before." I do not
think that was quite correct. I think my brother was labouring
under a temporary fit of the blues, and I was very glad to find his
companion said it was not quite correct. What I want is this, to go
back to my work feeling that there are those behind us who are
praying earnestly that God's Spirit would work effectually in the
hearts of those to whom we have the privilege of preaching. If you
pray earnestly you can but work earnestly, and then you will also
give earnestly; and I do not think we can be too earnest in the
matter for which Christ was so much in earnest that He laid down
His own life.'

The month of June and part of July was spent at Millport, a
watering-place on the west coast of Scotland, near the lovely scenery
of Arran. On July 4 he ascended Goatfell, and in so doing had an
adventure which might have had very serious consequences. He started
late, lost his way, but finally reached the summit at 8.45 P.M., and
then, as he notes in his diary: 'Fog came on nearly at once with rain
and thunder. Sat in the lee of a dripping rock on a wet stone and looked
at a couple of acres of fog and granite boulders. Very dark and cold
about midnight, the time wore on very slowly, more rain dripping, and
fog. At 2 o'clock A.M. I began the descent, and in a short while it was
light enough to see. Came on all right, and saw where I had missed the
way.... I have not caught cold. I was wet all night, but kept wrapt up
in my plaid and as warm as I could manage. Next day the minister
congratulated me on being seen alive after my Goatfell adventure.'

On September 1 the return voyage to China began, and Peking was reached
on November 14.

CHAPTER VIII

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW

In Peking the old familiar round of mission duties recommenced. Gilmour
after his absence of eighteen months was the same man, and yet not the
same. He yearned for fruit in the conversion of souls, and he began to
devote himself with more eager self-denial than ever to the winning of
Chinamen's hearts for the Saviour. The winter of 1883-1884 was spent in
Peking, and his diary is full of incidents illustrative of the time and
effort he gave to dealing with individuals.

In February, 1884, he made one of the most remarkable of his Mongolian
journeys. He visited the Plain, travelling on foot, and thus subjecting
himself to risks and hardships of a very serious order. But he had good