In either event, only silence rewards investigations. Perhaps his knife-riddled body is found floating in the river, or cast up on the beach. Well, it is no uncommon thing for a white man to disappear, to simply vanish as into thin air. Under the bland outer surface of the Orient run dark and mysterious currents of plot and intrigue, unknown to white men-unless one unluckily goes beyond his depth in native affairs and is caught by some such deadly undertow. While I ate and Bill had his scoffings from a panikin on the floor, I reviewed the situation and had the uncomfortable feeling that I had somehow blundered into the affairs of some mysterious gang of Oriental cut-throats. In disgust, I stalked forth in quest of food. Tell me, who is Yotai T'sao?"īut Diego was gripped by the yellow hand of fear. "I, who am known as a fighting man in every Asiatic port? I've never run or hidden from any man yet. "Skulk aboard my ship like a cringing rat?" I growled. Each time he who received it dies before the sun rose again. Three times have I seen men receive the sign of the snake. "A Chinese secret society," gasped Diego, white and shaking like a leaf. Then he leaped back with a shriek: "Yo Than. Someone threw this through the transom onto my chest. Somewhat puzzled, I rose and dressed and shouted for Diego. ![]() I unrolled it, but there were no words on it, either English or Chinese, just a picture portraying a coiled snake, somewhat resembling a cobra. Then I saw something lying on my chest-a piece of stiff paper, rolled into a dart-shaped wad. He was clawing at the locked door and looking up at the transom, which was open. I turned into a seamen's boarding house kept by a Eurasian called Diego, got a room and turned in. It was my first shore leave in weeks, and I was determined to make the most of it. I dismissed the whole affair from my mind and went on down the street.Ībout sun-up I decided I would get a little sleep in preparation for the day. His answer was a look of such diabolic hatred as to almost send cold shivers down my spine. More or less ironically, I said: "Well, my bully boy, give me the low-down on this business, will you?" I left off wondering what it could mean, when the hatchet-man scrambled uncertainly to his feet. I heard the splash as he hit and a little later I saw, in the growing gray light, a widening ripple aiming toward the British S.S. Watching him in amazement, I saw him sprint onto the docks and dive off, without the slightest pause. The next instant he was racing down the street at full speed. But I must go before this beast comes to. If I can get aboard the English ship that is anchored in the bay, I am safe. "I will repay you some day, as my name is Yotai T'sao. "I'm Steve Costigan, first mate of the trading vessel Panther," I answered. "You are an American, are you not? What is your name?" "Then please accept my humble and sincere thanks," he exclaimed, seizing my hand. Here, take this." And he tried to stuff a wad of banknotes into my hand. "Thank you, my friend," he gurgled in perfect English. He stretched out without a twitch and the young Chinese sprang up, gasping and wild eyed. I followed my natural instinct and knocked him senseless with a smashing right hook behind the ear. I recognized him for what he was-one of the bloody hatchet-men the big tongs and secret societies use for their dirty work. ![]() ![]() With one talon-like hand, he clutched the throat of the smaller man. He was big and lean, with a face like a Taoist devil-mask. Kneeling on his chest was a slant-eyed devil in native riggings. One was a slim young Chinese in European clothes. The dim light of a street lamp showed me what was going on. But I quickened my pace and dashing around the corner, nearly fell over a writhing, struggling mass on the cobblestones. Then the sound of a heavy fall, scuffling, a strangled scream. ![]() There was a rattle of feet on the cobblestones down an alley to the right. My bulldog, Bill, bristled suddenly and began to rumble in his throat. The guttering street lamps gave little light. Canton's narrow waterfront streets were still and shadowy in that hour before dawn when I left the docks.
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