by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER VII
FORTIFYING THE LEGATIONS
“Now, Sandwich, tell me what have been the events here so far.”
“Well, things have been gradually getting worse since you went away.It is difficult to say what was the first act of violence, but onthe ninth the Boxers burst into the pavilion on the race–course andthreatened some of the students, one of whom, in order to get away,had to shoot a man with his revolver. On the tenth the Summer Palaceof the Legation, on the hills, was burnt, and since then it has beenimpossible to go beyond the town. By the evening of the eleventh allthe whites in the city were gathered at the various Legations, butthe streets were still crowded with people, and business went onas usual within this quarter. The Chinese teachers in the BritishLegation, however, all struck, the coolies began to desert, and someproperty belonging to the Roman Catholics was looted. This morningthe outlook was still more threatening. Mysterious marks appeared onthe doors. A party of Germans and Italians raided a temple where theBoxers were said to be drilling, but they only captured a few weaponsand a quantity of the red cord which the Boxers use as girdles. Thisafternoon things looked still more serious. Two of the Legationservants were cut down while shopping, and orders were given to clearthe streets. In a short time all the shops were shut and the crowdcleared out. If you had arrived yesterday you would have witnessed theusual bustle instead of empty streets. Later on there was a fire inthe streets, and the marines turned out, but it proved to be the Frenchclearing the street near their Legation. At night there were fires inmany parts—the American Mission, the Eastern Roman Catholic Cathedral,and the Presbyterian Mission were all in flames, and to the east theremust have been half a square mile of shops in flames. All through theevening we heard firing in the city.
“Still later a large party of Boxers, carrying torches, moved downtowards the Austrian Legation. A machine–gun mounted on the wall wasin readiness for them, and when they came within a hundred and fiftyyards it opened fire. The torches were immediately dropped and theBoxers bolted. The Austrians turned out to pick up the dead, whomthey expected to find strewn in the street, but not a single one wasseen, and it was discovered next morning that the bullets had cut sometelegraph wires where they crossed the street nearly thirty feet abovethe level. Of course we had a good deal of laughing about it thismorning, but it was a very unlucky affair. Had the machine–gun beenwell aimed it would have done great execution, for the Boxers were allcrowded together, and it would have been a very valuable lesson. As itwas, however, it only confirmed the Boxers in their belief in theirinvulnerability.
“This morning we heard that the South Cathedral was on fire. That takesyou up to the present time. Oh, by the way, we hear that the tower overone of the gates has been burnt.”
“What is the actual line we hold?”
“Well, at present it goes from the Tartar wall to the Imperial wall bythe side of the French Legation and the customs–house, and runs fromthe north bridge along by the side of our Legation across some housesto the Russian Legation, and then by the side of that across LegationStreet to the Tartar wall. The Americans and Russians defend thewest corner, the Germans and French the southeast, the Austrians thenortheast, and the British the north–west. Of course the thing is onlybeginning yet, and there has been no organized attack, but no doubt weshall have plenty of it before long.”
“What are the Chinese authorities doing?”
“They occupy themselves principally in encouraging the Boxers in everyway, and in the next place in sending in assurances to the ambassadorsthat everything is perfectly peaceful and that they need be under nouneasiness whatever. At the same time Prince Tuan, the head and patronof the Boxers, has been appointed to the head of the Tsung–li–yamen,which is equivalent, you know, to our ministry. Several of the moderatemembers, moreover, have been turned out of it, and their places filledby creatures of Tuan. I really wonder that they think it worth while tokeep up the farce of friendliness.”
“Ah! there is the dinner–bell. At any rate we can for the present enjoyour meals; we may not have much to enjoy in that way presently.”
They had scarcely sat down when there was an outbreak of musketry fireand a call for reinforcements. All had brought their rifles into theroom with them, and, catching these up, they ran out. The fight wasover, however, before they got to the scene. It was upon the northbridge that the sentries had been firing. A party of Boxers had comedown from that direction, and after a volley had been poured intothem, had charged, but had fallen back on receiving another, leavingtwo of their number dead upon the ground. Two wounded also were takenprisoners.
During the night they were several times aroused by the sounds ofvolley–firing, but as these were not followed up, no one stirred. Theylearned in the morning, however, that the Boxers had come down from allthe various roads leading to the Legations, but had retired on findingthat they were strongly guarded.
