CHAPTER XXVII
CHINA DEFIES THE WORLD
The startling news conveyed to the American legation by our lads wastransmitted to all the other ministers that same night, and it at onceput an end to the preparations for departure. It was further discussedat a meeting held the next morning, when it was determined that theironly chance for safety lay in remaining where they were and defendingthemselves to the best of their ability. It had been hoped that somemembers of the Tsung Li Yamen would attend this meeting, but noneappeared. The German minister, Baron von Ketteler, thereupon reaffirmedhis intention of going to the yamen and demanding a conference.Moreover, to show his contempt for the Chinese, he declared that hewould go unarmed and unescorted, save by his official interpreter, Mr.Cordes.
No entreaties served to deter the brave but obstinate man from hismad enterprise. Entering his sedan-chair, which he had furnishedwith cigars and reading-matter to aid him in passing the time if heshould be compelled to wait at the yamen, he set forth, followed byhis interpreter in another chair, and preceded by a Chinese outriderattached to the legation.
Just before their departure the American minister had requested RobHinckley, who, still disguised as a Chinese, might traverse the streetswithout detection as a foreigner, to proceed to the Methodist Mission,nearly a mile away, and warn its inmates to make ready for a speedyretreat to the legation grounds. Jo also was asked to go out and makespecial note of what the people of the city were saying.
So the two lads set forth, going by way of Instruct the People Street,called by foreigners Legation Street, past the Hotel de Pekin, in whichthe Lorimers were staying, and where Rob wished he might make a call.From there they held their way eastward to Ha-ta (Great) Street, whichthey found thronged with citizens and soldiery. They walked slowly upthis broad avenue, paying close attention to scraps of conversation,until they came to Filial Piety Alley, into which they should haveturned to gain the mission compound by the shortest route.
Instead of so doing, they hesitated, attracted by a decided and excitedmovement towards the north of the swarming populace. Involuntarily, theyjoined it, and continued to make their way slowly up Ha-ta Street, untilthey had nearly reached the Pai-lou, or wooden arch, that spanned themiddle of the roadway, just below Tsung Pu Alley. At this point they sawtwo sedan-chairs, preceded by an outrider in the livery of the GermanLegation, come from the Street of Permanent Peace into Ha-ta Street,and turn north ahead of them. As they halted in their walk and stoodwatching this little procession, Jo was saying:
"In case of serious trouble, Rob, I believe I could do more good outsidein the city than if I were to stay shut up in a legation. There, also,I should always be an object of more or less suspicion, on account ofbeing a Chinese. Of course, I sha'n't leave you unless it seems best todo so; but if we are separated, don't forget the old academy call."
"Do you mean the 'Hi-ho' call?"
"Yes; and isn't it queer that it should be the same as the first twonames of the I-Ho-Chuan?"
At that instant the sharp report of a rifle rang out a short distanceup the street. For a moment it was followed by a deathlike hush. Thenpandemonium broke loose. Other shots were fired in quick succession, andthe street populace, transformed into a howling mob, swarmed towards thescene of tragedy, yelling like demons: "Kill the foreign devils! Kill!Kill! Kill!"
A horseman fled before them. Two sedan-chairs were dropped by theirterrified bearers, who also took to their heels. From one of the chairsa man leaped and ran for his life, but from the other came neither soundnor motion. In it sat Baron von Ketteler, the Kaiser's representativein China, shot to death by a Chinese officer of imperial troops. To-daya magnificent memorial arch of marble spans the busy roadway above thespot where he was killed.
"Come!" gasped Rob, as he realized the awful nature of the tragedy."That shot is China's declaration of war against the world. We must warnthe mission!"
With this our lads darted into the near-by Tsung Pu Alley. At firsttheir progress was impeded by people running in the opposite direction;but in a couple of minutes these had been left behind, and they werefree to hasten on at full speed. All at once a foreigner, hatless,haggard, and bleeding, dropped from a low compound wall into the alleyclose beside them. Behind him sounded the fierce cries of a pursuing mob.
"It is the interpreter!" exclaimed Jo. "Go with him and get him to themission! Take the first right and second left. I will lead those who areafter him another way. Quick! Good-bye!"
Rob instantly comprehended, and started after the fugitive, who now wasstaggering from weakness caused by loss of blood. At sight of the lad'sBoxer uniform the man tried to beat him off, but on hearing the wordsin English--"It is all right! I am American"--he submitted to Rob'sguidance.
As they hurried around the first right-hand turn they came face to facewith a Boxer armed with a spear. Without giving him time to recognizethem, our young American sprang upon him, knocked him down, took awayhis weapon, and left him in a state of dazed uncertainty as to what hadhappened.
After running a little farther the fugitives paused to listen, but couldhear no sounds of pursuit. Jo had succeeded in diverting it to anotherdirection. Then they proceeded more slowly, the wounded man leaningheavily on Rob's shoulder. Curious faces peered at them from darkportals as they passed, and more than one whom they met turned to givethem a wondering look; but Rob's uniform and spear protected them frominterference, and finally they reached a side gateway of the missioncompound. Here the wounded man fell in a faint, but the American marineon guard sprang to his aid, and, recognizing in Rob's voice that of afellow-countryman, assisted him to carry the German inside.
"Call your officer, quick as you can," ordered our lad, as he kneltbeside the wounded man and dashed water in his face. "It is a matter oflife or death for us all."
In another minute Captain Hall came running to the post, and in a fewwords Rob explained who he was and what had happened, at the same timeexhibiting a proof of identity given him by the American minister.
