The Russian captain shook his head. “Do you speak Russian?” he asked in his own tongue. It was now Gilbert’s turn to shake his head. This made him smile, and the Russian seemed also to enjoy the grim humor of the situation. “If we can’t understand each other, we’re stuck,” muttered the young lieutenant. Then a sudden thought struck him, and he turned to Stummer. “Carl, try him in German.” Saluting, Stummer did so; and at this the Russian looked relieved. He could speak sufficient German to make himself understood; and, through the private, Gilbert learned that the Russian body at the wood numbered about three hundred. Over two thousand Boxers were in front of the Russians, and the latter were on their way to use the embankment as a cover. “We have over four hundred men,” answered Gilbert, through Carl. “I will inform my superior of the state of affairs, and he will most likely come to your aid. Will you hold the embankment if we skirt the wood and come up on the other side?” “We will,” answered the Russian. By this time the foreign officer had to move along with the last of his command,--fierce-looking fellows, whose uniforms were covered with dust, dirt, and blood. The young lieutenant lost no time in returning to Major Morris and reporting. “We will skirt the wood, as you intimated to the Russian captain,” said the major, promptly. “Battalion, attention! Forward march! Double-quick!” And away went the command, Company A leading, with Captain Banner and Gilbert at either end of the long line. It must be confessed that Gilbert’s heart beat quickly, for the Chinese could be seen at a distance, shouting and screaming and waving innumerable banners; for to the Celestials banners seem almost as necessary as guns. Then came a sudden cracking of rifles, and a volley of bullets passed over the Americans’ heads. “Take aim! Fire!” came the order; and the long line of rifles flashed forth and many a Boxer was seen to topple over, to rise no more. Each regular was a trained marksman, and shot to kill. Then the Americans swept on, and in a few seconds more Gilbert was in the very midst of his first battle on Chinese soil. CHAPTER XV FIGHTING ALONG THE PEI-HO “Give it to ’em hot-like, boys! Show ’em what American regulars can do!” “Make every round tell. We haven’t any ammunition to waste.” “The colonel expects us to give a good account of ourselves. Don’t disappoint him.” So the cries ran on, while the regulars were advancing. But, as they drew closer to the enemy, a strange silence fell; for all realized that what was before them was no child’s play.