1 1 1 1 UC-NRLF ■ ■ 1 1 B 3 SMfi 23D 1 1 B » 1 y 3A "^ 1 ^ J • i A V Vl Y •P \ 111 A /i /1 1 /f V m^ |]^| j^l S ml litil iiii w lu/ivi D J J ■■ '5 >' » >> J > » THE YOUNG MANDARIN a Storj of Cjjinrsr ILifr BY THE REV. J. A. DAVIS Author of " The Chinese Slave Girl,'' *' Tom Hard," " Choh Lin, the Chinese Boy who became a Preacher," " Leng Tso, the Bible Woman," " The Flaw in the Iron," " liescue the Drunkard," " Upton," etc. BOSTON AND CHICAGO: Congrrgatianal 5unDaii-Srf)Ool anti ^Elublisfjtng Socictg. Main lib. JOHN FRTER CHINESE LIBRARY Copyright, 1896, * BY Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Co t|)f iHtmovy of ^ (3vtat iflan, a (L(3ort|)P fftieifiionarp, tbc 3lutl)or*6 LoDrtj anH J)clpfttl f ncnU, REV. J. Y. N. TALMAQE, D.D., for more tban fortp prarc a ;fHifi6ionarp in Cbtna, QL\)iii ^ook 16 ^{lecttonattlp £)etiicatcD. 747824 PREFACE. The following story, though not all fact, is not fiction. Its incidents are either real occurrences or like them. The official corruption presented may be less in other localities ; yet it is to be feared that it is general and great. The customs described may diftef in other parts of China; the author has presented what he knew prevailed in the vicinity of Amoy, his home for a time. The facts regarding the famine were gathered from pub- lished reports of missionaries and from statements made by missionaries to the author. At least one of those stated that sixty-three per cent, of government appropriations were taken for their own use by mandarins, instead of being applied for the relief of suffering. The Tai Ping Kebellion is, of course, a matter of history; but the faets relating to the capture of Amoy were obtained from him whose name appears on the page of dedication. And to him tlie author is indebted for many other facts and incidents of the story. The purpose of the writer is apparent ; he wishes to add to the general knowledge regarding one of the most remark- able nations of history. China is coming to the front, and growing in power as she is in importance. She cannot remain in the background, nor can nations force her to the rear. An unseen power is bringing the whole world out of darkness and toward the Centre of civilization. In the great problems to be solved the Middlf Kingdom will prove an important factor. It may be that in the near futui-e her present government will disappear with the Tartar rulers. But the Chinese are not disappearing either from their own land or any other 5 6 PREFACE. where they find an abiding place. Drive them out by force and some day they will come back with power greater than that driving them away. They have long memories, are persistent haters, as they have warm hearts and do not for- get favors. Four hundred millions of them exist; and Christianity must consider the people of the Middle King- dom. It nmst consider them other than savage or even lialf civilized. They are a mighty people just beginning to awake to realize what powers are latent within them. That mass of human beings, each one with elements of a persist- ent foe or faithful friend, each one capable of becoming a noble or villain, each one of the hundred million able to bear arms will, if well disciplined and armed under com- manders in whom they confide and with a cause worth fighting for, prove himself a soldier who can die as well as do. There is only one reasonable, honorable, safe way of treating the Chinese. Give them the gospel in practice as well as in theory and there will be no Chinese problem for solution. The Author. CONTENTS. CHAFIER I. A Little Stranger 9 CHAPTER 11. Early Days 24 CHAPTER III. The Tai Ping Rebellion 39 CHAPITER IV. Victory "^^ CHAFPER V. Calamities ^'^ CHAPrER VI. Seeking the Lost "^'^ CHAPTER VII. The Robbers' Fate 90 CHAPTER VIII. Found at Last lO''^ CHAPTER IX. A Crucifixion 120 CHAPTER X. Festivals 131 CHAFFER XI. Dogs 1^7 CHAFFER XII. A Student 1^'^ CHAPTER XIII. Visiting the Country 168 CHAPTER XIV. A Prisoner 178 7 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. Free Again 190 CHAPTER XVI. A Fisherman 201 CHAPTER XVn. A Cabin Boy 213 CHAPTER XVni. A Graduate . 229 CHAPTER XIX. Captain Thean 244 CHAPTER XX. A Mandarin 259 CHAPTER XXI. Foreigners 276 CHAPTER XXII. Famine 291 CHAPTER XXIII. Tried 304 CHAPTER XXIV. Sorrow at Home 317 CHAPTER XXV. Pirates 334 CHAPTER XXVI. Settling Difficulties 34G CHAPTER XXVII. Tried Again 362 CHAPTER XXVIII. Degraded 375 :'•.•■! ,', THE YOUNG MANDARIN. CHAPTER I. A LITTLE STRANGER. A YOUNG Cbiiiamiiu, man}' years ago, left his home in the country to seek his fortune in Amoy. Finding no other business, he hired out to an owner of vessels, and became a boatman. Active, faithful, cheerful, and obliging, he made man}' friends, some among foreign captains. These advised him to buy a boat and begin business for himself. Two years after coming to the port. Tun Lin, or Lin Tun, as the Chinese called him, owned a boat and was making money. Shrewd, alert, he never allowed a chance to earn a cash to pass without improving it. Early and late, in sunshine and storm, in his boat, he gained much business that others might have missed. Before he had been his own master twenty months he was counted among the prosperous boatmen of Amoy. Then he bought another boat and hired a man to manage it for him, and so added to his dollars. " Tun Hia, now that you are making money, why 9 no :' THE YOUNG MANDARIN, not get a wife?" asked a comrade, as the boatmen were waiting one day at the jetty for passengers. Hia is Chinese for " brother," and is used as we use the term. " Wives cost too much, or I might have bought one long ago," was the reply. " They are cheap now. A good woman can be had for a hundred dollars," said another. *'That is a large sum to pay. At my home they were often bought for half of that. If they had not been as cheap, half the women would have remained unmarried," spoke Tun, or Mr. Lin, as he may be known. " Fifty dollars ! I would like to know what kind of women can be had for that price. I would get a wife myself if I could get a good one for fifty dollars," chimed in another boatman. "Where" would you ever get fifty dollars? As soon as you have one, you gamble it away," said a comrade. " If I had a wife and children I might save money for them," responded the gambler. " A man must have some pleasure." " Tun Hia, I know of a first-class woman whom you can get for less than a hundred dollars if you try at once. Her fatlier and brothers failed to marry her to the man of their choice, and now cannot find good A LITTLE STBANGEB. H men to take her ; yet she is a number one good woman. I know that to be true." " Where is the woman ? " asked two or three at once. " If Tun Hia wants to know I can tell him at the proper time," was the answer, '' but I do not mean to tell every one." When it was known that the prosperous young boatman wished a wife, professional matchmakers visited him and commended scores of most desirable women for his choice. Of course he was not allowed to see any, nor even told wlio they were until he seemed ready to begin bargaining for a wife. As he showed interest in the matter, the matchmakers con- tinued to come witli new liargains, better than any before offered. Gradually the boatman learned what kind of wives were in the market, and then his own preferences, and he was ready to talk business. After the choice was made came the question of price ; and on that was many a hopeful bargain wrecked. At last the price of the boatman and matchmaker approached agreement. Each haggled over the dollar that separated them until the bargain seemed destined to take its place with many others. In vain the boatman urged that such a woman could be found everywhere ; in vain the other that the world never had but one, and she was now offered the boatman for the last time. The agreement, after several months of bargaining, 12 THE YOUNG MANDAIim. was reached and first payment made ; so Mr. Lin was euo-ased to be married. Nor could he withdraw with- out disgrace, and, what meant even more to him, paving a large sum as forfeit. Yet he had never seen his betrothed, nor even her picture. Like his fellows, he was content to wait to see his bride until the day of the wedding ; nor did he lie awake at night thinking about her. True philosopher that he was, he reasoned that he wot\ld know her looks soon enough. Then, if beautiful, he would be all the more delighted ; if homely, he would at all events remain in ignorance of the fact until his wedding day. That long-set day arrived, and Amoy harbor had one idle boat and absent boatman. Though he did not go to the home of the bride, he remained at his own newly rented and furnished home that day, wait- ing for the wedding party. His own parental home was too far away, business too urgent, for him to lose time in travel. He meant to begin housekeeping at once, so the bride might as well come to her future home for the wedding. Of course it would be contrary to Chinese custom for the marriage to take place in the home of the bride. In due time the wedding took place, the young couple started housekeeping, and the boatman returned to his business a married man, and commanding more respect from his comrades. They did not serenade A LITTLE STB ANGER. 13 nor ridicule, but congratulated him on bis entering married life, and hopelessly sighed over their own bachelorhood. Before he lived in Chiua, the writer asked, what many readers may wish to know, " How can it be that many female infants in China are put to death, and yet leave enough to provide every man with one, some with two and more wives?" The answer is, while an unmarried woman beyond twenty is sel- dom found, beyond twenty-five hardly ever, there is a multitude of bachelors in Chiua. Many cannot afford to support a wife and family, more cannot afford to purchase a wife. Even if they could there are not enough to go round. While Chinese deu}^ tliat women are bought for wives, it is merely a matter of terms. Tliey say the woman's parents or relatives have been at great ex- pense in rearing the future wife, and that the money paid is merely to repay what has been spent on the woman. They even refuse to use terms of remunera- tion, saying that it is merely a dowry. This is not the place to discuss the subject ; the facts have been stated, the reader may apply terms as appear suitable. A year went by and the couple were childless. Two passed and no son nor even daughter gladdened the home. The third ended and yet the two were alone. 14 THE YOUNG MANDARm. Young Mrs. Lin was not a devout idolater, but she visited temples more and more as these years came and went, and prayed the gods, especially " Mother," the goddess of children, for a son. Said a friend to her : — " Your husband is a boatman, why not pray to Ma- tsaw-po, the goddess of sailors? She is obliged to hear your prayers." ''I have done so often," was the repl}^ "but in vain." ''Have you prayed to her attendants. Favorable- wind-ear and Thousand-li-eye ? They have great influence over her. One, you know, can hear wind coming at a great distance ; the other can see it a thousand li (half as many miles) awa}^" '• I will ask their help, too, yet fear my prayers are doomed to disappointment. Fortunately my husband's mother is coming to live with us, because his father is dead now. As she is very devout and visits the tem- ple daily, her supplications may be heard." The boatman's mother came and made her home with her eldest son, and at once became mistress of the house. Though her privilege and duty to live with her eldest son, if her home was broken up, the older Mrs. Lin felt another inducement to make her son's home her own. Though she had brought him up a faithful worshiper of the gods, Amoy society and a A LITTLE STBAyGEB. 15 boatman's life had made him forget gods, temples, everything pertaining to religion, except the cere- monies of tlie New Year. Said the mother soon after moving to Amoy : — "There is reason for gods refusing to hear your wife's prayer for a son. You have turned from the gods yourself. They have forgotten you. Until you worship them again you need not expect favors from them." " My worthy mother forgets," said Mr. Lin, " that while my wife worships I earn the money to pay for the offerings. Why should I lose time and money too at the temples, when my wife can pray for both of us?" '* You wish prosperity. Do you suppose the gods will give if 3'ou never visit their houses nor ask their help ? " " I am prosperous already." " Simply because the gods remember your former faithfulness. AVlien they forget or have paid fully for that, then will come adversity, trial, loss, perhaps ruin and death." " Some of the most prosperous men in Amoy never visit a temple from the beginning to the end of the year." *'How many more are poor, wretched, miserable, and worthless ! Never, my son, neglect the gods if you wish their help or prosperity." 16 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. Two 3'ears after the mother came to her son's house, Mr. Liu was proud to hear himself called father. A. son had come to bless his home. Shortly after the proud father had greeted his child he heard a voice, as he was hurrying along the street to business, calling : — " Ka li kiong-lii!" (Unto you congratulations.) ''Why congratulate me?" asked Mr. Lin, turning and bowing to his friend San Tuk, who stood with clasped hands and face wreathed in smiles, bowing humbly to the boatman. " I have just learned of the arrival at your home of a young prince." " Your worth}^ self is exhausting your strength by honoring me thus, and I thank you ten thousand times." ' ' The arrival is a prince then ? " '' Yes ; the little dog has come to my hovel." ''Ten thousand congratulations. I was sure it would be a prince that would honor your palace. May he live ten thousand years and add luster to his worthy father's noble name. If he imitates his noble parent, he will shed a flood of sunlight on tliis earth." " You honor greatly your most unworthy slave by showing me such attention. What am I, and the little cur in my hut, that we should receive such good wishes from one so noble as he is who addresses me?" A LITTLE STBANGEB, 17 After more compliments, and many a mutual bow and clasp of their own hands, the two, while facing each other, moved backward, and finally each went on his way. And this is Chinese politeness. Had the child been a girl, Mr. San would have dropped his hands by his side, hung his head, muttered a few condolences in an undertone, and escaped as quickly as possible from his friend. The birth of a girl does not call for joy, but sorrow. It means useless cost without due return. It means that, though the home is not childless uow% in the future when children are needed to care for parents in old age, and for their spirits after death, there will be no child to do it. Because girls must marry and leave their homes when they reach womanhood, and after that belong to another family, because they cannot care for the spirits of their ancestors, but must care for those of the husband's family, girls are not wanted. Their birth is counted a calamity. Nor are those the only reasons. Girls cannot work as boys do ; they cannot add to the scanty earnings of the fatlier; instead, they add to the expense of the family. Still another reason is present in the mind of many a mother. By sad experience she knows that woman is a slave, hardly reckoned human^and doomed to a life of degra- dation and confinement; therefore the mother looks on her infant daughter as entering on a life of un- 18 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. known but certain sorrow and trial, and her mother's heart forgets her own joy in the smile of the little one, as she thinks of the daughter's later sorrow. With the birth of his child came a change in the life of the boatman as regards gods and temples. He said that the child must have all the good it could get from every god and temple in Amoy ; and no offering must be spared that promised a return to the little one. He added that every ceremony for children must be observed and no custom omitted. Old Mrs. Lin was delighted. She believed her son was coming back to idolatry, and her own devotion to the gods was greater than ever. She called to mind, and refreshed her memory by consulting other grand- mothers on every custom and ceremony for children known in that part of China. Shortly after the birth of the child a red cord was tied about each wrist, and a few days later another bearing Chinese cash — a large copper coin — was fastened around his neck. The red color Avould give good luck, the cords on the wrists would keep hands out of mischief and make the child obedient, wliile the cord about his neck would keep evil spirits away, and the cash would prevent his having the colic. When the little one was tw6 weeks old his grand- mother carried him to the temple of " Mother," and with many thanks and offerings of gratitude prayed A LITTLE STB AN GEE. 19 the goddess to take care of, keep from illness, and make very prosperous the child whom she had given in answer to prajer. The last petition was that, above all, the child might become rich. It was the one uni- versal prayer for children. China has many gods, and it is often asked which is supposed to be tlie mightiest. "Were the question, Which controls the hearts of the people? the answer would be, The Almighty Dollar. Except his ancestral tablets, the Chinaman will sell everything for money, if the price be sufficient. Wife, children, even his own life are not too precious, if the dollars in return for the sacrifice be very many. Nor does many mean millions or even thousands. A few hundred to him make a fortune. With interest from ten to twenty, and even more, per cent., — and living costs ver}' little, — a few hundreds will support a family. Fifty dol- lars a year is a fair, even above the average, income of the laboring man. When his child was a mouth old, Mr. Lin invited relatives and friends to his house to a feast in honor of the young son. Each guest was expected to bring a present for parents or child ; and each expected another fully as good in return. Among the guests was Mrs. Wong, the boatman's mother-in-law. Be- cause a grandmother, she brought clotiiing, sweet cakes, duck eggs on which were painted pictures of 20 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. flowers, animals, and children, and other tokens of love. When the guests had come Mrs. Lin took her child, followed by the whole company, to the room in which were kept the ancestral tablets, and seated herself before a table on which were lighted candles and incense sticks. After the company became quiet, old Mrs. Lin begged the spirits in the tablets to notice and accept the ceremony to be performed in their presence. Then a barber among the guests stepped forward, and with a small but sharp razor shaved every particle of hair from the head of the child. During this operation the people looked on and praised most warmly the child, his courage, his beauty, his prospects, and not least, though in lower tones, his parents. The Chinese say it prevents baldness to shave a child's head in infancy. Though the practice of shaving the head of every man disguises baldness, it is doubtful if there be men with bald crowns — the portion unshaven — in that empire. Shaving the head and wearing the queue are a Tar- tar, not Chinese custom. Before the Tartars con- quered the country the people wore their hair long and fastened in a tuft at the top. After the Mantchu Tartars, in 1644, came into power, they hinted that the conquered people should adopt the queue. The hint A LITTLE STBAXGEB. 21 was taken by many ; more declined, and the hint was made stroDger. Not until the people learned that they had little chance for justice if they did not wear the queue did they accept, then unwillingly, the new custom. Now the men seem proud of this abomina- tion. But it is as well that they extract pride from necessity, for hair worn by men in the old Chinese style is regarded as a declaration of rebellion. So he who follows the old custom soon has no head on which to wear a queue. After his son's head had been shaved the boatman asked the barber what reward should be given for such acceptable services. The man of the razor replied that he could not fur a moment think of accepting pay for such an honor as had ])een conferred on him. In after years he woukl look with i)ride on this day and service, for doubtless it would be said that he "had shaved for the first time the head of that great man." Flattery pleases in all lands, even though it seldom deceives. Mr. Lin miglit not believe all the barber said, but he rewarded hira well, nevertheless, for his good wishes. The next ceremony was giving a name. Though he would keep this only until he began school days, and must change again when he married, the first would be the most important name of his life, and the most 22 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. dangerous for the child. To give a grand one would mean to evil spirits, demons, and foes that the child was beloved, and that great expectations rested in him. So, to trouble others, they need but afflict the little one. While girls, who are of little importance, may be left nameless, or simply numbered., or receive such names as Ti (pig), Miau (cat), Kow (dog), Him (bear), Sai (lion), or better such as star, mountain, river, boys are named with far greater care. Their names, however, may be almost anything from the meanest animal up to the noblest virtue known. But the boy must get his name when a month old ; the girl, when- ever it pleases friends to bestow one. If she be for- gotten, her companions give a nickname that soon becomes her permanent property. While a noble name may be dangerous for a boy, to dispute about it even is counted unsafe. The dispute will attract the attention of evil ones, and mark the child for future troubles. Though guests share in choosing and giving a name, the Lins deemed' it wise to decide on one before the feast. "Tee Siek" was chosen, and every guest declared that it was the best possible name for the child. If the first syllable be spoken in a rising tone, the name means of little accou7it, if in a falling tone, the meaning is wisdom. They w^ould speak to mean A LITTLE STEAXGER. 23 the first while they thought of him as the second ; thus would please themselves and deceive evil ones. After giving the name came the feast. This was the grand occasion for Mr. Lin's poor relatives and friends ; and they made the most of it. Soups, fish, meats, vegetables in great variety had a place there, and not least were wines and samsJni^ or rice whis- key. Though each drank, none became intoxicated. Drunkenness is not a Chinese vice. Of course tea was provided in abundance, and each drank more of that than of stronger fluids. Water did not appear. Chinese think that very good for watering plants and cattle, but unfit for quenching human thirst. At the close of the feast came the parting with guests, and a test of power in offering and receiving compliments. Parents and child must have the most and best praises that the guests could pour upon them. Nor could the Lins suffer themselves to be outdone. Slowly disappeared the company ; and then came the time for selecting presents to send after them. For good wish and word of flattery a return of gratitude in gifts was sent, and all remembered the Lins as hospitable, liberal hosts. If each child was honored with such a feast, then the friends hoped the Lins would have ten thousand children. CHAPTER II. EARLY DAYS. THE Lins invited their friends and relatives to another feast when Tee Siek was four months old. Each guest brought, as usual, a present for parents or child, and old Mrs. Wong offerings for *' Mother" and sweets for her grandson. Beside those she had a bright red chair and a huge piece of molasses candy. After the friends had arrived the grandmothers led the way to the room in which were kept idols and ancestral tablets ; and, while the spectators were find- ing good places to stand, the two old ladies were preparing for the ceremonies. Speedily came silence, and then the grandmothers made offerings to the gods, and presented thanksgivings and prayer in behalf of Tee Siek. When the idols had received due attention, Mr. Lin's turn came. He placed food and drink before the ancestral tablets, and then bowed in prayer to the spirits of the dead. He thanked them for caring for his son, praised their goodness, and told how much they were missed on earth ; then asked their favor in the future for his child, and prayed them to make him great and very rich. 24 EARLY DAYS, 25 Some readers may not know what an ancestral tablet is ; therefore others will pardon the author for giving a description here. While many are plain, some are elaborately carved ; yet the general appearance of ancestral tablets is the same. They are made of three pieces of wood : a base, about an inch in height, two in width, and four in length, and two uprights. These latter fit closely together, are mortised in the base, and appear like one piece ; but the front one is only about two thirds the height of the other, and unites with it undtT a project- ing top. Tlie two together are about an inch thick, two wide, and from twelve to twenty high. On the front ui)right are carved or painted the names of the deceased, and of the emperor reigning at the time of deatli ; and lower, on the left hand in small characters, the name of tiie son who had the tablet made. On the back of the front piece or front of the back one, and hidden from view, are recorded the cause of death and other facts regarding the one whose spirit is to dwell iu the wood. The new tablet is carried in a sedan chair to the grave iu an honored place in the funeral procession, and, after the burial, one of the spirits supposed to inhabit the body is persuaded to enter the wood, which is then marked , with vermilion and forever after regarded as sacred. The tablet is carried back to the 26 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. home of the eldest son of the deceased, and tliere given food, drink, and worship as if it were a god. For at least three generations it must be earefully kept and worshiped, then may be burned, but its ashes must be sacredly buried. Several stories are told by the Chinese to explain the origin of the ancestral tablet. One is the follow- ing : — A boy, who saw the hard struggle of his parents to support him and themselves, determined that they should not work at all after he became a man, if able to provide for tlieni. Before he reached manhood his parents died. Since he could keep his resolution in no other way, he made wooden images of his father and mother and worshiped them as gods, and gave them food and drink. When the young man married, his wife ridiculed his devotion to the images, and showed her contempt for them by pricking each with a needle. To her astonishment, blood flowed from the wounds. She tried to keep her act from her husband, but, on his return home at night, he saw tears in the eyes of both images, and then discovered what his wife had done. He was so indignant that he promptly got a divorce from her. In Southern China the people believe that each body has three spirits (in Northern China the number seems to be greater) , and at death one goes into the spirit EARLY DAYS. 27 world, another remains with tlie body at the grave, and tlie third enters the tablet. The tirst is worshiped for a month in spring, the second during another mouth in summer, and the third all the year round. Probably none can tell which spirit enters a body the second time and is l)orn tmew, nor what becomes of the s[)irit that resided in it after the tablet is l)urned. The superstitions regarding the spirits of the dead are as various as thev an; vaijrue. The religious ceremonies inded, .Mrs. Wcjiig set the red chair in the middle uf the room, while old ]\lrs. Lin wanned and s[)ieatl tlie mulasses candy on the seat. Then the child's niotln'r liaiidi-d him to his paternal grandmother, who sat him in tlie cliair, and, pressing him gently until he was seated llrmly on the candy, left him to sit alone for tlie first time in his life. Again praises and admiration for the child and compliments for the parents were in order. AVhile the company stood admiring, a bowl of chicken broth was lirought and the little fellow fed by a grandmother. Bits of meat were given also, and then, after having sat alone and eaten animal and solid food, little Tee Siek was removed from the chair and allowed to go to sleep, while the guests enjoyed the feast prepared for them. When a year old the child was honored with a birthday party. Again friends and relatives, and 28 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. more than on former occasions, came, each bearing a present to celebrate the day. Mrs. Wong's offering, as usual, was the most important and best. This time she brought, among other things, a cap and pair of slippers. Such feasts always begin with religious ceremonies if mothers have anything to do with them, and Mrs. Lin the elder was mistress ; so nothing relating to gods or ancestors was omitted. After worship came the great event of the child's life. Tee Siek was a year old, and the time had come for him to choose, at least to indicate, his profession or business. AVhat though he were too young to know ? He was merely an instrument directed by some hidden power ; and friends wished to know what that power had chosen as the business of the child. A sieve, used for cleaning rice, had been set on a table in front of the ancestral tablets, and on it scat- tered the various implements and tools representing the occupations of men in China. A small space was left near the middle, and on that Tee Siek was placed and left alone. This was a serious, an anxious, a critical time ; and every guest was silent, while parents and grandparents looked on in almost breathless anxiety. Next to parents and grandparents, the older members of the company stood nearest to the child ; while children EARLY DAYS. 29 climbed chairs and benches to watch in serious silence the movements of the little one. Thouglh the vounger Mrs. Liu stood with eyes fixed on her child, intently studying his face and every movement of his hands, the father was still more intent. He hardly moved a muscle or even winked an eye. His soul seemed absorbed iu his son, and forgetful of everything but the choice that was to declare the future of his boy. Old Mrs. Lin was a study. She stood as if- cut in stone. If it iia do so forever. Again guests gathered around as the two grtind- mothers took charge of the child. Old iNIrs. Lin set him on his feet on the floor, holding his hands lest he fall, and Mrs. Wong seized a broad-bladed knife and prepared for work. While one grandmother led the little fellosv along and encouraged him to walk, the other kept close behind and pretended to cut invisible threads supposed to tangle the feet. For a few steps 32 THE YOUNG 3IANDARIN. the child staggered along, led by his grandmother Lin, and then the walking ceremony ended, and the child's duties for the day were over. Before he was two years old, Tee Siek grew thin, weak, and seemed wasting with a hidden disease. Remedies used by his mother and grandmother had no effect, and his parents became alarmed. Old Mrs. Lin persuaded her sou to send for a Tauist priest rather than a doctor, because, as she declared, the gods were angry and punished the child for the father's neglect of temple worship. Though Chinese usually call doctors in time of sick- ness, the more devout idolaters frequently summon Tauist priests. If doctors fail to cure, then the patrons turn to the priests too ; in the same way the devout ones turn to doctors if priests fail. The fact is, that there is little to choose