50 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. III. 
country, where the people were generally quiet and 
harmless, an act of the kind could be committed with 
impunity. I therefore did not get up as Wang wished, 
but told him that I should take care to remain awake. 
The city of Wae-ping stands on the high banks of the 
Hwuy-chow river. One of the gates was visible to us 
owing to a blaze of light thrown over it by the torches 
and lanterns of the Chinese. An inclined plane, which 
formed the road, reached from the river up to the gate, 
and was visible from the boat. As all the Chinese carry 
lanterns, it was easy for us to see those who came out of 
the city and descended towards the river. The evening, 
although dark, was perfectly still, so that the sHghtest 
noise could be distinctly heard at a considerable distance. 
At last the city gate opened, and about a dozen men came 
out, each carrying a lantern, and descended the hill 
towards the boat. "Get up, get up ! quick, quick I" said 
my servant, " for here they come." I jumped up im- 
mediately, and waited for the threatened attack with all 
the composure I could command. My two Chinamen 
appeared in a state of great alarm, and kept as close to 
me as they possibly could. At last the foremost man in 
the band approached, and, jumping lightly on board, 
peeped in at the door of our boat. " Hilloa ! what do 
you want ? " cried both of my men at the same time. 
The fellow gave a grin, said he did not want us, and 
jumped from our boat to another which lay alongside. 
His companions also disappeared amongst the sur- 
rounding boats, and left us unmolested. " Now, do 
vou see that ? " said Wang ; " you would not believe me 
when I told you that they intended to seize and drown 
