"Instructions! You say instructions! Donnerwetter noch einmal! Vat are ze instructions? Ze instructions are to do nozink, see nozink, say nozink. Vat is zat for a kind of var gorresbondence? I rebresent ze _Düsseldörfer Tageblatt_. I am instructed to agombany ze Japanese field-army. Zey are my instructions—nozink else!" "I regret I cannot allow the hon’ble correspondent to proceed." "Vell zen, I brotest; I emphatically brotest. All ze same, I ask you to agombany me backwards to ze next village. Business are business. Zere I make vun deal viz a nice Korean gentleman vat give me order for gomblete set _Brockhaus Encyglobaedia_. But zere vas ozer zinks: I ask you agombany me back till I gomblete my business." "I regret it is impossible. I must return as rapidly as possible to Chong-ju. The hon’ble correspondent will kindly excuse me." The Japanese officer turned away, leaving Schwab to retrace his steps in sullen and indignant rage. Bob was amused. A moment later the Japanese came into the hut where he was lying, and finding him awake and conscious, asked how he felt. "Pretty shaky. I am glad to find myself in Japanese hands. Tell me, did Miss Charteris—did the ladies get in safely?" "Yes. Two ladies rode into my camp this morning with a Chinese attendant, and told me that an English gentleman was hard pressed by a gang of Manchus. I sent the ladies on to Chong-ju, and rode out to assist you. Fortunately I came up at the critical moment. You had apparently just been knocked off your horse. The Manchus did not wait to receive us. You have had a very nasty knock, hon’ble sir." "And Kobo—" "Kobo San! What do you mean?" "Did you not find him?" Bob started up anxiously. "He was with us. He was wounded. Surely you helped him to escape?" "I am very sorry, sir. I heard that a wounded Chinaman belonging to your party was missing—presumably captured by the Manchus. I had no idea that he was a Japanese disguised, still less that he was Kobo San." "The ladies said nothing of him?" "Nothing. They were exhausted with hard riding, and much agitated. They mentioned no name but your own." Bob lay back in mute hopelessness. Kobo had fallen into the hands of his enemy! Something must be done to save him. Bob dared not think of the nameless tortures he might suffer at the cruel hands of Chang-Wo. "How long ago did this happen?" he asked. "Six hours ago. It is now five o’clock." "Can’t you do something to help him? You know him—how valuable he is to your country. Surely something can be done." "I regret more than I can say. I would do anything possible for Kobo San, but I must obey orders. I should have pursued the fleeing Manchus had I not been instructed not to advance beyond a certain line. Kobo San will know how to die for Japan."