A MISSION
The next morning there was a serious alarm. The Italians and Austrians
fell back suddenly under a strong and violent attack, and had the
Chinese pressed their advantage the Fu must have fallen and the British
Legation have been laid open to attack on that side. Fortunately, on
a previous occasion the Japanese had made a sham retreat, and, having
induced the enemy to follow them, had then inflicted heavy loss upon
them. Fearing a renewal of this strategy the Chinese fell back, and
the Italian commander was able to rally his forces and reoccupy the
abandoned position. The result showed, however, that the Italians could
not be trusted to hold their ground without support, and consequently a
small body of British marines were added to the garrison, an event that
caused almost as much excitement as the return of a native messenger
sent out in the morning by Mr. Squiers of the United States Legation.
This man reported that he had gone out by one gate and had come in
by another. He said there were no soldiers in the Chinese city, that
business was being carried on as usual inside the Chien Mên, the gate
by which Rex had entered the city. To prove his statement he brought in
with him a couple of chickens and a few peaches. He also reported that
the Emperor and Empress were still in the city, and that the French and
native converts still held out at the North Cathedral.
While discussing the matter afterwards Rex said to Sandwich: “The
report quite bears out what I have said; there is no difficulty in
going out of or getting into the city from the north side.”
“That seems to be so, but that does not show that it is at all easy to
enter the Forbidden City, still less to reach the Empress. The question
is: Where is Prince Ching? It seems to me that he is the chap that we
want to get hold of.”
“It is certain that he disapproves altogether of the proceedings of the
Empress and Prince Tung, and the sounds of firing which we have heard
several times in the city can only be accounted for by the supposition
that his troops are fighting Tungʼs. Of course Ching lives somewhere in
the Imperial City, and as the Northern Cathedral stands in that part,
there must be some way of getting in.”
“You are not thinking of carrying him off, are you?”
“No, I should like to carry Tung off, so that we could stick him up in
some prominent position and send him word that we should cut his head
off if the troops attacking us did not withdraw. No, I had no intention
of doing any carrying–off, but I was thinking that it would be possible
to take out a message to Ching of a friendly character, of course from
Sir Claude.”
“That is not quite such an impossible business,” Sandwich admitted,
“though the betting would be a hundred to one against your being able
to see him.”
“Well, of course, it would be difficult, but one could not say how
difficult till one tried. Nevertheless, as that messenger went out
this morning and came in again, it is evident that things are going on
pretty well as usual in the town, except round here, and that people
walk about without being questioned or interfered with.”
Rex thought the matter over all day while he was at work, and after
his duty was over went into the Residency and asked to see the
Minister. After waiting half an hour he was shown in.
“How are you, Mr. Bateman?” Sir Claude said. “I have not seen you for
the past fortnight. Can I do anything for you?”
“Well, sir, you know that this morning one of the natives under Mr.
Squiers went into the town and came out again safely?”
The Minister nodded.
“Well, sir, what one man has done another might do. I have thought that
you might like to communicate with Prince Ching.”
“I should certainly like to do so if it were possible.”
“In that case, sir, I should be glad to try to take a communication to
him. I have passed out several times as a Chinaman without exciting
the slightest suspicion, and it seems to me that I could at any rate
reach Chingʼs Palace without any special danger. How I should obtain an
audience with him would, of course, depend upon circumstances, and I
should guide myself by these when I got there. I do not at all say that
I should succeed, but it seems to me that it would be well worth trying
if you are desirous of communicating with him.”
“It is a bold proposal, Mr. Bateman, a very bold proposal. Certainly
I should like to communicate with Ching, and to learn from him how he
really stands affected towards us, what the Empressʼs intentions are,
and to what extent Tung and his partisans influence her. Of course
it would be a joint letter, signed by all of us—but it would be a
fearfully dangerous service. As he is at enmity with Tung, and probably
in bad repute with the Empress, he would be sure to be surrounded with
guards and soldiers. Even if you were to reach him, you might not be
safe. At the beginning of the trouble, he certainly assured us of his
regard, and did his best to prevent Tung and the Boxers from attacking
us, but there is no saying what his opinions may be now. Seeing how
far the others have gone, he may have ceased to oppose them, and might
either have you put to death or hand you over to the Empress.”
“I am perfectly well aware that there is danger, sir, but if there is
a chance of my mission succeeding, or of conferring any benefit upon
all here, I should be ready to undertake it. I do not engage to deliver
the communication, but I will at least do all in my power to do so.
Everyone here is risking his life every half–hour, and I do not think
that I should be risking mine to any greater extent than the officers
in the Fu, or indeed those at any of the barricades.”
“At any rate, Mr. Bateman, I thank you for the offer. We shall have, as
usual, a council this evening of all the Ministers, and I will discuss
your offer with my colleagues. Have you thought what character you will
go in?”
“I should say either a Chinese bonze or a Buddhist priest. It seems to
me that in either of these I should find it easier to obtain access to
him than in any other character, except perhaps in that of a high–class
mandarin. This would be in several respects the best, but I should have
to be attended by at least four men. Of course my own man could be one,
and the others could be natives got up in suitable attire.”
“That would certainly be the most appropriate. Perhaps as a second–or
third–class mandarin, with two attendants, you might succeed as well.
If you went as a first–class mandarin you might easily be recognized;
whereas, as a third–class mandarin you might have arrived from the
provinces and so be unknown. Well, I will think it over, Mr. Bateman.
