ut at first, not being able to understand what he
said; but he had such an evident air about him that he had some kind of
business with me that it at last dawned upon me that he must be Mr.
Gilmour's servant, and this was at once confirmed on the arrival of Lin
Seng, my servant. He had been sent on ahead to announce Gilmour's
arrival. It had been blowing a dust-storm all day, and on that account I
hardly expected Gilmour, but now there was no doubt.

'About four o'clock that afternoon Gilmour arrived, and I shall never
forget that first meeting. I had pictured quite a different-looking man
to myself. I saw a thin man of medium height, with a clean shaven face,
got up in Chinese dress, much the same as the respectable shop-keepers
in that part of the country wear. On his head was a cap lined with cat's
fur. I was struck by the kindly but determined look on his face. He
greeted me most cordially, and I remember he said, "I am glad to see
you." He looked worn out and ill. I at once gave him his letters.

'After arranging his things and seeing his men comfortably settled and
getting over his first interview with the Christians there, he came up
to my room in order to spend the night with me. We sat to all hours of
the morning, chatting about things at home, and about his boys, whom I
had seen before leaving Scotland.

'For the next day he arranged the dreaded interview with Li San down at
the mission premises. Gilmour warned me that it would be a long-winded
affair, and wished me not to expect his return for a good number of
hours. After waiting a long time I went down to see how the interview
was progressing. Li San and Gilmour were sitting on the kang, in tailor
fashion on each side of a low table, and Li San was singing hymns; but
there was a strange look upon his face, as if he did not altogether feel
like singing. Gilmour said to me in English that they had not come to
business yet, and Gilmour was determined that Li San was to say the
first word, so Gilmour invited him to sing hymn after hymn, and then I
left. The whole idea seemed to be to get money out of Gilmour, and when
he found that impossible he threatened to come down to Tientsin to
accuse Gilmour to his missionary colleagues, of having broken his
promise to give him employment. Gilmour had no recollection of having
done so; he said to me that possibly one of his previous assistants may
have on his own responsibility led Li San to form that idea.

'Long Leg