376 
IN AFRICA 
the steamers for the States were booked full for 
several voyages ahead and tourists were rushing 
around in despair. The Asia had been booked up to 
the limit for weeks and it seemed as if we might 
have to wait a long time before getting berths on 
any ship. But some one unexpectedly had to give 
up a state-room and we were fortunate in getting it. 
I had a great desire to see Manila again. It had 
been ten years since I left there in the “days of the 
empire” and everything in me quivered with long¬ 
ing to revisit the place where I spent my golden 
period of adventure. We booked on the old Yuen 
Sang, a friend of former days, and the skipper. 
Captain Percy Rolfe, handsome, cultured, and cap¬ 
able, was still in command. He loves the China 
Sea and has steadfastly refused to be lured away 
by offers of greater ships and more important com¬ 
mands. When we engaged our passage the agent 
warned us that the vessel was carrying a cargo of 
naphtha and kerosene and that we might not wish 
to risk it; but we went. A Jap and a Chinaman were 
the only two other passengers, and they were in¬ 
visible during the sixty hours to cross. 
We steamed out of Hongkong in a chilling wind 
and at once plunged into a fog, but the next morn¬ 
ing we ran into smooth seas and warm weather. A 
full moon hung over the empty waste of waters and 
the nights were gorgeous. 
As we neared the coast of Luzon I became much 
excited, for in my memory were those vivid, ex¬ 
pectant days of old when our little American fleet 