The next morning the Boxers started a number of large fires in thewest, and as reports came in of the massacres of Christians in thatquarter, Dr. Morrison, the _Times_ correspondent, got together a reliefparty, who went out and brought in a large convoy of refugees, andterrible tales of the scenes of slaughter that they had witnessed.
So far the Ministers had done nothing to save these unfortunate people,being apparently afraid of giving the Chinese Government the excusefor declaring war against them for their interference between thedifferent classes of their subjects, and for the present, though theywere protected, they were given no rations, and were dependent entirelyon what small supplies they brought in with them, or the charity ofthe merchants and traders. Later in the siege, however, they renderedinvaluable service, and it was to their zealous labour that the safetyof the Legations was finally due. They were housed in Prince Su?spalace, which was generally called the Fu, and their occupation ofthis was in itself of immense service, as the artificial hills in itsgrounds commanded the east walls of the British Legation, and coveredthe Japanese and French Legations from the artillery fire in their rear.
After breakfast Rex, Sandwich, and several other student interpreterswent round the whole line of defence. The barricades were extremelyweak and only calculated to check for a moment the rush of the enemy;they consisted merely of Chinese carts turned on their sides across theroad. Beyond, however, the quiet and deserted streets spoke eloquentlyof the threatened danger. Sentries were thrown out well along these,and within that range a few of the European shops kept their doorsopen, and officers and servants of the Legations went out and boughtprovisions. No great effort had been made to gather in stores, as thegeneral conviction was that Admiral Seymour?s column would soon be up.
The next day a fire was started near the tower known as the Chien Mên,the great gate leading into the Chinese city. It began in a shop whichdid a great sale in foreign medicines, and spread rapidly. The peopleworked hard to carry off their property to a place of safety, and forthe most part conveyed it through the gate and stowed it away in a moatwhich was at that time dry. The whole quarter was soon in flames, andfrequent explosions were heard as the flames reached the shops storedwith petroleum and fireworks. The conflagration raged all day. Towardsfive o?clock the fire spread to two small arcades running through thegates, and the wooden shops blazed up furiously. The flames ultimatelyreached the beams supporting the roof of the tower, and in a short timethe whole edifice was in flames, presenting a splendid spectacle.
Rex spent the greater part of the day watching the fire, and broughthis cousins out to look at it.
“Why should the Chinese wish to burn their own town?” Mabel asked.
“Simply because they are savage brutes. It is perfectly astounding thatall these quiet patient shopkeepers do not fall upon the Boxers andsmash them up. I should say that millions of pounds worth of damage hasbeen done already, for all the principal trading quarters have beendestroyed. One can understand the people looking on placidly while theEuropean buildings are burnt, but when it comes to their own houses onewould
have thought that the most peaceful and quiet people would beexcited to madness and would attack with fury the scoundrels who aredoing all this damage. I think they would anywhere else in the world.I cannot see what the Boxers expect to gain by it. At present theyare practically doing nothing against us, and are simply destroyingthe property of their own people. In one respect they are absolutelybenefiting us, for they are making a great clearance round our lines,and are thereby adding to our power of defence; for however brave theBoxers may be they will hardly face our rifles across that open space.”
All this time the attitude of the Chinese soldiers was friendly. Thoseon guard at the Chien Mên did not interfere with parties of sight–seerswho went out there. Occasionally they were seen to fire at the Boxers,and although there were one or two affrays with them these were broughton by the recklessness of the Russians and Germans, who fired upon themwithout any reason.
The next morning Rex saw a party of marines with a few civilians goingout of the gate, and hearing that they were to attack a temple in whichthe Boxers were torturing some Christians, he called to Ah Lo andfollowed them. The building lay a little to the north of the AustrianLegation. They surrounded the place and effected an entrance, when theyfound that the Boxers, having fastened their captives to the walls,were performing incantations preparatory to murdering them. They openedfire at once. The Boxers made desperate attempts to escape, but as theywere hemmed in on all sides, every one of them was shot, and theircaptives were then released and brought into the Legations.
The Russians were that day busy in pulling down some houses which laynear their Legation. At present the British authorities were stillin doubt, and although there were many houses near which would haveconstituted a great danger to the defence had they been fired, noattempt was made to imitate the example of the Russians.
“The apathy that our people display is perfectly astounding,” Rex saidthat evening as the students were chatting together. “Everyone else, asfar as I see, is conscious of the tremendous danger, and yet Ministersallow themselves to be continually humbugged by the Empress and heradvisers. They really seem to be inviting disaster.”
