CHAPTER XVI--OF THE REPENTANCE OF YUNG HOW
Thus it was that they became the unwilling servants of Ling. They hadno option but to obey him. By reason of his gigantic strength, Ling wasthe master of the situation.
Ah Wu was as crafty as a fox. All his life he had been connected withthe opium business; and an opium den is a place where a Chinese may gaina very intimate knowledge of his fellow-men. He learns much inconnection with human character. Whatever may have been the feelings ofFrank Armitage and Yung How, the proprietor of the opium den had not theleast doubt that in agreeing to follow Ling they had taken the wisestcourse.
During the few hours that elapsed between the departure of the brigandand sunset, they were given a further opportunity of observing thesingular abilities of this inhuman monster. There is no doubt that theman might have succeeded in almost any walk of life. His plans were notonly elaborate, and so carefully laid that they allowed for almost everypossible contingency, but they were made rapidly without a moment'shesitation.
In the course of the afternoon Ah Wu's three attendants arrived, gainingentrance into the opium den by means of the back door. These were sentupon various errands, from which they could not possibly return untilafter dark. As soon as Ling himself had conveyed the mortal remains ofthe unfortunate Men-Ching from the opium den, the place was to be open,customers were to be admitted. These customers were to be entertainedby Yung How until Ah Wu himself returned. The establishment was toremain open, day and night, throughout the next few days. Ling made nosecret of his intention to decoy Cheong-Chau to the opium den, where hewas to be drugged, whilst Ling gained possession of the ransom, which bythat time should have arrived from Hong-Kong.
About the middle of the afternoon Ling went out, and was absent abouttwenty minutes. This in itself is sufficient proof of theself-confidence of the man. It was within the power of Ah Wu, Yung How,or the youth who had called himself "Ah Li," to betray him. These threewere left alone in the opium den with the horrid evidence of Ling'sguilt.
During his absence, Ling posted his letters. The night boat left Cantonat eight o'clock, and Ling himself took the letters on board. Hereturned to the opium den, and was admitted at the back door by Ah Wuhimself. He did not seem in the least curious as to whether they hadbeen discussing him whilst he was away.
Soon after nightfall, Ling and Ah Wu departed on their gruesome errand,taking with them the body of Men-Ching. This they secreted under thehood of a double ricksha, and Ah Wu, much to his dismay, was made toseat himself beside a lifeless companion. As for Ling, he strippedhimself to the waist, coiled his pigtail round the top of his head,after the manner of a coolie, and himself drew the ricksha through thedark, narrow streets of the great city. Frank and Yung How stood at thesmall back door of the opium den when Ling took his departure. Theyheard the wheels rattling over the cobble-stones of the streets, andthen the ricksha disappeared in the darkness, and with it that which hadformerly been Men-Ching, Cheong-Chau's second-in-command.
Yung How and Frank returned to the main room, where they lighted thelamps, and shortly afterwards the three attendants returned. Theestablishment was then opened, and it was not long before customersbegan to arrive. Most of these were regular patrons of Ah Wu's, whoknew how to look after themselves. Having ordered what they wanted,they disposed themselves on couches in the lower room. There theysmoked opium, drank _samshu_, and nodded off to sleep.
Frank regarded Yung How. The man lay upon a couch; his arms werefolded; he was staring blankly in front of him, thinking possibly ofLing and how that villain had placed himself between Yung How and afortune. For there could be little doubt that, under the originalarrangement, Yung How was to be treated handsomely, and the man attachedlittle or no value to Ling's promise. It does not necessarily followthat one rogue will trust another.
Frank, as he looked at the man, was busy with his thoughts. Two thingswere evident to him: first, that Yung How had not recognised him andthat he was now scarcely likely to do so; second, that he might bepersuaded to operate against Ling--provided he could do so without greatpersonal risk.
Now in order not to overestimate the boldness of the step which FrankArmitage then and there proposed to take, it is necessary to realisethat the boy could see no other way out of his difficulties, to rememberthat not only his own life but the lives of Mr Waldron and his uncledepended upon his success, and to remember also that he stood in no fearof Yung How, whom he had known since he was a child.
It was above all things necessary for Frank to communicate withHong-Kong if he could not go there himself. The moment Ling left theopium den it occurred to Frank that he might write a letter. He couldnot, however, do this without being observed by Yung How, who hadreceived strict orders from Ling not to allow the boy out of his sightfor a single moment. Frank therefore decided to play a bold card; buthe would never have taken a step so hazardous had he not had somethingmore than an inkling that he was likely to meet with success. Hecrossed the room to the couch upon which Yung How was lying, and askedthe man if he would be so good as to accompany him to the balcony at thehead of the stairs.
"I have something of the greatest importance to say to you," said he."It may be to your advantage as well as mine."
Yung How looked at him in surprise, then got to his feet, and walkedslowly up the stairs, followed by Frank.
They seated themselves, side by side, upon a couch in a darkened corner.Now that Frank found himself confronted by the greatest crisis in allhis strange adventures, he hesitated to begin. Several minutes elapsedbefore he could speak, and he did not do so then without a word ofencouragement.
"Well?" asked Yung How.
"I am surprised, Yung How," said Frank, "that you have not recognisedme."
