“If I may suggest, sir,” the midshipman added in a respectful voice, “it would be best to keep all ready to get under way. It is but ten miles to the allied fleet. We shall be there in an hour and in two more the gunboats will be here on their way to enter this secret channel.” Commander Barnes smiled indulgently at the lad’s earnestness as he waved a dismissal to the orderly. “Tell the executive officer,” he said, “to be ready to get under way in three hours and notify the officer of the deck to keep a sharp lookout for the ‘Monadnock.’ Signal her when sighted to anchor near us. “Your captain has a convincing advocate in you, Mr. Perry,” he continued, after the orderly had departed with his message. “I shall wait his coming and be ready to join him.” Phil was elated with the success of his appeal, and in a short time he had gathered his party together ready to again embark in Emmons’ launch. Before leaving the captain’s cabin the midshipmen had asked that boatswain’s mate O’Neil be allowed to go, to steer the launch, which request Commander Barnes readily granted. “The telegram is the only order relieving our captain of his command,” Phil exclaimed to Sydney while the launch sped toward the distant lights of the allied fleet. “What would happen if I gave him the cable?” he asked quickly. “He would have but to obey it,” Sydney answered. “It’s a direct order from the navy department. Commander Barnes as senior officer of the American ships would be bound to send a flag of truce and offer his apologies for Commander Hughes’ actions.” “And that would mean a victory for the viceroy and Ta-Ling!” Phil exclaimed. “If I lose my commission for it that telegram is going to remain secret until the allied fleet have exacted an humble apology and restitution from those guilty of wishing to murder innocent foreigners.” In the light of a solitary lantern Phil opened the envelope and glanced excitedly over their enemy’s correspondence with the viceroy. It was in English and written in a clear and legible hand. Paper after paper was read in silence by the two midshipmen, revealing the most bare-faced treachery. “Do you remember that day at the bank?” Phil exclaimed suddenly after he had finished reading a letter which he held open before him, his face in the thin light betraying intense wrath and indignation. “I have wondered so often over that incident. I have never until now been able to discover why Ignacio was so angry at me for picking up his letter from the ground. Do you remember how he snatched it from my hand? I thought he would strike me. Well, that innocent sheet of paper was a letter from Ta-Ling. If I could have held it another minute much of our trouble would never have occurred. This is Ignacio’s answer: