ity to introduce you to the officials
composing it, and we will get your commission made out and signed, so
that you may be ready for service whenever called upon."

With these words Wong-lih went up on deck, followed by Frobisher, and
the two men, entering the _San-chau's_ gig, were pulled ashore.

Frobisher was very favourably impressed by the handsome appearance of
the various public buildings, and was quite astonished at the size and
magnificence of those devoted to the Navy Department, when he and his
companion finally halted before the wrought-iron gates which gave
admittance to the grounds surrounding them.

Wong-lih, exhilarated at the near prospect of a discussion upon his
favourite subject, the Navy, ran up the steps leading into the building
with the activity of a boy; and in a few minutes the two men found
themselves in a beautifully-furnished antechamber, whither they had been
conducted to wait for the summons to present themselves before the
all-powerful Council. Frobisher himself felt just a trifle nervous at
the prospect, but Wong-lih's countenance was transformed by a happy
smile, while he actually sniffed the air from time to time, like an old
warhorse scenting battle.

Presently a door, opposite that by which the two had entered, opened,
and a gorgeously-dressed attendant stepped up to Wong-lih and saluted,
saying something at the same time in Chinese.

"Come along, my young friend," smilingly exclaimed the admiral, as he
rose to his feet; "the moment of your ordeal has arrived. Present a
bold front, my boy; there is nothing to be nervous about, I assure you."

He led the way, through the door which the attendant respectfully held
open, into another chamber--or rather hall, so large and lofty was it--
where Frobisher saw a group of Chinamen, nine in number, seated round an
oval table on which a quantity of official-looking documents were lying.
So far as it is possible to tell any Chinaman's age from mere
observation, they were all elderly men, with the exception of one
individual, who was obviously quite young, and who was seated at the
right hand of the one who was clearly the chief official present.

He was a man of perhaps thirty, or possibly younger still, with a very
yellow skin, a long, very thin, drooping moustache, and brilliant,
coal-black eyes, deeply sunken in their sockets, out of which they
glared with an emotionless, steely glitter that reminded Frobisher most
unpleasantly of a