I should certainly be very glad to learn what Chingʼs real opinions
are, and how far he will be inclined to aid us. Will you look in again
to–night at ten oʼclock?”
“Yes, sir, and I hope you will have decided to make me useful.”
Rex said nothing either to his cousins or to Sandwich of the offer he
had made, but he had a long talk with Ah Lo about it.
“I donʼt think there will be any difficulty in getting to the kingʼs
palace, master, but I cannot say whether you could get into the palace.
Ching will no doubt always have people with him. If he has, what would
you say? You could not declare who you were before others.”
“No. I agree that that would be a difficulty.”
“I should be afraid that he would always have people with him.”
“Yes. I rather reckon upon there being a crowd. I expect the ante–room
would be full, and my idea is that, if possible, I should slip away
from the crowd and gain his private apartments, so that I might meet
him after he had given his audience for the day. If I found that
impossible, I should have to pray, when my time to speak to him came,
for a private audience. If he demurred to this I could hand him my
card, on which would be written in Chinese that I had come from Sir
Claude Macdonald and implored a private interview. Of course it is
possible that he might order me to be arrested, but it is more likely
that he would see me. It is just a toss–up. If he is really friendly to
us, I should be safe. If, on the other hand, he has only been playing,
as so many of them do play, a double part, he might send me to Tung or
the Empress for instant execution. In that case, of course, my only
chance would be that you and the three men with you could effect a
rescue, and that, of course, must depend on how many guards are sent
with me.”
At the appointed hour Rex again went to the quarters of the British
Ambassador.
“We have talked the matter over, Mr. Bateman. It is not a mission
that we should think of asking anyone to undertake, but undoubtedly
good might come of it, and at any rate, you will gather much valuable
information. We therefore do not like to decline the offer you have
made, so to–morrow morning we will have a letter to Ching written. What
disguise have you settled upon?”
“I think, sir, a mandarin of the third or fourth class would be the
most suitable.”
“The only thing against that is that we have no appropriate clothes and
no means of obtaining them.”
“I was afraid that might be so, sir. In that case I might either be
a Buddhist priest, whose garments could be made out of anything, or
a respectable land–owner, who might reasonably wish to hand in some
petition or complaint of bad conduct on the part of Chingʼs troops, or
to ask for an order of protection against them.”
“That would be certainly much easier, so far as the costume goes. A
land–owner might very well have a couple of armed retainers, and would,
I should think, have as good a chance of obtaining an audience as a
mandarin of low rank.”
“I should be glad to have a map of the town, sir, in order that I may
see the exact position of the princeʼs palace.”
“That is easy enough;” and Sir Claude opened a bureau and drew out a
large map.
“That is Chingʼs palace,” he said; “it is, as you see, by the side of
the lake, about half–way between the Northern Cathedral and the bridge
across the lake.”
Rex examined the map carefully.
“Thank you, sir!” he said when he had finished. “I shall be able to
make my way there without difficulty.”
“I will give orders for the dress to be made; that and the letter
to Ching shall be ready to–morrow afternoon, and I will request Mr.
Cockburn to choose one of his most reliable men to accompany your man
as an attendant. I need hardly say that it would be well not to mention
to anyone what you are going to do. We have every reason to believe
that in some way or other the Chinese get accurate information of all
that passes here. Will you go out in broad daylight?”
“No, sir. I could scarcely hope to get out in that way. The Chinese
are quietest toward morning, and by sallying out from the barricade
near the Russian Consulate, I may be able to pass, as Mr. Squiersʼs
messenger did, through the Chien Mên. Once through that, I should be
perfectly safe, and could go round and enter by the Si Chi Mên. After
that I should be quite master of my own movements, and, making my way
round behind the city, might enter the Imperial City by the How Mên,
and, passing between the Northern Cathedral and wall, make my way to
Prince Chingʼs palace. The fact that I was going with a petition to him
would be sufficient as an answer to any enquiries that might be made.
It would be well that I should be furnished with a set of petitions in
the usual form, asking for protection against the rough doings of some
of his soldiers who had carried off several of my beasts and threatened
me with personal violence.”
“A very good idea; that shall be ready for you with my letter.”
At two oʼclock the next day Rex obtained the documents, together with a
pass to let him through the barricade, and some clothes that had been
made for him, appropriate to the character that he was going to assume.
Going to Mr. Cockburn he found the native ready for him. He was a
strong, powerful man, who carried a native shield and a long broadsword
and dagger, and who would have attracted no notice as a retainer of a
well–to–do farmer. Ah Lo had obtained similar weapons from a heap of
those that had been taken from the enemy who had fallen in the attacks
upon our barricades. Rex directed the Chinaman to join Ah Lo in the
evening, and to keep by his side. He himself passed the evening as
usual with his friends.
The next morning at four oʼclock he put on his disguise. After the
others had gone to sleep he had got up and shaved his head, with the
exception of a top knot, and to this, before starting, he fastened a
pigtail, which he curled up under a broad native hat. He placed his
pistols out of sight under his girdle and put on a native sword. Then
he made his way out to the spot where Ah Lo and the other man were
lying. Both of them were awake, and at once rose and followed him. The
Russian officer in charge of the barricade made some little demur at
allowing him to go out, in spite of the pass, but when Rex made himself
known to him he changed his attitude. The officer looked at him in
surprise.
