The land showed clearly now its hill and rock formation. Layer after layer, set upright from the sea, vanished into hazy distance. Promontory after promontory tapered down at the far point to a surf-beaten line of rocks. Farther peaks rose in tones of blue,--some thin as water, others rich and dark, like great gentians. On the nearer hills, forests and shaven spots of green appeared. The water around them shone and stirred with sails, the square-laced sails of junks. Bronze-colored boatmen, scantily clad, stood on the swaying edge of a boat and shaded their eyes to peer upward at the strange, white-faced "seiyo-jin." Among the junks, sailless sampan, propelled by one crooked oar, tumbled like queer sea-beetles with a single jointed leg. "Gwendolen," said Yuki, in a very low voice, "do you see a long, green patch, like moss, over on that brown slope?" "Yes; I was thinking it looked like curled parsley." "That is really a forest,--quite a big little forest,--made of sugi, and camphor, and camellia trees. Listen; I thought then that I heard the deep sound of a bell!" "I hear nothing but water and the wind." "It was the temple bell," insisted Yuki. "And now, dear, look more close. Do you not see, right on the edge of beach, a small red something?" "Why, yes; there is a little square of red like the framework of a door." "It is torii,--red torii, or sacred gate; and beyond that gate are many, many stone steps leading up to the temple. Ah! such steps as those,--so quiet, so deep, so still! They lead the heart up before ever the clumsy feet have climbed." * * * * * A little steam launch, bearing the flag of the rising sun, came puffing and squealing toward them. The ship's steps were lowered. Grave, correct Japanese officers took possession. Their news was astounding. War's breath already heated the land. The Japanese minister at St. Petersburg even then made preparation for instant departure, and his Russian colleague in Yedo did the same. The severance of diplomatic relations between the countries meant, of course, no less than a declaration of war. From the moment of hearing this, neither Mr. Todd nor his secretary had a thought for anything besides,--no, not even for pretty Gwendolen, who, for a while, sulked alone, then, seeing it useless, sought consolation in engaging herself to all the unmarried male passengers, one after the other, and most of the ship's officers, irrespective of connubial ties.