A Secret Agent in Port Arthur by Wirt Gerrare

The morning after the first bombardment was a rough snowstorm and blizzard. It was impossible in the forenoon to distinguish any living form across a narrow street, and useless to attempt to inspect the harbour. The wind blew in from the sea, and when the storm had moderated a little and the snow fell thickly in large flakes it was ideal weather for a torpedo attack. Relying upon fictitious advice Japanese friends had given me that their forces would follow up every attack with another quickly, and take Port Arthur -- town, forts and harbour -- within a fortnight, I wandered round the shore looking eagerly for, and expecting momentarily, the torpedo attack which was never attempted. It was during these hours of watching that I met the British officer -- also peering seaward for some sign of an invading squadron.

On a subsequent occasion, when we also met by accident, being on the same quest, we went together round the town and as far as possible made the circle of the inner line of fortifications. In this peregrination I asked him to choose for me the safest quarter in which to reside during future bombardments, and he pointed out a somewhat thickly populated district immediately behind the town gravel pits, to the north of the Bund. Later I secured a room in a Chinese house in that vicinity. It opened on to the Poyarova, and had on the opposite side an exit still nearer the shelter of the quarry. About the same time also, I was offered the use of rooms in the flat of a foreigner, who had left them in order to be nearer his work.