Page:On to Pekin.djvu/151

Rh voice. "We're going to be thrown in among all sorts; and we've got to take what comes, and say nothing."

"What gets me is, how is an international army to be commanded, when we can't understand some of the foreigners' talk and they can't understand ours?"

"That's a problem for our superiors to solve. At the start, I guess each nationality will have to move on its own hook. We are here to rescue the Americans who are in danger in Pekin and elsewhere, and that is what we must fight for until further orders from headquarters."

It was not until early the next morning that Gilbert's company went ashore, at Tongku, the majority of the regiment landing at Taku. Some supplies were arriving from Shanghai; and part of these were placed in care of Captain Banner's command, while the rest went on board of the Monocacy, then lying at the Tongku dock.

"She's an old boat," said Captain Banner, referring to the Monocacy. "Her guns date back to 1865, and I understand that she has been laid up in Chinese waters for over fifteen years. Dewey wouldn't take her to Manila when he sailed to wipe