“But I mean,” urged Phil, “do you believe that there’s going to be trouble?”
“I’ve seen a great number of these threatened uprisings,” replied Langdon thoughtfully, “come to nothing for the want of a leader with energy enough to keep alive the spark of fanaticism; I hope this one will follow in their footsteps, for if the Chinese ever awaken to the knowledge of their power, our small force of ships and men could never stem the rising flood.
“Do you see the forts over yonder?” he continued, pointing to the numerous heavy gun emplacements on the heights below the city; “those batteries command the anchorage occupied by the allied fleet, and their garrisons are now wavering between their loyalty to the government at Peking, and their families and friends taking an active part in the intrigues against the lives of the foreigners. If those guns were turned against us, our position here would indeed be a serious one.”
The two midshipmen, listening to the words of one who had lived ten years among the Chinese, felt their hearts beat faster: secretly they were glad that their cruise in the Orient was likely to be fraught with grave dangers.
The missionaries and their numerous Chinese converts inside the walled mission were once more at ease; they believed that all danger was past: the Chinese had never attacked a mission so strongly defended by the rifles of the hated but much feared foreign sailors.
The hot day came to an end, and the night wind from the distant mountains brought to the anxious ones a desire for sleep which they had not felt for days.
Phil and Sydney lay awake long after the mission was wrapt in slumber. They had talked over the situation very thoroughly, the views of Langdon having made a deep impression on their minds. There certainly was a danger! Could the Chinese troops be depended upon to withstand the bribes of the lawless ones?
Sydney’s even breathing, at last, showing that he had fallen off to sleep, cut short further conversation between them; while Phil, casting an annoyed glance at the unconcerned sleeper on the adjoining cot, arose and silently left the tent; he was far from asleep and, being the officer of the guard for the night, determined to make an inspection of the sentries.
The night was dark save for the dim light shed by the crescent moon low in the western sky. Ascending the mission stairs, he stepped out on the broad top of the high barrier of brick and mortar and walked down the wall. A sentry was posted at the near corner of the quadrangle.
“Is everything all right?” he asked quietly.