Part 23 (1/2)
Tom and Desmond, in return for the inforer yarn to spin of the adventures they had gone through
Billy occasionally put in a word
”The worst part of the business e were nearly starving and had to live on rotten yams and train oil Hoould you fellows have liked that?” he asked
”Not very pleasant,” observed Charley Roy ”But you, Billy, don't appear to have suffered much froain,” answered Billy; ”but I assure you that for -post”
CHAPTER SEVEN
A VISIT TO THE TAILOR'S, AND A WALK ROUND VICTORIA--TRICKS OF THE COOLIES--A CHINESE FESTIVAL--SAIL FOR SHANGHAI--AN UNEXPECTED MEETING-- ADVENTURES OF THE DRAGON'S CREW--A WALK THROUGH SHANGHAI--THE MIDshi+PMEN'S RIDE INTO THE COUNTRY--THEIR PLEASURE DISAGREEABLY INTERRUPTED--A RIDE FOR LIFE, AND A NARROW ESCAPE--BRING NEWS OF THE APPROACH OF THE REBELS--REGAIN THEIR HOTEL--AROUSED BY THE SOUND OF FIRING--SHANGHAI ATTACKED BY THE REBELS--THE BLUE JACKETS TAKE PART IN THE DEFENCE--TREACHERY DEFEATED--JERRY SAVES TOM'S LIFE--THE REBELS DEFEATED--RETURN ON BOARD THE EMPRESS--THE ORION, CAPTAIN ADAIR, ARRIVES FROM ENGLAND--ADAIR COMES ON BOARD THE EMPRESS--GERALD'S ANXIETY--AN ASTOUNDING REQUEST--CAPTAIN ADAIR COMMUNICATES SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION TO DESMOND--THE FLEET assEMBLES, AND THE ARMY LANDS ON THE ShoreS OF CHINA
The fleet lay in readiness to proceed to Pe-chili, where it was expected that they would find work to do, as the Taku Forts had to be captured before the troops, now asse force, could ers took the midshi+pmen on shore to obtain an outfit for them, which they much required With this object they repaired to the shop of Tung-Cheong, the Buck ca, as he surveyed the tattered uniforms of the three reatest tailor in the world Thinkee nothing to entlemans,” he observed, as he pointed to the unifor up in the shop He at once produced a midshi+pman's uniform, which he kept as a speci taken their measures, he pro, together with every other article they ht please to order They, of course, wanted shi+rts, socks, caps, and shoes, swords and belts, all of which, to their surprise, he had in stock--indeed, he showed, like most of his countrymen, that he had a keen eye for business, and would undertake to fit out a shi+p's co the town, they climbed to the top of Victoria Peak, from whence they could look down on the harbour, which had the appearance of a picturesque lake, dotted over with vessels of every rig, while they obtained a good view of the town itself which extended along the shore for nearly four miles Below on one side was the Kowloon Peninsula, now covered with military tents, while on the south side were seen numberless islands, with the wide expanse of the China Sea beyond
”Now let us pay a visit to the Happy Valley,” said Tohts
”It must be a pleasant place to live in I should like to take up my abode there,” observed Billy
”Wait until you reach it before you forood many inhabitants already,” observed To froot to the place, which is the burial ground of Hong-kong On entering the Protestant cemetery, they saw a column erected to the i a nureater number cut down not by the weapons of the enemy, but by the pestiferous climate
On their way to the town they tail, which he had twisted two or three tilishman what he was about to do with his prisoner, his reply was--
”Why, sir, this here chap is a coolie recruit; he has received his pay in advance, and was bolting, when I clapped eyes on hi him back to the barracks”
The coolie corps had just been raised to act as carriers to the regi over troubled with honesty, theas soon as they had received an advance, intending into the shi+p, Charley Roy told them of an incident, which had occurred just before A number of coolies had been embarked on board a troop-shi+p, when one of them, who had purchased a quantity of pepper, started up and threw it into the eyes of the sentry placed over hiuard, leaped overboard, swa his escape
While the reat Chinese festival was going on; and as they had leave to go on shore, they had an opportunity of witnessing the proceedings
One day theyof some 3000 or 4000 people, audiest attire, extending upwards of a ures, either carried onvarious somewhat incomprehensible characters, but the chief attractions were three enorth, which required thirty iven, open to all, without charge
It was in an enor erected for the purpose, co The interior was elegantly fitted up, and lighted by large nulass chandeliers; the sides were richly decorated, and here were soon altars overhung with gorgeous drapery, and conservatories full of flowering plants, while concerts of vocal and instru There were also rooht refreshments, such as tea, coffee, and fruit, could be obtained without charge Those who required more substantial fare could procure it at booths outside the large building, on very moderate payment The midshi+p, hospitable fellows
At length the shi+ps of ere ordered to the northward The _Ehai, at the southern entrance of the great river Yang-tse-kiang Shanghai consists of a large English settlement and a Chinese city of considerable size Soon after the _Empress_ had come to anchor, a shore boat, pulled by Chinese, was seen approaching
”She has English officers on board Who can they be?” exclaiway, to Tom ”I do believe! Can it be possible? Yes, I am nearly certain! There's Archie Gordon, Mr Joy, and there is Coon_ way, and waved his cap This salute was replied to by those in the boat, which in another side, and Commander Rawson, with the lieutenant and Archie, caiven you up for lost,” said Tom, as he shook hands with his brother midshi+pman
”And we, to say the truth, had very little expectation of seeing you again,” answered Archie ”How did you escape?”
”How did you find your way here?” asked To the question