For a time the eunuch sat thinking upon the information I had given him. Then, suddenly raising his eyes, he inquired:
“What reward are you to have for taking this long journey, and all the trouble and expense of distributing the Prince’s gifts to his friends?”
For an instant I hesitated how to reply to this question, and I saw the anxious looks on the faces of Archie and Joe, which warned me of the importance of my reply. So I marshaled my wits and smiled at Wi-to to gain time.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL”
THE CHIEF EUNUCH eyed me expectantly. He was a clever fellow in his way, and had more than ordinary intelligence; but all his life had been passed in this retired place and he judged people and things from his own limited point of view. He could understand how his master might wish to reward friends with costly gifts, because he had lived surrounded by rare and precious objects of art. Likewise he supposed books precious, because there were so few in the palace, and he had seen so much intrigue in his life that it was but natural that the Prince wished to destroy certain papers left in his desk before a successor obtained possession of them. But he could not understand our undertaking the commission to do these things without reward. So when I answered his question, I said:
“You must not suppose we are mercenary, or that we journeyed to Kai-Nong solely for a reward; but Prince Kai did tell us we might each select a jewel or ornament for ourselves while we were here.”
“That is just,” said the eunuch.
“But we will confess that the chief reason for favoring your Prince, aside from our friendship for him, was a love of adventure. Mai Lo paid our expenses here, and will pay to send us back if we demand it. We have his contract. But if he is not able to do that, we have funds of our own in Shanghai which we can draw upon. For, mark you, Wi-to, we are important people in our own country.”
“I am sure of that,” was the reply. “And if you have a contract with Mai Lo, he must pay to send you back to Shanghai.”
“If he is alive. But he ought to commit suicide before long.”
“Oh, I see!” exclaimed the eunuch. “You intend to compel him to do this?”
“We intend to see that he doesn’t rob the Ancestral Halls and run away with the treasure. For that reason we may remain your guests longer than would be required to execute the orders of Prince Kai, who greatly feared that Mai Lo would rob his ancestors.”
“You shall remain as long as it pleases you,” returned Wi-to, with sparkling eyes. “And you may call upon me and all my followers to assist you, in case the renegade governor tries to escape you.”
“Thanks; that was just what we expected,” I exclaimed.
Then, feeling well satisfied with our interview and our tour of inspection, we left the Chief Eunuch and returned to our own rooms.
“Do you think it wise to harp on the subject of Mai Lo’s robbing the Ancestral Halls?” asked Joe, when we were where we could not be overheard.
“Why isn’t it wise?” I asked.
“Why, the Chief Eunuch may get suspicious that something is up.”
“I want him to get suspicious of Mai Lo, and watch that old fox so carefully that he won’t get a chance to steal anything until we get through. Besides, it will relieve us of any suspicions. Wi thinks it’s impossible for us to get to the burial vaults, because our enemy the governor guards all entrances. And he’s crafty enough to believe that we wouldn’t talk about robbing the Ancestral Halls if we had any idea of doing it ourselves.”
“Sam’s right,” declared Archie.
“I think so, too,” acknowledged Joe. “But I began to fear we were overdoing the thing. Our talk about the orders of Prince Kai worked all right, didn’t it?”
“Why, it was all very reasonable to the eunuch,” I said, “and we will have no trouble in getting the packing cases to our rooms, where we can replace the ornaments and books with the treasure.”
“It looks too easy altogether,” said Archie, doubtfully.
“You must remember Prince Kai planned it all, and he knew the conditions here perfectly,” answered Joe. “I imagine our greatest difficulty will be in getting back to Shanghai. If the governor acts ugly and refuses us an escort we won’t get fifty miles without being murdered.”
“Don’t let’s worry about that,” I said, sharply, for the thought had already worried me a good deal. “That’s another bridge that needn’t be crossed till we come to it.”
We were naturally eager to explore the Ancestral Halls and see what the treasure consisted of which had been so freely given us by Prince Kai — if we could take it. It might be much or little, but judging from the wealth and magnificence of the palace the treasure buried in the vaults was likely to be ample to satisfy us.
