The Boy Fortune Hunters in China by L. Frank Baum

I have always believed Wi-to was the best friend we had in Kai-Nong, and that he was quite willing to serve us to the best of his ability, thus honoring the will of his dead master. But his oriental education and surroundings had saturated his otherwise liberal mind with the conventions and prejudices of his people; and he had a supreme contempt for women and could not tolerate such an unwarranted act as we had committed; in other words, making the acquaintance of three pretty and interesting girls who were inmates of harems.

So Wi-to stormed and paced the floor, in one breath condemning us to horrible tortures and in the next trying to figure out a way to save us.

Meantime we, the culprits, maintained an appearance subdued and expectant, but could not bring ourselves to realize that we had merited punishment.

"I will not give you up to Mai Lo," declared the Chief Eunuch, positively; "but he has the right to send his men to capture you. For a time I can hold him at bay, but such delay cannot save you. If I provided for your escape from the palace, which I might easily do, you could not cross the province ruled by Mai Lo, and his influence as governor of Kwang-Kai-Nong extends more or less throughout the Empire."

"Where is Mai Lo now? " I asked.

"He has returned to his house. But his soldiers are left to guard the exits of the palace, and they are ordered to capture you alive or dead. It is an insult to me to invade my territory in this way, and had you been guilty of any other crime I could have driven away the slaves of the governor. But a violation of the sanctity of the harem is so serious that our laws allow the criminals to be taken wherever they seek refuge."

"We haven't been near the harem," protested Archie.

"Your action is worse. You met the women clandestinely."

"Are not foreigners sometimes introduced to Chinese women by their lords? " I asked.

"It is sometimes done in the coast cities, such as Shanghai and Hong-Kong; but never where the ancient laws of our Empire prevail," said the eunuch. "Besides, only the master of the harem can demand the death penalty for its violation; so, had Mai Lo introduced you to his wife and daughter, you would have had nothing to fear. As it is, the old serpent will have your lives."

"Not if we can help it," said I. "What would you advise us to do, Wi?"

He paced up and down for a time in deep thought. Then he said:

"Your only hope is to escape from Kai-Nong. Perhaps the governor will not care to follow you, once you are out of his way."

"We won't go until we have carried out the wishes of Prince Kai," I returned, stubbornly.

"You can do that very easily and quickly. " He cast his eyes around the room and noticed the ashes of the burnt paper in the brazier. "I see you have examined the cabinet."

I nodded.

"The other work need not take you long," he continued. "I will at once send the ornaments and cases here to your room, and you may pack them at your leisure. Then my men will carry them for you to the border of Kwang-Kai-Nong, and there await your coming. They will arouse no suspicion, and you must disguise yourselves and travel separately to the meeting place. The signet ring of the House of Kai will doubtless protect you from interference on the journey. So, while the governor's men are still guarding the exits of the palace, you will be on your way out of the country. Yes! That is a good plan to follow."

"But how can we get away if Mai Lo guards all the exits? " inquired Joe.

"Ah, that is my secret. No one knows this palace as I do. There are secret ways of which the governor does not dream."

This statement made me uneasy until I remembered that Prince Kai had assured me that the private passage to the underground vaults was unknown to any member of his household but himself.