d.

The little group of foreigners in this town is popularly supposed to
have access to the most far-reaching sources of information on matters
national and international; therefore when we saw fit to scatter our
resident pupils to their homes, the city concluded that secret
information had been conveyed to us of trouble ahead. That same night,
whilst we slept peacefully in our beds, terror so seized the populace
that every young woman who had a village home to which she could
withdraw, fled to it. Where horse or donkey was not available they
escaped on foot, carrying the bundle which held their clothes, and the
gates being shut at dark, numbers climbed down the steep incline of the
city wall rather than risk the dangers which they feared might threaten
them in the town.

Certainly an anxious time was ahead for all of us. Postal service was
interrupted, and we were completely cut off from intercourse by post or
telegraph with the outer world. It was uncertain whether the movement
would declare itself anti-foreign or anti-Christian, anti-dynastic or
anti-Republican. Such uncertainty was felt on this latter political
point, that it was a difficult time indeed for the large number whose
plain object was to be on the winning side, whichever it might be. Even
the commander of the military forces, sent to restore peace in a
neighbouring city, provided himself with the badge of either party, that
he might, at the city gate, affix that which was representative of the
predominant feeling. The Chinaman has for so long held the view that
politics are no individual concern of his, seeing that statesmen are
paid to give their time and brains to the consideration of such
questions, that it would seem unnatural to be expected to have an
opinion on such a technical matter as to whether the Government of the
land should remain Imperial or become Republican.

On our compound were collected seven foreign women and about a dozen
Chinese girls whose homes were in distant towns, varying from the
borders of Mongolia in the north to places twelve days' journey by road
in the south.

Much anxious thought was devoted to the question of how the various
members of our community could be placed in safe keeping, should it
become imperative for us to leave the place.

Finally, Sir John Jordan's recall of all British women and children
reached us, and feeling it our duty to obey orders, we hastily boarded a
few girls in suitable Christian homes,