Page:On to Pekin.djvu/252

226 upon this, a tiny bell at a distance commenced to ring.

The ringing of the bell was followed by a cry of alarm, and then a yell of rage. He heard the footsteps of the old Buddhist priest approaching.

"Let lem alone, dog!" was the cry, in very bad English. "Do not tlouch lem, dog! " The cries continued, and the priest came closer. But, instead of falling directly upon Gilbert, he came up on the opposite side of the idol. He tried to reach the young lieutenant from behind, and his curved sword nipped Gilbert in the back.

Without hesitation the young lieutenant let drive with his pistol. The report and the echo were followed by the falling of a piece of the idol to the floor, and a mad yell from the priest, who now flung himself bodily upon Gilbert. Sword met sword in the darkness; and then the pair clinched and rolled over, down the steps to a cleared space below. The priest was a heavy man, fully six feet tall; and it was he who came down on top.

"Get off!" gasped Gilbert. "Get off, or I will fire!" And he brought around his pistol; but, as it was discharged, his wrist was twisted around, and