WITH SEYMOURʼS COLUMN
That evening after dinner Rex told the envoy in full the story of his
adventures. The chiefs of two or three other Legations were present,
and all expressed great surprise that a mere lad should have carried
out so desperate an undertaking.
The next morning the doctor called to see Rex.
“You are thinking of going down at once, are you not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, I have come in to tell you that your cousins cannot possibly go
with you. Their recent experiences have been a terrible strain on them,
and as a result of the reaction, both are completely prostrated. The
younger one is very feverish, and is, I expect, in for a sharp illness.”
“I am very sorry to hear that, sir, though I cannot say that I am
surprised. They have held on very well, but they were weak when they
started, and throughout the journey they have had no chance of picking
up strength. I was afraid that they would break down before they got
here. At any rate I shall run down to Tientsin to see my father and
mother, who are no doubt suffering great anxiety, and shall then, I
hope, be able to arrange to come back for them. I suppose I can see
them before I start?”
“Certainly, but the shorter your visit the better. You may be quite
sure that they will have every attention here. I donʼt think there
is any reason for being uneasy about them. It is the natural reaction
after the strain, and I hope that in another fortnight or so they will
be able to travel. I will go across with you to their room now.”
Rex at once went over.
“I have come to say good–bye, Jenny,” he said, as he entered the shaded
room in which his cousins were lying. “The doctor says that you wonʼt
be fit to travel for another fortnight, and you know I must run down to
see my father and mother, who will by this time be in a great state of
alarm about you. I shall be back for you, and I hope if I come at the
end of a fortnight I shall find you both in a fit state to go. If you
are not, I shall wait till you are. Good–bye, dear!”
“Good–bye, Rex! Of course you ought to go to Tientsin, and we shall
look forward to your return. Thank you a thousand times for all that
you have done for us, and thank Ah Lo too!”
Mabel was lying with her eyes half–closed and her cheeks flushed with
fever, and Rex, seeing that it was of no use trying to rouse her to say
good–bye, kissed Jenny and went quietly out of the room.
“I shall keep your clothes until I come back again, Sandwich,” Rex said
when he was taking leave of his friend.
“You are perfectly welcome to them if you donʼt bring them back,” the
other laughed. “I have any number of suits, and if trouble comes on we
shall not be particular about washing.”
“I expect I shall be back before long, for if there is a row here I
should like to be in it.”
Rex and Ah Lo went to the railway–station in time for the train which
started at ten oʼclock. Several merchants and others were going down
also. The journey was a tedious one, for the train travelled slowly
and stopped frequently. It was just breakfast–time next morning when
they arrived. Rex walked in unannounced just as his father and mother
were sitting down to breakfast. They leapt to their feet with cries of
surprise and delight.
“I cannot blow you up now, Rex,” his father said after the first joy of
the meeting had passed, “but it was the maddest thing that I ever heard
of. I am too glad, however, at your safe return to scold you. We were
beginning to lose all hope of your return. We thought you might get to
Chafui, and of course it was a great satisfaction that you had Ah Lo
with you; but when you found that everyone had been massacred, what
prevented you from returning at once?”
“The fact, Father, that I found that they were not all massacred. My
uncle and aunt had both fallen, but the girls were prisoners in the
governorʼs yamen. It was a close affair, for they were to have been
given to the Boxers to be massacred the very next day. We got them out,
however, and took them safely to Pekin, and they are at present staying
at the Legation.”
“You have saved the dear girls!” his mother exclaimed; “that is indeed
good news. But where are they?”
“They are at Pekin, Mother. They bore up splendidly until they got
there, and then they broke down, and the doctor said that they would
need careful treatment and rest before they could be moved. So I ran
down here to tell you of my safety, and am going back again in a few
days to bring them home. I will give you full particulars when I have
got into my own clothes and had some breakfast. We brought a good
stock of provisions with us, but finished the last morsel yesterday
afternoon. It has been a tremendously long journey, and, as you may
imagine, I am pretty peckish. Before sitting down, however, I will run
upstairs and change, for I must have a wash before eating. I shall be
down again in ten minutes.”
