'Luckily,' remarked Philipson, 'I had anticipated some such little upset as this. The launch has been held ready day and night for the past week, and I have no doubt Ah Sing at least is glad matters have come to a head. Eh, Ah Sing?' The native engineer looked back from his specklessly tended charge, and we heard him take a long inbreath of gratification. 'Engine b'long all-same numbah-one plopah,' he said. 'Plenty sparkum-juice hab got. Can go Canton if'm likee.' 'Perhaps so,' said Philipson, 'but I do not think we will, although it is pleasant to reflect that we could if we chose.' 'It must be pretty pleasant altogether to own a plaything like this,' I said, running an admiring eye along her beautifully stream-lined hull. 'No doubt,' assented Philipson. 'But the worst of a modern invention is that unless you corner it, anybody else can use it too. That applies to other things besides motor boats, such as----' Philipson had taken the tiller and was steering with a coolness and dash that reminded me forcibly of his driving. Also he seemed to be gifted with the eyes of a cat. We shot in amongst barges, sampans, junks, tugs, steamers--all the medley of eastern and western craft that crowd the winding Whangpu River--some of them lighted, others a mere blotch of deeper black against the dark stream; some of which we missed by inches, others literally scraped with our streaks. As we rounded the curve and headed eastward I noticed that Philipson had his eyes fixed on the north bank in a long tense stare. 'Telephones,' he said, shortly. 'Eh? Oh, you mean----' 'That the gentlemen who were watching this launch have probably telephoned to the headquarters of the gang, which are, I believe, not far from that den where we had such an unpleasant experience to-night. It is admirably up-to-date of such people to adopt western devices, but it may prove awkward enough to us. Now it only remains to be seen whether they have got the information through quick enough to be of use.... H'm, I feared as much. You see what I mean, Mirlees, when I say that launches are a game two sides can play at. They must have had theirs waiting too.' We had come to a pool where the stream broadens greatly and is deep enough to float ocean-going ships close in shore. We saw several fast at their wharves on the south side. The north bank was crusted thick with native shipping, and between shore lights and lights afloat the river here was thrown into a wan, treacherous illumination. I had followed Philipson's stare with my eyes: now I saw what he was looking at. Something swift and black had detached itself from the mass and was shooting out across our course. 'Ah Sing--engine,' said Philipson quietly. 'Mirlees, take the tiller. Bring us as near them as you dare, but for God's sake do not give us a leak, or we are done. Here is a revolver. Remember, though, we must not risk the noise of shots unless hard pressed.'