Dave Darrin on the Asiatic Station Part 10

"And if you are refused?" pressed Dan.

"That will be the governor's worry," replied Dave quietly.

CHAPTER V-SIN FOO HAS HIS DOUBTS

It was a gray stone wall, some twelve feet high, that surrounded the compound of the yamen. Sentries in the uniform of Chinese soldiery were pacing the top of this formidable rampart.

Over the walls could be seen the strange, gracefully arched red and yellow roofs of the several large and the few small buildings of the yamen.

Under the gray walls, on the outside, crouched a few mangy-looking beggars. Men and women of this type always loiter outside of every yamen, trusting to the occasional generosity of the high official who resides within, for in China every mandarin, governor and other high official must always be a good deal of an alms-giver.

Not even the sight of the heavily armed little American column stirred these beggars beyond the most ordinary exhibition of curiosity.

"Put the column to the right oblique, and go over to that gate,"

directed Dave, pointing with his drawn sword.

A moment later the command, "Halt!" rang out. From the ramparts above three Chinese soldiers gazed down stolidly.

Striding forward to the gong that hung before the gate, Ensign Darrin struck it loudly three times.

A minute pa.s.sed without answer. Dave sounded thrice again. Another minute pa.s.sed.

"Confound those fellows inside," muttered Dave to his chum. "I've heard, before this, that the Chinese official tries to show his contempt for western barbarians by making them await his pleasure."

Glancing down his line, Darrin noted a sailor who was well known for his physical powers.

"Henshaw!" summoned Dave crisply.

Leaving the ranks, Seaman Henshaw stepped briskly forward, saluting respectfully.

"Henshaw, do you think you could play a loud tune on this gong?"

"Aye, aye, sir."

"How long do you think you could keep that tune going?"

"An hour, anyway, sir."

"Can you play that gong like a ba.s.s-drum?"

"Like a whole drum-corps, sir," answered Seaman Henshaw, with just the suspicion of a grin.

"Then fall to, Henshaw."

Picking up the fancifully carved stick, Seaman Henshaw faced the three-foot gong.

Bang! cras.h.!.+ zim! zoum! smas.h.!.+ It was a l.u.s.ty tattoo that Seaman Henshaw beat upon that resounding metal. _The noise could have been heard a mile away._ Dave afterwards learned that every sound was distinctly heard on board the gunboat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: It Could Have Been Heard a Mile Away.]

Bim! bam! whang! After a full minute of it Seaman Henshaw looked as if he were still enjoying his task. Several of the men in the waiting column had grounded their rifle b.u.t.ts that they might hold at least one hand to an ear to shut out the din.

On the wall overhead the Chinese sentries moved uneasily away from close quarters.

Cras.h.!.+ zam! bing! That gong rang forth as, it is safe to say, it had not done before in centuries, for Henshaw was a young giant and proud of his muscle and endurance.

Zim! zim! zam! The racket was more than ears could endure for a long stretch.

At about the end of the third minute the double gates were thrown suddenly open. In the open gateway stood at least a score of armed soldiers, at their head a young Chinaman, tall, well-dressed and of rather commanding appearance.

Instantly Ensign Darrin pressed Henshaw's unemployed arm. With a final crash the pounding of the gong died out.

"His excellency, the governor, demands to know why this din is being made at this gate," declared the tall young Chinaman, in a haughty voice, but in excellent English.

"It is my way of announcing my call," Dave replied.

"Who are you?"

"Ensign Darrin, United States Navy, very much at your service, sir,"

Dave replied. "And now, sir, I have the honor to request that you, also, announce your name and position here."

"Since I serve his excellency, the governor, that is enough for you to know," replied the Chinaman. "However, I will state that my name is Sin Foo. I am under secretary to his excellency, and, as such, I have come to bring word to you that it is his excellency's pleasure that you depart from this neighborhood and return to your vessel."

"I am very sorry, Mr. Sin Foo," Dave responded, "but it is impossible for me to make my call on a proxy. I must see his excellency in person."

"I am very sorry," replied the secretary, speaking in a tone of cold contempt, "but his excellency cannot see you so early in the day.

Later-"

"Attention," called Ensign Dave, in a low voice. "Column, forward march!"

Instantly the naval line moved forward. Shocked and indignant, the secretary spoke in Chinese to some of the soldiers. The big gate began to move as though it would shut.

"At the double quick! Charge!" shouted Dave Darrin, leaping forward, brandis.h.i.+ng his sword.

In a twinkling the first dozen seamen, headed by two officers, had rushed into the compound.

At one side stood two Chinese soldiers, working a c.u.mbersome wheel, attached to a windla.s.s and rope that moved the double gate. Henshaw leaped at this pair, knocking both down.

"I must warn you, Ensign Darrin," shouted Sin Foo, his face purple with rage, "that this conduct of yours is contrary to the usages of respect that must be observed between the representatives of two great countries. Your conduct, sir, is an outrage!"

"And the governor's conduct also is an outrage," Darrin retorted sternly, "in allowing mobs to burn the mission buildings and all but take the lives of the American missionaries and their families."

"All the mission Americans are safe at this yamen," retorted Sin Foo.

"There is no need to fear for your fellow Americans. They are safe and under the immediate protection of his excellency, the governor."