Ah Wu rubbed his hands together and addressed himself to the brigand.
"They tell me," said he, "that one of your prisoners has cut off?"
"That is so," said Cheong-Chau, with an oath. "The fools of sentries let him through. He got away in the night. I and ten men started at daybreak, bringing with us the two other captives, but so far we have failed to find the culprit."
Frank, standing near at hand, listened intently to every word. The boy had placed himself against the wall, a little behind Cheong-Chau, so that the man would have to turn to look at him.
"Can he have reached Hong-Kong, do you think?" asked Ah Wu.
Cheong-Chau shrugged his shoulders.
"I think not," said he. "He has barely had time. But who can say?"
"And you have brought your other captives with you?"
"That was necessary," said Cheong-Chau. "I had to keep them under my eye. I cannot trust my men. They allow hostages to escape."
"Did you not find them very much in the way?" asked Ah Wu.