As war seemed to be becoming imminent, both of us felt our position very keenly. Poor Whitmore with his smashed thigh was, of course, totally helpless, but, as I said before, I was as strong as a horse again, and Ford's arm did not entirely incapacitate him.
Just, however, as we thought that war was only a question of hours, the war clouds disappeared, to our intense relief, and presently the Vigilant came back to pick us all up again, the Skipper having orders to proceed to Singapore, and to act as Senior Officer there till it was time for us to go home and pay off.
I was fit for duty now, even Mayhew couldn't deny that, and right glad I was to get back to my work and to my own bunk.
We called in at Nagasaki for coal, took in four hundred tons, and then left for Hong-Kong, where we arrived in the middle of June, just before the hot weather had commenced, and made fast to one of the buoys off Murray Pier.
It was very pleasant being back there, and we were obliged to remain for a whole week, whilst the dockyard made a few slight repairs.
The only other man-of-war in the harbour besides the Tamar and the old Wyvern, moored off Kowloon, was the Ringdove, secured to another buoy farther inshore.
Young Ford can tell you better what happened there during that week than I can.
As a matter of fact, I am not supposed to know anything about it, and don't officially.
The 'Huan Min' steaming eight knots