The anxiety caused by Seng-teh's disappearance may be imagined. On his father's own feelings previous to his starting for the camp to try and recover him, we need not dwell. They belong to our past tense. But here was material for a very big wolf cry, taken up indeed by the whole countryside. No one had seen the wolf, for Lieu, on receipt of the news his son brought, bound him on oath not to tell, and, to prevent him breaking his oath, kept him under his eye the whole morning. So that a search party did not start until the cattle-stealers had taken oxen and ox-boy a long way on their journey. The oxen had been seen from afar, and ten men, also a small figure upon one of the beasts. So the case became clear at length.

Lieu received the news as news, but had already matured his plans, which consisted in stirring up the country folk to an armed resistance, should another band of rebels appear. In order to further this, he would “stand treat” that day. He could not afford to receive “Longhaired” visitors, with the Taoist for leader, and perhaps a transmogrified yamun runner or two in the band. He knew well enough that the country folk had little to fear, and that Seng-teh would probably be released.