“It certainly is remarkable,” Sandwich said. “We shall be lucky indeedif we don?t suffer for it. Even in the matter of provisions theirnegligence is astonishing. If we had set to work at once when thedanger began we could have brought in all the stores within a quarterof a mile round and should have been in a position to carry on thesiege for three months. As it is we are little more than living fromhand to mouth, and if the streets round us were burned, as those bythe Chien Mên gate were, we should not have ten days? provisions leftin the place. I do hope that the Boxers will make so earnest an attackthat the big–wigs can no longer close their eyes to the danger of thesituation. Of course it is heresy for us to say so, but it is whatevery man here, outside the official circle, thinks.”
“Yes,” another said. “I have no objection to any amount of fighting,but I do object to fight on an empty stomach when there is no reasonwhatever why we should be fasting. I suppose your cousins are allright, Bateman?”
“Yes, they are quite recovered and are ready for anything—to load aswe fire, or to exist on a dry crust. You know how they have suffered atthe hands of the Boxers, and they will go through anything to see themrouted.”
“Well, there is one comfort,” another put in, “when the Boxersdo attack us in force there can be no more shilly–shallying. Theambassadors must see then that we have to stand a siege, and willhave to make an effort to get some provisions in. I have not a shadowof fear that we shall not be able to beat off the Boxers and regulartroops too, but I am afraid of hunger.”
“So am I,” Rex agreed. “Two ounces of bread and a drink of water is avery poor regime to fight on. Thank goodness we have plenty of wells inthe Legations, and shall not have thirst to fight against; but waterpure and simple is a pretty poor diet.”
Sunday the seventeenth passed quietly, except that there was a fightbetween the Germans and the Chinese regular troops, for which theformer were to blame. The next day a courier arrived from Tientsinwith the news that the Roman Catholic Cathedral there had been burntdown. No news had come of the relief force, and there was a generalfeeling of disquietude concerning it. On Tuesday a man who had beensent off with letters to Tientsin returned, saying that he had beenunable to make his way through. The day passed tranquilly; everyonewas still discussing the expected arrival of the admiral, and fearsbegan to be entertained for the first time that he might fail to reachPekin, or that, even if he did, he might not be able to fight his wayout again, cumbered as he would be by the non–combatants from all theLegations. The barricades, however, were being gradually strengthened,and supplies could still be bought from the shops round them.
As evening approached it was reported that the Ministers were about tohold a council, and it leaked out that an ultimatum had been receivedfrom the Tsung–li–yamen, calling upon them to leave the city the nextday, as the allies had threatened to take the Taku Forts. The questionwas discussed at the gathering, and the feeling was unanimously againstgoing. All felt that no confidence whatever could be placed in anyundertaking the Chinese might give to protect the convoy on its waydown. If they were to decide on retiring they would require a largenumber of carts to carry food, for they could not possibly now desertthe native Christians, and with only six or seven hundred men toprotect the long line, it was morally certain that the whole would bemassacred on the way down. The council agreed, therefore, that it wasbetter for the Europeans to stay and defend themselves to the last thanto place the smallest confidence in the sincerity of the Chinese ortheir promises of an escort.
There was a general feeling of relief throughout the Legations when itbecame known that the Ministers had answered guardedly. Their reply,indeed, was simply an enquiry as to what amount of transport would besupplied, and what would be the strength of the escort. They were notaware that Admiral Seymour was retreating at the time, and that theTaku Forts had been already captured.
The next morning the Ministers met again. No message had been receivedfrom the yamen, and the German Minister set out with only his secretaryand a couple of Chinese servants to go to the yamen and ask for theirreply. On the way he was attacked and killed, and his secretary waswounded. Although the loss of life was to be regretted, the affairwas in one respect a most fortunate one, for it showed the Ministershow critical their position was. It was clear now that if the life ofone of the Ministers on his way to the courts was not respected, eventhe most timid could no longer place the smallest confidence in thepromises of the Empress and her counsellors. The situation was at oncechanged. There was no longer any hesitation, no longer any feeble hopein the promises of the Chinese Ministers; there was nothing to do butto fight, and at once the apathy that had come over the Legations wasat an end. Nothing was thought of but defence.
