The Holbrook news., 1912-06-07

ious to get on with our journey, but
 it seemed quite impossible as there
 was not an engine to spare, the i'm
 perialists having secured most of the
 railway rolling stock. Moreover, we
 heard that the rails were being torn
 up, bridges broken, and contact mines
 placed on the track That night we
 did not sleep much, and huddled in
 our rugs listened to the passing trains
 full of returning rebels. The sentrfes
 who had been placed to guard us had
 now departed with the other soldiers,
 leaving us quite unprotected on the
 railway track. Hot food was no long
 CT obtainable at the station, the cook
 having flown as well as the railway
 employees. We now felt 1t was time
 to take matters into our own hands.
 so after some deliberation two men of our party went of on foot to see for themselves how matters really were up the line. They returned at night fall the same day, having done some nine miles, to find a bridge broken and rails torn up.
 Secured TroIleys.
 Judging 1t impossible for a train to pass over this gap they retraced their steps. They were overtaken by a trolley loaded with soldiers, which gave them the idea of transporting the whole party in this fashion If trolleys were to be obtained We succeeded in securing four, much to the station masters dismay. On these we piled our luggage. The ladies sat on the top, wrapped in rugs, and so the third stage of our Journey began. None were sorry to leave the chilly railway car which had afforded us free lodging for four uncomfortable nights. We very soon met some soldiers on a small trolley. which they surrendered to us without demur. This became our pioneer tHolley. going ahead to see if the line was clear. We carried red, white and blue flag indicating neutrality, the white flag having been adopted by the revolutionary party.
 Tt was glorious winter weather, exceedingly cold, but the sun shone and kept us from feeling frostbitten. We were surrounded by high hills all the way, while in the valley below us lay the frozen river. Little temples were perched high up on the hills. and We passed deserted villages whose inhabitants must have fled to more distant villages. We went through many tunnels, generally with fear in our hearts, for there were no lights and no signals. The line was never level for long Sometimes we would descend rapidly for mile or two, and then turn sharply on an up- grade when it became necessary to push the trolleys. We were able to engage four coolies to help, and they the spot where the rails had been torn up, when the trolleys had to be lifted of. carried, and replaced. A break down gang had luckily been at work and had mended the broken bridge and replaced some of the rails.
 At nightfall we came to a railway l station, where we determined to pass the night even If it meant breaking l open the door. It proved not to be necessary, for friendly Chinese rail way porter appeared with the key. | He also swept floors, lit fires, and even made biscuits for our breakfast | the next morning. We were of again | at daybreak, and before noon encoun- tered the first detachment of the em- peror's soldiers coming by train into 5hansi They came sharply round corner, and our pioneers only just had time to jump of their trolley and avoid a collision. Once more our .rolleys were unloaded and pulled of he rails to let the train pass by.
 "An hour later we had crossed the frontier and passed close to the bat lefeld. At Man tz Kuan we were by the imperial soldiers in heir gray uniforms and fiat German caps. There we met mill ary attache from the British legation It Peking, who obtained a reserved ,ar for us in a train carrying troops o Si Gia Gwang Our adventure was low ended. We were bona fide tray ,lers, and the next evening saw us in rientsin-
 "Time efraces the recollection of fa- igue and discomfort, but 1t cannot ,bliterate from our memories the indly courtesy We received from the now no more known 6 revolutionaries, but as Chinese pa- riots, who fought and won liberty tor heir country"