“‘I will do all in my power to thwart the aim of these Americans. I despise them as much as you do. I have just drawn on the company which I represent for the sum you named, and it will be deposited in the bank at Shanghai. When you have obtained the viceroy’s signature, giving my company the railroad rights from here to Peking, I shall at once transfer this sum to your credit. “‘Your letter was picked up from the bank floor, where I had carelessly dropped it, by a young American officer. I do not think he had enough knowledge or time to divine its meaning.’” The two midshipmen looked sheepishly at each other for a second and then both laughed. “We are innocents, aren’t we, Phil?” Sydney laughed. “Now it’s all clear. Ignacio attempted to throw the allies into a panic at Lien-Chow. He worked himself into being selected as the senior officer for the flag of truce, and he concealed his eagerness so cleverly that we thought he was afraid. Then he played his game beautifully before the viceroy. But by to-morrow morning Ignacio’s dreams will be smashed. Ku-Ling will awake to find the fleet at anchor with its guns trained on the viceroy’s palace.” “What’s this new mischief you’re hatching?” inquired Langdon, approaching the midshipmen, after having conned the launch over the treacherous shoals at the entrance to the lake. “We’ll be at the fleet in a short time now,” he added, pointing to the lights fast appearing ahead. Phil arose, throwing a swift glance at the lights of the gunboats, growing ever brighter as the launch sped swiftly onward. Then he returned to his seat on the deck house and told the pilot of the discovery. “Why did you never tell me of this meeting with Ignacio in the bank?” Langdon asked, in a hurt voice. “I might have put two and two together and saved us a great deal of trouble.” “Oh! pipe down, Joe Langdon!” Phil exclaimed, in good humor. “You wouldn’t have found it out any sooner than we did. It’s all plain enough now after you know.” “I can’t help worrying about our four sailors,” Sydney said sadly, and immediately the mirth died on Phil’s face. “After Ta-Ling is released, he will be mad enough to have them summarily executed.” His companions made no reply. Each felt that the chances for the four captive Americans were small. While the launch was approaching the line of anchored ships, Phil left his two companions and stood close beside O’Neil, while the sailor steered for the lights which had been pointed out to him as being on board the “Phœnix.” The lads were delighted to have this fine American sailor-man again with them. Phil recounted again all the exciting adventures through which they had just passed and O’Neil in his turn told of the monotonous life on board a monitor in Manila Bay.