274 REMINISCENCES OF 



allowed, that he would give me a fresh sawor to go 

 back to Yung-chow and hurry them out. This Sir 

 H. Grant at once did, promising not to fight until 

 forced into it by the Chinese, who at any moment 

 might force on the battle. 



" Two Sikhs of Probyns' Horse were placed 

 under my orders, and fixing my handkerchief on the 

 spear-head of one to represent a flag of truce, we 

 galloped towards the Chinese lines. Poor Brabazon, 

 as I was starting, asked to be allowed to accompany 

 me, and he joined me at a gallop before we reached 

 the first line of the enemy's skirmishers. They 

 allowed us through, but at the main body we were 

 stopped, but by pointing to my flag of truce and 

 pushing past them, they allowed us to continue, and 

 we did not once go out of a gallop until we arrived 

 at the quarters we had had in Yung-chow. There I 

 found, the escort quite unconscious of danger. All 

 the gentlemen were out shopping. Parkes had 

 been there, but finding none of them in had left a 

 note in pencil on the table for them, and had ridden 

 on to try and find the Prince Tsai. As Parkes 

 did not know Hindostanee he had been unable to 

 tell the escort to get ready. I at once gave orders 

 for them to prepare, and in the meantime de 

 Norman, Huntly and Anderson came in. I then 

 went with de Norman to look for Parkes in the 

 city, and soon met him coming from the Prince 

 Tsai, whom he had seen. He said no time was to 

 be lost in making our escape. I then informed him 

 of the state of things with our army. We found 



