The more Phil speculated upon the situation the more perplexing it seemed. Numbers of helpless foreign missionaries were scattered among the cities of the provinces. Even now many might have been killed by the lawless element. In the past many missionaries had been killed by mobs stirred to violence by printed circulars sent out openly by the mandarins. Would the firm stand of the foreigners deter the mandarins from giving license to their people to destroy? Phil knew that this was his captain’s hope. Langdon’s voice interrupted the lad’s musings. “We shall be separated,” he said dejectedly. “Please don’t be rash. Remember the cruelty of these people. They might kill in a fit of anger, even though your death was against their interests. Don’t expect kind treatment. You will probably be liberated when our captain has shown the viceroy that he is equal to his threats, but I am not an officer and I know too much to suit that scheming interpreter.” That the pilot despaired of his life was indeed disquieting news to the midshipmen, but their solicitations were quickly cut short by the sound of tramping feet in the hallway outside their prison door. A number of armed soldiers entered the room and dragged the captives roughly to their aching feet, hurrying them along the stone pavement up the courtyard. Phil saw ahead of him the unresisting Langdon, brutally kicked and struck by his captors as he shuffled painfully along, then his own guards turned down a corridor, dragging him after them. Wondering what was about to happen Phil saw a soldier knock loudly upon a door; a most unearthly yell from within was the only answer, then the door opened inwards and he found himself shoved into the midst of a crowd of half-naked Chinamen. His heart sank within him as he realized that he was to be imprisoned along with the lowest of the criminals of the viceroy’s provinces. But a moment later he could have cried out for joy at the sight of Sydney thrown roughly almost into his arms. At least he would have his friend to share his tortures; that was something for which to be thankful. CHAPTER X A CHINESE PRISON The arrival of the Americans in the jail was heralded with delight by their scantily-clad fellows; they one and all crowded about the lads examining their uniforms and putting very dirty hands on their white skins. Many had never seen a foreigner at such close range. The midshipmen were so tightly bound that they could not escape this unpleasant, although apparently friendly, treatment.