“You are well disguised, indeed, Mr. Bateman,” he said; “even knowing
you as well as I do, I should not recognize you. You are going on a
mission, I suppose?”
“Yes, I am going to see what the state of things is in the town.”
Keeping carefully in the shadow of such houses as were still standing,
Rex, followed by the two men, made his way along noiselessly, and,
reaching the Tung Pien Mên, passed out without interruption. They
walked on till they were near the next gate, and when day had fairly
broken, and the country people had begun to arrive, they entered
with them and then moved quietly along the streets, looking into the
shops. No one paid the slightest attention to them. There were many
soldiers about, but few Boxers, who appeared to have fallen quite into
the background since the regular troops took the siege in hand. It was
supposed that they had been sent out of the city to be drilled and
disciplined by regular officers, as these men were far more turbulent
than the regular soldiers, whose conduct was orderly, and who in no way
interfered with the populace. Their disappearance greatly diminished
the danger of passage through the streets.
It took the little party two or three hours to make the circuit of the
walls of the Imperial City. When they arrived at the gate near the
Northern Cathedral Rex was glad to find that the French priests and
their Christian converts were still holding out gallantly. Nevertheless
he could not help feeling great anxiety for them. The position was
certainly a strong one, but it seemed hardly possible that sufficient
food could have been collected to enable them to support themselves
during a prolonged siege. From this point he went round towards Prince
Chingʼs palace. Many soldiers were loitering about in front of the
palace, and people of all sorts—officers, peasants, merchants, and
others—were going in and out. Leaving his followers he entered the
large hall. No questions were asked, and after waiting a short time he
went up to one of the officials.
“I desire an audience with the prince,” he said.
“Well,” the man said, “you see how many there are before you. There is
little chance that you will get an audience to–day.”
“This is an urgent matter,” Rex said, and slipped four taels into the
manʼs hand.
The official nodded significantly, and half an hour later showed
him into the apartment where Ching was sitting with two or three
secretaries.
Rex bowed to the ground.
“Your servant would request a private audience,” he said. “I have
letters of importance to submit to your Excellency, and pray that you
will receive me in private.”
After a momentʼs hesitation the prince signed to the secretaries to
withdraw.
“Your Highness,” Rex continued, as soon as they were alone, “I am not
what I seem. I have come as a messenger from the British Minister, but
as I could not make my way through the streets in my own costume, I
have been obliged to adopt a disguise.”
“The disguise is good,” the prince said. “I should certainly have taken
you for what you pretend to be.”
Rex handed to him the Ministerʼs letter. The prince read it carefully.
“I am anxious,” he said, “to bring about peace, and have kept my
soldiers from joining in the attack on the Legations. Unfortunately
I can do little more. The Empress listens to the advice of Prince
Tung and Prince Tuan. Hitherto at times she has inclined towards my
advice, but unfortunately her sympathies are the other way. At present,
however, she begins to doubt whether she has been wise in incurring the
enmity of all the European powers together. I had an interview with
her last night, and pointed out that Japan alone had in the last war
proved herself victorious over us. Since then our army has undoubtedly
increased in strength, has obtained large quantities of modern weapons,
and has gained in discipline. At the same time we are now opposed not
by the Japanese alone, but by the Russians and all the European powers.
We might, it is true, overcome the Legations, but of what real benefit
would that be to us? Before three months had passed, an army of
overwhelming strength would advance against Pekin, and no force that we
could raise would have any chance of victory against it. What would be
the consequence? We should have to submit, as we have done in previous
wars, to great losses of territory, to the payment of a vast sum of
money, and possibly even the dynasty would be endangered.
“The Empress listened to my arguments, but said that we had gone too
far now to draw back. However, she said that she would turn the matter
over in her mind. I have seen a considerable change in her demeanour in
the last four or five days. Up to that time she would not even listen
to me, and although she has always shown great friendship for me, I
have expected every day to be relieved from all my functions. But the
failure of the attempts of her troops to capture the Legations, as she
had been assured by her advisers they would do, have preyed upon her.
She is restless and irritable, and I believe she begins to doubt.
“The British Minister begs me to try to intervene again, and bring
about a truce, until, at any rate, the course of events at Tientsin is
seen. At present there is hard fighting going on round that place. It
is difficult even for us to know what is passing, for naturally your
commanders get the best of matters. It is certain, however, that we are
not gaining ground, and that in a very short time many troops will come
up from the ships. I am to see the Empress again this evening, and will
use all my efforts to get her to order that hostilities shall cease
for the present. I can point out that she cannot lose by so doing; the
provisions must be running short, and your people, if they find that no
relief can come to them, will be forced to surrender without further
fighting. I shall urge upon her that these continued repulses of their
attacks can but dishearten her troops, and that in all respects she
will benefit by a cessation of the fighting. I think that she is more
and more coming to doubt whether she has acted wisely in allowing
Prince Tung and the others of that party to influence her. A week ago
I had lost all influence over her; now, although I am by no means
restored to favour, she listens to me with more patience.
