CHAPTER XXI
CHARGING UPON THE NATIVE QUARTER
"We are out for a fight to-day, lieutenant, and a hot one, if I know anything about it."
It was Captain Banner who spoke, on the day following Gilbert's visit to the Bartletts. The young lieutenant had succeeded in getting a guard of one for the tea warehouse, but had been unable to learn anything concerning the boats on the Pei-Ho. Troops were coming in rapidly; and shipping arrangements were, consequently, much confused.
"All right. I am ready for the biggest engagement of the campaign," laughed Gilbert.
"An' dot vos me," put in Carl Stummer. "I ton't vont to got rusty on dot bicket line no more."
The whole company were hard at work cleaning up their uniforms and weapons, for the outward movement was to begin promptly at noon. Soldiers were everywhere in evidence. The Russians and Germans were encamped between the Chinese city and the
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