The Wallet of Kai Lung ......................................................................................................................................1

Ernest Bramah ..........................................................................................................................................1

"Ho, illustrious passersby!" says Kai Lung as he spreads out his embroidered mat under the mulberrytree.

"It is indeed unlikely that you could condescend to stop and listen to the foolish words of such an

insignificant and altogether deformed person as myself. Nevertheless, if you will but retard your elegant

footsteps for a few moments, this exceedingly unprepossessing individual will endeavour to entertain you."

This is a collection of Kai Lung's entertaining tales, told professionally in the market places as he travelled

about; told sometimes to occupy and divert the minds of his enemies when they were intent on torturing him.

The sun had dipped behind the western mountains before Kai Lung, with twenty li or more still between him

and the city of Knei Yang, entered the camphorlaurel forest which stretched almost to his destination. No

person of consequence ever made the journey unattended; but Kai Lung professed to have no fear, remarking

with extempore wisdom, when warned at the previous village, that a worthless garment covered one with

better protection than that afforded by an army of bowmen. Nevertheless, when within the gloomy aisles, Kai

Lung more than once wished himself back at the village, or safely behind the mud walls of Knei Yang; and,

making many vows concerning the amount of prayerpaper which he would assuredly burn when he was

actually through the gates, he stepped out more quickly, until suddenly, at a turn in the glade, he stopped

altogether, while the watchful expression into which he had unguardedly dropped at once changed into a

mask of impassiveness and extreme unconcern. From behind the next tree projected a long straight rod, not

unlike a slender bamboo at a distance, but, to Kai Lung's allseeing eye, in reality the barrel of a matchlock,

which would come into line with his breast if he took another step. Being a prudent man, more accustomed to

guile and subservience to destiny than to force, he therefore waited, spreading out his hands in proof of his

peaceful acquiescence, and smiling cheerfully until it should please the owner of the weapon to step forth.

This the unseen did a moment later, still keeping his gun in an easy and convenient attitude, revealing a stout

body and a scarred face, which in conjunction made it plain to Kai Lung that he was in the power of Lin Yi, a

"O illustrious person," said Kai Lung very earnestly, "this is evidently an unfortunate mistake. Doubtless you

were expecting some exalted Mandarin to come and render you homage, and were preparing to overwhelm

him with gratified confusion by escorting him yourself to your wellappointed abode. Indeed, I passed such a

one on the road, very richly apparelled, who inquired of me the way to the mansion of the dignified and

"However distinguished a Mandarin may be, it is fitting that I should first attend to one whose manners and

accomplishments betray him to be of the Royal House," replied Lin Yi, with extreme affability. "Precede me,

therefore, to my mean and uninviting hovel, while I gain more honour than I can reasonably bear by

following closely in your elegant footsteps, and guarding your Imperial person with this inadequate but

Seeing no chance of immediate escape, Kai Lung led the way, instructed by the brigand, along a very difficult

and bewildering path, until they reached a cave hidden among the crags. Here Lin Yi called out some words

in the Miaotze tongue, whereupon a follower appeared, and opened a gate in the stockade of prickly mimosa

which guarded the mouth of the den. Within the enclosure a fire burned, and food was being prepared. At a

word from the chief, the unfortunate Kai Lung found his hands seized and tied behind his back, while a

second later a rough hemp rope was fixed round his neck, and the other end tied to an overhanging tree.

Lin Yi smiled pleasantly and critically upon these preparations, and when they were complete dismissed his

"Now we can converse at our ease and without restraint," he remarked to Kai Lung. "It will be a distinguished

privilege for a person occupying the important public position which you undoubtedly do; for myself, my

instincts are so degraded and lowminded that nothing gives me more gratification than to dispense with

To this Kai Lung made no reply, chiefly because at that moment the wind swayed the tree, and compelled

"It would be useless to try to conceal from a person of your inspired intelligence that I am indeed Lin Yi,"

continued the robber. "It is a dignified position to occupy, and one for which I am quite incompetent. In the

sixth month of the third year ago, it chanced that this unworthy person, at that time engaged in commercial

affairs at Knei Yang, became inextricably immersed in the insidious delights of quailfighting. Having been

entrusted with a large number of taels with which to purchase elephants' teeth, it suddenly occurred to him

that if he doubled the number of taels by staking them upon an exceedingly powerful and agile quail, he

would be able to purchase twice the number of teeth, and so benefit his patron to a large extent. This matter

was clearly forced upon his notice by a dream, in which he perceived one whom he then understood to be the

benevolent spirit of an ancestor in the act of stroking a particular quail, upon whose chances he accordingly

placed all he possessed. Doubtless evil spirits had been employed in the matter; for, to this person's great

astonishment, the quail in question failed in a very discreditable manner at the encounter. Unfortunately, this

person had risked not only the money which had been entrusted to him, but all that he had himself become

possessed of by some years of honourable toil and assiduous courtesy as a professional witness in law cases.

Not doubting that his patron would see that he was himself greatly to blame in confiding so large a sum of

money to a comparatively young man of whom he knew little, this person placed the matter before him, at the

same time showing him that he would suffer in the eyes of the virtuous if he did not restore this person's

savings, which but for the presence of the larger sum, and a generous desire to benefit his patron, he would

never have risked in so uncertain a venture as that of quailfighting. Although the facts were laid in the form

of a dignified request instead of a demand by legal means, and the reasoning carefully drawn up in columns

of fine parchment by a very illustrious writer, the reply which this person received showed him plainly that a

wrong view had been taken of the matter, and that the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to

"It was a highminded and disinterested course to take," said Kai Lung with great conviction, as Lin Yi

paused. "Without doubt evil will shortly overtake the avaricioussouled person at Knei Yang."

"It has already done so," replied Lin Yi. "While passing through this forest in the season of Many White

Vapours, the spirits of his bad deeds appeared to him in misleading and symmetrical shapes, and drew him

out of the path and away from his bowmen. After suffering many torments, he found his way here, where, in

spite of our continual care, he perished miserably and in great bodily pain. . . . But I cannot conceal from

myself, in spite of your distinguished politeness, that I am becoming intolerably tiresome with my

"On the contrary," replied Kai Lung, "while listening to your voice I seemed to hear the beating of many

gongs of the finest and most polished brass. I floated in the Middle Air, and for the time I even became

unconscious of the fact that this honourable appendage, though fashioned, as I perceive, out of the most

"Such a thing cannot be permitted," exclaimed Lin Yi, with some indignation, as with his own hands he

slackened the rope and, taking it from Kai Lung's neck, fastened it around his ankle. "Now, in return for my

uninviting confidences, shall not my senses be gladdened by a recital of the titles and honours borne by your

distinguished family? Doubtless, at this moment many Mandarins of the highest degree are anxiously

awaiting your arrival at Knei Yang, perhaps passing the time by outdoing one another in protesting the

number of taels each would give rather than permit you to be tormented by firebrands, or even to lose a

"Alas!" replied Kai Lung, "never was there a truer proverb than that which says, 'It is a mark of insincerity of

purpose to spend one's time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the lowclass teashops.' Do Mandarins or

the friends of Mandarins travel in mean garments and unattended? Indeed, the person who is now before you

is none other than the outcast Kai Lung, the storyteller, one of degraded habits and no very distinguished or

reputable ancestors. His friends are few, and mostly of the criminal class; his wealth is nor more than some

six or eight cash, concealed in his left sandal; and his entire stockintrade consists of a few unendurable and

badly told stories, to which, however, it is his presumptuous intention shortly to add a dignified narrative of

the highborn Lin Yi, setting out his domestic virtues and the honour which he has reflected upon his house,

his valour in war, the destruction of his enemies, and, above all, his great benevolence and the protection

"The absence of friends is unfortunate," said Lin Yi thoughtfully, after he had possessed himself of the coins

indicated by Kai Lung, and also of a much larger amount concealed elsewhere among the storyteller's

clothing. "My followers are mostly outlawed Miaotze, who have been driven from their own tribes in Yun

Nan for maneating and disregarding the sacred laws of hospitality. They are somewhat rapacious, and in this

way it has become a custom that they should have as their own, for the purpose of exchanging for money,

persons such as yourself, whose insatiable curiosity has led them to this place."

"The wise and allknowing Emperor Fohy instituted three degrees of attainment: Being poor, to obtain

justice; being rich, to escape flattery; and being human, to avoid the passions," replied Kai Lung. "To these

the practical and enlightened Kang added yet another, the greatest: Being lean, to yield fatness."

"In such cases," observed the brigand, "the Miaotze keep an honoured and very venerable rite, which chiefly

consists in suspending the offender by a pigtail from a low tree, and placing burning twigs of hemppalm

between his toes. To this person it seems a foolish and meaningless habit; but it would not be well to interfere

"Such a course must inevitably end in great loss," suggested Kai Lung; "for undoubtedly there are many poor

yet honourable persons who would leave with them a bond for a large number of taels and save the money

with which to redeem it, rather than take part in a ceremony which is not according to one's own Book of

"They have already suffered in that way on one or two occasions," replied Lin Yi; "so that such a proposal,

no matter how nobly intended, would not gladden their faces. Yet they are simple and docile persons, and

would, without doubt, be moved to any feeling you should desire by the recital of one of your illustrious

"An intelligent and discriminating assemblage is more to a storyteller than much reward of cash from hands

that conceal open mouths," replied Kai Lung with great feeling. "Nothing would confer more pleasurable

agitation upon this unworthy person than an opportunity of narrating his entire stock to them. If also the

accomplished Lin Yi would bestow renown upon the occasion by his presence, no omen of good would be

"The pleasures of the city lie far behind me," said Lin Yi, after some thought, "and I would cheerfully submit

myself to an intellectual accomplishment such as you are undoubtedly capable of. But as we have necessity to

leave this spot before the hour when the oakleaves change into nightmoths, one of your amiable stories

will be the utmost we can strengthen our intellects with. Select which you will. In the meantime, food will be

brought to refresh you after your benevolent exertions in conversing with a person of my vapid

understanding. When you have partaken, or thrown it away as utterly unendurable, the time will have arrived,

and this person, together with all his accomplices, will put themselves in a position to be subjected to all the

"THE story which I have selected for this gratifying occasion," said Kai Lung, when, an hour or so later, still

pinioned, but released from the halter, he sat surrounded by the brigands, "is entitled 'Good and Evil', and it is

concerned with the adventures of one Ling, who bore the honourable name of Ho. The first, and indeed the

greater, part of the narrative, as related by the venerable and accomplished writer of history ChowTan, is

taken up by showing how Ling was assuredly descended from an enlightened Emperor of the race of Tsin;

but as the no less omniscient Talinhi proves beyond doubt that the person in question was in no way

connected with any but a line of hereditary apeworshippers, who entered China from an unknown country

many centuries ago, it would ill become this illiterate person to express an opinion on either side, and he will

in consequence omit the first seventeen books of the story, and only deal with the three which refer to the

Ling was the youngest of three sons, and from his youth upwards proved to be of a mild and studious

disposition. Most of his time was spent in reading the sacred books, and at an early age he found the worship

of apes to be repulsive to his gentle nature, and resolved to break through the venerable traditions of his

family by devoting his time to literary pursuits, and presenting himself for the public examinations at Canton.

In this his resolution was strengthened by a rumour that an army of bowmen was shortly to be raised from the

Province in which he lived, so that if he remained he would inevitably be forced into an occupation which

Having arrived at Canton, Ling's first care was to obtain particulars of the examinations, which he clearly

perceived, from the unusual activity displayed on all sides, to be near at hand. On inquiring from passersby,

he received very conflicting information; for the persons to whom he spoke were themselves entered for the

competition, and therefore naturally misled him in order to increase their own chances of success. Perceiving

this, Ling determined to apply at once, although the light was past, to a Mandarin who was concerned in the

"It is an unfortunate event that so distinguished a person should have selected this day and hour on which to

overwhelm us with his affable politeness!" exclaimed the porter at the gate of the Yamen, when Ling had

explained his reason for going. "On such a day, in the reign of the virtuous Emperor Hoo Chow, a very

benevolent and unassuming ancestor of my good lord the Mandarin was destroyed by treachery, and ever

since his family has observed the occasion by fasting and no music. This person would certainly be punished

At these words, Ling, who had been simply brought up, and chiefly in the society of apes, was going away

with many expressions of selfreproach at selecting such a time, when the gatekeeper called him back.

"I am overwhelmed with confusion at the position in which I find myself," he remarked, after he had

examined his mind for a short time. "I may meet with an ungraceful and objectionable death if I carry out

your estimable instructions, but I shall certainly merit and receive a similar fate if I permit so renowned and

versatile a person to leave without a fitting reception. In such matters a person can only trust to the

intervention of good spirits; if, therefore, you will permit this unworthy individual to wear, while making the

venture, the ring which he perceives upon your finger, and which he recognizes as a very powerful charm

Overjoyed at the amiable porter's efforts on his behalf, Ling did as he was desired, and the other retired.

Presently the door of the Yamen was opened by an attendant of the house, and Ling bidden to enter. He was

covered with astonishment to find that this person was entirely unacquainted with his name or purpose.

"Alas!" said the attendant, when Ling had explained his object, "well said the renowned and inspired Ting Fo,

'When struck by a thunderbolt it is unnecessary to consult the Book of Dates as to the precise meaning of the

omen.' At this moment my nobleminded master is engaged in conversation with all the most honourable and

refined persons in Canton, while singers and dancers of a very expert and nimble order have been sent for.

The entertainment will undoubtedly last far into the night, and to present myself even with the excuse of your

graceful and delicate inquiry would certainly result in very objectionable consequences to this person."

"It is indeed a day of unprepossessing circumstances," replied Ling, and after many honourable remarks

concerning his own intellect and appearance, and those of the person to whom he was speaking, he had

"Ever since your dignified presence illumined this very ordinary chamber, this person has been endeavouring

to bring to his mind an incident which occurred to him last night while he slept. Now it has come back to him

with a diamond clearness, and he is satisfied that it was as follows: While he floated in the Middle Air a

benevolent spirit in the form of an elderly and toothless vampire appeared, leading by the hand a young man,

of elegant personality. Smiling encouragingly upon this person, the spirit said, 'O Fou, recipient of many

favours from Mandarins and of innumerable taels from gratified persons whom you have obliged, I am, even

at this moment, guiding this exceptional young man towards your presence; when he arrives do not hesitate,

but do as he desires, no matter how great the danger seems or how inadequately you may appear to be

rewarded on earth.' The vision then melted, but I now clearly perceive that with the exception of the

embroidered cloak which you wear, you are the person thus indicated to me. Remove your cloak, therefore, in

order to give the amiable spirit no opportunity of denying the fact, and I will advance your wishes; for, as the

Book of Verses indicates, 'The person who patiently awaits a sign from the clouds for many years, and yet

Convinced that he was assuredly under the especial protection of the Deities, and that the end of his search

was in view, Ling gave his rich cloak to the attendant, and was immediately shown into another room, where

After a considerable space of time the door opened and there entered a person whom Ling at first supposed to

be the Mandarin. Indeed, he was addressing him by his titles when the other interrupted him. "Do not distress

your incomparable mind by searching for honourable names to apply to so inferior a person as myself," he

said agreeably. "The mistake is, nevertheless, very natural; for, however miraculous it may appear, this

unseemly individual, who is in reality merely a writer of spoken words, is admitted to be exceedingly like the

dignified Mandarin himself, though somewhat stouter, clad in better garments, and, it is said, less obtuse of

intellect. This last matter he very much doubts, for he now finds himself unable to recognize by name one

With this encouragement Ling once more explained his position, narrating the events which had enabled him

to reach the second chamber of the Yamen. When he had finished the secretary was overpowered with a

"Assuredly those depraved and rapacious persons who have both misled and robbed you shall suffer

bowstringing when the whole matter is brought to light," he exclaimed. "The noble Mandarin neither fasts

nor receives guests, for, indeed, he has slept since the sun went down. This person would unhesitatingly break

his slumber for so commendable a purpose were it not for a circumstance of intolerable unavoidableness. It

must not even be told in a low breath beyond the walls of the Yamen, but my benevolent and highborn lord

is in reality a person of very miserly instinct, and nothing will call him from his natural sleep but the sound of

taels shaken beside his bed. In an unexpected manner it comes about that this person is quite unsupplied with

anything but thin printed papers of a thousand taels each, and these are quite useless for the purpose."

"It is unendurable that so obliging a person should be put to such inconvenience on behalf of one who will

certainly become a public laughingstock at the examinations," said Ling, with deep feeling; and taking from

a concealed spot in his garments a few taels, he placed them before the secretary for the use he had indicated.

Ling was again left alone for upwards of two strokes of the gong, and was on the point of sleep when the

secretary returned with an expression of dignified satisfaction upon his countenance. Concluding that he had

been successful in the manner of awakening the Mandarin, Ling was opening his mouth for a polite speech,

which should contain a delicate allusion to the taels, when the secretary warned him, by affecting a sudden

look of terror, that silence was exceedingly desirable, and at the same time opened another door and indicated

In the next room Ling was overjoyed to find himself in the presence of the Mandarin, who received him

graciously, and paid many estimable compliments to the name he bore and the country from which he came.

When at length Ling tore himself from this enchanting conversation, and explained the reason of his

presence, the Mandarin at once became a prey to the whitest and most melancholy emotions, even plucking

two hairs from his pigtail to prove the extent and conscientiousness of his grief.

"Behold," he cried at length, "I am resolved that the extortionate and manyhanded persons at Peking who

have control of the examination rites and customs shall no longer grow roundbodied without remark. This

person will unhesitatingly proclaim the true facts of the case without regarding the danger that the versatile

Chancellor or even the sublime Emperor himself may, while he speaks, be concealed in some part of this

unassuming room to hear his words; for, as it is wisely said, 'When marked out by destiny, a person will

assuredly be drowned, even though he passes the whole of his existence among the highest branches of a date

"I am overwhelmed that I should be the cause of such an engaging display of polished agitation," said Ling,

as the Mandarin paused. "If it would make your own stomach less heavy, this person will willingly follow

"The matter is altogether on your account, O most unobtrusive young man," replied the Mandarin, when a

voice without passion was restored to him. "It tears me internally with hooks to reflect that you, whose

refined ancestors I might reasonably have known had I passed my youth in another Province, should be

victim to the cupidity of the ones in authority at Peking. A very short time before you arrived there came a

messenger in haste from those persons, clearly indicating that a legal toll of sixteen taels was to be made on

each printed paper setting forth the time and manner of the examinations, although, as you may see, the paper

is undoubtedly marked, 'Persons are given notice that they are defrauded of any sum which they may be

induced to exchange for this matter.' Furthermore, there is a legal toll of nine taels on all persons who have

"I am happily escaped from that," exclaimed Ling with some satisfaction as the Mandarin paused.

"and twelve taels on all who present themselves for the first time. This is to be delivered over when the

paper is purchased, so that you, by reason of this unworthy proceeding at Peking, are required to forward to

"It is a circumstance of considerable regret," replied Ling; "for had I only reached Canton a day earlier, I

"Undoubtedly it would have been so," replied the Mandarin, who had become engrossed in exalted

meditation. "However," he continued a moment later, as he bowed to Ling with an accomplished smile, "it

would certainly be a more pleasant thought for a person of your refined intelligence that had you delayed

until tomorrow the insatiable persons at Peking might be demanding twice the amount."

Pondering the deep wisdom of this remark, Ling took his departure; but in spite of the most assiduous

watchfulness he was unable to discern any of the three obliging persons to whose efforts his success had been

IT was very late when Ling again reached the small room which he had selected as soon as he reached

Canton, but without waiting for food or sleep he made himself fully acquainted with the times of the

forthcoming examinations and the details of he circumstances connected with them. With much satisfaction

he found that he had still a week in which to revive his intellect on the most difficult subjects. Having

become relieved on these points, Ling retired for a few hours' sleep, but rose again very early, and gave the

whole day with great steadfastness to contemplation of the sacred classics YKing, with the exception of a

short period spent in purchasing ink, brushes and writingleaves. The following day, having become

mentally depressed through witnessing unaccountable hordes of candidates thronging the streets of Canton,

Ling put aside his books, and passed the time in visiting all the most celebrated tombs in the neighbourhood

of the city. Lightened in mind by this charitable and agreeable occupation, he returned to his studies with a

fixed resolution, nor did he again falter in his purpose. On the evening of the examination, when he was

sitting alone, reading by the aid of a single light, as his custom was, a person arrived to see him, at the same

time manifesting a considerable appearance of secrecy and reserve. Inwardly sighing at the interruption, Ling

nevertheless received him with distinguished consideration and respect, setting tea before him, and

performing towards it many honourable actions with his own hands. Not until some hours had sped in

conversation relating to the health of the Emperor, the unexpected appearance of a fiery dragon outside the

city, and the insupportable price of opium, did the visitor allude to the object of his presence.

"It has been observed," he remarked, "that the accomplished Ling, who aspires to a satisfactory rank at the

examinations, has never before made the attempt. Doubtless in this case a preternatural wisdom will avail

much, and its fortunate possessor will not go unrewarded. Yet it is as precious stones among ashes for one to

"The fact is known to this person," replied Ling sadly, "and the thought of the years he may have to wait

before he shall have passed even the first degree weighs down his soul with bitterness from time to time."

"It is no infrequent thing for men of accomplished perseverance, but merely ordinary intellects, to grow

venerable within the four walls of the examination cell," continued the other. "Some, again, become afflicted

with various malignant evils, while not a few, chiefly those who are presenting themselves for the first time,

are so overcome on perceiving the examination paper, and understanding the inadequate nature of their own

accomplishments, that they become an easy prey to the malicious spirits which are ever on the watch in those

places; and, after covering their leaves with unpresentable remarks and drawings of men and women of

distinguished rank, have at length to be forcibly carried away by the attendants and secured with heavy

"Such things undoubtedly exist," agreed Ling; "yet by a due regard paid to spirits, both good and bad, a

proper esteem for one's ancestors, and a sufficiency of charms about the head and body, it is possible to be

"It is undoubtedly possible to do so, according to the Immortal Principles," admitted the stranger; "but it is

not an undertaking in which a refined person would take intelligent pleasure; as the proverb says, 'He is a

wise and enlightened suppliant who seeks to discover an honourable Mandarin, but he is a fool who cries out,

"I have found one."' However, it is obvious that the reason of my visit is understood, and that your

distinguished confidence in yourself is merely a graceful endeavour to obtain my services for a less amount

of taels than I should otherwise have demanded. For half the usual sum, therefore, this person will take your

place in the examination cell, and enable your versatile name to appear in the winning lists, while you pass

Such a course had never presented itself to Ling. As the person who narrates this story has already marked, he

had passed his life beyond the influence of the ways and manners of towns, and at the same time he had

naturally been endowed with an unobtrusive highmindedness. It appeared to him, in consequence, that by

accepting this engaging offer he would be placing those who were competing with him at a disadvantage.

This person clearly sees that it is a difficult matter for him to explain how this could be, as Ling would

undoubtedly reward the services of the one who took his place, nor would the number of the competitors be

in any way increased; yet in such a way the thing took shape before his eyes. Knowing, however, that few

persons would be able to understand this action, and being desirous of not injuring the estimable emotions of

the obliging person who had come to him, Ling made a number of polished excuses in declining, hiding the

true reason within himself. In this way he earned the powerful malignity of the person in question, who

would not depart until he had effected a number of very disagreeable prophecies connected with unpropitious

omens and internal torments, all of which undoubtedly had a great influence on Ling's life beyond that time.

Each day of the examination found Ling alternately elated or depressed, according to the length and style of

the essay which he had written while enclosed in his solitary examination cell. The trials each lasted a

complete day, and long before the fifteen days which composed the full examination were passed, Ling found

himself half regretting that he had not accepted his visitor's offer, or even reviling the day on which he had

abandoned the hereditary calling of his ancestors. However, when, after all was over, he came to deliberate

with himself on his chances of attaining a degree, he could not disguise from his own mind that he had

wellformed hopes; he was not conscious of any undignified errors, and, in reply to several questions, he had

been able to introduce curious knowledge which he possessed by means of his exceptional

circumstancesknowledge which it was unlikely that any other candidate would have been able to make

At length the day arrived on which the results were to be made public; and Ling, together with all the other

competitors and many distinguished persons, attended at the great Hall of Intellectual Coloured Lights to hear

the reading of the lists. Eight thousand candidates had been examined, and from this number less than two

hundred were to be selected for appointments. Amid a most distinguished silence the winning names were

read out. Waves of most undignified but inevitable emotion passed over those assembled as the list neared its

end, and the chances of success became less at each spoken word; and then, finding that his was not among

them, together with the greater part of those present, he became a prey to very inelegant thoughts, which were

not lessened by the refined cries of triumph of the successful persons. Among this confusion the one who had

read the lists was observed to be endeavouring to make his voice known, whereupon, in the expectation that

he had omitted a name, the tumult was quickly subdued by those who again had pleasurable visions.

"There was among the candidates one of the name of Ling", said he, when nonoise had been obtained. "The

written leaves produced by this person are of a most versatile and conflicting order, so that, indeed, the

accomplished examiners themselves are unable to decide whether they are very good or very bad. In this

matter, therefore, it is clearly impossible to place the expert and inimitable Ling among the foremost, as his

very uncertain success may have been brought about with the assistance of evil spirits; nor would it be safe to

pass over his efforts without reward, as he may be under the protection of powerful but exceedingly

illadvised deities. The estimable Ling is told to appear again at this place after the gong has been struck

At this announcement there arose another great tumult, several crying out that assuredly their written leaves

were either very good or very bad; but no further proclamation was made, and very soon the hall was cleared

At the time stated Ling again presented himself at the Hall, and was honourably received.

"The unusual circumstances of the matter have already been put forth," said an elderly Mandarin of engaging

appearance, "so that nothing remains to be made known except the end of our despicable efforts to come to

an agreeable conclusion. In this we have been made successful, and now desire to notify the result. A very

desirable and not unremunerative office, rarely bestowed in this manner, is lately vacant, and taking into our

minds the circumstances of the event, and the fact that Ling comes from a Province very esteemed for the

warlike instincts of its inhabitants, we have decided to appoint him commander of the valiant and

bloodthirsty band of archers now stationed at Sichow, in the Province of HuNan. We have spoken. Let

three guns go off in honour of the noble and invincible Ling, now and henceforth a commander in the

evervictorious Army of the Sublime Emperor, brother of the Sun and Moon, and Upholder of the Four

MANY hours passed before Ling, now more downcast in mind than the most unsuccessful student in Canton,

returned to his room and sought his couch of dried rushes. All his efforts to have his distinguished

appointment set aside had been without avail, and he had been ordered to reach SiChow within a week. As

he passed through the streets, elegant processions in honour of the winners met him at every corner, and

drove him into the outskirts for the object of quietness. There he remained until the beating of paper drums

and the sound of exulting voices could be heard no more; but even when he returned lanterns shone in many

dwellings, for two hundred persons were composing verses, setting forth their renown and undoubted

accomplishments, ready to affix to their doors and send to friends on the next day. Not giving any portion of

his mind to this desirable act of behaviour, Ling flung himself upon the floor, and, finding sleep unattainable,

plunged himself into profound meditation of a very uninviting order. "Without doubt," he exclaimed, "evil

can only arise from evil, and as this person has always endeavoured to lead a life in which his devotions have

been equally divided between the sacred Emperor, his illustrious parents, and his venerable ancestors, the

fault cannot lie with him. Of the excellence of his parents he has full knowledge; regarding the Emperor, it

might not be safe to conjecture. It is therefore probable that some of his ancestors were persons of abandoned

manner and inelegant habits, to worship whom results in evil rather than good. Otherwise, how could it be

that one whose chief delight lies in the passive contemplation of the Four Books and the Five Classics, should

be selected by destiny to fill a position calling for great personal courage and an aggressive nature? Assuredly

it can only end in a mean and insignificant death, perhaps not even followed by burial."

In this manner of thought he fell asleep, and after certain very base and impressive dreams, from which good

omens were altogether absent, he awoke, and rose to begin his preparations for leaving the city. After two

days spent chiefly in obtaining certain safeguards against treachery and the bullets of foemen, purchasing

opium and other gifts with which to propitiate the soldiers under his charge, and in consulting welldisposed

witches and readers of the future, he set out, and by travelling in extreme discomfort, reached Sichow within

five days. During his journey he learned that the entire Province was engaged in secret rebellion, several

towns, indeed, having declared against the Imperial army without reserve. Those persons to whom Ling

spoke described the rebels, with respectful admiration, as fierce and unnaturally skilful in all methods of

fighting, revengeful and merciless towards their enemies, very numerous and above the ordinary height of

human beings, and endowed with qualities which made their skin capable of turning aside every kind of

weapon. Furthermore, he was assured that a large band of the most abandoned and best trained was at that

Ling was not destined long to remain in any doubt concerning the truth of these matters, for as he made his

way through a dark cypress wood, a few li from the houses of Sichow, the sounds of a confused outcry

reached his ears, and on stepping aside to a hidden glade some distance from the path, he beheld a young and

elegant maiden of incomparable beauty being carried away by two persons of most repulsive and undignified

appearance, whose dress and manner clearly betrayed them to be rebels of the lowest and worstpaid type. At

this sight Ling became possessed of feelings of a savage yet agreeable order, which until that time he had not

conjectured to have any place within his mind, and without even pausing to consider whether the planets

were in favourable positions for the enterprise to be undertaken at that time, he drew his sword, and ran

forward with loud cries. Unsettled in their intentions at this unexpected action, the two persons turned and

advanced upon Ling with whirling daggers, discussing among themselves whether it would be better to kill

him at the first blow or to take him alive, and, when the day had become sufficiently cool for the full

enjoyment of the spectacle, submit him to various objectionable tortures of so degraded a nature that they

were rarely used in the army of the Emperor except upon the persons of barbarians. Observing that the

maiden was not bound, Ling cried out to her to escape and seek protection within the town, adding, with a

"Should this person chance to fall, the repose which the presence of so lovely and graceful a being would

undoubtedly bring to his departing spirit would be outbalanced by the unendurable thought that his

commonplace efforts had not been sufficient to save her from the two evillydisposed individuals who are, as

he perceives, at this moment, neglecting no means within their power to accomplish his destruction."

Accepting the discernment of these words, the maiden fled, first bestowing a look upon Ling which clearly

indicated an honourable regard for himself, a highminded desire that the affair might end profitably on his

account, and an amiable hope that they should meet again, when these subjects could be expressed more

In the meantime Ling had become at a disadvantage, for the time occupied in speaking and in making the

necessary number of bows in reply to her entrancing glance had given the other persons an opportunity of

arranging their charms and sacred written sentences to greater advantage, and of occupying the most

favourable ground for the encounter. Nevertheless, so great was the force of the new emotion which had

entered into Ling's nature that, without waiting to consider the dangers or the best method of attack, he rushed

upon them, waving his sword with such force that he appeared as though surrounded by a circle of very

brilliant fire. In this way he reached the rebels, who both fell unexpectedly at one blow, they, indeed, being

under the impression that the encounter had not commenced in reality, and that Ling was merely menacing

them in order to inspire their minds with terror and raise his own spirits. However much he regretted this act

of the incident which he had been compelled to take, Ling could not avoid being filled with intellectual joy at

finding that his own charms and omens were more distinguished than those possessed by the rebels, none of

Examining these things within his mind, and reflecting on the events of the past few days, by which he had

been thrown into a class of circumstances greatly differing from anything which he had ever sought, Ling

continued his journey, and soon found himself before the southern gate of Sichow. Entering the town, he at

once formed the resolution of going before the Mandarin for Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, so that he

might present, without delay, the papers and seals which he had brought with him from Canton.

"The noble Mandarin Li Keen?" replied the first person to whom Ling addressed himself. "It would indeed be

a difficult and hazardous conjecture to make concerning his sacred person. By chance he is in the strongest

and bestconcealed cellar in Sichow, unless the sumptuous attractions of the deepest dry well have induced

him to make a short journey"; and, with a look of great unfriendliness at Ling's dress and weapons, this

"Doubtless he is fighting singlehanded against the armed men by whom the place is surrounded," said

another; "or perhaps he is constructing an underground road from the Yamen to Peking, so that we may all

escape when the town is taken. All that can be said with certainty is that the Heavensent and valorous

Mandarin has not been seen outside the walls of his wellfortified residence since the trouble arose; but, as

Upon making a third attempt Ling was more successful, for he inquired of an aged woman, who had neither a

reputation for keen and polished sentences to maintain, nor any interest in the acts of the Mandarin or of the

rebels. From her he learned how to reach the Yamen, and accordingly turned his footsteps in that direction.

When at length he arrived at the gate, Ling desired his tablets to be carried to the Mandarin with many

expressions of an impressive and engaging nature, nor did he neglect to reward the porter. It was therefore

with the expression of a misunderstanding mind that he received a reply setting forth that Li Keen was unable

to receive him. In great doubt he prevailed upon the porter, by means of a still larger reward, again to carry in

his message, and on this occasion an answer in this detail was placed before him.

"Li Keen," he was informed, "is indeed awaiting the arrival of one Ling, a noble and valiant Commander of

Bowmen. He is given to understand, it is true, that a certain person claiming the same honoured name is

standing in somewhat undignified attitudes at the gate, but he is unable in any way to make these two

individuals meet within his intellect. He would further remind all persons that the refined observances laid

down by the wise and exalted Board of Rites and Ceremonies have a marked and irreproachable significance

when the country is in a state of disorder, the town surrounded by rebels, and every breathingspace of time

Overpowered with becoming shame at having been connected with so unseemly a breach of civility, for

which his great haste had in reality been accountable, Ling hastened back into the town, and spent many

hours endeavouring to obtain a chair of the requisite colour in which to visit the Mandarin. In this he was

unsuccessful, until it was at length suggested to him that an ordinary chair, such as stood for hire in the streets

of Sichow, would be acceptable if covered with blue paper. Still in some doubt as to what the nature of his

reception would be, Ling had no choice but to take this course, and accordingly he again reached the Yamen

in such a manner, carried by two persons whom he had obtained for the purpose. While yet hardly at the

residence a salute was suddenly fired; all the gates and doors were, without delay, thrown open with

embarrassing and hospitable profusion, and the Mandarin himself passed out, and would have assisted Ling

to step down from his chair had not that person, clearly perceiving that such a course would be too great an

honour, evaded him by an unobtrusive display of versatile dexterity. So numerous and profound were the

graceful remarks which each made concerning the habits and accomplishments of the other that more than the

space of an hour was passed in traversing the small enclosed ground which let up to the principal door of the

Yamen. There an almost greater time was agreeably spent, both Ling and the Mandarin having determined

that the other should enter first. Undoubtedly Ling, who was the more powerful of the two, would have

conferred this courteous distinction upon Li Keen had not that person summoned to his side certain attendants

who succeeded in frustrating Ling in his highminded intentions, and in forcing him through the doorway in

spite of his conscientious protests against the unsurmountable obligation under which the circumstance

Conversing in this intellectual and dignified manner, the strokes of the gong passed unheeded; tea had been

brought into their presence many times, and night had fallen before the Mandarin allowed Ling to refer to the

matter which had brought him to the place, and to present his written papers and seals.

"It is a valuable privilege to have so intelligent a person as the illustrious Ling occupying this position,"

remarked the Mandarin, as he returned the papers; "and not less so on account of the one who preceded him

proving himself to be a person of feeble attainments and an unendurable deficiency of resource."

"To one with the allknowing Li Keen's mental acquisitions, such a person must indeed have become

excessively offensive," replied Ling delicately; "for, as it is truly said, 'Although there exist many thousand

subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet.'"

"He to whom I have referred was such a one," said Li Keen, appreciating with an expression of countenance

the fitness of Ling's proverb. "He was totally inadequate to the requirements of his position; for he possessed

no military knowledge, and was placed in command by those at Peking as a result of his taking a high place

at one of the examinations. But more than this, although his three years of service were almost completed, I

was quite unsuccessful in convincing him that an unseemly degradation probably awaited him unless he

could furnish me with the means with which to propitiate the persons in authority at Peking. This he

neglected to do with obstinate pertinacity, which compelled this person to inquire within himself whether one

of so little discernment could be trusted with an important and arduous office. After much deliberation, this

person came to the decision that the Commander in question was not a fit person, and he therefore reported

him to the Imperial Board of Punishment at Peking as one subject to frequent and periodical eccentricities,

and possessed of less than ordinary intellect. In consequence of this act of justice, the Commander was

degraded to the rank of common bowman, and compelled to pay a heavy fine in addition."

"It was a just and enlightened conclusion of the affair," said Ling, in spite of a deep feeling of no enthusiasm,

"It was an inspired warning to persons who should chance to be in a like position at any time," replied Li

Keen. "So grasping and corrupt are those who control affairs in Peking that I have no doubt they would

scarcely hesitate in debasing even one so immaculate as the exceptional Ling, and placing him in some

laborious and illpaid civil department should he not accede to their extortionate demands."

This suggestion did not carry with it the unpleasurable emotions which the Mandarin anticipated it would.

The fierce instincts which had been aroused within Ling by the incident in the cypress wood had died out,

while his lamentable ignorance of military affairs was ever before his mind. These circumstances, together

with his naturally gentle habits, made him regard such a degradation rather favourably than otherwise. He

was meditating within himself whether he could arrange such a course without delay when the Mandarin

"That, however, is a possibility which is remote to the extent of at least two or three years; do not, therefore,

let so unpleasing a thought cast darkness upon our brows or remove the unparalleled splendour of so refined

an occasion . . . Doubtless the accomplished Ling is a master of the art of chessplay, for many of our most

thoughtful philosophers have declared war to be nothing but such a game; let this slowwitted and

cumbersome person have an opportunity, therefore, of polishing his declining facilities by a pleasant and

ON the next day, having completed his business at the Yamen, Ling left the town, and without desiring any

ceremony quietly betook himself to his new residence within the camp, which was situated among the millet

fields some distance from Sichow. As soon as his presence became known all those who occupied positions

of command, and whose years of service would shortly come to an end, hastened to present themselves

before him, bringing with them offerings according to the rank they held, they themselves requiring a similar

service from those beneath them. First among these, and next in command to Ling himself, was the Chief of

Bowmen, a person whom Ling observed with extreme satisfaction to be very powerful in body and

possessing a strong and dignified countenance which showed unquestionable resolution and shone with a

"Undoubtedly," thought Ling, as he observed this noble and prepossessing person, "here is one who will be

able to assist me in whatever perplexities may arise. Never was there an individual who seemed more worthy

to command and lead; assuredly to him the most intricate and prolonged military positions will be an

enjoyment; the most crafty stratagems of the enemy as the full moon rising from behind a screen of rushes.

Without making any pretence of knowledge, this person will explain the facts of the case to him and place

For this purpose he therefore detained the Chief of Bowmen when the others departed, and complimented

him, with many expressive phrases, on the excellence of his appearance, as the thought occurred to him that

by this means, without disclosing the full measure of his ignorance, the person in question might be

encouraged to speak unrestrainedly of the nature of his exploits, and perchance thereby explain the use of the

appliances employed and the meaning of the various words of order, in all of which details the Commander

was as yet most disagreeably imperfect. In this, however, he was disappointed, for the Chief of Bowmen,

greatly to Ling's surprise, received all his polished sentences with somewhat foolish smiles of great

selfsatisfaction, merely replying from time to time as he displayed his pigtail to greater advantage or

Disappointed in his hope, and not desiring after this circumstance to expose his shortcomings to one who was

obviously not of a highlyrefined understanding, no matter how great his valour in war or his knowledge of

military affairs might be, Ling endeavoured to lead him to converse of the bowmen under his charge. In this

matter he was more successful, for the Chief spoke at great length and with evillyinspired contempt of their

inelegance, their undiscriminating and excessive appetites, and the frequent use which they made of low

words and gestures. Desiring to become acquainted rather with their methods of warfare than with their

domestic details, Ling inquired of him what formation they relied upon when receiving the foemen.

"It is a matter which has not engaged the attention of this one," replied the Chief, with an excessive absence

of interest. "There are so many affairs of intelligent dignity which cannot be put aside, and which occupy one

from beginning to end. As an example, this person may describe how the accomplished LiLu, generally

depicted as the Blueeyed Dove of Virtuous and Serpentlike Attitudes, has been scattering glory upon the

Sichow Hall of Celestial Harmony for many days past. It is an enlightened display which the highsouled

Ling should certainly endeavour to dignify with his presence, especially at the portion where the amiable

LiLu becomes revealed in the appearance of a Peking sedanchair bearer and describes the manner and

likenesses of certain personschiefly highpriests of Buddha, excessively roundbodied merchants who

feign to be detained within Peking on affairs of commerce, maidens who attend at the tables of teahouses,

and those of both sexes who are within the city for the first time to behold its temples and open spaceswho

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

"Really, the elegant Ling will discover them to be persons of deficient manners, and quite unworthy of

occupying his wellbred conversation," replied the Chief. "As regards their methodsif the renowned Ling

insiststhey fight by means of their bows, with which they discharge arrows at the foemen, they themselves

hiding behind trees and rocks. Should the enemy be undisconcerted by the cloud of arrows, and advance, the

bowmen are instructed to make a last endeavour to frighten them back by uttering loud shouts and feigning

"Beyond that there are no instructions," replied the Chief. "The bowmen would then naturally take to flight,

or, if such a course became impossible, run to meet the enemy, protesting that they were convinced of the

justice of their cause, and were determined to fight on their side in the future."

"Would it not be of advantage to arm them with cutting weapons also?" inquired Ling; "so that when all their

arrows were discharged they would still be able to take part in the fight, and not be lost to us?"

"They would not be lost to us, of course," replied the Chief, "as we would still be with them. But such a

course as the one you suggest could not fail to end in dismay. Being as well armed as ourselves, they would

then turn upon us, and, having destroyed us, proceed to establish leaders of their own."

As Ling and the Chief of Bowmen conversed in this enlightened manner, there arose a great outcry from

among the tents, and presently there entered to them a spy who had discovered a strong force of the enemy

not more than ten or twelve li away, who showed every indication of marching shortly in the direction of

Sichow. In numbers alone, he continued, they were greatly superior to the bowmen, and all were well

armed. The spreading of this news threw the entire camp into great confusion, many protesting that the day

was not a favourable one on which to fight, others crying that it was their duty to fall back on Sichow and

protect the women and children. In the midst of this tumult the Chief of Bowmen returned to Ling, bearing in

"Oh, illustrious Ling," he cried, restraining his grief with difficulty, and leaning for support upon the

shoulders of two bowmen, "how prosperous indeed are you! What greater misfortune can engulf a person

who is both an ambitious soldier and an affectionate son, than to lose such a chance of glory and promotion

as only occurs once within the lifetime, and an affectionate and venerable father upon the same day? Behold

this mandate to attend, without a moment's delay, at the funeral obsequies of one whom I left, only last week,

in the fullness of health and power. The occasion being an unsuitable one, I will not call upon the courteous

Ling to join me in sorrow; but his own devout filial piety is so well known that I can conscientiously rely

"The application will certainly be regarded as merely official ceremony," replied Ling, without resorting to

any delicate pretence of meaning, "and the refined scruples of the person who is addressing me will be fully

met by the official date of his venerated father's death being fixed for a more convenient season. In the

meantime, the unobtrusive Chief of Bowmen may take the opportunity of requesting that the family tomb be

Ling turned away, as he finished this remark, with a dignified feeling of not inelegant resentment. In this way

he chanced to observe a large body of soldiers which was leaving the camp accompanied by their lesser

captains, all crowned with garlands of flowers and creeping plants. In spite of his very inadequate attainments

regarding words of order, the Commander made it understood by means of an exceedingly short sentence that

"Doubtless the accomplished Commander, being but newly arrived in this neighbourhood, is unacquainted

with the significance of this display," said one of the lesser captains pleasantly. "Know then, O wise and

customrespecting Ling, that on a similar day many years ago this valiant band of bowmen was engaged in a

very honourable affair with certain of the enemy. Since then it has been the practice to commemorate the

matter with music and other forms of delight within the large square at Sichow."