“Well, will you tell your Minister that I do not like to write to him,
because you may be detected and seized on your way back, but that I am
still friendly to you all, and will do my best this evening to bring
about the cessation of hostilities. Say that although I may fail this
time I feel sure that the attacks will cease in the course of a day
or two, for I know that there is considerable discontent amongst the
troops at the loss that they are suffering and their failure to make
headway. They are also greatly dissatisfied with their leaders, and
say that if they were all ordered to attack at once, instead of merely
firing from a distance, they would certainly succeed. Will you say to
the British Minister that I most cordially reciprocate his assurance of
good–will, and trust that in the future I may again have the pleasure
of meeting him personally. If I am successful this evening I shall
take means to inform him that all serious attacks will cease. I do not
say that there may be no more firing, for the troops are very much out
of hand, and we cannot leave the Boxers out of account. There may,
therefore, be desultory firing, but no real attack, unless indeed an
army is advancing against us, in which case I fear there will be a
renewal of hard fighting, in the first place because the troops will
be worked up to a state of fury, and in the second because Prince Tung
and the others will desire above all things to get the occupants of the
Legations into their power to use them as hostages for obtaining good
terms for themselves.”
“I am indeed greatly obliged to your Highness,” said Rex. “May I ask if
you will place your signature to this petition of mine that my farm is
to be respected by all bodies of troops or Boxers? that will secure my
passage out of the town if I should be interrogated.”
“A wise precaution,” the prince said, as he attached his signature to
the paper. “You are a brave young man; what is your name?”
“My name is Bateman,” Rex replied. “I am not a resident of Pekin, and
am only here because I brought two young ladies, relations of mine,
from Chafui, where they were in danger of being slain, their father and
mother and the other members of the missionary settlement having been
already murdered.”
A flash of amusement passed over the usually impassive face of the
prince.
“I heard,” he said, “that the governorʼs yamen was burned, and the
report of the affair stated that two female captives, who were to have
been executed on the following day, perished. It is possible that you
had a hand in that.”
Rex smiled.
“I had a little to do with it, your Highness, and I can assure you that
the two captives did not perish there.”
“I will ask no questions,” the prince said; “it is clear that you are
a brave young man, and I trust that whatever happens here you will
escape.”
Rex now took his leave. The people in the ante–room looked at him with
some curiosity and not without hostility because of the time that his
interview had lasted. He passed out quietly, however, without looking
to right or left, and made his way towards the cathedral, where he was
joined by his followers. He had a vague hope that he might be able to
communicate with those besieged in the cathedral and learn the state
of their supplies, but he found that the investment of the place was
complete. The cathedral and the adjoining building, however, were very
strong, and he felt sure that they could repel every attack, and that
if they yielded it must be to famine.
Making his way through the town he was more than once stopped and
questioned by bodies of soldiers; but his story, supported as it was
by Prince Chingʼs signature to his petition, at once removed all
suspicion, and he sallied out through the Si Chi Mên without hindrance.
He remained in the fields until after dark, then entered by the Tung
Pien Mên, and made his way along the foot of the wall in the Chinese
city till he reached the end of Legation Street. Shots were being
exchanged with such frequency that he did not dare to go farther, so
he and his followers lay down in the ruin of the American Methodist
building. Towards morning, the firing having ceased, they crawled
forward to within fifty yards of the barrier, then, standing up, ran
forward, Rex shouting: “Donʼt fire, I am an Englishman.”
“Who are you?” asked the sergeant at the post.
“My name is Bateman,” said Rex, “and I have been to the town on a
mission from the British Minister.”
“Well, you had better climb over, whoever you are,” the sergeant said.
“We can question you when you get inside, but you will be shot in less
than no time if you stop there.”
As he spoke a rifle cracked out and the ball struck a stone within an
inch or two of Rexʼs head. He and his followers scrambled over the
barricade with alacrity, and, having satisfied the guard of their
identity, passed on through the Russian Legation to the British
head–quarters. He went straight to the room occupied by the students.
Half of his comrades were away on guard, but Sandwich was in.
“So you are back again, Bateman!” Sandwich exclaimed. “You have as many
lives as a cat.”
“Well, I have run no risks this time. I have scarce had a question
asked me since I left. There is really no reason whatever why natives
from here shouldnʼt go regularly into the city, providing they can get
rid of whatever it is that shows that they are Christians.”
“And you mean to say that you really had an interview with Prince
Ching?”
“Yes, I have really done so, and I found him a very civil old Chinaman,
and very well disposed towards us. He is going to try to bring about an
armistice.”
As soon as Rex had changed his clothes he went to the Ministerʼs and
related to him the interview he had had with Prince Ching.
“I am greatly obliged to you, Mr, Bateman. What you tell me confirms
the view that we have all along held, that Ching and some of the other
Chinese officials are altogether opposed to the proceedings of Prince
Tung. I can only hope that his influence will this time prevail, and
that the Chinese will grant an armistice. I donʼt suppose that such an
agreement will be well kept, but at least we shall have an easier time
of it. It is probable that stirring events are going on at Tientsin.
We know that the Taku Forts have been taken, and the Chinese may be
willing to hold their hands until they see the result. They must know
that provisions here will run short soon, and as they lose heavily in
every fight it would be easier for them to wait and let famine do its
work.”
Two hours later a bugle was blown and a man came in with a letter
from Prince Ching saying that he heard with gratification that the
Foreign Ministers were all well, and that he now requested them to take
their families and the members of their staff and leave the Legations
in detachments. Officers would be waiting to give them strict
protection, and temporary accommodation would be found for them in the
Tsung–li–yamen pending future arrangements for their return home, in
order that friendly relations might be preserved.
The Ministers were all agreed that although this invitation could
certainly not be accepted, it was a proof that the Chinese considered
it impossible to capture the Legations, and for a time at least no
further serious attacks would be made. Directly the meeting of the
Ministers was over and their decision known, Rex went to see Sir Claude
Macdonald.
