After the pilot had stopped speaking and had reseated himself at Commander Hughes’ side, the viceroy drew his interpreter aside, and in a voice so low pitched that Langdon could not hear a word, conversed with him earnestly for many minutes; then the interpreter arose and hurriedly left the council-chamber.
The embassy sat in silence, wondering what would be the next move of this adroit diplomat. Phil’s nerves were atingle with expectancy; the dangers of their position within a hostile city, and in the grasp of an avowed enemy, gave his young and untamed spirit high hopes for excitement. How he wished for Sydney that he might share whatever was in store for the embassy before it again reached the safety of its steel broadsides!
The naval men had not long to wait before the inner gates of the yamen were thrown open and a battalion of soldiers filed into the courtyard, outside the audience-chamber. Another moment, and the light screens forming the sides of the council-chamber were removed and the embassy looked fairly out upon this martial display.
The soldiers were quickly formed into a hollow square between the embassy and the outer gates, which then were likewise opened and a seething mob of excited, riotous Chinamen poured through, filling up the courtyard beyond.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the American commander exclaimed in sudden alarm; but before Langdon could disclaim his knowledge of what was about to happen, a part of the square opened and a number of tightly-bound prisoners were dragged to the middle of the courtyard directly in front of the viceroy. As they approached, Phil unconsciously turned away his head to shut out the pitiful spectacle; the prisoners were cruelly shackled together in a manner practiced only by the Chinese.
After the lad had gained control of his feelings and once more glanced toward the prisoners, the viceroy was speaking, while the pilot listened intently; the mob beyond was silent, gazing with evident enjoyment at the terror-stricken prisoners before the viceroy.
“His Excellency says that he has just discovered that these men were arrested last night by his guards with contraband concealed upon their persons, and when tortured confessed to having attempted to blow in the gates of the American mission, and that he will punish them in our presence as a warning to his people,” Langdon announced loudly, then lowering his voice, he whispered hurriedly to Commander Hughes: “I don’t like the looks of it, sir; a moment ago he knew nothing of it, and now he claims to have the culprits; it seems strange.”
“Hold!” cried Commander Hughes, starting to his feet; “we must have proof that these are the right men; we want no useless executions.” For he knew only too well that this form of punishment was the one dear to the Chinese heart, and he could read upon the faces of the crowd that it was waiting joyfully to see these human heads severed from their bodies and doubtless had been promised this stirring sport.
Langdon translated his captain’s wish hastily to the viceroy, but the mandarin turned a deaf ear, raising his thin, veined hand with its claw-like nails as a sign to proceed with the gruesome work.
A muscular Chinaman, naked save for a loin cloth, stepped from the ranks of the soldiers brandishing a sharp curved sword, and moved quickly to the side of the kneeling prisoners. Commander Hughes and his colleagues started precipitately toward him as if to prevent him from carrying out his murderous intentions.