189 



He who does not keep this command — may he perish under thousands of swords and become 

 a headless ghost! 



Art. 15. 



After having entered the Hung-league, though, you ought to consider benevolence and justice 

 as the first, and courteousness and faith as the basis , still you are, as brethern, members of.' 

 one family, and you ought to help each ofcher in disasters and misfortunes. 



When a brother is summoned before a tribunal, or a price is set upon Mm, and he cannot 

 remain longer in the place, the powerful must help him to escape, and the less powerful pay 

 his travelling expenses. This is helping him out of danger, like taking a fish out of a dry place, 

 and it is saving him from difficulties , like liberating a bird out of a close net. 



He who does not keep this command — mayhe perish at the way-side! may the swine devour 

 him, and the dogs bite him, and may he never return in this world again! ( a ) 



Art. 16. 



After having entered the Hung-league, you must be faithful and honest; for all things have 

 an owner. Don 't take anything away without asking, or instigate strangers to steal the pro- 

 perty or riches of a brother. 



If you know that a heavy price is set upon a brother, and you do not think about saving 

 him, but betray him, on the contrary, to the troops of the Government; or if you give your- 

 self the thread in hands, or lead the way, to make him prisoner, and injure, in this way, a 

 brother — may you be struck by thunder-bolts, or perish in the flames, or come to an end in 

 the ocean, and your corpse remain floating! This is the heaviest crime according our law; 

 therefore the offender shall be killed, and his head shall be severed from his trunk. 



Art. 17. 



After having entered the Hung-league, (remember then) that since the ancient times happi- 

 ness and misfortune have no fixed gates, but that man draws them upon himself: 



Heaven has inexhaustible winds and clouds; 

 Men have misery and happiness for morning and evening! ( 2 ) 

 So, when a brother has incurred adversities or misfortunes by his own fault, he ought to suf- 

 fer them himself, and, on no account, shall he be allo wed to implicate the other brethern in 

 his misfortune, in order to extricate himself. For such a one, most surely, will become a head- 

 less ghost after his death! If it is discovered, both his ears will be cut off, he shall be cast 

 out of the brotherhood, and never be allo wed to enter it again. 



Art. 18. 



After having entered the Hung-league and passed the bridge laid before the Hung-gate ( s ), 



(*) The Chinese believe in metempsychosis. 



( 2 ) This is a Chinese maxim, meaning that the fortunes of men are as uncertain as the winds and elouda 

 of Heaven. ( 3 ) i. e. Passed the arch of steel. 



