On  the  March

finding  himself  being  driven  back  rapidly  on  Peking,
he  knew  his  head  would  be  in  danger,  so,  to  save
the  Empress  Dowager  the  trouble  of  removing  it,
he  had  taken  his  own  life.
The  conversation  was  so  interesting  that  I  had  not
noticed  the  column  marching,  though  I  had  heard
the  bugle  sound.  The  Bengal  Lancers  were  the
rear -guard  for  the  day  and  the  only  soldiers  still
on  the  spot.  I  experienced  a  rude  awakening  when
the  Indian  officer  in  command  called  out,  "  Gome
'long,  sir  ;  Chinee  catchee  you  !  "  This  was  the  first
time  I  had  felt  afraid  of  being  caught.  There  was
now  no  time  for  delay,  so  with  a  hasty  wave  of  the
hand  I  left  my  friend  the  Chinaman,  and  galloped
into  position.  This  ride  cost  me  much  aching  of
heart,  for  it  was  pitiable  to  see  our  weary,  footsore
soldiers  trudging  along  under  a  sun  of  intense  power,
the  thermometer  standing  at  102°  in  the  shade.
Till  the  rains  begin,  the  heat  of  North  China  is  dry
and  not  very  trying,  but  at  this  time  the  air  was
damp  and  the  heat  most  relaxing.  In  ordinary  cir-
cumstances the  residents  of  North  China  would
carry — umbrellas  ;  but  this  of  course  was  out  of  the
question  now,  and  so  we  rode,  or  marched  on  foot,
and  made  the  best  of  our  discomfort.  I  felt  the
heat  all  down  the  middle  of  my  spine,  and,  dis-
mounting under  a  tree,  sat  down  to  cool  and  rest.
One  of  the  many  doctors  rode  up  and  inquired  as
to  my  condition.  I  assured  him  that  I  was  well ;
and  not  wishing  to  be  "  counted  out,"  I  remounted
and  rode  to  my  place.
