The Black-Bearded Barbarian : The life of George Leslie Mackay of Formosa by Marian Keith
page 32 of 170 (18%)
page 32 of 170 (18%)
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also that he was not going into the fight alone. For the Captain
was going with his young soldier. There was a suspicion of moisture in the eyes of the older missionaries as they turned back to prepare for their own journey southward. "God bless the boy!" said Dr. Dickson fervently. "We'll hear of that young fellow yet, Ritchie. He's on fire." CHAPTER IV. BEGINNING THE SIEGE The news was soon noised about Tamsui that one of the three barbarians who had so lately visited the town had returned to make the place his home. This was most unwelcome tidings to the heathen, and the air was filled with mutterings and threatenings, and every one was determined to drive the foreign devil out if at all possible. So Mackay found himself meeting every kind of opposition. He was too independent to ask assistance from the British consul in the old Dutch fort on the bluff, or of any other European settlers in Tamsui. He was bound to make his own way. But it was not easy to do so in view of the forces which opposed him. He had now been in Formosa about two months and had studied the Chinese language every waking hour, but it was very difficult, and he found his usually ready tongue wofully handicapped. |
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