d with
opium, set of purpose, were still arguing with the trembling priest.

The door fell open and a white woman--with bleeding hands--fell at
their feet.

"Ha, she has come back!" cried one of the Chinese in his own tongue.

There was the sound of steps in the outer passage.

"Quick--inside!" breathed the Chinaman, pointing to the den.

They lifted Pauline. The old priest stopped them.

"Not there--not there!" he cried. "Any one would look in there."

They dragged her back. The priest hurried to the outer door and locked
it.

There was the blunt, battering thrust of a body against the door.

"Open, or I'll break it in!" yelled the voice of Harry.

The priest opened the door.

In deferential silence he saluted the battle grimed newcomer.
Battered, panting, bleeding, Harry lunged at the man, gripped him.

"Quick--where is she? You'll die like a spiked rat. Where?" he
roared.

The two other Chinamen were kneeling before the Joss.

There was a moment's silence, then a strange sound--like a cry heard
afar off.

Harry strode to the little pedestal where the suit of armor stood.

"Where is she?--or I'll rip this place to cockles!" he thundered.

"We do not know what you mean," said the priest.

The two Chinamen began to jabber.

Other figures reeled from the room behind the curtains. But over all
their clamor sounded again the faint cry--distant, but near.

In a flash Harry caught from the mailed glove the haft of the sword.
As he rushed across the room the Chinese withered away from him. There
was a crash as the great sword fell upon one of the windows. Through
the broken pane Harry shouted for help. His voice was like a clarion
in the silent streets.

He turned in time. Three Chinamen, with drawn knives, were upon him.
He swung the unwieldy sword above his head. Its sweep saved him. He
dashed at the Joss. Again he lifted the sword. A grasp and then a
wail of fear sounded through the room.

He struck. The head of the statue thudded to the floor.

The Chinese rushed upon him. They were desperate now in the face of
the violation of their god. But he was behind their god prying open
the secret door to the hollow within the statue.

"It's all right, Polly," he said as he drew her gently forth.

He stood above her with his back to the wall swinging the sacred sword
against the onslaught of fanatic men. They fell before him, but more
came on.

His hands could hardly hold the migh