soldiers and two of their carts. Mr. Goforth did not
wish them to go, for he felt it would greatly increase our danger.

Shortly after they left us the mob began to gather outside our inn. The
gate was barricaded with carts. For hours stones were thrown against the
gate and demand was made for our money. A messenger was at once sent
after the engineers' party, asking them to return. All that night was
spent in sleepless suspense.

Early in the morning the messenger returned with the reply that they had
failed to get help from the Nan Yang Fu official and were obliged to
push on. As soon as the carters heard we were thus left helpless a panic
seized them, and it was with great difficulty they could be persuaded to
harness their animals. All this time the crowd had been becoming more
dense, as we could see through the cracks of the gate, and were
ominously quiet. Hints had been given us of coming danger, but that was
all; none spoke of what all felt,--that we were probably going to our
death.

Suddenly, without the slightest warning, I was seized with an
overwhelming fear of what might be awaiting us. It was not the fear of
_after_ death, but of probable torture, that took such awful hold of me.
I thought, "Can this be the Christian courage I have looked for?" I went
by myself and prayed for victory, but no help came. Just then some one
called us to a room for prayer before getting into our carts. Scarcely
able to walk for trembling, and utterly ashamed that others should see
my state of panic,--for such it undoubtedly was,--I managed to reach a
bench beside which my husband stood. He drew from his pocket a little
book, "Clarke's Scripture Promises," and read the verses his eye first
fell upon. They were the following:

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:
and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say,
Destroy them."

"The God of Jacob is our refuge."

"Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."

"I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my righteousness. . . . The Lord thy God will hold
thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

"If God be for us, who can be against us?"

"We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me."

The effect of these words at such a time was remarkable. All realized
that God was speaking to us. N