Page:On to Pekin.djvu/212

186 along the roadway, the young lieutenant saw a picket from the third battahon, with gun levelled, ready to shoot.

"Friends!" shouted Gilbert.

"Advance, one friend, and give the countersign," went on the picket, still keeping his rifle levelled; but, when he caught sight of Gilbert, he lowered the weapon. "Oh, it's you, lieutenant."

"Yes, my man." Gilbert gave the countersign, which was Manila. "Can you tell me if the colonel is up at the house?"

"He was an hour ago."

Gilbert passed on, and his guard with him. At the entrance to the house another picket challenged him; but he soon went in, and the colonel was aroused. The Chinese message puzzled the commander as much as it had Captain Banner. "I must find some Chinese scholar for this," he said, and proceeded to hunt up a missionary without delay. When translated, the message ran as follows:—

"'All is ready to blow up the Cross Mission. The powder train leads from Chow Fun's house. Will fire at signal of three rockets. .'"