It was while the missionaries were stil) at the summer station that the Imperial Decree ordering the slaughter of all foreigners reached the officiale at Kagan. They were in great perplexity how to act. Galling on the highest in yank, Shea Taotai explained his view. Following the massacre there was bound to be war, 301 Hf the Westerners won, "ben," he said, think all officials ~ho have obeyed the Deerve will be beheaded, 0 this can't be carried out." The only thing to do, he suggested, was to lock the Decree up and keep the matter es quiet a3 possible, By tolling of previous instances in which too sudden zeal to exeouts auch orders bed been followed by swift retribution, he was able to persuade the officials that his advice was sould. The 60 missionaries, who were still no further off than Haishuiho, undoubtedly owed their lives to this influence on their behalf. Bo reckless were they of danger that at the very time the Decree was locked up in the chief mogistrste's yamen, My. Roberts paid a to Kalgan for the purpose of collecting some money. Bo fame alone but enquired on behalf of his fellow missionaries whether circumstances would not now allow of their return. To him was communicated the exact state of affairs, with the revolt that he burried ak to his friends, and the flight to Kiakta was undertaker in earnest. The route followed was along the lino of the telegraph and, from the tinglish-speaking clerks at the principal! stations on the may, Shen Taotai learnt afterwards that many other Western rafogees had eccaped in the same direction, The Russian merchants remaining in word wamed through their compradores of tha fate that awaited thew it they delayed ton; Most of them wore teadealors 5 they took large stock" of tea with them and also fled.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.