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diff --git a/27910.txt b/27910.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9c1c41 --- /dev/null +++ b/27910.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10461 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Under the Ensign of the Rising Sun, by Harry Collingwood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Under the Ensign of the Rising Sun + A Story of the Russo-Japanese War + +Author: Harry Collingwood + +Illustrator: Savile Lumley + +Release Date: January 27, 2009 [EBook #27910] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE ENSIGN OF THE RISING SUN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Under the Ensign of the Rising Sun, by Harry Collingwood. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +DISMISSED THE SERVICE. + +"Well, good-bye, old chap; keep a stiff upper lip, and hope for the +best; the truth is pretty sure to come out some day, somehow, and then +they will be bound to reinstate you. And be sure you call on the Pater, +and tell him the whole yarn. I'll bet he will be able to give you some +advice worth having. Also give my love to the Mater, and tell her that +I'm looking forward to Christmas. Perhaps I may see you then. Good-bye +again, and good luck to you." + +The speaker was young Ronald Gordon, one of the midshipmen belonging to +H.M.S. _Terrible_, and my particular chum; and the words were spoken as +we parted company on the platform of Portland railway station, Gordon to +return to his ship, while I, an outcast, was bound for London to seek my +fortune. + +Yes; after doing splendidly at Dartmouth, heading the list at the +passing-out exam, and so at once gaining the rating of midshipman; doing +equally well afloat during the subsequent three years and a half, +qualifying for Gunnery, Torpedo, and Navigating duties, serving for six +months aboard a destroyer, and everywhere gaining the esteem and +goodwill of my superiors, here was I, Paul Swinburne, at the age of +seventeen and a half, an outcast kicked out of the Navy with ignominy +and my career ruined, through the machinations of another, and he my +cousin! + +He, Bob Carr,--like myself, a midshipman aboard the _Terrible_,--had +committed a crime of a particularly mean and disgraceful character-- +there is no need for me to specify its precise nature--and with +diabolical ingenuity, knowing that discovery was inevitable, had +succeeded in diverting suspicion so strongly toward me that I had been +accused, court martialled, and--although I had pleaded not guilty--found +guilty and dismissed the Service. + +Now, it is necessary for me to say here just a word or two in +self-defence; for there is no reason whatever why the reader should be +allowed to believe me guilty, although, for certain reasons of my own, I +permitted the officers who tried me to think so. + +I am an orphan, both my parents having died within a few months of each +other when I was less than three years old, leaving me to the mercy of +the world. My nearest relation was Aunt Betsy Carr, my father's only +sister, and at my mother's death she and Uncle Bob adopted me as their +own, although they had a baby boy of their own, at that time nearly two +years old--the Cousin Bob who was responsible for my present trouble. +They took me not only into their home but also into their hearts; they +made not the slightest difference in their treatment of Bob and me; I +was as much a son to them as he was; and the result was that I soon grew +to love them both as much as though they had been my own parents. + +At first, as children, Bob and I got on splendidly together; but later +on, when we were respectively about seven and eight years of age, my +cousin gradually developed a feeling of jealousy that at length became +inordinate--although he was very careful to conceal the fact from his +parents; so that when, in my second year at Dartmouth, the matter of +sending him there also was mooted, I was exceedingly sorry, although I +of course gladly promised to help him to the utmost, in the event of his +being entered. And when in due time he turned up there, I redeemed my +promise, so far as Bob would let me; and it cost me a good deal to do +so, for he soon became exceedingly unpopular. But he managed to scrape +through his final, and, some six months before the opening of this +story, was appointed to the _Terrible_--to my great chagrin, for I had a +presentiment that his coming meant trouble for me. + +And now the trouble had come, with a vengeance. It was really Bob, and +not I, who had committed the crime of which I was accused; and clever as +the young rascal had been in diverting suspicion from himself to me, I +could have cleared myself, had I so chosen, but only by fixing the guilt +upon him. And that I could not bring myself to do, after all the +kindness which I--had received at the hands of my aunt and uncle; for +they not only idolised the lad but believed in him implicitly, and I +knew that disillusion would simply break their hearts--they would never +again be able to hold up their heads and look others in the face. +Therefore when I was summoned to be tried by court martial, I simply +pleaded Not Guilty--which was regarded as an aggravation of my offence-- +and did not attempt to defend myself, with the result that I was found +guilty, and expelled. + +Of course I knew that this would be a bitter blow to my uncle and aunt; +but it would not be nearly so bitter as it would have been had the guilt +been fixed upon Bob, therefore of the two evils I chose what I +considered the least, although it involved the ruin of my career--a +career which I loved and of which I was intensely proud. + +And now I was not only without a career, but also without a home; for I +simply could not endure the idea of going back to my aunt and uncle, and +witnessing their grief as well as enduring their reproaches. I +therefore wrote them a brief letter informing them of the misfortune +which had befallen me, assuring them of my innocence, and announcing my +determination to start afresh, fight my own battle, and rehabilitate +myself as best I could. + +In making my plans I was greatly helped by my chum, Gordon. He had been +with me at Dartmouth, after that in the _Vengeance_, and now again in +the _Terrible_; he therefore knew me well enough to implicitly believe +me when I assured him upon my word of honour that I was innocent. He +was a good chum; not only did he believe in my innocence but he also +stoutly maintained it to others, whenever the matter was referred to, +although the evidence so cunningly woven was strong enough to secure my +conviction. And when the result of the court martial was known, he not +only sat down and wrote a long account of the affair to his parents, but +insisted--taking no denial--that, before doing anything else, I should +call upon his parents and consult with his father, Sir Robert. And this +I at length, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to do, although I was by no +means sure that his people would be so ready as he was to take me upon +trust. Yet, apart from my uncle and aunt, Sir Robert and Lady Gordon +were the only friends I had; and now was the time when of all others I +most urgently needed the help of friends. At first I permitted myself +to entertain certain high-flown ideas of going out into the world and +fighting my battle alone and unaided; but Gordon was a level-headed +youngster, and although he was a year younger than myself I was fain to +admit the wisdom of his assertion that no fellow is sufficiently +independent to ignore the advice and help of friends. Besides, I had +already met Sir Robert and his wife--had indeed on one occasion spent +ten days' leave with Ronald under their roof; and more genial, kindly, +warmer-hearted people it would be impossible to imagine; so I felt +hopeful that, with Ronald for my sponsor and advocate, Sir Robert would +not refuse to give me his best advice and assistance. + +It was late in the afternoon when I arrived at Waterloo--too late, I +knew, to catch Sir Robert Gordon at his office; I therefore slung my +chest on top of a cab, and ordered the driver to take me to a certain +quiet and unassuming but comfortable hotel near the Embankment, where I +proposed to take up my quarters until I could see my way a little more +clearly. Here I dined, took a walk along the Embankment afterwards, and +turned in early, not feeling in cue for amusement of any kind. + +On the following morning I rose late, of deliberate purpose, had my +breakfast, and then sauntered along the Embankment toward Sir Robert's +office, timing myself to arrive there about eleven o'clock, by which +time I calculated that Ronald's father would about have gone through his +morning's correspondence, and would be able to spare me a few minutes of +his time. + +As it chanced, I could not have timed my movements better, for as I was +shown up to Sir Robert's private room I encountered his secretary just +coming out, with a notebook in one hand and a goodly batch of letters in +the other. + +I may here explain that Sir Robert Gordon was an official of high +position and very considerable importance in the Foreign Office. He +received me very kindly, bade me be seated, and then said: + +"Well, Swinburne, here you are at last. From Ronald's letter I rather +gathered that I might see you some time yesterday. And now, before we +go any farther, let me say how exceedingly sorry Lady Gordon and I are +to hear of your misfortune--for a misfortune it is, and not a fault, +Ronald assures me. Now,"--looking at his watch--"I can spare you just a +quarter of an hour; so go ahead and tell me as much of the matter as you +can in that time." + +Thereupon I proceeded to relate, in as few words as possible, the +particulars of the whole affair, not concealing the fact that my cousin +was the actual culprit--for I knew that my confidence would be +respected, and explaining my reasons for taking the onus upon myself +instead of allowing the real culprit to suffer. But a quarter of an +hour soon passes, when one is talking of oneself and one's own +misfortunes; and the announcement that a certain important personage had +called by appointment gave me the signal that it was time for me to go, +though as I rose to take my leave I had the satisfaction of knowing that +I had succeeded in convincing my friend of my innocence, for as we shook +hands, Sir Robert said: + +"We must talk this matter over again at our leisure, Swinburne, possibly +this evening. Now, before you go, let me say that my wife and I expect +you to take up your quarters with us until your future is definitely +arranged. No, we will take no refusal; you are Ronald's chum, and we +should not think of allowing you to stay at an hotel while there is a +spare room for you at Maycroft. So off you go; get your luggage at once +and make the best of your way to Norwood, where Lady Gordon will expect +you to arrive in time for luncheon at one o'clock. I shall 'phone to +her that you are coming." + +What could one do but gratefully accept an invitation proffered in such +friendly terms? It would have been boorish to refuse. I therefore +returned to my modest hotel, paid my bill, and made the best of my way +to Maycroft, where I was received with such kindness and cordiality as I +have no words to describe. + +Lady Gordon was a fit mate for her distinguished husband; smart, clever, +accomplished, of attractive appearance, and so irresistibly fascinating +a manner that within two minutes she succeeded in not only making me +feel absolutely welcome and at home in her house, but also in some +subtle fashion imbued me with the conviction that, serious as my +misfortune undoubtedly was, it was by no means irretrievable. We could +not talk confidentially at luncheon, the servants being present, but +afterward, the weather being fine and the air warm for the time of +year--it was the first day of December 1903--we adjourned to the garden, +and there I told my tale all over again, this time in full detail, and +received all the sympathy that my aching heart craved for. + +Sir Robert reached home that night only just in time to dress for +dinner, so there was therefore neither time nor opportunity for the +discussion of my affairs until the meal was over and we had adjourned to +the drawing-room. Then, while we were sipping our coffee, my host +turned to me and said: + +"I have been thinking a good deal about you, to-day, between whiles, +Swinburne; and at last I think I have discovered a way to help you. By +a lucky chance it happens that Viscount Hayashi--the Japanese Minister +to Great Britain, you know--with whom I have been brought into very +close touch of late, is dining here, _en famille_, to-morrow night, in +order to have the opportunity to discuss certain rather delicate matters +in private with me; and when we have finished talking business +together--which will probably not occupy us more than an hour--I will +put your case to him, giving him all the details of it--for we must be +perfectly honest with him, you know--and ask him whether, under the +circumstances, there is any likelihood of your being able to obtain +employment in the Japanese Navy. Things are looking very black in the +Far East just now; war between Russia and Japan is practically +inevitable; and although the Japanese have long been preparing for it, +and seem confident of success, I should imagine that they would be only +too glad of the opportunity to secure the services of a smart and +specially qualified young officer like yourself." + +Much more was said upon the same subject which it is unnecessary to +repeat here, and I also completed the story which I had begun in Sir +Robert's office that morning, with the result that I was able to make my +innocence as clear to him as I had already done to his wife. Sir Robert +expressed the opinion that my action in taking the blame upon myself had +been somewhat quixotic; but when I explained my reasons in full for +doing so, he admitted that it seemed to be the only thing possible, and +was good enough to say that it reflected the greatest credit upon me. + +On the following night the Viscount and Sir Robert arrived at Maycroft +together in the latter's limousine; and after introducing his wife and +myself our host excused himself and hurried away to dress, leaving Lady +Gordon and me to entertain our distinguished guest. + +The conversation before and during dinner was exceedingly lively and +interesting, the Ambassador telling us many remarkable things about +Japan. Then the talk veered round toward naval matters, and my kind +hostess afforded me the opportunity to parade my special knowledge by +asking me to explain the difference between armoured and protected +cruisers, one question leading to another, until at length His +Excellency, who had been listening most courteously and attentively, +said: + +"Am I mistaken, sir, in supposing that you are an officer in the +honourable Navy of Great Britain?" + +That was the opportunity for which Lady Gordon had been waiting, and she +at once replied: + +"Mr Swinburne was, until a few days ago, senior midshipman on the same +ship as my son--the battleship _Terrible_. But a very exalted sense of +gratitude on his part has resulted in a grave miscarriage of justice +whereby, through accepting the blame for another's fault, he has been +dismissed from the Service, to his great grief, for he was passionately +devoted to his profession." + +The Viscount rather raised his eyebrows at this, and regarded me keenly, +as though seeking to read my character from my face. + +"Really?" he said. "That is indeed a terrible misfortune, which I +should scarcely have thought could possibly happen in such a Service as +yours, where, I have always understood, such matters are inquired into +with the most scrupulous fairness." + +"So they are, Your Excellency," I replied. "But my expulsion was not in +any sense due to remissness on the part of the officers who tried me. +It was due to the fact that, for the reason named by Lady Gordon, I +deliberately refrained from producing evidence which would have resulted +in my own acquittal and the conviction of the actual culprit; and thus +the members of the court martial were, in the course of their duty, +compelled to find me guilty and to pass upon me sentence of dismissal." + +"I see. Yes, I think I understand," observed the Viscount. "The +feeling of gratitude which could induce you to take the extreme step of +ruining your entire career must have been wonderfully strong. I find +the incident remarkably interesting, Mr--er--Swinburne, so much so, +indeed, that when my friend Gordon and I have concluded the business +talk which has brought me down here to-night I should very much like to +hear all the particulars of your story, if you will do me the favour to +confide them to me." + +I replied that I would do so with great pleasure; and then, the meal +being at an end, our hostess rose from the table and retired to the +drawing-room, while Sir Robert, apologising for leaving me alone, +carried off the Ambassador to the study, where he had ordered coffee to +be served. + +Naturally, I did not linger at the table after the others had gone, but +followed my hostess to the drawing-room, where I at once proceeded to +thank her for the kindly tact with which she had made my case known to +so influential a personage as Viscount Hayashi. On her part, she was +just as pleased as I was that so exceptionally favourable an opportunity +to restore my wrecked fortunes had presented itself, and for some time +we sat talking the matter over. Then Lady Gordon insisted upon my +singing to her while she played my accompaniments; and in this manner +the time passed rapidly, and before we dared expect them her husband and +the Viscount reappeared. But even then we did not stop at once, His +Excellency being polite enough to beg us to continue. At length, +however, our guest rose and, beckoning me to his side, said: + +"Before I go, Mr Swinburne, let me say that Sir Robert Gordon has +confided to me the full particulars of your remarkable story. And, +having heard it, I should like you to know that, not only am I fully +convinced of your entire innocence of the foul charge preferred against +you, but also that I, as a native of a country in which filial affection +is held in the highest honour and esteem, am full of admiration for your +conduct. I am proud to have the honour of knowing a young man +possessing the courage to act as you have done; and I have no hesitation +in expressing the opinion that, in dispensing with your services, your +country has lost a most promising and valuable servant. But if Great +Britain is unable to appreciate your value, there are other countries +which can, and Japan is one of them. You are doubtless aware that war +between Russia and Japan is inevitable; it is merely a question of +weeks, perhaps only of days; the Japanese naval service will afford many +opportunities for an officer, qualified as I understand you are, to +distinguish himself, and rapidly advance his fortunes. If you would +care to enter that service I believe the affair might be easily managed, +backed up as you are by the recommendation of a gentleman of Sir Robert +Gordon's position. Think the matter over, will you? And when you have +decided, call upon me at this address, and let me know." And he handed +me his card. + +On the spur of the moment I was very much inclined to close with His +Excellency's offer there and then; but even as the words of acceptance +leapt to my lips I bethought myself that it would only be courteous to +wait and hear what my kind host and hostess had to say upon the matter +before taking the irrevocable step. I therefore expressed my hearty +thanks for the offer, and promised to give it my best and most careful +consideration. + +When the Viscount had gone, Sir Robert, his wife, and I formed ourselves +into a little committee to discuss His Excellency's proposal. Of course +there was never a moment's doubt as to the wisdom of accepting the +offer, but Sir Robert expressed his satisfaction at my self-control. He +and his wife were quite of one mind that there was nothing to be gained +by my appearing to be too eager, and they strongly advised me to allow +at least one whole day to pass before presenting myself at the +Ambassador's residence; they also advised me not to accept any rank +below that of a full lieutenant, which was quite in accordance with my +own views. + +Accordingly, on the day but one following that of His Excellency's visit +to Maycroft, I journeyed up to town with Sir Robert and, upon parting +from him at the Foreign Office, made the best of my way to Viscount +Hayashi's residence. + +His Excellency was at home, and I was at once received. He was polite +enough to express extreme satisfaction when I informed him that I had +definitely decided to accept his offer, provided that the conditions +could be satisfactorily arranged; and within half an hour we had come to +terms, the arrangement being that I was to enter the Japanese naval +service with the rank of a full lieutenant, my commission to bear date +of my landing in Japan; that a passage was to be provided for me; and +that I was to hold myself in readiness to depart at twenty-four hours' +notice. A letter to this effect was given me to hand to a certain +subordinate official whose business it was to arrange all such details; +and I then made my exit, the recipient of many good wishes on His +Excellency's part for my success. + +My next visit was to a Mr Yuri Kuroda, the subordinate official above +mentioned, who, having read the letter of which I was the bearer, +immediately became very polite, requested to be favoured with my +honourable name and address, which he at once entered in a big book, and +then proceeded to discuss the question of my passage out to Japan. It +transpired that his Government was negotiating with the Argentine +Republic for the purchase of two powerful armoured cruisers, built for +the Government of the latter country at Genoa; and Mr Kuroda suggested +that if the negotiations resulted successfully, it might suit me to go +out in one of them as an officer, the date of my commission to be +advanced accordingly. I asked for some particulars of the ships; and +upon learning that they measured 7700 tons, that they were entirely +sheathed amidships in 6 inches of Krupp steel, and that they were armed +with four 8-inch guns in their turrets, with a central battery +consisting of fourteen 6-inch guns, I quickly replied that there was +nothing I should like better. And so it was arranged, Kuroda +undertaking to inform me in good time when my services would be likely +to be required. + +Two days later, however, I received a telegram from Kuroda, requesting +me to call upon him at the earliest possible moment. It came while we +were sitting down to dinner, and Lady Gordon expressed the opinion that +if I made my call on the following morning it would be early enough, and +Sir Robert was rather inclined to agree with her. But the receipt of +the telegram seemed to suggest that something unexpected had happened, +and I therefore determined to obey the summons that night. I +accordingly scribbled a reply saying that I would present myself at nine +o'clock; and within ten minutes of that hour I was once more in the +Ambassador's house. His Excellency was out; but Mr Kuroda was in and +waiting for me; and he expressed his gratification at my prompt response +to his summons. He then proceeded to inform me that certain news had +arrived--he did not state the nature of it--which rendered it highly +desirable that I should expedite my departure for Japan, instead of +awaiting the issue of the negotiations for the purchase of the Argentine +cruisers, and inquired when I could be ready to start. My reply that I +could start on the morrow, if necessary, pleased him greatly, but he +intimated that the earliest date upon which it would be possible to +dispatch me would be the 8th of the month--it was then the 5th--and +requested me to make my arrangements accordingly, and to call upon him +again on the morning of the 7th, when he would give me my final +instructions and hand me my credentials, with railway and steamer +tickets, etcetera. + +The Gordons received the news of my impending departure with mixed +feelings. They were delighted that, through their help and influence, I +had been able to so quickly find another opening for my energies, but +were exceedingly sorry that I was to leave them so soon, as they had +confidently reckoned upon my spending the Christmas holidays with them +and Ronald. However, Sir Robert took me up to town with him, in his +car, on the morning of the 7th, and Lady Gordon accompanied us, saying +that she had some shopping to do. I left them at the entrance to Sir +Robert's office, and in due time found myself once more in Mr Kuroda's +presence. + +It was easy to see that the little man was so busy that he scarcely knew +which way to turn, but he was as smiling and polite as ever, and had +everything ready for me, neatly enclosed in a stout official envelope, +the contents of which he turned out for my inspection. There was my +railway ticket from London to Dover, my steamer ticket from Dover to +Calais, my railway ticket from Calais to Marseilles, _via_ Paris, my +steamer ticket from Marseilles to Yokohama, and my credentials, which +were to be presented to a certain official in Tokio, who would hand me +my commission and give me my final instructions. Everything was cut and +dried, even to a travelling schedule giving me the train and steamer +times of departure and arrival; therefore, having looked them through +and satisfied myself that nothing had been omitted, I returned the +several documents to the envelope, thrust the latter into my pocket, and +bade Mr Kuroda farewell. He replied with hearty good wishes for my +welfare and success, expressed his deep regret that he was not going +with me instead of remaining in London, shook my hand with great fervour +and friendliness, and, as he bowed me out, touched the bell which was +the signal for another visitor to be ushered in. + +When Sir Robert came home that night, he brought with him two parcels +wrapped in stout brown paper, one of them being rather long and slim; +but I thought nothing of it, as I knew that it was a custom, when things +were urgently needed, to have them sent to his office, so that they +might be brought home at night in his car. After dinner, however, the +two parcels were produced, opened, and found to contain, the one a +handsome oak case containing a pair of heavy and very business-like Colt +automatic pistols, with all necessary tools, bottle of oil, and one +hundred cartridges; while the other was a beautiful naval sword and +sheath, the blade perfectly plain but of such exquisite temper that, by +exerting my full strength, I was able to bend it until the point met the +hilt. The pistols were a farewell gift to me from dear Lady Gordon, +while the sword was from Sir Robert. The gifts were accompanied by the +heartfelt good wishes of the donors for my welfare, happiness, and +safety in the strenuous times that seemed to be looming ahead, and the +hope that the weapons would prove useful to me in my new service. They +were, as will be seen from the account of my adventures, set forth in +the following pages. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE RUSSIAN DESTROYER. + +At a quarter to eleven o'clock on the morning of December 8, 1903, I +stepped out of a cab at Charing Cross railway station, and forthwith +proceeded to get my luggage properly labelled and checked through to +Marseilles. While I was doing this, I became aware of some one by my +side, and, looking up, saw a little man, the formation of whose features +and the colour of whose skin at once apprised me that he was a Japanese. +He was dressed in a neat travelling suit of tweed, and wore a bowler +hat and brown boots. He was reading my name, legibly painted on my sea +chest, and as I looked at him he turned to me and bowed. + +"You are Mr Paul Swinburne, bound for Japan?" he said, putting the +statement in the form of a question, and speaking in perfect English. + +"I am," I replied. "And you?" + +"I am Captain Murata Nakamura, of the Japanese army, in England on +Government business, and now returning to Japan in the _Matsuma Maru_, +the steamer in which I understand you are going out. Half an hour ago I +was with Mr Kuroda, whom you know, and he told me about you, and bade +me look out for you. I am pleased to make your honourable acquaintance, +Mr Swinburne, and shall be happy to place my humble services at your +honourable disposal." + +"Gad! that's very good of you," I said. "Very glad to know you, +Captain. Is your baggage ready? Then, let us try to secure a +compartment to ourselves and travel through together." + +"It will give me great pleasure to travel in your honourable company," +replied my new acquaintance. "And I have already secured a compartment +by, as you say, `squaring' the guard. There he is now. Let us go and-- +how do you say? Oh yes, I remember--`interview' him." + +We obtained a compartment to ourselves, and my new friend at once +started smoking cigarettes and chatting in the most animated manner upon +the prospects of war. He was in high spirits, and apparently had no +doubts at all as to the outcome of the fighting--if fighting there was +to be. And of this also he appeared to entertain no doubt, although +there were people who still believed that either Russia or Japan would +climb down and so avoid a fight. + +By the time that the train reached Dover we were "as thick as thieves," +for Nakamura's perfect frankness and his geniality of manner quickly +conquered my insular aloofness toward the foreigner; and upon boarding +the Channel steamer we at once went below and were busy with our +luncheon almost before the boat had cast off from the pier. + +At Calais, Nakamura, who seemed to speak every language under the sun, +took charge of my baggage as well as his own, and by some mysterious +process, probably not altogether unconnected with "backsheesh," managed +to clear the whole through the Customs in about five minutes. Then he +again "squared" the guard and secured our privacy as far as Paris, where +we arrived about five o'clock in the evening. There was a train leaving +for Marseilles at half-past seven, so we took a cab, drove across the +city, and dined at the railway station in comfort before beginning the +long night journey. Then, once more securing a compartment to +ourselves, we settled down for our twelve hours' run to the shore of the +Mediterranean. + +I was very much amused at the naivete of some of my companion's remarks. +He asked the most intimate questions in the coolest possible manner, +and if I had not already resolved to be absolutely frank with my new +comrades in arms I should have been somewhat embarrassed to find replies +for some of them. He was greatly surprised to learn that I was not yet +eighteen years of age, and was still growing, for although he appeared +to be not more than twenty-five, he informed me that he was actually +thirty-three, and I was a head taller than he, the fact being that I had +a natural tendency toward bulkiness which my passion for athletics had +further encouraged. He jocularly remarked that he hoped the authorities +would have sense enough to appoint me to a battleship, for he was sure +that in no other quarters would I find room to stand upright. + +We reached Marseilles without adventure at eight o'clock on the +following morning, and, after breakfasting at the railway station, +chartered a cab and drove down to the Joliet, where we found our ship, +the _Matsuma Maru_, lying alongside a wharf piled yards high with +crates, bales, and cases of all sorts and sizes waiting to be stowed in +the ship's holds. The skipper was somewhere ashore, it appeared, but we +hunted up the chief officer and introduced ourselves, upon which we +learned that every effort was being made to have the ship ready for sea +by three o'clock that afternoon, but that it would be impossible for her +to get away a minute earlier than that; we therefore found the chief +steward, got him to show us our cabins, and had our baggage carried +aboard. Then we went ashore again and, Nakamura happening to learn that +the place boasted a zoological garden, nothing would satisfy him but we +must needs go there, which we did, afterwards finding our way to the +handsome Museum. Then down into the town again to lunch, finally +returning to the ship at a quarter to three. I had been accustomed to +seeing work smartly done in our own navy, but I was amazed to see what a +few hours of strenuous labour had effected upon that wharf. It was +practically cleared, and even as we stood and watched, the last cases +were slung aboard, and the first bell, warning visitors that the ship +was about to start, was rung, whereupon we trotted aboard and took up a +position on the poop, where some fifty or sixty other passengers, all +men, with about half a dozen exceptions, were already congregated. +Nakamura looked eagerly about him and quickly spotted at least a dozen +acquaintances and fellow-countrymen, to all of whom he insisted upon +introducing me; and his mention of the fact that I was _going_ out for +the express purpose of fighting for Japan at once ensured me a most +friendly welcome among them. While this was going on, the ship was +unmoored, and a few minutes later we were outside the harbour and +shaping a course that took us at no great distance past the islet which +Hugo has immortalised in his _Count of Monte Christo_. + +Once clear of the harbour, the skipper rang for full speed; and the +_Matsuma Maru_, a white-hulled, steel-built ship of some four thousand +tons, rigged as a topsail schooner, soon showed that she was the +possessor of a nimble pair of heels. She was loaded well down, yet an +hour after the patent log had been put overboard it recorded a run of +seventeen knots. The weather was gloriously fine and the sea +glass-smooth, so that one had not much opportunity of judging her +quality as a sea boat, but when I went forward and, duly paying my +footing, looked over the bows and noted their outward flare as the sides +rose from the water, I had not much difficulty in deciding that she +would prove very comfortable and easy in a seaway. + +Upon going below to dinner that night, a glance round the saloon tables +showed that at least seventy-five per cent, of the passengers were +Japanese, while, of the remainder, half, perhaps, were English, the rest +being composed, in pretty nearly equal proportions, of French, Germans, +and, somewhat to my surprise, Russians. These last, however, it +eventually transpired, had booked only as far as Hong Kong, from whence +it was probable that they intended to proceed to Port Arthur, although +they said nothing to that effect. + +We passed through the Straits of Bonifacio and Messina, and in due +course arrived at Port Said without incident, except that, thanks to +Nakamura, I soon became upon friendly and even intimate terms with all +the Japanese passengers in the saloon, as well as the ship's officers. +There was one old gentleman in particular, rejoicing in the name of +Matsudaira Hashimoto, an ex-professor of languages at the Imperial +College of Tokio, who, happening to hear that I was anxious to utilise +the large amount of time occupied by the voyage in acquiring as much +knowledge as possible of the Japanese language, at once came forward +with an offer to gratuitously teach me, in order that, as he remarked, I +might be equipped with a working knowledge of the language upon my +arrival, and so be in a position to immediately render my services +valuable. The old gentleman, it appeared, had been remarkably +successful in his day as a teacher of languages, working upon a system +which he had himself invented; and, luckily for me, his system was so +excellent that, working with me for five hours daily, he actually +succeeded in redeeming his promise so thoroughly that when we at length +reached Yokohama I was able to manage quite fairly well without the +services of an interpreter. This by the way. + +It was a part of the skipper's plan to replenish his bunkers at Port +Said, an operation involving a detention of three hours. We therefore +all went ashore, and I posted a letter to my friends, the Gordons, +attaching to it a number of stamps of different denominations, for the +benefit of Ronald, who was an enthusiastic collector. We then roved +about the town, but, finding nothing to interest us, soon returned to +the ship, which we found enveloped in a cloud of coal dust which was +playing havoc with her fresh white paint, despite the canvas screens +spread to protect it. + +We got under way again shortly after three o'clock that afternoon, two +of our passengers--Russians who looked very much like military men in +mufti--cutting things so fine that they were actually compelled to +follow after us in a steam launch; and when at length they overtook us, +scrambled aboard, and went at once to the cabin which they shared, the +skipper, with whom Nakamura and I had become very chummy, caught our +eyes and signed to us both to come up to his cabin on the bridge, the +ship then being in charge of a canal pilot, with Sadakiyo, the chief +officer, standing beside him on the navigating bridge. + +Accordingly, we sauntered up in a nonchalant sort of way, as though +intent upon watching the progress of the ship through the canal, for +there had been something of furtiveness in the skipper's action which +seemed to hint that he did not wish his sign to be observed by others, +which led me at least to imagine that there might be something in the +wind. + +And so, apparently there was, for when we had entered the cabin, the +skipper softly closed the door and drew the curtains across the two +after ports, as though desirous of concealing the fact of our presence +in his cabin. Then, having produced whisky and soda and a box of +cigars, he seated himself on the sofa, facing us, and said in English: + +"You saw those two Russians come aboard, just now, after nearly losing +their passage?" + +And when we nodded affirmation he continued: + +"I am wondering whether the circumstance means trouble for us. And for +this reason. When I was ashore, about an hour ago, I had business that +took me into McIntosh's store. Now, McIntosh is a very good fellow, +whom I have known for some time. He is very friendly to us Japanese, +and `has his knife'--as you English term it--into the Russians. Well, +after chatting together for a little while, he took me into his inner +room and informed me that there is a steamer, flying the Russian naval +ensign, and a Russian destroyer lurking near the southern extremity of +the Red Sea, which seem disposed to give trouble to Japanese merchant +craft. It appears that only last week, one or the other of these-- +McIntosh is not sure which--stopped and boarded the _Mishima Maru_ and +insisted upon examining her papers and inspecting her passengers, for +what reason McIntosh could not say, as he had merely heard the bare +facts of the case. And about a quarter of an hour later, shortly after +I had left McIntosh's place, I saw those two Russians who nearly missed +us enter the telegraph office, and I began to smell mischief. Of course +it may only be imagination, but remembering what McIntosh had told me, I +wondered whether by any chance they were wiring to Dgiboutil the news of +our arrival, and warning their friends to be on the lookout for us." + +"But why wire to Dgiboutil?" I demanded. + +"Because," replied Kusumoto, "Dgiboutil belongs to the French, who are +strongly pro-Russian; and those craft must have a sort of headquarters +at which they may receive news and instructions, and where they can +replenish their bunkers and storerooms, and I know of no place so likely +for this as Dgiboutil." + +"I see," said I. "Yes, you are most probably right, so far. But why on +earth should those fellows interfere with Japanese ships? By what right +do they claim to do it? The two countries are not yet at war, whatever +may be the case within the next few months." + +"That is true," agreed the skipper. "But the mouth of the Red Sea is a +long way from Japan; we have no warships anywhere near there to protect +us; the Russians are by nature a very high-handed people, and not too +scrupulous when dealing with a prospective enemy; and perhaps they think +that before Japan could make an effective protest, we may be at war, and +have other things than pin-pricks to occupy our attention." + +"Very true," I assented. "That may be so. But I should like to know +upon what pretext they presume to molest and interfere with Japanese +ships. Such action is contrary to international law, and in fact is +closely akin to piracy, if indeed it is not piracy, pure and simple. +Now, suppose these fellows attempt to interfere with us, what do you +propose to do?" + +"Ah!" ejaculated Kusumoto, "that is an exceedingly difficult question to +answer. I do not want them to come aboard me, if it can be helped, +for--to let you into a secret--our cargo consists of munitions of war of +various kinds, and if the Russians should discover that fact, as they +must if they board us and force me to show my papers, they may be +unscrupulous enough to play some trick upon me, either jeopardising my +cargo, or possibly detaining me in some way until war is actually +declared, and then confiscating both ship and cargo. I must think the +matter over, and try to hit upon some plan of `besting' them, as you +English say. And perhaps you two gentlemen will also give it a thought. +I am only a mercantile shipmaster, and have had no experience in +matters of this sort to guide me, but you are both military men, and out +of your knowledge you may be able to suggest something helpful to me. +Of course nothing may happen; we may not fall in with the Russians at +all, which will be so much the better; but if we should encounter them, +and they should attempt to interfere with me, I want to be prepared." + +We continued to discuss the matter for some time longer; but it is not +necessary to repeat more of what was said, sufficient having been +already recorded to indicate the nature of the trouble that was possibly +waiting for us. + +The engines were only stopped long enough at Suez to enable us to land +the pilot and the big searchlight which we had shipped at Port Said to +help us through the canal; and, this done, we steamed on into the Gulf +of Suez and the Red Sea. + +Our passage down the Red Sea was quite uneventful until the Hanish +Islands hove in sight over the port bow--uneventful, that is to say, +with one exception only, but it was an exception which seemed to cause +our two Russian passengers much perturbation of spirit. For the chat +which Nakamura and I had had with the skipper, shortly after leaving +Port Said, had been succeeded by another on the following day, the +outcome of which was that Kusumoto, with the full approval of my friend +Nakamura and myself, had resolved to take the very serious step of +broaching cargo, with the result that, when the passengers came up on +deck, on the morning which found us off Shadwan Island, they were amazed +to discover two 1-pounder Hotchkisses mounted, one on the +forecastle-head and the other right aft over the taffrail, while a Maxim +graced either extremity of the navigating bridge. The circumstance, +with the reasons which seemed to make such a step necessary and +desirable, was recorded at length in the _Matsuma Maru_ official log, +signed by the skipper and countersigned, at his request, by Nakamura and +myself, as accessories, so to speak. + +It was about three o'clock in the afternoon when the Hanish Islands hove +up above the horizon, at which moment, as it happened, Nakamura and I +were in the captain's cabin, where indeed we had spent most of the time +of late, when we were not in our bunks. The Hanish Islands are, roughly +speaking, within about one hundred miles of the Strait of Bab el Mandeb; +and as we had not been interfered with thus far, we had practically made +up our minds that if the Russians intended to molest us at all, it would +be here, the back of the islands affording an excellent place of +concealment from which to dash out upon a passing ship. + +Nor were we disappointed in our expectations; for when we had brought +the northernmost island square abeam, a long, black, four-funnelled +destroyer suddenly slid out past its southern extremity, heading west, +so as to intercept us. And, looking at her through our glasses, we saw +that she was flying the International Code signal, "Heave-to. I wish to +speak you." + +"So! it's time for us to be making a move, Nakamura," said I. "You +quite understand the line you are to take with those fellows, skipper? +Good! Then, all that remains to be done is to get some ammunition on +deck, and we shall be ready. Will you give the necessary orders?" + +The skipper's response was to send for the chief officer, who, at least +nominally, was off duty for the time being; and five minutes later I was +on the forecastle-head, the Hotchkiss' tarpaulin jacket was off, a case +of ammunition for the weapon stood conveniently at hand, and "All ready +for'ard!" I reported. A minute or two later, Nakamura on the bridge +was also ready, with a belt of cartridges in each of his Maxims, and +more at hand, if required. Meanwhile, by the skipper's order, the +answering pennant had been run up to our span, and dipped to show that +the signal was understood, while the Japanese mercantile flag--white, +with a red ball in the centre, which is also the Japanese "Jack"--was +hoisted at our gaff-end. + +Ten minutes later we were within hail of the destroyer, which, flying +the Russian naval ensign, was lying motionless right athwart our hawse, +broadside-on to us. Our engines were still running at full speed, and +our safety valves were lifting, allowing a "feather" of steam to show at +the head of our waste-pipe, while our quartermaster grimly kept our stem +pointed fair and square between the second and third funnels of the +Russian. + +Then skipper Kusumoto raised his megaphone and hailed the destroyer, in +Russian, with: + +"Ho! the destroyer ahoy! Why are you lying athwart my hawse? Do you +wish me to run you down?" + +There were two officers on the destroyer's bridge, one of whom sprang to +the engine-room telegraph and thrust it over to "Full speed ahead," +while the other seized a megaphone and hailed back: + +"Stop your engines instantly, sir! Did you not understand my signal +that I wished to speak you? Starboard your helm, you confounded fool; +hard a-starboard, or you'll be over us." + +"Then get out of my way," retorted Kusumoto. "Starboard a little," (to +the quartermaster), "and just shave his stern. I'll teach him to lay +his tin kettle athwart a Japanese ship's bows." + +The destroyer leaped from under our bows like a frightened thing, though +not so quickly but that we caught her quarter with the rounding of our +bows and gave her a pretty severe shaking up. Her skipper shook his +fist at us and stamped on the bridge with fury. Then he raised his +megaphone again and hailed: + +"You infernal scoundrel, I'll make you suffer for that outrage! +Heave-to at once, or I'll fire into you." + +The boat was sweeping round on a starboard helm, and was now running +practically parallel to us, at a distance of about a hundred feet. + +"You will fire into me, if I don't stop, you say? Is Russia at war with +my country, then?" hailed Kusumoto. + +There was silence for a minute or two aboard the destroyer, during which +the two officers on her bridge consulted eagerly together. We could see +that her engine-room telegraph stood at "Full speed," yet, strange to +say, she was only just holding her own with us. Then the commander of +her again raised his megaphone. + +"My instructions are that I am to examine the papers of all foreign +vessels passing down the Red Sea," he shouted; "and I must insist that +you heave-to and let me board you." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," retorted our skipper. "I do not admit +your right to board me, so try it if you dare. I believe you are +nothing less than a pirate masquerading as a Russian ship of war; and I +shall treat you accordingly if you do not sheer off." + +This defiance was more than enough for the proud and choleric Russian, +accustomed to have his every order servilely obeyed. Such unparalleled +insolence from a "little yellow-skinned monkey"--as the Russians had +already begun to dub the Japanese--and in the presence of his own crew, +too! It was unendurable, and must be severely punished. He called an +order, and the Russian seamen, who had been standing about the deck, +listening half-amused and half-indignant, to the altercation, made a +move in the direction of the destroyer's 4-pounder and her port torpedo +deck tube. But our skipper had been expecting and keenly on the watch +for such a move, and he now hailed again: + +"Destroyer ahoy! Keep away from the tube and the gun, you men! If I +see a man attempt to approach either, I will sweep your decks with Maxim +fire. Do you hear what I say?"--as half a dozen men continued to slouch +toward the tube. "Open fire, there, the starboard Maxim!" + +Nakamura was at the gun mentioned, which he was keeping steadily trained +upon the tube. At the word, he fired a single shot, and the bullet +spattered into a star as it struck the mounting. The Russians halted as +if turned to stone, and glanced anxiously at their commander. Kusumoto +raised his megaphone and hailed: + +"Is that enough, or will you have more? Now, sheer off at once, if you +please. If you don't, I shall fire again; and my next shots--with my +Hotchkiss guns--will be at your waterline and your boilers." + +The Russian commander was by this time literally foaming at the mouth; +he seemed speechless and beside himself with rage, and there is no +knowing what the outcome might have been, had not his second in command +here intervened, and, forcibly seizing him by the arms, shook him +violently as he said something which we were too far off to hear. +Meanwhile, ever since the firing of the shot, the helmsman of the +destroyer had been quietly edging away from us; and presently, at a +sign, apparently, from the junior officer, he put his helm hard over to +port, and the venomous-looking craft swung sharply upon her heel, +listing heavily as she did so, and a few seconds later was speeding away +in the opposite direction to ourselves. But even now we had not quite +done with her, for almost immediately she swung round to cross our +stern, and a moment later we saw the silvery flash of a torpedo as it +left her tube. Kusumoto, however, was not to be caught unawares; +apparently he more than half suspected something of the kind, and was on +the watch. For an instant he watched the bubbles which marked the +course of the missile, and then shouted an order to our helmsman; the +_Matsuma Maru_ swerved from her course, and the torpedo sped harmlessly +past us, a hundred yards to port. I, too, had quite expected that the +fiery Russian would not allow us to go scot-free if he could help it, +therefore the moment that the destroyer swerved away from us I sprang +off the forecastle and ran aft to the other Hotchkiss, which I reached +too late to prevent the discharge of the torpedo. But I saw men +clustering about her 4-pounder, as though about to bring it into action, +and as I was more afraid of this gun than of the torpedoes, I +unhesitatingly opened fire upon it, and at the fifth shot had the +pleasure of dismounting it. This was enough for the Russians; they +realised at last that they had caught a Tartar, and bore away for their +lurking-place behind the Hanish Islands, where we eventually lost sight +of them. + +As soon as the destroyer had disappeared, Kusumoto retired to his cabin +and wrote a lengthy account of the affair in his official log-book, +getting Nakamura and me to sign it, as before, in testimony of its +veracity. This he did in order to justify himself for broaching cargo +and temporarily mounting the Hotchkiss and Maxim guns; and it may be +said here that not only was his justification accepted, but his conduct +was highly commended by the authorities. + +About four bells in the first watch that night, we passed through the +strait, and shifted our helm for Cape Guardafui, not calling at Aden, +since we had coal enough to carry us on to Colombo; and we saw nothing +more of the Russians until after our arrival in Japan on 22nd January +1904. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +WAR! + +On the morning of the day which witnessed my arrival in the Land of the +Rising Sun, the berth-room steward who brought me my early cup of coffee +informed me, with a broad grin of satisfaction, that we were in Sagami +Bay; that it was a beautiful morning, but very cold; and that he would +advise me to turn out at once if I desired to obtain the best possible +view of Fujiyama, or Fujisan, as the Japanese love to call it. I took +his advice, bathed and dressed with seamanlike celerity, and, donning a +thick, warm ulster, made my way to the navigating bridge, catching my +first glimpses of Japan--Shimoda, on the port, and the island of Oshima +on the starboard quarter, as I went. And when I reached the bridge and +took my stand beside Sadakiyo, the chief officer, I mentally returned +thanks to that steward for his advice, and was glad that I had acted +upon it, for the sight which met my gaze was beautiful beyond all power +of description, and such as I shall never forget. + +The air was clear as crystal, there was no wind, and the water was +mirror-smooth, its surface dotted with fishing-boats, the unpainted +hulls and white sails of which floated double, with nothing to show the +junction of substance with reflection. Reflected, too, were the +serrated ridges of Awa's and Kasusa's mountain-peaks and their ravines, +dark and mysterious, with little villages of grey huts surmounted by +high-pitched roofs of thatch clustering here and there along the beach +to starboard, while, to port, dominating all else, towered high in air +the majestic, snow-crowned peak of Fujisan, its summit blushing a +delicate rosy pink in the first light of dawn. And, as I gazed, that +beautiful rosy tint suddenly changed to gold as it caught the first rays +of the rising sun, invisible to us, as yet, behind the high land to +starboard, and as speedy as thought the light flashed down the +mountain-side, revealing its matchless perfection of form, and bathing +it in the glory of a hundred varied and beautiful tints. + +Moving forward at reduced speed, to avoid the destruction of a few of +the fishing-boats or junks that were ever becoming more numerous as the +land closed in upon us on either side, we at length sighted and passed a +lightship with, somewhat to my surprise, the words "Treaty Point" +painted in large letters upon her red sides. If I had thought upon the +matter at all, I should naturally have expected to see the name of the +ship set forth in, to me, unintelligible hieroglyphics, but instead, +there it was in plain homely English, and I comforted myself with the +reflection that if the Japanese used British characters and words to +distinguish their lightships, my as yet very imperfect knowledge of +their tongue was not going to handicap me as heavily as I had feared. + +In due time we arrived in the roadstead of Yokohama--not so very long +ago a small fishing village, but now an important city--and made fast to +our buoy. Instantly the ship was surrounded by sampans, and the +occupants, not a few of whom were Chinese, swarmed aboard, eager to find +buyers for the fruit, _sake_, and other articles which they had for +sale. The jabber of tongues was incessant and deafening, and the +importunities of the salesmen a trifle annoying; but Nakamura quickly +sent them to the right-about, and inviting me to go up on the bridge +with him--we were staying aboard to lunch with the skipper--we amused +ourselves by watching the debarkation of the other passengers, my +companion, between whiles, pointing out the various objects of interest +visible from our standpoint. + +I must confess that I was not very greatly impressed by Yokohama, as +viewed from the roadstead. The most prominent object was the "Bund," or +water-front, which is a wide wharf or esplanade, backed by gardens, +hotels, and well-built dwelling-houses. Then there is the "Bluff," +covered with fine villas and dwelling-houses, large and small, and of +pleasing varieties of architecture; and, finally, there are the +"Settlement" and the native town, about which I need say nothing. + +After luncheon, by which time all the passengers but ourselves had gone +ashore, we engaged a sampan, bade Kusumoto and the ship's officers +farewell, and landed in the English "hatoba," which is a sort of +floating basin, the shore end of which consists of landing-steps +alongside which a whole fleet of boats can be accommodated at once. A +word from Nakamura caused our baggage to be at once passed through the +Customs with only the merest pretence at examination, and then, engaging +rickshas, or "kurumas," as the Japanese call them, we wended our way to +the railway station, and took train for Tokio. + +The journey of eighteen miles was performed in an hour, in an +exceedingly comfortable first-class carriage, upholstered in red +morocco; and I noticed that the guard and engine-driver of the train +were Englishmen--another good sign for me, I thought. Although the +speed of the train was nothing to boast of, I found the journey +interesting, for the scenery, with its little grey villages of thatched, +wooden houses, and the temples with their quaintly shaped roofs on the +one hand, and the sea on the other, with its islands, wooded gardens, +and hundreds of fishing-boats, with Fujisan always dominating everything +else, were all novelties to me. + +The railway does not run right into the city of Tokio, but has its +terminus at the village of Shimbashi, on the outskirts; here, therefore, +we left the train and, engaging kurumas for ourselves and our baggage, +drove to the Imperial Hotel, where Nakamura advised me to take up my +quarters _pro tem_, and where he also intended to stay, that night. It +was then six o'clock in the evening, and too late to transact our +business, so, after a wash and brush-up, we sallied forth to see +something of the city. + +On the following morning, at ten o'clock, I presented myself before +Vice-Admiral Baron Yamamoto, the Minister of the Navy, and handed him my +credentials. He received me with great politeness, read a private +letter from Viscount Hayashi, of which I was the bearer, asked me a good +many questions as to the length and nature of my service in the British +Navy, and my experiences therein, and finally handed me my commission as +Lieutenant, together with a letter to Admiral Togo, which I was to +deliver to him at Sasebo, without delay. + +Now, Sasebo is situated on the north-western extremity of the island of +Kiushiu, and is nearer seven than six hundred miles from Tokio; +moreover, I found that during my voyage out to Japan, events had been +progressing by leaps and bounds--so far at least as Japan was concerned. +In diplomatic circles war with Russia was regarded as not only +inevitable but imminent, and preparations for the struggle were being +breathlessly pushed forward day and night. Of the evacuation of +Manchuria by Russia, which should have been _completed_ on the 8th of +the preceding October, there was still no sign; on the contrary, +everything pointed to a determination on the part of Russia to make her +occupation permanent. Actions, it is said, speak louder than words, and +while the diplomats on both sides were still engaged in an apparent +endeavour to settle matters amicably, the action of those on the Russian +side was characterised by systematic procrastination and delay which +admitted of but one interpretation, namely, that Russia had no intention +to quit Manchuria until she was compelled to do so by force. + +This being the state of affairs, I interpreted Baron Yamamoto's order +literally, leaving Tokio by the first available train. This took me +back to Yokohama, where I only quitted it because I found I could +proceed no farther until nine o'clock that night. At that hour, then, I +made a fresh start and, not to dwell unduly upon this part of my story, +reached Sasebo late in the evening of 26th January, having been delayed +upon the road owing to the congestion of traffic caused by the war +preparations. + +Sasebo was a very hive of activity, to such an extent indeed that I had +the greatest difficulty in finding quarters. All the hotels were packed +to their utmost limit, and indeed I do not know how I should eventually +have fared had I not luckily encountered an unmistakable Briton, whom I +halted, and to whom I confided my plight, asking if he could direct me +to some place where I could find accommodation for the night. He turned +out to be a Scotsman named Boyd, in business at Sasebo, and no sooner +had I made my situation plain to him than he took me by the arm in the +most friendly manner and exclaimed: + +"Come awa' hame wi' me, laddie. I'll pit ye up wi' the greatest of +pleasure, and the gude-wife 'll be gey an' pleased to meet a body fresh +frae the auld country." + +It was easy to see that the fine fellow was absolutely sincere in his +invitation; I therefore gladly accepted it, and, half an hour later, +found myself comfortably housed in the bosom of a typically hospitable +Scottish family, whom I found most delightfully genial, and from whom I +subsequently received much kindness. + +By my friend Boyd's advice I sallied forth early the next morning in +search of Admiral Togo, who was of course up to his eyes in business, +and who would be difficult to find unless I could catch him before he +left his hotel. I was fortunate enough to arrive while he was still at +breakfast, and, having sent in my card, was at once admitted. + +I found him still seated at the table, in company with several other +officers, all of them dressed in a naval uniform almost identical in cut +and appearance with our own. Like every other Japanese I ever met, he +received me with the utmost politeness, and, having read Baron +Yamamoto's letter of introduction, again shook hands with me most +heartily, expressed the pleasure it afforded him to welcome another +Englishman into Japan's naval service, and forthwith proceeded to +introduce me to the other officers present, one of whom, I remember, was +Captain Ijichi, of the _Mikasa_, Togo's flagship. They all spoke +English, more or less, Togo perfectly, for he had served as a boy aboard +the British training ship _Worcester_, and later in our own navy. Also +he had taken a course of study at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. +He was a typical Japanese, short and thick-set, with black eyes that +seemed to pierce one through and through and read one's innermost +thoughts. His hair, beard, and moustache were black, lightly touched +here and there with grey, and though it is a little difficult to +correctly estimate the age of a Japanese, I set him down at about fifty, +which I subsequently learned was not far out. + +Like Baron Yamamoto, the Admiral asked me quite a number of questions; +and at length, when he found that I had qualified for gunnery, torpedo, +and navigating duties, and had seen service in a destroyer, he said: + +"You seem to have an exceptionally good record for a young man of your +years, Mr Swinburne; so good, indeed, that I feel disposed to avail +myself to the utmost possible extent of your services. I foresee that +in the coming war the destroyer is destined to play a most important +part, and while I anticipate that the service which that class of craft +will be called upon to perform will be of the most arduous description, +and of course exceedingly dangerous, it will also afford its officers +exceptional opportunities to distinguish themselves. Now, it happens +that I have one destroyer--the _Kasanumi_, one of our best boats--for +which, thus far, I have been unable to find a suitable commander; your +arrival comes therefore at a most opportune moment, for the perusal of +your record convinces me that you are the very man for whom I have been +looking. I rather flatter myself that I am a good judge of character, +and I believe that you will do as much credit to the ship as she will to +you. Now, what do you say? Will the command of a destroyer be +satisfactory to you?" + +"Indeed it will, sir," I replied, "and more than satisfactory. I have +not dared to hope for such a big slice of good fortune, and I know not +how to adequately express my thanks for the confidence you are reposing +in me." + +"Nay," answered Togo, "there is no need for thanks, at least in words. +You can best show your appreciation by deeds, for which I promise you +shall be afforded abundant opportunity. And now, if you are anything +like what I take you to be, you will be all anxiety to see your ship; is +it not so? Very well; you will find her in the small graving dock, +where she is being scraped and repainted. Go down and have a good look +at her, inside and out; and if you can offer any suggestions for +improvements on board, I will give them my best consideration. Do you +know your way to the docks? If not, I will find somebody to act as +guide for you." + +"I am very much obliged, sir," I replied, "but I should prefer to find +my own way, if you please. I have been studying Japanese during the +passage out, and I am anxious to make the most of every opportunity to +increase my knowledge of the language." + +"Good!" exclaimed Togo, in Japanese. "I believe you will do very well. +Do you understand that?" he added, in English. + +"Yes, sir," I replied, in Japanese; "and I am much obliged for your good +opinion." My speech was a bit halting and my pronunciation by no means +perfect, but it was evidently intelligible, for the whole party +applauded me and shouted words of encouragement, some of which I +understood, while others puzzled me. Then, as I turned to leave the +room, the Admiral said: + +"When you have had a good look at your ship, Mr Swinburne, come to me +aboard the _Mikasa_, where I shall be all the morning." + +I found the docks without difficulty, and in the smaller graving dock +lay the _Kasanumi_, my first command! Seen thus, out of water, she +looked a craft of quite important dimensions, as indeed she was, being +more than two hundred feet in length. She had four funnels, the space +between the second and third being only about half that between numbers +one and two, and three and four. She had beautiful lines, and looked as +though she ought to be an excellent sea boat. Her armament consisted of +one 12-pounder, mounted aft, and five 6-pounders, all quick-fire guns +capable of discharging ten shots per minute. She also mounted on the +after-deck two 18-inch torpedo tubes, firing Whiteheads of an effective +range of eight hundred yards at a speed of thirty knots, and carrying a +charge of one hundred and seventy-one pounds of gun-cotton--enough to +destroy a battleship, if it happened to hit the right spot. The dock +foreman, who happened to be an Englishman, told me that she was British +built--a Thorneycroft boat, he believed--and that, on trial, she had +steamed as much as thirty-three knots! Here was a craft which any +reasonable man might be proud to command, and I there and then +registered a vow that it should not be my fault if she did not make a +name for herself during the coming war. + +She was painted white, with a lead-colour bottom, and her four funnels +were white with black tops. But they were burning and scraping off all +her outside paint, from the sheer-strake downward, and I asked the +foreman what colour they were going to repaint her. He answered that +this had not yet been decided, whereupon I requested him to provide me +with three small pots of paint, white, black, and blue, and with these +three I compounded a smoky-grey tint of medium depth which I believed +would be practically invisible by day and quite invisible at night, and +this tint I applied to a small piece of board which I requested the +foreman to take care of for me. + +Then I went aboard and had a look at the _Kasanumi's_ interior +arrangements. The engine and boiler-rooms, the torpedo room, and +magazine naturally absorbed a large proportion of the interior space, +but the accommodation for officers and crew, though a trifle cramped, +was sufficient to ensure quite a reasonable amount of comfort. +Everything of course was done to economise space, and the fittings were +all quite plain, but the cabin which would be mine was a compact, cosy, +little cubbyhole, with a tiny stove to warm it in cold weather, and I +believed I could make myself very happy and comfortable in it, although +the beams were so low that I should never be able to stand upright. The +engines were superb pieces of machinery, as of course they had need to +be, to drive the boat at a speed of thirty-three knots, and the working +parts shone like burnished silver and gold, while the rest was painted +green. I spent two hours aboard, making a few notes referring to +suggestions which I proposed to make to the Admiral, and then started +off to find the _Mikasa_. + +This was not difficult, for the whole fleet--excepting one battleship +and two cruisers in dry dock--were lying off the dockyard, while the +_Mikasa_ was easily distinguishable, even to a stranger, from the fact +that she was flying the Admiral's flag. I noticed also that her +stem-head was decorated with a gilded conventional representation of the +open chrysanthemum, the Imperial crest. The Admiral was in his cabin, I +was informed, when I got aboard, but I was kept waiting nearly an hour +before I was admitted to his presence, for he was holding something very +much like a council of war with the officers of his fleet when I +arrived. But when at length--the council coming to an end--I was +ushered into the cabin, I could not avoid being surprised at the +wonderful courtesy and politeness which everybody exhibited to everybody +else, notwithstanding that they were all evidently so full of business +that they seemed scarcely to know which job to tackle first. As soon as +Togo caught sight of me he beckoned me forward and introduced me to as +many of those present as I had not already met, and, this done, he +handed me my appointment to the _Kasanumi_, and requested me to at once +take up my command. Then he asked me if I had any suggestions to make; +and upon my answering that I had, he opened a notebook which lay upon +the table, and jotted them down as I read them out to him, and promised +to give them early consideration. As I bowed myself out of the cabin he +called after me, advising me to see to the ordering of my uniforms at +once, as events were progressing rapidly, and there was no knowing how +soon it might be necessary for us all to go to sea. Stepping out on +deck, I encountered Captain Ijichi, the skipper of the ship, in earnest +converse with several of his officers, to whom he at once introduced me, +whereupon the First Lieutenant invited me to dine that night, aboard the +ship, as his guest, which invitation I naturally accepted. + +A week of feverish activity now ensued, by the end of which time every +dock in Sasebo was empty, and every ship in the harbour ready, down to +the last ropeyarn, bunkers and magazines full, and even the fires laid +under the boilers ready to light at a second's notice. War was by this +time an absolute certainty, and the only question was when would it +break out. The Japanese plan of campaign was ready cut and dried, and +Togo, resolved to be in a position to act upon the instant of the +receipt of his orders, had already dispatched the cruiser _Akashi_ to +sea, with instructions to ascertain the whereabouts of the Russian fleet +and, after securing this information, to rendezvous at Mokpo, a port +situate at the south-western extremity of the Korean peninsula. I had +said farewell to my very kind friends, the Boyds, some days before, and +had taken up my abode aboard the _Kasanumi_, which, with the _Asashio, +Shirakumo_, and _Akatsuki_, constituted the 1st Division of the +destroyer flotilla. Admiral Togo had approved my suggestion to paint +the entire exterior of the boat a medium smoky-grey tint, and the effect +had proved so satisfactory that the skippers of several other destroyers +had followed my example. + +At length dawned the eventful 6th of February 1904. A fresh +north-easter was blowing, the sky was heavy and louring, and a fierce +squall of snow and sleet was sweeping the harbour when a gun from the +_Mikasa_ caused all eyes to turn toward her, and the next moment there +fluttered from her yardarms the signals commanding the fleet to light +fires and prepare to weigh! So it had come then, that fateful moment +for which we had all been waiting with bated breath, for a full week; +and as the purport of the signals became known, a frenzied roar of +"Banzai Nippon!" went up from ships and shore, a roar that sent a shiver +of excitement thrilling through me, so deep, so intense, so indicative +of indomitable determination, of courage, and of intense patriotism was +it. Peal after peal of "Banzais" swept over the sullen, turbulent +waters of the harbour, to be taken up and repeated by the thousands who +thronged the wharves ashore, and who seemed to have sprung from nowhere +in an instant; and before the shouts died away thin curls of light brown +smoke were already rising from the funnels of the fleet and six fast +transport steamers which were lying a little nearer the shore. Half an +hour later, the blare of bands was heard ashore, one of the wharves was +hurriedly cleared of people, and presently soldiers were seen marching +down on to that wharf and aboard a whole fleet of lighters that were +lying alongside. It was indicative of the thoroughness with which the +Japanese authorities had thought out every minutest detail, that within +three hours, three thousand troops, horse, foot, and artillery, with all +their kit and camp equipment complete, were transferred from the shore +to the transports, and the latter had signalled that they were ready to +get under way. + +It was not, however, until shortly before two o'clock in the afternoon +that the signal was made for the fleet to weigh and proceed to sea, by +which time every ship was under a full head of steam; and then the +fleet, which up to then had lain quiescent, burst into strenuous but +orderly activity. Officers on the several bridges seized megaphones and +shouted orders through them; boatswain's whistles shrilled and +boatswain's lungs bellowed, "Clear lower deck! Hands up anchor, ahoy!" +the massive cables began to quiver and clank as they were hove in; the +flagship became a very rainbow of rapidly changing signal flags; +answering pennants appeared like magic and vanished again; hundreds of +sampans and craft of every description--anything and everything that +would float, apparently--loaded with men and women, all frantic with +patriotic excitement, put off from the shore and formed a sort of lane +for the fleet to steam through, the men yelling "Banzai!" until it +seemed as though their throats would crack, while the women--many of +whom were very pretty, while all looked charmingly demure--urged the +boatmen to pull in as close as possible to the ships, that they might +strew with artificial flowers the water through which we were about to +pass. The military bands aboard the transports were playing what I +supposed to be patriotic airs, from the applause which they evoked, +steam was roaring from the safety valves, fussy little tugs were rushing +hither and thither, and at the precise moment when the water under the +_Mikasa's_ counter broke into a sudden swirl and the ship began to move, +a transient gleam of wintry sunshine burst through the clouds and fell +full upon her! It was the finishing touch; everybody unquestioningly +accepted it as an omen of victory and triumph, and the thousands afloat +and ashore incontinently went mad with joy. And indeed there was every +excuse for so much enthusiasm, for we presented a truly imposing sight +as we swept out to sea, a fleet consisting of six battleships, six +armoured cruisers, four 23-knot light cruisers, six protected cruisers, +and eighteen destroyers, surrounding the six transports. The primary +object of the expedition was to escort the transports to Chemulpo, where +the troops were to be landed to effect the seizure of Seoul, the capital +of Korea; and, this accomplished, Togo was to find and defeat the +Russian fleet, which, so long as it existed and was free to roam the +seas, constituted a most formidable menace to Japan. + +Twelve knots was the steaming speed ordered for the fleet; and the +course was due west for the passage between the islands of Gotoshima and +Ukushima. As soon as we were clear of the harbour the destroyers, in +five divisions, were ordered to take up scouting duty, which we did by +arranging ourselves in a complete circle round the fleet, the boats +being about a mile apart, thus forming a circle of eighteen miles in +circumference. + +The weather was vile, for after that transient gleam of sunshine which +had marked the moment of our departure, the clouds had closed over us +again in a compact mass, and pelted us with sleet and snow so thickly +that it was only with the utmost difficulty we were able to see the next +boat ahead and astern; also it was so piercingly cold that even the long +lamb's-wool coat, with which I had taken the precaution to provide +myself, seemed utterly inadequate. Fortunately, excitement and the joy +of finding myself not only once more under a pennant but actually in +command, with a war before me in which I felt convinced I should have +ample opportunity to prove my mettle, helped to keep me warm. And there +was pride, too; pride in my ship and pride in my crew; for there was not +a better or faster little ship in the fleet than the _Kasanumi_, while +my crew, officers, and men alike, were splendid fellows, fine sturdy +men, with the courage of lions, the lithe, light-footed activity of +cats, and respectfully and promptly obedient to an extent which left +nothing to be desired. My "sub," a merry, light-hearted little fellow, +named Ito, although more than a year my senior, displayed not an atom of +jealousy, but carried out my every order with the same prompt, +unquestioning alacrity as the men; he was keen as mustard, and his +chief, indeed his only, recreation seemed to be the working out of +battle problems. + +For the first four hours of our voyage, while we were still well under +the lee of the land, the water was moderately smooth; but when, about +seven o'clock that evening, the negotiation of the passage between the +islands had been successfully accomplished, and we found ourselves +fairly out at sea, and shifted our helms to pass to the northward of +Quelpart Island, we soon found that we were in for a regular "dusting." +For we presently ran into a high, steep sea, which our shift of helm +brought almost square abeam, yet just enough on our starboard quarter to +set us all rolling and squirming most atrociously, particularly the +"mosquito" division. Our every roll, whether to port or starboard, sent +us gunwale under, so that it was only with the utmost difficulty we +managed to retain our footing, while more than half my complement, on +deck as well as below, suffered agonies of sea-sickness; yet they stuck +to their work like heroes. The spray swept us continually from end to +end, flying high over the tops of our low funnels, and freezing as it +fell, so that the watch on deck were kept busy chipping the ice off our +decks and shovelling it overboard; yet, wretchedly uncomfortable as was +the weather, the destroyers, running at less than half-speed, rode the +sea like gulls, and kept station with the utmost ease. + +Shortly after eight bells in the middle watch, the weather cleared and +the stars shone out with piercing brilliancy, enabling us to see the +whole of the big ships and the transports, although we were all steaming +with lights out, except for a solitary shrouded lantern carried by each +ship right aft, to enable her next astern to keep station. + +The night passed without incident, but shortly after sunrise, smoke was +sighted broad on our port bow, the ship from which it proceeded +evidently steering to the northward. We all seemed to see it at the +same instant, for in less than half a minute the signal reporting the +circumstance was flying aboard nearly every craft in the fleet. But the +lookouts aboard the _Mikasa_ were evidently as wide awake as any of us, +for our flags were scarcely aloft when the flagship signalled the +armoured cruiser _Asama_ to chase in the south-western board; and in +little more than an hour afterward she rejoined the fleet, accompanied +by the Russian steamer _Argun_, as a prize. We flattered ourselves that +the honour of capturing the first prize of the war had fallen to us; +but, later on, we learned, to our disgust, that when the _Argun_ was +taken into Sasebo, there were already three more prizes there to keep +her company. + +We arrived off Mokpo about ten o'clock that morning, when the _Akashi_ +came out to meet us and make her report. We of the rank and file, so to +speak, did not, of course, know at the time what was the nature of that +report, which was for the Admiral's ear alone; but, later on, it leaked +out that it was to the effect that the Russian fleet at Port Arthur had +begun to move on the last day of January, by warping and towing certain +of the ships out of harbour. This movement had continued on the first +and second days of February, by the end of which time the entire fleet +was anchored in the roadstead; and it seemed pretty evident that Admiral +Alexieff was preparing to vigorously carry the war into the enemy's +country, which was the great fear that had been haunting Togo from the +moment when he received his instructions to put to sea. His dread was +that the Russian fleet would forestall him by getting to sea first, +steam to the southward, and, getting into touch with one or more of the +craft which were certain to be watching the Japanese fleet, would lie +_perdu_ until that fleet had passed to the northward, and then fall upon +and ravage the unprotected Japanese coast. And, at first sight, this +seemed to be the Russian Admiral's intention, for, on the 4th of +February, the fleet, having coaled, weighed and steamed out to sea, +leaving only two battleships--the _Sevastopol_ and _Peresviet_--in the +harbour, where they had perversely stuck on the mud and refused to be +got afloat again, for the moment at least. The Russians, twenty-six +ships strong, inclusive of eleven destroyers, having cleared the +roadstead, steamed slowly to the eastward, and were, that same day, +sighted in the offing from Wei-hai-wei, apparently practising +evolutions. But on the following day they all returned to Port Arthur, +and anchored in the roadstead, under the guns of the batteries. The +pith of the _Akashi's_ report, therefore, was that there were two +Russian ships--the new cruiser _Variag_, and the gunboat _Korietz_--at +Chemulpo, four cruisers and an armed merchantman at Vladivostock, while +the remainder of the Russian fleet was at Port Arthur. + +Possessed of this knowledge, Togo issued orders to Rear-Admiral Uriu, in +the _Takachiho_, to take command of a squadron consisting of, in +addition to his own ship, the _Asatna_, _Chiyoda_, _Niitaka_, and +_Miyako_, with eight destroyers, and with them to convoy the transports +to Chemulpo, taking measures upon his arrival, to insure that the +Russian ships should not interfere with the landing of the troops. +Those were the only orders of which we were aware, but in the light of +what occurred after Uriu's arrival at Chemulpo, it is probable that the +Vice-Admiral was given a considerable amount of latitude with regard to +his further proceedings. + +It was about seven o'clock in the evening when the two fleets parted +company, the _Mikasa_ signalling: "I congratulate you in anticipation of +your success," to which the _Takachiho_ replied: "Thanks for your +kindness." Then the signal was given by wireless for the main fleet to +proceed on a north-westerly course, in an extended formation of line +abreast, with the destroyers scouting on both wings, and a great shout +of "Banzai Nippon!" went up, for everybody knew that north-west was the +road to Port Arthur, where Togo fervently hoped and prayed he might find +the Russian fleet still at anchor. + +For, if not, it would certainly mean that Alexieff had proved himself +the better strategist of the two, and had contrived in some subtle +manner to slip past us to the westward, when any one or two of three +terrible things might happen. He might realise Togo's original terrible +fear of an attack on the undefended coast of Japan; or he might make for +Chemulpo and destroy the Japanese squadron and transports upon their +arrival there; or he might pass through the Korean Strait northward to +Vladivostock and there unite his two forces, when he would be strong +enough to give no end of trouble, if not indeed to defeat us out of hand +and so decide the war at one fell stroke. It was exceedingly difficult +to know what to do for the best, and our gallant little Admiral felt to +the full the responsibility attaching to his momentous decision, as was +made manifest when, about two bells in the first watch, the order was +wirelessed to the fleet to alter the course twenty-two degrees to the +northward, evidently with the object of falling in with the Russians, +should they by any chance be making for Chemulpo. Our next order was to +clear for action. + +To further increase our difficulties and embarrassments, the weather had +again changed for the worse. The sun had set in a wrack of wild, +storm-riven cloud painted with the hues of fire and smoke, which, +louring threateningly, had overspread the sky with incredible rapidity, +completely obscuring the light of the stars; the wind, still icy cold, +had breezed up again savagely, kicking up a tremendous sea, the spray +from which quickly drenched us in the destroyers to the skin, despite +our "oilies," sou'-westers, and sea boots; yet the staunch little +vessels, though rolling and pitching in the most distracting manner, +rode like gulls the seas which, to us, seemed to be literally running +"mountains high." True, our speed was only about twelve knots; what the +_Kasanumi's_ behaviour would probably have been at double that speed, in +such a sea, I shuddered to think. But I was destined to _know_, in the +not-far-distant future. + +When Ito, my lieutenant, called me at midnight to relieve him, he +informed me that a wireless message had just been received from the +flagship, ordering a shift of helm for the Elliot group of islands, +distant some sixty miles from Port Arthur, and for the speed to be +increased to sixteen knots, which order he had acknowledged and +executed, as I discovered, the moment I tumbled out of my hammock; for +the boat was kicking up her heels more madly than ever, while every few +seconds there resounded a heavy thud on the deck overhead, and the craft +shivered from stem to stern as she drove her sharp nose into the heart +of a great comber, throwing the water in tons over herself. This was +the rough side of work aboard a destroyer, with a vengeance, and I spent +four miserable hours on the navigating bridge, drenched to the skin, and +pierced to the marrow by the bitter cold. All things come to an end, +however, sooner or later; and about two o'clock next day we steamed into +the sheltered waters of the Elliot Islands and came to an anchor. This +was the spot which the Admiral had selected to serve as a rendezvous and +lurking-place from which he could sally forth with a good chance of +cutting off the Port Arthur fleet, should it venture to stray far from +the shelter of the fortress; and subsequently it was often referred to +in his dispatches as "a certain place." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE COUNCIL IN THE MIKASA'S CABIN. + +As we entered the roadstead we found there, at anchor, a small Chinese +junk of such a dilapidated and weather-beaten appearance that she seemed +as though she might go to pieces at any moment. She was flying the +Japanese mercantile flag, a white flag with a red ball in the centre-- +which is also the Japanese "Jack," and I soon learned that in her case, +as in many others, appearances were deceptive, for I was assured that +she was as staunch as staunch could be. She was officered and manned by +a Chinese crew, and she was ostensibly loaded with bricks; but +surrounded by these bricks, which were only a blind, was a sturdy little +closed-in engine and boiler, the smoke from the latter issuing from the +unusually big chimney of her galley stove, while the engine worked a +small but powerful set of pumps which strongly sucked in water through +her bows and discharged it equally strongly from her stern, under water, +of course, giving her a speed of seven knots in smooth water. And when +I sought further information with regard to this mysterious craft, I was +informed by Ito, who seemed to know all about her, that she had been +purchased by the Japanese Secret Service Department, fitted with her +engine, boiler, and pumps by an ingenious Japanese engineer, and that +her business was to go to and fro between Port Arthur and "a certain +place," ostensibly as a trader, but in reality that her skipper, a +particularly bold and clever spy, might obtain information for the +Japanese. + +The spy's name, it appeared, was Hang-won,--a rather ominous name, I +thought, under the circumstances,--while the name of the junk was +_Chung-sa_. She had arrived from Port Arthur about midday, and this was +Hang-won's first essay in Japan's service. But he had brought from Port +Arthur two items of news that were likely to prove most valuable to us; +one of them being, that the Russian destroyers were being sent to sea +every night to reconnoitre, and that upon their return they always +showed a white light above a red, to indicate that they were Russian; +while the second item was to the effect that that day, 8th February, +happened to be the name-day of Madame Stark, the wife of the Russian +Admiral, and that in honour of the day a great banquet was to be given +at nine o'clock that night, at the Admiral's house, which was to be +followed by a special performance at a circus which chanced to be in the +town. + +The moment that this information was communicated to Togo, he recognised +the magnificent possibilities offered by the occasion. For it was +morally certain that, between the banquet and the circus, most of the +officers, and possibly also a good many of the men, of the Russian fleet +would be ashore, that night; and what better opportunity for an attack +upon it was likely to offer? The chance was very much too good to be +missed, and a signal was at once made for the captains of all craft, +destroyers included, to repair on board the _Mikasa_. + +I was one of the last to reach the flagship, for the destroyers were +anchored outside the rest of the fleet, and when I arrived the Admiral's +cabin was full of men, as many of them as could find room being seated +round the table, while the rest were accommodated with chairs. All were +talking indiscriminately together, for the council had not yet begun; +but it was characteristic of Togo that he saw me the instant I entered +the cabin, and rose to shake hands with me, exclaiming, "Ah! here comes +our young British giant." Then, pointing to a chair near himself, he +motioned me to be seated, saying as he did so with a humorous smile: + +"Well, Mr Swinburne, I hope you find the _Kasanumi_ a nice, steady, +comfortable ship. Is there room enough in her for you to stretch +yourself, or shall we have to lengthen her a few feet?" + +"She is a splendid little craft, sir," I said heartily, "far better than +the British boat in which I saw some service. She is a magnificent sea +boat, and came through the wild weather of yesterday and last night +without turning a hair. True, she is a bit cramped between the beams, +and I have already raised a few bumps on my head while trying to stand +upright in my cabin; but I'm ready to go anywhere and attempt anything +in her." + +"That's right," remarked Togo; "you show the true Nelson spirit, sir-- +the spirit which we expect to find in every Briton; the spirit which we +so greatly admire, and which we are humbly striving to imbue our +Japanese seamen with. So you are `ready to go anywhere and attempt +anything,' eh? Excellent! I hope to afford you the opportunity to show +us what you can do before you are many hours older." + +Then, turning to where Captain Ijichi stood near the cabin door, he +said, in Japanese: + +"Are all present, Ijichi?" + +Some half a dozen officers had followed close upon my heels, and I +noticed that, as each entered, the _Mikasa's_ skipper had ticked off +something on a list which he held in his hand. + +"All present, sir," answered Ijichi, referring to his list. + +"Good!" remarked the Admiral. "Then, be so good as to tell the sentry +that we are on no account to be interrupted. Then close the door and +find a seat for yourself." + +With the closing of the cabin door the general conversation that had +been proceeding came to an abrupt termination and a tense silence +ensued. Togo looked round the cabin, as though taking stock of us all; +then in a few terse words he communicated to us the information which he +had just learned from Hang-won, who, by the way, was still in the cabin, +ready to answer any questions that might be put to him. + +"Now, gentlemen," he continued, "there is no need for me to enlarge upon +the splendid opportunity which Madame Stark's celebration of her +name-day offers us to strike a heavy blow at the enemy's fleet; I am +sure that you will all see it for yourselves. The only question is: In +what way can we best avail ourselves of the opportunity? What form is +the blow to take? + +"So far as we are concerned, we are seventeen ships strong, apart from +our destroyers, while our friend, Hang-won, informs me that the Russian +fleet consists of fourteen ships, again apart from destroyers. We are +therefore three ships to the good. But, of those fourteen Russian +ships, seven are battleships, while we muster only six; furthermore, the +whole fleet is anchored under the protection of the Port Arthur +batteries, a further tremendous advantage to them. Notwithstanding +this, however, the opportunity is such a splendid one that, were my +hands free, I should be strongly disposed to take my whole fleet into +Port Arthur roadstead, engage the Russian ships at close quarters, +trusting to find them unprepared; do them as much damage as possible +with our heavy guns; and trust to our destroyers to complete their +destruction while the confusion of the surprise was at its height. But, +gentlemen, I cannot do this. My orders from the Cabinet and the Elder +Statesmen are clear and precise, and under no circumstances whatever am +I to disobey them. They are, that I am never to risk my ships, +especially my battleships, by exposing them to the fire of the Port +Arthur batteries; and if I do not myself obey orders, how may I expect +that my orders will be obeyed? Strict and unquestioning obedience to +orders is, as you all know, almost an article of faith with us; +therefore, sorely tempted though I am, to disobey just this once, I dare +not set an example which might be fraught with the most disastrous +consequences. Hence, gentlemen, I have summoned you this afternoon, to +assist me with your counsels. I may mention that, keeping in view the +fact that my superiors, the Government, have given me certain orders +which I must obey, the only thing I can see for it is to send in our +destroyers, and let them do their best. Can any of you suggest a better +plan?" + +For a full minute or more a tense silence reigned in the cabin, +everybody apparently waiting for somebody else to speak first. Then a +young officer in lieutenant's uniform (whom I subsequently learned was +no less a personage than Prince Kasho, one of the _Mikasa's_ officers), +rose and, bowing first to the Admiral and then to the rest of us, said, +in Japanese of course: + +"Do I understand, Admiral, that your question carries with it your +permission to us to express our candid opinion?" + +"Assuredly," answered Togo. + +"Good!" returned the Prince. "Then, since no one else appears to have a +suggestion to offer, perhaps I may be permitted to do so, though I +happen to be the junior of most of the honourable officers present. You +told us just now, sir, that, _were your hands free_, you would be +strongly disposed to take your entire fleet into Port Arthur roadstead, +where, I understand, almost every Russian ship of importance in Eastern +waters now rides at anchor, and make an end of them." + +The speaker was here interrupted by a low murmur of applause from many +of the officers present, who seemed to have a shrewd suspicion of what +was coming. Togo held up his hand for silence, the Prince bowed +smilingly to his audience, who he felt he had with him, and resumed: + +"But you tell us, sir, that you are not free to exercise your own +discretion, that your hands are tied by certain orders which you have +received; and you have reminded us that implicit obedience is the +supreme virtue, almost an article of religious faith, with the Japanese. + +"With that sentiment, sir, I am, I scarcely need say, in perfect, +whole-hearted agreement. But there is a point which I wish to make, and +it is this. The Cabinet and the Elder Statesmen are, as their +designation indicates, _statesmen_; they are neither soldiers nor +sailors. And while I will not attempt to dispute either their wisdom or +their right to formulate certain general rules for the guidance of their +Generals and Admirals, I feel that I should not be doing my full duty to +my country, in the circumstances which now confront us, if I did not +boldly declare my fixed conviction that such general rules as I have +just alluded to ought to be regarded and accepted by us merely as +guides, and not as definite, imperative orders which are under no +circumstances whatsoever to be disobeyed." + +Here another little murmur of applause, more general and decided than +the first, ran round the cabin. As it died away, the speaker resumed: + +"I cannot believe, sir, that the orders laid upon you were intended to +deprive you of the power to exercise your own discretion under such +exceptional circumstances as the present; and I therefore take upon +myself the responsibility of saying, here in the presence of all your +officers, that I believe you would be amply justified in acting in the +manner that you indicated a few minutes ago." + +There was no mistaking the meaning of the applause that rang through the +cabin now; it was perfectly evident that--with the solitary exceptions +of the Admiral and myself--the Prince had every man present heartily +with him. + +"I have but a very few more words to add, sir," the speaker resumed, +when the applause died away, "and they are these. What you have told us +concerning to-night's projected happenings in Port Arthur seems to +indicate that an opportunity, such as may never occur again, now offers +for us to strike such a blow at the enemy that it will be impossible for +him ever to recover from it; and if the striking of that blow does +indeed involve actual disobedience of precise orders, I venture to +assert that the result will amply justify the deed." + +The Prince resumed his seat amid thunders of applause which rang through +the cabin for at least a couple of minutes. When at length it died +down, Togo rose to his feet. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I gather from your plaudits that you all fully +agree with Prince Kasho's honourable speech, for which I beg to most +heartily thank him, although it places me upon the horns of a dilemma. +Let that pass, for the moment, however. What I want, now, is that each +of you should, in as few words as possible, express your opinion upon +the Prince's suggestion that I should take the whole of my ships into +Port Arthur roadstead and engage the enemy in a pitched battle." + +In response to this appeal, the officers rose, one after the other, +apparently in the order of their seniority; and each man expressed his +hearty concurrence with Prince Kasho's proposal, the concurrence being +accompanied in many cases by the expression of sundry lofty and +beautiful sentiments extolling the virtues of patriotism and valour. At +length everybody had spoken except myself, and I was heartily hoping +that I should be passed over as a person of so little account that my +opinion would not be considered worth having. Not so, however. The +Admiral turned to me and said, with a smile: + +"And now at last we come to our honourable English friend, the captain +of the _Kasanumi_. What has he to say upon the matter? You have heard +what has been said; and although you have perhaps been unable, through +your restricted knowledge of our language, to grasp the full meaning of +it all, you may possibly have understood enough to enable you to +comprehend the way in which this momentous question appeals to the +Japanese heart and intellect. Now, kindly favour us with the view which +you, as a hard-headed Englishman, take of it." + +"Really, sir," I said in English, springing to my feet in some +confusion, "I would very much prefer to be excused, if you will kindly +allow me. It would be the most rank presumption on my part to--" + +"No, no," cried several voices, among which I distinctly recognised that +of Prince Kasho; "let us hear what the honourable Englishman has to +say." + +"Quite right, gentlemen," said Togo. "I fully agree with you. I know +something of the English; and even though Mr Swinburne may differ from +us all, I'll warrant that he will not suggest any action that is not +consonant with our honour, as seamen, or our loyalty to the Emperor. +Pray proceed, Mr Swinburne." + +"Very well, then, Admiral, and gentlemen, since you do me the honour to +insist, I will," said I. "But you must permit me to begin by reminding +you that I am only a boy, and that this is my first experience of actual +warfare; therefore if I venture to express an opinion on what has been +justly described as a most momentous question, I do so with the utmost +diffidence. At the same time, although I have had no previous +experience of war, I should like to say that I have studied the subject +deeply and with intense interest. And it is with equal interest that I +have listened to the expression of your views on the question now under +consideration. I am filled with admiration of the noble and patriotic +sentiments which have to-day been spoken within the walls of this +cabin--sentiments with which I most cordially agree, since they happen +to accurately coincide with my own. + +"But, gentlemen, may I dare venture to remind you that patriotism and +valour, splendid and admirable as they are, are not the only qualities +that should distinguish the soldier or sailor who fights for his +country? Inspired by them, a man may no doubt accomplish great things, +wonderful things; but we Britons have a proverb which declares that +discretion is the better part of valour, and in my humble opinion-- +which, I repeat, I advance with the utmost diffidence--the present is +one of those occasions when valour, as heroic and self-sacrificing as +you will, should go hand in hand with discretion. + +"With your kind favour I will briefly mention the picture that arose in +my mind while Prince Kasho was advocating the plan of taking the entire +fleet into Port Arthur roadstead and engaging the Russians in a pitched +battle. + +"I readily grant you that the information communicated to the Admiral by +Hang-won seems to indicate that to-night, or the small hours of +to-morrow morning, will afford a magnificent opportunity for such a +_coup_; but--let us consider all the consequences which that _coup_ +would entail. It may be that we should be able to take the Russians by +surprise; it is exceedingly probable that some of the officers--perhaps +a good many of them--will be ashore to-night; but, recognising the fact +that Russia and Japan are at war, do you, gentlemen, as reasonable, +sensible men, really believe for a moment that the Russian fleet will be +left defenceless in an open roadstead, or that the vigilance of the +lookouts will be relaxed? I do not. And, if not, the approach of such +a formidable array as ours would assuredly be detected, and the alarm +given, long before we could arrive within effective striking distance. +Then what would be the ultimate result? I have not a doubt that we +should be victorious, but at what cost? We must remember, gentlemen, +that we should be not only engaging a fleet but slightly inferior in +strength to our own, _but the batteries as well_; and it is in the +batteries that our danger lies. I know not what the armament of those +batteries may be, but I think we may safely assume that it will consist +of weapons heavy enough to sink many of our ships while we are doing our +best to sink theirs. With all submission, I think it would be the +height of folly for us to assume that we could fight such a battle +without serious loss to ourselves. And the point which I wish to +emphasise is this: _How are we going to make good those losses_? The +Russians can make good theirs by sending more ships out from Europe; but +where are we to get more? I need not labour this question, gentlemen; I +am sure you will all see what I mean, and therefore understand why I say +that, altogether apart from the question of slavish obedience to orders, +or otherwise, I think the Admiral is fully justified in his decision not +to risk his ships in such an exceedingly hazardous enterprise." + +"Thank you, Mr Swinburne," said Togo, offering me his hand as I sat +down. "You have spoken pretty much as I expected you would." Then, +turning to one of the officers who had been busily writing all the time +that I was speaking, he said: + +"Captain Matsumoto, am I correct in supposing that you have been taking +down Mr Swinburne's remarks?" + +"Quite correct, sir," answered the skipper of the _Fuji_. + +"Then," said Togo, "do me the favour to read them over aloud, in +Japanese, for the benefit of those officers who have been unable to +closely follow Mr Swinburne's English." + +This was done; and when Matsumoto sat down there was silence for a few +moments, succeeded by a faint murmur of applause. Then the Admiral +rose. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "you have now all spoken; and I tender you my most +hearty thanks for the frank expression of your several opinions. I have +listened with the greatest interest and satisfaction to everything that +has been said, but you must pardon me if I say at once, frankly, that +you leave me as unconvinced as ever. Or, no; not unconvinced; on the +contrary, I am more convinced than ever that, apart, as Mr Swinburne +has remarked, from any question of slavish obedience to orders, I should +be guilty of a serious, even disastrous, error of judgment, were I to +take my battleships and cruisers into Port Arthur roads and give battle +to the Russian fleet. The only alternative is to employ the destroyers; +and I shall be glad of any suggestions you may be pleased to offer as to +the best method of attack." + +Nobody spoke. It was easy to see that the officers of the battleships +and cruisers, deeply imbued with the somewhat fantastic and high-flown +ideas of the Japanese with regard to the almost divine virtue of heroism +and self-sacrifice, were profoundly disappointed that they were not to +be afforded an opportunity to display their possession of those virtues. + +"Has no one a suggestion to offer?" demanded Togo, in a tone of +surprise. "What say you, Swinburne?" turning to me. + +"It would greatly help us, sir," I said, "if Hang-won could give us even +an approximate idea of the position of the Russian ships in the +roadstead." + +"You are right, sir; it would," answered the Admiral. And turning to +the Chinaman, he addressed to him a question in what I imagined to be +Chinese. The man was replying at some length when Togo interrupted him +and turned to the skipper of the flagship. + +"Captain Ijichi," said he, "a chart of Port Arthur, if you please." + +The chart was brought, and Hang-won, after poring over it awhile, took a +pencil and with meticulous care jotted down certain marks upon it. When +he had finished, Togo turned to me and said: + +"Here we are, Mr Swinburne. These marks indicate the positions of some +of the Russian ships, as nearly as Hang-won can remember them. As you +see, they are moored in wedge-shaped formation, the point of the wedge +to seaward; and that point is occupied by the _Tsarevich_, a battleship. +Next her, inshore, comes the _Poltava_, also a battleship, then the +_Sevastopol_, another battleship, and abreast of her, in the second +line, the battleship _Pobieda_. Of the positions of these he is +certain, he says, having taken particular notice of them as he came out; +but of the rest he is not so sure, except that there are thirteen of +them, exclusive of the _Askold_, all anchored inside the _Tsarevich_. +The _Askold_ is a cruiser, and according to Hang-won she is performing +patrol duty to and fro, outside the rest of the fleet. You will readily +recognise her from the fact that she is the only craft with five +funnels. + +"There is another point in favour of our employing destroyers. It +appears that Admiral Stark sends out a destroyer flotilla every night to +patrol the coast as far as Dalny--there it is, about twenty miles +north-east of Port Arthur. If, upon approaching the roadstead, our +boats show the lights usually exhibited by the Russian destroyers--a +white light above a red--on their return from Dalny, they ought to be +able to get right in among the Russian fleet and do a tremendous amount +of damage before their identity is discovered, and I shall confidently +look for important results accordingly. Now, gentlemen, I have my own +idea as to how the attack should be conducted; but I have heard it said +that in many councillors there is wisdom, therefore I should be glad to +have your views on the subject." + +And, one after the other, the officers present gave them, the general +opinion being that the destroyers ought to approach to within about five +miles of the shore at a moderate speed, showing no lights; then dash in +at top speed, discharging torpedoes right and left, and continue to do +so, regardless of consequences, until every Russian ship was destroyed. + +Finally, I was called for to give my opinion; and again I found myself +obliged to differ from the others. + +"If I were leading the attack, sir," I said, "I should time myself to +arrive at about eleven o'clock, that being the time, I imagine, when the +banquet and the special performance will both be at their height. At +the distance of about five miles from the shore I should slow down, +instead of increasing speed, because I should then have no fear of +flames escaping from my funnels and so betraying my approach. I should +then divide my force into two, one of which should sweep well away to +the nor'ard, while the other sheered off toward the south, my object +being to get my boats well into the concealment of the shadow of the +high land east and west of the roadstead. Under the cover of this +shadow I should creep close along shore until I was well inside the +enemy's fleet, when I should wheel outward, get good way on my boats, +and torpedo the enemy, ship after ship, as I came out. By this plan I +should be heading seaward, ready to make good my escape as soon as the +alarm was given, which I believe will be within a few seconds after the +first torpedo is fired. Then I should run for it out to sea, at top +speed; for I am convinced that, once the alarm is given and the +searchlights are turned on, we shall be afforded no further opportunity +to do mischief; and I see no sense in sacrificing ships and lives +uselessly. I have heard the remark made, more than once, that it is a +glorious thing to die for one's country and one's Emperor. So it is-- +when the sacrifice of one's life is necessary to secure a certain +object; but I maintain that it is still more glorious to _live_ for +one's country. One live man can render more useful service to his +country than a hundred dead ones." + +Again there was a little half-hearted murmur of applause. + +But Togo expressed his approval in no half-hearted manner. Dashing his +fist upon the table he exclaimed: + +"By Hachiman Sama!" (the Japanese god of War), "you are right, Mr +Swinburne. You told us, a little while ago, that you are only a boy, +but you have the brains and wisdom of a man, sir. Your plan of attack +is the right one--cannot you see that it is, gentlemen?