Their friends demurred, or scoffed or remonstrated according to their several dispositions but the trio remained sweetly firm. '"We are seasoned campers, we speak the language, we know the general outline of the country. Why should wt we take a riding trip to the "chow River. To be sure there are no maps to be had, but we have some rough sketches to help "But three women alone?' came the objection, only to be countered with "But we have the Mafoo Magnificent." In the end it was the indisputable talent of the mafoo who doubled as cook. or trebled as explorer or had even enough personality to spare for the role of camp jester that won over the doubting Thomases fute reluctant endorsement of the six weeks' jaunt.
The starting point was Tehchow, though one of the intrepid adven-tresses, hereinafter to be denominated Vivia, came from Shanghai by prosaic train, and another, referred to as Alma, journeyed from. Lintsing to put herself under the command of Captain Lois, the Commanding Officer of the expedition. Her first act of authority was strict excision of the camp kit. "But we can't exist without any of the comforts of life," her recal-victory companions grumbled.
"Your horse can't exist with them" was the final word, and so a very small saddle vell was allowed consisting of the oil cloth (technically referred to as youbou, or some similar sounding phrase) ang steamer rug which were to constitute a bed, a very, very few of the most vital personal belongings, and knife, fork, spoon: and cup. canteen was slung outside for service en route
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.