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Updated: June 15, 2025
He turned his head and saw the two Panthays fleeing to the uttermost part of the cave. They trembled before these terrible enemies. At this moment the Panthay tracker climbed into the cave. He spoke for a few moments to Saya Chone, pointing to the tunnel where Jack stood, but where in the darkness no one could see him.
He looked at the Panthays and saw that they could render him no help. They were trembling like leaves with terror. He caught a name on the elder Panthay's lips, and knew it. "Saya Chone," the man was murmuring. "Saya Chone." "Oh," thought Jack, "this fellow recognises the half-caste and fears the vengeance of a powerful enemy.
The faces of the Ruby King and the half-caste had blackened with rage upon hearing this swift, shrewd speech, which laid bare their motives and intentions, for Jack had hit the mark fair in the centre. Saya Chone thrust his face forward till it was within six inches of Jack's. "Bold words," he hissed viciously, "bold words; but we shall see before we have done with you."
He said no more: there was a far more dreadful threat in his quiet, cool words than any violence could have shown. He waved his hand once again, and Mr. Haydon was led away by the guards. When he had disappeared, Saya Chone turned to Jack. "You have heard what was said," he murmured. "Do not be so foolish as to think it was spoken as a mere threat.
We were told that one of these women, after seeing the quartermaster's wife riding a bicycle in her very short and modish skirt, straightway took two deep tucks in her own long saya, train and all. Verily, the spirit of that Filipina in an American would have emboldened her to wear bloomers? Perish the thought knickerbockers!
They bore burning green branches, and waved them to and fro to keep off the clouds of mosquitoes which danced about them. From the midst of the smoke came a voice. "In ten minutes more the first hour will have gone and the first cord will be pulled." It was the voice of Saya Chone, and he added no word to that brief message.
It was an elephant, and a ladder was placed against the open howdah fixed on its back; the great beast was swinging trunk and tail impatiently, and its driver was already seated behind the huge head. "Up with you," said Saya Chone. Jack glanced round, and saw nothing but dark, fierce, inimical faces all about him.
Saya Chone spoke to him and it sounded like a password, for the man sprang to his feet and stepped aside. The great bar of teak was drawn from its staples, and the door was opened. The Malay thrust Jack into the room, and the door was at once closed and barred behind him. Jack now found himself in a bare stone cell, lighted only by one small window eight feet or more from the ground.
Saya Chone counted for certain that the son's moans of agony would be too much for the father to stand, and that the latter would give way. But in an instant the nimble blue-kilt was back, his face full of a surprise beyond description. "The white men have gone," he gasped. "Gone!" screamed Saya Chone, and he rushed down the slope waving a smoking bough about his head.
Responsibility and reflection never seemed to be impressed on that childish mind. Mary had come in for some of the anger, for not having prevented Rosita's expedition; but they were both speedily forgiven, and Mary never was informed again of her using the saya y manto. Their minds were diverted by the eager desire of one of the young officers to visit the silver mines.
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