Round the Fire Stories

ared, like a fire in dry grass, across Northern China, the few scattered Europeans in the outlying provinces had huddled together at the nearest d

hat upon their faces which told that they had looked very

to eastward. The sea was visible from those hills, and on the sea were their armed countrymen. Surely, then, they could not feel deserted. With brave hearts they manned the loopholes in the crumbling brick walls outlining the tiny European 66quarter, and they fired away briskly, if ineffectively, at the rapidly advancing sangars of the Boxers. It was certain that in anot

, and steadily, irresistibly, inevitably, the lines of brick and rubble drew closer. Soon they would be so near that one rush would assuredly carry the frantic swordsmen over the frail entrenchment. It all seemed very black upon the Wednesday evening. Colonel Dresler, the German ex-infantry soldier, went about with an imperturbable face, but a heart of lead. Ralston, of the railway, was up half the night writing farewell letters. Professor Mercer, the old entomologist, was even more silent and grimly 67thoughtful than ever. Ainslie had lost some of his flippancy. On the whole, the ladies—Miss Sinclair, the nurse of the Scotch Mission, Mrs

ince help was coming. It was clear that the landing party from the squadron was well on its way. It would not arrive an hour too soon. The cartridges were nearly finished. Their half-rations of food would soon dwindle to an even more pitiful supply. But what need to worry about that now that relief was assured? There would be no attack

Ainslie. “Come, Professor, o

d Dresler. “It is certainly tim

arts of the long, ill-furnished tabl

ribution of provisions this one dainty and three bottles of Lachryma Christi from the same hamper had been excepted and set aside. By common consent they were to be reserved for the final joyous meal when the end of their peril should be in sight. Even as they sat the thud-th

s gnarled old head and smi

wait,”

ait?” cried

ll far to come

irdlike man, with bright eyes and long, projecting nose. “They cannot be more than ten

ked the Colonel. “You will grant two

them as if they were not there. What can these rascals wi

relief,” said Dresler. “If they are for

for my money!

d to be an excellent strateg

two men who will see us through, and with them on our side no leader can go wrong. I tell you they wi

scientist wa

rve it for sup

courtesy to our guests—the officers of the relief—if we have some palatable food to lay b

ntly chivalrous, too, in the idea of keeping their one little delicacy to give

s is the second time that you have been besieged in this way. I’m sure we sho

’s face set

in South China, in ‘e

wice have been in such a perilous situation,” said the m

epened upon t

ot relieve

the pla

it f

came thro

n entomologist. They had ma

the r

d been twenty years in China. The professor had said nothing, but there was someth

y. “I can see that it is a painful

t to ask. It is better not to speak about such things

out to the ramparts. The silent-footed native servants came in and cleared the scanty remains from the table. But after they had left, the old Professor sat on there, his massive, grey-crowned head leaning upon his hands and the same pensive look of hor

e entrance of the Commandant. There was a c

fence of Ichau against the Boxers by Colonel Dresler, late Major of the 114th Hanoverian Infantry. Splendi

said the old man, with neither em

lonel

re excited on the morning when you brought bac

I have seen so many strange turns of Fate in my long life that I do not gri

all is well. They are advancing swiftly, the firing has died down to show that resistance is at an end, and within an hour we’ll see them over

waiting for

s. I thought I would spend the time wit

t wa

It interests me very much from a professional point of view. Now that the

a pleasan

ou have seen how I have conducted the defence here. Was it wise?

could have

ly defended? To me a comparison of this sort i

ssible was done—sa

one omission.

ld have been allowed to fall ali

hand and enfolded the long, white

d die fighting, so would Ralston, so would Ainslie. I have talked to them, and it is settled. But the others

wish to be t

r own lives. Their consciences would not permit it. Of course, it is all over now, an

l th

You would

s strapped to a stake with thorns in my eyelids to keep them open, and my grief at their torture was a less thing than my self-reproach when I thought that I could with one tube of tasteless tablets have snatched them at the last instant from the hands of their tormentors. Murder! I am ready to stand at the Divi

again his hand clasped

been my great help had things gone the other way. I have often thought and wondered in the dark, early hours of the

