In the Yellow Sea

SPORT-THE

URRENDER OF

d family, the speculations were numerous and important. Only the ugly Amas (Chinese "ayahs"), and their usually pale European charges, were exempted from the general discussions. The Chinese, too, were quite quiet, but also perfectly alive to the situation. Those of the settlers who played lawn ten

s more muddy, but steaming at sea through the ocean depths the water is blue as an Italian sky. We made our way up to Taku, or Tien Tsin, the well-known port of Nor

859, and I recollect my admiration when my cousin returned with some beautiful Chinese robes, and other articles, which he had p

, and that the struggle would be fought out by sea and land, between China and Japan, in the Yellow Sea and in Corea. So he made haste to embark the soldiers,-some twelve hundred men with twelve guns,-and, when they were settled on

me, when we had crossed the bar a

service. There will be no fighting. We can't

we reach Asan, and land the troops, we

g at the mate intently in the dim l

warships are out in this sea, and they

t Chinese; we

roops, and get them settled. If any storm gets up, or anythin

r? He's not a C

dge in in China, quietly. Look at their travellers already-commercial, I mean-they are turning us out! This maj

of what they were sent to do-except to fight somebody; but they were apparently quite passive in the matter, a

p again about eight a.m. because I was informed that the islands were in sight of

lad ahead, and I can't quite make her out. She carries the Rising

d see the vessel referred to, but of

?" he asked,

heard, sir; in the Corea

sarcastic I could not divine. I at once h

the bridge, and I heard h

said the latter; "but I c

it's the proper thing. Ho

merchant navy; it rose, fluttered out, dipped,

She keeps her course to the north-east. Now what

ne rate, sir. Looks as

urning his glass upon the large ship. "Ah! a

it up' yonder, and Jap has licked Johnny, but I heard no g

ner was not the Harada, so far as I could see. She had no foretop-sail-yard. She was st

ficers, accompanied by the European passenger, began to chatter and make all kinds of inquiries and observations. The Japanese flag had evidently rai

y much interested. The native fireman even came up to look around, and thou

the German military passenger were perfectly calm and unembarrassed, and the Kowshing proceeded at a good pace to her destination. The chief men we

mile or so of the island from the north-west, when thr

ake them?" ask

"We are getting into a

e steamer?" asked the foreign passenger. "

keep going, though I fancy the ships will not appreciate

lso crowded forward, and there was no appearance of fear amongst them. There was some anxiety, certainly, on boa

gnal had been interpreted. My heart beat loudly at the

and waited, tossing

ed or implied. "Tell them we understand, Julius

e flags said, "We have stopped"; and again we waited, lopping and ro

the mate when he came back amidsh

d crossly. "Must wait the

aptain with demands which the German officer tr

e Naniwa," I he

All right, we may

tes," said the engineer, who had come up

ay we proceed?" The engineers anxiously awaited th

sappointment of all on board our steamer,

r take the c

e furious. The men made ready their rifles, and got

ly were they exercised that the foreign officer suggested that the soldiers might be sent below, because he feared a dis

uarter-master, Louis, we came on deck again, and we saw the same ship again approaching us on the port side-on the beam; she took u

our Japanese friends could threaten a British ship sailing under the ensign, a

y mean war. Still, I suppose they will take us off the steamer, and make the John

se are arme

are on the warpath. I hope

ep watch and order ahead, without echoing my misplaced m

who intended to come on board. They were received with politeness, the lieutenant and hi

t leaped. I recognised him as the youth whom I had assisted that evening in Shanghai when the feeling against the Japanese ran high. H

aptain intends to do with

My officer and your captain w

we cannot be harmed." I glanced at

litely, then looked at me. "Will you come on boar

, thank you. I am on duty, of course." But I t

re is my officer," he s

and shut up like an oyster. He perhap

anese lieutenant then a

is vessel is under the charter of the Chinese Governme

" replied t

soldiers on board, with arms and ammunition and su

ed the captain. "Will you favo

was the reply. "Yours

ost politely escorted to the gangway, whence he was rowed to the Na

ent for a ship of something under four thousand tons, I estimated. She carried three hundred and fifty-seven men, and could steam eighteen knots. These details I learned later; at the moment of the lieutenant's departure I was f

the German officer to make inquiries. The major was not present when the explanation

the lieutenant. Did you

enger. "If you had cal

explanations. He asked me questions, and when I had replied he was off like a shot; and maybe he'll

e stipulated to return to Taku, they say; and

a boat. The Chinese fellows are breaking loose, and we'll be murdered in a minute.

ey had eleven hundred against the three hundred and fifty Japanese, and they could prevail! In vain the major declared that the ship's guns must destroy the steame

he part of England, we shall shoot you. You have made a contract with us, you

me-"Send at once." We then waited in the greatest excitement, fearing for all on board who were not Chinese, bec

ible, but it is tru