52 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. III. 
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, how- 
ever, 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 everything 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 were stretched at full length on the 
floor of the boat. As the other passengers were also 
sleeping soundly, I had a little time to think quietly 
over the events of the preceding night, and, being 
anxious to see the old town by daylight, I stepped out 
of the cabin, and took my place on the high stern of the 
boat, near to the old man who stood at the helm. 
The sun was just rising, and its earliest rays were 
