“We were angry, and argued with him,” I went on, “and while we were quarreling Mai Lo suddenly gave a loud cry. We looked around and saw the great ape called Fo-Chu, the King, leaping toward us from the grove.”
I paused and Wi-to said:
“He escaped from the pagoda several days ago, and could not be found.”
“We were all frightened,” said I, “for the beast seemed fierce and excited. The governor alone was armed, and as Fo-Chu bounded forward Mai Lo thrust out the scimitar, and ran it through the ape’s body. But Fo-Chu drew the blade from his own breast, swung it in the air, and with one blow severed the governor’s head from his shoulders. Then the ape seized the body and leaped into the pool with it, and both sank quickly beneath the black waters. I am quite sure the beast was dying at the time, and perhaps the devil-fish grabbed them, for neither one came to the surface again.”
As I finished the yarn the Chief Eunuch coughed and looked puzzled.
“But although the bodies were gone,” I added, “the head of Mai Lo remained upon the ground where it had fallen.”
“Here it is,” announced Archie, “we used to call him old Death’s-Head, and may be it is appropriate,” and holding the horrible thing in his hand, he advanced and laid it at the eunuch’s feet.
Wi-to grew pale and stared into the placid face of his enemy. Mai Lo stared back at him, and I could not see that the beady eyes or parchment face had changed at all in death.
“Ugh!” said the eunuch, turning away. “It is certain the man is dead. But who will believe your story?”
“You will, to begin with,” said I, confidently, “and you will make others believe it.”