The whole strength of the Legations was now employed in building strongbarricades and in collecting stores. The first was important, thesecond even more so. Those searching for stores met with unexpectedgood luck. Two of the three foreign stores lay within the line ofdefence, and all the provisions in the third were speedily broughtin. The searchers came upon a large wheat–shop crammed with grain, alarge store of fodder was found within the line, and in many othershops large or small stores of provisions and eatables were discoveredand secured. A store of coal was also discovered, and all throughthe day provisions were brought in in carts or by hand. From allthe other Legations the people began to pour in, as it was decidedthat the British Legation was the most defensible, and must be therallying–place. This building presented a wonderful scene of confusion.Ministers, their secretaries and servants, civilians, sisters from themission, a few European traders and merchants all mingled together,talking in half a dozen languages.
The American mission brought in with them one thousand seven hundredChristians, who were placed in the Fu; seventy missionaries wereencamped in the little chapel; the Legation students mov
ed their bedsinto their mess–room, and gave up their quarters to the visitors;the second secretary?s house was given up to the Russians, and thedoctor?s to the Americans. Every room in the Legations was closelypacked, and many took up their quarters under the numerous verandas.Four American ladies were lodged in the room hitherto occupied by Rex?scousins, and the girls were greatly interested in the crowd and bustle,which was all novel and strange to them after their quiet life in themission–house at Chafui. The ball–room of the Minister?s house wasgiven up to the ladies, and their beds were so closely packed that itresembled a great hospital. The military officials were encamped intents, while many others were prepared to sleep in the open air. Boxes,bundles, and bales were piled and scattered everywhere. Some people,while working actively, laughed and joked, others sat disconsolate andmiserable. All the unemployed men at the Legation worked hard helpingthe immigrants and trying to effect a semblance of order.
Four o?clock was the hour at which the ultimatum expired, and exactlyat that hour firing began, and one man was killed and another wounded.The artillery available for the defence was absurdly small; theItalians had a one–pounder, the Americans a Colt, the Austrians amachine–gun, and the British an old Nordenfeldt, which could not berelied upon to fire a half dozen shots without jamming. The supply ofrifle ammunition was also exceedingly meagre; the Japanese had butone hundred rounds apiece, the Italians one hundred and twenty, theRussians one hundred and forty–five, while the French, Germans, andBritish had from this up to three hundred.
In the course of the afternoon the marines had captured and drivenin small flocks of sheep and three or four cows. The garrison had,however, to depend for meat principally upon the ponies and mulesbelonging to the officers of the various Legations and the merchantsand missionaries. Of these upwards of one hundred and fifty were tiedup in various parts of the Legation. In other respects the provisionsthat had been collected—wheat and rice, groceries of all sorts, winesand spirits—were sufficient to supply the whole occupants of theLegations for a considerable time.
Now that the suspense was at an end and they knew what was beforethem, all went about their work with brightened faces and an air ofenergy and determination that had for weeks been wanting. If a strangerhad looked in upon them he would hardly have guessed that the diehad just been cast and that the issue was battle, and battle againstoverpowering odds. All were ready to meet the worst.
Directly after the first outburst of firing it was reported that theAustrians had, for no apparent reason, abandoned their Legation withoutan attempt at defence. Though within the line of defence, the AustrianLegation was a separate outpost; but its abandonment necessitated thewithdrawal of men from the customs–house, which lay behind it, and wasa strong and well–constructed building. All the customs staff weretherefore ordered to retire to the British Legation, and at the sametime the British advance post on the north bridge across the canalbetween our Legation and the Fu had to be called in. All this causedthe day which had been so bright and hopeful to end with a feeling ofdepression.
Rex had been busy all day bringing in and piling stores and turning hishand to work of all kinds. In the evening he went in and had a chatwith the girls.
“We are all glad,” he said, “that it has been settled at last thatwe are to stay here and fight. The murder of the German Minister wasthe very best thing that could happen to us, for it opened the eyesof all the others, and showed them that the Chinese were, as everyoneelse knew, wholly untrustworthy. We really were afraid yesterday thatthe Ministers would accept the Chinese offer to send an escort downwith us. If they had done so, it is absolutely certain that none ofus would ever have reached Tientsin. As it is, we all believe that wecan hold out for a month at least, and perhaps a good bit longer. Youmay be sure that every nation will spare no effort to gather a forcesufficient for our relief.
