His thoughts were interrupted at last by the entrance of the Commandant. There was a complacent smile upon his broad German face.
The Kaiser will be pleased, said he, rubbing his hands. Yes, certainly it should mean a decoration. Defence of Ichau against the Boxers by Colonel Dresler, late Major of the 114th Hanoverian Infantry. Splendid resistance of small garrison against overwhelming odds. It will certainly appear in the Berlin papers.
Then you think we are saved? said the old man, with neither emotion nor exultation in his voice.
The Colonel smiled.
Why, Professor, said he, I have seen you more excited on the morning when you brought back Lepidus Mercerensis in your collecting-box.
The fly was safe in my collecting-box first, the entomologist answered. I have seen so many strange turns of Fate in my long life that I do not grieve nor do I rejoice until I know that I have cause. But tell me the news.
Well, said the Colonel, lighting his long pipe, and stretching his gaitered legs in the bamboo chair, Ill stake my military reputation that all is well. They are advancing swiftly, the firing has died down to show that resistance is at an end, and within an hour well see them over the brow. Ainslie is to fire his gun three times from the church tower as a signal, and then we shall make a little sally on our own account.
And you are waiting for this signal?
Yes, we are waiting for Ainslies shots. I thought I would spend the time with you, for I had something to ask you.
What was it?
Well, you remember your talk about the other siege the siege of Sung-tong. It interests me very much from a professional point of view. Now that the ladies and civilians are gone you will have no objection to discussing it.
It is not a pleasant subject.
No, I dare say not. Mein Gott! it was indeed a tragedy. But you have seen how I have conducted the defence here. Was it wise? Was it good? Was it worthy of the traditions of the German army?
I think you could have done no more.
Thank you. But this other place, was it as ably defended? To me a comparison of this sort is very interesting. Could it have been saved?
No; everything possible was done save only one thing.
Ah! there was one omission. What was it?
No one above all, no woman should have been allowed to fall alive into the hands of the Chinese.
The Colonel held out his broad red hand and enfolded the long, white, nervous fingers of the Professor.
You are right a thousand times right. But do not think that this has escaped my thoughts. For myself I would die fighting, so would Ralston, so would Ainslie. I have talked to them, and it is settled. But the others, I have spoken with them, but what are you to do? There are the priest, and the missionary, and the women.
Would they wish to be taken alive?
They would not promise to take steps to prevent it. They would not lay hands on their own lives. Their consciences would not permit it. Of course, it is all over now, and we need not speak of such dreadful things. But what would you have done in my place?
Kill them.
Mein Gott! You would murder them?
In mercy I would kill them. Man, I have been through it. I have seen the death of the hot eggs; I have seen the death of the boiling kettle; I have seen the women my God! I wonder that I have ever slept sound again. His usually impassive face was working and quivering with the agony of the remembrance. I was strapped to a stake with thorns in my eyelids to keep them open, and my grief at their torture was a less thing than my self-reproach when I thought that I could with one tube of tasteless tablets have snatched them at the last instant from the hands of their tormentors. Murder! I am ready to stand at the Divine bar and answer for a thousand murders such as that! Sin! Why, it is such an act as might well cleanse the stain of real sin from the soul. But if, knowing what I do, I should have failed this second time to do it, then, by Heaven! there is no hell deep enough or hot enough to receive my guilty craven spirit.
The Colonel rose, and again his hand clasped that of the Professor.
You speak sense, said he. You are a brave, strong man, who know your own mind. Yes, by the Lord! you would have been my great help had things gone the other way. I have often thought and wondered in the dark, early hours of the morning, but I did not know how to do it. But we should have heard Ainslies shots before now; I will go and see.
Again the old scientist sat alone with his thoughts. Finally, as neither the guns of the relieving force nor yet the signal of their approach sounded upon his ears, he rose, and was about to go himself upon the ramparts to make inquiry when the door flew open, and Colonel Dresler staggered into the room. His face was of a ghastly yellow-white, and his chest heaved like that of a man exhausted with running. There was brandy on the side-table, and he gulped down a glassful. Then he dropped heavily into a chair.
Well, said the Professor, coldly, they are not coming?
No, they cannot come.
There was silence for a minute or more, the two men staring blankly at each other.
Do they all know?
No one knows but me.
How did you learn?
