Under the skilful direction of Langdon, the Yangtse River pilot, the allied fleet steamed to the southward, leaving on its starboard hand the high bluff point of land below the city, upon which, fortunately, the Chinese had not as yet mounted protecting batteries, and then entered the shallow waters of the forbidden lake. From this point the channel led away from the course of the river and to the westward behind the city of Ku-Ling. “Do you see Commander Hughes’ plan?” Phil exclaimed excitedly. He took a piece of paper from his pocket, and drew a hasty map of their surroundings. “Here’s the river, and here,” he said, “is the lake, which we are entering. Lien-Chow, you see, is ahead of us,” and he pointed to a dull color of blue that raised itself slowly from the muddy waters of the lake. “It’s in the rear of the fort guns, you notice, and our ships will be safely anchored while we are relieving those in the mission, which lies over there.” “Yes,” answered Sydney; “but if we succeed in repulsing the rebels at Lien-Chow and rescuing the mission,” he went on doubtfully, “what shall we do next? We shall be cut off from Ku-Ling. The forts will never let us pass freely again.” Phil put his sketch in his pocket. He wanted to complete it later and send it home in his next letter. “Well,” he declared, “we can’t worry over that now. The rescue of those in the mission, you see, is our most important duty. The future must take care of itself.” It was shortly after two o’clock in the afternoon, when the long line of vessels dropped anchor off the town of Lien-Chow; and almost immediately the gunboats had lowered their small boats and were embarking their sailors. Phil found himself in the steam launch with Commander Hughes and Langdon; the former had been chosen to command the expedition, and the lad thanked his good fortune for his assignment as aid. The long line of boats, laden with armed bluejackets, rowed swiftly toward the not distant shore of the bay, while two of the gunboats, remaining under way when the fleet anchored, took up their stations where they could shell the enemy if the landing was opposed. [Illustration: _PHIL’S COMPLETED MAP_] The midshipman stood beside Commander Hughes, whose keen eyes were directed toward the Chinese town, in which direction the launch was heading. Phil could not discern even a trace of nervousness in his captain’s face, yet upon the success of this bold attempt to coerce the Chinese mandarins his future career in the navy rested. Langdon’s eyes were searching the approaching shore-line for signs of the enemy. He hastily took the spyglass from Phil’s hand and leveled it in the direction of a grove of trees to the right of the middle of the town. “It’s a piece of artillery,” the pilot exclaimed, pointing with his glass toward the grove. Commander Hughes leveled his field-glass and gazed for a few seconds in the direction indicated.