Then, far and faint, were heard a crew of Chinese sailors, on the nearest junk, singing a curious, falsetto chantey as they hauled on a bamboo-braced sail.... "A feller wot never travelled wouldn't bloody well believe they was such queer people in the world," further observed the philosophic coal-heaver. * * * * * Next morning the coast of China lay right against us, on the starboard side ... we ran into the thick of a fleet of sampans, boats fashioned flat like overgrown rowboats, propelled each by a huge sculling oar, from the stern ... they were fishers who manned them ... two or three to a boat ... huge, bronze-bodied, fine-muscled, breech-clouted men ... as they sculled swiftly to give us sea-room each one looked fit to be a sculptor's model. Their bodies shone in the sun like bronze. Several, fearing we might run them down, as we clove straight through their midst, raised their arms with a shout full of pleading and fright. "What's the matter? are they trying to murder some of these poor chaps?" I asked. "No ... we're just having a little fun ... what's the life of a Chink matter?" * * * * * "I say, if the Chinks up where the Boxers are fighting are big and strong as them duffers, here's one that don't want no shore-leave!" commented someone, as we stood ranged by the side. "I always thought Chinamen was runts." "Oh, it's only city Chinks--mostly from Canton, that come to civilized countries to run laundries ... but these are the real Chinamen." * * * * * After the cattle had been unladen, the crew were to be taken down to Shanghai and dumped ashore ... as it was an English Treaty port, that would be, technically, living up to the ship's articles, which guaranteed that the cattlemen aboard would be given passage back to English ground.... But I was all excitement over the prospect of making my way ashore to where the Allied troops were fighting.... * * * * * Dawn ... we were anchored in Taku Bay among the warships of the Allied nations ... grey warships gleaming in the sun like silver ... the sound of bugles ... flags of all nations ... of as many colours as the coat of Joseph. "Well, here we are at last!" * * * * * Next day the work of unloading the cattle began ... hoisted again by the horns from our boat of heavy draught to the hold of a coasting steamer, that had English captain and mates, and a Chinese crew. Some of the steers were so weak that they died on deck ... as they were dying, butchers cut their throats so their beef could be called fresh.