| caption: |
clumsy approach alerts enemies |
| text: |
We had climbed up in the shade for a long while but just as we had to cross an open space the first rays of the sun reached us and furthermore (254) our Chingmei "spies" were surprisingly clumsy. They carried their spears with the shiny reflecting points reaching up and one even had the incomprehensible stupidity to rush into a field hut and demolish some rice baskets. How these people can go on a war expedition on their own I do not comprehend. Indeed we are noticed when we have come to within half a mile of the village and we clearly hear the warning calls of the guards without being able to see anyone ourselves. |
