The Reverend Farnsworth stood outside his recently completed church and took in the morning air.
 
<<  Reverend Farnsworth and his new church.
 
To date, his mission to convert the local heathens into good God-fearing christians had not been going to well.  In fact, his services had been completely devoid of anyone but the British residency garrison, and he was regularly laughed at by the natives whenever he appeared in public.  Still, with his magnificent new edifice of worship, he was sure the local Chinese would be flocking to his parish soon!
 
"In fact, here come some now."  The good Reverend said to no one in particular as he gazed out into the farmlands surrounding the small settlement.
 
<<  The Boxers prepare for the assault!
 
As it turns out, Farnsworth was only partly right:  It was certainly true that several large groups of Chinese were converging on the town, and they were in fact headed more-or-less for his church.  They were not, however, coming for morning services.  They were members of the Chinese secret society, I Ho Ch'uan, better known as the Boxers, and they were coming to kick out those they referred to as "First Class Foreign Devils!"
 
Most of the Boxers were armed with traditional chinese weapons:  Swords, sabers, spears and halberds.  A few had some muzzle loading rifled muskets, but, as it turned out, were not very well trained in their use.
 
 
<<  Hey, those guys have real guns!
 
 
However, the Dowager Empress, always concerned with the welfare of her people, had sent a company of infantry from the regular Chinese army, along with a Maxim gun for support!
 
 
 
 
With a great yell from all sides of Wei-Hai-Wei, the Boxers launched their attack!  Lord Bumblethwaite, his reflexes still sharp even at his advanced age, leapt into action.  "Sergeant-Major McDuff.  Be so kind as to form up the lads at the foot of the bridge.  No Boxer is to enter the settlement.  I'm heading back to the residency and will command from there."

"Suh!  Yes suh!", the Sergeant-Major replied.  He then turned to his men, "Right.  Form line and fix bay-o-nets!  We'll show these blighters a thing or two, suh!"

"Very good Sergeant-Major.  Eunice, m'dear.  We had best be getting back home.  Come along." said the Major General, taking his wife by the arm.

"But the parade is just starting!" she replied, "Do we have to leave?"

" 'Fraid so, m'dear.  'Fraid so."  Lord Bumblethwaite had only just managed to escort his wife away from the scene when the first Boxer wave crashed into the Highlanders!
 
Click here for Part 3 of the Incident at Wei-Hai-Wei!
 
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