Chapter I: Preface

Perhaps a few words of explanation as regards this volume may be permitted. The following extract from a letter, from a relative who addresses me as "Uncle Harry," will suffice at first. His letter is dated "Shanghai, November 1897":--

"Here are all the papers, with manuscript. Some of the latter is translated by a friend, and some is newspaper work. But I daresay you will be able to work up the matter. Do it as you like best; but don't give me away, please. You will find some additional information in Vladmir's work, and in the _Mail_, etc. etc. But I am only sending you my experiences and adventures. Call them what you like.

"JULIUS."

Here then is the narrative, in which the writer does not spare himself. He certainly has had adventures by land and sea, between China and Japan--"'twixt Jack and Jap"--during the late war. I have used his papers and extracts in the compilation of the story; with gleanings from _Heroic Japan_ and newspapers, which I have examined, with history, for my own benefit, and to verify my "nephew's" account of his adventures during that stirring time in the Far East.

HENRY FRITH.

UPPER TOOTING, S.W.,
_March_ 1898.

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I. A DISAPPOINTMENT--I ESCAPE MY FORETOLD DESTINY--THE
_OSPREY_--THE STORM
II. A TERRIBLE POSITION--A PROPHETIC VISION--SINKING!
III. THE STEAMER _FENG SHUI_, FOR CHINA--CAPTAIN
GOLDHEUGH--DISCIPLINE AND A ROPE'S END!
IV. BOUND TO CHINA--THE VOYAGE AND MY EXPERIENCES--_CASH_ IN HONG
KONG--RUMOUR OF WAR
V. A SECRET MISSION--KIDNAPPED!--THE SCHOONER--THE ASSASSIN
VI. SHANGHAI: ITS IMPRESSIONS--MURDER!--A RESCUE, AND A HAPPY
ENCOUNTER
VII. THE _FENG SHUI_ CHANGES HER NAME FOR LUCK--THE TRANSPORT--THE
JAPANESE MAN-OF-WAR--SURRENDER OF THE _KOWSHING_
VIII. THE END OF THE _FENG SHUI_--CAPTURED AND PRESSED!
IX. THE BATTLE IN THE YELLOW SEA--THE EVIL GENIUS OF "FENG SHUI"
X. A TRANSFORMATION SCENE--I BECOME A "CHINESE"
XI. CHINESE LANGUAGE--"HELD UP"--BETRAYED!
XII. ABANDONED!--I FALL AMONG THIEVES, BUT FIND SOME "GOOD
SAMARITANS"
XIII. KINCHOW--ARRESTED BY CHINESE SOLDIERS--CAPTURE OF THE CITY
XIV. THE SACK OF KINCHOW--RELEASED--"CASTLED"--A CHECK
XV. AN ADVENTURE ON THE HILLS--THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF
DEATH--TALIEN-WAN
XVI. PORT ARTHUR--THE MASSACRE IN THE TOWN--RELEASE
XVII. EXPLANATIONS--ON BOARD THE _NANIWA_ AGAIN--THE BLOCKADE OF
WEI-HAI-WEI--ON SERVICE
XVIII. ON BOARD THE TORPEDO-BOAT--BREAKING OF THE BOOM--CAPTURE OF
WEI-HAI-WEI--CONCLUSION

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

I ALSO DROPPED IN THE BLUE SEA BEHIND HIM
(_see p._ 121) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

"THE RAIN'S A-COMIN' THICK"

WE PROCEEDED TO THE CONSULATE

I SAW THE UNLUCKY _FENG SHUI_ PLUNGE DOWN BY THE STERN SUDDENLY

ONE CHINESE VESSEL WAS MOST FEARFULLY PUNISHED

THEY LAUGHED AT THE STONES I THREW AT THEM

THE CHINESE WERE LYING ANYHOW

THE DEED WAS DONE! TORPEDO-BOAT NO. 6 SPED AWAY

IN THE YELLOW SEA