cruisers continued to chase us with the utmost pertinacity and determination. CHAPTER EIGHT. THE PETROPAVLOSK LURED TO HER DOOM. The explanation of the Russian cruisers' pertinacity was soon made plain to Admiral Dewa by a wireless message which he picked up, addressed to the captain of the _Novik_, which, decoded, ran thus: "Keep in touch with enemy but do not attack until I join you. Two battleships and _Askold_ following to support you. Signed Makarov." Of course I did not know anything about this until afterward, the _Koryu_ not being fitted with a wireless installation; but Dewa at once made a code signal to me instructing me to continue my present tactics; and while this was being done his wireless operators were busily engaged in transmitting a code message to Admiral Togo, who was at that moment lurking, enveloped in mist, some thirty miles away, near the Miao-tao Islands, with his whole battle squadron and the new cruisers _Nisshin_ and _Kasuga_. Makarov, however, was evidently ignorant of that fact; the atmosphere in the neighbourhood of Port Arthur was now quite clear, and to the lookouts on the highest points about the fortress no Japanese ships were visible, save the cruiser squadron, which was undoubtedly in full retreat from the pursuing Russian ships, which it was perfectly evident they were afraid of. It was the moment and the opportunity for which the Russian Admiral had long been pining, the moment when a weak Japanese force, entirely unsupported, lay at his mercy, and now he would smash them! Accordingly, he hurried aboard the _Petrofiavlosk_ and signalled the _Poltava_ and _Askold_--both of which, like the flagship, had steam up-- to weigh at once and proceed to sea. This was done, with marvellous smartness, considering that the craft were Russian, and presently out they came, their funnels belching immense volumes of black smoke and the water leaping and foaming about their bows as they pounded after us at their utmost speed, which, after all, was only about fourteen knots. Meanwhile, Dewa, who was bringing up the rear in the _Asama_,--by the speed of which ship the rest of the squadron regulated theirs,--was very cleverly allowing the Russians to slowly overtake him, while the Russians were straining every nerve to do so, stoking up furiously and wasting their coal in the most reckless manner. Then came an order from the Admiral to me to increase speed and pass ahead of the squadron, out of harm's way, as he was about to open fire upon the Russians. Of course there was nothing for it but to obey, which I did forthwith; but when I had got about a mile ahead, I gradually slowed down again; if there was any fun toward, I was not going to miss it. Besides, it was just possible that I might be of use, for, following the Russian battleships and cruisers, there was now coming up, hand over hand, a crowd of destroyers, against which the _Koryu's_ Hotchkisses might be brought into play.