"Such customs are excellent," said Ling affably. "On this occasion, however, the public square will be so

insufferably thronged with the number of timorous and credulous villagers who have pressed into the town

that insufficient justice would be paid to your entrancing display. In consequence of this, we will select for

the purpose some convenient spot in the neighbourhood. The proceedings will be commenced by a display of

arrowshooting at moving objects, followed by racing and dancing, in which this person will lead. I have

At these words many of the more courageous among the bowmen became destructively inspired, and raised

shouts of defiance against the enemy, enumerating at great length the indignities which they would heap upon

their prisoners. Cries of distinction were also given on behalf of Ling, even the more terrified exclaiming:

"The noble Commander Ling will lead us! He has promised, and assuredly he will not depart from his word.

Shielded by his broad and sacred body, from which the bullets glance aside harmlessly, we will advance upon

the enemy in the stealthy manner affected by ducks when crossing the swamp. How altogether superior a

person our Commander is when likened unto the leaders of the foementhey who go into battle completely

Upon this, perceiving the clear direction in which matters were turning, the Chief of Bowmen again

"Doubtless the highlyfavoured person whom I am now addressing has been endowed with exceptional

authority direct from Peking," he remarked with insidious politeness. "Otherwise this narrowminded

individual would suggest that such a decision does not come within the judgement of a Commander."

In his ignorance of military matters it had not entered the mind of Ling that his authority did not give him the

power to commence an attack without consulting other and more distinguished persons. At the suggestion,

which he accepted as being composed of truth, he paused, the enlightened zeal with which he had been

inspired dying out as he plainly understood the difficulties by which he was enclosed. There seemed a single

expedient path for him in the matter; so, directing a person of exceptional trustworthiness to prepare himself

for a journey, he inscribed a communication to the Mandarin Li Keen, in which he narrated the facts and

asked for speedy directions, and then despatched it with great urgency to Sichow.

WHEN these matters were arranged, Ling returned to his tent, a victim to feelings of a deep and confused

doubt, for all courses seemed to be surrounded by extreme danger, with the strong possibility of final disaster.

While he was considering these things attentively, the spy who had brought word of the presence of the

enemy again sought him. As he entered, Ling perceived that his face was the colour of a bleached linen

"There are certain matters which this person has not made known," he said, having first expressed a request

that he might not be compelled to stand while he conversed. "The bowmen are as an inferior kind of jackal,

and they who lead them are pigs, but this person has observed that the Heavensent Commander has internal

organs like steel hardened in a white fire and polished by running water. For this reason he will narrate to him

the things he has seenthings at which the lesser ones would undoubtedly perish in terror without offering

"In numbers the rebels are as three to one with the bowmen, and are, in addition, armed with matchlocks and

other weapons; this much I have already told," said the spy. "Yesterday they entered the village of Ki without

resistance, as the dwellers there were all peaceable persons, who gain a living from the fields, and who

neither understood nor troubled about the matters between the rebels and the army. Relying on the promises

made by the rebel chiefs, the villagers even welcomed them, as they had been assured that they came as

buyers of their corn and rice. Today not a house stands in the street of Ki, not a person lives. The men they

slew quickly, or held for torture, as they desired at the moment; the boys they hung from the trees as marks

for their arrows. Of the women and children this person, who has since been subject to several attacks of

fainting and vomiting, desires not to speak. The wells of Ki are filled with the bodies of such as had the good

fortune to be warned in time to slay themselves. The cattle drag themselves from place to place on their

forefeet; the fish in the HengKiang are dying, for they cannot live on water thickened into blood. All these

When he had finished speaking, Ling remained in deep and funereal thought for some time. In spite of his

mild nature, the words which he had heard filled him with an inextinguishable desire to slay in handtohand

fighting. He regretted that he had placed the decision of the matter before Li Keen.

"If only this person had a mere handful of brave and expert warriors, he would not hesitate to fall upon those

savage and barbarous characters, and either destroy them to the last one, or let his band suffer a like fate," he

The return of the messenger found him engaged in reviewing the bowmen, and still in this mood, so that it

was with a commendable feeling of satisfaction, no less than virtuous contempt, that he learned of the

Mandarin's journey to Peking as soon as he understood that the rebels were certainly in the neighbourhood.

"The wise and ornamental Li Keen is undoubtedly consistent in all matters," said Ling, with some refined

bitterness. "The only information regarding his duties to which this person obtained from him chanced to be a

likening of war to skilful chessplay, and to this end the accomplished person in question has merely availed

himself of a common expedient which places him at the remote side of the divine Emperor. Yet this act is not

unwelcome, for the responsibility of deciding what course is to be adopted now clearly rests with this person.

He is, as those who are standing by may perceive, of under the usual height, and of no particular mental or

bodily attainments. But he has eaten the rice of the Emperor, and wears the Imperial sign embroidered upon

his arm. Before him are encamped the enemies of his master and of his land, and in no way will he turn his

back upon them. Against brave and skilful men, such as those whom this person commands, rebels of a low

and degraded order are powerless, and are, moreover, openly forbidden to succeed by the Fortysecond

Mandate in the Sacred Book of Arguments. Should it have happened that into this assembly any person of a

perfidious or uncourageous nature has gained entrance by guile, and has not been detected and driven forth

by his outraged companions (as would certainly occur if such a person were discovered), I, Ling, Commander

of Bowmen, make an especial and wellconsidered request that he shall be struck by a molten thunderbolt if

Having thus addressed and encouraged the soldiers, Ling instructed them that each one should cut and

fashion for himself a graceful but weighty club from among the branches of the trees around, and then return

When noon was passed, allowing such time as would enable him to reach the camp of the enemy an hour

before darkness, Ling arranged the bowmen in companies of convenient numbers, and commenced the

march, sending forward spies, who were to work silently and bring back tidings from every point. In this way

he penetrated to within a single li of the ruins of Ki, being informed by the spies that no outposts of the

enemy were between him and that place. Here the first rest was made to enable the more accurate and bold

spies to reach them with trustworthy information regarding the position and movements of the camp. With

little delay there returned the one who had brought the earliest tidings, bruised and torn with his successful

haste through the forest, but wearing a complacent and wellsatisfied expression of countenance. Without

hesitation or waiting to demand money before he would reveal his knowledge, he at once disclosed that the

greater part of the enemy were rejoicing among the ruins of Ki, they having discovered there a quantity of

opium and a variety of liquids, while only a small guard remained in the camp with their weapons ready. At

these words Ling sprang from the ground in gladness, so great was his certainty of destroying the invaders

utterly. It was, however, with less pleasurable emotions that he considered how he should effect the matter,

for it was in no way advisable to divide his numbers into two bands. Without any feeling of unendurable

conceit, he understood that no one but himself could hold the bowmen before an assault, however weak. In a

similar manner, he determined that it would be more advisable to attack those in the village first. These he

might have reasonable hopes of cutting down without warning the camp, or, in any event, before those from

the camp arrived. To assail the camp first would assuredly, by the firing, draw upon them those from the

village, and in whatever evil state these might arrive, they would, by their numbers, terrify the bowmen, who

Waiting for the last light of day, Ling led on the men again, and sending forward some of the most reliable,

surrounded the place of the village silently and without detection. In the open space, among broken casks and

other inconsiderable matters, plainly shown by the large fires at which burned the last remains of the houses

of Ki, many men moved or lay, some already dull or in heavy sleep. As the darkness dropped suddenly, the

signal of a peacock's shriek, three times uttered, rang forth, and immediately a cloud of arrows, directed from

all sides, poured in among those who feasted. Seeing their foemen defenceless before them, the archers

neglected the orders they had received, and throwing away their bows they rushed in with uplifted clubs,

uttering loud shouts of triumph. The next moment a shot was fired in the wood, drums beat, and in an

unbelievably short space of time a small but wellarmed band of the enemy was among them. Now that all

need of caution was at an end, Ling rushed forward with raised sword, calling to his men that victory was

certainly theirs, and dealing discriminating and inspiriting blows whenever he met a foeman. Three times he

formed the bowmen into a figure emblematic of triumph, and led them against the line of matchlocks. Twice

they fell back, leaving mingled dead under the feet of the enemy. The third time they stood firm, and Ling

threw himself against the waving rank in a noble and inspired endeavour to lead the way through. At that

moment, when a very distinguished victory seemed within his hand, his elegant and wellconstructed sword

"Chief among the sublime virtues enjoined by the divine Confucius," began Ling, folding his arms and

speaking in an unmoved voice, "is an intelligent submission" but at that word he fell beneath a rain of

BETWEEN Sichow and the village of Ki, in a house completely hidden from travellers by the tall and black

trees which surrounded it, lived an aged and very wise person whose ways and manner of living had become

so distasteful to his neighbours that they at length agreed to regard him as a powerful and illdisposed

magician. In this way it became a custom that all very unseemly deeds committed by those who, in the

ordinary course, would not be guilty of such behaviour, should be attributed to his influence, so that justice

might be effected without persons of assured respectability being put to any inconvenience. Apart from the

feeling which resulted from this just decision, the uncongenial person in question had become exceedingly

unpopular on account of certain definite actions of his own, as that of causing the greater part of Sichow to

be burned down by secretly breathing upon the seven sacred waterjugs to which the town owed its

prosperity and freedom from fire. Furthermore, although possessed of many taels, and able to afford such

food as is to be found upon the tables of Mandarins, he selected from choice dishes of an objectionable

nature; he had been observed to eat eggs of unbecoming freshness, and the Sichow Official Printed Leaf

made it public that he had, on an excessively hot occasion, openly partaken of cow's milk. It is not a matter

for wonder, therefore, that when unnaturally loud thunder was heard in the neighbourhood of Sichow the

more ignorant and credulous persons refused to continue in any description of work until certain ceremonies

connected with rice spirit, and the adherence to a reclining position for some hours, had been conscientiously

Not even the most venerable person in Sichow could remember the time when the magician had not lived

there, and as there existed no written record narrating the incident, it was with wellfounded probability that

he was said to be incapable of death. Contrary to the most general practice, although quite unmarried, he had

adopted no son to found a line which would worship his memory in future years, but had instead brought up

and caused to be educated in the most difficult varieties of embroidery a young girl, to whom he referred, for

want of a more suitable description, as the daughter of his sister, although he would admit without hesitation,

when closely questioned, that he had never possessed a sister, at the same time, however, alluding with some

pride to many illustrious brothers, who had all obtained distinction in various employments.

Few persons of any high position penetrated into the house of the magician, and most of these retired with

inelegant haste on perceiving that no domestic altar embellished the great hall. Indeed, not to make

concealment of the fact, the magician was a person who had entirely neglected the higher virtues in an

avaricious pursuit of wealth. In that way all his time and a very large number of taels had been expended,

testing results by means of the four elements, and putting together things which had been inadequately

arrived at by others. It was confidently asserted in Sichow that he possessed every manner of printed leaf

which had been composed in whatsoever language, and all the most precious charms, including many

snakeskins of more than ordinary rarity, and the fang of a black wolf which had been stung by seven

On the death of his father the magician had become possessed of great wealth, yet he contributed little to the

funeral obsequies nor did any suggestion of a durable and expensive nature conveying his enlightened name

and virtues down to future times cause his face to become gladdened. In order to preserve greater secrecy

about the enchantments which he certainly performed, he employed only two persons within the house, one

of whom was blind and the other deaf. In this ingenious manner he hoped to receive attention and yet be

unobserved, the blind one being unable to see the nature of the incantations which he undertook, and the deaf

one being unable to hear the words. In this, however, he was unsuccessful, as the two persons always

contrived to be present together, and to explain to one another the nature of the various matters afterwards;

but as they were of somewhat deficient understanding, the circumstance was unimportant.

It was with more uneasiness that the magician perceived one day that the maiden whom he had adopted was

no longer a child. As he desired secrecy above all things until he should have completed the one important

matter for which he had laboured all his life, he decided with extreme unwillingness to put into operation a

powerful charm towards her, which would have the effect of diminishing all her attributes until such time as

he might release her again. Owing to his reluctance in the matter, however, the magic did not act fully, but

only in such a way that her feet became naturally and without binding the most perfect and beautiful in the

entire province of Hu Nan, so that ever afterwards she was called Pan Fei Mian, in delicate reference to that

Empress whose feet were so symmetrical that a golden lily sprang up wherever she trod. Afterwards the

magician made no further essay in the matter, chiefly because he was ever convinced that the

The rumours of armed men in the neighbourhood of Sichow threw the magician into an unendurable

condition of despair. To lose all, as would most assuredly happen if he had to leave his arranged rooms and

secret preparations and take to flight, was the more bitter because he felt surer than ever that success was

even standing by his side. The very subtle liquid, which would mix itself into the component parts of the

living creature which drank it, and by an insidious and harmless process so work that, when the spirit

departed, the flesh would become resolved into a figure of pure and solid gold of the finest quality, had

engaged the refined minds of many of the most expert individuals of remote ages. With most of these inspired

persons, however, the search had been undertaken in pureminded benevolence, their chief aim being an

honourable desire to discover a method by which one's ancestors might be permanently and effectively

preserved in a fit and becoming manner to receive the worship and veneration of posterity. Yet, in spite of

these amiable motives, and of the fact that the magician merely desired the possession of the secret to enable

him to become excessively wealthy, the affair had been so arranged that it should come into his possession.

The matter which concerned Mian in the dark wood, when she was only saved by the appearance of the

person who is already known as Ling, entirely removed all pleasurable emotions from the magician's mind,

and on many occasions he stated in a definite and systematic manner that he would shortly end an ignoble

career which seemed to be destined only to gloom and disappointment. In this way an important

misunderstanding arose, for when, two days later, during the sound of matchlock firing, the magician

suddenly approached the presence of Mian with an uncontrollable haste and an entire absence of dignified

demeanour, and fell dead at her feet without expressing himself on any subject whatever, she deliberately

judged that in this manner he had carried his remark into effect, nor did the closed vessel of yellow liquid

which he held in his hand seem to lead away from this decision. In reality, the magician had fallen owing to

the heavy and conflicting emotions which success had engendered in an intellect already greatly weakened by

his continual disregard of the higher virtues; for the bottle, indeed, contained the perfection of his entire life's

On perceiving the magician's condition, Mian at once called for the two attendants, and directed them to

bring from an inner chamber all the most effective curing substances, whether in the form of powder or

liquid. When these proved useless, no matter in what way they were applied, it became evident that there

could be very little hope of restoring the magician, yet so courageous and grateful for the benefits which she

had received from the person in question was Mian, that, in spite of the uninviting dangers of the enterprise,

she determined to journey to Ki to invoke the assistance of a certain person who was known to be very

successful in casting out malicious demons from the bodies of animals, and from casks and barrels, in which

they frequently took refuge, to the great detriment of the quality of the liquid placed therein.

Not without many hidden fears, Mian set out on her journey, greatly desiring not to be subjected to an

encounter of a nature similar to the one already recorded; for in such a case she could hardly again hope for

the inspired arrival of the one whom she now often thought of in secret as the wellformed and symmetrical

young sworduser. Nevertheless, an event of equal significance was destined to prove the wisdom of the

wellknown remark concerning thoughts which are occupying one's intellect and the unexpected appearance

of a very formidable evil spirit; for as she passed along, quickly yet with so dignified a motion that the moss

received no impression beneath her footsteps, she became aware of a circumstance which caused her to stop

In a grassy and open space, on the verge of which she stood, lay the dead bodies of seventeen rebels, all

disposed in very degraded attitudes, which contrasted strongly with the easy and becoming position adopted

by the eighteenthone who bore the unmistakable emblems of the Imperial army. In this brave and

noblelooking personage Mian at once saw her preserver, and not doubting that an inopportune and

treacherous death had overtaken him, she ran forward and raised him in her arms, being well assured that

however indiscreet such an action might appear in the case of an ordinary person, the most select maiden

need not hesitate to perform so honourable a service in regard to one whose virtues had by that time

undoubtedly placed him among the Three Thousand Pure Ones. Being disturbed in this providential manner,

Ling opened his eyes, and faintly murmuring, "Oh, sainted and adorable Koon Yam, Goddess of Charity,

intercede for me with Buddha!" he again lost possession of himself in the Middle Air. At this remark, which

plainly proved Ling to be still alive, in spite of the fact that both the maiden and the person himself had

thoughts to the contrary, Mian found herself surrounded by a variety of embarrassing circumstances, among

which occurred a remembrance of the dead magician and the wise person at Ki whom she had set out to

summon; but on considering the various natural and sublime laws which bore directly on the alternative

before her, she discovered that her plain destiny was to endeavour to restore the breath in the person who was

still alive rather than engage on the very unsatisfactory chance of attempting to call it back to the body from

Having been inspired to this conclusionwhich, when she later examined her mind, she found not to be

repulsive to her own inner feelingsMian returned to the house with dexterous speed, and calling together

the two attendants, she endeavoured by means of signs and drawings to explain to them what she desired to

accomplish. Succeeding in this after some delay (for the persons in question, being very illiterate and

narrowminded, were unable at first to understand the existence of any recumbent male person other than the

dead magician, whom they thereupon commenced to bury in the garden with expressions of great satisfaction

at their own intelligence in comprehending Mian's meaning so readily) they all journeyed to the wood, and

bearing Ling between them, they carried him to the house without further adventure.

IT was in the month of Hot Dragon Breaths, many weeks after the fight in the woods of Ki, that Ling again

opened his eyes to find himself in an unknown chamber, and to recognize in the one who visited him from

time to time the incomparable maiden whose life he had saved in the cypress glade. Not a day had passed in

the meanwhile on which Mian had neglected to offer sacrifices to ChangChung, the deity interested in drugs

and healing substances, nor had she wavered in her firm resolve to bring Ling back to an ordinary existence

even when the attendants had protested that the person in question might without impropriety be sent to the

Restoring Establishment of the Last Chance, so little did his hope of recovering rest upon the efforts of living

After he had beheld Mian's face and understood the circumstances of his escape and recovery, Ling quickly

shook off the evil vapours which had held him down so long, and presently he was able to walk slowly in the

courtyard and in the shady paths of the wood beyond, leaning upon Mian for the support he still required.

"Oh, graceful one," he said on such an occasion, when little stood between him and the full powers which he

had known before the battle, "there is a matter which has been pressing upon this person's mind for some

time past. It is as dark after light to let the thoughts dwell around it, yet the thing itself must inevitably soon

be regarded, for in this life one's actions are for ever regulated by conditions which are neither of one's own

At these words all brightness left Mian's manner, for she at once understood that Ling referred to his

departure, of which she herself had lately come to think with unrestrained agitation.

"Oh, Ling," she exclaimed at length, 'most expert of swordusers and most noble of men, surely never was a

maiden more inelegantly placed than the one who is now by your side. To you she owes her life, yet it is

unseemly for her even to speak of the incident; to you she must look for protection, yet she cannot ask you to

stay by her side. She is indeed alone. The magician is dead, Ki has fallen, Ling is going, and Mian is

undoubtedly the most unhappy and solitary person between the Wall and the Nan Hai."

"Beloved Mian," exclaimed Ling, with inspiring vehemence, "and is not the utterly unworthy person before

you indebted to you in a double measure that life is still within him? Is not the strength which now promotes

him to such exceptional audacity as to aspire to your lovely hand, of your own creating? Only encourage Ling

to entertain a wellfounded hope that on his return he shall not find you partaking of the wedding feast of

some wealthy and exceptionally roundbodied Mandarin, and this person will accomplish the journey to

"Oh, Ling, reflexion of my ideal, holder of my soul, it would indeed be very disagreeable to my own feelings

to make any reply save one," replied Mian, scarcely above a breathvoice. "Gratitude alone would direct me,

were it not that the great love which fills me leaves no restingplace for any other emotion than itself. Go if

you must, but return quickly, for your absence will weigh upon Mian like a dragondream."

"Violet light of my eyes," exclaimed Ling, "even in surroundings which with the exception of the matter

before us are uninspiring in the extreme, your virtuous and retiring encouragement yet raises me to such a

commanding eminence of demonstrative happiness that I fear I shall become intolerably selfopinionated

"Such a thing is impossible with my Ling," said Mian, with conviction. "But must you indeed journey to

"Alas!" replied Ling, "gladly would this person decide against such a course did the matter rest with him, for

as the Verses say, 'It is needless to apply the ram's head to the unlocked door.' But Ki is demolished, the

unassuming Mandarin Li Keen has retired to Peking, and of the fortunes of his bowmen this person is entirely

"Such as survived returned to their homes," replied Mian, "and Sichow is safe, for the scattered and broken

"In that case Sichow is undoubtedly safe for the time, and can be left with prudence," said Ling. "It is an

unfortunate circumstance that there is no Mandarin of authority between here and Canton who can receive

from this person a statement of past facts and give him instructions for the future."

"And what will be the nature of such instructions as will be given at Canton?" demanded Mian.

"By chance they may take the form of raising another company of bowmen," said Ling, with a sigh, "but,

indeed, if this person can obtain any weight by means of his past service, they will tend towards a pleasant

"Oh, my artless and nobleminded lover!" exclaimed Mian, "assuredly a veil has been before your eyes

during your residence in Canton, and your naturally benevolent mind has turned all things into good, or you

would not thus hopefully refer to your brilliant exploits in the past. Of what commercial benefit have they

been to the sordid and miserly persons in authority, or in what way have they diverted a stream of taels into

their insatiable pockets? Far greater is the chance that had Sichow fallen many of its household goods would

have found their way into the Yamens of Canton. Assuredly in Li Keen you will have a friend who will make

many delicate allusions to your ancestors when you meet, and yet one who will float many barbed whispers

to follow you when you have passed; for you have planted shame before him in the eyes of those who would

otherwise neither have eyes to see nor tongues to discuss the matter. It is for such a reason that this person

distrusts all things connected with the journey, except your constancy, oh, my true and strong one."

"Such faithfulness would alone be sufficient to assure my safe return if the matter were properly represented

to the supreme Deities," said Ling. "Let not the thin curtain of bitter water stand before your lustrous eyes any

longer, then the events which have followed one another in the past few days in a fashion that can only be

likened to thunder following lightning are indeed sufficient to distress one with so refined and swanlike an

"It is a hope of daily recurrence to this person," replied Mian, honourably endeavouring to restrain the

emotion which openly exhibited itself in her eyes; "for what maiden would not rather make successful

offerings to the Great Mother KumFa than have the most imposing and verbose Triumphal Arch erected to

In this amiable manner the matter was arranged between Ling and Mian, as they sat together in the magician's

garden drinking peachtea, which the two attendantsnot without discriminating and significant expressions

between themselvesbrought to them from time to time. Here Ling made clear the whole manner of his life

from his earliest memory to the time when he fell in dignified combat, nor did Mian withhold anything,

explaining in particular such charms and spells of the magician as she had knowledge of, and in this graceful

manner materially assisting her lover in the many disagreeable encounters and conflicts which he was shortly

It was with even more objectionable feelings than before that Ling now contemplated his journey to Canton,

involving as it did the separation from one who had become as the shadow of his existence, and by whose

side he had an undoubted claim to stand. Yet the necessity of the undertaking was no less than before, and the

full possession of all his natural powers took away his only excuse for delaying in the matter. Without any

pleasurable anticipations, therefore, he consulted the Sacred Flat and Round Sticks, and learning that the

following day would be propitious for the journey, he arranged to set out in accordance with the omen.

When the final moment arrived at which the invisible threads of constantly passing emotions from one to the

other must be broken, and when Mian perceived that her lover's horse was restrained at the door by the two

attendants, who with unsuspected delicacy of feeling had taken this opportunity of withdrawing, the noble

endurance which had hitherto upheld her melted away, and she became involved in very melancholy and

obscure meditations until she observed that Ling also was quickly becoming affected by a similar gloom.

"Alas!" she exclaimed, "how unworthy a person I am thus to impose upon my lord a greater burden than that

which already weighs him down! Rather ought this one to dwell upon the happiness of that day, when, after

successfully evading or overthrowing the numerous bands of assassins which infest the road from here to

Canton, and after escaping or recovering from the many deadly pestilences which invariably reduce that city

at this season of the year, he shall triumphantly return. Assuredly there is a highlypolished surface united to

every action in life, no matter how funereal it may at first appear. Indeed, there are many incidents compared

with which death itself is welcome, and to this end Mian has reserved a farewell gift."

Speaking in this manner the devoted and magnanimous maiden placed in Ling's hands the transparent vessel

of liquid which the magician had grasped when he fell. "This person," she continued, speaking with

difficulty, "places her lover's welfare incomparably before her own happiness, and should he ever find

himself in a situation which is unendurably oppressive, and from which death is the only escapesuch as

inevitable tortures, the infliction of violent madness, or the subjection by magic to the will of some designing

womanshe begs him to accept this means of freeing himself without regarding her anguish beyond

expressing a clearly defined last wish that the two persons in question may be in the end happily reunited in

Assured by this last evidence of affection, Ling felt that he had no longer any reason for internal heaviness;

his spirits were immeasurably raised by the fragrant incense of Mian's great devotion, and under its influence

he was even able to breathe towards her a few words of similar comfort as he left the spot and began his

ON entering Canton, which he successfully accomplished without any unpleasant adventure, the marked

absence of any dignified ostentation which had been accountable for many of Ling's misfortunes in the past,

impelled him again to reside in the same insignificant apartment that he had occupied when he first visited

the city as an unknown and unimportant candidate. In consequence of this, when Ling was communicating to

any person the signs by which messengers might find him, he was compelled to add, "the neighbourhood in

which this contemptible person resides is that officially known as 'the mean quarter favoured by the lower

class of those who murder by treachery'," and for this reason he was not always treated with the regard to

which his attainments entitled him, or which he would have unquestionably received had he been able to

describe himself as of "the partlydrained and uninfected area reserved to Mandarins and their friends."

It was with an ignoble feeling of mental distress that Ling exhibited himself at the Chief Office of Warlike

Deeds and Arrangements on the following day; for the many disadvantageous incidents of his past life had

repeated themselves before his eyes while he slept, and the not unhopeful emotions which he had felt when in

the inspiring presence of Mian were now altogether absent. In spite of the fact that he reached the office

during the early gong strokes of the morning, it was not until the withdrawal of light that he reached any

person who was in a position to speak with him on the matter, so numerous were the lesser ones through

whose chambers he had to pass in the process. At length he found himself in the presence of an upper one

who had the appearance of being acquainted with the circumstances, and who received him with dignity,

"'The hero of the illustrious encounter beyond the walls of Sichow'," exclaimed that official, reading the

words from the tablet of introduction which Ling had caused to be carried into him, and at the same time

examining the person in question closely. "Indeed, no such one is known to those within this office, unless

the words chance to point to the courteous and unassuming Mandarin Li Keen, who, however, is at this

moment recovering his health at Peking, as set forth in the amiable and impartial report which we have lately

At these words Ling plainly understood that there was little hope of the last events becoming profitable on his

"Did not the report to which allusion has been made bear reference to one Ling, Commander of the Archers,

who thrice led on the fighting men, and who was finally successful in causing the rebels to disperse towards

"There is certainly reference to one of the name you mention," said the other; "but regarding the

termsperhaps this person would better protect his own estimable time by displaying the report within your

With these words the upper one struck a gong several times, and after receiving from an inner chamber the

parchment in question, he placed it before Ling, at the same time directing a lesser one to interpose between it

and the one who read it a large sheet of transparent substance, so that destruction might not come to it, no

matter in what way its contents affected the reader. Thereon Ling perceived the following facts, very skilfully

inscribed with the evident purpose of inducing persons to believe, without question, that words so elegantly

A Benevolent Example of the Intelligent Arrangement by which the most Worthy Persons outlive those who

The circumstances connected with the office of the valuable and accomplished Mandarin of Warlike Deeds

and Arrangements at Sichow have, in recent times, been of anything but a prepossessing order. Owing to the

very inadequate methods adopted by those who earn a livelihood by conveying necessities from the more

enlightened portions of the Empire to that place, it so came about that for a period of five days the Yamen

was entirely unsupplied with the fins of sharks or even with goats' eyes. To add to the polished Mandarin's

distress of mind the barbarous and slowwitted rebels who infest those parts took this opportunity to destroy

The feeble and commonplace person named Ling who commands the bowmen had but recently been elevated

to that distinguished position from a menial and degraded occupation (for which, indeed, his stunted intellect

more aptly fitted him); and being in consequence very greatly puffed out in selfgratification, he became an

easy prey to the cunning of the rebels, and allowed himself to be beguiled into a trap, paying for this

contemptible stupidity with his life. The town of Sichow was then attacked, and being in this manner left

defenceless through the weaknessor treacheryof the person Ling, who had contrived to encompass the

entire destruction of his unyielding company, it fell after a determined and irreproachable resistance; the

Mandarin Li Keen being told, as, covered with the blood of the foemen, he was dragged away from the

thickest part of the unequal conflict by his followers, that he was the last person to leave the town. On his

way to Peking with news of this valiant defence, the Mandarin was joined by the Chief of Bowmen, who had

understood and avoided the very obvious snare into which the stagnant minded Commander had led his

followers, in spite of disinterested advice to the contrary. For this intelligent perception, and for general

nobility of conduct when in battle, the versatile Chief of Bowmen is by this written paper strongly

recommended to the dignity of receiving the small metal Embellishment of Valour.

It has been suggested to the Mandarin Li Keen that the bestowal of the Crystal Button would only be a fit and

graceful reward for his indefatigable efforts to uphold the dignity of the sublime Emperor; but to all such

persons the Mandarin has sternly replied that such a proposal would more fitly originate from the renowned

and valuable Office of Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, he well knowing that the wise and engaging

persons who conduct that indispensable and wellregulated department are gracefully voracious in their

efforts to reward merit, even when it is displayed, as in the case in question, by one who from his position

When Ling had finished reading this elegantly arranged but exceedingly misleading parchment, he looked up

with eyes from which he vainly endeavoured to restrain the signs of undignified emotion, and said to the

"It is difficult employment for a person to refrain from unendurable thoughts when his unassuming and really

conscientious efforts are represented in a spirit of no satisfaction, yet in this matter the very expert Li Keen

appears to have gone beyond himself; the Commander Ling, who is herein represented as being slain by the

enemy, is, indeed, the person who is standing before you, and all the other statements are in a like exactness."

"The shortsighted individual who for some hidden desire of his own is endeavouring to present himself as

the corrupt and degraded creature Ling, has overlooked one important circumstance," said the upper one,

smiling in a very intolerable manner, at the same time causing his head to move slightly from side to side in

the fashion of one who rebukes with assumed geniality; and, turning over the written paper, he displayed

upon the under side the Imperial vermilion Sign. "Perhaps," he continued, "the omniscient person will still

continue in his remarks, even with the evidence of the Emperor's unerring pencil to refute him."

At these words and the undoubted testimony of the red mark, which plainly declared the whole of the written

matter to be composed of truth, no matter what might afterwards transpire, Ling understood that very little

"But the town of Sichow," he suggested, after examining his mind; "if any person in authority visited the

place, he would inevitably find it standing and its inhabitants in agreeable health."

"The persistent person who is so assiduously occupying my intellectual moments with empty words seems to

be unaccountably deficient in his knowledge of the customs of refined society and of the meaning of the

Imperial Signet," said the other, with an entire absence of benevolent consideration. "That Sichow has fallen

and that Ling is dead are two utterly uncontroversial matters truthfully recorded. If a person visited Sichow,

he might find it rebuilt or even inhabited by those from the neighbouring villages or by evil spirits taking the

forms of the ones who formerly lived there; as in a like manner, Ling might be restored to existence by

magic, or his body might be found and possessed by an outcast demon who desired to revisit the earth for a

period. Such circumstances do not in any way disturb the announcement that Sichow has without question

fallen, and that Ling has officially ceased to live, of which events notifications have been sent to all who are

As the upper one ceased speaking, four strokes sounded upon the gong, and Ling immediately found himself

carried into the street by the current of both lesser and upper ones who poured forth at the signal. The

termination of this conversation left Ling in a more unenviable state of dejection than any of the many

preceding misfortunes had done, for with enlarged inducements to possess himself of a competent

appointment he seemed to be even further removed from this attainment than he had been at any time in his

life. He might, indeed, present himself again for the public examinations; but in order to do even that it would

be necessary for him to wait almost a year, nor could he assure himself that his efforts would again be likely

to result in an equal success. Doubts also arose within his mind of the course which he should follow in such

a case; whether to adopt a new name, involving as it would certain humiliation and perhaps disgrace if

detection overtook his footsteps, or still to possess the title of one who was in a measure dead, and hazard the

likelihood of having any prosperity which he might obtain reduced to nothing if the fact should become

As Ling reflected upon such details he found himself without intention before the house of a wise person who

had become very wealthy by advising others on all matters, but chiefly on those connected with strange

occurrences and such events as could not be settled definitely either one way or the other until a remote

period had been reached. Becoming assailed by a curious desire to know what manner of evils particularly

attached themselves to such as were officially dead but who nevertheless had an ordinary existence, Ling

placed himself before this person, and after arranging the manner of reward related to him so many of the

circumstances as were necessary to enable a full understanding to be reached, but at the same time in no way

"Such inflictions are to no degree frequent," said the wise person after he had consulted a polished sphere of

the finest red jade for some time; "and this is in a measure to be regretted, as the hair of these

personsprovided they die a violent death, which is invariably the caseconstitutes a certain protection

against being struck by falling stars, or becoming involved in unsuccessful law cases. The persons in question

can be recognized with certainty in the public ways by the unnatural pallor of their faces and by the general

repulsiveness of their appearance, but as they soon take refuge in suicide, unless they have the fortune to be

removed previously by accident, it is an infrequent matter that one is gratified by the sight. During their

existence they are subject to many disorders from which the generality of human beings are benevolently

preserved; they possess no rights of any kind, and if by any chance they are detected in an act of a seemingly

depraved nature, they are liable to judgement at the hands of the passersby without any form whatever, and

to punishment of a more severe order than that administered to commonplace criminals There are many other

disadvantages affecting such persons when they reach the Middle Air, of which the chief"

"This person is immeasurably indebted for such a clear explanation of the position," interrupted Ling, who

had a feeling of not desiring to penetrate further into the detail; "but as he perceives a line of anxious ones

eagerly waiting at the door to obtain advice and consolation from so expert and amiable a wizard, he will not

make himself uncongenial any longer with his very feeble topics of conversation."

By this time Ling plainly comprehended that he had been marked out from the beginningperhaps for all

the knowledge which he had to the opposite effect, from the period in the life of a farremoved ancestorto

be an object of marked derision and the victim of all manner of malevolent demons in whatever actions he

undertook. In this condition of understanding his mind turned gratefully to the parting gift of Mian whom he

had now no hope of possessing; for the intolerable thought of uniting her to so objectionable a being as

himself would have been dismissed as utterly inelegant even had he been in a manner of living to provide for

her adequately, which itself seemed clearly impossible. Disregarding all similar emotions, therefore, he

walked without pausing to his abode, and stretching his body upon the rushes, drank the entire liquid

unhesitatingly, and prepared to pass beyond with a tranquil mind entirely given up to thoughts and images of

UPON a certain occasion, the particulars of which have already been recorded, Ling had judged himself to

have passed into the form of a spirit on beholding the ethereal form of Mian bending over him. After

swallowing the entire liquid, which had cost the dead magician so much to distil and make perfect, it was

with a wellassured determination of never again awakening that he lost the outward senses and floated in

the Middle Air, so that when his eyes next opened upon what seemed to be the bare walls of his own

chamber, his first thought was a natural conviction that the matter had been so arranged either out of a

charitable desire that he should not be overcome by a too sudden transition to unparalleled splendour, or that

such a reception was the outcome of some dignified jest on the part of certain lesser and more cheerful spirits.

After waiting in one position for several hours, however, and receiving no summons or manifestation of a

celestial nature, he began to doubt the qualities of the liquid, and applying certain tests, he soon ascertained

that he was still in the lower world and unharmed. Nevertheless, this circumstance did not tend in any way to

depress his mind, for, doubtless owing to some hidden virtue of the fluid, he felt an enjoyable emotion that he

still lived; all his attributes appeared to be purified, and he experienced an inspired certainty of feeling that an

illustrious and highlyremunerative future lay before one who still had an ordinary existence after being both

In this intelligent disposition thoughts of Mian recurred to him with unreproved persistence, and in order to

convey to her an account of the various matters which had engaged him since his arrival at the city, and a

wellconsidered declaration of the unchanged state of his own feelings towards her, he composed and

About the walls and gates of Canton Are many pleasing and entertaining maidens; Indeed, in the eyes of their

friends and of the passersby Some of them are exceptionally adorable. The person who is inscribing these

lines, however, Sees before him, as it were, an assemblage of deformed and unprepossessing hags,

Venerable in age and inconsiderable in appearance; For the dignified and majestic image of Mian is ever

Within the houses and streets of Canton Hang many bright lanterns. The ordinary person who has occasion to

walk by night Professes to find them highly lustrous. But there is one who thinks contrary facts, And when he

goes forth he carries two long curved poles To prevent him from stumbling among the dark and hidden

places; For he has gazed into the brilliant and pellucid orbs of Mian, And all other lights are dull and

In various parts of the literary quarter of Canton Reside such as spend their time in inward contemplation. In

spite of their generally uninviting exteriors Their reflexions are often of a very profound order. Yet the

unpopular and persistentlyabused Ling Would unhesitatingly prefer his own thoughts to theirs, For what

makes this person's thoughts far more pleasing Is that they are invariably connected with the virtuous and

Becoming very amiably disposed after this agreeable occupation, Ling surveyed himself at the disc of

polished metal, and observed with surprise and shame the rough and uninviting condition of his person. He

had, indeed, although it was not until some time later that he became aware of the circumstance, slept for five

days without interruption, and it need not therefore be a matter of wonder or of reproach to him that his

smooth surfaces had become covered with short hair. Reviling himself bitterly for the appearance which he

conceived he must have exhibited when he conducted his business, and to which he now in part attributed his

illsuccess, Ling went forth without delay, and quickly discovering one of those who remove hair publicly

for a very small sum, he placed himself in the chair, and directed that his face, arms, and legs should be

denuded after the manner affected by the ones who make a practice of observing the most recent customs.

"Did the illustrious individual who is now conferring distinction on this really wornout chair by occupying

it express himself in favour of having the face entirely denuded?" demanded the one who conducted the

operation; for these persons have become famous for their elegant and persistent ability to discourse, and

frequently assume ignorance in order that they themselves may make reply, and not for the purpose of

gaining knowledge. "Now, in the objectionable opinion of this unintelligent person, who has a presumptuous

habit of offering his very undesirable advice, a slight covering on the upper lip, delicately arranged and

somewhat fiercely pointed at the extremities, would bestow an appearance ofhow shall this illiterate

person explain himself?dignity?matured reflexion?doubtless the accomplished nobleman before me

will understand what is intended with a more knifelike accuracy than this person can describe itbut confer

that highly desirable effect upon the face of which at present it is entirely destitute . . . 'Entirely denuded?'

Then without fail it shall certainly be so, O incomparable personage . . . Does the versatile Mandarin now

present profess any concern as to the condition of the rice plants? . . . Indeed, the remark is an inspired one;

the subject is totally devoid of interest to a person of intelligence . . . A remarkable and gravityremoving

event transpired within the notice of this unassuming person recently. A discriminating individual had

purchased from him a portion of his justly renowned Thriceextracted Essence of Celestial Herb Oila

preparation which in this experienced person's opinion, indeed, would greatly relieve the undoubted

afflictions from which the one before him is evidently sufferingwhen after once anointing himself"

A lengthy period containing no words caused Ling, who had in the meantime closed his eyes and lost Canton

and all else in delicate thoughts of Mian, to look up. That which met his attention on doing so filled him with

an intelligent wonder, for the person before him held in his hand what had the appearance of a tuft of bright

yellow hair, which shone in the light of the sun with a most engaging splendour, but which he nevertheless

"Illustrious demon," he cried at length, kowtowing very respectfully, "have the extreme amiableness to be of

a benevolent disposition, and do not take an unworthy and entirely unremunerative revenge upon this very

"Such words indicate nothing beyond an excess of hemp spirit," answered Ling, with signs of displeasure.

"To gain my explicit esteem, make me smooth without delay, and do not exhibit before me the lock of hair

which, from its colour and appearance, has evidently adorned the head of one of those maidens whose duty it

"Majestic and anonymous spirit," said the other, with extreme reverence, and an entire absence of the

appearance of one who had gazed into too many vessels, "if such be your plainlyexpressed desire, this

superficial person will at once proceed to make smooth your peachlike skin, and with a carefulness inspired

by the certainty that the most unimportant wound would give forth liquid fire, in which he would

undoubtedly perish. Nevertheless, he desires to make it evident that this hair is from the head of no maiden,

being, indeed, the uneven termination of your own sacred pigtail, which this excessively selfconfident slave

took the inexcusable liberty of removing, and which changed in this manner within his hand in order to

Impressed by the mien and unquestionable earnestness of the remover of hair, Ling took the matter which had

occasioned these various emotions in his hand and examined it. His amazement was still greater when he

perceived thatin spite of the fact that it presented every appearance of having been cut from his own

personnone of the qualities of hair remained in it; it was hard and wirelike, possessing, indeed, both the

As he gazed fixedly and with astonishment, there came back into the remembrance of Ling certain obscure

and littleunderstood facts connected with the limitless wealth possessed by the Yellow Emperorof which

the great gold lifelike image in the Temple of Internal Symmetry at Peking alone bears witness nowand

of his lost secret. Many very forcible prophecies and omens in his own earlier life, of which the rendering and

accomplishment had hitherto seemed to be dark and incomplete, passed before him, and various matters

which Mian had related to him concerning the habits and speech of the magician took definite form within his

mind. Deeply impressed by the exact manner in which all these circumstances fitted together, one into

another, Ling rewarded the person before him greatly beyond his expectation, and hurried without delay to

FOR many hours Ling remained in his room, examining in his mind all passages, either in his own life or in

the lives of others, which might by any chance have influence on the event before him. In this thorough way

he became assured that the competition and its results, his journey to Sichow with the encounter in the

cypress wood, the flight of the incapable and treacherous Mandarin, and the battle of Ki, were all, down to

the matter of the smallest detail, parts of a symmetrical and complete scheme, tending to his present

condition. Cheered and upheld by this proof of the fact that very able deities were at work on his behalf, he

turned his intellect from the entrancing subject to a contemplation of the manner in which his condition

would enable him to frustrate the uninventive villainies of the obstinate person Li Keen, and to provide a

suitable house and mode of living to which he would be justified in introducing Mian, after adequate

marriage ceremonies had been observed between them. In this endeavour he was less successful than he had

imagined would be the case, for when he had first fully understood that his body was of such a substance that

nothing was wanting to transmute it into fine gold but the absence of the living spirit, he had naturally, and

without deeply examining the detail, assumed that so much gold might be considered to be in his possession.

Now, however, a very definite thought arose within him that his own wishes and interests would have been

better secured had the benevolent spirits who undertook the matter placed the secret within his knowledge in

such a way as to enable him to administer the fluid to some very heavy and inexpensive animal, so that the

issue which seemed inevitable before the enjoyment of the riches could be entered upon should not have

touched his own comfort so closely. To a person of Ling's refined imagination it could not fail to be a subject

of internal reproach that while he would become the most precious dead body in the world, his value in life

might not be very honourably placed even by the most complimentary one who should require his services.

