"Too tame, doctor, too tame; I'm a Scot, sir."
"Oh!" cried the Jap doctor, "I have read your splendid history, and of all your terrible struggles against the Saxons of the south, five times your number. I loved your Bruce, your Wallace, ay, and even your bold Rob Roy."
"If I may speak a word," said Goodwin, "I am equally unwilling to do cockpit duty."
"Well, well, well!" cried the bright, busy little doctor. "I shall address our admiral, and you all shall fight!"
Not as long as he lives will Creggan forget that memorable morning of September 17th, 1894. Both he and his true-hearted friends were up betimes. Time enough at all events to witness the rich and beautiful sunrise. The fleet, in fine order, was off Hai-Yang, in the estuary of the Yalu river, and were now under steam for Tahi Island, when there came a hail from aloft which, though couched in Japanese, even Creggan could understand.
"The Chinese fleet in sight!"
This was at 11.30.
How that shout made the pulses of every man and officer in the flag-ship, and in every other ship, thrill with joy—
"That stern joy which warriors feel
In foemen worthy of their steel!"
Bustle and excitement followed. Yet not to any very great extent, for in war-time the Japs are like the Britons, "Ready, aye ready".