“No, I have another length with me.”
Their first step was to strip the garments from nine of the dead Boxers. Three of these they put on, and the rest they fastened in a bundle, which the Chinaman took. For a quarter of a mile they followed the road by the moat, and then turned into the town. They saw but few lights, and went without attracting any observation through the gate. As Rex had expected, this was unguarded. They crossed the moat beyond it, and then walked on quickly. An hourʼs brisk walking took them to the gate in the Tartar wall. This was open and they passed through unquestioned. Then they dived into a lane, and in a quarter of an hour reached a space covered with ruins. Through these the Chinaman led the way, and presently stopped by the side of a fallen wall.
“This is the place,” he said, and, advancing, he cleared away some bricks, and suddenly disappeared into the bowels of the earth.
“It is I,” he said, “and a white officer and his servant have come out to rescue you.”
An exclamation of thankfulness followed his words, and Rex descended with Ah Lo at his heels. Striking a light, he saw seven men and five women. The people gave a cry of terror as they saw the Boxer garments.
“Do not be afraid,” Rex said, “these are only disguises. We have brought some more with us, which the men must put on.”
He struck match after match while this was being done.
“Now,” he said, “you women must make some little changes in your dress, so as to resemble ordinary native women, and then we will sally out.”
Five minutes later they started. They had gone but fifty yards beyond the burnt area when three men came from a house and accosted them.
“Who are you?” they said.