“I presume that they are quite capable of taking care of themselves,” Ned replied.

“They are on the road to a dungeon in Peking.”

“From first to last,” Ned said, “from my first connection with this case up to this hour, I have come upon only bluffers and liars.  You seem to be making good in both lines.”

“Not so rude, kid,” laughed the other.  “You’ve certainly got nerve to address such words to one who holds your life, and the lives of your friends, in his hand.”

“If you do,” Ned said, “if you really have the power of life and death you claim to have, there is no hope for any of us.”

“Figure it out in your own way,” said the other, “but, so far as the power of life and death is concerned, you hold the lives of your friends in your own hands.”

“I understand what you mean,” the boy replied, “but I’m not for sale.  Go ahead with your procession!  Death looks pretty good to me, as compared with the disgrace of asking a favor from one of your stripe.”

Ned’s words, purposely designed to enrage the fellow, struck fire at last, and he said what he never would have said in calmer moments.

“I’ll show you that death is not so pleasant a thing as you seem to imagine!” he almost shouted.  “I’ll show you how to learn the lesson of supplication!  When the future of a nation is at stake, human lives do not count.  What are the lives of a dozen or more to the prosperity of millions?  You have information which is needed, in the interest of humanity, and even torture shall be resorted to if it can be obtained in no other way.”

“And so,” Ned replied, calmly, “you are not merely a tool.  As I supposed, you are one of the men at the head of the conspiracy.  You are the man I came upon at Canton.  You are the wretch who is trying to involve two continents in war.  Well, I hope to meet you under less trying circumstances!”

The other laughed harshly and walked to the door.  Listening with his ear against the rough boards for an instant, he opened it a trifle and glanced out.  Ned heard sounds of a struggle there, and was about to spring forward when his captor faced him with a provoking smile.

“By the way,” he said, “I neglected to inform you that one threatening movement will mean instant death to you.  I am opposed to any bully-like display of weapons, preferring to discuss this question with you without coercion, but I took the precaution to place a rifleman at an opening in one of the walls of this room.  He has you ‘covered,’ as the saying is, and so it is advisable for you to remain passive.”

“What is going on out there?” demanded Ned.

“Your people seem to be protesting against leaving the place under escort,” laughed the other.  “The two you left at the camp in the cornfield were not so hard to control.”

“You seem to have a good knowledge of a our movements,” said Ned.  “You have a spy system well in hand here.”