have the right grip.  With a gurgle my man had sunk to the ground a mere shapeless mass, perhaps really dead; and with by breath coming hot through my nostrils at this success I closed fiercely with the second, seized him by the throat, wrenched at him like a madman, and carried him staggering back.  The other trick demands the six paces and the impetus; I would have liked to have tried it again, but I had not dared....

But it was finished with dramatic suddenness, for even as I ran the second eunuch, gasping for breath, backwards, the other two rushed to the door, opened it hurriedly, and then stepped aside with loud implorings and supplications.  I accepted.  I let go my grasp and quickly jumped out.  I, too, had had enough.  As I went through I caught a last glimpse of that curious scene framed by the red gate-posts and the roofs beyond—­the senseless eunuch on the ground, the other standing near by, coughing and reaching at his throat, the women of the seraglio in their gaily flowered coats pressing curiously round....  But I had enough.  I did not tarry.  Rapidly I walked away, with a little prayer in my heart.  I felt almost as I had felt once when I was nearly drowning.

I found K——­, five minutes later, sitting on the first marble terrace, with his pockets bulging out and an expression of ox-like satisfaction on his face.  That was an antidote which speedily sobered me.  The officer was farther on, and had also looted by his looks.  The sergeant of the guard—­well, I knew about him already.  K——­ smiled when I appeared, and said that I had been very quick and that he did not expect me so soon.  I did not take the trouble to answer; explanations are always apologies.  If I had told him the truth, he would never have believed me, and certainly never have understood.  And if I had lied there would have been the same result.  So I merely said I was ready, and that we had seen enough; and then, in silence, each man thinking of what he had done, we covered the way back very quickly and mounted our ponies.  All the way home during that long ride I was amused by watching the heavy posts of soldiery belonging to the other columns, who were so jealously guarding their own entrances.  How angry they would have been if they had only known!...  That was an extraordinary day.

VII

THE FEW REMAINS

End of August, 1900.

* * * * *

Imperceptibly, I believe, things are settling down a little and assuming broad outlines which can be more easily understood as the days go by.  Most people who went through the siege have now gone away.  A few remaining missionaries and their converts have flowed far away and quartered themselves in some of the residences of the minor Manchu princes, and are now selling off what they have found by auction.  They have the special permission of the Ministers and Generals to act in this way.  Loot-auctions,