The two generals expressed a wish to visit the American commander, and make China’s peace for the hostile acts of the dead viceroy. The sailors were assembled and marched directly to the landing. As the river and the anchored ships came into view, Phil grasped Sydney’s arm excitedly, pointing to a white yacht lying gracefully at anchor between the monitors and the “Phœnix”; the latter having left the allies at the upper anchorage and steamed down the river while they were inside the Chinese city. “The ‘Alacrity’!” he exclaimed, “and the admiral’s on board; there’s his flag at the main,” pointing to a large blue flag, with two white stars in the field. Then the joy died in his face. The letter of the viceroy and the telegram, as yet undelivered, came to his mind. “Where’s the ‘Albaque’?” Sydney asked suddenly, searching the river for Ignacio’s ship. “There she goes,” Langdon cried, pointing down stream, where a trail of smoke from a fast disappearing steamer hung low over the muddy water of the river. Upon reaching the “Phœnix,” there was Commander Hughes on deck, anxiously waiting to hear the results of the expedition. His face was wreathed in smiles as he heard of their unlooked-for success. Then, motioning Langdon to follow, he led the two Chinese officers to his cabin. Phil had not dared, with his guilt written plainly on his face, to look his captain in the eye while that officer showered praises upon the two midshipmen, and he was much relieved to be able to escape to his own room, there to map out a course of action. “Our best plan, Syd,” Phil declared, “is to take all these papers to the captain and make a clean breast of it.” Sydney agreed wholly with his friend’s plan and all that remained was to muster up courage to go to the captain. Both midshipmen would much rather have faced a hundred Chinese rifles than confess to their captain that a telegram and directed to him from the navy department had been purposely hidden. A rap on the door caused Phil’s pulses to beat quicker and his heart rise to his mouth. “The captain would like to see Mr. Perry and Mr. Monroe,” the orderly announced, peering in through the curtain at the startled lads. “Come on, Phil,” Sydney urged; “we’d better get it over with.” In silence they walked into the cabin. Phil’s head swam as his old friend Admiral Taylor shook his hand and spoke solid words of praise for his valuable services. Hang-Ki had risen to go upon the entrance of the midshipmen, and after bowing to the admiral and captain he stepped quickly to Phil’s side, pressing into his hand the jade ring. “He says,” Langdon interpreted, “that he has evidence enough without it if he is lucky enough to capture Ta-Ling.”