" He slip-slopped towards the
door as though confident he would be followed.
Two minutes afterwards the Coroner, Orlando, the Young Doctor, Nolan
Doyle and the rest stood at the low doorway of what looked like a great
grave. It was, however, a big root-house used for storing vegetables in
the winter-time. It had not been used since Mazarine arrived at Tralee.
Into this place, nor far from the house, Li Choo and his two fellow
countrymen had gone the day before, when Mazarine, in his rage, had come
forth with the horsewhip to punish the "Chinky," as Li Choo was
familiarly known on the ranch.
As they arrived at the vault-like place in the ground, which would hold
many tons of roots, another Chinaman came to the doorway. He was one of
the two who, in their sudden coming and going, had seemed like magic
people to Mazarine the day before. He made upward and downward motions of
respect with clasped hands in the blue sleeves, and presently, in perfect
English, he said:
"In one minute Li Choo will receive you. It is the moment of sacrifice.
You wish him to die for the death of Mazarine. So be it. It is right for
him to die. You will hang him; that is your law. He will not prevent you.
He has told the truth, but he is making the sacrifice. When that is done
you will enter and take him to prison."
The two constables standing beside the Coroner made a move forward, as
though to show they meant to enforce the law without any palaver.
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