Page:On to Pekin.djvu/241

Rh the second lieutenant lay, with wide-open eyes, staring up at the blazing sky. Poor Bruff had been killed in the first advance.

Slowly the afternoon wore away. The air was heavy with smoke, yet the battalion to which Gilbert was attached did not dare to shift its position for fear of being cut to pieces. In the mean time the Japanese had made a great breach in the south wall of the native city, and were pouring in, unbeknown to any of the other commands.

"We are hemmed in," said Captain Banner. "Unless we get out under cover of night, it will go hard with us."

Gilbert did not answer, for he was tying up a flesh wound in Dan Casey's arm. The brave Irishman was suffering intense pain, and the young lieutenant pitied him from the bottom of his heart.

As the afternoon wore on, the fire of the Chinese became hotter; for they feared a night attack, and wished to make the Allies retreat before that time should come. The native city was on fire in half a dozen places, and inside it was as if pandemonium had broken loose.

At last night settled down, and then Gilbert's