Page:On to Pekin.djvu/94

74 "And you have some trade in China, so you said."

"Yes, a large trade,—with Shanghai and Tien-Tsin."

"I am afraid that your trade is going to suffer on account of this war."

"That depends upon how you look at it. My belief is that this war won't amount to shucks."

"Exactly my idea," broke in Jerry Nickerson. "The soldiers will go there and relieve the ministers, and that will be the end of it. No foreign power will dare to make war on China because of the other powers."

"I am of the opinion that the war is already on around Taku and Tien-Tsin," answered Gilbert. "The forts at the mouth of the Pei-Ho have been taken, and that will probably madden the Chinese beyond endurance."

"Humph! A good deal of that is all talk," said Nuggy Polk. "When I reach Tien-Tsin, I expect to have no trouble whatever in landing and in transacting business."

"You are going to do business in Tien-Tsin?"

"I am, if I can find a man I am after,—a certain Amos Bartlett."