254 MIDNIGHT THIEVES. [Cuapr. XIII. 
and get as far as possible during the ensuing day. 
But, as my countryman says, — 
“ The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agee ;” 
and I awoke during the night by the cool air blow- 
ing in upon my head through one of the windows 
“of the boat, which I had shut before I went to 
rest. I jumped up immediately and looked out, . 
and through the darkness I could discern that we 
were drifting down the canal with the tide, now 
coming in contact with some other boat, which 
had been fastened up like ourselves for the night, 
and now rubbing against the branches of trees 
which hung over the sides of the canal. I lost no 
time in awaking my servant and the boatmen, 
who rubbed their eyes with astonishment, and ex- 
claimed that some robber must have boarded us. 
This had never struck me before, but when I called 
for a light, I found that all my clothes, English and 
Chinese, were gone. Our visitor, who ever he had 
been, after taking possession of all the cabin con- 
tained, cut the rope by which we were fastened, 
and shoved us off into the centre of the canal, 
along which we had drifted a considerable way 
before I awoke. Fortunately for me, the few 
dollars I had with me were in my Chinese purse 
beneath my pillow. 
‘“ What shall we do,” said my servant when we 
had made the boat fast again to some others on 
the side of the canal, ‘ your clothes are all gone ?” 
“Do,” said I, laughing; “I think the best 
