t Song-hwan, and, I am sorry to
say, defeated them; and the only silver lining to our cloud lies in the
surprise those Japanese will receive when they find themselves met at
Asan by seven thousand of our men, instead of only the small garrison of
the place; for it is not very likely that Oshima's force, being on the
march, will have heard either of the naval battle, or of our successful
landing of the majority of our men at Asan.

"The sea fight occurred a week ago, but we only received news of the
land battle to-day; and although we have been taken unawares by Japan's
treachery in striking before the declaration of war, we have managed to
prepare ourselves pretty well, thanks to the warnings we had that this
was coming. Mark me!--Japan shall find to her cost that she cannot
insult and ride rough-shod over my country without being called to very
strict account. War, Mr Frobisher, will be declared by China against
Japan tomorrow, the 1st of August; and I rely upon you, as well as upon
all the rest of my officers, to do your utmost to keep command of the
sea. The country which secures that will have the other at her mercy;
and we ought to be able to secure it, as our Navy is, if anything, a
little more powerful than that of Japan, seeing that we have two
battleships, as well as cruisers, whereas Japan has only cruisers. That
is the situation, gentlemen; and you are now as fully posted as I am
with regard to the state of affairs; so strike hard and often for China,
when you get the opportunity."

"We will, sir," replied both men enthusiastically.

"But," continued Frobisher, "I trust that our ammunition will prove very
different from that supplied me on the _Su-chen_. You probably heard
that the expedition failed for no other reason than that more than half
our shells were filled with charcoal instead of gunpowder?"

"Alas! alas! I did," replied Wong-lih; "and I wish I could promise you
that such monstrous iniquities should never occur again. But I cannot.
I am doing, and have always done, my best to prevent this shameful
tampering with Government property; but what can one man do, amongst so
many? You will remember that I told you the mandarins were filling
their pockets at the expense of their country; and there is no telling
how far their peculations may have extended. I have examined as much
ammunition as I have had time for, and I am bound to say that it looks
all right; but beyond that I cannot go, for it