XXXVII.--Interview with the General.--Nicholas causes Soldiers to be sent in search of the Princess 285 XXXVIII.--Cruel Death of the aged Woo.--A Battle.--Bravery of the Boys.--Chow taken by the Enemy 293 XXXIX.--The Rebels beaten.--Artfulness of the Tartar King.--Chagrin and Disappointment of Nicholas 300 XL.--The Great Boy Emperor.--Nicholas meets with a fearful Surprise 305 XLI.--Nicholas has an Interview with his Father, and leaves Pekin forever 309 XLII.--The Rival Sea Chiefs.--Re-appearance of an old Friend.--A comical Battle with the Tartars 314 XLIII.--Chow discovers his Mother and the Princess.--Rescues them from the Tartars, and relates his Adventures 320 XLIV.--A Sea Voyage.--The Colao relates the Adventures of the Princess 329 XLV.--They reach the Palace of the Sea Chief Koshinga 333 XLVI.--The King and Queen of Formosa.--Happy Termination of the Story 336 THE WAR TIGER. CHAPTER I. THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.--HIS MISSION. Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chinese province of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, which are so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble of procuring food, and even fuel, from the main land. These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of a capacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch, the first civilized people who established themselves upon the neighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertile land, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught. It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden with pearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many other articles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the large trading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violent tempests so common to the China seas. One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, some distance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of European build, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmed about the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with an officer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior to the Mantchou Tartar conquest.