like to risk them too close. There was a short lull, while immense
scaling ladders, made by the Americans for attacking the city walls in
case the relief had failed to get in any other way, were rushed up.
The idea was evidently to storm the walls and batter in the gates,
line upon line, until the Imperial residences were reached and the
inmost square taken. It might take many hours if there was much
resistance. The area to be covered was immense. To the north a faint
booming proclaimed that other forces, perhaps the Russians and the
Japanese still in rivalry, were at work on this huge Forbidden City,
racing once more to see that neither got the advantage of the other.
... All this meant slow work without startling developments. Everybody
was moving very deliberately, as if time was of no value. A new idea
came into my head. It was impossible to cover such distances
continually on foot without becoming exhausted. Already I was tired
out. I must seize a mount somewhere before it was too late. I must go
back.

Trotting quickly, I reached the Legation area to find that the scene
had changed. The ruined streets were once again filled with troops.
The transport and fighting trains of a number of Indian regiments,
which had spent the night somewhere in the outer Chinese city, had
evidently been hurriedly pushed forward at daylight to be ready for
any eventualities. Ambulance corps and some very heavy artillery were
mixed with all these moving men and kicking animals in hopeless
confusion, and rude shouts and curses filled the air as all tried to
push forward. Among these countless animals and their jostling drivers
it was almost impossible to fight one's way; but with a struggle I
reached the dry canal, and, once more jumping down, I had a road to
myself. I went straight along it.