rebels. Knowing as he did the terms of the Tien-tsin convention of 1884
between China and Japan, the words "international complications" at once
suggested themselves to Frobisher's mind, and, despite the awkwardness
of his own position, he could not help rubbing his hands gleefully.
Matters were rapidly developing; and if he could but escape from his
present unpleasant predicament there might be an excellent chance for
him to see active service again, either in the Chinese or the Japanese
Navy--he cared very little which--for that was what things would
evidently come to, sooner or later. Japan was herself too much
interested in Korea to permit China to play out her own game there
alone.

Frobisher had little leisure, however, for the contemplation of possible
diplomatic action on the part of the Chinese or Japanese, for he had now
other things to engage his attention. To his astonishment, as he
watched, he saw that the ship which had just steamed into view was not
alone; she was followed, close astern, by another cruiser of her own
size and class, also firing heavily with her broadside batteries, and
also flying the Chinese flag. A third and fourth vessel--gunboats
these--followed in her wake; and, bringing up the rear, there were three
hired transports which appeared to be crowded with men.

So this was no chance appearance of a single cruiser at a critical
moment; it was evidently part of a preconcerted scheme--some arrangement
previously made between Korea and China whereby the latter country was
to lend her assistance for the crushing of the rebellion, a task which
the Korean Government had apparently decided to be beyond its
capabilities.

The Chinese squadron had been steaming exceedingly slowly when it had
first come into view, and Frobisher could now see, from the flash of
white water under the ships' sterns, that their engines were being sent
astern; and a few seconds later the entire fleet came to an anchor,
their cables flying out through the hawse-pipes with a roar which was
plainly audible at the fort. The four men-of-war anchored stem and
stern, broadside-on to the shore, while the three transports took up
their berths about half a mile farther seaward, the ships themselves
being screened from the rebel fire by the steel hulls of the men-of-war.

Fully recovered now from their first surprise, the rebels resumed their
cannonade most pluckily, two of the field-pieces being directed against
the flee