--and it shall be +followed. By attempting the other plan, we should in all probability +lose every boat and every man, with no better result; while, by adopting +Mr Swinburne's plan, we may save at least two-thirds of them. Now, +gentlemen, before we terminate the council, has any one a better plan to +propose?" And he glanced round the cabin, inquiringly. + +No one answered. Then Captain Matsumoto, commanding the battleship +_Fuji_, rose. + +"As one whose knowledge of the august English language is perhaps +superior to that of most present--your honourable self, sir, excepted," +he said, addressing the Admiral, "I should like to say that I have +listened to the remarks of the honourable commander of the _Kasanumi_ +with profound interest. His doctrine, that it is more glorious to live +than to die for one's Emperor, is a new one to us Japanese, and I +confess that for the moment it shocked me, as I saw that it shocked most +of us. But, if one comes to reflect, one sees that there is sound sense +in it; therefore I should like to record my entire approval of the +projected plan of attack upon the enemy's fleet. For, by adopting it, +there is a good prospect that many lives and many craft, which would +otherwise be uselessly sacrificed, may be preserved to render further +valuable service to Japan and its Emperor." + +The applause this time was real and hearty enough, and several of the +officers who were sitting near me offered me their hands and smilingly +complimented me. + +"Very well, then, gentlemen, that matter is settled, and most +satisfactorily, too, in my humble opinion. And, now, as to details. +Divisions 1, 2, and 3 of the destroyer flotilla will attack the fleet at +Port Arthur; Divisions 4 and 5 will proceed to Dalny in quest of the +Russian destroyers said to reconnoitre in that direction nightly; and +all will inflict as much damage as possible upon the enemy. Captain +Matsunaga of the _Asashio_ will command Divisions 1, 2, and 3; while +Captain Nagai will command Divisions 4 and 5. The flotilla will start +at five o'clock this evening. You are dismissed, gentlemen. I thank +you for your honourable attendance, and the assistance which you have +rendered me." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +MY "BAPTISM OF FIRE." + +The weather had cleared somewhat during the afternoon, but when, at a +few minutes before five o'clock, the _Mikasa_ made the signal for the +destroyer flotilla to weigh and proceed, the clouds had gathered afresh, +and it was looking as wild as ever. It was exactly five o'clock when +the _Asashio_, followed by the _Kasanumi_, led the way out to sea; and +as we began to move, the Admiral signalled us: "Go in and sink the +enemy's fleet. I pray for your success." + +The Elliot group of islands, from which we started upon our great +adventure, is situated some sixty miles north-east of Port Arthur, and +within some seven or eight miles of the mainland. Our nearest and best +way, therefore, under ordinary circumstances, would have been to creep +down the coast close inshore. But this would have involved our passing +Dalny on the way, and there were the Russian destroyers, which were said +to patrol as far as that place every night, to be reckoned with. We did +not desire to encounter them on the way, and so afford them a chance to +slip back to Port Arthur and give the alarm; our object was to get in +between them and Port Arthur, and so cut off their retreat. Also, we +had decided to approach Port Arthur from the south-west, so as to give +the idea that we were the Russian boats returning after a scouting +excursion in the offing; we therefore headed due south at the start, our +speed being fifteen knots, which was later increased to twenty-two, as +the course which we had decided upon took us far out of our way and +nearly doubled the distance to be run. + +The sun disappeared beneath the horizon in a heavy squall of rain, the +wind breezed up fiercely, and it was piercingly cold. The night shut +down upon us dark as a wolf's mouth, the only relief to the intense +blackness being the phosphorescence of the bow wave as it swept, roaring +and scintillating away to port and starboard, and the faint gleam of a +shrouded lamp which each vessel bore at her taffrail as a guide to the +craft next astern of her. Well, so much the better; the darker the +night, the better for our purpose; only I fervently wished that the +water had not been so brilliantly phosphorescent, for in the intense +darkness the gleam of it was visible for quite a considerable distance, +and I feared that, if the Russians were keeping a sharp lookout, it +would prematurely reveal our approach. We had cleared for action before +getting under way, and each boat carried two torpedoes in her tubes, her +guns loaded, and ammunition ready to pass up on deck at a moment's +notice. + +Hour after hour we steamed on, describing the arc of a big semi-circle +as we altered our course from time to time, until at length we were +heading west-nor'-west for Port Arthur; and during the whole time we had +not sighted a craft of any description. + +At length, about half-past ten, the darkness ahead seemed to grow +blacker than ever, and turning to Ito, who stood beside me on the +bridge, I said: + +"Do you see that darkness ahead, Ito? Surely that is the loom of land." + +"Yes," answered Ito, who spoke English excellently. "Without a doubt +that is the high land on either side of Port Arthur; and--ha! there is +the Pinnacle Rock light, straight ahead. By Jingo! as the honourable +English say, Captain Matsunaga has `hit it off splendidly.' And see +there,"--as a light began to wink at us from the bridge of the _Asashio_ +ahead--"there is the signal for the 4th and 5th Divisions to part +company. Yes; there they go; and now, as again the honourable English +say, `we shan't be long.'" + +I shivered involuntarily. A quarter of an hour more and that blackness +ahead would be pierced by the blinding rays of the inexorable +searchlights and stabbed by the fierce flashing of artillery, the glare +of bursting shells, and the radiance of star rockets. And we should be +in the midst of it. It would be my first experience of actual warfare, +and I wondered how I should pass through the ordeal. I had already +learned that the Japanese soldier or sailor is absolutely the most +fearless creature in existence. He fears death as little as he fears +sleep, provided that it comes to him in the service of his Emperor and +his country. To die for his Emperor, indeed, who is to him as a god, is +the very highest honour, the greatest glory, that the male Japanese can +look forward to. He faces such a death with the same pure joy, the same +exaltation, that the early Christian martyrs displayed when they were +led forth to die for their faith. It was this spirit, this eagerness, +this enthusiasm to die in battle, that caused the enormous losses +suffered by the Japanese during the war; but it made them invincible! +How was my conduct going to compare with that of men like these, I who +was animated by no more lofty sentiment than the desire to do my duty to +the best of my ability, to play my part as a man should, and, above all, +to uphold the honour and dignity of my race? I was happy in the +conviction that I should not disgrace myself by any exhibition of craven +fear, but what I dreaded was that in the excitement of the moment I +should get "nervy," lose my head (if only figuratively), and perhaps +forget to do something that I ought to do, to miss some opportunity that +I ought to see and seize. "Brace up, Paul!" I said to myself, "pull +yourself together for the honour of the dear homeland; forget all about +yourself, and think only of the work that lies before you." And I did. +My thoughts went back to my talk with the Admiral in the _Mikasa's_ +cabin that afternoon; I suddenly remembered that the work in hand was to +be carried out as I had planned it; and in a moment all my anxiety +vanished, I was my own man again, mentally planning what I would do; and +from that moment I felt as cool and collected and keen as was Ito who +stood beside me. + +As the tail lights of the 4th and 5th Divisions of the flotilla vanished +in the darkness on our port quarter, the _Asashio's_ signal lantern +began winking again, and Ito read off and translated the message to me: + +"Reduce speed to twelve knots. Be ready to show signal lanterns if +required. When I starboard helm, Division one will follow me, while +Divisions two and three will port helm and sheer off to the eastward." + +A single flash from our own carefully shrouded signal lanterns informed +the Commodore that the message had been read and understood, and all was +opaque darkness once more. The rain had by this time cleared off and +the atmosphere was much clearer, so clear indeed that the outlines of +the hills ahead showed with tolerable distinctness, and the water was +getting smoother. + +The lighthouse light was showing very bright and clear by this time, and +two or three other and much dimmer lights, like those of houses, showed +here and there in the shadow of the hills. The gap between the hills +which marked the harbour entrance was also visible, while a faint glare +in the sky to the right of it showed that Port Arthur was still awake. +But everything seemed absolutely peaceful, and there were no signs of +that alertness which we had expected to find. + +Suddenly the lighthouse light, upon which my gaze happened to be fixed, +seemed to blink several times in a very curious manner; then it +disappeared altogether for a moment, and I saw a great black shadow that +seemed to rapidly increase in size as I stared at it. Then I glimpsed +at the base of the shadow the ghostly gleam of phosphorescent foam, such +as is piled up by the bows of a ship travelling at speed, and high above +it a rolling, swirling cloud of blackness spangled with evanescent +sparks which, a moment later, I saw was issuing from three of a group of +five tall funnels. + +"By Jove! Ito," I exclaimed, "here comes the patrol cruiser--the +_Askold_--and she is heading straight for us! Gun and tube crews, stand +by! Quartermaster, light those two signal lanterns, white above red, +bend them on to the signal halliards, and stand by to hoist away when I +give the word." + +"Yes," agreed Ito, his voice tense with excitement; "she has seen and +intends to speak us. See, she has stopped her engines, and is hailing +the _Asashio_! What a jolly, bloomin' chance," (Ito was very proud of +his command of English slang, and availed himself of every possible +opportunity to air it) "to honourably torpedo her! Will the honourable +Swinburne augustly grant the humblest of his servants permission to do +so?" + +"Heavens! no, man," I exclaimed, "not for worlds. And I pray that +Matsunaga may also have the sense to refrain from doing so." + +"But why, my honourable friend; why?" demanded Ito, literally dancing +with eagerness and impatience. + +"Because, don't you see, my honourable duffer, that if we did so the +explosion would put all Port Arthur, and the fleet too, on the _qui +vive_ long before we could get at them, and thus spoil our chances of +bagging the battleships?" I replied. "No, certainly not. Let the +cruiser go; it is the battleships we want. There go the _Asashio's_ +lanterns. Hoist away, quartermaster!" + +"Yes, yes; I see," replied Ito in crestfallen tones; "you are honourably +right, of course. Aha! there goes the cruiser. The honourable Captain +Matsunaga has evidently honourably satisfied her. He honourably speaks +Russian like a native." + +It was an exciting moment; but, tense as it was, I could not help being +amused at the pertinacity with which Ito, like all the Japanese, dragged +in the word "honourable" upon every possible and impossible occasion. +It arises, of course, out of the desire, drilled into them, generation +after generation, to be extremely polite; and doubtless when speaking in +their own tongue, the word is never unsuitably used; but when they +undertake to talk English, it is frequently pitchforked into the +conversation in the most incongruous and even ludicrous fashion, and I +decided that it would only be kind to give Ito a lesson upon the +absurdity of employing it inappropriately. The opportunity came a few +minutes later. + +The _Askold_, apparently satisfied with Captain Matsunaga's explanation, +put her helm hard a-starboard and swept on, presently vanishing in the +darkness; and a minute or two later the _Asashio_ made the signal for +the Divisions to separate as arranged, starboarding her helm as she did +so and leading Number 1 Division to the westward, while Divisions 2 and +3 ported and swerved sharply away to the eastward. + +"The critical moment is at hand," said I. "Be so good, Mr Ito, as to +go down on the main deck and assure yourself that everything is ready, +and that the men are standing by the tubes and guns." + +Then Ito turned upon me and poured out an impassioned entreaty that he +might be "honourably" permitted to take charge of and fire the torpedoes +himself. I considered for a moment. The man who might chance to score +a hit in the coming attempt would gain immense kudos, I knew, and, in +all probability, promotion also. By rights, of course, Ito's station +should be by me, to take my place should I chance to be hit; but he was +just as liable to be hit on the bridge as anywhere else; also it would +be doing him a kindness to grant his request. So: + +"Now, look here, Ito," I said, "it is of paramount importance that the +men in charge of the tubes to-night should be first-rate shots, and as +cool as cucumbers; for, hit or miss, I do not suppose we shall be +afforded a chance to discharge more than the two torpedoes already in +our tubes; therefore they must both hit. Now, are you a good shot with +the torpedo?" + +Ito solemnly assured me that there was not a better torpedo shot than +himself in the whole Japanese fleet. + +"And is your nerve all right? I mean, are you perfectly cool?" I +demanded. + +"As cool as the honourable cucumber," he asserted. "Feel my unworthy +hand." + +I could not help laughing. Here was the inevitable "honourable" being +dragged in again. I seized his hand and held it loosely in mine for a +few seconds. It was firm and steady as a rock. + +"Good!" I said. "You will do, Ito. Go down and work the tubes, my +boy, and see that you excel yourself to-night. And, Ito, if you love +me, do not, for heaven's sake, forget to withdraw the honourable safety +pin from the honourable fan before you honourably fire the honourable +torpedo, or you will make no honourable hits this honourable night. Do +you honourably take me?" + +There! I had fired off my little joke on Ito; illustrated to him, I +fondly thought, the absurdity of indiscriminately dragging in the word +"honourable" in and out of season. How would he take it, I wondered. + +"The august captain may honourably rely upon his unworthy lieutenant to +do his honourable best," he gravely answered; and the next moment was +"honourably" descending the bridge ladder to the deck. My miserable +attempt at jocularity had absolutely missed fire; the dear, innocent +fellow had accepted my speech as uttered in all seriousness. + +It was at this moment that I first caught the loom of the Russian ships, +showing up a deeper black against the black shadow of the frowning +cliffs away to starboard; and a second or two later a long, brilliant +beam of intensely white light shot out from one of the black shapes and +slowly swept hither and thither, now striking the heaving surface of the +black water, and anon vividly illumining one of her sisters. Our orders +had been not to discharge at a higher range than five hundred metres. + +Slowly, the beam swept round toward us until it halted and rested +steadily upon a great lump of a craft that towered out of the water like +a castle, almost immediately between itself and us. Luckily, the +dazzling light itself was hidden from our eyes by the bulk of the ship +upon which it rested, but it invested her with a sort of halo of +radiance against which she stood out black and grim, a perfect +silhouette. She was a big craft, evidently a battleship, with a lofty +superstructure, three big funnels cased half-way up, a long overhanging +bridge, and two stout military masts with fighting tops, and two yards +across each. She was just within range, and, seizing a megaphone, I was +in the act of raising it to my lips to order Ito to let fly at her, when +I saw a long, silvery shape flash out from our after-deck, and a few +seconds later a great cone of water leaped into the air and fell like a +deluge upon the great ship, which seemed to lift half out of the water, +as though hove up by a giant. A heavy _boom_ followed, and I had the +extreme gratification of knowing that the little _Kasanumi's_ first +Whitehead had got home. + +The explosion was quickly followed by several others; and in the midst +of them a sudden transformation took place. The pitchy darkness gave +way to the glare of a perfect network of searchlight beams streaming out +from ship after ship and from the cliffs above, sweeping here, there, +and everywhere, lighting up the fleet, the cliffs, the channel leading +to the harbour, the lighthouse, everything, in fact, except our +destroyers, which they all seemed to miss in the most miraculous way. +Excited shouts came pealing across the water to us from the decks of the +various ships, boatswains' whistles shrilled, order after order was +hoarsely bellowed, and with a rattling crash of gun-fire a perfect +tempest of projectiles was sent hurtling out to sea from the now +thoroughly awakened and panic-stricken Russians, not a solitary shot of +which came anywhere near us; for the enemy seemed to have not the +slightest idea of our actual whereabouts. And then, to add to the +turmoil and confusion, the forts on the cliffs above opened fire with +their heavy guns, and we heard the shells go muttering angrily far +overhead, as the gunners ashore also fired into the offing. + +The fleet as a whole now lay broad on our starboard beam, and we in the +_Kasanumi_ were crossing the bows of a two-funnelled battleship which, +from her position as the outermost ship of the fleet, I knew must be the +_Tzarevich_, when, out of the tail of my eye, so to speak, I again +caught the flash of one of our Whiteheads as it leapt outward and +plunged into the sea. Breathlessly I awaited the result, and presently, +to my delight, I saw that our second torpedo had got home! + +"Good old Ito!" I exclaimed aloud; and, as I spoke, the man himself +stood beside me. + +"Two hits!" he gasped, almost inarticulate with excitement and delight. +"The _Kasanumi_ has done her duty to-night." + +"She has," I agreed; "and so have you, splendidly, old chap. This means +immediate promotion for you, Ito; for you may rest assured that, if we +get out of this alive, I will not fail to report to the Admiral what you +have done. I don't see--" + +"Ah, but," he interrupted me, "the real credit of it all belongs to you, +not me. For if you had not warned me, I should certainly, in my +excitement, have forgotten to withdraw the pins before firing the +torpedoes. As it was, I very nearly did so when firing the first, but +luckily your warning flashed into my mind at the very instant when I was +about to fire. I am afraid that many of our men have forgotten that +essential; for although all the torpedoes must be by this time +discharged, I do not think that many ships have been hit." + +I had noticed the same thing myself, and was about to say so, but at +this moment the Russian ships opened fire with their heavy guns, and +conversation, which up to now had been difficult enough, became quite +impossible owing to the deafening din. But I observed that the ships +and batteries were all firing out to sea, whereas our destroyers were by +this time between the fleet and the land, completely absorbed in the +deep shadow of the lofty cliffs, so that up to that moment I believed we +had remained unseen. Then the _Asashio_ flashed the signal for Number 1 +Division to retire at full speed, putting her helm hard a-port as she +did so, for by this time we were running parallel with the shore on the +west side of the harbour, and a few minutes more would have taken us to +the harbour's mouth, which was now brilliantly illuminated by the rays +of some half a dozen searchlights, which it was essential for us to +avoid if we wished to escape instant annihilation. + +It was at this moment, when I was eagerly taking note of the most +distinctive features of the harbour entrance, brought thus prominently +into view--with the idea that such knowledge as I might then be able to +acquire might prove useful at some future time--that three destroyers, +coming out of the harbour at full speed, rushed across the illuminated +area and, turning sharp round the Pinnacle Rock, headed almost directly +toward us. A single glance sufficed to show that they were Russian +craft, for they were of a different model from ours, and their four +funnels were arranged differently from ours, being in pairs. + +For a moment I believed that they saw and were about to engage us, I +therefore laid my hand upon Ito's arm to attract his attention, pointed +to the boats, and then yelled in his ear: + +"Russians! Stand by to give them a broadside as they pass." + +Ito nodded comprehendingly, and vanished from my side. A minute later, +the leading Russian destroyer came abreast the _Asashio_, and Captain +Matsunaga showed that he was as wideawake as the rest of us, by plumping +a 12-pound and three 6-pound shells into her. Then came our turn, and +we did the same, each of the four Japanese boats in turn firing all the +guns that would bear upon each of the three Russian boats as they came +up, without receiving a single shot in return; for, strange as it may +seem, the Russians appeared to have no suspicion of our whereabouts +until we actually fired upon them. + +But perhaps we should have been wiser had we allowed our valour to be +tempered with discretion, and refrained from attacking the enemy's +destroyers; for the flashes of our guns, low down near the surface of +the water, were instantly observed by a hundred sharp eyes, eagerly +seeking the whereabouts of the elusive enemy, and almost immediately +every searchlight on ship and shore swept round until it rested full +upon us, thereafter inexorably following our every movement, while a +perfect tornado of shell and rifle-fire hissed and whined about our +ears. But for this, it might have been not very difficult for us to +have inflicted further damage upon the battleships and cruisers; but as +it was, there was only one thing to be done, namely, to effect our +escape with the utmost expedition, if, indeed, escape were still +possible; for to remain until fresh torpedoes could be got up on deck +and placed in the tubes, would mean our swift and certain destruction +before the opportunity came for us to work further mischief. As it was, +it was simply miraculous that we were not instantly blown out of the +water; for, with a dozen or more searchlights bearing full upon us, we +were as plainly visible as though it had been broad daylight; yet, +strange to say, not a shot struck any of us, a circumstance which can +only be accounted for upon the assumption that the Russian gunners were +so unnerved by our sudden and unexpected attack that, for the moment, +they had completely lost the ability to shoot straight. + +Through that frightful tempest of shot and shell we tore at top speed, +the fragile hulls of the boats bucking and quivering to the impulse of +their tremendously powerful engines, the water cleft by their sharp bows +curling almost to the height of the navigating bridges and drenching the +occupants with spray, while flames roared out of all four of their +funnels as the stokers below toiled like fiends to feed the furnaces and +maintain a full head of steam. To add to our difficulties, the glare of +so many searchlights directed full upon us dazzled our sight to blinding +point, so that it was only with the greatest difficulty we were able to +find our way. The formation in which the Russian fleet was moored +helped us, however, for we presently found ourselves rushing across the +bows of their weathermost line, and we steered accordingly. + +Then, quite unexpectedly, we came upon the three Russian destroyers +again; and those of us who happened to be prepared--of which the +_Kasanumi_ was one--gave them a further peppering, to which, as before, +they made no reply. And now, at last, we were reaching the end of the +line, and the gauntlet was almost run, for as we drew out to seaward the +inshore ships were compelled to cease fire for fear of hurting their +friends instead of us. There was but one more ship to pass; and as we +drew near to her I saw that she had a decided list to port, and was +floating so deep aft that her "admirals' walk," or stern gallery, was +very nearly submerged. Steam was roaring from her safety valves, and as +we came up to her a small curl of water under her bows and a swirl at +her stern showed that she was under way. It was the _Tsarevich_, +heading for the harbour, evidently in a sinking condition, and we had +the satisfaction of knowing that by that night's work we had put at +least one of the Russian battleships _hors de combat_. Her crew were +much too busy to pay any attention to us; and a quarter of an hour later +we were beyond the zone of that awful, merciless fire, and were heading +south-east for Mokpo, where we had been ordered to rendezvous. + +We did not, of course, at that time know the extent of the damage that +we had succeeded in inflicting upon the Russian fleet; but trustworthy +information reached us later, that the _Tsarevich_ had been struck aft, +the torpedo blowing a big hole in her hull and flooding her steering +compartment to such an extent that her captain had been obliged to beach +her to prevent her from sinking. The _Retvisan_ had been struck +amidships, and a large hole blown in her pump compartment, rendering it +necessary that she also should be beached in order to save her. Those +two battleships constituted the _Kasanumi's_ share of the bag; and very +pleased we were with ourselves when the news became known, since those +two ships were far and away the best in the Russian fleet, and the loss +of them, even if it should prove to be only temporary, was a very +serious matter for the Russians. But, in addition to these, the +_Pallada_, cruiser, and the volunteer cruiser _Angara_ were also hit, +and were obliged to be beached to save them from foundering. + +Thus we had done not at all badly; although some surprise was felt that, +considering the favourable circumstances under which the attack was +made--by which I mean our unsuspected approach, and the time which +elapsed before the searchlights actually found us--we had not done a +great deal more. For Divisions 1, 2, and 3, which had attacked the +Russian fleet, consisted in all of ten destroyers, each of which had +discharged two torpedoes--twenty in all. And of those twenty, only +four, apparently, had got home. It was not a result to be proud of. +But I had a suspicion that I could have put my finger upon the +explanation, had I been asked to do so; and it would have been this: The +night was bitterly cold; so cold, indeed, that the spray froze as it +fell upon us, and the weather was simply atrocious; the result being +that by the time the flotilla arrived in Port Arthur roadstead, the +limit of even Japanese physical endurance had been almost, if not quite, +reached. Most of our deck hands had been more or less severely +frost-bitten, not only their bodies, but also their minds were benumbed +by the arctic severity of the weather, and thus it came to pass (at +least so I reasoned it out) that when the moment for action arrived +their faculties, between physical suffering and mental excitement, +became so confused that many of them made the mistake against which I +had warned Ito, and failed to withdraw the safety pin before discharging +their torpedoes, thus rendering the missiles ineffective. This was also +Ito's opinion, you will remember. + +By the time that we reached Mokpo we were all in a most deplorable +condition, nearly half of the deck hands of the expedition being +compelled to go into hospital suffering from frost-bite, a few of the +cases being of so severe a character that the patients lost either their +hands or their feet, while one man lost all four members, and narrowly +escaped dying outright. Ito and I were somehow lucky enough to escape +without serious injury, but we both developed virulent attacks of +inflammation of the lungs, which put us _hors de combat_ for nearly +three weeks. But there is no doubt that our recovery was greatly +facilitated by the intimation, which reached us while we were still in +hospital, that we had both been promoted to the rank of Commander. + +Meanwhile, things had been happening at Port Arthur and elsewhere. On +the morning following our attack, Togo sent three fast cruisers in +toward the fortress to reconnoitre; and these ships having discovered +pretty much how matters stood there, and reported to the Admiral, the +whole fleet stood in and engaged the ships and batteries at long-range, +firing only their 12-inch and 8-inch guns, the range being too long for +the others. The weather had changed, and was now bright and +comparatively warm, the atmosphere so clear that even comparatively +small objects were clearly visible. + +The _Mikasa_ opened the ball by firing a sighting shot from one of the +12-inch guns in her fore barbette, and at the same moment the Russian +ships were seen to be getting under way. At low speed the Japanese +fleet steamed past the port in "line ahead," firing as they went, and +after an engagement lasting some forty minutes, drew off, hoping that +the Russian fleet would follow them, but in this they were disappointed. +Our ships were hit several times and sustained a certain amount of +damage, but, luckily, not of a serious character. It was reported that +we lost four killed and fifty-four wounded, none of the wounds being +serious enough, however, to necessitate the men being sent ashore to the +hospital. It was some time before reliable information reached us as to +the extent of the damage sustained by the Russians, but when it came it +was to the effect that several of our shells fell in the town, +scattering the piles of coal on the wharves and creating general panic; +the _Poltava_ was so badly hit that she could not move, a shell blowing +her bows open; the _Petropavlosk_ and _Pobieda_ were also hit, though +not seriously; our old friend, the _Askold_, was hit on the waterline +and set on fire, as was also the _Diana_; while the _Novik_, which had +steamed out toward our fleet, was sent flying back with her rudder +damaged, so that they had to steer her with her propellers. This affair +caused Admiral Stark to be superseded; his successor being Admiral +Makarov, said to be the finest seaman Russia then possessed. At the +same time General Kuropatkin was appointed commander of the Russian land +forces. + +Two days later, the Russians lost the mine-layer _Yenesei_ in Dalny Bay. +This was a particularly hard bit of luck for them, inasmuch as that she +had practically completed her work when the disaster happened. Her +mission was to sow Dalny Bay with four hundred contact mines, in order +to prevent the Japanese from using the bay as a landing-place for +troops. She had successfully laid all but two of the four hundred +mines; but when the three hundred and ninety-ninth mine was launched +overboard, it floated, instead of sinking to its prescribed depth. The +captain of the ship is said to have opened fire upon it with his light +guns, to explode it; and in this he appears to have been only too +successful, since it not only exploded but also blew up the ship, which +sank almost immediately, most of her crew going down with her. And on +the following day the small cruiser _Boyarin_ went ashore in Dalny Bay, +and became a total wreck. Thus in less than a week the Port Arthur +fleet had become reduced in strength by no less than three battleships, +five cruisers, and one mining ship, exclusive of the cruiser _Variag_ +and the gunboat _Korietz_, destroyed at Chemulpo. + +Encouraged by the success of the first destroyer attack upon Port +Arthur, Admiral Togo arranged for a repetition of the experiment on the +night of 13th February, and the attempt duly came off, the 4th and 5th +Divisions of the destroyer flotilla being this time told off to conduct +the attack. These divisions, consisting of eight boats, had not +participated in the previous attack, and Togo no doubt wished to give +them an opportunity to acquire _kudos_, and, at the same time, by +arousing their emulation, spur them on to outvie our performance. + +Unfortunately, however, for the expedition, the weather was even worse +than that with which we had had to contend: the cold was intense, a gale +was blowing, a tremendously heavy sea was running, and, to cap it all, a +terrific snow blizzard was raging. The result of this combination of +adverse conditions was that the destroyers very soon lost touch with +each other, and only two of them succeeded in entering the harbour, the +_Asigiri_ preceding the _Hayatori_ by nearly two hours. The _Asigiri_ +entered the harbour unseen, discharged two torpedoes--both of which her +captain, Commander Isakawa, believed had got home--and then fled, +encountering an enemy's launch on the way, and sinking her. The +explosion of the _Asigiri's_ torpedoes of course raised an alarm, +searchlights flashed wildly hither and thither, gunners blazed away +madly, and so great was the panic that several of the Russian destroyers +opened fire upon each other and did a lot of damage. + +When Commander Takanouchi, in the _Hayatori_, arrived two hours later, +the confusion was still at its height, and taking advantage of it, he, +too, slipped in unnoticed and, as he believed, successfully torpedoed a +cruiser before he fled. But it seemed very doubtful whether, after all, +either of the Japanese boats did much damage; for when the Japanese +cruisers reconnoitred next day, none could be detected. + +Then, on the night of 23rd February, all the Russian ships being inside +Port Arthur, Togo sent in five steamers, under Commander Arima, whose +instructions were that they were to be sunk across the harbour entrance, +in such positions as would effectually block the passage. But their +approach was prematurely discovered, and so terrific a fire was opened +upon them from the batteries that two were sunk, while the other three, +their steering gear being shot away, went ashore outside. The attempt +was consequently a failure, while ten men lost their lives in making it. + +On the night of 24th February and the morning of the following day, the +Japanese fleet made a second attack upon Port Arthur, bombarding the +town and fleet for twenty-five minutes. The Russian cruisers _Bayan, +Novik_, and _Askold_ were hit, some shells exploded in the batteries, +and the town was set on fire in two places, but the damage done was +inconsiderable; and at length, in accordance with his instructions to on +no account risk his battleships by engaging the forts, Togo felt himself +obliged to retire. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +"SEALING UP" PORT ARTHUR. + +Our gallant and indefatigable little Admiral seemed to spend all his +spare time in scheming out plans for the discomfiture of the enemy; and +about this time he evolved one which seemed to possess all the elements +of a brilliant success. + +Knowing that Russian spies swarmed everywhere, he prepared an elaborate +scheme to sow Port Arthur roadstead, in front of the harbour entrance, +with electro-mechanical mines, with the ostensible object of preventing +the Russian fleet from coming out. These mines were stated to be of a +peculiarly dangerous and deadly character, invented by Captain Odo. +With great ingenuity the details of the scheme were permitted to +gradually leak out, so that in due time they came into the knowledge of +the Russian spies and were promptly transmitted to Port Arthur. As a +matter of fact, however, the mines which were proposed to be, and +actually were, sown, were of a very innocuous character, Togo's object +being to imbue the Russian mind with the idea that the Japanese mines +were so useless that they might be safely disregarded. Then, when this +object had been achieved, genuine Odo mines would be sown, with +disastrous results to such Russian ships as might chance to run foul of +them. + +The task of sowing the innocuous mines was entrusted to two divisions of +destroyers, consisting of five craft; the first division being composed +of the _Asashio, Kasanumi_, and _Akatsuki_, while the _Akebono_ and +_Sazanami_ constituted the second division. Ito and I had both happily +recovered from our indisposition by this time, and were able to rejoin +the fleet in time to participate in the projected operation. Although +promoted to the rank of Commander, I was left in command of the +_Kasanumi_; but Ito got a step up the ratlines, being given the command +of the _Akatsuki_, while a youngster named Hiraoka was given me in his +place. + +On 9th March we were busy all day shipping our harmless mines; and at +eight o'clock in the evening we weighed and, under easy steam, proceeded +from our base at the Elliot Islands, bound for Port Arthur roadstead, +accompanied by the fast cruiser squadron, the duty of which was to +support us in the event of our being attacked, and cover our escape. + +By 11:30 p.m. we were within ten miles of the roadstead; and at this +point we parted company with the cruisers, who now hove-to for half an +hour, to allow us time to reach our destination. At the expiration of +that time, a light or two were "accidentally" revealed on board the +cruisers for a few seconds, just long enough to give the Port Arthur +lookouts an opportunity to detect them, when they were extinguished. +But the ruse was successful, the attention of the lookouts had been +attracted, and instantly the searchlights from the station on the cliff +to the eastward of the harbour were turned upon the cruisers and kept +steadily bearing upon them. They were, of course, so far away that they +were only dimly descried, and too far distant to make it worth while to +open fire upon them, but their movements were--of set purpose--of so +suspicious a character that, having once detected them, the Russians +were determined not to lose sight of them again. The attention of the +lookouts having thus been attracted to our cruisers in the offing, we in +the destroyers were able to slip into the roadstead undetected. + +Arrived there, we lost no time in sowing our mine-field right athwart +the harbour's mouth, and, had we been so minded, could have finished our +work and retired before daylight. But to render the Admiral's scheme +successful, it was necessary that we should be seen, and the nature of +our work recognised; the 2nd Division therefore reserved a few mines to +be dropped after daylight, and when that came they were at once +discovered dropping mines, in a state of apparently feverish haste. The +forts, of course, at once opened fire upon them; but before they could +get the range, our destroyers launched their remaining mines overboard, +and took to their heels, their task being accomplished. And now, all +that remained was to patiently await the course of events, and thus see +how far this part of Togo's plan had been successful. + +The game, however, was not yet finished. While we had been busily +dropping our mines, what I thought a rather brilliant idea had occurred +to me; and, ceasing work for a while, I steamed up alongside the +_Akebono_, of our 2nd Division, and imparted my idea to Commander +Tsuchiya, who was pleased to very heartily approve of it. In accordance +with my scheme, therefore, the 1st Destroyer Division completed its task +before daylight, and quietly steamed off round to the westward of +Liau-ti-shan, where we remained snugly concealed, close in under the +cliffs. + +My idea was that if our 2nd Division were discovered--as it was +necessary it should be, the Russians would probably send out a few +destroyers to attack it; and the event proved that my surmise was +correct. Six Russian destroyers were dispatched from the harbour, +presumably with instructions to wipe the _Akebono_ and _Sazanami_ off +the face of the waters; and as soon as the latter saw the enemy +approaching, on a course intended to cut off their retreat to the +eastward, the two boats swerved sharply away to the westward, with their +funnels belching great clouds of smoke, and every indication that their +crews were in a terrible state of fright--but with their engines working +at only about three-quarter speed. The Russians, stimulated by our 2nd +Division's apparent terror, and finding also that they were steadily +gaining upon the chase, strained every nerve to overtake them, and at +length came pounding round the point in great style. + +Meanwhile, the two retreating Japanese destroyers had already swept past +us--thus giving us the signal to be on the lookout--and, veering round, +in a wide semi-circle, formed up in our rear, we of the 1st Division +having already started our engines as soon as they hove in sight. + +On came the Russian destroyers, rolling and pitching on the long swell, +with the water spouting and curling under their sharp bows to the height +of their bridges; and the moment that the first of them swung round the +point, over went the indicators of our engine-room telegraphs to "Full +speed ahead!" Our gun crews had been standing to their guns for some +time past, all ready for action, and as we swept out to seaward, +crossing the Russians' bows, we let fly at them with our twelve-pounders +and as many of our six-pounders as could be brought to bear, +concentrating our fire as much as possible upon the enemy's guns, +several of which we succeeded in dismounting. + +I feel bound to admit that, taken by surprise though they were, the +Russians put up a splendid fight; but although they were superior to us +in numbers, our men would not be denied, they worked their guns as +coolly and with as deadly precision as though they had been at target +practice, and the Russian boats were hulled again and again, clouds of +steam arose from them, fires broke out aboard some of them, and so +closely were we engaged that we could occasionally hear the cries of the +wounded that arose as our shot swept their decks. The fight, which was +a very hot one, lasted some twenty minutes, by which time the Russians +had managed to get back round the point and under the cover of the +batteries. We followed them to the very mouth of the harbour, fighting +every inch of the way, but, at length, with heavy shells falling all +round us, in some cases dropping so close that our decks were drenched +with spray, it became imperative for us to be off, and we accordingly +ported our helms and made off, followed by salvos of shot, big and +small, until we were out of range. + +Then we slowed down our engines and proceeded to take stock of our +injuries. + +So far as the _Kasanumi_ was concerned, we had got off pretty lightly, +although there was a period of about three minutes when we were hotly +engaged by two Russian destroyers at the same time. Our decks were +rather severely scored by flying fragments of shells, we had three +shot-holes in our hull, we had one man killed and two wounded, one of +them being our chief engineer, who, although severely wounded by a +fragment of a shell which burst in the engine-room, gallantly stuck to +his post until the fight was over, when he was able to turn the engines +over to his second. The _Akatsuki_ had received the severest +punishment, one of her steam pipes being severed, and four of her +engine-room hands scalded to death. In all, we lost in this fight seven +killed and eight wounded; but none of the boats was very seriously +damaged. + +Meanwhile, our 2nd Division, consisting of the _Akebono_ and _Sazanami_, +had vanished, without leaving a sign of their whereabouts. It was now +daylight, and the weather tolerably clear, yet, although Hiraoka and I +swept the whole surface of the sea with our glasses, we entirely failed +to pick them up. The _Asashio_ and _Akatsuki_ were within hail, both of +them engaged, like ourselves, in temporarily patching up the holes in +their thin steel sides, through which the water was pouring in whenever +we rolled extra heavily; and I hailed them both, inquiring whether +either of them had seen anything of the missing craft. An affirmative +reply came from my friend Ito, aboard the _Akatsuki_, who informed me +that shortly after the fight began, on the other side of the promontory, +he had momentarily caught sight of them both, steaming hot-foot after a +destroyer which was in full flight, heading toward Pigeon Bay. + +Scarcely had this reply been given when the sounds of light gun-fire +faintly reached our ears from the direction mentioned, and a few minutes +later two destroyers, flying the Russian flag, came foaming round the +point, firing as they came, while close behind them appeared our two +missing boats, also firing for all they were worth. The Russian boats +were running in "line ahead," and it seemed to me that the skipper of +the leading boat was manoeuvring her in such a manner as to keep his +consort as nearly as possible between himself and the pursuers; at all +events the sternmost boat seemed to be getting the biggest share of the +pursuers' fire. + +At once I shouted an order for the men engaged upon our repairs to +hasten their work and bring it to some sort of finish, at the same time +signing the quartermaster to put his helm hard over, my intention of +course being to go back and render such assistance as might be required, +while the _Asashio_ kept on and stood by Ito, who had his hands full +with his severed steam pipe. + +But it was impossible for us now to steam at a greater speed than about +three knots, for had we attempted to do so, we should have washed +overboard the men who were making the repairs, as well as washed the +repairs themselves away, in their uncompleted state; consequently, long +before we could get near the scene of action, the fight was over. One +of the destroyers--the leading one--managed to get safely into the +harbour, while the other, which turned out to be the _Stercguschtchi_, +riddled with shells, lost speed to such an extent that at length the +_Sazanami_ was able to run alongside and throw a boarding party upon her +deck. They found that deck a veritable shambles, no less than thirty +dead being counted upon it. Naturally, they took the craft without any +resistance worth mentioning, for there were very few left to resist, +while, of those who remained, the greater number jumped overboard rather +than surrender. Of these, only two were picked up, while two others, +too badly wounded to either fight or take to the water, surrendered. + +At once the _Sazanami_ took her prize in tow; but the craft was so +seriously damaged that, despite all efforts to save her, she rapidly +filled and sank, the towing hawser parting as she foundered. + +Meanwhile the _Akebono_ was in a somewhat parlous condition, for during +the fight she had been struck on the waterline, and was now limping +along as best she could, with two compartments filled; when, therefore, +the Russian boat foundered, the _Sazanami_ went to her consort's +assistance and took her in tow, for two Russian cruisers, identified as +the _Novik_ and _Bayan_, were now seen to be coming out of Port Arthur +harbour, and it was high time for us all to be off. Happily for us, by +the time that the Russian cruisers were fairly out of harbour, five of +our own cruisers had hove up above the horizon, steaming rapidly +shoreward to our support, whereupon the Russians turned tail and +retreated. + +As our cruisers came up, their flagship signalled us to proceed to our +rendezvous, after ascertaining that we could look after ourselves and +needed no assistance; and shortly afterward we fell in with our main +fleet, under Togo, bound for Pigeon Bay, whither the Admiral was +proceeding for the purpose of testing his theory that the fortress could +be successfully bombarded by high-angle fire projected over the high +land between Pigeon Bay and the town. The signal was made for Commander +Tsuchiya and me to proceed on board the _Mikasa_, where we jointly made +our report, with which the Admiral was pleased to express his +satisfaction. He, too, was anxious to know whether we required any +assistance, and finding that we did not, ordered us to proceed to our +rendezvous and get our repairs put in hand without a moment's delay. We +arrived safely at our destination early in the afternoon, and within the +next hour our damaged craft were in the hands of strong repairing gangs, +so prompt were the Japanese to act. + +The main fleet arrived at the rendezvous shortly before sunset, and +anchored. I looked keenly at ship after ship, as they steamed in, but +could detect no signs of injury to any of them; so after dinner I took +our dinghy and rowed across to the _Mikasa_, with several of the +officers of which I was by this time on quite intimate terms. The first +man I happened to run into, however, upon passing in through the gangway +was Captain Ijichi, commanding the ship; and he, as anxious to hear my +yarn as I was to hear his, instantly pounced upon me and marched me off +to his own cabin, where we were presently joined by Lieutenant Prince +Kasho, for whom Ijichi had sent. + +Here I was made to start the proceedings by spinning, at considerably +greater length, the yarn which I had related to the Admiral earlier in +the day, and which I was now able to supplement with the additional +information that our 2nd Division had chased the Russian destroyer, of +which they had started in pursuit, into Pigeon Bay, where they had sunk +her. The honours of the day were of course with them, for they had +accounted for two Russian destroyers, whereas we of the 1st Division had +only given five of the enemy a very severe mauling; nevertheless, my +little audience were good enough to stamp our performance with their +marked approval. + +Then the skipper of the _Mikasa_ related his story. The long-range +bombardment of Port Arthur was not a very exciting affair, it seemed, +but it was successful in so far that it proved the correctness of the +Admiral's theory that it could be done by firing over the high ground +and dropping shells upon an unseen mark on the other side. + +The attempt was of a twofold character, one part of which was to test +the above theory, while the other was to destroy the Russian signal +station upon the island of Sanshan, off Dalny, from which spot the enemy +were able to observe and report to Port Arthur the movements of our +fleet. This task was successfully accomplished by a detachment of our +cruisers. + +As regards the long-range, high-angle bombardment of the fortress, it +was accomplished in the following fashion. Our battleships proceeded +round to the westward of the promontory of Liau-ti-shan to a spot where +the high land hid them from the sight of the Port Arthur batteries, and, +elevating the muzzles of their 12-inch guns to the required extent, they +discharged five rounds each from their four guns--one hundred and twenty +shots in all, one shot at a time, while our first cruiser squadron, +stationed off the port, to the south-east, carefully noted the spot +where each shell dropped, and reported the result by wireless to the +battleships, thus enabling them to adjust their aim and rectify any +inaccuracies. The result was that one of our shells hit the Golden Hill +fort, exploding a magazine and doubtless doing a considerable amount of +damage to the structure, while the Mantow Hill fort, on the west side of +the harbour, was hit several times and considerably damaged. Several +shells fell in the New Town of Port Arthur, setting fire to a number of +houses there and causing a tremendous panic and great loss of life. The +fifth shell fired by our battleships struck the Russian battleship +_Retvisan_, while another fell aboard the _Sevastopol_, exploding on her +armoured deck. Yet another of our shells struck a train which happened +to be just entering Port Arthur station, destroying the locomotive and, +as we subsequently learned, killing the engine-driver and severely +wounding the fireman. Finally, the _Retvisan_ adopted our own tactics +and retaliated by firing her heavy guns over the intervening high +ground, while some of the forts did the same, a party of signallers +being stationed on the crest of the hill to direct their aim. As a +result of this, shells at length began to drop near our ships; whereupon +the Admiral, in obedience to his instructions not to risk his +battleships, hauled off; the fleet, as it went, observing three dense +columns of smoke rising from the city. + +Seeing that our ships were retiring, the Russian Admiral led out to sea +such of his ships as were fit for service, with the evident intention of +luring our ships into the zone of fire of the forts; but he might as +well have saved his coal, for Togo was much too wary a bird to be caught +with that kind of chaff. + +On the following day we learned by wireless, from one of our cruiser +scouts, that the Russian fleet was being cautiously taken out to sea +through our mine-field off the harbour's mouth, the innocuous character +of which they had already ascertained,--as intended by our Admiral,-- +and, later on, the further information reached us that the fleet was at +sea and carrying out evolutions while cautiously working its way +southward. Later still, we were informed that the Russians, learning +from their scouts that none of our ships were in the vicinity, had +proceeded as far as the Miao-tao Islands, off the Shan-tung peninsula, +which they subjected to a careful examination, under the impression, as +we subsequently learned, that those islands were being used by our +destroyers as a hiding-place from which to make our raids. All hands of +us immediately made our preparations to weigh at a moment's notice, +fully expecting that the Admiral would seize what seemed such a splendid +opportunity to intercept the enemy and give him battle in the open sea. +But no orders were issued; and we were given to understand that there +were certain good and sufficient secret reasons why the opportunity must +be permitted to pass. A great deal of surprise, not to say +dissatisfaction, was caused by this strange decision; but discipline was +so strong, and the idea of implicit, unquestioning obedience had been so +thoroughly instilled into the Japanese mind, that not a word of +grumbling passed any of our lips. + +On the night of 21st March the tactics of the 9th of the same month were +repeated, including the laying of harmless mines off the mouth of the +harbour, and the high-angle bombardment of the fortress by the _Fuji_ +and _Yashima_ from Pigeon Bay; but the affair was uneventful; it may +therefore be dismissed with the bare mention of it. The Russian ships +again came out of harbour and ranged themselves in battle formation in +the roadstead, but no wiles of ours could tempt them to leave the +protection of the forts, so we drew off and returned to our rendezvous +among the Elliot Islands. + +During the night of 22nd March, four merchant steamers, purchased by the +Japanese Government, arrived at our rendezvous from Sasebo, in response +to a request from Togo; and the Admiral, with characteristic energy, at +once proceeded to prepare them for the task of making a second attempt +to bottle up the fleet in Port Arthur harbour. + +They were the _Fukui Maru, Chiyo Maru, Yoneyama Maru_, and _Yahiko +Maru_--all old craft, practically worn-out, and of very little value. +These ships, like those used in the first attempt, were loaded with +stones and scrap iron consolidated into a mass by pouring liquid cement +over it, thus converting it into a sort of reinforced concrete, +underneath which was buried the explosion charges destined to