between the two classes ; and the probabilities are that whichever is chosen, the sufferer will wish he had been placed under the other's care. Money at times makes a difference. The doctor states his price ; the priest leaves that to the liberality of the patrons. It is a common thing for friends of the sufferer to bargain with the doctor, and offer him a certain sum to cure the patient. If he, after a long dicker, refuses to accept the terms offered, another is sought. The purpose is to get the most medicine, EARLY DAYS. 33 and cure of course, for the least amount of money. If a doctor fail to etfect a cure within a fixed limit, be may be discharged and another called in. There is little professional pride or honor among Chinese physi- cians ; nor is tiiis strange, for many of them are doctors because that pays best. Many who fail in other lines of business, be it what it may, become physicians. Perhaps they reason that every man has Ins forte; and since theirs proved to be nothing else, it must, therefore, be in the medical profession. Theirs is rather 9. profei^fiinii thun j^ossessiou ^ for not a few Ciiinese doctors have no more knowledge of medicines than tiieir i)alients. Instead of one, four priests came. The leader ex- plained that he woukl need help, and that his com- panions were anxious to do what they could to assist in the recovery of a member of such a devout family. The men came before breakfast, but did not work before eating, though they examined the child, and discussed the disease and its best remedy. Work began after breakfast, not, however, for the child, but the goddesses expected. Paintings of "Mother" and other goddesses were hung on the wall ; a table, on which were ten dishes with meats and fruit, was placed in the center of the room, and in front of the paintings were set four tables, one on the top of the other, the smallest near the ceiling. On 34 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. this last the leader set in order, as his companions handed them, small images, lighted incense sticks, and burning candles. Next the priests asked for such things as ladies use in preparing for company, and placed in another room wash bowl, pitcher, hot water, towels, artificial flowers, paint, and other toilet articles, and then left the room for the deities supposed to be waiting to prepare for the feast. Then they made a light door frame of bamboo, so braced that it could be set anywhere without falling over. This completed, they supposed the goddesses ready for dinner, so summoned them to the feast. The leader prayed, his first assistant rang a bell, the second clanged his cymbals, and the third beat a drum. Prayer and clang, ringing and beating, con- tinued for several minutes, until the goddesses were surely at dinner ; then the priests prepared to enjoy another meal themselves. So leisurely had been their work, so many consultations seemed necessary, that the dinner hour had arrived when they were ready to eat. The men were in no luirry to begin real work after dinner. They excused their tardiness by saying that it would not do to hurry the deities in the other room, lest they be offended and decline to assist. Late in the afternoon, however, they were ready, and said that EABLY DATS. 35 the deities were too, so time for the important serv- ice of the day came. This was called the ceremony of Passing Through the Door. The leader, dressed as "Mother," but handling a sword, took a position near the door frame, standing in the middle of the room, and behind him came Mr. Lin with the child in his arms ; right behind, as near to her son as possible, stood old Mrs. Lin, and directly back of her the mother of the sufferer. The other priests, one with a bell, another with cymbals, and the third with his drum, stood near the frame, but out of reach of the swordsman. When all were ready the leader began to shout, meanwhile to cut with his sword, up, down, right, left, backward, and in front, as he called to all demons, evil spirits, and bad inlluences to get out of the way or be cut in pieces. His voice was the signal for l)ell, cymbals, and drum, and the clang and clatter were enough to frighten human beings if not demons. For a few minutes the priests continued ; then the leader changed his tone and language. He now l)e- sought, as earnestly as before he had commanded, but his prayer was to the goddesses, gods, good spirits, and all friendly powers, to protect the family behind him, and especially to favor the little sufferer. As he began this praj^er, the leader began the pro- cession through the door frame, closely followed by 3G THE YOUNG MAN DAB IN. the Lins. A slioi't silence came after tlie family had gone beyond tlie frame. That was (juickly moved to a corner of the room, and again with sword thrusts, shouts of warning, and threats of most horrible suffer- ings if t]io\" came in his reach, tlie leader called to every evil power to get out of the way. Again his companions began their noise, and again with changed voice and threats transformed to prayers, the priest led the Lins for the second time through the door frame. Once more there was silence, then a removal to another corner, and again the family followed the leader through it, after he had w^arned foes and be- sought friends. Thus each corner in turn was visited ; then the frame was set for the second time in the mid- dle of the room, and the first procession repeated. Hardly had Mrs. Lin gone through before each priest dropped his instrument and sprang to the frame with hammer and hatchet, beating and cutting it into hun- dreds of pieces. These w^re hastily gathered and every portion burned; and then the ceremony ended. Its object was to confuse and bewilder the evil spirits troubling the child, and to get him beyond their reach and into the power of the goddesses. Then by passing through the door again and again the evil ones w'ould be the more perplexed to find the child. After the door frame was destroyed they could not possibly discover his place. EABLY DAYS. 37 "You need have no further fear for your child," said the leading priest to Mr. Lin. " He will speedily recover. Should he ever be in danger hereafter, the goddesses whom you have so hospitably entertained will see that he is protected." "And what reward may I give for your most acceptable services?" asked the boatman. " Do you suppose we would have darkened your door had we thought of pay or reward of any kind? It is enough to know that we iiave served faithful friends of the gods. We will not. cannot, accept the slightest token of gratitude even. "We serve the gods, and you liave sliowu ;ig;iiu and again your gratitude to them, so we ask nothing more." Notwithstanding the at lirst angry protest of all the priests, and their later refusal to accept any reward, Mr. Lin insisted that he could not allow them to leave without some slight token of gratitude. Tiiough the men declared that they would carry notiiiug whatever along, they concluded that it would be most ungrateful if they refused everything, and ended by taking all Mr. Lin gave. Shrewd man I he knew that if he did not give liber- ally they would tell everybody they met that he was a meau, stingy miser, who got all he could and gave nothing in return. Now they extolled his liberality to the skies. 38 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. Instead of recovering, Tee Siek grew worse. Doc- tors were summoned and changed, but no change for the better in the child. Mother and grandmother visited temple after temple, praying nnd offering to the gods without success. Like wise women, they did not neglect remedies of their own, and before death came they found a remedy that was successful. Tee Siek began to improve. Before his third birthday he was well again. CHAPTER III. THE TAI PINO REBELLION. NEAR the date of Tee Siek's birth a noted rebel- lion began about one hundred miles southwest of the city of Canton. Its leader, Hung Siu Tsuu, was an educated man and a graduate. He learned about Christianity through an American missionary, and applied for baptism. Though this request was denied, he persisted in declaring himself a Christian, and made the New Testament his religious guide. Soon he became a teacher of Christianity, and pro- claimed it by preaching and writing in prose and poetry. Earnestly, eloquently, he pleaded with his countrymen to turn from idols and superstition to the true God. He was very bitter against idolatry and idols, and said that images should not even be allowed to exist ; thus he prepared the way for their destruc- tion. The new teacher seemed sincere, and foreigners believed him a true Christian ; for his life was accord- ing to his doctrine. Before the new doctrines attracted attention Hung Siu Tsun had no less than three thousand disciples ; and multitudes more were interested in him and his teaching. Most of these gave up idols, but not an- 39 40 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. cestml tablets, and accepted Jesus Christ as their God, and the New Testament as tlie book of their religion. By and by the new worship and doctrines began to attract the attention of the rich, learned, and official classes, lliough they cared little for religion, they saw hidden in this new faith rebellion and an over- throw of the imperial government. Rather than make war on Hung Siu Tsun, these leaders aroused the com- mon people against the new faith. The lower classes, believing that temples, gods, tablets, ancestral w^orship, everything pertaining to religion, would be destroyed if speedy and severe measures w^cre not employed, began at once to oppose Hung Siu Tsun and his followers. They forbade him to preach, and commanded his followers to cease their worship, threatening, if their commands were dis- obeyed, to punish severely the disobedient. They waited hardly long enough to see what the result of their threats would be. Taking for granted that the new religion must be rooted out by force, they com- menced their work of persecution and punishment. The new teacher taught that his disciples should submit to persecution rather than fight ; but when they were assailed and likely to be killed, he bade them defend themselves. This tliey were only too ready and willing to do. They resisted the foe and THE TAI PING REBELLION. 41 fought bnively. The result of the first fight was a complete victory for the disciples of the reformer. Stinging under the shame and disgrace of defeat, the enemy massed larger numbers and renewed the attack. They sought to take the disciples unawares, but in vain. While the attacking party fought against those believed to be foes of faith and fatherland, the other fought for religion, liberty, and life. The strug- gle was severe, but resulted in a complete victory for Hung Siu Tsun. Other battles followed and with like results. Tlie assailants were driven back each time with heavy loss, and the disciples of the reformer proved the better warriors. Seeing that he must fight if he would preach, Ilun Siu Tsun settled it as a part of his faith that he must become a soldier. Though he did not cease to preacli and write the new doctrines, he gathered and dis- ciplined soldiers to battle for them. Nor did he pur- pose remaining on the defensive. After a number of defeats the foes of the reformer became wary and kept away from his camp. They became suspicious that some hidden yet mighty power was helping him, and that their efforts to overthrow the new religion would result in their own destruction. The followers of the teacher now, elated by success, demanded that they be led against their foes. The 42 THE YOlLVa MANDAEIN. leader liesitated. He knew that meant rebellion, and death to every rebel, should tlie efforts prove unsuc- cessful. And success meant nothing less than the overthrow of the Tartar government and establish- ment of a new em[)ire. Yielding to the demands of his followers, to the extent that he was willing to attack those who had shown most hostility to his disciples, the teacher led against several towns and invariably captured them. The fear of the conquering force often did as much as Hung Sin Tsun's soldiers ; and villages yielded after a slight resistance, some without a liattle. The commander of the victoi'ious disciples gained a thirst for conquest. His forces were increasing, his power growing, his reputation spreading, and he yielded to the passion. Perhaps he was unconscious of the inspiration, for he professed to be moved b}^ an entirely different purpose. That was to marcli through the land with his victorious disciples, pro- claim tlie new doctrine, and then overtin-ow the im- perial government, and in its stead set up another kingdom. This he made known as his grand purpose. He proclaimed his new government as the Tai Flng Kok, or Great Peace Kingdom, and set out for the north. Instead of coming by hundreds, recruits flocked to the T.'ii Ping army, as it was called, by thousands. THE TAI riXCr BEBELLIOX. 4 o These were composed of all kinds of people, good, bad, worse, aud worst. Many seekers after the truth came to hear and accepted the new faith. More who were eager to overthrow the Tartar power Hocked to his standard. They cared little for a change of reli- gion, everything for a change of rulers. Still others, the number far from small, who sought a change, no matter what, crowded round the leader. Besides all these, there came bands of robbers, professional thieves, outlaws, cutthroats, vagabonds, and villains of every description, to enlist under tiie new stand- ard. One band of robbers commanded 1)}' a wonum joined the camp and proved themselves furious sol- diers under their feminine leader. It is hardly necessary to say that these latter had no interest in religion of any kind, nor had tiiey much patience with their U'ader's preaching. What tliey wanted was fighting and spoils, fighting and ven- geance, fighting and slauo-hter. His forces increased far beyond his power to organ- ize and discipline them ; and as for convincing them that his were the true doctrines and Jesus the true God, that was simply impossible. Yet the determined commander ceased not his preaching nor his prayers. Daily religious services were held on that northern march and soldiers expected to attend. Though this army refused to give up ancestral wor- 44 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. ship, it did accept Jesus nominally as its God, and rejected idolatry. It even destroyed idols and temples wherever found. In after years the march of a Tai Ping army could be traced by ruined temples in its track. The march northward, while not a triumph, was nevertheless a succession of victories. The imperial government, aroused to a sense of danger, made des- perate efforts to stop the progress of the conquering hosts, and to destroy the Tai Ping army. Though hosts were sent against it, each in turn was defeated, driven awa}^, or annihilated. The Tartar rule seemed near its end, the Tai Ping everywhere triumphant. The masses swarming to the conquering army indicated that the country was accepting the I'ebellion and eager for its success. That was a dark period in the history of the imperial power Avhen the rebels reached and took possession of Nankin and made it their capital. But an unexpected foe appeared. The Tai Pings, mostly from a warmer climate, were unable to resist successfully and tight well during the cold and frost of a northern winter. Another foe was secretly destroy- injy the character of the rebel hosts. The robbers and murderers were making the forces over after their pattern. New foes appeared in the imperial army in the form of foreign oflicers and European discipline. These THE TAI PING EEBELLION. 45 changed victory from Tai Pings to Imperialists. They forced rebels to fight for retention, not conquest, and the war became a losing one for the hitherto trium- phant hosts. Driven from Nankin, the rebel forces were divided and compelled to separate and fly, pursued by man- darin armies oflicered in part by foreigners. Though desperate lighting continued, victory seldom favored the Tai Pings. Defeats disheartened them, pursuit scattered them, and finally the rebels, except in small groups still seeking to win villages, not daring to attack large towns, disappeared. These last either were killed or became roljber bands again. When the war ended large portions of the country were ruined and desolate. Villages luid disappeared and even cities lay in ruins. The city of Chong Chew, west of Amoy, containing, it was said, one million inhabitants before the rebellion, had less than two hundred thousand after. It had been a war of destruction and desolation. The Tai Pings showed little mercy to cities resisting ; the mandarins, none. The Tai Pings fought, and after they obtained victory, acted lilve savages ; the mandarins, like demons. Were the story of that rebellion written, men would say it is fiction. It is well that it remains unwritten. Such horrid cruelties are better buried outside the page of history. 46 THE YOUNG MANDAlilN. During the victorious careers of the Tai Piugs, smaller armies, professing to belong to them, attacked cities away from the great body, and thus subjected nuich territory never really under Iluno- Siu Tsun's sway. One of these bodies prepared to attack Amoy. This city of two hundred thousand people, built on the inner side of an island of the same name, has a citadel protecting a small portion, while the remainder is guarded only ))y outer walls of the outside houses, with gates shut across the streets in time of dan<>er. Though the walls of brick, stone, concrete, might resist an army with ordinary weapons, they are power- less against cannon and battering ram. Amoy was an important naval station then, yet few vessels were in the harbor and a small number of soldiers in the citadel. There was such a demand for fleets and forces that the government was compelled to neglect every place not in danger of immediate assault. The tide began to ebb about noon of the day when the attack was expected in Amoy harbor, and shortly after a vessel came swiftly around the island of Kolongsu, half a mile west of the city, and landed near the mandarin otiice. Two ollicials hastened ashore, and the boat put off for the fleet at the north end of the harbor. The boatmen shouted, as they passed other vessels, that the Tai Pings were coming. TUB TAI FIX a llEBELLIOX. 47 Shortly after cries from Koloiigsu proclaimed that the rebels were in sight. Nor was it much later wheu the expected fleet rounded Kolongsu at the soutli and came to anchor close to tlie city, and less than two miles below the government junks. The excited crowds wondered tliat no Ijaltle fol- lowed ; nor couUl they understand why mandarin vessels lay (juietly at anchor, thougii the tide was favorable for an attack. All throiiiih the remainder of the day they hjoked with anxious expectation f(»r the begiiuiiiig of the dreaded conllict, and not until darkness set in weie thi'V ceitain that the tight would be delayed until the inoiiow. Like many others, ^Ir. Lin was more curious than eager to escape, so remained with his boats in ^.he harbor. But thoughts of honu' overcame his cin'iosity, and he ordered his men to take the vessels over to Kolongsu for safety, while he started long before night for home. To his amazement the street gates were locked, nor would coaxing or bi'ibe induce the watchers to open them. Shut out of the city, he returned to the water and found his boats waiting on the Amoy side. When night came the vessels were taken across the harbor, and Mr. Lin and his men, as he had often before, made themselves comfortable in the little boats for the niuht. With a cushion for a bed and 48 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. mat for covering, he asked for no other bodily com- fort ; yet be slept little. His thoughts were of home and treasures there. He did not forget his child, his mother, uor yet his wife ; but a pile of silver dollars stored away in a strong box had much of his anxiety. Foreseeing trouble, he had not invested his gains during the past years, nor had he loaned the money, lest borrowers be driven away or killed. He preferred to lose interest to risking the capital. He had chosen the least of two evils, but realized that it was likely to be the greater now. If the rebels captured the city, robbers might, during the change of rulers and con- fusion following, ply their business to his cost. A change of rulers, a riot, a disturbance of any kind, bring a harvest to thieves in Cliina. The wonder is that they do not force such calamities upon the people by combination. Probably few nations as civilized as the Middle Kingdom have more profes- sional or ready-to-be robbers. That they do not cause riot declares that the people are peaceful. CHAPTER IV. VICTORY. WHEN Mr. Lin awoke at daybreak, after a troubled sleep, he moved bis boats cautiously across to the Amoy side, intending to enter the city and liuny home as soon as the gates were open. Near the landing he saw a sight that surprised and alarmed him.' On the shore stood a large body of armed men waiting for the gates to open. The boatman needed no one to tell that the Tai Pings had landed and meant to enter the city. He dared not land there. Thinking that the rebels were only waiting along the water front on the south and west sides of the city, Mr. Lin pushed farther u\) the harbor ; but before each gate stood a company of soldiers. He reached the north side and found at last a place where there were no rebels. But the gates were closed, nor would entreaty or money open them. In vain he tried gate after gate; at last he turned back until he came to where the rebels had been. The streets were open and the rebel army had disappeared. Passing into a street and hurrying homeward, Mr. Lin learned that the rebels had taken complete posses- 49 50 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. sion of the city. So quick and quiet had been their movements that half of the inhabitants did not know- that the rebels were on shore, much less that Amoy was in their power. Mr. Lin saw rebel soldiers keeping guard, and every- thing peaceful, so felt more easy, though he did not slacken his speed. Reaching his house he saw tliat the doors were shut ; and when he tried he found them locked and barred, showing that his family was within and safe. Not until he had knocked and shouted to them to open and let him in was he admitted. Old Mrs. Lin welcomed her son noisily, while his wife showed her gratitude that he was safe and well by her quiet smile. ' ' I knew that the gods would protect him from rebels," said the old lady, " for 1 have pra3'ed them to care for him in times of danger. The gods are good even to those w^ho neglect them." " Yet they do not keep the rebels out of the city," responded Mr. Lin. '* True, but they have prevented a battle and have saved many lives," answered old Mrs. Lin. *' We have not seen the end. This is but the be- ginning. The mandarins may show to-day what they can do. We must not think that they will give up the city without fighting. The citadel remains in the power of the government soldiers. Until the rebels take that VICTORY. 51 aud drive the imperial fleet out uf the harbor we must uot expect peace or safety," said Mr. Liu. "The gods will care for aud protect us, whether maudarius or rebels rule. I have uot served them so loug iu vaiu," spoke the old lady. The capture of the city was a great surprise to the cltizeus aud uiandarius ; while the laudiug of the rebels was a uiystery. Who had brought them ashore? Who had opeued the gates to let theui iu? These questions, asked often, answered oftener, probaljly were answered correctly when it was said that friendly boatmen brought the Tai Pings ashore after midnight, aud Others whu sympathized with the rebellion within the city opeued the gates. It was well known that many throughout the country, and many in Amoy, favored the Tai Pings, yet hesitated to show sympathy until the rebellion became an assured success. Though the outer city was iu the possession of Tai Pings, the citadel remained closed against them. Until that was captured their victor}^ and conquest of Amoy were uncertain. Immediately after stationing guards through the streets, the rebels, in three divisions, hurried to three of the four gates of the walled portion of the town. The north gate was ignored. Until they reached the gates, the soldiers were silent ; but a sudden aud great change took place as soon as their march ceased. The 62 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. soldiers seemed transformed into shouting demons. Armed with hammers, clubs, timbers, battering rams, indeed everything serving the purpose, they assaulted the gates and shouted, screamed, yelled meanwhile as though noise was as necessary as force. Blows rained against the strong gates, and yells seemed the chorus. For a long time the gates resisted, then one showed signs of yielding ; immediately it seemed as though a cyclone of demons had struck that gate, and they were imitating the noise of pandemonium there. When an opening was made the horrid yells continued, and if possible were increased, with intervals of silence. But not a soldier passed within the walls. Not until the great increase in shouts, screams, and yells from the other gates told that those had given way too, did a Tai Ping attempt to leave the outer for the inner city. When a small pandemonium seemed in full force at each gate, the Tai Pings rushed wildl}' through, and, yelling as they went, ran along the streets of the citadel toward the northern gate. A few moments sufficed to leave the gates without a soldier, the openings as silent as though death reigned. But the yells continued, only were heard farther and farther from the three, nearer and nearer the fourth gate. When they entered the citadel, the rebels saw not a soldier nor yet citizen. The streets were deserted, VIGTOBT. ' 53 nor was there a sound heard except the yells of the Tai Pings. As they approached the unassaulted gate, they beheld the last of the government soldiers hurrvinof througli on the way to the water. Slackening their speed, the rebels did not cease their noise, nor did tliey stop the pursuit. Not until the Tai Pings were near the shore, and the last soldier was approaching the junks at anchor, did the pursuit nnd noise end. At lengtli the soldiers had all tumbled on board tlie waiting junks ; and then began a liurried departure of the fleet. Anchors were weighed, sails lioisted, and swiftly the vessels sailed down the harbor and i)assed out to sea. Meanwhile the Tai Pings returned, took possession of citadel and city, and Amoy came quietly under rebel rule. The mandarins, unprepared for battle, deemed it wise to escape witiiout a defeat, tiiat they might return later with sullicient force to recapture and hold the city. The rebels had taken it by shrewdness, but power would drive them out later. This method of attack is thoroughly Chinese, and has been explained thus by one of that nation: "If you corner a rat, he will turn and bite ; if you give him a chance to escape unharmed, he will run away and leave you in possession." Though they had captured, the rebels knew that they 54 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. could not hold Amoy long without a battle. Until forced to liglit, they nieant to enjoy peace, so treated the citizens kindly, and in turn were respected and obeyed as rulers. Rumors soon reached Amoy that a mandarin fleet was preparing in the north to capture the city ; the people were excited, the rebels aroused to activity. They tried in vain to increase their army. Though citizens obeyed the Tai Ping authority, they were too uncertain about results to do more except to sell at good prices all the Aveapons needed. One morning the city was startled with the news of the arrival of the mandarin fleet. By climbing the hills men could see a number of junks anchored at the south end of the island ; and it was said that they w^ere sending ashore a vast army to attack Amoy on the land side. About the same time another discovery was made. Except a few sentinels, the Tai Pings had left the citadel. Nor were they on board the vessels ; for no more than were needed to care for those appeared on deck. '^ I know where the Tai Pings are," said a man, hurrying almost breathless into the city from the south. " Sentinels are waiting to receive the govern- ment army, and a figlit will follow." The people were terrilied and well-nigh paralyzed. VICTORY. 55 They dared not escape lest rebel sentinels be guarding the city on all sides ; nor did they think seriously of trying. Chinese-like, they believed that efforts to get away would be useless ; if fated to die they must perish, no matter whether within or outside the city. The government troops hastened ashore, and with little order or regularity hurried forward to attack Amoy before the rebels could prepare to defend it. Disorder became confusion long before half the dis- tance had been made. This confusion was increased by a band of Tai Pings drawn up across the line of march. With a shout the leaders rushed forward to capture tlie daring rebels. When but a few tens of yards away the advancing host was startled by a volley of musketry from the little band. Several were wounded, two killed. For a moment the advance of the army stopped, more because of surprise than fear. Those behind pressed on those in front, and after the dead and wounded were removed, the whole force moved forward to attack the brave company. Instead of running, the rebels coolly loaded their guns and then retreated slowly and regularly. Reach- ing a good position, they waited for the pursuers to come nearer than before. Again a volley sent to the ground several of the mandarin soldiers. Before the dead and wounded could be removed, the 56 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. '^ men in the roar pushed those in front forward, as they sought to capture the daring fellows who had killed their conn-ades. Some stumbled over the wounded and d^'ing, and were in turn trampled to death. A third discharge of muskets rendered helpless sev- eral more of the advancing army. Their comrades, enraged that so small a company dared to oppose and even fire at them, and furious that several had been killed and more wounded, rushed madly after the re- treating rebels. Nor did they notice that the fugi- tives took another than the direct route to the city. Each soldier, determining to avenge the death of comrades, forgot caution, forgot reason, forgot every- thing but the escaping foe. The rebels, fresh and vigorous, soon left their pur- suers behind, and then halted to load their muskets. Again they fired into the face of the foe, and the dead and dying fell, while over their bodies others stumbled and were trampled to death. The confusion made the pursuers unmanageable ; the check to the men in the front added to the fearful disorder, and soldiers listened neither to commanders Dor to comrades. Their movement seemed a wild stampede, needing only fright to make it terribly fatal. The rebels had planned shrewdl}', the government troops had carried out that [)lan perfectly, and now^ VICTOBT. 