I was at the wall near the postern gate the little wooden gate that opens on the rose garden. I saw something crawling among the bushes. There was a knocking at the door. I opened it. It was a Christian Tartar, badly cut about with swords. He had come from the battle. Commodore Wyndham, the Englishman, had sent him. The relieving force had been checked. They had shot away most of their ammunition. They had entrenched themselves and sent back to the ships for more. Three days must pass before they could come. That was all. Mein Gott! it was enough.
The Professor bent his shaggy grey brows.
Where is the man? he asked.
He is dead. He died of loss of blood. His body lies at the postern gate.
And no one saw him?
Not to speak to.
Oh! they did see him, then?
Ainslie must have seen him from the church tower. He must know that I have had tidings. He will want to know what they are. If I tell him they must all know.
How long can we hold out?
An hour or two at the most.
Is that absolutely certain?
I pledge my credit as a soldier upon it.
Then we must fall?
Yes, we must fall.
There is no hope for us?
None.
The door flew open and young Ainslie rushed in. Behind him crowded Ralston, Patterson, and a crowd of white men and of native Christians.
Youve had news, Colonel?
Professor Mercer pushed to the front.
Colonel Dresler has just been telling me. It is all right. They have halted, but will be here in the early morning. There is no longer any danger.
A cheer broke from the group in the doorway. Everyone was laughing and shaking hands.
But suppose they rush us before to-morrow morning? cried Ralston, in a petulant voice. What infernal fools these fellows are not to push on! Lazy devils, they should be court-martialled, every man of them.
Its all safe, said Ainslie. These fellows have had a bad knock. We can see their wounded being carried by the hundred over the hill. They must have lost heavily. They wont attack before morning.
No, no, said the Colonel; it is certain that they wont attack before morning. None the less, get back to your posts. We must give no point away. He left the room with the rest, but as he did so he looked back, and his eyes for an instant met those of the old Professor. I leave it in your hands, was the message which he flashed. A stern set smile was his answer.
Its all safe, said Ainslie. These fellows have had a bad knock. We can see their wounded being carried by the hundred over the hill. They must have lost heavily. They wont attack before morning.
No, no, said the Colonel; it is certain that they wont attack before morning. None the less, get back to your posts. We must give no point away. He left the room with the rest, but as he did so he looked back, and his eyes for an instant met those of the old Professor. I leave it in your hands, was the message which he flashed. A stern set smile was his answer.
The afternoon wore away without the Boxers making their last attack. To Colonel Dresler it was clear that the unwonted stillness meant only that they were reassembling their forces from their fight with the relief column, and were gathering themselves for the inevitable and final rush. To all the others it appeared that the siege was indeed over, and that the assailants had been crippled by the losses which they had already sustained. It was a joyous and noisy party, therefore, which met at the supper-table, when the three bottles of Lachryma Christi were uncorked and the famous port of caviare was finally opened. It was a large jar, and, though each had a tablespoonful of the delicacy, it was by no means exhausted. Ralston, who was an epicure, had a double allowance. He pecked away at it like a hungry bird. Ainslie, too, had a second helping. The Professor took a large spoonful himself, and Colonel Dresler, watching him narrowly, did the same. The ladies ate freely, save only pretty Miss Patterson, who disliked the salty, pungent taste. In spite of the hospitable entreaties of the Professor, her portion lay hardly touched at the side of her plate.
You dont like my little delicacy. It is a disappointment to me when I had kept it for your pleasure, said the old man. I beg that you will eat the caviare.
I have never tasted it before. No doubt I should like it in time.
Well, you must make a beginning. Why not start to educate your taste now? Do, please!
Pretty Jessie Pattersons bright face shone with her sunny, boyish smile.
Why, how earnest you are! she laughed. I had no idea you were so polite, Professor Mercer. Even if I do not eat it I am just as grateful.
You are foolish not to eat it, said the Professor, with such intensity that the smile died from her face and her eyes reflected the earnestness of his own. I tell you it is foolish not to eat caviare to-night.
But why why? she asked.
Because you have it on your plate. Because it is sinful to waste it.
There! there! said stout Mrs. Patterson, leaning across. Dont trouble her any more. I can see that she does not like it. But it shall not be wasted. She passed the blade of her knife under it, and scraped it from Jessies plate on to her own. Now it wont be wasted. Your mind will be at ease, Professor.
But it did not seem at ease. On the contrary, his face was agitated like that of a man who encounters an unexpected and formidable obstacle. He was lost in thought.
The conversation buzzed cheerily. Everyone was full of his future plans.
