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[[underlined]] Chapter XIV. [[/underlined]]    310.

dispute over the collection of taxes, a mob of 700 had attacked him and broken down part of his [[underlined]] yamên. [[/underlined]] He appeared however to be a man of some intelligence and force, and he promised to try to win over the peasantry to acquiescence in my new proposal. We parted on the best of terms, he saying that he would return early next morning.

[[underlined]] We put Matters to the Test. [[/underlined]]
     The following day, after breakfast, Mr. Tung and I had a long talk with the local headman; but he was unwilling to do anything without the consent of his superior in the official hierarchy, the magistrate at Chên-ch'uan P'u, who had not yet appeared. He did so, however, about 8.30 o'clock. His arrival was the signal for a prolonged bout of wrangling and disputing among the fast-growing crowd of peasants, many of whom, I noticed, carried their flails---formidable weapons enough in a riot. All the villagers insisted, [[underlined]] more Sinico, [[/underlined]] on talking at once, each trying to shout down all the rest.
     Finally, seeing no prospect of their reaching a decision, I determined to put matters to the test. Accordingly I had Mr. Tung send our ten laborers (see page 302) on ahead, up the trail to the summit. He and I then followed, on horseback; for we both felt that if a riot broke out, we would stand a better chance if mounted. The local magistrate and the village headman brought up the rear, on foot.
    A t once, obviously by prearrangement, the bell in the temple [[strikethrough]] (see pp. 303 [[underlined]] sq. [[/underlined]]) [[/strikethrough]] began ringing, in quick, staccato notes audible for miles around [[superscript]] (273) [[/superscript]]. A second bell, at a village across the river, immediately took
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[[superscript]] (273) [[/superscript]] These temple-bells, being of iron, gave forth a very different sound from the one emitted by those made of bronze.
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up the alarm, to be followed quickly by others, still farther off and sounding faint in the distance. In a very few minutes, through the clear,