CHAPTER THIRTY.
"TO CERTAIN DEATH?"
In the minutes that elapsed before the enemy could make their way intothe deserted portion of the defences Stan and his Englishmen workedhard, making the coolies bring in a sufficiency of water for the hot andthirsty, while watch and ward was kept, and wonder was expressed as towhat had been done with the stink-pots.
"I'm expecting," said the lieutenant, "that we shall know by thecrackling of burning wood what has become of them."
But there was nothing to break the silence, no rush to indicate that theenemy had climbed in, and all attempts made to take an observation fromthe chinks of the boarded-up windows of the office were useless; forthese latter only resulted in the examiners seeing the far-stretchingverdant country, no sweep of the river being visible from that portionof the building.
"What does it mean?" said Stan at last. "Some trap?"
All listened again for some minutes before Stan, pistol in hand, led theway to the foot of the warehouse stairs, where they stood listening fora few minutes before the lad planted his foot on the first step.
"No, no, sir; let me lead," whispered his lieutenant--"let me go thistime. The first thing you'll hear will be the swish of one of theirgreat swords. They're lying ready to take off the heads of all whobegin to show."
"But we must get to know what they're doing," said Stan.
"Then let the carpenters take down the top plank of one of the doors,sir; it's only screwed, and we can see everything then. If they beginwith their spears, a volley from our pistols will drive them back tillthe board is screwed on."
"But I don't believe that any one can be upstairs after all," cried Stanimpatiently. "How foolish to have all the windows closed up withoutleaving a hole!"
"Hasn't proved very foolish, sir," said the lieutenant dryly, "accordingto my ideas. Holes for us to peep out at mean places for the enemy tosend spears through. Where we could reach from inside they could get atfrom outside."
"Listen," said Stan; and for nearly five minutes silence was maintained,without a sound being heard.
"There!" whispered Stan triumphantly; "do you mean to tell me that theenemy would be able to keep as still as that if they were up there?"
"I'm afraid they would if they had laid a trap for us."
"Oh, impossible!" replied Stan.
"Perhaps you are right, sir," said the lieutenant; "but I've beenworking out here in China for the last twenty years, mixing with thepeople and learning their ways, and I'm ready to say that they're aboutthe most artful beggars under the sun."
"Then you really believe that they are upstairs in hiding?"
"I do, sir. What is it they want to do?"
"Murder us, of course."
"Exactly; and they've been trying to do that for the last hour, losingmen heavily all the time. Force has done no good, and now they'retrying some artful trick to get hold of us without losing any more men."
"Then why don't they burn us out? That seems to be the most likelything to do."
"Yes; only they'd burn all the rich loot they want to take. Theyhaven't attacked us here for nothing. Of course, they'd go backrejoicing after hacking us to pieces, but they don't want to sail awayback with empty junks."
"There's something in that," said Stan thoughtfully.
"It's a trap, sir, and if you want any proof of their cunning, you'vejust had one over those cartridges."
Stan frowned and looked sharply in the speaker's eyes.
"You don't doubt that it was Chinese work?"
"No," whispered back Stan; "we must have a traitor among us."
"Yes; one who felt that the enemy would get the upper hand."
"Do you know who did it?"
"I think so, sir," was the reply; "and did at first, though I've had mydoubts since."
"Well, that's all over. What we want to see now is whether the enemyare on the upper floor."
"I say they are, sir; and if one of us goes up, the next thing we shallhear will be a horrible thud from one of their swords, and we shall be aman short."
Stan stood listening in silence again for a few moments, gazing up thestairs from out of the semi-darkness into the light which came down fromabove.
"I don't care," he said at last; "there's something more in this thanyou say."
"Perhaps so, sir; but the grim death I can see is quite enough for me."
"You're all wrong, and I'm going up to see what's the meaning of thissilence."
"What's the good, sir?"
"The good?" cried Stan. "What an absurd question! To know, of course."
"And what's the good of your knowing when you won't be able to tell us?"
"You mean I should be killed at a blow, and not be able to come back andsay what I had seen?"
"Of course, sir."
"Ah, well!" said Stan bitterly, "that wouldn't matter. If you didn'thear me cry out, you'd know you were right by my not coming back. Nowthen, lend me another pistol, and I'll rush up at once."
The lieutenant glanced round at those who were with him, and thenstepped before the lad.
"You're not going to run such a risk, sir," he said.
"What! Who's going to stop me?"
"I am, sir; and the rest are going to help me."
"Mr Blunt put me in command, for all of you to obey me."
"Yes, sir, to defend the place--fight for it with us."
"And you are beginning a mutiny," cried Stan angrily.
"No, sir; only going to stop you from doing a mad thing."
"Mad?"
"Yes; going to throw your life away, when we want you to help us."
Stan hesitated.
"I don't want to do anything mad," he said more quietly. "But we mustknow the meaning of what is going on upstairs and outside. The enemymay be laying a mine to blow us all up."
"No, they may not, sir. In their selfish cunning they will not doanything to destroy the place."
"Absurd!" cried Stan. "Why, they've been trying since the beginning toburn the place down."
"Oh no, sir; there you're wrong. Only to drive us out--stifle us withtheir stink-pots. As soon as they had done that they would have beenthe first to drown out any fire that had taken hold. Come, sir; I'vefought my best and tried to prove to you that I was staunch, so take myadvice--wait."
"No one could have been more brave and true," cried Stan warmly."Forgive me if I have spoken too hotly, but don't try and stop me now.I must make a dash for it."
"It's your duty to Mr Blunt and your people, sir, to stand fast andorder us to go up."
"To certain death?"
"Yes, if it means it, sir."
"Then you have your doubts," cried Stan. "There! I'm going to make arush up. Who'll follow?"
"All of us," came in a burst.
"Ready, then," cried Stan, cocking his pistol. "Now then; once more--ready?"
No one spoke, but there was a sharp clicking of pistol-locks, and then apause, while Stan stood with his left foot on the second stair, ready tobound up, but listening intently.
"No one there," he said in a sharp whisper, and rushed up into thelight.