Chap. XVII. 



FEAK OF KEVENGE. 



293 



Sing-Hoo was lying on his bed fast asleep with his 

 clothes on, and the opium-smokers had gone off at 

 last into the land of dreams. 



Housing Sing-Hoo, I desired him to go and look 

 after another chair and coolies to take me onwards 

 across the Bohea mountains into the province of 

 Chekiang. He returned saying that all was arranged, 

 and that the men would come to the inn as soon as 

 they had taken their breakfast. In the mean time we 

 ordered breakfast, and began to make preparations 

 for our departure. I felt anxious to leave Pouching- 

 hien before Sing-Hoo's enemies could put into exe- 

 cution any scheme of revenge, which I had no doubt 

 they would attempt if they had time. It turned out 

 afterwards that my fears were not without foun- 

 dation. 



While we were at breakfast one of the men who 

 had been engaged in the brawl on the evening before 

 went out and endeavoured to prevent us from getting 

 men for our journey. He represented that Sing-Hoo 

 was a bad man, and, however fair he promised, yet 

 he would not pay at the end of the journey. He 

 succeeded but too well, for a message came from the 

 men who had been engaged informing us that they 

 declined going, 



" Well, you see what you have done by your 

 foolish conduct," said I to Sing-Hoo; " it is no use 

 attempting to get a chair and coolies in this quarter ; 

 these men will prevent you by every means in their 

 power." " Yes," said he, "I see the only way is to 

 leave this house at once, and cut off all connection 