No, no, there is no holiday for me, said Father Pierre. We priests dont get holidays. Now that the mission and school are formed I am to leave it to Father Amiel, and to push westwards to found another.
You are leaving? said Mr. Patterson. You dont mean that you are going away from Ichau?
Father Pierre shook his venerable head in waggish reproof. You must not look so pleased, Mr. Patterson.
Well, well, our views are very different, said the Presbyterian, but there is no personal feeling towards you, Father Pierre. At the same time, how any reasonable educated man at this time of the worlds history can teach these poor benighted heathen that
A general buzz of remonstrance silenced the theology.
What will you do yourself, Mr. Patterson? asked someone.
Well, Ill take three months in Edinburgh to attend the annual meeting. Youll be glad to do some shopping in Princes Street, Im thinking, Mary. And you, Jessie, youll see some folk your own age. Then we can come back in the fall, when your nerves have had a rest.
Indeed, we shall all need it, said Miss Sinclair, the mission nurse. You know, this long strain takes me in the strangest way. At the present moment I can hear such a buzzing in my ears.
Well, thats funny, for its just the same with me, cried Ainslie. An absurd up-and-down buzzing, as if a drunken bluebottle were trying experiments on his register. As you say, it must be due to nervous strain. For my part I am going back to Peking, and I hope I may get some promotion over this affair. I can get good polo here, and thats as fine a change of thought as I know. How about you, Ralston?
Oh, I dont know. Ive hardly had time to think. I want to have a real good sunny, bright holiday and forget it all. It was funny to see all the letters in my room. It looked so black on Wednesday night that I had settled up my affairs and written to all my friends. I dont quite know how they were to be delivered, but I trusted to luck. I think I will keep those papers as a souvenir. They will always remind me of how close a shave we have had.
Yes, I would keep them, said Dresler.
His voice was so deep and solemn that every eye was turned upon him.
What is it, Colonel? You seem in the blues to-night. It was Ainslie who spoke.
No, no; I am very contented.
Well, so you should be when you see success in sight. I am sure we are all indebted to you for your science and skill. I dont think we could have held the place without you. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to drink the health of Colonel Dresler, of the Imperial German army. Er soll leben hoch!
They all stood up and raised their glasses to the soldier, with smiles and bows.
His pale face flushed with professional pride.
I have always kept my books with me. I have forgotten nothing, said he. I do not think that more could be done. If things had gone wrong with us and the place had fallen you would, I am sure, have freed me from any blame or responsibility. He looked wistfully round him.
Im voicing the sentiments of this company, Colonel Dresler, said the Scotch minister, when I say but, Lord save us! whats amiss with Mr. Ralston?
He had dropped his face upon his folded arms and was placidly sleeping.
Dont mind him, said the Professor, hurriedly. We are all in the stage of reaction now. I have no doubt that we are all liable to collapse. It is only to-night that we shall feel what we have gone through.
Im sure I can fully sympathize with him, said Mrs. Patterson. I dont know when I have been more sleepy. I can hardly hold my own head up. She cuddled back in her chair and shut her eyes.
Well, Ive never known Mary do that before, cried her husband, laughing heartily. Gone to sleep over her supper! What ever will she think when we tell her of it afterwards? But the air does seem hot and heavy. I can certainly excuse any one who falls asleep to-night. I think that I shall turn in early myself.
Ainslie was in a talkative, excited mood. He was on his feet once more with his glass in his hand.
I think that we ought to have one drink all together, and then sing Auld Lang Syne, said he, smiling round at the company. For a week we have all pulled in the same boat, and weve got to know each other as people never do in the quiet days of peace. Weve learned to appreciate each other, and weve learned to appreciate each others nations. Theres the Colonel here stands for Germany. And Father Pierre is for France. Then theres the Professor for America. Ralston and I are Britishers. Then theres the ladies, God bless em! They have been angels of mercy and compassion all through the siege. I think we should drink the health of the ladies. Wonderful thing the quiet courage, the patience, the what shall I say? the fortitude, the the by George, look at the Colonel! Hes gone to sleep, too most infernal sleepy weather. His glass crashed down upon the table, and he sank back, mumbling and muttering, into his seat. Miss Sinclair, the pale mission nurse, had dropped off also. She lay like a broken lily across the arm of her chair. Mr. Patterson looked round him and sprang to his feet. He passed his hand over his flushed forehead.