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Show Page two, as the room in which they lived. After they entered each court, they ate and drank very much. They smoked cigarettes and especially opium. All gates of the court were gurded by one or two robbers, and we were gurded by nine robbers. Sometimes they got on the roof of the houses to watch for their ioes, the villagers. They were always ready to escape when they knew that the soldiers or other crowds of people were coming to fight them. As I have noted they were very interesting. They sang, played, rode horses and talked. But their way of living is different from us. The Journeyings at Night It was a long time after we came from the boat until! we got anything to eat. And yet we had to walk from court to court with them. From this village they led us to another village. We walked across fields with growing crops, and it was dark. Sometimes when we got near to a village, the villagers would shoot at us as they really tried to kill the bandits. We were very much afraid, but, as God was always with us, we were not killed. At last we reached a village called Kac-Hai, about eight miles from our home. This village was very rich, and many a rich man in the village had joined the robbers. The next day they gave us food to eat and water to drink, but it was poor food. There we lived quite uneasily for three days. From this court they led us to Han-Chia-Wa. We walked this journey in the day time. We could see clearly the crops and the roads, but we did not dare to lock at the bandits. This journey was the hardest. We walked across the muddy roads and part of the way we waded through water. As the villagers were anxious to catch the bandits, they walked very quickly. The quicker they walked, the easier we became tired. When we reached the village the head of the bandits assigned tasks to all of them. After two days we were led to another place called Yen-Chu. This journey was very long, and we walked from after sunset till midnight. You see, there were girl students with us too; although they sometimes rode on donkeys and horses they got very tired every time. The Food and Freatment We Received As I have said before they did not let us eat anything for one day and a half; we did not dare to ask for food from them. If we did, they would beat us very hard. Although they gave us food afterwards the food was not only poor but also not enough. This would matter little if they treated us kindly. But it was the other way. They asked every one as to how many acres of land we have. It was hard for most of us, becuase they did not believe our words even though we told them the truth. So they beat us and some of the robbers said that they would bury us or cut us into pieces or bind our arms and feet and throw us into the canal. Indeed, we suffered a very great deal. We knew how cruel the banbits were, and. what kind of citizens they were. At first they treated us verj badly but after five days the treatment was better. At this time the ticket-seller was buried, and his wife and child were sent home the next day. The girl students received fairly good treatment. They ate good food and drank tea. Their eyes were not covered and arms not bound. Our Thots During the Period of Captivity Although I have heard that the bandits were cruel, and that they often kill people, I did not believe that they were so cruel. I thought that there could not be such cruel people in the world. Ah! Now I have experienced this fact. But this called my attention to think about one question: Why should the bandits do this? They are all young people |
