70 CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 



throwing open the gates, the)" went forth to meet and admit the 

 army into the city. 



After being entertained by the generals, the abbot questioned 

 them as to the position of the Eleuth Camp, and asked if any 

 engagements had yet taken place. The generals replied ; " The 

 Eleuth soldiers are indeed fierce and brave, and their entrench- 

 ments are strong; daily have they attacked this city, and it is 

 only by our exceeding watchfulness, and owing to the strength 

 of our walls and the depth of our moat, that we have been able 

 to defend it ; and our only hope was, that our Sovereign 

 Lord would send troops to save us. We trust that the abbot 

 has discovered some excellent scheme, . and brought brave 

 soldiers with whom we may yet subdue these barbarians. 

 Any movement on our part must be undertaken with the 

 greatest wisdom and foresight, or it will be impossible to contend 

 against the Eleuths." The abbot said : " You generals have 

 been here some time, so of course you possess a knowledge as to 

 the position of the enemy's camp and the means of approach 

 thereto/'' General Lau-King replied " I have here, a map of 

 the position, and if the master will look it over, he will see at a 

 glance the whole situation in every particular." Having ex- 

 amined well the chart, the abbot said that he understood perfect- 

 ly how he was placed ; " to-morrow we will lead out our men, 

 and find out what these barbarians are made of. I have a scheme 

 for attacking them/' 



The next morning the gates were opened, and the army marched 

 forth. On this being reported to the Eleuth general Phe n Leng 

 Thien, he buckled on his shield, and mounted his horse; but 

 on seeing nothing but a crowd of shaven priests, he laughed, and 

 mockingly said : " I little thought during the years the Em- 

 peror of the Middle Kingdom has claimed my obedience, that he 

 was supported by an army of priests. If you really intend to 

 retire from the world, why do you not keep your vows ; how dare 

 you measure yourselves against me ?" The abbot in a loud voice 

 replied ; "Dog of a barbarian ! the Chinese have nothing in com- 

 mon with you Eleuths, any more than with the lower animals ; 

 why will you rush into strife, and run blindly to your own des- 

 truction ?" Phe n Leng Thien, was greatly enraged at this, and 

 shouted: "Will no one lay hands on this bald-headed priest"? 

 One of the sarrounding chiefs responding to the call, and being 

 armed with a long sword, galloped forward with a shout ; but 

 from behind the abbot, Choa-Tek-Tiong appeared like a flash 

 of lightning, and with a knife in each hand, closed with thehorse- 

 man. After thirty cuts and thrusts on either side, the issue was 



