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. With 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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