shaking and was then dumped on the ground.
His feet were liberated, and the chief of the Chinese brigands ordered
him to move along, pointing the end of his sword at the prisoner as he
did so.

"Where is my friend?" asked Ben.

"He is dead," said the chief, laconically.

"Dead!" burst out the young captain. His heart seemed to become like a
lump of lead. Gilbert, his own true chum, dead! It was too horrible to
believe.

"Yes, and you will be unless you walk on," added the chief of the
Chunchuses.

There was no help for it, and, bruised and bleeding, the young captain
took up the march, with his enemies on all sides of him. The gait was a
rapid one, and before they came to a halt once more he was all but
exhausted.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked.

"Wait and see." The chief of the Chunchuses grinned wickedly. "I shall
have to trouble you for your valuables," he went on, in his native
tongue, and without further ado stripped Ben of his possessions,
including his watch, money, ring, and sword.

There was no use protesting, and therefore the young captain did not
attempt it. He was marched along a marshy path, and presently came in
sight of the ocean and a small bay, where two sailing ships and a small
steamer lay at anchor.

A shrill whistle sounded out, and this was answered by somebody on the
steamer. Then a small boat put in to shore, carrying four sailors and an
officer. As soon as the officer landed, he was called aside by the chief
of the Chunchuses, and a conference lasting several minutes followed.

"It shall be as you say, Ching Fee," said the officer, in Russian. "It
is too bad you did not get the other, too. I know Ivan Snokoff, and
Captain Barusky too, and there will be money in this. Yes, I'll take him
on board at once. You had better watch out that the soldiers do not get
after you."

"Trust Ching Fee to take care of himself," said the chief of the
Chunchuses.

With scant ceremony Ben was conducted to the small boat and told to get
in. He asked where they were going to take him, but could get no
satisfaction. As soon as the steamer was reached, he was conducted to an
empty stateroom and locked in.

"This is the worst yet!" he muttered, as he sat down. "I suppose they
intend to carry me miles and miles away. Poor Gilbert! I never thought
he would be killed in such a fashion as this! What cutthroats these
Chinese brigands are! It's a wonder they didn't kill me too! Can that
story about L