to understand. Then suddenly, as I looked, there were several rifle
shots, a scuffle and some shouting, and as I galloped back in a sweat
of apprehension I saw one of my men emerge from the huge
_porte-cochere_ of a native inn mounted on a black mule. My men were
coolly at work. They were providing themselves with a necessary
convenience for moving about freely over the immense distances. In the
courtyard of the inn two dead men lay, one with his head half blown
off, the second with a gaping wound in his chest. My remaining
servants were harnessing mules to carts, and each, in addition, had a
pony, ready saddled to receive him, tied to an iron ring in the wall.
I angrily questioned them about the shots, and pointed to the ghastly
remains on the ground; but they, nothing abashed, as angrily answered
me, saying that the men had resisted and had to be killed. Then, as I
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