While Phil slowly reduced the treasurer to a harmless state, the pilot made a hasty change, and as the lads had done, rolled his own clothes in a bundle, concealing them under his flowing robe.
With articles of clothing the Americans silently bound and gagged the treasurer and laid his body away, hidden from the view of the casual observer entering the room; then the three proceeded to carry out the last and most trying stage of their perilous adventure.
Phil leading, they arrived in sight of the outer gate. So far no guards had been met, but now with sinking heart Phil saw a large crowd gathered on the outside of the open gateway. Soldiers, their muskets in hand, stood stolidly on guard, while others sat on the ground, chattering volubly. Was this but the usual crowd always seen at the gates of a Chinese yamen—the poor awaiting crumbs from the rich man’s table? Overhead several oil lanterns shed their meagre light upon the assemblage. The score or more of Chinese would surely penetrate their disguise! He saw Langdon raise his hand with its flowing sleeve to his face, and quickly imitated the movement, nudging Sydney to do likewise.
A hoarse cry rang out from the guard at the gate as they approached, which sent chills of terror down the lad’s spine. His first inclination was to turn and flee back into the yamen and he stopped so abruptly that Sydney trod on his heels. What were the men at the gate calling to each other?
CHAPTER XIV
THE ESCAPE
For the moment the midshipmen were sure that they had been discovered. Then Langdon’s low voice reassured them:
“Come, it’s all right. They take us for mandarins, and are calling the guard to ‘attention.’ Keep your sleeves over your faces and don’t look up as we pass.”
Again the Americans were in motion toward the lighted gateway. With hearts beating high, in a terrible suspense, their feet mechanically carried them slowly toward the spot where they would be under the fire of a scrutiny of scores of people whose nationality the Americans were endeavoring to counterfeit. Would not the Chinese see through their flimsy disguise? As the escaping men passed the first guard, he raised his rifle smartly to the “present” in salute, but the quick motion struck terror to Phil’s heart, making him jump aside involuntarily as if he were dodging an expected blow. Shamefacedly the lad recovered himself by a great effort. In a moment more the gateway was passed and the Americans found themselves on the edge of the inquisitive crowd.
Langdon raised his hand, and immediately three chairs were brought by coolies from the edge of the narrow street and placed obediently on the ground before them. Phil longed to be within the shadow of the chair canopies. How could these Chinamen be so easily deceived! As he fairly dived into the friendly darkness of the nearest chair he cast a swift, uneasy glance at the crowd. The reason of their immunity was plain. The eyes of the crowd were directed upon the ground for fear in the presence of their all-powerful rulers.
Langdon gave a brief order in Chinese. With high hopes for success Phil felt his chair borne upward to the muscular shoulders of the coolie carriers and then with loud shouts of warning to the crowd to make way, they started off in a long, swinging walk. Phil drew his curtains tightly shut and lay back with a great sigh of relief in his cushioned seat.