THE CAPTURE OF PEKIN
Captain John Astley, of Z Battery, Light Artillery, U.S.A., had thought often of the lad who had crossed the Pacific with him, and when he received the order to proceed with his battery to China he wondered if, by any chance, he should again meet his young friend. In the rush of events that followed Rob was quite forgotten, until a strange coincidence brought his name so prominently to the front that it was mentioned almost daily. Captain Astley even hoped to find the lad in Pekin, and had anticipated the joyful recognition that would accompany their meeting. Now, therefore, as he sat writing in General Chaffee's temporary headquarters, near the Tung Chou gateway, blown up by the Japanese that very morning, the name uttered by the Chinese beggar under examination instantly attracted his attention.
"I beg your pardon, general," he said, "but this person has just mentioned a name well known to me. Have I your permission to question him?"
"Yes; question all you please," replied General Chaffee, who already was absorbed in the plan of Pekin walls and the accompanying description of their weak points that had so opportunely come to him.
"Can you possibly be the Rob Hinckley who crossed the Pacific to Manila in the transport Logan last March?" asked the artillery officer, eagerly, of the wretched-looking figure that, trembling with weakness, stood before him.
"I am, sir; and you are Captain John Astley, of Battery Z," was the reply.
"Good Heavens, Rob! It seems impossible; and it is absolutely incredible that any human being could be so completely disguised and so utterly changed. How in the name of—? But I won't ask a question, though I am nearly choked by a thousand that are clamorous for utterance. There is a dear friend of yours somewhere outside, and I must bring him in, so that all of us may hear your story together. General—"
Here the speaker said a few words to the commander in so low a tone that Rob could not catch them, and hastily left the room.
In less than a minute he returned, accompanied by an excited but puzzled-looking gentleman, clad in semi-military uniform, who, hastily saluting the general, turned immediately to where Rob still was standing.
"Here he is, my boy!" cried Captain Astley, exultingly. "Your own daddy! We found him in Shanghai fretting his life out over his lost family, and brought him along as battery surgeon. But, hello! What's the matter? Why don't you rush into each other's arms? Do you need an introduction?"