Already signals had been made to "No. 2" to steam to meet her, and leisurely she gathered way, though by the little puffs of black smoke that came from her funnels quickly, one after another, one knew that her stokers were shovelling coal on her furnace gratings for all they were worth. Gradually the column of smoke mounted up over the horizon, and from the foremast-head a sharp-eyed signalman sang out that she was a man-of-war with fighting-tops, and was making straight for the island. If she was a man-of-war she might be yet another of the pirate ships, and there was the welcome chance of a "scrap"; but even if this did not turn out to be true, there was something else almost as welcome: she might bring a mail, and it is only those who "go down to the sea in ships" who know what that means. Then "No. 2" began to signal, and the yeoman of signals, saluting, reported to Captain Helston "The _Undaunted_, sir!" (The _Undaunted_ was one of the armoured cruisers of the British China Squadron.) "Can’t capture her, I suppose?" suggested Ping Sang, with a smile. "She may be coming up here to capture us, though," answered Helston, looking worried. "The Admiral would hardly have sent her out of her way unless he had important communications to make. I trust sincerely that she brings no bad news." "Cheer up, old croaker!" said Dr. Fox; "we’ll get some mails at any rate." By this time the naked eye could easily identify her white side and yellow funnels and cowls glistening in the setting sun, and the white ensign flying at her gaff, as fair a sight as any British naval man ever wants to see. "No. 2" was following her towards the squadron, looking like some disreputable little terrier keeping a respectful distance from a stately St. Bernard. More signals flew backward and forward, presently the semaphores began to jerk their arms up and down, and the _Undaunted_ slowed as she came abreast the _Laird_, and stopped her engines. "Away first cutter! Away galley!" yelled the bos’n’s mate, and rapidly these boats were lowered, and in a couple of minutes Captain Helston was being pulled across to the _Undaunted_ by six strong pairs of arms, whilst the cutter, with that signal flying from the _Undaunted_, "Send boat for mails", was not much behind-hand. In half an hour both boats were back again, and the bulky mail-bags hauled aboard by willing hands. Then letters for home, already written and only waiting for closing up, were sent across, and the _Undaunted_ slowly began to move away. As she steadied on her course her crew "manned and cheered ship", three ringing cheers coming across the water, and one cheer more for luck. The _Laird’s_ were not slow to answer, and the crew ran aloft, crowded along the port side, and, taking time from little Cummins, who, with his cap in his hand, yelled as best he could with a toothpick in his mouth, sent back cheer for cheer.