Thus was Tian positioned outside the city of Ti-foo, materially contributing to its ultimate surrender by the resourceful courage of his arms.  For the first time in the history of opposing forces he tamed the strength and swiftness of wild horses to the use of man, and placing copper loops upon their feet and iron bars between their teeth, he and his band encircled Ti-foo with an ever-moving shield through which no outside word could reach the town.  Cut off in this manner from all hope of succour, the stomachs of those within the walls grew very small, and their eyes became weary of watching for that which never came.  On the third day of the third moon of their encirclement they sent a submissive banner, and one bearing a written message, into the camp of Ah-tang.

“We are convinced” (it ran) “of the justice of your cause.  Let six of your lordly nobles appear unarmed before our ill-kept Lantern Gate at the middle gong-stroke of to-morrow and they will be freely admitted within our midst.  Upon receiving a bound assurance safeguarding the limits of our temples, the persons and possessions of our chiefs, and the undepreciated condition of the first wives and virgin daughters of such as be of mandarin rank or literary degree, the inadequate keys of our broken-down defences will be laid at their sumptuous feet.

“With a fervent hand-clasp as of one brother to another, and a
passionate assurance of mutual good-will,
Ko’en Cheng,
Important Official.”

“It is received,” replied Ah-tang, when the message had been made known to him.  “Six captains will attend.”

Alas! it is well written:  “There is often a space between the fish and the fish-plate.”  Mentally inflated at the success of their efforts and the impending surrender of Ti-foo, Tian’s band suffered their energies to relax.  In the dusk of that same evening one disguised in the skin of a goat browsed from bush to bush until he reached the town.  There, throwing off all restraint, he declared his errand to Ko’en Cheng.

“Behold!” he exclaimed, “the period of your illustrious suffering is almost at an end.  With an army capable in size and invincible in determination, the ever-victorious Wu Sien is marching to your aid.  Defy the puny Ah-tang for yet three days more and great glory will be yours.”

“Doubtless,” replied Ko’en Cheng, with velvet bitterness:  “but the sun has long since set and the moon is not yet risen.  The appearance of a solitary star yesterday would have been more foot-guiding than the forecast of a meteor next week.  This person’s thumb-signed word is passed and to-morrow Ah-tang will hold him to it.”