s has
already been mentioned; but under the new circumstances it was
imperative that the troops should be landed immediately, so that the
fleet might be free to go out and fight without being obliged to leave
any ships behind to cover the landing. Ting therefore ordered a gun to
be fired, and the signal to be made for all captains to come aboard; and
he announced that the disembarkation was to take place at once, the
process to be facilitated as much as possible by the various ships'
search-lights, which would give enough illumination to prevent
accidents. Consequently, about midnight the work commenced, much to the
annoyance of the soldiers, who did not, of course, know the reason, and
had been looking forward to another comfortable night on board.

Every boat belonging to the fleet, as well as the pontoons and rafts
carried on board the transports for the purpose, was called into
requisition, and very soon a long procession of craft of all shapes and
sizes was seen plying to and fro between transports and shore, guided by
the powerful rays of the search-lights. The horses were simply slung by
means of broad straps to the end of a whip, hoisted out of the ships,
and swung overboard, the straps being released as soon as they were in
the water, when they swam ashore of their own accord, being caught upon
their arrival by the soldiers who had already landed, and picketed.

So rapidly and methodically was the work carried out--due principally,
it must be acknowledged, to the efforts of the British officers
belonging to the Navy ships--that when daylight broke, about four
o'clock, the disembarkation was already half completed.

Meanwhile Ting had issued orders for a full head of steam to be kept up
on board every ship, transport as well as man-of-war, for he intended to
put to sea the instant that the last man was ashore. He had no desire
to be caught where he was by the Japanese fleet, especially since he
would then be seriously hampered in his movements by the helpless,
unarmed transports. Anxious eyes were often turned seaward to where the
torpedo-boats were still carrying out their patrol duty in the offing;
and more than one brave man heaved a sigh of relief as hour after hour
passed without one of them steaming in at full speed to give notice that
the enemy were in sight.

At length, about ten o'clock in the morning, the last horse had swum
ashore, and the last boatload of soldiers was on its way. The rafts a