc.

dently not quelled this wonderful spirit" in the least. It is bad enough," he said; "but it mighi be worse."

Larrv breathed easier

lie had tin inspiration that already Dr. Jack was in a fair way to grasp the situation. When circumstances were not to his liking, ho had a way of controlling them, just as Benjamin Franklin harnessed the lightning, or Morse adapted electricity to nit rcantile needs.

There was so much of calm confidence in his manner that Larry's sinking spirits were instantly buoyed up. He wailed eagerly to hear more. 'Kai Wang, once more cold and impassive outwardly, however the fires of human passion raged within, at once approached Dr. .'lack. He was perhaps the only one who intuitively guessed what the latter meant by his confident remark that the ease'was not. so bad as it might appear. •%Vou made hole up yonder, excellent comrade. When will it be done, so we, too, may take our departure from this ill-conditioned place?" he asked in his pleasant Chinese fashion. , '■I am happy to say it is already completed, ami 1 meant to use it this night, but was deterred from doing so by the unusual tramping of many feet in the apartments above." Again Larry felt a mad desire to jump up and crack his heels together ■with sheer joy. How the clouds were dispersed when a genjiTs took charge of affairs. No doubt the little man had an exalted idea of Jack's powers, since he looked upon the doctor as a wizard, whose touch could transform baser metals into gold, and accomplish miracles; but experience had led him to lean upon such a companion in time of trouble with full confidence as to the result.

Then the prisoner of the dungeon set to work to show what he had accomplished in the time of his incarceration. The- magnitude of his work astonished them all, and Kai Wang, seizing hold of the interstices in Hie wall, ran aloft with agility of a. gative juggler.

He vanished from their eyes above. Jack meanwhile seemed to be wrestling with some knotty problem, and from the serious manner in which his eyes rested upon his devoted wife, it vvas evident that Avis must be the main cause of his concern.

The fact struck Larry suddenly;, rind he felt actually weak under it. How were they to get Avis ont of the dungeon? i'ossibly she mig-ht climb as well as the best of them, for he had known her to possess more nerve than might be required for such an undertaking; but the chances of a fall were always present, and even the remote

prospect of such a catastrophe was quite enough to awaken a feeling of alarm in the little man's breast. He had forgotten, however, with whom he had to deal.

The magician had not deserted them. Something came down from above, something that uncoiled like a great snake, and struck at Larry's feet, "A rope!" he piped, with intense delight permeating his raspy voice. And a rope it was. sure enough. Where Kai Wang had secured it was a blank mystery to one and all. He might have discovered it providentially' in the apartment above, or. as seemed move probable, have unwound it from his own person^ where it had been securely hidden under his flowing cube. At any rate, there it was. apparently as good a hempen rope as the whole province of Chiuli could boast, .arid in their eyes the finest in the world. Dr. -lack clutched it with an exclamation of delight. It was as though his prayer was answered. -Larry, do you go up. and then our friend Lord Kaekett, Avis shall try while you hold the Line above, in case of accident."

They grasped his meaning, and leavng him in the act of securing the noo.se about his wife, started to climb I lie ladder which .lack hud rudely cut in the wall.

Larry came near losing his nerve near the top, when his foot slipped, and he could not ace an inch beyond his nosPi :i tumble at this time would have' been doubly unfortunate^ since Plynipton must have shared in the disaster, being: just below. Ere anything serious resulted from the slip an arm shot down from the blackness above, and a -set of longfingers hooked upon tEe little mans erarments jusi back of his neck. n Pressure being1 brought to bear from above, Larry was safely landed, and Lord liackett quickly joined him. The latter had been shrewd enough to rely to some extent upon the rope, believing Kai Wang must have made it last above. Avis gave them less trouble than they had expected, though her husband below did not breathe easy until the Chinese-clad figure had quite vanished from view, and he heard the welcome signal from Larry that all was well.

There remained only himself. . It was high time he was going, for a confusion of noLses out in the corridor portended the speedy arrival of a detachment, of soldiers, probably aroused by the stunning report of the. escaped guard. Coolly Jack knotted the lantern.to the rope, and sent it aloft

He needed no assistance in traversing the route he had fashioned with his own hands, since every minute portion of it was as familiar to his touch as his own features.

The clamour was now at the door. Jack was near the top and proceeding as calmly a.s though merely passing up to continue his labours übove.

A glance upward had assured him that the others knew enough to extinguish the liglrt, having evidently heards the shouts below.

And as be climbed, a voice came stealing- down to him I'rom the void loft, a voice so filled with anxiety and devotion that it thrilled him through and through, even though it only uttered his name:

"Jack! oh, Jack!"

The tloor of the dungeon was burst open and a heterogenous mass of men pushed in, men who bore flaming

flambeaux—men who were armed with nondescript weapons, after the manner of the Chinese Imperial Guard, and who seemed burning' with a mad desire, for an opportunity to slay, according to the-tenets of their religion. That spectacle, as seen by those above, was never to be forgotten. Again Kai Wang lowered his strong1 arm so that Dr. Jack might take, no chances.Meanwhile those below were running around the dungeon, peering , jii!.'; into every corner, overturning . the humble pullet, even smashing the crockery' water-bowls, as though in fear lest the objects of their .search should have taken refuge therein. Men who make diabolical noises to scare away the unseen demons of the air. and who burn mock paper money by tons hi order to conciliate the Fung Shiiy. or spirits of the; dead, would not be apt to prove themselves above .such a belief.

From their cries of chagrin, however, it became evident that the)' had met with a grievous disappointment in finding the. place devoid of human occupancy.

As luck would have it, some smart Aleck chanced to discover the ladder •cut in the wall, and, raising his eyes, wan just in time to see a pair of human legs dangling in the air as Dr. Jack made his hurried exit.

Ilis discovery was quickly communicated to his fellows, and then ensued a council of war.

Truth to tell, none of these brave warriors hud ;\ very determined itching to climb up that odd ladder, fearful lest the resourceful American might be lying in wait at the top ready to tap them on the head as fust as they came within reach of his arm.

Perhaps this lull in matters offensive might be of considerable importance to the fugitive.*, since a minute of time is often worth a fortune in cash,.

(To bo continued.)