The scene was an animated one, for a crowd had gathered to see the regulars off. As soon as the companies could be formed, they were marched to the wharf at the Anda Monument; and here numerous _cascoes_ began to take men and equipments off to the _Logan_ and the other transport which were to carry the soldiers on their journey up the China and Yellow Seas. “Off at last, eh!” cried a voice in Gilbert’s ear; and, turning, he saw Ben Russell at his elbow. Ben had but a few minutes to spare, and a short but lively conversation ensued. Then the old chums shook hands; and Gilbert stepped into the _casco_ which was to take him to the transport. The friends were destined not to see each other again for a long, long time. A band was playing on the Lunetta, the great pleasure ground of Manila, as Gilbert went on board the transport. Many had preceded him, and soon the boat was comfortably filled, although not crowded. Besides the soldiers, there were a regimental band, a hospital corps, a number of officers’ families, and half a dozen newspaper correspondents. There were also others on board whose presence were to surprise the young lieutenant greatly. “Well, lieutenant, how do you feel?” asked Major Morris, as he met Gilbert in one of the gangways. “First-rate, major, but rather sorry to leave the Philippines, after all.” “Precisely my case. We had many a lively campaign there, didn’t we?” So the talk ran on until night shut out a view of the city, leaving only the electric and other lights to twinkle in the darkness. There was but little sleep on board. At sunrise all were astir, and a little while later the steamship turned her head for the entrance to Manila Bay. Two hours sufficed to pass Corregidor Island; and then it could be said that the voyage to China was fairly begun. CHAPTER VII WHAT CAUSED THE WAR In this tale of a young soldier’s experiences during the American army’s first campaign in China, it is not my intention to go into the details of all that led up to the terrible outbreak in the Celestial Empire,--an outbreak which will probably be known as the Boxers’ Uprising of 1900. Yet it will be well for us to glance over some of the events which had occurred immediately before the sailing of the troops from Manila, in order to understand the situation as Gilbert and his fellow-soldiers found it, on their arrival at Taku. The real trouble dated back to years before, when China and Japan went to war, the result of which was that China lost her ancient dependency of Korea; and a general “mix up” resulted in Japan taking the island of Formosa, and Russia taking Manchuria, Port Arthur, and other strategic points. This was followed by England’s occupation of Wei-Hai-Wei, and Germany’s seizure of Kaio-Chau. And then these powers and others went even further, by establishing what were known as Spheres of Influence throughout the Celestial Kingdom.