CHAPTER VIIDISSENSIONS
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 fleetwas 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 ourgunboats 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.
It was with a feeling of relief that the midshipmen saw the last gunboat in column, following the “Phœnix’s” lead, pass out of range of the fort’s guns. It showed that China, as a nation, had not as yet openly challenged the world to battle; but if those in the forts had known of the avowed intentions of the fleet might they not have acted differently?
Under the skilful direction of Langdon, the Yangtse River pilot, the allied fleet steamed to the southward, leaving on its starboard hand the high bluff point of land below the city, upon which, fortunately, the Chinese had not as yet mounted protecting batteries, and then entered the shallow waters of the forbidden lake. From this point the channel led away from the course of the river and to the westward behind the city of Ku-Ling.
“Do you see Commander Hughes’ plan?” Phil exclaimed excitedly. He took a piece of paper from his pocket, and drew a hasty map of their surroundings. “Here’s the river, and here,” he said, “is the lake, which we are entering. Lien-Chow, you see, is ahead of us,” and he pointed to a dull color of blue that raised itself slowly from the muddy waters of the lake. “It’s in the rear of the fort guns, you notice, and our ships will be safely anchored while we are relieving those in the mission, which lies over there.”
“Yes,” answered Sydney; “but if we succeed in repulsing the rebels at Lien-Chow and rescuing the mission,” he went on doubtfully, “what shall we do next? We shall be cut offfrom Ku-Ling. The forts will never let us pass freely again.”
Phil put his sketch in his pocket. He wanted to complete it later and send it home in his next letter. “Well,” he declared, “we can’t worry over that now. The rescue of those in the mission, you see, is our most important duty. The future must take care of itself.”
It was shortly after two o’clock in the afternoon, when the long line of vessels dropped anchor off the town of Lien-Chow; and almost immediately the gunboats had lowered their small boats and were embarking their sailors. Phil found himself in the steam launch with Commander Hughes and Langdon; the former had been chosen to command the expedition, and the lad thanked his good fortune for his assignment as aid.
The long line of boats, laden with armed bluejackets, rowed swiftly toward the not distant shore of the bay, while two of the gunboats, remaining under way when the fleet anchored, took up their stations where they could shell the enemy if the landing was opposed.
PHIL’S COMPLETED MAP
The midshipman stood beside Commander Hughes, whose keen eyes were directed toward the Chinese town, in which direction the launch was heading. Phil could not discern even a trace of nervousness in his captain’s face, yet upon the success of this bold attempt to coerce the Chinese mandarins his future career in the navy rested. Langdon’s eyes were searching the approaching shore-line for signs of the enemy. He hastily took the spyglass from Phil’s hand and leveled it in the direction of a grove of trees to the right of the middle of the town.
“It’s a piece of artillery,” the pilot exclaimed, pointing with his glass toward the grove.
Commander Hughes leveled his field-glass and gazed for a few seconds in the direction indicated.
He had framed an answer, but it remained unspoken. A puff of brown smoke darted from a bright flash amidst the trees, and the screech of a shell came loudly to the ears of the advancing foreigners, while a column of water rose suddenly in the air scarce fifty yards short of the line of boats.
The two watchful gunboats, from the flanks, opened fire with their broadsides, and in a second the grove was blotted from sight by scores of explosions.
“That relieves us of the stigma of firing the first shot,” Commander Hughes exclaimed gladly; “but I had hoped not to have to fire at all. My prayer was that the rebels would disperse at this show of force.”
The boats had not covered another hundred yards when the town broke forth, in its entire length, with a hail of rifle shots; the distance was too great to see the flashes and hear distinctly the discharges, but the water in front and around the boats was cut to foam by the hissing missiles. As the boats drew nearer, the rattle of musketry came sharply to Phil’s ears, while he heard again the wailing bullets speeding by him. The attacking sailors were silent, but the flank gunboats poured a storm of shell into the town.
Phil glanced admiringly at his captain; the latter was strikingly cool in face of the stubborn resistance with which he had not reckoned; he had believed that the rebels were but an unorganized mob and couldeasily be intimidated by the allied forces; but instead he now saw that the enemy was in force and well intrenched, while the screech of shell and explosion of shrapnel above the sailors’ heads bore witness that these Chinese outlaws were well supplied with modern ordnance.
A few boats in the long line wavered and held back, but the majority kept steadily on, followed in but a few seconds by those less brave.
“When we ground,” Commander Hughes commanded, “you go to the right, Perry, and you, Langdon, to the left: tell the officers to advance at double time straight upon the intrenchments. We dare not stop now; given the slightest encouragement, the Chinese could repulse us.”
Phil felt the launch tremble, and then a grating sound told him the boat had reached as near the shore as its draft would allow. Without hesitation, he jumped waist-deep into the water and waded to the shore, a scant hundred yards away. He saw his two companions follow his lead, then he started away at top speed up the beach amidst a perfectstorm of bullets, giving to the leader of each detachment as he passed the commands of his captain.
