250 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XV 
with the red-hot poker, so admirably described by Sir 
Walter Scott. 
Had I been an uninterested spectator, I might have 
enjoyed a hearty laugh at the scene before me ; but I 
was in the midst of a strange country and hostile people, 
and, being the weaker party, I felt really alarmed. The 
only weapon in my possession was a small pocket-pistol, 
one of those which are loaded by unscrewing the barrel. 
Thinking that if matters came to the worst this might be 
of some use, either in frightening our assailants or in 
saving my life, I went back to my bed-room and got it 
out. When I examined it I found that the wet had 
rusted the barrel, and it would not unscrew; it was 
therefore of no use. 
The noise still continued, and, if possible, got louder. 
I determined, therefore, to present a bold front, and 
walked straight in amongst the combatants, clearing a 
space between my servant and the others, and asked the 
reason of the disturbance. My chair-bearers and coohe, 
who had always treated me with every respect, immedi- 
ately fell back in the rear, grumbling at the same time 
about some cash which they had not received. On 
inquiring into the business, I found that Sing-Hoo, 
Chinaman-like, not content with what he got from me, 
had been trying to squeeze the chair-bearers and coolie 
out of 300 cash — about a shilling of our money. He 
denied the accusation most stoutly, but I had no doubt 
in my own mind that what the men said was true ; 
besides I was not going to have a disturbance, and per- 
haps lose my life, for a shilling, so I ordered him to pay 
the money without further delay. 
