moment, was getting our tent erected; leaving the cook and men at the fire, we stepped over to the tent and with Yu’s help got our things opened up and blankets out.
O’Grady got an electric torch out of his kit, stepped outside, and flashed the light at the trees several times. I thought nothing of it, except to caution him against using up his battery. He came back to me, laughing to himself, and I wondered why he seemed so amused. I was too busy shaving to ask any questions, however, and he joined me over the pot of hot water.
By the time we had shaved and dismissed Yu, some food and a couple of bowls of hot tea were waiting for us. The tent was none too large a dining room, but afforded us a shelter from the bitter wind that was coming up and bringing rain with it. Our men, already eating, were grouped about the fire twenty paces distant.
“I wouldn’t touch that tea just yet,” said O’Grady, giving me a singular look.
“Why not?”
“Wait and see. Here, have a bit o’ this marmalade. It’s real Dundee, me lad! Upon my word, I believe it’ll be raining in another half hour, what?”
“The rain is beginning now, I think. Pleasant trip tomorrow.”
Indeed, a few drops of rain spattered on the tent. A moment later I reached out for the tea-bowl, then recollected O’Grady’s singular prohibition.
“Say’ what’s the idea about the tea? Too hot?”
A thin smile curved O’Grady’s lips. He was a handsome beggar, in his own way; yet there was a peculiar quality in his eye, as he looked at me, that I could not comprehend. He half turned on his stool, raised a hand toward me in restraint, and took out his pistol. He was now gazing out at the campfire.
“What is it?” I queried. “Tiger?”
He gave me a quizzical glance.
“Faith, a dev’lish tiger and no mistake, me lad! Hold on a minute now, will ye? And be handin’ me that electric torch, like a good chap.”
Mystified by his manner and actions, I handed him the torch. He flashed it toward the tent opening, then thrust his hand outside and flashed it again. Then, putting the torch into his coat pocket, he leaned forward and beckoned me to join him.
Crowding around the makeshift table, I crouched beside him and peered out. For a moment I could see nothing unusual; then I perceived that our muleteers, grouped about the fire, were motionless. I could not sense what was wrong until, from the edge of the firelight, half a dozen figures came running in from all sides. Then it burst upon me—every last one of our men was drugged! Not a man stirred.
Neither did I, for the best of reasons.
“Keep quiet, now!” O’Grady’s voice had an edge of steel to it. He shoved his pistol into my ribs, and took my own weapon.
“Not a move out of you, me lad! It was the tea that did it, as ye might know; and be thankin’ me that I was too much of a white man to be druggin’ you with it.”
I was paralyzed, as much by sheer astounded incredulity as by the pistol, for I did not yet understand what was going on. Two figures appeared suddenly before us, O’Grady said something to them, and they calmly took hold of me. Before I could so much as struggle, my hands were bound, so were my ankles, and a gag thrust between my teeth.
“Set him down again,” said O’Grady. “Go and see that all the rifles of these men are disposed of.”
The two who had bound me were Japs.
O’Grady took out his pipe, filled and lighted it, and surveyed me. I thought that there was a regretful expression in his eye, as he sighed and shook his head.
“Damn it, Breck, I like ye fine, and it goes against the grain to do ye in! But necessity knows no law. If I take out the gag, may I have your word not to be cursin’ me or makin’ any rumpus?”
I nodded. He leaned forward and promptly removed the gag, much to my relief.
“Thanks. What’s it all about, now?”
“Business,” he said laconically. “You and I and Schneider are all in the same boat, and trying to hook the same fish; but I’m no murderer. I made use of ye to get through the Frenchman’s lines, had my own men workin’ and waitin’ for me, and now I’m goin’ on to Kiuling and see French. That’s all, me lad.”
“Who are you working for, then?” I demanded. “Japs?”
“I’m workin’ for five thousand pound,” he said, a little wearily.
“I’ll give you five thousand, then, to side with me,” I said.
He stared at me, compressed his lips, then shook his head.
“Sorry, but I’ve a queer notion about honor, Breck. Sorry, for a fact.”
The odd part of it all was that he really was sorry, too!
And, as I sat there watching him I felt only pity for the man; there was no anger in me. This queer fish, this likeable, irresponsible, whimsical O’Grady, had tricked and befooled and ensnared me, yet I had not a word of anger for his betrayal. I could see that he was not proud of himself. He had his own little hell inside of his soul.
Undoubtedly, he had lied from the start.
He was nothing but an adventurer, a man who had sold his services for a round sum; and that the Japs had entrusted their business to him spoke volumes for his character and ability.
“I wasn’t back o’ that assassin at Fu-chow,” he said suddenly. “I’d like ye to know that. I’m supposed to be in full charge; if my employers want to put a knife into you, then I’ll stop it if I can. And after this, Breck, we’re quits.”
“Fair enough,” I told him. “You and your Japs will stop lead, O’Grady, if I get the chance. You haven’t won yet. French won’t sell out to you.”
He nodded, and chuckled.
“Yes, he will, too! He thinks Kohler’s gone back on him or forgotten him. He’s hard up and sick to boot. Don’t worry, me lad! Now, I’ll have to take a look at your papers—merely for the sake of information. Also, to destroy any that might be of use to you.”
I had no papers, as he very soon ascertained, with the exception of Kohler’s order on any Shansi bankers. He looked at it curiously, inspected the seal with a whistle of surprise, and asked what the paper was. I told him. He replaced it in my pocket.
“I’m robbin’ no man, Breck. Now, I’ll have to leave ye tied up until your men waken. It’ll be only a matter of a few hours, d’ye see. That drugged tea was an excellent notion, what? Rippin’, I call it! I’ll beat you into Kiuling and sign up with French. And what then? Will you make trouble when you come along?”
I met his level gaze with a smile.
“My dear O’Grady, I’ll make you trouble until you reach Fuchow again!”
“I have five men,” he reminded me. “All Japs, and smart. And you’ll have no guns.”
“Look
