This was the last important international work he undertook before the memorable Siege in 1900.  Already the first mutterings of the storm sounded.  The first Boxers appeared in Shantung—­a little cloud of fanatics scarcely bigger than a man’s hand.  But soon they were spreading over all the north of China, and even spilling into the metropolitan province of Chihli itself.

[Illustration:  A GARDEN PARTY GIVEN BY SIR ROBERT HART TO GOVERNOR TRUePPEL (OF KIAOCHOW) AND PARTY.]

CHAPTER IX

THE PROLOGUE TO THE SIEGE—­BARRICADES AND SCALING LADDERS—­THE SIEGE PROPER—­A MESSAGE FROM THE YAMEN AND AN IMPORTANT TELEGRAM—­RELIEF AT LAST—­NEW QUARTERS—­NEGOTIATIONS—­THE CONGRESS OF PEKING—­AN IMPERIAL AUDIENCE

Some three weeks before the beginning of the Siege proper Peking was in a state of great unrest—­how great no one, not even the I.G., could accurately judge.  But as each day brought new alarms and constant reports of Boxer misdoings all over the city were confirmed by terrified eye-witnesses, it was thought wise to make some practical preparations for defence.  The Legations were luckily provided with guards, whose officers, acting in concert, agreed to hold a square that included the whole quarter and the Customs property as well.  Unfortunately the few troops made a pitifully thin line when they were spread over the area to be defended, and the Customs Staff, at the I.G.’s suggestion, organized themselves into a Volunteer corps, kept regular watches day and night, and prepared to assist generally in case of emergency.

Indeed they did even more; with his permission they set to and fortified the Inspectorate compounds, turning his garden into a trampled wilderness.  Barricades were built across what was known as Inspectorate Street while the I.G. stood by and refreshed the thirsty workers with beer from his cellar; the big gate was loopholed, the walls strengthened, and clumsy look-out platforms, reminiscent of the Siege of Troy, constructed.  From these I can guess he must have watched—­and with what feelings!—­the progress of the dreadful fires starting over the city; must have seen, down the long straight street, native Christians burning like torches, and must have heard the fiendish shouts of “Kill!” “Kill and burn!” issuing from a thousand hoarse throats.

The situation was terrifying enough in all conscience—­yet nothing to what it was to be later when the handful of white men, encumbered with women, children and converts, were to stand against Imperial troops in addition to these savage hordes of Boxers, whose infinite daring, due to a belief in their own invulnerability, was somewhat mitigated by their inferior weapons.

[Illustration:  LADY HART.]

From first to last the I.G., though no longer young, showed admirable coolness and courage in the face of the crisis.  He sent frequent despatches, full of excellent and sane advice, to the Yamen.  Alas! they went unheeded.  So did the telegram he got through to Li Hung Chang on June 12th.  This was his final effort to save a desperate situation, and the message ran:  “You have killed missionaries; that is bad enough.  But if you harm the Legations you will violate the most sacred international obligations and create an impossible situation.”