Part 25 (1/2)

The journey was a very slow one and occupied three days, altho the natives were kept at work as long as they could stand it, on one day actually tugging at the ropes for twenty-one hours. At last, however, the Imperial City was reached, and our two travelers disembarked and, taking a donkey-cart, gave directions to carry them to the quarter a.s.signed to their own army. Here as everywhere desolation reigned. A string of laden camels showed, however, that trade was beginning to rea.s.sert itself. They drove past miles of burned houses, through the ma.s.sive city walls and beyond, until they saw the welcome signs of a camp over which Old Gory waved supreme. Sam was received with much cordiality by the commandant, General Taffy, and a.s.signed to the command of the 27th Volunteer Infantry. The general was a man well known throughout the army for his courage and ability, but notwithstanding this Sam took a strong prejudice against him, for he seemed to be half-hearted in his work and to disapprove of the prevailing policy of pacification by fire and sword. Sam ascribed this feebleness to the fact that he had been originally appointed to the army from civil life, and that he had not enjoyed the benefits of an East Point education.

As soon as Sam was installed in his new quarters, in the colonel's tent of his regiment, he started out with Cleary to see the great city and examine the scene of the late siege. They found the j.a.p quarter the most populous. The inhabitants who had fled had returned, and the streets were taking on their normal aspect. Near the boundary of this district they saw a house with a placard in the j.a.p language, and asked an Anglian soldier who was pa.s.sing what it meant.

”That's one of the j.a.p placards to show that the natives who live there are good people who have given no offense,” said he.

”Let's go in and pay them a call,” said Cleary.

They entered, and pa.s.sing into a back room found a woman nursing a man who had evidently been recently shot in the side. She shrank from them with terror as they entered, and made no answer to their request for information. As they pa.s.sed out they met a young native coming in, and they asked him what it meant.

”Some Frank soldiers shot him because he could not give them money. It had all been stolen already,” said the lad in pigeon English.

”But the placard says they are loyal people,” said Cleary.

”What difference does that make to them?” was the reply.

Farther on in a lonely part of the town they heard cries issuing from the upper window of a house. They were the cries of women, mingled with oaths of men in the Frank language. Suddenly two women jumped out of the window, one after the other, and fell in a bruised ma.s.s in the street. Sam and Cleary approached them and saw that they had received a mortal hurt. They were ladies, handsomely dressed. The first impulse of Sam and Cleary was to take charge of them, but seeing two natives approach, they called their attention to the case and walked away.

”I suppose it's best not to get mixed up with the affairs of the other armies,” said Sam.

The quarter a.s.signed to the Tutonians they were surprised to find quite deserted by the inhabitants.

”I tell you, those Tutonians know their business,” said Sam. ”They won't stand any fooling. Just see how they have established peace! We have a lot to learn from them.”

They saw a crowd collected in one place.

”What is it?” asked Sam of a soldier.

”They're going to shoot thirty of these d.a.m.ned coolies for jostling soldiers in the street,” he answered.

Sam regretted that they had no time to wait and see the execution.

As they reentered their own quarter they saw a number of carts loaded down with all sorts of valuable household effects driven along. They asked one of the native drivers what they were doing, and he replied in pigeon English that they were collecting loot for the Rev. Dr. Amen.

Farther on some of their own soldiers were conducting an auction of handsome vases and carved ornaments. Sam watched the sale for a few minutes, and bought in one or two beautiful objects for a song for Marian.

”Where did they get all this stuff?” he asked of a lieutenant.

”Oh, anywhere. Some of it from the houses of foreign residents even.

But we don't understand the game as well as old Amen. He's a corker.

He's grabbed the house of one of his old native enemies here, an awfully rich chap, and sold him out, and now he's got his converts cleaning out a whole ward. He's collected a big fine for every convert killed and so much extra for every dollar stolen, and he's going to use it all for the propagation of the Gospel. He's as good as a Tutonian, he is.”

”I'm glad we have such a man to represent our faith,” said Sam.

”He's pretty hard on General Taffy, tho,” said the lieutenant. ”He says we ought to have the Tutonian mailed fist. Taffy is much too soft, he thinks.”

Sam bit his lips. He could not criticize his superior officer before a subaltern, but he was tempted to.

On reaching headquarters Sam found that he was to take charge of a punitive expedition in the North, whose chief object was to be the destruction of native temples, for the purpose of giving the inhabitants a lesson. He was to have command of his own regiment, two companies of cavalry, and a field-battery. They were to set out in two days. He spent the intermediate time in completing the preparations, which had been well under way before his arrival, and in studying the map. No one knew how much opposition he might expect.

It was early in the morning on a hot summer day that the expedition left the Capital. Sam was mounted on a fine bay stallion, and felt that he was entirely in his element.

”What camp is that over there on the left?” he asked his orderly.