We were at a loss to know what it all meant and why the troops were firing upon the Northern soldiers whom they wished to placate.  It was still a mystery when we sat down to dinner at half past seven, but a few minutes later Mr. Bankhardt rushed in saying that he had just received a note from the tao-tai.  The mandarin’s personal servant had brought word that the Northern soldiers, who had just entered the city, were going to kill him and he begged the missionaries for assistance.  Bankhardt also told us of the latest developments in the situation.  It seems that the city soldiers supposed the Northern troops to be brigands and had fired upon them and killed several before they discovered their mistake.  A very delicate situation had thus been precipitated, for the Northern commander believed that it was treachery and intended to attack the barracks in the morning and kill every man whom he found with a rifle, as well as all the city officials.

The story of the way in which the missionaries acted as peacemakers, saved the tao-tai, and prevented the slaughter which surely would have taken place in the morning, is too long to be told here, for it was accomplished only after hours of the talk and “face saving” so dear to the heart of the Oriental.  Suffice it to say that through the exercise of great tact and a thorough understanding of the Chinese character they were able to settle the matter without bloodshed.

The following day twenty brigands were given a so-called trial, marched off to the west gate, beheaded amid great enthusiasm, and the incident was closed.  In the afternoon a messenger called and delivered to each of us an official letter from the commander of the Northern troops thanking us for the part we had played in averting trouble and bringing the matter to a peaceful end.

An interesting sidelight on the affair was received a few days later.  A young man, a Christian, who was born in the same town from which a number of the brigands had come, went to his house on Monday night after the fight and found seven of the robbers concealed in his bedroom.  He was terrified because if they were discovered he and all his family would be killed for aiding the bandits.  He told them they must leave at once, but they pleaded with him to let them stay for they knew there were soldiers at every corner and that it would be impossible to get away.

While he was imploring them to go, a knock sounded at the door.  He pushed the brigands into the courtyard, and opened to three soldiers.  They said:  “We understand you have brigands in your house.”  He was trembling with fear, but answered, “Come in and see for yourself, if you think so.”

The soldiers were satisfied by his frank open manner and, as they knew him to be a good man, did not search the house, but went away.  The poor fellow was frightened nearly to death, but as his place was being watched it was impossible for the brigands to leave during the day.