He did not speak, but looked sharply to right and left for a means of escape.  For, in spite of the cleverness of our guide, the mandarin's men had been as cunning.  They had either divined or been told that we had made for the other street, and had contrived to reach the connecting lane along which we should have to pass.  Here they had planted themselves, and just as we were breathing more freely, in the belief that before long we should reach the shore of the great river, we caught sight of them in company with about a dozen more.