Four dots rapidly grew in size. Soon the kidnapers ’plane came into view with a fighter on either side and one just below.
“We’ll follow them in,” Rawling said. He radioed the airport for police to be on hand. As soon as the mystery plane had set down, the fighter leader landed, but instructed the others to return to the carrier. The helicopter was on the ground in seconds.
The police were just handcuffing the arrested trio when Ned dashed into the aircraft. “Nancy!” He unfastened her bonds.
“Oh, Ned, how can I ever thank you for rescuing me!” she cried. “I admit I’ve never been more scared in my life.”
“How do you feel now?” he asked solicitously.
“I feel fine—really I do.”
“Thank goodness!” Ned said.
None of the prisoners would talk, so Nancy related as much of their story as she knew. Then the three captives were taken away.
The young people said good-by to Lieutenant Commander Rawling and thanked him profusely. Nancy and Ned then walked to the airport building, where Nancy washed her face and hands, combed her hair, and rested for a short time. Then she told Ned she was ready to go on to Kam Tin.
The young man shook his head in astonishment. “You can certainly take it!” he said admiringly.
Ned found that the Chinese helicopter pilot, Jimmy Ching, was still available. Soon Nancy and Ned were air-borne, heading for Kam Tin.
It was not a long ride and soon the helicopter was hovering over the walled city. It looked like a toy city surrounded by a moat. Beyond lay a vast expanse of fields with a farmhouse here and there.
The whirlybird came down on a field and the occupants alighted. As the visitors began walking through the ancient city, the inhabitants stared at them expressionlessly.
The three proceeded up one alley and down another. They could easily look into the houses, which were all open to the roadways and had bamboo curtains. These were now raised, but the pilot said they were lowered at night. Nancy and her fellow searchers saw nothing to indicate any smuggling activities, or that Chi Che Soong was being held prisoner in Kam Tin.
Nancy observed, as they walked along, that the walled city was crowded and unsanitary. Nevertheless, she was intrigued by an artistic religious custom of the inhabitants. On walls, both inside and outside the homes, were brackets holding candles, flowers, and incense. The candles were lighted and the incense gave off a fragrant aroma.
“I don’t think the people of Kam Tin have anything to do with the mystery of the fire dragon,” Ned whispered to Nancy presently. “The paper Mrs. Truesdale showed Mr. Lung might refer to some farmhouse in the area instead of a place in town.”
Nancy nodded. The trio went through the city gate and set off down the main road toward the nearest farmhouse. As they approached it, the three could hear rhythmic hammering. The sound was not noisy; on the contrary, it was muffled and pleasant.
“That hammering reminds me of goldbeaters,” Ned remarked.
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As Nancy and her companions drew closer to the farmhouse, they suddenly noticed a car coming in the opposite direction. It turned abruptly into a lane which led to the house. “Let’s hide and see if we can find out what’s going on here,” Nancy suggested.
They managed to conceal themselves behind a shed a few feet from the house. The driver of the car was talking to a Chinese farmer.
Ned translated, “Is the shipment ready?”
The farmer replied, “Yes.”
The driver then asked, “You kept enough to pay for the work?”
The farmer replied angrily, “I cannot use this. I want Hong Kong dollars.”
The argument went on. The farmer threatened to expose the caller to the authorities if he were not paid at once. Finally the driver pulled out a wad of bills and handed it to the farmer.
The farmer pocketed the money, then called to someone inside the house. Several Chinese men, carrying two heavy chests, came outside and put them in the car. The caller drove off.
“I’m sure we have a clue to the smuggling!” Nancy whispered. “We’d better get back to the airport as fast as we can!”
Her companions agreed. As soon as they reached Kai Tak, the girl detective telephoned Mr. Lee Soong and told him of the Kam Tin trip, giving the car’s license number and a description of the driver.
“I will arrange to have the police find this driver and trail him,” Mr. Soong said. “And the farmhouse at Kam Tin will be searched.”
Nancy thanked him. “I can hardly wait to find out what happens,” she told Mr. Soong excitedly.
CHAPTER XVIII
A New Assignment
THE ex-police chief, Mr. Lee Soong, chuckled. “Impatience,” he said, “is like a goat butting its head aimlessly on the wall. All he does is mar the wall and wear himself out.”
