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this year of grace 635； in the city of Chang…an； and in all the
region about the Yellow River； the good priest Thomas the
Nestorian； whom the Chinese called O…lo…punthe nearest approach
they could give to his strange Syriac namehad his Christian
mission…house； and was zealously bringing to the knowledge of a
great and enlightened people the still greater and more helpful
light of Christianity。
〃My daughter；〃 said the Nestorian after his words of thanks were
uttered； 〃this is a gracious deed done to me； and one that I may
not easily repay。 Yet would I gladly do so； if I might。 Tell me
what wouldst thou like above all other things？〃
The answer of the girl was as ready as it was unexpected。
〃To be a boy； O master！ she replied。 〃Let the great Shang…ti；＇1＇
whose might thou teachest； make me a man that I may have
revenge。〃
＇1＇ Almighty Being。
The good priest had found strange things in his mission work in
this far Eastern land； but this wrathful demand of an excited
little maid was full as strange as any。 For China is and ever has
been a land in which the chief things taught the children are；
〃subordination； passive submission to the law； to parents； and to
all superiors； and a peaceful demeanor。〃
〃Revenge is not for men to trifle with； nor maids to talk of；〃 he
said。 〃Harbor no such desires； but rather come with me and I will
show thee more attractive things。 This very day doth the great
emperor go forth from the City of Peace；＇1＇ to the banks of the
Yellow River。 Come thou with me to witness the splendor of his
train； and perchance even to see the great emperor himself and
the young Prince Kaou； his son。〃
＇1＇ The meaning of Chang…an； the ancient capital of China； is
〃the City of Continuous Peace。〃
〃That I will not then；〃 cried the girl； more hotly than before。
〃I hate this great emperor； as men do wrongfully call him； and I
hate the young Prince Kaou。 May Lung Wang； the god of the
dragons； dash them both beneath the Yellow River ere yet they
leave its banks this day。〃
At this terrible wish on the lips of a girl； the good master very
nearly forgot even his most valuable preceptnever to be
surprised。 He regarded his defiant young companion in sheer
amazement。
〃Have a care； have a care； my daughter！〃 he said at length。 〃The
blessed Saint James telleth us that the tongue is a little
member； but it can kindle a great fire。 How mayst thou hope to
say such direful words against the Son of Heaven＇1＇ and live？〃
＇1＇ 〃The Son of Heaven〃 is one of the chief titles of the Chinese
emperor。
〃The Son of Heaven killed the emperor； my father；〃 said the
child。
〃The emperor thy father！〃 Thomas the Nestorian almost gasped in
this latest surprise。 〃Is the girl crazed or doth she sport with
one who seeketh her good？〃 And amazement and perplexity settled
upon his face。
〃The Princess Woo is neither crazed nor doth she sport with the
master；〃 said the girl。 〃I do but speak the truth。 Great is
Tai…tsung。 Whom he will he slayeth； and whom he will he keepeth
alive。〃 And then she told the astonished priest that the
bannerman of the Dragon Gate was not her father at all。 For； she
said； as she had lain awake only the night before； she had heard
enough in talk between the bannerman and his wife to learn her
secrethow that she was the only daughter of the rightful
emperor； the Prince Kung…ti； whose guardian and chief adviser the
present emperor had been； how this trusted protector had made
away with poor Kung…ti in order that he might usurp the throne；
and how she； the Princess Woo； had been flung into the swift
Hwang…ho； from the turbid waters of which she had been rescued by
the bannerman of the Dragon Gate。
〃This may or may not be so；〃 Thomas the Nestorian said； uncertain
whether or not to credit the girl's surprising story； 〃but even
were it true； my daughter； how couldst thou right thyself？ What
can a girl hope to do？〃
The young princess drew up her small form proudly。 〃Do？〃 she
cried in brave tones； 〃I can do much； wise O…lo…pun； girl though
I am！ Did not a girl save the divine books of Confucius； when the
great Emperor Chi…Hwang…ti did command the burning of all the
books in the empire？ Did not a girlthough but a soothsayer's
daughterraise the outlaw Liu Pang straight to the Yellow
Throne？ And shall I； who am the daughter of emperors； fail to be
as able or as brave as they？〃
The wise Nestorian was shrewd enough to see that here was a prize
that might be worth the fostering。 By the assumption of mystic
knowledge； he learned from the bannerman of the Dragon Gate； the
truth of the girl's story； and so worked upon the good
bannerman's native superstition and awe of superior power as to
secure the custody of the young princess； and to place her in his
mission…house at Tung…Chow for teaching and guidance。 Among the
early Christians； the Nestorians held peculiarly helpful and
elevating ideas of the worth and proper condition of woman。 Their
precepts were full of mutual help； courtesy； and fraternal love。
All these the Princess Woo learned under her preceptor's
guidance。 She grew to be even more assertive and self…reliant；
and became； also； expert in many sports in which； in that
woman…despising country； only boys could hope to excel。 One day；
when she was about fourteen years old； the Princess Woo was
missing from the Nestorian mission…house； by the Yellow River。
Her troubled guardian； in much anxiety； set out to find the
truant； and； finally； in the course of his search； climbed the
high bluff from which he saw the massive walls； the many
gateways； the gleaming roofs； and porcelain towers of the
Imperial city of Chang…an…the City of Continuous Peace。
But even before he had entered its northern gate； a little maid
in loose silken robe； peaked cap； and embroidered shoes had
passed through that very gateway； and slipping through the
thronging streets of the great city； approached at last the group
of picturesque and glittering buildings that composed the palace
of the great Emperor Tai。
Just within the main gateway of the palace rose the walls of the
Imperial Academy； where eight thousand Chinese boys received
instruction under the patronage of the emperor； while； just
beyond extended the long； low range of the archery school； in
which even the emperor himself sometimes came to witness； or take
part in； the exciting contests。
Drawing about her shoulders the yellow sash that denoted alliance
with royalty； the Princess Woo； without a moment's hesitation；
walked straight through the palace gateway； past the wondering
guards； and into the boundaries of the archery court。
Here the young Prince Kaou； an indolent and lazy lad of about her
own age； was cruelly goading on his trained crickets to a
ferocious fight within their gilded bamboo cage； while； just at
hand； the slaves were preparing his bow and arrows for his daily
archery practice。
Now； among the rulers of China there are three classes of
privileged targetsthe skin of the bear for the emperor himself；
the skin of the deer for the princes of the blood； and the skin
of the tiger for the nobles of the court； and thus； side by side；
in the Imperial Archery School at Chang…an； hung the three
targets。
The girl with the royal sash and the determined face walked
straight up to the Prince Kaou。 The boy left off goading his
fighting crickets； and looked in astonishment at this strange and
highly audacious girl； who dared to enter a place from which all
women were excluded。 Before the guards could interfere； she
spoke。
〃Are the arrows of the great Prince Kaou so well fitted to the
cord；〃 she said； 〃that he dares to try his skill with one who；
although a girl； hath yet the wit and right to test his skill？〃
The guards laid hands upon the intruder to drag her away； but the
prince； nettled at her tone； yet glad to welcome any thing that
promised novelty or amusement； bade them hold off their hands。
〃No girl speaketh thus to the Prince Kaou and liveth；〃 he said
insolently。 〃Give me instant test of thy boast； or the wooden
collar＇1＇ in the palace torture…house； shall be thy fate。〃
＇1＇ The 〃wooden collar〃 was the 〃kia〃 or 〃cangue；〃a terrible
instrument of torture used in China for the punishment of
criminals。
〃Give me the arrows； Prince；〃 the girl said； bravely； 〃and I will
make good my words。〃
At a sign； the slaves handed her a bow and arrows。 But； as she
tried the cord and glanced along the polished shaft； the prince
said：
〃Yet； stay； girl； here is no target set for thee。 Let the slaves
set up the people's target。 These are not for such as thou。〃
〃Nay； Prince； fret not thyself；〃 the girl coolly replied。 〃My
target is here！〃 and while all looked on in wonder； the undaunted
girl deliberately toed the practice line； twanged her bow； and
with a sudden wh