After all, I think it was the adventure that charmed us, more than the longing for gain. We had been set a difficult task, and boylike we determined to accomplish it.
Deciding it would not be wise to make any important move for the first few days, we passed the time wandering about the palace or in the grounds. We found that Wi-to trusted us fully now, and we were allowed to do whatever we pleased without being annoyed by the watchful attendance of the eunuchs.
Wi asked me if we wanted a guard at the door of our chamber, and I promptly answered No. There was no one in the palace except ourselves and the eunuchs, and it was not necessary for them to guard us against themselves. So we were left free to come and go as we pleased; but when we wandered as far as the outer walls of the palace enclosure we found eunuchs stationed at every gateway. We did not know whether we would be allowed to pass these guards or not, but we made no attempt to do so, preferring not to trust ourselves to the mercies of our enemy the governor.
Once in awhile we encountered Mai Lo in our walks, but he kept near to the Ancestral Halls and paid no attention to us. He was supposed to be settling up the estate of his dead master, but according to our observations he seemed chiefly occupied in pacing the paths, in deep thought. However, we let him alone and kept out of his way.
It was while we were exploring an end of the garden where a thicket of fruit trees grew that we met our first real adventure.
The trees formed a regular jungle; but there seemed a well worn path between them, so we followed on, winding this way and that, until the sound of voices and laughter arrested our attention. The voices were sweet and fresh and the laughter ringing and merry.
While we paused to listen, hesitating whether to retreat or advance, a sentence in English caught our ears, and we looked at one another in surprise. Broken English it was, very quaintly and prettily uttered, and in a girl’s voice; but after hearing it none of us cared to run away.
“Seen them I have — a peep — a view only — but they were young and handsome, these foreign devils,” said the voice.
A peal of laughter greeted the remark, and the chatter went on in lower tones.
“We must be near the harem,” whispered Archie.
“Nonsense,” cautiously replied Joe. “The harem’s way back by the palace. That’s a sort of summer-house ahead of us.”
It was merely a circle of willows, with their branches mingling and interlacing to form a roof.
“If they’ve had a peep at us, whoever they are, I mean to have a peep at them,” said I; and without waiting for a reply I softly tip-toed toward the willows.
The others followed, but I did not heed them. Really I was hungry for the sight of a girl, merely to relieve the monotony of our intercourse with the harsh-featured eunuchs; but more than all I was curious.
Halting at the circle of trees I found a place where I could see the interior between the trunks, and then I paused spell-bound.
A table of woven reeds was in the center of the leafy bower, and around it were low chairs and settles of the same material. Seated at the table were three young and pretty Chinese girls — and if you think a Chinese girl cannot be pretty you should have seen this group as I saw it.
> One maid was leaning on her dainty elbows over the table, on which lay an open book. She was not reading it, but looking earnestly at another maid half reclining upon a bench opposite. Her eyes were dark and smiling, her teeth white as pearls, her cheeks like rose leaves and her hair had a wonderful arrangement of bows and knitting-needles — or some such things — stuck this way and that to hold it all together.
The girl reclining was even prettier, and wore a wonderful pink gown, all embroidery and fluffy silk trimmings. I may not be describing all this properly, but I am doing my best to tell you what I saw.
There was a third girl sitting upon a stool and doing a bit of embroidery — at least she had a needle and some work in her hands; but she was not paying much attention to the work, for when I got to my peep-hole it was this maid — a tiny, dainty, dimpled bit of a roguish-looking thing — who was engaged in talking.
“I’ll do it, Mai Mou — even if they beat me, or kill me!” she was saying, impetuously; “I’ll have a glance myself, this very evening, from my window, and see what they are like.”
“But why need you care, Nor Ghai?” asked the reclining beauty, in a soft, subdued voice. “What if Ko-Tua has seen these foreign devils, and praises their beauty — what to you is it all?”