57 came the result. While the audacious company in front turned again to fire, on either side of the mass of men arose, as if from the ground, a long line of Tai Ping soldiers. The government troops were entrapped. Before officers could restore order or compel a halt, tlieir soldiers were fired on by these lines of Tai Pings, and hundreds fell. The dreadful surprise, the j^ells of the rebels, the death of their comrades, sent despair to the disordered multitude. They could not prepare to resist, they could not flee ; they could but die, as wild beasts entrapped and shot down by the hunters. Only a few on either side could use weapons. These speed- ily lay dead or dying, and gave place to comrades behind them to fight and fall. This slaughter could not last. Had the surprised soldiers been cattle, tliey migiit have sunk down in despair, as bullet and arrow, spear and sling-stone, did their work. Those were men, they were soldiers; and, though undisciplined, they w^ere not without courage. They loved life aud determined to fight for it, though death come a moment sooner in the battle. Beyond the rebel ranks was safety. To reach it bowmen threw aside bows and arrows and, grasping knives and daggers, rushed upon the foe. Spearmen leveled their weapons and charged ; musketeers clubbed their guns and sprang forward for death or liberty. 58 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. The slaughter became a battle now, and the battle a multitude of duels. Sword clashed against sword ; dagger struck dagger ; spear broke on spear ; musket clanged against musket iu the deadly struggle. When a weapon failed, a dead hand yielded another to the living and the fight went on. Yells ceased, shouts grew less. Desperation does its work in silence. Rebels and government troops mingled in the strife. The flash of steel was seen everywhere, the musket ,shot ceased; the fight was too close, too confused, for powder and ball. He who conquered in one duel must fight another ; and the hero of several at last fell a victim to a fresh foe. Often such fights ended only when Tai Ping and Imperial soldier lay side by side in a pool of their mingled blood. The rebel ranks were broken, but by the death of those who had kept them, not by cowardice. Rebels fell where they stood, and sometimes across the bodies of the men their hands had slain, and no one took the vacant places. Through these openings passed many bleeding soldiers, followed by others who, using the bodies of comrades as shields, had escaped unharmed. When a mandarin soldier broke through tlie rebel ranks lie thought no further of comrades nor of duty. His one purpose was to escape as far and as quickly as possible from the ter- rible foe. But all who passed the lines did not escape. VICTOBT. 59 Fugitives were pursued and again duels were fought, with results like those on the larger field of battle. Some found a refuge among the hills, others gained safety in the city, and still others returned to the ves- sels and were taken on board. At last the fight was over, except when a Tai Ping discovered a mandarin soldier hiding, then a battle with only two to fight it resulted ; and some of these fights had no victor ; they ended with two lying dead or dying on the field. The defeat of tiie government forces had been as terrible as it had been complete. Though many found their way back to the fleet, far more never returned. Most of these had been killed, some wlio gained safety never cared to risk their lives in another fight with the rebels, so did not go back to the army. When the fugitives had reached the fleet, anchors were weighed and sails hoisted, then the vessels moved away toward tlie north. For six months the Tai Pings held possession of Amoy ; then another and even larger mandarin fleet entered the harbor, sailed around west of Kolongsu, and came to rest in the government anchorage. Hardly were sails down before soldiers began to go ashore. An army speedily landed and encamped north of the city. When the last soldiers had reached the land the fleet weiofhed anchor and, under full sail, 60 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. bore down upon the rel)el vessels. Approaching them each junk poured a broadside into the helpless Tai Pings and sailed on around Kolougsu to the west, auclioring again in the old place. It had been a strange contest and entirely one-sided. Each war junk had fired only a single broadside, and that when sailing as swiftly as wind and tide could carry past the anchored vessels. Not a shot in return had been tired, for each Tai Ping vessel had only enough men on board to protect from thieves, not to manage guns. When the smoke had disappeared the rebel fleet lay unharmed, except In' a few shots that had chanced to strike something besides the water. No vessel had sunk, not even a mast had been shot away. It appeared like a salute rather than a fight, and the shots that had hit seemed rather accidental than aimed. The rebels on shore heard the firing, and leaving a few to watch the citadel, hurried on board their junks. With the turn of the tide they sailed toward the gov- ernment vessels, fired a broadside into them, and then returned around Kolongsu westward to the old an- chorage. Nor had there been much more harm done to the mandarin vessels than had been received from them. When the Tai Pings had shown that they were not afraid of their foes on the water, they hur- ried ashore and entered the citadel. Thus, whenever VICTORY. 61 they fought in the harbor, they were compelled for lack of men to bring their sailors from the garrison. . A day or two later the mandarin fleet left its anchor- age and, bearing down on the rebel vessels, poured a broadside into them and returned as before. AVhen wind and tide favored, the Tai Pings paid the govern- ment junks a similar visit. Thus for several weeks was this sham fighting con- tiimed. At the end little harm had been done beyond a few splintered hulls and shattered masts. Not a vessel had been sunk or even rendered permanently helpless. It seemed fighting for fun. It is true the ollicial report sent to Pekin was very unlike this tame description. Tliat told of ])attles and victories, of dreadful carnage and fearful destruc- tion, yet failed to enumerate the dead because sunken vessels retain their slain. A mandarin who lacks courage seldom lacks imaiji- nation. AVhat his report wants in fact he makes up from fiction. What cares he so long as his report reads well and passes criticism? He is not after victory but safety. He cares less for promotion than he does for place. If he can hold what he lias^ he is fortunate. 80 many seek office, so many try to drive the possessors out, that the average official is content to hold on to what he has got. He who gets more is of course the more to be congratulated over his good fortune. CHAPTER V. CALAMITIES. WHILE this mock warfare was going on between the fleets the soldiers on land were not idle. The mandarin troops waited for a day after reaching the shore, and then moved toward the citadel. Before coming within gunshot they took a position and pre- pared for battle. The marchino;, the order, and the weapons of this army were rather those of a mob than of disciplined soldiers. Some had firearms, but old, and of still older pattern. Flintlock and matchlock muskets were the rule rather than the exception. Some had the old giiigal, an immense gun carried by two men and restinir on the shoulder of a soldier if it had no other snp[)()it, when fired. Many had no firearms, ])iit carried bows and arrows, spears, swords, pitch- f(M'ks. knives, axes ; indeed, almost everything that would do for a weapon. Though badly armed, the troops were well supplied with flags and banners. Every fifth, if not fourth man carried on a staff a flag of some kind ; it might b(> a three-cornered one, a streamer, or of some other sha[)e, as long as it had a bright color, and could l)e U2 CALAMITIES. 63 w^aved in the presence of an approaching foe. The Chinese think flags a great necessity for an army ; and that they indicate courage in the men carrying, and l)ring terror to the foes who see them. The fighting that followed was as queer as the ap- pearance of the soldiers. After the first volley from the firearms tlie soldiers forgot orders ; each loading and firing as he saw fit, and aiming at anything he chose. The ))owmen discharged a few arrows, but saved most of their weapons for better service. A few lebels appeared on the walls, and now and then fired a shot of defiance at tiie mandarin troops, but saved ammunition for real warfaic, and used their tongues M(jw. They dnred the enemy to ap- proach the wall, and declared that fi'ar kei)t them out of danger. Tiiey threatened to send every mandarin soldier to a great roasting place if he came witiiin reach of relx-l shots. After firing awhile the attacking party ceased using those weapons and tried their tongues instead ; so this became a war of words, in threats as harmless as they would have been horrible had they been carried out. While rebels called their foes mandarin robbers, and names far less favorable, they were in turn called long-haired rebels, red-headed thieves, and a variety of names that cannot be repeated. Just whv the Tai Pings were called red-headed is 64 THE YOUNG MANDAlilN. uncertain. A red-headecl Chinaman is very rare, if one ever existed. Perhaps the name meant that tiiey were friendly to foreigners, who have hair in other shades than black and white. With an intermission now and then of a day or two, this mock fighting on land was kept np as long as the sham fighting on the water. When it ended few sol- diers were missing from either side ; and much of the ammunition wasted had belonged to the mandarins, They had plenty, so used freely, and thus were able to make a good report to Pekin, and show that their forces had not been idle. One day no soldier appeared on the walls of the citadel, and no shot answered the firing of the govern- ment troops ; yet there was great activity within the walls. Then, without warning, the rebel army went out by a gate farthest from the mandarin forces, and hurried throuoh the city toward the water. Everv- thing was done so quietly and quickly, that people who saw, supposed another naval battle was to be fought ; and that in a few hours the Tai Pings would be again within the citadel. Others noticed that within the walls no soldier remained. The rebels hurried along, and, upon reacliing the shore, were at once taken on board their vessels. Every junk was quickly under way, and then, in- stead of sailing in the direction of the mandarin fleet, CALAMITIES. 65 sailed westward and disappeared beyond Ivolongsu. The Tai Pings had left Arnoj and were on their way inland. After the fleet liad disappeared, a few straggling rebels came to the shore to find their comrades gone. Knowing what must be the consequence if found in the city, they hired a small vessel at an enormous price and followed the fleet. After these had gone others straggled to the shore ; but it was too late to get away from Amoy. They sought safety in the city, yet it was a vain attempt. Just why the rebels left Amoy so suddenly the author cannot tell. Some said that tlie mandarins had paid them a large price to go, others that the general Tai Ping government had refused to recognize them as part of the rebellion; still others that the government soldiers meant to fight in earnest soon ; and then there must be a terrible and complete de- struction of the rebels ; so to save themselves they left suddenly. The mandarin forces did not fire a shot at the departing foes. The war junks remained at anchor, and the land army waited until the rebels were safely out of reach before entering the citadel. All this gave reason to believe that there had been a bargain between rebels and mandarins, and that Amoy had been given up for a price. If there was 66 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. an ngreement made, it explains the mock battles, since neither side seemed to care to injure the other while there was a chance of settling the difliculty in another way. Surely the rebels at Amoy, as all Tai Pings, proved themselves brave men, capital figiiters, and able to meet on the battle-field a larger number than their own of mandarin soldiers. AVhen the people learned that the mandarins had taken possession, doors were closed, bolted, and barred, and each person who could sought safety within his home. They believed the storm would come suddenly ; feared it would be terrible ; and hoped it would end speedily if there were no resistance. Shortly after the rebels left the government troops entered the citadel, passed through and took posses- sion of the whole city. Tliey marched quickly but quietly, and mau}^ citizens did not learn that there had been a change of rulers until they saw mandarin soldiers near the door. When Amoy was in their power, then the men, who for six weeks had remained out of range of musket shots when facing armed sol- diers, began to rob and murder peaceful citizens. For slight reasons men were arrested, on a little additional provocation killed. He who was suspected of friendship for tlie rebellion had small chance for life if discovered on the street ; if he had monev, he CALAMITIES. 67 was unsafe at home. Money seemed a crime, the possession of vakiables dangerous. The jingle of silver in the pocket was worse than a rebel cry. The city was thronged with thieves and robbers who had waited for this harvest and marked houses for plunder before it came. Though most of the rascals belonged to bands of thieves and robbers, not a few soldiers joined in their work or sanctioned it for a share of the spoils. It was said that robbers pre- tended to be soldiers in search of Tai Pings, so forced entrance into many a house that would otherwise have resisted them to the last. If caught by honest soldiers, the scamps declared themselves serving the government and searcliing for suspected rebels. When houses were thus broken into, the rascals contented themselves usually with stripping it of every valuable easily carried away and allowed the people to remain unharmed. Chinese robbers, mean, cowardly, con- temptible though they are, hesitat-e about taking life unless compelled to do so. But woe to the owner who persisted in defending his property. Ilis dead body might be witness of his faithfulness, but the murder- ers proclaimed him a Tai Ping. Though many imperial soldiers were robbers them- selves or shared with others in the spoils, true, brave men were not wanting in the o-overnment service. When they were present men did not cry in vain for 68 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. lielp. The shriek of women and children did not fall on listless ears. Many a sword was bathed in blood or dulled by strokes that sent robbers to a final tribunal. A dreadful change had taken place in Amoy a few hours after the departure of the Tai Pings. The streets were wet with blood and strewn with dead bodies. Broken doors revealed despoiled houses ; the screams of women, expostulations of men, proved that the work of robbers was going on. The more dreadful sounds of the fugitive shrieking for help, mercy, life, the despairing cry of the victim in the assassin's power, the agonizing groan of the poor wretch who was left to die slowly from wounds given, scarcely ceased during that first day ; and long into the night could be heard again and again the appeal, the shriek, the wail of agony, the groan of the dying. The story of capture, death, and destruction is too dreadful for detail, too horrible for record ; even were it told, few would believe. Rebels were savagely cruel ; imperial troops and officials were demons when in power. In all his reading the writer never met such horrors as he heard from Chinese lips, and saw in the devastation caused by that dreadful rebellion. But Tai Pings failed to equal in barbarity the men who at last conquered them. K the devil ever becomes super- annuated or unable to do his work, he may find an able CALAMITIES. 69 representative in some mandariu of China, unless that nation changes. AVe turn to Mr. Lin. Early in the day of the depar- ture of the Tai Pings he was accosted at the jetty by a stranger, well dressed, respectable, who hurriedly requested to be carried over to the mainland several miles to the west. The boatman refused. Not until an unusually large price was paid, and a i>air of jade earrings added as a present, would he agree to carVy the passenger. " How soon d(j yuu wish to go? " asked Mr. Lin. •^ At once," was the reply. '• Have you any baggage?" "■ None. I aui liurriud by business and may soon return. Can vou iiro now ? " '* Yes ; jum[) in. The rebels may leave any day, and I must not be away wlien they go. I have heard nothing of their going to-day, so su[)pose they will wait at least until to-morrow." The boatman hurried over, landed his passenger, and made his way back as quickly as possible. Com- ing in sight of the rebel anchorage, he saw no vessels there. Casting a glance toward the government fleet, he saw those quietly at anchor. AVhat had become of the Tai Pings ? Neither at anchor nor attacking the mandarins ; where conld they be ? Surelv had thev made an assault on that fleet he 70 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. -would liavo lu'iird llie liriiii;', and must liave seen tlie juiiks sailing around Kolongsu from the iKjrLli as formerly. Had they gone westward iii) tlie river he iiuist have seen them as he came from tlie mainland. Meeting a boatman in the harbor he asked what had become of the rebels. "• They have left. They are sailing up the river now. They only disappeared a few minutes ago ; they passed around Kolongsu on the south as you passed it on the north side," was the reply. Mr. Lin's beart sank. The Tai Pings had gone ; the city was ab'eady in the hands of the mandarins ; and his home, family, and property unprotected. Quickly he landed and hurried homeward. Already were rob- bers and mandarin soldiers at work, one plying their business, the other permitting if not helping in deeds of rascality, as they pretended to guard the city. Reaching home, the boatman's worst fears were realized ; his house had been broken into, and angry voices within told that robbers were at work. He heard his mother's voice above others and hastened to the back room whence came the voices and where were kept his silver dollars. As he passed through the front room, he saw two soldiers examining his prop- erty ; but his thoughts were on the dollars, and he stopped neither to order the men out nor ask what they were doing. CALAMITIES. 71 Mr. Lin found robbers breaking open the strong box holding his money, and his mother trying to prevent. Thinking not of consequences, the boatman struck a robber a blow that sent him to the floor, and prepared to attack another. Hearing her husband's step and voice, the younger Mrs. Lin came from the room where she had stood guard over her cliild, and offered to help the boatman and his mother. The cowardly robbers, seeing danger to themselves, shouted to the soldiers for help. As the two came the rascals said : — "•This is the owiR'r of the house, tlu' rrhi-l of whom we told you. Take him to tlie iiKUidarins. and they will attend to him. He hel[)ed the Tai Pings when they were in the city." " I am not a nbol, but a fiiend to tlie government, as you will learn," rei»lie(l Mr. Lin to the soldiers who prepared to take him prisoner. •• 1 know many of the mandarins, and shall report and iiave yon i)nn- ished for breaking into my house and allowing these robbers to try to rob it." The boatman's manner more than his words made the soldiers fear to take him prisoner. When he named a number of the former mandarins of Amoy, and told who were to be in command of tiie city as soon as recaptured, they feared that they had made a mistake, and that instead of being a rebel he was more than a friend to the ollicials. 72 THE YOUNG NANDAlilN. "If you know the mandarins, and they are your friends, you need not fear to meet them at the yamen (mandarin establishment). We will take you there and let you prove that j^ou are a friend, not an enemy, to the government," said a soldier. '' Take me and allow these robbers to steal my money!" replied the man. "No; first drive these men away, then let my house be guarded, and I will gladly go with you." While boatmen and soldiers were discussing the matter, one of the thieves moved around behintl his companions, and, reaching the broken box, slyly picked out silver dollars and took them for his own. "Stop stealing that money!" shouted old Mrs. Lin, rushing at the fellow. This called the attention of the soldiers, and they let go of the boatman to seize the thief. That I'evealed to them the money in the box. Many a Chinaman, be he soldier or citizen, like people in other countries, forgets duty when he sees dollars within his reach. These men suddenly saw that duty bade them drive the robbers away, and they proceeded to do it. " Get out of this room, and away from this house ! " said one, raising his sword to strike the thieves. "Get away at once! You said that this man is a rebel, and persuaded us to let you break down the CALAMITIES. 73 door that we might get him ; aud then you offered to go into the back rooms and find him while we kept guard at the front. But you came here to rob. Now go, if you would escape punishment ! " The soldier did not add that the scamps said there was valuable property hidden in the front rooms, and that the soldiers were searching for it when the owner entered. The robbers were driven out, and in a few minutes the soldiers returned with a comrade, and told Mr. Lin that, to make certain tiiat all was right, he must accomi)any the newcomer to the yamen. And, to secure 4jis money, this soldier siiould cany it along to the mandarins, where it would be safe until order was restored ; then he could get it again. " One man cannot carry all that silver, and if he could, robbers would seize it before he reached the yamen," said ]Mr. Lin. *' Then one of us will remain to watch what he can- not carry," replied a soldier. Mr. Lin suspected the men, yet was forced to obey their order. He knew that if angered the}^ might kill rather than lead him to the mandarins, and he hoped to return quickly to protect his property under official authority. The money was divided, one package given to the soldier commissioned to take Mr. Lin to the yamen, and 74 THE .YOUNG MAN DAB IN. the other left ut his home in charge of a soldier. As the boatman was led away, the third soldier left to attend to other duties, but soon returned and declared that the remaining package of money must be taken to the yamen also ; there was no safety in the hou&e while so many robbers were about. In vain the women protested, urged, pleaded. The two soldiers prepared the money for transmission, and the one carried it away while the other stood guard at the door. A minute later he told the women that he must follow his comrade to protect him, or that the silver would be taken from him. A few minutes after the last soldier went, the three robbers, accompanied by a fourth, entered and de- manded the silver dollars. Finding no trace of them, and accepting as truth the statement of tiie women that the soldiers had taken it, the scamps busied tliem- selves with gatheiing up valuables for removal. They were about leaving with their booty -when thev heard Tee Siek's cry in another room. The fellows gave each other a significant look and then, handing the spoils to one of the four, bidding him leave with the valuables, the other three started for the child. " You shall not have our child ! You shall not have our child ! " shouted old Mrs. Lin, throwing herself aorainst the door to hinder their entrance. o While the robbers were leisurely seeking to force CALAMITIES. 75 away the old lady and enter, the younger woman hastened to her child by another way, and was about carrying Tee. Siek off when stopped l)y the rascals. While one held the grandmothoi', the other two tried to separate mother and child. On the part of the younger Mrs. Lin this was a desperate struggle. She knew that, if the robbers suc- ceeded, her child must leave her, and perhaps forever. Though one woman was not a match for the two men, even if her mother-in-law could hold the third man, she hoped to resist the fellows until her husband returned and could summon soldiers. Bidding Tee Siek clasp his arms tightly about her neck, she closed her own tightly al)<)ut him, and [)ressed him with an almost death grip to her breast, and tiien l)ent over to shield him further by her own body. The men, kncnving their power, made no great effort to coiHjuer at once, but thought better to wait until the mother, wearied with her exertions, should give up in exhaustion. At last they separated mother and child, and one hur- ried away with the little one as the other held Mrs. Lin. When she saw her son borne away, the mother with superhuman strength broke from her captor and started in pursuit of the r()bl)er and her screaming child. Before she reached the street she was seized bv the man from whom she was escaping and forced back. 76 THE YOUNG 3IANDABIN. For a few minutes the rascals held the two women, and then letting them go, hastily escaped to the street. Mother and grandmother followed them closely, and as eacli scamp passed beyond the door, pursued them as the\^ separated, one going up, the other down the street. It was a vain pursuit. The rascals speedily dis- tanced the women and disappeared. A few moments sufficed to convince Mrs. Lin and her mother-in-law that pursuit was worse than useless. They were leaving home open and unprotected. Returning to the house they realized the dreadful truth that Tee Siek had been stolen. By whom he had been taken and whither they knew not. CHAPTER VI. SEEKING THE LOST. DISORDER reigned in the yamen as the soldier brought the boatman in. Prisoners in crowds under guard waited until a priaon could be [irepared. Ollicers were shouting, servants hurrying to and fro, and soldiers hastenintr awav to ol)ev tiieir sui)eriors. "What chiirgc do you make against this man?" asked a Uiaudarin to whom the soldier brought his prisoner. *' He is a rel)el," was the reply. *' He is not a rebel, l)ut a friend of the empire. Let liim go ; and if you can i)e ;it no better business than arresting good men, we will give you something to do that you will not like," replied the otlicer, recognizing Mr. Lin. As tlie soldier was hurrying away without handing over the money, the owner spoke of it to the otlicer. No time w^as lost in summoning the soldier back and ordering him to give up the silver. "Is that all?" asked the mandarin. "Let me examine you. So you meant to keep a share for 3'our services, did you? Wait; let me see if you have hidden any more." 77 78 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. The soldier had succeeded in removing a, number of dollars from the nione}' and secreting them in his clothing. After a thorough examination he was dis- missed and the silver retained by the officer. "You would better leave this here for safe-keeping until order is restored. You can call for it then," spoke the mandarin, coolly taking the mone}^ as if his own. Mr. Lin objected in vain. He was told that such a sum would expose his life to every robber in the city, should he carry it 'through the town or even keep it at home during the present disorder. Tlie boatman could but sul)init, hoping that he would have no trouble to get his pr()[)erty back as soon as order was restored. Reaching home lie found liis wife and mother liardl}^ able to speak because of the excitement caused by the loss of the child. The father listened in silence as they told in broken sentences the story, and tlien he sat as if paralyzed. He asked no questions, made no response, until his mother said that the soldiers had taken away the remainder of his money. " What ! my money ! " cried tlie man, springing to his feet and hurrying to make an examination. Every dollar had been taken. INIr. Lin was wild with excitement ; furious at the rascally soldiers. " You care more for your money tlian you do for your child," said the elder woman bitterly. SEE KIN a THE LOST. 79 " My child has been taken for a ransom ; my money will never return. And how can I ransom him without that?" " Do vou mean to wait until his captors bring him back for a ransom?" inquired the grandmother. "Will you leave him sad, suffering, dying among thieves, until they are ready to sell him back to you? Do you forget that he is your own flesh and bones? Have you lost the heart of a father? Is this the son I bore and nourished? He hears in silence that his son is stolen. He becomes furious when his money is gone. You are no son of miiu'. You are unwortliy." " My worthy mother forgets that children are often stolen and retunitd f<»r a ransom ; but stolen money never is restored. Those who have taken our child will take good care of and bring him back, as soon as they cnn make sure of a ransom. But how can I pay that if mv monev is gone?" ''Do you forget that at the yamen?" asked the mother. "Mandarins are little better than thieves. They never let money, go unless compelled to, no matter whose it be." "And you mean to do nothing to recover your child?" "My mother will understand, if she carefully con- siders, that a search now would be worse than useless. 