<h2 id="c22"><span class="small">CHAPTER XXII</span> <br/>Hong Kong and Points East</h2>
<p>The party moved swiftly through the night. The
grandson never hesitated. He knew every bend and
turn in the path. Suddenly he stopped.</p>
<p>“We must rest a few minutes,” he said. “Honorable
grandfather is old. He cannot stand this pace.”</p>
<p>“But we’ve got to keep going,” Biff insisted. “I saw
four men leave the fire and come after us.”</p>
<p>“Fear not, my friend. I think I know who they
are. But stay here, I’ll go back down the path and
make certain,” the “cook” said.</p>
<p>The grandson vanished in the night. Biff felt sure
that any moment the party would be jumped by pursuing
guards. Then he heard voices. The grandson
came back, followed by four men.</p>
<p>“My brothers and cousins,” the grandson said.
“They are more grandsons of the Old Lord. One of
them is brother to your friend Ling Tang.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</div>
<p>Muscles stepped into the group. “Sure, I know these
guys. They’re okay. These are real members of the
House of Kwang. I made that double-crosser Chan Li
take me to them. We worked out the whole escape.
This fellow,” Muscles pointed to the grandson-servant,
“he started the whole thing. Set the kitchen on
fire. Then he grabbed the keys, and led me to your
room. The others stayed back to watch the guards.
Held some of them back all right. Must have been
more than twenty on duty.”</p>
<p>“We can go on now,” the grandson said quietly.
“The Ancient One has rested.”</p>
<p>Two grandsons came to the side of the old man.
Each placed a supporting arm around his waist. The
party continued on its way.</p>
<p>Except for short, regular rest periods, they kept going
all night. As dawn broke, the party stopped for a
lengthier rest. All were near exhaustion from the excitement
and the steady pace they had kept up. The
Old One slept like a baby, held in the arms of one of
his grandsons.</p>
<p>They rested most of the morning. It was far safer
to travel at night. On the second day, as they reached
a safer distance from Jaraminka, they continued toward
the plateau where Jack Hudson was to pick
them up. In turn, the grandsons went ahead to make
certain no one was lying in wait for them.</p>
<p>“Biff, are we anywhere near the spot where you
saw all that construction?” Uncle Charlie asked.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</div>
<p>“We should be,” Biff replied. “We should be nearing
the valley soon. What do you think, Chuba? And
you, Muscles?”</p>
<p>“Chuba think we reach it right over next hill.”</p>
<p>“I’ll trust Chuba’s judgment,” Muscles chimed in.</p>
<p>Chuba was right. The valley was over the next hill.
They had reached it at a point below where it rose
steeply to the metal fence.</p>
<p>“The rest of you wait here,” Charles Keene ordered.
“I’ll make a quick trip for a fast look-see.”</p>
<p>“And <i>I’m</i> with you,” Biff said quickly. His uncle
gave him a look, hesitated for a moment, but apparently
decided not to protest.</p>
<p>“But Charlie—” Muscles started to say.</p>
<p>“No buts about it. Come on, Biff.”</p>
<p>Uncle and nephew climbed the slope. Biff found
the opening in the fence. They crawled underneath
and reached the rim of the huge amphitheater. Uncle
Charlie stared down at the activity for minutes. He
took in every detail, storing the information in his
mind. A nodded signal told Biff they were going back.</p>
<p>Once down on the floor of the valley, Biff asked
his uncle what he thought the construction was.</p>
<p>“I’m almost certain, Biff, that they’re building a
rocket launching site.”</p>
<p>“Like Cape Canaveral?”</p>
<p>His uncle nodded his head. “I was at Canaveral at
its beginning. Saw the place grow. That work back
up there is much the same type of construction. Still
in its earliest stages, somewhat crude. Be a long time
before they can try a moon shot, or any other kind.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</div>
<p>“Is knowing about this important?”</p>
<p>“Important. You just bet it is. News of this development
is vital. It’s the biggest, most important information
Uncle Sam has had out of China in years.
You really found something, Biff.”</p>
<p>Shortly after noon of the second day since their
escape, the party reached the plateau where Muscles
had been landed by Jack Hudson.</p>
<p>“This is it,” Muscles said. “If Jack gets my signal,
we’ll be away and winging by dark. Here, Chuba,
take the end of this wire and scamper up that tree.
Attach it to the highest limb you can reach.”</p>
<p>The antenna was connected to the portable transmitter.
The tree’s height increased the distance of
transmission possible. Ground transmission would
have limited the signal.</p>
<p>“All is okay, Muscles,” Chuba called down. Muscles
picked up the hand mike. He snapped on a button. A
slight hum could be heard.</p>
<p>Muscles turned to the anxiously waiting group.
“Let’s hope I get through. I can’t repeat my signal
more than once. It may be picked up by the enemy.”
He grinned at them. “Well, here goes.” Muscles
held the mike close to his mouth. “There’s gold in
these hyar hills....” He waited ten seconds. “Repeating....
