The Boy Fortune Hunters in China by L. Frank Baum

"There are other ways to assure your safety," said Mai Lo, as the doctor rose as if to go.

Then he turned his face toward me and asked:

"Cannot the friend of Prince Kai trust the promises of his friend's servant?"

"No," I replied. "The Prince himself told me to trust no one."

"You have his letter of authority and his ring."

"He is dead," I answered, with a shrug. "I am not sure the commands of the dead Prince are as powerful as those of his living servant. I am told you are all-powerful in Kai-Nong, Mai Lo."

"We who worship our ancestors obey the commands of the dead without question, even if it costs us our lives," said the mandarin.

This might be true, but I had little faith in Mai Lo being influenced by the traditions of his people. Prince Kai had distrusted the man and warned me to look out for any treachery from him. But it was not my purpose to antagonize the mandarin at this juncture.

"Satisfy the doctor, and you satisfy me," I declared, with assumed indifference.

"I will write an agreement," said Mai Lo, "in which I promise you safe conduct to Kai-Nong and back to Shanghai. This you will deposit with the American Consul at Shanghai. If I fail in my agreement he will send the paper to the Emperor, who will at once order me beheaded."

"Very good," said the doctor, somewhat to my surprise. "That will satisfy us amply. Write the agreement and I will at once begin work upon the body of Prince Kai. If I am to succeed no time must be lost."

"And the price? " asked the mandarin.

"Ten thousand taels, and all expenses of the journey."

"It is agreed."

Mai Lo composedly arose and went to the state cabin, which he entered.

"It's just as well to accept his terms," said the doctor to me, in a low voice. "What we want is to impress him with the fact that we rely upon his protection. Then we'll watch him for evidences of treachery and be upon our guard."

"Would the Emperor behead him if he played false? " I asked, thoughtfully.

"Assuredly. Tsi An doesn't want any trouble with foreign countries just now, and when we speak of the Emperor we really mean the old dowager, Tsi An."

Presently the Chinaman returned and handed the doctor a paper closely written upon in Chinese characters. I looked at the document rather suspiciously, being unable to read it; but the doctor promptly folded it and put it in his pocket-book. Then he said in a brisk and business-like tone:

"Take me to the Prince, Mai Lo. I must get to work."