Then came the thought, which, however degraded, he found himself unable to put quite beyond him, that if in

the meantime he were able to gain a sufficiency for Mian and himself, even her pure and delicate love might

not be able to bear so offensive a test as that of seeing him grow old and remain intolerably healthyperhaps

with advancing years actually becoming lighter day by day, and thereby lessening in value before her

eyeswhen the natural infirmities of age and the presence of an everincreasing posterity would make even

No doubt remained in Ling's mind that the process of frequently making smooth his surfaces would yield an

amount of gold enough to suffice for his own needs, but a brief consideration of the matter convinced him

that this source would be inadequate to maintain an entire household even if he continually denuded himself

to an almost ignominious extent. As he fully weighed these varying chances the certainty became more clear

to him with every thought that for the virtuous enjoyment of Mian's society one great sacrifice was required

of him. This act, it seemed to be intimated, would without delay provide for an affluent and lengthy future,

and at the same time would influence all the spiritseven those who had been hitherto evillydisposed

towards himin such a manner that his enemies would be removed from his path by a process which would

expose them to public ridicule, and he would be assured in founding an illustrious and enduring line. To

accomplish this successfully necessitated the loss of at least the greater part of one entire member, and for

some time the disadvantages of going through an existence with only a single leg or arm seemed more than a

sufficient price to pay even for the definite advantages which would be made over to him in return. This

unworthy thought, however, could not long withstand the memory of Mian's steadfast and highminded

affection, and the certainty of her enlightened gladness at his return even in the imperfect condition which he

anticipated. Nor was there absent from his mind a dimlyunderstood hope that the matter did not finally rest

with him, but that everything which he might be inspired to do was in reality only a portion of the complete

and arranged system into which he had been drawn, and in which his part had been assigned to him from the

beginning without power for him to deviate, no matter how much to the contrary the thing should appear.

As no advantage would be gained by making any delay, Ling at once sought the most favourable means of

putting his resolution into practice, and after many skilful and insidious inquiries he learnt of an

accomplished person who made a consistent habit of cutting off limbs which had become troublesome to

their possessors either through accident or disease. Furthermore, he was said to be of a sincere and charitable

disposition, and many persons declared that on no occasion had he been known to make use of the helpless

Coming to the illconsidered conclusion that he would be able to conceal within his own breast the true

reason for the operation, Ling placed himself before the person in question, and exhibited the matter to him

so that it would appear as though his desires were promoted by the presence of a small but persistent sprite

which had taken its abode within his left thigh, and there resisted every effort of the most experienced wise

persons to induce it to come forth again. Satisfied with this explanation of the necessity of the deed, the one

who undertook the matter proceeded, with Ling's assistance, to sharpen his cutting instruments and to heat the

hardening irons; but no sooner had he made a shallow mark to indicate the lines which his knife should take,

than his subtle observation at once showed him that the facts had been represented to him in a wrong sense,

and that his visitor, indeed, was composed of no common substance. Being of a gentle and forbearing

disposition, he did not manifest any indication of rage at the discovery, but amiably and unassumingly

pointed out that such a course was not respectful towards himself, and that, moreover, Ling might incur

certain welldefined and highly undesirable maladies as a punishment for the deception.

Overcome with remorse at deceiving so courteous and nobleminded a person, Ling fully explained the

circumstances to him, not even concealing from him certain facts which related to the actions of remote

ancestors, but which, nevertheless, appeared to have influenced the succession of events. When he had made

"Behold now, it is truly remarked that every Mandarin has three hands and every soldier a like number of

feet, yet it is a saying which is rather to be regarded as manifesting the deep wisdom and discrimination of the

speaker than as an actual fact which can be taken advantage of when one is so mindedleast of all by so

valiant a Commander as the one before me, who has clearly proved that in time of battle he has exactly

"The loss would undoubtedly be of considerable inconvenience occasionally," admitted Ling, "yet none the

less the sage remark of Huai Meishan, 'When actually in the embrace of a voracious and powerful wild

animal, the desirability of leaving a limb is not a matter to be subjected to lengthy consideration', is

undoubtedly a valuable guide for general conduct. This person has endured many misfortunes and suffered

many injustices; he has known the wolfgnawings of great hopes, which have withered and daily grown less

when the difficulties of maintaining an honourable and illustrious career have unfolded themselves within his

sight. Before him still lie the attractions of a moderate competency to be shared with the one whose absence

would make even the Upper Region unendurable, and after having this entrancing future once shattered by

the tigerlike cupidity of a depraved and incapable Mandarin, he is determined to welcome even the sacrifice

"It is not an unworthy or abandoned decision," said the one whose aid Ling had invoked, "nor a matter in

which this person would refrain from taking part, were there no other and more agreeable means by which the

same results may be attained. A circumstance has occurred within this superficial person's mind, however: A

brother of the one who is addressing you is by profession one of those who purchase large undertakings for

which they have not the money to pay, and who thereupon by various expedients gain the ear of the thrifty,

enticing them by fair offers of return to entrust their savings for the purpose of paying off the debt. These

persons are ever on the watch for transactions by which they inevitably prosper without incurring any

obligation, and doubtless my brother will be able to gather a just share of the value of your

highlyremunerative body without submitting you to the insufferable annoyance of losing a great part of it

Without clearly understanding how so inviting an arrangement could be effected, the manner of speaking was

exceedingly alluring to Ling's mind, perplexed as he had become through weighing and considering the

various attitudes of the entire matter. To receive a certain and sufficient sum of money without his person

being in any way mutilated would be a satisfactory, but as far as he had been able to observe an

unapproachable, solution to the difficulty. In the mind of the amiable person with whom he was conversing,

however, the accomplishment did not appear to be surrounded by unnatural obstacles, so that Ling was

content to leave the entire design in his hands, after stating that he would again present himself on a certain

So internally lightened did Ling feel after this inspiring conversation, and so confident of a speedy success

had the obliging person's words made him become, that for the first time since his return to Canton he was

able to take an intellectual interest in the pleasures of the city. Becoming aware that the celebrated play

entitled "The Precious Lamp of Spotted Butterfly Temple" was in process of being shown at the Tea Garden

of Rainbow Lights and Voices, he purchased an entrance, and after passing several hours in this

conscientious enjoyment, returned to his chamber, and passed a night untroubled by any manifestations of an

CHANGCH'UN, the brother of the one to whom Ling had applied in his determination, was confidently

stated to be one of the richest persons in Canton. So great was the number of enterprises in which he had

possessions, that he himself was unable to keep an account of them, and it was asserted that upon occasions

he had run through the streets, crying aloud that such an undertaking had been the subject of most inferior

and uninviting dreams and omens (a custom observed by those who wish a venture ill), whereas upon

returning and consulting his written parchments, it became plain to him that he had indulged in a very

objectionable exhibition, as he himself was the person most interested in the success of the matter. Far from

discouraging him, however, such incidents tended to his advantage, as he could consistently point to them in

proof of his unquestionable commercial honourableness, and in this way many persons of all classes, not only

in Canton, or in the Province, but all over the Empire, would unhesitatingly entrust money to be placed in

undertakings which he had purchased and was willing to describe as "of much good". A certain class of

printed leavesthose in which Changch'un did not insert purchased mentions of his forthcoming ventures

or verses recording his virtues (in return for buying many examples of the printed leaf containing

them)took frequent occasion of reminding persons that Changch'un owed the beginning of his prosperity

to finding a written parchment connected with a Mandarin of exalted rank and a low caste attendant at the

Tii teahouse among the paper heaps, which it was at that time his occupation to assort into various

departments according to their quality and commercial value. Such printed leaves freely and unhesitatingly

predicted that the day on which he would publicly lose face was incomparably nearer than that on which the

Imperial army would receive its back pay, and in a quaint and gravityremoving manner advised him to

protect himself against an obscure but inevitable poverty by learning the accomplishment of

chaircarryingan occupation for which his talents and achievements fitted him in a high degree, they

In spite of these evilly intentioned remarks, and of illustrations representing him as being bowstrung for

treacherous killing, being seized in the action of secretly conveying money from passersby to himself and

other similar annoying references to his private life, Changch'un did not fail to prosper, and his undertakings

succeeded to such an extent that without inquiry into the detail many persons were content to describe as

"goldlined" anything to which he affixed his sign, and to hazard their savings for staking upon the ventures.

In all other departments of life Chang was equally successful; his chief wife was the daughter of one who

stood high in the Emperor's favour; his repast table was never unsupplied with seasnails, rats' tongues, or

delicacies of an equally expensive nature, and it was confidently maintained that there was no official in

Canton, not even putting aside the Taotai, who dare neglect to fondle Chang's hand if he publicly offered it to

It was at the most illustrious point of his existenceat the time, indeed, when after purchasing without

money the renowned and proficient charmwater HoKo for a million taels, he had sold it again for

tenthat Chang was informed by his brother of the circumstances connected with Ling. After becoming

specially assured that the matter was indeed such as it was represented to be, Chang at once discerned that the

venture was of too certain and profitable a nature to be put before those who entrusted their money to him in

ordinary and doubtful cases. He accordingly called together certain persons whom he was desirous of

obliging, and informing them privately and apart from business terms that the opportunity was one of

exceptional attractiveness, he placed the facts before them. After displaying a number of diagrams bearing

upon the mater, he proposed that they should form an enterprise to be called "The Ling (After Death) Without

Much Risk Assembly." The manner of conducting this undertaking he explained to be as follows: The body

of Ling, whenever the spirit left it, should become as theirs to be used for profit. For this benefit they would

pay Ling fifty thousand taels when the understanding was definitely arrived at, five thousand taels each year

until the matter ended, and when that period arrived another fifty thousand taels to persons depending upon

him during his life. Having stated the figure business, Changch'un put down his written papers, and causing

his face to assume the look of irrepressible but dignified satisfaction which it was his custom to wear on most

occasions, and especially when he had what appeared at first sight to be evil news to communicate to public

assemblages of those who had entrusted money to his ventures, he proceeded to disclose the advantages of

such a system. At the extreme, he said, the amount which they would be required to pay would be two

hundred and fifty thousand taels; but this was in reality a very misleading view of the circumstance, as he

would endeavour to show them. For one detail, he had allotted to Ling thirty years of existence, which was

the extreme amount according to the calculations of those skilled in such prophecies; but, as they were all

undoubtedly aware, persons of very expert intellects were known to enjoy a much shorter period of life than

the gross and ordinary, and as Ling was clearly one of the former, by the fact of his contriving so ingenious a

method of enriching himself, they might with reasonable foresight rely upon his departing when half the

period had been attained; in that way seventyfive thousand taels would be restored to them, for every year

represented a saving of five thousand. Another agreeable contemplation was that of the last sum, for by such

a time they would have arrived at the most pleasurable part of the enterprise: a million taels' worth of pure

gold would be displayed before them, and the question of the final fifty thousand could be disposed of by

cutting off an arm or half a leg. Whether they adopted that course, or decided to increase their fortunes by

exposing so exceptional and symmetrical a wonder to the public gaze in all the principal cities of the Empire,

was a circumstance which would have to be examined within their minds when the time approached. In such

a way the detail of purchase stood revealed as only fifty thousand taels in reality, a sum so despicably

insignificant that he had internal pains at mentioning it to so wealthy a group of Mandarins, and he had not

yet made clear to them that each year they would receive gold to the amount of almost a thousand taels. This

would be the result of Ling making smooth his surfaces, and it would enable them to know that the person in

question actually existed, and to keep the circumstances before their intellects.

When ChangCh'un had made the various facts clear to this extent, those who were assembled expressed

their feelings as favourably turned towards the project, provided the tests to which Ling was to be put should

prove encouraging, and a secure and intelligent understanding of things to be done and not to be done could

be arrived at between them. To this end Ling was brought into the chamber, and fixing his thoughts

steadfastly upon Mian, he permitted portions to be cut from various parts of his body without betraying any

signs of ignoble agitation. No sooner had the pieces been separated and the virtue of Ling's existence passed

from them than they changed colour and hardened, nor could the most delicate and searching trials to which

they were exposed by a skilful worker in metals, who was obtained for the purpose, disclose any particular,

however minute, in which they differed from the finest gold. The hair, the nails, and the teeth were similarly

affected, and even Ling's blood dried into a fine gold powder. This detail of the trial being successfully

completed, Ling subjected himself to intricate questioning on all matters connected with his religion and

manner of conducting himself, both in public and privately, the history and behaviour of his ancestors, the

various omens and remarkable sayings which had reference to his life and destiny, and the intentions which

he then possessed regarding his future movements and habits of living. All the wise sayings and written and

printed leaves which made any allusion to the existence of and possibility of discovery of the wonderful gold

fluid were closely examined, and found to be in agreement, whereupon those present made no further delay in

admitting that the facts were indeed as they had been described, and indulged in a dignified stroking of each

other's faces as an expression of pleasure and in proof of their satisfaction at taking part in so entrancing and

remunerative an affair. At Chang's command many rare and expensive wines were then brought in, and

partaken of without restraint by all persons, the repast being lightened by numerous wellconsidered and

gravityremoving jests having reference to Ling and the unusual composition of his person. So amiably were

the hours occupied that it was past the time of no light when Chang rose and read at full length the statement

of things to be done and things not to be done, which was to be sealed by Ling for his part and the other

persons who were present for theirs. It so happened, however, that at that period Ling's mind was filled with

brilliant and versatile thoughts and images of Mian, and manyhued visions of the manner in which they

would spend the entrancing future which was now before them, and in this way it chanced that he did not

give any portion of his intellect to the reading, mistaking it, indeed, for a delicate and very ablycomposed

set of verses which Changch'un was reciting as a formal blessing on parting. Nor was it until he was desired

to affix his sign that Ling discovered his mistake, and being of too respectful and unobtrusive a disposition to

require the matter to be repeated then, he carried out the obligation without in any particular understanding

As Ling walked through the streets to his chamber after leaving the house and company of ChangCh'un,

holding firmly among his garments the thin printed papers to the amount of fifty thousand taels which he had

received, and repeatedly speaking to himself in terms of general and specific encouragement at the fortunate

events of the past few days, he became aware that a person of mean and rapacious appearance, whom he had

some memory of having observed within the residence he had but just left, was continually by his side. Not at

first doubting that the circumstance resulted from a benevolent desire on the part of Changch'un that he

should be protected on his passage through the city, Ling affected not to observe the incident; but upon

reaching his own door the person in question persistently endeavoured to pass in also. Forming a fresh

judgement about the matter, Ling, who was very powerfully constructed, and whose natural instincts were

enhanced in every degree by the potent fluid of which he had lately partaken, repeatedly threw him across the

street until he became weary of the diversion. At length, however, the thought arose that one who patiently

submitted to continually striking the opposite houses with his head must have something of importance to

communicate, whereupon he courteously invited him to enter the apartment and unweigh his mind.

"The facts of the case appear to have been somewhat inadequately represented," said the stranger, bowing

obsequiously, "for this unornamental person was assured by the benignant Changch'un that the one whose

"Such words are as the conversation of birds to me," replied Ling, not conjecturing how the matter had fallen

about. "This person has just left the presence of the elegant and successful Changch'un, and no word that he

"Then it is indeed certain that the various transactions have not been fully understood," exclaimed the other,

"for the exact communication to this unseemly one was, 'The valuable and enlightened Ling has heard and

agreed to the different things to be done and not to be done, one phrase of which arranges for your continual

At these words the truth became as daylight before Ling's eyes, and he perceived that the written paper to

which he had affixed his sign contained the detail of such an office as that of the person before him. When

too late, more than ever did he regret that he had not formed some pretext for causing the document to be

read a second time, as in view of his immediate intentions such an arrangement as the one to which he had

agreed had every appearance of becoming of an irksome and perplexing nature. Desiring to know the length

of the attendant's commands, Ling asked him for a clear statement of his duties, feigning that he had missed

that portion of the reading through a momentary attack of the giddy sickness. To this request the stranger,

who explained that his name was Wang, instantly replied that his written and spoken orders were: never to

permit more than an arm's length of space to separate them; to prevent, by whatever force was necessary for

the purpose, all attempts at evading the things to be done and not to be done, and to ignore as of no interest

all other circumstances. It seemed to Ling, in consequence, that little seclusion would be enjoyed unless an

arrangement could be effected between Wang and himself; so to this end, after noticing the evident poverty

and covetousness of the person in question, he made him an honourable offer of frequent rewards, provided a

greater distance was allowed to come between them as soon as Sichow was reached. On his side, Ling

undertook not to break through the wording of the things to be done and not to be done, and to notify to

Wang any movements upon which he meditated. In this reputable manner the obstacle was ingeniously

removed, and the intelligent nature of the device was clearly proved by the fact that not only Ling but Wang

also had in the future a much greater liberty of action than would have been possible if it had been necessary

to observe the shortsighted and evidently hastilythoughtof condition which Changch'un had

IN spite of his natural desire to return to Mian as quickly as possible, Ling judged it expedient to give several

days to the occupation of purchasing apparel of the richest kinds, weapons and armour in large quantities,

jewels and ornaments of worked metals and other objects to indicate his changed position. Nor did he neglect

actions of a pious and charitable nature, for almost his first care was to arrange with the chief ones at the

Temple of Benevolent Intentions that each year, on the day corresponding to that on which he drank the gold

fluid, a sumptuous and wellconstructed coffin should be presented to the most deserving poor and aged

person within that quarter of the city in which he had resided. When these preparations were completed, Ling

set out with an extensive train of attendants; but riding on before, accompanied only by Wang, he quickly

The meeting between Ling and Mian was affecting to such an extent that the blind and deaf attendants wept

openly without reproach, notwithstanding the fact that neither could become possessed of more than a half of

the occurrence. Eagerly the two reunited ones examined each other's features to discover whether the

separation had brought about any change in the beloved and wellremembered lines. Ling discovered upon

Mian the shadow of an anxious care at his absence, while the disappointments and trials which Ling had

experienced in Canton had left traces which were plainly visible to Mian's penetrating gaze. In such an

entrancing occupation the time was to them without hours until a feeling of hunger recalled them to lesser

matters, when a variety of very select foods and liquids was placed before them without delay. After this

elegant repast had been partaken of, Mian, supporting herself upon Ling's shoulder, made a request that he

would disclose to her all the matters which had come under his observation both within the city and during

his journey to and from that place. Upon this encouragement, Ling proceeded to unfold his mind, not

withholding anything which appeared to be of interest, no matter how slight. When he had reached Canton

without any perilous adventure, Mian breathed more freely; as he recorded the interview at the Office of

Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, she trembled at the insidious malignity of the evil person Li Keen. The

conversation with the wise reader of the future concerning the various states of such as be officially dead

almost threw her into the rigid sickness, from which, however, the wonderful circumstance of the discovered

properties of the gold fluid quickly recalled her. But to Ling's great astonishment no sooner had he made

plain the exceptional advantages which he had derived from the circumstances, and the nature of the

undertaking at which he had arrived with Changch'un, than she became a prey to the most intolerable and

"Oh, my devoted but excessively illadvised lover," she exclaimed wildly, and in tones which clearly

indicated that she was inspired by every variety of affectionate emotion, "has the unendurable position in

which you and all your household will be placed by the degrading commercial schemes and instincts of the

mercenarysouled person Changch'un occupied no place in your generally wellregulated intellect?

Inevitably will those who drink our almond tea, in order to have an opportunity of judging the value of the

appointments of the house, pass the jesting remark that while the Lings assuredly have 'a dead person's bones

in the secret chamber', at the present they will not have one in the family graveyard by reason of the death of

Ling himself. Better to lose a thousand limbs during life than the entire person after death; nor would your

adoring Mian hesitate to clasp proudly to her organ of affection the veriest trunk that had parted with all its

attributes in a noble and sacrificing endeavour to preserve at least some dignified proportions to embellish the

"Alas!" replied Ling, with extravagant humiliation, "it is indeed true; and this person is degraded beyond the

common lot of those who break images and commit thefts from sacred places. The side of the transaction

which is at present engaging our attention never occurred to this superficial individual until now."

"Wise and incomparable one," said Mian, in no degree able to restrain the fountains of bitter water which

clouded her delicate and expressive eyes, "in spite of this person's biting and ungracious words do not, she

makes a formal petition, doubt the deathless strength of her affection. Cheerfully, in order to avert the matter

in question, or even to save her lover the anguish of unavailing and souleating remorse, would she consign

herself to a badlyconstructed and slowconsuming fire or expose her body to various undignified tortures.

Happy are those even to whom is left a little ash to be placed in a precious urn and diligently guarded, for it,

in any event, truly represents all that is left of the once living person, whereas after an honourable and

spotless existence my illustrious but unthinking lord will be blended with a variety of baser substances and

passed from hand to hand, his immaculate organs serving to reward murderers for their deeds and to tempt

So overcome was Ling by the distressing nature of the oversight he had permitted that he could find no words

"There are even worse visions of degradation which occur to this person. By chance, that which was once the

nobleminded Ling may be disposed of, not to the Imperial Treasury for converting into pieces of exchange,

but to some undiscriminating worker in metals who will fashion out of his beautiful and symmetrical stomach

an elegant fooddish, so that from the ultimate developments of the circumstance may arise the fact that his

own descendants, instead of worshipping him, use his internal organs for this doubtful if not absolutely

unclean purpose, and thereby suffer numerous wellmerited afflictions, to the end that the finallydespised

Ling and this discredited person, instead of founding a vigorous and prolific generation, become the parents

"Oh, my peacockeyed one!" exclaimed Ling, in immeasurable distress, "so proficient an exhibition of

virtuous grief crushes this misguided person completely to the ground. Rather would he uncomplainingly lose

"Such a course," said a discordant voice, as the unpresentable person Wang stepped froth from behind a

hanging curtain, where, indeed, he had stood concealed during the entire conversation, "is especially

forbidden by the twentythird detail of the things to be done and not to be done."

"What new adversity is this?" cried Mian, pressing to Ling with a still closer embrace. "Having disposed of

your incomparable body after death, surely an adequate amount of liberty and seclusion remains to us during

"Nevertheless," interposed the doglike Wang, "the refined person in question must not attempt to lose or to

dispose of his striking and invaluable pigtail; for by such an action he would be breaking through his spoken

and written word whereby he undertook to be ruled by the things to be done and not to be done; and he would

"Alas!" lamented the unhappy Ling, "that which appeared to be the end of all this person's troubles is

obviously simply the commencement of a new and more extensive variety. Understand, O conscientious but

exceedingly inopportune Wang, that the words which passed from this person's mouth did not indicate a fixed

determination, but merely served to show the unfeigned depth of his emotion. Be content that he has no

intention of evading the definite principles of the things to be done and not to be done, and in the meantime

honour this commonplace establishment by retiring to the hot and illventilated chamber, and there partaking

When Wang had departed, which he did with somewhat unseemly haste, Ling made an end of recording his

narrative, which Mian's grief had interrupted. In this way he explained to her the reason of Wang's presence,

and assured her that by reason of the arrangement he had made with that person, his near existence would not

While they were still conversing together, and endeavouring to divert their minds from the objectionable facts

which had recently come within their notice, an attendant entered and disclosed that the train of servants and

merchandise which Ling had preceded on the journey was arriving. At this fresh example of her lover's

consistent thought for her. Mian almost forgot her recent agitation, and eagerly lending herself to the

entrancing occupation of unfolding and displaying the various objects, her brow finally lost the last trace of

sadness. Greatly beyond the imaginings of anticipation were the expensive articles with which Ling proudly

surrounded her; and in examining and learning the cost of the set jewels and worked metals, the ornamental

garments for both persons, the wood and paper appointments for the houseeven incenses, perfumes, spices

When the hour of sunset arrived, Ling, having learned that certain preparations which he had commanded

were fully carried out, took Mian by the hand and led her into the chief apartment of the house, where were

assembled all the followers and attendants, even down to the illiterate and superfluous Wang. In the centre of

the room upon a table of the finest ebony stood a vessel of burning incense, some dishes of the most

highlyesteemed fruit, and an abundance of old and very sweet wine. Before these emblems Ling and Mian

placed themselves in an attitude of deep humiliation, and formally expressed their gratitude to the Chief Deity

for having called them into existence, to the cultivated earth for supplying them with the means of sustaining

life, to the Emperor for providing the numerous safeguards by which their persons were protected at all times,

and to their parents for educating them. This adequate ceremony being completed, Ling explicitly desired all

those present to observe the fact that the two persons in question were, by that fact and from that time, made

When the ruling nightlantern came out from among the clouds, Ling and Mian became possessed of a great

desire to go forth with pressed hands and look again on the forest paths and glades in which they had spent

many hours of exceptional happiness before Ling's journey to Canton. Leaving the attendants to continue the

feasting and drumbeating in a completely unrestrained manner, they therefore passed out unperceived, and

"Oh, my beloved!" exclaimed Mian, gazing at the brilliant and unruffled water, "greatly would this person

esteem a short river journey, such as we often enjoyed together in the days when you were recovering."

Ling, to whom the expressed desires of Mian were as the word of the Emperor, instantly prepared the small

and ornamental junk which was fastened near for this purpose, and was about to step in, when a

"Behold," remarked a voice which Ling had some difficulty in ascribing to any known person, so greatly had

it changed from its usual tone, "behold how the immature and altogether tooinferior Ling observes his

At this lowconditioned speech, Ling drew his welltempered sword without further thought, in spite of the

restraining arms of Mian, but at the sight of the utterly incapable person Wang, who stood near smiling

meaninglessly and waving his arms with a continuous and backward motion, he again replaced it.

"Such remarks can be left to fall unheeded from the lips of one who bears every indication of being steeped in

"It will be the plain duty of this expert and uncorruptible person to furnish the unnecessary, but, nevertheless,

very severe and selfopinionated Changch'un with a written account of how the traitorous and deceptive

Ling has endeavoured to break through the thirtyfourth vessel of the liquids to be consumed and not to be

consumed," continued Wang with increased deliberation and an entire absence of attention to Ling's action

and speech, "and how by this refined person's unfailing civility and resourceful strategy he has been

"Perchance," said Ling, after examining his thoughts for a short space, and reflecting that the list of things to

be done and not to be done was to him as a blank leaf, "there may even be some small portion of that which is

accurate in his statement. In what manner," he continued, addressing the really unendurable person, who was

by this time preparing to pass the night in the cool swamp by the river's edge, "does this one endanger any

"Inasmuch," replied Wang, pausing in the process of removing his outer garments, "as the

seventyninththe intricate name given to it escapes this person's tongue at the momentbut the

ninetyseventhexperLingknowswhameanprovides that any person, with or without, attempting or not

avoiding to travel by sea, lake, or river, or to place himself in such a position as he may reasonably and

intelligently be drowned in salt water, fresh water, oror honourable rice spirit, shall be guilty of, and

suffercomplete loss of memory." With these words the immoderate and contemptible person sank down in

"Alas!" said Ling, turning to Mian, who stood near, unable to retire even had she desired, by reason of the

extreme agitation into which the incident had thrown her delicate mind and body, "how intensely aggravating

a circumstance that we are compelled to entertain so dissolute a one by reason of this person's preoccupation

when the matter was read. Nevertheless, it is not unlikely that the detail he spoke of was such as he insisted,

to the extent of making it a thing not to be done to journey in any manner by water. It shall be an early

endeavour of this person to get these restraining details equitably amended; but in the meantime we will

retrace our footsteps through the wood, and the enraptured Ling will make a wellthoughtout attempt to

lighten the passage by a recital of his recentlycomposed verses on the subject of 'Exile from the Loved One;

"MY beloved lord!" said Mian sadly, on a morning after many days had passed since the return of Ling,

"have you not every possession for which the heart of a wise person searches? Yet the dark mark is scarcely

ever absent from your symmetrical brow. If she who stands before you, and is henceforth an integral part of

your organization, has failed you in any particular, no matter how unimportant, explain the matter to her, and

It was indeed true that Ling's mind was troubled, but the fault did not lie with Mian, as the person in question

was fully aware, for before her eyes as before those of Ling the unevadable compact which had been entered

into with Changch'un was ever present, insidiously planting bitterness within even the most select and

accomplished delights. Nor with increasing time did the obstinate and intrusive person Wang become more

dignified in his behaviour; on the contrary, he freely made use of his position to indulge in every variety of

abandonment, and almost each day he prevented, by reason of his knowledge of the things to be done and not

to be done, some refined and permissible entertainment upon which Ling and Mian had determined. Ling had

despatched many communications upon this subject to Changch'un, praying also that some expert way out

of the annoyance of the lesser and more unimportant things not to be done should be arrived at, but the time

when he might reasonably expect an answer to these written papers had not yet arrived.

It was about this period that intelligence was brought to Ling from the villages on the road to Peking, how Li

Keen, having secretly ascertained that his Yamen was standing and his goods uninjured, had determined to

return, and was indeed at that hour within a hundred li of Sichow. Furthermore, he had repeatedly been

understood to pronounce clearly that he considered Ling to be the head and beginning of all his

inconveniences, and to declare that the first act of justice which he should accomplish on his return would be

to submit the person in question to the most unbearable tortures, and then cause him to lose his head publicly

as an outrager of the settled state of things and an enemy of those who loved tranquillity. Not doubting that Li

Keen would endeavour to gain an advantage by treachery if the chance presented itself, Ling determined to

go forth to meet him, and without delay settle the entire disturbance in one wellchosen and

fatallydestructive encounter. To this end, rather than disturb the placid mind of Mian, to whom the thought

of the engagement would be weighted with many disquieting fears, he gave out that he was going upon an

expedition to surprise and capture certain fish of a very delicate flavour, and attended by only two persons, he

Some hours later, owing to an illconsidered remark on the part of the deaf attendant, to whom the matter

had been explained in an imperfect light, Mian became possessed of the true facts of the case, and

immediately all the pleasure of existence went from her. She despaired of ever again beholding Ling in an

ordinary state, and mournfully reproached herself for the bitter words which had risen to her lips when the

circumstance of his condition and the arrangement with Changch'un first became known to her. After

spending an interval in a polished lament at the manner in which things were inevitably tending, the thought

occurred to Mian whether by any means in her power she could influence the course and settled method of

affairs. In this situation the memory of the person Wang, and the fact that on several occasions he had made

himself objectionable when Ling had proposed to place himself in such a position that he incurred some very

remote chance of death by drowning or by fire, recurred to her. Subduing the natural and pureminded

repulsion which she invariably experienced at the mere thought of so debased an individual, she sought for

him, and discovering him in the act of constructing cardboard figures of men and animals, which it was his

custom to dispose skilfully in littlefrequented paths for the purpose of enjoying the sudden terror of those

who passed by, she quickly put the matter before him, urging him, by some means, to prevent the encounter,

which must assuredly cost the life of the one whom he had so often previously obstructed from incurring the

"By no means," exclaimed Wang, when he at length understood the full meaning of the project; "it would be

a most unpresentable action for this commonplace person to interfere in so honourable an undertaking. Had

the priceless body of the intrepid Ling been in any danger of disappearing, as, for example, by drowning or

being consumed in fire, the nature of the circumstance would have been different. As the matter exists,

however, there is every appearance that the farseeing Changch'un will soon reap the deserved reward of

his somewhat speculative enterprise, and to that end this person will immediately procure a wooden barrier

and the services of four robust carriers, and proceed to the scene of the conflict."

Deprived of even this hope of preventing the encounter, Mian betook herself in extreme dejection to the

secret room of the magician, which had been unopened since the day when the two attendants had searched

for substances to apply to their master, and there she diligently examined every object in the remote chance of

discovering something which might prove of value in averting the matter in question.

Not anticipating that the true reason of his journey would become known to Mian, Ling continued on his way

without haste, and passing through Sichow before the sun had risen, entered upon the great road to Peking.

At a convenient distance from the town he came to a favourable piece of ground where he decided to await

the arrival of Li Keen, spending the time profitably in polishing his already brilliant sword, and making

observations upon the nature of the spot and the condition of the surrounding omens, on which the success of

As the sun reached the highest point in the open sky the sound of an approaching company could be plainly

heard; but at the moment when the chair of the Mandarin appeared within the sight of those who waited, the

great luminary, upon which all portents depend directly or indirectly, changed to the colour of newdrawn

blood and began to sink towards the earth. Without any misgivings, therefore, Ling disposed his two

attendants in the wood, with instructions to step forth and aid him if he should be attacked by overwhelming

numbers, while he himself remained in the way. As the chair approached, the Mandarin observed a person

standing alone, and thinking that it was one who, hearing of his return, had come out of the town to honour

him, he commanded the bearers to pause. Thereupon, stepping up to the opening, Ling struck the deceptive

and incapable Li Keen on the cheek, at the same time crying in a full voice, "Come forth, O traitorous and

twostomached Mandarin! for this person is very desirous of assisting you in the fulfilment of your boastful

words. Here is a most irreproachable sword which will serve excellently to cut off this person's undignified

head; here is a waistcord which can be tightened around his breast, thereby producing excruciating pains over

At the knowledge of who the one before him was, and when he heard the words which unhesitatingly

announced Ling's fixed purpose, Li Keen first urged the carriers to fall upon Ling and slay him, and then,

perceiving that such a course was exceedingly distasteful to their natural tendencies, to take up the chair and

save him by flight. But Ling in the meantime engaged their attention, and fully explained to them the

treacherous and unworthy conduct of Li Keen, showing them how his death would be a just retribution for his

illspent life, and promising them each a considerable reward in addition to their arranged payment when the

matter in question had been accomplished. Becoming convinced of the justice of Ling's cause, they turned

upon Li Keen, insisting that he should at once attempt to carry out the illjudged threats against Ling, of

which they were consistent witnesses, and announcing that, if he failed to do so, they would certainly bear

him themselves to a not far distant well of stagnant water, and there gain the approbation of the good spirits

Seeing only a dishonourable death on either side, Li Keen drew his sword, and made use of every artifice of

which he had knowledge in order to disarm Ling or to take him at a disadvantage. In this he was

unsuccessful, for Ling, who was by nature a very expert sworduser, struck him repeatedly, until he at length

fell in an expiring condition, remarking with his last words that he had indeed been a narrowminded and

extortionate person during his life, and that his death was an enlightened act of celestial accuracy.

Directing Wang and his four hired persons, who had in the meantime arrived, to give the body of the

Mandarin an honourable burial in the deep of the wood, Ling rewarded and dismissed the chairbearers, and

without delay proceeded to Sichow, where he charitably distributed the goods and possessions of Li Keen

among the poor of the town. Having in this able and conscientious manner completely proved the misleading

nature of the disgraceful statements which the Mandarin had spread abroad concerning him, Ling turned his

footsteps towards Mian, whose entrancing joy at his safe return was judged by both persons to be a sufficient

reward for the mental distress with which their separation had been accompanied.

AFTER the departure of Ling from Canton, the commercial affairs of Changch'un began, from a secret and

undetectable cause, to assume an illregulated condition. No venture which he undertook maintained a

profitable attitude, so that many persons who in former times had been content to display the printed papers

setting forth his name and virtues in an easilyseen position in their receivingrooms, now placed themselves

daily before his house in order to accuse him of using their taels in ways which they themselves had not

sufficiently understood, and for the purpose of warning passersby against his inducements. It was in vain

that Chang proposed new undertakings, each of an infallibly more prosperous nature than those before; the

persons who had hitherto supported him were all entrusting their money to one named Pung Soo, who

required millions where Chang had been content with thousands, and who persistently insisted on greeting

In this unenviable state Chang's mind continually returned to thoughts of Ling, whose lifeless body would so

opportunely serve to dispel the embarrassing perplexities of existence which were settling thickly about him.

Urged forward by a variety of circumstances which placed him in an entirely different spirit from the

honourable bearing which he had formerly maintained, he now closely examined all the papers connected

with the matter, to discover whether he might not be able to effect his purpose with an outward exhibition of

law forms. While engaged in this degrading occupation, a detail came to his notice which caused him to

become very amiably disposed and confident of success. Proceeding with the matter, he caused a

wellsupported report to be spread about that Ling was suffering from a wasting sickness, which, without in

any measure shortening his life, would cause him to return to the size and weight of a newlyborn child, and

being by these means enabled to secure the entire matter of "The Ling (After Death) Without Much Risk

Assembly" at a very small outlay, he did so, and then, calling together a company of those who hire

Ling and Mian were seated together at a table in the great room, examining a vessel of some clear liquid,

when Changch'un entered with his armed ones, in direct opposition to the general laws of ordinary conduct

and the rulings of hospitality. At the sight, which plainly indicated a threatened display of violence, Ling

seized his renowned sword, which was never far distant from him, and prepared to carry out his spoken vow,

"Put away your undoubtedly competent weapon, O Ling," said Chang, who was desirous that the matter

should be arranged if possible without any loss to himself, "for such a course can be honourably adopted

when it is taken into consideration that we are as twenty to one, and have, moreover, the appearance of being

"There are certain matters of allowed justice which overrule all other law forms," replied Ling, taking a

surer hold of his swordgrasp. "Explain, for your part, O obviously doubledealing Changch'un, from

whom this person only recently parted on terms of equality and courtesy, why you come not with an

agreeable face and a peaceful following, but with a countenance which indicates both violence and terror, and

accompanied by many whom this person recognizes as the most outcast and degraded from the narrow and

"In spite of your blustering words," said Chang, with some attempt at an exhibition of dignity, "this person is

endowed by every right, and comes only for the obtaining, by the help of this expert and proficient gathering,

should such a length become necessary, of his just claims. Understand that in the time since the venture was

arranged this person has become possessed of all the property of 'The Ling (After Death) Without Much Risk

Assembly', and thereby he is competent to act fully in the matter. It has now come within his attention that

the one Ling to whom the particulars refer is officially dead, and as the written and sealed document clearly

undertook that the person's body was to be delivered up for whatever use the Assembly decided whenever

death should possess it, this person has now come for the honourable carrying out of the undertaking."

At these words the true nature of the hidden contrivance into which he had fallen descended upon Ling like a

heavy and unavoidable thunderbolt. Nevertheless, being by nature and by reason of his late exploits fearless

of death, except for the sake of the loved one by his side, he betrayed no sign of discreditable emotion at the

"In such a case," he replied, with an appearance of entirely disregarding the danger of the position, "the

complete parchment must be of necessity overthrown; for if this person is now officially dead, he was equally

so at the time of sealing, and arrangements entered into by dead persons have no actual existence."

"That is a matter which has never been efficiently decided," admitted Changch'un, with no appearance of

being thrown into a state of confusion at the suggestion, "and doubtless the case in question can by various

means be brought in the end before the Court of Final Settlement at Peking, where it may indeed be judged in

the manner you assert. But as such a process must infallibly consume the wealth of a province and the years

of an ordinary lifetime, and as it is this person's unmoved intention to carry out his own view of the

undertaking without delay, such speculations are not matters of profound interest."

Upon this Chang gave certain instructions to his followers, who thereupon prepared to advance. Perceiving

that the last detail of the affair had been arrived at, Ling threw back his hanging garment, and was on the

point of rushing forward to meet them, when Mian, who had maintained a possessed and reliant attitude

throughout, pushed towards him the vessel of pure and sparkling liquid with which they had been engaged

when so presumptuously broken in upon, at the same time speaking to him certain words in an outside

language. A new and Heavensent confidence immediately took possession of Ling, and striking his sword

against the wall with such irresistible force that the entire chamber trembled and the feebleminded assassins

shrank back in unrestrained terror, he leapt upon the table, grasping in one hand the open vessel.

"Behold the end, O most uninventive and slowwitted Changch'un!" he cried in a dreadful and

awecompelling voice. "As a reward for your faithless and traitorous behaviour, learn how such

avariciousminded incompetence turns and fastens itself upon the vitals of those who beget it. In spite of

many things which were not of a graceful nature towards him, this person has unassumingly maintained his

part of the undertaking, and would have followed such a course conscientiously to the last. As it is, when he

has made an end of speaking, the body which you are already covetously estimating in taels will in no way be

distinguishable from that of the meanest and most ordinary maker of commercial ventures in Canton. For,

behold! the fluid which he holds in his hand, and which it is his fixed intention to drain to the last drop, is in

truth nothing but a secret and exceedingly powerful counteractor against the virtues of the gold drug; and

though but a single particle passed his lips, and the swords of your brilliant and versatile murderers met the

next moment in his breast, the body which fell at your feet would be meet for worms rather than for the

It was indeed such a substance as Ling represented it to be, Mian having discovered it during her very

systematic examination of the dead magician's inner room. Its composition and distillation had involved that

selfopinionated person in many years of arduous toil, for with a somewhat unintelligent lack of foresight he

had obstinately determined to perfect the antidote before he turned his attention to the drug itself. Had the

matter been more ingeniously arranged, he would undoubtedly have enjoyed an earlier triumph and an

At Ling's earnest words and prepared attitude an instant conviction of the truth of his assertions took

possession of Chang. Therefore, seeing nothing but immediate and unevadable ruin at the next step, he called

out in a loud and imploring voice that he should desist, and no harm would come upon him. To this Ling

consented, first insisting that the followers should be dismissed without delay, and Chang alone remain to

have conversation on the matter. By this just act the lower parts of Canton were greatly purified, for the

persons in question being driven forth into the woods, mostly perished by encounters with wild animals, or at

the hands of the enraged villagers, to whom Ling had by this time become greatly endeared.

When the usual state had been restored, Ling made clear to Chang the altered nature of the conditions to

which he would alone agree. "It is a nobleminded and magnanimous proposal on your part, and one to

which this misguided person had no claim," admitted Chang, as he affixed his seal to the written undertaking

and committed the former parchment to be consumed by fire. By this arrangement it was agreed that Ling

should receive only onehalf of the yearly payment which had formerly been promised, and that no sum of

taels should become due to those depending on him at his death. In return for these valuable allowances, there

were to exist no details of things to be done and not to be done, Ling merely giving an honourable promise to

observe the matter in a just spirit, whilemost esteemed of allonly a portion of his body was to pass to

Chang when the end arrived, the upper part remaining to embellish the family altar and receive the veneration

As the great skylantern rose above the trees and the time of nonoise fell upon the woods, a flowerladen

pleasurejunk moved away from its restraining cords, and, without any sense of motion, gently bore Ling and

Mian between the sweetsmelling banks of the HengKiang. Presently Mian drew from beneath her flowing

garment an instrument of stringed wood, and touching it with a quick but delicate stroke, like the flight and

pausing of a butterfly, told in wellbalanced words a refined narrative of two illustrious and noblelooking

persons, and how, after many disagreeable evils and unendurable separations, they entered upon a destined

state of earthly prosperity and celestial favour. When she made an end of the verses, Ling turned the junk's

head by one welldirected stroke of the paddle, and prepared by using similar means to return to the place of

"Indeed," he remarked, ceasing for a moment to continue this skilful occupation, "the words which you have

just spoken might, without injustice, be applied to the two persons who are now conversing together. For

after suffering misfortunes and wrongs beyond an appropriate portion, they have now reached that period of

existence when a tranquil and contemplative future is assured to them. In this manner is the sage and matured

utterance of the inspired philosopher Nientsu again proved: that the life of every person is largely composed

of two varieties of circumstances which together build up his existencethe Good and the Evil." THE END

WHEN Kai Lung, the storyteller, made an end of speaking, he was immediately greeted with a variety of

delicate and pleasing remarks, all persons who had witnessed the matter, down even to the lowest type of

Miaotze, who by reason of their obscure circumstances had been unable to understand the meaning of a word

that had been spoken, maintaining that Kai Lung's accomplishment of continuing for upwards of three hours

without a pause had afforded an entertainment of a very high and refined order. While these polished sayings

were being composed, together with many others of a similar nature, Lin Yi suddenly leapt to his feet with a

variety of highly objectionable remarks concerning the ancestors of all those who were present, and declaring

that the story of Ling was merely a wellconsidered stratagem to cause them to forget the expedition which

they had determined upon, for by that time it should have been completely carried out. It was undoubtedly a

fact that the hour spoken of for the undertaking had long passed, Lin Yi having completely overlooked the

speed of time in his benevolent anxiety that the polite and valorous Ling should in the end attain to a high and

In spite of Kai Lung's consistent denials of any treachery, he could not but be aware that the incident tended

greatly to his disadvantage in the eyes of those whom he had fixed a desire to conciliate, nor did his

wellintentioned offer that he would without hesitation repeat the display for a like number of hours effect

his amiable purpose. How the complication would finally have been determined without interruption is a

matter merely of imagination, for at that moment an outpost, who had been engaged in guarding the secrecy

of the expedition, threw himself into the enclosure in a torn and breathless condition, having run through the

forest many li in a winding direction for the explicit purpose of warning Lin Yi that his intentions had

become known, and that he and his followers would undoubtedly be surprised and overcome if they left the

At this intimation of the eminent service which Kai Lung had rendered them, the nature of their faces towards

him at once changed completely, those who only a moment before had been demanding his death particularly

hailing him as their inspired and unobtrusive protector, and in all probability, indeed, a virtuous and

Bending under the weight of offerings which Lin Yi and his followers pressed upon him, together with many

clearly set out desires for his future prosperity, and assured of their unalterable protection on all future

occasions, Kai Lung again turned his face towards the lanterns of Knei Yang. Far down the side of the

mountain they followed his footsteps, now by a rolling stone, now by a snapping branch of yellow pine. Once

again they heard his voice, cheerfully repeating to himself; "Among the highest virtues of a pure

Narrated by Kai Lung, in the open space of the teashop of The Celestial Principles, at Wuwhei.

