had need of them: so why should he not sell his
sword to that country? There was no reason at all, so far as he could
see; and his mind was made up in less than a minute.

Turning to Wong-lih, he held out his hand with the simple words, "I
accept"; and by so doing, altered the whole course of his existence, and
opened up for himself a vista of such dazzling brilliance that, could he
but have glanced into the future, even his steady, somewhat unemotional
brain might have been very nearly turned. But before this could be
realised he was to pass through scenes and experiences which were to
leave their mark indelibly upon him.

The admiral returned Frobisher's grip with great heartiness.

"I am rejoiced to learn your decision, Mr Frobisher," he said, bowing
courteously; "and I feel sure you will never have cause to regret it.
For such a man as yourself, the Chinese Naval service, at the present
moment, offers almost unlimited scope; and there is no reason at all why
you should not, in the course of a few years, rise to the highest
position in it. We urgently need good men just now, for I am sorry to
say that bribery, corruption, and treachery are frightfully prevalent in
both the Army and the Navy; and my heart sometimes misgives me when I
think of the revelations that are bound to be made when we come to
hand-grips with Japan--as I feel confident we soon shall.

"But I must not continue in this strain, or you will be refusing the job
with thanks. I suppose there is nothing to keep you here? I mean, you
will be able to accompany me back to my ship and make the voyage to
Wei-hai-wei with me? I return almost immediately, for my duties
consisted simply in convoying the transports here, and looking into
matters at Asan sufficiently to enable me to make a report on my return;
and that I have already done; so that I am prepared to weigh as soon as
it is daybreak. I shall be honoured, also, if you will consider
yourself my guest while on board the _Hai-yen_, my flagship."

Frobisher bowed his thanks. "The honour is mine," he said, "and I shall
have great pleasure in accepting your kind invitation. Also, as I have
absolutely nothing but what I stand up in, my preparations are not
likely to occupy much time," and he laughed. "But," he continued, as
Wong-lih turned toward the door, "there is one thing which I think we
have both forgotten, and which may prove an insuperable objection to my
joining the Chinese Navy."