Yung How knitted his brows, and drawing away from the boy, turned andstared at him. Frank Armitage did not move.
"I should have thought," he added, "you would have known me."
Yung How's voice came in a kind of gasp.
"Master Frank!" he exclaimed.
The boy smiled. It was as much as he could do, but he managed itsomehow, knowing full well that everything depended upon his presence ofmind. He had learned something from Ling.
"Are you blind, Yung How?" he asked.
"I did not know you," said the man, who had not yet recovered from hisastonishment. "The shaven head! The pigtail! Your clothes! Besides,you are the last person I expected to see. I thought you hundreds ofmiles away."
"So I was," said Frank. "I escaped."
"Ah! It was you who escaped! I did not think of that." Then helowered his voice. "But why have you told me?"
"Because, Yung How, though you have behaved like a rascal, I cannotbelieve you to be such a villain that you would allow my uncle, who hasbeen a good master to you for years, to be murdered."
Yung How was silent for more than a minute.
"That is true," said he; "that is very true."
"I suppose you realise," Frank went on, "that if I remain here, Ling maygain possession of the ransom, and in that case both my uncle and MrWaldron will be killed. You know also that, if you betray me to Ling, Ishall be killed. Do you remember, Yung How, when I was a little boy whohad only just learned to walk, you used to take me up to the top of thePeak, and we would walk upon the asphalt paths, and you would tell meChinese fairy tales? I remember them to this day. Then, it was you whotaught me to speak your language. Do you remember when the plague cameto Hong-Kong, and people were dying in the streets? Have you forgottenthat you too fell ill, and my uncle himself carried you in his arms andsent you in a chair to the hospital? Have you forgotten that?"
The face of Yung How had grown very serious. Slowly he shook his head.
"My master," said he, "I have not forgotten."
"You had the plague," said Frank, "and my uncle took you in his arms. Indoing so, he risked his life to save yours."
"That is true," said the Chinaman, who sat quite still and rigid,
staring straight in front of him.
"Is there no gratitude," said Frank, "in all the Chinese race?"
There was again a long pause; and then Yung How quite suddenly fell downupon his knees. Clenching both his fists, he raised them high above hishead, shaking them violently, as if he suffered anguish.
"Oh, how blind am I!" he cried. "Opium has done this. Opium, my youngmaster, has brought me here. You smoke a little and it is good; yourtroubles vanish, your pains are no more, your dreams are sweet. Thenyou must take more, until, at last, you smoke all night, in order toforget the troubles of this world. And all that costs money. Therecomes a time when even ten dollars will not secure the treasures, thedelights of opium. The craving was strong upon me, and all my money hadgone, when I heard that my master was about to undertake a journey tothe Nan-ling Mountains. I knew that I could get into communication withCheong-Chau through Ah Wu. I knew also that Cheong-Chau would give me agood share of the ransom. I thought there would be no harm in it. Iwas assured that no one should suffer death. And now I am filled withremorse when I think of what has happened, when I think of this man,Ling, and realise that the lives of us all hang upon a thread. I havehad my fill of opium. I want no more of it. Believe me, my youngmaster, I am prostrate with grief!"
It was fortunate that there was no one else on the balcony, for not onlywas Yung How's emotion great, but he had raised his voice, and had therebeen anyone near at hand, he must have been overheard. Frank realised,with a sense of relief, that he had nothing to fear from the man, thatYung How would not betray him. He saw also that Yung How must masterhimself before Ling returned. The boy stretched forth a hand andtouched the Chinese upon the chest.
"Listen, Yung How," said he, "you need not despair. With your help, Ibelieve, we can not only escape ourselves but save my uncle and MrWaldron. Ling watches me. Without your help I can do nothing. But youhave friends in Canton; it should be possible for you to get a messagethrough to Hong-Kong. To-morrow morning Cheong-Chau's letter will bedelivered to the Governor. The ransom will be paid, but Ling will gethold of it if troops are not sent down to capture him. This messageshould go to Hong-Kong to-night. The boat leaves at eight o'clock. Itis now half-past seven."
Yung How sprang to his feet.
"We have delayed matters too long," he cried. "Why should not we twoescape at once without wasting a moment?"
Frank grasped the man's hand and pressed it. "I promise you my unclewill forgive you. More than that, on his behalf, I promise you areward."
"That is not necessary," said Yung How. "I am disgraced; you have mademe realise my own baseness. I should like you to see that a Chinamancan be an honest man. But, I repeat, we do but waste time in words. Wemust go together and we must go now--at once--if we are to catch theboat!"
Even as he continued speaking, he moved forward rapidly, followed byFrank. They passed hastily down the stairs, and thence, passing thelittle room in which Men-Ching had been done to death, they went to theback door, with the object of letting themselves out.
As Frank Armitage stretched forth a hand to take hold of the handle, thedoor swung back, as on its own accord. And there entered Ling, who hadto stoop in order that his gigantic form might pass beneath the lintel.
"And so," cried Ling, "we have returned. Men-Ching sleeps with hisfathers. As the West River flows eastward to the sea, the waters sing asong of sleep to the celestial graves on either bank. Opium, Ah Wu!Give me opium to smoke, for like the long-tailed horse of a Manchuwarrior, the mighty Ling scents battle from afar."