THE ANCIENT EAST

long after A Hoa's conversion a second man confessedchrist. He had previously disturbed the meetings by throwing stones into the doorway whenever he passed.But his sister was cured of malaria by the missionary's medicine, and soon both sister and mother becamechristians, and finally the stone thrower himself. And so, gradually, the lines of the enemy were falling back, and at every sign of retreat the little army of two advanced. A little army No For was there not the wholehost of heaven moving with them And Mackay was learning that his boyish dreams of glory were truly to befulfilled. He had wanted always to be a soldier like his grandfather, and fight a great Waterloo, and here he was right in the midst of the battle with the victory and the glory sure.The two missionaries often went on short trips here and there into the country around Tamsui, and Mackaydetermined that when the intense summer heat had lessened they would make a long tour to some of the largecities. The heat of August was almost overpowwering to the Canadian, flies and mosquitoes and insect pests of all kinds made his life miserable, too, and prevented his studying as he as he wished.One oppressive day he and A Hoa returned from a preaching tour in the country to find their form in a stateof siege. Right across the thereshold lay a monster serpent, eight feet in length. A Hoa scouted a warning, andseized a long pole, and the two managed to kill it. But their troubles were not yet over. The next morning,Mackay stepped outside the door and sprang back just in time to escape another, the mate of the one killed.This one was even larger than the first, and was very fierce. But they finished it with sticks and stones.When September came the days grew clearer, and the many pests of summer were not so numerous. Themosquitoes and flies that had been such torments disappeared, and there was some relief from the dampoppressive heat. But he had only begun to enjoy the refreshing breaths of cool air, and had remarked to A Hoathat days reminded him of Canadian summers, when the weather gave him to understand that every Formosanseason has its drawbacks. September brought tropical storms and typhoons that were terrible, and he saw fromhis little house on the hillside big trees torn up by the root, buildings swept away like chaff, and out in theharbor great ships lifted from their anchorage and whirled away to destruction. And then he was sometimesthankful that his little hut was built into the cliffside, solid and secure.But the fierce storms cleared away the heavy dampness that had made the heat of the summer so unbearable,and October and November brought delightful days. The weather was still warm of course, but the nightswere cool and pleasant.So early one October morning, Mackay and A Hoa started off on a tour to the cities We shall go to Kelung first, said the missionary. Kelung was a seaport city on the northern coast, straighteast across the island from Tamsui. A coolie to carry food and clothing was hired, and early in the morning,while the stars were still shining, they passed through the sleeping town and out on the little paths between therice fields. Though it was yet scarcely daylight, the farmers were already in their fields. It washarvest time the second harvest of the year and the little rice fields were no longer like mirrors, but werefiffed with high rustling grain ready for the sickle. The water had been drained off and the reaper and thrasherwere going through the fields before dawn. There was no machinery like that used at home. The reaper was ashort sickle, the thrashing machine a kind of por tabe tub, and Mackay looked at them with some amusememt,and described to A Hoa how they took off the great wheat crops in western Canada The two were in high spirits, ready for any sort of adventure and they met some. Toward evening they reacheda place called Sek khau, and went to the little brick inn to get a sleeping place. the landlord came to the doorand was about to bid A Hoa enter, when the light fell upon Mackay's face. With a shout, Black beardedbarbarian he slammed the door in their faces. They turned away, but already a crowd had begun to gather The black bearded barbarian is here the foreign devil from Tamsui has come was the cry. The mobfollowed the two down the streets, shouting curses. Some one threw a broken piece of brick, another a stone.Mackay turned and faced them, and for a few moments they seemed cowed. But the crowd was increasing,and he deemed it wise to move on. So the two marched out of the town followed by stones and curses. And, asthey went, Mackay reminded A Hoa of what they had been reading the night before Yes, said A Hoa brightly. The Lord was driven out of his own town in Galilee Yes, and Paul you remember how he was stoned. Our Master counts us worthy to suffer for him. Butwhere to go was the question. Before they could decide, night came down upon them, and it came in thatsudden tropical way to which Mackay, all his life accustomed to the long mellow twilights of his northernhome, could never grow accustomed, they each took a torch out of the carrier's bag, lighted it, and marched bravely on. The path led along the Kelung river, through tall grass. They were not sure where it led to,butthought it wise to follow the river; they would surely come to Kelung some time. Mackay was ahead, A Hoaright at his Heels, and behind them the basket bearer. At a sudden turn in the path A Hoa gave a shout of warning, and the next instant, a band of robbers leaped from the long reeds and grass,and brandished theirspears in the travelers faces.The torchlight shone on their fierce evil eyes and their long knives, making ahorrible picture. The young Canadian Scot did not flinch for a second. He looked the wild leader straight inthe face We have no money, so you cannot rob us, he said steadily, and you must let us pass at once. I am a teacherand ATEACHER he was, interrupted by a bismayed exclamation from several of the wild band. A teacher As if with