"Friends," said Ah Wu.
"Then swear friendship."
And Ah Wu swore, with a hand uplifted, by the Five Sacred Books.
And then Yung How swore fidelity to Ling, who rounded upon Frank.
"And you, my little smooth-faced infant, whom I have truly taken to my heart, you have not told me yet your name?"
"Ah Li," said Frank, who for some time had been prepared for such a question.
"And you also swear?"
And Frank swore, following the example of Ah Wu and Yung How, and using the same words to be faithful to the mighty Ling. And as he made the declaration he satisfied his conscience that he attached no more importance to the words than did Ling to the life of the man whom he had killed.
[CHAPTER XVI--OF THE REPENTANCE OF YUNG HOW]
Thus it was that they became the unwilling servants of Ling. They had no option but to obey him. By reason of his gigantic strength, Ling was the master of the situation.