change their plans at once and so would avoid running such a risk. Ah Q had intended to call on some old friends in the city, but as soon as he heard this bit of news, he dismissed his intention without much ado.
However, it cannot be said that there was no change in Weichuang. A few days later, those who wrapped their queues about their heads gradually increased in number. It has already been stated that the first to do so naturally was the Hsiu-t'sai kung; after him, Chao Szu-ch'ên and Chao Pai-yen; then, Ah Q. Now if it had been summer, it would not have been unusual for every one to wrap his queue about his head or tie it into a knot; but at this particular time, it was near the end of autumn and, therefore, this carrying out of a summer practice in autumn cannot be denied to have been a very wise decision on the part of those who wrapped their queues about their heads; and as far as Weichuang was concerned, it cannot be said to have had no connection with the Revolution.
When Chao Szu-ch'ên came along, with the back of his head not wrapped with the customary queue, those who saw him would say, "Hey, a Revolutionist is coming!"
Ah Q, on hearing this, was filled with admiration. Although he had long heard the great news of the Hsiu-t'sai's wrapping his queue about his head,
