Chapter Thirty Two
The Six Gates
Opening a little trap in the top of the first compartment of the cage (that is, the compartment which covered Bernard’s bare feet and ankles), the dacoit inserted the neck of a sack he had retrieved from the room beyond. Suddenly, seizing it by the bottom and shaking it vigorously four huge rats came tumbled out and into the cage. Then he snatched away the sack and snapped the shutter fast.
A moving mist obscured my sight, a mist through which I saw the green eyes of Chou Zhang fixed upon me, and through which, as from a great distance, his voice, sunk to a snakelike hiss, came to my ears:
“Cantonese rats, Dr. Corliss... The most ravenous in the world... They have eaten nothing for nearly a week!”
I blush to think of it now, and though I am assured my
