nus of the railroad, from where the message was sent. I
came this far by train, only to find all regular traffic stopped by
order of the Government. The line may be needed for the escape of
the Imperial Family from Peking if the Palace is threatened by the
revolutionists.

Orders had been given that no foreigner should leave the Legation
enclosure. I bribed the room boy to slip me through the side
streets and dark alleys to an outside station. I must go the rest
of the distance by cart when the road is possible, by camel or
donkey when not. Nothing seems possible now. Everything within
sight looks as if it had been dead for centuries, and the people
walking around have just forgotten to be buried.

I am wild with impatience to be gone but neither bribes nor threats
will hurry the coolies who take their time harnessing the donkeys
and the camels.

A ring of ossified men, women and children have formed about me,
staring with unblinking eyes, till I feel as if I was full of peep
holes. It is not life, for neither youth nor love nor sorrow has
ever passed this way. The tiniest emotion would shrivel if it
dared begin to live. Maybe they are better so. But then, they
have never known Jack.

How true it is that one big heart-ache withers up all the little
ones and the joy of years as well. With this terror upon me, even
Sada's desperate trouble has faded and grown pale as the memory of
a dream. Jack is ill and I must get to him, though my body is
racked with the rough travel, and the ancient road holds the end of
love and life for me.

Around the sad old world I am stretching out my arms to you, Mate,
for the courage to face whatever comes, and your love which has
never failed me.

KALGAN.

Such wild unbelievable things have happened!

After twenty miles of intolerable shaking on the back of a camel,
my battered body fell off at the last stopping-place, which
happened to be here. There is no hotel. But three blessed
European hoys living at this place--agents for a big tobacco
firm--took me into their little home. From that time--ten days
ago--till now, they have served and cared for me as only sons who
have not forgotten their mothers could do.

On that awful night I came, while forcing food on me, they said
that Jack had stopped with them on his way out to the desert, where
he was to complete his work for the Government. He was to go part
of the distance with the English woman, who, with he