11 PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING " 281 



presence of the big loud-voiced man whose orders were 

 obeyed with instant smartness, who told him, to his 

 amazement and despair, that he must depart with 

 his property. The seals of a sack were broken before 

 him, and its contents displayed and duly accounted 

 for a sleeping-mat, a small red blanket, the elastic- 

 side boots, two scrolls of sinfully painted silk, a hard 

 round hat stuffed with gaudy handkerchiefs, three 

 watches and varied jewellery in a ginger-jar, the quaintly 

 carved toilet devices, the jam-tin full of nuggets, and 

 a chamois - leather bag delusively heavy with fine 

 gold. 



The same authority which had ordered his affairs 

 ever since he had been torn from the burnt hills now 

 commanded him to begone. 



For nigh upon two years he had dwelt passively in 

 dream-land. This was but another wonderment en- 

 trancingly agreeable. Without endeavouring to elu- 

 cidate the incomprehensible, he accepted the gifts of 

 the gods, and asked for a yellow zinnia. It was a reality, 

 a guarantee, an assurance. 



Good, though gruff, the gaoler was wont to say that 

 his departing guest gazed on the flower with almost 

 religious fervour and mumbled over it a prayer; and 

 the gaoler's insight was true, for in comparison with 

 a flower, the masonic emblem, the pride of Tsing Hi's 

 life was to Hu Dra but tinsel. 



It passed all understanding. 



Hastening to escape from the land of bewilderment 

 and easily gotten riches, Hu Dra the quietest, the 

 happiest, the wealthiest of a great company of his fellows 

 boarded a steamer for Hong- Kong. 



Many a long year after, Tim, who had blossomed into 

 a sub-inspector, had retired on pension, and had lost 



