1 was fortunate on my arrival in Yencheng to make the acquaintance of Me. Ledgard, who was then wait ing for safer conditions before 1 turning to kis work in Shang-tsai He told me his story, and gave me permission to make it public. I found, it a thrilling narrative of an eighteen jays' captivity in the hands of Honanese -brigands. Other foreigners hed experienced captivity on" the same raid and some of the stories have already been given to the world. Notably that of the Rev. Anton Lunden, so ably set down in his book entitled "In the Grip of Bandts". But Me, Ledgari's experience in some points unique. His captivity, though comparatively brief, was more than usually eventful, pa ticularly in the manner of his escape, and it furnishes correct and vivid by looting bandits and escape effectually cut off. Robbers were alesady essing back and forth outside the gates. They had relaised the criminal' prisoners from the city racks, who were already passing through the in their hear the clanking of their fetters they rushed out into the freedom of the open country. The bandits had, yet, been too occupied (o give attention to the mission, and the Christians hoped that' portrayal of banditry at that time, the beginning of the period of wholesale devastation that has ravage jed the provines of Honan daring the {sai retired to rest as usual, with no misgivings of unusual perils close thand, while, miles to the west, there [was sweeping seress the ey:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.