416 



A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT. 



Chap. XXL 



But the day was now far spent, and my servants 

 and guide knowing better tlian I did the difficulties 

 of our homeward journey by night, begged me to 

 look after the seeds without delay. They also 

 pointed out a man who owned a number of trees, 

 and who had a large quantity of the seeds for sale. 

 We therefore followed this man to his house, and 

 found he had just commenced to clean and dry 

 these seeds for the Ningpo market. It was diffi- 

 cult to strike a bargain as to price, but this was 

 done satisfactorily at last, and the owner engaged 

 to deliver them at Ning-kong-jou in three days. 

 Large quantities of the seeds of the " golden pine " 

 were also contracted for in the same way ; these 

 are now growing in Mr. Grlendinning's nursery at 

 Chiswick. Upon the whole I was highly satisfied 

 with the results of our visit to the " Yalley of the 

 Nine Stones." 



After drinking a cup of tea with the hill farmer 

 ■ — for such he was — we made our adieus to the 

 crowds of villagers and turned our faces home- 

 wards. But it was now nearly five o'clock in the 

 afternoon, and being the end of October it was 

 almost dark. The day too, which had been 

 hitherto so fine, was now overcast ; a thick mist 

 came rolling down the sides of the hills, and it 

 began to rain. Onward we trod for many a 

 weary mile, sometimes missing our way, and 

 having to retrace our steps, while at other times 

 we proceeded with painful uncertainty as to our 

 being in the right road. At last our guide came 