blow out +the bottoms of the ships and sink them upon their arrival at their +destined stations. + +Hirose, now promoted to the rank of Commander for the gallantry which he +displayed upon the occasion of the first attempt, was given the command +of the largest ship, the _Fukui Maru_, while, to my intense surprise and +gratification, I was given the command of the _Chiyo Maru_, a craft of +1746 tons. The expedition was in charge of Commander Arima, who went +with Hirose. The ships were armed with a few old Hotchkiss +quick-firers, for use against torpedo craft, should any attack us. + +Our preparations were completed late in the afternoon of 26th March; and +we immediately weighed and proceeded to sea, escorted by a flotilla of +destroyers and torpedo-boats, among which was the _Kasanumi_, +temporarily under the command of my subordinate, young Hiraoka, who had +already proved himself to be a very capable, discreet, and courageous +lad. + +The weather on this occasion was everything that could be desired, +perfectly clear, with no wind and a sea so calm that the veriest +cock-boat could have safely ventured upon it. The only drawback was +that there was a moon, well advanced in her first quarter, floating high +in a sky dappled with light, fleecy cloud through which enough light +percolated to render even small craft distinctly visible on the horizon. +But, after all, this would not greatly matter, indeed it would be an +advantage to us, always provided, of course, that we were not +prematurely sighted by some keen-visioned, swift-steaming Russian scout; +for the moon would set about midnight, while two o'clock in the morning +was the time set for our attempt. + +The run to the offing of Port Arthur was like a pleasure trip; our fleet +of old crocks pounded along steadily, with a soft, soothing sound of +purling water rising from under their bows, dominated from time to time +by the clank of our crazy engines, which our mechanics had doctored up +as thoroughly as time permitted, in order to ensure that they should +outlast the run across. There was nothing for us to do but follow our +leader, so I spent an hour of the time in making sure that our solitary +boat should reach the water with certainty and on a level keel when the +time should come to launch her, taking the turns out of the davit +tackles, well greasing the falls, oiling the block sheaves, and rigging +up a device of my own contriving whereby the necessity to unhook the +blocks could be avoided when the boat touched the water. + +At eleven o'clock Commander Arima signalled the destroyer flotilla, and +five of the fastest of them at once went full speed ahead, spreading out +in a fan-shaped formation ahead of us and on either bow to reconnoitre +the roadstead. At ten minutes to midnight the moon, a great golden +half-disc, swimming in a violet sky flecked with great islands of soft, +fleecy cloud, touched the high land of Liau-ti-shan; and as she sank +behind it, the order was given to stop our engines and lay-to for a +short while, as we had made a good passage and were somewhat ahead of +our scheduled time; also to await the return and report of the +destroyers. We were now about twelve miles off Port Arthur, and far +enough beyond the range of the searchlights to ensure our presence being +undetected. + +With the setting of the moon, the clouds seemed to bunch together and +acquire a greater density, and it fell very dark, such starlight as +filtered through the canopy of cloud only barely sufficing to enable us +to detect our next ship ahead and astern. The land about Port Arthur +loomed up in the darkness like a shapeless black shadow, stretched along +the horizon to the west and north, pierced only by the long beam of the +searchlight on Golden Hill, sweeping slowly to and fro at intervals. +Watching this, for want of something better to do, we presently noticed +that, for some reason not explicable to us, the beam never travelled +farther south than a certain point, where it invariably paused for a few +seconds, and then slowly swept round toward the north again. + +Wondering whether Arima also had noticed this, I rang our engines ahead +for a revolution or two, and hailed the _Fukui_ to inquire. It appeared +that he had not; and I was in the middle of a suggestion, the observance +of which would, I believed, enable us to get close in, undetected, when +our destroyers came rushing back with the information that everything +was clear ahead, and that the prospects of success looked exceedingly +promising. Whereupon Arima, hailing me, directed me to take the lead in +the _Chiyo_, steering such a course as seemed desirable, and the rest +would follow. Accordingly, we in the _Chiyo_ went ahead, the _Fukui_ +falling in next astern, and the other two retaining their original +positions. + +We started at a speed of six knots only, to give our stokers a chance to +get their boilers into the best possible trim and to raise a good head +of steam for the final rush, and as soon as our safety valves began to +blow off, we increased the number of our revolutions until, when we +arrived within four miles of the harbour's mouth, we were racing in, as +though for a wager. At this point the destroyers stopped their engines +and lay-to. They had done the first part of their work, and must now +wait until we had done ours. + +Meanwhile, I had quite made up my mind as to the proper thing to do, and +accordingly shaped a course by which, instead of running straight in, +and so crossing the track of the searchlight beam, we edged away to the +southward and westward, traversing the arc of a circle, and so just +keeping outside the range of the beam. But of course this sort of thing +could not go on indefinitely; to enter the harbour we must, sooner or +later, get within the range of the light; and when we arrived within two +miles of the harbour's mouth further concealment became impossible. But +we had done not at all badly, for a ten minutes' rush would now see us +where we wanted to be, if in the meantime we were not hit and blown out +of the water. + +As we came within reach of the searchlight, I called down to the +engine-room, enjoining those below to give the old packet every ounce of +steam they could muster; and the engineer responded by calmly screwing +down the safety valves, ignoring the fact that, by doing so, he risked +the bursting of the boilers. This was no time for caution, and if the +worn-out kettles would only stand the strain for another ten minutes, +all might be well. + +Slowly the searchlight beam came sweeping round toward us, until it +rested fully upon us. It swept on for a yard or two, switched back, +paused for a few seconds, and then began to wave wildly to and fro, +seemingly by way of a signal, while a solitary gunshot pealed out upon +the air. Then the light came back to us, fully revealing the four +steamers making their headlong rush for the harbour entrance. + +Following that solitary gunshot there was a tense silence, lasting for +perhaps half a minute, while searchlight after searchlight was turned +upon us from the heights and from every ship so placed that they could +be brought to bear. Then, as though at a preconcerted signal, the +batteries on the heights and two gunboats anchored at the harbour +entrance opened fire upon us, and the darkness of the night was stabbed +and pierced by jets of flame, while the air became vibrant with the hiss +and scream of projectiles of every description, which fell all round us, +lashing the surface of the sea into innumerable jets of phosphorescent +foam. The crash of the heavy gun-fire, and the sharper crackle of the +quick-firers, raised such a terrific din that it quickly became +impossible to make one's voice heard; but my crew had already received +their orders, and the moment that we got within range they opened a +steady fire with our two old Hotchkisses upon the gunboats at the +harbour's mouth, while our destroyers, pushing boldly in after us, +opened fire upon the searchlights, hoping to destroy them, and +endeavouring by every possible device to distract the attention of the +gunners and to draw their fire from us. But in this they were +unsuccessful; the Russians at once divined our intention to seal up the +harbour, and recognised that it was vastly more important to them to +frustrate our purpose than to waste their fire upon our elusive +destroyers; and I doubt whether a single gun was turned upon them. + +On through the tempest of projectiles we rushed, our old and patched-up +engines rattling and clanking and groaning as they worked under such a +pressure of steam as they had not known for many a long day; the +stokers, after a final firing-up, came on deck, by order of the +engineer, and went upon the topgallant forecastle to assist with the +guns; and I took up my station by the wheelhouse to con the ship to her +appointed berth, which was immediately under Golden Hill, and about a +hundred yards from the shore. One of the two gunboats that were +guarding the entrance was anchored so nearly in our way that I was +sorely tempted to give her the stem and sink her where she lay. But I +successfully resisted the temptation, for, had we sunk her, she was too +far out to have become an obstruction, while we should probably have +smashed in our own bows and gone to the bottom before arriving at our +station. As we surged past her, however, within twenty fathoms, we +peppered her smartly with our quick-firers, receiving in return a ragged +discharge from her entire battery, including a shell from her 6-inch gun +which happily passed through our starboard bulwarks and out through our +port without exploding. Our foretopmast was at this moment shot away, +and fell on deck, but hurt no one, our funnel was riddled with shrapnel, +and a bridge stanchion, within a foot of where I was standing, was cut +in two; but none of us was hurt. The next moment a shell struck our +mainmast and sent it over the side, luckily severing the rotten shrouds +and stays also, so that it fell clear and did not foul our propeller. A +few seconds later a shell dropped upon our after-deck and exploded, +blowing a jagged circular hole of some twenty feet diameter in it, and +setting the planks on fire; but a few buckets of water promptly applied +sufficed to extinguish the blaze. + +Meanwhile we were plugging along in grand style and drawing so near to +our destination that I called to the men to cease firing, and for two of +them to stand by to let go the anchor while the rest came aft and held +themselves ready to jump into our solitary boat when I gave the word. +It was wonderfully exciting work, for as we drew nearer in we came into +the range of fire of other forts and ships, and the air seemed to be +thick with missiles, while shrapnel was bursting all round us, and the +water was torn by flying shot to such an extent that our decks were +streaming, and all hands of us were wet through with the thrown-up +spray. + +At length our appointed berth was so close at hand that I rang down to +stop the engines and signed to the helmsman to put his helm hard a-port, +while I stationed myself close to the electric button, pressure on which +would fire the explosives in our hold and blow our bottom out. We were +now so close in under the cliffs that the Golden Hill guns could no +longer reach us, also we were out of range of the great searchlights, +consequently we were enshrouded in darkness, yet the forts on the west +side of the harbour still maintained their fire upon us; but we were now +lost in the deep shadow of the cliffs, and the shots flew wide. + +Half a minute later, I called down the tube to the engineer to send his +engines astern to check our way, and then come on deck; and he was still +ascending the engine-room ladder when I shouted to the men forward to +let go the anchor. It fell with a great splash, and as we had snubbed +her at a short scope, she quickly brought up in the exact spot destined +for her. + +"Lower away the boat, and tumble in, men," I shouted; and the words were +hardly out of my mouth when I heard the murmur of the falls through the +blocks, and the splash of the boat as she hit the water. A few muffled +ejaculations followed as the men slid down the falls, then came the +rattle of oars as they were thrown out; and finally a voice crying: + +"All ready, Captain, we only wait for you." + +"Good!" I ejaculated, and rammed down the button. A tremendous jolt +that all but flung me off the bridge, accompanied by a not very loud +explosion, followed, the ship trembled as though she had been a sentient +thing, and the sound of water, as though pouring through a sluice, +reached my ears. Down the ladder I rushed, on to the main deck, seized +one of the davit tackles and slid down into the boat; and as the men +replied to my question that all were present, the bowman thrust the boat +away from the sinking steamer's side, and the oars churned up the water +as we pulled away. + +"Give way, lively, lads," I cried, as I seized the tiller; "we'll get +close inshore, where nobody can see us, and save our skins in that way. +We have happily escaped thus far; and it would be a pity for any of us +to get hit now. There goes the old _Chiyo_! she hasn't taken long to +sink, bless her! She is worth a lot more where she is, at the bottom of +Port Arthur harbour, than she was when afloat." + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE KORYU MARU. + +Meanwhile the _Fukui Maru_ had also reached her destination, and as we +pushed off in the boat from the side of our own sinking ship, we heard, +through the din of firing and the explosions of bursting shells, the +roar of her cable as her crew let go her anchor. I was sitting with my +back turned toward her, intent upon getting our boat as close inshore as +possible, when the engineer, who was sitting beside me, touched my arm +and pointed. + +I turned and looked, to see Hirose's ship brought up right in +mid-channel--the berth assigned to her; and, bearing down upon her, a +Russian destroyer, her funnels and guns spouting flame and smoke as she +tore furiously through the water. Another instant, and the destroyer +swerved, just clearing the stern of the _Fukui_; there was the flash of +a torpedo from her deck tube, a terrific explosion, and the _Fukui_ +seemed to be hove up out of the water on the top of a great cone of +leaping sea intermingled with smoke and flame. The ship had been +torpedoed, quite uselessly, indeed worse than uselessly, for the +Russians had simply saved our people the trouble of sinking her. + +The destroyer passed on, and we temporarily lost sight of her in the +darkness and wreathing smoke. We saw the _Fukui's_ boat lowered, and +the crew get into her; but she remained alongside so long that she only +got away barely in time to avoid being dragged down with the ship. +Meanwhile, shells were falling not only all round but also aboard the +_Fukui_, and we presently saw that she was on fire, as well as sinking. +Nearly or quite a dozen shells must have struck her before she finally +foundered; but it was not until the next day that we learned the full +extent of the tragedy. It then appeared that the explosion of the +torpedo had either disconnected or shattered the wires connected with +the explosives in the _Fukui's_ bottom, and a petty officer named Sugino +had gone below to explode the charges. It chanced that this man was a +blood-brother of Hirose, and, not returning to the deck as he was +expected to do, Hirose went in search of him, after ordering the boat to +leave the ship. A few seconds later a shell was seen to strike Hirose +on the head, of course killing him instantly. Later on, we heard that +his floating body had been picked up in the harbour by the Russians, +who, to do them justice, buried it with military honours. + +A small air of wind at this time came breathing down the harbour, +momentarily dispersing the thick veil of smoke that overhung the water, +and we were thus enabled to see that our third ship, the _Yahiko Maru_, +had also succeeded in reaching the berth assigned to her, and was at +that moment in the very act of sinking, close to the Pinnacle Rock, a +great monolith which rose high out of the water on the western side of +the harbour's mouth. Thus far, therefore, everything had gone well with +the expedition; and now all that remained was for the fourth ship, the +_Yoneyama Maru_, to close up the gap that still remained. + +I looked round to see if I could see anything of her, and presently the +shifting of the searchlight beam from the _Yahiko_ revealed her coming +along in fine style, and heading straight for her appointed berth. +Hitherto, the Russian batteries had been too busy, attending to us +others, to take much notice of her, and she appeared to be all ataunto +and quite uninjured. I felt curious to see what was going to happen to +her, and gave my crew the order to "Easy all, and lay on your oars!" + +As I did so, a Russian destroyer--I could not tell whether it was the +craft that had torpedoed the _Fukui_, or another--emerged from the +darkness, heading straight for the _Yahiko_, as though to run her down! +Would they dare? I wondered. Surely not. But if they did not, there +was no reason why the _Yahiko_ should not; she was a stout-built, +merchant steamer, and, old as she was, would shear through the +destroyer's thin plating as though it were brown paper. If I had been +in charge of the _Yahiko_, I would not have hesitated an instant, indeed +I would have jumped at the chance, and in my excitement I leaped to my +feet and, making a funnel of my hands, yelled frantically: + +"_Yahiko_ ahoy! Give her the stem, man; give her the stem!" + +But at that precise moment the Russian guns opened again, this time +directing their fire upon the _Yahiko_, and my hail was effectually +drowned by the crash of the explosions. + +I am of opinion that, a moment later, the commander of the _Yahiko_ saw +his chance, just too late to fully avail himself of it, at all events +the bows of the steamer suddenly swept round, and although the destroyer +instantly shifted her helm, she was too late to entirely avoid a +collision; the rounding of the _Yahiko's_ bow struck her and roughly +shouldered her aside, both craft reeling under the impact; and at that +instant the destroyer let fly every gun that would bear, the fire from +them actually scorching the Japanese crew, who were at that moment +preparing to lower their boat. The _Yahiko_ passed on, and so did the +destroyer, the latter vanishing in the darkness to seaward, while the +_Yahiko_, the centre of a very galaxy of bursting shells, staggered on +in a sinking condition, and went down at the very moment when, with +astounding skill and coolness, her skipper had brought her to the exact +spot for which she was intended. + +Then it was seen that, either through some miscalculation or, more +probably, because the Russians had widened the channel, there still +remained an unfilled gap, wide enough for a single ship to pass through! +It was a most vexatious thing, after all the trouble that we had taken +and the ordeal which we had passed through; but it could not be helped; +it was the fortune of war. + +Stay, though! Why should it not be helped? All that was needed was +another steamer--or perhaps two steamers--to fill the gap, and the thing +was done. And, hang it all! I was game to do the job myself to-morrow +night, when the Russians would least expect me. + +But, to do the job effectually, it was highly necessary to know the +exact width of the gap, and the depth of water in it; and now was the +time to ascertain those particulars, while we were on the spot. I would +do it! + +Then came the very practical question: How? What means had we to take +soundings, or to measure the gap between the sunken _Fukui_ and the +_Yoneyama_? I looked about me, and found that all we had with us was +the boat's painter, a piece of rope some seven or eight fathoms long, +which might serve as a sounding-line, if only we had a sinker of some +sort, which, unhappily, we had not. Then one of the men in the boat, +realising what I wanted, informed me that, while preparing the boat for +lowering, he had chanced to glance into the locker in the stern-sheets, +and had noticed a fishing-line there. Would that be of any use? Of +course it would; the very thing for sounding, at all events. We had +that line out in double-quick time, cut away the hooks, and then +proceeded to knot it at exact intervals corresponding with the length of +the boat's after-thwart. Precisely what that length might be, we could +ascertain afterward. + +But, how to measure the width of the gap? There seemed to me to be but +one way to do it, and that was by taking the length of our boat herself +as a unit of measurement; not a very satisfactory method, I admitted, +yet better than nothing. So thereupon we set to work. + +Starting at the _Fukui's_ mainmast, we dropped the sinker of the +fishing-line over the stern and paid out until it reached her deck. +Then, giving way with the oars, we felt our way along her deck to her +taffrail, lifted the sinker, and dropped it again, clear of the wreck, +until it touched bottom. Then, noting the depth as so many knots and +fractions of a knot, I jotted the result in my notebook while, the +oarsmen keeping the boat in position, another cast was made at the bow +end of the boat. Proceeding in this manner, and taking the utmost care +to obtain accurate results, we accomplished our task in about half an +hour, under a heavy fire from the Russians on the heights, which, +strange to say, injured none of us. + +This done, we pulled out to sea, and were soon afterward sighted and +joined by the _Tsubame_ and _Aotaka_, Japanese torpedo-boats, which took +us aboard, and exultingly informed us that, a quarter of an hour or so +earlier, they had engaged and driven ashore a Russian destroyer, which +afterward proved to be the _Silny_, the craft which had torpedoed the +_Fukui_, and had narrowly escaped being run down and sunk by the +_Yahiko_. + +The torpedo-boats' crews made much of us and, I believe, would have +given us everything they had, if we would have taken it; but I contented +myself with a pannikin of _saki_, to counteract the cold of my drenched +clothing, and then asked them to run me off alongside my own ship, the +_Kasanumi_, which was hove-to about a mile further out. My crew +received me back with literally open arms and loud shouts of "Banzai +Nippon!" when I allowed it to be known that we had succeeded in doing +all that we had been ordered to do. Young Hiraoka was disposed to +regard me as a hero, and to treat me as such, commencing a long +complimentary speech of homage and congratulation; but I cut him short +by remarking that I was perishing of cold, and dived below to give +myself a good rough towelling and to change into dry kit. + +When I went on deck again, the dawn was just brightening the eastern +sky, and I then noticed that we seemed to have more than our proper +complement of men aboard. Inquiring the reason, I learned that the +_Kasanumi_ had picked up the crew of the _Fukui Maru_, poor Hirose's +ship; and they furnished me with the particulars of the gallant fellow's +heroic death. I also learned that while we had been engaged in the +endeavour to block the harbour, our destroyers had been busily employed +in sowing further harmless mines, in accordance with the Admiral's plan +to convince the Russians that Japanese mines were useless and need not +be feared. + +As the daylight strengthened, it revealed our fleet, strung out along +the horizon, the Admiral having followed the blocking ships and +destroyers upon the off-chance that the Russians might be tempted to +come out and attack them, in the event of our failing in our mission. + +And at first it appeared as though that chance might be afforded us. +For, as we steamed away to the eastward, we saw smoke rising from the +funnels of some of the ships in the harbour, and shortly afterward the +cruisers _Bayan, Novik_, and _Askold_ came steaming out, with the +battleships following. But it was no go; the Russians opened a +long-range fire upon us, to which we gave no reply, slowly retiring +instead, in the hope of enticing the enemy's ships to follow us beyond +the cover of their batteries. The Russian Admiral, however, was too +wary, refusing to be drawn, and, putting up his helm, he returned to the +harbour. Nevertheless, the event was not altogether unprofitable to us, +for as the Russian ships re-entered the harbour, the _Petropavlosk_ ran +foul of the _Sevastopol_ and damaged her so severely as to render her +unfit for further service until she could be repaired. + +Meanwhile, the destroyers being no longer required, I devoted myself to +the task of reducing to an intelligible state the soundings and +measurements which I had that morning taken; and by the time that we +were back at our rendezvous I had a little sketch plan of the harbour's +mouth ready for the Admiral, showing the exact width of the gap and the +depth of water in it, thus enabling him to determine the precise size of +the craft required to fill it. I also volunteered to return and fill up +the gap that very night, if he could let me have a ship of the required +dimensions. But it appeared that he had no ship that could at that time +be spared; consequently the job had to wait. + +But Togo was profuse in his thanks for my offer; and was pleased to be +exceedingly complimentary in his remarks touching my "gallantry" in the +matter of taking the soundings, as also upon our conduct generally in +taking in the blocking ships under such a terrific fire and sinking them +exactly in the required positions. He expressed great grief at the loss +of poor Hirose, who was, without doubt, a remarkably promising officer, +and would assuredly have further distinguished himself and gone far, had +he lived. + +Just before we arrived at our rendezvous that night, our high-pressure +cylinder developed a bad crack, possibly through some unsuspected flaw +in the casting; and as there were no means of repairing it, except +temporarily, where we were, and as in the meantime the boat was useless, +I received orders to have the crack patched-up as far as possible, and +then to proceed to Sasebo, to have a new cylinder fitted. This mishap +involved an absence of the _Kasanumi_ from our rendezvous for ten days; +but, as events proved, it did not matter in the least; for the Admiral, +doubtless for good and sufficient reasons, now permitted a period of +inaction to occur, during which nothing happened beyond the usual +watching of Port Arthur harbour. I availed myself of the opportunity +thus afforded to have my little ship docked, scraped, and repainted; +while my engineer took his engines entirely to pieces, subjected them to +a thorough overhaul, and replaced a few brasses and other matters that +were showing signs of wear. He also overhauled the boilers, and fitted +quite a number of new tubes; so that when at length the boat left the +dry dock she was in first-class condition, and ready for any service +that could be reasonably asked of her. + +I found awaiting me at the post office quite a nice little batch of most +cheering and encouraging letters from my friends, the Gordons, to which +I duly replied at considerable length, giving them--and especially +Ronald--full particulars of my adventures up to date; and the receipt of +their letters made me feel that while a man had such staunch friends as +they had proved to be, the world was not such a bad place, after all. + +We got back to our rendezvous at the Elliot Islands on the afternoon of +9th April, the little _Kasanumi_ looking as smart and spick-and-span as +a new pin, her hull, funnels, mast, guns--everything, in fact, except +her deck--painted that peculiar tint of medium smoky-grey which +experience had proved to render her almost invisible, even in daylight, +and absolutely so at night; and the moment that our anchor was down I +proceeded aboard the flagship to report myself, and also to deliver +mails for the fleet and dispatches for the Admiral, which I had brought +with me. + +There did not seem to be very much doing at the rendezvous when I +arrived, beyond the rebunkering of such craft as needed it; but I +noticed a rather smart-looking steamer of about four thousand tons, +fitted as a mine-layer, with lighters on both sides of her, out of which +a number of very business-like-looking mines were being hoisted. + +But when I got aboard the _Mikasa_, and was shown into the Admiral's +cabin, I found the little gentleman up to his eyes in business, as +usual. He dropped his work, however, when I was announced, and, rising +from his chair, greeted me in the most hearty and friendly manner; then, +bidding me be seated, he asked me how I had spent my time at Sasebo. He +expressed the utmost satisfaction with everything that I had done; and +presently, when the orderly brought in a bundle of letters and papers +from the mail which I had brought, he opened the latter and, selecting +from it a particular sheet--the Tokio _Asahi_, I believe it was--opened +it, glanced eagerly at a particular column, and then, with a smile and a +pointing finger, handed the sheet to me. It had been opened at the page +containing naval intelligence; and glancing at it, I perceived, to my +amazement and delight, that I had been gazetted to the rank of Captain, +"as from 27th March, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in +connection with the second attempt to close Port Arthur harbour." The +two other surviving skippers had also been similarly promoted. + +I scarcely knew how to find words eloquent enough to thank Togo for his +generous recognition of my services, such as they were; but he would not +listen to a word of thanks, insisting that I had honestly earned the +promotion, and thoroughly deserved it. + +"And now," he concluded, "I am going to give you a further opportunity +to distinguish yourself. I have in hand some work, the successful +execution of which demands a man who can be depended upon to keep his +head and his nerve under the most trying conditions, such as those which +existed when you took those soundings and measurements, under, fire, the +other day; indeed it was that piece of daring which caused me to select +you for the work. You may perhaps have observed a steamer shipping +mines--You did? Yes, I thought you would. Well, that steamer is the +_Koryu Maru_, a very smart boat, steaming twenty-two knots, which I have +had fitted as a mine-layer. The Russians have passed to and fro over +our mine-field off Port Arthur, and have had full opportunity to learn +that our mines are so harmless that they may be regarded as negligible, +so, now, I propose to teach them a new lesson. The mines which the +_Koryu_ is shipping are not harmless; on the contrary, they are +exceedingly formidable affairs, containing charges ranging from one +hundred to two hundred pounds of Shimose explosive, and they are +arranged to automatically adjust themselves to varying depths of water. +The ship which strikes one of them will be done for! Having told you so +much, you will readily understand that they are ticklish affairs to +handle, particularly when it comes to laying them; hence my choice of +you, Captain Swinburne, to supervise and execute the task. I shall be +glad if you will go aboard, at your earliest convenience, and make +yourself thoroughly acquainted with the mode of handling them, which is +essentially different from that of handling the mines to which you have +been accustomed." + +I thanked the Admiral for this fresh manifestation of his trust in me, +and took my leave, pausing only for a few minutes, on my way to the +gangway, to exchange greetings with some of the officers of the ship, +and reply to their congratulations upon my promotion, the news of which +had already got abroad. Then I went down the side, got into my boat, +and was pulled across to the _Koryu_, where I found the delicate +operation of shipping and stowing the mines in brisk progress. I +introduced myself to the officer in charge, who at once proceeded to +explain to me the structure and mechanism of the class of mines being +dealt with; thus enabling me to understand the danger to be guarded +against while handling them; after which he conducted me to my cabin, +perched high on the boat deck; and I immediately took possession, +sending my boat back to the _Kasanumi_ with a note for young Hiraoka, +requesting him to take charge during my absence, and another to my +steward, instructing him to send me across such things as I immediately +needed. The change was greatly the better for me; for whereas my +quarters aboard the _Kasanumi_ were cramped and of Spartan simplicity, +the captain's cabin of the _Koryu_ was a spacious and almost luxurious +affair, handsomely and comfortably furnished, with all the accommodation +that a reasonable man could wish for. + +Two days later our fleet weighed and proceeded to sea, leaving the +_Koryu_ at anchor, with our fourth and fifth destroyer flotillas and +fourteenth torpedo-boat flotilla--twelve craft in all--to protect her. +My orders were to proceed to sea in time to reach Port Arthur roadstead +at midnight of the 12th, sow the harbour approach with mines according +to a certain plan, and then retire, with the assurance that, if +attacked, there would be a force of ample strength lying in wait to +protect me. + +One part of my duty--after laying the mines--was to endeavour to entice +the Russian fleet to come out in pursuit of me. Experience had taught +us that, for some reason with which we were unacquainted, the Russian +ships invariably followed a certain course when leaving the harbour, +while, when returning, they as invariably followed another; my +instructions, therefore, were to sow my mines over the area by which the +ships returned to port, while leaving free that area traversed by them +when coming out; the reason of course being, that as many ships as +possible should be enticed to come out, in the hope that many of them +would be destroyed upon their return. + +The night of the 12th was a wretched one in some respects for our +purpose. The weather was thick; a strong breeze was blowing from the +southward, kicking up a nasty sea; it was bitterly cold; and a thin +drizzle of fine snow made the thick atmosphere still thicker; so that it +was impossible to see farther than a ship's length in any direction. I +foresaw, therefore, that I had a very difficult task before me, not only +in getting the little torpedo-boats across in the heavy sea, but in +depositing the mines in the right place after we should arrive. + +To spare the torpedo-boats as much as possible while making the passage +against a heavy head sea, I decided to proceed at a speed of ten knots; +and we accordingly got under way at five o'clock in the evening, leaving +ourselves an hour in hand to cover any delay which we might meet with. +I had very carefully studied the tides and the current charts during the +afternoon, taken careful note of the strength of the wind, and, taking +these matters into consideration, had worked out a course that, unless +some of the conditions changed, should take me to the exact spot I +wished to reach, at eleven o'clock. + +Punctual to the moment we started, "in line ahead," each vessel towing a +fog buoy behind her to serve as a guide to the next astern, and these +buoys I had at the last moment caused to be coated with luminous paint, +to make them visible in the intense darkness. + +All went well with us; the destroyers rode the seas like gulls, while, +at the moderate speed of ten knots, the torpedo-boats were not only able +to keep station perfectly but also avoided washing their crews +overboard. At ten-thirty I made the prearranged signal, and my escort +hove-to, leaving me to finish my journey and carry out my perilous task +alone. + +I knew exactly where I was--or rather, where I ought to be--for I had +kept a careful reckoning of our progress from the moment of starting, +and, unless something had gone wrong, we were then exactly two miles +south-east of the Pinnacle Rock lighthouse. But it was necessary to +make sure, otherwise I might lay my mines in the wrong place, and all my +labour would be useless; I accordingly shaped a course for the +lighthouse and cautiously stood in, with a leadsman stationed at each +extremity of the overhanging navigating bridge. These took continuous +casts of the lead and reported the result to me through my "Number 1," +who stood outside my cabin and called to me through an open window, +while I stood at the table, with the chart spread open before me, +pricking off our position minute after minute, and comparing the +leadsmen's results with those shown on the chart, the two agreeing +accurately. + +At length we reached a point beyond which it would be dangerous to go, +and I ordered the engines to be stopped and reversed, at the same time +stepping out on to the bridge, to ascertain if anything could be seen. +But it was as thick as a hedge, the lighthouse lantern was unlighted, +and there was not even a gleam from the searchlight on the cliffs above +to enable us to verify our position. True, the roar of breakers close +at hand told us we were not far from the shore; but that was all we had +to guide us; there was nothing for it, therefore, but to go ahead and do +the best we could. + +There is no need for me to enter into a detailed and technical +description of the operation of laying mines; I will therefore merely +state that, despite the adverse conditions, we succeeded in +accomplishing our task and withdrawing without mishap. But we were not +a moment too soon, for the light of dawn was filtering through the haze +as we dropped our last mine and moved cautiously away from the completed +field. + +The next thing was to find our escort, which we had left two miles out +at sea. We were groping our way slowly seaward through the fog, keeping +a sharp lookout for the destroyers, when all in a moment the mist +lifted, and we sighted them about half a mile distant. And at the same +instant, some four miles away to the north-east, appeared a squadron of +five destroyers, which we at once identified as our second destroyer +flotilla. And yet--no that could scarcely be right, for our "second" +consisted of only four boats, while yonder were five--with--yes--a sixth +close inshore. I turned to get my binoculars out of the case, in order +to investigate a little more closely, and even as I did so the five +destroyers became suddenly enveloped in a wreathing cloud of powder +smoke, while the sharp, angry bark of quick-fire guns broke the morning +silence. The five destroyers were unquestionably engaged in a fight +among themselves. The firing continued quite briskly for about five +minutes; then there pealed out a sharp, violent explosion, a great cloud +of smoke shot into the air; the firing abruptly ceased; and the smoke +cleared away just in time to show that one of the destroyers--the craft +which we had been unable to identify--was sinking, a shattered, +shapeless wreck. + +At this moment a cry from my "Number 1" distracted my attention from the +interesting little drama which I was eagerly watching, and, turning +toward the harbour's mouth, in response to his pointing finger, I saw a +big, four-funnelled, two-masted cruiser, which I instantly recognised as +the _Bayan_, coming foaming out of harbour, evidently intent upon +driving off our destroyers, which were now busily launching their boats +to save the crew of the destroyer, which had by this time foundered. I +was in the very act of issuing an order for one of our Hotchkisses to be +fired, to warn the destroyers, when the _Bayan_ opened fire upon them +with her light guns, and they were obliged to retreat, double-quick. + +Of course the _Bayan_ was no match for them in the matter of speed, so +after covering the retreat of the second destroyer, which was creeping +along close inshore, and pausing to pick up the survivors of the sunken +destroyer, the cruiser turned her attention--and her guns--upon us. But +we were out of range of her light guns, and for some unknown reason she +did not open fire upon us with her heavy weapons, we therefore quickened +up to about her own speed, or a trifle less, hoping we might be able to +entice her out to where we knew our own cruiser squadron was waiting to +cover our retreat. Unfortunately for the success of my scheme, Admiral +Dewa, who commanded the squadron, no sooner heard the firing than he put +on speed and rushed to our rescue, emerging from the mist and becoming +visible while still some three miles away. The instant that they were +clear of the fog bank, and could see what was happening, the squadron +opened fire upon the _Bayan_ with their heavy guns, when that ship was +in turn compelled to up helm and beat a hurried retreat, to my intense +disgust; for I felt confident that if our cruisers had only lain doggo +in the fog bank, I could have cajoled the Russian ship into following me +so far out to sea that her retreat could have been cut off, and we +should have nabbed her. As it was, the _Diana_ and _Novik_ came rushing +out to her rescue; whereupon Dewa, who by this time recognised the +mistake he had made, turned and retired, apparently in a panic, for +great clouds of smoke were presently seen to be pouring from the funnels +of all his ships. But before ten minutes were over it became perfectly +evident that the Admiral was "playing foxy," for despite the clouds of +smoke, his ships were barely holding their own, if indeed they were +doing as much as that. Naturally, we in the _Koryu_ at once took our +cue from the Admiral, and stoked up for all we were worth, using as much +small coal as we could scrape together, in order to increase the volume +of smoke pouring from our funnel, while we allowed the _Novik_ to gain +upon us a trifle from time to time, and then, by an apparently desperate +effort, drew away from her again. And this time it really looked as +though our ruse was going to prove successful, for the three Russian +cruisers continued to chase us with the utmost pertinacity and +determination. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE PETROPAVLOSK LURED TO HER DOOM. + +The explanation of the Russian cruisers' pertinacity was soon made plain +to Admiral Dewa by a wireless message which he picked up, addressed to +the captain of the _Novik_, which, decoded, ran thus: "Keep in touch +with enemy but do not attack until I join you. Two battleships and +_Askold_ following to support you. Signed Makarov." + +Of course I did not know anything about this until afterward, the +_Koryu_ not being fitted with a wireless installation; but Dewa at once +made a code signal to me instructing me to continue my present tactics; +and while this was being done his wireless operators were busily engaged +in transmitting a code message to Admiral Togo, who was at that moment +lurking, enveloped in mist, some thirty miles away, near the Miao-tao +Islands, with his whole battle squadron and the new cruisers _Nisshin_ +and _Kasuga_. + +Makarov, however, was evidently ignorant of that fact; the atmosphere in +the neighbourhood of Port Arthur was now quite clear, and to the +lookouts on the highest points about the fortress no Japanese ships were +visible, save the cruiser squadron, which was undoubtedly in full +retreat from the pursuing Russian ships, which it was perfectly evident +they were afraid of. It was the moment and the opportunity for which +the Russian Admiral had long been pining, the moment when a weak +Japanese force, entirely unsupported, lay at his mercy, and now he would +smash them! + +Accordingly, he hurried aboard the _Petrofiavlosk_ and signalled the +_Poltava_ and _Askold_--both of which, like the flagship, had steam up-- +to weigh at once and proceed to sea. This was done, with marvellous +smartness, considering that the craft were Russian, and presently out +they came, their funnels belching immense volumes of black smoke and the +water leaping and foaming about their bows as they pounded after us at +their utmost speed, which, after all, was only about fourteen knots. + +Meanwhile, Dewa, who was bringing up the rear in the _Asama_,--by the +speed of which ship the rest of the squadron regulated theirs,--was very +cleverly allowing the Russians to slowly overtake him, while the +Russians were straining every nerve to do so, stoking up furiously and +wasting their coal in the most reckless manner. + +Then came an order from the Admiral to me to increase speed and pass +ahead of the squadron, out of harm's way, as he was about to open fire +upon the Russians. Of course there was nothing for it but to obey, +which I did forthwith; but when I had got about a mile ahead, I +gradually slowed down again; if there was any fun toward, I was not +going to miss it. Besides, it was just possible that I might be of use, +for, following the Russian battleships and cruisers, there was now +coming up, hand over hand, a crowd of destroyers, against which the +_Koryu's_ Hotchkisses might be brought into play. + +Admiral Dewa only allowed me just bare time to get ahead of his +squadron, when he made the signal to open fire upon the pursuers with +our cruisers' 8-inch turret guns; and the signal, which had been awaited +with the utmost impatience, was promptly responded to with a steady and +deadly deliberate fire upon the _Bayan_, which was leading the Russian +line. Before her officers had time to realise what was happening, +shells were hurtling all about her and raining against her bows and upon +her deck, punishing her so severely that they had to stop her engines +and allow the rest of the fleet to pass ahead. The Russian fleet, which +had thus far been coming on in line ahead, now hurriedly formed line +abreast, the two battleships opening fire upon our cruisers with their +12-inch guns. Luckily for us, although the water was smooth the Russian +aim was bad, and their shells flew over and on either side of us, but +none hit us. Then Dewa, who was far too good a tactician to pit his +cruisers against battleships, gave the order to increase speed, and we +ran out of range, undamaged. + +But only just out of range; for we wanted to draw the Russian ships so +far away from Port Arthur that Admiral Togo might have a chance to come +up, slip in between them and the fortress, cut off their retreat, and +force them to fight. And without a doubt we should have been +successful, had not the capricious weather played us a scurvy trick at a +critical moment when the Russians were some eighteen miles off the land +in a south-easterly direction from Port Arthur. For it was at this +moment that the fog, which had hitherto hidden Togo's approaching fleet, +suddenly cleared, revealing to the Russian lookouts on the Liau-ti-shan +heights, the Japanese warships, racing up from the south-west. + +The approach of the Japanese was instantly frantically signalled to the +wireless station, which in turn wirelessed the alarming intelligence to +the Russian Admiral. A few moments' study of the chart revealed to +Makarov the precariousness of his situation. If he turned and retreated +at once, he might possibly escape by the skin of his teeth and get back +into harbour before Togo's ships could get up to cut him off, and he did +not hesitate a moment. Up went the signal to retire, over went the +Russians' helms, and away they scuttled back toward their lair, even +faster than they came out, while our cruisers, keenly on the watch for +some such movement, also wheeled sharply in pursuit, keeping up a steady +fire upon the _Bayan_ and the _Novik_, the rearmost ships in the Russian +line. Naturally, the _Koryu_ turned when our cruisers did, following +them up at full speed until we were close in their rear, while Dewa was +far too busy attending to the pursuit to spare any attention to me and +my doings. + +It was at this juncture that the Russian destroyers made a gallant +effort to check our pursuit by distracting our attention from their big +craft to themselves. Believing that they held an important advantage +over us in point of speed, they boldly slowed down, dropped astern, and, +in two divisions, made a determined demonstration on our two flanks, +repeatedly threatening to make a dash, close in, and use the torpedo. + +There was one exceptionally audacious craft, the pertinacity of which +caused me to take particular notice of her, and keep a specially +watchful eye upon her, because I speedily came to the conclusion that +she was doing more than merely demonstrate, she was bent upon mischief. +She was making a dead set at the _Asama_, our most valuable ship, +getting right to windward of her, and pouring dense volumes of black +smoke from her four funnels, so forming a screen for herself, under +cover of which she was evidently trying to edge in to within effective +torpedo range. Of course the _Asama_ and one or two of the other +cruisers opened fire upon her with their light guns, but we, who had +crept up to windward, saw that the smoke screen was serving its purpose +admirably, and that although the projectiles were falling all round her, +she was not being hit. It occurred to me that now was the time when we +in the _Koryu_ might be able to render a little useful service, our own +destroyers having been unfortunately ordered to return to their +rendezvous, some time before, and were now out of sight. Accordingly I +gave orders for the gunners to stand by their Hotchkisses, and rang for +full speed, also calling down to the engineer for the very last ounce of +steam he could get out of his boilers. + +Like an arrow shot from a bow, the _Koryu_ started forward and, edging +well out to windward of the destroyer, opened a brisk fire upon her with +our Hotchkisses, aiming at her deck tubes, round which I had seen some +men busily clustering. And it was well that I did so, for the Russians +were in the very act of launching a torpedo at the moment; indeed they +actually _did_ launch it, but by one of those extraordinary flukes that +sometimes happen, and are so difficult to describe convincingly, one of +our shots struck the weapon at the instant that it issued from the tube, +wrecking its propeller and rudder and sending it to the bottom. + +Evidently the destroyer's crew had been so completely absorbed in their +attempt upon the _Asama_ that they had been oblivious to our approach; +but now, seeing us bearing menacingly down upon her, her skipper +suddenly shifted his helm and would fain have beaten a retreat. As it +happened, however, we had by this time drawn up abreast and were between +him and his friends, so he evidently came to the conclusion that there +was nothing for it but to fight his way out; accordingly he made a dash +to cut out across our bows, at the same time turning his whole battery +of guns upon us. I instantly ordered my men to leave their guns and get +away aft, out of the way of the shot, dismissing the quartermaster also, +and taking the wheel in his stead. + +At such short range, his shots could not possibly miss, and in less than +a minute our bows and fore deck showed a very pretty "general average," +a 6-pound shell blowing a hole through our plating and wrecking the +topgallant forecastle, while several 4-pound projectiles pierced our +funnel, blew away our fore topmast, and knocked one corner of the +wheelhouse to smithereens. But I did not care; the purpose which I had +in mind was fully worth all the damage and more, and I knew now that +unless I personally was hit and disabled, I should be able to accomplish +it. For I meant to give that impudent destroyer the stem, to run her +down and sink her, knowing that our stout bows would shear through her +thin plating as though it were paper. And the _Koryu_ had the speed to +do it, the destroyer having lost much of her speed by the barnacles and +weed on her bottom, which she exposed at every roll. + +Evidently the Russian did not realise my purpose until it was too late; +he seemed to think I was a fool who was giving him a chance to inflict a +deadly raking upon me as he crossed my bows; and it was not until I +suddenly shifted my helm, rendering a collision inevitable, that what +was going to happen dawned upon him. Then there arose a sudden outcry +as the crew forsook their guns and made a mad dash at the two small +boats slung to the davits, there was a frantic jangling of bells down in +the destroyer's engine-room, an officer on her bridge snatched a +revolver from his belt and snapped off five shots at me in as many +seconds--none of which took effect--and then we were upon her. With +scarcely any perceptible shock we struck her fair and square amidships, +right in the wake of where I judged her boiler-room would be; there was +a horrible crackling and rending of wood and iron as our stem sheared +into and through her deck, a clamour of yells from the crew as they +fought with each other in their mad haste to lower the boats, and the +destroyer heeled over until she was almost on her beam-ends, a volleying +succession of deep, heavy _booms_, accompanied by a tremendous outburst +of steam, proclaimed that her boilers had burst, and at the same instant +she seemed to crumple up and break completely in two, her bow-half +sweeping along our port side, while her stern-half drove past to +starboard, the crew, unable to get the boats afloat, leaping desperately +overboard. A moment before striking the craft, I had rung down an order +to the engine-room to stop the engines, and shouted for my crew to stand +by with ropes' ends; and now several of these were hove, by means of +which we managed to drag three Russians up on to our deck; and then we +backed astern and fished up eight more, all of whom we marched below and +locked up securely. The other poor fellows, including the captain of +the boat, must have gone down with her, for we saw nothing more of them. +But we had taught the destroyers a lesson, for thenceforth they kept +their distance. + +Examining into our own condition, we discovered that our injuries +arising out of the collision amounted to about as much paint scraped off +as might be replaced by the contents of a 10-pound tin, while all other +damage was so high above the waterline as to make it of no practical +account. And we had not a man injured; so I considered that we had +emerged from the encounter very cheaply. + +It was just half-past nine o'clock, by my watch, when, bursting through +the curtains of haze, our battle fleet hove in sight in the south-west +quarter, with flags flying, the water leaping and foaming about their +cutwaters, and a fine "white feather" of steam playing on the top of +their waste-pipes, indicating that the stokers were maintaining a full +head of steam in the boilers. But--Japanese luck again--they were just +too late; for at that moment the Russian fleet entered the protective +zone of their shore batteries and, with a very poor attempt at bravado, +slowed down to a speed of about six knots, while the _Sevastopol, +Pobieda_, and _Peresviet_ came steaming out to meet them. They had +managed to escape by the skin of their teeth; and now, in accordance +with the instructions given to the Admiral not to risk his ships by +pitting them against the shore batteries, we also were obliged to slow +up, and finally to stop our engines. As a matter of fact, the time had +come for us to retire; but evidently everybody was curious to see what +would be the result of my mine-laying operations of the preceding night, +and by common consent we all lay-to. + +We had not long to wait. We saw some signalling going on between the +flagship and the three craft that had come out to meet the fleet; saw +the trio fall into line in rear of the retreating fleet; and then, while +our glasses were glued to our eyes as we watched the procession of great +ships sweeping majestically toward the harbour's mouth--from which they +were then little more than a mile distant--we suddenly beheld a +tremendous flash of fire envelop the bows of the _Petropavlosk_, the +flagship, which was leading the way into the harbour. The flash was +accompanied by the upheaval of a gigantic cone of water and an outburst +of thick yellow smoke which at once told us that one of our mines had +got in its deadly work. Instantly a great exultant roar of "Banzai +Nippon!" burst forth from the throats of the eagerly watching Japanese, +but it was as instantly checked when they began to realise the full +magnitude of the disaster that had befallen their enemy. For even +before