80 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. Where shall I seek liiin? Should he be discovered his captors may kill him now, lest they suffer for taking hiin. ]f undisturbed they will take good care of him, and in lime we shall hear from our child. They will let us know how we may get him and the price of the ransom. Many others have suffered as we do, but in time they regained their children for a price. That price will be less if we seem in no hnny to regain him." " This has come upon us because you refuse to serve the gods. It is what I expected and foretold. But I did not foresee that my son could be robbed of his child and yet speak calmly of it, as though a boat or clothing had been taken. Neglect of gods has changed his heart to stone." " M}" noble mother will please remember that search would be worse than vain now, and would take me from my home, my wife, and venerable mother. Should robbers come and remove what remains, and slay her w^ho gave me birth, what remedy would there be? What could I do? What excuse would there be for neglecting my mother? Money will restore a stolen child but cannot bring back a nmrdered mother. My heart is not hard, but my head controls it." Mrs. Lin, the elder, could not let her son have the last word, but she finally yielded and admitted that he jp^as not altogether wrong, though she laid the whole blame on his indifference to the gods. SEEKING THE LOST. 81 The l)oatinan souglit the assistance of mandarins in the search for his child and lost money, but was told that more important business required their attention. As soon as order was restored and business began again, they would do what they could to help him. "Will the mandarins find your child?" asked old Mrs. Lin on her son's return. "They say it is useless' to make any attempt now, though later they will help. But they told me that the soldiers who took the remainder of the money have brought none to the yamen. It is as I expected," answered the boatman sadly. " It is a just punishment, and proves true what I said. You could make money without the help of the gods, yet you could not keep it without them. Though this will be a costly lesson, I hope you will learn it well, and practice in future what you learn. Though for a while you succeed without the help of the gods, sooner or later they show that you cannot do without them forever." " My worthy mother will please remember that I earned the money given to the gods ; and that she and my wife have worshiped most faithfully in the temples. So if they punish us this way they are very ungrateful." " Your wife faithful to the temples? She seldom visits them unless I urge it. I alone am the faithful 82 THE YOUNG MANDAnm. one in the family ; and bad it not been for nie the gods might have entirely forgotten yon." " And now they have rewarded your faithfulness by allowing your grandchild to be stolen, and the money laid up for him taken away. Before you gave them so much, and such faithfulness was shown from ray home, they at least permitted me to keep what I earned," re- plied Mr. Lin bitterly. "If they must compel me to suffer that they may punish you, I submit meekly ; will gladly, if it but bring my sou back to their service. Then I know they will restore your silver and your son." " When they return what they have allowed to be taken away then I will return, not before," spoke the boatman emphatically. "Beware, my son! Do not anger the gods still more ! Their worst punishments have not come, but you may bring them." As soon as quiet was restored Mr. Lin engaged men in the search for his child, and offered in addition a large sum of money for his return. Beside this, he offered a reward for the discovery of the thieving soldiers if the money be recovered with their discovery. Though he hoard nothing of money or child, many other children were brought ; these resembled more or less the missing Tee Sick. Ktich was dc^clarod to be the stolen one ; and many were the reasons given for SEEKIXG THE LOST. 83 differences between them and the lost child. One explanation was that illness, another that accident, had produced the change. Still others declared that the robbers had disfigured the stolen one to prevent his recognition. When Mr. Lin refused to accept any of the children brought, he had "Other visitors and other offers. Men told that they had discovered but could not regain his child without money. If a sufficient sum were paid, they would take the father to Tee Siek, or put him on track of the robbers. To all offers the father replied that the reward was ready for the return of the child, not for attempts at finding him. As soon as Tee Siek was returned the reward should be paid him who brought him back, and no questions asked. " Why not adopt a child ? " asked an old priest of the grandmother at a tiMuple. " Our child took our hearts with him, and no stranger can bring them back," was the reply. " Were you to pretend to adopt a child, the thieves might hurry yours back, lest they lose entirely the lansom," suggested the priest. Mr. Lin accepted favorably this proposition, and pretended that, since his child was doubtless dead, he meant to adopt another. But few children were offered ; and those rejected. Chinese seldom pay much if anything for a son for adoption ; hence few offers came. 84 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. The boatman did not forget tlie money at the yamen, thoiigii for mouths he was unable to get it back. The maudarius declined to return until pc-ace was restored ; then they urged that, since he had requested them to search for the child, they must keep the money as security that he would pay the reward ; further, since the search required money, and they could not pay from their small salaries, it was but fair that the expense be taken from his property in their possession. " I must have that money," said the boatman, after waiting and calling again and again for it in vain. "Can you prove which is yours?" asked a man- darin who professed to know nothing about the prop- ertv. " Nothins; was said to me about you when I was placed in charge here ; though considerable money was brought in during the difficulty. How shall I be sure that another will not claim it, if I pay over a portion to you ? " " Mine had my stamp on it," replied the boatman. " Did not you put your stamp on money that you paid out during the past years of prosperity? And will you claim all that has passed through your hands?" To this Mr. Lin could not give a satisfactory answer. It is the Chinese custom to stamp everj^ dollar, passing through the liands of a firm, with the name or sign of that firm. Thus silver dollars, the only coins, except SEEKIXG THE LOST. 85 the copper cash, in general use, become in time defaced and broken in pieces, and absolutely useless, b}'^ constant stamping. Unable to get his money, Mr. Lin appealed to the Tautai at Tong Wan, to whom the mandarins at Amoy are subject. Giving that officer a valuable present, the boatman interested him, aud was bidden to say nothing about the visit nor apply again for tiie money. Said the official : — "I am glad to be able to bring those dishonest men at Amoy to justice. Leave tlie matter to me, and you shall have your money." Later the Tauttu visited Amoy on business; and, wlien ready to return, lie asked: — " Have you paid back to Lin Tun, the Ijoatman, the money brought here for safe-keeping mouths ago? No ; I know you have not. Attend to it at once. 1 will remain here and see that the matter is settled ; we cannot afford to be responsible longer for money in that way." This connnand amazed the odicers, and they won- dered how the Tautai knew. Quickly recovering from the surprise, they said that they would inquire into the matter and attend to it at once. " Do you mean to say that you know nothing about it? If that be so, then surely it is necessary that I remain and attend to the matter myself." 86 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. In viiln the iiicii protested that they knew nothing about the money, and that those who had received it were not in Amoy. " Some of you were here, and if you do not know about this, it is evident that you arc unfit for your position. Though unfit, you cannot resign until you see that the missing money is returned." The mandarins saw that the Tautai was as deter- mined as he was able to punish ; yet they were unwilling to give up that silver without an effort to keep part. Professing to search for it, and to learn how much belonged to the boatman, how much to others, they hurried a messenger to Mr. Lin and offered to restore his property if he would allow half for expense in searching after his child and trying to discover the soldiers who stole the other portion. The messenger added that some should be paid also for safe-keeping. "I will pay what expense has been incurred as soon as the stolen money is returned or child recov- ort'd. But neither has anything to do with the dollars withheld from me. The soldier took those contrary to my wish ; they have been kept in spite of my demand, nnd I .shall not pay one dollar," was his reply. Vv'^hile this messenger was away, the mandarins Imported to the Tautai that two clerks had stolen the boatman's i)roperty and disappeared, nor did any one know wliat had become of them. SEEKING THE LOST. 87 " Very well ; then you admit tliat the money was in the safe-keeping of the yamen, and stolen by those under your control. Send for the boatman and pay him. Since you have allowed such robbery without reporting it, you must suffer. The man must be paid every cash." In vain the officers tried to escape. They sent for Mr. Lin. When he appeared the Tautai asked : ~ " Are you the man who gave money to the officers for safe-keeping here ? " The boatman told the story of the soldiers carrying off from his home, against his own and his family's protest, all his money ; and said that only half was brought to the yamen wlien he was arrested. '^ see," spoke the chief. ''The soldiers and mandarins here have robbed you and meant to keep all. They will now pay the half left liere. We will see later about the remainder." The officers urged that they should at least retain some to pay for safe-keeping. "What! rob a man and then demand pay for keeping him out of his money for several mouths?" replied the chief indignantly. Again the officials claimed money to pay expense in the search after the other portion of property. "That is, you mean to make the owner pay for the rascality of those in your service. I am not sure but 88 THE YOUNG MANDAUm. you should \)ixy every dollar of the other half. How- ever, this must be attended to now." After pleading for an allowance to pay expenses in the search for Tee Siek, the mandarins waited, hoping that they need not pay all. " Have you discovered the child? Have you tried to do so? Has not the father offered a reward for his recovery? Have 3^ou any reason to doubt that he Avill pay as soon as you bring his son to him ? " asked the Tautai. " All that belongs to another business. What 3^ou must do now is pa}^ to this man every dollar brought you by that soldier." Nor would the chief listen to any excuse ; neither would he allow delay. The money was paid to Mr. Lin and he was dismissed. " Now,'' spoke the Tautai, " you must discover and punish the clerks who stole the money. What were their names ? " Confusion followed this demand. What would have been the outcome cannot be told. A shrewd old man, seeing the difficulty, stepped forward, and bowing respectfully to the Tautai, said : — "Your Excellency sees the confusion of these worthy officers, but does not fully comprehend their feelings. This is the first offense of the young clerks ; dou])tless they yielded in a moment of weakness. If brought to punishment, without opportunity to repent, SEEKING THE LOST. 89 they will be ruined. If given a chance to return the money and make confession, no doubt they will do it. That will save to the government two who may in time become worthy and faithful servants of the Middle Kingdom. I am certain that they already mourn their folly, and only wait an opportunity to show their good purpose. Allow them a single month and I am sure you will not regret it." ''Very well. If they return you tlio money, show that they repent, and prove tlieir purpose to serve faithfully the government, this first crime shall be forgiven. But if they do not return the money within a month, you shall hear from me." Before the month passed, the Tautai had something else to do than in(iiiire into the dishonesty of the clerks. Charges had been preferred against him, and he was compelled to meet them. Though he proved himself innocent, he was transferred to another part of the country, and the Amoy mandarins were relieved of anxiety. CHAPTER VII. TIIK KOBBERS' FATE. (^ RATEFUL to the Toiig W^aii TautJii for what he -^ had done, Mr. Lin made him anotlier visit, soon after regaining his mone^', to talk further about the other half and the missing child. Again he gave a costly present to the official, and was welcomed. Said the Tautai : — '' I thank you very much for 3^our presents, and j^et hesitate to accept. Of course it is the custom ; but it is not a good custom, and produces great evil. It is true that mandarins receive small .salaries, and are liable to be dismissed at any time ; therefore, they accept and make all they can while in ofhce ; but if there were more honesty, there would be less danger of dismission. I speak frankly to you, but dare not say as much to my fellows. A few agree with me ; many differ so decidedly that such sentiments are enou2:h to make him who utters them a victim of suspicion, if not of charoces to the hioher officials. As for vour money, I can promise little. My course in getting back what was kept in the yamen has made nearly every man there my foe. I will, however, do what I can, but fear those men will prefer charges against me DO THE ROBBERS' FATE. 91 that will need all my time and ability to meet success- fully. Your son may be alive ; yet it seems doubtful. The ransom offered surelv would have brous-ht him back long ago had he been in or near Amoy. It is possible that he has been taken far away ; in that case you may hear from him at any time, and may not for years. Perhaps you will never liear anything further. I am sorry for you, and mourn that such thiugs can happen so easily in our country without the robbers beiug discovered. I know, from your liberality to me, that you will repay all expeuses incurred, and I will do what I can to discover the missing child." The boatman heard nothiuij: further from Tons: Wan, so visited the yamen again to l)e told that the Tautai was away ; and, if at the yamen, could give no time to ordinary business. It was hinted that he had been charjjjed with crime that mi}2;ht remove him from Tong Wan, if not from ollice entirely. Seeing the boatman's distress, the ollicial who gave this infor- mation asked : — ''Is there anything I can do? In the Tautai's absence I am permitted to attend to some of his business." Mr. Lin made known his trouble and was told by the officer : — '* I think I can got back at least a part of that money. I am willing to try. As for your child, I fear 92 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. there is little hope. If you tue willing to intrust the recovery of that money to me, and agree to pay what expense may be incurred, I will see what can be done. And I think something should be paid me for my trouble." The boatman replied that he was willing to pay all reasonable expenses, and something beside for time . and trouble. "I will agree to get back that money, if possible, for one half," said the mandarin. To this Mr. Lin objected, and finally an agreement was made that the ollicer have one fourth, if he recover all that w^as missing. " What if it be found that the robbers have spent or gambled away all the money when caught?" asked the mandarin. " You would hardly expect me to pay from ni}' own pocket for bringing tliem to punishment?" ''That will be the business of the government, and not my affair," responded Mr. Lin. " Yet the government does not pay for services rendered an individual. I may be at great expense in this matter ; and, though I discover the rascals, may gain nothing to remunerate me. I hardly think I can undertake the business, unless you promise to pay at least a part of the expense, in case I fail to recover the mone}', yet bring the thieves to judgment. THE ROBBERS' FATE. 93 Remember, if the mouey is recovered, I pay all ex- penses myself and receive one fourth of the money." After considerable discussion the boatman agreed to pay no more than fifty dollars' expense, and signed a paper to that effect. "And you say the soldiers took your money?" asked the oflicer after making out the paper. '- Yes." "Then they are the ones I nmst discover and aiTest?" "Yes." A month later Mr. Lin was summoned to the Amoy yamen to identify the robbers. To his surprise and joy the identical soUliers liad been discovered, arrested, and were now awaiting trial for robbing his house of a large sum of silver mone}'. The boatman told his story, and then the rascals told theirs. The two accounts agreed exactly in facts, differed entirely in motives, and differed in that Mr. Lin said nothing beyond the departure of the soldiers with the money from his house. In brief this is the story of the soldiers : — "We learned, after the honorable man had accom- panied our comrade to the yamen with half of his silver, that- he is a faithful friend of the empire, and so knew that it was our duty to protect his property. That money would be unsafe at his house, since the 94 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. r()l)])iis had seen it, so it must be taken to tlic ytiincn Milli the other. In the excitement it wouhl be nnsiifc for one nnin to ciirr}' it, so botli of ns took it. On our way we were beset by a band of robbers who overpowered ns, took away the silver, and hurried ns into a house where thev kept us captives until yester- day. Then they let us go, but without the money. We hastened to the yameu and reported. Sent back at once to our prison, we found no trace of robbers nor mone3^ Who they are, whither they have gone, we do not know." Mr. Lin did not believe the last of their story, but he could not prove it false, nor could he prove that they meant to steal, rather than bring- his dollars to the yamen. He was simply powerless to regain his money or have the rascals punished. Urged for evi- dence that the men were dishonest, he could only tell his story over again and add his belief. He had never seen the soldiers before nor since. Others testified that they had always been honest, faithful men, and that their story was likely t?i"ue. " It would be not only unjust but cruel to punish or hold these men," said the judge. '"From their own story, and no testimony whatever to prove it false has been brought, they have been imprisoned for doing their duty and serving the owner of the missing money. Instead of testifying against and THE ROBBEBS' FATE. 95 seeking to have them pimished, the owner should show them srratitude, and eveu reward their faith- fulness." The sohliers were discharged, the case ended, and Mr. Lin was about to leave with a heavy heart, and soul enraged at mandarins and soldiers. " I am sorry to tr()u])le you," said the Tong Wan mandarin, presenting the agreement signed by the boat- man to pay fifty dollars toward expenses, *' but I must ask for the fifty dollars promised in this agreement. My expense has been much greater ; but since we have proven that two honest men, and your faithful friends, have suffered months of imprisonment for your sake, you surely will iKJt object to sharing the expense with me. It required this i)ast month of search and effort to discover the captives, and tliL'U to lay plans to capture the robbers. Unfortiniately they learned that they were to be attacked, cai)tui'ed, and forced to give up their spoils, probably with their lives, and they departed. Yet I am willing to pay part of the ex- pense for the sake of getting rid of such a band of rascals, for I am sure they will never dare appear again in Amoy. And I am the more glad to divide the cost with such a worthy friend, since he now has evidence that his country's soldiers are trusty and true." Mr. Lin at first refused to pay one dollar. He 96 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. insisted that, since not a dolhir had been returned, it was not his to pay for discovery of the robbers and release of the captives. '' And you refuse to keep your agreement? " asked the mandarin. " Do you know what the consequences will be? Here is the paper with your stamp on it; that you cannot deny. You may pay or be arrested ; and then you know not how long you may l)e punished for refusing to keep your agreement. You will be compelled to pay every dollar, and all expense of trial beside." Mr. Lin saw that he was the victim of the shrewd mandarin and paid the money. So ended, as he hoped forever, his business with mandarins. The Tong Wan mandarin had visited Amoy on official business, and by questions and bribes learned enough regarding the robbery to suspect that officials there knew about it, if they had not shared in the re- sults. Shrewdly pursuing his inquiries, he also enlisted others to learn more facts by promise of a share in the missing money if discovered. When he had sufficient evidence, instead of bringing charges against the guilty officers, he saw them individually in private, and gave each to understand that the others had, for the sake of escaping punishment, given him half of their share of the spoils. At first each rascal denied that he had anything to THE BOBBEBS' FATE. 97 do with the robbery, or knew about the money. Pre- sented with evidence, each in turn was forced to admit that he did know and had shared in the crime, but did it to save himself from financial difficulty. In the end each scamp divided his share and gave half of it to the mandarin from Tong Wan. The discovery of the guilty soldiers was of course easy. They were approached by the shrewd olficial, and warned that all was known, but not yet made public. Their only escape lay in paying back to the mandarin half of their half of the stolen dollars. One had gambled his away, and could furnish only a very small sum to meet the demand. Rather than have the affair reported and a trial follow, the guilty officials pleaded with the Tong Wan official to be lenient. On condition that they make np a i)art of the money sought, they were allowed their request. After that, the man so active in bringing rascals to justice had but to invent the story of imprisonment and teach it to the soldiers, and he was ready to sumujon the boatman. We turn now to tlie other robbers. He who carried Tee Siek away, hurried home, gave the child to his wife, and told her that the little one's father had just been killed. Before death he gave his only son in charge of the man, with a request that he be kept from relatives of the dead mother, since the father had 98 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. none near Araoy. Then, bidding her be careful to keep the child hidden, he returned to his comrades. Thev hud already begun to rob a house marked before for spoiling, though only two were present. The third hud either been killed or had run away with his booty. A brave, faithful soldier, seeing the thief enter the building, hurriedly called a comrade as true as himself, and the two, with drawn swords, entered the house from which the owners had escaped, and sur- prised the villains at work. Bidding them surrender, the soldiers prepared to enforce the demand. Keeping the door behind them, they advanced slowly, carefully, on the foe, and watched an opportunity to wound or kill without being hurt in return. Seeing themselves apprehended, the thieves at first tried to buy, then beg off ; failing in both, they sought by shrewdness to escape arrest. But they had men to deal with who were as shrewd as themselves, and far better prepared for battle. The robbers had no other weapons at hand than knives, and with those they prepared to defend themselves. Like cornered rats, they meant to fight only until they could run away. Seeing a good chance to strike, a soldier dealt a blow to the robber nearest and wounded him. The sight of a comrade's blood made the others, as well as THE ROBBEKS' FATE. 99 the wounded man, desperate, and both the brave men were forced to repel an assault. Though they kept two away, they missed the third. This fellow, seeing that his comrades were drawing the attention of the swordsmen, crept around to stab them in the back. He might have done so had not the quick eye of the comrade of the soldier most in danger seen the rascal's purpose and warned him. " Guard me,*' said he as his sword swept toward the sneak. Fortunate was it for the fellow that the blade missed its aim. It, however, taught that the brave men were watchful ; and to wouml them they must take more risks themselves. Coming to face the soldiers, the sneak moved with his fellows steadily upon them, and then sprang forward as if by a single impulse. Each soldier was wounded by the charge, though not dangerously, and two rascals were sutfering more seriously from sword strokes. Both sides were more careful, and the scamps more determined to escape. A desperate effort to reach the door was unsuccessful. Another to take the brave men unawares had a like result. Again a fellow, while his two comrades en- gaged the attention of the soldiers, sought to attack them in the rear. "•Gniard me!" spoke the man upon whom the thief was making the attempt. 100 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. A stroke of the sword did not miss this time ; and a rascal lay bleeding, helpless, and dying. The light was now even as to number, nnequal as to weapons. Seeing that only by desperate measures could they hope to conquer or escape, the robbers sprang at their foe where knives would prove better weapons than swords. Their purpose was suspected ; their efforts met by determined men. The result was the death wound to a robber, two wounds given to his comrade, and each soldier cut in the struo-ale. The wounded robber, though not entirely disabled, seeing that he could not hope to conquer, fell on his knees and begged for mercy. The soldiers were as merciful as brave, and the fellow's prayer was granted. They lifted him up and bade him prepare to accompany them to the yamen. Before starting the conquerors examined and bound up their own wounds, but neglected to care for those of their prisoner. They saw that he was dangerously wounded and partly disabled, though his wounds were in the upper part of his body and in his arms, so he could walk readily. The fellow seemed so humble and obedient that they thought it hardly necessary to bind hiin or take any further precaution. Second thought prompted that they tie his hands ; thus one could lead him to the yamen, leaving the other to attend to other duties. THE BOBBEBS' FATE. 101 The captive walked meekly by his captors side, nor allowed him to see a motion to a f tallow vobboi":; met' Sn the street. The two had gone a short distance when rapid footsteps were heard behind, A moment later three men ran against, knocked over, and lay seemingly stunned npon the soldier. Recovering their senses after a little, they arose and apologized profusely for what they had done, saying that they were in great haste and did not notice anybody in front of them. A moment later they were running swiftly away. The bruised, stunned soldier looked around to see where he was, what liad happened, and then sought his prisoner. The man was not by his side, nor to be seen at all. He had escaped. The soldier scrambled to his feet and turned sadly back to tell his comrade how the prisoner liad escaped. The captive, knowing that efforts would be made for his release as soon as he attracted the attention of a friend, was ready to take advantage of the first attempt. He knew the meaning of rapid feet, and when his captor fell under the runners, he only waited for one to cut his bands and then hurried away. Though seriously wounded, the thief could walk well, and lost no time in getting far away from the scenes of robbery and escape. Reaching comparative safety, he sat down to examine his wounds and decide 102 THE YOUNG MANDAUIN. on fm-JJier movements. Seeing a trusted friend, he iidviced .witji, I;uii and was told : — "You must get awu}'^ and do something at once for those wounds. If you do not, they may kill you. You cannot do any more business for a month. It is too bad, too. There never was a better time for our business." " But I must go home first," responded the robber. " Don't do it. Get out of Amoy, as far away as possible. Go to your wife's father's. Stay there until you lecover. To return home will be to put yourself in the power of the soldiers at once." " How will I let my wife know? We have a little boy belonging to us. His father gave him to me when he died, and I want her to take him to meet me at her father's. Will you tell her?" "Yes, if you pay me two dollars. It is dangerous to go there now. I will do it after dark." " I will pay two dollars the next time I see you, if you tell her and help her out of the city with the bo^' to-morrow." " What if we never meet again?" " We '11 meet again, and both with far more money than we have now." " I will not take the risk. And you must go as soon as possible. Give me two doHars and I will take your message." THE BOBBERS' FATE. 103 The bargain was made, ouly oue dollar was paid DOW, the other to be paid at the next meeting. Then the wounded thief started for the distant village. He thought of his dead comrades, and that the ransom of the child would ))e his alone ; so after all, he could afford to lose this harvest season and rest for a montii. Walkins: northward until far enough beyond the city, he employed a boatman to take him to the mainland, and then started afoot and alone for his father-in-law's home. He felt now, after sitting a while in the })oat, the effects of his wounds. Though able to walk, he felt weak from loss of blood, and exhausted from the great struggle and nervous strain. O DO Some miles from the water he sank exhausted under a tree as night came on, and sought rest. Hungry, faint, suffering from his wounds, he lay restless, then sank into a troubled sleep. Before morning he was delirious. Shortly after daybreak tvvo laborers on their way to work heard mutterings and turned from their path to see who spoke. They saw a human form under a tree, tossing to and fro, rising on his feet, sinking again to earth, nmttering meanwhile unintelligibh' ; and believ- ing the man insane, were about hastening on when they heard the jingle of silver in the pocket of the supposed madman. Though Chinese fear insane people, they love silver 104 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. ^ more, and the ruling passion drew these to the suffer- ing creature. Listening, they cauglit enough from his words and appearance to suspect his character and condition. Aftei' brief deliberation they carried him to their village, and shutting him up in a small room, kept watch over the poor delirious man. Neighbors needed but to know that he was insane to leave him to his guards. In a few days the fever had done its work, and the dead robber was quictlylnn-ied by his captors. They explained, as far as seemed necessary, their conduct, but made no mention of the few silver dollars found on the body ; nor were thev asked. It was enough that they generously cared for a sick insane stranger and gave his body decent burial. Thus ended the career of the man who stole Tee Siek. CHAPTER VIII. FOUND AT LAST. A FTER Ler husband left, Mrs. May, the robber's -^ ^ wife, tried to quiet Tee Siek and learn about his home and parents. He told of his father, mother, grandmother, and baby sister ; said that he lived in a large house, but could not tell where, nor yet give his father's name. He told how the men tore him from his mother, and bogged to be taken back. Not until she promised could ^Irs. May keep him quiet. That evening the friend came with the message of the wounded robber, and explained his delay by saying that he dared not come earlier lest the soldiers see and arrest him. '' Was mj^ husband badly hurt? " asked the woman. " Yes, though he did not think so. It will require fully a month for recovery. This is a great pity, since we never had such a good time for business. Had I not such opportunities for work to-morrow I would help you out of the city; but I must gather up what people have left behind." Early the next morning Mrs. May, carrying a heavy package and leading Tee Siek, started for her distant home. 106 106 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. " This is not the way to im' home," cried the child when they reached the open country. "Be quiet or the bad men will hear. I must take you away from thein first. If they see or hear you, they will carry you off so far that you will never find your father and mother again." Reaching the shore a mile or two north of the city, Mrs. May hired a boat and crossed to the mainland. There she employed a sedan chair, and on the evening of the third day reached her father's house. The robber's wife told her father, Mr. Nu, about her husband and the child, and asked what she should do with him. " Keep him until your husband comes," was the answer. " No doubt he will be here in a day or two, unless his wounds prevent. Perhaps they are not as serious as his friend supposed, so he may have re- turned to business. He is too shrewd and active a man to lose such a chance to make money ; and if possible he will stay near Amoy until business is dull again." "But what if his wounds are so bad that he cannot come home?" asked the wife. " Never fear. If he was able to get away from the city at all, he will reach us, though he may be obliged to travel slowly. He is a very strong man and not easily conquered by disease or wounds. He has been FOUND AT LAST. 107 woimded before and has escaped from many other difficulties ; he will from this." Mrs. May's father knew that her husband belonged to a gang of robbers. Instead of being displeased, Mr. Nu was glad to have a son-in-law who had so much mone^^ and gave no little share of it to his wife's father. "That child's parents are wealthy," said Mr. Nu after examining Tee Siek's clothing, '' and they will pay a large ransom for him. So we must give him the best of care." " Father, if my husband does not come, shall we try to get the ransom?" asked Mrs. Ma}^ after waiting in vain more than a inontli for the robl)er'.s return. " It will l)e time enough to decide that when assured that he will not come back. He has been away more than tliree months at a time heretofore, and doubtless will appear again. I am in no haste to part with the chikl. He seems like my own grandchild." More tlian three months passed and no tidings from the robber. His wife became alarmed, and even her father admitted that something serious had happened. Replying to his daughter he said : — "True, he had never been away so long before without sending word. Yet, remember, that if he has been captured, and that is possible, he does not lack for friends to help, nor for money to buy his freedom. 