Mr. Midshipman Glover, R.N.

eives a Str

tells of Pirates-Ping Sang ma

ittle Hampshire village of Fareham, which nestles under the fort-crowned Portsdown Hills, and is almost

the Porcupine went, trouble of some sort or another was sure to follow. At one place an indignant Taotai[#] complained that all the guns-obsolete old muzzle-loaders-in his fort had been tumbled into the ditch one night; at another t

= military

y had ultimately drifted together on half-pay, and, with their old marine servant

yet his face was old with the lines and furrows of care and sadness, whilst the tall, gaunt figure of the second was not held so erect, nor were his actions so vigorous, yet th

her his whole joy of existence. Settling down in this village, near her grave, he had worked up a small practice, which occupi

ising off the West Coast of Africa, in China, and in the Mediterranean. Though his body was weakened by disease, he was for ever buoyant at the prosp

o his rose-coloured plans, and cynically would say, "Who goes to sea for enjoyment would go to jail for a pastime. Ta

ea. I played the idiot when I was a youngster, was always in disgrace up at the

I've waited patiently enough for the las

s to his chances of full-pay service, Dr. Fox, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, growled, "Next ship, indeed! You

as that, and I'll bet you that they gi

h you," jeered the Doctor, a

shouted Helston ch

d close to the village. He had wooed her constantly for many years, and had known her since she was born, but the somewhat disdainful little lady had refused him many times, though not without giving him some slight hope of better success if ever he were promoted to

old village postman stumbled up the path leading to their house, and Jenk

sn't an ordinary appointment. Whatever is it?" A large number of papers fell on the table, and, the Doctor showing some

f at Whitehall immediately. These enclosures were lists of ships supposed to be wrecked on the Chinese coast during the last few years, lists of Chinese men

?" sneered the Doctor. "I

ape at Cheefoo once? Well, here's a letter from him. Listen!" Saying which, Helston

mber saving my life at Cheefoo many years

to natural causes. This year, for instance, three of our newest steamers have left Nagasaki full of valuable cargo, and, though none of them could have experienced bad weather, yet none have been heard of since. All three, strangely enough, carried a large quantity of military stores for Pekin, which had been transhipped from German steamers, and all three left within three weeks. The captains were Engl

hanging from trees, and although very frightened, they still pushed on until they came in sight of the natural harbour on the other side of the island. They swear solemnly that, lying at anchor, they saw twenty or thirty steamers and several men-of-war, and that on shore there were many storehouses (go-downs) and huts, and a very large number of natives. Th

ght this n

ally I did not doubt the men's tale. In fact, they are so frightened, and have spread thei

r, and have discovered that many of the war-ships, and nearly all the torpedo-bo

he stranded ships for some weeks, and finally towed them away. There is no doubt that two, if not three, cruisers in bad plight have been

my report. The mandarins got hold of my informants, tortured them till

ng taken off next night. He reports that there are certainly three cruisers and seven torpedo-boats anchored there, and at least twenty coasting steamers, among them being the three that disappeared when laden with military stores. Great numbers of coolies were working

isappeared, and as they were very honest, faithful men, I suspected some underhanded dealing, and, thinking to keep the Englishman safe made him sleep in my yamen that night. Next morning he had disappeared, and his body was found two days later in a low qu

ons, to fit out an expedition and destroy these pirates, offering to hand over to them the men-of-war we intended buying, and also a percentage of our recaptures.

esent, and the acute international jealousies; we therefore came to the conclusion that it would take years to bring this about throug

e control of this money if you will accept the responsibility of organizing a small expedition wi

assador in London, who will give you every facility for granting Imperia

of this expedition you will advance your prospects, and the opp

don't worry about money-haste is t

NG

IN, 17t

nd it will be offered to Lieutenant

and terrible fists is well. Give him my 'chi

each other in blank amazement, whilst Jenkins com

ed, foolish schemes I ever h

deas-he went to Charterhouse when he was a boy-and besides, his Government has taken it up, and I have to report myself to the Admiralty; so they believe in it, evidently. Why, old man," continued He

whether it's all a mare's nest or not," said the Doctor.

China

London, y

ir," and off

nd the practice. Don't make an ass of

at evening when a telegram brought news of him. The Doctor hurriedly opened

money is safe enough, and I am trying to get hold of any ship which will be ready in the next three months. Our Admiralty did not at first wish me to take command, and wanted to give me some captains, just as advisers, but I knew what that meant. They would get all the kudos; I should get none. So I told them that if I did not take command, ab

all at least be able to blockade the island till the present tension of political affairs is somewhat relaxed, when they hope to be able to detach some ships from our fleet to help me, more especially if I prove conclusively the existence of these pirates. You may bet you

If people would only look more on the bright side of things, we should

t two columns were devoted to the proposed expedition. "Silly fool! giving himself away to these interviewers. It may make him notorious,