“It’s all very terrible,” he exclaimed after Phil had finished. “The admiral knows nothing of this. Why has not Hughes wired the situation?” “He has sent telegrams,” Phil declared, “but the viceroy will not forward them.” “That’s strange,” the captain said in a low voice. “The admiral led me to suppose that I would be in command of the three ships, and that Hughes would be relieved of his command. Yet I have no orders to that effect.” Phil trembled with joy at overhearing these words, not intended for his ears. The “Monterey” brought no orders. He held the only order in his pocket, and the fatal telegram would remain there until Commander Hughes had won his fight and relieved the situation. But time was pressing. The fleet must run the batteries to-night. The arrival of the monitors would make the passage of the secret channel even more secure by hotly engaging the forts if necessary. In order to make success sure the midshipman knew that they should proceed at once upon the remainder of their journey. CHAPTER XVII ABOARD THE “PHŒNIX” Commander Barnes consulted his watch and then called for his orderly. The ring of the bell had scarcely sounded before a marine stood obediently before him. “It’s eleven now,” the captain mused, then, turning to the orderly: “My compliments to the executive officer. Tell him to secure and pipe down. We shall remain here for the present.” Forgetting in his anxiety the vast gulf in rank between them, Phil raised his hand impatiently. “Captain!” he exclaimed, intensely in earnest. “We must go to Commander Hughes immediately. The mission must be relieved to-night. It is probably now surrounded by the outlaws. To-morrow the difficulties will increase. The secret channel may be impossible, besides there are four American sailors in prison in the yamen. By to-morrow they will have been executed.” Over Commander Barnes’ face flitted for a second the suspicion of a frown, while the orderly waited with indecision in his manner. “By the morning we shall have two monitors,” the captain answered; “I think we can rely on their guns to escort the fleet past the forts without harm. However, you may go on your launch and give your news to Commander Hughes. I have orders forbidding me to enter To-Yan Lake. “I do not see how the allied fleet can possibly embark its sailors and be here before daylight,” he added, after a few moments’ thought, “so I see no reason to keep my officers and men up all night in waiting.” “Commander Hughes will be here inside of three hours,” Phil urgently exclaimed. “I am sure, sir, that he will not lose a moment. He does not wish to risk fighting the forts. If he can bring Ku-Ling under his guns without a fight, he will win his point and save the foreigners.