From Nagasaki the transport was to proceed to Taku, but further than that no one on board knew; for the future movements of the troops would depend entirely upon circumstances.
“We are out for some hot fighting, I am certain of that,” said Major Morris to Gilbert, as the pair sat on the deck late on the afternoon of the second day out from Manila. It was cloudy, and there was a breeze blowing, which made it quite comfortable, considering they were in the tropics.
“I believe you, major; and I’ve been wondering if it wouldn’t be a good plan to put the boys through some drilling. They have been going it rather as they pleased up at Tarlac.”
“The colonel says he will begin drilling to-morrow. He wishes the boys to get their sea legs first.”
“I’ve been wondering how the Chinese are armed. Are they as backward in that as in some other things?”
“Hardly. You see the war with Japan opened their eyes; and since that time they have been drilling their soldiers under the directions of European officers, and supplying them with the best rifles in the market. I understand, too, that their forts are supplied with Krupp guns.”
“Then we won’t have a walk-over.”
“By no means, and for two reasons. First they are well armed, and in the second place there are so many of them that they may overpower the Allies by mere force of numbers. Nothing is known of Admiral Seymour’s relief party, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he and brave Captain McCalla’s men had been annihilated.”
“Do you think we are bound for Tien-Tsin?”
“I think we are bound for the Pei-Ho. The government intends to get into Pekin, and save Minister Conger and his legation, as well as the other Americans. We may have a long fight to get there, though.”