CHAPTER VII
DISSENSIONS
Commander Hughes’ plans were agreed upon, though not until after much opposition by the other members of the council, and word was at once despatched to the foreign merchants and consuls ashore to close their stores and houses and seek protection on board the gunboats of their respective nationalities.
Inside of three hours all preparations were completed and the international fleet weighed anchor and, in column, the “Phœnix” leading, steamed boldly down the river.
Langdon had gone to the gunboat’s bridge to pilot the fleet through the narrow and dangerous channel leading into the shallow waters of the To-Yan Lake, leaving Phil and Sydney at their guns, aft on the quarter-deck of the vessel; for all the gunboats had cleared for action to be prepared in case the Chinese should precipitate hostilities. While the fleet was getting its anchors up from the bottom of the muddy river, they gazed with rising pulse at the unusual activity inside the Chinese batteries; they could see groups of blue-clad soldiers surrounding the big guns in their rocky emplacements. Would the forts open fire upon the allied fleet as it steamed past?
The midshipmen knew that if one shot was fired from that impregnable fortress at the miniature battle-ships the sound would travel around the world. It would mean war! The forts belonged to the Chinese government and were manned by her soldiers; no idle excuse would be accepted by the nations insulted.
“These ships wouldn’t stand a ghost of a chance against those guns,” Sydney exclaimed nervously as he joined Phil on his side of the deck. The sailors stood silently at their batteries, each gun loaded with high explosive shell and ready to hurl its charge at the enemy at close range if it should suddenly declare war.
“It’s pretty short range,” Phil declared, “and our gun pointers could send every shell through those rock gun ports. A fleet of our gunboats would drive the Chinese gunners from their guns.”
“One Chinese shell, though, would sink us,” Sydney returned, intent upon gaining his point. “However, let them go ahead. Those rascals will find the ‘Phœnix’ will give them a surprise-party.”
“The monitors are what we need,” Phil exclaimed, “but they are over a thousand miles away, broiling in the heat of Manila. With the monitors here the forts could be silenced and captured by the fleet.”
The long column of moving gunboats was now stretched along the river from Ku-Ling to the southward. The leader had now safely passed the forts and its bow was directed down the river for the entrance of the To-Yan Lake, a good six miles distant.