CHAPTER IV

ON THE WAY TO MADAGASCAR

Passing Capetown--A Steamer following--A Furious Gale--The _Malay_ again in Trouble--Fire on the _Suvaroff_--Bad Coal--General Alarm--Another Storm--Madagascar in Sight--Sickening News from Port Arthur--Hopeless Darkness--The _Orel_ invaded by Jews--A Swiss Schooner--St. Mary--Scenery and People--The French Cordial--Tang-tang--Undecipherable Signals Japanese--Mysterious Signals--The _Esperanza_ nervous--Port Arthur surrendered--Christmas--Warships sighted--Are they Japanese?--Mutiny on the _Roland_--Arrival at Nosi Be--The Admirals meet--Uncertainty and Dissatisfaction 79