“I have come to ask you for permission to make my way out. I am
convinced from what Ching has said that there will be no more very
serious fighting until perhaps a relief force moves forward, when they
may make a last desperate attempt to capture the place. My father
and mother are at Tientsin, where I am anxious to rejoin them. I
have no fear whatever of being unable to get down, and my report of
the situation here may have much influence upon the starting of the
relief force. It is most essential that this should not be made in
inadequate force. It is certain that the advance would be met with the
whole strength of the Chinese army, which is not contemptible, and the
failure of another attempt would be most disastrous for you here.”
“Yes, that is most important,” the Minister said, “and as we could
defend ourselves here for some little time yet it is better that the
column should not advance until it is strong enough to overcome all
opposition. After all you have already done I have no doubt that you
will be able to get into Tientsin without difficulty. When do you
propose to start?”
“As soon as it is dark, sir. I shall make my way out by the Tung Pien
gate, follow the canal for some distance, and then strike for the
river. I shall walk all night, lie up during the next day, and get near
Tientsin by the following morning. I shall then see my best way to
enter.”
“You will hardly do it in two nightsʼ walking.”
“My man and I are both good walkers, sir. It would be about
five–and–forty miles each night, but I think that we can do that; I am
most anxious to get home.”
After leaving the Minister, Rex went to the girls.
“I am going away again,” he said. “I can leave you now without anxiety,
for I am convinced that the Chinese can never take the place. I shall
come up with the next relief column.”
“We are very sorry that you are going, Rex, but really you do such rash
things here that I think you will be safer away. If you remain we shall
have you volunteering next to carry the Empress off.”
“There was no rashness in my going into the city, Jenny. I was dressed
just like everyone else and attracted no attention whatever. There is
little danger in going down to Tientsin, though there may be some risk
perhaps in getting into the town. At any rate I can leave you here with
confidence. If I thought that there was any doubt about it I should
take you both down with me now; but we should be at least five days
instead of two, and the risk would therefore be much greater, and if
the place should be besieged I might find it quite impossible to get
you in.”
“We would much rather stay here; we are very busy and are happy to be
of use. Everyone is very kind to us, and we get on much better now than
before we came to the hospital, for we have no time to think or grieve
over the past. So you are going to–night?”
“Yes, we shall start directly the coast is clear, and we shall go out
as we came in. Of course if there is heavy firing we must wait.”
Rex and Ah Lo succeeded in slipping out of Pekin without attracting
attention, and set out in the direction of Tientsin with all possible
speed. They had not gone far, however, before they were compelled to
hide from a band of Boxers. This happened several times within a very
short period, and Rex at last decided that it would be safer for both
if they were to proceed by different routes. At first Ah Lo would not
consent to such a course, but in the end Rexʼs arguments prevailed,
and, having arranged to meet at a point near Tientsin, they shook hands
and separated.
Some hours later Rex was lying among some bushes near a river, where he
had thrown himself down to rest, when suddenly the stillness was broken
by a deep roar. Rex started and a cold shudder ran through him. He was
not acquainted with the roar of a tiger, but had no doubt whatever
what it was. While they were chatting together one day his father had
told him that tigers were by no means uncommon, especially in the
jungle country near rivers, and that although they occasionally carried
off cattle it was seldom that they meddled with the natives. He felt
no doubt, however, that the animal he had heard was a tiger. It had
probably been disturbed by the firing and the movements of numbers of
armed men, and the thought that it was probably unusually hungry came
across his mind.
He listened eagerly, and when presently he heard a stealthy footfall,
he drew his pistol from his belt and threw himself down, for he
remembered having heard that tigers prefer living quarry to carrion. He
had not lain thus long before he heard the animal breathing heavily.
It came closer and closer; he could hear it snuffing him from head
to foot. Then it placed its paw upon him. The weight was great, but
Rex, who was lying on his face, still kept perfectly quiet. He held
his breath for as long as possible and then took another breath, as
gently and as silently as he could. Then he felt the animal remove
its paw, and begin to walk round and round him. He remembered now
that the river was but ten yards away, and that if he could but get
a start he might possibly escape. But while he was considering the
advisability of making a dash for it the tiger returned and seized him
by the shoulder. Fortunately Rex had on a thick cloak, and though the
pain was considerable, the animal was apparently only endeavouring to
find out whether he were dead. The strain, however, was too great to
be borne long. He felt that at any moment the animal might bite him in
earnest, and that any movement on his part would certainly cause it
to do so. Quietly, and gradually, he moved his arm upwards. The tiger
gave an angry growl as he did so, and he felt the pressure of its teeth
increasing.
There was no time for hesitation now. He raised his arm gradually to
the level of the tigerʼs eyes and fired. With a sudden roar, the tiger
leapt back. Rex was on his feet in an instant, and, making a dash for
the river, he threw himself in. A moment later the tiger was on the
bank. It fell in close to him and swam about confusedly until, at last,
it regained the bank, and there it stood roaring. It was evident to Rex
that he had partially or wholly blinded it. He struck out down stream,
but a few strokes showed him that he was so completely shaken by the
ordeal he had gone through that he could not long support himself.
At this moment he saw that there was a junk lying ahead of him. A
number of Chinamen on board were shouting and gesticulating, and as he
watched them they began to fire in the direction of the tigerʼs roars.
