Chap. IV. 



THE DANGER OVER. 



71 



lantern and do the same. This, however, my ser- 

 vants would not consent to do, as they firmly believed 

 that the sleep of the boatmen was only feigned. 



We were in this state of excitement from eight 

 o'clock in the evening until three next morning. 

 Long before this time the boatmen seemed to be 

 sound asleep. The night was perfectly calm, and 

 the only sound which I heard was the clank of water- 

 wheels, similar to those of the machines I have 

 already described, several of which were moored on 

 the rapids opposite the city. The walls and ramparts 

 of the old town loomed black and prison-like in the 

 darkness, but everything was perfectly quiet, and the 

 whole place seemed sunk in deep sleep. I felt very 

 much inclined to go to sleep myself. This, however, 

 my men remonstrated against, and I was obliged to 

 keep them company for an hour longer. At the end 

 of that time, nothing having happened to keep up the 

 excitement, I felt cold and sleepy — so much so, that 

 no persuasion could keep me awake. Telling Wang 

 to call me if anything suspicious occurred, I lay down 

 without undressing, and was soon dreaming of robbers, 

 boatmen, and water-wheels. 



When I awoke I found that it was daylight, and 

 that we were under way, and proceeding rapidly up 

 the stream. Fifteen of our men were on shore, 

 tracking the boat ; the cook was busily employed 

 making preparation for our morning meal, and every- 

 thing was going on in the usual way, as if nothing 

 had happened to disturb us. My own men, wearied 

 with watching, had fallen into a sound sleep, and 



