soil beneath him.

To Gilbert, even though he occasionally saw Stummer and Casey, the days
were very lonely. He missed Ben greatly, and each day wondered if he
would ever see his old war chum again. Major Okopa saw this and did what
he could to cheer up the young officer.

"He may turn up before you realize it," said the major. "I don't think
he was killed."

"If he is alive, it is very strange that we do not hear from him."

Two days later came a batch of letters into camp, written, or rather
painted, for the most part, on thin Japanese paper. Among the
communications were two for Gilbert, one from Captain Ponsberry
concerning the _Columbia_ and her cargo, and the other from a stranger
in Pekin, China.

"Who can be writing to me from Pekin, China?" mused the young captain,
and began to read the communication with interest. It was from a Chinese
merchant, and ran in part as follows:

"You will be mystified to receive this from an utter
stranger, but I deem it my duty, kind sir, to send this word
to you.

"Know, then, that one Ken Gow, a servant of my family, was
in Port Arthur up to sixteen days ago--first a servant in an
American family there, and next a prisoner in the vilest
prison man ever saw, guarded by dogs of Russians unworthy to
be used as door mats. Ken Gow is a faithful man, the flower
of all my help.

"It is needless to explain to you why my servant was thus
ill-treated. But you must know that when in prison he met
your great friend Captain Benjamin Russell, and it was the
captain who saved Ken Gow from many hard blows from the
other prisoners, who wanted not a Chinaman amongst them.

"Ken Gow was grateful, even as I am grateful, and he
promised to get word to you of this matter if the Russians
granted him his liberty. Finding no fault in my servant he
was, after a time, liberated, and watching his chance, left
Port Arthur and came home.

"Kind sir, he is grateful to Captain Russell and would do
much for him if he could. Yet his most is to send this
letter to you, telling you that Captain Russell is alive and
held in a Port Arthur prison as a spy. One Russian hates
him--his name, Captain Barusky,--and it would appear that
this Russian is also your enemy, so beware of him.

"I can tell no more. Ken Gow is sick from his treatment at
the hands of the Russian dogs. Accept this miserable