Rex swam round to the other side of the junk, unseen by the excited
natives; then, feeling too exhausted to go farther, he climbed up by
means of the oars, which had been left in position by the rowers, and,
diving down an open hatchway, threw himself on something hard below. As
he lay there he could hear the tiger roar terribly, but as the sound
decreased he knew that the animal was moving away.
The firing presently ceased, but the talking of the Chinese continued,
and Rex guessed that they were discussing who had fired the shot. He
heard a boat row ashore, but after a time this returned, having found
no signs of the tiger or its supposed victim. When they returned, the
din gradually subsided and all became quiet again. By this time Rex had
recovered; his shoulder was almost powerless, but he managed to crawl
back to the hatchway, and, raising himself, he looked out.
The Chinamen were sitting about on the deck, some cooking and others
smoking their little pipes. He thought it probable that after the
excitement of the night they would remain up till morning, and in that
case his risk of discovery was great. Doubtless he might hide himself
in the cargo until that was discharged, but this might not be for some
days, and he was anxious in the extreme to reach Tientsin as soon as
possible. He therefore resolved to escape at once. He guessed that,
with the exception of those who had gone ashore in the boat, the men
would not have reloaded their firearms, and that, once ashore, he would
be able to distance them. Several Chinamen were sitting between the
hatch and the bulwark, but, climbing cautiously on deck, he reached the
side of the vessel in a couple of strides and sprang overboard before
anyone noticed him. There was a lull of surprise among the Chinese,
and then a confused jabbering, followed by several musket shots. But
Rex had dived, and having swum under water as long as he could hold
his breath, he felt sure, when he came up, that he could no longer be
distinctly seen in the darkness.
Then he heard some of the men try to move the boat again, and instead
of making direct for the shore, he swam along parallel to it, knowing
that the boat would go a great deal faster than he could swim. He heard
the shouts of the men as they landed, and then, turning, swam for the
other side. When he reached the bank he crawled among the bushes and
lay down. For some time he remained without moving, but suddenly he
sprang to his feet; the tiger had begun to howl again, and it was but
a short distance from him. He knew that even if the bruteʼs sight was
entirely destroyed its scent would bring it towards him, and having
much more fear of the tiger than of the men, he again jumped into the
river. He could hear the shouts of the Chinese, and, judged by their
number, that they had been joined by many of their companions on the
junk. He remained in the water till morning dawned, when a savage yell
told him that he had been discovered by the Chinese on the other side.
The roar of the tiger had ceased, but he could hear its low moanings
not far off. Nevertheless he felt that if he were to escape he must
risk another encounter with the animal. He therefore made for the shore
again, and climbed up on the bank. Looking back as he did so, he saw
that the Chinese were leaping into their boat; then, without further
delay he dashed in among the trees. When he reached the other side of
the jungle he saw to his dismay a large number of Chinese soldiers in a
village some three hundred yards away. He crept back again, therefore,
among the bushes, and keeping just inside them moved cautiously along,
taking the utmost pains not to show any signs of his presence. After
proceeding a hundred yards or so in this way he approached the edge and
looked out. A number of Chinese were just issuing from the bush, and
one of them at once ran across towards the village. Rex moved forward
again, this time leaving the edge and plunging into the heart of the
jungle.
[Illustration: THERE WAS A LULL OF SURPRISE, THEN A CONFUSED JABBERING,
FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL MUSKET–SHOTS.]
The Chinese could not, he knew, have recognized him as a white man, but
his extraordinary conduct in hiding in the junk, and the unusual method
he adopted of leaving it, would have shown them that at any rate he was
not one of themselves, and would perhaps have suggested to them that he
was going down with a message from Pekin.
He was presently aware, by the loud shouting, that at least some of
the soldiers had joined in the pursuit. The strip of jungle was of no
great width, and as he could not therefore hope to escape by keeping
to it, he made his way back towards the river. When he made the bank
again he saw, to his satisfaction, that the boat in which his pursuers
had crossed was lying only some fifty yards away, with but one Chinaman
sitting in it. This man, he decided, must be silenced at any cost, for
he would give the alarm the moment he was in the water. He therefore
approached him as quietly as possible, keeping among the bushes until
he was opposite to the boat.
The Chinaman was evidently listening, for he was standing up in the
boat, his attention probably attracted by the slight rustle Rex had
made in coming along. Rex gathered himself together and sprang suddenly
into the boat, grasping the Chinaman by the throat and rolling with
him upon the floorboards. He could have shot him easily enough, but
he knew that the sound would draw all his pursuers to the spot, and
so defeat his purpose. The Chinaman was a powerful man, but Rex had
taken such a grip of his throat that he was unable to shake it off. The
desperate conflict continued for a minute or two. Then the Chinamanʼs
struggles grew more feeble, his colour became almost black, his little
eyes began to stare; indeed he seemed at the point of death. Rex was
reluctant to kill the man, so he bound his arms tightly to his sides
with a rope which he found in the boat, and stuffed his mouth was a
piece of cloth which he cut from the manʼs own coat. Then, leaving him
lying senseless in the bottom, he seized one of the oars.
As the channel was shallow, he was able to punt across, and as he
did so he noted with satisfaction that the junk was so far away that
those on board would take him for a native. On reaching the other
side he jumped ashore, pushed the boat out into the stream with all
his strength, and then, turning, made off as fast as he could go.
