But the despatch, although its terms were trivial and even childish, had a vast importance for us.  It showed that something had happened somewhere in the vague world beyond Peking—­perhaps that armies were arriving.  We were reminded that we were still alive.  A dignified reply was sent, and the very next day came an astonishing Washington cipher message, which has been puzzling us ever since.  It was only three words:  “Communicate to bearer.”  No one can explain what these words mean; even the American Minister has cudgelled his brains in vain, and asked everybody’s opinion.  But about one thing there is no doubt—­that it comes straight from Washington untampered with, for these three words are in a secret cipher, which only half a dozen of the highest American officials in Washington understand, and in Peking there is no one excepting the Minister himself who has the key.

This is absolutely the first authentic sign we have had.  If the reply message ever gets through, public opinion may force our rescue....

Finding that they could trust us, our own messenger has been followed by Chinese Government messengers, who, tremblingly waving white flags, march up to our barricades hand in their messages, and crouch down, waiting to be given a safe-conduct back.

There have been several such messages delivered at one point along our long front while the rifle duel was continuing elsewhere with the same monotony.  Now those trumpets, gaining confidence, have brought absolute silence.

At first there was only this absolute silence.  It seemed so odd and curious after weeks of rifle-fire and booming of old-fashioned cannon, that that alone was like a holiday.  Then, as everyone seemed to realise that it was a truce, men began standing up on their barricades and waving white cloths to one another.

Both sides did this for some time, and as no one fired, a mutual inquisitiveness prompted men to climb over their entrenched positions and walk out boldly into the open.  Still the same friendliness.

By midday friendliness and confidence had reached such a point, that half our men were over the barricades, and had met the Chinese soldiery on the neutral zone of ruins and rubbish extending between our lines.  All of us left our rifles behind, and stowed revolvers into our shirts lest treachery suddenly surprised us and found us defenceless.  I placed an army revolver in my trousers pocket, with a vague idea that I would attempt the prairie trick of shooting through my clothing if there was any need to resort to force.  I soon found that this was unnecessary.