Page 59 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 59
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 59
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 Sian. 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."
By 1925, GFA and Fanny had been back in Kansu for three years The Mission leaders
were aware that Fanny’s health was fragile, and also of GFA’s teaching ability, as
evidenced in his role in the Lanchow Boys School, so they moved him and Fanny back to
Chefoo.
For the next five years he was on the staff of the Boys School. Latin was one of the
subjects he taught and it is likely that he may have held a sort of ‘hero’ status for the boys, if
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 Sian. 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."
By 1925, GFA and Fanny had been back in Kansu for three years The Mission leaders
were aware that Fanny’s health was fragile, and also of GFA’s teaching ability, as
evidenced in his role in the Lanchow Boys School, so they moved him and Fanny back to
Chefoo.
For the next five years he was on the staff of the Boys School. Latin was one of the
subjects he taught and it is likely that he may have held a sort of ‘hero’ status for the boys, if
