he
came quietly back. In answer to our repeated questions he told us not to
speak, for some bad men were seeking to destroy the boats, and they had
moved away to avoid them. He then led us to the place where one of them
was lying. Before long Tsien and Kuei-hua came and got safely on board,
and soon after we were joined by the teacher Sung, and the boat moved
away.

The cause of all this disturbance was then explained. A man professing
to be the constable had come to the boats in our absence, with a written
demand for ten dollars and a quantity of opium. He stated that there
were more than fifty country people (salt smugglers) awaiting our reply
in an adjoining tea-shop; and if we gave them what they wanted, and
three hundred cash to pay for their tea, we might remain in peace; but
that if not, they would come at once and destroy our boats. Sung told
them that we could not comply with their demand; for, not being engaged
in trade, but only in preaching and book-distribution, we had not an
atom of opium, and that our money was nearly all expended. The man,
however, told him plainly that he did not believe him, and Sung had no
alternative but to seek us out, desiring the man to await our reply. Not
knowing that we had changed our plans, he sought us in the wrong
direction, and of course in vain.

In the meanwhile the boatmen had succeeded in moving off. They were very
much alarmed; and having so recently had proof of what these men would
do in open daylight, felt no desire to experience what they might
attempt by night. Moving away, therefore, they had separated, so that if
one boat should be injured the other might afford us a refuge. It was
after this that we had providentially met the boatman, and had been
safely led on board. As Sung repassed the place where we were previously
moored, he saw between the trees a dozen or more men, and heard them
inquiring where the boats had gone to; but no one could tell.
Fortunately they sought in vain.

After a while the two boats joined, and rowed together for some time. It
was already late, and to travel by night in that part of the country was
not the way to avoid danger from evil men; so the question arose as to
what should be done. This we left for the boatmen to decide; they had
moved off of their own accord, and we felt that whatever we personally
might desire we could not constrain others to remain in a position of
danger on our account. We urged them, however, to do quic