FROM MONGTSE TO SSUMAO 



he should sally forth and interview the rioters. A long silence 

 showed that a parley was being held. I took my stand in the 

 court with Sao, who did not lose his sang froid. Of a sudden, 

 about a dozen men burst in armed with guns, 12-feet lances, 

 swords, and tridents. The Hou-Nis (for as such I at once recog- 

 nised them) were led by a man brandishing a torch, and from 

 their threatening gestures seemed about to fall on ; their pieces 

 were at the shoulder and their fingers uncomfortably close to the 

 triggers. I had slipped 

 my revolver into my 

 pocket and loaded my 

 gun, determined not to 

 sell my skin for nothing; 

 though, caught in a trap 

 as we were, we were 

 pretty sure of our 

 quietus if they attacked. 

 In this crisis Sao sur- 

 prised me by his cool 

 courage for an Anna- 

 mite. Knowing that, 

 bad as his Chinese was, it would come better from an Asiatic 

 than my gibberish, I left the speaking to him. Our old 

 emissary had by this time prudently made himself scarce. 

 In roueh tones the leader of the band invited me to begfone. 

 This was not our intention, so we replied by making signs 

 that we were hungry, and to show a firm front began to 

 sweep a space in the court for a fire. Then Sao had an 

 inspiration. Although he could not speak Chinese, he could 

 write it. The yard served as a spacious slate, and he forthwith 



57 



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