Chapter I: Front Matter

The Blue Dragon

A TALE OF RECENT ADVENTURE IN CHINA

BY Kirk Munroe

AUTHOR OF THE "MATES SERIES" THE "PACIFIC COAST SERIES" "FORWARD
MARCH" ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK AND LONDON
HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
1905

Copyright, 1904, by Harper & Brothers.

_All rights reserved._

Published October, 1904.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND 1

II. AMERICA'S UNFRIENDLY WELCOME 10

III. ROB TO THE RESCUE 18

IV. A TRIUMPH FOR JO'S ENEMIES 26

V. THREATENED VIOLENCE 35

VI. THE SHERIFF TAKES PROMPT MEASURES 44

VII. THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT 52

VIII. JO'S ENEMIES PREPARE A TRAP 61

IX. JO FINDS THAT HE IS SOME ONE ELSE 70

X. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO CHINA 79

XI. ACCEPT A KINDNESS AND PASS IT ALONG 88

XII. FROM THE GOLDEN GATE TO THE PEARL RIVER 97

XIII. IN THE WORLD'S MOST MARVELLOUS CITY 106

XIV. A TURN OF FORTUNE'S TIDE 116

XV. IN THE HEART OF UNKNOWN CHINA 125

XVI. "FISTS OF RIGHTEOUS HARMONY" 134

XVII. LEAPING INTO UNKNOWN BLACKNESS 143

XVIII. A SUPPER OF SACRED EELS 151

XIX. AN EXHIBITION OF THE RAIN-GOD'S ANGER 160

XX. ROB MAKES A STARTLING DISCOVERY 169

XXI. THE REFUGEES OF CHENG-TING-FU 178

XXII. A CHARGE AND A RACE FOR LIFE 187

XXIII. STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE 196

XXIV. THE TIMELY EXPLOSION OF A BOILER 204

XXV. IN CHINA'S CAPITAL CITY 213

XXVI. WAR CLOUDS 222

XXVII. CHINA DEFIES THE WORLD 231

XXVIII. FIGHTING SIXTY FEET ABOVE GROUND 241

XXIX. JO HEAPS COALS OF FIRE 250

XXX. THE CAPTURE OF PEKIN 260

ILLUSTRATIONS

"A HORSEMAN FLED BEFORE THEM" _Frontispiece_

MAP SHOWING ROUTE FOLLOWED BY AUTHOR _Facing p._ 1

"AS POOR JO LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL, ROB DASHED INTO THE MÊLÉE" 20

"HIS MADLY YELLING PURSUERS WERE NOW CLOSE UPON HIM" 140

"THE FUGITIVES MADE A CAUTIOUS ENTRY INTO THE SACRED PRECINCTS" 152

"HE WAS ABLE TO GAZE CALMLY AT HER WHEN THEY ONCE MORE WERE ESCORTED PAST THE CATHEDRAL" 184

"SO THEY DROVE ON, MILE AFTER MILE" 204

"THE SAVAGES FLED IN DISMAY BEFORE THAT CHARGE OF YELLING AMERICANS" 248

TO MY READERS

The Blue Dragon, chosen as a title for this story, is the national emblem of China, adopted as such by a desire to flatter and propitiate that spirit of evil considered to be the most powerful. As the dragon is believed to be big enough and strong enough to overcome and devour all the other wicked genii who continually vex Chinese life, the wise men of the "Black-haired People" thought it best to have him on their side, and consequently accorded him the highest honor in their power to bestow. As we of America chose the eagle, strongest of visible air spirits, for our national emblem, so the Chinese chose the most powerful of invisible spirits in whose existence they believe as firmly as we do in the existence of things that we can see, hear, or feel.

In the story thus entitled, I have endeavored to give an idea of what China has been, is, and may become through education and development, how she is regarded, and how her people are being treated by other nations, and what causes she has for resentment against those who are taking advantage of her feebleness to despoil her.

While travelling in China, and trying to gain the Chinese point of view, I met so many charming people, so many men of intelligence and liberal education, honorable, broad-minded, and devoted to the uplifting of their unhappy country, that I became exceedingly interested in their cause, and anxious to aid it. With this object in view I am striving, through the medium of a story, to present it to those young Americans who, in the near future, will be called upon to decide the ultimate fate of the great Middle Kingdom. With them, more than with any other people, even including the Chinese themselves, will rest the decision, whether China shall remain a nation, open to the unobstructed commerce of the world, or become a series of petty colonial possessions devoted only to the interests of their several ruling powers. That my young readers may be guided to a wise and just solution of this great problem, is the sincere hope of their friend,

KIRK MUNROE.

BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA,

_January, 1904_.

THE BLUE DRAGON