CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. IV 



rising" those as divining blocks, threw them in the air three times 

 in succession, and each time the pieces fell to the ground uninjur- 

 ed; this made the brethren still more astonished, so the) 

 again bowed before the censer, and prayed as follows. 



" If at a future time we are to succeed in avenging our wrongs 

 and oppression, grant us ag*ain three favourable casts in succes- 

 sion." 



They again threw the two pieces of pottery three times in the 

 air, and thrice was a favourable answer given. The brethren 

 at once prostrated themselves in gratitude, and taking stalks of 

 grass, used them as incense sticks, and inserted them in the 

 censer; they then all imitated the ancients Lau-pi, Kwan-iiand 

 Tiu n -hui, and took a solemn oath of mutual fidelity. 



Suddenly there appeared in the censer, a magic book of fate ; 

 all saw it clearly, and were extremely delighted. But as we 

 know, " Walls have ears," and all this was overheard by the Im- 

 perial soldiers, who immediately surrounded the brethren, cry- 

 ing, " seize and bind these rebellious priests." The priests ta- 

 king- up the censer, with united strength cut away through the 

 troops, and escaped. Now this affair took place near the spot 

 where Koeh-siu-eng- with her sister-in-law and their children 

 were sacrificing at Kun-tatfs grave, and while employed in this 

 duty, they heard a voice, and suddenly there appeared rising 

 from the earth a sword, on the hilt of which were engTaved the 

 characters. " Two Drag-ons disputing for a pearl" and on the 

 blade, " Overturn the Chheng and restore the Beng'-Just as they 

 had deciphered the characters, they heard a cry of " save life." 

 The sisters-in-law took up the sword, and rushing to the spot, 

 saw the Imperial troops ; so, making a trial of the sword, they 

 rushed at the soldiers, and slaughtered a great number of them, 

 thus rescuing the five priests. 



The sisters-in-law called the brethren to the mound of the 

 grave, and questioned them as to the circumstances under which 

 they had been attacked ; the five priests related their sad story 

 from beginning to end, and told how much they had suffered 

 from treachery, and deceit. 



After hearing their tale, the Lady Koeh knew that these were 

 the men who had taken the oath of brotherhood with her late 

 husband, and that like him they were victims of the treacherous 

 minister ; she was therefore moved with compassion towards the 

 priests, and pointing to the grave, related in turn her story, 

 from which the priests learned that they were before the tomb 



