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254 pirates have captured her. I hear that those rascals are taking advantage of the war. I must hurry, as the mail is closing. "Ever your friend, "."

"Dear Larry!" murmured Gilbert. "I don't wonder Ben and Walter love him. Yes, I remember hearing about the Rev. Mr. Wells; and I'll do all I can for him if we chance to meet."

Gilbert had looked for a few days' rest, but in this he was mistaken. It was true there was no fighting; but preparations were continued for the advance on Pekin, and this gave him plenty of work to do.

General Chaffee was now in command of all the American forces in Tien-Tsin and on the way; and these numbered in round figures five thousand men. The British troops numbered about the same, and the French and German about half as many. Of Russians there were at least ten thousand, and twice that many Japanese. Of course, all of these could not participate in the forward movement; and the actual army which struck out for the Chinese capital numbered only sixteen thousand men.