, 1923-03-23

pits there. Strained eyes peered up
and down the hillside for the first
glimpse of tho enemy. Far up
among the native houses and down
near the village groups of strange
figures could be seen moving about.
They Wore a Uniform much like that
the Boxers had worn in 1900, except
that Goa and trousers were alike
red and only the turban yellow. At
intervals shells fell hero and there
about the walls.
Toward 0 o'clock considerable &C.
tivity was noted IN tr- nm Several
squads OF the red and yellow figures
appeared in the open. Then n small
field gun was dragged into view and
set In position. The Instance was
hardly more than 200 yards; they
meant to fire point-blank.
NJ. Pourmcnt went out to the up
per redoubt and studied the scene
through field glasses. The men
begged permission to fire. but the
engineer ordered them to wat.
The little red ahI1 as1ow mon
gathered back of the gun. Then a
shell whirred over the compound and
on across the valley, exploding
against the opposite hill.
There was still another wait. Then
a shell carried away part of a chin
ney of the residence. The sound Of
distant cheers floated downhill. The
little men clustered about the gun.
NJ. Pourmont lowered his glasses
and nodded. The machine gun
opened fire, spraying its stream OF
bullets directly on the crowded
figures.
They seemed to sit or lie down de
liberately enough. Others appeared
to be moving away slowly toward
the houses. though when NJ. Pour
mont gave them a look through his
glasses It became evident that their
legs were moving rapidly. Soon all
who could get away were gone. leav-
ing heaped-up mounds OF red near
tho gun ans smaller dots OF red scat
tering the path of h retreat.
A shout sounded up the hill. All
turned. From his rife pit. the lean
figure of Jonathan Brachsy ap-
peared followed by another. Then
they started IN tho hillside.
Betty witnessed tho scene from an
upper window. She heard the rat-tat-
tat Of the machine gun; through n
pair Of glasses she saw tho rod-clad
LOCKERS fall. all without clearly real
izlne that this was battle and death.
1t seemed n calm enough picture. But
when Brachey started up tho hill.
her heart stopped.
At dusk the outoosts were relieved.
Vr-t- D-~.I.-~ AnNn-rI the rnfp
Bettv was there. waiting. a tremu-
lous mile towering ab1ut her tender
little mouth and about her misty
eyes.
He paused. IN surprise and pleas
ure. She gave him n hand, hesitant-
Is, her arms went around his neck.
His men struggled YEARLY
past, their days work o Not one
looked back. She was almost sorry,
for that and for the dusk. Arm In
arm they entered the compound and
walked to tho steps OF the residence.
But that night. shells struck with
in the comptnnd. One wrecked a
corner Of Nine. Pourmont kitchen
Another destroyed a tent. killing n
chinese woman and woundlng a man
and two girls.
By daylight the rod and yellow
lines were closed about the com
pound. Bullets ratified against the
walls. Tho upper windows of tho
residence were barricaded now with
sandbaEs. Five more were wounded
during the day. VIC OF them White
NJ. Pourmont's n moved with
difficulty, but brought in reports OF
feasts and orgies at Hangs headquar-
ters down the valley. where. sur,
rounded by his full rctlnue, the old
Manchu was preparing to revel In
slaughter.
As the days passed. the sense OF
danger grew deeper: the faces one
saw about the compound were a
doTtsed expression. They talked.
heavily. where tho casual was in.
tended. a settling down TO a siege.
one night Mr.. Pc went out on a
scouting trip. He did not return.