Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/213

 THE FTJNGHWANG. 189 commandant^ in terror, says, " Against this man it is impossible to war here. Better retire into the forest.'' And this they do, though it is sometime after, before Yingwei ascertains that the compact has been really carried out The garrison retires to Hanmackungi where the brother of Qaisienmo is commandant He is astounded at the surrender of Funghwang chung, and is upbraiding his brother, when a messenger comes in informing him that the dreaded man in white is outside. For twenty days does Yingwei fight there, never fighting by day, but always attacking at some time of the night ; thus giving the garrison no sleeping time, for they dare not sleep by day, and constant alarm keeps them awake by night : and this watchfulness was all the more imperative that strictest orders have been given to behead the man found asleep at his post But on the twentieth night Yingwei refrains from attack to lull their suspicions. The garrison, beUeving that the Chinese were worn out, and gone to take absolutely needed rest, one by one fall asleep, and when, in the early dusky morning, Yingwei with his comrades gets to the top of the wall on their scaling ladders, every soul of the garrison is as sound asleep as if already dead. There were 3000 men stationed at each side and gate of the city; but not a soul awakes till the great sword and tremendous shout of Yingwei rouses some of them; but only to flee hither and thither. The Chinese, fast clambering into the city, slay the greater half; many are killed in falling over the city, and many drowned in the moat Such, in outline, is a part of a well told novel The emperor had gone from liaoyang to visit the famous Eunghwang shan, where the Funghwang, the Chinese phoeniz, lived in her nest And we are thus introduced to the scene. THE FUNGHWANG'S NEST. Pure white the spots which dot the brownish deer ; Snow white the birds, sweet was the song they made, — The pine-clad hill, the cypress covered shade.
 * Red green the flowers which fail not all the year ;