“It is a pity that we have not a better stock of ammunition. If thereis fighting every day, three hundred rounds, which is all the mostfully–supplied have got, will not go very far, and ammunition is athing we cannot manufacture. I doubt, however, whether the Chinesewill attack us in earnest, and I am certain that if they do, we shallrepulse them as long as ammunition holds out, and even after that weshall make a pretty stiff fight with the bayonets and other weapons. Atany rate, girls, it will be a long while before I have to tell you toput on your native dresses again, and before I begin to look out forsome quiet spot on the walls where I can let you down when the defenceis finally over.”
“If the worst comes to the worst,” said Jenny, “I have no doubt youwill rescue us somehow. We have absolute faith in you and Ah Lo. Ishall do whatever you tell us without hesitation.”
“You may be sure that I shall leave nothing undone to secure yoursafety, but we won?t think of that for a long time yet.”
Next day it was found that the Belgian embassy had been burnt downin the night. As it was some distance from the rest, however, thedestruction was of no consequence. It was now decided that thesemicircular barricade in front of the entrance to the Legation shouldbe strengthened and the Nordenfeldt placed upon it in such a positionas to command the roads by the side of the canal to the north bridge.To enable the gun to do its work properly, however, it was necessarythat a line of young trees by the side of the canal should be cut down.This was a particularly dangerous operation, for a party of Boxers hadestablished themselves behind the bridge, and were ready to pick offanyone who approached the trees. The Japanese, however, had built abrick bar across the road on their side of the canal, and the guardthere managed to some extent to keep down the fire of the Boxers, whilethe man who had volunteered to cut down the trees bravely proceeded tocarry out this work. He was a powerful man, and refused all assistance.He accomplished his task without being hit, though he several times hadmarvellous escapes; but unfortunately, two days later, he was killedwhile engaged on similar service at another point.
By this time things were settling down a little in the BritishLegation, where nearly the whole of the fugitives from outside and themembers of the other Legations were assembled. A general committee wasorganized, at the head of which were several very energetic civilians.This was divided into several sub–committees, each charged with aparticular class of work. Some attended to the sanitary arrangements,others to the more equitable distribution of the available space;some undertook the commissariat arrangements, others the maintainingof the barricades. All the ladies in the Legation were now employedin sewing sand–bags. The available canvas was speedily used up, andother materials had to be impressed: sheets, curtains, and hangings ofall kinds, table–linen, old dresses, pillow–cases, and in fact everyarticle that could possibly be applied for such a purpose. Parties ofcoolies opened a road through the south wall of the British Legationand the intervening houses into the lane at the back of the RussianLegation, so that the Americans and Russians could have easy access tothe British Legation, and could retire into it if unable to maintainthemselves.
A party of volunteers set to work, and built a brick wall inplace of the wooden balustrade on the upper veranda of the FirstSecretary?s house. This was a large building, and offered a fine markto the Chinese on the Tartar wall, who had indeed rendered it quiteuninhabitable.
The bell–tower of the Legation was now made the head–quarters of themunicipal government. Here the names of the members of the committeeswere posted, and all therefore knew to whom they could apply for anysort of work for which they were fitted. Notices were also postedcontaining scraps of news, translations of edicts, etc. This spot,therefore, became the general rendezvous. The tower stood at thejunction of four roads, all shaded with trees, and was only once struckduring the siege.
Rex was at work from morning till night, now carrying sand–bags, orbuilding entrenchments, now distributing food, or taking his place withAh Lo at some point which the Chinese were attacking and endeavouringto drive them off. Whatever he did Ah Lo was by his side, and theChinaman?s great strength was invariably of considerable value.
One of the greatest privations which the besieged suffered at firstwas want of water. The Legation was amply supplied for ordinary wants,but it was feared that the immense extra demand would cause the wellsto run short. Happily the rains were very heavy, and when it wasfound that the level of the water was maintained, the regulations asto supply became less stringent, and though little could be had forwashing there was no lack of drinking water.
The hospital was one of the first things organized. At present thenumber of wounded and sick was small, but it was certain to increaserapidly. At the head was Dr. Poole of the British Legation, and Dr.Velde of the German. There were two or three lady doctors who hadcome in with the missionaries, a few regular nurses, and any numberof volunteers. At present, however, there was small need for theirservices, as there were but five or six invalids to be attended to.
