His outriders, who had swung themselves from their saddles, at last bowed to me.  They were a little pale, but quite collected.  “Excellency,” they said, “forgive him; it is not his fault.  He has been frightened into semi-insanity.” “Hsia hu-tu-lo," they said.  Yes, that is the phrase, frightened into semi-lunacy.  They are employing this for everyone.  The tragedy has been so immense, the strain has been endured for so many months, there has been so much of it, that all minds excepting those of the common people have become a little unhinged.  Half the time you speak to men you are not understood; they look at you with staring eyes, wondering whether the rifle or the bayonet is to follow the question.  It is past curing for the time being.

Meanwhile Prince Ching has got in safely, and has been given a big residence, which is closely guarded by the Japanese.  Perhaps the modus vivendi will after all be arranged.

XI

THE IMPOSSIBLE

30th September, 1900.

* * * * *

Prince Ching has been here a number of days now—­I have not even taken the trouble to note how many—­but still nothing has been done.  They say that half the Powers refuse to treat with him until things are better arranged, and that the Russians have already raised insuperable difficulties because they say the Japanese have the big Manchu in their pocket.  Others argue that expeditions must really be launched against a number of cities in Northern China, where hideous atrocities have been committed, and where missionaries and converts were butchered in countless numbers during the Boxer reign.  Until these expeditions have marched and had their revenge, there can be no treating.  There must be more killing, more blood.  That is what people say.

The fleeing Court has reached Taiyuanfu, it is reliably reported.  This is three hundred miles away, but the Court does not yet feel safe; it is going farther west, straight on to Hsianfu, the capital of Shensi province, which is seven hundred miles away.  That is a big gulf to bridge; yet if there is any advance of European corps in that direction, already Chinese say that the Empress will flee into the terribly distant Kansu province—­perhaps to Langchou, which is another four hundred miles inland; perhaps even to Kanchau or Suchau, which are five hundred miles nearer Central Asia.  These cities, lying at the very southwestern extremity of the Great Wall of China, look out over the vast steppes of Mongolia, where there are nothing but Mongols belonging to many hordes, who live in the saddle and drive their flocks of sheep and their herds of ponies in front of them, forever moving.  It is nearly two thousand miles in all; no European armies could ever follow, not in five years.  They would slowly melt away on that long, interminable road.  With such a line of retreat open the Court is absolutely safe, and knows it.  It can act as it pleases.