Part 8 (1/2)
”Yes,” replied the captain with deference, ”she will suit for a transport. _The j.a.panese wish for her_.”
The spectacles flashed at us, the fan waved, but no irritation was otherwise expressed.
”Has the j.a.pan Government purchased the 'inside' steamer?” (screw).
”No, highness; I declined the offer. I am awaiting yours.”
”Your terms for the steams.h.i.+p for three months, if we wish to send it with your crew to Corea?”
The captain paused a while, then he named a sum which made me look out of the window, I nearly smiled. I did not know the value of steam transports fitted for service; it meant hundreds a day! Hundreds for that small steamer and crew--and, of course, officers.
At length the transaction was completed. The tea was drunk then, not before. We bowed ourselves out, and regained the _Feng Shui_, where the mate was in charge.
”Well,” said the first officer, ”what's happened?”
The captain told him our experiences, and mentioned the conclusions at which he had arrived.
”Look here,” he said in a low tone, ”mark ye this, there's going to be a fuss between these two countries. They are both trying to get ahead of the other, and I understand that Corea has a finger in the pie.
That j.a.panese I told ye of--the man I pointed out to ye,” he continued, addressing the mate--”ye know.”
”Ay, ay; but he's not a j.a.p!”
”Not a j.a.p! What d'ye mean?” exclaimed the captain angrily.
”What I say, captain; _he's_ no j.a.p! He and his pal are Coreans. _I_ can see that. Look at his sleepy face under that 'bowler' hat--a disguise! He isn't a j.a.p; and he wants a secret pa.s.sage, you say.
Things are getting mixed all round. He's up to no good.”
”Well, maybe ye're right, Rose,” replied the captain. ”But why do ye think the Corean men are cutting in against us?”
”I only know what I have seen; I've seen two Coreans searching for a vessel to-day--and on the sly, I hear. They are up to something; and it's all round queer, because they have a Chinese and a j.a.panese with them. Four together, and only the j.a.p looks honest.”
”They can't hurt us, so no matter. I'd like to know what they are scheming, by the same token. There's war in it, and the Company's agent knows it. I'll fix it, and we may have to steam for Shanghai on sight. We'll get steam up, Mr. Rose; pa.s.s the word for Jenkins.”
Mr. Jenkins was the ”chief engineer,” and he came to confer with the captain in due course.
I obtained leave for the evening. Fancying that I could clear up the mystery of the j.a.ps and Coreans, I took a sampan, and went out on search through the harbour for the hired, secret vessel.
CHAPTER V
A SECRET MISSION--KIDNAPPED!--THE SCHOONER--THE a.s.sa.s.sIN
As I did not wish my chief to know whither I was bound, I went ash.o.r.e first, and strolled about in the cooler hour of the evening, and even penetrated into the queer Chinese slums where little drums of the peddlers, and the chatter and smells and heat, soon drove me back to the parade, away from the houses of the natives. Their stupid faces, so smooth and greasy-looking, their odd dress, long pigtails (of the men), the coa.r.s.e, rolled hair, pinned in ma.s.ses (of the females), both s.e.xes being costumed nearly alike, quite put me off. Even some experience of the country has not impressed me in favour of the native of China.
So I returned to the water, and calling a ”sampan” got the number of the man taken--for many people have been ”missed” from a Chinese boat at evening--and told my man to propel me across the harbour towards Kow-loon. This is in China, where the change of the scenery is marked and wild; but I did not come for the prospect, I wanted to search the further side of the harbour, which is about a mile across and ten square miles in extent.
If the Coreans had an idea of secrecy, I imagined they would rather seek a small sailing vessel--perhaps a junk rather than a steamer, though, of course, the latter would be more speedy, and more certain if a storm arose. But they would sail by the north channel, so I made for the north point, the extremity of the peninsula of Kow-loon, which is under British authority by lease.