the sound of the shattering explosion reached our ears we saw her +fore topmast fall, saw long tongues of flame leap up from her decks, saw +her-two funnels whirl over and fall, one after the other, while her +bridge, pilot-house, and foremast soared high into the air; and so +tremendous was the force of the explosion that actually one of her +6-inch gun turrets was torn bodily from its strong fastenings and hurled +some twenty feet aloft, to crash downward again upon the hapless ship's +deck, while a great burst of flame, probably due to the explosion of her +boilers, shot up where her two funnels had stood a moment before. A +series of heavy explosions followed, seeming to indicate the explosion +of her magazines, and then the doomed ship became enveloped in a thick +haze of green smoke, in the midst of which played great streams of fire. +Through that terrible green haze we were just able to see that she had +taken a heavy list to starboard; then her bows dipped, her stern rose +until her two propellers were lifted out of the water, a great +mushroom-shaped pillar of smoke shot up from her, and--she was gone! +And all this had happened in the short space of two minutes, during +which shells from our battleships were falling thick and fast about the +Russian ships, which had stopped their engines when the explosion +occurred, while some of them lowered boats, in the hope of being able to +render assistance to the unfortunate flagship. + +With the disappearance of the flagship, the Russian fleet resumed its +way toward the harbour, the _Pobieda_ now being at the head of the line. +But scarcely had she started her engines when an enormous pillar of +flame, water, and smoke enveloped her amidships. She, too, had come +into contact with one of our mines, but, fortunately for her, with much +less disastrous results than those attending the destruction of the +_Petropavlosk_. She instantly listed, showing that she was severely +damaged, but beyond that nothing further happened, so far as we could +see, except that the second explosion appeared to have created a perfect +panic among the Russians, who immediately opened a terrific fire with +every gun, big or small, apparently at random, for we could see the +shots throwing up great jets of foam in the water all round them. +Later, we learned that when the second explosion occurred, some one +aboard one of the ships yelled that the fleet was surrounded by Japanese +submarines, discharging torpedoes; hence the frantic firing at the +water. Of course the assertion was groundless, since, as a matter of +fact, the Japanese had no submarines; but it is not very surprising +that, with two disasters, one following so closely upon the heels of the +other, the Russians should jump to the conclusion that they had been +attacked by submarines; for it must be remembered that we had carefully +educated them into the belief that our mines were quite harmless. + +The loss of the _Petropavlosk_ was a terrible misfortune for the +Russians, for she was one of their most formidable ships; being armed +with four 12-inch guns of the most recent design, mounted in pairs in +her two big turrets; with, as a secondary battery, twelve 6-inch +quick-fire guns, eight of which were mounted in pairs in four small +turrets placed, two on either beam, behind 5-inch steel armour, while +the other four were in casemates similarly protected. She had six +torpedo tubes, and we conjectured that she probably had a torpedo in +each tube which exploded at the time of the disaster. + +As for the _Pobieda_, our spies were able to ascertain that the mine +which damaged her had breached three of her big compartments and some +smaller ones, so that it was only with the utmost difficulty she was got +into harbour and beached in time to save her. Also one set of her +Belleville boilers was so severely damaged as to be rendered useless. +Consequently she, too, was put out of action for a considerable period. + +Thus, at one fell swoop, the Russian fleet was reduced in strength by +two battleships. But their worst loss was their Admiral; for it is +indisputable that Makarov was the most able, energetic, and enterprising +naval leader they possessed. + +Two days later, more mines were laid in Port Arthur roadstead, and +another attempt was made to entice the Russian fleet to come out and +fight us; but the attempt was a failure. As a matter of fact, it +afterwards transpired that, upon receipt of the report announcing the +loss of the _Petropavlosk_ and the damage to the _Pobieda_, the +authorities at Petersburg had telegraphed orders to the effect that the +Port Arthur fleet was on no account whatever to leave the harbour until +the arrival of Admiral Skrydloff, Makarov's successor. + +Failing in this, Admiral Togo dispatched the cruisers _Nisshin_ and +_Kasuga_ to Pigeon Bay, to make a high-angle fire attack upon the +fortress and the ships in the harbour. I was not engaged in either of +these attempts, the Admiral considering that I had well earned and was +deserving of a few days' rest. Besides, he very properly wished to give +some of his other officers a chance to distinguish themselves. But I +understood that, with the exception of silencing a new battery which the +Russians had built commanding the bay, the bombardment was not attended +with any very important results. + +On the following day our little Admiral, whom some have named the +Japanese Nelson, dispatched a squadron of ten cruisers, accompanied by a +torpedo flotilla, to attempt to bring the Vladivostock squadron to +battle. This squadron was accompanied by a cargo steamer named the +_Kinshiu Maru_, loaded with coal and spare stores for the use of the +squadron while away from its base; and the expedition was placed under +the command of Vice-Admiral Kamimura, with the cruiser _Idzumi_ as his +flagship. I had now had a little rest, and as there seemed to be no +immediate prospect of serious fighting at Port Arthur, I volunteered for +the expedition, and was temporarily attached to the _Idzumi_ as a +supernumerary. + +We left our base among the Elliot Islands on the 16th of April; and +after an uneventful cruise of a week's duration arrived at the port of +Gensan, on the eastern coast of Korea, about two-thirds of the distance +from the Elliots to Vladivostock. + +There was a Japanese consul at this place, and upon our arrival off the +port he and the Commandant came off in a steam launch and, boarding the +_Idzumi_, requested an interview with the Admiral, which was at once +granted, and the pair were conducted to Kamimura's cabin, where they +remained for the best part of an hour. At the close of the interview +the visitors entered their steam launch and returned to the shore. Some +ten minutes later, Kamimura sent for me; and when I entered the cabin I +found him poring over a chart of the east coast of Korea. He welcomed +me with the usual elaborate courtesy of the Japanese in their +intercourse with each other as well as with strangers, and invited me to +approach the table. + +"I am particularly glad that it is my good fortune to have the pleasure +of your honourable company, Captain Swinburne," he began; "for an +occasion has just arisen upon which I think your services may prove of +the utmost value. You see this little place--Iwon--on the chart. The +two honourable gentlemen who have just visited me--the Commandant of +Gensan and our Japanese consul stationed here--inform me that rumours +have reached their ears of certain suspicious occurrences at Iwon which +seem to point to the possibility that the Russian Government may be +contemplating the dispatch of a large body of troops to Vladivostock by +rail, their embarkation there for Iwon, at which spot they may land, +march across Korea, and take our troops at Port Arthur in the rear. To +tell you the truth, I have not much faith in the idea, the only point in +its favour being that such a movement would be wholly unanticipated by +us. But in view of the information which I have just received, it is my +bounden duty to investigate the matter; and I therefore propose to +dispatch the _Kinshiu Maru_ on a reconnoitring expedition to Iwon, to +ascertain what foundation, if any, there may be for the suspicion. As +of course you are aware, she carries a small detachment of troops, who +may be very useful, should any opposition be met with. These troops +will, of course, be commanded by their own officers, while Captain Yago +will continue to command the ship. But, being a merchant seaman, he has +had no experience of landing troops; and that is where your services +will prove of value, especially should any resistance be offered. I +therefore want you to change over temporarily to the _Kinshiu_, still as +a supernumerary, but with my authority for you to take charge of and +superintend the landing and subsequent embarkation arrangements. I am +afraid this will mean a certain amount of disappointment for you, since +as soon as you have started I shall proceed in search of the +Vladivostock fleet. But you must endeavour to console yourself with the +reflection that I may not find them, or be able to entice them to come +out and fight me." + +It was true, I certainly did feel a bit disappointed, for I most +earnestly desired to see what it was like to be engaged in a regular +pitched battle, even though it were only between a couple of hostile +squadrons; but I was where I was, to lend a hand where required, not to +pick and choose what I would or would not do; in any case I was not +going to make occasion for it to be said that an Englishman had +unwillingly accepted any duty offered to him; therefore with as much +cheerfulness as I could muster, I expressed my perfect readiness to do +my best; whereupon Kamimura gave me my written instructions and +dismissed me to pack up such few of my belongings as I thought I might +need. However, as I had only brought a very limited kit aboard the +_Idzumi_, I decided to take everything, since it would all go into a +small portmanteau. + +Meanwhile, the skipper of the _Kinshiu_ had been signalled to have a +cabin prepared for me, and for him and Captain Honda, the officer in +command of the troops, to repair on board the _Idzumi_ to receive their +instructions. They of course came at once, had a short interview with +the Admiral, and we all left together, Honda doing the honours of the +ship, welcoming me on board the transport, and introducing his +fellow-officers, all of whom seemed very jolly fellows, with but one +desire, namely, to get to grips with the Russians. + +We left Gensan that afternoon, escorted by the 11th torpedo-boat +flotilla under the command of Commander Takebe; the cruisers weighing at +the same time and heading east, in the hope of seeing or hearing +something of the Russians. + +Unfortunately for us, we had not been under way a couple of hours before +we ran into a dense fog which delayed our progress to such an extent +that we did not reach Iwon until the morning of the 25th. We found +there a long, roughly constructed wooden jetty running far enough out +from the shore to give a depth of about six feet alongside its head, at +low water, which greatly facilitated our landing; and, ashore, we +discovered certain artfully concealed field-works of such a character +that, armed with a few heavy guns, they might have pretty effectually +covered a landing, unless interfered with by a very powerful force. But +our visit was evidently quite unexpected, for we only found a small body +of Russian troops--about a hundred or so, with a squadron of Cossacks-- +in possession; and a few shells from our torpedo-boats sent them to the +right-about in double-quick time. We destroyed the earthworks, and the +jetty, as a precautionary measure, and, having reconnoitred the country +for several miles in every direction without discovering anything very +alarming, returned to the ship the same night, without casualties of any +kind. + +It was now about six o'clock in the evening. During the greater part of +the day the weather had been beautifully fine; but toward three o'clock +in the afternoon a heavy bank of dark, slate-coloured cloud had gathered +in the eastern quarter of the sky, so quickly rising and spreading that, +by five o'clock, the entire firmament had become obscured, the wind +dropped to a dead calm, the light dwindled to a murky, unnatural kind of +twilight, there were a few flickerings of sheet lightning, low down on +the horizon, occasionally accompanied by a low muttering of distant +thunder, and the mercury was dropping with rather ominous rapidity. + +I confess that, for my own part, I felt a bit puzzled; I did not quite +know what to make of the weather indications. It might be that nothing +worse than a violent thunderstorm was brewing; but against this theory +there was to be set the sudden and ominous decline of the barometric +pressure. We had fulfilled our task, and were preparing to get under +way, when Takebe, who was in command of the torpedo flotilla, came +aboard to consult with our skipper as to the advisability of going to +sea, in the face of such threatening conditions. + +Unfortunately, our escort was composed entirely of torpedo-boats; and +although they were staunch enough little craft of their kind, they were +nothing like such good sea boats as our destroyers. The latter were, +under able management, capable of riding out practically any weather, +but with the torpedo-boats it was rather a different story. Some of +those that we had with us were small and rather ancient, their engines +were not to be too implicitly relied upon, and their boilers were nearly +worn-out; indeed, they would never have been detailed for the service, +had it been thought that there would be any likelihood of real righting. +If by any chance they should happen to be caught at sea in anything +like a heavy gale, and anything should go wrong with either their +engines or their boilers, the probability was that they would founder, +taking all hands with them. + +It was these considerations that were weighing upon Commander Takebe's +mind when he came aboard the _Kinshiu_ to consult with Captain Yagi; and +it was evident from his first words that he was all in favour of +adopting the prudent course, and staying where we were until it could be +seen how matters were going to turn out. But Yagi and he looked at +things with different eyes. In the first place, Yagi did not believe +that the portents indicated anything more serious than, at worst, a +sharp thunderstorm, while at the same time his instructions from +Kamimura were that the reconnaissance was to be executed with the utmost +dispatch, and that, this done, he was to immediately return to Gensan, +so that he might be on the spot in the event of the cruisers needing to +re-bunker. And in any case, should it come on to blow, as Commander +Takebe seemed to fear, he had no apprehensions concerning the _Kinshiu_; +she was a good sturdy little ship, and would weather out the worst that +was at all likely to happen. + +The two discussed the matter together for quite half an hour, +occasionally referring to me for my opinion; but both of them were +considerably older than I, and had had a much more varied experience +than myself of the somewhat peculiar weather conditions of the Sea of +Japan; I therefore said as little as possible, and did not attempt to +offer a word of advice to either of them. Finally, the matter ended by +each of them having his own way--that is to say, Yagi decided to leave +for Gensan forthwith, unescorted, taking such trifling risk as there +might be--which, they both agreed, amounted practically to none at all-- +while Takebe determined to study the safety of his command by remaining +where he was and awaiting developments. Accordingly, as soon as the +Commander had gone, the order was given to get the anchor; and about +seven o'clock we steamed out to sea. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE KINSHIU MARU. + +By the time that we were fairly out at sea, it was pitch dark, not a +star to be seen, and to add still further to the obscurity, a light mist +gathered, as it so often does in the Japan Sea, so that by eight o'clock +it was only with the utmost difficulty that we were able to discern a +small junk which we had in tow, and which had been employed by us to +facilitate the landing of the troops. The weather still continued +overcast, and the play of sheet lightning gradually grew more vivid and +frequent; but there was no wind, and not much sea; and as time went on I +began to think, with Yagi, that Takebe's apprehensions had been +groundless, and that we were in for nothing worse than, may be, a +thunderstorm, after all. + +I spent a couple of hours in the saloon that night, watching the +infantry officers, of whom there were six, playing some wonderful game +of cards, of which I could make nothing, and then strolled up on the +bridge to see what the weather was like, and to have a yarn with Yagi, +before turning in for the night. It was still hazy and very overcast, +but there was not a breath of air save the draught created by the motion +of the ship, and there was a very beautiful display of sheet lightning, +almost continuous, which lighted up the clouds, the mist, and the sea in +the most marvellous manner. + +The ship was then heading south-east, with all her lights burning +brightly, as in duty bound, and I was sitting astride a camp-stool, with +my shoulders resting against the port rail of the bridge, while Yagi, +also occupying a camp-stool, sat facing me. He was spinning some yarn-- +a sort of Japanese fairy tale, it seemed to be--about a geisha, while I +was staring contemplatively into the darkness over the starboard bow, +watching the wonderful play of the lightning, when suddenly, as a flash +lighted up the gloom, I thought I caught a momentary glimpse of three or +four dark shapes, about a mile away, broad on the starboard bow. If I +had really seen those shapes, they could only be ships, _and they were +showing no lights_; I therefore ruthlessly cut into the skipper's yarn +by directing his attention to the point where the momentary vision had +revealed itself. + +"What is that you say?" he exclaimed. "Ships without lights? Then it +must be our Admiral, still hunting for the Vladivostock squadron. Well, +we have not seen them, and we had better tell him so, and at the same +time inquire whether he has any fresh orders for us. Mr Uchida,"--to +the chief officer,--"our squadron is away out there, somewhere on the +starboard bow. Have the goodness to honourably make our night signal, +as I wish to speak the Admiral." + +Uchida hurried away and, the signal lanterns being always kept ready for +immediate use, in less than a minute they were hoisted. Meanwhile there +had been no further lightning flashes to illuminate the darkness, and I +rose to my feet, for we were still steaming ahead at full speed, and I +had a feeling that we must be drawing pretty close to the strangers. As +I did so, our signal was answered by the imperative order: "Stop +immediately!" And at the same instant a brilliant and protracted +flicker of sheet lightning revealed four large ships, not more than +three cables' lengths distant. The leading ship was a big lump of a +four-funnelled cruiser, the funnels coloured white, with black tops, and +she carried three masts. The second craft was very similar in general +appearance to the first, also having four white, black-topped funnels, +and three masts. The third was a two-masted, three-funnelled ship; +while the fourth was of distinctly ancient appearance, being of the +period when sails were as much used as steam. She had two funnels, and +was barque-rigged, with royal yards across, but she was now under steam, +with all her canvas furled. We had no such ships in our fleet, while I +instantly identified the barque-rigged craft as the Russian cruiser +_Rurik_, of the Vladivostock squadron! That squadron, then, for which +Admiral Kamimura was especially hunting, was actually at sea, and we had +fallen in with it! + +There was not the least doubt about it. In every wardroom and gunroom +of every Japanese warship there was an album containing a beautiful, +complete set of photographs of every ship in the Russian navy, each ship +being pictured from at least four different points of view; and it was a +part of every officer's duty to study these photographs until he had +acquired the ability to identify at sight any Russian warship he might +chance to encounter. Thus, in the leading ship of the squadron in +sight, a moment's reflection enabled me to recognise the _Rossia_, with, +astern of her, the _Gromoboi_, then the _Bogatyr_, and finally the +_Rurik_. + +"Jove!" I exclaimed. "We've done it now, with a vengeance, Yagi. +Those four ships comprise the Russian Vladivostock squadron; and we are +right under their guns! Stop her, man, for heaven's sake. It is the +only thing you can do. If you don't, the beggars will sink us out of +hand." + +"They will probably do that in any case," growled Yagi, as he laid his +hand on the engine-room telegraph and rang down an order to stop the +engines. "But, as you honourably say, Captain, it is the only thing to +be done, although it means the interior of a Russian prison for all +hands of us." + +As the _Kinshiu's_ engines stopped, the _Rossia_ turned her searchlights +upon us, brought her guns to bear, and lowered two boats, the crews of +which we could see were armed to the teeth. And at the same moment two +destroyers loomed up out of the darkness, one of which stationed herself +on our port bow, while the other placed herself upon our starboard +quarter, each of them with their tubes and guns manned. Evidently, the +Russians did not mean to leave us the smallest loophole for escape. + +The six Japanese infantry officers, noting the stoppage of our engines, +came rushing up on deck to learn what was the matter; and upon hearing +that the strange ships which had stopped us were Russian warships, +hurried away below again, presumably, I thought, to give orders of some +sort to the troops under their command. + +The _Rossia_, with the way she had on her, had by this time closed to +within about twenty-five fathoms of us; and at this juncture an officer +on her bridge hailed, ordering our skipper to send a boat. + +"Good!" ejaculated Yagi. "We will do so. But we will not go aboard the +_Rossia_. Oh, no. We will slip away in the darkness and make for the +land. And you will honourably accompany us, will you not, Captain? A +Russian prison has no attractions for you, eh?" + +"You are right, my friend, it has not," I answered; "for which reason I +must decline to accompany you. Because you will never get away, Yagi. +How can you, with those searchlights turned full upon us, and those +destroyers where they are?" + +"Nevertheless, I shall try," answered the skipper; and he turned away to +bellow an order to the crew to clear away and lower the port lifeboat, +the port side being shielded from the glare of the searchlights. Then I +heard him order the chief officer to superintend the lowering of the +boat, and at the same time to smuggle an extra breaker of water and a +bag or two of biscuits into her. + +Then he turned again to me. "If you will not come with us, what will +you honourably do, my friend?" he demanded. + +"Oh," said I, "I shall join the infantry officers below, and see what +they are going to do." And without further parley, I ran down the +ladder and made my way below to the saloon, where I found the six +officers sitting at the table, looking very pale and grave. + +"Well, gentlemen," I cried, "here we are, in a nice little Russian trap. +What do you propose to do?" + +"We thought at first of performing hari-kari," said one of them. "But +Captain Nagai, with whom you were discussing the subject of hari-kari, +only the night before last, appears to have come round to your way of +thinking that it is better to live for the Emperor than to die for him. +He argues--as you did--that a dead man can do nothing for his Emperor, +whereas a living man may be able to do many things; in which statement +there is truth. Therefore we propose to surrender to the Russians, in +the honourable hope that we may be able to effect our escape, sooner or +later, and return to fight for Nippon. What do you honourably propose +to do, Captain?" + +"Oh," said I, "to surrender seems the most sensible thing to do, and +doubtless I shall do it--eventually. Meanwhile, however, I think I will +toddle up on deck again, and see how Yagi and the ship's crew are +getting on. They are going to try to slip away in the ship's lifeboat, +you know?" + +"Banzai!" cried one of the officers. "I hope they will honourably +succeed. But, having decided to surrender, I think the safest place is +down here. Doubtless we shall soon see you again." + +"Y-e-s,--possibly," I replied. "But I shall not surrender until the +last moment; so, if you do not see me again, you may conclude that I +have found some means of effecting my escape, and have seized them." + +Saying which, I shook hands with them all round, and returned to the +deck. During my brief visit to the saloon, Yagi and his men had got +their boat into the water, and were now pulling boldly for the _Rossia_; +but I noticed that directly they passed out of the area of radiance cast +by the searchlight, they shifted their helm sharply and, crossing the +cruiser's bows, were evidently endeavouring to slip past her in the +gloom of her own shadow. + +Then, suddenly, an idea occurred to me. The _Kinshiu Maru_ had in tow a +small junk, or lighter, which we had used to facilitate the landing of +the soldiers at Iwon. Where was she now? + +Crouching low under the cover of the bulwarks, to avoid being seen by +those aboard the _Rossia_, I slipped aft and, cautiously peering over +the taffrail, saw that she had drifted right in under the _Kinshiu's_ +counter, where she was momentarily threatening to bilge herself against +the steamer's iron rudder, as the two craft ground against each other on +the swell. The forward half of her lay in the deep shadow of the +_Kinchiu's_ stern--a shadow rendered still deeper and more opaque by the +vivid brilliance of the searchlight beam that covered the stern-half of +her, and it immediately occurred to me that if I could but climb down +into her, unobserved, and cut her adrift, I might possibly contrive to +avoid entering a Russian prison after all. + +No sooner thought of than done; the moment was propitious, the towing +hawser lay under my hand, and in another moment I was down upon her tiny +forecastle, hacking away at the grass rope with my pocket-knife. The +blade was keen, as a sailor's knife should always be, and with a few +vigorous slashes the hawser was severed and I was adrift. Then, taking +advantage of the heave of the two craft, I managed to move the junk +until she lay entirely in the shadow cast by the _Kinshiu's_ hull. + +At this juncture I heard the gruff voices of Russians overhead, on the +transport's deck, and, thinking discretion the better part of valour +under the circumstances, dropped off the junk's short fore deck into her +shallow hold and there concealed myself, lest any inquisitive Russian +should peer over the bulwarks, catch sight of me, and order me up on +deck again. I don't know whether it occurred to any of the enemy to +look over the side, but I do not think so; at all events, if they did, +nobody took the trouble to come down and search the junk; and in a few +minutes the voices ceased; I took it that the visitors had gone below to +search the ship. If they had, what would happen to them, with over a +hundred armed Japanese soldiers down there? + +I had not long to wait for an answer to this question. About two +minutes of silence succeeded to the sudden cessation of the Russians' +voices on deck, and then the muffled crack of a pistol-shot rang out +from the _Kinshiu's_ interior, instantly followed by a shout of "Banzai +Nippon!" and the crack of several rifles; there arose a sudden outburst +of yells and execrations in Russian, a stampede of many feet along the +deck, the sounds of a scuffling hand-to-hand fight, a volley of orders +from the Russian officer in command of the boarding party, a hoarse hail +from one of the warships, and then the rattle and splash of oars hastily +thrown out. Evidently, the Japanese soldiers had given the intruders a +warm reception. + +The hurried departure of the boarding party was quickly followed by a +rolling volley of rifle-fire from the _Kinshiu_, apparently directed +upon the retreating boats, for I heard cries and groans which seemed to +proceed from them. Then, from the _Rossia_ came the sudden, snapping +bark of her quick-firers and machine-guns, and a storm of missiles +crashed through the transport's thin bulwarks or flew whining overhead, +intermingled with shrieks, groans, and excited shouts from the Japanese +soldiers, who had evidently resolved to die fighting, rather than +surrender. The sounds awakened the fighting instinct within me; I felt +that, let happen what would, I must be among those gallant fellows, +doing my share of the work; and I nipped out from under the junk's short +deck, intent upon climbing aboard the _Kinshiu_ again. And then I found +that during the short period of my seclusion, the junk had parted +company, and was now a good twenty feet distant from the transport. +True, I might jump overboard and swim the intervening space, and I was +actually poising myself for the dive when the question flashed into my +brain: How was I to get aboard, how climb the vessel's smooth iron side. +There were no ropes hanging overboard, save the severed towing hawser, +and I had cut through that so high up that even when the steamer's stern +dipped, the end did not reach within a couple of feet of the water. I +recognised that whether I would or not, I must now stay where I was, for +return to the steamer was impossible. And while I stood there on the +junk's short fore deck, watching the scene with fascinated eyes, that +awful, unequal duel went on between the Japanese rifles and the +_Rossia's_ machine-guns; the soldiers frenziedly yelling "Banzai +Nippon!" between each volley, while the Russian gunners plied their +pieces in grim silence. The _Kinshiu's_ deck, I knew, must be by this +time a veritable shambles, for the Russian cruiser lay close aboard, and +her machine-guns could sweep the transport's decks from stem to stern; +moreover, the rapid and ominous slackening of the rifle-fire testified +eloquently to the frightful carnage that was proceeding. The cries of +"Banzai Nippon!" were no longer thundered forth in a defiant roar, but +were raised by a few voices only, which were almost drowned by the +dreadful shrieks and moans of the wounded and dying. + +Then, suddenly, there occurred a frightful explosion, the _Kinshiu Maru_ +was hove up on a mountain of foaming water which belched forth fire and +smoke, the air became suddenly full of flying splinters and wreckage, a +heavy fragment of which smote me full upon the forehead and knocked me +back into the junk's hold, and as my senses left me I was dimly +conscious of a wailing cry, pealing out across the water, of "Sayonara!" +(Farewell for ever). It was the last good-bye to Emperor, country, and +all who were nearest and dearest to them of that heroic little band of +Japanese infantry-men who preferred to die fighting gloriously, rather +than win inglorious safety by surrender. The Russians had made an end +of the affair by torpedoing the transport, and she must have sunk within +a very few minutes. + +When I recovered my senses it was broad daylight. For a few moments I +knew not where I was, or what had happened to me, but I was conscious of +the most splitting headache from which I had ever suffered in my life. +The next thing that dawned upon me was that I was lying in the bottom of +a small craft of some sort, which was rolling and plunging most +atrociously on a short, choppy sea, that I was chilled to the very +marrow, and that water was washing about and over me with every motion +of the boat. I was wet to the skin and, although shivering with cold, +my blood scorched my veins as though it were liquid fire. + +I sat up, staring vaguely about me, and then became aware of a curious +stiff feeling in the skin of my face. Putting my hands to my head, to +still the throbbing smart of it, I found that my hair was all clogged +with some sticky kind of liquid which, upon looking at my hands, I found +to be blood, evidently my own. This at once explained the curious stiff +feeling of my face; it was probably caused by dry caked blood. But, to +make sure, I sprang open the case of my watch--the polished surface +serving well enough for a mirror--and gravely studied my reflected +image. I must have presented a ghastly sight, for my whole face was a +mask of blood, out of which my eyes glared feverishly. Then, as I +continued to stare at the interior of my watch-case, wondering what it +all meant, my memory of the events of the preceding night--I knew it +must be the preceding night, because my watch was still going--all came +back to me, and I understood where I was. + +Scrambling giddily to my feet, I looked about me and saw a bucket +rolling to and fro on the junk's bottom-boards. The sight suggested an +idea to me and, taking the bucket and the end of a small line which I +bent on to the handle, I somehow managed to hoist myself up on to the +small foredeck and, lying prone--for I dared not as yet trust myself to +stand--I lowered the bucket, and drew it up again, full of clean, +sparkling salt-water. Into this I plunged my head, keeping it immersed +as long as my breath would allow, meanwhile removing the blood from my +face and hair as well as I could. The contact of the cold salt-water +made my lacerated forehead and scalp smart most atrociously, yet it +relieved my headache and greatly refreshed me. Then, stripping off my +wet shirt, I tore a long strip from it and, thoroughly saturating it in +the clean salt-water, bound up my wound as best I could, after which I +felt distinctly better. + +Then, sitting on the little deck, I looked about me to see if I could +discover any traces of last night's horror; but there was a moderate +breeze blowing, and I instantly recognised that the junk must have +drifted several miles from the spot where the disaster had occurred. +There was nothing to be seen, no, not so much as a solitary scrap of +wreckage, within the radius of a mile, beyond which everything was +blotted out by a curtain of haze. + +By this time I had pretty completely recovered my senses, and was able +to fully realise my situation. I was wet, cold, feverish, and horribly +thirsty, and was the sole occupant of a small, leaky junk of about +twenty-five tons, without masts or sails, these having been removed in +order the better to fit her for the duty of carrying troops. She had a +pair of sweeps aboard, it is true; but they were so ponderous that each +demanded the strength of four men to work it; they were therefore quite +useless to me, even had I known precisely where I was, which I did not. +All I knew was that I was some fifty miles, or thereabout, to the +southward and eastward of Iwon; but I might as well have been five +hundred miles from the place, for all the means I had of returning to +it, or even of making a shot at Gensan. The fact was that I was adrift +in a hulk; and the utmost that I could do was to keep her afloat, if +possible, and patiently wait for something to come along and take me off +her. + +Realising this, I proceeded to overhaul the junk, with a view to +ascertaining what were her resources. I remembered that a cask of fresh +water had been put aboard her for the use of the troops while landing +and embarking; and I soon found this, still more than half-full, snugly +stowed away under her foredeck, with a lot of raffle consisting of odds +and ends of line of varying sizes, a fragment of fishing-net, a few +short lengths of planking, and other utterly useless stuff. I drank +dipper after dipper of water, until my raging thirst was quenched, and +then stripped off my clothes, wrung them out, and spread them to dry in +the wind while I rubbed my body dry with my hands, employing a +considerable amount of exertion, in order to restore warmth to my +cramped limbs. In this effort I was at length successful; and my next +business was to search the other end of the junk, in the vague hope that +I might find something in the way of food; but there was none; therefore +I had to go hungry. I had a bucket, however, and with this I bailed the +hooker practically dry, as much to pass the time and keep myself warm, +as for any other reason. Then, having done everything that I could +think of, all that remained for me was to wait as patiently as might be +for something to come along and rescue me. + +My position was by no means an enviable one. I had no food; but, for +the moment, that did not greatly matter, since the smart of my wound had +made me feverish, and I had no appetite. On the other hand, I suffered +from an incessant thirst, which even the copious draughts of water in +which I frequently indulged did little to allay. The weather was +overcast, and there was a thin mist lying upon the surface of the grey +sea which circumscribed my view to a radius of less than a mile, and the +air was keenly raw. I recognised that it was necessary to keep myself +constantly active, to counteract the effect of the chilly atmosphere, +and this I did, bustling about, overhauling the raffle in the junk, and +executing a good deal of utterly useless work, which I varied from time +to time by taking long spells of watching, in the hope of sighting some +craft to which I might signal for assistance. Also I repeatedly bathed +my head in sea water, which did a little toward reducing the feeling of +feverishness from which I was suffering. + +Toward the afternoon the conditions became more favourable. The clouds +broke, the sun came out and took the feeling of rawness out of the air, +so that I no longer suffered from the cold, and the mist melted away, +affording me a clear view to the horizon. But the sea was bare; there +was not even so much as a blur of steamer's smoke staining the sky in +any direction; and I began to wonder how long it might be before I +should be picked up, or whether indeed I should be picked up at all. I +knew, of course, that the non-arrival of the _Kinshiu_ at Gensan would +give rise to speculation, and that probably a search for her would be +instituted along the course which she might be expected to steer, but I +was already several miles from that course, and hourly drifting farther +from it. The question of importance to me was whether the search would +extend over a sufficiently wide area to take me in. + +The remainder of that day passed uneventfully for me; I could do nothing +beyond what I have already indicated; no craft of any description hove +in sight; and toward sunset the pangs of hunger began to manifest +themselves. I watched the sea until night closed down; and then, when +it became so dark that further watching was useless, I crept in under +the fore deck among the raffle and turned in upon such a bed as I had +been able to prepare for myself during the day, in anticipation of the +possibility that I might be obliged to pass the night aboard the junk. + +As might be supposed, under the circumstances, the earlier part of the +night at least was full of discomfort for me; but somewhere along in the +small hours I dropped off to sleep, and eventually slept soundly, to be +awakened by the noise of steam blowing off, close at hand. I started +up, listened for a moment to assure myself that the sound was not an +illusion, and, satisfied that it was real, scrambled up on the junk's +deck, to be greeted with the sight of several ships of war close at +hand. A single glance sufficed to assure me that my troubles were at an +end; for the ships in sight were those of Admiral Kamimura's squadron, +the _Idzumi_ being hove-to at less than a cable's length distant, in the +very act of lowering a boat. There were several officers on her bridge, +and she was close enough to enable me to see that they were all +scrutinising the junk through their glasses; I therefore waved to them, +and was waved to in reply. A few minutes later the boat, in charge of a +lieutenant, dashed smartly alongside and the officer scrambled nimbly up +the junk's low side. + +I think he had not recognised me until then, although we knew each other +very well. He gazed at me dubiously for a moment, then his hand shot +out to grasp mine as he exclaimed: + +"Hillo! my dear Swinburne, what does this mean; what are you doing here? +And are you all alone?" + +I answered his question by informing him, in as few words as possible, +of what had happened to the ill-fated _Kinshiu Maru_, and then we got +down into the boat and pulled across to the _Idzumi_, where Kamimura and +his officers were impatiently awaiting us. They gave me the warmest of +welcomes, and would not even permit me to tell them my story, the +lieutenant who had rescued me assuring them that he had already obtained +all the particulars and could tell it as well as I could. I was +accordingly at once turned over to the care of the ship's surgeon, and +made comfortable in the sick bay, the squadron immediately resuming its +cruise. + +Now that the tension of looking after myself was relaxed, a reaction set +in, with high fever, and for the next four days I was really ill, with +frequent intervals of delirium. But there were no complications of any +kind, and by the end of the sixth day I was so far recovered as to be +able to dress and sit up for an hour or two. Everybody aboard the +_Idzumi_ was exceedingly kind to me, as kind indeed as though they had +been brothers; and this fraternal feeling of kindly interest was not +confined to the _Idzumi_ alone, Kamimura himself informing me, with a +smile, that it had become quite a habit for the other ships to signal an +inquiry as to my condition, every morning. As the officers of the ship +came off watch, they came tiptoeing along to inquire after me; and if I +happened to be awake, and the doctor permitted it, they would sit and +chat with me for half an hour or so before retiring to their cabins, by +which means I gradually acquired all the missing links in the story of +the squadron's abortive cruise. + +From these conversations I gathered that after the squadron and the +_Kinshiu_ parted company off Gensan, while we in the transport headed +for Iwon, the squadron proceeded toward Vladivostock, being much delayed +by a dense fog, through which it steamed at half-speed, each ship towing +a fog buoy as a guide to the ship immediately following, though, even +with this assistance, keeping touch was only accomplished with extreme +difficulty. Thus they proceeded until, by dead reckoning, they arrived +at a point seventy miles south of Vladivostock, when, the weather being +much too thick to permit of fighting the enemy, even should the two +fleets blunder together, Admiral Kamimura decided to retrace his steps, +arriving at Gensan two days later. Here the Japanese consul boarded the +_Idzumi_ and imparted to the Admiral the startling information that on +the previous day four strange warships, accompanied by a couple of +destroyers, had appeared off the port, the warships being later +identified as those constituting the Vladivostock squadron. The +destroyers had entered the harbour, boarded a small Japanese craft +loaded with fish, ordered her crew to get into her boat and go ashore, +and had then torpedoed her; the expended torpedo being probably at least +as valuable as the ship which it sank! Later on, the Russian cruisers +had entered the harbour, but had left again without doing any damage. +In reply to an inquiry concerning the _Kinshiu Maru_, the consul replied +that neither she nor her escort had yet returned. This information +caused Admiral Kamimura some uneasiness, since there had been time for +us to do all that we had been ordered to do, and to get back to Gensan; +and the squadron was actually getting its anchors, preparatory to its +departure to hunt for the transport, when Commander Takebe with his +torpedo-boats arrived. Questioned as to the whereabouts of the +_Kinshiu_, he expressed surprise at her non-arrival, briefly relating +particulars of the discussion which had resulted in the transport +leaving Iwon, unescorted, while he remained in harbour to see what the +weather developments were going to be. + +This was enough for Kamimura. Takebe's story, in conjunction with that +of the consul at Gensan, convinced the Admiral that something very +serious had happened; and he at once gave orders for the torpedo +flotilla to proceed along the coast to hunt for news of the transport, +while he, with his squadron, started off in chase of the Russians. + +It was on the morning following this second departure of the squadron +from Gensan, that they sighted the junk from which I was rescued. It is +possible that, in his eagerness to overtake the Russians, he might have +pushed on without pausing to examine a small, apparently derelict junk, +but for the fact that, fortunately for me, two or three of the +_Idzumi's_ officers recognised her as the junk which the _Kinshiu_ had +taken with her to facilitate the landing operations at Iwon. + +After they had taken me off the junk, the Japanese had pushed ahead +direct for Vladivostock, in the hope of arriving there before the +Russians. But in this hope they were disappointed. Upon their arrival, +the Russian cruisers were seen to be already back in harbour; and all +that was accomplished was to drive precipitately back into the harbour +two Russian destroyers which had the impudence--or the courage--to come +out and threaten them; and also to exchange a few shots with the Russian +forts. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +ITO'S YARN. + +We arrived at our rendezvous among the Hall Islands on the afternoon of +May 3rd, and found the place practically deserted, those who were left +behind reporting that Admiral Togo and the fleet had left for Port +Arthur, the previous day, for the purpose of making a third attempt to +seal up the Russian fleet in the harbour. I was by this time making +excellent progress toward recovery, but the _Idzumi's_ surgeon +considered that I should do still better in the hospital ashore; I was +therefore landed within half an hour of the ship's coming to an anchor, +and that evening found me comfortably established in the roomy +convalescent ward, in charge of an excellent and assiduous medical and +nursing staff. The latter was composed of young Japanese women, than +whom, I think it would be impossible to find more gentle, attentive and +tender sick-room attendants. I don't know whether they were more than +usually kind to me because I happened to be a foreigner who was helping +to fight Japan's battles in her hour of need, but it appeared to me that +they were vying with each other as to who should do the most for me. +Had I been a king, they could not have done more for me than they did. + +On the following morning, having been assisted to rise and dress by the +two nurses whose especial charge I was, and established by them near an +open window overlooking the roadstead, I was making play with a +particularly appetising breakfast when, glancing out of the window, I +saw a big fleet of transports arriving--there were eighty-three in all, +for I had the curiosity to count them; and while they were coming to an +anchor another fleet appeared, consisting of the warships which had been +to Port Arthur to assist in the attempt to seal up the harbour. So +interested was I in these arrivals that, in watching them, I allowed my +breakfast to go cold, and nothing would satisfy my nurses but that they +must get me another breakfast, which they did. + +I had scarcely finished my belated meal and been attended to by the +surgeon, when the door of the ward was thrown open, and in rushed my +former lieutenant, Ito, now captain of the destroyer _Akatsuki_. He had +volunteered for service on the 2nd, it appeared, and upon his return had +encountered the _Idzumi's_ Number 1, who had related to Ito my adventure +aboard the junk, and the good fellow had straightway come to the +hospital to see me "and pay his respects." Also, I shrewdly suspected, +to spin me the yarn of his own adventures. But he insisted upon hearing +my story first; and when I had told it, in the fewest words possible, he +told me his own, which, stripped of his somewhat peculiar modes of +expression, ran somewhat as follows: + +"Two days ago," he began, "the news reached here that our soldiers had +crossed the river Yalu; and thereupon the Admiral made up his mind that +the moment had arrived for a further attempt to be made to seal up the +Russian fleet in Port Arthur harbour. + +"As you are aware, Togo has for some time been quietly making +preparations for this attempt, the twelve steamers that have been lying +at anchor here having been provided especially for that purpose. You +know also that of those twelve, eight have been prepared in the usual +manner, by placing heavy charges of gun-cotton in their bottoms, +connected with the bridge by electric wires, so that the officer in +command might be able to explode the charges and sink his ship at the +proper moment, while, on top of these charges, the hull of the ship was +converted into a solid rock-like mass by filling her with concrete made +of stone, old railway metals and other iron, and cement. Five of the +ships were also fitted with searchlights, so that we might not again +have to contend with the difficulty of finding the harbour entrance. + +"Commander Hayashi, whom I believe you know, was appointed to command +the expedition; and volunteers were called for in the usual way. Of +course I offered myself; and Togo was good enough to appoint me to the +_Totomi Maru_, a small craft of some nineteen hundred tons, under a +splendid fellow named Honda. + +"We left here at noon of the 2nd, escorted by the gunboats _Akagi_ and +_Chokai_, the second, third, fourth, and fifth destroyer divisions, and +the ninth, tenth, and fourteenth torpedo-boat flotillas. + +"When we started, the weather was everything that could be desired; +there was no wind, and the water was like glass, while, for a wonder, +the air was crystal clear; also there would be a good slice of moon to +light us on our way after sunset. But the weather was too fine to last; +you know how it is in these seas, my dear chap. Toward sunset the +barometer began to fall very rapidly, and about eight o'clock a fresh +south-easterly breeze sprang up quite suddenly; it became hazy, the sea +got up rapidly, and by six bells in the first watch it was blowing hard, +and the weather became so thick that we lost sight of each other. I +heard to-day that Hayashi, seeing what was coming, made the signal to +postpone the attempt; but we never saw the signal, and went on, rolling +and plunging through the short, choppy seas in the most uncomfortable +manner. + +"It appears that the alarm was first given to the Russians, about two +o'clock next morning, by the appearance of what looked like a +searchlight, far out at sea, directed full upon the mouth of the +harbour. Of course the searchlight on Golden Hill was at once brought +into play, and it chanced that as the beam swept the sea, five of our +torpedo-boats were sighted, attempting to slip into the harbour. It was +a thousand pities that they were prematurely discovered, for their +skippers had formed a bold plan to enter the harbour and torpedo every +ship they could find, taking their chance of being able to get away +afterward. But of course their discovery frustrated that plan, for so +hot a fire was opened upon them by three Russian gunboats which were +guarding the harbour's mouth, that to have persisted would have meant +their destruction. So they were obliged to retire; for the Admiral +would not have thanked them for throwing away their boats uselessly. + +"Then the searchlight picked up the _Mikawa Maru_, which was leading +three other explosion ships straight for the harbour, and a terrific +fire was opened upon her, the Russians evidently recognising her as a +merchant ship, and guessing at her business. From Sosa's report it +appears that, having seen the flashes of the guns, firing upon our +torpedo-boats, he was under the impression that certain of the explosion +ships had already entered the harbour and were being fired upon by the +Russians; but, as he drew nearer in, his searchlight revealed his +mistake, showing him that instead of being one of the last, he was the +first to arrive; therefore he called down into the engine-room for every +ounce of steam they could give him, and went, full pelt, for the +harbour, through a perfect tornado of projectiles, great and small, few +of which, however, touched the ship, though they were lashing the sea +into spray all round her. + +"Without sustaining any serious damage, the _Mikawa_ charged right into +the narrow channel at top speed. At this point she came into violent +collision with something that afterward proved to be a `boom,' +constructed of stout balks of timber, steel hawsers, and ponderous chain +cables, all strongly lashed together and stretched right athwart the +channel, from shore to shore. But she was of nearly two thousand tons +measurement, and, with the way that she had on her, she went through +that boom as though it had been a thread! On she went, until not only +the searchlight but also Golden Hill fort was on her starboard quarter, +and she had penetrated farther than any other Japanese ship had done +since war was declared, when, having reached the point where the channel +is narrowest, Sosa, her skipper, swung her athwart the fairway and, amid +the cheers of his crew and the deafening explosions of guns and shells, +coolly blew her bottom out and sank her, he and his crew just having +time to scramble into their two boats as the steamer foundered. Wasn't +that fine?" + +"Splendid!" I agreed, heartily. "And what became of that fine chap, +Sosa, and his crew? Did they manage to escape?" + +"Sosa and three men of his boat's crew contrived, although they were all +wounded, to pull out to our torpedo-boats, and were picked up," replied +Ito. "But the Russians fired upon the other boat and destroyed her and +her crew, despite Sosa's desperate efforts to save them. + +"The next ship to arrive was the _Sakura Maru_. She was about a mile +and a half ahead of us in the _Totomi_, and we were able to see +everything that happened to her. + +"I believe it was her opportune arrival that gave the gallant Sosa and +his companions the chance to escape; because of course as soon as the +_Sakura_ was seen, the Russian gunners gave all their attention to her. + +"It was a grand sight to see her--she was more than a thousand tons +bigger than the _Mikawa_--rushing straight for the harbour's mouth at +her utmost speed, with the water foaming about her bows, a thin stream +of smoke and sparks issuing from her funnels, her whole hull, spars, +rigging, and funnels standing up, a black silhouette, between us and the +white beam of the searchlight, with shells exploding all about her, +deluging her with foam, but apparently doing her no harm. She stood on, +evidently under a full head of steam, for we could see `the white +feather' at the top of her waste-pipes, until she reached the Pinnacle +Rock; and there they anchored and sank her. She was manned almost +entirely by cadets; and as an illustration of the consummate coolness +with which they behaved, let me tell you that when the ship went down, +they actually had the presence of mind to take flares aloft with them, +which they burnt from the crosstrees, to guide us into the channel! + +"Of course the Russians fired upon them, and shot away first one mast +and then the other. Then they were called upon to surrender, some of +the Russians actually launching boats to take them off the floating +wreckage; but the cadets were imbued with the true Samurai spirit, they +preferred death to surrender, and they defended themselves with their +revolvers from all who approached them, until every Japanese was slain. + +"Then came the turn of the _Totomi Maru_, we being the third ship to +arrive. Well, I have not much to say about what we did, or what +happened to us; it would be merely a repetition of what I have already +described. Like our predecessors, we went in at full speed, struck