American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-26
VOLUME 2.
AN ADVENTURE IN CHINA.
BY EDWARD s. ELLIS

weather and feht the heather insects
On the sixth day they tormented us more
than ever, aud it was about impossible to
cain an hours nap. ! was lying IN the
stern, apart from the rest, and alter TWO
bous labor, | began to console mysei'
with the idea that | vas going to gam
little sleep after all, when | was startled
by tremendous slap on the back, ioilow'
ed bv a short. but meaning exclamation,
and on looking up, | saw Joe 6rummet,
with a face resembling that OF man in
the last stage ofcholera, Ngorously scratch
ing his broad. fat foot, owing to the thick
ness of which, he produced barely more
than tickling sensation. Finding now
that there was no chance of getting any
sleep at all, | approached him and said {:
Joe, let's take trip on shore tonight"
agreed" he exclaimed; 81 may as
we'll be eaten up there as here"
None of the others were willing to ac-
company us; so, about dark we lowered
a boat, and pulled Iazly for the shore,
which we managed to reach in about an
hour and, making the boat fast, We start
ed off, gaping at everything in our path.
1t was now quite dark, aud although there
was a moon it gave but faint light, aud
objects could not be distinguished at a
distance greater chan two or three rods.
We had wandered on for mile or two,
and had just limited something about re-
turning, when | heard a noise directly
behind us, that forcibly reminded me Of
killing hog time" at home, On looking,
we saw a greasy Chinaman pounding a
youngster finely, who kicked and made
the noise referred to. As we saw no
signs of the operation ever being brought
to close, we approached to see the fun.
Joe gazed a minute with great attention,
and then sung out:
"Old dough.head, guess you have
pounded that chap about enough. Sposen
you rest awhile?
The man paid no attention to his ad-
vice, but kept a; work as industriously as
ever. This was too much for Joe, and
walking up to him, he gave him blow
that rolled him over half Il dozen times.
As Joe burst ont into hearty laugh, the
man sprang up like a bull,frog, and splut-
tering something, he waddlc off, evident
ly brim-full of vengeance The boy ap.
pcared to be equally frightened, ard it
did not take him much longer to disap-
pear.
Joe" said I, "You should have known
better than to have done that You have
got us into nice scrape. That fellow
will bring hundred back with him, and
it's my opinion that we had better make
ourselves scarce, if we wish to save our
nccks"
Fudge! wouldn't want any better
fun" replied Joe, "Lct 'em come I'm
ready"
"Well, they are, too" said as l saw
about score of dusky forms shoot around
the corner and rapidly approach us. Joe
now appeared actually frightened, and be-
gan to walk rapidly away, being too full
ofhonor and pride to run. They soon
overlook us, however, and the foremost
one-whom | recognized as our former
friend-approached Joe, and jabbering
and gesticulating to the others, he laid his
hands on him; but the next instant his
skull gave loud crack, and his jobber
was cut squarely off by a stunning blow
from the hand he had felt before. The
others now rushed forward at both of us.
and, to usea common expression, "we had
time" Right and left they flew from
us, and as quickly came at us again, The
fact of it is, there is nothing in the world
more easily done than knocking a China
man down, but lamentable fact is also
connected with the aforesaid truth-namo-
ly, he gets over it wonderful quick; and
it seemed to us as though their heads
were expressly for footballs We kept
them off nicely enough for while, when
lsaw several approach Joe from behind.
sprang forward aud stopped the course
of the head one, and at the same time,
was thrust against Joe, who mistook me
for one of his enemies, and, as quick as
thought, gave me back-handed blow,
which of course felled me. At this they
all set up shout, and, before could rise.
there were a dozen binding me- As soon
as Joe saw what he had done, he gave up
and, amid their cheers, we were borne
away.
Through the narrow streets we were
hurried for a long distance, and, at last
came to dead halt. Two of our guard
left us, and turned off into by street