the previous day.

Once clear of the land, the mandarin, with a polite smile and many
compliments to Carpenter on the skilful and expeditious manner in which
he had navigated the steamer down the river, requested him to proceed to
a certain point on the western side of the island of Formosa.

"When you are within twenty miles of the land, captain," he said
suavely, "you will make the steamer stop, and my men and I will leave
you in the boat. You must await our return, which may be on the
following day, or the day after, or perhaps longer still. But whether I
am absent one, or two, or six days, you must keep your ship in the
position I indicate as nearly as possible. You must avoid observation
from the shore, you must be watchful, diligent, and patient, and, when
you see my boat returning, you must make your engines work quickly, and
come towards us with all speed. High commendation and a great reward
from the serene nobleness of our great Viceroy--who has already
condescended to notice your honourable ability and great integrity in
your profession--awaits you." Then with another smile and bow he went to
his cabin.

As soon as the steamer reached the place indicated by the mandarin the
engines were stopped. The boat, which was towing astern, was hauled
alongside, and the thirty truculent "braves," with a Chinese pilot and
the ever-smiling mandarin, got into her and pushed off for the shore.
That they were all picked men, who could handle an oar as well as a
rifle, was very evident from the manner in which they sent the big boat
along towards the blue outline of the distant shore.

* * * * *

For two days Carpenter and his officers waited and watched, the steamer
lying and rolling about upon a long swell, and under a hot and brazen
sun. Then, about seven o'clock in the morning, as the sea haze lifted, a
look-out on the foreyard hailed the deck and said the boat was in sight.
The steamer's head was at once put towards her under a full head of
steam, and in another hour the mandarin and his braves were alongside.

The mandarin clambered up on deck, his always-smiling face (which
Carpenter and his officers had come to detest) now darkly exultant.

"You have done well, sir," he said to the captain; "the Viceroy himself,
when my own miserable worthlessness abases itself before him, shall know
how truly and cleverly you and your officers (who shall be honoured for
countless ages in the futu