Very soon there was a partial explanation of why this immense barricade had been built.  Late in the afternoon Chinese troops began to stream past at a trot under cover of the structure.  First there were only infantrymen, whose rifles and banners could just be seen from some of our lookout posts on the highest roofs.  But presently came artillery and cavalry.  Everybody could see those, although the men bent low.  Unendingly they streamed past, until the alarm became general.  Even in Peking, quite close to us, there were thousands of soldiery.  When the others were driven in off the Tientsin road it would be our doom.

From the top of the Tartar Wall came the same reports.  Our outposts saw nothing but moving troops picking their way through the ruins of the Ch’ien Men great street—­troops moving both in and out, and accompanied by long tails of carts bearing their impedimenta.  Yet it was impossible to trace the movements of the corps streaming past under cover of the newly built barricade.  The flitting glimpses we got of them as they swarmed past were not sufficient to allow any identification.  Perhaps they were passing out of the city; perhaps they were being massed in the Palace; perhaps....  Anything was possible, and, as one thought, imperceptibly the atmosphere seemed to become more stifled, as if a storm was about to break on us, and we knew our feebleness.  Yet we are strong as we can ever be.  The fortification work has gone on without a break.  It has become unending....

XXI

MORE DIPLOMACY

31st July, 1900.

* * * * *

More despatches have been sent by our diplomats to the Tsung-li Yamen, complaining about all the ominous signs we see around us, and asking for explanations.  Explanations—­they are so easy to give!  Every question has been promptly answered, even though the Yamen itself is probably only just managing to keep its head above the muddy waters of revolution which surge around.  Listen to the replies.  The sound of heavy guns we hear in the north of the city are due to the government’s orders to exterminate the Boxers and rebels, who have been attacking the Pei-t’ang Cathedral and harassing the converts.  The great barricade across the Northern canal bridge was built solely to protect the Chinese soldiery from the accuracy of our fire, which is greatly feared.  As for the mining, our ears must have played us false.  None is going on.

Such was the gist of the answers which have been promptly sent in.  These answers and this correspondence give our diplomats satisfaction, I suppose, but most people think that they are making themselves more undignified than they have been ever since this storm broke on us.  The Yamen can in any case do nothing; it is merely a consultative or deliberative body of no importance.  Probably exactly the same type of despatches are being sent to the commanders of the relieving columns at Tientsin.