a matter of fact, we know little about the machines. This is new
business for us."

Lieutenant Rae bowed himself out of the door, and the boys gathered in
an inner room to discuss the situation.

"We may as well face the truth," Ned said, calmly. "The man who was to
meet us here has fallen into the hands of our enemies. We are alone in
China without instructions and surrounded by foes. Now, what shall we
do? We may be able to reach the water front and get off to one of the
British ships in sight."

"And go back?" demanded Jimmie. "Not for me! I'm goin' to stay an' see
this thing out."

"That's me!" Frank said, and Jack echoed his words.

"Well, then," Ned went on, with a smile of satisfaction at the attitude
of the lads, "if we are going on, we've got to get to Peking without
delay. I'll tell you what I think. The conspirators are aware that we
are trying to run them down. If they can stop us before we fully
identify them, their part in the plot against Uncle Sam will never be
known." Rest assured, then, that they will stop us if they can."

"Then it's us for the road to-night!" said Jimmie. "That is fine."

In referring to conspirators, Ned indicated the men who had been
involved in a plot to get the United States into trouble with a foreign
government over a shipment of gold to China. This shipment had gone to
the bottom of the Pacific.