re now drinking as if they, too, had been burned dry with thirst.
Around all our people were crowding a confused mass of marines,
sailors, volunteers, Ministers--everyone. Many of the women were
crying and patting the sweating soldiery that never ceased streaming
in. People you had not seen for weeks, who might have, indeed, been
dead a hundred times without your being any the wiser, appeared now
for the first time from the rooms in which they had been hidden and
acted hysterically. They were pleased to rush about and fetch water
and begin to tell their experiences. All that day, I was told, these
hidden ones had taken a sudden interest in the hospital; had roused
themselves from their lethargy and fright, because the end was coming.
Now....

As we stood about, twisting our fingers and cheering, and trying to
find something sensible to say or to do, there was a rush of people
towards the lines connecting with the American Legation and the Tartar
Wall This caused another tremendous outburst of cheering and
counter-cheering, and led by C----, the American Minister, columns of
American infantry in khaki suits and slouch hats came pressing in. In
they came--more and more men, until the open squares were choking with
them. These men were more dog-tired than the Indian troops, and their
uniforms were stained and clotted with the dust and sweat flung on
them by the rapid advance. Soon there was such confusion and
excitement that all order was lost, until the Americans began filing
out again, and the native troops were pushed to the northern line of
defences. In the turmoil and delight everything had been temporarily
forgotten, but the growing roar of rifles had at length called
attention to the fact that there might be more fierce fighting. Every
minute added to the din, and soon the ceaseless patter of sound showed
machine-guns were firing like fury. Somebody called out to me that
there was a fine sight to be seen from the Tartar Wall, for those who
did not mind a few more bullets; and, enticed by the storm of sound
that rose ever higher and higher, I ran hastily through our lines
towards the city bastions. Every street and lane from the Ch'ien Men
Gate was now choked with troops of the relieving column, all British
and American, as far as I could see, and already the pioneers attached
to each battalion were levelling our rude defences to the ground in
order to facilitate the passage of the guns and transport waggons....
Str