After covering some two miles he reached the edge of the jungle. Here
he halted, for he felt that he could not continue his journey by day
without danger of discovery. He threw himself down on the ground. The
events of the last few hours had completely exhausted him, and he now
discovered that he had lost his bag of provisions; probably he had left
them where the tiger had attacked him. This was a great misfortune,
for he had still, he calculated, at least thirty miles to pass before
he reached Tientsin, and he might be kept some time outside that place
before he could enter it. He waited until late in the afternoon, and
then he felt that he must have some food. He therefore started again on
his journey, and at last, after hesitating several times, determined to
risk everything. He recharged his revolvers, and, waiting till night
had quite fallen, made his way into the nearest village.
He congratulated himself more than ever that he was able to speak
Chinese, and he knew that the dialect differed so much in various parts
of the country that although the peasants might see that he was not a
native of their district, they would not guess that he was other than a
Chinaman. He therefore entered a house where a light was burning, and
said: “I am sorely in need of feed. Will you sell me some?”
The occupants of the cottage were an old man and an old woman. At his
words they both looked up in some surprise.
“Where do you come from?” the woman asked.
“I come from the north,” he said, “and am the bearer of a message to
our general at Tientsin. I have travelled a long way and am hungry.”
“Are you a Boxer?” the old man asked.
“No,” he replied. “My letter is from the Empress.”
“Well, well,” the old man said, “it makes no difference to us. Did you
see any Boxers on this side of the river as you came along?”
“No,” said Rex, “they were on the other side.”
The old man heaved a sigh of relief.
“They are terrible people,” he said, “and though they fight against the
white devils they plunder and kill us poor villagers, who have nothing
to do with the affair.”
“They act badly,” Rex said; “and it is because I know that they kill
before questioning that I am travelling on this side of the river.”
“You do well,” the peasant said. “It is true that they have no mercy.
We have now in the village several who have barely escaped with their
lives from them by swimming across the river. They have told us
terrible tales of their doings. But you are hungry; my wife will cook
you some rice.”
“Do you mind shutting the door?” Rex asked. “There might be someone in
the village who, wishing to curry favour with the Boxers, might go and
bring some of them over if he saw a stranger here.”
“I will do so,” the old man said, suiting the action to the word; “for
although I think that there is none in the village who would do so
treacherous an act, yet it is as well to take precautions.”
The old woman set some rice to boil over a small fire, while the old
man chatted with Rex. In twenty minutes the rice was ready, and,
sitting down, he made a hearty meal, congratulating himself that during
his journey with the girls he had learned to eat with chopsticks.
He had just finished when the door opened and a man wearing the badge
of the Boxers entered the room.
“Bring out what food you have!” the fellow said roughly; “all of it.
There are many of us in the village; it is of no use making resistance.
We want to eat ourselves and to carry all there is here back to our
comrades. Who is this? a son of yours?”
“No,” the old man said, “he is a stranger, and bears a message from the
Empress for your general at Tientsin.”
“Let me see it!” the man demanded. “It is strange that you should come
round this way, instead of going straight.”
“My message is to the general,” Rex said, “and I give it to no one
else.”
“But how are we to know that your story is true?” the Boxer said. “This
is not the way that a messenger from the Empress would come, and if she
sent one it would not be by a fellow like you. Empresses do not entrust
their messages to peasants. I believe you are a spy from the white
devils at Pekin.”
“I canʼt help what you believe,” Rex said quietly, “nor do I mean to
quarrel with you. I will therefore say to you, leave me alone and I
will leave you alone.”
“Message or no message,” the Boxer said, “I will soon satisfy myself.”
And he drew his sword.
Rex listened a moment through the open door. He could hear a great din
and commotion; muskets were being discharged, and flames were bursting
out from among the cottages. Feeling, therefore, that the sound of a
pistol would hardly attract attention, he raised his weapon as the
Boxer rushed at him, and shot the man through the head.
The old peasant wrung his hands.
“They will kill us all!” he cried; “they will show us no mercy!”
“Quick! Help me to carry the body out at the back door, and to lay it
down by the wall. The body will not be noticed there. Then I advise you
and your wife to fly at once and hide in the jungle a few hundred yards
away. There is no fear of their finding you, and in the morning you can
come out again, if, as is most likely, they have gone.”
The old man seized the dead Boxer by the legs, while Rex took him by
the head, and together they removed him from the house. Then the old
couple hurried away, after Rex had thrust some money into the manʼs
hand.
“That will go far to build up your cottage again,” he said; “but it is
hardly likely that they will burn it when they find it empty.”
So saying he turned away and continued his journey. He had gone but a
couple of miles when he came suddenly upon a group of peasants, who
were anxiously watching a light in the sky.
“Who are you?” they shouted as they seized him.
“I am a stranger in these parts; I am on my way down from Pekin,” he
said; “but I have come to warn you that the Boxers are near at hand.”
“That is a pretty tale,” one of them said derisively. “There is no
doubt that you are a spy of the Boxers come on in advance to know
whether our village is worth plundering. Besides, we know that the
Boxers have not yet crossed the river.”
“I can assure you that they have. That light you see there comes from
the village three miles away. They have plundered it and set it on
fire.”
“A nice story!” the spokesman of the party said. “How then did you get
away to give us word if you were not sent forward as a spy?”
“I was staying there overnight,” he said, “and while I was eating my
supper the village was attacked, and I fled.”
