“He would have but to obey it,” Sydney answered. “It’s a direct order from the navy department. Commander Barnes as senior officer of the American ships would be bound to send a flag of truce and offer his apologies for Commander Hughes’ actions.”
“And that would mean a victory for the viceroy and Ta-Ling!” Phil exclaimed. “If I lose my commission for it that telegram is going to remain secret until the allied fleet have exacted an humble apology and restitution from those guilty of wishing to murder innocent foreigners.”
In the light of a solitary lantern Phil opened the envelope and glanced excitedly over their enemy’s correspondence with the viceroy. It was in English and written in a clear and legible hand.
Paper after paper was read in silence by the two midshipmen, revealing the most bare-faced treachery.
“Do you remember that day at the bank?” Phil exclaimed suddenly after he had finished reading a letter which he held open before him, his face in the thin light betraying intense wrath and indignation. “I have wondered so often over that incident. I have never until now been able to discover why Ignacio was so angry at me for picking up his letter from the ground. Do you remember how he snatched it from my hand? I thought he would strike me. Well, that innocent sheet of paper was a letter from Ta-Ling. If I could have held it another minute much of our trouble would never have occurred. This is Ignacio’s answer:
“‘I will do all in my power to thwart the aim of these Americans. I despise them as much as you do. I have just drawn on the company which I represent for the sum you named, and it will be deposited in the bank at Shanghai. When you have obtained the viceroy’s signature, giving my company the railroad rights from here to Peking, I shall at once transfer this sum to your credit.
“‘Your letter was picked up from the bank floor, where I had carelessly dropped it, by a young American officer. I do not think he had enough knowledge or time to divine its meaning.’”
The two midshipmen looked sheepishly at each other for a second and then both laughed.
“We are innocents, aren’t we, Phil?” Sydney laughed. “Now it’s all clear. Ignacio attempted to throw the allies into a panic at Lien-Chow. He worked himself into being selected as the senior officer for the flag of truce, and he concealed his eagerness so cleverly that we thought he was afraid. Then he played his game beautifully before the viceroy. But by to-morrow morning Ignacio’s dreams will be smashed. Ku-Ling will awake to find the fleet at anchor with its guns trained on the viceroy’s palace.”
“What’s this new mischief you’re hatching?” inquired Langdon, approaching the midshipmen, after having conned the launch over the treacherous shoals at the entrance to the lake. “We’ll be at the fleet in a short time now,” he added, pointing to the lights fast appearing ahead.