"I am frightfully thirsty." "And so am I, Percy; there is one comfort, they won't let us die of thirst, they could get no satisfaction out of our deaths now." Two hours later some of the Chinese re-entered the room and led the captives outside, and the lads then saw what was the meaning of the noise they had heard.

A cage had been manufactured of strong bamboos.

It was about four and a half feet long, four feet wide, and less than three feet high; above it was fastened two long bamboos.

Two or three of the bars of the cage had been left open.
"My goodness! they never intend to put us in there," Percy exclaimed.
"That they do," Jack said.

"They are going to carry us the rest of the way." The cords which bound the prisoners' hands were now cut, and they were motioned to crawl into the cage.