"I'm goin' back. You can all go to
Halifax for all me."

"Wait," said Frank. "Where did you get this information you're favoring
us with? What's your name? How did you get to China?"

"I'm a delivery boy at the telegraph office," the lad answered. "I
loafed around there tonight to see you folks, for I knew that the
cablegram would be called for. Before showing myself, I heard what was
going on an' ducked. Now, come on."

"What's your name?"

"Sandy McNamara."

"How did you get to China?"

"Hid in a ship an' got caught an' beat up."

"A stowaway, eh?"

"You bet! I'd do it again to get back to South Clark street, in little
old Chi."

"What they doing to Ned and Jimmie?" asked Jack.

"Oh, come along!" Frank exclaimed. "The boys may be in need of good
advice and exclusive society! We'll go and see."

"Well," Sandy put in, "this ain't no case for the bulls. You've got to
get to them without makin' any show of fight. You'd be eat up in this
town with them few soldiers."

"What do you propose?"

"Why, we'll go to the American consul an' get him out."

"You seem to be almost human in your intelligence," Jack cried. "Let go
your anchor and heave ahead!"

"We'll have to make good time," said Sandy. "Can you run?"

"We're the original record-breakers when it comes to working our legs!"
Jack said, and the three, after moving quietly through the lighted
circle, so as not to attract the attention of the guard, broke into a
run which fast lessened the distance between the camp and the telegraph
office. At the end of half a mile Sandy drew up against a mud wall.
The rain was still falling, and the boys were soaked to the skin and
shivering with cold, notwithstanding their exertions.

"I'm winded," Sandy explained, panting.

"I'm frozen stiff," Jack declared.

"I'm wet enough to swim home," Frank put in.

"Well," Sandy continued, "there's a little shack behind us--looks like
one of the squatter shacks on the Lake front--an' we can go in an' rest
up. Here's where the only friend I have in China lives."

"Go on in, then," Jack replied, his teeth chattering with the cold.

"We ought to keep on," Frank advised. "This is no time to rest and get
dry when Ned is in trouble!"

"That's right," from Jack. "Trot ahead, little one!"

"I've got to go in here, anyway, an' get my uniform," the boy explained.
"I'll be more protection to you boys if I have it on."

"Protection to us!" laughed Jack. "You