After some delay the articles were placed in the skipper's boat, upon which he returned to Puffeigh's cabin and wrote the following:-- "Rendezvous of the Russian ship Volganoski. "On the 12th May this ship will be found at anchor off the Island of Sado in the Japanese Sea." "Thar, capt'n ef you jis go there right away, you will capture her sure pop, and I wish you joy of your bargain." "Well, sign it, Captain Pelton." "No, siree; ef I did that, it might fall into the hands of the Rooshians, and I don't care tew risk it;" saying this, the cute skipper left the cabin, descended into his gig, and in a few moments was alongside his own craft; then hoisting in his plunder and boat, he set sail, and made off in the opposite direction to which the Stinger was heading. Puffeigh did not impart the information he had received to any of his officers, but kept on his way to the rendezvous, off which he arrived five days afterwards, but found no signs of the Russian ship. Upon returning to Hong-Kong some months after this, the following letter was handed him, and upon comparing the handwriting, he concluded it was from Captain Amos Pelton. "_Shanghae_, "TO CAPTAIN PUFFEIGH OF THE BRITISH SHIP STINGER, "You will be delighted to hear that the ship which disappeared so suddenly from your sight one evening in the Gulf of Tartary was the Volganoski, and she had on board the Russian admiral, _with the treasure of the fleet_. She furled sails just before sunset, and became invisible to you, and when it was dark altered her course and passed you, _leaving me to fool you, which I did with the Rendezvous_. Your brandy was good, and I should very much like to sell you another Rendezvous for some more." When the worthy commander read this, he foamed at the mouth, and wished he could have the whaling captain under his command for one day. Probably had his amiable desire been gratified, Amos Pelton would have been again too many guns for him. After remaining at the rendezvous long enough to find that he had been hoodwinked by his informant, Puffeigh proceeded to the Gulf of Tartary, where he vented his spite upon his crew, whom he drilled almost out of their senses; for, as usual in such cases, what was amusement to the officers was torture to the men. In the course of a few days he fell in with H.M.S. Choker, who reported the presence of the Russian fleet in one of the bays at the head of the Gulf of Tartary, and despatched the Stinger to convey the news to the admiral at Chickodadi. Captain Puffeigh made all possible haste, and arrived in port just as the admiral was leaving for the north, and was by him directed to remain in harbour until relieved by a smaller ship. The Stingers did not much enjoy their stay in this port, as immediately upon arrival a cordon of boats was placed round the vessel, and all communication with the shore strictly interdicted by the Japanese authorities.