“Form a skirmish line and advance on the double,” he shouted to boat after boat as their keels grated on the sandy shore; then reaching the last boat, he quickly turned and raced back to join his captain.
Running to seaward of the advancing sailors, he had covered but a short distance when he found himself among a company of demoralized foreigners; their swarthy faces were ashen from terror. The midshipman at once saw the danger in this panic; already had it begun to spread to left and right; the companies nearest the one in disorder had halted and the sailors were glancing back uncertainly and with increasing uneasiness. A general stampede was not far distant. The leader of this shameless company appeared to be wild-eyed with terror. He seemed powerless to stop the threatened rush for the boats. The lad stood transfixed with horror. If the infection spread a panic would be the natural consequence, bringing certain defeat to the allied arms and leaving the mission helplessto the mercy of the cruel enemy. Without a second’s hesitation Phil raced up to the fleeing officer. Whirling him about to face the enemy, the lad cried out in sudden astonishment and misgiving, as he came face to face with the man who had so grossly insulted him in the bank at Ku-Ling.
Phil was conscious of a look of bitter hatred on the stranger’s swarthy face, but there was no time to consider aught save the danger of a panic and the defeat to his captain’s plans.
“Would you have us all massacred? Don’t you see that these Chinese will run from you if you will only turn and charge as you were told?” the lad cried desperately, menacingly emphasizing his words with his loaded revolver. Then lowering his voice, he added in flinty tones for only the officer’s ear: “Now run straight as you’re heading; if you turn back I’ll blow a hole through you!”
The foreign officer felt the muzzle of Phil’s revolver prodding between his shoulder-blades, close to his heart, and read the determination in the American’s voice.
“Encourage your men to follow us,” themidshipman cried as the officer moved forward uncertainly.
“Forward! Charge!” the officer ordered in a voice becoming bolder with excitement as he saw there was nothing left him but to obey.
The startled sailors recoiled in surprise, muttering incoherently to themselves, and then seeing their officer advance on a trot toward the enemy’s trenches, they turned, at first fearfully, then gaining courage, impetuously, and charged straight toward the source of the leaden stream.
A quarter of an hour later, Phil stood beside Commander Hughes in the trenches of the enemy, while the victorious sailors were following doggedly the retreating rebels. Langdon stood close by guarding a prisoner; within the pilot’s huge fist was clutched the Chinaman’s snake-like cue, while he eagerly questioned the terrified man in Chinese. The others waited impatiently to hear what intelligence could be extracted from the much frightened Oriental.
“I impressed upon him that if he did not tell me the truth that I would kill him,” thepilot exclaimed hurriedly; “he sticks to his story that to-night they are going to attack the big mission on the graveyard hills.”
“We’ve but half succeeded,” Commander Hughes exclaimed, the lines in his face growing deeper from anxiety. “We’ve scattered the outlaws here with heavy loss,” the dead bodies almost filling the deep trenches speaking eloquently that fact, “but we must push forward at once to relieve our mission. I cannot sleep another night until those innocent non-combatants have been rescued. My men are even secondary,” he added forcefully; “it is their duty and privilege to die in the cause of humanity.”
“We cannot hope to succeed without opposition,” Langdon said; “but before the news of our fight here arouses the viceroy to action against us, we should relieve the mission, bringing everybody here where we can protect them. It is but a two-hour march and is but the natural sequence to the attack we have made.”
“Quite so,” Commander Hughes agreed hopefully. “Langdon,” he added in a sad voice, “you don’t know what it is to rule adozen different nationalities. It is a wonder we can accomplish anything.” Then he turned to Phil, who had listened eagerly, his young face full of concern. “Recall the sailors,” he ordered.
After the men had been ordered back from their excited pursuit of the fleeing Chinese and had fallen into military order in rear of the captured trenches, the American commander gathered the senior officers of each nationality about him to urge upon them the necessity of prompt action to relieve the threatened mission.
Phil started, the hot blood suffusing his face, as he saw with sinking heart the rank of the foreigner whom he had humiliated before his own men. Three heavy gold stripes on the officer’s sleeve told him the rank was that of commander, equal to that of his own captain. This cowardly officer was then in command of one of the foreign gunboats, but why had he not seen him before at the councils of the allies on board the “Phœnix”? Was this Captain Ignacio of the “Albaque,” who had each time pleaded sickness and sent a young officer to represent him?
Further speculation upon this perplexing situation was cut short by Commander Hughes’ forceful talk to the allies. All listened intently; the well-modulated, clear voice of the American held his listeners spellbound with attention, but many of the foreigners showed in their faces only too plainly that they already feared the displeasure of their governments for having followed the lead of this strenuous American commander. Was it not an American mission, guarded by American sailors? Then why should not the Americans rescue their own people? The officer who had felt the cold chill of Phil’s revolver was loudest in his condemnation of further attacks; his arguments were so cleverly worded that he soon won over to his side the timid ones. The British captain alone stood by the American in his endeavors to persuade his brother captains that their one chance of helping the missionaries was to vigorously pursue the advantage already gained.
