At four o'clock the steamer _Pernosbucco_ arrived here; she brought no news from Petersburg. At seven she left for Diego Suarez. To-morrow we get up anchor and go north to some bay. A stoker died on board the _Oslyabya_; he was buried at five o'clock to-day. The _Oslyabya_ left the line, half-masted her colours, fired her guns (a salute), and committed the body to the sea. During this ceremony the officers and crews of all the ships stood at "attention," and where there were bands they played "Kol Slaven."[4] To-day the wireless station received some signals, evidently sent from a great distance. None of the ships could decipher them--it was not known, even, in what language they were written. To-morrow I shall learn whether it was not one of our newly arrived ships that signalled. _December 21st._--In the bay of Tang-tang. This morning we weighed and shifted from St. Mary nearer to Madagascar, in the bay of Tang-tang. It is better protected than where we were lying. The guns are ready at any minute to commence firing. In all corners of the ship are men talking in undertones. They anxiously scan the horizon. The outlines of the nearest ships stand out in black silhouettes. At the sides the torpedo-nets are rocked by the waves. The searchlights are ready to instantly illuminate all around. The tension is felt, though there is absolute stillness. Every one is chilled by fearful anticipation. _December 22nd._--To-day the cruiser _Kuban_ is expected to arrive, and to-morrow the squadron that came _viâ_ Suez. In the English newspapers there is an announcement that Russia has ordered thirty ships of various kinds in Germany and Italy. Those undeciphered signals which our wireless stations received have been made out by some one in the _Nachimoff_. The signal was Japanese. It stated that "the Russian fleet is lying without lights off the island of St. Mary." To-day a French officer commanding some local troops arrived, and spent the night on board the _Suvaroff_. The torpedo-nets were again got out; the crews were at their guns; steam and mining cutters lay near their ships, one-third of the officers were on deck by order, and a large number out of curiosity. The night was rather dark--half the sky was covered with clouds. Occasionally sparks of light glimmer here and there. Some one is signalling. A light flashes on shore; it is answered from the sea. The _Aurora_ reports that she saw six lights astern of her. I myself saw four out at sea and one on shore. What will to-night bring us? An attack must be expected. Everything is so unusual. All lights are hidden. At dawn a cruiser is leaving with secret orders, apparently for the colliers.