re run alongside the wharves, to have their guns
replaced and their upper-works repaired, after which they would, one by
one, go into dock as their repaired sisters came out. The admiral then
dispatched to Tien-tsin the _San-chau_, the only undamaged war-ship,
with an account of the battle; while the torpedo-boat, after a few minor
repairs, was dispatched south with a similar message to Admiral
Wong-lih, suggesting that he should bring up the southern fleet, so
that, together, the united squadrons might seek the Japanese fleet and
once more give battle, in an attempt to recover the mastery of the sea,
which was of paramount importance to China.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

ON SPECIAL SERVICE.

For the first few days after the return of the fleet to Wei-hai-wei
everybody was very fully employed, including even the admiral himself,
who, despite his deep and painful wound, insisted on being about the
dockyard, his head tied up in a bandage, superintending the refitting of
the shattered ships. Nothing was mentioned with regard to Prince Hsi.
That arch-villain had not even been seen; and Frobisher supposed it was
Ting's intention to send him, as soon as he could spare an escort, to
Tien-tsin to stand his trial--a procedure which the Englishman was
inclined to think very likely to end in a farce, since, once among the
circle of his rich and powerful relatives and acquaintance, the man was
wily and cunning enough to be able to extricate himself even out of such
a predicament as that in which he was now plunged.

Frobisher had, however, forgotten a certain promise which Ting had made
at Wi-ju, at the mouth of the Yalu, when Prince Hsi had been so very
nearly discovered in communication with one of the enemy's destroyers--
the promise that, if he actually caught the Prince red-handed, so that
there could be no possible doubt about the matter, not all the influence
or powerful relations in China should save him from the fate he would so
richly deserve.

There could be little doubt that it was due to the signals sent that
night by the Prince to the destroyer that the Japanese had learned the
strength of the Chinese squadron and its destination, and had thus been
enabled to come up in full force, as they had done, and practically
annihilate the northern squadron. This was not the first nor the second
time that Hsi had played the traitor, although until now there had been
no actual proof of his treachery; he was strongly suspected,