e opinion of
nearly all our leading men, so we are naturally eager so to order things
that, if trouble should arise between the two countries--as I, for one,
feel certain it will--we shall not be entirely unprepared. It is most
unfortunate, however, that we are at present extremely short of naval
officers; indeed, if war were to break out to-morrow it is an absolute
certainty that several of our men-of-war would be unable to put to sea,
for want of capable officers to man them. Crews sufficient we have, but
officers--"

"Surely you are not serious, sir?" exclaimed Frobisher.

"But I am, indeed, sir," replied Wong-lih. "And now you will see
whither this long story of mine is leading, and why I asked you if you
would be ready to accept employment. Stated very briefly, the situation
is this. If you will agree to my proposal, I can secure for you the
position of captain on board a very fine new cruiser of ours, which, at
present, we cannot send to sea for the reason I have just mentioned. I
cannot actually make the appointment myself, but I can give you passage
to Wei-hai-wei, whence you can easily reach Tien-tsin, where the Council
is now sitting; and on my recommendation there would be no hesitation on
its part about giving you the post--quite the reverse, indeed. There
would be no unpleasant conditions imposed upon you; you would not be
required to become a Chinese subject, or to do anything, in short, that
would affect your allegiance to your own glorious Queen--whom may Buddha
in his mercy preserve! All that would be required of you would be an
oath to serve faithfully and to the best of your ability while in the
Chinese service. Now, I have said my say; let me have your opinion and
decision, for I have already spent more time in this fortress than I
should have."

For some moments Frobisher remained in deep thought. Undoubtedly, this
offer of Wong-lih's opened up a most rosy vista of the future. Captain
of a fine new cruiser, with the prospect of a naval war in the near
future--what more could any Navy man ask for? There would be chances in
plenty to win honour, fame, renown; and his name might even go down in
history if he had any luck! It was a tempting bait, indeed, that
Wong-lih held out; and, being at a loose end, the Englishman would have
been more--or less--than human if he had not jumped at it. Besides, why
should not he? His own country had rejected his services; another
country, apparently,