d, narrowly escaped destruction. The captain, on his return,
brought intelligence which confirmed their hopes. The emperor had,
however, sent a document fifteen feet in length, earnestly requesting
that the expedition might be put off; but as he gave no guarantee that
by so doing a satisfactory result would be arrived at, the British envoy
kept to his determination of immediately enforcing the demands of his
government.

Early the following morning, the official gentlemen having embarked on
board the flag-ship, the signal was made for the squadron to weigh, and
the ships, steaming out of the harbour, shaped a course for the Bay of
Kagosima. The distance was considerable, the voyage occupied four days,
during which all preparations were made for the expected attack on the
capital of the Prince of Satsuma. At last, through a wide entrance they
steamed into the beautiful Bay of Kagosima, where they came to anchor
some miles below the town, intending to wait there until the following
morning.

The midshipmen, as might be supposed, during the evening talked over the
work they expected to be engaged in the next day. Some thought that
they should land and storm the town, others that the admiral would be
content with bombarding it at a distance.

"One thing I know that if there is work to be done my brother Jack is
the man to go in and do it," observed Tom to Desmond. "We are certain,
therefore, to see the best part of the fun, whatever it may be."

"I don't think my uncle Captain Adair will be far astern of him if he
has a chance," said Desmond, for he very properly always stuck up for
his relative.

One thing only was generally known, that the admiral had orders to
bombard the place and burn it down if the Japanese did not accede
unconditionally to all demands made on them. The weather did not look
so promising as could have been wished, but still hopes were entertained
that it would allow the ships to take up their positions.

At an early hour the next morning, the signal was made for weighing, and
the squadron steamed up the bay until they arrived off the town to be
attacked, when they again dropped anchor. It was no trifling work in
which they were about to engage, for they could see a long line of
fortifications extending across the whole front of the city, the flag of
Prince Satsuma flying from one of them. The guns, however, remained
silent.

"We shall soon knock that place to pieces," said Billy Bluebl