"Ho, illustrious passersby!" said Kai Lung, the storyteller, as he spread out his embroidered mat under the

mulberrytree. "It is indeed unlikely that you would condescend to stop and listen to the foolish words of

such an insignificant and altogether deformed person as myself. Nevertheless, if you will but retard your

elegant footsteps for a few moments, this exceedingly unprepossessing individual will endeavour to entertain

you with the recital of the adventures of the noble Yung Chang, as recorded by the celebrated Pekuhi."

Thus adjured, the more leisurelyminded drew near to hear the history of Yung Chang. There was Sing You

the fruitseller, and Li Tonti the woodcarver; Hi Seng left his clients to cry in vain for water; and Wang

Yu, the idle pipemaker, closed his shop of "The Fountain of Beauty", and hung on the shutter the gilt dragon

to keep away customers in his absence. These, together with a few more shopkeepers and a dozen or so

"It would be more seemly if this illconditioned person who is now addressing such a distinguished assembly

were to reward his fine and noblelooking hearers for their trouble," apologized the storyteller. "But, as the

Book of Verses says, 'The meaner the slave, the greater the lord'; and it is, therefore, not unlikely that this

majestic concourse will reward the despicable efforts of their servant by handfuls of coins till the air appears

as though filled with swarms of locusts in the season of much heat. In particular, there is among this august

crowd of Mandarins one Wang Yu, who has departed on three previous occasions without bestowing the

reward of a single cash. If the feeble and covetousminded Wang Yu will place within this very ordinary

bowl the price of one of his exceedingly illmade pipes, this unworthy person will proceed."

"Vast chasms can be filled, but the heart of man never," quoted the pipemaker in retort. "Oh, most incapable

of storytellers, have you not on two separate occasions slept beneath my utterly inadequate roof without

But he, nevertheless, deposited three cash in the bowl, and drew nearer among the front row of the listeners.

"It was during the reign of the enlightened Emperor Tsing Nung," began Kai Lung, without further

introduction, "that there lived at a village near Honan a wealthy and avaricious maker of idols, named Ti

Hung. So skilful had he become in the making of clay idols that his fame had spread for many li round, and

idolsellers from all the neighbouring villages, and even from the towns, came to him for their stock. No

other idolmaker between Honan and Nanking employed so many claygatherers or so many modellers; yet,

with all his riches, his avarice increased till at length he employed men whom he called 'agents' and

'travellers', who went from house to house selling his idols and extolling his virtues in verses composed by

the most illustrious poets of the day. He did this in order that he might turn into his own pocket the full price

of the idols, grudging those who would otherwise have sold them the few cash which they would make.

Owing to this he had many enemies, and his army of travellers made him still more; for they were more

rapacious than the scorpion, and more obstinate than the ox. Indeed, there is still the proverb, 'With honey it

is possible to soften the heart of the hegoat; but a blow from an iron cleaver is taken as a mark of welcome

by an agent of Ti Hung.' So that people barred the doors at their approach, and even hung out signs of death

"Now, among all his travellers there was none more successful, more abandoned, and more valuable to Ti

Hung than Li Ting. So depraved was Li Ting that he was never known to visit the tombs of his ancestors;

indeed, it was said that he had been heard to mock their venerable memories, and that he had jestingly offered

to sell them to anyone who should chance to be without ancestors of his own. This objectionable person

would call at the houses of the most illustrious Mandarins, and would command the slaves to carry to their

masters his tablets, on which were inscribed his name and his virtues. Reaching their presence, he would

salute them with the greeting of an equal, 'How is your stomach?' and then proceed to exhibit samples of his

wares, greatly overrating their value. 'Behold!' he would exclaim, 'is not this elegantlymoulded idol worthy

of the place of honour in this sumptuous mansion which my presence defiles to such an extent that twelve

basins of rosewater will not remove the stain? Are not its eyes more delicate than the most select of

almonds? and is not its stomach rounder than the cupolas upon the high temple at Peking? Yet, in spite of its

perfections, it is not worthy of the acceptance of so distinguished a Mandarin, and therefore I will accept in

return the quartertael, which, indeed, is less than my illustrious master gives for the clay alone.'

"In this manner Li Ting disposed of many idols at high rates, and thereby endeared himself so much to the

avaricious heart of Ti Hung that he promised him his beautiful daughter Ning in marriage.

"Ning was indeed very lovely. Her eyelashes were like the finest willow twigs that grow in the marshes by

the YangtseKiang; her cheeks were fairer than poppies; and when she bathed in the Hoang Ho, her body

seemed transparent. Her brow was finer than the most polished jade; while she seemed to walk, like a winged

bird, without weight, her hair floating in a cloud. Indeed, she was the most beautiful creature that has ever

"Now may you grow thin and shrivel up like a fallen lemon; but it is false!" cried Wang Yu, starting up

suddenly and unexpectedly. "At Chee Chou, at the shop of 'The Heavensent Sugarcane', there lives a

beautiful and virtuous girl who is more than all that. Her eyes are like the inside circles on the peacock's

"If it is the wish of this illustriouslyendowed gathering that this exceedingly illiterate paper tiger should

occupy their august moments with a description of the deformities of the very ordinary young person at Chee

Chou," said Kai Lung imperturbably, "then the remainder of the history of the nobleminded Yung Chang

can remain until an evil fate has overtaken Wang Yu, as it assuredly will shortly."

"Such loveliness could not escape the evil eye of Li Ting, and accordingly, as he grew in favour with Ti

Hung, he obtained his consent to the drawing up of the marriage contracts. More than this, he had already

sent to Ning two bracelets of the finest gold, tied together with a scarlet thread, as a betrothal present. But, as

the proverb says, 'The good bee will not touch the faded flower', and Ning, although compelled by the second

of the Five Great Principles to respect her father, was unable to regard the marriage with anything but

abhorrence. Perhaps this was not altogether the fault of Li Ting, for on the evening of the day on which she

had received his present, she walked in the rice fields, and sitting down at the foot of a funereal cypress,

"'I cannot control my bitterness. Of what use is it that I should be called the "White Pigeon among Golden

Lilies", if my beauty is but for the hoglike eyes of the exceedingly objectionable Li Ting? Ah, Yung Chang,

my unfortunate lover! what evil spirit pursues you that you cannot pass your examination for the second

degree? My nobleminded but ambitious boy, why were you not content with an agricultural or even a

manufacturing career and happiness? By aspiring to a literary degree, you have placed a barrier wider than

"'As the earth seems small to the soaring swallow, so shall insuperable obstacles be overcome by the heart

worn smooth with a fixed purpose,' said a voice beside her, and Yung Chang stepped from behind the cypress

tree, where he had been waiting for Ning. 'O one more symmetrical than the chrysanthemum,' he continued, 'I

shall yet, with the aid of my ancestors, pass the second degree, and even obtain a position of high trust in the

"'And in the meantime,' pouted Ning, 'I shall have partaken of the weddingcake of the utterly unpresentable

"'Alas!' said Yung Chang, 'there are times when one is tempted to doubt even the most efficacious and violent

means. I had hoped that by this time Li Ting would have come to a sudden and most unseemly end; for I have

drawn up and affixed in the most conspicuous places notifications of his character, similar to the one here.'

"Ning turned, and beheld fastened to the trunk of the cypress an exceedingly elegantly written and composed

"'Let the distinguished inhabitants of this district observe the exceedingly ungraceful walk and bearing of the

low person who calls himself Li Ting. Truthfully, it is that of a dog in the act of being dragged to the river

because his sores and diseases render him objectionable in the house of his master. So will this hunchbacked

person be dragged to the place of execution, and be bowstrung, to the great relief of all who respect the five

senses; A Respectful Physiognomy, Passionless, Reflexion, Soft Speech, Acute Hearing, Piercing Sight.

"'He hopes to attain to the Red Button and the Peacock's Feather; but the right hand of the Deity itches, and

"'Li Ting must certainly be in league with the evil forces if he can withstand so powerful a weapon,' said Ning

admiringly, when her lover had finished reading. 'Even now he is starting on a journey, nor will he return till

the first day of the month when the sparrows go to the sea and are changed into oysters. Perhaps the fate will

"'If not,' said Yung, taking up her words as she paused, 'then I have yet another hope. A moment ago you

were regretting my choice of a literary career. Learn, then, the value of knowledge. By its aid (assisted,

indeed, by the spirits of my ancestors) I have discovered a new and strange thing, for which I can find no

word. By using this new system of reckoning, your illustrious but exceedingly narrowminded and miserly

father would be able to make five taels where he now makes one. Would he not, in consideration for this,

consent to receive me as a soninlaw, and dismiss the inelegant and unworthy Li Ting?'

"'In the unlikely event of your being able to convince my illustrious parent of what you say, it would

assuredly be so,' replied Ning. 'But in what way could you do so? My sublime and charitable father already

employs all the means in his power to reap the full reward of his sacred industry. His "solid household

gods" are in reality mere shells of clay; higherpriced images are correspondingly constructed, and his clay

gatherers and modellers are all paid on a "profitsharing system". Nay, further, it is beyond likelihood that he

should wish for more purchasers, for so great is his fame that those who come to buy have sometimes to wait

for days in consequence of those before them; for my exceedingly methodical sire entrusts none with the

receiving of money, and the exchanges are therefore made slowly. Frequently an unnaturally devout person

will require as many as a hundred idols, and so the greater part of the day will be passed.'

"'Why, in order that the countings may not get mixed, of course; it is necessary that when he has paid for one

idol he should carry it to a place aside, and then return and pay for the second, carrying it to the first, and in

"'But,' said Yung, his voice thick with his great discovery, 'if he could pay for the entire quantity at once, then

it would take but a hundredth part of the time, and so more idols could be sold.'

"'How could this be done?' inquired Ning wonderingly. 'Surely it is impossible to conjecture the value of so

"'To the unlearned it would indeed be impossible,' replied Yung proudly, 'but by the aid of my literary

researches I have been enabled to discover a process by which such results would be not a matter of

conjecture, but of certainty. These figures I have committed to tablets, which I am prepared to give to your

mercenary and slowwitted father in return for your incomparable hand, a share of the profits, and the

"'When the earthworm boasts of his elegant wings, the eagle can afford to be silent,' said a harsh voice

behind them; and turning hastily they beheld Li Ting, who had come upon them unawares. 'Oh, most

insignificant of tablespoilers,' he continued, 'it is very evident that much overstudy has softened your

usually welleducated brains. Were it not that you are obviously mentally afflicted, I should unhesitatingly

persuade my beautiful and refined sword to introduce you to the spirits of your ignoble ancestors. As it is, I

will merely cut off your nose and your left ear, so that people may not say that the Dragon of the Earth sleeps

"Both had already drawn their swords, and very soon the blows were so hard and swift that, in the dusk of the

evening, it seemed as though the air were filled with innumerable and manycoloured fireworks. Each was a

practised swordsman, and there was no advantage gained on either side, when Ning, who had fled on the

appearance of Li Ting, reappeared, urging on her father, whose usually leisurely footsteps were quickened by

the dread that the duel must surely result in certain loss to himself, either of a valuable servant, or of the

discovery which Ning had briefly explained to him, and of which he at once saw the value.

"'Oh, most distinguished and expert persons,' he exclaimed breathlessly, as soon as he was within hearing

distance, 'do not trouble to give so marvellous an exhibition for the benefit of this unworthy individual, who

is the only observer of your illustrious dexterity! Indeed, your honourable condescension so fills this illiterate

person with shame that his hearing is thereby preternaturally sharpened, and he can plainly distinguish many

voices from beyond the Hoang Ho, crying for the Heavensent representative of the degraded Ti Hung to

bring them more idols. Bend, therefore, your refined footsteps in the direction of Poo Chow, O Li Ting, and

leave me to make myself objectionable to this exceptional young man with my intolerable commonplaces.'

"'The shadow falls in such a direction as the sun wills,' said Li Ting, as he replaced his sword and departed.

"'Yung Chang,' said the merchant, 'I am informed that you have made a discovery that would be of great

value to me, as it undoubtedly would if it is all that you say. Let us discuss the matter without ceremony. Can

you prove to me that your system possesses the merit you claim for it? If so, then the matter of arrangement

"'I am convinced of the absolute certainty and accuracy of the discovery,' replied Yung Chang. 'It is not as

though it were an ordinary matter of human intelligence, for this was discovered to me as I was worshipping

at the tomb of my ancestors. The method is regulated by a system of squares, triangles, and cubes. But as the

practical proof might be long, and as I hesitate to keep your adorable daughter out in the damp night air, may

I not call at your inimitable dwelling in the morning, when we can go into the matter thoroughly?'

"I will not weary this intelligent gathering, each member of which doubtless knows all the books on

mathematics off by heart, with a recital of the means by which Yung Chang proved to Ti Hung the accuracy

of his tables and the value of his discovery of the multiplication table, which till then had been undreamt of,"

continued the storyteller. "It is sufficient to know that he did so, and that Ti Hung agreed to his terms, only

stipulating that Li Ting should not be made aware of his dismissal until he had returned and given in his

accounts. The share of the profits that Yung was to receive was cut down very low by Ti Hung, but the young

"With the introduction of this new system, the business increased like a river at floodtime. All rivals were

"Goodmorning! Have you worshipped one of Ti Hung's refined ninetynine cash idols?

"Let the purchasers of illconstructed idols at other establishments, where they have grown old and venerable

while waiting for the allthumb proprietors to count up to ten, come to the shop of Ti Hung and regain their

lost youth. Our ninetynine cash idols are worth a tael a set. We do not, however, claim that they will do

everything. The ninetynine cash idols of Ti Hung will not, for example, purify linen, but even the most

contented and frozenbrained person cannot be happy until he possesses one. What is happiness? The

exceedingly welleducated Philosopher defines it as the accomplishment of all our desires. Everyone desires

one of the Ti Hung's ninetynine cash idols, therefore get one; but be sure that it is Ti Hung's.

"Have you a bad idol? If so, dismiss it, and get one of Ti Hung's ninetynine cash specimens.

"Why does your idol look old sooner than your neighbours? Because yours is not one of Ti Hung's

"They bring all delights to the old and the young, The elegant idols supplied by Ti Hung.

"N.B.The 'Great Sacrifice' idol, fortyfive cash; delivered, carriage free, in quantities of not less than

"It was about this time that Li Ting returned. His journey had been more than usually successful, and he was

well satisfied in consequence. It was not until he had made out his accounts and handed in his money that Ti

"'Oh, most treacherous and excessively unpopular Ti Hung,' exclaimed Li Ting, in a terrible voice, 'this is the

return you make for all my entrancing efforts in your services, then? It is in this way that you reward my

exceedingly unconscientious recommendations of your very inferior and unendurable clay idols, with their

goggle eyes and concave stomachs! Before I go, however, I request to be inspired to make the following

remarkthat I confidently predict your ruin. And now this low and undignified person will finally shake the

elegant dust of your distinguished house from his thoroughly inadequate feet, and proceed to offer his

"'The machinations of such an evillydisposed person as Li Ting will certainly be exceedingly subtle,' said Ti

Hung to his soninlaw when the traveller had departed. 'I must counteract his omens. Herewith I wish to

prophecy that henceforth I shall enjoy an unbroken run of good fortune. I have spoken, and assuredly I shall

"As the time went on, it seemed as though Ti Hung had indeed spoken truly. The ease and celerity with which

he transacted his business brought him customers and dealers from more remote regions than ever, for they

could spend days on the journey and still save time. The army of claygatherers and modellers grew larger

and larger, and the worksheds stretched almost down to the river's edge. Only one thing troubled Ti Hung,

and that was the uncongenial disposition of his soninlaw, for Yung took no further interest in the industry

to which his discovery had given so great an impetus, but resolutely set to work again to pass his examination

"'It is an exceedingly distinguished and honourable thing to have failed thirtyfive times, and still to be

undiscouraged,' admitted Ti Hung; 'but I cannot cleanse my throat from bitterness when I consider that my

noble and lucrative business must pass into the hands of strangers, perhaps even into the possession of the

"But it had been appointed that this degrading thing should not happen, however, and it was indeed fortunate

that Yung did not abandon his literary pursuits; for after some time it became very apparent to Ti Hung that

there was something radically wrong with his business. It was not that his custom was falling off in any way;

indeed, it had lately increased in a manner that was phenomenal, and when the merchant came to look into

the matter, he found to his astonishment that the least order he had received in the past week had been for a

hundred idols. All the sales had been large, and yet Ti Hung found himself most unaccountably deficient in

taels. He was puzzled and alarmed, and for the next few days he looked into the business closely. Then it was

that the reason was revealed, both for the falling off in the receipts and for the increase in the orders. The

calculations of the unfortunate Yung Chang were correct up to a hundred, but at that number he had made a

gigantic errorwhich, however, he was never able to detect and rectifywith the result that all transactions

above that point worked out at a considerable loss to the seller. It was in vain that the panicstricken Ti Hung

goaded his miserable soninlaw to correct the mistake; it was equally in vain that he tried to stem the

current of his enormous commercial popularity. He had competed for public favour, and he had won it, and

every day his business increased till ruin grasped him by the pigtail. Then came an order from one firm at

Peking for five millions of the ninetynine cash idols, and at that Ti Hung put up his shutters, and sat down in

"'Behold!' he exclaimed, 'in the course of a lifetime there are many very disagreeable evils that may overtake

a person. He may offend the Sacred Dragon, and be in consequence reduced to a fine dry powder; or he may

incur the displeasure of the benevolent and pureminded Emperor, and be condemned to death by roasting;

he may also be troubled by demons or by the disturbed spirits of his ancestors, or be struck by thunderbolts.

Indeed, there are numerous annoyances, but they become as Heavensent blessings in comparison to a

selfopinionated and more than ordinarily weakminded soninlaw. Of what avail is it that I have

habitually sold one idol for the value of a hundred? The very objectionable man in possession sits in my

delectable summerhouse, and the unavoidable legal documents settle around me like a flock of pigeons. It is

indeed necessary that I should declare myself to be in voluntary liquidation, and make an assignment of my

book debts for the benefit of my creditors. Having accomplished this, I will proceed to the wellconstructed

tomb of my illustrious ancestors, and having kowtowed at their incomparable shrines, I will put an end to

"'The wise man can adapt himself to circumstances as water takes the shape of the vase that contains it,' said

the wellknown voice of Li Ting. 'Let not the lion and the tiger fight at the bidding of the jackal. By

combining our forces all may be well with you yet. Assist me to dispose of the entirely superfluous Yung

Chang and to marry the elegant and symmetrical Ning, and in return I will allot to you a portion of my not

"'However high the tree, the leaves fall to the ground, and your hour has come at last, O detestable Li Ting!'

said Yung, who had heard the speakers and crept upon them unperceived. 'As for my distinguished and

immaculate fatherinlaw, doubtless the heat has affected his indefatigable brains, or he would not have

"Both swords flashed, but before a blow could be struck the spirits of his ancestors hurled Li Ting lifeless to

the ground, to avenge the memories that their unworthy descendant had so often reviled.

"'So perish all the enemies of Yung Chang,' said the victor. 'And now, my venerated but exceedingly

shortsighted fatherinlaw, learn how narrowly you have escaped making yourself exceedingly

objectionable to yourself. I have just received intelligence from Peking that I have passed the second degree,

and have in consequence been appointed to a remunerative position under the Government. This will enable

us to live in comfort, if not in affluence, and the rest of your engaging days can be peacefully spent in flying

Related by Kai Lung, at Wuwhei, as a rebuke to Wang Yu and certain others who had questioned the

"It is an undoubted fact that this person has not realized the direct remunerative advantage which he

confidently anticipated," remarked the idle and discontented pipemaker Wang Yu, as, with a few other

persons of similar inclination, he sat in the shade of the great mulberry tree at Wuwhei, waiting for the evil

influence of certain very mysterious sounds, which had lately been heard, to pass away before he resumed his

occupation. "When the seemingly proficient and trustworthy Kai Lung first made it his practice to journey to

Wuwhei, and narrate to us the doings of persons of all classes of life," he continued, "it seemed to this one

that by closely following the recital of how Mandarins obtained their high position, and exceptionally rich

persons their wealth, he must, in the end, inevitably be rendered competent to follow in their illustrious

footsteps. Yet in how entirely contrary a direction has the whole course of events tended! In spite of the

honourable intention which involved a frequent absence from his place of commerce, those who journeyed

thither with the set purpose of possessing one of his justlyfamed opium pipes so perversely regarded the

matter that, after two or three fruitless visits, they deliberately turned their footsteps towards the workshop of

the inelegant Mingyo, whose pipes are confessedly greatly inferior to those produced by the person who is

now speaking. Nevertheless, the rapacious Kai Lung, to whose influence the falling off in custom was thus

directly attributable, persistently declined to bear any share whatever in the loss which his profession caused,

and, indeed, regarded the circumstance from so grasping and narrowminded a point of observation that he

would not even go to the length of suffering this muchpersecuted one to join the circle of his hearers

without on every occasion making the customary offering. In this manner a wellintentioned pursuit of riches

has insidiously led this person within measurable distance of the bolted dungeon for those who do not meet

their just debts, while the only distinction likely to result from his assiduous study of the customs and

methods of those high in power is that of being publicly bowstrung as a warning to others. Manifestedly the

"It is related," said a dispassionate voice behind them, "that a person of limited intelligence, on being assured

that he would certainly one day enjoy an adequate competence if he closely followed the industrious habits of

the thrifty bee, spent the greater part of his life in anointing his thighs with the yellow powder which he

laboriously collected from the flowers of the field. It is not so recorded; but doubtless the nameless one in

question was by profession a maker of opium pipes, for this person has observed from time to time how that

occupation, above all others, tends to degrade the mental faculties, and to debase its followers to a lower

position than that of the beasts of labour. Learn therefrom, O superficial Wang Yu, that wisdom lies in an

intelligent perception of great principles, and not in a slavish imitation of details which are, for the most part,

"Such may, indeed, be the case, Kai Lung," replied Wang Yu sullenlyfor it was the storyteller in question

who had approached unperceived, and who now stood before them"but it is none the less a fact that, on the

last occasion when this misguided person joined the attending circle at your uplifted voice, a Mandarin of the

third degree chanced to pass through Wuwhei, and halted at the doorstep of 'The Fountain of Beauty', fully

intending to entrust this one with the designing and fashioning of a pipe of exceptional elaborateness. This

matter, by his absence, has now passed from him, and today, through listening to the narrative of how the

"Yet tomorrow, when the name of the Mandarin of the third degree appears in the list of persons who have

transferred their entire property to those who are nearly related to them in order to avoid it being seized to

satisfy the just claims made against them," replied Kai Lung, "you will be able to regard yourself the richer

At these words, which recalled to the minds of all who were present the not uncommon manner of behaving

observed by those of exalted rank, who freely engaged persons to supply them with costly articles without in

"Nevertheless," exclaimed a thin voice from the edge of the group which surrounded Kai Lung, "it in nowise

follows that the stories are in themselves excellent, or of such a nature that the hearing of their recital will

profit a person. Wang Yu may be satisfied with empty words, but there are others present who were studying

deep matters when Wang Yu was learning the art of walking. If Kai Lung's stories are of such remunerative

benefit as the person in question claims, how does it chance that Kai Lung himself who is assuredly the best

acquainted with them, stands before us in mean apparel, and on all occasions confessing an unassuming

"It is Yanhi Pung," went from mouth to mouth among the bystanders"Yanhi Pung, who traces on paper

the words of chants and historical tales, and sells them to such as can afford to buy. And although his motive

in exposing the emptiness of Kai Lung's stories may not be Heavensentinasmuch as Kai Lung provides

us with such matter as he himself purveys, only at a much more moderate priceyet his words are well

"O Yanhi Pung," replied Kai Lung, hearing the name from those who stood about him, and moving towards

the aged person, who stood meanwhile leaning upon his staff, and looking from side to side with quickly

moving eyelids in a manner very offensive towards the storyteller, "your just remark shows you to be a

person of exceptional wisdom, even as your wellbowed legs prove you to be one of great bodily strength;

for justice is ever obvious and wisdom hidden, and they who build structures for endurance discard the

straight and upright and insist upon such an arch as you so symmetrically exemplify."

Speaking in this conciliatory manner, Kai Lung came up to Yanhi Pung, and taking between his fingers a

disc of thick polished crystal, which the aged and shortsighted chantwriter used for the purpose of

magnifying and bringing nearer the letters upon which he was engaged, and which hung around his neck by

"Observe closely, and presently it will be revealed and made clear how the apparently very conflicting words

of the wise Yanhi Pung, and those of this unassuming but nevertheless conscientious person who is now

With this assurance Kai Lung moved the crystal somewhat, so that it engaged the sun's rays, and concentrated

them upon the uncovered crown of the unsuspecting and still objectionablyengaged person before him.

Without a moment's pause, Yanhi Pung leapt high into the air, repeatedly pressing his hand to the spot thus

"Evil dragons and thunderbolts! but the touch was as hot as a scar left by the uncut nail of the sublime

"Yet the crystal" remarked Kai Lung composedly, passing it into the hands of those who stood near.

Kai Lung said nothing further, but raised both his hands above his head, as if demanding their judgement.

Thereupon a loud shout went up on his behalf, for the greater part of them loved to see the manner in which

he brushed aside those who would oppose him; and the sight of the aged person Yanhi Pung leaping far into

the air had caused them to become exceptionally amused, and, in consequence, very amiably disposed

"The story of Sen Heng," began Kai Lung, when the discussion had terminated in the manner already

recorded, "concerns itself with one who possessed an unsuspecting and ingenious nature, which illfitted him

to take an ordinary part in the everyday affairs of life, no matter how engaging such a character rendered him

among his friends and relations. Having at an early age been entrusted with a burden of rice and other

produce from his father's fields to dispose of in the best possible manner at a neighbouring mart, and having

completed the transaction in a manner extremely advantageous to those with whom he trafficked but very

intolerable to the one who had sent him, it at once became apparent that some other means of gaining a

"'Beyond all doubt,' said his father, after considering the matter for a period, 'it is a case in which one should

"'Illustrious sire,' exclaimed Sen Heng, who chanced to be present, 'the illiterate person who stands before

you is entirely unacquainted with the one to whom you have referred; nevertheless, he will, as you suggest, at

once set forth, and journeying with all speed to the abode of the estimable Poochow, solicit his experience

"'Unless a more serious loss should be occasioned,' replied the father coldly, 'there is no necessity to adopt so

extreme a course. The benevolent Mandarin in question existed at a remote period of the Thang dynasty, and

the incident to which an allusion has been made arose in the following way: To the public court of the

enlightened Poochow there came one day a youth of very inferior appearance and hesitating manner, who

besought his explicit advice, saying: "The degraded and unprepossessing being before you, O select and

venerable Mandarin, is by nature and attainments a person of the utmost timidity and fearfulness. From this

cause life itself has become a detestable observance in his eyes, for those who should be his companions of

both sexes hold him in undisguised contempt, making various unendurable allusions to the colour and nature

of his internal organs whenever he would endeavour to join them. Instruct him, therefore, the manner in

which this cowardice may be removed, and no service in return will be esteemed too great." "There is a

remedy," replied the benevolent Mandarin, without any hesitation whatever, "which if properly carried out is

efficacious beyond the possibility of failure. Certain component parts of your body are lacking, and before

the desired result can be obtained these must be supplied from without. Of all courageous things the tiger is

the most fearless, and in consequence it combines all those ingredients which you require; furthermore, as the

teeth of the tiger are the instruments with which it accomplishes its vengeful purpose, there reside the

essential principles of its inimitable courage. Let the person who seeks instruction in the matter, therefore, do

as follows: taking the teeth of a fullgrown tiger as soon as it is slain, and before the essences have time to

return into the body, he shall grind them to a powder, and mixing the powder with a portion of rice, consume

it. After seven days he must repeat the observance, and yet again a third time, after another similar lapse. Let

him, then, return for further guidance; for the present the matter interests this person no further." At these

words the youth departed, filled with a new and inspired hope; for the wisdom of the sagacious Poochow

was a matter which did not admit of any doubt whatever, and he had spoken with welldefined certainty of

the success of the experiment. Nevertheless, after several days industriously spent in endeavouring to obtain

by purchase the teeth of a newlyslain tiger, the details of the undertaking began to assume a new and

entirely unforeseen aspect; for those whom he approached as being the most likely to possess what he

required either became very immoderately and disagreeably amused at the nature of the request, or regarded

it as a new and illjudged form of ridicule, which they prepared to avenge by blows and by base remarks of

the most personal variety. At length it became unavoidably obvious to the youth that if he was to obtain the

articles in question it would first be necessary that he should become adept in the art of slaying tigers, for in

no other way were the required conditions likely to be present. Although the prospect was one which did not

greatly tend to allure him, yet he did not regard it with the utterly incapable emotions which would have been

present on an earlier occasion; for the habit of continually guarding himself from the onslaughts of those who

received his inquiry in an attitude of narrowminded distrust had inspired him with a newfound valour,

while his amiable and unrestrained manner of life increased his bodily vigour in every degree. First perfecting

himself in the use of the bow and arrow, therefore, he betook himself to a wild and very extensive forest, and

there concealed himself among the upper foliage of a tall tree standing by the side of a pool of water. On the

second night of his watch, the youth perceived a large but somewhat illconditioned tiger approaching the

pool for the purpose of quenching its thirst, whereupon he tremblingly fitted an arrow to his bowstring, and

profiting by the instruction he had received, succeeded in piercing the creature to the heart. After fulfilling the

observance laid upon him by the discriminating Poochow, the youth determined to remain in the forest, and

sustain himself upon such food as fell to his weapons, until the time arrived when he should carry out the rite

for the last time. At the end of seven days, so subtle had he become in all kinds of hunting, and so

strengthened by the meat and herbs upon which he existed, that he disdained to avail himself of the shelter of

a tree, but standing openly by the side of the water, he engaged the attention of the first tiger which came to

drink, and discharged arrow after arrow into its body with unfailing power and precision. So entrancing,

indeed, had the pursuit become that the next seven days lengthened out into the apparent period of as many

moons, in such a leisurely manner did they rise and fall. On the appointed day, without waiting for the

evening to arrive, the youth set out with the first appearance of light, and penetrated into the most

inaccessible jungles, crying aloud words of tauntladen challenge to all the beasts therein, and accusing the

ancestors of their race of ever imaginable variety of evil behaviour. Yet so great had become the renown of

the one who stood forth, and so widely had the warning voice been passed from tree to tree, preparing all who

dwelt in the forest against his anger, that not even the fiercest replied openly, though low growls and

mutterings proceeded from every cave within a bowshot's distance around. Wearying quickly of such feeble

and timorous demonstrations, the youth rushed into the cave from which the loudest murmurs proceeded, and

there discovered a tiger of unnatural size, surrounded by the bones of innumerable ones whom it had

devoured; for from time to time its ravages became so great and unbearable, that armies were raised in the

neighbouring villages and sent to destroy it, but more than a few stragglers never returned. Plainly

recognizing that a just and inevitable vengeance had overtaken it, the tiger made only a very inferior

exhibition of resistance, and the youth, having first stunned it with a blow of his closed hand, seized it by the

middle, and repeatedly dashed its head against the rocky sides of its retreat. He then performed for the third

time the ceremony enjoined by the Mandarin, and having cast upon the cringing and despicable forms

concealed in the surrounding woods and caves a look of dignified and ineffable contempt, set out upon his

homeward journey, and in the space of three days' time reached the town of the versatile Poochow.

"Behold," exclaimed that person, when, lifting up his eyes, he saw the youth approaching laden with the skins

of the tigers and other spoils, "now at least the youths and maidens of your native village will no longer

withdraw themselves from the company of so undoubtedly heroic a person." "Illustrious Mandarin," replied

the other, casting both his weapons and his trophies before his inspired adviser's feet, "what has this person to

do with the little ones of either sex? Give him rather the foremost place in your evervictorious company of

bowmen, so that he may repay in part the undoubted debt under which he henceforth exists." This proposal

found favour with the pureminded Poochow, so that in course of time the unassuming youth who had

come supplicating his advice became the valiant commander of his army, and the one eventually chosen to

"When the father had completed the narrative of how the fainthearted youth became in the end a courageous

and resourceful leader of bowmen, Sen looked up, and not in any degree understanding the purpose of the

"'Undoubtedly the counsel of the graceful and intelligent Mandarin Poochow was of inestimable service in

the case recorded, and this person would gladly adopt it as his guide for the future, on the chance of it leading

to a similar honourable career; but alas! there are no tigers to be found throughout this Province.'

"'It is a loss which those who are engaged in commerce in the city of Hankow strive to supply adequately,'

replied his father, who had an assured feeling that it would be of no avail to endeavour to show Sen that the

story which he had just related was one setting forth a definite precept rather than fixing an exact manner of

behaviour. 'For that reason,' he continued, 'this person has concluded an arrangement by which you will

journey to that place, and there enter into the house of commerce of an expert and conscientious vendor of

moving contrivances. Among so rapacious and keenwitted a class of persons as they of Hankow, it is

exceedingly unlikely that your amiable disposition will involve any individual one in an unavoidably serious

loss, and even should such an unforeseen event come to pass, there will, at least, be the undeniable

satisfaction of the thought that the unfortunate occurrence will in no way affect the prosperity of those to

"'Benevolent and virtuousminded father,' replied Sen gently, but speaking with an inspired conviction; 'from

his earliest infancy this unassuming one has been instructed in an inviolable regard for the Five General

Principles of Fidelity to the Emperor, Respect for Parents, Harmony between Husband and Wife, Agreement

among Brothers, and Constancy in Friendship. It will be entirely unnecessary to inform so piousminded a

person as the one now being addressed that no evil can attend the footsteps of an individual who courteously

"'Without doubt it is so arranged by the protecting Deities,' replied the father; 'yet it is an exceedingly

desirable thing for those who are responsible in the matter that the footsteps to which reference has been

made should not linger in the neighbourhood of the village, but should, with all possible speed, turn in the

"In this manner it came to pass that Sen Heng set forth on the following day, and coming without delay to the

great and powerful city of Hankow, sought out the house of commerce known as 'The Pure Gilt Dragon of

Exceptional Symmetry', where the versatile KingyYang engaged in the entrancing occupation of

contriving moving figures, and other devices of an ingenious and mirthprovoking character, which he

entrusted into the hands of numerous persons to sell throughout the Province. From this cause, although

enjoying a very agreeable recompense from the sale of the objects, the greatly perturbed KingyYang

suffered continual internal misgivings; for the habit of behaving of those whom he appointed to go forth in

the manner described was such that he could not entirely dismiss from his mind an assured conviction that the

details were not invariably as they were represented to be. Frequently would one return in a very deficient

and unpresentable condition of garment, asserting that on his return, while passing through a lonely and

unprotected district, he had been assailed by an armed band of robbers, and despoiled of all he possessed.

Another would claim to have been made the sport of evil spirits, who led him astray by means of false signs

in the forest, and finally destroyed his entire burden of commodities, accompanying the unworthy act by loud

cries of triumph and remarks of an insulting nature concerning KingyYang; for the honourable character

and charitable actions of the person in question had made him very objectionable to that class of beings.

Others continually accounted for the absence of the required number of taels by declaring that at a certain

point of their journey they were made the object of marks of amiable condescension on the part of a high and

dignified public official, who, on learning in whose service they were, immediately professed an intimate

personal friendship with the estimable KingyYang, and, out of a feeling of gratified respect for him, took

away all such contrivances as remained undisposed of, promising to arrange the payment with the refined

KingyYang himself when they should next meet. For these reasons KingyYang was especially desirous

of obtaining one whose spoken word could be received, upon all points, as an assured fact, and it was,

therefore, with an emotion of internal lightness that he confidently heard from those who were acquainted

with the person that Sen Heng was, by nature and endowments, utterly incapable of representing matters of

Filled with an acute anxiety to discover what amount of success would be accorded to his latest contrivance,

KingyYang led Sen Heng to a secluded chamber, and there instructed him in the method of selling certain

apparently very ingeniously constructed ducks, which would have the appearance of swimming about on the

surface of an open vessel of water, at the same time uttering loud and everincreasing cries, after the manner

of their kind. With illrestrained admiration at the skilful nature of the deception, KingyYang pointed out

that the ducks which were to be disposed of, and upon which a seemingly very low price was fixed, did not,

in reality, possess any of these accomplishments, but would, on the contrary, if placed in water, at once sink

to the bottom in a most incapable manner; it being part of Sen's duty to exhibit only a specially prepared

creature which was restrained upon the surface by means of hidden cords, and, while bending over it, to

simulate the cries as agreed upon. After satisfying himself that Sen could perform these movements

competently, KingyYang sent him forth, particularly charging him that he should not return without a sum

of money which fully represented the entire number of ducks entrusted to him, or an adequate number of

"At the end of seven days Sen returned to KingyYang, and although entirely without money, even to the

extent of being unable to provide himself with the merest necessities of a frugal existence, he honourably

returned the full number of ducks with which he had set out. It then became evident that although Sen had

diligently perfected himself in the sounds and movements which KingyYang had contrived, he had not

fully understood that they were to be executed stealthily, but had, in consequence, manifested the

accomplishment openly, not unreasonably supposing that such an exhibition would be an additional

inducement to those who appeared to be welldisposed towards the purchase. From this cause it came about

that although large crowds were attracted by Sen's manner of conducting the enterprise, none actually

engaged to purchase even the least expensivelyvalued of the ducks, although several publicly complimented

Sen on his exceptional proficiency, and repeatedly urged him to louder and more frequent cries, suggesting

that by such means possible buyers might be attracted to the spot from remote and inaccessible villages in the

"When KingyYang learned how the venture had been carried out, he became most intolerably

selfopinionated in his expressions towards Sen's mental attainments and the manner of his bringing up. It

was entirely in vain that the one referred to pointed out in a tone of persuasive and courteous restraint that he

had not, down to the most minute particulars, transgressed either the general or the specific obligations of the

Five General Principles, and that, therefore, he was blameless, and even worthy of commendation for the

manner in which he had acted. With an inelegant absence of all refined feeling, KingyYang most

incapably declined to discuss the various aspects of the controversy in an amiable manner, asserting, indeed,

that for the consideration of as many brass cash as Sen had mentioned principles he would cause him to be

thrown into prison as a person of unnatural ineptitude. Then, without rewarding Sen for the time spent in his

service, or even inviting him to partake of food and wine, the insufferable deviser of very indifferent

animated contrivances again sent him out, this time into the streets of Hankow with a number of delicately

inlaid boxes, remarking in a tone of voice which plainly indicated an exactly contrary desire that he would be

filled with an overwhelming satisfaction if Sen could discover any excuse for returning a second time without

disposing of anything. This remark Sen's ingenuous nature led him to regard as a definite fact, so that when a

passerby, who tarried to examine the boxes chanced to remark that the colours might have been arranged to

greater advantage, in which case he would certainly have purchased at least one of the articles, Sen hastened

back, although in a distant part of the city, to inform KingyYang of the suggestion, adding that he himself

had been favourably impressed with the improvement which could be effected by such an alteration.

"The nature of KingyYang's emotion when Sen again presented himself before himand when by

repeatedly applied tests on various parts of his body he understood that he was neither the victim of malicious

demons, nor wandering in an insensible condition in the Middle Air, but that the cause of the return was such

as had been plainly statedwas of so mixed and benumbing a variety, that for a considerable space of time

he was quite unable to express himself in any way, either by words or by signs. By the time these attributes

returned there had formed itself with KingyYang's mind a design of most contemptible malignity, which

seemed to present to his enfeebled intellect a scheme by which Sen would be adequately punished, and

finally disposed of, without causing him any further trouble in the matter. For this purpose he concealed the

real condition of his sentiments towards Sen, and warmly expressed himself in terms of delicate flattery

regarding that one's sumptuous and unfailing taste in the matter of the blending of the colours. Without doubt,

he continued, such an alteration as the one proposed would greatly increase the attractiveness of the inlaid

boxes, and the matter should be engaged upon without delay. In the meantime, however, not to waste the

immediate services of so discriminating and persevering a servant, he would entrust Sen with a mission of

exceptional importance, which would certainly tend greatly to his remunerative benefit. In the district of Yun,

in the northwestern part of the Province, said the crafty and treacherous KingyYang, a particular kind of

insect was greatly esteemed on account of the beneficent influence which it exercised over the rice plants,

causing them to mature earlier, and to attain a greater size than ever happened in its absence. In recent years

this creature had rarely been seen in the neighbourhood of Yun, and, in consequence, the earthtillers

throughout that country had been brought into a most disconcerting state of poverty, and would, inevitably,

be prepared to exchange whatever they still possessed for even a few of the insects, in order that they might

liberate them to increase, and so entirely reverse the objectionable state of things. Speaking in this manner,

KingyYang entrusted to Sen a carefully prepared box containing a score of the insects, obtained at a great

cost from a country beyond the Bitter Water, and after giving him further directions concerning the journey,

and enjoining the utmost secrecy about the valuable contents of the box, he sent him forth.

"The discreet and sagacious will already have understood the nature of KingyYang's intolerable artifice;

but, for the benefit of the amiable and unsuspecting, it is necessary to make it clear that the words which he

had spoken bore no sort of resemblance to affairs as they really existed. The district around Yun was indeed

involved in a most unprepossessing destitution, but this had been caused, not by the absence of any rare and

auspicious insect, but by the presence of vast hordes of locusts, which had overwhelmed and devoured the

entire face the country. It so chanced that among the recently constructed devices at 'The Pure Gilt Dragon of

Exceptional Symmetry' were a number of elegant representations of rice fields and fruit gardens so skilfully

fashioned that they deceived even the creatures, and attracted, among other living things, all the locusts in

Hankow into that place of commerce. It was a number of these insects that KingyYang vindictively placed

in the box which he instructed Sen to carry to Yun, well knowing that the reception which would be accorded

to anyone who appeared there on such a mission would be of so fatally destructive a kind that the

"Entirely tranquil in intellectfor the possibility of KingyYang's intention being in any way other than

what he had represented it to be did not arise within Sen's ingenuous mindthe person in question cheerfully

set forth on his long but unavoidable march towards the region of Yun. As he journeyed along the way, the

nature of his meditation brought up before him the events which had taken place since his arrival at Hankow;

and, for the first time, it was brought within his understanding that the story of the youth and the three tigers,

which his father had related to him, was in the likeness of a proverb, by which counsel and warning is

conveyed in a graceful and inoffensive manner. Readily applying the fable to his own condition, he could not

doubt but that the first two animals to be overthrown were represented by the two undertakings which he had

already conscientiously performed in the matter of the mechanical ducks and the inlaid boxes, and the

conviction that he was even then engaged on the third and last trial filled him with an intelligent gladness so

unobtrusive and refined that he could express his entrancing emotions in no other way that by lifting up his

voice and uttering the farreaching cries which he had used on the first of the occasions just referred to.

