Chapter I: Preface

“On to Pekin” relates the adventures of a young lieutenant of the regulars, who is sent from Manila to Taku, China, to participate in the campaign of the allied forces of the United States, England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, and Japan against the Chinese order of the Boxers and those government troops of the Province of Shantung who aided in the great rebellion against all foreigners.

In the story are related, first, the bombardment of the Taku forts and the capturing of Taku and Tongku; next the history of the ill-fated expedition under Vice-Admiral Seymour, R.N., to relieve Pekin, and the bombardment and capture of Tien-Tsin; and, lastly, that bold dash of the Internationals for Pekin and the relief of the consuls, missionaries, and other foreigners who had been besieged for fifty-six days.

It may be that some of my readers will think Gilbert Pennington an unusually clever officer, and one quite young to be occupying the position of lieutenant of the regulars. But it must be remembered that Gilbert had served in Cuba with the Rough Riders, and in the Philippines under General MacArthur and General Lawton, and that he took to army service as naturally as a duck takes to water. He was one of those soldiers of whom Grant declared, “They are born, those fellows, not made.”

The campaign in China has been as short as it was brilliant; and, with Earl Li Hung Chang and others empowered to treat for peace upon almost any terms, it is to be hoped that a permanent settlement will be made, which will insure both foreigners and China against all further trouble. War, at its best, is a terrible thing; and the less our country has of it, the better it will be for our people.

Once more thanking my young friends for the interest they have shown in my previous stories, I place this volume in their hands, trusting they will find its perusal both pleasurable and full of profit.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

NEWARK, N.J.,
OCT. 4, 1900.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCING THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT 1

II. CLOSE QUARTERS IN THE JUNGLE 10

III. SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF CHINA 20

IV. CAPTAIN PONSBERRY HAS HIS SAY 31

V. GILBERT MEETS NUGGY POLK 41

VI. OFF FOR CHINA 51

VII. WHAT CAUSED THE WAR 60

VIII. A DISCOVERY ON SHIPBOARD 70

IX. GILBERT REACHES A CONCLUSION 80

X. ABOUT AN IMPORTANT LETTER 92

XI. THE RELIEF OF ADMIRAL SEYMOUR’S PARTY 102

XII. A STORM AND A QUARREL 112

XIII. THE LANDING AT TONGKU 123

XIV. A FIRST BATTLE ON CHINESE SOIL 133

XV. FIGHTING ALONG THE PEI-HO 144

XVI. ENTERING TIEN-TSIN UNDER DIFFICULTIES 154

XVII. GILBERT MEETS AMOS BARTLETT 164

XVIII. THE SPY IN THE RIVER 174

XIX. SAVING THE MISSION HOUSE 187

XX. THE BOMBARDMENT OF TIEN-TSIN 198

XXI. CHARGING UPON THE NATIVE QUARTER 210

XXII. AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE 220

XXIII. GILBERT’S NARROW ESCAPE 229

XXIV. NUGGY POLK’S SET-BACK 239

XXV. “ON TO PEKIN!” 250

XXVI. THE BATTLE OF PEITSANG 260

XXVII. A RAINY MARCH TO TUNG-CHOW 269

XXVIII. THE FIGHT BEFORE PEKIN 279

XXIX. HOW THE BESIEGED WERE RELIEVED 286

XXX. THE BURNING OF THE PRISON 296

XXXI. GILBERT RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL 305

XXXII. BACK TO TAKU--CONCLUSION 317

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

“Then Colonel Liscum fell to rise no more” _Frontispiece_

PAGE

“‘You’ll be all right if you’ll only stand up’” 45

“Nuggy Polk was making off down the dim passageway” 98

“The yellow man was on the point of blazing away at
Gilbert’s ear” 145

“‘See anything unusual?’” he asked 180

“The Boxer kicked the prostrate officer in the side” 230

“It was now a hand-to-hand contest” 271

“‘I’ll save him anyway,’ he thought” 308

ON TO PEKIN