108 THE YOUNii MANDABIN. His friends may I'C obliged to allow liiin to be impris- oued for a time, then they will get him out. Be not needlessly alarmed. He will come back, as he has so often before when you feared he was dead." Mr. Nu's neiglibors had been told that Tee Siek was his daughter's adopted son. Since it is common for married people who have none of their own to adopt children, the villagers believed this and asked no questions. Several months after Tee Siek was stolen an Amoy man visited a neighbor of Mr. Nu, and was asked if he was acquainted with Mr. May. Replying that he had never heard of the missing robber, he was told of his disappearance, and that his wife, with their adopted son, had made her home in the village since the cap- ture of Araoy. The visitor showed little interest in the story until told of an adopted sou. Then he asked about Tee Siek, and, without telling why, requested to be shown the child. Soon after the visitor, pleading urgent business, hurried home. Reaching Amoy he called on Mr. Lin and said that he had seen in a distant village a child resembling Tee Siek. A brief description aroused the father's inter- est ; but when the man demanded a large sum of money before he would take the boatman to, or even tell the name of the village, Mr. Lin said : — " Your story ends like all the others, with a demand for money. I am tired of tiiem." FOUND AT LAST. 100 *' Wait until I tell you more about the child." said the man. Then he described Tee Siek more fully and asked, "Tell me, is that your child?" "Yes; that is my child. Have you seen him? Where is he i How can I get him ? Take me to him ! Take me to my child and I will pay you the reward offered for his recovery." " Put that in writing and I will do it, if you will pay all expenses. I will take you to the house and show you your son. If it is not your child, then you need not pay one cash except the traveling expenses. But I do not promise to release him, uuly to show where he is." Mr. Lin was so certain from the description of the discovery of his son, that he had a writer druw iq) the ai>;reement at once. This was signed and then the boatman went home to prepare for the journey. " My sou must not be t(3o hopeful," said old ^Nlrs. Lin. " He will remember how often before he has been disappointed. And yet, why should not the gods hear my prayer ? " Early the next morning the two men started. Xo expense was spared. Instead of hiring one sedan chair, the travelers riding in turn, two were engaged, and the bearers promised extra pay if the journey were made in two rather than tlu'ee days. The men were changed often, each pair doing the ]10 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. utmost to win a share of the reward ; and, late in the afternoon of the second day, the travelers reached the home of the friend of Mr. Lai, the boatman's com- panion. Mr. Lin could not wait until the next day ; and, pleading urgent business, persuaded Mr. Ban, the host, to take him over to call on the neighbor. Chinese politeness forbids a man to make known at once the object of his call, so Mr. Lin talked and listened, looked and longed in vain for anything telling of Tee Siek's presence. Lest the prolonged call arouse the suspicions of Mr. Nu, the boatman asked: — *' Am I rightly informed that yon wish to adopt a son?" ' ' Why should I ? Some day I hope to have a grand- son, and shall not need a son." " Then your daughter has no children?" ''None." " The Fates have dealt hardly with you." " They have." '' What will your spirit do if called away before a grandson is born ? " '-'- My daughter and her husband will care for my wants in the other world." '' But should l)Oth at last join you and leave no children, yours must be a sad existence there." '* True ; yet like many others." FOUXD AT LAST. Ill " Would not you adopt a son if one were offered by parents wlio can spare a child?" " Perhaps so. Do you know of any?" '^ I do. There are parents who have several, and one may die if he remains near the seacoast ; so they wisli me to find worthy people far inland who will prove loving and worthy. Your daughter, I under- stand, lived in Amoy, and she may know the parents. She is now living with you, you said?" **Yes." " And she brought a child with her, did slie not?" This question, less impertinent to a Chinaman than to us, surprised Mr. Xu, and he could not for a moment think of a proper reply. Evidently the stranger knew about the child ; and denial would be useless. Mr. Lin had aroused the suspicions of the robber's father-in-law when introduced as from Amoy. Strangers had often called before on other errands, but really to find Mr. May, so he suspected this visit had a like purpose. But the question aroused another danger. Perhaps the best escape was to own what could not be denied, and add a lie, to save further trouble ; so thought the man, and he answered: — "Yes; the child of her husband's friend. Both have been in Anam for a year ; and since the child's mother and near relatives are dead, the friend gave him to my daughter while he and my son-in-law remain 112 THE YOUNG MANDAHm. \u a foreign land. I sent word to lier to bring him here ; but she preferred to renuiin in Anioy. However, wlien trouble enme she obe^'^ed, and will stay with me until her husband returns. Since the child regarcjsher as mother, we call him her adopted son ; but his father doubtless will demand him again. Then I may wish to adopt a son. Will you kindly tell me about the one of whom you spoke ? " " Certainly." Then Mr. Lin described Tee Siek accurately. '* He is no doubt a most beautiful child," responded Mr. Nu, who had shown no little sui'prise at first, but quickly hid his feelings. " I should have added that this child was sent up to one of these villages ; and, when the father knew that business would take me this way, he requested me to see his son and find a good man w'lio will adopt him. Since I do not know which village, and have carelessly forgotten the man's name with whom he is staying, I must make all inquiries, and see each child under four years of age. So it will not do to pass any by. Should I miss the little one, his father would think me very careless. Will you allow me to see tiie child under your daughter's care ? " " Certainly," replied Mr. Nu. " I will bring him at once." Mr. Nu left the room and remained away several minutes. On his return he said : — FOUND AT LAST. 113 '*I beg ten thousand pardons, but be is asleep now ; and my daughter asks if you will kindly wait until morning. She will have him ready then if you call." " I must visit other villages early in the morning," replied Mr. Lin. " It will not disturb him to give him a sinojle glance to-nio;ht." It was useless to argue ; the boatman's request was most politely but firmly refused. He was bidden to call before starting for the other villages, and promised that the child should be seen, even though asleep. Further urging would be worse than useless, and Mr. Lin and companions left, the l)oatman promising to call early the next da}'. Mr. Ban was now told Mr. Lin's business. A present made him the boatman's firtn friend ; and he showed that friendship by giving advice. Said he : — " INIr. Nu's tongue is very smooth, so are his hands and feet. You must watch closely or you will fail to see their movements." " What do you mean? " asked the Itoatman. " That child may not be there when morning comes." *' But he said he would allow me to see it," replied Mr. Lin. ''True; and he said also that they must give him up when his father returns. What if that father come 114 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. back between this hour and morning? The child may be missing when you call." "Then you tiiink we should watch during the night?" "Exactly." "I feared as much. My stories perplexed him and aroused his suspicions. If he has my child, he will try to keep him. That he may do by hiding or taking him to another house." The three men watched the home of Mr. Nu until midnioht, and were rewarded. A sedan chair was brouirht to the door at that hour, and a moment after a woman entered, carrying a closely wrapped child in her arms, and was speedily l)ut quietly borne away. " Follow at a distance," spoke Mr. Ban, " and I will, by a shorter route, be ready to meet them when they reacli the house thev seek." In a village about half a mile away the sedan stopped at a house near which Mr. Ban was already in hiding. Tlie woman hurried in with tlie child, and a few minutes later a woman returned with a similar burden, and was speedily carried back to Mr. Nu's home. Immediately after she disappeared in the house with the child, the bearers bore away the empty sedan and the work was done. "He is smooth of hand and foot as well as of tongue," said Mr. Lin as he and his two companions FOUXD AT LAST. 115 walked leisurely back from the village to Mr. Ban's borne. " But be may find tbat otbers kuow as uiueb as be. He bas proven beyond question tbat be bas my cbild." " And you will not forget tbat it was my warning tbat led you to make tbis discover}'," spoke Mr. Ban. Tiie next nioruinor ^Ir. Lin and Mr. Lai were warmly welcomed by Mr. Nu. Refresbments were brougbt, every courtesy sbown, and tbe two treated like [)rinces. Said Mr. Nu : — " Wben you wisli to see liiin, tlie cbild sball be brougbt out. I bope be will prov«' tbe one you seek, for tben we sball accept tbe offer and adopt bim at once. We bave learned to love liim as our own," As soon as be saw tbe cliild, Mr. Lin snid that it was not tbe one be was seeking. Tben be asked : — " Ls tbis tbe cbild that vour dauiifbter brou<::ht from Amoy?" " Certainly," was tbe reply. " lie is tbe one we bave called ber adopted son. Indeed, be loves ber as if sbe were bis mother. Poor child I be bas none beside. If you wish to assure yourself tbat be loves her, I will call my daughter, since we regard you now as a valued friend." Tbe woman \yas summoned, and the cbild, by greet- ing her affectionately and calling her mother, showed even more than Mr. Nu had said. 116 THE YOUNG MANDARLV. ** Ami this is your daughter? " asked Mr. Liu. *'Certaiuly," was the auswer. " And this is the child you brought from Amoy?" he asked of the woman. " It is," answered she. " As I supposed," said the boatman, " it is not the cliild I seek. I beg ten thousand pardons for giving so much trouble." After many compliments the two men returned to Mr. Ban's house, and tlien started with their host to find Tee Sick. Taking another than the direction to the village until some distance away, and changing later, they approached the house wdiither Tee Siek had, as they supposed, been carried the previous night. "You would l)etter remain without, l)ut read}" to lielp if needed," said the boatman to Mr. Ban. Tiiei^, accompanied by Mr. Lai, he gained admis- sion ; and, while talking to the man mIio adiniUi'd them, watched and listened for his child. A vuice that he could not mistake was heard, and the little one came into the room. Tee Siek stood face to face with his father ! Ruu- nino" away from Mrs. May, who was about to shut him in a close room, the child suddenly found himself in the presence of strange men. Seeing t\vo strangers he stopped, dropped his head, and was silent. A FOUXD AT LAST. 117 iDoraent later he looked up, stepped back, and cast a startled glance at his father, as if uncertain who it was and what he should do. Mr. Lin was nearly as startled as Tee Siek. The sudden appearance of his son seemed to root the father to the floor. With eyes fixed on the little fel- low, the boatman seemed a statue with a soul. The silence was short. The parent broke it with the cry : *' Tee Siek! Tee Siek I Have vou forgotten vour father?" The- child's face changed, his form trembled, his eyes shone ; then he sprang forward, shouting as he threw his arms toward his parent, and was folded in his father's arms : — ^'My father! My father! He is not dead! He is not dead ! " The man who had admitted the two looked on in amazement. Mrs. May, wlio had heard the strange voice answered by the happy cry of the child, hurried forward to find Tee Siek in a stranger's arms, and his little head nestling against the stranger's face. It was useless to deny that the two were father and sou ; useless for the woman to assert that he had been hers for years. No one could dispute that the father had found his lost child. Before the excitement ended, Mr. Nu, who had watched the movements of the strangers, and had 118 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. followed thera at a distance, entered. He tried at once to claim the child as his own, but was met by the asser- tion of Mr. Lin, backed by Mr. Lai's testimony, that he had only a few minutes before declared that another was the child brought from Amoy, and that the woman at his own home was his daughter. Failing to get pos- session of Tee Siek, he threatened to have the boat- man and his companion arrested for attempting to steal a child. AVhen this threat failed he said that he would arouse his village to seize and imprison the strangers. " Do you wish to have your daughter arrested fur stealing this child?" asked the boatman calmly. "Here is a man from Amoy who knew my child as soon as he saw him at vour home several duvs ai^o. If you give us a particle of trouble, the mandarins will see that you are arrested and punished for robbing me of my son. If you care to escape without further trouble, you will remain silent. That is your only way." "And do you mean to take away that child, whom for so many months we have fed and clothed, without as much as paying me a dollar for expenses and trouble? 1 did not steal him, nor did my daughter. But we have cared for him, and, as you see for your- self, have done it well. Surely you are not the man to repay our kindness in that way." FOUXD AT LAST. 119 The sudden change and cool impudence of the man were not without effect on the father. Rather than have trouble he paid Mr. Nu liberally, and then took the child away. Mr. Lin lost no time on his homeward way. Again were chair bearers promised a reward for a quick journey. He declined to take another chair for his child, though his excuse, that it was needless expense, was not the real one. The father wished to feel that little form resting against his own, and to listeu to that childish prattle again. CHAPTER IX. A CRUCIFIXION. AFTER Tee Siek came hack, his mother and grandmother took him to a temple to offer thanks and presents to the god for his safe return. At the temple two strange women noticed Mrs. Lin's jade earrings, and watched her closely. When she kneeled before the idol they came nearer, examined her ornaments, and whispered together about them. As the Lins were leaving, the younger of the stran- gers asked : — '' Will the worthy princess please tell where she bought those beautiful ornaments ? " *' They were given my son's father for valuable service rendered another in distress," was the answer. This did not satisfy, and other questions were asked, with each the questioner becoming more and more excited. At last she said : — "' Those earrings were worn by my husband's mother when she was laid in the grave beside his father." The elder ]\Irs. Lin had listened to the questions and answers in silence until this was spoken ; then she took her daughter by the hand and said, '' Come 120 A CBUCIFIXION. 121 away ; you must not speak to such women. Come, Tee Siek, we will go." The women asked an old priest about the Lins after they had gone, and were told that they were excellent people, faithful to the gods, and greatly blessed because of their devotion to the temples. Mrs. Lin spoke to her husband at night of the women, and added that she dared not wear the ear- rings in pu])lic again, lest dishonest people claim or robbers take them away. " If 1 had never seen the man who gave them, we would all be better off," replied Mr. Lin. " I thought I was getting a large price for taking the stranger to the mainland, but it was the worst bargain I ever made. Not only did I lose many dollars hy it, I lost my son, and came near losing everything else." "Yes, and you would have lost all, liad it not been for the goodness of the gods whom you neglected," said his mother. To tliis ]Mr. Lin made no reply. If he thought further of the strangers, he supposed them jealous of his wife's ornaments. Breakiug open graves and rob- bing the dead, though not unknown nor even uncom- mon, is regarded such a dreadful crime in China, and so terri])ly punished, that Mr. Lin did not associate the stranger who gave them, nor the earrings them- selves, with the dead. 122 THE YOUNii MANDARIN. The next morning an ollicer called and told the boat- man that he was wanted at the yamen. Thinking the mandarins had business for him, he gladly went along. To his amazement, he found a charge against him of breaking open graves and robbing dead bodies. He denied that he had ever committed such a deed, or even knew any one guilty of the crime. " Probably it is a mistake ; if so, you will be able to prove yourself innocent," said the mandarin; "but for the present we must detain you." Though annoyed, the boatman believed the matter would soon be made right, so quietly allowed himself to be taken to prison. There he was visited by an under officer, who told him that if money were not paid to quiet the parties owning the robbed graves, trouble would follow. " What have I to do with that? " asked Mr. Lin. " You have the jade earrings, have you not? " " I have earrings of jade ; but what has that to do with it?" " Where did you get them? " The boatman told of the stranger taken to the main- land, and declared it imi)ossible that such a respectable man should rob graves. '* Perhaps he got them from the thief." " Perhaps there arc many like those I have." *' What will YOU say if the relatives of the dead A CRUCIFIXIOX, 123 prove that you have the ornaments taken from theii bodies?" " Then I will give back their property." *' What if they declare that you robbed the graves? '' " They must prove the charge." ''What if they do?" '' They cannot truthfully." " Can you prove that you did not? " Though the boatman saw trouble ahead, he saw as clearly that the mandarins wanted to get money from him, and he determined not to allow it. After the officer reported the result of his visit to the prisoner, the mandarins summoned Mr. Lin for trial, on the charge of breaking open graves and rob- bing the dead. Tlie earrings were brought. Mr. Lin admitted that they were the ones he had given his wife, and then told how he sot them. The relatives of the dead said the ornaments were the very same that had been buried with the body whose grave had been broken open. They testified, further, that tlie crime had been committed the night before the government recaptured the city ; and others declared that the boatman had been seen on that very night, in company with three men, walking toward the graves. Mr. Lin's case appeared worse and worse. He was compelled to admit that he went, on the night of the 124 THE YOUNG MANDARIN, robbery, in the direction of the graves ; yet he denied going near them, and told where he had gone, and what business took him and his companions there. " Bring those men to prove your story true," said the mandarin. The boatman replied that he could not, for two had been killed in the capture of the city, and the third had gone away, nor did relatives know what had become of him. " I do not doubt it," replied the officer, " but won- der at your staying. Did you think such a crime could long be hidden ? " In vain Mr. Lin denied that he had anything to do with or knew about the robbery. He was told tliat even his own story was against him. Unless he could bring witnesses who knew that he had not been near the graves, or could prove that others had robbed them, he must be held as guilty. Time was given, as much in the hope that he would pay money to the mandarins as that he would be able to prove himself innocent. Instead of seeking witnesses, Mr. Lin urged his friends to take presents to the Tong Wan Tautai to gain his influence. Unfortunately for the boatman, his friend had gone and a new man was there. He, however, accepted the presents and sent an officer to Amoy to examine the case. The report carried back was anything but favorable to the boatman. A CBUCIFIXIOX. 125 Siuee there bad been an appeal to the higher officer, and ^Ir. Lin denied the robbery most earnest!}', the Amoy mandarins feared to condemn and execute the accused, lest his friends appeal to yet higher authori- ties. But if the boatman could be forced to confess his guilt, then there would be nothing to fear. They might condemn and execute him, or, if they saw suffi- cient reason to hide his confession, might set him free. Chinese boast that the guilty only are punished. To make tliis boast seem true they try, by torture, to compel the accused to confess. Many, ratlier than endure the horrible sufferings, finally own themselves guiltt of crimes they never committed. The i)ahns of ^Ir. Lin's hands were joined, a ring was slipped over the middle fingers, then a stick was placed between tiie hands, and by that he was raised until his toes barely touched the ground. Thus he was left to stand for an hour, yet told that as soon as he owned himself guilty he should be released. The next day he was tortured in the same way, only for a longer time. The next still longer. Since he refused to confess, refused to promise any money, his torture was increased each day, and later there was added a beating on his bare back. Mr. Lin had in him what many Chinese have — martyr material. He could suffer and even die by 126 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. torture, but he would not own liimself guilty of a crime that he abhorred. Beside, he determined not to pay the mandarins money. That the olficers would have tortured the boatman to death is likely, had not something prevented. During the time of torture a young man called on a friend of the boatman and asked how much would be given for his release. " A large sum will be given for the discovery ol the robbers, or the man who gave him the earrings," was the answer. "' I can do neither, but I will save him if enough money be paid for it." " How can you save him ? " • *'B\^ taking his place." " How will you take his place? " *' I will confess that I robbed the graves." '' Did you rob them ? " **No; nor do I know who did. What does that matter? The mandarins want a victim. I will give myself for a thousand dollars." ''That is too much. He can't pay it, nor can his friends." ''What will they pay?" " What is a fair price ? " "I am ready to make a bargain. Misfortune has robbed me of all my property ; my father and mother. A CBUCIFIXIOX. 127 depending on me, are old ; my health is poor, and doubtless I must die before they do, so I wish to pro- vide for them in old age. If able to do that, it matters little how soon I die." "They will not need a thousand, nor even half that sum, to support them. One hundred dollars at interest will give them from fifteen to twenty dollars a year, and three hundred will support them well. You are not likely to live many years, so cannot earn one fourth, if even one tenth, of a thousand dollars before disease entirely unfits you for work. If you will con- fess that you broke open and robbed those graves, I will pay you one liundred and fifty dollars, anermanent and suggestive. Ilis grandmother told him the following as the story of this latter. The story is condensed, however. Many years ago a prophet told a good man that enemies had determined to kill his cattle and all other domestic animals, his family and himself ; and his only way of escape was to take all to the hills on the day of the visit of foes. Without telling the reason or showing alarm, the good man led his family, and every living being willing to follow, to the hills. To pnss time pleasantly he carried playthings for the girls and kites for the boys. The watchful gods saw his real character; how thoughtful he was of children, and how careful to hide his fears ; so to show their sympathy for him they guarded his home and protected his ]:)roperty from harm, though unable to save the animals from death. Returning at night the good man found that though some animals were dead nothing else had been dis- turbed. After that the gods showed him great favor, and FESTIVALS. 141 allowed no enemy to kill iinytbing on his laud ; besides, they gave him great riches and honor and made him one of the noble men of the empire. Pvver since parents who care for the sports of chil- dren are careful to give the ninth day of the ninth month to the pleasures of the young. Men able to leave business spend the day in the country with chil- dren and share in their sports, not least of which is kite-flying. Before this day came Mr. Lin made his son a present of a beautiful kite, and bade him tell nobody about it nor even try it until the morning of the festival. This was more than the \n)\ cuuld ol)ey. Tee Siek told one friend and he told another, so news of the beautiful kite spread among his acquaintances until nearly every boy who knew Tee Siek knew thtit he had the best kite in Amoy shut up for the nintii day. The boys asked to see, urged their friend to try, and finally persuaded him to fly the beautiful present. Tee Siek could wait no longer than the afternoon of the seventh day. Then quietly taking the treasure, without letting any of the family know, he started for the hills back of Amoy, followed by a host of boys. Other kites were in the air, and their owners dared Tee Siek to send up his to fight theirs. When he refused they offered to trade, and even to give him two kites for his one. Neither challenge to battle nor 142 THE YOUMJ MANDAItlN. to tradi' iiiovi'd the ownur of tlie boiuitiriil flyei' ; iiiid Tee Siek was about showing how well it could rise when a large boy came with a homely kite and dared the boatraau's son to fight kites with him. ''Mine is a Hying not fighting kite," was the response. " Mine has never fought, so may not be as good as yours in a battle. But I will fight with you, and the kite which fails shall belong to him who owns the others," said the larger boy. Tee Siek refused, but was willing to see which could fly the higher. This, however, would not do. At last the smaller lad said : — " Your kite is stroiig, mine is not. In a battle yours would break mine, then Avhat would it be good for? But a race can hurt neither. I '11 try you fl3'ing a race." " I will do it if each holds the string of the other's kite," replied the larger boy. Tee Siek agreed to this and both kites went up, that belonging to the boatman's sun rising far higher than the other. But it did not stay there. He who held the string pulled it down until near liis own, and then in their pitching this way and that the kites came toyjether and were entani^-led. "A fight! a fight!" siiouted the boys, all but the ownei- of the beautiful one delighted to see the battle up in the air. FESTIVALS. 143 It was too late for Tee Siek to bid the other keep the kites apart, useless to try to separate them in the air. Nor did the two remain lonor battling above the hills. Helplessly tangled, they plunged swiftly to the ground, and struck with such force that Tee Siek's was broiven so badly that it seemed ruined. The author of this damage looked on with pleasure, and declared that, since his kite was hardly broken at all, it had won the fight and both belonged to him. Then he proposed to take them. Neither Tee Siek nor his friends would allow tiiis ; though not until they had engaged in a battle of words was the matter settled, the kites separated, and the boatman's son allowed to carry home his sadly damaged i)roperty. '* Don't cry about it," said a faithful friend, noticing tears in Tee Siek's eyes, "your father will give you another for the ninth." " No, he will not. He forbade my taking it to-day ; and he will be angry when he knows that it is broken." '' What will you tell him when he finds it out?" '' I do not know yet. I must think of something." The boy had a story read}' on his father's return at night from business. Said Tee Siek : — ••' Father, ray beautiful kite is broken. I do not know who did it, nor how it happened, unless a dog got into the room through an open door. It was broken when 1 came from school this afternoon." 144 THE YOUNG MANDARIN, Mr. ].in examined and found that, though badly damaged, the kite couhl be repaired ; and at once it was taken to a man who made it liis business to do such work. And on the morning of the nintli the kite was repaired ahnost as good as new. *' Father, let us go to those hills where so few people are gathered," said Tee Siek as he and his father started with the kite on the morning of the great festival. ' ' Wli y do you wisli to go there ? Where the people are is the best place, and there most of the boys are gathered." ''• 1 know, but in such a crowd, and more are going, we cannot move around as we wish. Let us "o to that high hill back of the others. No one will trouble us there." " I do not care to walk so far, nor to climb that hill. I wish to meet friends who promised to be in that crowd." Before Tee Siek could warn the friends whoui he met in the larger company to sa^^ nothing about the damage to the kite, several boys asked if it liad been repaired, and if the damage done in tiie light had l)een great. In vain the boy motioned them to be still. INIr. Lin lieard the (|uestions, and asked what was nieantby the fight. The secret was out ; and Mr. Lin leained that his FESTIVALS. 