ng Out of

le Information-The Doctor makes

ser being built by Laird's, for a South American republic which had waived its claim to her, and three destroyers which were being completed at Yarrow'

his hand; "you look twice the man you did six weeks

little fleet, old chap. How'

her; but confound you, I'm hungry, I don't want to see your ship

rub and put you in a better temper," answered

g, with her engines and boilers on board. "Funny state of affairs, Doc, old boy," began Helston, as he patted her smooth sides, "for me to be buyin

one cost you?" aske

ke up your wretched liver, Doc, rushing along at more than thirty-five miles an hour! It's a funny thing, but they have had several b

s always are," laughed the mana

ried to get all my ships, and, strangely enough, has never been i

as some of her neighbours, and get up a reb

miralty had put them all on half-pay and lent them to the Chinese Government for eighteen months directly Helston had made out their temporary commissio

id the Doctor. "I suppose no one ha

ed a drawer

d of them, men in the navy, army,

" growled the Doctor. "To whom are you going to g

them. I leave that job to m

ou managed to get

slapping him on the shoulder; "you

Why, I'd as soon think of volun

re's your commission made out-'all belong ploper, savez'. Come on, old fellow, don't leave me in the lurch; come and have another look at China.

he room, "and if you were not steeped in fever and ague, I would see you at Jericho first; but I'l

Fareham, and the practice can manage itself pretty well, can't it? You'll

the two men discussed p

ving King's Cross, a man jumped hurriedly into their carriage,

young and very handsome man, typically American from the long hair brushed off

and. I've been six years in the United States

n the navy," answer

ying around, and we've got the iron and the brains, and Congress will find the dollars. I'm quit of the navy. The guv'nor curled up and left me a pile, so I just sent in my commission and been enjoying mysel

id Helston,

d packet-Reginald S. Hopkins, my tally-and I

e is He

y illustrated journal I've taken up for the last ten days-shake, sir, shake," and he grasped Helston's hand warmly. "Very pl

ind of correspondent for a Boston journal-and went on board some of them. I reckon the silly idiot who bought that lot of scrap iron wished he had left 'em there. There ain't a dockyard in the States that could make 'em keep pace with a funeral. Why, I went aboar

"I've telegraphed to a dozen men who were up ther

t that particular time, and looting or getting quit of the pla

t the cruisers which went asho

per shoved her nose on shore and cut. He was just about in a hair-raising funk, for the mandarins wanted his head

on of his ship?" asked Helston, "for she

g fore and aft-they'll kill me if I go on deck-the boilers won't stand the pressure, and my home's in Glasgy'. He was just on being properly crazed, and during the night wok

hey tell me at the Embassy that the Yao Yuen, her sister ship, which was also reported refloated, was com

old Monocacy-you remember the old tub-an

age at their firs

information may be very valuable, and he see

their own country the only one in the world, and they themselves it

s morning," th

r engine and gun trials. She had been built as a speculation, and Helston had eagerly snapped her up for a trifle of ￡290,000. "We should hav

ich was nearly ready for sea, and the armoured cruiser which wa

specting the

two into one," said the Doctor. "I'm not going to be

giving the necessary directions, "what w

Doctor, with a twinkle in his eye.

ed Helston, "but ready

d not buy your ships, Helston. Somewhat fishy, isn't i

issions granted by the Chinese Government to officers in th

eave to assume the rank of captain whi

, marines, and warrant officers were all detailed for various duties-fitting out

e-room artificers, armourers, and also a small detachment of marines, whilst, acting on the advice of the Foreign Office and the Chinese Embassy, both of

s incidents occurred which suggested that influenc

se nut in the high-pressure cylinder whilst the engines were being preliminarily turned, avert

mixed with the water that was pumped over it during the full speed trial. This alone delayed the departure of the expedition for a month, as the huge casting had to be removed. Laird's destroyer was also run down

ampering with the magazine locks of Armstrong's cruiser, with many yards of fuse

No. 1", "No. 2", and "No. 3", and a stout little merchant steamer, the Sylvia, to be used as store-ship, were lying at Spithead, gaily flyi

cers were still remaining in London comple