CHAPTER XXI

Summary

THE morning of the 13th July was a Sunday morning, and was ushered in by as lovely a sunrise as could be desired in any part of the world. We were early afoot, and soon receiving the full benefit of a good start from our place of temporary sojourn, where we had slept well, despite the stenches and noise.

Our rides had been long and without intermission since we began the journey; our ponies looked none the worse, certainly, for their exertions, though each day had seen us eight and ten hours in the saddle; but we were apprehensive of overtaxing their strength and remarkable endurance, as well as fatiguing ourselves unnecessarily by these forced journeys of forty or forty-five miles a day. So prudence dictated—and perhaps the remaining sensations of our divertissement at the Great Wall recommended — a Sunday's rest, on which occasion we made up our minds to be satisfied with half a day's travelling, should suitable accommodation offer.

It took us a little time to get clear of the town, for its environs assumed comparatively large proportions, besides carrying a very creditable appearance of business, notwithstanding the early hour; and then we had to cross a fordable river, undisturbed by any kind of craft, but which might at other times greatly aid the commercial transactions of the mercantile community of Chung-hue-soh.