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The National Geographic Magazine 



poorest of meat. The meat was that of 

 horses, varied by an occasional mule; 

 even that was so reduced in quantity that 

 only three ounces per diem was allowed 

 for each individual. Milk was a luxury; 

 even condensed milk beyond our reach, 

 and no fewer than six or seven infant 

 children perished for want of it. 



While the men fought or mounted 

 guard the women made sand bags from 

 day to day to the number of many thou- 

 sands for the strengthening of our forti- 

 fications, and by their calm demeanor 

 and hopeful words they strengthened 

 the arms of their brave defenders. 



On one occasion it was deemed neces- 

 sary to make a desperate effort to regain 

 possession of a portion of the city wall 

 which dominated these legations. A 

 company of some 60 men — American, 

 British, and Russian — was formed under 

 the lead of Captain Myers, of the U. S. 

 Marines. When ready to make the at- 

 tack, and hoping to take the enemy by 

 surprise, he made a short speech'. 



" My men," said he, " within yonder 

 legation there are 300 women and chil- 

 dren whose lives depend upon our suc- 

 cess. If we fail, they perish and we 

 perish with them; so when I say ' GO,' 

 then go." 



The Americans and English were 

 thrilled by his words, and the Russians 

 understood his gestures. All felt that 

 it was a forlorn hope, and all were ready 

 to lay down their lives to insure success. 



The movement proved successful, and 

 that portion of the wall remained in the 

 possession of our men until our rescuers 

 entered by the water-gate beneath it. 



THE REUEF. 



When the siege began we expected 

 relief in a few days ; but when Sey- 

 mour's column was driven back we tried 

 to wait with patience for the coming of 

 the grand array under the eight banners. 

 Yet so closely were we shut up that we 

 had almost no information as to its move- 



ments, and our souls were sickened by 

 hope deferred. At length, when our 

 rations had run almost to the lowest 

 ebb, when we had horse meat for only 

 two days more and bread for no more 

 than a fortnight, so that starvation ac- 

 tually stared us in the face, one night, 

 on August 14, a sentr}^ rushed into Mr. 

 Conger's room, where I also was trying to 

 sleep, and cried out, ' ' They are coming; 

 they are coming; the army of relief I 

 I hear their guns ! " The minister and 

 I were soon in the open air ; we did not 

 wait to put on our clothes, for we had 

 never taken them off. We heard the 

 machine guns playing on the outer wall, 

 and never did music sound so sweet. It 

 was like the bagpipes of Havelock's 

 Highlanders to the ears of the besieged 

 at Tucknow. The ladies were wakened, 

 and soon men and women poured out 

 from all the buildings and listened with 

 irrepressible excitement to the music of 

 the guns. Women threw themselves on 

 each other's necks and wept, while men 

 grasped hands with feelings too deep 

 for utterance. 



The next morning the great gates of 

 the legation were thrown open, and in 

 rode a company of Indian cavalry. They 

 were, I thought, and I have no doubt 

 every one of our besieged garrison 

 thought the same, the finest men I had 

 ever looked upon. 



The siege was ended. The rest of 

 the army entered by the great front gate 

 of the city, the key of which had been 

 captured from the fiying enemy by Cap- 

 tain Squires, of our legation, who is* one 

 of the heroes of the siege. The next 

 da}'^ we all joined in singing a Te Deum 

 in the tennis court of the legation, and 

 Dr. Smith in a short address pointed out 

 ten circumstances in each of . which the 

 finger of God was visible in our deliver- 

 ance. He might have extended them 

 a hundred. After thanking -God, it 

 only remains to thank our noble Presi- 

 dent for having dispatched the army 

 and navy to our succor without waiting 