He soon returned, and his father and mother asked no questions until he
had finished breakfast, except that his mother asked how he had left
the girls.
“I think they will both be better for a rest, Mother,” he said. “They
both look fagged, which is not to be wondered at, considering all they
have come through, but they are a good deal better than when I first
saw them.”
As soon as breakfast was over, and before he questioned Rex further,
Mr. Bateman sent for Ah Lo.
“Ah Lo,” he said, when the Chinaman came in, “you did wrong to aid my
son to carry out this enterprise. However, as it succeeded so well I
cannot blame you, and indeed must thank you heartily for having carried
Rex safely through the matter.”
The Chinaman smiled. “I think it is the other way. Mr. Rex carried me
through the affair. He always told me what to do; I did just so and it
came out all right.”
“Well, I shall not forget the great service you have rendered us.” Ah
Lo bowed and went off.
“Now then, Rex, give us an account of your doings, for at present I
cannot imagine how you managed to get the girls out from the governorʼs
yamen.”
It took Rex more than an hour to relate his adventures, for he was very
frequently interrupted by exclamations and questions from his father
and mother.
“It was a wonderful rescue,” his father said, when he had brought that
part of the story to a close. “It seems simple enough as you tell it,
but I really can hardly imagine how the plan occurred to you. There the
girls were shut up in the strong house of a governor, with sentries
over them and a guard but a few yards away. It was a problem that
might have puzzled the sharpest brain, and it was carried out without
the slightest hitch. It does you extreme credit, Rex, and I feel proud
of you. Well, go on with your story.”
There was a fresh outburst of surprise when Rex related the fight with
the twelve Boxers.
“Well, my boy,” Mr. Bateman said when Rex brought his story to an
end, “after that you can be trusted to go anywhere, and I donʼt think
your mother or I will in future feel anything like the same anxiety
concerning you as we have experienced this time.”
“And now, Father, how do matters stand here at present?”
“Things are quiet. A good many sailors have come up, and although a
large number of the rebels are still round the town, we have no fear
whatever that they will be able to take the place.”
“I think the fighting will be pretty hard work, Father, if, as I think
there is little doubt, the Boxers attack in earnest. But what are the
regular Chinese troops going to do?”
“I think the envoys still hope that they will stand aloof; but as far
as I have learned, the general opinion is just the other way. The
Empress and her ministers profess that the Boxers are a peaceable
people who only desire well for the empire. They have issued a few
shilly–shallying edicts, which can be read both ways, but it is
generally believed that the Boxers have been put in the foreground
because the Empress thinks they are more than sufficiently strong to
destroy the Legations and kill every white and native Christian in the
country. She doesnʼt want the responsibility. Before Europeans she
can, if she chooses, disavow their actions, while at the same time
professing her inability to control them, and declaring that as the
will of the people is that no white men shall henceforth live or trade
in China she must bow to their wishes. Many think, therefore, that if
the Boxers can do the work alone they will be allowed to do it; if not,
the Imperial troops will join them.
“It is quite certain that an enormous number of native Christians
have been massacred in various parts of China, and I have heard that
some have been murdered in Pekin itself. I hope that enough troops
will be collected to go up before long. Troops have come in from all
directions, but I am afraid it will be at least a couple of months
before anything like an army can be moved forward. From the ships now
here probably only two thousand men could be spared for the purpose.”
“I doubt whether that would be enough, Father. There are hordes of
Chinese between this and Pekin, and a large number of them are armed
with the best rifles. They have breech–loaders of all sorts, and you
know we must do them the justice to say that they fought bravely enough
round here. I fancy they will fight even better to prevent us from
getting to Pekin.”
“It is by no means certain, Rex, that in the first place we shall not
have to fight on for our own existence. Great numbers of Boxers and
other ruffians throng the town, and if they know their own business
they will not be fools enough to allow an army to gather here at all.
As to the Taku Forts, I believe they will be taken just as easily as
they were last time. Still, the larger vessels cannot come up the
river, and the smaller ones will probably have to be escorted up by
troops. They will doubtless be opposed fiercely, and not improbably we
shall be attacked here at the same time, in which case we may have to
fight hard.”
