the Japanese rushed forward, followed by the English troops, with the American marines on the extreme left. The Ninth United States Infantry were ordered to get in further down the road, which meant in an open space not far from the mud wall.
As the Allies neared the south gate, they found that the bridge had been destroyed, and the fields flooded with water. On they went, however, through' the liquid mud, almost up to the great gate. But the aim of the Chinese was deadly, and scores of soldiers dropped in a very few minutes. The Allies could not keep the ground they had gained, and fell back to the intrenchments which had first given them shelter.
The sun was blazing down hotly; and, when that first rush was over, Gilbert was almost ready to drop with exhaustion. But there was no rest for anybody, for the various commanders realized that it was "now or never"; for, if the native city was not taken, the Chinese troops on the western plain would pour in on them, and they would be cut off from all help.
Colonel Liscum of the Ninth United States Infantry was everywhere along the line, cheering and
