“No, but after the gate had been blown in it would be an easy matter for a few thousand Chinese to gather. There are tens of thousands of Chinamen in these small towns within a mile of the mission. All they need is a match to start them, and that was the intention of these soldiers.” “It looks as if it were serious,” Sydney said in an awed whisper as they cautiously regained the road. The soldiers were not in sight, so the Americans proceeded, cautiously watching for the first signs of their enemy on the highway ahead of them. Finally they reached the limits of the foreign concession, and it was after midnight before they arrived on board the “Phœnix”; but Commander Hughes was awake and directed that they be shown down to his cabin immediately. The situation was quickly explained to the naval officer by the messengers. The captain sat in silence for some minutes after they had finished, his face showing strongly the strain he was under: all the Americans on the river were in mortal danger, and he and his small force were all that stood between them and a fate far worse than death. Phil and Langdon anxiously watched the captain’s face as if to read the next move on the international chess-board, which Commander Hughes, as the senior among the foreign captains, was called upon to make. “Gentlemen, the news you bring me is so terrible in its possibilities,” the captain finally began, “that I am quite at a loss how to act. Our force is too small to resist an attack; we must resort to diplomacy with this rascally viceroy. And yet we don’t know how far-reaching the movement may be. If we sit idly by the natives will gain confidence, mistaking forbearance for cowardice, and can readily drive all foreigners off the river. “Mr. Perry,” the captain added, rising and ringing for his orderly, “I want you to take the steam launch at once and go to each of the foreign gunboats; request that their commanding officers come on board here to a meeting in a half-hour’s time. Explain to them the gravity of the situation.” Then turning to the waiting marine, “My compliments to the officer on duty, and tell him to have the steamer ready for Mr. Perry immediately.” Phil soon delivered his captain’s messages to the officer of the deck of each of the foreign gunboats and upon his return was detailed by Commander Hughes for the duty of secretary to the international council. Slightly nervous in the presence of so many seniors, the midshipman sat near his captain, pencil in hand, ready to take notes of the proceedings of the council. “Commander Ignacio of the ‘Albaque’ is ill,” a young foreign lieutenant announced as the American captain glanced at him inquiringly, “and begs you will receive me as his representative.” Commander Hughes bowed politely in agreement and then in a few words described the incident at the mission.