Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/53

REVOLT. 29 opportunities of consulting together. Exile was becoming intolerable to them. The city was but small, and by a united, sudden stroke they might put to death the Commandant, and avenge their insulted country. All their comrades were gradually brought into confidence, and all heartily acquiesced in a plan, in the execution of which they were willing to die, rather than live any longer away from their friends They had fixed the night of the 19th of 8th moon (Sept) for their rising. But on that same evening one of the number gave information to the Commandant^ and the gates were instantly closed. All those named above, however, leapt over the wall, and fled eastwards among the hills 600 or 700 li. Chun got very unwell, and had to be assisted along. At last, when hiding by day among the tall grass, they wept from sheer £Ettigue. The sick man said that^ as he was so weak that he might die at any moment, he would infinitely prefer if they went on and left him to die where he was. To this they would not listen, declaring that they must live or die together ; Dua saying that if they had travelled together a myriad li they were not now to separata Dan and Eiang were at last prevailed upon to go on before, Dua remaining with the invalid to pick herbs and wild fruits for him to eat In a few days Dan and his companions reached Qaogowli, 1,000 li east of Liaotung. The king, Weigoong, and his minister, Jooba, received them with great hospitality. The grandfather of this Weigoong was of wonderful intelligence, able to notice even at his birth. He became a powerful king ; and was an unusually brave man, and frequently pillaged the borders of the Han country. When his grandson was bom, he was observed to be exactly like his grandfather in feature, as well as in the a]3ility to take notice at his birth; he therefore received his grandfather's name, Weigoong. He gladly furnished Dan with a number of men, with whose aid to search out and bring back his sick companion. The rovers all got safely back to their native land ; and Emperor Woo was so overcome, at once with grief and joy, that he was