Commander Ignacio voiced his willingness and the two men in the lead, followed by Sydney and the pilot, retraced their steps toward the gate of the walled city.
“Send your men back to the ship,” Phil, stopping suddenly, said in the voice of Ta-Ling. “You know me well enough to know that I have no wish to harm you.”
Commander Ignacio hesitated. Doubtless he felt safer with a few trusty sailors between himself and the treacherous Chinese.
“Did you send my telegrams?” he asked quickly; “and have any come from Washington for that American pig?”
“Yours were sent,” Phil answered promptly, “but the American captain has received none.”
“Well, it will come, I’m sure, and then after he is disgraced, I shall be chosen as the leader of the allies,” the foreign captain said boastfully; “but you must keep your part of the contract and hold your people in check until I can get the credit of quelling the disturbance. Say a month before you kill these flat-chested missionaries.”
“That was our agreement,” Phil replied; “now show that you have confidence in me and send your men aboard.”
Commander Ignacio reluctantly left Phil’s side and walked back to the landing float to give his orders.
“Don’t open your mouths!” Phil whispered in a tense voice. “When his men are once out of sight I’ll lead him to where he thinks the chairs are waiting. When I raise my hand, jump on him like a ton of brick. The chairs we got were waiting for Ta-Ling and they may now be waiting for him near here, so we must be quiet about it. I noticed the coolies were surprised when Langdon motioned them to go.”
Phil had barely finished his instructions before Commander Ignacio rejoined him.