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110 in the rear having tea served to them while the fighting was going on. You see, there are so many of the pig-tails that the slaughter of a few thousand of them now and then doesn't disturb those in authority in the least."

"Sure, an' that's not encouragin' fer us," observed Dan Casey, who stood by, drinking in the conversation with much interest.

"No; but I'll tell you one thing, and that's true," said Captain Banner. "I have it from a number of officers who have served in China. The majority of the Chinamen rely on the signs they wear on their breasts to protect them from the 'foreign devils.' When they see their comrades shot down, regardless of these signs, nine out of ten throw down their guns and take to their heels."

"How many warships do you suppose are in these waters now?" said Gilbert.

"Probably a hundred or more. I understand we have about fifteen, Russia the same number, and England almost twice as many, while Germany and France have a dozen or more, and Japan nearly half a hundred," answered Major Morris.

"And how many soldiers are there?"