was not satisfied, and continued muttering at them and fiercely threatening punishment, one of them went to the door of a gate-house, and flinging it back, bade me look in.  That was a sight!  It was full of great masses of arms and all sorts of soldiers’ and Boxers’ clothing; and tied up in bundles of blue cloth were stacks of booty, consisting of furs and silks, all made ready to be carried away.  This was evidently one of the many district headquarters which the Boxers had established everywhere.  My men had known it, because these things become speedily known to natives.  They had acted.  After all, this was a vengeance which was overtaking everybody.  What could I do?...

I said nothing then, and somewhat gloomily watched them proceed.  With utmost coolness they finished harnessing the carts; drove them with curses to a point near the gate-house, and silently loaded all those bundles of booty into them, strapping the swords and rifles on in stacks behind.  It was evidently to be a clean sweep, with nothing left.  Then, when they had made everything ready, one of them disappeared for a short time into a back courtyard, and after some fresh scuffling, reappeared, driving in front of him three men in torn clothing and with dishevelled hair, who had been hiding all the while, and were trembling like aspen leaves now that they had been caught.  My men, without undue explanations, told them that they had to drive, one to each cart, and that if one tried to escape all would be shot down.  With protestations, the captives swore that they would obey; only let them escape with their lives; they were innocent....  Then in a body we sallied forth, this time a fully-equipped and well-mounted body of marauders.  It was a fate from which it was impossible to escape—­my men had such decision left when every person in authority was already drifting....

Fitted out in this wise, we now rattled along the streets with faster speed, and the clanking cart-wheels, awaking louder and louder echoes which sounded curiously indiscreet in these deserted streets, made heads bob from doorways and windows with greater and greater frequency.  Down in the side alleys, now that we were a mile or two away from our lines, people might be even seen standing in frightened groups, as if debating what was going to happen; these melted silently away as soon as we were spied.  But finding that they were disregarded, and that no rifles cracked off at them as they half expected, forthwith the groups formed again, and men even came out into the main street and followed us a little way, calling half-heartedly to the drivers to know if there was any news....  The terrible quiet which had spread over the city after the Allies had burst in from two or three quarters seemed indeed inexplicable; such troops as had passed had gone hurriedly westwards towards the Palace.  This quarter could scarcely have been touched....