“It can’t be worse than it was in the plain before Liao-Yang,” replied Ben. “I never saw such a horrible sight in my life. It was enough to give one the nightmare.”
The command under Gilbert had been detached from General Kuroki’s army and was now placed on guard in the vicinity of Liao-Yang. Such a guard was absolutely necessary, for the purpose of maintaining order and to guard private property from the depredations of the Chunchuses, and ordinary plunderers.
Gilbert’s first visit to the town was paid two days after the worst of the fighting came to an end. He was accompanied by Ben and a small detachment of soldiers, who were to guard the property of certain foreigners who had asked for protection.
The great majority of the Russians had left Liao-Yang, but here and there one was discovered disguised as a Chinaman, or else claiming to be a German or some other foreigner. Those who had not been soldiers or spies, and those who behaved themselves, were not molested, but all others were promptly placed under arrest.
“The town must have been a hot place while the fighting was going on,” was Ben’s comment, as he and his chum surveyed the scene before them. “Just look how the shells ripped up that building yonder, and how they riddled the house on the corner.”
“You are right, Ben. And yet this can’t be a patch to the bombardment at Port Arthur. They have had to endure it for weeks and weeks. It must be simply awful.”
“Do you think Port Arthur will fall?”
“I shouldn’t wonder. Stoessel can’t hold out forever, no matter how brave he and his garrison are. Sooner or later their ammunition and food will run out.”
As the pair walked along one of the streets they passed a man in Chinese dress whose face looked strangely familiar to Gilbert. The man stared at Gilbert as if he had seen a ghost.
“That’s queer,” murmured the young captain, and stopped short.