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Show EXPERIENCES OF A LONE GEOGRAPHER 333 The shooting continued all afternoon, but, thanks to the bad marksmanship of the brigands, we lost only one soldier killed. When we finally reached the s m a ll plain of Yichehsun, on the edge of which is the hamlet of Pan-piengai, I thought we were safe. But the brigands followed us. They looted the little place, capturing three soldiers and t h e ir guns. We e v e n t u a l ly reached the village of Yichehsun, where we had to stop for the night. Just as I arrived and passed through the dilapidated old gate (but no wall) there also came up 3 5 soldiers f r om Chaotung. They had first gone to Kiangti, but, as I had not appeared, they pushed on to Yichehsun. As I was talking with their officer, one of the Tungchwan soldiers came running into the village to tell me that a band of 200 robbers was only a mile and a half away. The Chaotung soldiers went to help the Tungchwan soldiers, but soon all returned with the robbers at their heels. CAMP IS ESTABLISHED IN COEEIN-FILLED TEMPLE I was quartered in the center of the village in a miserable old temple full of coffins. The brigands came to within a half mile of the hamlet, where stood a large temple, and of this they took possession. Darkness came on. At midnight the officers of the soldiers came in and announced that the brigands were outside and that the town could not be held against the impending attack. I never spent such a night in all my life. THE FLAG WHICH PROTECTED THE AUTHOR FROM MOLESTATION BY ONE GROUP OE BANDITS This triangular bit of yellow cloth, on which Chinese characters are painted in alternate red and black, was presented by a brigand chief to Joseph F. Rock, who displayed it with excellent results from his tent pole while camped in a bandit-infested region in Yunnan Province. The legend reads: "Commander's flag; Temporary Station, American Agriculture, Forestry Department, Special Explorer." Unfortunately, Dr. Rock did not have this talisman on the journey which he describes here. I opened my trunks and distributed $Goo in silver among my men, wrapped up some extra warm underwear, a towel, condensed milk and some chocolate, besides ammunition for my two .45-caliber revolvers. Fully clad, I sat waiting for the turn of events. Every minute we expected the firing to commence. The soldiers said that they could protect me, but not my boxes, and that the safest move would be to retreat and try to find a hiding place if the brigands rushed the temple. The natives of the village began burying their few valuables and great excitement ruled. It was a terrible wait and the longest of nights. Outside the hamlet heads of brigands that had been captured some days before were hanging from poles. I was informed that several hundred bandits were surrounding the village and that capture was inevitable. At 4 a. m. |