304 SHOOTING IN CHINA. 



along very qviietly, and at no great pace, up what is 

 known as the Sou-chow Creek. It was a beautiful, clear, 

 moonlight night, and although cold and frosty, it was 

 very pleasant on the outer deck of the junk. The China- 

 men working at the huge scull hardly ever uttered a 

 sound, but worked away steadily, now and then relieving 

 each other during the night. Occasionally a downward 

 boat passed, when a few words would pass between 

 the two craft, otherwise we glided over the still water 

 of the creek in an easy, sleepy way, most conducive to 

 a good night's rest. At daybreak the foUowiag morning 

 we awoke to find our vessel made fast to a pole stuck 

 into the bank. 



The banks of the creek here were high, and could 

 not be seen over from the deck of our junk. A hen- 

 pheasant flew across from one side to the other, just as 

 I emerged from below, flushing a second bird as she 

 passed the bank. "No doubt about pheasants beiug 

 here," I thought. After an excellent breakfast, we 

 started, each taking a man to carry our game ; but after 

 going together in line for some short distance, I struck 

 away at right angles by myself. The whole country 

 was as flat as a pancake ; a small blue hUl rose far 

 away in the distance, and this was the only variety 

 of any description that was to be seen, that in any 

 way changed the perfect sameness of the level country. 



