assurance of my eternal friendship, and esteem for one I
know must be high and illustrious."

"CHENG MO."

Gilbert read the letter several times and showed it to Major Okopa. It
was written in true Chinese style, with a big Chinese seal attached, and
was, beyond all doubt, genuine.

"I can't understand one thing," said the young captain. "How did Ben get
to Port Arthur?"

"It may be that this Captain Barusky had him taken there, Captain
Pennington."

"I thought Captain Barusky was at Mukden."

"The Russians have been taking in some troops at Port Arthur on the sly.
Despite Admiral Togo's efforts, some supply boats and transports have
passed his ships."

"If Barusky is there he will do what he can to make Ben miserable. He is
down on both of us--for he knows we are down on him and Ivan Snokoff."

"Do you think Snokoff could have anything to do with this?"

"I'm sure I don't know. Anything is possible. Snokoff would be glad to
make trouble for Ben--since he helped me to make him settle up at
Liao-Yang. Those Chunchuses tried to capture both of us."

The matter was talked over for half an hour, but brought forth no
satisfaction. To Gilbert's mind, being held by the Russians as a spy was
as bad as being in the hands of the Chinese brigands.

"I wish we could get into Port Arthur at once," he said, finally. "I
shouldn't like anything better than to capture this Captain Barusky and
liberate Ben."

"We are bound to get into the port sooner or later," answered Major
Okopa. "They are bringing up more siege guns every day. If the Russians
won't give up we'll batter the whole town down over their heads."

"Which will be a bad thing for Ben," rejoined Gilbert. "I don't want him
killed in the attempt to rescue him."

CHAPTER XXIX

FROM ONE DIFFICULTY TO ANOTHER

"Where is this going to end?"

It was Ben who asked himself the question, as he walked up and down the
narrow cell in which he had been confined in the prison at Port Arthur.

What had been written to Gilbert in the letter from Pekin had been
substantially correct. Ben had aided Ken Gow in numerous ways, and for
this the Chinaman had been extremely grateful and had promised to do all
he could for the young captain should he manage to escape from the
blockaded seaport. Then Ken Gow had disappeared one night, and that was
the last Ben saw of him.

Three days later a guard entered the prison and announced that the
prisoners were