lan--the only practicable one--had occurred to both; and, avoiding the
main street, they made their way through side lanes and back alleys
until they emerged at a spot only a few yards distant from the
unsuspecting sentinel. Then, watching through a convenient cranny until
his back was turned, they ran swiftly forward and concealed themselves
behind a low stone wall which the man was passing and repassing on his
beat.

The next time he passed that wall the sentry experienced the unpleasant
sensation of being jumped on from behind by two men, one small and the
other very large and heavy; the latter kneeling on his chest and
squeezing his windpipe, while the other securely lashed his wrists and
ankles together with strips torn from his own robe, their operations
being completed by thrusting a gag made of the same material into his
mouth and securing it there firmly. The Englishmen then carried him
between them into one of the adjacent ruined houses, took him to an
upper room, and left him there for his companions to find, if fate
should so decree.

As a matter of fact, fate evidently decreed against the unhappy man, for
several months afterwards the remains of a gagged and bound Chinaman
were found in that very house by a party of travelling nomads; but it
was a case of the pirate's life or those of the Englishmen, and it did
not take them long to decide which the world could best spare.

The sentry having been thus disposed of, Drake and Frobisher struck off
across the desert, by the margin of the river, at a good round pace; for
since the pirates had posted a guard, it was probable that they would
visit him sooner or later, and the Englishmen wanted to be well out of
sight before anything of that sort should occur.

A little later on they were fortunate enough to come to a village, most
of the inhabitants of which were away, as it happened, probably hunting,
or fishing, or otherwise engaged upon their usual occupations. Here
they secured a hearty meal of rice, bread, cheese, and goats' milk;
after which they found themselves marvellously refreshed, and thought
the meal cheap at the price of one of Genghiz Khan's gold pieces,
specially cleaned up for the purpose of payment.

It is unnecessary to relate in detail the incidents of the journey of
the fugitives back to Tien-tsin, for nothing in the way of real
adventure occurred after they had once left the ruined city behind. On
the way Drake explained to Frobisher