I drew my chair close to Li Taotai. I looked in his face, and as solemnly as I could I said: "Li Ta-jen, you say you are our friend, and why should you wish to harm us, we have never injured you or yours? Won't you tell us what all this means? It is plain the Viceroy does not {ntend us to reach Sungpu any more now than he did at first when he forbade our going point-blank. Is it intended that we shall be killed on the road, and you wish to lieable to say how you tried to hinder us? Is it you wish to keep us here for a while, or would you like us to go back to Hankow? Only tell us truly what the Viceroy wishes, and we shall know what todo. If itis more killing, you had better have it done here and now. We: have neither friends nor arms." Li Taotai seemed to feel the appeal. He hesitated a moment before he spoke and then only said: "Please do not speak these reproachful words."
'TIMELY HELP, We knew the Fuiwo was due upward-bound—and how thankful we felt for the slowness. of that steamer which led to her being there at that time, tongue could hardly tell, for had she been as fast as other steamers it would have been a bad day for us. As we did not know what turn things might take, and as there was a good deal of shouting going on outside, we sent off a servant with a note to Captain Davis, begging him on receipt to stand by till we could reach him. As we happened to get to the river before the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.