145 son had disobeyed, and told him a lie to hide the result of that disobedience. With a stern look and harsher words, he rebuked tlie lad for disobeying and trying to deceive his father, but said nothing of the sin of lying. Tee 8iek hung his liead in silence; and the boys wondered tliat Mr. Lin did not strike his son. All were glad when the father stopped scolding and prepared to fly tlie kite. None were more enthusiastic than Tee Siek wlien it arose in the sky until it seemed a mere speck. He forgot the scolding, forgot that iiis kite had been broken, forg(jt that lie had disobeyed, and probably hardl}' thouglit, from the first, of the lie he had told. Chinese do not think it wrong to lie, but disgraceful to have a lie found out. Though Tee Siek's was the most beautiful kite, it was not as wonderful as many Hying near it. Some were shaped like diamonds, others like stars, suns, moons, comets ; still others like birds, beasts, rep- tiles, fishes ; in fact nearly everything that could be imitated in kite form. A hen and chickens appeared in the air, and not far away a great hawk ; in another place an eagle and a flock of smaller birds ; here might be seen a hufre fisJi swimming in the air, and there a lizard creeping on nothing. An immense snake wriggled this way and that, and a centipede not far off kept him company ; 146 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. nor were the strange shapes the only curiosities. From some of the kites came sounds as peculiar as the appearance was wonderful. Kites whistled, hummed, squeaked, and moaned ; while others gave forth various sounds, called music by those who know little of what it music means. After centuries, perhaps thousands of years, of practice the Chinese have become experts in kite manufacture. Though the Japanese may equal them, is quite certain that no other people can. All day long Tee Siek and his father remained on the hills flying the kite, talking, laughing, and watch- ing the sports of others, when they did not share in them. Traveling merchants had fruit, cakes, candies, and many other foods more substantial, to sell ; so none need go hungry, if he had a few cash with which to buy his dinner. Nor was the food a cold lunch ; a man need but order, and as quickly as the wandering restaurant keeper could start his fire and cook the dish desired, it was ready. As the sun sank in the w^est. Tee Siek followed his father homeward, tired, happy, and thankful that a Kite-flying Festival belonged to China. Had he thought of foreigners, doubtless he would have pitied a people who never set apart a day each year for flying kites. CHAPTER XI. DOGS. CjHINESE peculiarities include birds and animals. Crows are partly white, robins black, and sev- eral species of birds easily learn to speak. Few animals in that strange land are more interesting yet less attractive than the cow and dog. The zebu, or Brahmin cow, is common there ; but the bufifalo cow is more worthy a full description. Resembling an elephant in size, color, and ungainly shape, it seems to have been formed after the supply of beauty had been exhausted. The great rough horns, turned backward until they nearly rest on the neck, suggest that these are ornaments, not weapons ; and ornaments only because the owner is such an ugly appearing creature. Gentle as a lamb, it is led by a rope fastened to a ring in its nose, and obeys its little boy or girl leader as faithfully as it would a giant. The people call this animal a "water cow," some a " water hog," not because of any resemblance to a milkman's pump, but on account of its fondness for water. When free, it seeks a pond or other body of water, and, if able during the warmer weather, lies submerged except its nose, and so saves itself a great U7 148 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. amount of work when flies and other insects are about. If water be wanting, mud suits as well. Perhaps the animal thus gained its mud color. The street dog, however, if stories regarding him are true, is the genius and fool in the Chinese animal world. Though born pretty, his hard life makes him a homely brute before a year passes ; and he contin- ues to 2;row more and more U2;lv in looks while life lasts. Fortunately, for other reasons, too, he is not long-lived. His color in early da3^s may be black or white, yellow or brown ; in a year or two it changes to the standard — shaded dirt. His hair, that in youth gives him the appearance of a wolf or coyote, is sacrificed in battles, and scars appear instead. Peace- able by nature, he is born for war, and fights for his living. If he have a master, he learns the fact rather through kicks and blows than caresses and kindness. Owned or ownerless, he must find his own food or prove himself unworthy a place among the living. Of course some receive better treatment at the hands of masters ; the description applies to the vast majority. The dog of the street is not an unmixed evil, for he is the city scavenger. lie never deserts his post unless driven away ; never shirks his duty ; never goes on a strike ; always hungry, usually starving, he allows no food to waste, nothing eatable to decay. Without DOGS. 149 him epidemics might be far more common than now ; yet his only reward comes in kicks and curses. It is said, in some places, the writer has reason to believe with truth, that the street dogs have a govern- ment of their own, and each brute knows his place and keeps it. Certainly it was almost ^impossible to coax, very difficult to force, a dog beyond certain limits in the city of Amoj' years ago. And woe to the dog out of his beat ! He must run, fight, or die ; oc^casionally one was compelled to do each in turn. If forced a few blocks from home the brutes, bold enough before, became cowardly, and made desperate efforts to return. One day, under Tee Siek's leadership, the boys prepared for sport with the dogs of the street. While smaller groups drove the brutes through streets cross- ing a main one, and then kept guard to prevent their return, two larger companies started, one at the head, the other at the foot of the principal street, and drove all before them as they approached the middle. At each crossing the number of dogs increased ; so did the company of lads. By the time the last cross- ing was passed, two large ])ands of boys guarded the ends of the street, while in it a mass of snarling, snap- ping, whining, howling dogs were seeking in vain a chance to escape. Only by shouts and clubbing did the lads prevent the brutes forcing a way through the human walls pressing upon them. 150 THE YOUNG MANDAIilN. When the two crowds of dogs came together, and there was no chance to get away, the fight began. The growls and liowls, the yelps and cries of despair of the brutes, ininorled with the shouts of delisfht and yells of excitement from the boys, made the street seem filled with unearthly beings engaged in a mad fight. People whose houses were near the scene of battle had been warned to keep their doors shut ; others approaching were urged to stay away from the fight, lest the dogs attack them ; and the boys and brutes had for a time the battle to themselves. Even a stolid Chinaman is not proof against the attractions of a dog fight, and men pressed in upon the lads by and by to witness the contest. The brutes, crowded close together, leaped over each other, if not forced to fight, in a desperate effort to get away. Some appeared about to leap upon the boys, and, by passing over the compact body, would escape. Tee Siek saw the danger and shouted ; — " Move back! Move back and give them room, or they will attack us ! " Room was given, and, urged on by shout and club, the creatures attacked each otlier ; theu the battle became general and more desperate than at first. If a dog crawled out of the fight, he was forced back by human power, if not seized by a more savage dog. DOGS, 151 The fight went on ; to the boys it was fun, to the dogs murder. Does a dosr fio;ht make a human beinoj meaner and more brutal than a brute? The lads had no pity, showed no feeling. A limping, bleeding cur was forced back even after he crawled at the feet of the boys as if to plead for mercy. If the lads were without mercy, the animals were not witliout sense. They seemed to realize that they were victims of others than their own kind. As if by common consent, they ceased the fight and turned toward tlieir tormentors. Tee Siek saw the danger, and with a shout of warning bade the two companies stand firm and beat back the dogs preparing to attack. His own company listened and obeyed ; the other, frightened by the des- perate appearance of the brutes, hesitated and then fell back and crowded as^ainst the walls, leaving a small opening. Several dogs saw their opportunity and made their escape. Others followed, and all would have passed through the gap had not the young commander shouted : — "Close up! Stop them! Strike them ! Don't let any more get away ! " The command was obeyed and a considerable num- ber remained. The dogs, less crowded, were less desperate ; but if they hoped to avoid further battle they were disappointed, for comrades belonging to 152 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. that part of the street began to assert their rights, and again the struggle was on. If any declined to share in it, they were forced into battle by the clubs of tormentors. Mercy now pleaded with the young commander, and he listened. The sight of limping, bruised, bleeding, maimed dogs, suffering that he and his might enjoy, aroused his sense of shame, and he determined to stop the cruel sport. He shouted ; — "We have had enough of this. We will let them go. Move apart and make an opening." Before the boys could obey the order, a larger lad in the other company replied that the fight might as well go on until some of the worthless brutes were killed. This suited other lads, and was echoed by men back of them. Tee Siek urged and pleaded in vain. The men declared that no better service could be done the city than the destruction of half the dogs in it. Though the young captain refused to order the renewtd of the battle, and insisted that there had been enough cruelty, others determined to force on the fight that had almost ceased. The}' tried to compel the wretched brutes to renew the struggle ; but there was no response. The creatures seemed to gain sense as the boys lost it, and resolutely refused to fight, yet showed that they had not lost spirit ])y the way they snarled and DOGS. 153 snapped at the clubs that struck them. The blows given exasperated the brutes, but turned their rage at the tormentors rather than at each other. " Make them fight ! All together ! Charge at them with clubs ! " shouted the larger lad who had usurped the command. He was obeyed by nearly all, a few siding with Tee Siek holding back. The dogs, as if moved by one will, turned on the boys, gnashed their teeth on the clubs, and leaped upon their tormentors. The lads were surprised, frightened, and stupefied by this show of courage. Instead of continuing, or even holding their ground, they pressed back and showed their fear. Tee Siek saw the danger and shouted : — *' Don't give way now! Stand firm or they will attack you ! Club them, and hit hard and swift, or you will see trouble ! Stop them ; then quietly open a way for them to go ! If you give a chance, they will pounce on and tear you in pieces now ! " The more resolute lads tried to obey, but the des- perate dogs seized and held the clubs that fell, while others tried to seize the strikers. For a few moments it seemed that the brutes would overpower the boys. But several furious blows sent back the leaders howl- ing and limping from the contest, and the boys were masters again. 154 THE YOUNO MANDARIN. - *' Stand firm and divide on tlie side away from the dogs ; separate, each pressing to the wall nntil you give a space for them to pass through without harming you ! " shouted Tee Siek to those about him. The other company, noticing what Tee Siek's com- mand had produced, opened too ; but first on the side of the dogs. The brutes, seeing the opening, rushed through, and, in their eagerness to escape and anger at the boys for hindering, sprang upon and bit several before the way to reach the street beyond was open. At last the fight was over ; the dogs had disap- peared ; and the boys were examining their wounds, talking of the battle, and congratulating themselves that they had not suffered more. "It looked dark one time. I thought we would be torn in pieces by them," said a lad, " liad not the captain ordered us to stand firm and club them back. I never was so frightened in my life. See how they tore my clothing ; and see that wound." " That is the last dog fight I '11 ever have anything to do with," said another. "I thought I would never get out of it alive. I am not sure that I shall get out alive at last, anyway. See how my arm has been torn, and how they bit my leg." "Seeliere," spoke Tee Siek, showing his garments in rags, and bleeding wounds in arms, legs, and on his side. DOGS. 155 *' You are hurt worse than any of us," responded a lad. " How did it happen? Why did not you stop us before ? " " It will not do for a leader to keep out of difficulty or danger. I would have stopped long before I spoke, if I had thought you would listen. I felt mean to see those poor fellows compelled to fight," was the answer. "But we will all oret well and let dos:s alone afterward. So they have gained in the end, and we have learned a lesson," " What will your father say when he sees how yo ir garments are torn? What will you tell him?" asked a lad. " 1 will tell him that I fouf^ht a dog that was trving to kill a goat, and saved the goat but got hurt myself. What will you say, Tun?" asked Tee Siek. " I will say that I fought a dog who was trying to kill a beggar." "And your father will punish you for not allowing the dosr to make one less ])eojo:ar in the citv." " Well, I wish we had let the dogs alone. The captain warned us that there is danger in it, and he did not wish to go into the sport. The next time he tries to hold back I mean to stand by him," said a smaller lad. " He knows more about dogs than I do." " I ought to," responded Tee Siek ; " I am older." 156 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. "And you used to have two dogs of your own. What became of them?" asked a lad. " Old Sai disappeared, and later one of father's men saw his dried skin hanging up in a man's yard. The dog was so fat, and the man hungry, I suppose. The other one died." " Did the man who ate Sai steal him?" "I suppose so. It was in the great drouth when so many starved. I was sorry to lose Sai, but he was getting old, and he was of some use at last." " You kept him too well." "I suppose so." CHAPTER XII. A STtTDENT. WHEN six years old, Tee Siek, standing at the door of his home, saw a man carrying along the street two deep but small baskets hung at either end of a pole on his shoulder. Before each house he stopped and called out, " Respect printed paper." If in a few moments no one appeared, he passed on and repeated his call at the next door. ' ' Grandmother, why does that man call out that way ? What has he in those baskets?" asked the child. " He belongs to a society formed to prevent printed and written paper being soiled or tram[)led on in the street. He picks up every scrap found, and gatliers much more, as you see, at the houses. This paper is stored in a house owned ])y the society, and when- a large quantity has been gathered, the members meet and burn it." "Why do they burn what he gathers so carefully? " " That paper contains great men's thoughts which should be treated with respect and reverence. They sliould never be touched by the feet nor even by dirty hands. Notice how people respect that man because of his business." 157 168 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. '* Do all treat him with such respect?" "Yes; unless they are ignorant, and know little more than l)rutes." " Do foreigners, of whom you told me, respect printed paper? " " Not as we do. Outside barbarians " (a term often applied to foreigners) "care more for gold and silver than they do for learning. One comes from the earth, the other from the minds of the great. One is found mingled with dirt and is degrading, the other worthy and exalting. Foreigners would sell everything for money, because they know not the full value of learning." " Is not money good? Why do you so often say I must be rich when I grow up? " " Money is valuable, for we use it to purchase food and clothing. Those are meant for the body, how- ever, while learning is for the mind, which is far more important than the body. Riches are worth getting, but never to be compared with learning and wisdom. Learn ino; makes men great." " Are you great, grandmother? " " No, I am only a woman. Women seldom learn to read in the Middle Kingdom. How can they become great?" " Wiiy did you never learn to read? When I am old enough I will teach you." A STUDENT. 159 " I am only a woman, and cannot learn." " Do you wish you were a man? " '^ Yes." " Why are you not a man?" " I suppose I was bad, and did not obey the «2:ods in my last life, so they made me a woman in this. For that reason I serve them so faithfully now that I may be a man when I am boiii tlie next time. Perhaps, though, I was a do«r or cow or horse, and was so good in the last life that I became a woman in this." *' If I serve the goils faithfully, what will I be in the next life? I am a boy now; will I be a man by and by ? " " I do not know, unless you become the son of a rich and great man. But if von are not faithful to them in this life you m ly be a girl in the next, or only a horse or even a dog." " I will serve the gods faithfully then, but I wish to learn to read too. When can I go to school? Lay Ton, who is only a little older than I, goes. Will not my father send me soon ? " " Yes ; as soon as he finds a good school." ' ' May I go where Lay Ton goes ? " " No, you must have a better teacher. Ton means to be nothing but a boatman ; you must become a man of learning." 160 THE YOUNG MANDABW. '' My father is a boatman, why may not I be a boat- man too?" "Boatmen never become mandarins. Learned men do. Some da}^ we hope you will become an officer of the government." A suitable school was found, and before Tee Siek reached the end of his seventh year he began his edu- cation. This, like others, was a private school, each pupil paying for his tuition. The teacher was counted among the best in Amoy, so charged accordingly. The price varied from a couple of dollars to as many tens a year, for each pupil, Tee Siek's tuition being twelve dollars a year. About sunrise, at the close of New Year festivities, Mr. Lin took his son to the school, which was in a small shed of a building back of a dwelling, and reached by a dirty alley. The teacher was already in his seat, and several boys at their desks. Leading his son up to the man of learning, Mr. Lin introduced Tee Siek, and then the boy, told before what to do, bowed reverently, spoke a few complimentary words, and laid a present before the teacher. After listening to flat- tering compliments Tee Siek turned to a tablet on the wall bearing the name of Confucius, China's greatest teacher and philosopher, and bowed three times with his head between his knees, thus " worshiping," as it is called, the memorv of the most learned man of his A STUDENT. 161 nation's history. This done he returned to the teacher and was shown a seat with other bo3's. Before his seat was a desk on which hiy a pointed hairbrush called a pen, two ink stones, paper, two pieces of ink, one red, the other black, and a tiny earthen pot filled with water. Except the desk and raised platform on which the teacher's chair stood, the room had little furniture other than stools and desks for the pupils. After his son had found his seat Mr. Lin left, and school was called to order. The teacher spoke a few words to the boys, since this was the beginning of the school year, and then summoned the new scholars, one by one, to his desk. Tee Siek's turn came, and the ])oy went tremblingl}'^ forward. " You will bt'gin in the Three Character Classic," said the teacher after questioning the lad. Then reading over the first lesson, he bade the new scholar repeat it after him again and again, until he knew each character and its sound. "Now you will take your seat and stud}^ until able to repeat the whole lesson without looking at the book." Already other boys were at their tasks, and Tee Siek began his. Each studied aloud, as though he thought shouting was study, and seemed eager to make as much noise as possible. This was fun at first to the young student, but when his throat became hoarse the fun disappeared. 162 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. "While the pupils were shouting their studies the teacher, with hoiid thrown ])ack and eyes closed, sat in his armchair seemingly asleep. As long as the Doise continued he dozed, but when a lull came he rapped on his desk and said there was very little studying. At once the buzz and roar were resumed, and the man of learning was content. A boy who had completed his task approached the desk, handed the book to the teacher, turned his back, and, as if trying how rapidly he could recite, repeated what he had learned. This turning: the back to the teacher is called *' backing the book," and is intended to show that the scholar need not see either book or teacher when lie recites his lesson. Seeing several others "back the book," Tee Siek followed, and recited without a mistake. The teacher praised and told him that he must surely become learned and great some day, then gave him another task and sent him to his seat a proud, happ}'' boy. Chinese education is largely a matter of memory, and he who commits most and can repeat readily has the best education. It is astonishing how readily and how much the Chinese mind can commit to memory. The scholar can repeat book after book, and even tell the book, chapter, page, and very line of a quotation from the classic writings. At ten o'clock came recess, and the boys went home A STUDENT. 163 for breakfast. For more than three hours they had studied without a particle of food, and this during the short days of winter. In summer the school began earlier, and seldom did Tee Siek eat before beginning his studies for the day. The Chinese believe that eating and study do not agree, and an empty stomach means a full head ; but a full stomach a poor student. The lads left the sclioolrooin quietly, rather like old men than hungry boys. The student learns early in life that he must be quiet and dignified, and seldom forgets it. At eleven o'clock the boys were back at their studies, which lasted until four. In summer the school was dismissed two liours earlier on account of the heat. But as school opened earlier in the morning, the study hours were nearly the same. Tee Siek little thought, as he proudly recited his second lesson, what aches and pains lie would suffer before he had learned three thousand of these strange characters. He would have been more discouraged still had he known how many thousands more he must know before he could be a learned man. Lest the young beginner lose heart at the start, his teacher cheered him by saying : — " Notice that while the many ten thousand charac- ters differ, each has in it one of the two hundred IQi THE YOUNa MANDATilN. ami fourteen radicals. Bn' those you may find and study each character in tlie dictionary. Though you cannot remember more than a few thousand, the books you will study most are all written with those few thousand words." Tee Siek had much to tell on his return from school at the close of the day. The teacher had said that if he studied hard he might become a mandarin, wear fine clothing, ride in a beautiful sedan, and have plenty of money. The boy told his grandmother in confi- dence that when he became a mandarin and did not use it himself, she might ride in his chair. The young student began to wiite early in his school days. Instead of a pen he used the small pointed brush, and made ink as it was needed. He poured into the hollow place of the ink stone^a little water ; into that he dipped the stick of black ink, if black were used, and rubbed it over the stone. Then dipping the pen in water, and touching it to the film of ink, he was ready for writing. He was taught to hold the pen, as many do in other lands, be- tween the l]rst and second fingers, thus making the characters upright rather than slanting. Most of his early school days were spent in learning to read, write, and in committing to memory the writings of the great men of other days. Later he studied arithmetic, geography, and history ; 3^et A STUREyr. 165 those were couuted far less important studies. He never learned to spell, for Chinese writing is made up of characters or pictures composed of a greater or less number of marks, not letters. Probably in early historv the language was picture writing ; little remains of those pictures now. Later the student was taught to write essays and poems, usually taking the sayings of noted men as subjects. Every Chinese student is expected to write poetry, no matter what nature has done for his mind. The people seem to think poets made not born, unless they suppose all are born poets. Often the teacher spoke to his pupils on other sub- jects than the studies, and taught them many useful lessons. More than (jnce he si)()ke about foreigners, and wained the boys against the [)()wrr and evil influence of outside nations. Said he o\w day : — '• Remember that ours is the Middle Kingdom, not merely because it occupies the middle of tlie world, but is the best of all. Others are outer, and possess what we have rejected. Our nation has always had the must learned men of the world : and it has the longest and most worthy history. The past was the age of wisdom, and it must be your business and dutv when you reach manhood to briniz; men back to that age of glory and might." "Do not foreigners have better ships than we?" asked Tee Siek. 16G THE YOUNG MAN DAB IN. " Better to cross the water and rob weaker nations," was the response. '^ Ours is not a mission of war and robbery, l)iit of peace and blessing." *' Yet foreigners possess far more riches than we," persisted the youth. "True; and how do they gain them? By robbing and making war ou other peaceful nations. Money is their god, and never did men worship more faithfully. Remove money, and foreigners would want to die. The great object of life go'ne, they would wonder what they were made for. Never allow money to become your master. It will make 3'ou the meanest of slaves ; and at any time a thief mav rol) and leave you helpless and wretched, for your master will be missing while your fetters remain. You have nothing further to live for, nothing to enjoy, and nobody to care for you. Never allow your mind to become subject to 3'our body. The mind is master, the body seivant, though foreigners have changed the order and made themselves despised." Several mouths after school days began, the teacher said to Tee Siek : — "You are sucli a faithful student that we must give you another name. It is high time that you have a student name, and I have deliberated long, but finally have selected what will please as it must suit you. In future your name will be Thean Klieh." A STUD EXT. 167 The lad was delighted. He had expected a new name long before, yet dared not ask the teacher. He felt well repaid for waiting, since such a worthy one had been chosen. The meaning, Heavenly Guest, was much to him, but the fact that he had now his student name and was a real scholar, known as such to old and young by this change, satisfied the boy. It proved that his teacher thought well of the pupil, and meant that he was likely to be more than an ordinary man. The shrewd boatman saw something back of the complimentary name. It meant that the teacher was anxious to keep his pupil for the sake of tlie father's purse, for school bills were promptly paid and presents not betrrud":ed. The time of danger in childhood was past, the youth was old enough and able to care for himself now, so an lionorable name carried with it few dangers. Surely it would stimulate the vouns^ student. The Lins were pleased witli the change, and though it required months of practice before Tee Siek was given np for Thean, the new name gradually gave place to the old. The whole was rarely used, yet an addition was applied to the first one after it became common, and the boy was called Theana. The termi- nation a differs little from our ?>, meaning little or beloved. CHAPTER XTII. VISITING THK COUNTRY. ry^HP^AN, as we now call him, was a faithful stn- -*- dent, and seldom absent from school. Each morning shortly after sunrise he left home, and with only an hour of intermission for breakfast, remained at his studies until two o'clock in summer, four in winter. Except an occasional holiday he studied on, day after day, from the beginning to the end of the school year ; that is, from the middle of the first to the end of the twelfth month. He had no Saturday' holida}^ no Sabbath of rest. It is not strange that after eleven and a half months of diligent study he was tired and longed for vacation. The Chinese divide time into days, months, and years, but have no weeks. Each day is like the one before and that to follow, without a' seventh devoted to rest and worship. Centuries ago time was divided into weeks, if we may judge from an almanac pub- lished years ago at Amoy. The first of each seven days in this is marked by the character for the sun, so the day would be called Sunday. AVhen that division was used, when lost, and why retained in that imperial almanac, the learned men seem unable to sav. i68 VISITING THE COUNTBY. 169 For several years after beginning his studies the young student took plenty of exercise at the close of school, but later gave more thought to books, less to sports. The result was weakness, headache, and in- ability to do his best at study. He heard so much a])out learning, greatness, and wealth, that his ambi- tion to gain them got the better of his judgment. Several years after student days began he came home at the close of school one autumn afternoon, and throwing himself down on a bench, said : — "'• 1 wish New Year had come and would last twelve months. I am too tired to study, too tired to sleep or rest. When I do sleep books seem always before me." '' You must stop and rest or you will become ill," said Mr. Lin, who had come early from business. " He must not stop and rest," spoke the grand- mother decidedly. "■ He is merely paying tlie [n*ice of learning. All great men sufifeied as he does, but they continued. Those who stopped failed to reach greatness. He must choose between greatness pur- chased at the price of sutfering now, and worthlessness later gained by ease and idleness in youth." " Better less greatness with health than ceaseless study tliat destroys strength and even life. Jewels may be purchased nt too high a price," responded Mr. Lin. '' Grandmother must remember that weariness is a 170 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. foe to study. He who rests well studies better," said Theau. " It is not that I fear rest, but giving up altogether," replied the grandmother. " If you stop once, you may never begin again." •■' Day after to-morrow I go to the country on busi- ness, and he may go along and enjoy rest while he sees the country," suggested Mr. Lin. The boatman had recently started a passenger boat between Amoy and a small town to the north, and wished to visit a village beyond to arrange for more business. Early on the day of the trip father and son were on board, waiting for the turn of the tide. A strong northeast wind promised a rough passage, and few passengers appeared. Amoy passenger boats are propelled by sails and "oars, so depend on tide and wind ; and, as the end of their up trip is in the river or at the head of the bay, they must start with rising water and return with the falling tide. Thus, at the beginning of flood tide, the harbor is full of small vessels setting: out for their various destinations, and near the end of the ebb they return singly, in pairs, and by fleets. As Chinese care more for low fares than good accommodations, these boats suit the patient people. If a Chinaman finds a place to smoke, talk, laugh, VISITING THE COUNTRY. 171 and curl up for sleep, he is satisfied, providing that he reaches his destination ; just when does not matter. Women are not great travelers, and when they jour- ney they crowd together and talk in low tones apart from the men. Yet elderly women occasionally are found sharing the company and conversation of the other sex. Among the few" passengers this morning were three women and several children huddled together near the mast. While the little ones remained silent, the women talked of the storm, and told dreadful stories of wrecks and destruction. '' We will have some boats ick " (Chinese for sea- sick) '■'• passengers," said Thean, looking toward the grou[) of women and children. ^' Are you afiaid?" asked the father. "■ I have never seun a storm in which a boat could go that UKide me afraid," was the answer. ^'But I think the captain will be unable to hoist full sail to-day." The captain, however, hoisted all and started across the harbor on his first tack. The vessel leaned over dangerously far, plunged furiously through the water, and dashed the waves madlv from her bow. The wind sent the spray in sheets over the terrified pas- sengers, who clung to anything offering a hold and wished themselves ashore. 