SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



midday halt at a small place named Ku-shan-pu, 

 My companion and I were some distance ahead 

 of our mules when we entered the village, where 

 a fair was in progress. Finding an inn we sought 

 our usual rest from the noonday heat, but were 

 soon disturbed by the crowd which became very 

 aggressive. 



I went out to pacify them and before I was aware 

 of what was going on, found myself the centre of 

 an angry mob. Cries of " Sa ! Sa ! " (kill, kill) 

 assailed my ears, and the excited natives began 

 to stone me. Convinced that my end had come, 

 I resolved to sell my life dearly, but had no 

 weapon save my bare fists with which to defend 

 myself. I struck out right and left with all the 

 force of desperation, feeling a grim pleasure as 

 each successive blow laid one of my assailants 

 low. At last my chance came. I was fighting 

 towards a wall so as to gain protection for my back, 

 which was being badly bruised, when the ring- 

 leader of the gang of desperadoes came for a moment 

 between me and my goal. ^Vith all the force I 

 could muster I let fly at his head, driving it with 

 a thud against the wall. Down he went like a 

 pole-axed ox and lay stunned. At this the mob 

 broke up and fled. By now my temper was 

 thoroughly roused and I resolved to teach those 

 cowardly outlaws a lesson. Chasing the flying 

 mob, I jerked two or three over onto their backs 

 by sharp tugs at their outstretched queues. One 



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