at
all events, and perhaps see something curious."

"But suppose we fall in with the Tae-pings--that would not be pleasant;
they would cut off our heads before we could explain who we were,"
observed Archie, who always took the cautious side.

"They look upon the English as friends, I believe," remarked Charley
Roy. "They might, to be sure, take us prisoners and hold us as
hostages; however, we must take care not to get near them, and by the
last reports they were at Pow-shun, twenty miles off at least."

Notwithstanding the risk they might run, the votes were decidedly in
favour of a ride if horses could be procured. The midshipmen for some
time made inquiries where horses were to be let, in vain. At length
they got a Chinaman to stop and try to understand what they wanted.

Gerald, jumping on Billy's back, sticking his heels into his sides and
beating behind, the Chinaman signified that he comprehended their
meaning, and led the way along several streets until they reached some
stables containing a dozen Tartar ponies, sorry-looking half-starved
animals. An old man with a long pig-tail, dressed in a blue serge shirt
hanging over trousers of the same material, made his appearance, and
again they had recourse to signs to ascertain whether he would let the
horses, and how much they were to pay. To do this Tom produced some
money, which he counted out into the hands of the old man, who
immediately pocketed it, then saddled and bridled one of the ponies,
thus giving the midshipmen to understand that he must be paid
beforehand. As they had no objection to do this, the rest followed
Tom's example.

"Take care no go near Tae-pings," said the old man, showing that he was
accustomed to have dealings with the English, although his stock of
words in that language was limited. The party, having been supplied
with sticks instead of whips, set off in the direction of the west gate,
which was wide open. As no enemy was near and it was supposed that the
English officers were merely about to make a short circuit in the
neighbourhood, they were allowed to pass unquestioned. As soon as they
were clear of the walls, they put their horses into a gallop and dashed
along at full speed, as if they were riding a race, laughing and
shouting, to the great astonishment of the peasantry, who came out of
their cottages to look at them. They had not gone far when they came
upon a small pagoda-shaped edifice, about twenty feet in heig