within it, in a cavity about two inches long, lay the
lost emerald Buddha, its wonderful color flashing and glowing in the
light from the lantern above. I was absolutely dumb with amazement.
Undeniably there before me lay the cause of Mr. Ashton's death, yet how
it came to be in that cake of soap, and what light its presence there
threw upon the manner of his sudden and tragic end, was beyond my
comprehension. At least, however, I understood why Li Min had tried to
make away with my satchel, but the fact that the presence of the jewel
among my belongings might cause suspicion to point in my direction did
not for the moment occur to me. It evidently did, however, to McQuade,
as I before long had reason to know.

The kneeling priest rose to his feet with a glad cry, and, holding the
image reverently in the hollow of his two hands, advanced toward the
altar, the others crowding closely about him. Arrived at the shrine, he
placed the figure carefully upon its pedestal within the golden casket,
and, as the light of many candles fell full upon it, the whole crowd
knelt down and began a weird sing-song prayer, that must have been a
chant of joy, or some service of purification, now that their long-lost
deity had been returned to them. Presently the strange sounds died away,
and the various Chinamen placed offerings of fruit, flowers and food
upon the altar. At length the priest rose, and faced us. The service was
over. I had a feeling that our turn was now to come.

The tall, gaunt figure came close to us, and examined both our faces
minutely. I fancy he was the same priest that Ashton had all but done
for in Ping Yang, and, from his look of intense hatred and ferocity, I
feel sure that, had he recognized McQuade or myself as either his
assailant, or Major Temple, our moments in this life would have been
numbered. He must of course have heard of Ashton's death, but no doubt
he wanted to make sure that Ashton was actually the man who had so
nearly strangled him. After completing his scrutiny of our far from
happy faces, he drew back, and in answer apparently to the questions of
his followers shook his head vigorously. Then ensued a heated
altercation between himself and part of the Chinamen on the one hand
and the remainder of the crowd on the other, the subject of which, I
could plainly see, was the fate of the detective and myself. At last
they all turned back to the altar, and the priest took from it two
pieces of wood, sl