Nancy laughed. “How true that is!” she replied. “I will try to be patient, but I shall have my mind on the case every minute until I hear from you.”
Mr. Soong said it probably would be hours before there would be any police report on the suspicious farmer and the man who had taken away the heavy boxes.
When Nancy told this to Ned, he said, “In the meantime, how about our having some fun? We’ll do a little sight-seeing with Bess and George and your father.”
“I’d love it.” Nancy twinkled. “Is it some place special?”
Ned nodded. “I thought we’d take in the Chinese opera for a while, then go on to eat at a houseboat restaurant out near the little village of Aberdeen. You will be amazed at that place,” he added. “I shan’t tell you any more about it.”
Nancy smiled. “You know the only way you could get me to stop working on one mystery is to intrigue me with another. Now I can’t wait to see Aberdeen.”
Mr. Drew, Bess, and George had not returned, so Nancy and Ned left a note explaining their plan. Then the couple set off by ferry for Hong Kong to attend the Chinese opera.
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“It goes on for hours and hours,” Ned told his companion. “Whole families attend, even with their small babies. It is like an indoor picnic, so far as the audience goes.”
Later, as they entered the very large ornate theater, Nancy knew what Ned meant. Small children and adults were moving up and down the aisles. Food vendors seemed to be everywhere and many people were eating picnic suppers. Infants lay asleep in a mother’s or grandmother’s arms, while the older people and the teen-age group tried to concentrate on the show.
In contrast to the plain dress and noisiness of the audience, the production was most dignified and elaborate. Nancy stared in fascination at the exquisitely embroidered silk and satin costumes and the lofty headdresses worn by the players.
Each actor moved about the stage slowly and a bit woodenly. But there was grace and charm to the performance.
“It seems to me,” Nancy whispered to Ned, “that the audience isn’t paying too much attention. Why?”
Ned explained that the Chinese like to see the same plays over and over. Many of them practically knew the scores by heart.
“Even though they don’t keep their eyes on the stage every minute, and can even converse or move about, they still know everything that is going on,” Ned told her.
Half an hour later, he said, “Let’s go now.”
It was growing dark as Ned hailed a taxi to take them to Aberdeen. “It’s the oldest village of the fishermen of Hong Kong Island,” he explained. “Families live on the junks and even in the small sampans.”
When they reached the water front of Aberdeen, Nancy stared in wonder. “Why, it’s almost a city of boats—of all sizes!” she cried.
“Yes,” Ned said, adding that the residents jumped from craft to craft when they wanted to go ashore.
“But they spend most of their time on the water,” he added. “The junks go out for deep-sea fishing, but the sampans stay around here. The women and children remain on them while the men are at work. The women are good oarsmen, and take their boats everywhere. Out there in the harbor are a floating church and a floating school.”
“How fascinating!” Nancy exclaimed.
“We’ll hire one of the sampans,” Ned said. “It’s the only way to reach the floating restaurant.” He pointed off in the distance where they could see a long boat brilliantly lighted.
“There are several others, but I think we’ll go to the Sea Palace,” Ned added.
Several women were already calling to the couple, offering to take them. Ned finally signaled a mother and daughter with whom he had ridden before. They smiled as Nancy and Ned stepped down into the sampan and walked into the arched open-front cabin at the rear.
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As they left the dock, Nancy was amazed at the strength of the two women propelling their boat. Both were short and very slight, probably weighing not more than ninety pounds. Yet they seemed to have muscles of steel as they stood so straight and rotated their heavy oars through the water.
Upon reaching the Sea Palace, Nancy and Ned climbed a stairway to the deck. They walked around to the far side where a group of people were leaning over the rail and pointing below.
“See those boats down there?” Ned asked.
Nancy had never seen anything like them. They had compartments of water in which live fish and shellfish were swimming around.
“You pick your dinner alive,” the young man said, laughing.
Fishermen below were recommending the various native fish. Nancy sighed. “I wouldn’t know one fish from another,” she confessed. “I shall leave the entire dinner to your judgment, Ned.”
“Good!” he said, and guided her inside the restaurant.
The headwaiter told them there were no small tables left. “Do you mind sitting at a larger one?” he inquired. Ned said they would not, and they were escorted to one near a window.
