CHAPTER VII.-Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10707, 2 September 1896, Page 4

CHAPTER VII.-Continue d.

" I was, Sir," he replied," and 'greed pretty well with him,- though' he. was d bit new fangled for me, was Hoppy." "Mr Otway understands; th&t yoi^ and Jack Hopkins were quartermaster^ on board the Zephyr, when she was~, >? but a touch -from me checked my im4 piilsive^friend's speech, 1 and' J' looked sn3picioasly found the circles of yellow Faces with their coal-black eyes glisten^ ing in the light of the glowing charcoal) and fixed curiously on us. A word or two from Jones at once sent his bottle companions scuttling out through the door and yard into the street. "Not as I thinks there's much to fear from what the likes o' them can blab," said Jones, resuming his seat, " still all as consarns that 'ere old clipper is best kept snug tinder hatches. And pray, Sir, what did Hoppy tell you about the old Zephyr." " The whole story of the last trip she ever made, " I replied. " Not the whole story, Sir, abeggin of your pardin, I reckon as how he could only tell 'arf on it, it he spoke truth." "That's what I mean." •' I should reyther think so." he said with a chuckle of satisfaction. "Of course not, Jones," broke in Father Joseph ; " now your half of the secret—" " Is sold, " interrupted the old man, " to that blamed Commissioner. You see I couldn't get no sort of satisfaction out of that goggled-eyed old owl of a Viceroy. " " Well, Mr Jones, >J I began, breaking the silence whioh had followed these last words. " Jones—Bill Jones! " said he, " then' I know it's all fair, and above board.'" "Well, Junes' then/"' I continued, " your share of" the-'Becret 'iisn't wor{h much without Hoppy's." ,- •' ,"■ , •'That's as may be, Sir,'-'.retpftiod the old fellow,'" but articles isn't signed yet, the Commissioner ain't put down more'n fifty dollars, and fite hundred was the bounty. I 'greed for. ]l f wants all that afore I ppeaks out. plain. And if he don't come down with the rhino soon, why, J'm open to sign, articles along with youj Sir, if tso f be as the pay suits." , I Plainly this was all that could 'be done for the present with Bill, Jones* s^o we rose to go, declining the offer of atfother bowl of' chain lightning. , ) :\: \ «?I, wonder," said Father Joaepn, taking my arm when we reached tHe street again, "I wonder,you didn't make Jones an offer and outbid.Commissioner Chang." ,* 5 " I have neither tbe power nor the right to do that. We're both workingto get the Government its own. All I expect is-" salvage and thd excitement of the thing,"', ' ' ' "'lt is very' litile the Pekin people -will.touch of the Tribute money,.or;hear of it, even, if Prince Chang once-,gets' hold of it.. Youdon'tknow these mandarins, OWay, as I do. Chang is spending large sums in bribing the' rebellious wolfmen'into submission, and so hopes to get credit at Pekin for great victories Six million ounces of silver would ndt come amiss to him at the, present time." , To this I did not reply, for. the street was crowded with Chinese, who. appeared to have congregated there for the sole purpose of besetting us two Europeans— a common enough practice in Chinese towns and villages. Only with the greatest difficulty did we succeed in making any way at all through the r .'press. I began to feel annoyed and anxious be sides, knowing how often nnprotecied foreigners were insulted and hustled, when rash enough to enter villages or towns near Canton, after sundown ; and hero we were two hundred miles fnp: country. Suddenly we found ourselves snrronnded by a number of the jred-roated soldier's of the province. With Father Joseph beside me, I made a vigorous effort to break out through their files, but my arms were pinioned almost instantly from behind, and before I could draw my revolver, before I could utter one word to explain who I was, I received a stunning blow upon the head. A flash of lightning blazed about me, revealing nothing, and then .fell npon me the darkness of Death!