On the twenty–second there was a terrible alarm, for the guards of allthe other Legations poured in suddenly. As the attack had not seemed tobe specially severe, this for a time was unaccountable, but it appearedthat the retiral had been made by order of Captain Thomann, the seniorofficer. The Ministers hastily met; Sir Claude Macdonald was appointedto the chief command, and orders were at once issued for the guardsto return immediately to their posts. Had the Chinese known that theLegations had all been abandoned they could have occupied them withoutresistance, and the result would have been a terrible disaster.
On that day the besieged learned that one of their greatest dangers wasfire. At three points the British Legation was particularly exposedto this danger. On the north the Hanlin Academy, which contained amagnificent collection of Chinese manuscripts, many of great age,was separated from the wall of the Legation where the stables weresituated, and the out–buildings of the Minister?s house, by a narrowlane only a few feet wide. Behind the Chinese secretary?s house, whichadjoined the wall, were several native buildings, while the southeastcorner of the Legation was threatened in a similar way. These houseswere all built in quadrangular form, and the central courtyard wascovered in summer by a mat roof. At five o?clock in the afternoon theBoxers fired one of these sheds. The flames leapt up fiercely, and thesecretary?s house became at once involved. There was a general rushto the spot, and men dashed into the kitchens and outhouses adjoiningthe wall and began to strip down all the woodwork, and to carryout everything portable, the Chinese meanwhile keeping upon them aharassing fire from every available point.
The moment the work was done and the danger over, volunteers hurriedoff to demolish the buildings adjoining the south stables, and, workingfar into the night, succeeded in doing so. It was not thought that anyreal danger could arise from the Hanlin, which was considered sacredby the Chinese, as it was full of memorial and literary tablets. Itcontained the finest library in the empire, and was the repository ofthe state records. At the same time it was thought prudent to open apassage through the lane into the building in order to prevent itsbeing occupied by the Chinese.
Captain Poole called upon Rex and a few others to join him in the work.They had only just begun when someone ran up to them with the newsthat smoke was issuing from the building. They worked desperately. Thedanger was great, for a strong wind was blowing. A body of marines wasat once called up, and a hole having been knocked through the wall ofthe building they poured in. Fighting sharply they drove the Boxersfrom the building, and then endeavoured to extinguish the fire, but invain. All then set to work to prevent the fire from spreading to thebuildings of the Legation. Water was brought up, buildings demolished,trees cut down. Fortunately the wind at this moment fell, and althoughthe backs of the outhouses and stables were charred and blackened, theydid not catch fire. The great hall was occupied as soon as the fireburnt down, and a wall having been built to cut off from the ruins, itwas held till the end of the siege. Thus the efforts of the Chinese tobring about the destruction of the besieged only left them strongerthan before.
While the inmates of the British Legation had been thus occupied, otherfires were raging, one near the French and another near the AmericanLegation. At the latter the Russo–Chinese Bank was fired, and theAmericans, aided by Chinese Christians, had desperate work to save theLegation. All the houses in Legation Street, from this point to theChien Mên, were destroyed.
All next day firing was maintained heavily from every possible point.The Boxers kept up a continuous fire, to which our men replied butslowly, as the orders against waste of ammunition were very stringent,everyone being forbidden to fire unless he could clearly see his man.On this day the Chinese began shell–fire with the gun that they hadmounted at the Chien Mên. The American Legation was struck once, theGerman several times, but for the most part the shells flew overhead.
As it was evident that if the Chinese planted guns on the Tartar wallthey would command the whole of the Legations, the Americans andGermans, who were nearest to the wall, went out to seize it. Theywere very stoutly opposed, but they advanced steadily, firing volleyswhich effected terrible destruction among the Chinese gathered there,and pushed on until they came to a barricade on which two guns weremounted in a position too strong to be attacked by so small a force.They occupied the wall, however, along the whole line fronting the twoLegations, erected a barricade on it behind the American Legation, andanother beyond the German Legation. In order to accomplish this theymade such a demand for sand–bags that the bell which was ringing forservice, for it was Sunday, was stopped and everyone set to work tomake them. Just as the work began the alarm–bell rang out. A fire hadbroken out near the south stables. Some of the houses at this point hadbeen destroyed two days before, but many were still standing. Therewas a large house in the stable–yard. This had originally been builtfor the use of the escort, but had been handed over to the consularstudents, who, having grown too numerous for the accommodation, were intheir turn superseded by the missionaries. The missionaries, however,had occupied it but a short time, as the upper stories had been handedover to the marine guard. It was a dangerous position, for near it wassituated a market known as the Mongol Market, and from the houses onthe opposite side of this the enemy kept up a constant fire.