“First we’ll have bacon and cucumber soup,” Ned told the waiter. “Then some stewed shrimp.” He looked up at Nancy to see if she approved. When she nodded, he went on, “A little sweet-and-sour pork, beef fried in oyster sauce, bamboo shoots, rice, and almond tea.”
Nancy laughed. “This sounds like a Chinese Thanksgiving dinner. I’m not sure I can eat so much.” Ned assured her that the portions would not be large.
The couple finished the delectable soup and were busy with the stewed shrimp when Nancy happened to look toward the entrance door.
“Ned!” she said tensely. “Here comes Mrs. Truesdale with a Chinese escort! He’s not Mr. Lung, though.”
Ned turned to look. The headwaiter led the newcomers to a table some distance up the long room. Mrs. Truesdale did not notice Nancy and her companion.
Ned suddenly grinned. “Mrs. Truesdale’s shadows are right behind her!”
Nancy’s eyes widened. Bess and George, looking extremely weary, entered the room. As they began to follow Mrs. Truesdale, Nancy quickly got out of her chair and went after the girls.
“You!” Bess exclaimed.
“Come join us and enjoy yourselves for a while,” Nancy invited. “I can see you’ve really been on the job.”
“Have we!” George laughed. “That Truesdale woman has nine lives when it comes to energy. We’ve been shopping everywhere with her today, and we decided to keep trailing her this evening.”
The two girls dropped exhausted into seats at the table with Nancy and Ned. They had hardly had time to put napkins in their laps when a nice-looking Chinese man hurried up to them. He paused a moment to whisper to George:
“I’ll take over. Get some rest.” He went on, and without waiting to be seated, pulled out a chair at the table next to Mrs. Truesdale. From this vantage point, the others knew, he could overhear every word of her conversation.
“Who is he?” Ned asked George.
“I don’t know, but he trailed us all afternoon.”
Nancy said he must be one of the detectives whom Mr. Soong had retained to follow the girls. “If he isn’t, the real sleuth will doubtless be following him, so in any case I think you girls can relax.”
“Thank goodness!” said Bess. “My feet hurt and I’m absolutely starved.”
The others laughed. Then Ned repeated the menu he had ordered for himself and Nancy. “Would you girls like the same?”
Bess and George agreed to try the exotic dishes. As Nancy and her friends ate the delicious meal, the group exchanged stories. George reported that Mrs. Truesdale had neither said nor done anything the least bit suspicious.
Bess declared, “I don’t see how she can be connected with the mystery.”
“Of course I have nothing to go on except what happened in Mr. Lung’s shop,” Nancy remarked.
Bess and George were completely astounded to hear of Nancy’s capture, of her rescue, of her trip to Kam Tin with Ned, and of its results.
“You had enough adventure today to do me for a lifetime,” Bess complained. “And this mystery is far from solved. Goodness only knows what’ll happen next.”
Bess’s worries did not seem to affect her appetite and she was able to eat every crumb of the food brought to her. George and Nancy declined dessert, but Bess and Ned ate custard pudding dotted with almonds.
When they finished, George said to Nancy, “Do you think we should stay until Mrs. Truesdale leaves, so we can follow her?”
“No,” Nancy replied. “I’m sure the police will trail her. We had all better get a good night’s sleep.”
When they reached the hotel, Nancy found a message that she was to telephone Mr. Lee Soong as soon as she came in. Nancy called him at once. Mr. Soong said he had several things to report to the young sleuth.
“First, the police were not able to locate the man who left the farmhouse with the heavy boxes. We think someone saw you and Mr. Nickerson leaving the place and warned him to disappear.
“We did raid the farmhouse and found that the owner and his workmen have been beating gold objects of all kinds into small flat pieces. We believe that these have been smuggled out of the country inside various containers.”
“Mah-jongg sets!” Nancy exclaimed.
“Possibly,” Mr. Soong agreed. “Every one of the goldbeaters insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing. They finally admitted they thought something illegal was being done with the gold, but did not know what.”
Mr. Soong went on to say that a police guard had been placed at the farmhouse to seize any suspicious callers. “No one has come there yet,” he said, “but the police uncovered a great many gold objects, which probably were stolen from shops and homes and brought there to be beaten into small pieces.”
