nition-chests, although armed
with old-fashioned muzzle-loading muskets, out-of-date halberds, and, in
some cases, bows and arrows, could not possibly be relied upon to put up
any sort of a fight in the event of an encounter with the regular Korean
soldiery. The only person beside himself who was armed with a modern
weapon was the interpreter, Ling, who carried a fairly recent and
reliable Marlin repeating rifle, holding eight cartridges; but this was
all the ammunition he had, so that, if trouble arose, he could not be
relied upon very far, either.

Having reached the village, Frobisher took Ling with him and went off to
see that the carts were properly loaded, and the mule-drivers at their
stations; and to his astonishment found that, in spite of the proverbial
slackness of the Korean, everything was in readiness, and only his word
was necessary to enable the caravan to start. During his previous visit
to the shore he had done a little exploration, and had quite made up his
mind which road to take in order to avoid the troops coming from
Yong-wol--provided, of course, that they came by the direct route. So
he did not waste any time, but, after a last look round, to see that
everything was satisfactory, commanded Ling to set the caravan in
motion, himself remaining behind until the last cart had left the
village, in order to make sure that, at the last moment, none of the
drivers should shirk the risks and try to desert.

There was no attempt of the kind, however. The Korean mule-drivers
appeared absolutely apathetic and indifferent to any possible danger.
They were being well paid for their trouble, and "sufficient unto the
day" was evidently their motto. Satisfied, therefore, that there was
nothing to fear in that respect, Frobisher mounted the elderly steed
which he had managed to purchase at about ten times its proper value,
and rode to the head of the column, where he found Ling, already fast
asleep on the back of the mule which he had elected to ride.

So the long column was at last fairly started on its perilous hundred
miles' journey into the interior of Korea--a journey which involved the
negotiation of heavy, ill-made roads, the fording of deep, swift rivers
and streams, and, most difficult of all, the passage of the range of
lofty hills on the other side of which the town of Yong-wol, their
destination, was situated.

For a long time, until, in fact, the caravan disappeared from view among
the trees