Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

420 crat. Here was a side to his character that I had never seen. There was an ostensible captain, but Li Yuen was in active com- mand; the crew of brave men, all above the average height and weight, with swell- ing calves and sturdy arms, jumped to anticipate his orders, and the ship was ever ivory of deck and gold of brass, trim as a man-of-war. The main factor that impressed me was the earnestness with which they went about their duties. It was not merely deference to Li Yuen—they acted as men with a mis- sion. With one or two exceptions, all were between twenty-five and forty, a piratical- looking bunch to the Occidental eye, but ninety-nine per cent capable. At Hongkong we lay in the roadstead, and a launch came out of the East Lamma passage to take Li Yuen ashore. There was a wireless aboard the ship, and I imagine a request had been sent ahead. En Sue and I went in the launch to stretch our sea- legs and parted company with Li Yuen at the door of a big go-down, one of the ware- houses of the importing and exporting com- pany that owned his control although it did mot bear his name. -En Sue and I strolled idly along the higher terraces, verdant, fair with villas, arbors and gardens, passing the time until we rejoined his father at the landing. I asked him how they expected to get their clews, once we located the Zuleika. His reply exhibited a ruthlessness that was, I suppose, characteristic of the Chinese clas- sification of life and utility, though I had never previously seen him display it. But I have never fathomed all the depths of my friend’s nature. ‘We shall examine the natives nearest to the wreck,” he said. ‘“ They may deny all knowledge of it, but they will be lying, and we shall find ways to get at the truth. We must trace the man at Manila. There are several things to be cleared up—the identity of those two men in the boat, and how they happened to get clear with the ruby. We may have to be drastic, ac- cording to your standards, Ned, but neces- sity drives, and the peace of mind or body of a few Malayan perompoks must not stand in the way of a nation’s progress,” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. His voice was cold, almost toneless, and even, but his obsidian eyes glittered with submerged fire that I set down as that of patriotism. ‘ How long will it be,” I asked, “ before you go into the active service of your gov- ernment? Openly, I mean.” He stood for a moment, looking out over the harbor before he answered. , “It is my father’s ambition—and mine— that I become president of our republic,” he answered simply. ‘That is an ambi- tion that may inspire any citizen of your own country. With us it is not quite the same, though we shall model much of our mew constitution upon yours, with modifi- cations as to the qualifications of a voter. That is necessary. Our peasants are not able to see clearly as yet, and we must not expose them to being shepherded by biased and selfish leaders. For the fulfill- ment of this ambition I have been educated at home and abroad. I trust I shall be given the opportunity and shall prove worthy. <A great task, Ned, leading four hundred million people into the freedom of liberty and equality, to restore my coun- try to its place among the nations of the earth. A task not to be completed in my time, nor perhaps for many generations, but I may help to break the trail, to point the way. In me is the spirit of my father. . When he passes my spirit will be further strengthened. I shall strive to acquire all his wisdom.” He paused for a:minute. “To lead them into the light! To set my people free! Four hundred millions that four million Manchus now rule.” His eyes flashed plainly now, and I could see the ancient heritage of a warrior strain manifest itself. There was a bit of him that would have liked to sweep the Man- chus from Mongolia and revenge the bitter defeats of the seventeenth century. I smiled, as I thought, covertly. ‘“'The day of the sword is past, Ned,” he said. ‘ The minds of the world are slowly turning toward universal brotherhood. And that can come only through universal de- sire. The millenium is a long way off. But there must always be pioneers. China has slept, the Rip Van Winkle among nations. When she awakes she must learn fast. And COmMiClbooks.Gom