marauders and their only line of retreat. There was no time for
thinking or for explanations; somebody would have to give way or else
there would be shooting. In a second, a fresh desperate situation had
arisen.

The marauders, astonished at my sudden appearance and the manner in
which their _razzia_ had been interrupted, stood debating in loud
voices what they should do, and calling me names. Twice they turned as
if they would shoot me down; then one of them made up the minds of the
others by declaring that their object was not to fight, but to
pillage--these few carts did not matter. With lowering faces they
speedily withdrew, cursing me with calm insolence as they reached the
gates. Outside we saw that they had a number of other carts and mules,
all loaded up with huge bundles; and reeling round these captured
things were other drunken soldiers, whose disordered clothing and
leering faces proclaimed that they had given themselves solely up to
the wildest orgies. To-day there would be no quarter....

We waited until the clamour of these men had died away in the
distance, and then, with a strange double grin, the big Shantung man
turned silently back into an inner courtyard, and pointed me out
another building. I did not understand, for the very stables were
empty and deserted here, as if everything had been already looted or
carried away into safety. There appeared to be not a cart, not a piece
of harness, not a stick of furniture, nothing left at all. The big
Shantung man still grinned, however, and quickly made for the building
he had pointed out. The door was open, as if there was nothing to
conceal, and only enormous bins made of bamboo matting half blocked
the entrance. But with a few rough efforts my men sent these soon
flying; then there was a mighty stamping and neighing of alarm, and as