“You must be careful,” said Captain Banner again. “We’ve lost officers enough already. At this rate, there won’t be a handful of us left by the time we reach Pekin.” Although the night had looked like rain, the sun came up clear and strong on the following morning; and by ten o’clock the heat was almost unbearable. The march was resumed, the Japanese and Russians having gone on ahead. “Where to now?” asked Gilbert. “To Ho-Si-Wu, and from there to Matow,” answered Captain Banner. “And how far is that from Pekin?” “About twenty-eight miles. But I understand we have still the worst end of the road to travel.” “To move ahead in this heat is well-nigh impossible,” went on Gilbert, as he stroked the perspiration from his brow with the side of his finger. “Poor Kelson is knocked out, and Ramsey says his head feels as if it had fireworks inside of it.” “Then Ramsey had better go to the rear, or he’ll be knocked out, too. That will leave us with but seventy-nine men. I must say I feel rather queer myself,” continued Captain Banner. “My stomach is very weak.” “You had better take it easy yourself, captain,” was Gilbert’s sober comment. “I must say you look as if you were fixing for a fever.” And in this surmise Gilbert was correct; for Captain Banner was struck with tropical fever on the arrival of the troops at Ho-Si-Wu, and had to be sent back to the hospital at Taku by boat. This left Gilbert in command of Company A,--a position he was proud to assume, although regretting exceedingly that his fellow-officer was not to participate in the assault on the Chinese capital. The young lieutenant took command in his own quiet way, which at once won the respect of all under him. “Sure, an’ ye desarve the position,” said Dan Casey. “None of the b’ys has fought harder nor you.” “I think you have done your share of fighting, Dan,” replied Gilbert. “If you keep on, you’ll come out a sergeant at least, and perhaps a lieutenant.” “Well, I wouldn’t mind being a sergeant, captain; but, as fer a lieutenancy in the rigulars, I’m afraid it’s beyant me. If it was the volunteers, it might be different. I’m not from West P’int, ye know.” “And neither am I, Dan. And there is always room at the top,” concluded the acting captain of Company A. Ho-Si-Wu having been occupied without serious opposition, the Allies marched straight for Matow, and from that unimportant town through Ching-Chia-Wan to the walled city of Tung-Chow, popularly known as the gateway to Pekin. The opposition on the way was much less than anticipated. As before, the Japanese and Russians kept in advance, with the other troops on the right and the left. At various points the Chinese had thrown up strong intrenchments, and all their fortifications were ready for use; yet they generally fled after firing one or two rounds from rifles and cannon.