# On to Pekin/Chapter 32

CHAPTER XXXII
BACK TO TAKU—CONCLUSION
Now that he had confessed so much, Nuggy Polk seemed anxious to relate all the particulars; and it was a good hour before Gilbert could get away from the sick man. By that time Nuggy was very weak, and the doctor forbade him to talk longer.
Gilbert returned to the encampment with a heart that was as light as a feather. He now knew exactly how matters stood with the Richmond Importing Company; and he felt certain that sooner or later he should come into every dollar which had belonged to his father's estate.
Nuggy had agreed to put everything into writing; and this document was drawn up two days later, in the presence of Gilbert, Mrs. Bartlett, and one of the prison doctors. At this time Nuggy was feeling fairly well, and the doctor said that it was likely he would be as well as ever in the course of a month or six weeks. The charge made against him by the Bartletts was dropped.
​While calling upon Nuggy, Gilbert asked him about Jerry Nickerson, and was told that Nickerson had gone back to Taku, to take the first ship he could get for home. "He is sick of affairs here," said Nuggy; "and as soon as I got to feeling bad he deserted me. I never want to see him again."
Shortly after Gilbert and the Bartletts had obtained Nuggy Polk's confession, the young lieutenant was ordered to Taku, to take charge of some goods which were arriving by transport. He journeyed by rail from Tien-Tsin to Tongku, and was glad to note that the country was now free from Boxers and Chinese troops, and that the natives were going to work again, almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"This campaign is about over," he reasoned. "The Chinese have been taught a lesson; and they'll be only too glad to negotiate, through Li Hung Chang, for peace." And this surmise was correct.
Arriving at Taku, almost the first man Gilbert met was Captain Ponsberry of the Columbia. The captain was as hale and hearty as ever, but rather doubtful concerning the disposition of the cargo he had on board of his vessel.
​"We had a mighty reesky time a-gittin' here," said the captain. "Run up agin' two Chinese junks full o' pirates; but we showed 'em a clean pair o' heels."
Gilbert told him of the condition of affairs at Tien-Tsin, and of how he dould find Amos Bartlett and Nuggy Polk. The next day the captain journeyed to Tien-Tsin, and spent two days with the Bartletts, paying a visit to Nuggy Polk each day. What was said and done never reached Gilbert's ears in detail; but later on he found out that the whole matter had been turned over to Amos Bartlett for adjustment, and that Nuggy had written a long letter to his father concerning the state of affairs. This letter came as a thunderbolt to Ramsey Polk; and reaching him as it did, immediately after an interview with the lawyer Gilbert had appointed to take up his case, he found himself so hedged in that he was compelled to bow to the inevitable.
"There has been a great mistake made," he wrote back. "I am willing to do what is right, and both Mr. Bartlett and Lieutenant Pennington shall have all that is coming to them. I hope you will not make the whole affair public. If necessary, I will ​resign from the company." And this he did; and other men, who were strictly honest, came to the head of the concern.
"We owe you a great deal, Lieutenant Pennington," said Amos Bartlett one day, when Gilbert was calling at the home in Tien-Tsin. "You are a smart young man."
"And a good soldier, too," put in Mrs. Bartlett.
"Yes, and the best of it is that he is one of our American soldiers," put in Jennie. "I believe all our American soldiers are brave."
At this Gilbert felt compelled to smile. "If they are not, they ought to be," he answered. "It's an honor to fight for Uncle Sam."
"It's a pity Mr. Polk didn't become a soldier," observed Mrs. Bartlett.
"He has already told me that he is going to join the army just as soon as he is well enough," answered Gilbert.
"I am glad to hear it," came from Amos Bartlett. "It will probably be the making of him."
Here let us draw to a close this tale of adventures in China. We have been with Gilbert during an ​exciting time in Manila, along on an interesting journey to Nagasaki and Taku; and we have followed the young lieutenant's stirring adventures while the Boxers and Chinese troops were being driven first from Tien-Tsin, then from Peitsang, Ho-Si-Wu, and Tung-Chow, and lastly from Pekin and the Imperial City itself. He had had no easy time of it; and now, when Pekin was in the hands of the Allies, and the diplomats of the various nations were trying to arrange for permanent peace, he was perfectly willing to rest, and to attend to the personal affairs which had cropped up so unexpectedly.
Yet he did not forget that Captain Banner was on a sick-bed; and he went to see his superior officer often, and also the other men of Company A who had dropped out of the ranks for one reason or another. He was glad to find the captain improving, although it was doubtful if the officer would assume his position for a long time to come.
"But never mind," said the captain to Gilbert one day. "I know my company is in good hands. The boys tell me you led them splendidly."
"I only did my duty," answered the young lieutenant. "I came here to fight, not to sit still and ​think about it. But I am glad we have captured Pekin."
"Yes, so am I. It will be a lesson that China will never forget. After this, foreign flags will have a new meaning to the Celestials; and our ministers and missionaries will come and go without molestation."
At the end of the week Gilbert was ordered back to Pekin. The great capital was now comparatively quiet, and the shops were beginning to open once more for business.
"I don't believe we'll have to remain in China much longer," said Major Morris to Gilbert. "The war is over."
"Let us hope so," answered Gilbert. "But, even if it isn't, I don't believe we'll have any more lively times than we had when the cry was: On to Pekin!"