380 



ADVENTURE AT NANZIANG. Chap. XIX. 



I liad had no trouble whatever with the authori- 

 ties; and no complaints had been made by them 

 on account of my transgressing the boundary-line 

 drawn out for the restriction of barbarians, or 

 " white devils," as they so politely term us. 

 While congratulating myself upon these results 

 my boat grounded in the midst of the Nanziang 

 canal, and as at least a hundred were in the same 

 predicament ahead of us it was impossible for us 

 to proceed on our journey. My boatmen informed 

 me that it would be necessary to remain where we 

 were until the flood-tide came in, which would be 

 about two or three o'clock in the morning. I 

 was obliged to be contented with this arrange- 

 ment, and went on shore for a walk while my 

 servants were engaged in preparing dinner. 



Between nine and ten o'clock in the evening 

 we retired to rest. As the night was excessively 

 close and warm I allowed the little glass windows 

 in the sides of my boat to remain open in order to 

 admit a little fresh air. These windows were so 

 small that no one could enter the boat by them or 

 take out any of the boxes which lay upon my 

 floor or table. I had, therefore, no suspicion of 

 there being any danger from the arrangement, 

 which added considerably to my comfort. As all 

 the people in the boat, as well as myself, were 

 early risers, and had plenty to do during the day, 

 we were soon fast asleep. 



About two in the morning I was awakened by 

 a loud yell from one of my servants, and I sus- 



