A long and animated argument commenced; and as it progressed, slowly and cautiously the denizens of the village approached—slatternly women in torn blue clothing with babies in their arms, and half-grown girls, and small boys, all the offspring of a mating carried on as in primeval forests, and now stricken with fear.
At length the price was settled, and the reed-cutter led them to where a small flat-bottomed boat was concealed in the reeds. This it was necessary to carry a considerable distance; but finally it was launched where there was a clear water-passage. It was just big enough to embark them all; and with the reed-cutter poling them, they slowly travelled away from the scene of the day's adventure.
The sun was already low when the man stopped and pointed to a spot a few hundred yards away.
"There will I take you," he said. "Farther I cannot go. From there a good road leads to the seaport which is distant some eighty li."
"Eighty li," they cried in alarm. "This morning when we started we were but sixty li off."
"But you have travelled far to the southeast. This is the southeastern road. In any case it is eighty li."
They paid the price agreed upon and started off without further discussion. Although Wang the Ninth had chattered all the way in the boat now he had nothing to say.
He was thinking—thinking of what the villagers had said two days ago about the country to the southeast. This was the robber country. He did not dare to give voice to his suspicions because that might bring the whole party to a halt.
A mile or two further on a small green snake slid across the road and disappeared into the undergrowth.
"A snake crosses the road," he cried. "There will be heavy weather soon."