We can do it carefully, so they won't hear." Chuckling softly and speaking in whispers only, the boys crept about the fishing-village and did the mischief planned.

They pretended that the Chinese village was a fort of enemies, and the boys were a band of soldiers reconnoitering in the dark.

They became quite excited over the idea.

Doing mischief seemed so much more glorious than it would if they had allowed themselves to think that they were really American boys doing a contemptible thing to quiet, peaceable people.
Just as the boys had quietly tipped over one of the fish-frames, letting the partially dried fish slide to the ground, there were shouts in the dark of the Chinese village.
"The enemy's coming, boys!" whispered Louis, and the lads rushed for the fence.
Some boys caught their feet in the big, spread-out net, and fell, and rolled over, shaking with laughter.

Others stuck between the barbed wires of the fence, but all were outside, running across the fields, before the Chinese had sallied out toward their frames.