The three Americans and Emmons went hastily to the captain’s cabin, where they found the orderly awaiting them, while Commander Hughes was seated at his desk. Phil was shocked at the change in his captain’s face. His buoyant expression had been displaced by a haggard look and as he turned his eyes toward the door, the lad noticed, with a twinge of pity, that their expression was one of worry, while the dark circles below them told only too plainly the story of sleepless nights. It was not until Phil had advanced almost to his side that Commander Hughes realized who his visitors were. Then the mask dropped from his face and he sprang eagerly to his feet with a glad cry. “I was just thinking,” he exclaimed joyfully as he embraced one after another of the men returning to him as if from the grave, “that for a glimpse of you safe on board here again I’d give ten years of my life.” After the first joyful shock of meeting was over Commander Hughes made the midshipmen and their companions be seated, and each in turn told the thrilling details of his experiences since leaving Lien-Chow with the flag of truce. The story of Commander Ignacio’s duplicity, much to the lads’ surprise, brought forth but little comment. “I have suspected him,” their captain answered, almost sadly, “since his return without you.” When the part in their ventures taken by Emmons was told him, Commander Hughes arose from his chair and, much to the embarrassment of the half-breed, took his hand in both of his, thanking him eloquently for his self-sacrificing acts. Then Phil’s heart leaped with delight as his captain cast from him all signs of sentiment; the old fire had returned to his eyes. The midshipmen were so intent upon their own experiences that the mention of the arrival of the monitors came only at the end of their narrative. Commander Hughes could hardly believe his ears. “The monitors are actually here!” he exclaimed, doubting the welcome news. It was too good to be true. [Illustration: “_THE MONITORS ARE ACTUALLY HERE!_”] “The ‘Monterey’ is at anchor at the entrance of the lake,” Phil assured him. “The ‘Monadnock’ should have arrived by now. Commander Barnes has kept up steam awaiting your arrival. I told him you would go up the river to-night,” he added hastily. Commander Hughes’ joy showed plainly in his strong face. “How glad I should be that I have not yielded to the persistent counsels of the other captains!” he cried. “No one knows what these last few days of suspense and uncertainty have been. When Ignacio left us it required the combined effort of Buresford and myself to prevent the rest from following like a flock of sheep. I had wrung a reluctant promise from those remaining to attempt to run the batteries to-morrow night unless the viceroy agreed to our demands. My letter to him sent by one of the renegades has not been answered.”