“All right, Father! I should like it all the better. Knowing, as we do,
how they have massacred hundreds of missionaries and their families and
many thousands of native Christians, we shall feel a real satisfaction
in fighting these fiends.”
“And yet, Rex, a good deal of allowance must be made for them. You
must remember that China has always been an exclusive country, and
that the Chinese appear to have an ingrained hatred of foreigners. To
begin with, we come here because they donʼt want to buy our opium, and
we fight them and compel them to open Chinese ports to trade. Well,
the Chinese are not fools, and as long as it was only a question of
trade they might put up with us, seeing that they obtained as much
advantage from trade as we do. This, however, was not enough. We invade
them with a vast crowd of missionaries, who settle themselves in all
parts of the country, build themselves houses and churches, and set
to work to convert the Chinese. Naturally the Chinese donʼt like it.
Certainly we should not like it ourselves if hundreds of Chinamen were
to settle down in all our towns, open joss–houses, hold out all sorts
of advantages to proselytes, and convert the lowest and most ignorant
class of the population to Confucianism or Buddhism. But this is not
all. Missionaries take the converts under their protection, set up a
little imperium, demand the right to judge and punish their own people,
and generally to set the local authorities pretty well at defiance;
and the Catholic bishops have actually insisted upon having the title,
rank, and power of Chinese viceroys.
“All these things are odious to the mass of the people, and when, as
at present, they find the whole of the European powers engaged in a
general grab of fresh ports, they say this thing must stop. I need not
say that I hold these massacres in abhorrence, but if they had simply
brought down all the missionaries to the treaty ports and said to them,
ʻIf you come outside these walls you will be at once put to death,ʼ I
should say that they were acting just as most European powers would
act in similar circumstances, and that from their own point of view
they were acting wisely. It would be necessary, of course, for us
to retain ambassadors at Pekin to protect our treaty rights and to
settle any disputes that might arise, but beyond that I would, if I
were the Emperor of China, forbid any foreigner from going beyond the
treaty ports, which would be all so strongly fortified that they could
defy any attack. Of course, foreigners might be allowed to enter the
Chinese service if invited to do so, drill their troops, manage their
dockyards, build their railways, and conduct their mines.
“To my mind, the game of grab that has been going on of late has been
shocking. The Russians who stepped in to prevent the Japanese from
obtaining any benefit from their defeat of China were the first to
begin by their enormous appropriation of territory. We seized a port
opposite to them, and the Germans, Italians, and French all seized
ports and territories. Can one wonder that China was moved to the core,
that this sect of Boxers, which has existed for a very long time,
suddenly became a violent political association, and that the Empress
has gladly availed herself of their assistance? It would be strange
indeed if it were not so. You must remember that the Chinese as a race
are extremely intelligent. Owing to the denseness of the population
and the poverty of the people the weakly die off in childhood, and
the struggle for life is so severe that the wits of the people become
sharpened. They are the cleverest bargainers in the world. Every
transaction is a battle in which purchaser and seller try to get the
better of one another. Physically they are fine men; and their lives
being for the most part hard, they have little or no fear of death.
“When you take all these things into consideration, you can see that
there is a great deal to be said for the action of the Chinese.
They have perpetrated horrible cruelties upon the missionaries and
native Christians, but they have lived under a cruel régime. Capital
punishment under the most atrocious conditions is very frequent among
them, and they have become habituated and hardened to it. You must
remember that at home as late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth any
persons found begging were executed, or, as a mild punishment for a
first offence, had their hands or ears cut off.
“Of course, if we are attacked, I shall aid in the defence; but
although I have lost my sister–in–law and her husband, I shall feel no
personal animosity towards the Chinese, for I consider that we have,
from their point of view, given them ample grounds for endeavouring to
get rid of us.”
“Well, I donʼt think that I ever thought of it in that light, Father,
but it certainly does seem rough on them that we should seize port
after port on the smallest pretext, and send our people interfering
with their customs and religions all over the country. Certainly
at ordinary times they have always seemed to me an inoffensive set
of people, placid and good–tempered, which makes it all the more
extraordinary that they should go in for such hideous massacres.
