"I don’t know. He was shot from the boat." "You were armed?" "No; I had nothing but my field-glass." "You are not a soldier?" "No; I am an engineer." "A naval engineer?" "Not specially. I’ve no naval experience except what I have picked up." "In what ships have you been?" Bob hesitated for a moment. Then he reflected that there could be no possible harm in mentioning the names of the vessels in which he had served. "In the _Mikasa_ and _Hatsuse_." "But neither of these brought you to Yongampo." "No." "What was the name of the vessel that did?" Bob again hesitated. The _Kasumi_ was engaged in secret service. It was impossible for him to know what might be the ultimate effect of betraying her identity. In so doing he would in any case associate her commander with the expedition to Yongampo. He made his decision. "That, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not say." When this was explained to the officers they began to talk with some excitement, and one of them thumped the table. The interpreter continued: "The general insists on knowing the name of the vessel." "I am sorry, sir, but I can’t tell you that." "You know the consequence of refusing?" "I’m not sure that I do," said Bob with a faint smile; "but in any case I can’t tell." A short consultation took place at the table, then the officer resumed his questioning. "You had just landed from the boat, you say. Had you not been to Yongampo?" "No." "Who had?" "I cannot say." "Why did you land?" "To help a friend of mine who was hard pressed by the Cossacks." "Had he been to Yongampo?" "I cannot say." "Who was he?" "I really cannot tell you any more about him." "Whom had he been to see?" "I do not know." "Was he also an Englishman?" "I really cannot answer that question." "Do you speak Japanese?" "No." "Chinese?" "No." "What language did you speak in Yongampo?" "I have never been in Yongampo." "How long have you been in the country?" "In Manchuria?" "Don’t prevaricate. How long have you been in these parts—Manchuria or Korea?" "A few days." "How came you to be on friendly terms with the native in whose house you were captured?" "Excuse me, I gave myself up. As to your question, I happened to do a little service, quite accidentally, to the Korean gentleman, and he was more grateful than the circumstances really called for." "When did you do him this service?" "A week or two ago." "Where?" "In Seoul." "What were you doing in Seoul?" "Nothing—merely visiting the place."