Jack’s voice behind them rose in a scream.
They whirled to face the new danger. And in through the doorway behind the hangings poured a dozen ruffians. Jack bounded to the side of his companions. The newcomers were Chinese, and evil looking they were in the dim light of that subterranean room, with their glaring almond eyes and yellow faces. They gripped revolvers and long knives, and as their eyes took in the two figures of their leaders on the floor a hoarse murmur arose and they started to surge forward.
It was a tense moment. The boys resolved to sell their lives dearly.
Then two things occurred. The leader of the newcomers and only white man of the group—the same man who had acted as their guide and betrayed them—halted the onrush with a gesture of authority. And Mr. Temple, pallid from the effects of the kick in the stomach, pulled himself to his feet and stood swaying in front of the boys.
“We surrender,” said Mr. Temple, “but I warn you not to ill-treat us.”
The leader nodded, turned to the group behind him, bade two of their number step aside, and the others to leave. Grumbling and unwilling but evidently cowed by his authority, they obeyed.
As the hangings fell behind the last to leave, the guide, whom later they came to know as Matt Murphy, turned to them, his face grim enough.
“Ye showed sense,” he said. “They’d ha’ killed ye.”
Stooping over “Black George” he examined him hastily. Then he did the same by Wong Ho.
“Here,” he said to the two Chinese attendants, “one of you get Doctor Marley at once. The other help me.”
With the man who sprang to his aid, Murphy started to lift the unconscious form of “Black George.” Then he bethought him of his prisoners, and addressed Mr. Temple.
“Stay in this room,” he said, “and I can protect ye. The only way out is the way you come, an’ nothin’ could save ye from these yellow devils if ye get started. I’ll be back.”
Without more ado, he and his silent assistant disappeared with their burden, returning almost at once for the still unconscious Wong Ho.
After his second departure the three boys and Mr. Temple were left undisturbed for a long period. Their first act was to take account of injuries. Frank and Jack had come off unscathed. Bob was sore about the shins from kicks delivered by “Black George,” but otherwise unhurt. Mr. Temple’s kick in the stomach had been the most serious injury received, but he was rapidly recovering.