deed too
great."

Disappointed in his hope, and not desiring after this circumstance to
expose his shortcomings to one who was obviously not of a highly-refined
understanding, no matter how great his valour in war or his knowledge of
military affairs might be, Ling endeavoured to lead him to converse of
the bowmen under his charge. In this matter he was more successful, for
the Chief spoke at great length and with evilly-inspired contempt of
their inelegance, their undiscriminating and excessive appetites, and
the frequent use which they made of low words and gestures. Desiring to
become acquainted rather with their methods of warfare than with their
domestic details, Ling inquired of him what formation they relied upon
when receiving the foemen.

"It is a matter which has not engaged the attention of this one,"
replied the Chief, with an excessive absence of interest. "There are so
many affairs of intelligent dignity which cannot be put aside, and
which occupy one from beginning to end. As an example, this person may
describe how the accomplished Li-Lu, generally depicted as the Blue-eyed
Dove of Virtuous and Serpent-like Attitudes, has been scattering glory
upon the Si-chow Hall of Celestial Harmony for many days past. It is
an enlightened display which the high-souled Ling should certainly
endeavour to dignify with his presence, especially at the portion
where the amiable Li-Lu becomes revealed in the appearance of a Peking
sedan-chair bearer and describes the manner and likenesses of certain
persons--chiefly high-priests of Buddha, excessively round-bodied
merchants who feign to be detained within Peking on affairs of commerce,
maidens who attend at the tables of tea-houses, and those of both sexes
who are within the city for the first time to behold its temples and
open spaces--who are conveyed from place to place in the chair."

"And the bowmen?" suggested Ling, with difficulty restraining an
undignified emotion.

"Really, the elegant Ling will discover them to be persons of deficient
manners, and quite unworthy of occupying his well-bred conversation,"
replied the Chief. "As regards their methods--if the renowned Ling
insists--they fight by means of their bows, with which they discharge
arrows at the foemen, they themselves hiding behind trees and rocks.
Should the enemy be undisconcerted by the cloud of arrows, and advance,
the bowmen are instructed to make a last endeavour to frighten them back
by uttering