Their defence lines were a marvel of finish, in spite of the fact that in hard manual labour they were ahead of any other unit--shifting, often, 240 cubic feet of soil per day, per man.

As porters, too, they were beyond rivalry; and their contempt for the German prisoners' capacity in this direction was amusing.

A Chinese coolie, watching two prisoners handle a stack of cased goods, could not at last contain himself.

He walked up to them, saying: "Hun no damn good," and proceeded to show them how it should be done.

The stolidity of the Chinaman is generally proof against surprise, but some of those coming from the backwoods of Northern China were occasionally bewildered and overwhelmed when set down amid the amazing and to them terrifying wonders of the "back" of a European Army.