useless, and
as it seemed more than likely that with the accurate range they had
got the Chinese gunners would soon be pitching their shells right into
our faces, we decided to climb down off the staging and man a lower
line of loopholes pierced two feet above the ground line. Here we
could see very little in front on account of the ruins. We were not a
minute too soon, for the very next missile struck our front wall
fairly and squarely, and showered bricks and ragged bits of segment on
to the platform above us. Luckily the planks and timber with which
this edifice was stoutly constructed saved our heads, and the loosened
bricks, piling up on the improvised flooring above us, made our
position below even more secure. Seizing the breathing time the clumsy
reloading of the gun attacking us gave, we pulled spare rafters and
bricks around us in the shape of a blockhouse, and thus apparently
buried in the ruins of the house, we-were soon in reality quite
comfortably and securely ensconced. Slowly and methodically the
artillerymen demolished the upper part of our fort, and brought tons
and tons of bricks and slates rattling about our ears; but with the
exception of many bruises impartially distributed among all of us, no
one was further hurt. After two hours' bombardment and throwing forty
or fifty shells right on top of us, the enemy apparently tired of the
amusement, and we, on our part, seeing no good in remaining where we
were, sallied out of the side of the building and suddenly faced the
skirmishers, who were still lying on the sunburned bricks. The Chinese
soldiery, alarmed at this sudden appearance when they must have
thought us dead, took precipitously to flight, and in their haste to
escape so exposed themselves that we had no difficulty in rolling over
a couple. As soon as they had retreated we reoccupied a little
position slightly in advance of the house, and lay there contentedly
munching biscuit and having a pull at the water bottles. It is
extraordinary how callous you become.

It was not until four or five o'clock in the afternoon that we were
relieved, and then in a fashion that highly flattered our vanity. The
little Japanese colonel appeared in person with a small force of
riflemen and some stretcher bearers, and he fell back in astonishment
when he saw our occupation. We had pushed forward a lookout a few
yards in advance, and the rest of us were playing noughts and crosses
on some broken tiles. In front