There was no end to their questions: Whence did I come? How were things in Kiao-Chow? Was it really true that I had come through the air? How long had I taken for my flight? What magic had I used to be able to fly? It was hardly possible to answer all their posers, and, though our interpreter took infinite trouble, I am sure that the Sons of Heaven were not much the wiser. Soon there was a slight break. While we sat talking, visitors were announced for the lady of the house, and ten or twelve delightful little Chinese women, swathed in wonderful silken garments and trousers, tripped past us. Two or three of them lingered near the door of the room in which we men were seated, and stared at us in awed fascination with big, round eyes and small, half-opened mouths. Mrs. Morgan called to them from the adjoining room, and they gave a frightened start and ran away. I only learnt the reason for their strange conduct later. It seems that it is a social _faux pas_ for a Chinese woman of gentle birth to offend a male visitor by her curious glances. The three sinners received a severe reprimand. I must admit I did not care for this custom, for I should have liked a good look at the elegant little ladies. My hostess confided to me that she, too, had been pestered by questions from her guests. Above all, they wished to know who this Evil Spirit was which had threatened their town, yelling and growling. When they were informed that it was a mere man who came from Kiao-Chow, they laughed and declared that they were not fools enough to believe _that_! Mrs. Morgan assured me laughingly that everything that might happen to go wrong in the next two years, such as bad harvests, miscarriages, mishaps of any description, would be put down to my account, and prove of invaluable service to the Medicine-Men. The Mandarin arrived about eleven, preceded by an uproar of tom-toms, drums and whistles. He advanced with great dignity, an imposing figure of rotund proportions, with a carefully shaven head, clad in magnificent silken garments. Our salutations were extremely formal, and the deep bows to the ground seemed endless. The Mandarin inquired thoughtfully after my health and wishes, and assured me of his aid and protection. He took leave with the same ceremony. As soon as I had returned this official visit, and had been invited to sup with the Mandarin, I proceeded to dismantle my aeroplane. But this was more easily said than done. I only possessed a spanner, and had now to hunt for tools. Moreover, I was in China, and in a part of the country where the last thousand years had brought no changes. Wrenches or screw-drivers were unknown quantities. At length I discovered an axe in the American Mission, and a miserable object that looked like a saw.