“If this letter and the telegram had gone to Commander Hughes,” Phil exclaimed as he folded the letter and returned it in his pocket, “Ta-Ling and Ignacio would have won. Without the strong personality of our captain the allies would have weakened and accepted the terms offered.”
“Now when Ta-Ling is liberated,” Sydney cried alarmingly, “the soldiers will be removed and the rebels allowed to attack the mission.” Then he stopped suddenly, while a lump rose in his throat. “Does Ta-Ling suspect the secret of the channel is ours?” he asked fearfully.
Emmons shook his head thoughtfully.
“The chart was procured by Hang-Ki from the viceroy’s papers through bribing a lesser official,” he answered. “Ta-Ling may have discovered its absence and suspected that I would carry it to your captain. That would explain his sudden desire to have me captured and executed.”
“To-night is the turning-point in this intrigue,” Phil exclaimed, while his heart beat faster at the thought. “We must use this channel to-night, and after we have run the forts and anchored in safety above Ku-Ling, we must start at once to the rescue of those in the mission. I hope Lieutenant Wilson can withstand the assault until aid arrives.
“Our poor sailors in the yamen,” he added sorrowfully, “I fear are no better than dead men.”
“You are right,” Emmons declared in no uncertain voice. “To-morrow Ta-Ling will cause the high reed grass on the island to be set on fire. It is dry and will burn like tinder. Then the island will offer no protection, the search-light on the fort will disclose the presence of the gunboats and the secret channel is well within the range of the fort guns.”
While the midshipmen were absorbed in their conversation with the half-breed, the launch, under the skilful guidance of the pilot, steamed rapidly down the swift current of the river. The junks moored at the docks flashed by unheeded. The high frowning cliffs, on top of which were the gun emplacements, appeared dimly from the darkness ahead. Then the launch’s bow was turned sharply to port, steering across the river, to put as great a distance as possible between it and the menacing batteries.
The midshipmen and Emmons had now joined Langdon at his post at the wheel.
“To-night Hang-Ki has relieved many of the lookouts in the forts,” Emmons whispered, “and if we can keep close under the shadow of the island we may pass undiscovered.”