There’s gold in these hyar hills.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</div>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/p06.jpg" alt="" width-obs="500" height-obs="629" /> <p class="caption"><i>The plane winged in on the prayers of the group</i></p> </div>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</div>
<p>He snapped off the transmitter. “That was our pre-arranged
signal. It tells Jack Hudson that I’ve found
you and that we’re all set to come out. If he got my
signal, he’s on his way to the plane right now, I hope,
I hope, I hope. It’s been on the runway, warmed up
around the clock, ever since he got back.”</p>
<p>“Well, we’ll know in about two hours,” Uncle
Charlie said.</p>
<p>Jack did get the signal. Almost exactly two hours
after Muscles’ signal, the faint hum of a plane was
heard. It grew louder, and then came into sight. It
winged in on the prayers of the whole group, the
most welcome sight Biff had ever seen.</p>
<p>Farewells were short. The moment the plane
touched down, the Ancient One was put aboard. The
others followed fast.</p>
<p>The last Biff saw of the Ancient One’s grandsons
was a picture he would keep in his heart and mind
forever. The five grandsons stood in a line, facing in
the direction of the departing plane. All were bowing
deeply to show their gratitude.</p>
<p>No one really relaxed until the plane crossed the
border, but they reached Unhao with no trouble. Jack
Hudson taxied the plane to a neat stop and whistled
in relief, “Whew-uw!” Then briskly he turned to the
group. “We’re going to refuel and take right off
again,” he announced.</p>
<p>“What’s the hurry, Jack?” Charlie asked. “How’s
about letting me have a bath?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</div>
<p>“Man, do you know how hot you and Biff have
become since you went inside? There have been spies
all over the camp. You and Biff aren’t even to get out
of this plane. Biff’s things and yours are all packed.
I’ve got ’em in the luggage compartment. Soon as this
crate is refueled, it’s off for Hong Kong. You can
dunk the body there.”</p>
<p>“But what about you, Jack?”</p>
<p>“Oh, they don’t want me. It’s you two got the information
they want to keep from getting out. I don’t
know what you know, and I don’t want to. They
don’t know I’ve crossed into the big ‘C.’”</p>
<p>Biff looked at Chuba. Unashamed tears filled the
native boy’s eyes. Biff choked up. “Don’t worry,
Chuba, we’ll meet again,” he said, and meant it.</p>
<p>Muscles ruffled Chuba’s dark hair and said, “Chum,
next year you and I go Stateside, and we’ll visit this
character.” Muscles gave Biff an affectionate punch
on the chin. “See you soon,” he said, as he and Chuba
left the plane.</p>
<p>They made Hong Kong safely. Biff and his uncle
found a U.S. military policeman, who took them to
the consulate. There they reported their discovery
to an amazed official.</p>
<p>“You have performed a great service for your
country,” the embassy official said solemnly, and
added with a faint smile, “although you should have
your passports taken away for such a foolhardy venture.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</div>
<p>“I know you’re right, sir,” Charles Keene said, “but
I would like to ask a favor of you. Can you get us out
of Hong Kong?”</p>
<p>“So fast it will make your head swim. Diplomatically
speaking, we don’t want you around here.
There’s a jet bomber taking off for Honolulu in an
hour. You’ll be on it. From there, you’re on your
own.”</p>
<p>Two hours later, Biff and his uncle were winging
over the blue Pacific, homeward bound—and sound
asleep.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</div>
<h3 id="c23"><i>A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure</i></h3>
<p class="center">MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING</p>
<p class="center">By ANDY ADAMS</p>
<p>Burma! Biff Brewster can hardly believe
he’ll soon be flying to Burma to visit his
Uncle Charlie. Not even when a green jade
ring comes hurtling through his bedroom
window is he fully aware of the excitement
and danger awaiting him.</p>
<p>Is the ring a good-luck charm or a bad
omen? Biff suspects that Uncle Charlie’s
sudden departure from Cape Canaveral to
Burma might well have international implications,
and that the ring is a warning.</p>
<p>But even with a warning, Biff is still a
boy alone in a strange country. As he disembarks
at Rangoon, the young adventurer
walks straight into an attempted kidnaping.
Using his wits, Biff escapes from his
captors only to learn that his uncle is
somewhere in the heart of Red China, perhaps
in serious trouble.</p>
<p>Horrified at the news, Biff persuades
Chuba, a Burmese boy, to lead him through
the jungle swamplands and across the
Chinese border. Once in forbidden enemy
territory, Biff uncovers the strange meaning
of the jade ring, learns of the secret
mission which has brought his uncle to
Red China, and discovers a startling project
of vital importance to the United States.</p>
<p>Join Biff Brewster in more thrilling,
world-wide adventure stories, now available
at your local booksellers.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</div>
<h3 id="c24"><i><span class="large">NEW!</span></i> BIFF BREWSTER <br/>Mystery Adventures</h3>
<p class="center">By ANDY ADAMS</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/bflap.jpg" alt="Biff Brewster" width-obs="258" height-obs="799" /></div>
<p>Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built
blond youth who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana,
with his parents and the eleven-year-old
twins, Ted and Monica. Because his
mother and father believe that travel is as
important to education as formal schooling,
Biff is encouraged to travel to various countries
during the vacation months. His experiences
in these lands, and the young people
he meets there, form the basis of a new series
for adventure-loving readers. In every journey
there is a strong element of mystery, usually a
direct result of conditions peculiar to the region
in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition
to adventure, these books impart carefully researched
information about foreign countries.</p>
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