A crisis approaching--Destruction of villages and mission-houses by the Boxers--Roman Catholic missionaries killed--A marine guard retained in Tientsin--Troubles in Kung-tsun--A meeting of the foreign Ministers in Pekin--Their disinclination to bring up guards--Rain better than Maxim guns--Sham displays of the Chinese to suppress the insurgents--Baron von Ketteler suspicious of the Chinese Government’s promises--Guards to be sent for to protect the Legations Pp. 49-53