“Upon investigation I find that the general was not informed of the presence at Lien-Chow of these outlaws. I myself knew nothing of it. The mission was safe in my keeping, but when your commander lands an armed force on the soil of China, he must take the consequences; I dare not interfere as long as there is a single foreign sailor on our shore. Before I can treat with you, every armed man must be first withdrawn and the ships again anchored in the Yangtse River; the To-Yan Lake is by royal decree forbidden water, and I must demand that the war-ships leave there immediately.”
Langdon gazed in surprise at the old diplomat. Could reliance be placed in his implied willingness to make terms after the sailors were withdrawn from China’s soil and the ships anchored again in the river?
“That is quite impossible,” Langdon answered promptly. “Commander Hughes will not withdraw from China’s soil until he has received your promise given on the sacred spirit of your father.”
“When your commander has anchored his fleet at Ku-Ling and then comes to me apologizing for entering the forbidden lake, then I will give my decision, but not until then,” the viceroy cried angrily. “I have washed my hands of your mission; by putting sailors there your captain has taken it from my protection.”
Langdon was so intent upon his conversation with the viceroy that he failed to notice that Commander Ignacio had changed his seat to one beside the interpreter, and that in low tones the latter had given the foreigner the details of the conversation upon which so much depended. The pilot now turned to apprise this officer of the latest demand of the arch villain, but to his consternation the foreign commander had risen to his feet, his black eyes snapping with importance, and waved the American to silence, then turning to the interpreter at his elbow exclaimed in English:
“I consider that the viceroy’s demands are just. I was from the first against this ill-judged action. Tell his Excellency as senior member of this flag of truce, I shall agree to these terms, and am sure my colleagues, with the exception of this American, will uphold me.”
A smile of triumph played about the corners of the viceroy’s cruel mouth while the interpreter gave him the meaning of Commander Ignacio’s rash words.
“So,” he thought, “the foreigners are not of one mind.” The clever diplomat believed that he had at last found a way to pierce the armor of the despised foreigner.
CHAPTER IX
HELD AS HOSTAGES
The Americans were speechless with amazement. Phil was confident that he read triumph in the spiteful face of the foreign commander. Langdon gazed with unfeigned disgust at the officer who had brought defeat to the allies. This wily Chinaman would now refuse to interfere with the unlawful acts of his subjects; trusting to the dissensions of the allies to bring their punitive efforts to naught. All realized that now even their own lives were in peril, and they were powerless to interfere. Commander Ignacio was the appointed head of the embassy and his decision was authoritative.