. Now, what do you think he's doin'
here?"

"Well," Frank replied, "I think you are right. He's not an Englishman.
The nerve of him to put that up to us!"

"Perhaps he's the gazabo that monkeyed with our machines," suggested
Jimmie. "Wish I'd 'a' caught him at it!"

"But Ned says that was an European," Frank said.

"Then they're thick around us," Jimmie went on, "and we're up to our
necks in trouble. I wonder what instructions this Rae person will give
Ned?"

"Suppose we go inside and see," Frank answered.

When the lads reached the interior of the house again Ned and Rae were
bending over a road map of the country between Taku and Peking. The
visitor was indicating a route with his pencil.

"Very well," Ned said, as if fully convinced of the honesty of the
other, "now about the private orders. You understand, of course, that I
know little concerning the work cut out for me."

"You are to receive final instructions at Peking."

Ned smiled, but there was something about the smile which told the boys
that he was of their way of thinking.

"He's on!" Jimmie whispered in Frank's ear.

"You bet he is," was the reply.

"I'll come here in the morning," the visitor said, looking at his watch,
"and go out with you. The chances are that we'll have to make a quick
run. Machines in good order?" with a glance at the motorcycles lying
against the wall.

"We haven't as yet looked them over carefully," Ned lied again, "but
presume they are in good shape. As a matter of fact," he continued,
hardly able to suppress a smile as Jimmie looked reprovingly at him, "as
a matter of fact, we know little about the machines. This is new
business for us."

Lieutenant Rae bowed himself out of the door, and the boys gathered in
an inner room to discuss the situation.

"We may as well face the truth," Ned said, calmly. "The man who was to
meet us here has fallen into the hands of our enemies. We are alone in
China without instructions and surrounded by foes. Now, what shall we
do? We may be able to reach the water front and get off to one of the
British ships in sight."

"And go back?" demanded Jimmie. "Not for me! I'm goin' to stay an' see
this thing out."

"That's me!" Frank said, and Jack echoed his words.

"Well, then," Ned went on, with a smile of satisfaction at the attitude
of the lads, "if we are going on, we've got to get to Peking without
delay. I'll tell you what I think. The conspirators are aware that