The return to the jetty was well and safely guarded by hundreds of well-armed soldiers and the crowds were handled so easily that the foreigners could readily see that the episode of the morning was prepared for them by the yamen officials. Commander Hughes realized that the visit to the viceroy had given ample proof that whatever injury was done to foreigners by the natives of the province could be charged to the stand taken by the viceroy; and with this official backing the hostile movement would spread to insurmountable proportions. “Why the viceroy permitted us to take those Chinese prisoners I can’t understand,” the pilot exclaimed to Phil, a half hour having passed since the return of the embassy. Phil was silent, but intensely interested. He had just seen the foreign captains file into the cabin, unsummoned, eager to hear the result of the mission to the viceroy. “The two prisoners came to me immediately we got back to the ship,” Langdon continued excitedly, “and told me of an attack to be made to-night on the Inland Mission. They claim to have secured this information from the Chinaman who was beheaded before our eyes; he was a northern Chinaman, but could speak the local dialect. The soldiers, knowing these men were to die, did not take the trouble to conceal their plans. It seems that an army of outlaws have taken Lien-Chow for their headquarters; it is a small town about seven miles from here on the To-Yan Lake, and they intend to move in a body upon the mission. These malcontents have been guaranteed aid from the viceroy, and if the mission is captured, they hope to gather enough reënforcement to allow them to march against the forts, and the result would be their capture, for the soldiers there would not fire a shot against their own countrymen. The guns of the forts will then be turned upon us and our escape down the river will be cut off, for these vessels cannot face heavy ordnance.” “But why,” exclaimed Phil, after the pilot had finished, “should they attack a guarded mission when there are so many others scattered over the country undefended?” “It seems to show,” returned Langdon, “that the viceroy is directing the movement. To attack and massacre the inmates of an unguarded mission could readily be attributed to an uncontrolled mob and would be a subject for conference and indemnity; but an attack on a defended mission, and by soldiers in uniform, will show the Chinese that the war is between the representatives of the foreign governments and their own, and being successful will stir the whole population of this part of China to rise and drive out all foreigners. I believe to-night will be one of blood for foreigners in China, if those away from the protection of our river gunboats have not already paid the penalty of their trusting natures.”