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184 making further inquiries, learned that all the family had been murdered, with the exception of the fair Faw-wang, whom the rebels had carried off in captivity. Sorrowfully enough, then, Yaou turned his steps towards his adopted father’s house, as he thought; but, in reality, in quite another direction, according to the false statement made by Lien.

After travelling a day’s journey, he came to the bank of a river, where a large crowd was assem- bled. On asking what caused the assemblage of so many persons in that particular spot, he was told that a party of the rebels were then and there holding a hong, or market, to dispose of their plunder and prisoners. Thinking that Faw-wang might probably be among the captives, Yaou entered the market, but soon discovered that the rebels were keen dealers. For, apprehending that if their female captives’ faces were seen, the purchasers would invariably select the youngest and best looking; the rebels placed a sack over the head of each prisoner, drawing it down as far as the hands, and sold the whole for one price all round.

As there was no help for it, Yaou purchased one that seemed to him the youngest and most likely looking of the captives; but, to the great and vociferous amusement of the by-standers, when the sack was taken off her head, she proved to be a venerable matron, between fifty and sixty years of age. Still, as the appearance of the old lady was respectable, and her countenance betokened an amiable disposition, Yaou did not altogether repent of his bargain. Taking into consideration that he had purchased a wealthy father for only ten dollars, he thought that possibly this bargain might turn out a good one also. Moreover, recollecting that Lien had positively declared that he had no relatives, Yaou considered that the respect-able-looking old lady might make a capital wife for his adopted father. Accordingly, he asked her if she had a son, and being answered in the negative, he proposed to adopt her as his mother. She agreeing, he immediately performed the four reverences to her, and the other ceremonies of adoption. The old lady, then, to show her gratitude drew Yaou to one side, and informed him that among the captives still unsold there was a maiden as beauteous as the day.

“It may be so, mother,” he replied, “but how am I to find her. I cannot see through a sack.”

“Listen,” rejoined the old lady, “the damsel of whom I speak has an implement of jade-stone—from which, I heard her say, nothing but death should part her—this she has concealed in one of the sleeves of her dress. Go, then, among the captives, use your eyes discreetly, and probably you may discover some indications of this jade implement.”

Yaou went, and soon perceived the end of the jade-stone peeping out, as it were, at the place where the sack was tied round one of the captive’s wrists. Nay, more, he recognised it to be a jade silk-measure that he had himself given to Faw-wang in former and happier days. He, at once, purchased the captive, and sure enough, when the sack was taken from her head, she proved to be Faw-wang herself, to the great delight and happiness of them both.

Accompanied by his bride and adopted mother, Yaou again set off with the intention of proceeding to Lien’s house; but, as before, and from the same reason, going in quite a contrary direction. After travelling a short distance, however, he espied one of the placards that had been put up by Lien, which, from its ambiguous wording, being utterly unable to comprehend, brought him to a stand-still. His adopted mother, perceiving he was in a dilemma, then said:

“Why should my son travel farther, if he be uncertain of his way? My house is but a short distance from this place, let us go thither for the present.”

Yaou agreed to this proposition, and they all embarked in a boat, which soon took them to a wide lake—so wide that the shades of the evening closed round the party, ere they had crossed it. At last, as the boat neared the opposite bank, Yaou was surprised to hear the voice of Lien cry out from the shore:

“Is that my son Yaou’s boat?”

But he was still more astonished when he immediately afterwards heard his adopted mother exclaim:

“That is my dear husband’s voice!”

For the old lady that Yaou had so fortunately purchased was no other than Lien’s wife, who had been carried off by the rebels, previous to the old gentleman’s return home.

After the first happy greetings and hurried explanations on the bank of the lake, Lien led the way to his house; and, having ushered Yaou and Faw-wang into the little apartment, with the many lucky corners, gave them formal possession of it, for their own use. On entering the room Yaou was struck with surprise; his eyes eagerly glanced over the windows, doors, tables, seats, bed, and bed-hangings.

“How strange!” he exclaimed. “I have frequently dreamt of a room, exactly resembling this; everything here is quite familiar to me. Am 1 awake, or do I still dream! I remember, too, that in my dreams I have frequently gone to a recess, concealed by that very curtain at the foot of the bed, and taken from thence a box of toys—a little porcelain horse, a hammer, a ball, and other things, such as children play with.”

Lien, too much agitated to speak, drew back the curtain, disclosing the recess and the box of toys, which were immediately recognised by Yaou.

“Of a surety, then,” said Lien, “you cannot be any other than my own son, who, escaping the calamity of the tiger, was picked up by a kidnapper, and sold to some childless family.”

But Yaou strongly insisted that such could not be the case; for no one had ever told him that he was not the son of Kwe, the rice-merchant, in the city of Hwo-Kwang. Then Faw-wang, who had not previously spoken, said to her husband:

“Everybody in our town well knew that you were not the son of Kwe, the rice-merchant, though nobody liked to tell you so to your face. When you first proposed marriage to me, my parents, seeing you were an industrious and