172 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. ** Father, is it wise to carry so much sail?" asked Thean. " Those women and cliildren are terribly frightened ; and the boat leans over so that the water comes in on the lower side." "A little afraid yourself?" inquired Mr. Lin, smil- ing. Then he ordered the head of the vessel to the wind and the sail lowered. To this the captain objected that, unless all sail possible were carried, they could not reach the head of the bay before the tide turned. ''It is more important that these people are not frightened, so that they never take passage again, than that they reach the town on time," was the response. " Why cannot boats be built to ride more easily on the waves? " asked Thean. '' If this boat were longer, she would not pitch so, nor be as uncomfortable. Foreign vessels are longer and sail easier." The old captain gave the youth a look of contempt, but made no reply. Mr. Lin answered : — ''Did you ever see a duck, goose, or any other water bird with a long body? Water birds are the model of boats in the Middle Kingdom." "And fish the model of foreign vessels?" asked Thean. "Yes; and, like them, fit only to be hidden under water ; the deeper the better," spoke the gruff captain. VISITING THE COUNTBY, 173 *' If I build boats, I will make them for ihe comfort of passengers. Foreign vessels are not all like fish, and they are comfortable," spoke the boy. The captain's look said even more than his words as he replied : — " Youth always reveals its ignorance when it at- tempts to criticise the work of wise men. Our fathers knew what is the best form for vessels, and built accordingly. He who changes the model will never sail on more than one, nor make two trips." Thean made no further comment, but asked himself if the wise men of the past discovered everything worth knowing. The tedious rough voyage ended, but the tide luul turned. Passengers and freiofht were hurried ashore as quickly as possible, lest the falling tide leave not enough water for getting away from the landing. Thean watched the men while his father attended to business on shore ; and before Mr. Lin returned, the boat had started, leaving the boy standing alone. ''We will go now," said Mr. Lin. "As we have plenty of time we need not hurry. The village is only a few miles away. Walking will be good for us both and give us opportunity to enjoy whatever comes in our way." *' Friends," said a man overtaking them, "are you going to see them stone the devil at Chio Jim?" 174 TUE YOUNG MANDARIN. "We do not mean to pass through Chio Jiin," answered Mr. Lin. "Then you would better turn aside and see some- thing that you may not behokl again." Turning from their path, Mr. Lin and Thean reached the village named and found a crowd of men and boys chatting cheerfully on a plain not far from the town. Telling his son that it would be safer to keep away from the multitude, the father led the way to rising ground, and there the two became interested observers. In a short time the people separated into two com- panies, moved a couple of hundred ^^ards apart, and then besan the business of the afternoon. A man stepped from his companions, picked up and threw a stone toward the other part}". Another from that ran forward and flung the stone back. Two now from the first threw stones at the second party, to have the missiles hurled back immediately. jNIore and more men joined from each side, until the contest became general, and what at first appeared sport became a real battle. As the excitement increased the men drew closer togetlier, and stones that had fallen short of the mark missed no Ioniser. Tlie fight, real, earnest, seemingly deadly, continued for several minutes. Tlie two parties drew so near tosrether that a strai<2fht line dividinii; could liardlv ^ VISITING THE COUNTRY. 175 separate them. Stones were hurled back and forth with all the strength of those flinging them, and with a pur- pose to hit and wound those at whom they were aimed. Men were struck, bruised, wounded, bleeding, un- conscious, and perhaps dead. The wounded who could escape retired groaning, crying, and howling with pain. The unconscious and helpless were ig- nored by the combatants. Suddenly the battle stopped, and a remarkable scene followed. Those who had fought as opponents joined in helping the wounded to their homes, in carrying tenderly away from the battle-ground the helpless, and in bending over the unconscious and seemingly dead. The wailing of helpers mingled with the cries of the helpless ; while over the silent victims there was a chorus of cries of sorrow and shrieks of hopeless grief. Women who had remained away during the conflict wailed and shrieked in agony now over the unconscious forms on the ground. While this distress seemed at its height Mr. Lin and Thean left for their destination ; and on the way the father explained to his son the strange battle. In fewer words the author presents an explanation given him by Chinese in Chio Jim years ago, at tiie end of a similar fight. While it is probable that such con- flicts occur in other parts of China, the writer never saw nor even heard of them elsewhere. 176 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. Chinese believe in the devil, in fact in many devils, and regard the cliief as a bitter and ceaseless foe of man. His great purpose is to cause suffering and sorrow in the human family, though, according to their notion, he is willing to allow others to take the work from his hands, and is glad to be relieved if it be done thoroughlv. Believino; that thev can deceive him and save themselves a great deal of suffering, the people in this way take up his business and inflict pain and suffering on each other. So they meet together and actually stone each other to save the devil the trouble. They make the most of every pain and ache, bruise and wound, and pretend to be nearly killed by a trifling blow given in these combats. Friends make still more ado over the victims. Slight wounds are treated with the greatest care, sufferings are magni- fied, and over the unconscious, or those who seem to be, are uttered the lamentations for the dead. There is, however, reality as well as pretense in the groan and wail. Many serious wounds are given. Some limp forms carried from the field are really unconscious, and it is not unusual that a victim never recovers, while more than one actually killed by a stone is carried from the field. The fight seen by the au- thoi* had serious results ; two or three were fatally wounded. VISITING THE COUNTRY. 177 This strange farce of " Stoning the Devil," as it is called by the people, is regarded by them as noble heroism. They believe they are doing wisely for themselves, far better for friends and relatives who otherwise might suffer terril)ly, perhaps perish, under the malignant power of the chief of tormentors. CHAPTER XIV. A PRISONER. A PPROACHING the villaoc, Mr. Lin was surprised -^-j- to see the watcli tower nearly filled with men. This meant trouble with neighbors, and probably an attack that very night. What should he do? He had engaged to meet that afternoon the chief man of the village ; business made it necessary to meet him soon, so if he did not attend to it then he must come back shortly after. And what excuse could he give for going away when within an eighth of a mile of the place? To own himself a coward or indifferent to the welfare of the village would be to lose its busi- ness. It was by no means certain that an attack would be made that night. Though that were proba- ble, he might transact his business and get away before dark. Even if he did return to the water, he could not reach Amoy, but must wait for the boat the next day. After hesitation Mr. Lin and Thean passed the tower and entered the village. The watch tower, ])uilt of stone, brick, or concrete, is from ten to twenty feet square, and about ten feet high. On the side toward the village it has an open door ; on the other three sides, holes for watching and 178 A PRISONER. 179 shooting at the approaching foe. Built along the path leading to the home of the foe, it is occupied only in time of war, and not even then unless an immediate attack is feared. In former years these towers were common, but since the government has shown its power to keep order, village wars have lessened and towers are going to ruin. Here and there may be seen one in good repair, telling that an old trouble has not yet been settled. Watched closely as they passed the tower, Mr. Lin and his son were watched more carefully when they entered the town. Though suspicion was less, curiosity increased when they asked for tlie chief of the village. Told that he was absent and would not return until night, the boatman said : — " Tlien we will wait for him and walk around until he comes.'* Father and son were followed at a distance, but undisturbed, by two men. , "They take us for spies," spoke Mr. Lin to Thean, " and were we to try to escape now they would arrest us." '* Do you think there will be an attack to-night?" asked the youth. " I cannot tell, nor is it likely that the people know. Surely they expect one, or those men would not be in the tower." 180 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. " I hope there will be an attack, and that a real battle will follow. I have never seen a fight, and this will give me a chance." " You will see little of it should the attack be made at night. Yet you may learn more than you care to know about fighting before it is over, if the enemy comes." "AVhy?" " We must share in the fight." '' We? It is not our affair." " It must be, if w^e remain here. If we do not take the side of the people, they will be certain that we are spies, and may lock us up if they do not punish us. Should the battle go against them, they would make us suffer for their defeat." "I would rather fight than be arrested as a spy. Nor do I object to fighting. A boy can do something in battle." " Yet I do not care to have you take any risk. It is enough that I must share the affairs now of this peo- ple. In the end it will be better for me, for the}^ will become my warm friends w^hen they find me on their side in war." " Father, we can get away after dark, can we not?" " Even if al)le to escape here we may run upon enemies watching near. No ; it is best to share in the affairs of the village now. Had I supposed trouble A PHISOYEli. 181 had broken out I woiild not have brought you along, even had I come." " Perhaps I can help you." "You might help more if away and safe." Mr. Lin met the village chief £it night and was told that the only business he could attend to then was the protection of the place. Said he : — " We are almost certain that an attack will be made to-night. I have been away to get help from friends, and will get it to-morrow, not before. No doubt the foes will learn that and come after dark." " What started the diflioulty? " aske;G:estion, to lie on the "jrouiid and report the first appearance of the foe. " My son here is a student and has read much about war ; he may give some information," said Mr. Lin. " When the plans of wisdom fail we shall turn to youth," replied an old man, giving the boy a look of contempt. During; the discussion messensjers had come at different tiuies from women in the village, request- ing that their husbands come home from the tower. Now a man came from the tower itself and asked how long the men must remain there. Before an answer was given a sentinel hurried in and reported that he had 184 THE YOUNG MANDAUm. heard talking north of the vilhige, find he suspected tliat the foe had come. " This man has just arrived from the tower and reports that no foe has been seen yet or heard," was the reply. "Go back and attend to your duty." "Wait; his report may be true," sternly spoke the chief, who had consulted privately with Mr. Lin and listened to Thean's suggestions. Then turning to the council, he continued : " The men in the tower must remain and keep watch until we give further orders. It is possible that the foe has come around and means to attack on the north side." In a few minutes another sentinel hurried in and reported that he had heard voices near, and, creep- ing closer, made sure that enemies were waiting there. Hardly had he told his story before another entered and told a similar one. *' Impossible ! " spoke a young man. " How can it be that three companies have come ? " "It is possible that one has divided into three parts," spoke Mr. Lin. There could be little doubt later that the enemy had come, and waited just outside of the village to begin the attack. The members of the council who had op{)osed Mr. Lin's advice, and despised Tiiean's sug- gestions, showed more excitement but gave less advice now, and were more ready to listen. Mr. Lin spoke. Said he : — A PBISONEB. 185 " Quite certainly the enemy waits until you sleep to attack.** "Sleep! As if we could sleep at such a time ! " replied an old man. "He does not know that you expect him to-night. Because he does not, you may the more certainly defeat and drive him away. Probably he waits until after the moon rises. Before that you may prepare and carry out plans of meeting and overwhelming him," said the boatman. After long and varied deliberations a plan was determined on and carried into effect. Wiiilo ^Ir. Lin and a party prepared to reach the watch tower, others got read}' for a pretended celebration that would make the hidden foes believe their presence was not even suspected. Men and boys, carrying lighted torches, beating gonjjs and drums, blowini^ horns and shoutin<2: as though observing some joyous festival, marched to the temple and continued the celebration there for an hour or two. Meanwhile the boatman and his party, ready to start on tlieir errand, waited for instructions from the elders and the chief of the vil- lage. Aiiain the leaders differed ; acraiu the chief assumed the authority and said : — " Each one must, in the best way possible, reach the tower, and wait there until the noise of the 180 Till': YOUNG MANDARIN. celebration in tlie village ends. As soon after as seems wise, you will march out as quietly as possible and approach the foe, who, doubtless, is dozing in small companies around the village, and give us the signal. When you learn by our reply that we are ready, then begin your attack. We will do the same from within. Perhaps our wise friend and his learned son can add something to the instructions." "Only this," responded Mr. Lin, " each man must go alone toward the tower, and crawl along the ground, lest his form be seen against the sky by the watching foe. If one be captured, he must not betray either the plan or his companions. We will soon release him, so he need not fear." " But you all go one wa3^, how can you keep apart?" asked an old man. " The man who moves north until he passes the enemy may reach the tower as speedily and surely as he who starts directly for it," replied the boatman. " We know that foes partly, and I believe completely, surround us. Surely they will not leave clear the path between the village and the tower." " Father, may I go with you? " asked Thean. " It is too dangerous, my son. Stay here and lielp." " If you can pass, why may not I? Let me be with you. If they come after me, I will growl like a dog, jind they will let me alone." A PRISOXEB. 187 '' Beware that tbey do not club you like a dog." "They cannot see in the dark; and meanwhile I will crawl out of their reach." Thean urged so earnestly that Mr. Lin permitted him to go along. The party passed out from the north side of the village, so as to avoid the light of the torches, and then separated, Thean only remaining by his father. The boatman led the way, as the two crawled like moles along the ground. Growing bold, Thean crept alongside, then passed his father, intending to lead him, and so reach the tower first. Instead of stop- ping occasionally to listen, the boy moved on, and soon became separated from his parent. Alarmed, Thean stopped, listened, turned back, and then, failing to catch a sound of any moving being near, started anew and made directly for the tower. All went well for a considerable distance, and he believed himself safe. Suddenly he heard, directly in front, voices speaking softly. "* Enemies," said he to himself ; and he changed his course. So eager to escape from those he heard that he hardly thought of danger ahead, he came again upon not a group, but a solitary sentinel. This man heard something and stopped to listen. He called in a low voice, and, receiving no answer, walked in the direction of the sound. He stopped a 188 THE YOU.VG MANDARIN'. fcnv steps short of the silent boy and listened again. ]^i()l)ably he saw the dark form crouching on the ground and he spoke louder. Thean responded with a growl, and started as fast as he could go on all fours. A moment later he heard a stone fall by his side. This he answered with a dog's yelp of pain; and, rising up, pretended to leap like a dog in haste, but his awkward movements were detected by the sentinel who had pursued a short distance. The yelp aroused other men, who asked the sentinel what caused it. He replied that he had hit a dog with a stone. This satisfied them, and might have saved the bo}^ had he been more careful. In his eagerness to get away from one danger, Thean ran directly into another. He was so near another group, when he discovered the fact, that he liad not time to turn and escape before he was seen and pursued. Even noAv he might have got away had his movements not attracted the notice of another man, who flung a stone at the supposed dog. The answering yelp was far more like the brute it imitated than the movements. The man gave cliase ; and, Thean rising to his feet to i-un, ran directly against the sentinel wlio liad thrown the first stone. The youth was made a prisoner and taken to a large company of watchers and questioned. He had little A PBISOXEIi. 189 time to prepare m storv, but Cliinese are seldom at loss for an explanation. Said the boy : — " My father and I came to the village on business, but were arrested and held as spies. As soon as we could we escaped and were hurrying away, hoping to pass through your line unnoticed. I hope you have not caught him, then he will soon return with manda- rins and set me free." He gave satisfactory explanations for the celebra- tion, though he said he knew very little of what was going on in the village, since he had been kept a prisoner most of the time. The men might have set him free, had news not reached them that another, trying to pass from the village, had been captured. Thean was told to describe his father's appearance. The man who had brought the news of the capture of the other prisoner listened and asked several ques- tions, then said : — '' He does not tell the truth. Bind and keep him. He is a spy." That settled the boy's case. His hands and feet were tied, and he was left on the ground as if a pig or dog. A prisoner ! Bound hand and foot and held the captive of strangers I This was a part of war that Thean did not expect. CHAPTER XV. FREE ACiAIN. WHEN he missed his sou Mr. Lin wuited and listened, hoping to hear him, but in vain. Thinking that the boy had hurried on to reach the tower first, the father started forward, listening in- tently as he went. The yelp of a dog, tiieu another later, with excited voices told him that Theau was near, but discovered and pursued; then a prisoner. The father's first impulse was to go to his son's rescue, but a second thought showed tliat such a course would be worse than useless, and that lie could best help Theau by carrying out the [)lan made in the village. The excitement caused by the capture of the youtii enabled the boatman to pass tlie enemy the more easily, and he reached the tower among tlie first of his party. One after another the others came in, until only one man and Tiiean were missing. "1 hope they will not hold my son for a ransom," said Mr. Lin, who had not forgotten the experience of years ago. *' Never fear," replied another. "-They will be fortunate if they get away with whole skins them- 190 FREE ALiAIN. 191 selves. They will do no barm to him beyond leaving him bound hand and foot. We will find him thus when we drive them away." ''If it be possible, my boy will escape before. But they may not give him a chance," added Mr. Lin, gain- ing hope. "'They will hardly give him a chance, though they may not think it worth while to keep close watch of a boy." "•If any boy can outwit a body of men, he is the one. His teacher says that he is the shrewdest pupil he ever had, and that he is certain to become a noted man some day. He is a leailer now of the boys, if they undertake anytliing uiiusutil, I am certain that the [)lau is his own. He suggested to me and the chief the phm of attack to-night." "He is surely a bright, smart lad," was the re[)ly. We turn now to Theaii. Thougii Ixnind hand and foot, his mind was free and activt*. He did not su[)- pose himself in great danger, l»ul thought of the disgrace that would follow his capture, if it became known at Amoy. His friends would never cease telling him about it. But if he could get away, and then report to those in the tower what he had heard, it would be as great an honor as his capture otherwise would be a disgrace. While the men talked he listened and planned his 11)2 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. escape. He knew how reiidily ii Chiniuiuiii sleeps when he has nothing to do, so felt sure that all except the solitary sentinel would slumber soundly for a couple of hours before the time arrived for the attack. If they would only sleep soon enough for him to escape and report their plans at the tower, he asked no more. He believed it possible to turn his feet so far backward that his hands, tied behind his back, could reach and loosen the knots. Yet, until the men slept, he dared not attempt to get free. The men talked on, and laughed as they talked of the surprise awaiting the villagers after midnight. They spoke of people without feet carrying on their backs those without arms, and of earless men listening to the bleating of goats and squealing of pigs. They laughed almost aloud when one said that this night would end forever the difficulty between the villages, for the-victims would never again dare to arouse the men waiting to punish them for their crimes. Thean listened anxiously for the conversation to cease, and then thought that sleep might prove con- tagious, so began to snore. His good imitation de- ceived the men, and one said : — '^ Listen to the snores of that pup. He does not take his captivity to heart. Let him sleep ; he can do no harm, unless he snore loud enough to arouse the villagers. We may as well take a nap, too, before the FREE AG Am. 193 time comes." Saying this, one of the men was quiet, aud a minute or two later asleep. Others followed his example, and soon the whole company, except the sentinel, was slumbering. The loue watcher kept awake and intent on his duty for a time, but example was strong, and old habits stronger. Keeping guard was new business to him. Walking back and fortli after a hard day's work in the field taxed his soldierly qualities beyond endurance. His companions slept ; why should he resist longer the temptation to slumber for an hour or two? Nothing would suffer if he took a nap, and there would be no one to know if he awoke in time to arouse his fellows. Such arguments were stronger than his resisting power, and the sentinel sat down. A word tells the rest. He slept. As soon as the sentinel followed his comrades, Tliean became restless. His snoring continued, and his body tossed and tumbled, yet with each movement went farther from the captors, AVhon far enough away he was silent, not still. His feet moved up backward until within reach uf his hands, aud then his fingers touched the knots. He was thankful now for skill in playing shuttlecock with the soles of his feet. The knots were hard, his hands hampered by the cords fastening them, yet his fingers were free. The first knot yielded slowly, but it yielded, and the ends 194 THE YOUNG MANDABIN, of the cord slipped through. One knot loose ! The next yielded more readily, and two were untied ! Another, and then the last. The boy's feet were free. What did it matter that his hands were bound ? He did not need them for walking. If he could but reach the tower, those cords would speedily yield to the knife. The men near were asleep, and he might, by bending low, safely walk away. Rising to his feet, Tlieau looked around for the tower. Where was it? Darkness about him ! Noth- ing in the horizon appeared like the object of his search. The noise in the village had ceased, the lights were out, nothing; remained to direct. He had lost hi» bearings while tossing and rolling along the ground, and did not know what direction to take. He could but guess the way and walk forward. While straining his eyes to see the tower, he stumbled and fell into a hole. Looking up he saw, as he supposed, what he was seeking, and near at hand. Gaining his feet, he walked toward it to find a tree. He changed his course and moved on, listening now and again for the voices of his father and companions. Instead of voices he heard footsteps, and following him. Chang- ing again to escape what he believed was a pursuing foe, he ran as swiftly as possible, nor did he stop until assured that no one was on his path. He remembered now that his feet in running had FREE AGAIN. 195 touched solid ground, probably the path between vil- lage and tower, and he retraced his steps, feeling carefully the way. To his joy he reached the path. Doubtless it led to the village and to the tower, but which was the way to the latter? Walkino; along the path away from the village, he thought he heard, after traveling some distance, the sound of snoring. He was approaching a band of the enemy. Quietly but at once he retraced his steps. He knew the direction of the tower now, and in a couple of minutes heard voices, saw the dark outline? of the scjuare structure, and tlieu was safe inside. In a low voice he called : — '^ Father ! " "It is my son ! Tlieaii, I am here. Come to me." A moment after father and son were t<3gether. And whife one loosened the bands the other told what he had learned. "Did any one go out from this place a short time ago?" asked Thean. " Yes, I did," replied a young man. "I went to see if the enemy was asleep, and hearing footsteps, supposed a sentinel heard me and was running back to his comrades." "And I ran away, supposing you to be one of the enemy pursuing me. You may be certain that they are all asleep." Thean's report convinced the men that the time to IIIG THE YOUNG MANDAltlN. ntt.ick had come, and they prepared to leave the tower. Until DOW there had been a dispute about leadership. Those in the tower insisted that their chief should lead, and those who came from the village said that theirs should command. "Since we cannot agree, why not allow our wise friend to lead us?" asked a man. "He knows more than any of us, and with his wise son's help he surely will be able to lead us well." This satisfied both parties. Since there was little to do beyond leading and directing the men to do what had already' been decided upon, the boatman willingly accepted the position, and, followed by his son, led the way out of the tower. Silentl}' and in single file the company approached as closely as was safe to the sleeping foe, and then separated to make as long a line as possible. While they waited a night bird's cry was heard, and a moment later the bark of a dog answered from the village. The cry of the bird was repeated and answered again by the dog. For the third time the cry was given and responded to as before, but this time by a succession of short, sharp barks as if the dog had made a dis- covery, yet did not know what. The bird changed its cry now, and a moment later the still air was pierced by yells, screams, and shrieks, horrid enough to sug- gest that a regiment of demons had suddenly appeared FREE AGAIN. 197 on earth. The first outbreak was followed b\ a moment of silence, and that by another series of yells more terrifvins: than the first. Added to it was another, more in volume if less frightful, from the village itself. Speedily the shrieks from outside the line of foes and answering howls from the village were echoed by cries of terror from the aroused sleepers. The combined sounds cannot be described. For sev- eral minutes this horrid uproar continued, lessening only when the frightened foemen were far on their homeward way. Many, if not most, of the waiting foe were aroused from a sound sleep by .the yells of the tower party. Hearintj: the shouts coming from another direction than the village, they supposed an armed force pres- ent to assist their enemies ; between the two bodies there would be little chance for victory. Without stopping to consider consequences, each man, caring alone for himself, started homeward, yelling for mercy as he ran. The shouts of fellow fugitives, supposed to be those of pursuers, made the escaping men run the faster and beg the more for mercy. AVhen the terror of the foe became evident the tower party changed its terrifying shouts to those of vengeance. Men were heard in various parts of the field calling to their fellows to shoot, spear, and stab, and to let not even one escape. The fugitives were 198 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. told that not a iiiiin should rcMcli his home alive. They had dared to make war ; their opponents would make peace. That peace would never be broken, because there should not remain a man to disturb again. After the foe was scattering, threats gave place to ridicule. Those without shouted to the flying people to take a few feet, hands, and ears along as trophies of victory and proof of valor. They were bidden to proclaim their courage and tell how boldly they had slept on the field, until aroused and driven away by more watchful opponents. Mr. Lin's men, though separated, were only on the south side of the village, thus giving the fugitives opportunity to escape in all directions except that of their home. The villagers contented themselves Avith shouting. There was little pursuit, except that made by their frightened comrades. The surprise had been complete, and the victory all that could be desired. There had been no light what- ever except of noise, nor had the victors cared to take prisoners. Content to send their opponents home in a state of hopeless terror, they sought to do no more. Fifteen minutes after the first shout was heard the last cry of the fugitives iiad died away, and the villagers were rejoicing over their bloodless victory. FREE AGAIN. 