CHAPTER XIV--HOW LING SNUFFED THE CANDLE
Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spiteof his disguise. To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How hadknown the boy for years. More than ever he desired to escape. It wasclear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious toget away from the room. All three of them, however, were caught likerats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as thelife of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force orstealth.
Ling approached Yung How, lifted the man's coat and drew a largenickel-plated revolver from his belt.
"I thought so," said he. "I draw the jackal's teeth."
So saying, he thrust the revolver into his pocket.
"And now, Ah Wu," he cried, "is Men-Ching here or not?"
Some seconds elapsed before Ah Wu could summon sufficient courage toanswer.
"Yes," said he at last. "He is."
"Where?" asked Ling.
"In the little room--asleep."
"Asleep! He could not have arrived more than an hour ago!"
"He was very frightened," said Ah Wu, who was now certainly speaking thetruth. "His nerves were shaken. He knew you were in pursuit. Hesmoked opium to calm himself, and now he sleeps."
"Lead the way," said Ling. "And you too," he added, addressing himselfto Yung How. "I drive you before me like a herd of pigs."
This was indeed a very accurate description of the proceeding, for Lingwas determined that neither of the Chinese nor Frank should for a momentget out of his sight. It was remarkable that one man should have somuch power--by which we mean will-power as well as physical force. Butundoubtedly, the most extraordinary thing about him was the unboundedconfidence he seemed to have in himself. And it was thisself-confidence, even more than his courage and great physical strength,that made this man a master over others.
Into the little room under the staircase he hustled the three of them.There he locked the door and pocketed the key. Upon the only couch inthe room lay Men-Ching in his faded scarlet coat--sound asleep.
Ling bent down and placed both hands upon the sleeper's chest. Then hesmiled, and turning slowly round, looked Ah Wu straight in the face.
"They are here," said he. "It is the custom of the gods to reward thosewho deserve to prosper."
"What do you seek?" asked Ah Wu, upon the features of whose face wasstamped an expression of the most profound dismay.
"The letters," said Ling. "The letters for which I have searched forfourteen days."
"Fourteen days ago," retorted Ah Wu, "they were not written."
"Of that," answered the other, "I confess I know nothing, and care less.It is sufficient for me--and for you, too--that I have found that forwhich I sought."
There was a pause. And then Yung How asked a question.
"How did you know about these letters?" said he.
Ling smiled again. "Do you think," he asked, "that when I found youthree rascals with heads together in this very room--do you think I didnot know that something was afoot, something into which it might beworth my while to inquire? Do you suppose for a moment I believed yourlies? No. I watched. And I sent a spy here to smoke opium and topretend to sleep--a spy who listened to all you had to say, who told methat Cheong-Chau had sent a messenger with the news that the fish hadbeen landed high and dry, and a promise that both Ah Wu and yourselfwould have your share of the ransom as soon as it was paid. I had butto watch the river. And when I was told that one of Cheong-Chau's menhad been seen in Sanshui, and the description of that man agreed withMen-Ching, I should be little short of a fool if I did not guess thatMen-Ching carried with him letters demanding a ransom. And now," heconcluded, "these same letters are mine."
He bent down, and very gently unbuttoned Men-Ching's coat. Then,without waking the sleeper, who appeared to be heavily drugged withopium, he tore open the lining and drew out the two letters: that ofCheong-Chau, written in Chinese, and Sir Thomas Armitage's letter,written in English.
Neither of these was in an envelope, but both were sealed in the Chinesefashion. Without a moment's hesitation Ling broke the seals, and SirThomas's gold signet ring fell to the floor. He stooped and picked itup, and then read both letters to himself. And as he read his smilebroadened, displaying his fang-like yellow teeth.
"It is fortunate," said he, "that I can read English. It is ofadvantage in this life to be a scholar. The ignorant man works in thepaddy-field wading knee-deep in the mud, but the wise man eats therice." Then he remained silent for some minutes, still reading tohimself.
