“Gentlemen,” he said in a firm voice, “I do not count on the success of this flag of truce. If it fails we shall be forced to attack the forts with our unarmored vessels. However, the decision is final. My orders are that the embassy be sent without a moment’s delay. We shall remain here until our friends return.” Then, dismissing the allies, he took Langdon’s arm and walked toward the American sailors. “If I only had five hundred American sailors,” he declared hotly, “I would throw over these half-hearted allies and march to the relief of the mission. But with this mere handful, failure would be assured.” Then he beckoned the midshipmen to him. “Langdon, you and these young men must uphold the dignity of our country. You, Langdon, must speak directly to the viceroy. Impress upon him that I am in deadly earnest. If he harms the American mission I shall not rest until his city is laid in ashes. I shall destroy his arsenals and foundries. The forts will not be able to resist the attack of the American monitors, which should soon arrive.” “The monitors!” Langdon exclaimed. “Are they coming?” “I wish I could believe it,” Commander Hughes replied sorrowfully. “But we must make the viceroy believe that we are hourly expecting them. He fears an American monitor, and the thought that they are coming may act in our favor.” Preparations went forward rapidly, and inside of half an hour, Commander Ignacio led his small party out of the allied camp. Carrying a large white flag conspicuously displayed, the four emissaries, with an escort of eight sailors, four from the “Phœnix” and four from the foreigner’s own gunboat, gained the road leading toward the city of Ku-Ling. Unencumbered with all save their firearms, which were carried for protection against the marauding bands of outlaws, the seven miles were quickly covered, and in less than two hours the city gate loomed before them. Approaching the city wall, Phil saw that there was great commotion at the gate; soldiers ran hither and thither, and before the flag of truce had arrived near the stagnant water of the moat, there was a noisy clanking of rusty chain, the drawbridge was suddenly raised, and the ponderous gates tightly shut. The midshipmen, in spite of the precariousness of their position, could scarcely suppress a smile of gratification: this act alone spoke volumes; what must these Asiatics think of the prowess of the foreigners if they feared an attack from a dozen men? CHAPTER VIII IGNACIO SHOWS HIS HAND As the drawbridge clanked upward, and the soldiers disappeared hastily behind the closing gates, Commander Ignacio, glancing nervously at Langdon, brought his party to a stop. “You know the customs of these people; what shall we do?” he exclaimed anxiously, betraying that with all his vain boasting before his confrères he depended upon the American pilot to give him courage to act.