d before he was able to use
his revolver received a serious wound from a rifle at point-blank range,
the bullet breaking his shoulder and entering the lung; notwithstanding,
he shot three of the enemy and walked back unaided to the hospital. For
this gallant action Captain Halliday was awarded the V.C. Captain
Strouts then took charge, and driving back the enemy captured some
rifles, and, what was most valuable, a large quantity of ammunition.

Danger from incendiarism was now removed, but a new peril appeared. The
enemy on the 26th opened fire at 1000 yards with a Krupp 2.7-inch gun;
this was silenced by rifle fire, and the next day, when a sortie was
made to take it, it had been withdrawn. As, however, it was known that
there were ten more in Pekin, all hands turned to making bomb-proof
shelters, and on the 28th the enemy mounted another gun at 300 yards,
but soon withdrew it when a sortie was made to take it.

It was at length found possible to make some reply, for an old
smooth-bore gun was found, and the projectiles the Russians had brought
were made use of, and a 1-pounder gun, which the enemy had posted but
100 yards off, was silenced after the ninth round. What a curious
instance of our Western ways this incident affords; the Chinese firing
upon our own people with the latest artillery made by ourselves, while
they are left to improvise a gun from a relic found in an old iron
store!

The enemy now began to give up their attempt to get into the British
legation, and to devote their attention to the Italians, Japanese,
French, and Germans, who protected most of the Chinese converts, against
whom they were increasingly savage; consequently the British marines had
to reinforce all the posts outside the legation.

On 16th July, Captain Strouts was killed--a very great loss to the
defence--and Captain Halliday being wounded, Captain Wray took command
of the marines and Sir Claude Macdonald of the legation.

On the 17th the Chinese Imperial authorities were getting frightened, no
doubt affected by the fall of Tientsin, and till the 4th of August,
except for occasional sniping practice, suspended hostilities, and again
made suggestions that the embassies should retire under escort to
Tientsin, and leave the native Christians to the Government, who
promised them protection; but, nevertheless, the firing continued after
4th August, especially at night, and there were many casualties, but
beyond this there was no