"Landing party work," was the thought that leaped instantly into the minds of both.
Nor were they disappointed. Into the launch, with several other boats alongside, tumbled forty sailors and twelve marines, armed, and with rapid-fire guns and ammunition. In one of the other boats were additional cases of ammunition; in others were commissary supplies.
Dave received his orders from Executive Officer Warden.
"You will go ash.o.r.e, Ensign Darrin, and at all hazards reach our fellow Americans. What you shall do on reaching them will depend upon circ.u.mstances and upon instructions signaled to you from this ship.
Ensign Dalzell will accompany you as next in command. On board we shall keep vigilant watch, and you may rely upon such backing as our guns can give you in any emergency that may come up."
Dave saluted, with a hearty "Very good, sir," but asked no questions.
None were necessary.
In another moment the landing party had been reinforced by a petty officer and three men who were to bring the boats back to the "Castoga."
Casting off, the launch headed sh.o.r.eward, towing the boats astern.
Within three minutes, landing had been made at one of the smaller docks.
"I don"t see any reception committee here to welcome us," muttered Ensign Dalzell.
"Probably all of the natives, who are curious by nature, are watching the burning of the buildings that our sh.e.l.ls set on fire," returned Ensign Darrin. "But I"m glad there"s no reception party here, for undoubtedly it would be an armed committee."
As soon as landing had been effected, however, a petty officer, who was sent forward with three men, succeeded in routing out a number of st.u.r.dy, sullen coolies, who had been hiding in a near-by warehouse.
These yellow men the petty officer marched back briskly, the coolies being forced to pick up and carry the ammunition and food supplies.
"See to it that these Chinese don"t try to run away with the stuff,"
Dave ordered tersely. "Keep them under close guard."
"Aye, aye, sir."
At the word from Darrin, Dalzell ordered the sailors to fall in and lead the way in double file, the marines marching at the rear of the little baggage train.
"Straight to the yamen!" commanded Darrin, as he gave Dan the forward order, then fell back to keep an eye over the conduct of the porters.
For the first block of the march through the narrow, foul-smelling streets, the natives contented themselves with glancing sullenly out at the handful of daring invaders. But a turn in the street brought the American naval men in sight of an angry-looking crowd of nearly a thousand Chinese-all men.
"Are they going to block our way?" whispered Dan, marching quietly on when Dave hastened to his side.
"They are not," Darrin answered bluntly, "though they may try to. No one is going to block us to-day until we have used all our ammunition."
"That has the good old Yankee sound," grinned Dalzell.
Seeing that the sullen crowd was ma.s.sing, Ensign Darrin went forward, hastening in advance of his little column.
"Is there any one here who speaks English?" Dave called pleasantly, above the dead hush of that stolid Chinese crowd.
There was no answer.
"All right then," smiled Ensign Darrin, "I shall have to talk to you by sign language. Make way, please!"
Drawing his sword, he signed to the Chinese to make way for his command to pa.s.s. Still no response.
Ensign Dan, marching his men on, came up to Dave"s side.
"Column halt!" Ensign Darrin called promptly. "Order arms. Draw bayonets. Fix bayonets!"
With a rattling of steel, accompanied by many grins, sailors and marines alike obeyed.
"Once more, I call upon you to make way!" called Dave, striding forward and endeavoring to wave the crowd aside by gestures with his sword.
Still n.o.body moved.
"Ensign Dalzell," rapped out the sharp order, "form two platoons extending across the street in close order. Give promptly the order to charge."
As he gave this command Darrin stepped back, placing himself at the extreme right of the first short platoon.
"Charge bayonets!" ordered Dan.
Dave led the men forward, Dalzell remaining behind with the remainder of the little command.
Finding the points of the bayonets at their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the Chinese gave utterance to cries of fright. There was a backward surge.
"Halt!" cried Dave, just in time to prevent some of the Chinese from feeling cold American steel. "Steady! Forward march! Hep, hep, hep!"
Emphasizing the speed of the step with his "hep, hep," Dave now continued his squad at a brisk walk, giving the yellow natives time to make their retreat without trampling one another.
At the next corner the Chinese surged off at right angles in two directions.
"I guess we"ll find the rest of the way clear enough," smiled Ensign Dave, again forming his men in double file and falling back to Dan"s side. "The Mongols had me scared. I was afraid I"d have to order the men to load and fire."
"Would you have done that?" asked Dalzell.
"Why not?" asked Dave, with a shrug of his shoulders. "There are American women up at the yamen, and they are still in peril. My orders are to reach the yamen, and I propose to do it if it be possible. If any yellow men try to block our way they will do so at their own risk.
I"ll charge or fire into any crowd or force that blocks our way."
"Good!" chuckled Ensign Dan. "I like the sound of that talk!"
Down by the river front, save for the warehouses, the buildings were of the meanest-flimsy affairs of bamboo, with cheaply lacquered facings, windows of oiled paper and floors of earth. Now, however, the little naval column began to pa.s.s through a better part of the city. Here the houses were of wood, substantially built, and of paG.o.da or tent patterns. Not a few of these dwellings were surrounded by compounds, or yards, enclosed by high stone walls.
And then, at last, in the heart of the city, the column came out upon the low hillside on which was the great square surrounding the governor"s yamen.
None in front opposed Darrin"s command, but a crowd that must have numbered two thousand followed close at the heels of the detachment.
"Going to halt in the center of the square?" Dan inquired in a low tone.
"No," rejoined Ensign Dave. "I shall march up to the main gate in the compound wall."
"And then-?" inquired Dalzell.
"I shall demand to be admitted to the American refugees."