CHAPTER VIII-THE SWARM OF NIGHT FURIES

Late in the afternoon another meal was prepared.

Though the yamen was surrounded on all sides, and "sniping" was engaged in from time to time, the Chinese besiegers made no attempt to rush the compound.

Toward the end of the afternoon Dave carried on some vigorous signal talk with his commanding officer aboard the "Castoga."

"It does not look safe for you to risk bringing party through to river," came the message from the gunboat. "Do you think you can hold the yamen through the night?"

"Think I can hold yamen through the night," Dave signaled back, "if you sanction my using extreme measures at need. I may have to put the Chinese soldiers on the other side of the gate before dark comes on."

"Do so, if absolutely necessary," came the part approval. "If you wish, I will try to get thirty more men through to you. Cannot spare more without crippling ship."

"I believe so small a force as thirty men would be ma.s.sacred in the streets before reaching here," Dave signaled back. "Would advise against your trying to send small reinforcements."

"Am trying by wireless," signaled the gunboat, "to pick up other naval vessel along the coast. If I establish such communication, will endeavor to have at least one hundred additional men sent up, even if they have to ascend river in motor launches. Think, if you can hold on until to-morrow, I can send substantial reinforcements."

"Will hold out through the night, if we have to keep shooting every minute," Darrin signaled his commanding officer.

"Have you plenty of ammunition?" came the query.

"Yes," d.i.c.k signaled back. "Have been firing cautiously."

Just before dark came on the gunboat signaled:

"Good luck through the night."

"Thank you," Ensign Dave caused to be signaled back.

After a conference with Dan and Bishop Whitlock, Dave decided upon bold measures. Toward every party of Chinese soldiers, on the ramparts or in the compound, went, all at once, small parties of sailors. In a twinkling, and almost without protest, the sailors seized the rifles of the yellow soldiery.

"Form the governor's troops in the compound," was the order that Darrin suddenly bawled forth.

"What are you about to do?" demanded Sin Foo, from the rampart.

"We are about to gag you, Mr. Sin Foo, if you open your mouth again,"

came the young ensign's stern answer.

Quickly the native troops were formed below. Dan, in the meantime, ma.s.sed a strong force and two machine guns on the rampart over the main gate. At a signal the gates were thrown open. The blinking, unresponsive yellow soldiers were driven forth, and the gate shut fast on them. Dan's precautions overhead had been taken in case the armed mult.i.tude beyond should attempt a rush when the gate was opened. But Dave put through the whole maneuver successfully.

Leaving a guard of only seven men on a side, and ma.s.sing his fifty-six other fighting men, Dave marched up to the governor's yamen.

"The move that I am going to take may bring down a torrent of official abuse upon my head," thought the young ensign.

First he called out a summons to open the door of the governor's dwelling. There being no answer, he directed several sailors, with a pole on their shoulders, as a battering ram, to smash in the door. Once the door was down, Dave led his party inside, and began searching from room to room.

At last he came upon the governor, surrounded by the same score of soldiers. In addition were "Burnt-face" and some dozen attendants.

"Disarm the soldiers," came Darrin's instant order, as he marched his command into the s.p.a.cious, handsome, richly furnished room in which the governor had taken refuge. "Do it without fuss, if you can, but take the guns away."

Three of the soldiers attempted to resist, and were promptly knocked down by the sailors; after that, all submitted to disarming.

"March these yellow soldiers outside and give them the gate," smiled Ensign Dave. "Leave 'Burnt-face' and this servant with the governor, and put the rest of the attendants outside too. Forward, march!"

That audacious move was carried out without a hitch.

"Pa.s.s the word for Mr. Sin Foo," Dave ordered. Then, when the indignant under secretary appeared, Dave went on:

"Mr. Sin Foo, kindly a.s.sure his excellency that we have acted in the only way possible, and that we mean no harm to him, unless he should make such action necessary. Tell the governor that we have put his people outside because we do not intend to have any nonsense here to-night."

Sin Foo started to speak.

"Pardon me, Mr. Darrin," interposed a missionary, "but the under secretary is not interpreting correctly. He is abusing you to the governor."

"Look here, my friend," warned Dave, placing a heavy hand on Sin Foo's shoulder, "either you play fairly, or you will find yourself in more trouble than one poor under secretary can be expected to handle easily.

Tell his excellency just what I said."

Governor Tai-pu listened in silence. Nor did he offer any comment when Sin Foo had ceased speaking.

"Does his excellency understand?" Dave asked.

"He does," replied Sin Foo.

"Yes," nodded the missionary who had interposed.

"His excellency will be required to remain in the open with us to-night," Darrin continued. "We must have him where we can easily keep both eyes on him."

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Darrin," said one of the missionaries, approaching. "Do you think it will be prudent to have lights in the compound to-night?"

"It will be much better to have them," Dave replied, "provided that no glow from them is reflected toward the ramparts. Any light behind our men, that showed them more distinctly to the enemy, would imperil our safety. But lights in one point at least in the grounds would be advantageous, as such illumination would tend to make the women less afraid. It's human nature, you know, sir, to be more afraid in the dark, and we must give every possible thought to the feelings of the women on such a trying night as I fear this is going to be."

Thanking him, the missionary hurried away, beckoning to three other men to follow him. These soon returned, bearing armfuls of Chinese paper lanterns. Cords were tied from tree to tree in the center of the compound, and from these lighted paper lanterns were soon dangling. In and out of the lighted area pa.s.sed the women and other non-combatants, strolling about.

"That looks like a glimpse out of a pretty picture," said Dave, to his brother officer, as the two stood on the river side of the ramparts.

"Especially with the glow that the lanterns cast on a background of picturesque Chinese buildings," Danny Grin agreed. Then he turned to gaze into the darkness beyond, adding:

"David, little giant, we shall have very little to do with pretty pictures to-night. The nightmares of war will claim the greater part of our attention."

One group of women there was that did not appear. They comprised the women of the governor's family, who, with the children of the yamen, had taken refuge in one of the larger buildings. They were not required to come out into the open.

"Sir, I think I see figures advancing," whispered a sailor, gliding up to Ensign Darrin.

In an instant Dave threw up his night gla.s.s.