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〃Carried upon a pole？〃 this person demanded； feeling that something
of a literary nature might yet be wrested into the incident。
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〃On a flagstaff if you like；〃 conceded the other one magnanimously。
〃A notice to the effect that it is the duty of every jack mother's son of them
to douse the foreign devils； man； woman； and child； and especially the
talk…book pass…hat…round men。 Also that he has had several brick…ends
heaved at him on his way back。 Then stops suddenly； hits his upper crust；
and says that it's like his blamed fat…headedness to frighten her； while she
clutches at herself three times and faints away。〃
〃Amid the voluminous burning of blue lights？〃 suggested this person
resourcefully。
〃By rights there should be；〃 admitted the one who was devising the
representation； 〃but it will hardly run to it。 Anyway； it costs nothing to turn
the lamp downsaves a bit in fact； and gives an effect。 Then outside； in the
distance at first you understand； you begin to work up the sound of the
advancing mobrattles； shouts； tum…tums； groans； tin plates and all that
one mortal man can do with hands； feet and mouth。〃
〃With the interspersal of an occasional cracker and the stirring notes
produced by striking a hollow wooden fish repeatedly？〃 I cried； for let it
be confessed that amid the portrayal of the scene my imagination had
taken an allotted part。
〃If you like to provide them； and don't set the bally show on fire；〃 he
replied。 〃Anyhow； these two aren't supposed to notice anything even when
the row gets louder。 Then it drops and you are heard outside talking in
whispers to the otherswords of command and telling them to keep back
half…a…mo； and so on。 See？〃
〃Doubtless introducing a spoken charm and repeating the words of an
incantation against omens； treachery； and other matters。〃
〃Next a flap of the tent down on the floor is raised； and you
reconnoitre； looking your very worst and holding a knife between your
teeth and another in each hand。 Wave a hand to your followers to keep
backor come on： it makes no difference。 Then you crawl in on your
stomach； give a terrific howl； and stab me in the back。 That rolls me under
the curtain； and so lets me out。 The missus ups with the wood…chopper and
stands before the cradle； while you yell and dance round with the knives。
That ought to be made 'the moment' of the whole piece。 The great thing is
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to make enough noise。 If you can yell louder than the talking…machine
outfit on the next pitch we ought to turn money away。 While you are at it I
start a fresh row outsideshouts； cheers； groans； words of command and a
paper bag or two。 Seeing that the game is up you make a rush at the old
woman； she downs you with the chopper； turns the lamp up full； shakes
out a Union Jack over the sleeping infant； and finally stands in her finest
attitude with one hand pointing impressively upwards and the other
contemptuously downwards just as Rule Britannia is played on the cornet
outside and I appear at the door in a general's full uniform and let down
the curtain。〃
For acting in the manner designatedas touching the noises both
inside and out； the set dance with upraised knives； the casting to earth of
himself； and being myself in turn vanquished by the aged female； with an
added compact that from time to time I should be led by a chain and
shown to the people from a raised platformwe agreed upon a daily
reward of two pieces of silver； an adequacy of food； and a certain
ambiguously…referred…to share of the gain。 It need not be denied that with
so favourable an opportunity of introducing passages from the Classics a
much less sum would have been accepted； but having obtained this
without a struggle； the one now recounting the facts raised the opportune
suggestion of an inscribed placard； in order to fulfil the portent
foreshadowed by William Greyson。
〃Oh； we'll star you； never fear；〃 assented the accommodating
personage； and having by this time reached that spot upon the Heath
where his Domestic Altar had been raised； we entered。
〃All the most distinguished actors in this country take another name；〃
he said reflectively； when he had drawn forth a parchment of praiseworthy
dimensions and ink of three colours； 〃and though I have nothing to say
against Kong Ho Tsin Cheng Quank Paik T'chun Li Yuen Nung for quiet
unostentatious dignity； it doesn't have just the grip and shudder that we
want。 Now how does 'Fang' strike you？〃 and upon my courteous
acquiescence that this indeed united within it those qualities which he
required； he traced its characters in red ink upon a lavish scale。
〃'Fang Hung Sin' about fits the idea of snap and bloodthirstiness； I
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should say；〃 he continued； and using the brush and all the colours with an
expert proficiency which would infallibly gain him an early recognition at
any of our competitive examinations； he presently laid before me the
following gracefully…composed notice； which was suspended from a
conspicuous pole about the door of the tent on the following day。
FANG HUNG SIN The Captured Boxer Chieftain。
Under a strong guard； and by arrangement with the British and
Chinese authorities concerned；
Fang Hung Sin
Will positively re…enact the GORY SCENES of CARNAGE in which
he took a LEADING and SANGUINARY PART during the LATE
RISING。
ALONE IN PEKIN Or； What a Woman can do。
PANEL I。 PEACE： The Missionary's Tent by NightAll's Well The
Dread Warning〃I am by your side； Beloved。〃
PANEL II。 ALARM： The SignalThe SpyThe Mob Outside
Treachery〃Save Yourself； my Darling〃〃And Leave You？ Never！〃
PANEL III。 REVENGE： The AttackThe Blow FallsWho Can Save
Her Now？〃