"I see," he remarked, "this matter has been well arranged. Cheong-Chauthreatens to take the lives of the foreigners if he does not receive aransom of twenty thousand dollars before the new moon. It interests meto learn that the money must be hidden before that date in the Glade ofChildren's Tears, upon the banks of the Sang River. I know the placewell. I even remember the red stone--though I admit I did not knowthere was a vault beneath that stone. Certainly the matter has beenwell arranged."
During this soliloquy--for Ling had to all intents and purposes beenspeaking to himself--Frank could not help regarding the countenances ofAh Wu and Yung How. The expression upon the face of each was suggestiveof the most complete disgust. Disappointment and infinite distress wereconveyed in every feature. Ling looked at them and burst into laughter.
"Two fools!" he cried. "Had you been wise men you had taken me intoyour confidence and allowed me a share of the plunder. As it is, youmay see not a cent of it. It will be very simple for me to deliverthese letters and to keep watch upon the Glade of Children's Tears."
His laughter had disturbed the sleeper, for Men-Ching turned over uponhis back and mumbled a few incoherent words in his sleep. Then, stillsleeping, he moved a hand to the breast of his coat, to the place wherehe had carried the letters.
Almost at once he sat bolt upright--wide awake.
"Stolen!" he cried, his hands still clutching at his coat. "Stolen," herepeated.
Then he set eyes upon Ling.
Upon his face an expression of dismay turned, as in a flash, to one ofuncontrollable anger. He sprang to his feet, at the same time drawingfrom his belt a long curved knife. Though he stood upon the couchitself, he was little taller than Ling. With a savage oath he raisedthe knife above his head. And then he struck downward, straight for theheart of the gigantic Honanese.
The tragedy that now took place was the work of a few seconds.Men-Ching's wrist was caught. He let out a shriek of pain as that gripof steel tightened under such steady, inevitable pressure that the verywrist-bone was in danger of breaking like a piece of rotted wood. Thenhe was caught by the throat. He was jerked forward. Something snapped.And then he was thrown down upon the floor--dead. It was all over in aninstant.
Frank Armitage was horror-stricken. He had never seen anything soterrible in all his life. And this was murder. And the man who hadcommitted the crime merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Take warning," said he. "Behold the fool who tried to kill me. He wholives by violence comes to a violent end. I had no wish to kill him; heattempted to stab me. I have dealt with him in the same way as I wouldsnuff a tallow candle."
Here Ah Wu fell into a kind of hysterical panic. Wringing his handstogether, he worked himself up to such a pitch of emotion that the tearsstreamed from his eyes.
"What is to become of me?" he cried. "This thing has happened in myhouse. If the _tao-tai_ hears of it I shall be led to my execution in apotter's yard. Woe is me that such a crime should be committed under myroof!"
Ling laughed.
"You make a great fuss about nothing," said he. "Put him away tilldarkness falls. Then set him up in a ricksha, place a lighted cigarettebetween his lips, run him down to the river, and throw him in. Suchthings have happened before in this city of Canton. You make much ofnothing. What was the old scoundrel worth? Not a snap of the finger.And in any case he had but a fe
w years to live."
Ah Wu seated himself upon the couch, immediately above the body of themurdered man. Placing his elbows upon his knees and his head betweenhis hands, he rocked himself from side to side. As for Frank, the wholething seemed to him like some terrible nightmare. He had lived in Chinaall his life, but he had lived in a different China--a land of comfortand civilisation. This was a world of devilry and crime. And all thistime Yung How stood by, motionless, speechless, his face pale withterror.
Ling stooped down and thrust the body under the couch.
"What is death?" he asked. "A sleep--no more. A long sleep inwhich--for aught we know--the divine spirit roams the eternal heavens.Sweeter by far the adventures of the soul than the dreams that come fromopium. A moment since he slept upon the couch, and now he sleepsbeneath it. Why grieve, old fool? Why weep? Men-Ching is already withthe spirits of his fathers."
Taking the key from his pocket, he unlocked the door.
"Come," said he. "We will hold converse together; there are many thingsthat I wish to discuss. See that the outer door is locked, that no oneis allowed to enter the house. We four will be alone."