"I thank you very much, hon’ble sir. You do me gigantic favour. You save my wife—better-half, by your daring courage. It was jolly close thing. Accept, hon’ble sir, my profound thanks." Bob bowed his acknowledgments, but his embarrassment was rather increased when the polite Korean, untying one of several little bags of orange-coloured silk that hung at his waist-band and served him as pockets, produced a limp visiting-card, and handed it with another low bow to his benefactor. Bob thanked him, and looked in some perplexity at the incomprehensible hieroglyphics on the card. "You do not understand?" said the Korean. "My name, hon’ble sir, is San-Po. I am—" He stopped and looked puzzled, evidently at a momentary loss for an English word. Then his brow cleared, and he added rapidly: "I am helping-to-decide in His Imperial Majesty’s War Office. If, hon’ble sir, you do me honour of a visit in my house towards An-ju, I shall esteem it greatest hon’ble favour—jolly well pleased." Yamaguchi was smiling, evidently enjoying the situation. He did not offer to help Bob out of his embarrassment. "Thank you, sir," said Bob, "I am afraid I am not coming that way just now, but another time—perhaps—" He finished the sentence with a bow, to which the Korean responded with a lavish acknowledgment of his condescension. As Bob turned to continue his journey with Yamaguchi, he became aware that Korean courtliness has its obverse. Though he did not understand the words, there was no mistaking the tenor of the vehement harangue which the gentleman was addressing to his absconding bearers, who had now slunk back to their poles. "What in the world does he mean by helping-to-decide in the War Office?" asked Bob. "Oh, the war minister, the Pan-Go, or decisive signature, has what you call under-secretaries, the Cham Pan, which means help to decide; and under them are the Cham Wi, which means help to discuss. Our polite friend is one of the Cham Pan. But it really doesn’t matter, for the whole army is quite useless. It never fights." "All shams together," said Bob with a smile. "San-Po spent a year or two in England: entered at Lincoln’s Inn, I believe: that explains his command of English." "It’s a fearful and wonderful mixture. Mr. Helping-to-decide is rather an oddity. I’d rather like to see him at home, though I don’t suppose I should enjoy it so much as my visit to Nikko. I never had a better time than with one of your countrymen there, Kobo San." "Kobo San!" ejaculated Yamaguchi, with an accent of surprise. "Yes. Do you know him?" "I’ve met him," replied the lieutenant shortly, with another change of tone. Bob looked at him, but his face was inscrutable. *CHAPTER VII* *The Battle of the Destroyers* A Chance for the Destroyers—Flotillas in Action—Winged—Repairing Damages—To the Yalu