“To me!” returned the impetuous one; “they knew my brother, who has gone to join the Genii. I loved well our Lun Pu, who never knew me or cared for me. Perhaps the fearful, handsome strangers will tell me of him.”
I knew who they were now — at least, two of them. Nor Ghai was the little sister of the Prince — she was the girl with the embroidery. Mai Mou was the daughter of our enemy the governor; she was well named the Pearl of Kai-Nong. As for the third, the beauty with the book, who had been called Ko-Tua and who claimed to have had a peep at us, I had no idea where she belonged.
But what I had overheard decided me upon a bold step. It would have been bold even in America; here in China it was actually audacious.
I saw the opening in the willows that formed the entrance to this leafy pavilion, and crept toward it, motioning the boys to follow. When near enough I boldly stepped out, walked into the pavilion and then paused as if astonished at what I had discovered there. Archie and Joe were with me, and we were greeted by a panicky chorus of muffled screams. Lucky it was they were muffled, or the cries might have brought the eunuchs upon us. Perhaps the frightened girls remembered this and screamed just loud enough to show they were properly scared.
“Pardon us, ladies, for intruding,” I said, removing my cap and making a low bow. “We are the foreign devils, and we’re glad to make your acquaintance.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AN UNLAWFUL INTERVIEW
REALLY, we had created a sensation in the summerhouse. The three beauties were huddled together in a bunch as far away as the circling willows would permit, and with clasped hands and wide open eyes they were staring at us intently.
“Permit us to introduce ourselves,” said Joe, in his most polite manner. “I am Joseph Herring, of America.”
“And I am Archie Ackley, of the same grand old country.”
“I am Sam Steele, at your service, ladies. Won’t you sit down?” I continued. “Now that we are here let us tell you all about Prince Kai Lun Pu, and how he sent us to this place.”
“Go away!” said Mai Mou, in low tense tones.
“Oh, no, we can’t do that,” said Joe.
“But you must,” persisted the Pearl.
“Why so?” asked Archie, calmly seating himself at the table.
“You will be sliced if you are found here,” announced Nor Ghai, with a dimpled smile, half frightened, half amused.
“Sliced! What does that mean, little friend?” I asked.
“You are bound to the plank and the axe begins at your feet and slices you thin until you are dead — and long afterward.”
“Oh, that’s nothing,” said Archie, contemptuously. “We’re not afraid.”
“If you care not to consider yourselves, then consider us,” begged the fair Ko-Tua. “If you are found here we shall be beaten with bamboos upon the soles of our feet and cast into dungeons without food.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, assuringly. “I will not allow the eunuchs to harm you.”
“How can you prevent it?” asked Mai Mou, curiously.
“This is our authority,” I replied, exhibiting the Prince’s ruby ring.
“Oh — h!” sighed Nor Ghai, gliding swiftly toward me. Then she knelt and touched the ring with her rose-bud lips, saying:
“It is his, Mai Mou! It is my brother’s signet, Ko-Tua! We need fear nothing, I am sure.”
“Then sit down and let’s talk it over,” I said, motioning toward the chairs.
Very timidly they approached, like frightened doves about to fly at the least alarm, and then they plumped down upon a bench all together, with their arms twined around each other for mutual encouragement.
“How does it happen you speak English?” I inquired, pretending not to notice their fears.
“One of my father’s wives lived at Hong-Kong before he brought her here, and she taught us,” replied Nor Ghai, simply. “Do you think we the English speak with perfection?”
“Nothing could be more perfect,” laughed Archie.
“Ah — h!” they murmured, looking at each other delightedly.
“We the English talk much with ourselves,” declared Ko-Tua, casting her eyes down modestly to avoid Joe’s stare. “We can faster talk in English than in our own language.”
“That’s a great blessing,” said Archie; “you must have a lot to say to each other.”
“And we study all the time, velly hard and good,” added Mai Mou, looking earnestly at Archie for approval.
“I’m sure you are very wise and learned,” said he.
