y made out by the
starlight riding in mid-stream, and in these the cargo had been placed,
while two large flat-bottomed boats were moored alongside the landing,
ready for the conveyance of the men.

Great haste was displayed in getting the troops on board, which rather
surprised Frobisher, until, under cover of the shadow cast by one of the
sails, Ling found time to whisper that the rebels had made a forced
march, and were even then close to the town. Another spy in the service
of the Government had brought the news an hour previously, and no time
had been lost in arranging to beat an immediate retreat. The northern
gates had been shut and barricaded, so as to delay the pursuit as long
as possible; and the commander of the force had already begun to sink
the remainder of the craft lying in the river, that they might not be
used by the rebels.

Frobisher was watching the process of sinking one of these, when
suddenly he became aware of a commotion in the distance, gradually
becoming louder and more insistent until he recognised it for what it
was--the clatter and tramp and shouting of a large body of men.

In a moment the air was vibrant with shouted orders, warnings, and
instructions. The men who had been told off to sink the river boats
were instantly recalled; and the little fleet hastily pushed off and got
under way at the precise moment that the rebels reached the northern
gate and, finding it shut, proceeded to attempt to batter it down.
Frobisher, lying in his palanquin, listened to the tumult with feelings
of the utmost joy and relief. There were plenty of boats still
uninjured and afloat in the stream; and if the pursuers could but break
down the gate quickly enough, secure the remaining craft, and come in
pursuit, it was quite on the cards that he would be rescued, and thus
avoid making acquaintance with that torture chamber, the idea of which
persistently haunted him.

The Korean officer was clearly a man of considerable courage and
resource, for in the face of this sudden new danger he remained
perfectly cool, giving his orders clearly and concisely; and before a
favouring slant of wind the little fleet drew away in good order from
the shore, and began to glide quickly downstream before wind and
current.

Looking behind--for he was placed in the high stern of one of the boats,
where his view was unimpeded--Frobisher saw a glimmer of light spring up
from the direction of the gate, which presently bri