hills, instead of leaving them
directly behind. It was therefore now certain that they were going to
avoid Yong-wol, and consequently there would be little or no chance of
rescue by the rebels.

Frobisher hoped that by keeping his ears open he might be able to gain
some idea as to the place which they were making for; and a little
later, by hearing the constant repetition of a certain name, he came to
the conclusion that they were bound for some place called Chhung-ju--
though where it was situated, and even whether it was really the name of
a place, he could not be at all certain.

Shortly after nightfall of the third day after crossing the hills, they
entered a walled town of some size, situated on a river; and Ling
contrived an opportunity to inform Frobisher that the name of the place
was indeed Chhungju, and that the river was a branch or tributary of the
river Han. He also stated that news had been brought by a Government
spy that the rebels at Yong-wol had somehow obtained knowledge of the
capture of the caravan, and that they had rapidly collected their forces
with the object of starting in pursuit of the party for the purpose of
recovering the arms and ammunition before they could be delivered to the
authorities in Seoul. The rebels, reported Ling, were only some
twenty-four hours' journey behind; and, as it would be quite possible
for them to cut off the troops by making direct for the capital, the
commander of the present force had determined to remain but a few hours
in Chhung-ju, in order to rest his men, and then to transfer the whole
party, cargo and all, to boats or barges, and so proceed down the river
Han as far as Yo-ju. There the river would be left, and they would
proceed by road to Su-won, and so to the port of Asan, where there were
enough Korean troops to enable the two parties combined to keep the
rebels at bay until reinforcements could arrive from Seoul.

Accordingly Frobisher was not at all surprised when, at midnight, the
palanquin bearers arrived at the house where he had been confined under
guard, and made signs for him to step into the litter. He did so,
affecting great debility and pain, and was soon being carried at a rapid
rate through the narrow, evil-smelling streets, strewn with garbage and
the putrefying carcasses of dogs, cats, and rats, down to the bamboo
wharf where the force was to embark. Several barges, equipped with
large, square sails made of matting, could be diml