Pa-tang was not quite half-way between Sui-Fu and Chia-ling Fu. It was likely to escape annoyance by the rebels because it contained the only well-equipped opium establishment in the district, and would be visited indifferently by insurgents and Government troops as neutral ground. Burroughs decided to run up there with the comprador in his hydroplane. Sing Wen pointed out that caution would be necessary, because the river between Pa-tang and Chia-ling Fu would certainly be well patrolled by the rebels, and there was some risk of being snapped up if the vessel were discovered out of bounds, so to speak. Burroughs, however, made light of this. His machine was in perfect order, and he was confident of being able to escape danger from anything less than a shot from a gunboat. They started before noon, and ran into the little harbour of Pa-tang without attracting much attention. Burroughs remained on the boat while Sing Wen visited his brother’s brother-in-law. The comprador returned in the course of an hour, and reported that, as he had expected, his brother’s brother-in-law knew one of Su Fing’s most trusted retainers. He was ready to go up river himself and see what could be done to arrange the escape of the prisoner. Sing Wen, however, looked so downcast that Burroughs asked him what was the inside matter. "My no likee pidgin so-fashion," replied the man. "My velly ’spectable fella, catchee bad namee supposey fellas see my walkee inside smokee houso." Burroughs agreed, but pointed out that an Englishman’s life was at least as valuable as a Chinaman’s good name. Since, however, he wished to see the brother’s brother-in-law himself, it was arranged that the three should meet at a little inn at the head of a creek below the town, into which the hydroplane could be run. Thither the comprador brought his relative, a man of perfectly respectable appearance. Burroughs told him to offer five hundred dollars down to his friend at Pa-tang, and promise a further two thousand, to be paid in Shanghai, if the prisoner was permitted to escape. For his work as honest broker the opium-house keeper should receive five hundred dollars. This arrangement having been made, Burroughs returned to Sui-Fu, promising to run up to the inn from time to time to meet the man on his return, the date of which would depend on circumstances.