“That will not do, my fine fellow. There is no doubt that you are a
Boxer spy, and at least one of the cursed band shall die. Haul him
along, fellows!”
The men dragged Rex to the village, which was but a hundred yards away.
There he was tied to a post while the villagers debated what death
he should die. It was not pleasant to Rex to hear the details of his
execution discussed, each one more horrible than another. They finally
decided to burn him alive, and were bringing the faggots out of their
houses for the purpose, when a sound of shouting and the clashing of
weapons was borne towards them on the quiet night air.
“Listen!” he shouted, “the Boxers are coming.”
Everyone stood for a moment as still as a statue. Then a wild cry arose
of “The Boxers! the Boxers!” and in an instant all Rexʼs persecutors
had fled, each to snatch some prized valuable in his house, and to fly
before the Boxers arrived. As soon as they had left him, Rex struggled
to free himself from his bonds. Fortunately the cords had not been
tightly fastened, and after a prolonged and desperate effort he freed
one hand; the rest was comparatively easy, and just as the Boxers were
entering the village he tore himself free. He ran at the top of his
speed till he felt that he was safe, and then he threw himself down
exhausted.
“I have had a hard day of it indeed,” he said; “once mauled by a tiger,
and three times nearly taken by the Boxers. If I get through this
safely, I am not likely to leave Tientsin again until I come up with
the relieving army. I have had more narrow escapes to–day than I have
had in all my life, and I have no wish for a repetition of them. I am
not sure if I do not prefer a tiger to these fanatical Boxers.”
After lying for fully half an hour, he got up and continued his way
towards Tientsin. The rest of the journey was uneventful. At the
appointed spot he met Ah Lo, who had managed to get down without
adventure. After mutual congratulations, they made a hearty meal off
some provisions which Ah Lo had been fortunate enough to get at the
house of an old friend, Rex the while recounting his experiences. When
they had finished, they cautiously approached the town.
Working down to the east, they saw that heavy firing was going on from
a large building which had been the Chinese military college, and in
other parts of the town. The military college showed signs of having
been heavily cannonaded.
“It is evident,” said Rex, “that our fellows have taken that place,
and that the Chinese are attacking it. We must wait till night, and
then try and make our way in. I hope that the place is held by British
troops, for if it is occupied by troops who donʼt understand English,
we are likely to be shot as we approach it.”
Accordingly they lay down at the edge of a patch of high corn.
“At present,” said Rex, “our men are taking the offensive; the firing
on the other side of the river is on the outside of the settlement.
Admiral Seymourʼs force canʼt have retired beyond Tientsin; they must
be holding the place, for certainly the local Europeans would not have
been strong enough to make a sortie, or to have captured that Chinese
college. It is either that or else troops must have come up from Taku.”
The truth was that fifteen hundred Russians had arrived after Admiral
Seymourʼs force had started. It was fortunate indeed that they had not
arrived in time to join it, for if they had, Tientsin could not have
made a successful resistance.
All day the firing went on. Where they lay they could see that not only
Boxers, but regular Chinese troops, were taking part in the attack.
Several times the enemy made rushes almost up to the college, but each
time they quailed before the heavy fire and turned back. At nightfall
the fighting ceased, and Rex and his companion left their hiding–place
and made their way round to the river below the military college, on
which side no attack had been made. Groups of men were sitting about
talking together, but by exercising great caution they succeeded in
avoiding these, and at last approached the college. When they got
nearer, Rex shouted: “I am an Englishman with messages from Pekin;
donʼt fire!”
“All right, mate!” came back in a hearty voice. “But you must just stop
where you are until I call an officer.”
A minute later, a voice shouted: “How many are there of you?”
“Only myself and one servant.”
“All right! come on. As an Englishman you must be a friend.”
A couple of minutes later Rex and Ah Lo entered the college. An
officer with two men and a lantern met them.
“You may be an Englishman,” the officer said, “but you look very unlike
one.”
“If I hadnʼt disguised myself I should not have got down here,” Rex
said with a laugh. “My name is Bateman. I am the son of a merchant
here. I went up with Admiral Seymourʼs expedition, but left them when
they came to a stand–still, and made my way into Pekin, where I have
some relations.”
“Are they holding out all right?” the officer asked eagerly. “No news
has come down for the past ten days. Isnʼt Seymour there?”
“No. I am sorry to say he is not. Hasnʼt he got back here?”
“No. We have not heard of him since he started.”
“That is bad news indeed. He was getting very short of provisions when
I left him. We heard firing as we came down to–day, some ten miles out.
I know that there is a big Chinese arsenal out there. I only hope he
has taken that and is defending himself.”
“And Pekin is safe still?”
“Yes. We have been fighting hard for the past three weeks, and the
garrison can hold out for some time longer; but the Chinese are
gradually gaining ground. The French Legation is nearly destroyed,
so is the American, and the Russian is a good deal damaged. I hope,
however, that fighting has stopped for the present. If it goes on again
all will have to take to the British settlement. Now, how can I get
across?”
“Well, you canʼt get to the bridge now. Your only plan is to take a
native boat—several of them are lying on the shore—and row across. We
are going to blow up this place to–night, and level it to the ground;
the men are all at work mining it. We only took it because it commands
more or less all the streets running from the water. When we have
levelled it we shall probably return again to the other side. Of course
before going we shall also burn down all the Chinese houses on this
side of the river.”