CHAPTER IX.
A DISCOVERY.
"See," I said, "he is looking our way. I should like to speak to him."
"But, dear child, are you strong enough?"
"Yes, yes," I cried, feverishly. "Do ask him, Lilian, to come here."
Lilian beckoned to him, and he came and stood in the doorway--a tall,imposing-looking figure, with an air of dignity about his dark,intellectual face.
I had talked to him only a few moments when I uttered an exclamation ofdelight.
Lilian looked at me a little apprehensively, and, catching sight of myface in the mirror opposite, I saw that it was flushed, and that my eyesburnt like diamonds.
"Darling," Mrs. Ross whispered, soothingly, "I fear this will be toomuch for you."
"Oh, no," I cried, excitedly. "It is joy, Lilian, joy. This man comesstraight from Chen-si, from Uncle Paul; he is a convert, and will bebaptized soon."
Lilian looked radiant.
"How wonderful it all is!" she said, softly. "How the Lord hasovershadowed us! I cannot the least grasp it yet, but no doubt you willfind out all about it."
"Yes, just fancy, Lilian; it's Mr. Li. Cicely has so often mentionedhim in her letters, he is such a clever man, and used to come to readwith Uncle Paul; but I did not know that he had become a Christian."
"I arrived in Pekin," Mr. Li was saying to me, "the very day you werecaptured. I had some knowledge of the man Wang--indeed, I was able tobenefit him once--and he is attached to me in his way, but we must notdepend upon him. I fear he is wholly influenced by mercenary motives;it will not be wise to address me when he is here, and I need hardlytell you that he has not the smallest suspicion that I have anyknowledge of you. He wants the reward which has been offered; he met meas I was making my way into the city, and, knowing that I had someinfluence with the soldiers, he asked me to go with him to see if itwere possible to save you. Thank God, we arrived at the Hall just intime."
"Thank God," we both said, or, rather, we almost breathed it from thedepths of our being.
A moment's silence followed.
"Does my father know that we are safe?" I asked, anxiously.
"Yes," said Mr. Li, soothingly, "and your husband also," and for thefirst time he turned his grave gaze on Lilian. "And there was another,too, a young man, very young; when he heard that you were prisoners, hebegged the Colonel to let him go at once; he said he had the strength often men, and that he would fight his way to you or die."
I did not say a word. I turned my head and remained silent, but I saw ayoung, bronzed face, and a pair of steadfast, blue eyes, that had neverbeen shadowed by fear or indecision.
"Of course, it would have been madness," Mr. Li went on, calmly, "ifwould simply have meant death to everyone concerned. The Colonel sawthat at a glance, as the Legations are fast closed now, and every man iswanted to defend them. Your only hope of deliverance lies in stratagem.This man carried news to the Colonel to-day, and will probably bring youa message, but I have plans," said Mr. Li. "I do not see the least usein returning to Pekin, there is only danger there; on the contrary, Ishould advise escape."
"Yes," we both said, "if only that were possible, but how?"
"I will tell you," he replied, and, as he spoke, the ghost of a smilelighted up his dark face, "there is a gentleman without the gates whomyou both know; he has been making his way from Wei-hai-wei, whither hehas conducted his wife and children in safety."
"Uncle Paul?" I cried. "Is he here? Why did he come?"
"He came because he knew you were at Pekin, and guessed you might wanthim."
"It is just like him; oh, I do hope he is not in danger."
"Rest assured," he replied, gently, "he is in God's hands, and he isdoing what is right. He runs less risk than an ordinary foreigner, ashe is a doctor as well as a missionary. I think the rioters at Chen-sicould hardly have been aware of this fact when they attacked him."
"God keep him safe," we both murmured fervently.
"Amen," said Mr. Li. "How wonderfully God has worked hitherto. Iarrived at Pekin the very day I could be of service to you. I knew thatMr. St. John was coming on here, and I have held communication with himalready."
"How can he help us?" asked Mrs. Ross.
"In this way," he replied. "You cannot get into the Legation, it isfast closed, and help cannot come from there, for even if it werepossible for a man to escape, he would be murdered when he set his footoutside the walls."--Mr. Li little knew of the strength, and courage,and determination of which Englishmen are capable.--"Hope lies inanother direction altogether; from this house there are secret passageswhich lead out of Pekin; the Boxers know nothing of them, for," headded, with a touch of pardonable pride, "they were devised with greatcare, and were the work of many years."
"Does this house belong to you?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, "the construction of these underground passages was asource of great interest to me in the past. I do not think that anyonein Pekin knows of their existence, for, when they were constructed, Iemployed Chen-si people. I knew nothing of God then, and yet all thetime He was directing me to build them for your deliverance."
"It is marvellous," said Mrs. Ross, softly. "I suppose our gravestdanger lies in remaining here?"
"That is so," he replied, gravely. "When Miss Nina" (he had caught myname at once, though he pronounced it in a curious kind of way) "is wellenough, we must start at once."
"I am well now," I cried, and tried to rise, but I sank back trembling.
"No," he replied, "I fear we have been talking too long; the excitementhas been too much for you."
"Yes, Nina darling, do try and rest, or you will be ill again."
I felt that what they said was true; my head swam, my blood seemed to beon fire; as I became delirious, I thought I heard Lilian say:--
"I wish Mr. St. John could see her," and afar off, it seemed to me,another voice replied:--
"It might be possible to-night."
After that I heard nothing more. I had, instead, a terrible dream. Ithought there was a fire. It was an awful sight; the flames seemed toscorch me as they leaped up, ruddy and bright, into the heavens, andthose cruel men who had tried to kill us, armed with pitchforks, forcedme nearer and ever nearer to the flames. I shrieked for mercy, but theyonly laughed as they pushed me in. And then I was on fire, I wasburning. Oh, the unutterable agony of that burning! I tried to escape,but I could not, for they formed a ring round me, and shouted and dancedin horrid glee; and then, all of a sudden I looked up, and beyond thefire I saw a face that I seemed to know quite well, it had mingled withmy dreams, with my prayers so often lately--the face of the Christ--Hewhom I loved, whom I had chosen. I saw His face as I had loved topicture it, all worn as it were with the sorrows, and pain, and woes ofhumanity, and, withal, crowned with ineffable patience and sweetness. Iwas falling back into the flames, but He held out His hand, and thedemons gave way and melted into thin air. Oh, that strong right hand ofHis! He caught me, and the burning all seemed to go, and the flameswere extinguished. I was floating in some lake of ambrosial coolness, adelicious kind of languor stole over me, and the face of the Christ bentover me and smiled. And then, somehow, as in a dream He vanished, andUncle Paul was there in His stead. I still lay on the couch, the onlydifference being that Uncle Paul was there, his left arm under my head,and in his right he held a cordial, part of which I had swallowed.
"She will do now," I heard him say, "and if she is left absolutely quietwe can get away to-morrow." I heard it all as in a dream, nothingseemed to surprise or trouble me, but as I sank into a delicious sleep Iheard someone say, without taking in the meaning of the words, or beingin the least alarmed by them:--
"It might be fatal to remain here another night."