It was impossible to make Frederick start back to Tientsin on the very day following his arrival.

General Yüan Shih-k'ai, who was then stationed at Tientsin in command of 7,000 troops with modern equipment, the only ones in China, could have removed the empress and protected the reformers; but he was already pursuing a personal policy, and thought it safer to give the reformers no help.

He was detained at Tientsin for several days, arranging a variety of matters of detail; and it was not till the morning of the 26th of November that he found himself once more afloat on the Gulf of Pecheli, on board the 'Ferooz,' homeward bound.

An international army was sent to China, and marched from Tientsin against Peking, to liberate the besieged European legations and to punish the government.

They probably sneaked off to have a look at Tientsin by nightand a beautiful time they will have.

"It is seventy-nine Miles from Tientsin to Peking," was the reply, "and the roads ought to be good.