The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-23

hong.
Out Of my innocence Of the Chinese
character, ! believed him; and, thinking al
was right placed the two cases had with
me upon the floor, and settled myself upon q
trestled bed, whereupon reposed beYy OF
small children and q curly-headcd animal
that appeared on first sight TO be dog, but
which subsequently discovered was juye-
nile pig. As my guide left the apartment,
ascending By small ladder to the floor
above, q quaint little, almond-eyed, olivas-
ter Chinese girl entered, and, after staring
at me in specchless astonishment for a mo-
ment, came toward me and whispered a
word into my car, the purport Of which ]
did not understand, so / only smiled and
nodded in answer until I became aware, by
her peculiar gesticulations, that she wished
to convey me information that, in Yankee
parlance, had better s'get, . as 1 was by no
means respectable society.
Ny guide and his confrefes were making
such noise By their boisterous wrangling
above my head that ! suddenly became con
WINGED that mischief was meditated, and
that was singled out as the victim; and
when my comical little companion pointed
at the dispatch boxes with her taper little
finger, and afterward drew her hand across
her throat in most significant manner, it
instantly occurred to me that my secret was
coveted, that / had fallen among thieves,
and that foul measures might be resorted to
in order to obtain possession of my treas
ures Naturally impulsive in my actions, 1
seized the tin cases, and merely nodding
adieu to the girl, slipped quietly out Of the
house and ran swiftly across a paddy field
in the direction of the city. Though pro
ceeded as noiselessly as possible, the boat
man, who had stationed himself at an upper
window, detected my flight, and when
turned my head to reconnoiter, / saw four
Chinese. headed by the captain of the sam
pan, running toward me at a pace that
promised soon TO overhaul me.
Fear lent me wings, but my speed was
not equal to theirs, aud as they gained rap
idly, l quickly planned in my mind the
most feasible method of foiling their nefa-
rious scheme, which instinctively guessed
was robbery, il nothing worse.
After crossing the paddy field, / gained
the high road, upon which was able to ac-
celerate my pace; but unluckily, in my ig-
norance of the route / ought to take,
turned off to the eastward, instead of pro-
ceeding in an exactly opposite direction.
My pursuers were about twenty yards astern
of me, when the road took semi-circular
sweep round a huge boulder, and, as
daTted past the ponderous mass of granite,
/ saw to my right grove of stunted trees,
the dense underground and foliage of which
felt could hide me. l left the road, and,
entering the grove, selected the tallest of
the trees, and prepared to ascend; but
found it would be impossible for me to
carry up the dispatch boxes so, exerting my
utmost strength, uplifted fragment of
rock that lay in grassy hollow, placed my
treasure beneath it. and then climbed the
tree with sailor-ike agility.
I had hardly stretched myself out flat
upon one of the upper branches before my
pursuers tracked me to the foot of the tree,
and began chattering like monkeys, evil
IDENTIFY wondering whittier l had disap-
peared; but dry offshoot from the branch
on which was snapped with sharp re-
port, revealing my whereabouts, and an ex-
ultant chorus of laughter broke from the
Chinese as they espied me, for they evil
IDENTIFY thought they had me fairly shared.
By the direction of the old skipper,
smart, athletic young fellow began to as
cend the tree / drew my elasp-knife,
and, grasping limb, stood ready to repel
my assailantif he had the temerity to come
near me. The scoundrel saw l was in earn
est and he descended, amid the jeers of bis
fellows-none of whom, however, were
willing to supply his place.
Then they gathered a heap of large
stones and commenced to pelt me with
them. This method of attack / was UNI
prepared for, and felt l should have to
succumb to the pressure of circumstances.
Just as l was about to surrender, however,
caught in my hand a sharp. jagged piece
of granite that had been hurled at me, and
Immediately conceived plan for turning it
into weapon of defense.
Drawing large silk handkerchief from
my pocket, l tied the stone securely in one
corner fashioning an impromptu slung
shot; then jumped directly upon the
shoulders of the grinning skipper, the con-
cussion telling him to the earth. In another
instant was on my feet welding my for
midable weapon with terrible effect. 1 sent
one fellow to grass on his temple; but his
brethren, keeping their distance, main
tanned such an Incessant volley of stones
that, cut and bleeding, / was forced to take
refuge in fight.
As staggered into the high road, fell
nearly directly under the hoofs of magni-
icent black horse, bestridden by Euro
pean.
The gentleman refined in his fiery steed
when he saw me. ssWhat on earth is the
matter2" he cried in establishment.
Then, as my three pursuers bounded out
of the thicket after me, he apprehended the
state of affairs at once, and, without paus-
ing to ask questions, stretched two of them
senseless with the heavy butt of his riding
whip. Dismounting, he drew his steed's
bride over projecting branch and came
toward me.
Ny poor boy, you seem badly hurt. How
do you come to be hereln he said in a kind
" voice, as he assisted me to rise.
My pluck gave way with the knowledge
of safety. / burst into tears, and told all
that had happened.
'sThe Thunder arrived ehl That's grand
/ / am Mr.. G.. of the firm to which she is con
signed But, gracious me! the rascal7 have
got the dispatches, and we shall be half
ruined before / can get back to townln he
cried, when l had sobbed forth my story.
'sThey are safe, sir. / hid them in there, y
/ said, pointing in the thicket.
We pushed our way through the branches,
and found the cases under the stone where
/ had placed them. The man had struck
down was lying near, perfectly motionless.
you've given that fellow his soup hot,
and think his companions viii suffer head
ache for week or 500 said Mr.. G., as he
Examined the mans wound. "Let them
stay where they are; I Will send the police
to them as we ride in, he added Then he
lifted me into the saddle, and led his horse
until we overlook sedan-ehair, to which
he transferred me, after which he galloped
on to his Office with the rescued papers.
When l reached his house found doc
tor waiting to dress my wounds, which did
not prove to be very serious after all, and
every attention that l could desire was
shown me.
Much credit was accorded me for having
so we'll defended my trust, and always at
tribute my subsequent rapid promotion on
board the Thunder to the prestige l gained
by my conduct on that, 20 me, memorabl 9
morning Of my introduction to China
Walter A. Ro~
Culture Of broom Corn.
m, rr.t..,.-,- H.. L., e. ,..,.... -.