some +floating object two terrific blows just as we entered the channel, swept +on, amid a hurricane of shells and bullets shrieking and whining about +our ears, until we came to the wreck of the _Mikawa_, and there Honda-- +who is about as cool a chap under fire as you are--stopped and reversed +his engines, swung the ship athwart the channel, with our bows as close +as we could guess to the _Mikawa's_ taffrail, let go two anchors, one +ahead and one aft, and calmly sank the craft. + +"The Russians kept their searchlight upon us, and peppered us well with +rifle-fire, until the _Totomi_ went down; and then they had other fish +to honourably fry, as you English say; for the _Aikoku Maru_ was now +racing in toward the harbour's mouth, and it was high time for them to +attend to her. They turned the searchlight upon her, opened fire upon +her with every weapon that would hurl a shot, and presently, when she +was within about a thousand yards of the entrance, they fired an +observation mine as she passed over it, and down she went, taking her +engine-room and stoke-hold crew with her. + +"Then there ensued a `spell'--as you, my dear Swinburne, honourably call +it--an interlude; possibly it was the end, for there were no more ships +in sight; the firing died down, the searchlight beam stared steadily out +to seaward, and we who had survived that saturnalia of slaughter had an +opportunity to slip out and rejoin the torpedo-boats which were lurking +close in under the shadow of the cliffs, waiting to pick us up. + +"Honda commanded the leading boat in which our party were making their +escape, and I the other. We were both creeping along as close as +possible to the foot of the cliffs under Golden Hill, in order to elude +the notice of the Russians above; and Honda, with fourteen men, was +about a quarter of a mile ahead. I had eleven men with me. + +"We had arrived at a point which I believed to be, rightly as the event +proved, immediately beneath the fort, and I was staring contemplatively +up at the face of the cliff which towered above us, when we came abreast +of a sort of cleft in the rock, at the foot of which lay several big +boulders in a great pile, some of which were in the water. Suddenly, +the idea occurred to me that it might be possible for active men to +climb that cleft; and acting upon the impulse of the moment, I put the +boat's helm hard a-starboard and, giving the word `Easy all!' headed in +toward the boulders. + +"A minute later, we found ourselves in a miniature harbour, just large +enough to receive the boat, the big boulders forming a sort of +breakwater. + +"`Men,' I said, `have all of you your revolvers and cutlasses with you?' + +"They answered that they had. `Then,' said I, `let us give those +Russians, up above, a little surprise. I believe we can climb that +cleft, and I, for one, am determined to try. Who goes with me?' + +"As I had quite anticipated, they all agreed to join me in the attempt; +so, making fast the boat's painter to a rock, and leaving her to take +care of herself, we scrambled out, and I honourably taking the lead, as +was my right, up we went. It was a very difficult climb, in the +semi-darkness, for the moon was hidden by clouds, and the way was so +steep that we were obliged to push and pull each other up; but at length +we reached the top, and then lay down in a little hollow to recover our +breath. + +"The fort crowned the summit of a steep hill immediately in front of us. +For fully five minutes I patiently examined it, and at the end of that +time came to the conclusion that only by the rear could we hope to +approach it undiscovered. Accordingly, I led my men round to the land +side of the fort and, taking our time, that we might save our breath, we +crept slowly up the slope until we reached not only the summit of the +hill but actually the parapet of the fort itself. Peering over this, I +was able to see that it was armed with eight 11-inch Canet guns; and +there were, including the gun crews, at least a hundred men in the +place, all of them intently staring out to seaward, evidently in +momentary expectation of seeing more explosion ships arrive. + +"Had it been possible for us to have entered that fort at that moment, I +would have led my men in, and we would have honourably died for the +glory of Nippon, destroying as many of the enemy as we could before +`going out' ourselves. But entry, at least swiftly enough to take the +Russians by surprise, was not possible, the parapet being protected by +substantial _chevaux de brise_ which we could neither have surmounted +nor broken down without attracting attention; I was therefore obliged to +content myself with giving them what you call a `scare.' Ranging my men +in open order along the rear parapet, so that only their heads and their +levelled revolvers could be seen, I loudly called upon the Russians to +surrender! + +"My dear Swinburne, it was worth all the toil of that climb up the +cliff, and up the steep slope of the hill, to behold the blank dismay of +those Russians. It did not last long, though; to give them the credit +due to them, they were brave fellows, and the moment they realised the +situation, they simply laughed at us, regarding our exploit as a joke-- +as indeed it was, more than anything else. + +"But the joke had its grim side, too; for the commandant immediately +ordered his men to cover us with their rifles, and then ordered us to +surrender. + +"`How are you going to take us?' I asked. + +"`Throw your revolvers over here to me,' he ordered; `and I will send +out some men to conduct you to the town.' + +"`No,' I said. + +"`If you do not, I shall be compelled to shoot,' he said. + +"`Then, shoot, and be hanged to you,' I replied; and giving a sign to my +men, we opened fire with our revolvers at the same moment that the +Russians blazed away at us with their rifles. And not until every +chamber of our revolvers was empty did we turn and race down that hill +toward the head of the cleft by which we had ascended." + +"Did you suffer any loss?" I asked. + +"None at all," was the cheerful answer. "The bullets hummed about our +ears like mosquitoes in the summer-time, but not one of us was even +touched. On the other hand, I saw several Russians fall before our +fire, and I think that at least thirty of them must have gone down +before we turned and honourably `hooked it,' as you would say." + +I smiled. Good old Ito! He was a splendid fellow, honest as the day, +utterly unassuming, brave as a lion, everything in short that a shipmate +should be; but it was evident that the habit of introducing that +favourite expression "honourable" in conjunction with a bit of British +slang, was inveterate with him, and I felt that it would be a long time +before he would be able to recognise its incongruity. + +"Well," I said. "What happened next?" + +"Oh, nothing, so far as we were concerned," he replied. "We scrambled +down the cleft into our boat and pushed off, still keeping quite close +to the foot of the cliffs, although there was a heavy sea rolling in and +breaking upon them. And indeed it was high time for us to be off, for +when we pulled out of our little harbour at the base of the cliff, the +first light of dawn was showing along the horizon to the eastward. + +"Suddenly, the cannonading, which had completely died away, broke out +furiously again from the heights above, and from the new batteries which +have been built on the low ground higher up the harbour. At first we +thought we had been seen, and that they were firing at us; but presently +a steamer hove in sight to seaward, and we saw that the firing was +directed at her and three others which followed her. These we presently +recognised as the remaining explosion steamers, which had lost their way +in the fog of the night before. + +"On they came, rushing toward the harbour at top speed, with a hurricane +of shells of all sizes falling upon and about them, and the full glare +of the searchlights shining full upon them. + +"The first of them to come I recognised as the _Edo Maru_, under the +command of Commander Takayagi. She looked frightfully battered as she +swept past us, yet she kept afloat and reached the spot for which she +was aiming. Her engines stopped and reversed, and she was evidently +preparing to anchor, when a shell struck poor Takayagi, who was standing +on the port extremity of the bridge, and, almost cutting him in two, hit +the funnel, and exploding blew a tremendous hole in it. Nagata--you +know Lieutenant Nagata, I think--the second in command, who was also on +the bridge, immediately took charge, anchored the ship, exploded the +charges down in her hold, and, ordering away the boats, left her, just +as she was sinking, the crew bringing away poor Takayagi's body with +them. He is to be buried ashore here, this afternoon, with full +military honours, of course. + +"The next steamer to come was the _Otaru Maru_. I think the fire +directed upon her was even hotter than that which greeted the _Edo_. +Shells fell all round her, but none of them seemed to hit her; and +meanwhile she was replying briskly with her Hotchkisses. The din was +terrific, for every battery that could bring a gun to bear was blazing +away at her, while troops made their appearance on the cliffs above and +rained bullets upon her deck; indeed a sort of panic seemed to have +seized the Russians, for not only were they hurling hundreds of shells +at the devoted _Otaru_, but were exploding observation mines everywhere, +in the most reckless manner. But their most deadly weapon of all was +their searchlight beam, which they directed right into the eyes of the +helmsman and the officers on the bridge. Dazzled by its blinding +brilliance, our people could not see where they were going; and instead +of reaching her appointed station in the harbour, the _Otaru_ dashed at +full speed upon the rocks. The crew, of course, took to the boats, but +they were unfortunately in the full glare of the searchlight, and the +Russian troops shot every one of them. + +"We were by this time about a mile out at sea, when we suddenly caught +sight of a torpedo-boat hove-to, without lights, and rolling and +pitching furiously not far away. Feeling sure that she must be +Japanese, I hailed her, got a reply, and five minutes later was +following my crew up the side of Number 65, being warmly welcomed by my +friend, Lieutenant Taira, who was in command. + +"And now came a misfortune; for as I made a spring from our boat to the +deck of the plunging Number 65, the sweeping ray of the Russian +searchlight passed over us, returned, and rested inexorably upon us. +Taira instantly gave the order to the engineers to go full speed ahead; +but even before the engines could be started, a number of shells came +hurtling about us, and one unfortunately passed through the boat's thin +side and, without exploding, cut the steam pipe of Number 3 boiler. Of +course the stoke-hold was instantly filled with high-pressure steam, and +before the stokers could escape, three of them were scalded to death. +It was horrible to hear their screams and at the same time to realise +the impossibility of doing anything to save them. Luckily for us, +Number 75, lying at no great distance, saw that we were in difficulties, +and pluckily came to our rescue, taking us in tow and, despite the +tremendous fire directed upon us both, dragging us out of range. + +"I was too busily engaged in helping to save Number 65 to see much of +what further happened in connection with the attempt to `bottle up' the +Russian fleet; but I have since learned that the _Sagami Maru_, which +followed the _Otaru Maru_, was peculiarly unfortunate, in that she +struck a mechanical mine, just outside the harbour, and went down with +all hands. The last ship, the _Asagao Maru_, was scarcely less +unfortunate; for a shell struck her rudder as she neared the harbour, +and rendered her unmanageable, so that she went ashore close under +Golden Hill, and her crew, refusing to surrender, were killed, to a man. + +"Just after this last happening, a fog came driving in from seaward and +swallowed us all up, so that the Russians lost sight of us; and then the +firing ceased. Shortly afterwards, our fast cruisers came looming up +through the fog, to cover our retreat; and about nine o'clock in the +morning Togo himself joined us with the battle squadron. He was most +anxious to know the result of the night's operations; but, +unfortunately, none of us could afford him more than mere disconnected +snatches of information. I think I possessed more information than +anybody else; but of course mine was by no means complete, and the +Admiral was most anxious to know exactly how matters stood, for great +things hinged upon the measure of our success; I therefore offered to +take in a picket boat and attempt to obtain all the information +required, and my offer was accepted. I steamed in under cover of the +fog, which was so thick that it was impossible for us to see more than a +few yards in any direction; so thick, indeed, that we actually found +ourselves among the masts of the sunken craft before we really knew +where we were. There were two or three shore boats groping about the +wreckage already, but they took no notice of us, imagining, perhaps, +that we belonged to one of their own ships; and we were therefore able +to complete our examination and to definitely satisfy ourselves that at +last the harbour was entirely blocked. Learning this, the Admiral +wirelessed a message to General Oku, informing him that he could safely +move, since the Russian ships were now effectually bottled up; and the +result of that message is the fleet of transports that you see yonder. +And now, my dear chap, I must be off; the doctor told me that I must on +no account weary you by talking too much; and here have I been yarning +for the last half-hour or more. Good-bye! Hope to see you about again +soon." + +"Here, stop a moment, old chap," I cried. "Having told me so much, you +may as well tell me the rest. Where is Oku going?" + +"Ah!" answered Ito. "That is a secret. But I think many of us could +make a good guess, eh?" + +"If I were asked to guess, I should say, Pi-tse-wo," answered I. + +"And very probably, my dear Swinburne, you would be honourably correct," +answered Ito, as he waved his hand and smilingly bowed himself out. + +A little later I was honoured by a visit from Togo himself, with whom I +believed myself to be something of a favourite, although Togo's +favouritism never took the form of sparing the favoured one, or giving +him easy work to execute; on the contrary, the most infallible sign that +a man was in the Admiral's favour was the assignment to him of some +exceptionally difficult, arduous, or dangerous task. He had, of course, +already heard of my adventure from Kamimura, but he wanted to hear the +story from my own lips, and he also had several questions to ask me. He +remained with me nearly an hour, and was most friendly and kind in his +manner, expressing regret at my sufferings--such as they were--and the +hope that I should soon be well enough to resume duty. + +To my surprise, the Admiral called again, somewhat late in the +afternoon. He was very busy, he said, being engaged on the task of +arranging for the convoy of General Oku's Second Army, consisting of +70,000 men, the task of whom was to assist in the reduction of Port +Arthur. He expected to be away a full week, at least, possibly longer, +and the object of his visit was to explain to me that, aboard the +transports in harbour were all the materials for the construction of a +great "boom," eight miles long, to be carried from the island of +Kwang-lung-tau, the most westerly of the Elliot group, to the mainland. +Similar booms had already been run from island to island of the group, +and the new, big boom would render the rendezvous immune to attack from +the land to the northward. His object in looking me up, now, was in +connection with the construction of this new, big boom. It appeared +that, after leaving me that morning, he had encountered the physician +who had charge of the hospital, and that official had expressed the +opinion that, in the course of the next three or four days, I might +probably be sufficiently recovered to be discharged from the hospital, +and be employed upon light duties, such as those of superintendence, or +anything which did not involve personal exertion. + +That remark had suggested an idea to Togo, the result of which was his +second call upon me, to inquire whether I knew anything about the +construction of protective booms. As it happened, I did, having once +been actively employed upon the construction of an experimental boom +which was afterward stretched across the mouth of Portsmouth harbour. +When, therefore, I told the Admiral this, with his usual directness of +purpose he at once appointed me to superintend the construction of the +long boom; his orders being that I was to remain in hospital until the +doctors should discharge me; when I was to resume the command of the +_Kasanumi_, and with her as flagship, proceed to the Elliot Islands, in +charge of the torpedo flotilla which he would leave behind for that +purpose, escorting the steamers into which he would tranship all the +materials necessary for the construction of the long boom. And upon our +arrival there, I was to discharge the steamers--or, rather, supervise +the discharge of them, landing the materials at the most suitable spot I +could find; and then, still supervising only, proceed with all celerity +upon the construction of the boom. He briefly gave me his own ideas as +to how the boom should be constructed, but left me with an entirely free +hand to introduce any improvements that might suggest themselves to me, +so far as the materials at my command would permit. The task was one +that strongly appealed to me, for it gave some scope for the employment +of a certain inventive faculty which I believed I possessed; and I +undertook it with avidity. + +That evening, about half an hour before sunset, the transhipment of the +materials for the boom having been effected, the transports containing +Oku's Second Army got their anchors and started for Pi-tse-wo, escorted +by a portion of the fleet under Togo, while the remaining portion, +consisting of the light, fast cruisers and a detachment of destroyers, +proceeded to Port Arthur, to make assurance doubly sure by keeping an +eye upon the Russian ships there. I subsequently learned that the +latter appeared to be quite inactive, although the sounds of frequent +loud explosions proceeding from the harbour indicated that the Russians +were already busily engaged upon the task of attempting to blast a +passage through the obstructing wrecks. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE RUSSIAN SUBMARINE. + +By dint of wheedling entreaty and the most lavish promises on my part +that I would on no account attempt to do any actual work, I succeeded in +inducing the doctor to discharge me from the hospital on the second day +after the departure of the Admiral, with General Oku's transports, to +Pi-tse-wo. + +I was discharged shortly after eleven o'clock in the morning, and was +conveyed in a hand ambulance down to the landing-place, where my boat +was waiting for me, having been semaphored for, the instant that I +obtained my discharge. I was glad to find myself aboard my own little +ship once more; and the crew seemed to be as glad to see me as I was to +see them; for it appeared that during my absence the _Kasanumi_ had been +employed upon nothing but patrol work, which was not at all to the taste +of my lads. Young Hiraoka, my lieutenant, seemed keenly disappointed +when he learned that our most exciting work, for some time to come, was +to be the construction of the long boom; but philosophically remarked +that no doubt as soon as the Russians learned what we were about, we +should have a few of their destroyers paying us a call, when we might +hope for a little fun. + +By the time that I got aboard, it was noon; and I at once signalled the +transports, asking how soon they could be ready to start. The reply was +that, not expecting to be called upon to go to sea so soon, their fires +were all out--but boilers were full and fires laid, and they could have +steam in three hours; whereupon I made the signal to light fires at +once, and report when they were ready to move. Then I got into a +reclining chair under the awning aft, and, having partaken of a hasty +luncheon, treated myself to a snooze, since I expected to be up all +night. + +We all got under way shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon, and, +having cleared the harbour, headed away north-west for the Elliot group. +The weather was, for a wonder, beautifully fine, no fog, very few +clouds, brilliant sunshine, very little wind, and the water as smooth as +a mill pond; consequently we made very good progress, although the speed +of the slowest transport was only ten knots, and of course the rest of +us had to regulate our pace by hers. Had the weather been threatening I +should of course have been anxious, but the barometer stood high, and as +even at ten knots the passage would only occupy about thirteen hours, I +felt quite easy in my mind. + +The trip across the Yellow Sea was made without mishap or adventure +until we arrived within about twelve miles of our destination. The +night was still gloriously fine, the water smooth, the stars brilliant, +and the moon, within about an hour of setting, hung in the western sky, +spreading a broad path of silver on the surface of the gently heaving +sea. It was a few minutes after four bells in the middle watch when, +having been dozing for some time in my chair, which had been taken up to +the bridge for my convenience, I scrambled to my feet and began to pace +to and fro, for I was feeling somewhat chilly, although wrapped in a +good warm ulster. + +The beauty of the night fascinated me. It was so calm and peaceful, and +the air, although a trifle cool, was yet bland, as though it were a +breath of the coming summer; and, looking back upon what we had been +called upon to endure of storm and darkness, and bitter, numbing cold +and wet, I rejoiced that summer was at hand, hoping that, before winter +came again, there would be peace, and that our nightly buffetings by +arctic winds, hail, snow, and icy seas would be at an end. + +As these thoughts passed through my mind, my gaze fixed itself +contemplatively on the broad path of silver--now imperceptibly changing +to liquid gold--cast upon the surface of the sea by the setting moon; +and, as I gazed, I gradually became aware of a tiny black object, about +a mile away, on our port bow, rising and falling with the lazy heave of +the swell. In that mine-strewn sea the smallest and least conspicuous +floating object demanded one's instant and most careful attention, and +whipping my binoculars out of the case, strapped to the bridge rail, I +quickly focused them upon it. Through the glasses it looked very like +the top of a ship's galley funnel, though not quite so stout, and it was +moving as though to cross our hawse, for with the help of the glasses I +could see the little ripple of scintillating foam it piled up before it. + +I knew in an instant what it was, for I had seen submarines before, and +at once recognised the slender object forging through the water out +yonder as the upper portion of a submarine's periscope. + +Of course she had seen us, probably a good half-hour before, or she +would not be submerged; and the course she was steering indicated that +she was bent upon mischief. + +I congratulated myself upon having sighted her in good time before +entering her danger zone, for the _Kasanumi_ was about a mile ahead of +the main body of our little fleet, and I felt that I should have time to +deal with her before the others came up. The question was: would she +attack the destroyer, or would she allow us to pass and reserve her +energies for the transports, under the impression that they were +carrying troops? It was impossible to guess, and it would never do to +take any chance; I therefore pointed out the periscope to young Hiraoka, +told him what it was, and then ordered him to go down quietly, have the +hands called, and get all guns loaded. The thought of trying to get in +a torpedo before the Russian discharged hers, occurred to me; but I +decided against it, as some of our torpedoes had a trick of running +erratically. + +Meanwhile, we continued to potter along at ten knots, as though we had +seen nothing and had not so much as the ghost of a suspicion that +submarines were in our neighbourhood. There was but one, so far as I +could see; and indeed until that moment we never suspected the Russians +of having any in those seas, although vague rumours--which we had never +been able to substantiate--had reached us of submarines having been +brought overland to Port Arthur from Petersburg in sections. + +With my eyes glued to my binoculars, and my binoculars focused steadily +upon that small pole-like object protruding a bare two feet above that +shimmering, silvery sheen of water, I directed the signalman near me to +ring down the order to the engine-room to "Stand by"; and then to fetch +our wireless operator to me. In a few words I explained the situation +to this youngster, when he came, and gave him his orders, while the +sounds of Hiraoka's preparations came to my ears. + +Suddenly, as I watched the periscope every moment becoming more +distinct, I noticed that the ripple of foam about it was steadily +lessening, and presently it disappeared altogether. The submarine had +evidently stopped her engines, and was lying in wait, either to torpedo +us as we passed, or to permit us to pass on unsuspecting, and then get +in her work upon the transports. It was a bit of luck which I had not +dared to hope for, and I instantly made my plans. Steadily the +_Kasanumi_ held on, as though utterly unsuspecting, steering a course +which, if continued, would take us athwart the submarine's hawse at a +distance of about three hundred yards, or less than half the effective +range of her torpedo. + +Was she stealthily altering her position under water, turning her bows +toward us, so as to torpedo us the moment we should arrive within range, +or was she trusting that her presence was undetected, and waiting +patiently for the moment when we should cross her bows as she lay? The +latter, I believed, for she could not cant toward us without going +either ahead or astern, and she could not do either without her +periscope raising a ripple; and I was certain that nothing of that sort +had happened. I determined to risk something, after all, to put that +submarine out of action, and so held steadily on. At length we arrived +so close that I could see the periscope almost as distinctly without the +glasses as with them, and still intently watching it, I laid my hand on +the engine-room telegraph, carefully estimating the steadily decreasing +distance which separated us from moment to moment. + +Six hundred yards. Five hundred. Four-fifty. Four hundred. I crashed +the telegraph handles over to "Full speed ahead!" on both engines, and +never moving my eyes for an instant from the periscope, directed the +helmsman to steer straight for it. The submarine was lying motionless +and inert there, some fifteen feet beneath the surface; and I calculated +that it would take the Russians at least half a minute to realise that +they were discovered, and to get way upon their craft; and by that time +we should be so close to them that it would be impossible for them +either to dive or to turn the submarine bows on to us, much less to +escape. Then, as I felt the destroyer leap forward beneath me, like a +spirited horse at the cut of a whip, I blew my whistle, as a signal to +"Sparks," who instantly wirelessed back to the main body to stop until +further orders, and to keep a sharp lookout for submarines. + +Like a greyhound slipped from the leash, the _Kasanumi_ rushed at that +luckless periscope, about which a few bubbles of foam were just +beginning to gather at the moment when our stem, towering over it, hid +it from my sight. The next instant our hull swept over it and of course +snapped it clean off, although we felt no shock whatever, for our +draught of water was too light for our keel to reach the submarine's +conning tower. But by the loss of her periscope the craft was +effectually blinded, and now she was at our mercy, for she _must_ come +to the surface, sooner or later, while, so smooth was the water, the +swirl or wake of her as she forged ahead was clearly perceptible, and +all we now had to do was to follow her until she rose, and then take or +sink her. + +As I lost sight of the periscope, I rang down to stop and reverse both +engines, at the same time ordering our helm hard a-port. Then, as we +checked and lost way, we went ahead, first on our port engine and then +on both, at the same time shifting our helm, so as to get into the wake +of the submarine. We managed to do this before quite losing sight of +the disturbance made by her passage through the water; and, this done, +we regulated our pace by hers, maintaining a distance of about fifty +fathoms between her and ourselves. She shifted her helm several times +in an evident attempt to baffle pursuit; but, thanks to the tell-tale +swirl she raised, we were able to follow her; and at length, after a +chase of about three-quarters of an hour, she rose to the surface, the +watertight door of her tower opened, and a man's head appeared. + +He looked greatly astonished to see us within a biscuit-toss of him, and +instantly ducked out of sight, leaving the hatch open, however, and we +heard him shouting something to some one in the boat's interior. A few +seconds later another head appeared, stared at us fixedly for a few +seconds--during which young Hiraoka, who had a very fair knowledge of +Russian, hailed him to surrender--and he, too, disappeared. Then, while +we were patiently awaiting further developments, the submarine, which +was still going ahead, suddenly inclined her bows and, before we could +do anything, _dived with her hatch open_! The brave fellows who manned +her, evidently taking a leaf out of their opponents' book, had chosen +death rather than surrender, and had deliberately plunged to the bottom +rather than yield their vessel to us! For, of course, the craft was +never seen again, nor did any of her crew come to the surface, although +we hove-to for an hour or more, and got our boat out in readiness to +pick up any one who might escape from that steel coffin. + +I was quite prepared to hear a loud cheer of exultation burst from the +lips of my crew when they realised what had happened. But no. There is +nothing that the Japanese admire more than courage; and such a +deliberate act of devoted self-sacrifice for the honour of one's country +and flag as they had just beheld, called forth merely a low-spoken +murmur of intense, almost envious praise. + +We arrived at our destination without further adventure, and dropped +anchor in the roadstead just as the sun rose above the horizon, flooding +the rocky shores of the Elliots with gold, and were heartily greeted by +the few craft which we found lying at anchor there. + +Looking back upon our adventure with the Russian submarine, I could not +help regarding it as almost providential that we had encountered her; +for I think there can be very little doubt that when we fell in with her +she must have been on her way to the Elliot archipelago, where, had she +arrived safely, she might have found more than one spot in which she +could have lain _perdu_, to emerge at a favourable moment and destroy at +least one, if not more, of our most precious battleships. + +Giving orders for the immediate discharge of the materials for the boom, +at a spot which I selected immediately after we had come to an anchor, I +turned in and slept soundly until past midday, resting again all the +afternoon; so that when evening came I had quite recovered from the +fatigue of the previous night, and was pronounced by the doctor in +charge of the hospital ashore to be progressing toward complete recovery +quite as rapidly as could be reasonably expected, while my wound was +healing in fine style. About four o'clock that afternoon, word was +brought to me that the whole of the materials intended for the +construction of the boom had been landed; and I went ashore to inspect +them. They consisted for the most part of enormous balks of timber and +massive cables; but there were also immense quantities of chain to serve +as lashings, stout staples, iron bars, innumerable bundles of long, +massive, pointed spikes, and thousands of empty casks, stoutly hooped, +without bung-holes, and coated with pitch to ensure permanent +watertight-ness. Commander Tsuchiya, whom I had placed in charge of the +discharging operations, had done his work well, stacking the various +items each by itself, and keeping a careful account of the quantities of +each. He handed me a copy of his list, and after I had inspected the +whole of the material, I returned to my ship and sat down to plan out +the details of the construction of the boom, which, with the list of the +quantities before me, was a comparatively easy task. + +Dawn of the following day found us all ready to make a start, and with +Tsuchiya again as my principal _aide_, we quickly got to work, pressing +every available hand into the service. Many hands make light and quick +work, especially where those hands are willing, but I was astonished at +the ardour and zest which those handy little Japanese seamen manifested; +they toiled untiringly all through that long, hot day, with the result +that, when we knocked off at nightfall, we had considerably more than +half a mile of that boom put together and secured in position by +ponderous anchors and stout chain cables. + +We were hard at work upon the boom again when, during the afternoon of +the following day, our battle fleet returned from Pi-tse-wo, after +covering the landing of General Oku's army. The fleet steamed in +between the islands and Cape Terminal on the mainland, toward which we +were running the boom; and my friend Ijichi, the skipper of the +_Mikasa_, told me, with a laugh, that when the little Admiral first saw +the boom and made out what it was, he could hardly credit his eyes. He +had been under the impression that I was still in hospital, and would +probably not be able to get to work for a week or more. Yet there I +was, as large as life, in a picket boat, with my head still swathed in a +bandage, superintending operations, and clearly recognisable with the +assistance of a pair of binoculars. And when at the close of the day I +went aboard the flagship to report myself, Togo did not hesitate to let +me understand how intensely gratified he was at the progress which we +had made. + +Meanwhile, I was fast progressing toward complete recovery; and on the +day following the return of the fleet to the Elliots, the bandage was +removed from my head, and I was pronounced to be practically all right +once more. And, to add to my gratification, a destroyer arrived from +Sasebo, bringing mails for the fleet, among which were no less than +three delightful letters from my friends the Gordons, at home, and two, +equally delightful, from my Sasebo friends, Mr Boyd and his wife. +Those from the Gordons were full of congratulations; for I gathered from +them that a long and circumstantial account of our second attempt to +seal up Port Arthur harbour had appeared in the home newspapers, in +which somewhat conspicuous mention was made of my doings, and my friends +were delighted to learn that I was "so successfully maintaining the +finest traditions of the British Navy," as they were kindly pleased to +put it. My chum, Ronald, was particularly chirpy about it, expressing +in no measured terms the wish that he could have been with me, while he +informed me that, notwithstanding the painful circumstances under which +I had left the _Terrible_--and the British Navy--the officers of that +ship, with only one or two exceptions, had expressed their +gratification, while several of them, whom he named, had desired him to +convey to me their congratulations and good wishes. + +During the next day or two excellent progress was made with the +construction of the long boom; and then came a spell of bad weather +which, although it did not hinder the putting together of the sections +of the boom, in the smooth water of the anchorage, rendered it +impossible for us to tow them out and splice them to the portion already +in position. But although the bad weather greatly delayed us in this +way, we did not altogether regret it, for the heavy sea kicked up by the +gales afforded a splendid test of that portion of the boom already in +place, and we were greatly gratified, as we steamed out day after day to +examine it, to find that it had not been damaged or displaced in the +smallest degree. + +It was toward the end of the third week of May that the Admiral +signalled me to proceed on board the flagship. It was late in the +afternoon of a thoroughly wretched day; the wind had been blowing hard +from the south'ard for the past three or four days, with almost +incessant rain, and there was a very heavy sea running between the +islands and the main. I had just returned from my second inspection of +the boom that day, and I naturally thought that the signal indicated a +desire on the part of the Admiral to question me in relation to the +stability of the structure. And when I entered his cabin, and he +greeted me with the question: + +"Well, Captain Swinburne, how is the boom standing the sea, out yonder?" +I was confirmed in my opinion. But I presently found that I was +mistaken; for when I had told him all that there was to tell about the +boom, and he had expressed his satisfaction, he said: + +"By the way, it is Commander Tsuchiya who has been your chief assistant +in this work, is it not?" + +I replied in the affirmative. + +"And I suppose he understands the whole business pretty well by this +time, eh?" the Admiral continued. + +"Every bit as well as I do, sir," I answered, seeming to scent other +work for myself at no great distance. + +"That is good," commented Togo. "Do you think he would be capable of +completing the work without further assistance from you?" + +"Undoubtedly he would, sir," I replied. "Indeed, I think it right to +say that, after the first day, Commander Tsuchiya required no help or +suggestion of any kind from me at all. He seemed to perfectly +understand the principle of the boom's construction, almost from the +very beginning; and after the first day's work upon it he took the +entire supervision into his own hands, leaving me nothing whatever to do +but merely to look on and satisfy myself by personal observation that +the work was being properly done." + +"Which it was, I presume?" remarked the Admiral. + +"Which it certainly was, sir," I replied. + +"Good!" said Togo. "That being the case, you are free for another +service. How would you like the chance to get a little fighting ashore, +by way of a change?" + +"Jove!" I exclaimed, "that would be splendid, sir. Are you going to +land a naval brigade anywhere?" + +"Well--no," answered the Admiral, "hardly that, I think; at least, that +is not my present intention, although circumstances may possibly render +it desirable, eventually. The matter stands thus,"--turning to the +table where a map of the Liaotung peninsula lay unfolded upon it. + +"This,"--pointing to a certain spot on the map--"is where General Oku +landed, the other day, with his army. And this,"--pointing to another +spot--"is where he is now. His object of course is to march south and +lay siege to Port Arthur. But at this point, some two and a half miles +south of Kinchau, which, as I suppose you know, is a Chinese walled +city, the isthmus is only about two miles wide; and in and about the +city the Russians have established themselves in force, prepared, +apparently, to dispute Oku's passage of the isthmus to the last man. + +"This mountain, so prominently marked on the map, is Mount Sampson. It +is more than two thousand feet in height and, as you will readily +understand, dominates the entire district. Upon this mountain the +Russians very strongly established themselves, scarping the heights and +constructing formidable breastworks behind which to shelter themselves. +Of course it was necessary for our troops to take this mountain, since, +until that could be done, to pass the isthmus would be impossible. I am +glad to learn that the mountain is now in our hands. + +"But here, just to the south of Kinchau, is another range of hills, +known as the Nanshan Heights. They form a sort of backbone to the +isthmus, and occupy almost its entire width, their crests completely +commanding the narrow strip of low ground on either side. On these +heights, too, the Russians have very strongly established themselves; so +that although Mount Sampson is in our hands, the isthmus remains +impassable. The unfortunate fact, so far as we are concerned, is that +General Oku has no heavy artillery with him, otherwise he would be able +to shell the Nanshan Heights from Mount Sampson, and drive the Russians +out. But he has only field and mountain guns, of a range insufficient +for that purpose; therefore he has requisitioned help from me, and I +propose to send some craft round to Kinchau Bay, to shell the Russian +positions from the sea." + +"Kinchau Bay, sir?" I interrupted. "Pardon me, but the water in +Kinchau Bay is so shallow, according to the chart, that I am afraid any +of our craft capable of carrying guns heavy enough to be of service +would have very great difficulty in approaching the land near enough to +be of any real use. Why not Hand Bay, sir, on the eastern side of the +isthmus?" + +"For the very good reason, my dear fellow, that not only is Hand Bay +mined, but it would also be impossible for us to clear it, the bay being +completely commanded by works which our craft could not face for five +minutes. No, it must be Kinchau Bay; there is nothing else for it," +answered the Admiral. + +"That being the case," he continued, "it is my intention to dispatch +thither the _Akagi, Chokai, Hei-yen_, and _Tsukushi_ to afford the +assistance required by General Oku; and those ships will be accompanied +by a torpedo flotilla, the duty of which will be to take soundings, lay +down a line of buoys inside which the ships must not pass, and search +for and clear the bay of mines, as well as to render such further +assistance as may be possible to the land forces. + +"I anticipate that the work required of the torpedo flotilla will be of +an exceptionally arduous and hazardous character; and for that reason, +Captain Swinburne, I am going to place it under your command, with the +_Kasanumi_ as your flagship. I have been keeping my eye upon you, sir, +and I will take this opportunity to express my very high appreciation of +your conduct. You have manifested all the dash, the fertility of +resource, and the cool courage under exceedingly trying conditions which +we have grown to look for as a matter of course from Englishmen; and to +that you add an element of caution which I fear we Japanese have not as +fully developed as we ought to have done; I therefore regard you as the +fittest man I could possibly select for the service upon which I now +propose to employ you. That also is the reason why I have so fully +explained to you the situation at Kinchau, for it is very necessary that +you should clearly understand all that may be required of you. + +"We have, of course, any number of Japanese officers whose courage would +be quite equal to the task I am assigning to you, but they unfortunately +lack that element of caution which you possess, in proof of which it +will be my painful duty to presently announce a series of terrible +disasters, news of which has just reached me, and three of which, at +least, I am afraid I must attribute to a lack of caution." + +"Indeed, sir," I said; "I am exceeding sorry to hear that. Is it +permissible to ask particulars?" + +"Oh yes," answered the Admiral, with a heavy sigh. "I should not have +mentioned the matter to you at all, but for the fact that it must very +soon have come to your ears in any case. Within three days, sir, we +have lost six war vessels, while a seventh, the _Kasuga_, has been +temporarily put out of action. And of the six lost ships, Captain, two +are battleships, the _Hatsuse_ and the _Yashima_!" + +"The _Hatsuse_ and the _Yashima_! Good heavens! sir. Is it possible?" +I exclaimed. + +"It is more than possible," answered Togo, with another heavy sigh, "it +is a disastrous fact. And in addition to those two ships, we have also +lost the _Yoshino_, fortunately not one of our best fast cruisers. Oh! +it is terrible, terrible! And all three disasters have occurred to-day, +within a very short space of time. The news reached me by wireless in +the interval between my sending for you and your arrival. + +"It appears that while the _Yoshino, Takasago, Chitose, Kasagi_, and +_Kasuga_ were to the westward of Port Arthur this morning, just after +dawn, they ran into a patch of dense fog, while steaming through which, +the lookout aboard the _Yoshino_ sighted a floating mine a short +distance ahead. Thereupon the officer in charge seems to have +temporarily lost his presence of mind, for instead of sheering out of +the line, as it seems to me he might have done, and so avoided the mine, +he instantly stopped and reversed his engines, without warning the +_Kasuga_, which was his next astern. The inevitable result of course +was that the _Kasuga_ struck the _Yoshino_ heavily, making such a +terrible rent in her side that, in spite of collision mats, she speedily +filled, capsized, and sank, drowning over two hundred of her crew. The +_Kasuga_, badly damaged, is on her way hither, and may be expected to +arrive some time to-night. + +"That disaster, however, serious as it is, is nothing compared with the +loss of the _Hatsuse_ and _Yashima_, which occurred shortly after +midday. Little did we dream, as they steamed away from here, this +morning, that we should never see them again! It happened about ten +miles south of Port Arthur, the two ships striking mines within a few +minutes of each other. The _Hatsuse_ appears to have struck two mines, +the second of which completed her destruction, for she foundered in less +than two minutes after the second explosion occurred. I understand that +considerably more than half her crew have gone down with her. + +"There were hopes at first that the _Yashima_ might be saved, as +collision mats were got over her damaged bows and the steam pumps were +started, while she headed for here under her own steam, with the rest of +the squadron in company; but the latest news is to the effect that she +cannot possibly be kept afloat, and that her crew are being taken off. +Well, it is the fortune of war, I suppose, and it is useless to murmur; +we cannot hope to always have things go well with us, reverses _will_ +happen occasionally; and I am afraid that we have been growing just a +little too careless and over-confident of late. We must take the lesson +to heart and see that it does not again happen. But it is a paralysing +blow for us. + +"And now, to return to the matter which more immediately concerns you, +Captain. I have given you the earliest possible warning of what I am +going to ask you to do, in order that you may have an opportunity to +think over the situation and make your plans. I want you to be ready to +start at practically a moment's notice; but I shall not dispatch the +squadron until I have further news from Oku, which may arrive at any +minute." + +As it happened, however, although a communication arrived from Oku the +next day, it was a full week before we got our orders; for a careful +reconnaissance revealed that very important preparations would be +necessary before it would be possible to take Kinchau, or storm the +Nanshan Heights. + +Just about sunset the _Shikishima_, with her attendant cruisers, hove in +sight, and before they were hull-up it was possible for us to +distinguish that the _Yashima_ was not among them. She had gone down +off Dalny--in shallow water, fortunately--but not until every man had +been safely taken out of her. + +The other losses to which the Admiral had referred were torpedo-boat +Number 48, and the dispatch boat _Mikayo_, both of which had come to +grief, the one on 12th May, and the other two days later, through +striking mines in Kerr Bay, some thirty miles to the north-east of Port +Arthur. Torpedo-boats Numbers 46 and 48, it appeared, were engaged in +sweeping for mines when the accident happened. They had already found +and destroyed three mines, and had discovered a fourth, which they fired +several rounds at without result. Then Number 48 imprudently approached +the mine with the intention of securing it, when it exploded, blowing +her in two, and killing or wounding fourteen of her crew of +twenty-three. + +It was two days later when the _Mikayo_, believing the bay to be clear, +entered it to make sure. She was passing in through the channel +supposed to have been cleared by our torpedo-boats, when she, too, +struck a mine; there was a terrific explosion, and she went to the +bottom, with eight casualties in her crew of two hundred. She was a +useful little ship, having a speed of over sixteen knots when she was +destroyed, although she had been known to achieve as much as twenty. +She mounted two forty-sevens and ten 3-pounders, and was therefore not a +very formidable fighting craft. + +The story told by the Russians concerning her destruction was to the +effect that she fell a victim to a mine, placed overnight, in the +channel previously cleared by our boats, by a young Russian naval +officer, who stole out from Port Arthur in a small steam launch, under +the cover of night. Whether the story is true or not, I cannot tell, +yet there is nothing very improbable about it, for it is indisputable +that many of the Russians displayed as fine a courage as even the +Japanese themselves. