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I fought on。 My fists were of the hardness of topping…mauls； and I
had the muscles and will to drive them。
To my joy； I quickly learned that the Koreans did not understand a
fist…blow and were without the slightest notion of guarding。 They
went down like tenpins； fell over each other in heaps。 But Kwan
Yung…jin was my man； and all that saved him when I made my rush was
the intervention of his satellites。 They were flabby creatures。 I
made a mess of them and a muss and muck of their silks ere the
multitude could return upon me。 There were so many of them。 They
clogged my blows by the sneer numbers of them； those behind shoving
the front ones upon me。 And how I dropped them！ Toward the end
they were squirming three…deep under my feet。 But by the time the
crews of the three junks and most of the village were on top of me I
was fairly smothered。 The planking was easy。
〃God in heaven； what now！〃 asked Vandervoot； another cuny； when we
had been bundled aboard a junk。
We sat on the open deck； like so many trussed fowls； when he asked
the question； and the next moment； as the junk heeled to the breeze；
we shot down the deck； planks and all； fetching up in the lee…
scuppers with skinned necks。 And from the high poop Kwan Yung…jin
gazed down at us as if he did not see us。 For many years to come
Vandervoot was known amongst us as 〃What…Now Vandervoot。〃 Poor
devil！ He froze to death one night on the streets of Keijo； with
every door barred against him。
To the mainland we were taken and thrown into a stinking； vermin…
infested prison。 Such was our introduction to the officialdom of
Cho…Sen。 But I was to be revenged for all of us on Kwan Yung…jin；
as you shall see； in the days when the Lady Om was kind and power
was mine。
In prison we lay for many days。 We learned afterward the reason。
Kwan Yung…jin had sent a dispatch to Keijo； the capital； to find
what royal disposition was to be made of us。 In the meantime we
were a menagerie。 From dawn till dark our barred windows were
besieged by the natives； for no member of our race had they ever
seen before。 Nor was our audience mere rabble。 Ladies； borne in
palanquins on the shoulders of coolies； came to see the strange
devils cast up by the sea； and while their attendants drove back the
common folk with whips； they would gaze long and timidly at us。 Of
them we saw little； for their faces were covered； according to the
custom of the country。 Only dancing girls； low women； and granddams
ever were seen abroad with exposed faces。
I have often thought that Kwan Yung…jin suffered from indigestion；
and that when the attacks were acute he took it out on us。 At any
rate； without rhyme or reason； whenever the whim came to him； we
were all taken out on the street before the prison and well beaten
with sticks to the gleeful shouts of the multitude。 The Asiatic is
a cruel beast； and delights in spectacles of human suffering。
At any rate we were pleased when an end to our beatings came。 This
was caused by the arrival of Kim。 Kim？ All I can say； and the best
I can say； is that he was the whitest man I ever encountered in Cho…
Sen。 He was a captain of fifty men when I met him。 He was in
command of the palace guards before I was done doing my best by him。
And in the end he died for the Lady Om's sake and for mine。 Kim
well； Kim was Kim。
Immediately he arrived the planks were taken from our necks and we
were lodged in the beet inn the place boasted。 We were still
prisoners； but honourable prisoners； with a guard of fifty mounted
soldiers。 The next day we were under way on the royal highroad；
fourteen sailormen astride the dwarf horses that obtain in Cho…Sen；
and bound for Keijo itself。 The Emperor； so Kim told me； had
expressed a desire to gaze upon the strangeness of the sea devils。
It was a journey of many days； half the length of Cho…Sen； north and
south as it lies。 It chanced； at the first off…saddling； that I
strolled around to witness the feeding of the dwarf horses。 And
what I witnessed set me bawling； 〃What now； Vandervoot？〃 till all
our crew came running。 As I am a living man what the horses were
feeding on was bean soup； hot bean soup at that； and naught else did
they have on all the journey but hot bean soup。 It was the custom
of the country。
They were truly dwarf horses。 On a wager with Kim I lifted one；
