154 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



had on the uniform of a Chinese naval offi- 

 cer. I put a pistol in my pocket, opened 

 the door and asked his business. He was 

 a bright and clever looking young officer, 

 graceful and courteous in manner, and 

 answered that he had been sent by the 

 commanding officer of a Chinese gunboat, 

 anchored about a mile away, to advise me 

 not to go any higher up the river during the 

 night as it might prove unsafe. He added 

 that they had seen me shooting on the island 

 during the day, and had orders to apprise me 

 that the neighborhood was dangerous after 

 sunset. I invited him to a seat in my cabin, 

 had a pleasant chat with him, and intimated 

 that, with his consent, I would move my 

 boat near his gunboat, to which he readily 

 assented, saying that the commanding offi- 

 cer would be pleased if I did so. I was not 

 afraid, but somehow I got pirates on my 

 mind and I had no objection whatever to 

 being near a gunboat. When he left he 

 remarked that he would go ahead and run 

 up a light so that I could distinguish the 

 gunboat. The night was quiet and I slept 

 soundly, and the thoughtful and friendly 

 consideration of this Chinese naval officer is 

 pleasantly remembered. 



