e permitted to mention, too, that I have not tasted food
for fully twenty-four hours, and am feeling the need of a meal."

"My dear sir," exclaimed Wong-lih, in tones of genuine concern, "what
can I have been thinking of not to have enquired if you were hungry! My
only excuse is that I was so full of the matter we have just been
discussing, that the first rules of hospitality escaped me for the
moment. If you will remain here for a few minutes I will myself see
that food is served to you. I will at the same time make enquiries
about all your property; and if it is indeed here it shall most
certainly be returned to you. I will be with you again very shortly."

With these words the kind-hearted admiral left the room, returning
presently with Frobisher's pistols in one hand and the jacket in the
other, bringing also the welcome information that a meal was being
hastily prepared, and would be served with the utmost expedition.

Half an hour later Frobisher, feeling a new man and quite himself again,
followed Wong-lih out of the fort and down to the beach, where the
admiral's own boat was now waiting to take him on board. On the way
thither it was necessary to pass over the scene of the day's battle, and
although it was night and the only illumination came from the moon, and
the lantern which the admiral's coxswain was carrying, there was light
enough to reveal many of the horrors of the past day's fight, and
Frobisher was more than glad when that blood-stained field was left
behind and they came to the margin of the clean, wholesome sea.

Here they found the officer in command of the troops who were to remain
in Korea and to assist the Government in stamping out the rebellion.
They were, it afterward transpired, first of all to occupy the town of
Asan, and operate against the insurgents, with Asan as their base, until
further instructions were received or other developments arose; and the
officer was then waiting to hold a short consultation with Wong-lih with
reference to his future course of action, so that the admiral would be
in a position to report fully to his Government upon his return to
China. The transports, which had also been fitted up as store-ships,
were to remain behind in Prince Jerome Bay, with one of the gunboats to
protect them, while the two cruisers and the other gunboat were to
proceed to sea immediately.

The general plan of campaign had evidently been already arranged, for a
quarter of an h