“We’ve not forgotten Tatnall’s ‘Blood is thicker than water,’” the British commander exclaimed as Commander Hughes wrung his hand warmly, in eloquent silence.
“We must abide by the decision of the majority,” Commander Hughes said sorrowfully. “I dare not think what will happen to those within the mission if my men cannot withstand the attack.” Then he turned flashing eyes upon the group of hesitating foreigners.
“What do you propose?” he questioned, controlling the anger and humiliation in his voice with some difficulty.
Phil saw the officer whom he had recently humbled before his men cast a knowing look at several of his co-conspirators, and then heard him boldly voice his plan.
“My compatriots,” he began, “believe that this useless killing of Chinese is harming our country’s interests. We have decided that we should send a flag of truce to the viceroy to request him to use his own soldiers to fight these Chinese rebels.”
“A flag of truce!” cried Commander Hughes, in eloquent disdain. “How will the viceroy answer us? Probably by throwing the lifeless carcasses of our emissaries on the sand for the dogs to feed upon.”
Commander Ignacio flinched before themenacing disgust in the American’s face, but he held stolidly to his point, while all of the allies, with the single exception of Commander Buresford, echoed the foreigner’s proposal.
“The Inland Mission containing over a hundred innocent men, women and children, is still in danger from these rebels,” Commander Hughes exclaimed anxiously, making a last stand for what he considered was vital to his cause. “Although we have scattered their forces, they can, as we know, quickly regather. By concerted action, even without danger to ourselves and possibly without bloodshed, we can march this force of two thousand sailors over the seven miles of intervening country. By daylight we can return here with these refugees and then we shall be in a far better position to again open negotiations with the viceroy. If he should refuse to treat with us now—by to-morrow these outlaws will have recovered from their repulse. I beg that my brother officers will agree with me on this point,” he ended in entreaty.
Commander Ignacio craftily refused to allow the point to be discussed; he feared thepersuasive powers of the earnest and loyal American.
“We have decided that question,” he replied quickly, an ugly leer on his face. “Now our business is to select those to go to the viceroy.”
Commander Hughes was about to suggest that this foolhardy foreigner should be chosen, and was on the point of refusing to risk the lives of his own officers in such a dangerous undertaking, when to his surprise the name of Ignacio was voiced by the combined council.
Phil glanced closely at the foreigner. The lad had heard his captain’s views of the possible fate of the flag of truce. Would Commander Ignacio accept the dangerous post?
It seemed plain from Commander Ignacio’s face that the detail was not to his liking, but in his successful attempts to overrule the plans of the American, he had become the avowed leader of those in opposition to the Anglo-Saxon policy of quick action. Phil was eager to accompany the flag of truce, but to serve under Ignacio was indeed disquieting. The midshipman could see that his captainwas taken unawares by the acceptance of Ignacio to lead the dangerous mission. Knowing the Chinese as he did, he honestly believed they would go to their death.
The selection of the other members of the embassy was unanimously left to the decision of their leader, Commander Hughes.
“As my country is the most interested,” the American declared, “I shall select my own officers.” Then turning to the midshipmen standing near, Sydney having left his company of sailors to satisfy his eager curiosity, “Mr. Perry,” the American commander said in a low voice, “you have shown yourself worthy of this trust. I shall send you, Mr. Monroe and Langdon. I hope and pray that no harm will come to you.”
Phil could scarcely believe his ears. He, a midshipman, selected for such an important duty!
Commander Hughes then again addressed the foreign commanders.
“Gentlemen,” he said in a firm voice, “I do not count on the success of this flag of truce. If it fails we shall be forced to attack the forts with our unarmored vessels. However,the decision is final. My orders are that the embassy be sent without a moment’s delay. We shall remain here until our friends return.”
Then, dismissing the allies, he took Langdon’s arm and walked toward the American sailors.
“If I only had five hundred American sailors,” he declared hotly, “I would throw over these half-hearted allies and march to the relief of the mission. But with this mere handful, failure would be assured.” Then he beckoned the midshipmen to him. “Langdon, you and these young men must uphold the dignity of our country. You, Langdon, must speak directly to the viceroy. Impress upon him that I am in deadly earnest. If he harms the American mission I shall not rest until his city is laid in ashes. I shall destroy his arsenals and foundries. The forts will not be able to resist the attack of the American monitors, which should soon arrive.”
“The monitors!” Langdon exclaimed. “Are they coming?”
“I wish I could believe it,” Commander Hughes replied sorrowfully. “But we mustmake the viceroy believe that we are hourly expecting them. He fears an American monitor, and the thought that they are coming may act in our favor.”
Preparations went forward rapidly, and inside of half an hour, Commander Ignacio led his small party out of the allied camp.
Carrying a large white flag conspicuously displayed, the four emissaries, with an escort of eight sailors, four from the “Phœnix” and four from the foreigner’s own gunboat, gained the road leading toward the city of Ku-Ling. Unencumbered with all save their firearms, which were carried for protection against the marauding bands of outlaws, the seven miles were quickly covered, and in less than two hours the city gate loomed before them.
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 suppressa 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?