re. Then the Chinaman spoke, using excellent English.

"I am the Governor of this fortress of Asan," he began coldly, "and have
just been informed of your presence here. You would have been brought
before me on your arrival, but it chanced to be the hour of my afternoon
rest. Who and what are you?"

"My name is Murray Frobisher," answered the Englishman, "and I was
formerly a lieutenant in the British Navy."

"Ha!" exclaimed the Governor. "You say `formerly'. I take it, then,
that you are no longer in your country's service, and that it is not
known to your Government that you have turned gun-runner in order to
supply arms to rebels against their lawful sovereign?"

"You are correct in both suppositions," answered Frobisher. "You tax me
with gun-running; and I plead guilty to the charge. I certainly was
bringing arms to the rebels, as you term them; but my conscience is
quite clear upon that point. It is well known that the Korean
Government has been treating its subjects in a most outrageous manner;
and if some of them with more pluck than the rest have made up their
minds to put an end to such tyranny, more power to them, say I, and may
somebody else be more fortunate than myself in providing them with
weapons wherewith to uphold their liberties and rid themselves of the
rulers who are oppressing them."

The Chinaman looked at Frobisher for a moment, and then gave vent to a
harsh, sneering laugh.

"Well spoken, my young friend!" he mocked. "You have told me something
that I wanted to know; and now perhaps you will answer a few more
questions. I would very strongly advise you to do so, since it may save
you a good deal of--inconvenience, shall I say?"

"You may ask what you please," retorted Frobisher, "but I do not promise
to answer."

"I shall ask the questions, nevertheless," said the Governor; "and if
you will not speak now, other means of obtaining replies can doubtless
be found. First of all, what ship brought those arms; who was her
captain; what quantity of arms and ammunition did the consignment
consist of--some have been lost in transit, I understand--and, finally,
how many more shiploads are being sent out here from your country?"

Frobisher laughed, but made no reply.

"Did you hear me?" demanded the Governor, and there was deadly menace in
his voice.

"Quite distinctly," answered Frobisher coolly. "But surely you cannot
have already forgotten that I gave you to understand clearly,