The Chinese now changed the subject and invited Nancy and her friends to attend a big garden party to be given by a relative of his. “The party will be held tomorrow evening. Special fireworks will be displayed and I’m sure you will enjoy them. You have probably guessed that I am about to ask you to do a little detective work while there.”
“I will be glad to,” said Nancy eagerly.
Mr. Soong said that at his request his friend had invited several special guests. “They may or may not be involved in the mystery we are all trying to solve. You know two of them—Mrs. Truesdale and Mr. Lung.”
Nancy could hear the ex-police chief give a sigh of hope. “Anyhow, it is just possible my twin brother’s wish will be realized during the party. But the police require the help of you and your friends. Will Miss George Fayne please come looking as much like my niece as possible?”
“I am sure she will be happy to,” Nancy responded.
“That is very fine,” Mr. Soong said. “I will meet you at the hotel as darkness falls.”
Nancy would have liked to hear more, but Mr. Soong divulged nothing further. She thanked him for the invitation and accepted it with alacrity.
CHAPTER XIX
Symbolic Fireworks
MR. DREW came in so late during the evening that Nancy did not see him until the following morning at breakfast. At her request the meal was served in the living room of their suite. After the waiter had left, the girls brought the lawyer up to date on the happenings of the day before.
He looked at Nancy intently. “Thank goodness you’re safe, my dear. I suppose there is no use asking you to give up work on this case, now that it seems so near a solution.”
Nancy smiled. “Of course you know the answer would be no.” Then she told him about the invitation to the party that evening and how Mr. Lee Soong hoped there would be another break in the mystery. “Will you be able to go with us?” she asked.
The lawyer shook his head. “My assignment here has proved to be a tough one, and tonight I must confer with the disagreeing heirs. But I too hope to get a break in the case by tomorrow.”
“I suppose there won’t be any detective work for us today, Nancy?” Ned asked.
“I can’t think of any before tonight.” Nancy smiled.
“Then let’s all do some sight-seeing. First thing I know,” the young man said ruefully, “your father and you will wind up your cases and fly back to New York without having seen half the interesting things around here.”
George asked Ned what he had in mind. “You most certainly should take the tramway up Victoria Peak. Then we’ll drive out to Chung Chi College. I want you to meet some of the fellows. We’ll have lunch with them and then go to the international volleyball game between the United States and Japan against Free China and India.”
“It sounds very exciting,” Nancy answered.
Bess smiled, her dimples deep. She did not say what the others thought she was going to; that the date sounded entrancing. Instead, she asked, “Ned, I wish you could straighten me out on something. I’ve been so busy sleuthing since I reached this place, I haven’t figured out the political setup.”
Ned laughed. “There are plenty of people who have lived here a long time and still don’t understand it,” he said. “But actually it is quite simple. The whole area is a British crown colony.
“Hong Kong Island was ceded to the British when the Treaty of Nanking was signed in 1842. Then, in 1860, through the Convention of Peking, a tip of Kowloon Peninsula was added, as well as small Stonecutters’ Island.
“In 1898 more land was added to the colony. It was leased for ninety-nine years and became known as the New Territories. It includes the rest of Kowloon Peninsula and the hundred and ninety-eight islands in adjacent waters.”
“Thank you, Professor Nickerson.” Bess leaned back in her chair. “I’ll try to remember all that!”
“One interesting thing I’ve learned,” said Ned, “is that the word Kowloon means ‘nine dragons.’ It is named for the range of hills behind the city. In fact, it separates the city from the New Territories.”
George grinned. “We can’t get away from the dragons! Any more interesting stories?”
Ned laughed. “After that crack, I’m not sure I should tell you. But here is one. Out in the harbor there is an island called Lantao. On it live barking deer.”
The others broke into laughter and accused Ned of spoofing. But the young man insisted he was not. “If you’ll stay long enough, I’ll take you over there and you can hear them.”
Later, the girls and Ned started their ride up Victoria Peak on the tramway. They found it an exciting experience. The cable car stopped at stations on various levels, to let local residents get on or alight.
Streets stretched out in all directions on the steep mountainside, and houses nestled firmly among the rocks. The view from the top was magnificent and the girls could take in at a glance the enormous and bustling population on both land and water.
