“Go now,” said he. “You got pistol?”

“Yes,” was the answer, and the ex-lieutenant produced the weapon, loaded and ready for use. It had been his companion during the campaign in China, and he knew he could depend upon it.

“No shoot quick,” went on Jiru Siko. “Shoot only when can’t help.”

“I understand, and I don’t want to shoot anybody if it can be avoided,” returned Gilbert.

The snow was coming down thickly, and the wind was blowing strongly when Gilbert and eight others of the party left the furniture shop. At the same time another party of seven left the quarters under the storehouse, but they went off in another direction.

The course was through a dirty, narrow street of the Chinese quarter, and then to a row of stables, where stood a number of carts piled high with boxes and intrenching tools.

“Hide in the carts,” explained Jiru Siko. “Carts go out of city to-night, sure. Be careful, no noise.”

He went with the young American, and in a few minutes both were secreted in one of the carts, between[Pg 86] two packing cases loaded with ammunition. On top of them were a number of shovels and picks and over the whole a rough tarpaulin, to keep off the snow.

[Pg 86]

Once hidden in the carts, none of the party dared to speak excepting in the faintest of whispers. All waited patiently for about half an hour, when several Russian cart-drivers and hostlers appeared, bringing with them a number of horses. The men were talking in a boisterous manner, and were evidently dissatisfied with the task before them.

“We could wait until daylight just as well,” grumbled one. “To drive out in such a snowstorm and on such a road is not pleasant.”

“True, Pasof but orders are orders,” came from a second. “And the sooner we arrive at Chic-yang the better for us. So hurry along.”

The horses were soon hooked fast to the carts, and then, mounting the seats, the drivers started up their teams with loud cracks of their whips and curses long and deep.

At the first jounce over the rough pavements Gilbert felt that the ride was to be anything but pleasant. But that shaking up was as nothing to what followed, and he had to brace himself between the boxes with all his 

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