“This is to be only an American expedition,” Commander Hughes declared to the eager midshipmen. “Four hundred men all told from the three ships.”
Quietly and without confusion the American war-ships lowered their boats and embarked their sailors. And inside of twenty minutes after anchoring the strong force had started for the shore to push forward to the relief of the mission.
Phil and Sydney remained with Commander Hughes, who had elected to lead the force in person.
As the boats grounded upon the sandy shore the sailors noiselessly fell in ranks under their officers. The American captain, with Langdon as guide, took the lead, followed closely by the two midshipmen with O’Neil and a dozen men. The main force came along a hundred yards behind them.
As yet all was silent. The forts had ceased their fire, and no sound came from the direction of the mission.
The force moved at a lively pace over the rough ground. The sailors had been cautioned to move noiselessly, and all loose metal had been carefully muffled; everything depended upon the possibility of surprise, or else upon gaining admittance to the compound of the mission before the enemy had gathered to the attack.
Phil marched by Langdon’s side; his blood warmed for adventure, and he hoped that this time he would be able to see and enjoy the fighting. During the few minutes in the attack on Lien-Chow, he had been so much occupied in forcing Commander Ignacio to charge the enemy that he had failed to take note of all save the sound of the bullets as they had whistled past him. He rejoiced in the coolness and tact shown on all occasions by his friend Langdon; his duty was not to fight, yet he was ever eager to risk his life wherever Commander Hughes suggested.
The Americans moved steadily onward, Langdon time and again leaving the narrow road to circle a small hamlet with its shading willow trees in an endeavor to avoid the discovering bark of the always-present Chinese dog. Fortunately the countryside was deserted; there were no travelers on the road to flee and give warning of the approaching band of hostiles.
As the distance to the mission diminished, the sailors grasped their rifles more firmly, ever expecting to hear the discharges and see the flashes of the guns of an ambushing enemy.
While the expedition was ascending a small hill covered with the graves of centuries of China’s dead, Langdon turned quietly to his captain and pointed to an indistinct mass coming in sight beyond the ridge ahead of them.