the Chinese who heard of it were extremely
interested.

My Russian and Dutch friends I have since met on several occasions,
when, in the presence of others, we talked of my dream and its
fulfilment.

Both in Peking and in the various parts of China where I have since
been stationed, I have frequently related the occurrence to Chinese
acquaintances, and they have always given an interpretation of it
which has invariably been to the effect that in this world, or in a
previous existence, I either lent money or did a great service to some
friend, who, dying before repayment had been made, came back to earth
in the form of a horse, and after winning for me sufficient money to
discharge his debt, returned to the realms of departed spirits.

"THE HAGUE,
"_26th March 1903_.

"MY DEAR READY,--In reply to yours of 23rd I will certainly
gladly corroborate the incident regarding Chalk's death. I do
not remember exactly the details as you put them to me now,
though I have not the least doubt they were the true features
of the case. What I do still remember is this: that you gave
---- and myself a somewhat circumstantial account of your
dream shortly before the race; that immediately after the
death of the pony you came up to us and called attention to
the remarkable fulfilment of your dream, and that I was at the
time much impressed with the case, both as regards the main
fact and the details, which tallied remarkably with what I
could then still remember of your prophetic account of the
event. Whether to look upon this as some 'Borderland'
manifestation or merely as a remarkable coincidence does not
belong to the province of,--

"Yours very truly,

"T.T.H. FERGUSON."

My Russian friend has long since returned to the dominions of the
Great White Czar and I have not his address, otherwise I feel
confident that he, too, would gladly support with his testimony my
account of this remarkable occurrence.

CHAPTER V

SAILING

A good national motto for the Chinese would be "_Semper idem_," for of
a truth they change not and as yet the shadow of turning is but
ill-defined.

The same types of junk that called forth the admiration of Marco Polo
may be seen to-day, not only along the