To the left of the escort house was a gate in the wall leading to themarket, which was principally used for the sale of firewood and fodder.From this gate the houses extended along the wall as far as the Temple,which had been pulled down a few days before. The enemy set fire tothese houses, but it was round the wall that the battle was serious.The enemy had advanced close to the walls, and, setting up their flagthere, poured a continuous stream of bullets into the burning house,and especially against the door. Had this fallen they would have beenable to fire straight into the yard. Volunteers rushed up and began topull down the stables nearest to the door, and to build up a wall someeight feet thick behind it. The door was already on fire. Some delugedit with water, others worked in the smoke to build the wall. CaptainHalliday and a party of marines went out by the breach in the wallon the north and charged through the burning houses to clear out theenemy. This he succeeded in doing, although he was himself seriouslywounded, and in three hours the danger was past. The attack, however,had been of great advantage to the besieged, for the Chinese haddestroyed all the buildings adjoining the Legations, and had in a fewdays accomplished what must otherwise have been done by the defendersat the cost of enormous labour.
From that time forward, although they were exposed to great danger attimes, the garrison was free from any anxiety about fire.
The next day was comparatively quiet. The lower veranda of the FirstSecretary?s house needed barricading, for several bullets had madetheir way in. That morning two of the ponies which had been shot thereduring the night were cut up and distributed. This was the firstexperience the besieged had of pony–meat, and at first they tasted itwith considerable doubt. Henceforth, however, it became the regularfare, and was received with general approval. It made excellent soup,and though, when cooked in a joint, it was apt to be hard, it was verygood with curry or rissoles.
In
the afternoon the firing suddenly ceased and a man bearing a whiteflag took his place on the north bridge, with a board on which waswritten in Chinese: “Imperial command: To protect the Ministers andstop firing; a despatch will be sent to the bridge of the canal.”
This caused great excitement. Some suggested that the reinforcementsmight be at last at hand, others thought that it was a trap to throwus off our guard. The experienced were of opinion that it was merelya sign of the vacillation that existed among the Empress and heradvisers, and that Prince Ching and Jung Lu had for the moment got theupper hand and persuaded the Empress of the madness of the course thatwas being taken. The day went on, however, and no despatch was sent in.The time was employed in strengthening barricades. The Chinese, too,made good use of the interval by erecting a barricade across LegationStreet, facing that adjoining the Russian and American Legations. Atmidnight a tremendous fire was opened on the Legations from all sides.Shells frequently passed overhead, and the Legations were swept by ahail of bullets. Everyone was up and ready to repel an attack, but nonewas made, and after an hour the fire ceased as suddenly as it hadbegun. It was evident that the war party were again in the ascendant.
All sorts of reports were current the next day. The besieged hadlearned that the Taku Forts were captured on the eighteenth, andthey began to calculate that the relieving force might arrive on thetwenty–eighth.
Everywhere the native Christians worked unremittingly at thebarricades, which were now so strengthened as to be very formidableobstacles to an attack. Orders were issued that bomb–proof sheltersshould be formed, and that the inmates of each house should constructthem for themselves. Pits were dug out to a depth of four feet; thesewere roofed in with timbers on which earth was piled to a depth of somefeet. Many of these shelters were completed, but the ladies almostunanimously agreed that they would prefer to run the risk of shellsrather than bury themselves in such holes, for the tremendous rainsthat came on occasionally almost flooded the ground, and, running in atthe entrances to the pits, converted the floors into sheets of liquidmud.
Rex managed every day to get half an hour?s chat with his cousins. Theywere both employed as assistants in the hospital kitchen, carrying thesoups, broth, and other food to the patients, of whom there were nowsome thirty or forty. These, thanks to the excellent medical attention,nursing, and cooking, were almost without exception doing well, andduring the whole siege there was no single death due to diseasegenerated by foul air or septic conditions.
The girls were both cheerful and enjoyed their work. Being theassistants of the lady who superintended and for the most part carriedout the cooking, they occasionally got a share of dainty dishes whichwere sent back untasted, and so fared better than the majority. Theirwork allowed them but little time for thought or anxiety, and theironly fear was that Rex might be wounded; but as they saw him comingin every day fresh and cheerful, even this fear gradually died out.His stories of the siege amused them, especially his accounts of thedifferent ways in which different people took their misfortunes: somebeing always cheerful and ready to make fun of everything, while othersgrumbled at every petty hardship, and seemed to consider themselves asspecially injured by the whole proceedings.
