Part 15 (2/2)
Numbers of Chinese were swimming, and were slain in the water; a few were saved, with three or four Europeans, by the j.a.panese and by a French vessel which came upon the scene, but the vast majority perished.
I learned these details afterwards; at the time the noise and shouting, the crackling of the machine-guns and the rifle fire, were most bewildering, and how I managed to keep afloat and unharmed is to me, even now, astonis.h.i.+ng. Had I not been perfectly at home in the water I think I must have drowned from sheer nervousness; the exertion itself would have exhausted me before the boat came and rescued me. As it proved, I kept my head and my life-belt.
Then I saw the unlucky _Feng Shui_ rise up a little, roll a bit, and plunge down by the stern suddenly, carrying hundreds of living, wounded, and dead Chinese into the vortex of the Yellow Sea. The _Naniwa_ had struck a decisive blow in the war. Then my mind sprung back to the evening on which I had been rescued by Captain Goldheugh from the sinking yacht, in which I had dreamed of a sinking steamer attacked by a man-of-war, amid steam and the roar of artillery. Was this prophetic?
[Ill.u.s.tration: I SAW THE UNLUCKY _FeNG SHUI_ PLUNGE DOWN BY THE STERN SUDDENLY]
A murmur of strange voices aroused me for I swam mechanically, as I ascertained later, in the direction of the j.a.panese cruiser. I raised my head, and perceived a large boat closing upon me gently. A word of command; I was seized and dragged on board the launch amid the j.a.panese crew, and to my delight I perceived Mr. Rose, the mate of the steamer.
There were some other boats afloat with j.a.panese and Chinese occupants, but the former fired upon the latter at every opportunity.
We were carried to the _Naniwa_ and, I am glad to say, well treated by our captors, who supplied our wants, and those of the others rescued.
We received no apologies, however, though food and dry clothing were supplied. The captain also was rescued by another boat, but we did not ”chum” with him; and we found that a sentry had been placed at the doors of the cabins respectively, to avoid and prevent any comparisons of our treatment.
During the evening we were asked separately many questions, and desired to make a statement to the captain of the cruiser. At eight bells we anch.o.r.ed for the night, and I slept thankfully till the morning.
Very early in the morning of the next day I was awakened by the noise of a brief and sharp conversation outside the cabin wherein I was lying. There was a sound of firearms, a clash of a sword, and in the dawning light I perceived a young officer advancing from the door.
Impulsively I arose, bracing myself for an encounter, but the amba.s.sador was on peace intent. He was my young friend the mids.h.i.+pman to whom I had been of some a.s.sistance at Shanghai. He began directly, without any preface.
”How are you feeling, Mr. Julius? I have been thinking about you, and have ventured to see you. What are your plans?”
”I have no plans. My captain and mate are prisoners, and I am in custody,” I replied. ”Why ask a prisoner what his plans are?”
He put up his hand deprecatingly, and shook his head.
”You are not a captive,” he replied; ”at least only until we can restore you and your officers to the British s.h.i.+ps. Your captain will return to Nagasaki, I believe, and thence to Hong Kong, perhaps. But if you have liberty to remain, why not stay with this s.h.i.+p?”
”Enlist in the j.a.panese navy?” I exclaimed.
”Not enlist; join us. My uncle is commander here now, and he is already pleased with you, and grateful for your a.s.sistance to me. He himself has suggested your joining the s.h.i.+p. You were intended for the English navy, you said; and you may do us the honour of accepting the offer.”
I made no immediate reply. The suggestion was pleasant to my ears.
Perhaps I might volunteer if Captain Goldheugh had no objection.
”Well?” asked the young j.a.panese. ”I must request a reply, as my watch will be called at eight bells.”
”Yes; I will volunteer if my captain will permit me. But must I actually join your service?”
”I presume not. The idea is merely one to enable you to see some service, and I am certain you will be a credit to the _Naniwa_.”
He bowed and smiled. I jumped up and responded.
”You are too kind, Tomi,” I said. ”Please tell your most honourable uncle that I will, if permitted, be most happy to join his s.h.i.+p, though he nearly drowned us in the _Feng Shui_.”
”That would have been a misfortune,” said Tomi.
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