Dawn was breaking when the commander led his victorious men with the rescued missionaries safely to the bank of the river, where small boats were waiting to transport them to the protection of the American war-ships. As the last of the refugees disembarked at the gangway of the “Phœnix,” the sun peeped out from behind the distant hills. Phil and Sydney longed for a few hours’ sleep, but they well knew that if they succumbed to this desire they might miss altogether what they felt would be the closing scenes in the drama. By signal, Commander Hughes at once ordered that all non-combatants be sent on board the gunboats, and that the monitors hold themselves in readiness to get under way within the hour. Phil’s hopes ran high as he and Sydney made themselves presentable after their strenuous night’s experience. After a hasty breakfast the lads appeared on deck. There they found their captain before them, gazing closely through his binoculars at the distant forts. At the gangway three cutters were lying, and the landing force of the “Phœnix,” rifles in hand, were standing in ranks ready to embark. “March the men into the boats, Wilson,” Commander Hughes ordered suddenly, putting his binoculars in their leather case. Then as he turned to go below to his cabin, “Mr. Perry, you and Mr. Monroe report to Mr. Wilson.” “Where are we going?” Phil asked excitedly as he saluted the lieutenant. “To the ‘Monterey,’” Lieutenant Wilson answered, “but that’s as far as I know. The captain must expect hot work; each of my men is ordered to take two hundred rounds of ammunition.” “We’re going to storm the walled city,” Sydney exclaimed. “There’s no sign of submission on either the forts or the viceroy’s yamen. The captain means to rescue the four sailors and carry out his threats upon Ku-Ling.” Phil’s pulses beat faster at the thought. Now war had been declared, and his captain believed in striking promptly before his enemy had time to gather his forces! Quickly the sailors were embarked in the waiting boats, and as Commander Hughes, accompanied by Langdon, took his place in the stern of the leading cutter, the oars were thrust out through the rowlocks and the boats pulled with swift strokes alongside the monitor, anchored only a few hundred yards down the river from the “Phœnix.” “Get under way, Barnes,” Commander Hughes ordered as he stepped on board the “Monterey,” “and signal the ‘Monadnock’ to follow us. Bend on the signal to her to ‘clear ship for action’; the gunboats will remain here out of range of the fort guns.” The stirring call of the bugles sounded with its nerve-tingling ring throughout the ship, repeated in a few minutes by the “Monadnock,” and with a cheer of delight the crews disappeared below decks to their stations for battle. Inside of fifteen minutes all was in readiness, and the heavy anchors were lifted from the bottom of the river.