I had protested against their doing so, but they mistook my expostulation for approbation.

We rose at once, and came down the steep bank to a boat that was lying stern to shore showing a light.

I was charmed to get such an early start, and construed the indications into a ferry boat to take me across the river, whence we would go by a short route into Suifu.

The boat was loaded with sugar and had a crew of two men and three boys.

There was an awning over the cargo, but most of the space under it was already occupied by twelve amiable Chinese, among whom were six promiscuous friends, who had kept with us for several stages, and had, I imagine, derived some pecuniary advantages from my company.