Phil gasped. The viceroy’s answer was in the pocket of his blouse, but he must not deliver it. To do so would betray the fact of a telegram. “But now,” the captain continued, “we cannot wait for his answer. The lives of those in the mission depend upon immediate action on our part. I feel sure that the news of the arrival of the monitors and this chart of a safe channel will bolster up our allies’ waning courage. “I fear for the sailors in the yamen,” he added, a note of grave anxiety in his voice; “but if a hair of their heads is injured I shall not rest until those guilty of the outrage are punished. The viceroy himself shall not escape the penalty of this crime.” CHAPTER XVIII THE START FOR KU-LING The midshipmen, after leaving the captain’s cabin, hastened to their rooms to bathe and don fresh clothes. Phil eyed his bunk longingly; he had not had a comfortable sleep for many nights, but he withstood the temptation and soon found the duty of helping to prepare the ship for battle far more interesting. Commander Hughes had signaled at once for the gunboat captains, and each had left the “Phœnix,” enthusiastic at the lucky turn affairs had taken, and cordially willing to coöperate. “I am in doubt,” Commander Hughes confided to Phil on the quarter-deck, where the lad had been directing the work of the men of his division, “what to do with our non-combatants. Each gunboat is carrying a dozen or more of their own nationality, former residents of the foreign concession at Ku-Ling. These gunboats will offer no protection to the women and children if we are discovered and fired upon by the forts. One large shell might even, if it hit in a vital spot, sink this vessel.” “Why not put all on board the monitors?” Phil suggested; “they would be perfectly safe there behind armor.” “A good idea,” the captain replied gladly. “I shall signal at once to have the refugees ready to disembark. “How many can Emmons’ launch carry?” he questioned. “It’s a good-sized boat, sir,” Phil replied. “I should say certainly fifty persons.” “That’s very well,” the former said. Then Phil, recognizing a change of tone in his superior’s voice, drew himself to attention as the captain added slowly: “We shall be ready to get under way at one o’clock at the latest. You will follow in the launch and when the ‘Phœnix,’ which of course will lead the column, reaches the monitors, you will begin at once to transfer all refugees from the gunboats, dividing them equally between the two monitors. I shall write out immediately orders for the commanding officers of the ‘Monterey’ and ‘Monadnock,’ which I shall hand you for delivery before you shove off. They will be unable to follow us through the secret channel, as their draft is too great, so I have directed that they remain beyond the range of fire of the forts, unless by chance we are menaced by the enemy’s guns.