The inn was crowded and open to the street.

Despite my Chinese dress anyone could see that I was a foreigner, but I was not far enough away from Chungking to excite much curiosity.

The other diners treated me with every courtesy; they offered me of their dishes, and addressed me in Chinese--a compliment which I repaid by thanking them blandly in English.
Now I went on, on foot, though I had difficulty in keeping pace with my men.

Behind the village we climbed a very steep hill by interminable steps, and passed under an archway at the summit.

Descending the hill, my cook engaged in a controversy with a thin lad whom he had hired to carry his load a stage.