A United States Midshipman in China

by Yates Stirling

“Why the viceroy permitted us to take those Chinese prisoners I can’t understand,” the pilot exclaimed to Phil, a half hour having passed since the return of the embassy.

Phil was silent, but intensely interested. He had just seen the foreign captains file into the cabin, unsummoned, eager to hear the result of the mission to the viceroy.

“The two prisoners came to me immediately we got back to the ship,” Langdon continued excitedly, “and told me of an attack to be made to-night on the Inland Mission. They claim to have secured this information from the Chinaman who was beheaded before our eyes; he was a northern Chinaman, but could speak the local dialect. The soldiers, knowing these men were to die, did not take the trouble to conceal their plans. It seems that an army of outlaws have taken Lien-Chow for their headquarters; it is a small town about seven miles from here on the To-Yan Lake, and they intend to move in a body upon the mission. These malcontents have been guaranteed aid from the viceroy, and if the mission is captured, they hope to gather enough reënforcement to allow them to march against the forts, and the result would be their capture, for the soldiers there would not fire a shot against their own countrymen. The guns of the forts will then be turned upon us and our escape down the river will be cut off, for these vessels cannot face heavy ordnance.”

“But why,” exclaimed Phil, after the pilot had finished, “should they attack a guarded mission when there are so many others scattered over the country undefended?”

“It seems to show,” returned Langdon, “that the viceroy is directing the movement. To attack and massacre the inmates of an unguarded mission could readily be attributed to an uncontrolled mob and would be a subject for conference and indemnity; but an attack on a defended mission, and by soldiers in uniform, will show the Chinese that the war is between the representatives of the foreign governments and their own, and being successful will stir the whole population of this part of China to rise and drive out all foreigners. I believe to-night will be one of blood for foreigners in China, if those away from the protection of our river gunboats have not already paid the penalty of their trusting natures.”

“We must not delay an instant in taking this information to the captain,” Phil declared excitedly, the contemplated movement of the expulsionists with its possible results flashing through his mind.

The foreign gunboat captains were gathered about the cabin table when Langdon and Phil were announced by the orderly, and all listened intently while the pilot gave hurriedly the story brought by the two Chinese refugees.

A buzz of eager conversation and questions ensued as Langdon finished. Each of the captains had his own plans to advance, but Commander Hughes, as the senior, was the first to be heard. He arose, his face grave, and at once the room was hushed; all recognized and respected his understanding and fertility of resource.

“We must acknowledge a failure in our diplomatic mission to the viceroy,” he began, weighing each word carefully; “the cable being in the hands of the Chinese officials, we are for the present cut off from instructions from our respective governments. We have here every available vessel on the river, except those necessary for the protection of the missions farther up the country; the state of the river at present will not admit of the battle-ships coming to our aid, and the two monitors of my government are by last accounts as yet in the Philippines. We must act here and now; there is no time for calm and deliberate judgment; our decision must be made quickly, and our act must be as prompt, if we are to be in time to prevent a general massacre of foreigners.”

The speaker stopped and glanced earnestly at the faces of his colleagues; each recognized full well the delicacy of the position. Would their respective governments sanction their acts, or would they find themselves disgraced and relieved of their commands, for not having followed a course of procedure decided upon by their sovereigns at a great distance from the scene of disturbance and in the light of events which had not as yet transpired?