199 No one was hurt ; all except the solitary captive were happy. He was discovered, bound hand and foot, helpless on the field, where his captors had left him. Beyond his capture and the ridicule bestowed by his fellow townsmen, he too was unharmed. Though every member of the tower compan}^ deemed himself a hero, Mr. Lin, and next him Thean, received the praise of the people. The story of tiie boy was told and retold, until the youth appeared a marvel in the eyes of the villagers. Village warfare does not always end in a farce. Too often serious results follow, and bloody battles are not unknown. Prisoners are taken, men are wounded, combatants slain ; and the trouble that might have been settled before the fii^ht becomes the heritasre of the children of those who engaged in it. Unless the mandarins interfere, the difficulty may break out at any time, yet may remain hidden for generations. Fortunately, a stronger hand in the general govern- ment has lessened in number and in seriousness these village wars. Not until long after midnight did the excitement pass away sufficiently to allow the boatman and his weary son to retire. Even then Thean was too much excited to sleep. Near morning he sank into a rest- less slumber, awaking several hours later with a 200 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. distressing headache. He told his father that he could not move without intense pain, and begged to be allowed to remain in bed for a while lonofcr. "Lie still as long as you wish," said the father; " we cannot leave until noon, and if you are able to go then, I will have you carried down to the water in a sedan chair. It is better that you remain quiet and away from the people, for they will only excite you by their talk. They regard you as the bravest and wisest lad they ever knew." The boy was able to rise before noon and to take a little food before starting. The ride to the water refreshed him, and the sail homeward made him feel better still, so that he was almost himself again when he landed on the Amoy jetty. The chair bearers told the boatmen and passengers Thean's exploit, and gave no small share of the credit for tlie bloodless victory of the previous night to the youtli. Tlius he was quite a hero on board the vessel, and even a greater one among his comrades when they learned his adventures in the country. CHAPTER XVI. A FISHERMAN. THOUGH improved bv his short rest, Thean did not feel the effects long. The old headaches and weariness returned, and the youth said that he could not continue his studies. '' But you must," responded old Mrs. Lin. '' It will not do to stop now. Remember that you are pay- ing beforehand the price of learning, riches, honor, and power. AVill you pay, and, when so near to the prize, refuse to take it? " " But what will be the good of riches and honor, if my health fail and 1 die?" asked he. " You will not die ; you are young and your strength will not fail as soon as you suppose. Keep on, though you may study less. There is great danger that you will never begin again if you stop now. Better keep moving, though it be ever so slowly, than stop entirely. Great men suffered as you do to gain their honor. Pay the price now, get the honor later." "Father, if you will allow me, I will go on one of your boats for a few months," said Thean shortly after this conversation with his grandmother. ' ' Grand- mother fears that I will stop entirely if I stop at 201 202 THE YOUNd MANDARIN. \\\\ ; lull Www is no daniior of that. T must rest now if I over stndy iiny uioi'c." Mr. l>in did not fnvor liis son's plan nor wish him to stop his studios for m day. IIo liad beoome as anxious as any for Thean's success as a literary man ; yet oven he saw tlmt the yontli was wearing out if not breaiving down, and lie promised to see what could ])e done. Shortly after lie proposed that Thean spend a few months in a fisliing boat on the ocean. He said that it would bo better for him to be on the rough waters than in the smooth harbor, for the tossing of the waves would drive out far quicker any evil that had found a home in the student's body. " Father, T would much ratlier l)e on yours tlian on the l)oat of a stranger. Beside, fisliing boats are dii'ty, the men rough, and food poor. Yet, if you think best and grandmother allows, I will try it for a month," answered tlie boy. Old Mrs. Lin objected, but finally yielded on condi- tion that lier grandson promise to begin his studies at once if sea life restored his health. The younger ISIrs. l.iu was scarcely consulted. Tiie ca})tain of the ])oat on wliich Thean went was ]\Ii'. Twin's friend, but his crew were strangers to the 3'outii, :ind displeased that sucli n delicate addition lijid been in.'ulc 1o tlieir number. They (U'cL-uumI th:it hti knew nbout iu'itii(n' lioating nor lisiiing, nnd would be A FISH EH MAN. 203 a bother rather than help. For a few days they seemed to have guessed aright, but the quiet, pale youth speedily changed. His hands hardened, liis face browned, his quiet ways disappeared, and he became one like themselves, except that he did not adopt their rougli ways and bad language. His dress, if better than theirs, was rough and coarse, his friendship hearty, his skill as a fisherman soon almost equal to their own, and his appetite for their poor food all that even fishermen could ask. Nor did the youth care to play gentleman while they did the work. He said that he came to share with them, and he meant to do it. Old jNIrs. Lin mourned to see her grandson become more and more a fisherman. She said that his hands would never again l)ecome soft and delicate, nor his skin i)ale as before the sun had tanned it, and tliat his student manners would be lost entirely before his health was restored. She bewailed the tiuje lost, and lamented that his companions, once his inferiors, were rising far above to remain liis superiors for life. "lam paying now the price of hard study; they are reaping the advantages of leisure enjoyed when I was at work. I have learned that too great speed may mean slow progress," said Thean, responding to his grandmother's lament, when he was home one day while his boat was undergoing repairs, and the captain 204 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. selling the fish caught. '* I am now doing more than pa^'iug a penalty, I am learning a lesson, and at the same time laying up a supply of strength for future work." The youth had been a month with fishermen, and might have spent several months on the water had it not been for a shark that visited his own and neigh- boring boats, to the great annoyance of the crews. The creature was more than a thief. He not only stole fish from the lines and nets, he destroyed nets and carried away lines, until fishing became worse than useless. The men were provoked and perplexed. They could not keep the shark away, they did not dare kill it. Tiiey, in common with Chinese fishermen else- where, believed that it brings bad luck to kill a shark ; no matter what kind of luck his presence brings, it will not do to kill him. For some time the thief seemed to prefer the boat in which Thean was, and his line to those of his com- panions. This made the fishermen say that the shark and the student were friends, and while one remained in the boat the other would be near. Though the men said this in a joke, Thean was annoyed by it, and still more to lose so many fish, and to be compelled to get new hooks and lines so often. The youth studied ways for getting rid of the thief, A FISHEBMAm 205 but failed to discover a suitable ooe, uutil lie lost a large fish and Hue which he was pulliug up for the last time, before starting for the shore with a supply of fish. Reaching the shore Thean disappeared, nor did he return to his companions until the boat was ready to start again for the open sea. He carried a tightly covered and bound package under his arm, but refused to say what it contained. He placed it under his seat and refused to allow others to examine or even touch the wrapper. He said that all should know in time what he meant to do with the bundle. The crew had caught a few fish before the shark arrived. The first fish stolon was from the captain's line. He was angry, and declared that if tiie shark did not leave they might as well give up fishing. Uy and by another man lost a fish, and line with it. Soon another, and then the captain again. He was very angry, and said that he wished some one would kill the rascal. "If you will allow me to use a few fish, I will try to kill him," answered Thean. The captain gave permission, yet said that he must pay for them if his experiment failed. But, if he drove the monster awav, he might have all the fish he needed. A little later Thean fastened a strinsf to one of the 2()G THE YOUNG MANDARIN. fish Mini dropped it overboard. That sank slowly; shortly after it disappeared there was a jerk, aud Thean pulled up a broken string ; nothing else. Ridiculed by his companions, he smiled, yet made no answer as he dropped a larger fish into the water, to pull in a few minutes later a broken string; a2:ain. This he did four times, each time selecting a larger fish, and each time losing it. The thief became bold and hardly waited for the fourth to sink beyond sight before he snapped it from the cord. The men grumbled at the boy for wasting the fish, but Thean asked them to wait a little while and then see if they had been wasted. The fifth was the largest fish in the boat, and when dropped over the side it presented a strange appear- ance. It had been cut, and something placed inside made it seem almost round. In the mouth was, not a string, but a wire, to which was fastened a small lope. This fish did not sink as readily as the others, nor (lihysician's ollice. On their way houie they talked over the advice, and unwillingly admitted that if notliiug better seemed possible, the trij) north uuist be consitlered. '• I cannot study ; that is certain, unless something be done. And nothing thus far has helped me, except when I took rest. I believe that would soon make me feel better. But grandmother is so eager that I con- tinue my studies that she will hardly consent to my resting even for a month." '' Even if you rest, will that remove the symptoms 21 G THE YOUNG MANDARIN. of leprosy?" tisked Mr. Liu, in response to vvhut bis son had siiid. '' But lie siiid that I have no leprosy," replied Thean. " Not yet; but you may have soon. Will it not be better to remove all danger? I do not wish you to go, yet will you not in the end gain time if 3'ou go? He said that you can stud}' for years on your return." " Will grandmother allow me to go? " " She would rather have you go and return later than stay and die." Old Mrs. Lin opposed the northern trip most vigor- ously, and insisted that it was nothing more than the effort of a foreigner to get rid of a bright, hopeful youth by sending him away from home forever. " But he has performed wonderful cures, and says that this will restore Thean," urged Mr. Lin. " We know that rest is needed, — why not have him try? Nothing else will restore him to health." ^'Nothing? Where are our doctors? Where are our gods? You forget your own, and think forever of foreigners. See some of our own doctors ; meanwhile his mother and I will do our best at the temples," urged the old lad3\ A month of trial brought no change for the better, and old Mrs. Lin yielded to Thean's request that lie be allow('(l to try the northern climate. It was in autiinni, the northeast trade wind had set A CABIN BOY. 217 in, and no Chinese junk would start north until the following spring. If Thean went by water at all, he must go by steamer, for even foreign sailing vessels seldom attempt a northern voyage at that time of the year. But the passage on a steamer, with board while north, would be an expensive trip for the young stu- dent. While Mr. Lin could afford it, he was too fond of money to spend so much if he could avoid it. Fortunately, tlie very thing he wished for happened. A year before, Captain Brode of the Forward, a foreign coasting steamer, met Thean and requested his fatlier to allow him to become cabin l>oy on a trip along the coast. The same vessel entered Amoy on her way north, and Mr. Lin determined to get his son the position now as cabin boy. " I have a good boy, and do not care to change," replied the commander to the boatman's offer. Before the Forward was ready to start that cabin boy had accei)ted an offer, and hired out as a clerk in the establishment of a foreign merchant. ^Ir. Lin was conveniently near when the fact became known that the vessel needed another cabin boy, but had nothing to «ay about his son until urged by Captain Brode to let him go along. The boatman hesitated, and presented difficulty after difficulty. The distance was too great; time of ab- sence too long ; dangers serious ; Thean not strong ; 218 Tllh: YOUNG MANDARIN. graudinotlier and mother very unwilling to part with him ; if willing to go, other ctiptains would be glad to employ him at liigher wages than could be afforded by the commander of the Forward ; so, on the whole, the father did not think it wise to close the bargain offered by the captain. Yet the boatman did not refuse it, and Captain Brode, compelled to get a boy, very anx- ious to have Thean, since there was liope of getting him, urged and increased the salary offered. He said that there would not be hard work, and the youth would be made strong by the voyage, so both sides would be satisfied. This willingness to accept one not altogether strong had an effect, and finally Mr. Lin agreed to let his son go ; but as a great favor to his friend, the captain, and at immense sacrifice of feeling on his part, and loss to Thean in time at school. The captain thanked the father for the favor, and half believed him. Had he known that the boatman warned the former cabin boy of the cold and danger of a northern voyage in the winter, and got him the situ- ation with the merchant, he would have felt less grateful. •'I shall never see you again," cried old Mrs. Lin when she bade her grandson farewell, " but I will visit the temples daily to pray the gods to take care of you. Should you ever return, you will not forget your grandmother's spirit in the unseen world." A CABIN BOY. 219 " GraDclmother, 1 expect to be back next spring, well and strong, and to go with you to the temples to thank the gods for my restoration," replied the youth cheerfully. ^" You will be glad then that you allowed me to go. And think how many dollars I shall bring back witli nv^ for my work ! Beside, I shall see much of the world, and learn more than if I were well and remained at school." The younger Mrs. Lin bade her son farewell with a sigh ; then was silent. After he left, she disappeared, nor was she seen again during the day. For days after she did not mention her sou's name. \Vhen it was spoken in her [)resence a sigh told the mother's feeling. Mr. Lin tried to remain cheerful, as he took his son to the Forward in his best boat, and remained at tiie vessel's buoy, waving his boy farewell until distance and darkness hid him from the father. Captain Brode was a kind-hearted man, and allowed his cabin boy to remain on deck until Amoy had disap- peared. Nor then did he command him to go to duty. '" Be easy with him, steward," said the captain. '' He is new to the work, nor is he strong. He will be all right in a few days, and then will show what he can do. 1 am not wrong in my judgment. His bright eyes and honest face mean all the}" say." After the steamer was fairly out on the ocean and 220 TUE YOUNG MANDABIN. had taken her course, the captain entered the cabin and tried to talk with Thean in '' pigeon," that is, business English. This is a mixture of English and other words, in Chinese idioms, with terminations that belong to no civilized tongue. The following conversation between the captain and Thean will give some idea of this pigeon English. '^ You savee Chinaman talkee ; my savee English- man talkee. My wanchee you talkee me all o same Chinaman talkee. My wanchee learn talkee all o same Chinaman talkee. You tellee me? You savee?" said the captain. Thean replied, " My tly. My no savee muchee Englishman talkee. My wanchee learn chop chop." '' Velly well. Mollow day we begin," responded the commander. Putin plain English, this would be, '-You under- stand Chinese; I nnderstand English. 1 wish you to speak to me as the Chinese speak. I wish to learn Chinese. Will you teach me? Do you understand?" " I will try. I do not understand much English. I wish to learn very qnickly." " Very well. To-morrow we begin." The two made slow progress in getting acquainted, until the steward was called to assist as interpreter. Then thi; yjMitli informed the captain that the Chinese A CABIN BOY. 221 spoken at Canton and Hong Kong would hardly be un- derstood at Swatow, much less at Amoy ; and would be quite unlike the language at Foochow and ports farther north. He said dialects differ so much that they seem almost entirely different languages ; and the number of dialects cannot be told, because they Mend or join to- gether by such gradations that it is impossible to tell where one ends and another begins. '^ What shall I do?" asked the captain in despair. '^ I want to learn your language, that I may transact business with your people in their own tongue. Ac- cording to your statement, I must learn at least half a dozen different languages, before I can speak to the people in the various ports." '' If you learn the mandarin dialect," responded the youth, ^'you will fuid people, and especially ofhcials, in every port to whom you can speak. Beside, it is the language of the north. Every one in the northern part of the land speaks it." '' Do you know anything about that dialect? " "Ido." "How did you learn, since it is not spoken at Amoy ? " '' It is spoken at the yamen, and by many others." " What did you do at the yamen? Do you mean to be an ofllcial some day?" ''Perhaps so. I learned some from the yamen; 22"! THE YOUNG MANDAItlN. inoii' from tliosc speaking tlic dialect ; most from my teacher. Since it is llie language of the mandarins, and every student who expects to graduate hopes some day to become an otlicer, it seemed necessary that I learn it." " Is it more difficult than other dialects?" '' I think not. When we know one dialect, it is easy to learn another, for the idiom is the same, and words resemble each other. If you wish to learn man- darin, I will try to teach you ; and you may use it while north." "How did the Chinese language become divided by dialects?" " Probably by people remaining secluded. They spoke word after word unlike their distant neighbors, and thus gradually changes came and grew." The Forward stopped at different ports on business, occasionally becanse of storms ; and thus Thean saw much of the country, not a little of foreigners. His voyage became a school as well as a health trip. He had been at sea only a short time when head- aches disappeared, strength returned, and he felt well. Though well in body, his heart was s;ck for home. He counted the months and then days before the time for return would come. Never did days seem longer than the first ten. After a while he became contented, then almost happy. A CABIN BOY. 223 The captain bud told Mr. Lin tliat his northern voy- age would take months, and that he expected to carry a cargo to Japan ; probably would find enough business to keep him north until spring ; but he said nothing about being compelled to lay up his vessel for repairs. Reaching a northern port, he made repairs, and thus Thean saw ice and snow for the first time in his life. At first the youth shivered, and feared to go outside the cabin ; ])ut extra clothing and exercise changed his fear, so that he enjoyed the cold and delighted in the vigorous climate. Not until spring was the vessel ready for sea again ; and then, to Tliean's disappointment, the cargo for Japan was ready. Though a voyage to a foreign land was a treat worth all it cost, the youth would gladly have missed it and gone directly home. He had heard nothing from his relatives, and did not know whether they were dead or alive. He might have received letters, but Chinese are not given to letter writing. The\' had no regular mails, except as managed by for- eigners along the coast, so letters were seldom sent. Late in the spring the Forward started on her re- turn, and Thean counted the days before Amoy would be in sight. He wished now for the northeast mon- soon ; and wished that it would blow harder than any remnant of the winter trade wind blew. The increasing southwest wind, as the vessel passed along the coast, 224 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. might tell of warmer weather, but it told of a longer vovas^e. These trade winds, or monsoons, as they are called, blow quite regularly, not always steadily, from the northeast during the latter part of autumn, all of winter, and the first part of spring. The rest of the year the southwest wind has right of way, and usually keeps it. In spring and autumn there seems a contest, always ending in favor of the southwest in the former, the northeast in the latter season. The Forward, entering Formosa Channel, came on a fleet of anchored fishing vessels, and changed her course to avoid disturbing them. Meanwhile another steamer from the south approached, but moved directly for the fleet. No warning was given, nor did an}^ one on the steamer seem to notice the smaller craft. The fishermen doubtless supposed the stranger would change her course like the Forward. Not until too late did two crews hurry to hoist anchors and sails to escape. The stranger's iron prow craslied into a fish- ing vessel ; a cry of terror came from the helpless crew, and then boat and men disappeared. A few moments later two men were seen clinging to a portion of the wreck that floated, and their voices heard in a despairing cry for help. ^' That's the way with Captain ," said Captain Brode. "He is worse than a brute; he acts like a A CABIX BOY. 225 demon. I have heard that he never turns out for fishermen ; I have seen it now. Such men ought never to be allowed on the sea. He will say that they are only heathen. Well, if he thinks he is better, I would rather take my chance among heathen at the judgment than with him. What if they are heathen? Life is sweet to them, and they have as much right to live as he. But, see there, Thean ! Why don't those other fishermen save those poor fellows ? " The strange vessel kept on her way, no one on board appearing to notice what had happened, and the poor fishermen shouted in vain for help. Their com- panions in the other boats near had escaped the destruction, and now were settling down again to business, as if nothing unusual had occurred. " They flaid to save them ; evil spilits of water pull them in if they pull dlowning men out," answered Thean to the captain's inquiry. " Well, something must be done. Those poor fel- lows must be saved. It 's a shame to let them perish." Saying this, the captain ordered the vessel's course changed and a boat's crew to get ready to rescue the men from the wreck. When the steamer stopped, the captain bade Thean order the fishermen nearest the wreck go to the rescue of their comrades. No notice was taken of the command ; nor yet after it had been twice repeated. 226 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. "Tell tbeiu if they doD't save those poor fellows I '11 run them down," spoke the commander to his cabin boy. The only response to this was a speedy hoisting of anchors and sails, and each boat made all haste to get away. "Why don't they save those fellows?" asked the captain. "They flaid you bleak their boats," replied Thean. " We 've got to save them or they will perish," said the captain half to himself. In a few minutes the steamer's boat had the wrecked fishermen and was turning to the Forward. "Take them to the nearest fishing boat," shouted the captain. The sailors tried to obey, but the fishermen, by the aid of oars and sails, kept away, and the unfortunates were brought on board the Forward. "What kind of men are fishermen?" asked the captain of the cabin boy. " Why do they refuse to take their own companions on board ? " "Tiiey flaid to do it. Bad spilits in water want men ; if don't get them, will get men what save them. They don't want to die, so won't lisk lives." " Then they are more afraid of bad than of good spirits. If good spirits don't i)uni.sh tlicni for such neglect, then I see no use of good spirits. But what A CABIX BOY. 227 nonsense ! Can't good spirits take care of men who rescue others? Perhaps you think that captain who ran over the boat and killed or drowned the others of the wrecked crew a bad man ; yet remember he was a stranger. Those who refused to save the fellows in the water were friends, perhaps relatives. You people think foreigners are hard-hearted ; but remember that your countrymen are even worse." When the rescued men came on deck they ap- proached the captain, bowed low to him, then kneeled, down and kissed his feet. After that they looked up into his face, while they knelt, and with folded hands worshiped him as if a god, and began to pray. '*Tell them not to do that," said the captain to Thean, as he gently lifted up the fishermen. ''Tell them that I have simply done what every foreign Christian would or should do. Tell them, too, that the captain who ran down their boat, though from a Christian land, is not a Christian, but boasts that he worships no God nor does he care for any." After they had been lifted to their feet, the rescued men addressed the captain in their own language, and again attempted to kneel before him. This he refused to allow, and bade Thean tell them that they were welcome to a passage to Amo}^, and food and what- ever comforts the}' needed while on his ship. Then he asked : — 228 TIIK YOUNG MANDAIilN. " What arc the\' sa34ng anyway?" " Tliey say that you lescued them, and all they have is yours. They say they have wife, childlen, liome who stlave if they dlown. You save all. Tliey never folget what you do. If you b'long to God, your God better than Chinaman gods. When they see 3'our God they tell what you do, and ask him give you gleat liches and long life." "All right. But tell them that they can have my God as their own. He is a God who cares for fisher- men, and wants all to serve and love him. He don't want anybody to die, and commands us to save life everywhere." Though Thean liad noticed that the captain was a man of pra^^er, it made no great impression on him. He merely thought him devoted to his God, as Chinese are to theirs. When the commander spoke of Jesus Christ the youth listened, but without interest, and forgot what had been said. The captain's rescue of these men, and his reason, made an impression on the miud of the student that did not pass away. While such men as Captain Brode may be rare, they are not unknown. The author met them in the East. Such as commanded the strange steamer were not unknown either, years ago ; it is to be hoped that they have all left the sea and given place to men more worthy to command a ship. CHAPTER XVIII. A GRADUATE. THE AN returned from his voyage sun-browned, rugged, and well. All symptoms of leprosy, except stiffness of the finger joints, had passed away. He was ready for study and found something to inspire him. Friends of learning had arranged for an examination in Amoy ; and all students, except those who had already passed a government examination, might compete. As an inducement, prizes, ranging from a few dollars down to a few dimes, had been offered for the twenty best scholars in Amoj" and vicinity. Thean became a candidate at once, though he hardly expected to gain a prize ; nor did he care very nuich if he did not. This trial would fit him for the more severe one of the government. On the appointed day, with many older, not a few younger than himself, the young student entered the room and learned what the test would be. Each must write an essay of six hundred words, on a subject to be announced then, and have it ready without blot or mistake within five hours. This work must be done with no other help than memory gave, though the stu- 229 230 THE YOUNG MANDARIN. (lent might quote as iniicb as he would, providing he quoted correctly. A few minutes were allowed for preparation after the doors were closed, then the subject was given and the students began their work. Long before the time expired most of the candidates had completed tlieir task, and waited for the doors to open. Some unfor- tunate ones were compelled to leave the building at the end of the hours without finishing their work. They had failed. Each completed essay was handed to persons ap- pointed to receive it, and the writers were told that, as soon as the judges could examine and decide, the prizes should be awarded without fear or favor. The names of successful competitors would be found in due time posted on the bulletin. The days which passed before the announcement were anxious ones to Thean. Each morning he visited the bulletin to see if the decision had been made. When he s;iw a crowd standing before the place one day, he knew lliat tiie time had come. Pressina; throuoh the multitude, lu' saw the board and read downward. To iiis delight his mime was eleventh on the list! He had taken the eleventli prize ! The money amounted to a little less than two dollars, but what cared he for that? II(! stood eleventh among the hundreds of undergrad- uate students in the vicinity of Amoy ! A GBADUATE. 231 He did not wait loDg for the congratulations of his friends, Init hurried home with the good news. No one was more pleased than old Mrs. Lin. She de- clared that this was proof that Thean had a bright future before him ; and he need but hasten forward to o-ain the orreatuess and wealth in store. Such examinations are not uncommon in China, and are intended to urge forward young students, and prompt others to seek an education. Those offering prizes are regarded as friends of learning and justly- popular. Thoutrh few sovernments show more respect for learning than the Chinese do, few nations of equal advance have a larger proportion of people who cannot read. Just how great is this proportion is diflicult to say ; those who sliould know do not agree in their opinions. Nor is that strange. The proportion varies in different parts of tiie country. And the question may fairly be asked, How much can the people read? Though a man knows a few hundred characters, he cannot read an ordinary book. To be able to read in Chinese, one must be familiar with two or three thou- sand characters at least. Since each is unlike the others, this gives a difficult task, and requires years of study . Not only does the peculiarity of the language make learnino- a greater task in China than in other countries, 232 THE YOUNG MANDABIN. but poverty is a great obstacle in tlie way. Schools are not free ; each must pay for his education. Though the price of the teacher be small, varying from one to many dollars a year for each pupil, even a sinj2;le dollar mav be hard to ojet. Most of the boys are compelled to earn their living as soon as able to work. Those familiar with the Middle Kingdom say that about one fourth of tlie men can read a little ; others, that not one in a hundred can read any ordinary book. Both statements may be true. Girls seldom learn to read, hardly ever go to school. If taught at all, they are draighters of the rich, who can afford to have pri- vate teachers. Inspired by his success, Thean prepared for the first government examination. Several days before it took place he went with his security to Tong Wan and entered as a candidate. His security was a sewtsai, to whom he paid a few dollars for his services during the whole examination. For this the man agreed, according to custom, to accompany him to the exami- nations, to teach him what to do, except that he could not enter the hall with him ; to assure the otiicials that he was honest and faithful, and that he would do all he promised ; and further to warrant that his state- ments were true and correct. Because each candidate must have a sewtsai for security, Thean engaged, for A GBADUATE. 233 a few hundred cash, another, in case the first could not attend. The candidate's application stated in writing that he entered the examination for the honor learning gave, and not to make money by it, nor yet to become a teacher, nor to represent another. It further gave his name, age, weight, size, color of his hair ; said that he wore no mustache ; told the names of his parents, grandparents, neighbors on either side, and principal teacher. Not least, it declared that he was not a descendant of any of tlie classes forbidden by law to enter a government examination. The sewtsai witnessed to tlie truth of these slate- nients, and then the api)lication was stamped. For this stamping the candidate paid a fee, an