When they descended to the foot of the peak, the sight-seers returned by ferry to the Peninsula Hotel and drove to Ned’s college. The girls were greatly impressed. All the buildings were new and stood on top of a hill. In a valley to one side were the very large athletic fields.
When they pulled into the parking area, two young Chinese came to meet them. Ned introduced the handsome boys as friends of his. “Charlie Tsang, and this is Philip Ming.”
The two young men bowed low, then said they had arranged to eat luncheon with them in a private dining room usually reserved for faculty members. During the meal there was a constant flow of amusing banter among the young people. The Chinese students spoke excellent English and seemed to understand American slang and humor.
But finally the conversation took a serious turn when Charlie asked, “Ned, I do not wish to pry into your private affairs, but what have you been doing in Hong Kong recently?”
Ned grinned. “Just look at my companions and see for yourself,” he said.
“This is no joke,” Philip Ming spoke up. “Charlie and I were called from class to the president’s office yesterday afternoon. He told us two men had been here inquiring about you, Ned. They thought you should be ordered back to the college immediately because you were a menace in town.”
The Americans were astonished. “A menace!” Nancy cried out. “What do they mean?”
“I cannot imagine,” Charlie replied. “These same people also said that Ned’s mixed up in a smuggling racket, and that he’s being misled by unscrupulous persons. However, the individuals do not want to prefer any charges against you, Ned, but requested that the president insist you be made to remain here at college and not go into town.”
Ned and the girls were more astounded than ever. They now told the two Chinese young men a little about the case on which they had been working.
Nancy expressed the opinion that the two visitors to the college were part of the smuggling ring. “Naturally they’d feel Ned is becoming a‘menace’ to them, and want him out of their way.”
Ned suddenly laughed upon hearing this. “So I’m that important, am I?” he asked.
“I’ll say you are!” George spoke up. “Nancy needs a bodyguard. In fact, I’d say she needs more than one.”
At once Charlie and Philip offered to help. When Ned insisted he could do the job alone, the two boys turned to Bess and George. “Do you not need protection, too?” Charlie asked. “This evening perhaps? We would like to take you sight-seeing.”
Both Bess and George said they thought it would be fun but that they had promised to meet Mr. Soong. “Could we make it tomorrow evening?” George suggested.
“Tomorrow evening it is,” Philip agreed and Charlie nodded.
The young people next attended the volleyball game. They followed the contest with increasing excitement as first one side, then the other, went ahead in score. In the end the United States and Japan won over Free China and India.
As the visitors were ready to leave in Ned’s car, Bess declared, “This has been a lucky day!”
“And we hope the luck will continue,” Philip Ming said as he and Charlie bowed.
“Thank you.” Bess smiled. She was thinking, “Oh, I hope we will be lucky this evening and solve the mystery of Chi Che Soong!”
When Ned dropped Nancy and her friends at the hotel, saying he would see them later, the girls went at once to one of the shops there to pick out a Chinese costume for George. As soon as dinner was over, they changed into their party clothes. Nancy and Bess helped George disguise herself as Chi Che.
She had just finished applying make-up when the telephone rang. Mr. Lee Soong was calling Nancy to say that two taxis were waiting. He requested that George come downstairs alone, and casually hold a scarf so that her face would be partially covered.
“Miss Drew,” Mr. Soong went on, “ask your friend to bow to me, and act in every way as if she were Chinese, and indeed my great-niece. She and I will take the first taxi. Will the rest of you follow in the other?”
“Certainly,” said Nancy. “We will be down immediately.”
“That is excellent.” Mr. Soong added, “It is my great hope that someone at the party tonight will be startled upon seeing Miss Fayne’s disguise and reveal a clue as to where Chi Che is.”
Ned joined the girls and a short time later the two taxis drew up at the gate of a beautiful estate facing the harbor. Hundreds of lighted lanterns hung from among the trees in the gardens, and haunting Chinese music was being played.
The group alighted. As Mr. Soong and George walked on ahead, Bess whispered to Nancy, “George seems even more convincing as Chi Che than she did in New York.” Nancy nodded in agreement.
