"
Thomas the Nestorian had learned two valuable lessons in his much
wandering about the earth,--never to appear surprised, and always
to be ready to act quickly. So, knowing nothing of the possible
results of his action, but feeling that it could scarcely be
worse than death from Tartar spears, he leaped back, as bidden.
The next instant, he found himself flat upon his back in one of
the low-ceiled cliff caves that abound in Western China, while
the screen of vines that had concealed its entrance still
quivered from his fall. Picking himself up and breathing a prayer
of thanks for his deliverance, he peered through the leafy
doorway and beheld in surprise six much astonished Tartar robbers
regarding with looks of puzzled wonder a defiant little Chinese
girl, who had evidently darted out of the cave as he had tumbled
in. She was facing the enemy as boldly as had he, and her little
almond eyes fairly danced with mischievous delight at their
perplexity.
At once he recognized the child. She was Woo (the "high-spirited"
or "dauntless one", the bright young girl whom he had often
noticed in the throng at his mission-house in Tung-Chow,--the
little city by the Yellow River, where her father, the bannerman,
held guard at the Dragon Gate.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92