"In this manner the first part of the journey passed away with engaging celerity. Anxious as Sen undoubtedly

was to complete the third task, and approach the details which, in his own case, would correspond with the

command of the bowmen and the marriage with the Mandarin's daughter of the person in the story, the

noontide heat compelled him to rest in the shade by the wayside for a lengthy period each day. During one of

these pauses it occurred to his versatile mind that the time which was otherwise uselessly expended might be

well disposed of in endeavouring to increase the value and condition of the creatures under his care by

instructing them in the performance of some simple accomplishments, such as might not be too laborious for

their feeble and immature understanding. In this he was more successful than he had imagined could possibly

be the case, for the discriminating insects, from the first, had every appearance of recognizing that Sen was

inspired by a sincere regard for their ultimate benefit, and was not merely using them for his own

advancement. So assiduously did they devote themselves to their allotted tasks, that in a very short space of

time there was no detail in connexion with their own simple domestic arrangements that was not understood

and daily carried out by an appointed band. Entranced at this intelligent manner of conducting themselves,

Sen industriously applied his time to the more congenial task of instructing them in the refined arts, and

presently he had the enchanting satisfaction of witnessing a number of the most cultivated faultlessly and

unhesitatingly perform a portion of the wellknown gravityremoving play entitled "The Benevolent Omen

of White Dragon Tea Garden; or, Three Times a Mandarin". Not even content with this elevating display, Sen

ingeniously contrived, from various objects which he discovered at different points by the wayside, an

effective and lifelike representation of a warjunk, for which he trained a crew, who, at an agreed signal,

would take up their appointed places and go through the required movements, both of sailing, and of

"As Sen was one day educating the least competent of the insects in the simpler parts of bannercarriers,

gongbeaters, and the like, to their more graceful and versatile companions, he lifted up his eyes and beheld,

standing by his side, a person of very elaborately embroidered apparel and commanding personality, who had

all the appearance of one who had been observing his movements for some space of time. Calling up within

his remembrance the warning which he had received from KingyYang, Sen was preparing to restore the

creatures to their closed box, when a stranger, in a loud and dignified voice, commanded him to refrain,

"'There is, resting at a spot within the immediate neighbourhood, a person of illustrious name and ancestry,

who would doubtless be gratified to witness the diverting actions of which this one has recently been a

spectator. As the reward of a tael cannot be unwelcome to a person of your inferior appearance and

unpresentable garments, take up your box without delay, and follow the one who is now before you.'

"With these words the richlyclad stranger led the way through a narrow woodland path, closely followed by

Sen, to whom the attraction of the promised rewarda larger sum, indeed, than he had ever possessedwas

sufficiently alluring to make him determined that the other should not, for the briefest possible moment, pass

"Not to withhold that which Sen was entirely ignorant of until a later period, it is now revealed that the

person in question was the official Provider of Diversions and Pleasurable Occupations to the sacred and

illimitable Emperor, who was then engaged in making an unusually extensive march through the eight

Provinces surrounding his Capitalfor the acute and welleducated will not need to be reminded that

Nanking occupied that position at the time now engaged with. Until his providential discovery of Sen, the

distinguished Provider had been immersed in a most unenviable condition of despair, for his enlightened but

exceedingly perverseminded master had, of late, declined to be in any way amused, or even interested, by

the simple and unpretentious entertainment which could be obtained in so inaccessible a region. The

wellintentioned efforts of the followers of the Court, who engagingly endeavoured to divert the Imperial

mind by performing certain feats which they remembered to have witnessed on previous occasions, but

which, until the necessity arose, they had never essayed, were entirely without result of a beneficial order.

Even the accomplished Provider's one attainmentthat of striking together both the hands and the feet thrice

simultaneously, while leaping into the air, and at the same time producing a sound not unlike that emitted by

a large and vigorous bee when held captive in the fold of a robe, an action which never failed to throw the

illustrious Emperor into a most uncontrollable state of amusement when performed within the Imperial

Palacenow only drew from him the unsympathetic, of not actually offensive, remark that the attitude and

the noise bore a marked resemblance to those produced by a person when being bowstrung, adding, with

unprepossessing significance, that of the two entertainments he had an unevadable conviction that the

"When Sen beheld the size and the silkhung magnificence of the camp into which his guide led him, he was

filled with astonishment, and at the same time recognized that he had acted in an injudicious and hasty

manner by so readily accepting the offer of a tael; whereas, if he had been in possession of the true facts of

the case, as they now appeared, he would certainly have endeavoured to obtain double that amount before

consenting. As he was hesitating within himself whether the matter might not even yet be arranged in a more

advantageous manner, he was suddenly led forward into the most striking and ornamental of the tents, and

commanded to engage the attention of the one in whose presence he found himself, without delay.

"From the first moment when the inimitable creatures began, at Sen's spoken word, to go through the

ordinary details of their domestic affairs, there was no sort of doubt as to the nature of the success with which

their welltrained exertions would be received. The dark shadows instantly forsook the enraptured Emperor's

select brow, and from time to time he expressed himself in words of most unrestrained and intimate

encouragement. So exuberant became the overjoyed Provider's emotion at having at length succeeded in

obtaining the services of one who was able to recall his Imperial master's unclouded countenance, that he

came forward in a most unpresentable state of haste, and rose into the air uncommanded, for the display of

his usually not unwelcome acquirement. This he would doubtless have executed competently had not Sen,

who stood immediately behind him, suddenly and unexpectedly raised his voice in a very vigorous and

proficient duck cry, thereby causing the one before him to endeavour to turn around in alarm, while yet in the

airan intermingled state of movements of both the body and the mind that caused him to abandon his

original intention in a manner which removed the gravity of the Emperor to an even more pronounced degree

"When the gratified Emperor had beheld every portion of the tasks which Sen had instilled into the minds of

the insects, down even to the minutest detail, he called the wellsatisfied Provider before him, and addressing

him in a voice which might be designed to betray either sternness or an amiable indulgence, said:

"'You, O Shanse, are reported to be a person of no particular intellect or discernment, and, for this reason,

these ones who are speaking have a desire to know how the matter will present itself in your eyes. Which is it

the more commendable and honourable for a person to train to a condition of unfailing excellence, human

"To this remark the discriminating Shanse made no reply, being, indeed, undecided in his mind whether

such a course was expected of him. On several previous occasions the somewhat introspective Emperor had

addressed himself to persons in what they judged to be the form of a question, as one might say, 'How blue is

the unapproachable air canopy, and how delicately imagined the colour of the clouds!' yet when they had

expressed their deliberate opinion on the subjects referred to, stating the exact degree of blueness, and the

like, the nature of their reception ever afterwards was such that, for the future, persons endeavoured to

determine exactly the intention of the Emperor's mind before declaring themselves in words. Being

exceedingly doubtful on this occasion, therefore, the very cautious Shanse adopted the more prudent and

uncompromising attitude, and smiling acquiescently, he raised both his hands with a selfdeprecatory

"'Alas!' exclaimed the Emperor, in a tone which plainly indicated that the evasive Shanse had adopted a

course which did not commend itself, 'how unendurable a condition of affairs is it for a person of acute

mental perception to be annoyed by the inopportune behaviour of one who is only fit to mix on terms of

"'Such a condition of affairs is indeed most offensively unbearable, illustrious Being,' remarked Shanse,

who clearly perceived that his former silence had not been productive of a delicate state of feeling towards

"'It has frequently been said,' continued the courteous and pureminded Emperor, only signifying his refined

displeasure at Shanse's really illconsidered observation by so arranging his position that the person in

question on longer enjoyed the sublime distinction of gazing upon his benevolent face, 'that titles and offices

have been accorded, from time to time, without any regard for the fitting qualifications of those to whom they

were presented. The truth that such a state of things does occasionally exist has been brought before our eyes

during the past few days by the abandoned and inefficient behaviour of one who will henceforth be a marked

official; yet it has always been our endeavour to reward expert and unassuming merit, whenever it is

discovered. As we were setting forth, when we were interrupted in a most obstinate and superfluous manner,

the one who can guide and cultivate the minds of unthinking, and not infrequently obstinate and rapacious,

insects would certainly enjoy an even greater measure of success if entrusted with the discriminating

intellects of human beings. For this reason it appears that no more fitting person could be found to occupy the

important and wellrewarded position of Chief Arranger of the Competitive Examinations than the one

before usprovided his opinions and manner of expressing himself are such as commend themselves to us.

To satisfy us on this point let Sen Heng now stand forth and declare his beliefs.'

"On this invitation Sen advanced the requisite number of paces, and not in any degree understanding what

was required of him, determined that the occasion was one when he might fittingly declare the Five General

Principles which were ever present in his mind. 'Unquestioning Fidelity to the Sacred Emperor' he began,

"'After so competent and inspired an expression as that which has just been uttered, which, if rightly

considered, includes all lesser things, it is unnecessary to say more,' he declared affably. 'The appointment

which has already been specified is now declared to be legally conferred. The evening will be devoted to a

repetition of the entrancing manoeuvres performed by the insects, to be followed by a feast and music in

honour of the recognized worth and position of the accomplished Sen Heng. There is really no necessity for

"In such a manner was the foundation of Sen's ultimate prosperity established, by which he came in the

process of time to occupy a very high place in public esteem. Yet, being a person of honourablyminded

conscientiousness, he did not hesitate, when questioned by those who made pilgrimages to him for the

purpose of learning by what means he had risen to so remunerative a position, to ascribe his success, not

entirely to his own intelligent perception of persons and events, but, in part, also to a neverfailing regard for

the dictates of the Five General Principles, and a discriminating subservience to the inspired wisdom of the

venerable Poochow, as conveyed to him in the story of the fainthearted youth and the three tigers. This

story Sen furthermore caused to be inscribed in letters of gold, and displayed in a prominent position in his

native village, where it has since doubtless been the means of instructing and advancing countless observant

ones who have not been too insufferable to be guided by the experience of those who have gone before."

Related by Kai Lung at Shan Tzu, on the occasion of his receiving a very unexpected reward.

"There are certainly many occasions when the principles of the Mandarin Chan Hung appear to find practical

favour in the eyes of those who form this usually uncomplaining person's audiences at Shan Tzu," remarked

Kai Lung, with patient resignation, as he took up his collectingbowl and transferred the few brass coins

which it held to a concealed place among his garments. "Has the village lately suffered from a visit of one of

those persons who come armed with authority to remove by force or stratagem such goods as bear names

other than those possessed by their holders? or is it, indeedas they of Wuwhei confidently assertthat

when the Day of Vows arrives the people of Shan Tzu, with one accord, undertake to deny themselves in the

"They of Wuwhei!" exclaimed a selfopinionated bystander, who had by some means obtained an inferior

public office, and who was, in consequence, enabled to be present on all occasions without contributing any

offering. "Well is that village named 'The Refuge of Unworthiness', for its dwellers do little but rob and

illtreat strangers, and spread evil and lying reports concerning better endowed ones than themselves."

"Such a condition of affairs may exist," replied Kai Lung, without any indication of concern either one way

or the other; "yet it is an undeniable fact that they reward this commonplace storyteller's too often

underestimated efforts in a manner which betrays them either to be of noble birth, or very desirous of putting

"Such exhibitions of uncalledfor lavishness are merely the signs of an illregulated and inordinate vanity,"

remarked a Mandarin of the eighth grade, who chanced to be passing, and who stopped to listen to Kai Lung's

words. "Nevertheless, it is not fitting that a collection of decaying hovels, which Wuwhei assuredly is,

should, in however small a detail, appear to rise above ShanTzu, so that if the versatile and unassuming Kai

Lung will again honour this assembly by allowing his wellconstructed bowl to pass freely to and fro, this

obscure and otherwise entirely superfluous individual will make it his especial care that the brass of

Wuwhei shall be answered with solid copper, and its debased pewter with doubly refined silver."

With these encouraging words the very opportune Mandarin of the eighth grade himself followed the

storyteller's collectingbowl, observing closely what each person contributed, so that, although he gave

nothing from his own store, Kai Lung had never before received so honourable an amount.

"O illustrious Kai Lung," exclaimed a very industrious and illclad herbgatherer, who, in spite of his

poverty, could not refrain from mingling with listeners whenever the storyteller appeared in Shan Tzu, "a

single piece of brass money is to this person more than a block of solid gold to many of Wuwhei; yet he has

twice made the customary offering, once freely, once because a courteous and pureminded individual who

possesses certain written papers of his connected with the repayment of some few taels walked behind the

bowl and engaged his eyes with an unmistakable and very significant glance. This fact emboldens him to

make the following petition: that in place of the not altogether unknown story of Yung Chang which had been

announced the proficient and nimbleminded Kai Lung will entice our attention with the history of the

"The occasion is undoubtedly one which calls for recognition to an unusual degree," replied Kai Lung with

extreme affability. "To that end this person will accordingly narrate the story which has been suggested,

notwithstanding the fact that it has been specially prepared for the ears of the sublime Emperor, who is at this

moment awaiting this unseemly one's arrival in Peking with every mark of illrestrained impatience,

tempered only by his expectation of being the first to hear the story of the wellmeaning but somewhat

"The Mandarin in question lived during the reign of the accomplished Emperor TsintSin, his Yamen being

at Fow Hou, in the Province of ShanTung, of which place he was consequently the chief official. In his

conscientious desire to administer a pure and beneficent rule, he not infrequently made himself a very

prominent object for public disregard, especially by his attempts to introduce untried things, when from time

to time such matters arose within his mind and seemed to promise agreeable and remunerative results. In this

manner it came about that the streets of Fow Hou were covered with large flat stones, to the great

inconvenience of those persons who had, from a very remote period, been in the habit of passing the night on

the soft clay which at all seasons of the year afforded a pleasant and efficient restingplace. Nevertheless, in

certain matters his engaging efforts were attended by an obvious success. Having noticed that misfortunes

and losses are much less keenly felt when they immediately follow in the steps of an earlier evil, the

benevolent and humaneminded Chan Hung devised an ingenious method of lightening the burden of a

necessary taxation by arranging that those persons who were the most heavily involved should be made the

victims of an attack and robbery on the night before the matter became due. By this thoughtful expedient the

unpleasant duty of parting from so many taels was almost imperceptibly led up to, and when, after the lapse

of some slight period, the first sums of money were secretly returned, with a written proverb appropriate to

the occasion, the public rejoicing of those who, had the matter been left to its natural course, would still have

been filling the air with bitter and unendurable lamentations, plainly testified to the inspired wisdom of the

"The wellmerited success of this amiable expedient caused the Mandarin Chan Hung every variety of

intelligent emotion, and no day passed without him devoting a portion of his time to the labour of discovering

other advantages of a similar nature. Engrossed in deep and very sublime thought of this order, he chanced

upon a certain day to be journeying through Fow Hou, when he met a person of irregular intellect, who made

an uncertain livelihood by following the unassuming and charitablydisposed from place to place, chanting

in a loud voice set verses recording their virtues, which he composed in their honour. On account of his

undoubted infirmities this person was permitted a greater freedom of speech with those above him than

would have been the case had his condition been merely ordinary; so that when Chan Hung observed him

becoming very grossly amused on his approach, to such an extent indeed, that he neglected to perform any of

the fitting acts of obeisance, the wise and nobleminded Mandarin did not in any degree suffer his

complacency to be affected, but, drawing near, addressed him in a calm and dignified manner.

"'Why, O Minghi,' he said, 'do you permit your gravity to be removed to such an exaggerated degree at the

sight of this in no way striking or exceptional person? and why, indeed, do you stand in so unbecoming an

attitude in the presence of one who, in spite of his depraved inferiority, is unquestionably your official

superior, and could, without any hesitation, condemn you to the tortures or even to bowstringing on the spot?'

"'Mandarin,' exclaimed Minghi, stepping up to Chan Hung, and, without any hesitation, pressing the gilt

button which adorned the official's body garment, accompanying the action by a continuous muffled noise

which suggested the repeated striking of a hidden bell, 'you wonder that this person stands erect on your

approach, neither rolling his lowered head repeatedly from side to side, nor tracing circles in the dust of Fow

Hou with his submissive stomach? Know then, the meaning of the proverb, "Distrust an inordinate

appearance of servility. The estimable person who retires from your presence walking backwards may adopt

that deferential manner in order to keep concealed the long doubleedged knife with which he had hoped to

slay you." The excessive amusement that seized this offensive person when he beheld your welldefined

figure in the distance arose from his perception of your internal satisfaction, which is, indeed, unmistakably

reflected in your symmetrical countenance. For, O Mandarin, in spite of your honourable endeavours to turn

things which are devious into a straight line, the matters upon which you engage your versatile

intellectlittle as you suspect the factare as grains of the finest Foochow sand in comparison with that

"'Strange are your words, O Minghi, and dark to this person your meaning,' replied Chan Hung, whose

feelings were evenly balanced between a desire to know what thing he had neglected and a fear that his

dignity might suffer if he were observed to remain long conversing with a person of Minghi's low mental

attainments. 'Without delay, and with an entire absence of lengthy and ornamental forms of speech, express

the omission to which you have made reference; for this person has an uneasy inside emotion that you are

merely endeavouring to engage his attention to the end that you may make an unseemly and irrelevant reply,

"'Such a device would be the pastime of one of immature years, and could have no place in this person's habit

of conduct,' replied Minghi, with every appearance of a fixed sincerity. 'Moreover, the matter is one which

touches his own welfare closely, and, expressed in the fashion with the proficient Mandarin has commanded,

may be set forth as follows: By a wise and allknowing divine system, it is arranged that certain honourable

occupations, which by their nature cannot become remunerative to any marked degree, shall be singled out

for special marks of reverence, so that those who engage therein may be compensated in dignity for what they

must inevitably lack in taels. By this refined dispensation the literary occupations, which are in general the

highroads to the Establishment of Public Support and Uniform Apparel, are held in the highest veneration.

Agriculture, from which it is possible to wrest a competency, follows in esteem; while the various branches

of commerce, leading as they do to vast possessions and the attendant luxury, are very justly deprived of all

the attributes of dignity and respect. Yet observe, O justiceloving Mandarin, how unbecomingly this

ingenious system of universal compensation has been debased at the instance of grasping and avaricious

ones. Dignity, riches and ease now go hand in hand, and the highest rewarded in all matters are also the most

esteemed, whereas, if the discriminating provision of those who have gone before and so arranged it was

"'It is a state of things which is somewhat difficult to imagine in general matters of life, in spite of the

fairseemingness of your words,' said the Mandarin thoughtfully; 'nor can this rather obtuse and slowwitted

person fully grasp the practical application of the system on the edge of the moment. In what manner would it

"'There should be a fixed and settled arrangement that the lowminded and degrading occupationssuch as

that of following charitable persons from place to place, chanting verses composed in their honour, that of

misleading travellers who inquire the way, so that they fall into the hands of robbers, and the like

callingsshould be the most highly rewarded to the end that those who are engaged therein may obtain some

solace for the loss of dignity they experience, and the mean intellectual position which they are compelled to

maintain. By this device they would be enabled to possess certain advantages and degrees of comfort which

at present are utterly beyond their grasp, so that in the end they would escape being entirely debased. To turn

to the other foot, those who are now high in position, and engaged in professions which enjoy the confidence

of all persons, have that which in itself is sufficient to insure contentment. Furthermore, the most proficient

and engaging in every department, mean or highminded, have certain attributes of respect among those

beneath them, so that they might justly be content with the lowest reward in whatever calling they professed,

the least skilful and most lefthanded being compensated for the mental anguish which they must

"'Such a scheme would, as far as the matter has been expressed, appear to possess all the claims of respect,

and to be, indeed, what was originally intended by those who framed the essentials of existence,' said Chan

Hung, when he had for some space of time considered the details. 'In one point, however, this person fails to

perceive how the arrangement could be amiably conducted in Fow Hou. The one who is addressing you

maintains, as a matter of right, a position of exceptional respect, nor, if he must express himself upon such a

"'In the case of the distinguished and unalterable Mandarin,' exclaimed Minghi, with no appearance of

hesitation, 'the matter would of necessity be arranged otherwise. Being from that time, as it were, the

controller of the destinies and remunerations of all those in Fow Hou, he would, manifestly, be outside the

working of the scheme; standing apart and regulating, like the person who turns the handle of the cornmill,

but does not suffer himself to be drawn between the stones, he could still maintain both his respect and his

"'If the detail could honourably be regarded in such a light,' said Chan Hung, 'this person would, without

delay, so rearrange matters in Fow Hou, and thereby create universal justice and an unceasing contentment

"'Undoubtedly such a course could be justly followed,' assented Minghi, 'for in precisely that manner of

"Entirely wrapped up in thoughts concerning the inception and manner of operation of this project Chan

Hung began to retrace his steps towards the Yamen, failing to observe in his benevolent abstraction of mind,

that the unaffectedly depraved person Minghi was stretching out his feet towards him and indulging in every

"Before he reached the door of his residence the Mandarin overtook one who occupied a high position of

confidence and remuneration in the Department of Public Fireworks and Coloured Lights. Fully assured of

this versatile person's enthusiasm on behalf of so humane and charitable a device, Chan Hung explained the

entire matter to him without delay, and expressly desired that if there were any details which appeared

"'Alas!' exclaimed the person with whom the Mandarin was conversing, speaking in so unfeignedly disturbed

and terrified a voice that several who were passing by stopped in order to learn the full circumstance, 'have

this person's ears been made the object of some unnaturally lightminded demon's illdisposed pastime, or

does the usually wellbalanced Chan Hung in reality contemplate so violent and unChinese an action? What

but evil could arise from a single word of the change which he proposes to the extent of a full written book?

The entire fixed nature of events would become reversed; persons would no longer be fully accountable to

one another; and Fow Hou being thus thrown into a most unendurable state of confusion, the protecting

Deities would doubtless withdraw their influence, and the entire region would soon be given over to the

malicious guardianship of rapacious and evillydisposed spirits. Let this person entreat the almost invariably

clearsighted Chan Hung to return at once to his adequately equipped and sumptuous Yamen, and barring

well the door of his inner chamber, so that it can only be opened from the outside, partake of several sleeping

essences of unusual strength, after which he will awake in an undoubtedly refreshed state of mind, and in a

"'By no means!' cried one of those who had stopped to learn the occasion of the incidenta very inferior

maker of unserviceable imitation pigtails'the devout and conscientiousminded Mandarin Chan Hung

speaks as the inspired mouthpiece of the omnipotent Buddha, and must, for that reason, be obeyed in every

detail. This person would unhesitatingly counsel the now invaluable Mandarin to proceed to his

wellconstructed residence without delay, and there calling together his entire staff of those who set down his

spoken words, put the complete Heavensent plan into operation, and beyond recall, before he retires to his

"Upon this there arose a most inelegant display of undignified emotions on the part of the assembly which

had by this time gathered together. While those who occupied honourable and remunerative positions very

earnestly entreated the Mandarin to act in the manner which had been suggested by the first speaker,

otherswho had, in the meantime, made use of imagined figures, and thereby discovered that the proposed

change would be greatly to their advantageraised shouts of encouragement towards the proposal of the

pigtailmaker, urging the noble Mandarin not to become small in the face towards the insignificant few who

were ever opposed to enlightened reform, but to maintain an unflaccid upper lip, and carry the entire matter

through to its destined end. In the course of this very unseemly tumult, which soon involved all persons

present in hostile demonstrations towards each other, both the Mandarin and the official from the Fireworks

and Coloured Lights Department found an opportunity to pass away secretly, the former to consider well the

various sides of the matter, towards which he became better disposed with every thought, the latter to find a

purchaser of his appointment and leave Fow Hou before the likelihood of Chan Hung's scheme became

"At this point an earlier circumstance, which affected the future unrolling of events to no insignificant degree,

must be made known, concerning as it does Lila, the fair and very accomplished daughter of Chan Hung.

Possessing no son or heir to succeed him, the Mandarin exhibited towards Lila a very unusual depth of

affection, so marked, indeed, that when certain evilminded ones endeavoured to encompass his degradation,

on the plea of eccentricity of character, the written papers which they dispatched to the high ones at Peking

contained no other accusation in support of the contention than that the individual in question regarded his

daughter with an obvious pride and pleasure which no person of wellbalanced intellect lavished on any but a

"It was his really conscientious desire to establish Lila's welfare above all things that had caused Chan Hung

to become in some degree undecided when conversing with Minghi on the detail of the scheme; for,

unaffected as the Mandarin himself would have been at the prospect of an honourable poverty, it was no part

of his intention that the adorable and exceptionallyrefined Lila should be drawn into such an existence.

That, indeed, had been the essential of his reply on a certain and not far removed occasion, when two persons

of widely differing positions had each made a formal request that he might be allowed to present

marriagepledging gifts to the very desirable Lila. Maintaining an enlightened openness of mind upon the

subject, the Mandarin had replied that nothing but the merit of undoubted suitableness of a person would

affect him in such a decision. As it was ordained by the wise and unchanging Deities that merit should always

be fittingly rewarded, he went on to express himself, and as the most suitable person was obviously the one

who could the most agreeably provide for her, the two circumstances inevitably tended to the decision that

the one chosen should be the person who could amass the greatest number of taels. To this end he instructed

them both to present themselves at the end of a year, bringing with them the entire profits of their

"This deliberate pronouncement affected the two persons in question in an entirely opposite manner, for one

of them was little removed from a condition of incessant and most uninviting poverty, while the other was the

very highlyrewarded picturemaker Petsing. Both to this latter person, and to the other one, Lee Sing, the

ultimate conclusion of the matter did not seem to be a question of any conjecture therefore, and, in

consequence, the one became most offensively selfconfident, and the other leadenminded to an equal

degree, neither remembering the unswerving wisdom of the proverb, 'Wait! all men are but as the black,

horncased beetles which overrun the inferior cookingrooms of the city, and even at this moment the

"Lee Sing was, by profession, one of those who hunt and ensnare the brilliantlycoloured winged insects

which are to be found in various parts of the Empire in great variety and abundance, it being his duty to send

a certain number every year to Peking to contribute to the amusement of the dignified Emperor. In spite of

the not too intelligent nature of the occupation, Lee Sing took an honourable pride in all matters connected

with it. He disdained, with wellexpressed contempt, to avail himself of the stealthy and somewhat deceptive

methods employed by others engaged in a similar manner of life. In this way he had, from necessity, acquired

agility to an exceptional degree, so that he could leap far into the air, and while in that position select from a

passing band of insects any which he might desire. This useful accomplishment was, in a measure, the direct

means of bringing together the person in question and the engaging Lila; for, on a certain occasion, when Lee

Sing was passing through the streets of Fow Hou, he heard a great outcry, and beheld persons of all ranks

running towards him, pointing at the same time in an upward direction. Turning his gaze in the manner

indicated, Lee beheld, with every variety of astonishment, a powerful and unnaturally large bird of prey,

carrying in its talons the lovely and now insensible Lila, to whom it had been attracted by the magnificence of

her raiment. The rapacious and evillyinspired creature was already above the highest dwellinghouses when

Lee first beheld it, and was plainly directing its course towards the inaccessible mountain crags beyond the

city walls. Nevertheless, Lee resolved upon an inspired effort, and without any hesitation bounded towards it

with such welldirected proficiency, that if he had not stretched forth his hand on passing he would

inevitably have been carried far above the desired object. In this manner he succeeded in dragging the

repulsive and completely disconcerted monster to the ground, where its graceful and unassuming prisoner

was released, and the presumptuous bird itself torn to pieces amid continuous shouts of a most respectful and

"In consequence of this incident the grateful Lila would often deliberately leave the society of the rich and

wellendowed in order to accompany Lee on his journeys in pursuit of exceptionallyprecious winged

insects. Regarding his unusual ability as the undoubted cause of her existence at that moment, she took an

allabsorbing pride in such displays, and would utter loud and frequent exclamations of triumph when Lee

leaped out from behind some rock, where he had lain concealed, and with unfailing regularity secured the

object of his adroit movement. In this manner a state of feeling which was by no means favourable to the

aspiring picturemaker Petsing had long existed between the two persons; but when Lee Sing put the matter

in the form of an explicit petition before Chan Hung (to which adequate reference has already been made),

the nature of the decision then arrived at seemed to clothe the realization of their virtuous and estimable

"'Oh, Lee,' exclaimed the greatlydisappointed maiden when her lover had explained to her the nature of the

arrangementfor in her unassuming admiration of the noble qualities of Lee she had anticipated that Chan

Hung would at once have received him with ceremonious embraces and assurances of his permanent

affection'how unendurable a state of things in this in which we have become involved! Far removed from

this one's anticipations was the thought of becoming inalienably associated with that outrageous person

Petsing, or of entering upon an existence which will necessitate a feigned admiration of his really

unpresentable efforts. Yet in such a manner must the entire circumstance complete its course unless some

ingenious method of evading it can be discovered in the meantime. Alas, my beloved one! the occupation of

ensnaring winged insects is indeed an alluring one, but as far as this person has observed, it is also

exceedingly unproductive of taels. Could not some more expeditious means of enriching yourself be

discovered? Frequently has the unnoticed but nevertheless very attentive Lila heard her father and the

roundbodied ones who visit him speak of exploits which seem to consist of assuming the shapes of certain

wild animals, and in that guise appearing from time to time at the place of exchange within the city walls. As

this form of entertainment is undoubtedly very remunerative in its results, could not the versatile and

readywitted Lee conceal himself within the skin of a bear, or some other untamed beast, and in this garb,

joining them unperceived, play an appointed part and receive a just share of the reward?'

"'The result of such an enterprise might, if the matter chanced to take an unforeseen development, prove of a

very doubtful nature,' replied Lee Sing, to whom, indeed, the proposed venture appeared in a somewhat

undignified light, although, with refined consideration, he withheld such a thought from Lila, who had

proposed it for him, and also confessed that her usually immaculate father had taken part in such an

exhibition. 'Nevertheless, do not permit the dark shadow of an inward cloud to reflect itself upon your almost

invariably amiable countenance, for this person has become possessed of a valuable internal suggestion

which, although he has hitherto neglected, being content with a small but assured competency, would

"'Greatly does this person fear that the valuable internal suggestion of Lee Sing will weigh but lightly in the

commercial balance against the very rapidly executed pictures of Petsing,' said Lila, who had not fully

recalled from her mind a disturbing emotion that Lee would have been well advised to have availed himself

of her ingenious and wellthoughtout suggestion. 'But of what does the matter consist?'

"'It is the best explained by a recital of the circumstances leading up to it,' said Lee. 'Upon an occasion when

this person was passing through the streets of Fow Hou, there gathered around him a company of those who

had, on previous occasions, beheld his exceptional powers of hurtling himself through the air in an upward

direction, praying that he would again delight their senses by a similar spectacle. Not being unwilling to

afford those estimable persons of the amusement they desired, this one, without any elaborate show of

affected hesitancy, put himself into the necessary position, and would without doubt have risen

uninterruptedly almost into the Middle Air, had he not, in making the preparatory movements, placed his left

foot upon an overripe wampee which lay unperceived on the ground. In consequence of this really

blameworthy want of caution the entire manner and direction of this shortsighted individual's movements

underwent a sudden and complete change, so that to those who stood around it appeared as though he were

making a welldirected endeavour to penetrate through the upper surface of the earth. This unexpected

display had the effect of removing the gravity of even the most aged and severeminded persons present, and

for the space of some moments the behaviour and positions of those who stood around were such that they

were quite unable to render any assistance, greatly as they doubtless wished to do so. Being in this manner

allowed a period for inward reflexion of a very concentrated order, it arose within this one's mind that at

every similar occurrence which he had witnessed, those who observed the event had been seized in a like

fashion, being very excessively amused. The fact was made even more undoubted by the manner of behaving

of an exceedingly stout and roundfaced person, who had not been present from the beginning, but who was

affected to a most incredible extent when the details, as they had occurred, were made plain to him, he

declaring, with many references to the Sacred Dragon and the Seven Walled Temple at Peking, that he would

willingly have contributed a specified number of taels rather than have missed the diversion. When at length

this person reached his own chamber, he diligently applied himself to the task of carrying into practical effect

the suggestion which had arisen in his mind. By an arrangement of transparent glasses and reflecting

surfaceswhich, were it not for a welldefined natural modesty, he would certainly be tempted to describe

as highly ingenioushe ultimately succeeded in bringing about the effect he desired.'

"With these words Lee put into Lila's hands an object which closely resembled the contrivances by which

those who are not sufficiently powerful to obtain positions near the raised platform, in the Halls of Celestial

Harmony, are nevertheless enabled to observe the complexions and attire of all around them. Regulating it by

means of a hidden spring, he requested her to follow closely the actions of a heavilyburdened passerby who

was at that moment some little distance beyond them. Scarcely had Lila raised the glass to her eyes than she

became irresistibly amused to a most infectious degree, greatly to the satisfaction of Lee, who therein beheld

the realization of his hopes. Not for the briefest space of time would she permit the object to pass from her,

but directed it at every person who came within her sight, with frequent and unfeigned exclamations of

"'How pleasant and fascinating a device is this!' exclaimed Lila at length. 'By what means is so diverting and

"'Further than that it is the concentration of much labour of continually trying with glasses and reflecting

surfaces, this person is totally unable to explain it,' replied Lee. 'The chief thing, however, is that at whatever

moving object it is directedno matter whether a person so observed is being carried in a chair, riding upon

an animal, or merely walkingat a certain point he has every appearance of being unexpectedly hurled to the

ground in a most violent and mirthprovoking manner. Would not the stout and roundfaced one, who would

cheerfully have contributed a certain number of taels to see this person manifest a similar exhibition,

unhesitatingly lay out that sum to secure the means of so gratifying his emotions whenever he felt the desire,

even with the revered persons of the most dignified ones in the Empire? Is there, indeed, a single person

between the Wall and the Bitter Waters on the South who is so devoid of ambition that he would miss the

opportunity of subjecting, as it were, perhaps even the sacred Emperor himself to the exceptional feat?'

"'The temptation to possess one would inevitably prove overwhelming to any person of ordinary intelligence,'

admitted Lila. 'Yet, in spite of this one's unassumed admiration for the contrivance, internal doubts regarding

the ultimate happiness of the two persons who are now discussing the matter again attack her. She recollects,

somewhat dimly, an almost forgotten, but nevertheless, very unassailable proverb, which declares that more

contentment of mind can assuredly be obtained from the unexpected discovery of a tael among the folds of a

discarded garment than could, in the most favourable circumstances, ensue from the wellthoughtout

construction of the new and hitherto unknown device. Furthermore, although the span of a year may seem

unaccountably protracted when persons who reciprocate engaging sentiments are parted, yet when the

acceptance or refusal of Petsing's undesirable pledginggifts hangs upon the accomplishment of a remote

and not very probable object within that period, it becomes as a breath of wind passing through an autumn

"Since the day when Lila and Lee had sat together side by side, and conversed in this unrestrained and

irreproachable manner, the great skylantern had many times been obscured for a period. Only an

insignificant portion of the year remained, yet the affairs of Lee Sing were in no more prosperous a condition

than before, nor had he found an opportunity to set aside any store of taels. Each day the unsupportable

Petsing became more and more obtrusive and selfconceited, even to the extent of throwing far into the air

coins of insignificant value whenever he chanced to pass Lee in the street, at the same time urging him to leap

after them and thereby secure at least one or two pieces of money against the day of calculating. In a similar

but entirely opposite fashion, Lila and Lee experienced the acutest pangs of an evergrowing despair, until

their only form of greeting consisted in gazing into each other's eyes with a soulbenumbing expression of

"Yet at this very time, when even the natural and unalterable powers seemed to be conspiring against the

success of Lee's modest and inoffensive hopes, an event was taking place which was shortly to reverse the

entire settled arrangement of persons and affairs, and involved Fow Hou in a very inextricable state of

uncertainty. For, not to make a pretence of concealing a matter which has been already in part revealed, the

Mandarin Chan Hung had by this time determined to act in the manner which Minghi had suggested; so that

on a certain morning Lee Sing was visited by two persons, bearing between them a very weighty sack of

taels, who also conveyed to him the fact that a like amount would be deposited within his door at the end of

each succeeding seven days. Although Lee's occupation had in the past been very meagrely rewarded, either

by taels of by honour, the circumstance which resulted in his now receiving so excessively large a sum is not

made clear until the detail of Minghi's scheme is closely examined. The matter then becomes plain, for it

had been suggested by that person that the most proficient in any occupation should be rewarded to a certain

extent, and the least proficient to another stated extent, the original amounts being reversed. When those

engaged by Chang Hung to draw up the various rates came to the profession of ensnaring winged insects,

however, they discovered that Lee Sing was the only one of that description in Fow Hou, so that it became

necessary in consequence to allot him a double portion, one amount as the most proficient, and a much larger

"It is unnecessary now to follow the not altogether satisfactory condition of affairs which began to exist in

Fow Hou as soon as the scheme was put into operation. The full written papers dealing with the matter are in

the Hall of Public Reference at Peking, and can be seen by any person on the payment of a few taels to

everyone connected with the establishment. Those who found their possessions reduced thereby completely

overlooked the obvious justice of the arrangement, and immediately began to take most severe measures to

have the order put aside; while those who suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves raised to positions of

affluence tended to the same end by conducting themselves in a most incapable and undiscriminating manner.

And during the entire period that this state of things existed in Fow Hou the really contemptible Minghi

continually followed Chan Hung about from place to place, spreading out his feet towards him, and allowing

"Chief among those who sought to have the original manner of rewarding persons again established was the

picturemaker, Petsing, who now found himself in a condition of most abject poverty, so unbearable,

indeed, that he frequently went by night, carrying a lantern, in the hope that he might discover some of the

small pieces of money which he had been accustomed to throw into the air on meeting Lee Sing. To his pangs

of hunger was added the fear that he would certainly lose Lila, so that from day to day he redoubled his

efforts, and in the end, by using false statements and other artifices of a questionable nature, the party which

he led was successful in obtaining the degradation of Chan Hung and his dismissal from office, together with

"On the last day of the year which Chan Hung had appointed as the period of test for his daughter's suitors,

the person in question was seated in a chamber of his new abodea residence of unassuming appearance but

undoubted comfortsurrounded by Lila and Lee, when the hanging curtains were suddenly flung aside, and

Petsing, followed by two persons of low rank bearing sacks of money, appeared among them.

"'Chan Hung,' he said at length, 'in the past events arose which compelled this person to place himself against

you in your official position. Nevertheless, he has always maintained towards you personally an unchanging

affection, and understanding full well that you are one of those who maintain their spoken word in spite of all

happenings, he has now come to exhibit the taels which he has collected together, and to claim the fulfilment

"With these words the commonplace picturemaker poured forth the contents of the sacks, and stood looking

"'Petsing,' replied Chan Hung, rising from his couch and speaking in so severe and impressive a voice that

the two servants of Petsing at once fled in great apprehension, 'this person has also found it necessary, in his

official position, to oppose you; but here the similarity ends, for, on his part, he has never felt towards you the

remotest degree of affection. Nevertheless, he is always desirous, as you say, that persons should regard their

spoken word, and as you seem to hold a promise from the Chief Mandarin of Fow Hou regarding

marriagegifts towards his daughter, he would advise you to go at once to that person. A misunderstanding

has evidently arisen, for the one whom you are addressing is merely Chan Hung, and the words spoken by the

Mandarin have no sort of interest for himindeed, he understands that all that person's acts have been

reversed, so that he fails to see how anyone at all can regard you and your claim in other than a

gravityremoving light. Furthermore, the maiden in question is now definitely and irretrievably pledged to

this faithful and successful one by my side, who, as you will doubtless be gracefully overjoyed to learn, has

recently disposed of a most ingenious and diverting contrivance for an enormous number of taels, so many,

indeed, that both the immediate and the fardistant future of all the persons who are here before you are now

"At these words the three persons whom he had interrupted again turned their attention to the matter before

them; but as Petsing walked away, he observed, though he failed to understand the meaning, that they all

raised certain objects to their eyes, and at once became amused to a most striking and uncontrollable degree."

As Kai Lung, the storyteller, unrolled his mat and selected, with grave deliberation, the spot under the

mulberrytree which would the longest remain sheltered from the sun's rays, his impassive eye wandered

round the thin circle of listeners who had been drawn together by his uplifted voice, with a glance which, had

it expressed his actual thoughts, would have betrayed a keen desire that the assembly should be composed of

strangers rather than of his most consistent patrons, to whom his stock of tales was indeed becoming

embarrassingly familiar. Nevertheless, when he began there was nothing in his voice but a trace of

insufficiently restrained triumph, such as might be fitly assumed by one who has discovered and makes

"Have already thrice been narrated within Wuwhei by the versatile but exceedingly uninventive Kai Lung,"

remarked Wang Yu placidly. "Indeed, has there not come to be a saying by which an exceptionally frugal

host's rice, having undoubtedly seen the inside of the pot many times, is now known in this town as

"Alas!" exclaimed Kai Lung, "well was this person warned of Wuwhei in the previous village, as a place of

desolation and excessively bad taste, whose inhabitants, led by an evilminded maker of very commonplace

pipes, named Wang Yu, are unable to discriminate in all matters not connected with the cooking of food and

the evasion of just debts. They at Shan Tzu hung on to my cloak as I strove to leave them, praying that I

would again entrance their ears with what they termed the melodious wordmusic of this person's inimitable

"Truly the story of YuinPel is in itself excellent," interposed the conciliatory Hi Seng; "and Kai Lung's

accomplishment of having three times repeated it here without deviating in the particular of a single word

from the first recital stamps him as a storyteller of no ordinary degree. Yet the saying 'Although it is

desirable to lose persistently when playing at squares and circles with the broadminded and sagacious

Emperor, it is none the less a fact that the observance of this etiquette deprives the intellectual diversion of

much of its interest for both players', is no less true today than when the all knowing H'sou uttered it."

"They well saidthey of Shan Tzuthat the people of Wuwhei were intolerably ignorant and of low

descent," continued Kai Lung, without heeding the interruption; "that although invariably of a timorous

nature, even to the extent of retiring to the woods on the approach of those who select bowmen for the

Imperial army, all they require in a story is that it shall be garnished with deeds of bloodshed and violence to

the exclusion of the higher qualities of wellimagined metaphors and literary style which alone constitute

"Yet it has been said," suggested Hi Seng, "that the inimitable Kai Lung can so mould a narrative in the

telling that all the emotions are conveyed therein without unduly disturbing the intellects of the hearers."

"O amiable Hi Seng," replied Kai Lung with extreme affability, "doubtless you are the most expert of

watercarriers, and on a hot and dusty day, when the insatiable desire of all persons is towards a draught of

unusual length without much regard to its composition, the sight of your goatskins is indeed a welcome

omen; yet when in the season of Cold White Rains you chance to meet the belated chaircarrier who has

been reluctantly persuaded into conveying persons beyond the limit of the city, the solitary official watchman

who knows that his chief is not at hand, or a returning band of those who make a practise of remaining in the

long narrow rooms until they are driven forth at a certain gongstroke, can you supply them with the smallest

portion of that invigorating rice spirit for which alone they crave? From this simple and homely illustration,

specially conceived to meet the requirements of your stunted and meagre understanding, learn not to expect

both grace and thorns from the willowtree. Nevertheless, your very immature remarks on the art of

storytelling are in no degree more foolish than those frequently uttered by persons who make a living by

such a practice; in proof of which this person will relate to the select and discriminating company now

assembled an entirely new and unrecorded storythat, indeed, of the unworthy, but frequently

"The story of Kai Lung!" exclaimed Wang Yu. "Why not the story of Ting, the sightless beggar, who has sat

all his life outside the Temple of Miraculous Cures? Who is Kai Lung, that he should have a story? Is he not

known to us all here? Is not his speech that of this Province, his food mean, his arms and legs unshaven?

