Page:Leaves from my Chinese Scrapbook - Balfour, 1887.djvu/224

 shadow. Surely the wind can't have blown him away, or the devils of girls devoured him?" So they had no alternative but to go home for that night, and postpone further search for him till the next morning.

Just as they were about to pass through the gate, however, they met another batch of men coming in with lanterns, among whom were no other than the two old gentlemen, Mr. Yü and Mr. Shan. They had heard of all these strange doings, and how Chang had been spirited away; but they knew not whether it were true or false, so they had come to see for themselves, and a party of neighbours had come with them. When, therefore, the two old men inquired of the labourers they met coming out, and found every particular confirmed, they were speechless with amazement. "Well, well," they replied, " you go away; we will search the garden ourselves." So they pottered and peered about, but of course discovered nothing; whereupon they both uttered an ejaculation of helpless perplexity, and went out again. "There is nobody in here," said they to the people who were still waiting outside; "let us lock the gate securely and come away."

The villagers, having lost their head-man, were like a serpent that has lost its head; they knew not how to act; so they all replied, "As you please, gentlemen, as you please; we will do exactly as you tell us." Just as they were on the point of dispersing, however, a labourer who had been peering about with his lantern suddenly cried out, "His honourable worship is found!"

A general rush took place, the people all scudding together like a gust of wind. "Isn't that his silk muffler," continued the man, "hanging on that