"Chiu-Ming!" I shouted. "Chiu-Ming! This way!"

I ran toward him. Before I had gone five paces Ventnor
flashed by me, revolver spitting. I saw a spear thrown. It
struck the Chinaman squarely in the breast. He tottered--
fell upon his knees.

Even as he dropped, the giant flail swept down upon
the soldiers. It swept through them like a scythe through
ripe grain. It threw them, broken and torn, far toward the
valley's sloping sides. It left only fragments that bore no
semblance to men.

Ventnor was at Chiu-Ming's head; I dropped beside him.
There was a crimson froth upon his lips.

"I thought that Shin-Je was about to slay us," he whispered.
"Fear blinded me."

His head dropped; his body quivered, lay still.

We arose, looked about us dazedly. At the side of the
crevice stood the woman, her gaze resting upon Drake, his
arms about Ruth, her head hidden on his breast.

The valley was empty--save for the huddled heaps that
dotted it.

High up on the mountain path a score of figures crept,
all that were left of those who but a little before had