Does he carry a sword or wear silk raiment? Frequently have we seen him fatigued with journeying; many

times has he arrived destitute of money; nor, on those occasions when a newlyappointed and unnecessarily

officious Mandarin has commanded him to betake himself elsewhere and struck him with a rod has Kai Lung

caused the stick to turn into a deadly serpent and destroy its master, as did the just and dignified Lu Fei. How,

then, can Kai Lung have a story that is not also the story of Wang Yu and Hi Seng, and all others here?"

"Indeed, if the refined and enlightened Wang Yu so decides, it must assuredly be true," said Kai Lung

patiently; "yet (since even trifles serve to dispel the darker thoughts of existence) would not the history of so

small a matter as an opium pipe chain his intelligent consideration? such a pipe, for example, as this person

beheld only today exposed for sale, the bowl composed of the finest red clay, delicately baked and fashioned,

the long bamboo stem smoother than the sacred tooth of the divine Buddha, the spreading support patiently

and cunningly carved with scenes representing the Seven Joys, and the Tenth Hell of unbelievers."

"Ah!" exclaimed Wang Yu eagerly, "it is indeed as you say, a Mandarin among masterpieces. That pipe, O

most unobserving Kai Lung, is the work of this retiring and superficial person who is now addressing you,

and, though the fact evidently escaped your allseeing glance, the place where it is exposed is none other

than his shop of 'The Fountain of Beauty', which you have on many occasions endowed with your honourable

"Doubtless the carving is the work of the accomplished Wang Yu, and the fitting together," replied Kai Lung;

"but the materials for so refined and ornamental a production must of necessity have been brought many

thousand li; the clay perhaps from the renowned beds of Honan, the wood from Peking, and the bamboo from

"For what reason?" said Wang Yu proudly. "At this person's very door is a pit of red clay, purer and infinitely

more regular than any to be found at Honan; the hard wood of Wuwhei is extolled among carvers

throughout the Empire, while no bamboo is straighter or more smooth than that which grows in the

"O most inconsistent Wang Yu!" cried the storyteller, "assuredly a very commendable local pride has

dimmed your usually penetrating eyesight. Is not the clay pit of which you speak that in which you fashioned

exceedingly unsymmetrical imitations of ratpies in your childhood? How, then, can it be equal to those of

Honan, which you have never seen? In the dark glades of these woods have you not chased the gorgeous

butterfly, and, in later years, the no less gaily attired maidens of Wuwhei in the entrancing game of Kiss in

the Circle? Have not the bambootrees to which you have referred provided you with the ideal material

wherewith to roof over those cunninglyconstructed pits into which it has ever been the chief delight of the

young and audacious to lure dignified and unnaturally stout Mandarins? All these things you have seen and

used ever since your mother made a successful offering to the Goddess KumFa. How, then, can they be

even equal to the products of remote Honan and fabulous Peking? Assuredly the generally veracious Wang

Yu speaks this time with closed eyes and will, upon mature reflexion, eat his words."

"Behold the length of this person's pigtail," he exclaimed, "the whiteness of his moustaches and the venerable

appearance of his beard! There is no more aged person presentif, indeed, there be such a one in all the

Province. It accordingly devolves upon him to speak in this matter, which shall be as follows: The

nobleminded and proficient Kai Lung shall relate the story as he has proposed, and the garrulous Wang Yu

shall twice contribute to Kai Lung's bowl when it is passed round, once for himself and once for this person,

in order they he may learn either to be more discreet or more proficient in the art of aptly replying."

"The events which it is this person's presumptuous intention to describe to this largehearted and

providentially indulgent gathering," began Kai Lung, when his audience had become settled, and the wooden

bowl had passed to and fro among them, "did not occupy many years, although they were of a nature which

made them of far more importance than all the remainder of his existence, thereby supporting the sage

discernment of the philosopher Wenweng, who first made the observation that man is greatly inferior to the

meanest fly, inasmuch as that creature, although granted only a day's span of life, contrives during that period

"Unutterably to the astonishment and dismay of this person and all those connected with him (for several of

the most expensive readers of the future to be found in the Empire had declared that his life would be marked

by great events, his career a source of continual wonder, and his death a misfortune to those who had dealings

with him) his efforts to take a degree at the public literary competitions were not attended with any adequate

success. In view of the plainly expressed advice of his father it therefore became desirable that this person

should turn his attention to some other method of regaining the esteem of those upon whom he was

dependent for all the necessaries of existence. Not having the means wherewith to engage in any form of

commerce, and being entirely ignorant of all matters save the now useless details of attempting to pass public

examinations, he reluctantly decided that he was destined to become one of those who imagine and write out

"This determination was favourably received, and upon learning it, this person's dignified father took him

aside, and with many assurances of regard presented to him a written sentence, which, he said, would be of

incomparable value to one engaged in a literary career, and should in fact, without any particular

qualifications, insure an honourable competency. He himself, he added, with what at the time appeared to this

one as an unnecessary regard for detail, having taken a very high degree, and being in consequence appointed

to a distinguished and remunerative position under the Board of Fines and Tortures, had never made any use

"The written sentence, indeed, was all that it had been pronounced. It had been composed by a remote

ancestor, who had spent his entire life in crystallizing all his knowledge and experience into a few written

lines, which as a result became correspondingly precious. It defined in a very original and profound manner

several undisputable principles, and was so engagingly subtle in its manner of expression that the most

superficial person was irresistibly thrown into a deep inward contemplation upon reading it. When it was

complete, the person who had contrived this ingenious masterpiece, discovering by means of omens that he

still had ten years to live, devoted each remaining year to the task of reducing the sentence by one word

without in any way altering its meaning. This unapproachable example of conciseness found such favour in

the eyes of those who issue printed leaves that as fast as this person could inscribe stories containing it they

were eagerly purchased; and had it not been for a very incapable want of foresight on this narrowminded

individual's part, doubtless it would still be affording him an agreeable and permanent means of living.

"Unquestionably the enlightened Wenweng was well acquainted with the subject when he exclaimed,

'Better a frugal dish of olives flavoured with honey than the most sumptuously devised puppypie of which

the greater portion is sent forth in silverlined boxes and partaken of by others.' At that time, however, this

versatile sayingwhich so gracefully conveys the truth of the undeniable fact that what a person possesses is

sufficient if he restrain his mind from desiring aught elsewould have been lightly treated by this

selfconceited storyteller even if his immature faculties had enabled him fully to understand the import of

"At that time Tiao Ts'un was undoubtedly the most beautiful maiden in all Peking. So frequently were the

verses describing her habits and appearances affixed in the most prominent places of the city, that many

persons obtained an honourable livelihood by frequenting those spots and disposing of the sacks of written

papers which they collected to merchants who engaged in that commerce. Owing to the fame attained by his

written sentence, this really very much inferior being had many opportunities of meeting the incomparable

maiden Tiao at flowerfeasts, melonseed assemblies, and those gatherings where persons of both sexes

exhibit themselves in revolving attitudes, and are permitted to embrace openly without reproach; whereupon

he became so subservient to her charms and virtues that he lost no opportunity of making himself utterly

unendurable to any who might chance to speak to, or even gaze upon, this Heavensent creature.

"So successful was this person in his endeavour to meet the sublime Tiao and to gain her conscientious

esteem that all emotions of prudence forsook him, or it would soon have become apparent even to his

enfeebled understanding that such consistent good fortune could only be the work of unforgiving and

malignant spirits whose illwill he had in some way earned, and who were luring him on in order that they

might accomplish his destruction. That object was achieved on a certain evening when this person stood

alone with Tiao upon an eminence overlooking the city and watched the great skylantern rise from behind

the hills. Under these delicate and ennobling influences he gave speech to many very ornamental and refined

thoughts which arose within his mind concerning the graceful brilliance of the light which was cast all

around, yet notwithstanding which a still more exceptional and brilliant light was shining in his own internal

organs by reason of the nearness of an even purer and more engaging orb. There was no need, this person felt,

to hide even his most inside thoughts from the dignified and sympathetic being at his side, so without

hesitation he spokein what he believes even now must have been a very decorative mannerof the many

thousand persons who were then wrapped in sleep, of the constantly changing lights which appeared in the

"'O Kai Lung,' exclaimed the lovely Tiao, when this person had made an end of speaking, 'how expertly and

in what a proficient manner do you express yourself, uttering even the sentiments which this person has felt

inwardly, but for which she has no words. Why, indeed, do you not inscribe them in a book?'

"Under her elevating influence it had already occurred to this illiterate individual that it would be a more

dignified and, perhaps, even a more profitable course for him to write out and dispose of, to those who print

such matters, the versatile and highminded expressions which now continually formed his thoughts, rather

than be dependent upon the concise sentence for which, indeed, he was indebted to the wisdom of a remote

ancestor. Tiao's spoken word fully settled his determination, so that without delay he set himself to the task of

composing a story which should omit the usual sentence, but should contain instead a large number of his

most graceful and diamondlike thoughts. So engrossed did this nearsighted and superficial person become

in the task (which daily seemed to increase rather than lessen as new and still more sublime images arose

within his mind) that many months passed before the matter was complete. In the end, instead of a story, it

had assumed the proportions of an important and manyvolumed book; while Tiao had in the meantime

accepted the wedding gifts of an objectionable and excessively roundbodied individual, who had amassed

an inconceivable number of taels by inducing persons to take part in what at first sight appeared to be an

ingenious but very easy competition connected with the order in which certain horses should arrive at a given

and clearly defined spot. By that time, however, this unduly sanguine storyteller had become completely

entranced in his work, and merely regarded TiaoTs'un as a Heavensent but no longer necessary incentive

to his success. With every hope, therefore, he went forth to dispose of his written leaves, confident of finding

some very wealthy person who would be in a condition to pay him the correct value of the work.

"At the end of two years this somewhat disillusionized but still undaunted person chanced to hear of a

benevolent and unassuming body of men who made a habit of issuing works in which they discerned merit,

but which, nevertheless, others were unanimous in describing as 'of no good'. Here this person was received

with gracious effusion, and being in a position to impress those with whom he was dealing with his

undoubted knowledge of the subject, he finally succeeded in making a very advantageous arrangement by

which he was to pay onehalf of the number of taels expended in producing the work, and to receive in return

all the profits which should result from the undertaking. Those who were concerned in the matter were so

engagingly impressed with the incomparable literary merit displayed in the production that they counselled a

great number of copies being made ready in order, as they said, that this person should not lose by there being

any delay when once the accomplishment became the one topic of conversation in teahouses and yamens.

From this cause it came about that the matter of taels to be expended was much greater than had been

anticipated at the beginning, so that when the day arrived on which the volumes were to be sent forth this

"Alas! how small a share has a person in the work of controlling his own destiny. Had only the necessarily

penurious and now almost degraded Kai Lung been born a brief span before the great writer Lo Kuan Chang,

his name would have been received with every mark of esteem from one end of the Empire to the other, while

taels and honourable decorations would have been showered upon him. For the truth, which could no longer

be concealed, revealed the fact that this inopportune individual possessed a mind framed in such a manner

that his thoughts had already been the thoughts of the inspired Lo Kuan, who, as this person would not be so

presumptuous as to inform this ornamental and wellinformed gathering, was the most ingenious and

versatileminded composer of written words that this Empireand therefore the entire worldhas seen, as,

indeed, his honourable title of 'The Manyhued Mandarin Duck of the Yangtse' plainly indicates.

"Although this selfopinionated person had frequently been greatly surprised himself during the writing of

his long work by the brilliance and manysidedness of the thoughts and metaphors which arose in his mind

without conscious effort, it was not until the appearance of the printed leaves which make a custom of

warning persons against being persuaded into buying certain books that he definitely understood how all

these things had been fully expressed many dynasties ago by the allknowing Lo Kuan Chang, and formed,

indeed, the great national standard of unapproachable excellence. Unfortunately, this person had been so

deeply engrossed all his life in literary pursuits that he had never found an opportunity to glance at the works

in question, or he would have escaped the embarrassing position in which he now found himself.

"It was with a hopeless sense of illness of ease that this unhappy one reached the day on which the printed

leaves already alluded to would make known their deliberate opinion of his writing, the extremity of his hope

being that some would at least credit him with honourable motives, and perhaps a knowledge that if the

inspired Lo Kuan Chan had never been born the entire matter might have been brought to a very different

conclusion. Alas! only one among the many printed leaves which made reference to the venture contained

any words of friendship or encouragement. This benevolent exception was sent forth from a city in the

extreme Northern Province of the Empire, and contained many inspiring though delicately guarded messages

of hope for the one to whom they gracefully alluded as 'this undoubtedly youthful, but nevertheless, distinctly

promising writer of books'. While admitting that altogether they found the production undeniably tedious,

they claimed to have discovered indications of an obvious talent, and therefore they unhesitatingly counselled

the person in question to take courage at the prospect of a moderate competency which was certainly within

his grasp if he restrained his somewhat overambitious impulses and closely observed the simple subjects

and manner of expression of their own Chang Chow, whose 'Lines to a Wayside Chrysanthemum',

'Mongolians who Have', and several other composed pieces, they then set forth. Although it became plain that

the writer of this amiably devised notice was, like this incapable person, entirely unacquainted with the

masterpieces of Lo Kuan Chang, yet the indisputable fact remained that, entirely on its merit, the work had

been greeted with undoubted enthusiasm, so that after purchasing many examples of the refined printed leaf

containing it, this person sat far into the night continually reading over the one unprejudiced and

"All the other printed leaves displayed a complete absence of good taste in dealing with the mater. One

boldly asserted that the entire circumstance was the outcome of a foolish jest or wager on the part of a person

who possessed a million taels; another predicted that it was a cunning and elaborately thoughtout method of

obtaining the attention of the people on the part of certain persons who claimed to vend a reliable and

fragrantlyscented cleansing substance. The "Valley of Hoang Rose Leaves and Sweetness" hoped, in a spirit

of no sincerity, that the ingenious Kai Lung would not rest on his tealeaves, but would soon send forth an

equally entertaining amended example of the "Sayings of Confucious" and other sacred works, while the

"Pure Essence of the Seven Days' Happenings" merely printed side by side portions from the two books

under the large inscription, 'IS THERE REALLY ANY NEED FOR US TO EXPRESS OURSELVES

"The disappointment both as regards public esteem and taelsfor, after the manner in which the work had

been received by those who advise on such productions, not a single example was purchasedthrew this

illdestined individual into a condition of most unendurable depression, from which he was only aroused by

a remarkable example of the unfailing wisdom of the proverb which says 'Before hastening to secure a

possible reward of five taels by dragging an unobservant person away from a falling building, examine well

his features lest you find, when too late, that it is one to whom you are indebted for double that amount.'

Disappointed in the hope of securing large gains from the sale of his great work, this person now turned his

attention again to his former means of living, only to find, however, that the discredit in which he had

become involved even attached itself to his concise sentence; for in place of the remunerative and honourable

manner in which it was formerly received, it was now regarded on all hands with open suspicion. Instead of

meekly kowtowing to an evidently prearranged doom, the last misfortune aroused this usually resigned

storyteller to an ungovernable frenzy. Regarding the accomplished but at the same time exceedingly

overproductive Lo Kuan Chang as the beginning of all his evils, he took a solemn oath as a mark of

disapproval that he had not been content to inscribe on paper only half of his brilliant thoughts, leaving the

other half for the benefit of this hardstriving and equally wellendowed individual, in which case there

"For a very considerable space of time this person could conceive no method by which he might attain his

object. At length, however, as a result of very keen and subtle intellectual searching, and many wellselected

sacrifices, it was conveyed by means of a dream that one very ingenious yet simple way was possible. The

renowned and universallyadmired writings of the distinguished Lo Kuan for the most part take their action

within a few dynasties of their creator's own time: all that remained for this inventive person to accomplish,

therefore, was to trace out the entire matter, making the words and speeches to proceed from the mouths of

those who existed in still earlier periods. By this crafty method it would at once appear as though the

nottoooriginal Lo Kuan had been indebted to one who came before him for all his most subtle thoughts,

and, in consequence, his tomb would become dishonoured and his memory execrated. Without any delay this

person cheerfully set himself to the somewhat laborious task before him. Lo Kuan's wellknown exclamation

of the Emperor Tsing on the battlefield of Shihho, 'A sedanchair! a sedanchair! This person will

unhesitatingly exchange his entire and wellregulated Empire for such an article', was attributed to an

Emperor who lived several thousand years before the treacherous and unpopular Tsing. The new matter of a

no less frequently quoted portion ran: 'O nobly intentioned but nevertheless exceedingly morose Tungshin,

the object before you is your distinguished and evillydisposedof father's honourablyinspired demon', the

change of a name effecting whatever alteration was necessary; while the delicatelyimagined speech

beginning 'The person who becomes amused at matters resulting from doubleedged knives has assuredly

never felt the effect of a welldirected blow himself' was taken from the mouth of one person and placed in

that of one of his remote ancestors. In such a manner, without in any great degree altering the matter of Lo

Kuan's works, all the scenes and persons introduced were transferred to much earlier dynasties than those

affected by the incomparable writer himself, the final effect being to give an air of extreme unoriginality to

"Satisfied with his accomplishment, and followed by a hired person of low class bearing the writings, which,

by nature of the research necessary in fixing the various dates and places so that even the wary should be

deceived, had occupied the greater part of a year, this now fully confident storytellerunmindful of the

welltried excellence of the inspired saying, 'Money is hundredfooted; upon perceiving a tael lying

apparently unobserved upon the floor, do not lose the time necessary in stooping, but quickly place your foot

upon it, for one fails nothing in dignity thereby; but should it be a gold piece, distrust all things, and valuing

dignity but as an empty name, cast your entire body upon it'went forth to complete his great task of finally

erasing from the mind and records of the Empire the hitherto venerated name of Lo Kuan Chang. Entering the

place of commerce of the one who seemed the most favourable for the purpose, he placed the facts as they

would in future be represented before him, explained the undoubtedly remunerative fame that would ensue to

all concerned in the enterprise of sending forth the printed books in their new form, and, opening at a venture

the written leaves which he had brought with him, read out the following words as an indication of the

"'WhaiKeng: Friends, Chinamen, labourers who are engaged in agricultural pursuits, entrust to this person

"'He has merely come to assist in depositing the body of Ko'ung in the Family Temple, not for the purpose of

"'The unremunerative actions of which persons may have been guilty possess an exceedingly undesirable

"'The successful and wellconsidered almost invariably are involved in a directly contrary course;

"When this one had read so far, he paused in order to give the other an opportunity if breaking in and offering

half his possessions to be allowed to share in the undertaking. As he remained unaccountably silent, however,

an inelegant pause occurred which this person at length broke by desiring an expressed opinion on the matter.

"'O exceedingly painstaking, but nevertheless highly inopportune Kai Lung,' he replied at length, while in his

countenance this person read an expression of noencouragement towards his venture, 'all your entrancing

efforts do undoubtedly appear to attract the undesirable attention of some spiteful and tyrannical demon. This

closelywritten and elaborately devised work is in reality not worth the labour of a single stroke, nor is there

in all Peking a sender forth of printed leaves who would encourage any project connected with its issue.'

"'But the importance of such a fact as that which would clearly show the hitherto venerated Lo Kuan Chang

to be a person who passed off as his own the work of an earlier one!' cried this person in despair, well

knowing that the deliberately expressed opinion of the one before him was a matter that would rule all others.

"'The interest would not demand more than a few lines in the ordinary printed leaves,' replied the other

calmly. 'Indeed, in a manner of speaking, it is entirely a detail of no consequence whether or not the sublime

Lo Kuan ever existed. In reality his very commonplace name may have been simply Lung; his inspired work

may have been written a score of dynasties before him by some other person, or they may have been

composed by the enlightened Emperor of the period, who desired to conceal the fact, yet these matters would

not for a moment engage the interest of any ordinary passerby. Lo Kuan Chang is not a person in the

ordinary expression; he is an embodiment of a distinguished and utterly unassailable national institution. The

Heavensent works with which he is, by general consent, connected form the necessary unchangeable

standard of literary excellence, and remain for ever above rivalry and above mistrust. For this reason the

"In the course of a not uneventful existence this selfdeprecatory person has suffered many reverses and

disappointments. During his youth the highminded Empress on one occasion stopped and openly

complimented him on the dignified outline presented by his body in profile, and when he was relying upon

this incident to secure him a very remunerative public office, a jealous and powerful Mandarin substituted a

somewhat similar, though really very much inferior, person for him at the interview which the Empress had

commanded. Frequently in matters of commerce which have appeared to promise very satisfactorily at the

beginning this person has been induced to entrust sums of money to others, when he had hoped from the

indications and the manner of speaking that the exact contrary would be the case; and in one instance he was

released at a vast price from the torture dungeon in Cantonwhere he had been thrown by the subtle and

unconscientious plots of one who could not relate stories in so accurate and unvarying a manner as

himselfon the day before that on which all persons were freely set at liberty on account of exceptional

public rejoicing. Yet in spite of these and many other very unendurable incidents, this impetuous and

illstarred being never felt so great a desire to retire to a solitary place and there disfigure himself

permanently as a mark of his unfeigned internal displeasure, as on the occasion when he endured extreme

poverty and great personal inconvenience for an entire year in order that he might take away face from the

memory of a person who was so placed that no one expressed any interest in the matter.

"Since then this very illclad and really necessitous person has devoted himself to the honourable but

exceedingly arduous and in general unremunerative occupation of storytelling. To this he would add

nothing save that not infrequently a noblyborn and highlycultured audience is so entranced with his

commonplace efforts to hold the attention, especially when a story not hitherto known has been related, that

in order to afford it an opportunity of expressing its gratification, he has been requested to allow another

offering to be made by all persons present at the conclusion of the entertainment."

For a period not to be measured by days or weeks the air of Chingfow had been as unrestful as that of the

locust plains beyond the Great Wall, for every speech which passed bore two faces, one fair to hear, as a

greeting, but the other insidiously speaking behind a screen, of rebellion, violence, and the hope of

overturning the fixed order of events. With those whom they did not mistrust of treachery persons spoke in

low voices of definite plans, while at all times there might appear in prominent places of the city skilfully

composed notices setting forth great wrongs and injustices towards which resignation and a lowly bearing

were outwardly counselled, yet with the same words cunningly inflaming the minds, even of the patient, as

no pouring out of passionate thoughts and undignified threatenings could have done. Among the people,

unknown, unseen, and unsuspected, except to the proved ones to whom they desired to reveal themselves,

moved the agents of the Three Societies. While to the many of Chingfow nothing was desired or even

thought of behind the downfall of their own officials, and, chief of all, the execution of the evilminded and

depraved Mandarin Ping Siang, whose cruelties and extortions had made his name an object of wide and

deserved loathing, the agents only regarded the city as a bright spot in the line of blood and fire which they

were fanning into life from Peking to Canton, and which would presumably burst forth and involve the entire

Although it had of late become a plain fact, by reason of the manner of behaving of the people, that events of

a sudden and turbulent nature could not long be restrained, yet outwardly there was no exhibition of violence,

not even to the length of resisting those whom Ping Siang sent to enforce his unjust demands, chiefly because

a wellfounded whisper had been sent round that nothing was to be done until Tung Fel should arrive, which

would not be until the seventh day in the month of Winged Dragons. To this all persons agreed, for the more

aged among them, who, by virtue of their years, were also the formers of opinion in all matters, called up

within their memories certain events connected with the two persons in question which appeared to give to

Tung Fel the privilege of expressing himself clearly when the matter of finally dealing with the malicious and

Among the mountains which enclose Chingfow on the southern side dwelt a jadeseeker, who also kept

goats. Although a young man and entirely without relations, he had, by patient industry, contrived to collect

together a large flock of the bestformed and most prolific goats to be found in the neighbourhood, all the

money which he received in exchange for jade being quickly bartered again for the finest animals which he

could obtain. He was dauntless in penetrating to the most inaccessible parts of the mountains in search of the

stone, unfailing in his skilful care of the flock, in which he took much honourable pride, and on all occasions

discreet and unassumingly restrained in his discourse and manner of life. Knowing this to be his invariable

practice, it was with emotions of an agreeable curiosity that on the seventh day of the month of Winged

Dragons those persons who were passing from place to place in the city beheld this young man, Yang Hu,

descending the mountain path with unmistakable signs of profound agitation, and an entire absence of

prudent care. Following him closely to the inner square of the city, on the continually expressed plea that they

themselves had business in that quarter, these persons observed Yang Hu take up a position of unendurable

dejection as he gazed reproachfully at the figure of the allknowing Buddha which surmounted the Temple

"Alas!" he exclaimed, lifting up his voice, when it became plain that a large number of people was assembled

awaiting his words, "to what end does a person strive in this excessively evillyregulated district? Or is it that

this obscure and illdestined one alone is marked out as with a deep white cross for humiliation and ruin?

Father, and Sacred Temple of Ancestral Virtues, wherein the meanest can repose their trust, he has none;

while now, being more destitute than the beggar at the gate, the hope of honourable marriage and a robust

family of sons is more remote than the chance of finding the miracleworking Crystal Image which marks

the last footstep of the Pure One. Yesterday this person possessed no secret store of silver or gold, nor had he

knowledge of any special amount of jade hidden among the mountains, but to his call there responded four

score goats, the most select and majestic to be found in all the Province, of which, nevertheless, it was his

yearly custom to sacrifice one, as those here can testify, and to offer another as a duty to the Yamen of Ping

Siang, in neither case opening his eyes widely when the hour for selecting arrived. Yet in what an unseemly

manner is his respectful piety and courteous loyalty rewarded! Today, before this person went forth on his

usual quest, there came those bearing written papers by which they claimed, on the authority of Ping Siang,

the whole of this person's flock, as a punishment and fine for his not contributing without warning to the

Celebration of Kissing the Emperor's Facethe very obligation of such a matter being entirely unknown to

him. Nevertheless, those who came drove off this person's entire wealth, the desperately won increase of a

life full of great toil and uncomplainingly endured hardship, leaving him only his cave in the rocks, which

even the most grasping of manyhanded Mandarins cannot remove, his cloak of skins, which no beggar

would gratefully receive, and a bright and increasing light of deep hate scorching within his mind which

nothing but the blood of the obdurate extortioner can efficiently quench. No protection of charms or

heavilymailed bowmen shall avail him, for in his craving for just revenge this person will meet witchcraft

with a Heavensent cause and oppose an unsleeping subtlety against strength. Therefore let not the innocent

suffer through an insufficient understanding, O Divine One, but direct the hand of your faithful worshipper

towards the heart that is proud in tyranny, and holds as empty words the clearly defined promise of an

Scarcely had Yang Hu made an end of speaking before there happened an event which could be regarded in

no other light than as a direct answer to his plainly expressed request for a definite sign. Upon the clear air,

which had become unnaturally still at Yang Hu's words, as though to remove any chance of doubt that this

indeed was the requested answer, came the loud beating of many very powerful brass gongs, indicating the

approach of some person of undoubted importance. In a very brief period the procession reached the square,

the gongbeaters being followed by persons carrying banners, bowmen in armour, others bearing various

weapons and instruments of torture, slaves displaying innumerable changes of raiment to prove the rank and

consequence of their master, umbrella carriers and fan wavers, and finally, preceded by incense burners and

surrounded by servants who cleared away all obstructions by means of their formidable and heavily knotted

lashes, the unworthy and deceitful Mandarin Ping Siang, who sat in a silkhung and elaborately wrought

chair, looking from side to side with gestures and expressions of contempt and illrestrained cupidity.

At the sign of this powerful but unscrupulous person all those who were present fell upon their faces, leaving

a broad space in their midst, except Yang Hu, who stepped back into the shadow of a doorway, being

resolved that he would not prostrate himself before one whom Heaven had pointed out as the proper object of

When the chair of Ping Siang could no longer be observed in the distance, and the sound of his many gongs

had died away, all the persons who had knelt at his approach rose to their feet, meeting each other's eyes with

glances of assured and profound significance. At length there stepped forth an exceedingly aged man, who

was generally believed to have the power of reading omens and forecasting futures, so that at his upraised

"Behold!" he exclaimed, "none can turn aside in doubt from the deliberately pointed finger of Buddha.

Henceforth, in spite of the wellintentioned suggestions of those who would shield him under the plea of

exacting orders from high ones at Peking or extortions practised by slaves under him of which he is ignorant,

there can no longer be any two voices concerning the guilty one. Yet what does the knowledge of the

cormorant's cry avail the golden carp in the shallow waters of the YuenKiang? A prickly mormosa is an

adequate protection against a naked man armed only with a just cause, and a company of bowmen has been

known to quench an entire city's Heavenfelt desire for retribution. This person, and doubtless others also,

would have experienced a more heartfelt enthusiasm in the matter if the sublime and omnipotent Buddha had

gone a step further, and pointed out not only the one to be punished, but also the instrument by which the

From the mountain path which led to Yang Hu's cave came a voice, like an expressly devised reply to this

speech. It was that of some person uttering the "Chant of Rewards and Penalties":

"How strong is the mountain sycamore! "Its branches reach the Middle Air, and the eye of none can pierce its

foliage; "It draws power and nourishment from all around, so that weeds alone may flourish under its

shadow. "Robbers find safety within the hollow of its trunk; its branches hide vampires and all manner of evil

things which prey upon the innocent; "The wild boar of the forest sharpen their tusks against the bark, for it is

harder than flint, and the axe of the woodsman turns back upon the striker. "Then cries the sycamore, 'Hail

and rain have no power against me, nor can the fiercest sun penetrate beyond my outside fringe; "'The man

who impiously raises his hand against me falls by his own stroke and weapon. "'Can there be a greater or a

more powerful than this one? Assuredly, I am Buddha; let all things obey me.' "Whereupon the weeds bow

their heads, whispering among themselves, 'The voice of the Tall One we hear, but not that of Buddha.

Indeed, it is doubtless as he says.' "In his muskscented Heaven Buddha laughs, and not deigning to raise his

head from the lap of the Phoenix Goddess, he thrusts forth a stone which lies by his foot. "Saying, 'A god's

present for a god. Take it carefully, O presumptuous Little One, for it is hot to the touch.' "The thunderbolt

falls and the mighty tree is rent in twain. 'They asked for my messenger,' said the Pure One, turning again to

With the last spoken word there came into the sight of those who were collected together a person of stern yet

engaging appearance. His hands and face were the colour of mulberry stain by long exposure to the sun,

while his eyes looked forth like two watchfires outside a wolfhaunted camp. His long pigtail was tangled

with the binding tendrils of the forest, and damp with the dew of an open couch. His apparel was in no way

striking or brilliant, yet he strode with the dignity and air of a high official, pushing before him a covered box

"It is Tung Fel!" cried many who stood there watching his approach, in tones which showed those who spoke

to be inspired by a variety of impressive emotions. "Undoubtedly this is the seventh day of the month of

Winged Dragons, and, as he specifically stated would be the case, lo! he has come."

Few were the words of greeting which Tung Fel accorded even to the most venerable of those who awaited

"This person has slept, partaken of fruit and herbs, and devoted an allotted time to inward contemplation," he

said briefly. "Other and more weighty matters than the exchange of dignified compliments and the admiration

of each other's profiles remain to be accomplished. What, for example, is the significance of the written

parchment which is displayed in so obtrusive a manner before our eyes? Bring it to this person without

At these words all those present followed Tung Fel's gaze with astonishment, for conspicuously displayed

upon the wall of the Temple was a written notice which all joined in asserting had not been there the moment

before, though no man had approached the spot. Nevertheless it was quickly brought to Tung Fel, who took it

"Truly the span of existence of any upon this earth is brief and not to be considered; therefore, O unfortunate

dwellers of Chingfow, let it not affect your digestion that your bodies are in peril of sudden and most

excruciating tortures and your Family Temples in danger of humiliating disregard.

"Why do your thoughts follow the actions of the noble Mandarin Ping Siang so insidiously, and why after

"Is he not the little finger of those at Peking, obeying their commands and only carrying out the taxation

which others have devised? Indeed, he himself has stated such to be the fact. If, therefore, a terrible and

unforeseen fate overtook the usually cautious and wellarmed Ping Siang, doubtlessperhaps after the lapse

of some considerable timeanother would be sent from Peking for a like purpose, and in this way, after a

toobrief period of heavensent rest and prosperity, affairs would regulate themselves into almost as

"Therefore ponder these things well, O passerby. Yesterday the only manchild of Huang the woodcarver

was taken away to be sold into slavery by the emissaries of the most just Ping Siang (who would not have

acted thus, we are assured, were it not for the insatiable ones at Peking), as it had become plain that the very

necessitous Huang had no other possession to contribute to the amount to be expended in coloured lights as a

mark of public rejoicing on the occasion of the moonday of the sublime Emperor. The illiterate and

prosaicminded Huang, having in a most unseemly manner reviled and even assailed those who acted in the

matter, has been effectively disposed of, and his wife now alternately laughs and shrieks in the Establishment

"For this reason, gazer, and because the matter touches you more closely than, in your selfimagined

security, you are prone to think, deal expediently with the time at your disposal. Look twice and lingeringly

tonight upon the face of your firstborn, and clasp the form of your favourite one in a closer embrace, for he

by whose hand the blow is directed may already have cast devouring eyes upon their fairness, and to

"From the last sentence of the wellintentioned and undoubtedly moderatelyframed notice this person will

take two phrases,' remarked Tung Fel, folding the written paper and placing it among his garments, 'which

shall serve him as the title of the lifelike and accuratelyrepresented play which it is his selfconceited

intention now to disclose to this select and unprejudiced gathering. The scene represents an enlightened and

wellmerited justice overtaking an arrogant and intolerable being whoneed this person add?existed

Delivering himself in this manner, Tung Fel drew back the hanging drapery which concealed the front of his

large box, and disclosed to those who were gathered round, not, as they had expected, a passage from the

Record of the Three Kingdoms, or some other dramatic work of undoubted merit, but an ingeniously

constructed representation of a scene outside the walls of their own Chingfow. On one side was a small but

minutely accurate copy of a woodburner's hut, which was known to all present, while behind stood out the

distant but nevertheless unmistakable walls of the city. But it was nearest part of the spectacle that first held

the attention of the entranced beholders, for there disported themselves, in every variety of guileless and

attractive attitude, a number of young and entirely unconcerned doves. Scarcely had the delighted onlookers

fully observed the pleasing and effective scene, or uttered their expressions of polished satisfaction at the

graceful and unassuming behaviour of the pretty creatures before them, than the view entirely changed, and,

as if by magic, the massive and inelegant building of Ping Siang's Yamen was presented before them. As all

gazed, astonished, the great door of the Yamen opened stealthily, and without a moment's pause a lean and

illconditioned rat, of unnatural size and rapacity, dashed out and seized the most select and engaging of the

unsuspecting prey in its hungry jaws. With the expiring cry of the innocent victim the entire box was

immediately, and in the most unexpected manner, involved in a profound darkness, which cleared away as

suddenly and revealed the forms of the despoiler and the victim lying dead by each other's side.

Tung Fel came forward to receive the wellselected compliments of all who had witnessed the entertainment.

"It may be objected," he remarked, "that the play is, in a manner of expressing one's self, incomplete; for it is

unrevealed by whose hand the act of justice was accomplished. Yet in this detail is the accuracy of the

representation justified, for though the time has come, the hand by which retribution is accorded shall never

In such a manner did Tung Fel come to Chingfow on the seventh day of the month of Winged Dragons,

throwing aside all restraint, and no longer urging prudence or delay. Of all the throng which stood before him

scarcely one was without a deep offence against Ping Siang, while those who had not as yet suffered feared

A wandering monk from the Island of Irredeemable Plagues was the first to step forth in response to Tung

"There is no necessity for this person to undertake further acts of benevolence," he remarked, dropping the

cloak from his shoulder and displaying the hundred and eight scars of extreme virtue; "nor," he continued,

holding up his left hand, from which three fingers were burnt away, "have greater endurances been neglected.

Yet the matter before this distinguished gathering is one which merits the favourable consideration of all

persons, and this one will in no manner turn away, recounting former actions, while he allows others to press

With these words the devout and unassuming person in question inscribed his name upon a square piece of

ricepaper, attesting his sincerity to the fixed purpose for which it was designed by dipping his thumb into

the mixed blood of the slain animals and impressing this unalterable seal upon the paper also. He was

followed by a seller of drugs and subtle medicines, whose entire stock had been seized and destroyed by

order of Ping Siang, so that no one in Chingfow might obtain poison for his destruction. Then came an

overwhelming stream of persons, all of whom had received some severe and wellremembered injury at the

hands of the malicious and vindictive Mandarin. All these followed a similar observance, inscribing their

names and binding themselves by the Blood Oath. Last of all Yang Hu stepped up, partly from a natural

modesty which restrained him from offering himself when so many more versatile persons of proved

excellence were willing to engage in the matter, and partly because an illadvised conflict was taking place

within his mind as to whether the extreme course which was contemplated was the most expedient to pursue.

At last, however, he plainly perceived that he could not honourably withhold himself from an affair that was

in a measure the direct outcome of his own unendurable loss, so that without further hesitation he added his

When at length dark fell upon the city and the cries of the watchmen, warning all prudent ones to bar well

their doors against robbers, as they themselves were withdrawing until the morrow, no longer rang through

the narrow ways of Chingfow, all those persons who had pledged themselves by name and seal went forth

silently, and came together at the place whereof Tung Fel had secretly conveyed them knowledge. There

Tung Fel, standing somewhat apart, placed all the folded papers in the form of a circle, and having performed

over them certain observances designed to insure a just decision and to keep away evil influences, submitted

the selection to the discriminating choice of the Sacred Flat and Round Sticks. Having in this manner secured

the name of the appointed person who should carry out the act of justice and retribution, Tung Fel unfolded

"The moment before great deeds," began Tung Fel, stepping forward and addressing himself to the expectant

ones who were gathered round, "is not the time for light speech, nor, indeed, for sentences of dignified

length, no matter how pleasantly turned to the ear they may be. Before this person stand many who are

undoubtedly illustrious in various arts and virtues, yet one among them is preeminently marked out for

distinction in that his name shall be handed down in imperishable history as that of a patriot of a

pureminded and uncompromising degree. With him there is no need of further speech, and to this end I have

inscribed certain words upon his namepaper. To everyone this person will now return the paper which has

been entrusted to him, folded so that the nature of its contents shall be an unwritten leaf to all others. Nor

shall the papers be unfolded by any until he is within his own chamber, with barred doors, where all, save the

one who shall find the message, shall remain, not venturing forth until daybreak. I, Tung Fel, have spoken,

and assuredly I shall not eat my word, which is that a certain and most degrading death awaits any who

It was with the short and sudden breath of the cowering antelope when the stealthy tread of the pitiless tiger

approaches its lair, that Yang Hu opened his paper in the seclusion of his own cave; for his mind was

darkened with an inspired inside emotion that he, the one doubting among the eagerly proffering and

destructively inclined multitude, would be chosen to accomplish the high aim for which, indeed, he felt

exceptionally unworthy. The written sentence which he perceived immediately upon unfolding the paper,

instructing him to appear again before Tung Fel at the hour of midnight, was, therefore, nothing but the echo

and fulfilment of his own thoughts, and served in reality to impress his mind with calmer feelings of dignified

unconcern than would have been the case had he not been chosen. Having neither possessions nor relations,

the occupation of disposing of his goods and making ceremonious and affectionate leavetakings of his family,

against the occurrence of any unforeseen disaster, engrossed no portion of Yang Hu's time. Yet there was one

matter to which no reference has yet been made, but which now forces itself obtrusively upon the attention,

which was in a large measure responsible for many of the most prominent actions of Yang Hu's life, and,

indeed, in no small degree influenced his hesitation in offering himself before Tung Fel.

Not a bowshot distance from the place where the mountain path entered the outskirts of the city lived

HiyaaiShao with her parents, who were persons of assured position, though of no particular wealth. For a

period not confined to a single year it had been the custom of Yang Hu to offer to this elegant and refined

maiden all the rarest pieces of jade which he could discover, while the most symmetrical and remunerative

shegoat in his flock enjoyed the honourable distinction of bearing her incomparable name. Towards the

almond garden of Hiya's abode Yang Hu turned his footsteps upon leaving his cave, and standing there,

concealed from all sides by the white and abundant flowerladen foliage, he uttered a sound which had long

been an agreed signal between them. Presently a faint perfume of choolan spoke of her near approach, and

"Wellendowed one," said Yang Hu, when at length they had gazed upon each other's features and made

renewals of their protestations of mutual regard, "the fixed intentions of a person have often been fitly likened

to the seed of the treepeony, so ineffectual are their efforts among the winds of constantly changing

circumstance. The definite hope of this person had long pointed towards a small but adequate habitation,

surrounded by sweetsmelling olivetrees and not far distant from the jade cliffs and pastures which would

afford a sufficient remuneration and a means of living. This entrancing picture has been blotted out for the

time, and in its place this person finds himself face to face with an arduous and dangerous undertaking,

followed, perhaps, by hasty and immediate flight. Yet if the adorable Hiya will prove the unchanging depths

of her constantly expressed intention by accompanying him as far as the village of Hing where suitable

marriage ceremonies can be observed without delay, the exile will in reality be in the nature of a triumphal

procession, and the emotions with which this person has hitherto regarded the entire circumstance will

"Oh, Yang!" exclaimed the maiden, whose feelings at hearing these words were in no way different from

those of her lover when he was on the point of opening the folded paper upon which Tung Fel had written;

"what is the nature of the mission upon which you are so impetuously resolved? and why will it be followed

"The nature of the undertaking cannot be revealed by reason of a deliberately taken oath," replied Yang Hu;

"and the reason of its possible consequence is a less important question to the two persons who are here

conversing together than of whether the amiable and graceful Hiya is willing to carry out her oftenexpressed

desire for an opportunity of displaying the true depths of her emotions towards this one."

"Alas!" said Hiya, "the sentiments which this person expressed with irreproachable honourableness when the

sun was high in the heavens and the probability of secretly leaving an undoubtedly wellappointed home was

engagingly remote, seem to have an entirely different significance when recalled by night in a damp orchard,

and on the eve of their fulfilment. To deceive one's parents is an ignoble prospect; furthermore, it is often an

exceedingly difficult undertaking. Let the matter be arranged in this way: that Yang leaves the ultimate

details of the scheme to Hiya's expedient care, he proceeding without delay to Hing, or, even more desirable,

to the further town of Liyunnan, and there awaiting her coming. By such means the risk of discovery and

pursuit will be lessened, Yang will be able to set forth on his journey with greater speed, and this one will

have an opportunity of getting together certain articles without which, indeed, she would be very

In spite of his conscientious desire that Hiya should be by his side on the journey, together with an

unendurable certainty that evil would arise from the course she proposed, Yang was compelled by an innate

feeling of respect to agree to her wishes, and in this manner the arrangement was definitely concluded.

Thereupon Hiya, without delay, returned to the dwelling, remarking that otherwise her absence might be

detected and the entire circumstance thereby discovered, leaving Yang Hu to continue his journey and again

Tung Fel was engaged with brush and ink when Yang Hu entered. Round him were many written

parchments, some venerable with age, and a variety of other matters, among which might be clearly

perceived weapons, and devices for reading the future. He greeted Yang with many tokens of dignified

respect, and with an evidently restrained emotion led him towards the light of a hanging lantern, where he

gazed into his face for a considerable period with every indication of exceptional concern.