, and was about to go himself upon the ramparts to make inquiry when the door flew open, and Colonel Dresler staggered into the room. His face was of a ghastly yellow-white

ofessor, coldly, “t

ey cann

ute or more, the two men st

ey all

knows

id you

It was a Christian Tartar, badly cut about with swords. He had come from the battle. Commodore Wyndham, the Englishman, had sent him. The relieving force had been checked. They had shot

bent his sha

the man?

loss of blood. His body

one sa

o spea

did see

must know that I have had tidings. He 76will want to

can we h

or two at

absolutel

redit as a sol

we mus

we mus

s no hop

on

n. Behind him crowded Ralston, Patterson, and

ad news,

rcer pushed

all right. They have halted, but will be here in

in the doorway. Everyone wa

n a petulant voice. “What infernal fools these fellows are not to pus

. We can see their wounded being carried by the hundred over the h

must give no point away.” 77He left the room with the rest, but as he did so he looked back, and his eyes for an instant met

ed by the losses which they had already sustained. It was a joyous and noisy party, therefore, which met at the supper-table, when the three bottles of Lachryma Christi were uncorked and the famous port of caviare was finally opened. It was a large jar, and, though each had a tablespoonful of the delicacy, it was by no means exhausted. Ralston, who was an epicure, had a double allowanc

tment to me when I had kept it for your pleasure,” sa

it before. No doubt I s

ing. Why not start to educate

s bright face shone with

no idea you were so polite, Professor Mercer.

y that the smile died from her face and her eyes reflected the earnestn

—why?” s

your plate. Because it

she does not like it. But it shall not be wasted.” She passed the blade of her knife under it, and scra

was agitated like that of a man who encounters an une

cheerily. Everyone was f

don’t get holidays. Now that the mission and school are formed I am

tterson. “You don’t mean that

ead in waggish reproof. “You must n

sonal feeling towards you, Father Pierre. At the same time, how any reasonable educated

remonstrance sil

ourself, Mr. Patter

o do some shopping in Princes Street, I’m thinking, Mary. And you, Jessie, you’ll see som

nurse. “You know, this long strain takes me in the strangest w

ing experiments on his register. As you say, it must be due to nervous strain. For my part I am going back to 80Peking, and I hope I may

ers in my room. It looked so black on Wednesday night that I had settled up my affairs and written to all my friends. I don’t quite know how they were

keep them,”

and solemn that every

seem in the blues to-night

am very c

r science and skill. I don’t think we could have held the place without you. Ladies and gentlemen,

ed their glasses to the so

lushed with pro

at more could be done. If things had gone wrong with us and the place had fallen you would,

el Dresler,” said the Scotch minister, “when I say

upon his folded arms a

tage of reaction now. I have no doubt that we are all liable to colla

“I don’t know when I have been more sleepy. I can hardly hold m

her supper! What ever will she think when we tell her of it afterwards? But the air does seem hot and he

ted mood. He was on his feet onc

for Germany. And Father Pierre is for France. Then there’s the Professor for America. Ralston and I are Britishers. Then there’s the ladies, God bless ‘em! They have been angels of mercy and compassion all through the siege. I think we should drink the health of the ladies. Wonderful thing—the quiet courage, the patience, the—what shall I say?—the fortitude, the—the—by George, look

, your mother is cold. Is it sleep? Is it death? Open the windows! Help! help! help!” He staggered to his feet and r

looked round her with horror-stricken eyes at he

at is it?” she cried. “Oh, my God

me effort of his will, though the darknes

“we would have spared you this. It would have been painless to mind and

im with dilated eyes. “Oh, you monster

cheat them yet!” But his words fell upon deaf ears, for the girl had sunk back senseless in her chair. The old man stood listening for an instant to the firing outside. But what was that? Merciful Father, what was that? Was he going mad? Was it the effect of the drug? Surely it w

silent company. Only in the young girl who moaned and faintly stirred was any sign of 84life to be seen. And yet there was one in the circle who had the energy for a last sup

For God’s sake, don’t tou

and the circle of death wa