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" rascals!" burst from the colonel's lips. "It is lucky you caught that spy."

Gilbert read the translation of the message with as much interest as any one. "It makes a close shave for those at the Mission House," was his comment. "I think" He stopped short.

"What do you think, Lieutenant Pennington? Don't be afraid to talk in a crisis like this."

"You'll excuse me then, colonel; but of course you'll inform those at the mission"

"At once," finished the commander of the regiment. "But I was thinking of what it says about Chow Fun's house. I wonder if that place is known to the consul?"

"More than likely, for it cannot be very far from the consulate and the Mission House."

"The consulate is full of people. Captain McCalla is there, and several other officers, and one or two missionaries and their families."