"Banzai! My country! She will win. I know it. We have crossed the Yalu: then we shall drive the enemy before us—from Kiu-lien-cheng to Liao-yang, from Liao-yang to Mukden, from Mukden to Harbin, from Harbin— Ah! why should we drive them farther? Dai Nippon shall come to her own." "But yourself, sir; we must take you out of this. You will be more comfortable in Chang-Wo’s room, and then, when you have rested and eaten, we will take you slowly into the Japanese lines, and you will live to see the triumph you have done so much to secure." Kobo shook his head. "I cannot stand," he said. "I shall die. But what is death?—Rest, peace, eternal quiet." Bob felt a lump in his throat. "Help me lift Kobo San," he said, turning to the Chinaman. Tenderly they carried the slight figure between them down the stairs into Chang-Wo’s room, where they laid him on the soft quilts that still bore the impress of his enemy’s form. And then Bob saw that there was indeed no hope. Kobo was almost unrecognizable. He was haggard, emaciated to a shadow; but for his open eyes he would have seemed a corpse. At Bob’s orders Ah-Sam hurriedly prepared some food, but after one or two mouthfuls Kobo refused to take any more. "Rest," he said; "I want rest, that is all. I thank you." His eyes roved round the room as though in search of something or someone. "Your enemy will not trouble you again," said Bob. "Chang-Wo is dead." "He died first! He has starved me, beaten me; he kept me without water—how many days? I do not know. He tempted me, held a cup before me; I might drink if I would do as he wished: betray my country. We Japanese do not fear death.—My servant! Have you any news of him?" "No, I have not seen him since I left you." "No matter. Taru will know how to die. If he should survive, and you meet him, tell him to return to Nikko; my wife will have need of him. And my son, my boy Takeo in England. You will see him? You will tell him?" "Yes; I will go to him as soon as I can." "I thank you. Will you give me a little water?" Kobo lay back on the padded quilts, and his eyes spoke his thanks. Bob was troubled, and watched him in silence. Ah-Sam, with stolid countenance, was busy preparing a meal for his master. Suddenly through the walls of the tower penetrated the sound of a multitudinous discharge of firearms. Bob rose to his feet, and leaving Kobo in Ah-Sam’s charge hurried to the top of the tower, his mind filled with apprehension. Was Kobo’s end to be disturbed? From the roof he saw a strange sight. The inner wall of the fortress was thronged with the garrison, who were shouting and gesticulating with excitement. The huge gate stood wide open, and beyond, half a mile across the green plain, a tall figure had just mounted a beautiful horse, which had evidently been taken out to meet him by three men from the garrison. The horseman rode up slowly, and as he approached, Bob saw that it was his late companion, Sing-Cheng.