The transport was heading slowly for land, and, as the ship drew closer, those on board could make out the outer forts of Taku,--those forts which had been captured at the beginning of the trouble with China. Gilbert had expected to see modern enclosures of heavy stone. He was much disappointed to behold nothing but long, low-lying banks of earth, with here and there an opening, the banks lying on either side of the sluggish Pei-Ho, which looked as muddy and uninviting as any stream he had ever seen. On all the sun blazed down with the fury of a fiery furnace. Suddenly Gilbert felt his arm grasped by Captain Banner. “No picnic this, lieutenant,” came in a low voice. “We’re going to be thrown in among all sorts; and we’ve got to take what comes, and say nothing.” “What gets me is, how is an international army to be commanded, when we can’t understand some of the foreigners’ talk and they can’t understand ours?” “That’s a problem for our superiors to solve. At the start, I guess each nationality will have to move on its own hook. We are here to rescue the Americans who are in danger in Pekin and elsewhere, and that is what we must fight for until further orders from headquarters.” It was not until early the next morning that Gilbert’s company went ashore, at Tongku, the majority of the regiment landing at Taku. Some supplies were arriving from Shanghai; and part of these were placed in care of Captain Banner’s command, while the rest went on board of the _Monocacy_, then lying at the Tongku dock. “She’s an old boat,” said Captain Banner, referring to the _Monocacy_. “Her guns date back to 1865, and I understand that she has been laid up in Chinese waters for over fifteen years. Dewey wouldn’t take her to Manila when he sailed to wipe out the Spanish fleet. But one of her men told me that she makes a first-class hospital and relief ship.” There was not much to do, excepting to watch where the supplies were placed and to keep tab on them, so that some Italian soldiers in the vicinity would not walk away with the things; and Gilbert took it easy under a big shed built of logs and split bamboo. Presently, much to his astonishment, a Chinaman appeared, wearing the uniform of a British soldier. “Please you slay where him Cap’n Wilbur land,” said the Chinaman, after saluting in true military fashion. “What’s that?” asked Gilbert, who found it hard to understand the Celestial. “Me lookee for him, Cap’n Wilbur,--Englees officer. You know where him land?” “The English are landing something down the stream a bit. You may find him there.” “Thlankee, lieutenant.” And the Chinaman saluted again. “Hold on!” cried Gilbert, curiously. “Are you a British soldier?” “Yees, lieutenant. Me ’list at Wei-Hai-Wei. Many Chinamen ’list lare. Me Chlistian solyer.” “And you are ready to fight your own countrymen?”