However, Father, whatever excuse they have, it is quite certain that we
must not let them take Tientsin if we can keep them out of it.”
“We shall certainly do our best,” Mr. Bateman laughed, “and I have no
doubt that we shall succeed. Still, we may have some tough work before
us.
“We have received a despatch from Macdonald urgently asking that troops
should be sent up at once,” Mr. Bateman said to Rex two days after his
return.
“Well, Father, if things really do look bad I should like to go back
again. I told the girls that I would, and I certainly should like to
be there on my own account if there is any fighting.”
“Probably there will be fighting here also, Rex.”
“Yes, Father, but there is no doubt that you will be able to beat them
off here. Marines and blue–jackets will be sent up from the ships to
take the place of those who are going forward now. Besides, no doubt
an attack will be made on the Taku Forts, and you know they are not
formidable. I donʼt think, however, that it is anything like so certain
that they will be able to hold out in Pekin. The Legations cover a big
extent of ground, and what with the Boxers, the lower classes of the
city, and the Chinese army, there will be a tremendous pressure upon
them. Now, as Ah Lo and I managed to get the girls away from Chafui,
it seems to me possible that, if the worst comes to the worst, we may
manage to rescue them again. At any rate I know it would be a big
comfort to them if I were there.”
“I donʼt know, Rex,” his father said gravely, “that I should be
justified in letting you go. Still, you got so wonderfully out of the
last business that I am disposed to let you have your own way in this.
Besides, if there is fighting here, which I think probable, you will,
of course, want to take part in it, and are as likely to be killed here
as at Pekin, and as it will certainly be a comfort to the girls to have
you there, I shall not say ʻNo.ʼ There will, however, be no occasion
for you to go up with the troops. Possibly on their arrival there
things will calm down, and in that case the troubles are more likely
to begin here by the sea. I think there is scarcely a shadow of doubt
that the Taku Forts will be bombarded, and that the ships will open a
passage for the gun–boats up the river. You had better, therefore, wait
for a week at any rate, by which time we shall hear whether matters
have settled down in Pekin.”
“Very well, Father, but I do not think there is a chance of that. There
is no doubt that the Empress and her favourites are secretly urging on
the Boxers, and although these will probably begin an attack, they will
be joined in the end by the Imperial troops. I have no doubt, however,
that I shall be able to get there in time. You see, Father, if I take
part in the defence of the Pekin Legations it will be something to talk
about all my life.”
“I am afraid, Rex,” his father said with a smile, “that, although I do
not say that you are not anxious to be at hand if your cousins are in
danger, you would be just as eager to go if they were not at Pekin at
all. I begin to think that I have made a mistake in your education,
that I should have done better if I had kept you by me and sent you
to the College of Student Interpreters at Pekin. It seems to me that
you are more fitted for the profession of a knight–errant than a sober
trader.”
“Oh, I donʼt think so, Father! When things are quiet I shall be quite
content to be quiet, to work hard all day, and to take a ride or sail
in the evening.”
“Well, we shall see when matters do settle down, Rex, as I have no
doubt they will after a time. I shall be quite content if we resume
trade at the treaty ports as before, and I hope that the result of this
war will not be the further breaking up of China.”
The next morning the glad news was heard that strong detachments from
all the ships of war were coming up and were going to march on Pekin.
Admiral Seymour was to be in command, and the force would amount to
about two thousand.
“This is splendid, isnʼt it, Father?” said Rex.
“It is capital news, my boy; but two thousand men are but a small body
to go through a bitterly hostile country defended by an army which,
including the Boxers, cannot be put at much less than forty thousand
men. There is no doubt that the railway will have been greatly damaged
by the Boxers, and if our men trust to that, they will have no means
of transport when they come to the point where the line is destroyed,
which will probably be about half–way between this and Pekin. At the
same time it is undoubtedly right that the effort should be made. Our
countrymen cannot be allowed to perish if it be possible to save them.
We know that so far they are unhurt, for the telegraph wire is still
open to Shanghai, and we get messages from there, contradictory ones,
it is true, but still, in spite of the varying nature of the reports,
there is little doubt that up to the present time the Legations are
safe.
