“It would certainly be more convenient,” the colonel said.
Rex then told the story at length. He was saved much time in explaining the nature of the defences from the colonelʼs knowledge of the ground. The Russian officer made several comments here and there.
“Why did they not hold the customs–house?” he asked. “It was a strong building and but a short distance from the Fu.”
“Yes, sir, but I believe that it was considered that the force was barely sufficient to hold the Legation. Indeed, the occupation of the Fu was to some extent an afterthought, and it was necessitated by the great number of the Christian Chinese who came in for shelter, and for whom it was absolutely impossible to provide in the Legations. It was for the same reason that the Austrian, Italian, and Dutch Legations and the Pekin Club were abandoned. A portion of the French Legation has been destroyed, also part of the Fu.”
Then he related the incidents of each dayʼs fighting.
“Was our bank held as well as our Legation?” the Russian asked.
“Yes. The line of defence went round the back and side of your Legation and the Russian Bank to the Tartar wall. On the other side it did not reach the Tartar wall.”
The narration occupied more than an hour. At the end, Colonel Wogack thanked Rex very warmly for his information.
“It is all most valuable, and especially that part relating to Admiral Seymourʼs expedition. I hope we shall get some more messengers through to Pekin, for it is clear that up to the time you left, the Chinese were gradually gaining ground. They have abundance of artillery, and if they were to bring it into play they could breach the walls and defences in half a dozen places in the course of twelve hours. What you tell me of your visit to Prince Ching affords a certain amount of hope, but there is never any depending on Chinamen. To–morrow the other party may get the upper hand again and fighting go on more earnestly than ever. Matters here have become much more serious in the course of the past day or so. Until the Taku forts were taken the Chinese regular troops held aloof from the Boxers, but now the Chinese regular troops have joined the Boxers, and we are likely to have hot work of it.”
On their way home Rex told his father what the colonel had said.