“Now,” broke in Nor Ghai, wiggling expectantly in her seat, “tell me of Lun Pu — all of Lun Pu — and how he came to join his ancestors, and how you foreign dev — you, you — ”
“That’s right. We’re foreign devils.”
“How you came to Kai-Nong?”
“Let me see,” I rejoined; “you are the Prince’s sister, I believe; Nor Ghai by name.”
“How did you know?” she exclaimed, clasping her hands with a little gesture of pleasure.
“And this must be Mai Mou, the governor’s daughter, called by all the world the Pearl of Kai-Nong,” added Archie.
“How strange,” she murmured. “Do you know everything?”
“Not quite,” laughed Joe. “For instance, we do not know who Ko-Tua is. Will she tell us?”
Now Ko-Tua was not the least charming of the little maids by any means. Her features were not quite so regular as those of Mai Mou, nor so merry and winning as those of Nor Ghai; but she was sweet and dainty as a spring floweret and her eyes had a pleading and wistful look that was hard to resist. So we were all greatly astonished when Mai Mou answered Joe’s question by saying:
“Ko-Tua is my little mother; she is my father’s new wife.”
“What!” I exclaimed. “Has the old governor been marrying since he returned?”
“No — no!” answered Ko-Tua, smiling and blushing. “I was married to the noble Mai Lo six years ago.”
“Impossible! How old are you now?”
She looked inquiringly at Mai Mou, who answered:
“Fifteen summers has Mai Mou looked upon.”
“And you were married at nine!”
“That must be it,” she nodded, counting upon her slender fingers. “Ten — Teven — tlelve — thirt’ — fourt — fliftleen!”
“It’s preposterous!” cried Joe, indignantly. “The old rascal ought to be sliced for daring to marry a child.”
“What is wrong?” asked Mai Mou, wonder-ingly. “Is not my little mother beautiful? Is she not nice? Is not my father’s harem well appointed and comforting?”
“Are you happy, Ko-Tua?” asked Joe, earnestly.
“Oh, yes, foreign one. On
ly the birds are happier.”
“Then we won’t slice Mai Lo,” I announced, airily.
I picked up the book that lay open upon the table and found it an English translation of Plutarch.
“Do you like this?” I asked.
“Oh, yes!” they cried. And Ko-Tua added: “We are entertain much by its stories.”
It seemed pretty heavy reading for young girls.
“We have the Shakespeare and we have the verse songs of Blylon,” announced Nor Ghai, gleefully. “My brother, Lun Pu, gave them to my father’s wife who came from Hong Kong. But now you may tell us, foreign ones, since you are with us so unlawfully, about my brother’s accident.”
So we began the story, trying between us to tell it in such a way as to remove all horror from the tragic incidents. But it seemed they loved to dwell mostly upon those very details, having the same love for slaughter and bloodshed that I have observed in the natures of some of our own children. Even Nor Ghai had known the Prince so slightly that he was a mere personage to her, and his untimely end was to these fair and innocent girls but a romance that was delightful to listen to.
With the telling of the story and answering the numerous questions showered upon us, the hours passed rapidly, until finally Ko-Tua sprang up and declared it was time for them to go, or Mai Lo’s eunuchs would be looking for her. “Will you come here again tomorrow?” I asked Nor Ghai, taking her little hand in mine — a liberty she did not resent.
She turned to the others.
“Shall we come here tomorrow?” she inquired.
Mai Mou looked at her “little mother.”
“Let us come,” said Ko-Tua, after a little hesitation. “We shall then be able to learn more of the English.”
Nor Ghai laughed at that and said, with a pretty courtesy:
“We shall come.”
Then they glided from the pavilion with quick little steps that were not ungraceful, and we stood silently in our places until all sounds of their departure had ceased.
We were much elated by this meeting, and had no thought of the danger we might incur by arranging for a future interview with the charming orientals. You must not think we had fallen in love with these Chinese beauties, for that was not the case. I don’t say that I shall never fall in love; but when I do it will be with an American girl, and it won’t matter much whether she is beautiful or not, so long as I love her.
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 692
