“Lead on,” he said shortly.
Flanked by Bob and his father, and followed by Jack and Frank, the guide brought them presently to the mouth of a dark alley. There he paused.
“Up here’s the Joss House,” he said. “Chinamen’s temple, you know. Follow me single file. It’s dark in this here alley, but we’ll soon be all right.”
Obediently, they fell into line behind him and stumbled along through Stygian darkness, only the dim light from the street over their shoulders. Presently, the close walls on either hand turned sharply to the right, and they emerged into a narrow courtyard. It was so dark their surroundings could only be guessed at.
“Look here, my man,” said Mr. Temple, “I went to a Joss House in Chinatown once years ago, and I don’t seem to remember this route.”
“It’s all right,” said the guide. “The place is just ahead here through a door. Follow right along.”
Mr. Temple took several more steps, the boys after him, then halted again. Once more he started to protest, but at that moment the guide turned and grappled with him while a number of other shadowy forms materialized out of the darkness and closed with the boys.
The boys and Mr. Temple fought valiantly, but numbers were against them. Moreover, the attackers threw over the head of each a sack that muffled their outcries and prevented the boys and Mr. Temple from directing their blows. Taken altogether by surprise, they were quickly overcome. Then their hands were tied and they were raised to their feet, and the sacks, which were almost suffocating them, were removed.
A revolver was shoved threateningly into each face.
“Won’t do you much good to scream,” said a voice in the darkness, “but if you do, you know what you’ll get.”