He took out a cigar and with an ostentatious lack of hurry or concern lighted it in his cupped hands. He threw the match aside with a sweep of his arm. Then he stood quite still, puffing smoke from between his teeth, still holding the cigar. He looked at the soldiers, taking stock of the barrier they made, stupid, even timid, but dismaying by mere numbers. The wind blowing off the water caught loose hairs and whipped them across Megan's eyes; it made a small but disturbing whistling in her ears, and filled her with a penetrating chill. Her jaw began to tremble with cold. Why didn't Mr. Shultz do something? Mr. Shultz stepped abruptly out on to the landing and leaning over the side called in a low voice, "Wake up, you louse." A small boy's head, with startled goggle eyes, rose from the sampan into the light. "Well, it isn't my sampan after all," said Mr. Shultz casually surprised. "But it will have to do. Come on." He leaned down to cast off the mooring. The General took Megan's arm and made a step forward, but at the same moment Captain Li caught her other arm and jerked her away. The unexpectedness of his movement gave it strength. She stumbled, and he gave her a push that sent her out on the landing. Then he began to shout, to wave his hands. Unable to move, she stood watching the hideous activity of his puppet-like figure. Suddenly he snatched the General's cap off and his gesture revealed a violence of purpose of which his feeble body was incapable. His falsetto voice, as though aware of its impotence, broke into sobs. "He has gone mad!" cried Megan. She turned to Mr. Shultz and saw him straighten up, the mooring rope slack in his hand. She was horrified to see that he looked undecided, puzzled. She had been so confident he would be able to do something. A crashing report made her wheel around. The General's arm was still raised, still holding a revolver, and Captain Li beside him stood swaying on his feet, poised in the attitude of a man about to catch a ball, his mouth open, but suddenly and astonishingly silent. As she watched he crumpled to the ground. The General stood alone in the ring of soldiers. Megan for the last time turned to Mr. Shultz. The indecision in his eyes was terrible. He looked at her almost pleadingly. Then she saw resolution take form in them. He picked her up under the arms and dropped her into the sampan. Megan scrambled to her knees and caught hold of the gunwale, but Mr. Shultz jumped heavily down beside her and shoved clear of the dock. Megan caught his arm, trying to hold him back. She clutched at the dock. "Don't leave him!" she cried. "No use," said Mr. Shultz. "I've got to get you out of here." Megan repeated stupidly, "Don't leave him!"