Rex himself had only had to fight on two or three occasions, forthe barriers were all held by the marines and guards of the variousLegations, while the civilians, although formed into corps, and readyin case of attack to rush to any threatened point, had so far not beencalled upon for service. At night, however, they took turns to keepwatch at exposed positions, and during the day worked at whatever mightbe most required. The students were formed into a corps by themselves,and Rex acted with them. They occupied a crowded quarter, but were fullof life and spirit, made light of their work, and at night formed quitea merry party.
“I am afraid you are very hard worked, Rex,” Jenny said one day.
“Not a bit of it,” he replied. “My hands were very much blistered thefirst two or three days, but they have got hard now, and my back hasquite forgotten how to ache. As far as I am concerned I quite enjoy it,and I could not be living among a better set of fellows.”
“I suppose you will get harder work shortly, but up to the present timethere have been very few casualties.”
“It is quite certain now that we have regular troops fighting againstus; that is shown by their new method of attack. Instead of makingan onset on one point at a time, they now assail us from all pointssimultaneously. The fires all took place on the same day, and thattremendous bombardment two nights ago began all round at the samemoment. That can?t be the work of the Boxers.”
“Then it will be more serious?”
“No, I don?t know that it will be much more serious, except that nodoubt they will bring up their cannon and plant them closer than theyare now. But this development shows that Prince Tung?s party has notgot the entire control over the Empress. A proclamation has been stuckup at the tower to–day appointing several Chinese generals to thecommand of the Boxers. It is certain now that we have got to dependentirely upon ourselves. It is also certain that Seymour has eitherbeen annihilated or obliged to fall back. I consider it absurd tocalculate that, now that the Taku Forts have fallen, an army will comeup from the coast and arrive here in a few days. After the now certainfailure of Seymour?s expedition it is evident that a much strongercolumn must be employed, and such a force can hardly have been gatheredyet. Then the railway, which has no doubt been destroyed betweenTientsin and the sea, will have to be repaired. As we know that thecathedral at that place has been burnt, there can be no doubt that thesettlement has been besieged. The Boxers there are probably in greatforce, and these will have to be cleared out before any attempt canbe made to relieve us. I certainly should not say so to anyone else,but my own opinion is that we shall be lucky if we see the head of therelieving party before another month.”
“A month! You don?t mean to say that! Why, we shall all be starved outlong before that!”
“It is wonderful how one can hold on if necessary,” Rex said. “No doubtwe shall be put upon half–allowance, and the number of mouths to be fedis tremendous, but we still keep on discovering stores in the housesand shops within the line, and these have never been methodicallysearched yet. We have also got the ponies to eat. Fortunately thenative Christians are not accustomed to a meat diet, so the ponies willlast the Europeans a good long time. I don?t know whether there areany rats in the Legations,” he said with a laugh. “According to theaccounts of most sieges, when the garrison were reduced to an extremitythey always seem to have maintained themselves on rats. I dare say theyare not bad eating if one is driven to it.”
“I haven?t seen any rats,” Jenny said with a little shudder, “and Ihope I shan?t see one, either alive or cooked. I am sure I could managevery well with a little rice or flour and tea.”
“I am afraid that tea would not sustain us long, but I agree with youthat as long as the rice and flour hold out we can do so. We have, Ibelieve, a pretty good stock of tinned food, sugar, tea, cocoa, andso on, and the pressure will come more upon the unfortunate cooliesthan upon us. It is only fair to them to say that they are workingsplendidly, and if we hold out it will be largely due to them, foralmost all the barricade work has fallen on them. The fighting menare, of course, always on guard; the rest of us are all told off towork of some sort or other: sanitary work, the distribution of foodand seeing to the wants of everyone, and, during the past two or threedays, the erection of shell–proof shelters. The hard work falls to theChinese. They are wonderfully patient, obedient, and hard–working, andexpose themselves fearlessly everywhere. I am coming to have greatrespect for them. There is no giving way at all among them. They havelost everything they have in the world, but they show no signs ofdespondency. They take everything that comes as a matter of course, andsometimes, when I go among them when the fire is heavy, I hear thempraying out aloud. Well, I must be off again.”