"Yang Hu," he said at length, "at such a moment many dark and searching thoughts may naturally arise in the

mind concerning objects and reasons, omens, and the moving cycle of events. Yet in all these, out of a

wisdom gained by deep endurance and a hardlywon experience beyond the common lot, this person would

say, Be content. The hand of destiny, though it may at times appear to move in a devious manner, is ever

"The choice was openly made by wise and proficient omens," replied Yang Hu, without any display of

Tung Fel then administered to Yang the Oath of Buddha's Face and the One called the Unutterable (which

may not be further described in written words) thereby binding his body and soul, and the souls and repose of

all who had gone before him in direct line and all who should in a like manner follow after, to the

accomplishment of the design. All spoken matter being thus complete between them, he gave him a mask

with which he should pass unknown through the streets and into the presence of Ping Siang, a variety of

weapons to use as the occasion arose, and a sign by which the attendants at the Yamen would admit him

As Yang Hu passed through the streets of Chingfow, which were in a great measure deserted owing to the

command of Tung Fel, he was aware of many mournful and foreboding sounds which accompanied him on

all sides, while shadowy faces, bearing signs of intolerable anguish and despair, continually formed

themselves out of the wind. By the time he reached the Yamen a tempest of exceptional violence was in

progress, nor were other omens absent which tended to indicate that matters of a very unpropitious nature

At each successive door of the Yamen the attendant stepped back and covered his face, so that he should by

no chance perceive who had come upon so destructive a mission, the instant Yang Hu uttered the sign with

which Tung Fel had provided him. In this manner Yang quickly reached the door of the inner chamber upon

which was inscribed: "Let the person who comes with a doubtful countenance, unbidden, or meditating

treachery, remember the curse and manner of death which attended Lai Kuen, who slew the one over him; so

shall he turn and go forth in safety." This unworthy safeguard at the hands of a person who passed his entire

life in altering the fixed nature of justice, and who never went beyond his outer gate without an armed

company of bowmen, inspired Yang Hu with so incautious a contempt, that without any hesitation he draw

forth his brush and ink, and in a spirit of bitter signification added the words, "'Come, let us eat together,' said

Being now within a step of Ping Siang and the completion of his undertaking, Yang Hu drew tighter the cords

of his mask, tested and proved his weapons, and then, without further delay, threw open the door before him

and stepped into the chamber, barring the door quickly so that no person might leave or enter without his

At this interruption and manner of behaving, which clearly indicated the nature of the errand upon which the

person before him had come, Ping Siang rose from his couch and stretched out his hand towards a gong

"All summonses for aid are now unavailing, Ping Siang," exclaimed Yang, without in any measure using

delicate or set phrases of speech; "for, as you have doubtless informed yourself, the slaves of tyrants are the

"The matter of your speech is as emptiness to this person," replied the Mandarin, affecting with extreme

difficulty an appearance of noconcern. "In what manner has he fallen? And how will the depraved and

selfwilled person before him avoid the welldeserved tortures which certainly await him in the public

"O Mandarin," cried Yang Hu, "the fitness and occasion for such speeches as the one to which you have just

given utterance lie as far behind you as the smoke of yesterday's sacrifice. With what manner of eyes have

you frequently journeyed through Chingfow of late, if the signs and omens there have not already warned

you to prepare a coffin adequately designed to receive your wellproportioned body? Has not the pungent

vapour of burning houses assailed your senses at every turn, or the salt tears from the eyes of forlorn ones

"Alas!" exclaimed Ping Siang, "this person now certainly begins to perceive that many things which he has

"In such a manner has it appeared to all Chingfow," said Yang Hu; "and the justice of your death has been

universally admitted. Even should this one fail there would be an innumerable company eager to take his

place. Therefore, O Ping Siang, as the only favour which it is within this person's power to accord, select that

"It is truly said that at the Final Gate of the Two Ways the necessity for elegant and wellchosen sentences

ends," remarked Ping Siang with a sigh, "otherwise the manner of your address would be open to reproach.

By your side this person perceives a long and apparently highlytempered sword, which, in his opinion, will

serve the purpose efficiently. Having no remarks of an improving but nevertheless exceedingly tedious nature

with which to imprint the occasion for the benefit of those who come after, his only request is that the blow

At these words Yang Hu threw back his cloak to grasp the swordhandle, when the Mandarin, with his eyes

fixed on the naked arm, and evidently inspired by every manner of conflicting emotions, uttered a cry of

"The Serpent!" he cried, in a voice from which all evenness and control were absent. "The Sacred Serpent of

Engulfed in an allabsorbing doubt at the nature of events, Yang could only gaze at the form of the serpent

which had been clearly impressed upon his arm from the earliest time of his remembrance, while Ping Siang,

tearing the silk garment from his own arm and displaying thereon a similar form, continued:

"Behold the inevitable and unvarying birthmark of our race! So it was with this person's father and the ones

before him; so it was with his treacherouslystolen son; so it will be to the end of all time."

Trembling beyond all power of restraint, Yang removed the mask which had hitherto concealed his face.

"Father or race has this person none," he said, looking into Ping Siang's features with an allengaging hope,

tempered in a measure by a soulbenumbing dread; "nor memory or tradition of an earlier state than when he

"Nevertheless," exclaimed the Mandarin, whose countenance was lightened with an interest and a benevolent

emotion which had never been seen there before, "beyond all possibility of doubting, you are this person's

lost and greatlydesired son, stolen away many years ago by the treacherous conduct of an unworthy woman,

yet now happily and miraculously restored to cherish his declining years and perpetuate an honourable name

"Happily!" exclaimed Yang, with fervent indications of uncontrollable bitterness. "Oh, my illustrious sire, at

whose venerated feet this unworthy person now prostrates himself with wellmerited marks of reverence and

selfabasement, has the errand upon which an ignoble son enteredthe every memory of which now causes

him the acutest agony of the lost, but which nevertheless he is pledged to Tung Fel by the Unutterable Oath

to performhas this unnatural and eternally cursed thing escaped your versatile mind?"

"Tung Fel!" cried Ping Siang. "Is, then, this blow also by the hand of that malicious and vindictive person?

Oh, what a cycle of events and interchanging lines of destiny do your words disclose!"

"It is a matter which must be made clear from the beginning," replied Ping Siang. "At one time this person

and Tung Fel were, by nature and endowments, united in the most amiable bonds of an inseparable

friendship. Presently Tung Fel signed the preliminary contract of a marriage with one who seemed to be

endowed with every variety of enchanting and virtuous grace, but who was, nevertheless, as the unrolling of

future events irresistibly discovered, a person of irregular character and undignified habits. On the eve of the

marriage ceremony this person was made known to her by the undoubtedly enraptured Tung Fel, whereupon

he too fell into the snare of her engaging personality, and putting aside all thoughts of prudent restraint, made

her more remunerative offers of marriage than Tung Fel could by any possible chance overbid. In such a

mannerfor after the nature of her kind riches were exceptionally attractive to her degraded

imaginationshe became this person's wife, and the mother of his only son. In spite of these great honours,

however, the undoubted perversity of her nature made her an easy accomplice to the duplicity of Tung Fel,

who, by means of various disguises, found frequent opportunity of uttering in her presence numerous

wellthoughtout suggestions specially designed to lead her imagination towards an existence in which this

person had no adequate representation. Becoming at length terrified at the possibility of these unworthy

emotions, obtruding themselves upon this person's notice, the two in question fled together, taking with them

the one who without any doubt is now before me. Despite the most assiduous search and very tempting and

profitable offers of reward, no information of a reliable nature could be obtained, and at length this dispirited

and completely changed person gave up the pursuit as unavailing. With his son and heir, upon whose future

he had greatly hoped, all emotions of a generous and highminded nature left him, and in a very short space

of time he became the avaricious and deservedly unpopular individual against whose extortions the amiable

and longsuffering ones of Chingfow have for so many years protested mildly. The sudden and not

altogether unexpected fate which is now on the point of reaching him is altogether too lenient to be entirely

"Oh, my distinguished and really immaculate sire!" cried Yang Hu, in a voice which expressed the deepest

feelings of contrition. "No oaths or vows, however sacred, can induce this person to stretch forth his hand

"Nevertheless," replied Ping Siang, speaking of the matter as though it were one which did not closely

concern his own existence, "to neglect the Unutterable Oath would inevitably involve not only the two

persons who are now conversing together, but also those before and those who are to come after in direct line,

in a much worse condition of affairs. That is a fate which this person would by no means permit to exist, for

one of his chief desires has ever been to establish a strong and vigorous line, to which end, indeed, he was

even now concluding a marriage arrangement with the beautiful and refined HiyaaiShao, whom he had at

"The matter need not concern us now," replied the Mandarin, not observing in his complicated emotions the

manner in which the name of Hiya had affected Yang, revealing as it undoubtedly did the treachery of his

beloved one. "There only appears to be one honourable way in which the full circumstances can be arranged,

"Such an end is neither ignoble nor painful," he said, in an unchanging voice; "nor will this one in any way

"The affairs of the future do not exhibit themselves in delicately coloured hues to this person," said Yang Hu;

"and he would, if the thing could be so arranged, cheerfully submit to a similar fate in order that a longer

period of existence should be assured to one who has every variety of claim upon his affection."

"The proposal is a graceful and conscientious one," said Ping Siang, "and is, moreover, a gratifying omen of

the future of our race, which must of necessity be left in your hands. But, for that reason itself, such a course

cannot be pursued. Nevertheless, the events of the past few hours have been of so exceedingly prosperous and

agreeable a nature that this shortsighted and frequently desponding person can now pass beyond with a

With these words Ping Siang indicated that he was desirous of setting forth the Final Expression, and

arranging the necessary matters upon the table beside him, he stretched forth his hands over Yang Hu, who

"Yang Hu," began the Mandarin, "undoubted son, and, after the accomplishment of the intention which it is

our fixed purpose to carry out, fitting representative of the person who is here before you, engrave well

within your mind the various details upon which he now gives utterance. Regard the virtues; endeavour to

pass an amiable and at the same time not unremunerative existence; and on all occasions sacrifice freely, to

the end that the torments of those who have gone before may be made lighter, and that others may be induced

in turn to perform a like benevolent charity for yourself. Having expressed himself upon these general

subjects, this person now makes a last and respectfullyconsidered desire, which it is his deliberate wish

should be carried to the proper deities as his final expression of opinion: That Yang Hu may grow as supple

as the dried juice of the bendingpalm, and as straight as the most vigorous bamboo from the forests of the

North. That he may increase beyond the prolificness of the whitenecked crow and cover the ground after the

fashion of the binding grass. That in battle his sword may be as a vividlycoloured and manyforked

lightning flash, accompanied by thunderbolts as irresistible as Buddha's divine wrath; in peace his voice as

resounding as the rolling of many powerful drums among the Khingan Mountains. That when the kindled fire

of his existence returns to the great Mountain of Pure Flame the earth shall accept again its component parts,

and in no way restrain the divine essence from journeying to its destined happiness. These words are Ping

Siang's last expression of opinion before he passes beyond, given in the unvarying assurance that so sacred

Having in this manner completed all the affairs which seemed to be of a necessary and urgent nature, and

fixing his last glance upon Yang Hu with every variety of affectionate and estimable emotion, the Mandarin

drank a sufficient quantity of the liquid, and placing himself upon a couch in an attitude of repose, passed in

After the space of a few moments spent in arranging certain objects and in inward contemplation, Yang Hu

crossed the chamber, still holding the halffilled vessel of goldleaf in his hand, and drawing back the

hanging silk, gazed over the silent streets of Chingfow and towards the great skylantern above.

"Hiya is faithless," he said at length in an unspeaking voice; "this person's mother a bittertasting memory,

his father a swiftly passing shadow that is now for ever lost." His eyes rested upon the closed vessel in his

hand. "Gladly would" his thoughts began, but with this unworthy image a new impression formed itself

within his mind. "A clearlyexpressed wish was uttered," he concluded, "and Tung Fel still remains." With

"The motives which inspired the actions of the devout QuenKiTong have long been illreported," said Kai

Lung the storyteller, upon a certain occasion at Wuwhei, "and, as a consequence, his illustrious memory

has suffered somewhat. Even as the insignificant earthworm may bring the precious and many coloured

jewel to the surface, so has it been permitted to this obscure and superficially educated one to discover the

truth of the entire matter among the badlyarranged and frequently really illegible documents preserved at

the Hall of Public Reference at Peking. Without fear of contradiction, therefore, he now sets forth the credible

"QuenKiTong was one who throughout his life had been compelled by the opposing force of

circumstances to be content with what was offered rather than attain to that which he desired. Having been

allowed to wander over the edge of an exceedingly steep crag, while still a child, by the aged and

untrustworthy person who had the care of him, and yet suffering little hurt, he was carried back to the city in

triumph, by the one in question, who, to cover her neglect, declared amid may chants of exultation that as he

slept a majestic winged form had snatched him from her arms and traced magical figures with his body on the

ground in token of the distinguished sacred existence for which he was undoubtedly set apart. In such a

manner he became famed at a very early age for an unassuming mildness of character and an almost inspired

piety of life, so that on every side frequent opportunity was given him for the display of these amiable

qualities. Should it chance that an insufficient quantity of puppypie had been prepared for the family repast,

the undesirable but necessary portion of cold dried rat would inevitably be allotted to the uncomplaining

Quen, doubtless accompanied by the engaging but unnecessary remark that he alone had a Heavensent

intellect which was fixed upon more sublime images than even the best constructed puppypie. Should the

number of sedanchairs not be sufficient to bear to the Exhibition of Kites all who were desirous of

becoming entertained in such a fashion, inevitably would Quen be the one left behind, in order that he might

"In this manner it came about that when a very wealthy but unnaturally avaricious and eviltempered person

who was connected with Quen's father in matters of commerce expressed his fixed determination that the

most deserving and enlightened of his friend's sons should enter into a marriage agreement with his daughter,

there was no manner of hesitation among those concerned, who admitted without any questioning between

"Though naturally not possessing an insignificant intellect, a continuous habit, together with a most

irreproachable sense of filial duty, subdued within Quen's internal organs whatever reluctance he might have

otherwise displayed in the matter, so that as courteously as was necessary he presented to the undoubtedly

very ordinary and slowwitted maiden in question the gifts of irretrievable intention, and honourably carried

"For a period of years the circumstances of the various persons did not in any degree change, Quen in the

meantime becoming more puresouled and inwardseeing with each moonchange, after the manner of the

sublime Lienti, who studied to maintain an unmoved endurance in all varieties of events by placing his body

to a greater extent each day in a vessel of boiling liquid. Nevertheless, the good and charitable deities to

whom Quen unceasingly sacrificed were not altogether unmindful of his virtues; for a son was born, and an

evil disease which arose from a most undignified display of uncontrollable emotion on her part ended in his

"Upon a certain evening, when Quen sat in his inner chamber deliberating upon the really beneficent yet

somewhat inexplicable arrangement of the allseeing ones to whom he was very amiably disposed in

consequence of the unwonted tranquillity which he now enjoyed, yet who, it appeared to him, could have set

out the entire matter in a much more satisfactory way from the beginning, he was made aware by the

unexpected beating of many gongs, and by other signs of refined and deferential welcome, that a person of

exalted rank was approaching his residence. While he was still hesitating in his uncertainty regarding the

most courteous and delicate form of selfabasement with which to honour so important a visitorwhether to

rush forth and allow the chaircarriers to pass over his prostrate form, to make a pretence of being a

lowcaste slave, and in that guise doing menial service, or to conceal himself beneath a massive and

overhanging table until his guest should have availed himself of the opportunity to examine at his leisure

whatever the room containedthe person in question stood before him. In every detail of dress and

appointment he had the undoubted appearance of being one to whom no door might be safely closed.

"'Alas!' exclaimed Quen, 'how inferior and illcontrived is the mind of a person of my feeble intellectual

attainments. Even at this moment, when the near approach of one who obviously commands every engaging

accomplishment might reasonably be expected to call up within it an adequate amount of commonplace

resource, its illdestined possessor finds himself entirely incapable of conducting himself with the fitting

outward marks of his great internal respect. This residence is certainly unprepossessing in the extreme, yet it

contains many objects of some value and of great rarity; illiterate as this person is, he would not be so

presumptuous as to offer any for your acceptance, but if you will confer upon him the favour of selecting that

which appears to be the most priceless and unreplaceable, he will immediately, and with every manifestation

of extreme delight, break it irredeemably in your honour, to prove the unaffected depth of his gratified

"'QuenKiTong,' replied the person before him, speaking with an evident sincerity of purpose, 'pleasant to

this one's ears are your words, breathing as they do an obvious hospitality and a due regard for the forms of

etiquette. But if, indeed, you are desirous of gaining this person's explicit regard, break no articles of fine

porcelain or rare inlaid wood in proof of it, but immediately dismiss to a very distant spot the threescore

gongbeaters who have enclosed him within two solid rings, and who are now carrying out their duties in so

diligent a manner that he greatly doubts if the unimpaired faculties of hearing will ever be fully restored.

Furthermore, if your exceedingly amiable intentions desire fuller expression, cause an unstinted number of

vessels of some uninflammable liquid to be conveyed into your chrysanthemum garden and there poured over

the numerous fireworks and coloured lights which still appear to be in progress. Doubtless they are

wellintentioned marks of respect, but they caused this person considerable apprehension as he passed

among them, and, indeed, give to this unusually pleasant and unassuming spot the by no means inviting

atmosphere of a lowclass teahouse garden during the festivities attending the birthday of the sacred

"'This person is overwhelmed with a most unendurable confusion that the matters referred to should have

been regarded in such a light,' replied Quen humbly. 'Although he himself had no knowledge of them until

this moment, he is confident that they in no wise differ from the usual honourable manifestations with which

it is customary in this Province to welcome strangers of exceptional rank and titles.'

"'The welcome was of a most dignified and impressive nature,' replied the stranger, with every appearance of

not desiring to cause Quen any uneasy internal doubts; 'yet the fact is none the less true that at the moment

this person's head seems to contain an exceedingly powerful and wellequipped band; and also, that as he

passed through the courtyard an ingeniously constructed but somewhat unmanageable figure of gigantic size,

composed entirely of jets of manycoloured flame, leaped out suddenly from behind a dark wall and made an

almost successful attempt to embrace him in its everrevolving arms. Lo Yuen greatly fears that the time

when he would have rejoiced in the necessary display of agility to which the incident gave rise has for ever

"'Lo Yuen!' exclaimed Quen, with an unaffected mingling of the emotions of reverential awe and

pleasureable anticipation. 'Can it indeed be an uncontroversial fact that so learned and ornamental a person as

the renowned Controller of Unsolicited Degrees stands beneath this inelegant person's utterly unpresentable

roof! Now, indeed, he plainly understands why this illconditioned chamber has the appearance of being

filled with a Heavensent brilliance, and why at the first spoken words of the one before him a melodious

sound, like the rushing waters of the sacred TienKiang, seemed to fill his ears.'

"'Undoubtedly the chamber is pervaded by a very exceptional splendour,' replied Lo Yuen, who, in spite of

his high position, regarded graceful talk and wellimagined compliments in a spirit of nosatisfaction; 'yet

this commonplaceminded one has a fixed conviction that it is caused by the crimsoneyed and

pinkfirebreathing dragon which, despite your slave's most assiduous efforts, is now endeavouring to climb

through the aperture behind you. The noise which still fills his ears, also, resembles rather the despairing cries

of the Ten Thousand Lost Ones at the first sight of the Pit of Liquid and Redhot Malachite, yet without

question both proceed from the same cause. Laying aside further ceremony, therefore, permit this greatly

overestimated person to disclose the object of his inopportune visit. Long have your amiable virtues been

observed and appreciated by the high ones at Peking, O QuenKiTong. Too long have they been

unrewarded and passed over in silence. Nevertheless, the moment of acknowledgement and advancement has

at length arrived; for, as the Book of Verses clearly says, "Even the threelegged mule may contrive to reach

the agreed spot in advance of the others, provided a circular running space has been selected and the number

of rounds be sufficiently ample." It is this otherwise uninteresting and obtrusive person's graceful duty to

convey to you the agreeable intelligence that the honourable and not illrewarded office of Guarder of the

Imperial Silkworms has been conferred upon you, and to require you to proceed without delay to Peking, so

that fitting ceremonies of admittance may be performed before the fifteenth day of the month of Feathered

"Alas! how frequently does the purchaser of seemingly vigorous and exceptionally lowpriced flowerseeds

discover, when too late, that they are, in reality, fashioned from the root of the prolific and valueless tzuka,

skilfully covered with a disguising varnish! Instead of presenting himself at the place of commerce

frequented by those who entrust money to others on the promise of an increased repayment when certain very

probable events have come to pass (so that if all else failed he would still possess a serviceable number of

taels), QuenKiTong entirely neglected the demands of a most ordinary prudence, nor could he be induced

to set out on his journey until he had passed seven days in public feasting to mark his good fortune, and then

devoted fourteen more days to fasting and various acts of penance, in order to make known the regret with

which he acknowledged his entire unworthiness for the honour before him. Owing to this very conscientious,

but nevertheless somewhat shortsighted manner of behaving, Quen found himself unable to reach Peking

before the day preceding that to which Lo Yuen had made special reference. From this cause it came about

that only sufficient time remained to perform the various ceremonies of admission, without in any degree

counselling Quen as to his duties and procedure in the fulfilment of his really important office.

"Among the many necessary and venerable ceremonies observed during the changing periods of the year,

none occupy a more important place than those for which the fifteenth day of the month of Feathered Insects

is reserved, conveying as they do a respectful and delicatelyfashioned petition that the various affairs upon

which persons in every condition of life are engaged may arrive at a pleasant and remunerative conclusion.

At the earliest stroke of the gong the versatile Emperor, accompanied by many persons of irreproachable

ancestry and certain others, very elaborately attired, proceeds to an open space set apart for the occasion.

With unassuming dexterity the benevolent Emperor for a brief span of time engages in the menial occupation

of a person of low class, and with his own hands ploughs an assigned portion of land in order that the

enlightened spirits under whose direct guardianship the earth is placed may not become lax in their

disinterested efforts to promote its fruitfulness. In this charitable exertion he is followed by various other

persons of recognized position, the first being, by custom, the Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms, while at

the same time the amiablydisposed Empress plants an allotted number of mulberry trees, and deposits upon

their leaves the carefully reared insects which she receives from the hands of their Guarder. In the case of the

accomplished Emperor an ingenious contrivance is resorted to by which the soil is drawn aside by means of

hidden strings as the plough passes by, the implement in question being itself constructed from paper of the

highest quality, while the oxen which draw it are, in reality, ordinary persons cunningly concealed within

masks of cardboard. In this thoughtful manner the actual labours of the sublime Emperor are greatly lessened,

while no chance is afforded for an inauspicious omen to be created by the rebellious behaviour of a

maliciouslyinclined ox, or by any other event of an unforeseen nature. All the other persons, however, are

required to make themselves proficient in the art of ploughing, before the ceremony, so that the chances of

the attendant spirits discovering the deception which has been practised upon them in the case of the Emperor

may not be increased by its needless repetition. It was chiefly for this reason that Lo Yuen had urged Quen to

journey to Peking as speedily as possible, but owing to the very short time which remained between his

arrival and the ceremony of ploughing, not only had the person in question neglected to profit by instruction,

but he was not even aware of the obligation which awaited him. When, therefore, in spite of every respectful

protest on his part, he was led up to a massivelyconstructed implement drawn by two powerful and

undeniably evillyintentionedlooking animals, it was with every sign of great internal misgivings, and an

entire absence of enthusiasm in the entertainment, that he commenced his not too well understood task. In

this matter he was by no means mistaken, for it soon became plain to all observersof whom an immense

concourse was assembledthat the usually selfpossessed Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms was

conducting himself in a most undignified manner; for though he still clung to the ploughhandles with an

inspired tenacity, his body assumed every variety of base and uninviting attitude. Encouraged by this

inelegant state of affairs, the evil spirits which are ever on the watch to turn into derision the charitable

intentions of the pureminded entered into the bodies of the oxen and provoked within their minds a sudden

and malignant confidence that the time had arrived when they might with safety break into revolt and throw

off the outward signs of their dependent condition. From these various causes it came about that Quen was,

without warning, borne with irresistible certainty against the majestic person of the sacred Emperor, the inlaid

box of Imperial silkworms, which up to that time had remained safely among the folds of his silk garment,

"Well said the wise and deepthinking Yete, in his book entitled 'Proverbs of Everyday Happenings',

'Should a person on returning from the city discover his house to be in flames, let him examine well the

change which he has received from the chaircarrier before it is too late; for evil never travels alone.'

Scarcely had the unfortunate Quen recovered his natural attributes from the effect of the disgraceful

occurrence which has been recorded (which, indeed, furnished the matter of a song and many unpresentable

jests among the lowclass persons of the city), than the magnanimous Empress reached that detail of the

treeplanting ceremony when it was requisite that she should deposit the living emblems of the desired

increase and prosperity upon the leaves. Stretching forth her delicatelyproportioned hand to Quen for this

purpose, she received from the still greatly confused person in question the Imperial silkworms in so

unseemly a condition that her eyes had scarcely rested upon them before she was seized with the rigid

sickness, and in that state fell to the ground. At this new and entirely unforeseen calamity a very disagreeable

certainty of approaching evil began to take possession of all those who stood around, many crying aloud that

every omen of good was wanting, and declaring that unless something of a markedly propitiatory nature was

quickly accomplished, the agriculture of the entire Empire would cease to flourish, and the various

departments of the commerce in silk would undoubtedly be thrown into a state of most inextricable

confusion. Indeed, in spite of all things designed to have a contrary effect, the matter came about in the way

predicted, for the HoangHo seven times overcame its restraining barriers, and poured its waters over the

surrounding country, thereby gaining for the first time its welldeserved title of 'The Sorrow of China', by

which dishonourable but exceedingly appropriate designation it is known to this day.

"The manner of greeting which would have been accorded to Quen had he returned to the official quarter of

the city, or the nature of his treatment by the baser class of the ordinary people if they succeeded in enticing

him to come among them, formed a topic of such uninviting conjecture that the humaneminded Lo Yuen,

who had observed the entire course of events from an elevated spot, determined to make a welldirected

effort towards his safety. To this end he quickly purchased the esteem of several of those who make a

profession of their strength, holding out the hope of still further reward if they conducted the venture to a

successful termination. Uttering loud cries of an impending vengeance, as Lo Yuen had instructed them in the

matter, and displaying their exceptional proportions to the astonishment and misgivings of all beholders,

these persons tore open the opiumtent in which Quen had concealed himself, and, thrusting aside all

opposition, quickly dragged him forth. Holding him high upon their shoulders, in spite of his frequent and

illadvised endeavours to cast himself to the ground, some surrounded those who bore himafter the

manner of disposing his troops affected by a skilful leader when the enemy begin to waverand crying

aloud that it was their unchanging purpose to submit him to the test of burning splinters and afterwards to

torture him, they succeeded by this stratagem in bringing him through the crowd; and hurling back or

outstripping those who endeavoured to follow, conveyed him secretly and unperceived to a deserted and

appointed spot. Here Quen was obliged to remain until other events caused the recollection of the many to

become clouded and unconcerned towards him, suffering frequent inconveniences in spite of the powerful

protection of Lo Yuen, and not at all times being able to regard the most necessary repast as an appointment

of undoubted certainty. At length, in the guise of a wandering conjurer who was unable to display his

accomplishments owing to an entire loss of the power of movement in his arms, Quen passed undetected

from the city, and safely reaching the distant and unimportant town of LuKwo, gave himself up to a

protracted period of lamentation and selfreproach at the unprepossessing manner in which he had conducted

TWO handcounts of years passed away and Quen still remained at Lukwo, all desire of returning either to

Peking or to the place of his birth having by this time faded into nothingness. Accepting the inevitable fact

that he was not destined ever to become a person with whom taels were plentiful, and yet being unwilling to

forego the charitable manner of life which he had always been accustomed to observe, it came about that he

spent the greater part of his time in collecting together such sums of money as he could procure from the

amiable and welldisposed, and with them building temples and engaging in other benevolent works. From

this cause it arose the Quen obtained around Lukwo a reputation for highminded piety, in no degree less

than that which had been conferred upon him in earlier times, so that pilgrims from far distant places would

purposely contrive their journey so as to pass through the town containing so unassuming and virtuous a

"During this entire period Quen had been accompanied by his only son, a youth of respectful personality, in

whose entertaining society he took an intelligent interest. Even when deeply engaged in what he justly

regarded as the crowning work of his existencethe planning and erecting of an exceptionally

wellendowed marble temple, which was to be entirely covered on the outside with silver paper, and on the

inside with goldleafhe did not fail to observe the various conditions of Liao's existence, and the changing

emotions which from time to time possessed him. Therefore, when the person in question, without displaying

any signs of internal sickness, and likewise persistently denying that he had lost any considerable sum of

money, disclosed a continuous habit of turning aside with an unaffected expression of distaste from all

manner of food, and passed the entire night in observing the course of the great skylantern rather than in

sleep, the sage and discriminating Quen took him one day aside, and asked him, as one who might aid him in

the matter, who the maiden was, and what class and position her father occupied.

"'Alas!' exclaimed Liao, with many unfeigned manifestations of an unbearable fate, 'to what degree do the

class and position of her entirely unnecessary parents affect the question? or how little hope can this

sacrilegious one reasonably have of ever progressing as far as earthly details of a pecuniary character in the

case of so adorable and farremoved a Being? The uttermost extent of this wildlyhoping person's ambition

is that when the incomparably symmetrical Ts'ain learns of the steadfast light of his devotion, she may be

inspired to deposit an emblematic chrysanthemum upon his tomb in the Family Temple. For such a reward he

will cheerfully devote the unswerving fidelity of a lifetime to her service, not distressing her gentle and

retiring nature by the expression of what must inevitably be a hopeless passion, but patiently and

"Being in this manner made aware of the reason of Liao's frequent and unrestrained exclamations of

intolerable despair, and of his fixed determination with regard to the maiden Ts'ain (which seemed, above all

else, to indicate a resolution to shun her presence) Quen could not regard the immediatelyfollowing actions

of his son with anything but an emotion of confusion. For when his eyes next rested upon the exceedingly

contradictory Liao, he was seated in the open space before the house in which Ts'ain dwelt, playing upon an

instrument of stringed woods, and chanting verses into which the names of the two persons in question had

been skilfully introduced without restraint, his whole manner of behaving being with the evident purpose of

attracting the maiden's favourable attention. After an absence of many days, spent in this graceful and

complimentary manner, Liao returned suddenly to the house of his father, and, prostrating his body before

"'As regards Ts'ain and myself,' he continued, 'all things are arranged, and but for the unfortunate coincidence

of this person's poverty and of her father's cupidity, the details of the wedding ceremony would undoubtedly

now be in a very advanced condition. Upon these entrancing and welldiscussed plans, however, the shadow

of the grasping and commonplace AhPing has fallen like the inopportune opiumpipe from the mouth of a

person examining substances of an explosive nature; for the one referred to demands a large and utterly

unobtainable amount of taels before he will suffer his greatlysoughtafter daughter to accept the gifts of

"'Grievous indeed is your plight,' replied Quen, when he thus understood the manner of obstacle which

impeded his son's hopes; 'for in the nature of taels the most diverse men are to be measured through the same

mesh. As the proverb says, "'All money is evil,' exclaimed the philosopher with extreme weariness, as he

gathered up the gold pieces in exchange, but presently discovering that one among them was such indeed has

he had described, he rushed forth without tarrying to take up a street garment; and with an entire absence of

dignity traversed all the ways of the city in the hope of finding the one who had defrauded him." Well does

this person know the mercenary AhPing, and the unyielding nature of his closed hand; for often, but always

fruitlessly, he has entered his presence on affairs connected with the erecting of certain temples.

Nevertheless, the matter is one which does not admit of any incapable faltering, to which end this one will

seek out the obdurate AhPing without delay, and endeavour to entrap him by some means in the course of

"From the time of his earliest youth AhPing had unceasingly devoted himself to the object of getting

together an overwhelming number of taels, using for this purpose various means which, without being really

degrading or contrary to the written law, were not such as might have been cheerfully engaged in by a person

of highminded honourableness. In consequence of this, as he grew more feeble in body, and more venerable

in appearance, he began to express frequent and bitter doubts as to whether his manner of life had been really

well arranged; for, in spite of his great wealth, he had grown to adopt a most inexpensive habit on all

occasions, having no desire to spend; and an everincreasing apprehension began to possess him that after he

had passed beyond, his sons would be very disinclined to sacrifice and burn money sufficient to keep him in

an affluent condition in the Upper Air. In such a state of mind was AhPing when QuenKiTong appeared

before him, for it had just been revealed to him that his eldest and favourite son had, by flattery and by openly

praising the dexterity with which he used his brush and ink, entrapped him into inscribing his entire name

upon certain unwritten sheets of parchment, which the one in question immediately sold to such as were

"'If a person can be guilty of this really unfilial behaviour during the lifetime of his father,' exclaimed

AhPing, in a tone of unrestrained vexation, 'can it be prudently relied upon that he will carry out his wishes

after death, when they involve the remitting to him of several thousand taels each year? O estimable

QuenKiTong, how immeasurably superior is the celestial outlook upon which you may safely rely as your

portion! When you are enjoying every variety of sumptuous profusion, as the reward of your untiring

charitable exertions here on earth, the spirit of this shortsighted person will be engaged in doing menial

servitude for the inferior deities, and perhaps scarcely able, even by those means, to clothe himself according

"'Yet,' replied Quen, 'the necessity for so laborious and unremunerative an existence may even now be

"'In what way?' demanded AhPing, with an awakening hope that the matter might not be entirely destitute of

cheerfulness, yet at the same time preparing to examine with even unbecoming intrusiveness any expedient

which Quen might lay before him. 'Is it not explicitly stated that sacrifices and acts of a like nature, when

performed at the end of one's existence by a person who to that time has professed no sort of interest in such

matters, shall in no degree be entered as to his good, but rather regarded as examples of deliberate

presumptuousness, and made the excuse for subjecting him to more severe tortures and acts of penance than

"'Undoubtedly such is the case,' replied Quen; 'and on that account it would indicate a most regrettable want

of foresight for you to conduct your affairs in the manner indicated. The only undeniably safe course is for

you to entrust the amount you will require to a person of exceptional piety, receiving in return his written

word to repay the full sum whenever you shall claim it from him in the Upper Air. By this crafty method the

amount will be placed at the disposal of the person in question as soon as he has passed beyond, and he will

"So amiably impressed with this ingenious scheme was AhPing that he would at once have entered more

fully into the detail had the thought not arisen in his mind that the person before him was the father of Liao,

who urgently required a certain large sum, and that for this reason he might with prudence inquire more fully

into the matter elsewhere, in case Quen himself should have been imperceptibly led aside, even though he

possessed intentions of a most unswerving honourableness. To this end, therefore, he desired to converse

again with Quen on the matter, pleading that at that moment a gathering of those who direct enterprises of a

commercial nature required his presence. Nevertheless, he would not permit the person referred to depart

until he had complimented him, in both general and specific terms, on the high character of his life and

actions, and the intelligent nature of his understanding, which had enabled him with so little mental exertion

"Without delay AhPing sought out those most skilled in all varieties of lawforms, in extorting money by

devices capable of very different meanings, and in expedients for evading just debts; but all agreed that such

an arrangement as the one he put before them would be unavoidably binding, provided the person who

received the money alluded to spent it in the exercise of his charitable desires, and provided also that the

written agreement bore the duty seal of the high ones at Peking, and was deposited in the coffin of the lender.

Fully satisfied, and rejoicing greatly that he could in this way adequately provide for his future and entrap the

avaricious ones of his house, AhPing collected together the greater part of his possessions, and converting it

into pieces of gold, entrusted them to Quen on the exact understanding that has already been described, he

receiving in turn Quen's written and thumbsigned paper of repayment, and his assurance that the whole

amount should be expended upon the silverpaper and goldleaf Temple with which he was still engaged.

"It is owing to this circumstance that QuenKiTong's irreproachable name has come to be lightly regarded

by many who may be fitly likened to the latter person in the subtle and experienced proverb, 'The wise man's

eyes fell before the gaze of the fool, fearing that if he looked he must cry aloud, "Thou hopeless one!"

"There," said the fool to himself, "behold this person's power!"' These badly educated and undiscriminating

persons, being entirely unable to explain the ensuing train of events, unhesitatingly declare that

QuenKiTong applied a portion of the money which he had received from AhPing in the manner

described to the object of acquiring Ts'ain for his son Liao. In this feeble and incapable fashion they

endeavour to stigmatize the pureminded Quen as one who acted directly contrary to his deliberately spoken

word, whereas the desired result was brought about in a much more artful manner; they describe the

commercially successful AhPing as a person of very inferior prudence, and one easily imposed upon; while

they entirely pass over, as a detail outside the true facts, the written paper reserved among the sacred relics in

the Temple, which announces, among other gifts of a small and uninviting character, 'Thirty thousand taels

from an elderly ginseng merchant of Lukwo, who desires to remain nameless, through the hand of

QuenKiTong.' The full happening in its real and harmless face is now set forth for the first time.

"Some weeks after the recorded arrangement had been arrived at by AhPing and Quen, when the taels in

question had been expended upon the Temple and were, therefore, infallibly beyond recall, the former person

chanced to be passing through the public garden in Lukwo when he heard a voice lifted up in the expression

of every unendurable feeling of dejection to which one can give utterance. Stepping aside to learn the cause

of so unprepossessing a display of unrestrained agitation, and in the hope that perhaps he might be able to use

the incident in a remunerative manner, AhPing quickly discovered the unhappy being who, entirely

regardless of the embroidered silk robe which he wore, reclined upon a raised bank of uninviting earth, and

"'QuenKiTong!' exclaimed AhPing, not fully convinced that the fact was as he stated it in spite of the

image clearly impressed upon his imagination; 'to what unpropitious occurrence is so unlookedfor an

exhibition due? Are those who traffic in goldleaf demanding a high and prohibitive price for that

commodity, or has some evil and vindicative spirit taken up its abode within the completed portion of the

Temple, and by its offensive but nevertheless diverting remarks and actions removed all semblance of gravity

"'O thrice unfortunate AhPing,' replied Quen when he observed the distinguishing marks of the person

before him, 'scarcely can this greatly overwhelmed one raise his eyes to your open and intelligent

countenance; for through him you are on the point of experiencing a very severe financial blow, and it is,

indeed, on your account more than on his own that he is now indulging in these outward signs of a grief too

far down to be expressed in spoken words.' And at the memory of his former occupation, Quen again waved

"'Strange indeed to this person's ears are your words,' said AhPing, outwardly unmoved, but with an

apprehensive internal pain that he would have regarded Quen's display of emotion with an easier stomach if

his own taels were safely concealed under the floor of his inner chamber. 'The sum which this one entrusted

to you has, without any pretence been expended upon the Temple, while the written paper concerning the

repayment bears the duty seal of the high ones at Peking. How, then, can AhPing suffer a loss at the hands

"'AhPing,' said Quen, with every appearance of desiring that both persons should regard the matter in a

conciliatory spirit, 'do not permit the awaiting demons, which are ever on the alert to enter into a person's

mind when he becomes distressed out of the common order of events, to take possession of your usually

discriminating faculties until you have fully understood how this affair has come about. It is no unknown

thing for a person of even exceptional intelligence to reverse his entire manner of living towards the end of a

long and consistent existence; the farseeing and not lightlymoved AhPing himself has already done so. In

a similar, but entirely contrary manner, the person who is now before you finds himself impelled towards that

which will certainly bear a very unpresentable face when the circumstances become known; yet by no other

"'And to what end does that trend?' demanded AhPing, in no degree understanding how the matter affected

"'While occupied with enterprises which those of an engaging and complimentary nature are accustomed to

refer to as charitable, this person has almost entirely neglected a duty of scarcely less importancethat of

establishing an unending line, through which his name and actions shall be kept alive to all time,' replied

Quen. 'Having now inquired into the matter, he finds that his only son, through whom alone the desired result

can be obtained, has become unbearably attached to a maiden for whom a very large sum is demanded in

exchange. The thought of obtaining no advantage from an entire life of selfdenial is certainly

unprepossessing in the extreme, but so, even to a more advanced degree, is the certainty that otherwise the

family monuments will be untended, and the temple of domestic virtues become an early ruin. This person

has submitted the dilemma to the test of omens, and after considering well the reply, he has decided to obtain

the price of the maiden in a not very honourable manner, which now presents itself, so that Liao may send out

"'It is an unalluring alternative,' said AhPing, whose only inside thought was one of gratification that the

exchange money for Ts'ain would so soon be in his possession, 'yet this person fails to perceive how you

could act otherwise after the decision of the omens. He now understands, moreover, that the loss you referred

to on his part was in the nature of a figure of speech, as one makes use of thunderbolts and delicatelyscented

flowers to convey ideas of harsh and amiable passions, and alluded in reality to the forthcoming departure of

his daughter, who is, as you so versatilely suggested, the comfort and riches of his old age.'

"'O venerable, but at this moment somewhat obtuse, AhPing,' cried Quen, with a recurrence to his former

method of expressing his unfeigned agitation, 'is your evenlybalanced mind unable to grasp the essential

fact of how this person's contemplated action will affect your own celestial condition? It is a distressing but

entirely unavoidable fact, that if this person acts in the manner which he has determined upon, he will be

condemned to the lowest place of torment reserved for those who fail at the end of an otherwise pure

existence, and in this he will never have an opportunity of meeting the very much higher placed AhPing,

"At these illdestined words, all power of rigidness departed from AhPing's limbs, and he sank down upon

"'O most unfortunate one who is now speaking,' he exclaimed, when at length his guarding spirit deemed it

prudent to restore his power of expressing himself in words, 'happy indeed would have been your lot had you

been content to traffic in ginseng and other commodities of which you have actual knowledge. O amiable

Quen, this matter must be in some way arranged without causing you to deviate from the entrancing paths of

your habitual virtue. Could not the very reasonable Liao be induced to look favourably upon the attractions of

some lowpriced maiden, in which case this not really hardstomached person would be willing to advance

the necessary amount, until such time as it could be restored, at a very low and unremunerative rate of

"'This person has observed every variety of practical humility in the course of his life,' replied Quen with

commendable dignity, 'yet he now finds himself totally unable to overcome an inward repugnance to the

thought of perpetuating his honoured name and race through the medium of any lowpriced maiden. To this

"Those who were well acquainted with AhPing in matters of commerce did not hesitate to declare that his

great wealth had been acquired by his consistent habit of forming an opinion quickly while others hesitated.

