250 CRISIS IN CHINA xvi
stay a few minutes in so demoralised a city, was so
agreeably surprised at the peace and order which
prevailed that he roundly declared that his Govern-
ment had been misinformed, and that evacuation of
the foreigners was unnecessary. But this had ceased
to be an academic question; all the missionaries from
outlying stations had gathered in Sian, and there
was a very real danger from air attack, to set against
any hypothetical danger from the Reds. For that
matter, it was not every day that foreigners in the
interior had the chance of a trip to Shanghai, at the
expense of their respective Governments. It was at
length decided to evacuate.
But aeroplanes which had been chartered could
not be persuaded to remain in Sian long enough to
embark their passengers. There were several bridges
down on the Lunghai railway between Sian and
Tungkwan (it is a moot point as to whether these
were blown up by the rebels or bombed by Nanking
planes; but in either case, railway connections were
impossible). Finally, arrangements were made to
transport the foreign population to a more congenial
environment by motor-bus.
On the morning of January i8th, the caravan was
to start from the Sian Guest-house. From all quarters
of the city, a miscellaneous collection of Europeans
gathered around the doors of the hotel. There were
bearded Italian priests, brisk Americans, and melan-
choly Englishmen. A cloud of children swelled their
ranks—they were the only ones who seemed to be
enjoying themselves. The size of missionary families
in China is a perennial source of wonder to most
travellers. Perhaps it is most easily explained on