“It is probable, indeed, that those four hundred men who went up to
Pekin six weeks ago as guards to the Legation have so far saved the
situation. The Chinese, as you know, did all in their power to prevent
them from coming. Fortunately the ambassadors had by that time so fully
recognized the danger of the situation that they brought them up in
spite of the Chinese Ministers. It is but a small force to resist a
well–armed army and a vast crowd of Boxers and the rabble of the town,
but there must be a good number of white men there, missionaries of the
city, and many who have made their way in from country stations. The
European shopkeepers, too, and such merchants as have not left, will
between them considerably raise the fighting force. Besides, you told
me that at any rate some slight defences had been thrown up when you
came away; no doubt these have since been increased. It is fortunate
that all the Legations are fairly close to each other, and can probably
be connected with each other without much difficulty.
“The German, French, Japanese, and Pekin Hotels make practically one
block, the Spanish is but a short distance away, the British Legation
is separated from the Palace of Prince Su only by the street, the
Russian Legation lies close to the British, and the United States
Legation and Russian Bank face it. I should fancy that the line of
defence will include all these. The Dutch Legation is isolated on
one side, and the Italian on the other. The Austrian and the Belgian
Legations also lie apart, and close to the former are the post–office
and customs. These, however, are all that are outside the probable
line. I should hope that the Tartar wall, which overlooks the whole and
is close to the United States and German Legations, will also be held.
It is a big area for seven or eight hundred men to defend; but it was
not a much larger force that held Lucknow, and what can be done in one
place can be done in another.”
“I do hope, Father, that you will allow me to go up with the troops.
If, as you think, they are not able to reach Pekin, I could push on in
disguise and get into the town as easily as I left it. I donʼt think
there will be the least difficulty about that. I am very anxious about
the girls, and might, if the worst came to the worst, escape with them
in disguise, as I did before. Even if Admiral Seymourʼs force should
fight its way into the town, I should think that they will be in a
similar position to that in which General Havelock found himself when
he fought his way into Cawnpore. He would certainly be able to defend
the Legations against the whole Chinese force, but he might not be able
to cut his way out, encumbered as he must be, with a mass of native
Christians who certainly could not be left there to be murdered. Even
putting the girls aside, I should like, above all things, to take part
in the defence.”
“I donʼt know that you would be able to go with the troops even if I
gave you leave, Rex.”
“Well, you see, I should become an interpreter. They will be sure to
want some men with them who know the language, to question prisoners,
and buy stores, and so on.”
“Well, I will think it over. I must speak to your mother before I
settle on such a question as that. Of course there will be a good deal
of danger, but I have very little doubt that as soon as these troops go
up, the Chinese will attack us here. Large numbers of them are in the
neighbourhood, and if they find they cannot resist the advance of the
force, they will close in behind it and march upon this town. Certainly
we could not hope to hold the native quarter, but I feel sure that we
could defend the settlement. Still, we might lose many men. There will,
of course, be no fear of our having to stand a long siege, for the
fleet are sure to batter down the Taku Forts, and the gun–boats will
shortly be sent up the river. Besides, the troops from India and Port
Arthur, and the Japanese, will soon arrive, and will no doubt come up
to our succour. I can quite understand your desire to take part in the
siege, to say nothing of your idea of getting the girls away. Going up
with two thousand men also is a very different affair from starting off
on your own account.”
The next morning at breakfast Mr. Bateman said: “I have talked the
matter over with your mother, and though she is very reluctant to part
with you, she has given her consent, as I have pointed out to her
that naturally at your age you want to take part in a defence which
is likely to be historical, and that you would certainly be a comfort
to your cousins and might be of vital service. You have already shown
great presence of mind and resource, and I have no doubt would do so
again in case of necessity.”
“But you must promise me,” Mrs. Bateman said, “that you will take care
of yourself, and not expose yourself needlessly. You must remember,
my boy, that, fond as we are of your cousins, you are all in all to
us. You are our only child, and for our sakes you must promise not to
thrust yourself needlessly into danger.”