On the occasion in question he only engaged his mind with the opposing circumstances for a few moments

"'QuenKiTong,' he said, with an evident intermingling of many very conflicting emotions, 'retain to the

end this wellmerited reputation for unaffected honourableness which you have so fittingly earned. Few in

the entire Empire, with powers so versatilely pointing to an eminent position in any chosen direction, would

have been content to pass their lives in an unremunerative existence devoted to actions of charity. Had you

selected an entirely different manner of living, this person has every confidence that he, and many others in

Lukwo, would by this time be experiencing a very ignoble poverty. For this reason he will make it his most

prominent ambition to hasten the realization of the amiable hopes expressed both by Liao and by Ts'ain,

concerning their future relationship. In this, indeed, he himself will be more than exceptionally fortunate

should the former one prove to possess even a portion of the clearsighted sagaciousness exhibited by his

"Bright hued is the morning, the dark clouds have fallen; At the mere waving of Quen's virtuous hands they

melted away. Happy is Liao in the possession of so accomplished a parent, Happy also is Quen to have so

"The two persons in question sit, side by side, upon an embroidered couch, Listening to the wellexpressed

compliments of those who pass to and fro. From time to time their eyes meet, and glances of a very

significant amusement pass between them; Can it be that on so ceremonious an occasion they are recalling

"The gentle and rainbowlike Ts'ain has already arrived, With the graceful motion of a silver carp gliding

through a screen of rushes, she moves among those who are assembled. On the brow of her somewhat

contentious father there rests the shadow of an illrepressed sorrow; Doubtless the frequentlymisjudged

AhPing is thinking of his lonely hearth, now that he is for ever parted from that which he holds most

"In the most commodious chamber of the house the elegant weddinggifts are conspicuously displayed; let us

stand beside the one which we have contributed, and point out its excellence to those who pass by. Surely the

time cannot be far distant when the sound of many gongs will announce that the very desirable repast is at

When Yin, the son of Yat Huang, had passed beyond the years assigned to the pursuit of boyhood, he was

placed in the care of the hunchback Quang, so that he might be fully instructed in the management of the

various weapons used in warfare, and also in the art of stratagem, by which a skilful leader is often enabled to

conquer when opposed to an otherwise overwhelming multitude. In all these accomplishments Quang

excelled to an exceptional degree; for although unprepossessing in appearance he united matchless strength to

an untiring subtlety. No other person in the entire Province of Kiangsi could hurl a javelin so unerringly

while uttering sounds of terrifying menace, or could cause his sword to revolve around him so rapidly, while

his face looked out from the glittering circles with an expression of illintentioned malignity that never failed

to inspire his adversary with irrepressible emotions of alarm. No other person could so successfully feign to

be devoid of life for almost any length of time, or by his manner of behaving create the fixed impression that

he was one of insufficient understanding, and therefore harmless. It was for these reasons that Quang was

chosen as the instructor of Yin by Yat Huang, who, without possessing any official degree, was a person to

whom marks of obeisance were paid not only within his own town, but for a distance of many li around it.

At length the time arrived when Yin would in the ordinary course of events pass from the instructorship of

Quang in order to devote himself to the commerce in which his father was engaged, and from time to time the

unavoidable thought arose persistently within his mind that although Yat Huang doubtless knew better than

he did what the circumstances of the future required, yet his manner of life for the past years was not such

that he could contemplate engaging in the occupation of buying and selling porcelain clay with feelings of an

overwhelming interest. Quang, however, maintained with every manifestation of inspired assurance that Yat

Huang was to be commended down to the smallest detail, inasmuch as proficiency in the use of both blunt

and sharpedged weapons, and a faculty for passing undetected through the midst of an encamped body of

foemen, fitted a person for the everyday affairs of life above all other accomplishments.

"Without doubt the very accomplished Yat Huan is well advised on this point," continued Quang, "for even

this mentally shortsighted person can call up within his understanding numerous specific incidents in the

ordinary career of one engaged in the commerce of porcelain clay when such attainments would be of great

remunerative benefit. Does the wellendowed Yin think, for example, that even the most depraved person

would endeavour to gain an advantage over him in the matter of buying or selling porcelain clay if he fully

understood the fact that the one with whom he was trafficking could unhesitatingly transfix four persons with

one arrow at the distance of a hundred paces? Or to what advantage would it be that a body of unscrupulous

outcasts who owned a field of inferior clay should surround it with drawn swords by day and night,

endeavouring meanwhile to dispose of it as material of the finest quality, if the one whom they endeavoured

to ensnare in this manner possessed the power of being able to pass through their ranks unseen and examine

"In the cases to which reference has been made, the possession of those qualities would undoubtedly be of

considerable use," admitted Yin; yet, in spite of his entire ignorance of commercial matters, this one has a

confident feeling that it would be more profitable to avoid such very doubtful forms of barter altogether

rather than spend eight years in acquiring the arts by which to defeat them. "That, however, is a question

which concerns this person's virtuous and engaging father more than his unworthy self, and his only regret is

that no opportunity has offered by which he might prove that he has applied himself diligently to your

It had long been a regret to Quang also that no incident of a disturbing nature had arisen whereby Yin could

have shown himself proficient in the methods of defence and attack which he had taught him. This deficiency

he had endeavoured to overcome, as far as possible, by constructing lifelike models of all the most powerful

and ferocious types of warriors and the fiercest and most relentless animals of the forest, so that Yin might

become familiar with their appearance and discover in what manner each could be the most expeditiously

"Nevertheless," remarked Quang, on an occasion when Yin appeared to be covered with honourable pride at

having approached an unusually large and repulsivelooking tiger so stealthily that had the animal been

really alive it would certainly have failed to perceive him, "such accomplishments are by no means to be

regarded as conclusive in themselves. To steal insidiously upon a destructivelyincluded wild beast and

transfix it with one welldirected blow of a spear is attended by difficulties and emotions which are entirely

absent in the case of a wickerwork animal covered with canvascloth, no matter how deceptive in appearance

To afford Yin a more trustworthy example of how he should engage with an adversary of formidable

proportions, Quang resolved upon an ingenious plan. Procuring the skin of a grey wolf, he concealed himself

within it, and in the early morning, while the mistdamp was still upon the ground, he set forth to meet Yin,

who had on a previous occasion spoken to him of his intention to be at a certain spot at such an hour. In this

conscientious enterprise, the painstaking Quang would doubtless have been successful, and Yin gained an

assured proficiency and experience, had it not chanced that on the journey Quang encountered a labourer of

low caste who was crossing the enclosed ground on his way to the rice field in which he worked. This

contemptible and inopportune person, not having at any period of his existence perfected himself in the

recognized and elegant methods of attack and defence, did not act in the manner which would assuredly have

been adopted by Yin in similar circumstances, and for which Quang would have been fully prepared. On the

contrary, without the least indication of what his intention was, he suddenly struck Quang, who was

hesitating for a moment what action to take, a most intolerable blow with a formidable staff which he carried.

The stroke in question inflicted itself upon Quang upon that part of the body where the head becomes

connected with the neck, and would certainly have been followed by others of equal force and precision had

not Quang in the meantime decided that the most dignified course for him to adopt would be to disclose his

name and titles without delay. Upon learning these facts, the one who stood before him became very grossly

and offensively amused, and having taken from Quang everything of value which he carried among his

garments, went on his way, leaving Yin's instructor to retrace his steps in unendurable dejection, as he then

When Yat Huang was satisfied that his son was sufficiently skilled in the various arts of warfare, he called

him to his inner chamber, and having barred the door securely, he placed Yin under a very binding oath not to

reveal, until an appointed period, the matter which he was going to put before him.

"From father to son, in unbroken line for ten generations, has such a custom been observed," he said, "for the

course of events is not to be lightly entered upon. At the commencement of that cycle, which period is now

fully fifteen score years ago, a very wise person chanced to incur the displeasure of the Emperor of that time,

and being in consequence driven out of the capital, he fled to the mountains. There his subtle discernment and

the pure and solitary existence which he led resulted in his becoming endowed with faculties beyond those

possessed by ordinary beings. When he felt the end of his earthly career to be at hand he descended into the

plain, where, in a state of great destitution and bodily anguish, he was discovered by the one whom this

person has referred to as the first of the line of ancestors. In return for the care and hospitality with which he

was unhesitatingly received, the admittedly inspired hermit spent the remainder of his days in determining the

destinies of his rescuer's family and posterity. It is an undoubted fact that he predicted how one would, by

welldirected enterprise and adventure, rise to a position of such eminence in the land that he counselled the

details to be kept secret, lest the envy and hostility of the ambitious and unworthy should be raised. From this

cause it has been customary to reveal the matter fully from father to son, at stated periods, and the setting out

of the particulars in written words has been severely discouraged. Wise as this precaution certainly was, it has

resulted in a very inconvenient state of things; for a remote ancestorthe fifth in line from the

beginningexperienced such vicissitudes that he returned from his travels in a state of most abandoned

idiocy, and when the time arrived that he should, in turn, communicate to his son, he was only able to repeat

over and over again the name of the pious hermit to whom the family was so greatly indebted, coupling it

each time with a new and markedly offensive epithet. The essential details of the undertaking having in this

manner passed beyond recall, succeeding generations, which were merely acquainted with the fact that a very

prosperous future awaited the one who fulfilled the conditions, have in vain attempted to conform to them. It

is not an alluring undertaking, inasmuch as nothing of the method to be pursued can be learned, except that it

was the custom of the early ones, who held the full knowledge, to set out from home and return after a period

of years. Yet so clearly expressed was the prophecy, and so great the reward of the successful, that all have

eagerly journeyed forth when the time came, knowing nothing beyond that which this person has now

When Yat Huang reached the end of the matter which it was his duty to disclose, Yin for some time pondered

the circumstances before replying. In spite of a most engaging reverence for everything of a sacred nature, he

could not consider the inspired remark of the wellintentioned hermit without feelings of a most persistent

doubt, for it occurred to him that if the person in question had really been as wise as he was represented to be,

he might reasonably have been expected to avoid the unaccountable error of offending the enlightened and

powerful Emperor under whom he lived. Nevertheless, the prospect of engaging in the trade of porcelain clay

was less attractive in his eyes than that of setting forth upon a journey of adventure, so that at length he

expressed his willingness to act after the manner of those who had gone before him.

This decision was received by Yat Huang with an equal intermingling of the feelings of delight and concern,

for although he would have by no means pleasurably contemplated Yin breaking through a venerable and

esteemed custom, he was unable to put entirely from him the thought of the degrading fate which had

overtaken the fifth in line who made the venture. It was, indeed, to guard Yin as much as possible against the

dangers to which he would become exposed, if he determined on the expedition, that the entire course of his

training had been selected. In order that no precaution of a propitious nature should be neglected, Yat Huang

at once despatched written words of welcome to all with whom he was acquainted, bidding them partake of a

great banquet which he was preparing to mark the occasion of his son's leavetaking. Every variety of

sacrifice was offered up to the controlling deities, both good and bad; the ten ancestors were continuously

exhorted to take Yin under their special protection, and sets of verses recording his virtues and ambitions

were freely distributed among the necessitous and lowcaste who could not be received at the feast.

The dinner itself exceeded in magnificence any similar event that had ever taken place in Chingtoi. So great

was the polished ceremony observed on the occasion, that each guest had half a score of cups of the finest

apricottea successively placed before him and taken away untasted, while Yat Huang went to each in turn

protesting vehemently that the honour of covering such pureminded and distinguished persons was more

than his badly designed roof could reasonably bear, and wittingly giving an entrancing air of reality to the

spoken compliment by begging them to move somewhat to one side so that they might escape the heavy

central beam if the event which he alluded to chanced to take place. After several hours had been spent in this

congenial occupation, Yat Huang proceeded to read aloud several of the sixteen discourses on education

which, taken together, form the discriminating and infallible example of conduct known as the Holy Edict. As

each detail was dwelt upon Yin arose from his couch and gave his deliberate testimony that all the required

tests and rites had been observed in his own case. The first part of the repast was then partaken of, the nature

of the ingredients and the manner of preparing them being fully explained, and in a like manner through each

succeeding one of the fourandforty courses. At the conclusion Yin again arose, being encouraged by the

repeated uttering of his name by those present, and with extreme modesty and brilliance set forth his manner

Early on the morning of the following day Yin set out on his travels, entirely unaccompanied, and carrying

with him nothing beyond a sum of money, a silk robe, and a welltried and reliable spear. For many days he

journeyed in a northerly direction, without encountering anything sufficiently unusual to engage his attention.

This, however, was doubtless part of a prearranged scheme so that he should not be drawn from a destined

path, for at a small village lying on the southern shore of a large lake, called by those around Silent Water, he

heard of the existence of a certain sacred island, distant a full day's sailing, which was barren of all forms of

living things, and contained only a single gigantic rock of divine origin and majestic appearance. Many

persons, the villagers asserted, had sailed to the island in the hope of learning the portent of the rock, but none

ever returned, and they themselves avoided coming even within sight of it; for the sacred stone, they

declared, exercised an evil influence over their ships, and would, if permitted, draw them out of their course

and towards itself. For this reason Yin could find no guide, whatever reward he offered, who would

accompany him; but having with difficulty succeeded in hiring a small boat of inconsiderable value, he

embarked with food, incense, and materials for building fires, and after rowing consistently for nearly the

whole of the day, came within sight of the island at evening. Thereafter the necessity of further exertion

ceased, for, as they of the village had declared would be the case, the vessel moved gently forward, in an

unswerving line, without being in any way propelled, and reaching its destination in a marvellously short

space of time, passed behind a protecting spur of land and came to rest. It then being night, Yin did no more

than carry his stores to a place of safety, and after lighting a sacrificial fire and prostrating himself before the

In the morning Yin's spirit came back to the earth amid the sound of music of a celestial origin, which ceased

immediately he recovered full consciousness. Accepting this manifestation as an omen of Divine favour, Yin

journeyed towards the centre of the island where the rock stood, at every step passing the bones of

innumerable ones who had come on a similar quest to his, and perished. Many of these had left behind them

inscriptions on wood or bone testifying their deliberate opinion of the sacred rock, the island, their protecting

deities, and the entire train of circumstances, which had resulted in their being in such a condition. These

were for the most part of a maledictory and unencouraging nature, so that after reading a few, Yin

endeavoured to pass without being in any degree influenced by such illjudged outbursts.

"Accursed be the ancestors of this tormented one to four generations back!" was prominently traced upon an

unusually large shoulderblade. "May they at this moment be simmering in a vat of unrefined dragon's blood,

as a reward for having so undiscriminatingly reared the person who inscribes these words only to attain this

end!" "Be warned, O later one, by the signs around!" Another and more practicalminded person had written:

"Retreat with all haste to your vessel, and escape while there is yet time. Should you, by chance, again reach

land through this warning, do not neglect, out of an emotion of gratitude, to burn an appropriate amount of

sacrifice paper for the lessening of the torments of the spirit of LiKao," to which an unscrupulous one, who

was plainly desirous of sharing in the benefit of the requested sacrifice, without suffering the exertion of

inscribing a warning after the amiable manner of LiKao, had added the words, "and that of Huan Sin".

Halting at a convenient distance from one side of the rock which, without being carved by any person's hand,

naturally resembled the symmetrical countenance of a recumbent dragon (which he therefore conjectured to

be the chief point of the entire mass), Yin built his fire and began an unremitting course of sacrifice and

respectful ceremony. This manner of conduct he observed conscientiously for the space of seven days.

Towards the end of that period a feeling of unendurable dejection began to possess him, for his stores of all

kinds were beginning to fail, and he could not entirely put behind him the memory of the various

wellintentioned warnings which he had received, or the sight of the fleshless ones who had lined his path.

On the eighth day, being weak with hunger and, by reason of an intolerable thirst, unable to restrain his body

any longer in the spot where he had hitherto continuously prostrated himself nineandninety times each

hour without ceasing, he rose to his feet and retraced his steps to the boat in order that he might fill his

With a complicated emotion, in which was present every abandoned and disagreeable thought to which a

person becomes a prey in moments of exceptional mental and bodily anguish, he perceived as soon as he

reached the edge of the water that the boat, upon which he was confidently relying to carry him back when all

else failed, had disappeared as entirely as the smoke from an extinguished opium pipe. At this sight Yin

clearly understood the meaning of LiKao's unregarded warning, and recognized that nothing could now save

him from adding his incorruptible parts to those of the unfortunate ones whose unhappy fate had, seven days

ago, engaged his refined pity. Unaccountably strengthened in body by the indignation which possessed him,

and inspired with a virtuous repulsion at the treacherous manner of behaving on the part of those who guided

his destinies, he hastened back to his place of obeisance, and perceiving that the habitually placid and

introspective expression on the dragon face had imperceptibly changed into one of offensive cunning and

unconcealed contempt, he snatched up his spear and, without the consideration of a moment, hurled it at a

score of paces distance full into the sacred but nevertheless very unprepossessing face before him.

At the instant when the presumptuous weapon touched the holy stone the entire intervening space between

the earth and the sky was filled with innumerable flashes of forked and manytongued lightning, so that the

island had the appearance of being the scene of a very extensive but somewhat badlyarranged display of

costly fireworks. At the same time the thunder rolled among the clouds and beneath the sea in an exceedingly

disconcerting manner. At the first indication of these celestial movements a sudden blindness came upon Yin,

and all power of thought or movement forsook him; nevertheless, he experienced an emotion of flight

through the air, as though borne upwards upon the back of a winged creature. When this emotion ceased, the

blindness went from him as suddenly and entirely as if a cloth had been pulled away from his eyes, and he

perceived that he was held in the midst of a boundless space, with no other object in view than the sacred

rock, which had opened, as it were, revealing a mighty throng within, at the sight of whom Yin's internal

organs trembled as they would never have moved at ordinary danger, for it was put into his spirit that these in

whose presence he stood were the sacred Emperors of his country from the earliest time until the usurpation

As Yin gazed in fearstricken amazement, a knowledge of the various Pure Ones who composed the

assembly came upon him. He understood that the three unclad and commanding figures which stood together

were the Emperors of the Heaven, Earth, and Man, whose reigns covered a space of more than eighty

thousand years, commencing from the time when the world began its span of existence. Next to them stood

one wearing a robe of leopardskin, his hand resting upon a staff of a massive club, while on his face the

expression of tranquillity which marked his predecessors had changed into one of alert wakefulness; it was

the Emperor of Houses, whose reign marked the opening of the neverending strife between man and all

other creatures. By his side stood his successor, the Emperor of Fire, holding in his right hand the emblem of

the knotted cord, by which he taught man to cultivate his mental faculties, while from his mouth issued

smoke and flame, signifying that by the introduction of fire he had raised his subjects to a state of civilized

On the other side of the boundless chamber which seemed to be contained within the rocks were FouHy,

TchangKi, TchengNung, and Huang, standing or reclining together. The first of these framed the calendar,

organized property, thought out the eight Essential Diagrams, encouraged the various branches of hunting,

and the rearing of domestic animals, and instituted marriage. From his couch floated melodious sounds in

remembrance of his discovery of the property of stringed woods. TchangKi, who manifested the property of

herbs and growing plants, wore a robe signifying his attainments by means of embroidered symbols. His hand

rested on the head of the dragon, while at his feet flowed a bottomless canal of the purest water. The

discovery of written letters by TchengNung, and his ingenious plan of grouping them after the manner of

the constellations of stars, was emblemized in a similar manner, while Huang, or the Yellow Emperor, was

surrounded by ores of the useful and precious metals, weapons of warfare, written books, silks and articles of

attire, coined money, and a variety of objects, all testifying to his ingenuity and inspired energy.

These illustrious ones, being the greatest, were the first to take Yin's attention, but beyond them he beheld an

innumerable concourse of Emperors who not infrequently outshone their majestic predecessors in the

richness of their apparel and the magnificence of the jewels which they wore. There Yin perceived

HungHoang, who first caused the chants to be collected, and other rulers of the Tcheon dynasty;

YongTching, who compiled the Holy Edict; Thang rulers whose line is rightly called "the golden", from the

unsurpassed excellence of the composed verses which it produced; renowned Emperors of the versatile Han

dynasty; and, standing apart, and shunned by all, the malignant and narrowminded TsingSuHoang, who

Even while Yin looked and wondered, in great fear, a rolling voice, coming from one who sat in the midst of

all, holding in his right hand the sun, and in his left the moon, sounded forth, like the music of many brass

"Yin, son of Yat Huang, and creature of the Lower Part," he said, "listen well to the words I speak, for brief is

the span of your tarrying in the Upper Air, nor will the utterance I now give forth ever come unto your ears

again, either on the earth, or when, blindly groping in the Middle Distance, your spirit takes its nightly flight.

They who are gathered around, and whose voices I speak, bid me say this: Although immeasurably above you

in all matters, both of knowledge and of power, yet we greet you as one who is wellintentioned, and inspired

with honourable ambition. Had you been content to entreat and despair, as did all the feeble and incapable

ones whose white bones formed your pathway, your ultimate fate would have in no wise differed from theirs.

But inasmuch as you held yourself valiantly, and, being taken, raised an instinctive hand in return, you have

been chosen; for the day to mute submission has, for the time or for ever, passed away, and the hour is when

"A state of things which would have been highly unnecessary if I had been permitted to carry out my

intention fully, and restore man to his prehistoric simplicity," interrupted TsinSuHoang. "For that reason,

when the voice of the assemblage expresses itself, it must be understood that it represents in no measure the

"In the matter of what has gone before, and that which will follow hereafter," continued the Voice

dispassionately, "Yin, the son of YatHuang, must concede that it is in no part the utterance of

At the mention of the name and offence of this degraded being a great sound went up from the entire

multitudea universal cry of execration, not greatly dissimilar from that which may be frequently heard in

the crowded Temple of Impartiality when the one whose duty it is to take up, at a venture, the folded papers,

announces that the sublime Emperor, or some mandarin of exalted rank, has been so fortunate as to hold the

winning number in the Annual State Lottery. So vengeanceladen and mournful was the combined and

evidently preconcerted wail, that Yin was compelled to shield his ears against it; yet the inconsiderable

TsinSuHoang, on whose account it was raised, seemed in no degree to be affected by it, he, doubtless,

having become hardened by hearing a similar outburst, at fixed hours, throughout interminable cycles of

"Soon the earth will again receive you, Yin," it said, "for it is not respectful that a lower one should be long

permitted to gaze upon our exalted faces. Yet when you go forth and stand once more among men this is laid

on you: that henceforth you are as a being devoted to a fixed and unchanging end, and whatever moves

towards the restoring of the throne of the Central Empire the outcast but unalterably sacred line of its true

sovereigns shall have your arm and mind. By what combination of force and stratagem this can be

accomplished may not be honourably revealed by us, the allknowing. Nevertheless, omens and guidance

shall not be lacking from time to time, and from the beginning the weapon by which you have attained to this

When the Voice made an end of speaking the sudden blindness came upon Yin, as it had done before, and

from the sense of motion which he experienced, he conjectured that he was being conveyed back to the

island. Undoubtedly this was the case, for presently there came upon him the feeling that he was awakening

from a deep and refreshing sleep, and opening his eyes, which he now found himself able to do without any

difficulty, he immediately discovered that he was reclining at full length on the ground, and at a distance of

about a score of paces from the dragon head. His first thought was to engage in a lengthy course of

selfabasement before it, but remembering the words which had been spoken to him while in the Upper Air,

he refrained, and even ventured to go forward with a confident but somewhat selfdeprecatory air, to regain

the spear, which he perceived lying at the foot of the rock. With feelings of a reassuring nature he then saw

that the very undesirable expression which he had last beheld upon the dragon face had melted into one of

Close by the place where he had landed he discovered his boat, newly furnished with wine and food of a

much more attractive profusion than that which he had purchased in the village. Embarking in it, he made as

though he would have returned to the south, but the spear which he held turned within his grasp, and pointed

in an exactly opposite direction. Regarding this fact as an express command on the part of the Deities, Yin

turned his boat to the north, and in the space of two days' timebeing continually guided by the fixed

indication of the spearhe reached the shore and prepared to continue his travels in the same direction,

upheld and inspired by the knowledge that henceforth he moved under the direct influence of very powerful

As recorded by himself before his sudden departure from Peking, owing to circumstances which are made

There are moments in the life of a person when the saying of the wise NiHyu that "Misfortune comes to all

men and to most women" is endowed with double force. At such times the faithful child of the Sun is a prey

to the whitest and most funereal thoughts, and even the inspired wisdom of his illustrious ancestors seems

more than doubtful, while the continued inactivity of the Sacred Dragon appears for the time to give colour to

the scoffs of the Western barbarian. A little while ago these misgivings would have found no restingplace in

the bosom of the writer. Now, howeverbut the matter must be made clear from the beginning.

The name of the despicable person who here sets forth his immature story is Kin Yen, and he is a native of

KiaLu in the Province of CheKiang. Having purchased from a very aged man the position of Hereditary

Instructor in the Art of Drawing Birds and Flowers, he gave lessons in these accomplishments until he had

saved sufficient money to journey to Peking. Here it was his presumptuous intention to learn the art of

drawing figures in order that he might illustrate printed leaves of a more distinguished class than those which

would accept what true politeness compels him to call his exceedingly unsymmetrical pictures of birds and

flowers. Accordingly, when the time arrived, he disposed of his Hereditary Instructorship, having first

ascertained in the interests of his pupils that his successor was a person of refined morals and great filial

Alas! it is well written, "The road to eminence lies through the cheap and exceedingly uninviting

eatinghouses." In spite of this person's great economy, and of his having begged his way from KiaLu to

Peking in the guise of a pilgrim, journeying to burn incense in the sacred Temple of Truth near that city,

when once within the latter place his taels melted away like the smile of a person of low class when he

discovers that the mandarin's stern words were not intended as a jest. Moreover, he found that the

storymakers of Peking, receiving higher rewards than those at KiaLu, considered themselves bound to

introduce living characters into all their tales, and in consequence the very ornamental drawings of birds and

flowers which he had entwined into a legend entitled "The Last Fight of the Heavensent Tcheng"a story

which had been entrusted to him for illustration as a test of his skillwas returned to him with a

communication in which the writer revealed his real meaning by stating contrary facts. It therefore became

necessary that he should become competent in the art of drawing figures without delay, and with this object

he called at the pictureroom of Tieng Lin, a person whose experience was so great that he could, without

discomfort to himself, draw men and women of all classes, both good and bad. When the person who is

setting forth this narrative revealed to Tieng Lin the utmost amount of money he could afford to give for

instruction in the art of drawing living figures, Tieng Lin's face became as overcast as the sky immediately

before the Great Rains, for in his ignorance of this incapable person's poverty he had treated him with

equality and courtesy, nor had he kept him waiting in the mean room on the plea that he was at that moment

closeted with the Sacred Emperor. However, upon receiving an assurance that a rumour would be spread in

which the number of taels should be multiplied by ten, and that the sum itself should be brought in advance,

Tieng Lin promised to instruct this person in the art of drawing five characters, which, he said, would be

sufficient to illustrate all stories except those by the most expensive and highlyrewarded storytellersmen

who have become so proficient that they not infrequently introduce a score or more of living persons into

After considerable deliberation, this unassuming person selected the following characters, judging them to be

the most useful, and the most readily applicable to all phases and situations of life:

1. A bad person, wearing a long dark pigtail and smoking an opium pipe. His arms to be folded, and his

2. A woman of low class. One who removes dust and useless things from the rooms of the overfastidious

3. A person from Peling, endowed with qualities which cause the beholder to be amused. This character to

4. One who, having incurred the displeasure of the sublime Emperor, has been decapitated in consequence.

5. An ordinary person of no striking or distinguished appearance. One who can be safely introduced in all

After many months spent in constant practice and in taking measurements, this unenviable person attained a

very high degree of proficiency, and could draw any of the five characters without hesitation. With renewed

hope, therefore, he again approached those who sit in easychairs, and concealing his identity (for they are

stiff at bending, and when once a picturemaker is classed as "of no good" he remains so to the end, in spite

of change), he succeeded in getting entrusted with a story by the elegant and refined Kyen Tal. This writer, as

he remembered with distrust, confines his distinguished efforts entirely to the doings of sailors and of those

connected with the sea, and this tale, indeed, he found upon reading to be the narrative of how a HangChow

junk and its crew, consisting mostly of aged persons, were beguiled out of their course by an exceedingly

illdisposed dragon, and wrecked upon an island of naked barbarians. It was, therefore, with a somewhat

heavy stomach that this person set himself the task of arranging his five characters as so to illustrate the

The sayings of the ancient philosopher Tai Loo are indeed very subtle, and the truth of his remark, "After

being disturbed in one's dignity by a mandarin's foot it is no unusual occurrence to fall flat on the face in

crossing a muddy street," was now apparent. Great as was the disadvantage owing to the nature of the five

characters, this became as nothing when it presently appeared that the avaricious and claysouled Tieng Lin,

taking advantage of the blindness of this person's enthusiasm, had taught him the figures so that they all

gazed in the same direction. In consequence of this it would have been impossible that two should be placed

as in the act of conversing together had not the noble Kyen Tal been inspired to write that "his companions

turned from him in horror". This incident the ingenious person who is recording these facts made the subject

of three separate drawings, and having in one or two other places effected skilful changes in the writing, so

similar in style to the strokes of the illustrious Kyen Tal as to be undetectable, he found little difficulty in

making use of all his characters. The risks of the future, however, were too great to be run with impunity;

therefore it was arranged, by means of moneyfor this person was fast becoming acquainted with the ways

of Pekingthat an emissary from one who sat in an easychair should call upon him for a conference, the

narrative of which appeared in this form in the Peking Printed Leaves of Thricedistilled Truth:

The brilliant and amiable young picturemaker Kin Yen, in spite of the immediate and universal success of

his accomplished efforts, is still quite rotund in intellect, nor is he, if we may use a form of speaking affected

by our friends across the Hoang Hai, "suffering from swollen feet." A person with no recognized position, but

one who occasionally does inferior work of this nature for us, recently surprised Kin Yen without warning,

and found him in his sumptuously appointed pictureroom, busy with compasses and tracingpaper. About

the place were scattered in elegant confusion several of his recent masterpieces. From the subsequent

conversation we are in a position to make it known that in future this refined and versatile person will confine

himself entirely to illustrations of processions, funerals, armies on the march, persons pursued by others, and

kindred subjects which appeal strongly to his imagination. Kin Yen has severe emotions on the subject of

individuality in art, and does not hesitate to express himself forcibly with reference to those who are content

to degrade the names of their ancestors by turning out what he wittily describes as "so much of varied

The prominence obtained by this pleasantlycomposed noticefor it was copied by others who were

unaware of the circumstance of its originhad the desired effect. In future, when one of those who sit in

easychairs wished for a picture after the kind mentioned, he would say to his lesser one: "Oh, send to the

graceful and versatile Kin Yen; he becomes inspired on the subject of funerals," or persons escaping from

prison, or families walking to the temple, or whatever it might be. In that way this narrowminded and

illiterate person was soon both looked at and rich, so that it was his daily practice to be carried, in silk

garments, past the houses of those who had known him in poverty, and on these occasions he would puff out

True are the words written in the elegant and distinguished Book of Verses: "Beware lest when being kissed

by the allseeing Emperor, you step upon the elusive bananapeel." It was at the height of eminence in this

altogether degraded person's career that he encountered the being who led him on to his present altogether too

Tien Nung is the earthly name by which is known she who combines all the most illustrious attributes which

have been possessed of women since the days of the divine FouHy. Her father is a person of very gross

habits, and lives by selling inferior merchandise covered with some of good quality. Upon past occasions,

when under the direct influence of Tien, and in the hope of gaining some money benefit, this person may

have spoken of him in terms of praise, and may even have recommended friends to entrust articles of value to

him, or to procure goods on his advice. Now, however, he records it as his unalterable decision that the father

of Tien Nung is by profession a person who obtains goods by stratagem, and that, moreover, it is impossible

The events that have happened prove the deep wisdom of Li Pen when he exclaimed "The whitest of pigeons,

no matter how excellent in the silkhung chamber, is not to be followed on the field of battle." Tien herself

was all that the most exacting of persons could demand, but her opinions on the subject of picturemaking

were not formed by heavy thought, and it would have been well if this had been borne in mind by this person.

One morning he chanced to meet her while carrying open in his hands four sets of printed leaves containing

"I have observed," said Tien, after the usual personal inquiries had been exchanged, "that the renowned Kin

Yen, who is the object of the keenest envy among his brother picturemakers, so little regards the sacredness

of his accomplished art that never by any chance does he depict persons of the very highest excellence. Let

not the words of an impetuous maiden disarrange his digestive organs if they should seem too bold to the

highsouled Kin Yen, but this matter has, since she has known him, troubled the eyelids of Tien. Here," she

continued, taking from this person's hand one of the printed leaves which he was carrying, "in this illustration

of persons returning from extinguishing a fire, is there one who appears to possess those qualities which

appeal to all that is intellectual and competitive within one? Can it be that the immaculate Kin Yen is

unacquainted with the subtle distinction between the really select and the vastly ordinary? Ah,

undiscriminating Kin Yen! are not the eyelashes of the person who is addressing you as threads of fine gold

to junk's cables when compared with those of the extremely commonplace female who is here pictured in the

art of carrying a bucket? Can the most refined lack of vanity hide from you the fact that your own person is

infinitely rounder than this of the evillyintentionedlooking individual with the opium pipe? O blind Kin

Here she fled in honourable confusion, leaving this person standing in the street, astounded, and a prey to the

"Oh, Tien," he cried at length, "inspired by those bright eyes, narrower than the most select of the three

thousand and one possessed by the sublime Buddha, the almost fallen Kin Yen will yet prove himself worthy

of your esteemed consideration. He will, without delay, learn to draw two new living persons, and will

Returning swiftly to his abode, he therefore inscribed and despatched this letter, in proof of his resolve:

"To the Heavensent human chrysanthemum, in whose body reside the Celestial Principles and the

"Henceforth this person will take no rest, nor eat any but the commonest food, until he shall have carried out

"When Kin Yen has been entrusted with a story which contains a being in some degree reflecting the

character of Tien, he will embellish it with her irreproachable profile and come to hear her words. Till then he

From that moment most of this person's time was necessarily spent in learning to draw the two new

characters, and in consequence of this he lost much work, and, indeed, the greater part of the connexion

which he had been at such pains to form gradually slipped away from him. Many months passed before he

was competent to reproduce persons resembling Tien and himself, for in this he was unassisted by Tieng Lin,

At length, being satisfied, he called upon the least fierce of those who sit in easychairs, and requested that

"We should have been covered with honourable joy to set in operation the brush of the inspired Kin Yen,"

replied the other with agreeable condescension; "only at the moment, it does not chance that we have before

us any stories in which funerals, or beggars being driven from the city, form the chief incidents. Perhaps if

the polished Kin Yen should happen to be passing this illconstructed office in about six months' time"

"The brush of Kin Yen will never again depict funerals, or labourers arranging themselves to receive pay or

similar subjects," exclaimed this person impetuously, "for, as it is well said, 'The lightning discovers objects

which the paperlantern fails to reveal.' In future none but tales dealing with the most distinguished persons

"If this be the true word of the dignified Kin Yen, it is possible that we may be able to animate his inspired

faculties," was the response. "But in that case, as a new style must be in the nature of an experiment, and as

our public has come to regard Kin Yen as the great exponent of Art Facing in One Direction, we cannot

continue the exceedingly liberal payment with which we have been accustomed to reward his elegant

"Provided the story be suitable, that is a matter of less importance," replied this person.

"The story," said the one in the easychair, "is by the refined Tongking, and it treats of the highminded

and conscientious doubts of one who would become a priest of Fo. When preparing for this distinguished

office he discovers within himself leanings towards the religion of LaoTse. His illustrious scruples are

"And the ending?" inquired this person, for it was desirable that the two should marry happily.

"The inimitable stories of Tongking never have any real ending, and this one, being in his most elevated

style, has even less end than most of them. But the whole narrative is permeated with the odour of josssticks

As it might be some time before another story so suitable should be offered, or one which would afford so

good an opportunity of wafting incense to Tien, and of displaying her incomparable outline in dignified and

magnanimous attitudes, this was eagerly accepted, and for the next week this obscure person spent all his

days and nights in picturing the lovely Tien and his debased self in the characters of the noblyborn young

priest of Fo and Wu Ping. The pictures finished, he caused them to be carefully conveyed to the office, and

then, sitting down, spent many hours in composing the following letter, to be sent to Tien, accompanying a

"When the light has for a period been hidden from a person, it is no uncommon thing for him to be struck

blind on gazing at the sun; therefore, if the sublime Tien values the eyes of Kin Yen, let her hide herself

"The trembling words of Tien have sunk deep into the inside of Kin Yen and become part of his being. Never

again can he depict persons of the quality and in the position he was wont to do.

"With this he sends his latest efforts. In each case he conceives his drawings to be the pictures of the written

words; in the noble Tien's case it is undoubtedly so, in his own he aspires to it. Doubtless the unobtrusive

Tien would make no claim to the character and manner of behaving of the one in the story, yet Kin Yen

confidently asserts that she is to the other as the glove is to the hand, and he is filled with the most intelligent

delight at being able to exhibit her in her true robes, by which she will be known to all who see her, in spite

of her dignified protests. Kin Yen hopes; he will come this evening after sunset."

The week which passed between the finishing of the pictures and the appearance of the eminent printed

leaves containing them was the longest in this nearsighted person's illspent life. But at length the day

arrived, and going with exceedingly mean haste to the place of sale, he purchased a copy and sent it, together

with the letter of his honourable intention, on which he had bestowed so much care, to Tien.

Not till then did it occur to this inconsiderable one that the impetuousness of his action was illjudged; for

might it not be that the pictures were evillyprinted, or that the delicate and fragrant words painting the

character of the one who now bore the features of Tien had undergone some change?

To satisfy himself, scarce as taels had become with him, he purchased another copy.

There are many exalted sayings of the wise and venerable Confucious constructed so as to be of service and

consolation in moments of strong mental distress. These for the greater part recommend tranquillity of mind,

a complete abnegation of the human passions and the like behaviour. The person who is here endeavouring to

bring this badlyconstructed account of his dishonourable career to a close pondered these for some moments

after twice glancing through the matter in the printed leaves, and then, finding the faculties of speech and

movement restored to him, procured a twoedged knife of distinguished brilliance and went forth to call

"Behold," said the lesser one, insidiously stepping in between this person an the inner door, "my intellectual

and allknowing chief is not here today. May his entirely insufficient substitute offer words of

congratulation to the inspired Kin Yen on his effective and striking pictures in this week's issue?"

"His altogether insufficient substitute," answered this person, with difficulty mastering his great rage, "may

and shall offer words of explanation to the inspired Kin Yen, setting forth the reason of his pictures being

used, not with the highminded story of the elegant Tongking for which they were executed, but

accompanying exceedingly base, foolish, and ungrammatical words written by Klanhi, the Peking remover

of gravitywords which will evermore brand the dewlike Tien as a person of light speech and no

refinement"; and in his agony this person struck the lacquered table several times with his elegant knife.

"O Kin Yen," exclaimed the lesser one, "this matter rests not here. It is a thing beyond the sphere of the

individual who is addressing you. All he can tell is that the graceful Tongking withdraw his exceedingly

tedious story for some reason at the final moment, and as your eminent drawings had been paid for, my chief

of the inner office decided to use them with this story of Klanhi. But surely it cannot be that there is aught in

"Judge for yourself," this person said, "first understanding that the two immaculate characters figuring as the

personages of the narrative are exact copies of this dishonoured person himself and of the willowy Tien,

Selecting one of the least offensive of the passages in the work, this unhappy person read the following

"This wellsatisfied writer of printed leaves had a highlydistinguished time last night. After Chow had

departed to see about food, and the junk had been fastened up at the lock of Kilung, on the YangtseKiang,

he and the roundbodied Shang were journeying along the narrow path by the riverside when the right leg

of the graceful and popular person who is narrating these events disappeared into the river. Suffering no

apprehension in the dark, but that the vanishing limb was the left leg of Shang, this intelligent writer allowed

his impassiveness to melt away to an exaggerated degree; but at that moment the circumstance became plain

to the roundbodied Shang, who was in consequence very grossly amused at the mishap and

misapprehension of your good lord, the writer, at the same time pointing out the matter as it really was. Then

it chanced that there came by one of the maidens who carry tea and jest for small sums of money to the sitters

at the little tables with round white tops, at which this remarkable person, the confidant of many mandarins,

ever desirous of displaying his priceless power of removing gravity, said to her:

"'How much of gladness, NingNing? By the Sacred Serpent this is plainly your night out.'

"Perceiving the true facts of the predicament of this commendable writer, she replied:

"'Suffer not your illustrious pigtail to be removed, venerable Wang; for in this maiden's estimation it is indeed

"There are times when this valued person wonders whether his method of removing gravity be in reality very

antique or quite new. On such occasions the world, with all its schools, and those who interfere in the

concerns of others, continues to revolve around him. The wondrous skylanterns come out silently two by

two like to the crystallized music of stringed woods. Then, in the mystery of nonoise, his head becomes

greatly enlarged with celestial and highlyprofound thoughts; his groping hand seems to touch matter which

may be written out in his impressive style and sold to those who print leaves, and he goes home to write out

When this person looked up after reading, with tears of shame in his eyes, he perceived that the lesser one

had cautiously disappeared. Therefore, being unable to gain admittance to the inner office, he returned to his

Here the remark of the omniscient Tai Loo again fixes itself upon the attention. No sooner had this incapable

person reached his house than he became aware that a parcel had arrived for him from the still adorable Tien.

"When a virtuous maiden has been made the victim of a heartless jest or a piece of coarse stupidity at a

person's hands, it is no uncommon thing for him to be struck blind on meeting her father. Therefore, if the

degraded and evilminded Kin Yen values his eyes, ears, nose, pigtail, even his dishonourable breath, let him

"With this Tien returns everything she has ever accepted from Kin Yen. She even includes the brace of

puppies which she received anonymously about a month ago, and which she did not eat, but kept for reasons

of her ownreasons entirely unconnected with the vapid and exceedingly conceited Kin Yen."

As though this letter, and the puppies of which this person now heard for the first time, making him aware of

the existence of a rival lover, were not enough, there almost immediately arrived a letter from Tien's father:

"This person has taken the advice of those skilled in extorting money by means of law forms, and he finds

that Kin Yen has been guilty of a grave and highly expensive act. This is increased by the fact that Tien had

conveyed his seemingly distinguished intentions to all her friends, before whom she now stands in an

exceedingly ungraceful attitude. The machinery for depriving Kin Yen of all the necessaries of existence

At this point, the person who is now concluding his obscure and commonplace history, having spent his last

piece of money on josssticks and incensepaper, and being convinced of the presence of the spirits of his

ancestors, is inspired to make the following prophecies: That Tieng Lin, who imposed upon him in the matter

of picturemaking, shall come to a sudden end, accompanied by great internal pains, after suffering extreme

poverty; that the one who sits in an easychair, together with his lesser one and all who make stories for

them, shall, while sailing to a rice feast during the Festival of Flowers, be precipitated into the water and

slowly devoured by sea monsters, Klanhi in particular being tortured in the process; that PelliChen, the

father of Tien, shall be seized with the dancing sickness when in the presence of the august Emperor, and

being in consequence suspected of treachery, shall, to prove the truth of his denials, be submitted to the tests

of boiling tar, redhot swords, and of being dropped from a great height on to the Sacred Stone of Goodness

and Badness, in each of which he shall fail to convince his judges or to establish his innocence, to the

These are the true words of Kin Yen, the picturemaker, who, having unweighed his mind and exposed the

avaricious villainy of certain persons, is now retiring by night to a very select and hidden spot in the Khingan

Ernest Bramah, of whom in his lifetime Who's Who had so little to say, was born in Manchester. At

seventeen he chose farming as a profession, but after three years of losing money gave it up to go into

journalism. He started as correspondent on a typical provincial paper, then went to London as secretary to

Jerome K. Jerome, and worked himself into the editorial side of Jerome's magazine, Today, where he got

the opportunity of meeting the most important literary figures of the day. But he soon left Today to join a

new publishing firm, as editor of a publication called The Minister; finally, after two years of this, he turned

to writing as his fulltime occupation. He was intensely interested in coins and published a book on the

English regal copper coinage. He is, however, best known as the creator of the charming character Kai Lung

who appears in Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat, Kai Lung's Golden Hours, The Wallet of Kai Lung, Kai Lung

Beneath the Mulberry Tree, The Mirror of Kong Ho, and The Moon of Much Gladness; he also wrote two

one act plays which are often performed at London variety theatres, and many stories and articles in leading