But fortunately this hypnotic trance did not continue. The smell of oil (petroleum) penetrated my half-conscious brain, and aroused me from my stupor. The oil was blazing in the fire, the receptacles—and bodies, I had fancied them also—were steeped in oil, the pungent smell of which had aroused my faculties. I wriggled in my bearers' hands, and they let me fall suddenly and heavily with some loud exclamations.
Other assistants in this holocaust came up at this, and all of them chattered and stared, but I understood none of their remarks or exclamations. Left to myself, I rose to my feet, and stood there in the circle as if the victim of some usury game. To my requests for information they only replied in the Japanese language,—so far I could understand,—and then again the pass and badge proclaimed my identity. These relics were passed from hand to hand, and I felt what perhaps a custodian of the Bank of England feels when he first sees a lump of uncoined gold passing from hand to hand amongst privileged spectators to the door of the vault, and wonders whether the precious sample will return to him. Thus was my attention directed to my credentials. They did come back; and when the men had burned all the bodies and coffins they took me to the camp again.
Then I understood the scene I had witnessed. The Japanese habit is to burn the bodies of the dead after an engagement, for sanitary reasons. The coffins are steeped in oil, and then burned in some remote place, after certain rites performed. I had wandered into this Gehenna, and had been rescued from the fire into which I had been so nearly cast.
When we returned to the camp my identity was firmly established. My acquaintance, Hoko, the interpreter, was summoned, and he again constituted himself my guardian. Well it was that he did, for in twelve hours I was in a high fever. My brain had been overtaxed, and my body so reduced, that recovery seemed almost hopeless, as I afterwards was informed. But the attack was sharp and short. In less than two weeks I was on my legs again, tottering indeed, but useful, and my first question asked of the officer who spoke English was—
"Can I get away from Port Arthur?"
"Perhaps. We have not taken it yet."
"Ah!" I said, "then it is different from what you imagined?"
"No; we have been compelled to await the heavy guns."
"When will they arrive?"
"They are expected immediately. When they are planted we shall assault the forts and seize the port."