“I will not run risks more than I can help, Mother. Of course, if I do
get into Pekin, I must take part in the defence.”
“Yes, Rex, of course, I understand that; I only beg of you not to
expose yourself recklessly.”
“I promise not to do so, Mother. Of course I shall take Ah Lo with
me. I am awfully obliged to you for giving your consent; it would be
a splendid thing to go through the siege. It is not like an ordinary
siege in an ordinary war. They have attacked us and perpetrated the
most horrible massacres all over the country; they have lied through
thick and thin; they are treacherous and cruel brutes, who will
certainly show no mercy if they capture the place, so that I shall feel
that I am fighting in a good cause, and that these men deserve all they
will get.”
Tientsin presented a busy appearance. Troops arrived fast by train from
the coast, and it became known that an expedition of some two thousand
men was going to advance to Pekin under the command of Admiral Seymour.
“Do you think, Father, that you could get leave for me to accompany the
expedition. I could make myself useful as an interpreter.”
“I was introduced to Admiral Seymour this morning, Rex, and the idea
did occur to me then, but I thought it well to wait until I talked the
matter over with you again. It would certainly be far less risky to
go with the troops than to make your way up in disguise, for by all
accounts the Boxers and the roughs who have joined them are clearing
out the villages and putting numbers of people to death. So you see
your disguise could not be any great protection. However, I shall see
Admiral Seymour again this afternoon, for I am supplying a good many
articles they require. If you go with me I shall introduce you to him,
and we shall hear what he says about it.”
Admiral Seymour was at the railway–station seeing to the detrainment
of a strong body of marines and blue–jackets and to the unloading of
their stores. Mr. Bateman waited until he was disengaged, and as he was
leaving the station went up to him.
“I have sent the things you wanted to the depot, and shall be willing
to send any further supplies that you may require. Everything in my
store is entirely at your disposal.
“Will you allow me to present my son to you? He has only lately
returned from a most hazardous journey which he accomplished in
disguise. He went to save two girl cousins of his who were the sole
survivors of a mission station at Chafui. He succeeded in rescuing them
and taking them to Pekin, where he was obliged to leave them, as they
were prostrated by what they had gone through. He is very anxious to
return there; and as he speaks Chinese perfectly, he thought perhaps
that you would be kind enough to allow him to accompany your expedition
in the character of an interpreter. He might be useful in questioning
prisoners or villagers. He could carry arms also, for he and a native
servant annihilated a party of twelve Boxers who attacked them while
they were bringing his cousins down.”
“I have already got two or three interpreters, Mr. Bateman, but I have
no doubt that I could do very well with another. I will attach him to
the company of marines and blue–jackets from the _Centurion_.”
“Thank you very much indeed, Admiral!”
“Ah, here is Major Johnston, who commands the marines!” said the
admiral; “I will put you under his charge at once.
“Major Johnston, I shall be glad if you will take charge of this young
gentleman. He speaks Chinese fluently, and no doubt you will find him
very useful as an interpreter. He is most anxious to get up to Pekin,
because two of the young ladies there are his cousins. He will probably
have a yarn to tell you of how he rescued them from the Boxers at
Chafui. You will, of course, attach him to your mess.”
“Very well, sir, I shall be very glad to have someone with me who
speaks Chinese; we are pretty sure to get hold of some wounded Boxers,
and we may get valuable information from them.”
Again thanking the admiral, Rex went off with the major, whose men were
quartered in the customs–house. He was soon busy translating orders to
the coolies who were assisting in bringing up cases of ammunition and
other stores. In a couple of hours all was quiet.
“My father will be very glad, sir,” he said to the major, “if you will
take up your abode at his house. I have no doubt that all the officers
will be quartered among the residents. I think that we can very well
house four, and, if they donʼt mind squeezing, six or seven.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bateman! I donʼt know whether we have been told off to
quarters, but if not, I will very gladly accept your offer.”
Rex hurried home, and his father returned with him and assured the
officer that it would be a great pleasure to him to have as many
officers as the house would hold, and that he could very well contrive
to take in ten of them.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Bateman! It will take some little time to see
the men properly quartered. I notice that a quantity of straw has been
provided for them. What time do you dine?”