"He sent word," continued Rob, "for all foreign inmates of this compoundto pack up immediately and be prepared to retreat to the legation at amoment's notice. Now I will leave this wounded man in your care, for Imust hurry back and let him know what has happened. Can you let me haveone of your men to identify me at the Italian barricade across LegationStreet? If I go alone I am afraid they won't let me pass, for they wereugly and threatened us when we came out."
"Certainly. Turner, go with Mr. Hinckley, and see him safely past thebarricade."
"This is a rum go," said the marine, as they left the gate andhurried towards Ha-ta Street. "I've done a lot of funny things in thePhilippines, and seen a lot more in China, but I'm blessed if ever Iexpected to safe-conduct a bloody Boxer through the streets of Pekin."
"Perhaps he is safe-conducting you," replied Rob, indicating, as hespoke, a group of Chinese soldiers wearing red Boxer hats, who wereregarding the marine with very ugly looks.
"I don't know but what you are right," admitted Turner. "They do lookwolfy, and I almost wish I had another pukka Johnny along to come backwith me."
"I'll come back with you if you will go all the way to the legation withme."
"Done! The cap'n didn't say how far I was to escort you. He only said,'past the barricade,' and maybe there's more than one by this time. Butwhat's the matter with riding? We'd get there twice as quick. Hi, there,'rikisha coolie. You wanchee catchee one piecee dollar? You makee goossoty Melican consoo house. Savvy?"
"All litee sojo man, can do," was the reply; and a big, doublejinrikisha, drawn by two coolies and pushed by two more, rolled up towhere the Americans were standing. Even on the eve of open hostilitiesthe thrifty Chinese of Pekin were perfectly willing to make an honestdollar by serving their enemies.
Jumping in, they set off at a great pace, the 'rikisha men yellingat the top of their voices for pedestrians to clear the way, and nothesitating to knock right and left those who failed to heed theirwarnings.
Act
ing on Turner's advice, Rob took off his red hat, and, sitting aslow as possible, was partially screened from observation by the marine,who held himself very straight and sat well forward. The guard at theItalian barricade made a motion as though to halt them, but Turner,yelling to his coolies to keep on or he would jab them with his bayonet,called out:
"It's all right, Dagoes! Official business! Can't stop! So long! See youlater!"
Then they bowled up Legation Street at a rattling pace, clattered overthe imperial canal bridge, and in another minute were at the AmericanLegation. Five minutes later the electrifying news of Baron vonKetteler's assassination had been told.
"That settles it!" cried the minister, who was a veteran soldier ofthe great American civil war. "Now we know exactly where we stand.The Chinese have declared for war, and they shall have war to theirhearts' content. As for us who are in Pekin, we will stay right hereand fight for our lives. If we are wiped out, the Chinese nation willcease to exist shortly afterwards. Even if we survive to be rescued,the punishment visited upon it for this day's crime will be one of thebitterest in history. But now we haven't a moment to lose. Are youwilling to return to the mission with an order for its inmates to setout for this place within half an hour?"
"Of course I am, sir," replied Rob.
"Then go, and come back with them. I will at once notify the GermanLegation of this terrible happening, and advise that they send a squadof marines to bring back their wounded interpreter. God bless you, lad!I am glad to have you with us in this time of our trouble."
"And I, sir, am mighty glad to be here."
In less than an hour after Rob's report to the minister a longprocession of refugees issued from the mouth of Filial Piety Alley, andturned into Ha-ta Street, where it was watched by crowding thousands ofimpassive Chinese. First came twenty American marines, hardy-lookingfellows, bronzed by long service in the Philippines, under command ofCaptain Hall. These were followed by the American women and children ofthe mission and one hundred and twenty-six Chinese girl pupils of themission school. Then came Chinese Christian women with their children,followed by a large body of Chinese men and boy converts. After themmarched a stern-looking group of German marines, bearing and guardinga stretcher, on which lay the wounded legation interpreter whom Robhad been so instrumental in saving. The rear was brought up by a bodyof resolute-appearing missionaries armed with rifles and revolvers.With these marched Rob Hinckley, no longer disguised as a Boxer, butclad in the costume of his own people, and bearing himself with theself-confidence of one who had undergone a long experience in affairslike the present. The Chinese converts numbered over one thousand, andevery member of the long procession was laden with food, clothing,household effects, or whatever portable things they had considered ofgreatest value.
At the Italian barricade on Legation Street it was met by the remainingmarines of the American guard and escorted to the legation. Althoughthe streets were crowded with Chinese soldiers, Boxers, and citizens,no attempt was made to interfere in any way with the flight of theserefugees, and that afternoon they were quartered within the spaciouswalls of the British Legation compound, where all foreigners, exceptthose already sustaining attack in the Roman Catholic cathedral, weregathered for protection.
Here was a scene to beggar description. Streams of carts, and swarmsof coolies laden with provisions, baggage, and household effects, werepouring in from every direction. The numerous low, one-story buildingsof the legation were being assigned to different nationalities, orset apart for specific purposes. Men, women, and children, diplomats,soldiers, missionaries, railway engineers, bank clerks, customsemployes, servants, and coolies, speaking every language under the sun,dogs and ponies, rapid-fire guns, jinrikishas, carts, and wheelbarrows,furniture, bedding, provisions, cases of wine, barrels of beer, anda thousand other things, all were mixed in apparently inextricableconfusion.
At precisely four o'clock General Tung-Fu-Hsang's soldiers from Kwang-suopened fire with a sharp volley of musketry from the city streets, andthe siege of the Pekin legations was begun.