Page 90 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 90
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
and GFA and the servant) lodged in a butcher's empty shop. After many
consultations and much prayer we all decided to try and get through the next day by
going as far from the besieged city as we could.
When our six carts loaded up early next morning, no one knew whether we were
going back or going forward. We had no sooner left than five pack mules and about
twenty men prepared to follow us and, since they were able to take short cuts, we had
not gone ten li before they were following hard behind our carts.
Just as they caught up with us our troubles commenced. We were wondering how
and where we should go, so Mr. Andrew and I walked about a hundred yards ahead
of the carts. When we were hoping we were in safety, we suddenly heard rifle firing
in a village to the north. We went past that village at a fast walk, and were glad when
we were clear. Every village passed brought us nearer the safety zone and we were
thinking thus when the carter gave a queer look behind and said, "They are firing."
The next moment the whizz of a bullet and the report of a rifle assured us he was
right. The carters at once decided to make a run for safety, and the mules were
whipped to a gallop. The roads were very rough, but we could not stop to think of
that.
It appears that the brigands were in the village and must have been asleep after a
night's watching, for they came out gradually, just a few at first, but they gradually
increased in numbers until the rifle firing was continuous. They pursued us firing as
they ran, while we went as fast as the animals could travel. While we were all in a
line we did not present a very big target, but at one place we had to turn right across
their front to cross a bridge and then turn back again. I scarcely dared hope we
should all get safely round that place, but we did, and as we crouched as low down in
the cart as possible, we gave thanks to God.
Just then the mule of our cart got his legs entangled in the ropes of the leading
tandem mule. The bullets were coming so fast in our exposed position that we had to
go on as we were, and so we galloped till we got a little cover, when we rectified the
trouble. We ran in this way for more than two miles, when the firing stopped and we
were able to let the animals rest for a few minutes to get breath.
We learnt later that they ceased firing when they caught up with the pack mules and
foot passengers. The shot two of the muleteers and robbed all the men of their
belongings, taking the mules back with them. They got a big prize, as the mules were
loaded with valuables belonging to several officers in Xi'an. The pack mules which
followed us probably saved us, as otherwise the brigands would have pursued us
further.
We were thankful and realised that our lives are in a fresh way not our own, but the
Lord's, Who saved us to be of further service.
Our real troubles commenced when we reached the railhead. The robbers in the
hotels and on the railway are more exasperating than the brigands on the road. It is a
case of paying their squeeze and trying not to feel angry."
It was not easy for the CIM to know what to do with a man of GFA's calibre, nor how to make the best
use of his many gifts. In Lanzhou he had for a time been the headmaster of the CIM school for
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Contents
Amy Moore
and GFA and the servant) lodged in a butcher's empty shop. After many
consultations and much prayer we all decided to try and get through the next day by
going as far from the besieged city as we could.
When our six carts loaded up early next morning, no one knew whether we were
going back or going forward. We had no sooner left than five pack mules and about
twenty men prepared to follow us and, since they were able to take short cuts, we had
not gone ten li before they were following hard behind our carts.
Just as they caught up with us our troubles commenced. We were wondering how
and where we should go, so Mr. Andrew and I walked about a hundred yards ahead
of the carts. When we were hoping we were in safety, we suddenly heard rifle firing
in a village to the north. We went past that village at a fast walk, and were glad when
we were clear. Every village passed brought us nearer the safety zone and we were
thinking thus when the carter gave a queer look behind and said, "They are firing."
The next moment the whizz of a bullet and the report of a rifle assured us he was
right. The carters at once decided to make a run for safety, and the mules were
whipped to a gallop. The roads were very rough, but we could not stop to think of
that.
It appears that the brigands were in the village and must have been asleep after a
night's watching, for they came out gradually, just a few at first, but they gradually
increased in numbers until the rifle firing was continuous. They pursued us firing as
they ran, while we went as fast as the animals could travel. While we were all in a
line we did not present a very big target, but at one place we had to turn right across
their front to cross a bridge and then turn back again. I scarcely dared hope we
should all get safely round that place, but we did, and as we crouched as low down in
the cart as possible, we gave thanks to God.
Just then the mule of our cart got his legs entangled in the ropes of the leading
tandem mule. The bullets were coming so fast in our exposed position that we had to
go on as we were, and so we galloped till we got a little cover, when we rectified the
trouble. We ran in this way for more than two miles, when the firing stopped and we
were able to let the animals rest for a few minutes to get breath.
We learnt later that they ceased firing when they caught up with the pack mules and
foot passengers. The shot two of the muleteers and robbed all the men of their
belongings, taking the mules back with them. They got a big prize, as the mules were
loaded with valuables belonging to several officers in Xi'an. The pack mules which
followed us probably saved us, as otherwise the brigands would have pursued us
further.
We were thankful and realised that our lives are in a fresh way not our own, but the
Lord's, Who saved us to be of further service.
Our real troubles commenced when we reached the railhead. The robbers in the
hotels and on the railway are more exasperating than the brigands on the road. It is a
case of paying their squeeze and trying not to feel angry."
It was not easy for the CIM to know what to do with a man of GFA's calibre, nor how to make the best
use of his many gifts. In Lanzhou he had for a time been the headmaster of the CIM school for
Return to Table of 90
Contents
