Look at these walls." The walls were covered with racks of loaded rifles.

In those revolutionary times one had to be prepared.

Some Chinaman might take it into his head to shout: "Death to the foreign devils!" And out of that wall yonder would boil battle and murder and sudden death.

A white man, wandering about the streets of Canton at night, was a challenge to such a catastrophe.
Taber.

Ruth stared thoughtfully at the waiting coolies.