ral Wong-lih might be
found at the dockyard, busily superintending the fitting out for sea of
several repaired and re-boilered cruisers.

Upon enquiring the reason for all the bustle and confusion that were
everywhere apparent, and the quite unaccustomed businesslike air of the
port, Frobisher was informed by the officer to whom he applied for
information that Japan had, a few days previously, perpetrated an act
which could hardly be interpreted otherwise than as meaning war; and
that consequently all possible preparations were being hurriedly made to
meet the contingency. Guns were being mounted, ships were being
dry-docked, scraped, and painted, nucleus crews were being brought up to
fighting strength, and, in short, everything that could be done was
being done to place China in a position to send her Navy to sea to
encounter the Japanese squadrons; for it was plainly to be seen, said
the officer, that, since the first acts of hostility had taken place, a
formal declaration of war was merely a matter of a few days, and there
was a great deal to be done in the time. Frobisher thanked the man for
his information, and then he and Drake hurried on their way toward the
dockyard. Truly, the air was full of mutterings and rumours of war.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE DRAGON AWAKES.

On their way to the dockyard, while passing along the "Street of Many
Waters", they heard in the distance the sound of a military band,
playing very barbaric music--to English ears, that is to say--but in
what was undoubtedly "march" time. Presently they found themselves
compelled to halt for about five minutes at a cross street, named "The
Lotus", while several companies of a Chinese Line regiment went swinging
past on their way to the barracks; and Drake and his companion could not
refrain from commenting favourably upon the smart and businesslike
appearance of the men.

They were, it appeared, part of a crack corps; and every officer and
private seemed fully to realise the fact, and to be proud of it. There
was not a single soldier among them standing less than six feet in
height, and the majority were broad in proportion. The Navy men whom
Frobisher had so far encountered were usually uniformed somewhat after
the fashion of European officers and seamen. The officers wore the
flat, peaked cap, with a gold dragon in front instead of the crown and
anchor, while their jackets and trousers of dark-blue cloth were almost
exactly similar t