Captain Martin, of the marines, now entered the room where the discussion was going on. His face was pale, and his eyes showed greater anger than Ned had ever seen reflected there before.
"Just a moment, Ned," he said, and the two stepped into another room.
The Captain dropped into a chair.
"We have struck the hornet's nest," he said.
"Do you hear them buzzing?" asked Ned, with a smile.
"Worse than that," was the reply. "I am feeling their stings. Two of my men have been attacked in the dark."
"And wounded?"
"Yes; one of them seriously."
"I'm sorry for the poor fellow," Ned said. "Do you think we can get him on to Peking?"
Captain Martin shook his head.
"It is a bad wound," he said. "The man was on guard not far from the edge of the grove when a figure loomed up before him. He challenged and was about to shoot, for no reply came, when he got the knife in his back. He can't be moved."