despite his squeals and struggles； squarely across my shoulders； so
that Kim's men； who had already heard my new name； called me Yi
Yong…ik； the Mighty One。 Kim was a large man as Koreans go； and
Koreans are a tall muscular race； and Kim fancied himself a bit。
But； elbow to elbow and palm to palm； I put his arm down at will。
And his soldiers and the gaping villagers would look on and murmur
〃Yi Yong…ik。〃
In a way we were a travelling menagerie。 The word went on ahead； so
that all the country folk flocked to the roadside to see us pass。
It was an unending circus procession。 In the towns at night our
inns were besieged by multitudes； so that we got no peace until the
soldiers drove them off with lance…pricks and blows。 But first Kim
would call for the village strong men and wrestlers for the fun of
seeing me crumple them and put them in the dirt。
Bread there was none； but we ate white rice （the strength of which
resides in one's muscles not long）； a meat which we found to be dog
（which animal is regularly butchered for food in Cho…Sen）； and the
pickles ungodly hot but which one learns to like exceeding well。
And there was drink； real drink； not milky slush； but white； biting
stuff distilled from rice； a pint of which would kill a weakling and
make a strong man mad and merry。 At the walled city of Chong…ho I
put Kim and the city notables under the table with the stuffor on
the table； rather； for the table was the floor where we squatted to
cramp…knots in my hams for the thousandth time。 And again all
muttered 〃Yi Yong…ik；〃 and the word of my prowess passed on before
even to Keijo and the Emperor's Court。
I was more an honoured guest than a prisoner； and invariably I rode
by Kim's side； my long legs near reaching the ground； and； where the
going was deep； my feet scraping the muck。 Kim was young。 Kim was
human。 Kim was universal。 He was a man anywhere in any country。
He and I talked and laughed and joked the day long and half the
night。 And I verify ate up the language。 I had a gift that way
anyway。 Even Kim marvelled at the way I mastered the idiom。 And I
learned the Korean points of view； the Korean humour； the Korean
soft places； weak places； touchy places。 Kim taught me flower
songs； love songs； drinking songs。 One of the latter was his own；
of the end of which I shall give you a crude attempt at translation。
Kim and Pak； in their youth； swore a pact to abstain from drinking；
which pact was speedily broken。 In old age Kim and Pak sing：
〃No； no； begone！ The merry bowl
Again shall bolster up my soul
Against itself。 What； good man； hold！
Canst tell me where red wine is sold？
Nay； just beyond yon peach…tree？ There？
Good luck be thine； I'll thither fare。〃
Hendrik Hamel； scheming and crafty； ever encouraged and urged me in
my antic course that brought Kim's favour； not alone to me； but
through me to Hendrik Hamel and all our company。 I here mention
Hendrik Hamel as my adviser； for it has a bearing on much that
followed at Keijo in the winning of Yunsan's favour； the Lady Om's
heart； and the Emperor's tolerance。 I had the will and the
fearlessness for the game I played； and some of the wit； but most of
the wit I freely admit was supplied me by Hendrik Hamel。
And so we journeyed up to Keijo； from walled city to walled city
across a snowy mountain land that was hollowed with innumerable fat
farming valleys。 And every evening； at fall of day； beacon fires
sprang from peak to peak and ran along the land。 Always Kim watched
for this nightly display。 From all the coasts of Cho…Sen； Kim told
me； these chains of fire…speech ran to Keijo to carry their message
to the Emperor。 One beacon meant the land was in peace。 Two
beacons meant revolt or invasion。 We never saw but one beacon。 And
ever； as we rode； Vandervoot brought up the rear； wondering； 〃God in
heaven； what now？〃
Keijo we found a vast city where all the population； with the
exception of the nobles or yang…bans； dressed in the eternal white。
This； Kim explained； was an automatic determination and
advertisement of caste。 Thus； at a glance； could one tell； the
status of an individual by the degrees of cleanness or of filthiness
of his garments。 It stood to reason that a coolie； possessing but
the clothes he stood up in； must be extremely dirty。 And to reason
it stood that the individual in immaculate white must possess many
changes and command the labour of laundresses to keep his changes
immaculate。 As for