Mai Lo did not look around. He did not shrink or pale or display fear. But he promptly waved his hand again and the escort once more closed around us.
Then the governor addressed the crowd in Chinese, and talked volubly for a long time. In a language where it requires two hundred syllables to say “good morning” it is probable that Mai Lo’s address was brief and to the point; anyhow, the sullen crowd melted away and left us alone, and soon after we entered the inn and went to bed.
The incident was not referred to again on either side, but it proved to us how readily the governor was prepared to sacrifice any members of our party, and so weaken our numbers, and it warned us to be constantly upon our guard. I did not doubt but that Mai Lo had some plan in mind to circumvent us when we got to Kai-Nong, and doubtless he was confident of success; but we refused to be panic-stricken.
“It looks as if we were in the dragon’s jaws,” remarked Archie, one day, with a yawn.
“I don’t mind that,” replied Joe, “if we can keep the dragon from biting.”
“Nor I. But sometimes it looks dubious to me. We’re about fifteen hundred miles in the enemy’s country, and the world has lost all track of us. Perhaps——”
“Perhaps, what?” I asked, impatiently.
“Perhaps the noble physician was wise, after all.”
“Look here, Archie. What’s the use of crying before you’re hurt?”
“It’s my only chance,” said he, with a grin. “If Mai Lo gets his work in, I shan’t be able to howl.”