hand the very moment the Chinese Government gives its open official
sanction to this insane Boxer policy. Had we acted in this way and
taken charge of a number of other high officials who live just around
us, we might have shown the trembling government that a day of
retribution is certain to come. And yet listen what happened. Either
on the 15th or 16th Hsu Tung sent the majordomo of his household
cringing to the French Legation for a _passepartout_. He had already
tried once to escape by way of the Italian barricades, but had been
sternly ordered back, and his house placed under watch. Somehow,
through the foolishness of an interpreter of the French Legation, he
got his safe-conduct pass, and started out bold as brass in the
morning, seated in his official chair and accompanied by his official
outriders. He passed a first French barricade and reached an outer
second barrier manned by volunteers, who challenged him roughly and
then refused to let him pass.

The outriders then tried to ride our men down, and it needed a
rifle-shot to bring them to their senses. Fortunately nobody was hurt,
and presently the youthful volunteers had Hsu Tung himself out of the
chair, and kept him seated on the ground while they debated whether
they should respect the French pass or strap the great man up and send
him to their own quarters as a prisoner of war.

In the end, however, one of the secretaries came up and inquired what
it all meant, and then, of course, weak counsels prevailed, and Hsu
Tung was allowed to sneak off unmolested down a side lane.

This incident is typical as showing the stamp of men who have
commanding voices in our beleagued quarter.