At the side of the gunboat a launch and four cutters waited, to carry a landing party, if the sending ashore of men should prove to be necessary. Anxiously, using his night glasses every minute, the American commander paced the deck and listened.
Then, when there was barely enough light, word was telephoned to the division officers to begin action.
Boom! spoke the first gun from the gunboat. Other shots followed rapidly.
In the compound before the burning mission buildings was a mass of yellow fiends, crowding, yelling and shooting. From the windows of such portions of the burning buildings as were still tenable American rifle fire was poured into the mob.
That first shell, landing among the yellow fiends, killed more than twenty Mongols, wounded others, and drove the attackers out of the compound.
Boom! Bang! Other shells flew through the air, clearing away the rabble further back.
From the mission buildings, a quarter of a mile away, went up a wild cheer of hope.
But the attacking rabble, despite the first shell fire, came back, inviting further punishment.
Again the gunboat’s five-inch guns roared out. There was now sufficient light to enable the American gunners to make out the locations of the mob.
At least thirty shells were fired ere the rebels beat a retreat beyond the confines of Nu-ping.