or Scotsmen.

The council was not a very lengthy one, for it was impossible to make
plans very far ahead, since little information was so far available as
to the enemy's movements. The first duty of the fleet, explained
Admiral Ting, was therefore to proceed to Wei-hai-wei, where a fleet of
transports was already taking aboard several Chinese regiments destined
for service in Korea. These were to be convoyed by the entire squadron
to the mouth of the River Yalu, forming the boundary between China and
Korea, and landed there; after which the fleet's future movements would
be guided by circumstances.

The probability was that enough information would be obtained meanwhile
to enable Admiral Ting to locate the position of the Japanese fleet. In
this event, the Chinese squadron would sail for the spot indicated, and
endeavour to force a general action; for it was vitally important to
China that she should obtain command of the sea at the earliest possible
moment, and keep it; otherwise she would be seriously handicapped in
transporting her troops to the seat of war, if not entirely prevented
from doing so. Similarly, it was necessary to prevent the Japanese, if
possible, from transporting their troops and supplies to Korea; and this
could only be accomplished by first destroying or seriously crippling
the Japanese Navy. In conclusion, Admiral Ting stated that he intended
to put to sea that same afternoon, and desired his captains to make
their preparations accordingly.

This decision was received with every symptom of delight by everybody
except Prince Hsi, who argued long and forcibly for a delay of a day at
least, giving as his reason that the flagship was not, in his opinion,
quite ready for sea.

On hearing this statement the admiral looked very keenly at his
subordinate, and asked him to explain his ship's unreadiness, while the
rest of the captains looked the astonishment they were too polite to put
into words. The ensuing explanation was somewhat unintelligible to
Frobisher, notwithstanding the valiant efforts of his interpreter. But
he gathered that the admiral considered Prince Hsi's reasons as quite
inadequate, and concluded by informing the Prince, without any
circumlocution, that he, as admiral, was quite as capable as her captain
of judging whether the ship was fit for sea or not, that as in his
opinion she was perfectly ready, to sea she should go, and the rest of
the squadron with her, as he had al