Approaching the city wall, Phil saw that there was great commotion at the gate; soldiers ran hither and thither, and before the flag of truce had arrived near the stagnant water of the moat, there was a noisy clanking of rusty chain, the drawbridge was suddenly raised, and the ponderous gates tightly shut.
The midshipmen, in spite of the precariousness of their position, could scarcely suppress a smile of gratification: this act alone spoke volumes; what must these Asiatics think of the prowess of the foreigners if they feared an attack from a dozen men?
CHAPTER VIII
IGNACIO SHOWS HIS HAND
As the drawbridge clanked upward, and the soldiers disappeared hastily behind the closing gates, Commander Ignacio, glancing nervously at Langdon, brought his party to a stop.
“You know the customs of these people; what shall we do?” he exclaimed anxiously, betraying that with all his vain boasting before his confrères he depended upon the American pilot to give him courage to act.
“They have raised the drawbridge until the viceroy can be notified,” Langdon answered calmly; “I don’t consider we are in much danger; of course the Chinese never do what might be expected of them. If they opened fire now we couldn’t escape,” he added, casting a swift glance of disdain at the nervous officer and giving the midshipmen a covert wink; “so we might as well put on a bold front.” Suiting his action to his words, he threw himself down on the ground, as if he intended to be comfortable while the viceroy indulged himself in his Oriental diplomacy of wearing out the patience of those who wished to treat with him.
Over an hour passed anxiously for the foreigners; conversation was fragmentary and pointless. Under the eyes and within close range of a semi-civilized enemy, who might refuse to recognize a flag of truce, their position was not calculated to inspire confidence. Then the drawbridge creaked slowly down, and a gorgeously dressed official advanced through the opened gate, preceded by a white flag and followed by an armed guard of soldiers.
Commander Ignacio and his party rose hastily to meet them.
After the elaborate Chinese ceremony of greeting had been concluded, the mandarin turned to Commander Ignacio, and inquired his mission.
“We have come to see the viceroy,” Ignacio replied in English, for the Chinaman was no other than the interpreter, whom Phil had seen so discomfited the day before.