“We will fix our dinner hour to suit you. We generally dine at seven.”
“That will suit us very well. I command two companies, and have six
officers, whom I will bring with me. You will have to take us in the
rough, for we have only the uniforms that we stand in.”
“You shall dine in your shirt sleeves if you like, Major.”
Rex returned with his father, and there was for a short time some
bustle in the house getting bedrooms ready and making arrangements for
dinner. At seven oʼclock the officers arrived and were introduced by
Major Johnston to Mr. and Mrs. Bateman. They were a merry party, for
the officers were all in high spirits at being selected to take part in
the expedition. When they heard that Rex had only returned from Pekin
the week before, they asked him innumerable questions as to the country
and the strength of the force that would be likely to oppose them.
“I think that you will have harder work than you expect,” he said.
“A considerable portion of the railway is certainly pulled up, and,
judging by the number of fires I saw as I came down at night, the enemy
must be in very strong force. I have no doubt that they will fight
hard, for the Boxers believe that they are invulnerable, and will fight
with fanatical fury.”
“We shall soon teach them that they are mistaken as to their
invulnerability,” one of the officers laughed, “and I donʼt think that
any number of armed peasants, for that is what they are, will stop us.”
“I hope not, indeed,” Rex said. “I only say that I think it will be
harder work than you expect.”
“Now, Mr. Bateman,” the Major said, “I hope that you will tell us the
story of the rescue of your cousins, of which the admiral told me.”
“I have had to tell it so many times since I came back,” Rex said,
“that I really hope you will excuse me.”
“Oh, no, that is mistaken modesty on your part!”
“I will tell it for him,” his father said; “it is a good story, and
does the boy great credit.”
“Then I will go and see if everything is ready outside,” said Rex.
It was half an hour before he returned, and by that time his father had
finished the story. The officers all warmly congratulated him when he
re–entered the room.
“I wish I had done it,” one of the young lieutenants said. “I would
have given anything to have carried out such a plan.”
“I suppose you have not been in England at all,” the Major said; “for
if you had been you would scarcely have been able to speak Chinese so
well.”
“Yes, he has been four years there,” Mr. Bateman said, “but I sent
over with him a Chinese boy, who has always been his companion, and
Rex had two days off school each week to go about with him and so keep
up his knowledge of the language. I intend to go home myself in a few
yearsʼ time, and as he will then be left in charge it is of the utmost
importance that he should keep up his Chinese. Latin and Greek would be
of no value whatever here, so I arranged that he should only take up
English subjects and English games.”
“A capital plan, Mr. Bateman. His knowledge of the language has already
stood him in good stead.”
“What is the latest news?”
“We had a telegram to say that the American Mission buildings at Tung
Chau, twelve miles from Pekin, have been abandoned by the missionaries,
and have been looted and burned by the Chinese soldiers sent to
protect them; and further, that seventy–five native Christians,
who have been trained for years by the American missionaries, were
massacred there. The British Legation summer residence in the hills
near Pekin has also been burned. A telegram from Shanghai says that
there has been a fight between General Nel Hsi Chong, with three
thousand men, and the Boxers, and it is reported that the general has
been superseded for his trouble.”
“When do you leave?”
“The rest of the force will be up to–morrow, and we shall start on the
following morning. Altogether we shall have nine hundred and fifteen
British, three hundred and fifteen Germans, three hundred Russians,
one hundred and fifty–eight French, one hundred and four Americans,
fifty–two Japanese, forty Italians, and twenty–five Austrians.”
“Rather a mixed lot,” Mr. Bateman said. “It is as well that our
contingent is so strong. Had it not been so, Admiral Seymour might have
found some difficulty with the commanders of so many nationalities.”
“Yes, it is certainly well that we constitute nearly half the
force—more than half the force, if we count in the Americans and Japs,
on both of whom we can rely. However, I donʼt think that there will be
any trouble with the Russians, Germans, and French, who wonʼt be able
to understand each other, and as it is so short a march they will have
no opportunity of coming to any mutual understanding. We might even
count in the two small parties of Austrians and Italians as going with
us.”