All this so close to Shanghai seeming somewhat novel, the houseboat party went ashore and made some inquiries. They learnt that the pirates are mostly Shantung men, that they are well organized and fairly well armed, and that they have terrorized the district, for miles around. Holding up the market boats has become such a regular practice that now it is passed by as an ordinary everyday happening. It sounds like petty pilfering, but actually it is very remunerative, and sell the surplus. When garden produce is scarce, the gangs are mobilized and some unfortunate village one night is rounded up.
Having his wife with him, and remembering that ancient saying, "Nearer the Arsenal, farther form protection," our informant mustered all hands and told them to make the best speed possible farther up-river. They sailed up t> Seven Mile Reach and berthed near a big junk which seemed to be deserted. When the tide turned again and another string of boats came along, out from behind this junk there stole a tiny sampan manned by a single individual, and at his call the whole fleet halted whilst he took toll. On one big boat, the master stood in the bows and in the stern were threa stalwart men who, judging by their behaviour, were mere hirelings with no interest beyond their wages. Apparently it went against the grain to be held up by one man and they made vigorous protests and by their actions evidently were about to throw the presumptuous one into the river. Then the master interfered and ordered his faithful crew to desist, for he knew that, although he would win that fight, terrible retribution would be exacted "upon him later.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.