Presently the guests heard firecrackers being set off. “That means the celebrations are about to begin,” Ned explained. “Every Chinese function starts with firecrackers.”
“Let’s go watch,” Bess urged.
There were many paths and little arched bridges over ponds and brooks. One of the paths, which everyone seemed to be following, led through an attractively carved, horseshoe-shaped arch. Beyond, in the center of a clearing, Nancy and her friends could see a series of large metal frames for the display pieces of the fireworks.
All the guests had gathered to observe the display. George was alone, having preceded Mr. Soong. Among the onlookers just ahead was Mrs. Truesdale! The ex-police chief spread out his arms. Nancy sensed that Mr. Soong’s move might be a signal for her group to separate, and suggested that she, Bess, and Ned take up different positions nearby. She herself remained at the rear in back of the arch.
Some of the fireworks were in the form of floral pieces, one more beautiful than the other. Finally the center one was set off. As one section after another of it blazed into the night sky, Nancy gasped.
It was a huge fire dragon!
“It is magnificent, but frightening!” the girl detective thought.
Nancy glanced about to see Bess’s and Ned’s reactions. She could not discern her friends in the crowd ahead of her. But her gaze fastened on something else that almost made her heart stop beating.
Mr. Stromberg was sneaking up behind Mr. Soong. Was he going to attack the Chinese?
At that very instant George stood in the full glare of the fire dragon. Mrs. Truesdale turned and stared at the girl. She suddenly shrieked:
“Chi Che! You got off the junk!”
Nancy’s attention had been diverted for the moment from the scene nearer her. Now she saw that Mr. Stromberg was about to strike Mr. Soong. At the same instant, Ned appeared from among some bushes and leaped on the bookstore owner.
Swiftly Nancy started toward Mrs. Truesdale, but advanced only three feet. Someone behind her clapped a hand over the girl’s mouth and, with strong arms, dragged her away.
Nancy struggled and fought, but to no avail. The man who had seized her was suddenly aided by another, who lifted up her feet.
As she was carried off, the girl detective became aware that a Eurasian woman was accompanying the two men. Her strange captors took a path which was isolated and almost dark. No one came to Nancy’s rescue.
CHAPTER XX
The Escape
AS THE great fireworks dragon continued to crackle and emit fire and smoke, George and Bess dashed forward and grabbed Mrs. Truesdale.
“Take your hands off me!” the woman ordered.
At that moment Mr. Lee Soong and Ned came forward dragging Mr. Stromberg. The ex-police chief told the prisoners, “As you Americans say, I think your little game is up.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Mrs. Truesdale asked airily. “Just because I said something to this impostor? I don’t know why she’s dressed up like a Chinese. For a moment I thought she was a wash-amah I know named Chi Che. She works for a friend of mine.”
By this time most of the guests had gathered around. Four men pushed their way through the crowd, nodded to Mr. Soong, and took charge of the two prisoners.
“These men belong to the colony police,” Mr. Soong explained.
“This is an outrage!” Mrs. Truesdale screamed. “I am just a tourist, not a criminal.”
All this time Mr. Stromberg had been glaring at Bess and George. Finally he said, “Officer, you have made a great mistake. Mrs. Truesdale and I have been friends a long time, and would swear to the honesty of each other.”
George faced the man squarely. “If you are honest, why did you run away from your bookshop? And where are you keeping Chi Che Soong?”
“I can only guess what you’re talking about,” Mr. Stromberg said icily. “A girl named Chi Che Soong worked in my bookshop for a short while. I understand she has disappeared, but why should I know where she is?”
“Take these people away!” Mr. Soong ordered the detectives.
As the group moved off, Bess suddenly asked, “Where’s Nancy?”
“She was standing by that archway back there when the trouble started,” said Ned.
Mr. Soong and the young people searched the estate gardens thoroughly. Nancy was not in sight.
Bess closed her eyes in terror. “I just know the gang has kidnaped Nancy again!”
The worried group held a conference. Ned said, “Mrs. Truesdale mentioned that Chi Che was on a junk. Perhaps that’s where members of the gang took Nancy. Have you any suggestions on how to find that junk?” he asked Mr. Soong.
The Chinese thought a moment, then said, “Mr. Lung recently acquired a combination sail-and-motor junk. I will try to find out where he keeps it.”