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +AT WORK IN KINCHAU BAY. + +Meanwhile, I was spending my days poring over the maps and charts of +Kinchau and its neighbourhood with which I had been supplied, leaving +Commander Tsuchiya to carry on the work of constructing the long boom, +and merely visiting it in a picket boat at the close of each day, to see +how the work was progressing. My study of the maps and charts had +reference to a scheme which had come into my head whereby it might be +possible to determine the ranges of the several Russian positions from +certain fixed points in the bay with the utmost accuracy, thereby +greatly increasing the effectiveness of the naval fire when our flotilla +should be called into action. The map in particular which had been +issued to me was drawn upon a scale so large that even comparatively +insignificant distances could be closely measured upon it, and it was so +full of detail that apparently every building, however unimportant, was +marked upon it; also it was "contoured"--that is to say, it was covered +all over with wavy lines, each of which represented a definite height +above sea-level. With such a map before me it was of course the easiest +matter imaginable to determine the position of all the most salient +points of the landscape, of which there were several, and--assuming the +map to be correctly drawn--to measure the distances of these from one +another. + +With such a bountiful fund of at least approximately accurate +information for a starting-point it was a simple matter for me to fix +upon a number of points in the bay--as many as I chose, in fact--which +could be clearly indicated by buoys bearing different coloured flags, +the positions of which could be accurately determined by cross bearings; +and my plan was, first to lay down these buoys and determine their +positions, and then mark them on maps, a copy of which would be handed +to each captain, from which, by the employment of a scale and a pair of +dividers, he could immediately measure off with precision the exact +range of any object desired. + +Having at length arranged my scheme on the map to my liking, I proceeded +with it aboard the _Mikasa_, and submitted it to the Admiral, who, with +Captain Ijichi, the Commander, and several of the officers of the ship, +examined it with the utmost interest, asking me several questions in +connection with it. When I had fully explained the scheme, they all +agreed that it was an admirable idea, and would undoubtedly be of the +utmost value--_if_ it could only be carried out. Togo was of opinion +that it could not; I, on the contrary, was convinced that it could; and +at length I managed to get the Admiral's somewhat reluctant consent to +make the experiment. + +Armed with this, I went ashore and, making my way to the carpenter's +shop which formed part of our shore establishment among the islands, +ordered a certain number of small triangular rafts to be made, of a size +just sufficient to support a bamboo staff ten feet long, to the top of +which a flag six feet long by three feet wide was to be firmly lashed, +the flags to be of different colours, arranged in pairs. The rafts were +constructed merely of rough timber stoutly nailed together, while the +flags, being only required to last a day or two, as we hoped, were made +of coloured calico, the edges turned over and hemmed with a +sewing-machine, that they might not fray or tear. A couple of hours' +work sufficed to complete my small requisition, with which I returned to +the _Kasanumi_. + +It was within half an hour of sunset when I got aboard with my boatload +of miscellaneous paraphernalia; and as the torpedo flotilla always kept +steam while at the Elliots, excepting when it became necessary to clean +flues or boilers, we at once got our anchor and proceeded to sea at a +speed of twenty knots. I was bound round to Kinchau Bay, the distance +of which from the Elliot group, by sea, was about one hundred and +thirteen sea miles; I therefore reckoned on arriving at my destination +about midnight, which would suit me admirably. The moon was in her +third quarter, and was due to rise, that night, at a few minutes after +one o'clock, which would also suit me excellently. + +For a wonder, the night was fine, with a light air out from about +south-east; there was no sea, and not much swell, and as the destroyer +was running well within herself, we went along quite easily and +comfortably, and I seized the opportunity to snatch a few hours' sleep, +leaving the navigation of the boat to my chief officer, who was quite +equal to the task. + +The trip was uneventful, and at midnight Lieutenant Hiraoka aroused me +with the intimation that we were standing into Kinchau Bay, and were +already near enough to the land to enable the watch-fires on the hills +to be made out; I accordingly turned out and went on deck to take a look +round. I had studied my maps so exhaustively that, dark though the +night was, I was able without difficulty to identify the various heights +in sight, of which Mount Sampson was by far the most conspicuous; the +general appearance of the land, indeed, was remarkably like what I had +already mentally pictured it to be, and I seemed to be gazing on quite +familiar ground. We were of course running without lights, and there +was hardly a ghost of a chance of our being seen, but I eagerly searched +the bay for craft, and was gratified to find that it was empty. + +But if there were no craft, there might be a good many mines; therefore +in order to avoid all possible risk we crossed the bay to its northern +shore, keeping well out, and then, going dead slow and feeling our way +with the lead, we hugged the northern shore line as closely as the depth +of water would permit, until we arrived abreast a little indentation, or +cove, when the engines were stopped, the boat lowered, and, with my +revolvers in my belt, but no sword, a pocketful of cartridges, a water +bottle, a wallet of provisions, an azimuth compass, and a box sextant, I +was pulled ashore and landed in the cove, the boat immediately returning +to the destroyer, which soon vanished in the darkness, making for the +offing. + +There were some half-dozen small, crazy-looking fishing-boats drawn up +on the beach of the cove, and, groping about, I presently found a +footpath leading somewhere inland. This I cautiously followed for a +little distance until the crow of a wakeful cock and the bark of a dog +warned me that I was at no great distance from a human dwelling of some +sort, when I struck off the path and waded through a field of millet, +heading north-west for the summit of a hill which I easily recognised, +even in the dark, as one of the points from which I purposed to take my +set of observations. My more immediate anxiety, however, was to get +away from the neighbourhood of all human habitations, for although I +knew pretty well, in a general way, where the Russians might be expected +to be found, there was always the possibility of running unexpectedly +into a small detachment of them, or of encountering some Korean peasant +who might be disposed to betray me, upon the off-chance of securing a +reward for so doing. + +The low ground at the foot of the range of hills for which I was heading +was all cultivated, as well as the lower slopes, but, higher up, the +ground was covered pretty thickly with scrub, with here and there a few +patches of fir trees; and when once I got among these I felt that I was +fairly safe, for I imagined that nobody would be likely to have any +business up there, while in the disturbed state of the country nobody +would be likely to wander there for pleasure. + +By the time that I reached the lower margin of the belt of scrub, the +moon, one-half of her in shadow, had crept up above the crest of Mount +Sampson, and the whole of the country round about me was flooded with +her dim, ghostly light, with the help of which I was able to make out +the small walled city of Kinchau, planned in the form of a square, each +side measuring about half a mile long; the Japanese position in the +valley to the south of it; and a few of the Russian positions on the +Nanshan Heights; I was also able to definitely reassure myself as to my +own position. + +The point for which I was aiming was about three miles north of the +little cove in which I had landed, and the intervening ground was +rugged, with many outcrops of rough, jagged rock, and much overgrown +with thick, tangled scrub; the "going," therefore, was a bit toilsome, +but that did not greatly matter to me, for the night air was distinctly +raw, I was none too thickly clad, and the exertion kept me warm. When I +reached the belt of fir wood that seemed to completely encircle the +range of heights which I was climbing, the obscurity was such that it +was only with the utmost difficulty I was able to make any headway at +all; and at length, coming to a spot where the grass was exceptionally +thick and dry, feeling somewhat fatigued with my unwonted exertions, I +flung myself down for a short rest, and before I knew what was +happening, fell fast asleep. + +I awoke, chill and cramped, at the sound of a distant bugle call, to +find that the sky over the summit of Mount Sampson was just paling to +the approach of dawn. I therefore scrambled to my feet, much refreshed +by my nap, and resumed my climb, eager to get a glimpse of my +surroundings with the first of the daylight; for I had a great deal to +do, and not very much time in which to do it. + +A quarter of an hour of brisk walking brought me to the upper edge of +the fir wood, and there before me, scarcely a mile distant, stood the +peak which I had chosen as the starting-point for my operations. I had +been guided by the map in my selection of it, for the contours showed me +that, apart from Mount Sampson, it was one of the most lofty elevations +in the neighbourhood, and also that it rose somewhat abruptly to a +small, well-defined point. My first glance at it assured me that, so +far at least, my map spoke truly, for the summit appeared to consist of +a rocky knoll, the highest point of which was a short, stunted, conical +mass, the top of which seemed scarcely capable of affording standing +room. Nothing could possibly have been better for my purpose, and I +hurried forward and upward, eager now to get at my work. + +I will not afflict the reader by attempting to describe in detail my +plan of operations, for it involved a mathematical problem of some +complexity, only interesting to and comprehensible by a mathematician. +Suffice it to say that what I had undertaken to do was to make three +separate sets of observations from as many chosen points, consisting of +carefully observed compass bearings, and angles taken with my pocket +sextant; and the taking of these observations, and the travelling from +one point to another, kept me so busy all day that I was scarcely able +to find time to snatch a couple of hurried meals while walking from one +point to another. I was not interfered with by anybody, for, with two +opposing armies facing each other at close quarters, the population +seemed scarcely inclined to venture out of doors. Of course I saw +plenty of armed men, both Russians and our own troops, moving about in +the plain which surrounds Kinchau, and there was a considerable amount +of desultory firing going on; but it was not until well on in the +afternoon that I came into close proximity of any of the troops, and +that was when it became necessary for me to cross a road leading into +Kinchau from the north. Along this road armed Russians, singly, in twos +and threes, and often in large bodies, were passing to and fro; and I +lost nearly an hour of valuable time waiting for an opportunity merely +to cross that road unseen. However, I managed it at last, and reached +my final observation point just in time to satisfactorily finish my work +before night fell and the light failed me. + +And now my next task was to somehow make my way back to the cove in +which I had landed some eighteen hours earlier. To do this it was +necessary for me to recross the road where I had been held up during the +afternoon; but now the darkness was in my favour, and I succeeded in +getting across with scarcely any delay, arriving at the cove safely, +with a good hour to spare. + +It was a weary waiting for the boat which was due to come for me at +midnight, for I was very tired after my unusual exertions throughout the +day, and would gladly have slept. But that would not do; for to have +slept would have exposed me to the double risk of being surprised, and +of missing my boat; I was therefore by no means sorry when, about +midnight, I heard the low whistle which announced her arrival. To step +lightly into her and murmur the order to shove off was the work of a +moment, and half an hour later I was again safely aboard the _Kasanumi_, +to the great joy of young Hiraoka, who, it appeared, had been all day +haunted with the fear that I might fall into the hands of the Russians. + +And now, weary as I was, there were at least two hours' work before me, +with pencil, paper, protractor, parallel ruler, and scale, making +calculations and laying down upon map and chart the result of my +observations. This result was, on the whole, eminently satisfactory, +for although I discovered a few trifling errors in the map, here and +there, my observations enabled me to correct them; and when I had at +length finished, map and chart were in a condition which would enable me +to proceed with the second part of my task with the assurance of +success. This accomplished, I retired to my cabin with an easy mind, +and slept the sleep of the just until midday. + +A salt-water douche on deck for a few minutes, skilfully administered by +a laughing Japanese seaman, and a brisk rub down with a rough towel left +me fresh and invigorated, quite ready for a meal and the work which +still lay ahead of me. The first part of this consisted in laying down +upon the chart a number of positions corresponding with the varying +draughts of water of the several units which the Admiral was detailing +to assist General Oku in his operations against the Russian forces who +were barring his passage of the Kinchau isthmus. The laying down of the +positions above referred to was a task demanding a considerable amount +of thought and care, for it was important that the ships should approach +the shore as nearly as possible, otherwise their guns might be +out-ranged, while, on the other hand, they must not be permitted to +approach too near, or they would be exposed to the risk of being left +aground on a falling tide. Also it was imperative that the berths +chosen for them should be so situated as to enable them to afford the +maximum amount of possible assistance. I devoted the entire afternoon +to the consideration of this question, and at length fixed upon a series +of positions which seemed to me to answer all requirements as nearly as +the tidal conditions would allow. My next task was to accurately fix +these several positions by as complete a series of cross bearings as +possible; having accomplished which, there was nothing more to be done +until after midnight. Meanwhile, the _Kasanumi_, with her engines +stopped, was lying hove-to some sixty miles to the westward of Kinchau, +in the Gulf of Liaotung, waiting for nightfall. + +At four bells in the first watch we got under way and started to run +east at a speed of twenty knots, for I had now to complete my entire +plan by placing the buoys, or triangular rafts which I had provided for +the purpose, in the positions in Kinchau Bay which I had already +selected for them and marked upon the chart. + +Too anxious for the complete success of my scheme to be able to sleep, I +had ordered a deck chair to be brought up from below, and was sitting in +this on our little navigating bridge, with a midshipman named Uchida, +who had been detailed for service with me, pacing softly to and fro from +port to starboard, keeping the lookout; and the cold night air was +beginning to produce a pleasantly drowsy effect upon me when, as the boy +halted for a moment in turning on his march, he suddenly stiffened, and +stared intently out upon our starboard beam. He stood thus, like a +figure suddenly turned to stone, for the space of a full minute or more, +then came softly to my side and saluted. + +"Three craft on our starboard beam, sir, coming up from the south-west," +he reported. + +"What do they look like?" I demanded, rising to my feet and staring out +in the direction toward which the boy pointed. + +"I cannot yet say, sir," he replied. "At present they are too far off +to reveal their character; indeed, I doubt if I should have seen them so +soon, but for the fact that I glimpsed the flames issuing from one of +their funnels." + +"Yes," I said. "Thanks, Mr Uchida, I see them too. Have the goodness +to bring me the night-glass from the chart-house. They appear to be +steaming with lights out." + +The lad hurried away, and quickly returned with the night-glass, which I +focused and applied to my eye. The night was overcast, but there were a +few stars blinking out between the clouds, which were flying fast up +from the westward, and by their feeble, uncertain light I was presently +able to distinguish a little more clearly the three small, shapeless +blurs that Uchida's keen eyes had detected. They were little more than +shapeless blurs still, even when viewed through the powerful lenses of +the night-glass; but I was able to distinguish that one of them was +considerably bigger than the other two, which were much of a size. It +was the funnel of the big fellow that was showing the flames, which +seemed to indicate that she was being driven, while the other two +appeared to be running easily. Yet all three were in company. The +appearance of the two smaller craft seemed to suggest to me that they +might possibly be destroyers; but what the other was, I could not guess. +She was not big enough for a cruiser or a transport; and the fact that +she was evidently being hard driven to enable her to keep pace with her +consorts--or, possibly, escort--led me to doubt whether she was a +warship of any kind. One thing was pretty clear, which was that, like +ourselves, they were evidently bound for Kinchau Bay. Were they enemies +or friends? If the former, it was eminently undesirable that they +should be permitted to arrive, and it was for me to look into the +matter. + +"How's her head?" I demanded of the helmsman. + +"East, three degrees south," he replied. + +"Shift your helm to east, twenty-five degrees south," I ordered; and the +bows of the destroyer swung round until she was heading for a point at +which we could intercept the strangers. Then: "Mr Uchida," I said, +"pass the word to prepare to make the private night signal." + +The signal was presently hoisted to the yard-arm and displayed for fully +five minutes without evoking a response; and then I knew that the +strangers were enemies. We accordingly hauled down the signal again and +cleared for action, loading both torpedo tubes as well. This done, we +quickened up our pace to full speed; for if we were going to have a +fight, I wanted it to be out there in the open, so far away from the +shore that the sounds of firing would not reach the Russians about +Kinchau, and so apprise them of the presence of an enemy in the adjacent +waters. + +As we rapidly neared the enemy I made them out to be two destroyers, +evidently escorting the third craft, which was a single-funnelled +steamer of apparently about eighteen hundred tons. She sat deep in the +water, as though loaded to her full capacity, but she was much too small +for a transport, and for the life of me I could not imagine what her +character might be. But there could be no doubt whatever concerning the +destroyers; they were self-evident Russians, for they were +four-funnelled, the funnels arranged in pairs, which was distinctly +characteristic of a certain class of Russian destroyer. + +Neither side wasted any time upon useless preliminaries; but it was the +Russians who opened the ball by both craft firing, almost +simultaneously, every gun they could bring to bear upon us. But their +aim was nothing to boast of, for although we heard the shells screaming +all about us, we remained untouched. Twice they fired upon us before I +would give the word to our gun-layers, and both times ineffectively; +then I gave the order to commence firing; and no sooner had the words +passed my lips than our 12-pounder spoke, and a moment later there +occurred two distinct explosions aboard the nearest Russian boat, which +instantly became enveloped in a great cloud of steam. Apparently that +first shot of ours had struck and exploded one of her boilers, for +almost immediately she slackened speed and began to drop astern. This +mishap, however, did not seem to in the least discourage her consort, +which, putting on full speed, now dashed at us in the most determined +and gallant manner, firing as she came, and receiving our fire in +return. And then, for some ten minutes, we found ourselves engaged in a +regular ding-dong fight, we and our antagonist closing to a distance of +less than two hundred yards, and hammering away at each other as fast as +the guns could be served. + +But it very soon became apparent that our fellows were much the better +and cooler gunners of the two; for whereas the Russians seemed to ram in +their charges and let fly on the instant that their guns were loaded, +our men waited, watching the roll both of their own ship and that of the +enemy, and firing at her waterline as she rolled away from us, with the +result that within the first five minutes of the fight a lucky shot from +our 12-pounder sent a shell through her upturned bilge a foot or so +below her normal waterline, blowing a hole through her thin plating that +admitted a tremendous inrush of water every time that she rolled toward +us. Her crew at once got out a collision mat and made the most +desperate efforts to get it over and stop the leak; but our 6-pound +quick-firers peppered them so severely that, after struggling manfully +for two or three minutes, they were obliged to let the mat go, and lost +it. Then they launched a torpedo at us, which missed us by inches only, +whereupon I ordered our men to cease fire, and hailed the Russian to ask +if she would surrender. But, not a bit of it; their reply, as +translated to me by Hiraoka, who was an excellent Russian linguist, was, +that they knew how to die, but not how to surrender; and the reply was +accompanied by another salvo from every one of their guns that would +bear. And this, too, at a moment when it became only too apparent that +the boat was rapidly sinking. Since, therefore, it was evident that +they were resolved to fight to the last, there was nothing for it but to +open fire upon them afresh, much as I regretted it, as they obstinately +persisted in keeping up a fire upon us. + +The end, however, was nearer than even I thought, for we had fired but a +few more shots at our opponent when there occurred a terrific explosion +aboard her, instantly followed by several others, her deck opened up +like the lid of a box, a great sheet of flame leapt up from her +interior; and, seeming to break in two, the dismembered hull rapidly +disappeared, the bow and stern portions rearing themselves out of water +for a few seconds ere they plunged to the bottom, leaving nothing to +show where the boat had been, save a great cloud of acrid smoke and +steam, a few fragments of wreckage, and some half a dozen men struggling +in the water. + +Of course we instantly stopped our engines and launched a boat; but we +only found and saved three men out of the boat's total complement of +forty-seven. We learned that the name of the lost destroyer was the +_Beztraschni_, and that all of her officers had perished with her. + +We now had leisure to attend to the other two craft, which were by this +time some three miles astern, having apparently stopped their engines to +await at a safe distance the course of events. Swinging round, we +headed for them at full speed, with all guns loaded, and a torpedo in +each tube, ready to open fire as soon as we got within effective range. +As we drew nearer, however, it became evident that there was something +very seriously wrong with the destroyer which we had first fired upon, +and which had dropped astern, disabled, for there were boats in the +water about her, seemingly passing between her and the other craft, +boats going to her with only two or three hands in them, and leaving her +loaded. By the time that we had arrived within a mile of her we could +see that the destroyer was in a sinking condition; and a minute later we +lost sight of her altogether: she had gone down. + +The boats were still in the water alongside the surviving craft, and men +were climbing up her side from them as we arrived within some thirty +fathoms of her and hailed, demanding her surrender. A reply instantly +came from her to the effect that she surrendered; whereupon I dispatched +Hiraoka on board, in charge of an armed boat's crew; and some ten +minutes later the youngster hailed, informing me that our prize was +named the _Vashka_, of seventeen hundred and sixty tons register, +originally a cargo steamer, but now adapted for mine-laying; and that +she was from Dalny, bound for Kinchau Bay for the purpose of sowing the +bay with mines, in anticipation of the probability that some of our +ships would be sent to participate in the attack upon the isthmus. He +added the information that the vessel, hoping to escape the notice of +Japan's warships by taking a roundabout route, had been escorted by two +destroyers only, the _Beztraschni_ and the _Storozhevoi_, the latter of +which we had seen go down a few minutes before as a result of injuries +inflicted upon her by our 12-pounder, the shell from which had not only +blown a great rent in her bottom, as it burst, but the fragments of +which had pierced two of her boilers. + +It was evident that we had made a capture of considerable importance, I +therefore proceeded on board the prize, with an armed reinforcement, and +after going carefully into the matter with Hiraoka, arranged with him to +take the _Vashka_ to the Elliots, in charge of a prize crew, there to +act according to the Admiral's orders. + +This matter arranged, I returned to the _Kasanumi_, and we resumed our +voyage while the prize headed away south-west, on her way round to the +Elliot Islands. We now had leisure to look into the extent of our own +injuries. These, it proved, were by no means so serious as might have +been expected, having regard to the fierceness and closeness of the +fight. Our casualties amounted to two killed and five wounded, one of +them seriously; while the top of the aftermost of our midship pair of +funnels had been blown away, the rail of the navigating bridge smashed +and doubled up in a most astonishing way, the pilot-house roof torn off, +our topsides pierced in no less than five places, and a very pretty +general average made of my cabin, in which a shell had evidently burst. +Luckily, none of these injuries seriously affected the craft's safety, +while most of them could be at least temporarily patched-up in a few +hours; also, very luckily, all the navigating instruments, the +chronometer, my sextant, the nautical almanac, and my book of +logarithmic and other tables had almost miraculously escaped all injury. + +We steamed into Kinchau Bay, with all lights out, about an hour later +than I had arranged for, but still in sufficient time for the work which +lay before me; and when we arrived off the cove where I had previously +landed, our largest boat was lowered, the buoys or rafts which I had +caused to be prepared were placed in her, each having attached to it a +very light chain of just sufficient length to securely moor it with the +aid of a good grapnel; and, accompanied by two men, I then jumped in, +and we pulled ashore, while the _Kasanumi_ turned tail and steamed off +to sea again at full speed, so as to be out of sight from the shore +before dawn. + +Arrived in the cove, we secured our boat, and then settled down as +comfortably as was possible to await the dawn. It came at last, and, as +I had expected, there very shortly afterwards arrived some forty +Manchurian fishermen from a little village, about half a mile distant. +At first they were somewhat alarmed to find the cove, and their boats, +apparently in possession of Japanese men-o'-war's-men; but I had taken +the precaution to ensure that one of my men should be capable of playing +the part of interpreter; and before long I was able not only to reassure +them but also, by a judicious admixture of cajolery and threats, to +secure their assistance in the completion of my scheme. Money appeals +to the Manchurian fisherman just as powerfully as it does to most other +people, more powerfully than it does to many, for he sees so little of +it; consequently when I intimated that I was prepared to pay the +magnificent sum of ten yen for a few hours' use of one of their boats, +with a crew of four men, the whole crowd came tumbling over one another +in their eagerness to secure the prize. I chose the boat most suitable +for my purpose, transferred my rafts and gear to her, leaving our own +boat in charge of a man who undertook to guard her with his life for the +sum of one yen; and then, in company with the other boats, which were +going fishing in the bay, we shoved off and pulled out of the cove. By +a stroke of the greatest good fortune, the day was beautifully fine and +clear, so that I was able without the slightest difficulty to get every +one of my bearings with the most absolute accuracy, and to place my +several buoys on the prearranged spots with perfect precision. The work +was successfully and most satisfactorily accomplished shortly before +noon; and now all that remained to be done was to affix the different +coloured flags to the buoys. But that part would have to be deferred +until our ships should actually come into action; otherwise our +sharp-sighted enemies might prematurely catch sight of them, and, +guessing their purpose, destroy them. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +I GO ASHORE. + +An hour before midnight, launching our own boat, my crew and I pushed +out of the cove into Kinchau Bay, in readiness to board the _Kasanumi_ +immediately upon her arrival from the offing. + +Toward the close of the afternoon the weather had undergone a change, +becoming overcast and hazy, with a drizzling rain. + +The wind, too, had shifted, and, as we pushed out of the cove, was +blowing fresh from the westward, knocking up a short, choppy sea that +threatened soon to become dangerous to such a small boat as ours. +Luckily for us, however, Hiraoka was a bit ahead of time that night, the +barometer having warned him that bad weather was brewing, with the +result that in little more than half an hour after leaving the cove we +made out the dark form of the destroyer, hove-to and waiting for us, +within fifty fathoms of our boat. And now it was that I had practical +experience of the value of a suitable colouring as an aid to +concealment; for although the _Kasanumi_ had been where we found her for +a full quarter of an hour, and although we had been keeping a sharp +lookout for her, she remained invisible until we were close aboard of +her, thanks to the peculiar shade of grey with which I had caused her to +be painted. We scrambled aboard gladly enough, hoisted the boat to the +davits, and at once started back for our rendezvous at the Elliot group, +where we arrived without adventure shortly after sunrise on the +following morning. + +When, a little later, I went aboard the flagship to report myself and +the result of my expedition to the Admiral, I learned that I had only +got back just in the nick of time, for at last a communication had been +received from General Oku, announcing that his preparations were now +complete, and the squadron detached to assist him was under orders to +leave for Kinchau Bay that very night. This squadron consisted of the +_Tsukushi_, a light cruiser, armed with two 10-inch and four 47-inch +guns, and the old ironclad _Hei-yen_, once belonging to the Chinese +navy, but captured by the Japanese at the first battle of the Yalu. She +mounted one 10-inch Krupp which had formed part of her original +armament, and two 6-inch modern guns. Also the _Akagi_, another +survivor of the Yalu battle, armed with four 47-inch guns; and the +_Chokai_, carrying one 8-2-inch and one 47-inch gun. These were the +craft destined to bombard the Nanshan Heights from the sea while the +Japanese infantry and artillery attacked them from the land side; and +they were the only craft we had at the time at all suitable for the +purpose, while even they were incapable of rendering such efficient help +as might have been desired, the fact being that the shallow waters of +Kinchau Bay compelled them to keep at so great a distance from the shore +that they could only use their guns at extreme ranges. Accompanying +these four ships was a flotilla consisting of ten torpedo-boats under my +command, their duty being to lend a hand generally in any manner that +might be required. + +There was just comfortable time for us to re-bunker the _Kasanumi_ +before six o'clock, at which hour we got under way, the expedition as a +whole being under the command of Rear-Admiral Misamichi, who knew the +locality well, having carefully reconnoitred the whole of the western +coast of the peninsula a week or two earlier. I had by this time +completed all my calculations, laid down upon the chart the positions of +my series of buoys, and indicated in figures the exact measurements in +yards from the lines which they marked to a number of points ashore, and +a copy of this chart had been handed to each captain; they were +therefore now in a position to steam in and open fire forthwith, with +the absolute certainty of landing their shots upon the spots aimed at. + +We were rather a slow-going lot, our speed of course being regulated by +that of the slowest craft of the bunch, which happened to be the old +_Hei-yen_; and our progress was further impeded by the circumstance +that, upon rounding Liao-ti-shan promontory we ran into a westerly +breeze and sea that flung our torpedo-boats about like corks and +necessitated our slowing down to a speed of about eight knots; in +consequence of which it was late the next night when we arrived and came +to an anchor well out in deep water. + +And now arose a little difficulty. We started to communicate by +wireless to General Oku the fact of our arrival in the bay, by code of +course; but such was the Russian keenness and activity that the moment +their own wireless picked up our message,--as, of course, it was bound +to do,--finding that it was in a code which they could not decipher, +they immediately proceeded to "mix" it so effectually that the reading +of it became impossible. The first word or two, however, reached Oku, +and he at once, shrewdly surmising that the message was from us, +proceeded to signal us by searchlight, using an adaptation of the Morse +Code. The conversation thus carried on was a lengthy one, occupying +more than an hour, when it suddenly ceased, and almost immediately +afterward the Admiral signalled me to proceed on board the flagship. +This was much more easily said than done, for by this time it was +blowing a moderate gale, and the sea was running so heavily that it was +as much as my boat could do to live in it, while as for getting +alongside the cruiser, that was quite out of the question, and they were +obliged to hoist me aboard in a standing bowline at the end of a whip. + +Upon being shown into Admiral Misamichi's cabin, I found its occupant +somewhat ruefully contemplating the rather voluminous communication from +the shore which he had just received. He welcomed me with much +cordiality, and then passed the document over to me. + +"Be so good as to read that, Captain," he said, "and then kindly tell me +what you make of it. It purports to be General Oku's instructions for +to-morrow; but so dense is my stupidity that I am compelled to confess +my inability to understand it." + +I read the communication carefully through from beginning to end three +times, and was then obliged to admit that I had only been able to glean +a very hazy, imperfect notion of what the General required. I gathered +that he desired the squadron to concentrate its fire from time to time +upon certain points, as directed by signal; but the mischief of it was +that we out there in the bay had no means of identifying the points +named by the General; in other words, he gave them designations of which +we were completely ignorant. We produced the chart of the place, +likewise the map, and studied them both intently, with Oku's message +beside us, and finally came to the conclusion that it was +incomprehensible. Then the Admiral sent for the captains of the other +ships, and they had a shot at it, with a similar result. + +At length I said: + +"It appears to me, sir, that there is but one thing to be done, namely, +for me to go ashore, find General Oku, explain to him our difficulty, +and _get_ him to mark on the map the several points mentioned here,"-- +touching the dispatch. "As you are aware, I have already been ashore +here; I spent a whole day among the hills, reconnoitring the ground and +making observations. I therefore know the country well, including our +own and the enemy's positions; and probably half an hour's conversation +with the General will enable me to identify the points mentioned in this +dispatch with some of those already marked upon my chart. Thus, for +example, this point, the position of which we are wholly unable to +identify, may be the position which I have marked 1, or 3, or 7, or, in +fact, anything; but it _must_ be one or other of those which I have +numbered, for I numbered every one of them." + +"Yes, yes," agreed the Admiral, "that is all quite comprehensible; and, +if you could only get ashore, the matter could very soon be adjusted. +But how are you going to get ashore; and--still more difficult--how are +you going to get off again? From what I know of this bay, I am prepared +to say that there is a surf breaking on the beach at this moment which +no boat of ours could pass through and live. Listen to the wind, how it +howls through our rigging!" + +True! that was a point which had entirely escaped me, in my eagerness. +How was I to get ashore? Or rather, how was I to get off again? I was +pretty confident of my ability to get ashore, for surf-swimming was a +favourite pastime of mine; but as to getting off again--well, I doubted +whether even my strength was equal to the task of struggling out through +the long lines of surf which I knew must now be thundering in upon +Kinchau beach. + +The difficulty was finally overcome by the Admiral consenting to my +attempting to get ashore, upon condition that I would not attempt to +swim off again unless I felt absolutely convinced of my ability to +accomplish the feat. If I could not, I was to remain ashore with Oku, +helping him in any manner that might suggest itself, but especially by +signalling off to the fleet, from time to time, the numbers of the +several positions which they would be required to shell. + +This matter settled, I made my way back to the _Kasanumi_, and there +prepared for my somewhat hazardous adventure by carefully tying up a +marked and figured copy of the map of Kinchau and its surroundings in a +piece of thin sheet rubber, to protect it from the wet. Next, I +divested myself of all clothing except a pair of swimming drawers and a +pair of thin canvas running shoes. Then, tying the map, in its rubber +case, round my neck, I signalled our smallest torpedo-boat to look out +for me and haul me aboard--for by this time the sea was running so +heavily that it was impossible to launch a boat; when, having received a +reply to my signal, I simply dived overboard and swam down to leeward to +where the torpedo-boat lay. Her crew were, of course, keenly on the +alert, and as I came driving down toward them, only visible in +consequence of the phosphorescence of the water, they flung me a +lifebuoy bent on to the end of a line, and so hauled me aboard. + +We were anchored at a distance of about four miles from the shore, which +was, of course, much too great a distance for me to attempt to swim in +the sea that was now running, especially as I should need every ounce of +strength to fight my way through the long stretch of surf that I knew +must now be breaking all along the shore. I therefore briefly explained +to the skipper of the torpedo-boat the mission upon which I was bound, +and what I wished him to do, and then, while he saw to the doing of his +part, I retired to his little cabin, stripped off my wet swimming kit, +and gave myself a vigorous towelling to banish the cold of even the +brief swim I had already undertaken. Meanwhile, the boat was got under +way and taken in toward Kinchau, with the lead going all the time; and +when at length she was as near the shore as it was at all prudent for +her to approach, she was turned with her head to seaward, and the +skipper came down to apprise me of the state of affairs. The boat had +taken about twenty minutes to feel her way in, and during that time I +had been assiduously practising gymnastics; I was therefore now not only +dry but also in a pleasant glow of warmth, and quite ready to undertake +the really formidable part of the task that still lay before me. + +My swimming kit had meanwhile been taken down into the stokehole, so +that when it was handed to me it was not only nearly dry but, what was +very much more to the purpose, comfortably warm. Donning it and a fine +warm boat cloak, I accompanied the skipper to the deck and walked aft to +take a look at the task before me. I found that they had taken the boat +in to the very edge of the outer line of the surf, which stretched away +inshore of us, line after line, in an apparently interminable procession +of breakers, like lines of infantry rushing forward to the assault, +vaguely visible in their pallid phosphorescence against the blackness of +the starless night. To fight my way to the shore through that wide area +of roaring, leaping, and seething breakers promised to be a task that +would tax my strength and energy to their utmost limits; but it was a +case of necessity, and I had undertaken to do it; therefore, throwing +off the borrowed boat cloak, with a word of farewell to the skipper of +the boat, I waited for the next oncoming breaker, and dived overboard at +the precise moment when it would catch me up in its mighty arms and +sweep me, without effort on my part, a good twenty fathoms toward the +shore. + +_B-r-r-r_! The water struck icy cold to my warm skin as I plunged deep +into the heart of the great arching mass of water, which caught me just +as I was rising to the surface and hurled me shoreward with irresistible +force, rolling me over and over like a cork as it broke into a long line +of hissing, pallid foam. But I knew exactly what to expect, and was +fully prepared for it. I therefore allowed it to do with me just what +it would, holding my breath and waiting until the breaker had passed +ahead and spent its force. Then, striking out strongly as I came to the +surface, I swam on toward the next line of breakers, where the same +thing was repeated, but each time a shade less violently, until at +length, after what seemed like hours, but which, as a matter of fact, +could not have been more than about forty minutes of battling with the +breakers, my feet touched ground, and a moment later the last breaker, a +very mild and harmless one compared with those in the offing, lifted me +up and almost gently deposited me on the beach. + +Upon hands and knees I crawled up above watermark and then rose to my +feet to look about, recover my breath, and get my bearings. After the +stinging cold of the water, the air felt quite pleasantly warm, but I +knew that I should soon get chilled if I did not keep moving briskly; +so, seeing a line of watch-fires about half a mile away, which, from +their position, I guessed must be Japanese, I set out toward them at a +brisk walking pace, and, the ground being fortunately open in that +direction, it was but a few minutes before I found myself unexpectedly +halted, with the point of a Japanese sentry's bayonet gently pressing +against my breast. Of course I hadn't the countersign; but my +appearance, and particularly my unconventional garb, must have convinced +him of the truth of my story that, being unable to get ashore in any +other way, I had swum in from the fleet, with a communication from the +Admiral for General Oku, for he passed me on to the next sentry without +hesitation; and thus in the course of another ten minutes I found myself +in the tent of a certain colonel who not only had heard of me but had +also seen me and now recognised me. From him I learned that the general +staff quarters were situated about a mile farther inland, on one of the +lower slopes of Mount Sampson, to which he very kindly offered to +conduct me. But of course I could not present myself before General Oku +in bathing rig, and it was not without difficulty that a suit of clothes +was at length found into which I could get; but it was managed at last, +and off we went, the colonel and I, my companion seeming to be greatly +impressed with my swimming feat. "I wonder," he remarked, "if there is +_anything_ that an Englishman would not at least _attempt_ to do!" + +Our way led through the Japanese camp, so I had a very good opportunity +to observe what the domestic life--if I may so term it--of the Japanese +soldier was at the front; and I was surprised to see how thoroughly +every possible contingency had been foreseen and provided for, and how +many ingenious little devices had been thought out and included in his +kit with the object of adding to his comfort. + +In due time we arrived at headquarters; and late though the hour was, +the General and his staff were all not only awake and on the move, but +were holding a sort of council of war, for the purpose of making the +final arrangements for the morrow. As it happened, my arrival was most +opportune, for the staff were planning the details of an assault that +could by no possibility be successful without the assistance of the +navy, upon which they were all confidently reckoning, whereas it was my +duty to inform them that, unless there came a very quick change of +weather, it would be impossible for our ships to co-operate, and I had +to explain at length why. This caused an immediate change of plan, the +grand assault being provisionally postponed, since there was no prospect +whatever at that moment of a change of weather occurring in time. + +I delivered my message and produced my map, explaining the various +markings upon it and describing the work upon which I had been engaged +during the past few days; and I was exceedingly gratified to learn that +it would greatly simplify and assist the general's plans. + +It was also satisfactory to know that the Japanese had never had the +slightest suspicion of what I was doing, which was tantamount to an +assurance that the Russians were equally ignorant. It was amazing to +see the facility with which Oku altered his plans. No sooner did he +understand that the chances were all against the fleet being able to +help him on the following day than he was ready with an alternative +scheme; and in a quarter of an hour he had everything cut-and-dried, +every officer present was given clear and concise instructions relative +to his duties on the morrow, and we were all dismissed with a hint to +get what rest we might, as the morrow was to be a busy day. General +Oshima, who was in command of the 3rd Division, constituting the +Japanese left, very kindly took me under his wing, and found me sleeping +quarters in a tent, the occupants of which happened to be out on duty. + +Being greatly fatigued after my swim, I slept soundly that night, but +was awakened at dawn by the bugle calls, and turned out to see what the +weather was like. To my disgust, and doubtless that of everybody else, +it was worse than ever; the sky was overcast and louring, with great +rags of dirty grey scud flying athwart the face of the heavens from the +westward, while the top of Mount Sampson was completely enveloped in +mist, which, notwithstanding the gale, clung to the rugged peak and ribs +of the mountain very much as the "tablecloth" does to the summit of +Table Mountain. There was no fog down where we were, but, what was even +worse, we were smothered with blinding and suffocating clouds of dust, +for it was a dry gale, and all hands were devoutly praying that the +louring sky would dissolve into rain, if only for half an hour, just to +lay the dust and so save us from the unpleasantness of being blinded and +suffocated. As for the bay, it was just one continuous sheet of foam, +while the breakers leapt and boiled for a space of a full mile from the +beach. A single glance at it was sufficient to make it clear that it +would be impossible for the fleet to co-operate so long as the gale +lasted, even if the tossing masts and spray-enveloped hulls of our craft +in the offing had not told a similar tale. General Oshima and I walked +a couple of miles to the northward along the slopes of Mount Sampson, in +order to get a good view of the bay, clear of the northern spur of the +Nanshan Heights, just to make assurance doubly sure; but it was scarcely +necessary to point out to him the wildly plunging hulls of our ships to +make him understand the hopelessness of the case, and that once clearly +established, we hurried back to Headquarters to make our report. + +Oku, however, was not the man to be deterred by weather, or indeed +anything else. Finding that the projected assault was impossible for +the moment, he resolved to begin the bombardment with his own guns, +doing the best he could with them, unaided, and accompanying the +bombardment with what he termed "a demonstration in force," in order to +bring out the Russians and compel them to man their defences while +exposed to the fire of our guns. Thus, by a curious combination of +circumstances, it appeared that at last I was to be afforded the +opportunity of seeing what a land battle was like. + +Naturally, I volunteered my services in any capacity where I could be +made useful, and the general eagerly closed with my offer. He was +particularly anxious to obtain the exact range of certain of the Russian +positions without being obliged to fire any trial shots, and he asked me +if I could do this for him, seeing that I had already done similar work +quite recently; and I told him that I could, and would, with pleasure, +if such a thing as a box sextant or an azimuth compass was to be found +in camp. Somewhat to my surprise it turned out, upon inquiry, that no +such things were to be had. I therefore had recourse to what is known +among engineers as a "plane table," which I was obliged to extemporise; +and with this apparatus, used in conjunction with a carefully measured +line, three hundred yards in length, I was soon able to supply the +information required. The whole device was, of course, of a very +rough-and-ready description, but I was greatly gratified when the first +shots were fired, to see the shells drop upon the exact spots aimed at. + +The task which General Oku had undertaken, and which he must accomplish +before an advance could be made by him upon Port Arthur, was an +exceedingly difficult one. As has already been said, he effected a +landing at a point near Yentoa Bay, distant some sixty miles north-east +of Port Arthur as the crow flies. From thence he must needs make his +way to Port Arthur overland, since there was no such thing for him as +getting there by sea. About half-way on his journey occurred the +isthmus of Kinchau, which is only about two miles wide, and which he +must traverse on his way. A neck of land two miles wide is no great +matter to fortify, a fact which the Russians speedily demonstrated. To +march along such a narrow strip of land, with sixteen thousand resolute +armed men saying you Nay, would be difficult enough, in all conscience, +were that strip of land level; but unhappily for the Japanese it was not +so, the Nanshan Heights running through it from north to south, like a +raised backbone, leaving only a very narrow strip of low ground on +either side of it. Nor was this the only difficulty which the Japanese +had to contend with, for, some three miles north-east of the narrowest +part of the isthmus, towered Mount Sampson, over two thousand feet in +height, commanding the entire neighbourhood and affording an ideal +position for the Russian batteries. Then, at the foot of Mount Sampson +lay the walled city of Kinchau, which the Russians had seized and +fortified; and, finally, there were the Nanshan Heights, upon the crest +of which the Russians had constructed ten forts, armed with seventy +guns, several of which were of 8-inch or 6-inch calibre, firing shells +of from two hundred to one hundred pounds weight. + +To attempt to pass these several positions while they were in the hands +of the Russians would have been simply courting annihilation; the first +task, therefore, was to capture them. This, so far as Mount Sampson was +concerned, had been done when I arrived upon the scene; but there still +remained Kinchau and the Nanshan Heights to be taken; and each of these +threatened to be an even tougher piece of work than the storming of +Mount Sampson; for the Russians, after their experience of the +extraordinary intrepidity of the Japanese when storming the mountain, +had adopted every conceivable means to make the heights impregnable. + +First of all, there were the ten forts with their seventy guns lining +the crest of the heights, in addition to which the Russians had two +batteries of quick-fire field artillery and ten machine-guns. Next, in +front of the forts, all along the eastern slope of the heights--which +was the side from which attack was possible--there was row after row of +shelter trenches, solidly roofed with timber covered with earth, to +protect the occupants from artillery fire. Below these again the +Russians had dug countless circular pitfalls, about ten feet deep, +shaped like drinking cups, with very narrow bottoms, each pit having at +its bottom a stout, upright, sharpened stake upon which any hapless +person, falling in, must inevitably be impaled. They were, in fact, an +adaptation of the stake pitfalls employed by many African and other +natives to capture and kill big game. These pits were dug so close +together that, of a party of stormers rushing up the slope, a large +proportion must inevitably fall in, or be unwittingly pushed in by their +comrades. Passages between these pits were purposely left here and +there, but they were all mined, each mine being connected to one of the +forts above by an electric cable, so that it could be exploded at any +moment by merely pressing a button. And that moment would of course be +when the passage-way was crowded with Japanese. And, lastly, at the +foot of the hill there was a great maze of strongly constructed wire +entanglements, during the slow passage of which the hapless stormers +would be exposed to a withering rifle and shell fire. Thus the task +which the Japanese had to perform was, first to pass through the wire +entanglements at the foot of the hill; next, to achieve the passage of +the staked pits and the mined ground between them--exposed all the time, +be it remembered, to a terrific fire from the forts and trenches above; +next, to take line after line of trenches; and, finally, to storm the +forts on the crest of the heights--a task which, I frankly admit, seemed +to me impossible. + +I must confess that my first impressions of a land battle were +disappointing. I had expected to see the Japanese march out and storm +the heights under cover of the fire of their own guns. And, as a matter +of fact, they did march out, but there was no storming of the heights; I +had momentarily forgotten that what I was witnessing was merely a +"demonstration." I presume it served its purpose, however, for the +General and his staff seemed to be perfectly satisfied with the result; +and in any case it had the effect intended of compelling the Russians to +man their trenches under the fire of the Japanese guns, which, feeble +though they were as compared with those of the enemy, must have +inflicted severe punishment upon the packed masses of infantry who +swarmed into the trenches to repel what they had every reason to suppose +was a genuine attack. But the Japanese--closely watched by a Russian +captive balloon, which was sent up directly our troops were seen to be +in motion--having compelled the Russians to turn out and expend a +considerable quantity of ammunition in comparatively innocuous +long-range shooting, calmly marched back again about three o'clock in +the afternoon, about which time the firing ceased. While it lasted, +however, it was hot enough to bring on heavy rain, and the day ended +with a tremendous downpour, which converted the hillsides into a network +of miniature cascades, and must have been exceedingly unpleasant for any +of the Russians whom expediency and watchfulness compelled to remain in +the trenches. + +With nightfall the gale increased in fury; but the rain had produced at +least one good result; it had laid the dust most effectually while it +had made but little mud, for the thirsty earth seemed to absorb the +water almost as fast as it fell; also it cooled the air considerably, +which was all to the advantage of the Japanese, who would have the +strenuous work of climbing the hill, while it would tend to chill and +benumb the Russians, who would be compelled to remain comparatively +inactive in the sodden trenches. Whether it was this consideration, or +the fact that the barometer was rapidly rising, or a combination of +both, I cannot say, but about ten o'clock that night the word went round +that a general attack upon the Russian works was to be made as soon as +possible after midnight. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE STORMING OF NANSHAN HEIGHTS. + +By midnight a change of weather had occurred; the wind, which at ten +o'clock in the evening had been blowing harder than ever, suddenly +subsided, the air grew close, almost to suffocation, and an immense +black cloud settled down upon the summit of Mount Sampson, where it +rested broodingly, the sure precursor of a thunderstorm, if I was any +judge of weather lore. + +The first troops to move consisted of a detachment of the 4th Engineers' +Battalion, who were assigned the perilous duty of blowing down the gates +of Kinchau, of which there were four, corresponding to the four cardinal +points of the compass. I volunteered to accompany this party, for the +task which devolved upon them was one that rather appealed to me; but +Oku was most emphatic in his refusal, explaining that he would more than +probably require my services at daylight, or shortly afterward, to +communicate with the squadron in the offing. Accordingly, I had to +stand aside, somewhat unwillingly, and see them march off without me; +which was perhaps just as well, for the attempt resulted in failure, and +every man who participated in it was killed. + +Just as the Engineers marched out of camp on their way to Kinchau, the +brooding cloud on the summit of Mount Sampson began to send forth flash +after flash of vivid lightning, green, blue, and sun-bright, which +lighted up not only the rugged slopes of the mountain itself, but also +those other and more deadly slopes of the Nanshan Heights, while peal +after peal of thunder crashed and rolled and reverberated among the +ravines which scored the sides of the mountain. It was a weird enough +scene of itself, but its weirdness was intensified by the Russian +searchlights, which were turned on with the first crash of thunder, +which the Russians appeared to mistake for the roar of Japanese guns. +As a matter of fact they appeared to be a bit panicky that night, for +not only did they turn on the searchlights at the first sound of +thunder, but the occupants of the forts and trenches on the crest and +side of Nanshan Heights at once opened a terrific fire from every piece, +great or small, that could be brought to bear upon the foot of the +slope, which was instantly swept by a very hurricane of shrapnel and +rifle bullets, while the Japanese, safely under cover, looked on and +smiled. + +For two hours that storm raged with such fury that the volleying peals +of thunder quite outroared the booming of the Russian artillery and +rifle-fire, which gradually died down as the Muscovites began to realise +that there was no attack; and about two o'clock in the morning the storm +passed away, still rumbling and muttering, to the eastward. But during +that two hours of elemental fury, a Chinese village in the neighbourhood +was set on fire and practically destroyed, while several Japanese +soldiers were struck by lightning, and either killed outright or more or +less seriously injured. + +With the passing of the storm a thick, white mist arose from the low +ground, completely blotting out everything beyond a few yards distant; +and under the cover of this mist the Japanese made their dispositions +for the coming battle, entirely unseen by the enemy, and probably +unheard also, for it was a revelation to me to see how quietly large +bodies of men could be moved when the necessity for silence had been +fully impressed upon them. + +As the dawn gradually brightened the sky behind the ridge of Mount +Sampson, the Russians again became uneasy, and their rifles once more +began to speak from the trenches, a shot here, then another shot yonder, +followed by quite a spluttering here and there all along their front; +but their artillery remained silent, for the fog was still so dense that +nothing could be seen at which to aim. + +Protected by the cover of the fog, the Japanese soldiers went to +breakfast, fortifying themselves with a good meal, in preparation for +the arduous labours of the day that lay before them; and I did the same, +for I knew not how long it might be before I should again have the +opportunity to eat or drink; also, following the example of several of +the officers and men, I filled my jacket pockets with biscuit, and +provided myself with a good capacious flask of cold tea, having done +which, I felt ready for anything. + +We had barely finished breakfast when the sun showed over the ridge of +Mount Sampson; and almost immediately the thick curtain of fog, which +had thus far so effectually hidden the movements of the Japanese troops +from the enemy, began to lift and thin. This was the signal for the +final movement prior to the storming of the Nanshan Heights; and that +movement was directed against the city of Kinchau, it being known by +this time that the devoted band of engineers who had been dispatched at +midnight to blow in the gates of the city must have failed in their +mission, otherwise some of them at least would have been back to report. + +To the 1st Division was assigned the task of taking the city; and they +did it in brilliant style. Marching upon the southern gate, a party of +four engineers was sent forward to blow in the massive barrier, which +was protected by steel plates and bands, secured by heavy steel bolts, +and loopholed for musketry. The devoted quartette succeeded in placing +their blasting charges and igniting the fuses under a heavy fire, not +only from the loopholed gate, but also from the walls, but in so doing +they were so severely wounded that after they had lighted the fuses they +were unable to effect their escape, and received further severe injuries +when the explosion occurred and the gate was blown off its hinges. Then +the waiting 1st Division, straining like eager hounds held in leash, +rushed forward through the thick, acrid smoke, with levelled bayonets, +yelling "Banzai Nippon!" as they ran; and as they charged impetuously in +through the south gate, the enemy went streaming as impetuously out +through the west gate, about half a mile away. + +Kinchau was now in the hands of the Japanese; but this was not +sufficient for them, they must needs pursue the flying Russians; and +they did so with such furious impetuosity that they literally drove them +into the sea--that is to say, into the waters of Kinchau Bay, where the +luckless Russians, to the number of five hundred, were either shot down +or drowned, almost to a man, only ten of them surviving and being taken +prisoners. I had a distant view of the whole affair from a knoll on the +northern spur of the Nanshan Heights, where I had taken up a position +which commanded a view, not only of practically the whole of the ground +over which the stormers would have to pass, but also of the bay and our +fleet, to which I should probably be required to signal from time to +time as the fight progressed. + +Meanwhile, the mist had by this time lifted, revealing a flotilla of our +torpedo-boats and destroyers feeling their way into the bay and keeping +a bright lookout for possible mines. Well astern of them came the +_Akagi_ and _Chokai_; and still farther out were the old _Hei-yen_ and +the cruiser _Tsukushi_, cautiously creeping in, with leadsmen +perpetually sounding on either beam. The bottom, about where they were +required to be, was flat, and the tide was on the ebb, the great fear of +the skippers of those two craft, therefore, was that they might touch +the ground and hang there, left by the tide, exposed helplessly to the +fire of the Russian guns. Thanks, however, to my labours of a few days +earlier, they were all able to get close enough in to open upon the +Russian works at extreme range, although, until the tide should rise, +they could not bring a thoroughly effective fire upon the Russian +batteries and so put them out of action. + +But if we had ships, so, too, had the Russians, in the shape of the +gunboat _Bobr_ and five small steamers in Hand Bay, on the side of the +isthmus opposite to Kinchau Bay, the Nanshan Heights being between them, +so that each was hidden from the sight of the other. The _Bobr_ was +likely to prove a very awkward customer for us; for she mounted one +9-inch and one 6-inch gun, which, although they were a long way from +being up-to-date, were still quite good enough to out-range the Japanese +field-guns and severely pepper our left, which occupied the ground at +the head of Hand Bay. The steamers which accompanied her were, our +spies discovered, fitted up expressly for the purpose of quickly +ferrying troops across from one side of Hand Bay to the other, according +as they might be wanted, instead of being obliged to march round the +head of the bay in the face of our troops. Thus the Russians were in a +position to either harass our left flank and rear, or to rush +reinforcements across the head of the bay--a distance of about a mile-- +as circumstances might require. + +The _Bohr_ began the day's proceedings by opening fire with her 9-inch +gun upon the artillery of our 3rd Division, which had taken up a +position upon the lower slopes of Mount Sampson, from which it could +reach the Russian batteries established upon the crest of the Nanshan +Heights. The gunboat's fire did very little mischief, but it seemed to +be regarded by both sides as a signal to begin the fight, for at once +our batteries got to work, their shells dropping with most beautiful +precision upon the guns and trenches of the Russians. I was so +stationed that I had a most excellent view of practically the entire +scene of operations, and no sooner did our artillery open fire than the +Russian batteries replied with a crash that seemed to make the very air +quiver. + +A land battle is a very different spectacle from a sea battle, in this +respect: that, in the latter, a shell either hits or misses its mark, +and if it misses there is a splash or two and that ends the matter, so +far as that particular shell is concerned. But ashore, every shell, +whether or not it finds its mark, hits something, though it be only the +ground, and immediately there is a violent explosion, a flash of fire, a +great cloud of smoke, and a violent scattering of dust, clods of earth, +and stones--if nothing worse. Thus, I must confess that for a few +seconds I was perfectly amazed to see the slopes of Mount Sampson, on +the one hand, where our artillery was placed, and the Nanshan Heights, +on the other, where were situated the Russian batteries, suddenly burst +into great jets of flame, clouds of smoke, and flying debris, as the +shells showered down upon them. The explosions of shrapnel were easily +distinguished from those of common shell, for the former almost +invariably burst in the air, the smoke from the explosions standing out +against the background of sky or hill like tufts of cotton-wool that had +suddenly sprung into existence from nowhere. + +Very shortly after the artillery duel began, I saw the Japanese infantry +moving out to storm the Nanshan Heights, and I smiled to myself at the +acuteness of their leaders, for the men began their advance in such open +formation that a shrapnel shell seldom succeeded in accounting for more +than one man, and often enough it failed to do even that. Of course +they were seen from the trenches, and a terrific rifle-fire was opened +upon them, but for the same reason it was very ineffective--at the +outset at least, for a rifleman had to be a crack shot to bowl over his +man at a distance of close upon a mile. And if one wished to get his +man, he had to aim at him, and correctly judge the distance too. This, +of course, was at the beginning of the attack; later on, matters became +a good deal more favourable for the defenders and correspondingly +adverse to the attacking force. + +I was interestedly watching the development of the attack upon the +heights, when a galloper dashed up to me with a message from the General +requesting me to signal our ships in the offing to concentrate their +fire upon the Nanshan ridge; and so smart were our men, and so keen a +lookout were they maintaining aboard our ships, that within three +minutes of the receipt by me of the order, their 10-inch, 5-inch, and +6-inch shells were dropping all along the ridge, busily searching it for +the Russian batteries, the positions of which, unfortunately, could not +be seen from the western side. + +For the next half-hour I was kept incessantly employed in signalling our +fleet, directing their fire; but the shoal water of Kinchau Bay was all +against us, and although our ships drew in so close that they touched +the ground several times, they were still too far off to actually +silence the Russian batteries, although they contrived to give them a +very severe punishing and, to some extent, distract their attention from +the stormers. Unfortunately, they could only muster six heavy guns +between them, and these, at the extreme range at which they were obliged +to fire, were not nearly enough, though they certainly helped. + +When at length I was once more free to turn my attention to what was +happening on the eastern side of the heights, I saw that our foremost +line of skirmishers had reached a spot about a mile distant from the +first Russian defences, consisting of a perfect maze of wire +entanglements, and were signalling back to the main body. Almost +immediately a detachment of Cossacks appeared, advancing at a gallop +toward the signallers, from the direction of Linshiatun, a village on +the shore of Sunk Bay, and as the horsemen appeared every Japanese +soldier vanished, as if by magic, having flung himself down upon the +ground and taken cover. On swept the Cossacks, yelling, lashing their +horses with their whips, and brandishing their long lances. Suddenly, +down went a horse and rider, the next instant a Cossack flung up his +arms and collapsed inert upon his horse's neck, then another reeled and +fell, then two or three went down almost at the same instant, then half +a dozen. And the curious thing about it was that there was nothing, no +sudden spurt of flame, no smoke wreath, no crack of a rifle, to account +for these casualties. That is to say, I could neither see nor hear +anything; but the fact was that those Cossacks were going down before +the calm, deliberate rifle-fire of the concealed Japanese infantry-men. +Then a flash from one of the field-guns of our 3rd Division caught my +eye, and before the sharp bark of it reached my ear, a white tuft of +cotton-wool-like smoke suddenly appeared in the air above the galloping +Cossacks, and more of them went down. Another flash, and another, and +another, more tufts of cotton-wool leaping into view, tremendous +disorder and confusion among the Cossacks, men and horses falling right +and left, and then the survivors suddenly wheeled outward and galloped +back at headlong speed, leaving behind them a mangled heap of men and +horses, the greater number dead, but here and there a prostrate, kicking +horse might be seen, or a wounded Cossack crawling slowly and painfully +away from the scene of carnage. + +The flight of the Cossacks was the signal for the resumption of the +advance by the Japanese, whose skirmishers reappeared, still in very +open formation, a man here and a man there showing for a few seconds as, +in a crouching attitude, he rose to his feet, scurried forward a few +yards, and then again took cover, while the fire of the Russian guns +swept the ground over which he was passing. As yet, however, there +appeared to be very few casualties among our men; here and there I +noticed a prostrate form lying motionless, while others crept up and +scuttled past him; he had been found by a shrapnel shell, and his share +of the work was done; but even shrapnel cannot do much harm if the +formation is kept sufficiently open. And as man after man pushed +forward, others crept out, following, until the whole of the ground +between our lines and the base of the heights was dotted with Japanese +infantry-men creeping ever closer up to the first line of the Russian +defence, the terrible maze of barbed wire entanglements. + +Meanwhile, the whole of the Japanese field artillery, as well as that of +our ships, was concentrating its fire upon the crest of the heights, +covering the advance of the stormers; and now my attention was once more +diverted from that advance by the necessity for me to signal directions +to the fleet. And now it was that the full value of my previous labours +began to be manifested; for I had but to signal the ships to direct +their fire upon such and such a point--wherever, in fact, a Russian +battery was proving especially troublesome--and all that the gun-layers +had to do was to refer to the maps with which I had supplied them, and +they were at once informed of the exact range of that point, with the +result that a hail of shells instantly began to fall upon that +particular battery with the most deadly precision. Thus, after a little +while, every battery on the heights became in turn the focus of a +terrific crossfire from the ships and the field batteries, the effect of +which soon became manifest in the silencing of several of the Russian +guns, either by dismounting, or, as we afterwards discovered, by the +complete destruction of the men working them. + +With the guns of our fleet playing such havoc among the ten forts which +crowned the heights, it now became possible for our field artillery to +turn its attention upon the trenches, tier after tier of which lined the +eastern slope of the heights, up which our stormers would have to pass. +Those trenches were quite formidable works, roofed over with timber and +earth to protect the occupants from artillery fire, and loopholed for +rifle-fire; yet, thanks again to my labours of the previous day in +determining the exact range of them, our guns were able to search them +from end to end, blowing the parapets to dust and matchwood, and hurling +the wreckage among the gunners who were working the Russian quick-firers +and machine-guns, many of whom were thus killed or wounded. The carnage +must have been--indeed was, as we later saw for ourselves--frightful, +yet the Russians maintained a most gallant defence, and clung to their +trenches with unflinching determination. A lucky shell from one of our +field-guns fell upon and exploded one of the many Russian mines which +were scattered pretty thickly over the hillside, and the explosion blew +a big gap in one of the lines of wire entanglements, a circumstance +which without doubt resulted subsequently in the saving of many lives. + +Hour after hour the artillery duel proceeded, our gunners doing their +utmost to cover the slow advance of the stormers, while the Russian +artillery systematically swept with a crossfire every inch of the ground +which our men would have to traverse. The crash of the artillery was +continuous and most distracting, and the effect was intensified by the +incessant scream of the shells and the sharp thud as they burst, +interspersed with the everlasting hammering of the machine-guns and +quick-firers; Nanshan was ablaze with the fire of the Russian guns and +the bursting of our shells, and the entire hill was enwrapped in +fantastically whirling wreaths of smoke which were every moment rent +violently asunder by the explosion of bursting shells. + +Thus far I had occupied my position undisturbed, but about mid-morning +certain Russian sharpshooters chanced to detect me and my assistant in +the act of signalling to our ships, and they at once favoured me with +their undivided attentions, to such purpose that I was compelled to beat +a hasty retreat. The change of position which I was compelled to make +was, however, advantageous rather than otherwise, for I found a +perfectly safe spot behind two tall boulders standing close together, +which, while effectually shielding me from the Russian bullets, still +enabled me to see all that was happening. + +Yet, that "all" might be summed up in a very few words--just incessant +flashes of fire, great volumes of smoke, and, interspersed with the +smoke, patches of flying debris. Very little else. No great masses of +troops advancing in serried lines, column after column, with colours +proudly flying, and burnished bayonets glistening in the sun; none of +the old-fashioned pomp and circumstance of war when the opposing armies +marched toward each other with bands playing, discharged their muskets +when they were near enough to see the whites of their opponents' eyes, +and then charged with fixed bayonets, fighting it out hand to hand. +That sort of battle went out of fashion with the introduction of the +breech-loading rifle and the machine-gun; and now, with between fifty +and sixty thousand men in action, there were periods when not a solitary +human being could be seen. And when any did appear, which was only at +intervals, they were but few in number--just a man here and a man there +dotted about sparsely over a large area of ground, visible for perhaps +half a dozen seconds, and then lost again, hidden behind cover of some +sort. + +It was getting well on toward noon when a message reached me from the +General to the effect that two batteries of Russian quick-fire +field-guns had been discovered on the summit of Nan-kwang-ling--a hill +some eight hundred feet high, about a mile to the westward of the +Nanshan Heights--and requesting me to signal our ships in the bay to +give their whole attention to those two batteries. Unfortunately for +us, the tide in the bay was now on the ebb, and the _Hei-yen_ and +_Tsukushi_ were obliged to haul off to avoid grounding; but the _Akagi_ +and _Chokai_ responded nobly to the call, creeping in until they +actually felt the ground, and enveloping Nan-kwang-ling knoll in flame +and smoke. + +I had scarcely finished signalling to the ships when a stir on the plain +immediately below me indicated that the General considered the artillery +"preparation" complete, and that the actual storming of the Russian +position was now to be attempted. A battalion of our 1st Division, +situated in the Japanese centre, suddenly deployed into the open, and +commenced its advance by making a series of short rushes through some +fields of green barley, on the opposite side of the road from Kinchau to +Linshiatun, dashing forward a few yards, and then, as the machine-guns +and rifles in the Russian trenches were turned upon them, sinking from +view into the barley, through which they crept on hands and knees until +the whistle of the leader or the call of a bugle gave the signal for +another dash. The heroism of those devoted Japanese infantry was +something to send a thrill through the heart of a man; no sooner did +they show than the whole of the ground which they occupied and that in +front of them was swept by a devastating crossfire from the whole line +of the Russian trenches, which beat down the young barley as a heavy +shower of rain might level it. To me, unaccustomed to this style of +fighting, it looked as though nothing might venture upon that shot-swept +zone and live; yet time after time the intrepid Japanese rose to their +feet and, crouching low, made yet another short rush forward, though +with sadly diminished numbers. The uproar was deafening; the crash of +the heavy guns upon the crest of the heights and from Fort Hoshangtao, +near Linshiatun, which now joined in the fray, mingled with the +hammer-like thudding of the machine-guns and the continuous rolling +crackle of rifle-fire from the trenches, was frightful. And then, as +though this were not enough, the Russian gunboat _Bohr_ turned her +9-inch guns upon the advancing Japanese and, quickly getting the range, +began to drop shells right among them. The slaughter, one understood, +must be awful; yet, prepared as I was in a measure for what followed, I +stood aghast when finally, out of that whole battalion, a mere handful +of men, numbering perhaps some fifty or sixty, emerged from the growing +barley and made a staggering rush toward the first line of wire +entanglements, which they at once proceeded to attack with nippers, +fully exposed all the while to the concentrated fire of the whole body +of defenders. It was a forlorn hope of the most desperate description, +and one after another the gallant fellows collapsed and died, pierced by +innumerable bullets. The first assault had resulted in failure, and +those who took part in it were wiped out! + +And now it was that the Russians deemed the moment suitable for a +counter-demonstration. The _Bohr_, doubtless in obedience to some +signal from the shore, steamed up toward the head of Hand Bay as far as +the shoaling water would permit, the five steamers loaded with troops +closely following her and making as though it was their intention to +land the troops upon a small promontory jutting out into the head of the +bay. This was a distinct menace to the Japanese left, and although it +might be merely a demonstration, it was imperative to meet it, or it +might develop into a serious and most embarrassing attack; therefore, +badly as it could be spared from the task of shelling the heights and +the Russian trenches, a battery of our field-guns placed on the +south-western slope of Mount Sampson was turned upon the gunboat and her +accompanying flotilla of steamers, the latter being compelled to hastily +retire, while several of our shells struck the _Bohr_, and temporarily +silenced her fire. Judging from appearances generally, the gunboat +appeared to have been rather severely punished; and about a quarter of +an hour later she slowly retired to her former position, farther down +the bay, and re-opened her fire, although with considerably less vigour +than before. + +The fire from Fort Hoshangtao, occupying the promontory which separates +Sunk Bay from Hand Bay, was a most galling factor in the fight, for its +guns had a range which enabled them to drop their heavy shells right +upon our left and centre, while it was out of range of our own guns. +Therefore our men had to stand motionless, hour after hour, and endure +the pitiless shelling of the Russian gunners, with the bitter knowledge +that to silence the fort was quite out of our power. + +The utter annihilation of the first battalion of stormers warned General +Oku that to advance comparatively small parties was but to sacrifice +them uselessly, while it also indicated that the task of artillery +"preparation" had been by no means as complete as he had judged it to +be; he therefore sedulously continued the work of preparation all +through the afternoon until five o'clock, when a message from the +artillery commander warned him that the crisis was at hand. The message +was to the effect that he had fired away practically his entire supply +of ammunition, only his reserve rounds remaining. What was he to do? + +Situated as I was at a distance of more than two miles from +headquarters, upon an outlying spur of the Nanshan Heights, and quite +alone, save for the companionship of a solitary assistant signaller, +with only occasional curt orders from the General in reference to the +signals which he wished me to transmit to our ships in the offing, I was +naturally ignorant as to the critical pass at which we had arrived, and +could only draw my conclusions from what I actually saw happening. What +occurred at staff headquarters during this momentous day, and especially +at this momentous hour, I did not learn until several hours later, but, +so far as is possible, I propose to relate events in their chronological +order, that the proper continuity of my narrative may be maintained; I +will therefore briefly state here that when the General received the +artillery commander's message that his ammunition was practically +exhausted, he summoned a few of his principal officers, and held a brief +council of war. What was to be done, under the circumstances? It was +now five o'clock in the afternoon, and the bringing up of further +supplies of ammunition would involve a delay of at least two hours, and +probably more, while to suspend all action meanwhile would practically +be to defer the assault until the next day. Certain of the officers +present strongly advocated this postponement, giving it as their opinion +that to attempt to storm the heights unsupported by adequate gun-fire +was merely to make a useless sacrifice of whole brigades of sorely +needed men; one or two officers, indeed, ventured to express their +conviction that the heights were impregnable. + +The discussion lasted about a quarter of an hour, at the end of which +time General Oku, who had been listening but saying nothing, abruptly +broke up the council by announcing his determination to risk everything +upon a single cast of the die; the gunners were to expend their reserve +rounds of ammunition upon a slow, carefully considered, deadly +bombardment of the heights, while the entire infantry force was to move +forward simultaneously to the assault. The officers who had ventured to +advise delay shook their heads doubtfully, but at once proceeded to +their stations, fully prepared to loyally support the General to their +last breath. + +When the news of the General's decision was communicated to the troops, +it was only with the utmost difficulty that they could be restrained +from cheering, and so putting the Russians on the _qui vive_, although +they had been warned beforehand to maintain strict silence. + +The first step in the proceedings was for the officers commanding the +various regiments to call for volunteers prepared to undertake the task +of preceding the main body of the stormers in order to cut a way through +the lines of wire entanglements, and to sever the electric cables +connecting the innumerable ground mines with the forts. Volunteers were +invited to step six paces to the front, and in the majority of cases the +entire regiment appealed to advanced six paces with the precision and +promptitude of a parade evolution. Under such circumstances there was, +of course, but one thing to be done, and that was for each captain to +choose a certain number of men--those he considered best adapted for the +work--and detail them for the duty. + +These men, a veritable Forlorn Hope, discarding knapsacks, greatcoats, +everything in the shape of impedimenta, even their weapons, and armed +only with a stout pair of wire-cutting nippers, dashed out of the ranks +like unleashed greyhounds at the word of command, and with a great shout +of "Banzai Nippon!" went running and leaping through the fields of young +barley, each eager to outdistance all the others. And as they went, the +crash of their own and the enemy's artillery, the fire of which had been +languishing, burst forth afresh, mingled with the hammering of +machine-guns and the rolling volleys of rifle-fire. In a moment the +whole of the ground over which the pioneers would have to pass was being +swept by a crossfire of lead in which it seemed impossible that anything +could live. Man after man was seen to go down, yet still his comrades +pressed on, in ever-diminishing numbers, until at length a mere handful +staggered up to the first line of wire entanglements, and there fell, +riddled with bullets, their task unaccomplished. + +But not for a moment did their fate discourage those who were detailed +to follow them. Like racers they dashed forward, in widely extended +order, now leaping high in the air and anon crouching almost double in a +vain effort to dodge that terrible inexorable hail of bullets, and again +man after man went crashing to the ground while other panting, gasping, +breathless men staggered and stumbled past the prostrate figures, intent +upon one purpose only, to reach that line of wire and sever a few of the +entanglements before yielding up their lives. And a few of them +actually contrived to accomplish their purpose before they died, +although the damage which they were able to do was quite incommensurate +with the frightful sacrifice of life which it cost. + +In accordance with Oku's plan, the main body of the stormers followed +closely upon the heels of the volunteer wire-cutters. The 1st Division +led the way, dashing forward and losing heavily, until they arrived +within a few yards of the foremost line of Russian trenches, and here +they were brought to a standstill by the wire entanglements, while the +Russian rifle and machine-gun-fire played upon them pitilessly, mowing +them down in heaps. In desperation some of them seized the firmly +rooted posts to which the wires were attached and strove to root them up +by main force, while others placed the muzzles of their rifles against +the wires and, pulling the trigger, severed them in that way. Some +attempted to climb over the wire, others to creep through; but where one +succeeded, twenty became entangled and were shot dead before they could +clear themselves. Those, however, who contrived to get through at once +gave their attention to the mines, the positions of which were clearly +indicated by the settlement of the ground caused by the rain of the +preceding night, and thus it became possible to sever several of the +electric cables which connected them with the forts. + +But those awful entanglements still held up the main body of the +stormers, keeping them fully exposed to a murderous fire from the +trenches as they desperately strove to break through, and things were +beginning to look very bad indeed for our side when I chanced to notice +that the Russian lines on their left were weak, the bulk of the men +having been rushed toward the centre, where the attack was being most +fiercely pressed. In an instant I recognised that here was our +opportunity, our only opportunity perhaps, to retrieve the fortune of +the day. Turning to my companion, I said: + +"I dare not leave my post here, for at any moment I may receive a +message to be signalled to our ships. But I can--I _will_--manage +single-handed for the next quarter of an hour or so if you are game to +sprint across the open to carry a message from me to General Ogawa. You +will find him somewhere yonder, in command of the 4th Division; and if +you run hard you can cover the distance in five minutes. Are you game +to try it?" + +"I am honourably game, illustrious captain," replied the man, standing +at the salute. + +"Good!" I said. "Then make your way as quickly as possible to General +Ogawa, and when you have found him, say you come from me, Captain +Swinburne. Explain to him where I am posted, and tell him that from +here I can see that the Russian left has been so greatly weakened that a +surprise attack on his part would certainly turn it, and thus very +materially help the frontal attack. Tell him it will be necessary for +him to lead his troops along the shore of the bay in that direction,"-- +pointing; "say that it may even be necessary for his troops to enter the +water and wade for some distance, since the tide is rising; but that if +he will do that, I am certain he can retrieve the day. You understand? +Then, go!" + +With a salute, the man swung round upon his heels and sprang away down +the hill, running like a startled hare, and in less than five minutes I +saw him rush into the lines of the 4th Division. Then, feeling pretty +confident that Ogawa would recognise the opportunity and seize it, I +snatched up the signal flags that my assistant had dropped and proceeded +to call up the fleet. After calling for about a minute, I dropped the +flags and placed my glasses to my eyes. It was all right, they were +keeping a bright lookout afloat, and the _Tsukushi_ was waiting to +receive my message. I therefore at once proceeded to signal them to be +ready to support the anticipated movement with their gun-fire; and by +the time that I had done, the men of the 19th Brigade were proceeding at +something a bit faster than the "double" toward the shore, while every +gun in the squadron opened in their support. As I had anticipated, the +troops were obliged to actually enter the waters of the bay, which in +some places rose breast-high; but they pushed through, losing rather +heavily, and hurled themselves upon the Russian flank and rear, while +the others, getting an inkling of what was happening from the sounds of +heavy firing on the other side of the hill, pressed home the frontal +attack, thus keeping the Russian main body busily engaged. + +With yells of "Banzai! Banzai Nippon!" the men of the 19th Brigade +fought their way forward, foot by foot, using rifle and bayonet with +such furious energy that suddenly the Russians broke and fled before +them, and with howls of exultation the victorious Japanese scrambled +forward and upward until their figures became visible to their comrades +below, still fighting desperately in the effort to break through the +Russian lines. Thirty engineers of the victorious 4th Division were now +detailed to cut a path through the wire entanglements that still +protected the Russian trenches; _and they did it_, lying flat upon the +ground without attempting to raise their heads. Twenty-two out of the +thirty were killed in the accomplishment of the task, but a way was +made, and through it poured Ogawa's gallant brigade, the 8th Regiment +taking the lead, and the next moment they were in the Russian trenches, +fighting desperately, hand to hand, the Japanese determined to drive out +the Russians, and the Russians equally determined to hold their ground +at all costs. + +And now the stormers of the 1st and 3rd Divisions, seeing the success of +their comrades, were stung into the making of a further effort, and, +hurling themselves bodily upon the entanglements, actually broke them +down by sheer physical force, although hundreds were horribly mangled in +the process, and despite the awful fire from rifles and machine-guns +that mowed through them, up they swept irresistibly until, with +deafening yells of "Banzai!" they joined their victorious comrades on +the crest and planted the banner of Japan upon the topmost height of +Nanshan. For a few brief, breathless minutes the members of the staff, +watching from below, beheld the glint and ruddy flash of bayonets in the +light of the setting sun as the Russians made a last desperate effort to +hold their ground; but the Japanese infantry, intoxicated with their +success in the face of stupendous difficulties, would take no denial: +they had conquered wire entanglements, braved machine-gun-fire, and now +mere flesh and blood was as powerless to stop them as a thread is to +stop a battleship. The Russians simply had to fly or die; and they +chose the former alternative, retreating in disorder upon Nankwang-ling, +while the Japanese, whose turn it was now to take revenge for the losses +so pitilessly inflicted upon them all through the hours of that terrible +day, rained shot and shell without mercy upon the flying foe. + +The weather had been improving ever since morning, and now, as the +firing gradually died down, the sun sank into the waters of the Gulf of +Liaotung in a blaze of purple and golden splendour. As the palpitant +edge of his glowing upper rim vanished beneath the long level line of +the western horizon, the firing on both sides suddenly ceased +altogether, and a great, solemn hush fell upon the scene, that was +positively awe-inspiring after the continuous, deafening roar all day of +the cannonade, and the crash of bursting shells. And then, as the ear +accustomed itself to that sudden silence, it became aware of a low but +terrible sound breaking it, the moaning of hundreds of mangled, +suffering, and dying men, the ghastly fruits of that ferocious struggle +for the possession of a few barren acres of rough, hilly country. + +Suddenly the fast-gathering dusk of evening became illuminated; the +station buildings in the little village of To-fang-shan were ablaze, +doubtless purposely set on fire by the Russians to hinder possible +pursuit--and were soon a mass of flame, the flickering light from which +luridly illuminated the scored and gashed sides of the neighbouring +hills. Finally, with a terrific roar, a Russian magazine exploded, +sending up a great column of flame and smoke; and as the reverberations +of the explosion rumbled and echoed again and again until they finally +died away among the gorges and ravines of the surrounding elevations, +silence again sank upon the scene, the victorious Japanese being so +utterly exhausted by their Herculean labours that pursuit of the flying +Russians became impossible, the conquerors flinging themselves down on +the positions which they had gained, and instantly sinking into a kind +of lethargy, their fatigue being so great that they were unable to +remain awake long enough to partake of the food that was quickly +prepared for them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +I AM THANKED IN PRESENCE OF THE ARMY. + +The Japanese loss, incurred in the struggle for possession of the +Nanshan Heights, amounted to over four thousand, killed and wounded. +What the Russian loss in killed and wounded totalled up to I do not +think we ever knew, excepting that, by the evidence of the captured +trenches alone, it must have been tremendously heavy. Their material +losses, however, amounted to sixty-eight guns, many of which were of +8-inch or 6-inch calibre, ten machine-guns, three searchlights, a +dynamo, and a considerable quantity of ammunition and food; while the +victory gave to the Japanese the complete command of the isthmus, by +enabling General Nakamura to seize Linshiatun, and Fort Hoshangtao, in +its immediate neighbourhood, thus opening the way to the occupation of +Nan-kwang-ling and Dalny, and the advance of Oku's army upon Port +Arthur. + +As soon as it became evident that fighting was over for the day--by +which time it had become too dark for me to signal to our squadron in +the offing--I made my way down the hillside to the spot where the +headquarters staff was established and, seeking General Oku's tent, +entered and reported myself. The General received me very kindly and +courteously, but I could see in a moment that he was tremendously busy, +the tent being full of officers to whom he was rapidly issuing orders. +Having therefore reported myself and received orders to remain in camp +for the night, I withdrew and sought the hospitality of my hosts of the +previous night, who accorded me a very warm and cordial welcome. But +there was none of that joyousness, that exaltation of spirits that I had +expected to see as a result of the brilliant victory which we had +gained; our numbers were less than they had been on the previous night, +the absentees were lying out under the stars, either dead or wounded, +somewhere yonder upon those shot-scored, blood-drenched slopes of +Nanshan, and the joy of victory was quenched in sorrow for the fallen. +We snatched a hasty, almost silent meal, and then those of us who had +not to go forth on duty rolled ourselves in our cloaks and sought the +relief of sleep. + +For my own part, I slept like a log, and only awoke when the bugles +sounded the reveille. Our little party turned out, tubbed, took +breakfast, and then, at the sound of the "assembly," sallied forth to +see what was to be the next item on the programme. + +Strong ambulance parties had been busily engaged all through the night, +collecting the wounded and bringing them in to the hospital tents, but +that work was now practically finished, and the preparations for the +disposal of the dead had not yet been begun. The still weary troops +were falling in, under arms, and in the distance I recognised General +Oku, surrounded by the members of his staff, already on the ground. The +commanding officers were at their posts, the non-commissioned officers +were busily engaged in seeing that the troops were all in order for +inspection, and a few minutes later the roll call was being gone +through. This done, the troops were put through a few simple evolutions +which terminated in their being drawn up in close formation constituting +three sides of a hollow square, with the men all facing inward. General +Oku then summoned an aide-de-camp to his side, gave him a brief order, +and the aide, saluting, turned away and glanced rapidly about him, +finally making his way toward where I now stood alone, at no great +distance. + +He halted within about six paces of me, saluted, and said: + +"The Commander-in-Chief desires your immediate presence, most honourable +Captain. He stands yonder." + +"Right!" I said. "I will join him at once. Have you any idea what he +wants me for?" + +"I think I can guess," replied my companion, as he fell into step beside +me, "but I am sure that the General will prefer to make that known to +you himself." + +I said no more, and a couple of minutes later we halted before the +general staff, and Oku took and returned my salute. Then he shook hands +with me with much cordiality, and requested me to take up a position +alongside him, on his right hand. This done, he proceeded to make a +little speech to the closely packed troops. Shorn of the rather +strange--to Western ears--flowery phraseology peculiar to the Japanese, +his speech ran somewhat as follows: + +"Soldiers of the Second Japanese Army, I gladly seize the first +available opportunity that presents itself to tender you, on behalf of +our august Emperor and the people of Japan, my most heartfelt thanks for +the glorious victory which, by your indomitable courage and +self-sacrifice, you so nobly achieved yesterday. The difficulties which +you were called upon to surmount were so stupendous and the valour of +the enemy so great, that there was a moment when I almost became +persuaded that the position which you were attacking was impregnable, +and that all the courage and devotion which you had displayed had gone +for nothing. Yet I could not quite bring myself to believe that +soldiers of Japan would ever permit themselves to be beaten, under any +circumstances, however adverse; I therefore called upon you again for +one last, supreme effort, and the valour and devotion with which you +responded to my call is attested by the victorious presence of our +glorious flag upon the heights to-day." + +Here the General was interrupted by a soul-stirring shout of "Banzai!" +from the exultant troops. The echoes of the shout had not died away +among the surrounding hills before the serried masses of infantry were +once more silent and motionless as statues, and Oku resumed: + +"I am proud, your officers are proud, and I am sure that you yourselves +are proud, of your glorious achievement. Yet we soldiers must not +arrogate to ourselves the entire credit of so magnificent a victory. +Without the assistance of the navy, that victory--I say it frankly-- +would have been impossible. The sailors therefore are entitled to an +equal share of the glory which we yesterday reaped on the slopes of +those terrible heights; and I rejoice that chance has afforded me so +early an opportunity as this to tender my personal thanks, the thanks of +my officers, and the thanks of every soldier in the ranks, to the navy, +here represented by the noble and gallant Captain Swinburne." + +Here there were further shouts of "Banzai!" even more enthusiastic, if +that were possible, than those which preceded them. The General raised +his hand for silence, and presently proceeded: + +"We are, however, indebted to Captain Swinburne, not only as +representing the navy, but also in a purely personal form. All through +the trying hours of yesterday he stood on the slopes of those heights, +alone save for the companionship of a solitary signaller, exposed, +during some part of the time, to the pitiless fire of the enemy, and in +constant danger of being captured; and during the whole of that time he +devoted himself unsparingly to the task of directing the fire of our +ships to the spots where from time to time it was most urgently needed; +crowning this great service by sending a communication to the commander +of the 4th Division which enabled that officer to effect the diversion +which resulted in our hard-won victory. I have, therefore, now in the +presence of you all, the honour to tender to Captain Swinburne, on +behalf of our august Emperor, thus publicly, heartfelt thanks for the +inestimably valuable services which he yesterday rendered to the cause +of Japan." + +So saying, General Oku turned to me and gave me a hearty handshake, an +example which was immediately followed by the officers of the staff, +while the troops put their caps upon their bayonets and waved them +enthusiastically, yelling "Banzai!" until I am sure they must have felt +as hoarse as crows. + +This little ceremony over, I received the General's permission to rejoin +my ship as soon as he had penned a dispatch to Admiral Misamichi, who +was in command of the squadron, and which he requested me to deliver. +This dispatch I received about half an hour later, from Oku's own hands, +whereupon I bade him and the members of his staff farewell, wished them +the best of luck in their further encounters with the enemy, and then +hurried away to the little cove on the north side of the bay, which I +had used on two or three previous occasions, and where I had a shrewd +suspicion that I should find my boat awaiting me. I was not mistaken, +and shortly after six bells in the forenoon watch I was aboard the +_Tsukushi_, handing over General Oku's dispatch to the Admiral. The +latter at once read it, and seemed much gratified at its contents, +which, however, he did not communicate to me. But I shrewdly surmised +that it was a letter of thanks for the services rendered by the squadron +and an intimation that our presence was no longer needed. And, so far +as the latter part of my assumption was concerned, I was doubtless +right, for after a little chat, during which I briefly related my +experiences of the previous day--learning in return that the _Chokai_ +had lost her commander and two men killed, with two lieutenants and five +men wounded--I received instructions to return to my ship, as the +squadron would presently proceed to rejoin Admiral Togo at his base. +And an hour later we were all steaming out of the bay. + +Two days after our arrival at the base, the destroyer _Kagero_ arrived +with mails for the fleet, and, to my great surprise, she brought for me +a letter from my Uncle Bob, as well as one from my chum, young Gordon, +and another from Sir Robert. + +Naturally, I first opened the letter from Uncle Bob, for not only was it +the first letter which I had received from any of the family since my +"disgrace," but also the envelope was deeply edged with black, and my +first fear was that it might contain the announcement of the death of +dear Aunt Betsy. But upon extracting the contents of the envelope I was +at once reassured, for I saw that it really consisted of two letters, +one from Uncle Bob, and the other from my aunt. There had been a death +in the family, however, that of Cousin Bob, the author of the trouble +which had resulted in my dismissal from the British Navy. It appeared +that while engaged in battle practice there had been a bad accident on +board the _Terrible_, one of her quick-firers having burst, killing two +men and wounding five others, one of the latter so seriously that he had +subsequently died. That one was Bob; and when informed by the ship's +surgeon that he had but a few hours to live, he had sent for the +chaplain and to him had made a full confession of his crime, declaring +that he had been spurred to it by blind, unreasoning jealousy of me. +The chaplain, horrified at what he heard, took down the confession in +writing, and poor Bob had signed it after the chaplain had added, at the +dying lad's request, an expression of deep contrition for his misdeed +and a prayer to me for forgiveness of the wrong which he had done me. +The two letters were sad reading, for they had been penned by +heart-broken people who had not only lost their only son, but had +learned, at the very moment of their loss, that all their pride in him +had been misplaced, and that he had been guilty of a deliberate, +despicable, cruel crime. Their shame and sorrow were patent in every +sentence of the letters, indeed they made no effort to conceal them, and +they finished up by saying that, Bob being gone from them, and gone so +tragically, they hoped I would forgive them for any hard thoughts they +may have had of me, and would be a son to them in place of the one they +had lost. They further begged that, my innocence now being established, +I would lose no time in hastening home to them, to comfort them in their +bitter bereavement, and to take steps to procure my reinstatement in the +British Navy, which, they had been informed, might probably be +accomplished without much difficulty under the circumstances. + +The letter from Sir Robert Gordon was also chiefly in reference to Bob's +death, the particulars of which, and of his confession, he had learned +from his son Ronald. He also was of opinion that, in view of Bob's +confession, it ought not to be very difficult to secure the cancellation +of my expulsion, whenever I might choose to return to England. But he +said no word suggesting that I should return at once; on the contrary, +he offered his own and Lady Gordon's very hearty congratulations upon +the frequency with which my name had been mentioned in the papers as +having been specially referred to by Togo in his dispatches, and they +both expressed the hope that before the end of the war I should have +many further opportunities to distinguish myself. + +The letters from my aunt and uncle moved me profoundly; their grief for +the loss of their only son, and, even more, their shattered faith in +him, was pathetic in the extreme, while it was easy to see how +yearningly their hearts turned to me for comfort and consolation in +their bitter bereavement. They were smarting with shame at the thought +that it was _their_ son, the lad of whom they had been so proud and upon +whose future they had built such high hopes, who was the author of my +undeserved disgrace and ruin, so far as my career in the British Navy +was concerned; and they wanted me at home in order that they might have +the comfort of doing what they could to make up to me for their son's +treachery. And in the plenitude of my affection I was, for the moment, +more than half inclined to yield to their entreaties, resign my +commission in the Japanese navy, and go home to them forthwith. But in +the course of an hour or two calm reflection came to my aid; I would +certainly return to England and endeavour to secure reinstatement in the +navy of my own country, but not until after the war was over, if I lived +so long. I had put my hand to the plough, and I would not turn back, +although, of course, I knew that there were plenty of Japanese officers +quite as good and useful as myself, and quite ready to step into my +place, should I choose to vacate it. I came to the conclusion, however, +that, let the authorities at home be ever so ready to remedy what had +proved to be a miscarriage of justice, I should in nowise help my case +with them by forsaking the cause which I had espoused, at the moment +when the decisive events of the war were beginning, as we all then +believed, to loom faintly upon the horizon. No, I told myself, if I +wished for reinstatement--and I wished for nothing else half so +ardently--I must remain until the issues of the war were decided, when I +could go back home with a good grace, taking with me a fairly creditable +record with which to back up my application. Meanwhile, I sat down and +wrote a letter to my aunt and uncle, excusing myself for not at once +acceding to their request to forthwith return to England, explaining the +reasons which had urged me to that decision, and pouring out in a long, +passionate declaration all the pent-up affection of my heart for them, +and my sympathy with them in their bitter sorrow. I also wrote to Sir +Robert Gordon, telling him that my aunt and uncle had expressed the +desire that I should return to them forthwith, and reiterating the +reasons which impelled me to decline. + +On the following day my signal was made from the flagship; and upon +proceeding on board I was informed by the Admiral that General Oku's +report as to the assistance rendered by the ships during the battle of +Nanshan, and especially of the important services which I personally had +rendered on that particular day and those which immediately preceded it, +had been particularly gratifying to him, and that it had afforded him +the utmost satisfaction and pleasure to forward that report to Baron +Yamamoto, the Minister of the Navy, with a covering letter from himself +which he hoped would be of service to me. Meanwhile, I was instructed +to proceed forthwith to Port Arthur with my ship, to assist in the +blockading of the port. + +We filled our bunkers and replenished our stock of ammunition during the +afternoon, and steamed out of Tashantau harbour, with all lights out, as +soon as darkness fell, steaming dead slow all night, and keeping a sharp +lookout for enemy ships, as a rumour had reached the Admiral that the +Russians were planning another raid upon the Japanese coast by the +Vladivostock fleet, which might be expected to put to sea at any moment. +But we saw nothing, and arrived off Port Arthur at daybreak on the +following morning without adventure of any kind. Here we fell in with +the cruisers of the blockading fleet, to the admiral in command of which +I forthwith reported myself, and delivered over the mail bags for the +blockading ships, with which I had been entrusted. My instructions were +to remain with the blockaders during the daytime, while at night the +_Kasanumi_ was to take part in the mine-laying operations in the +roadstead of the beleaguered fortress, which were nightly conducted with +untiring pertinacity. Shortly after my arrival, the destroyer flotilla +which had been engaged in these operations during the night came +steaming out, and among the approaching craft I recognised with pleasure +the _Akatsuki_, still commanded by my former lieutenant and staunch +friend, the enthusiastic Ito. That he had by no means forgotten me was +quickly made manifest, for no sooner was he near enough to identify the +_Kasanumi_ than his semaphore started work, signalling that he wished to +communicate, and upon my signalman responding, his first question was +whether I was still in command. Receiving a reply in the affirmative, +he forthwith invited me to go on board his ship to take breakfast with +him, and when I moved an amendment to the effect that the process should +be reversed and that, instead, he should come and breakfast with me, +upon the ground that, coming fresh from the rendezvous, my larder was +probably better stocked than his, he at once joyously accepted the +invitation, and a quarter of an hour later I had the very great pleasure +of welcoming him on my own quarter-deck. The dear chap was just as +enthusiastic, just as keen, just as full of life as ever, and seemed +unfeignedly glad to see me. Of course we had a tremendous lot to say to +each other, and I was most eager to learn what he had been doing since +we parted company; but when he learned that I was fresh from Kinchau, +and had actually assisted at the battle of the Nanshan Heights, he +positively refused to say a single word about himself until I had given +him a full, true, and particular account of all the happenings of that +terrible yet glorious day. His enthusiasm and delight, as I endeavoured +to describe the final irresistible rush of the Japanese up those +heart-breaking, shot-swept slopes, were supreme; he seemed to literally +swell with pride; and when I spoke of the thrilling Japanese cheer as +his fellow-countrymen finally carried the last line of the Russian +defences and routed the defenders, he leaped to his feet and repeated +the shout of "Banzai!" again and again, while his eyes shone like stars, +and tears of joy and pride rolled down his cheeks. + +It was some time before I could turn his mind away from the events of +that strenuous day; and when at length I succeeded in doing so, and +could get him to talk about himself, it appeared that, stirring though +the events seemed to be which were nightly happening before Port Arthur, +they were all flat, stale, and unprofitable, compared with such an event +as the storming of the Nanshan Heights. And so, as a matter of fact, +they were, as I soon discovered for myself; for the duty of our +destroyer flotilla consisted simply in steaming inshore every night +industriously laying mines in the roadstead and at the harbour's mouth, +which the Russians as industriously strove to remove next day. True, +the sameness of this work was occasionally relieved by a more or less +exciting episode, as when, for instance, the Russians would suddenly +turn their searchlights upon us and all their batteries would open fire. +Then we simply had to scuttle for our lives, for, of course, the shore +batteries mounted very much heavier and longer range guns than any that +a destroyer could carry; and there was no sense in attempting, as a +general rule, to oppose our 12-pounders and 6-pounders to their 6-inch +and 11-inch guns. + +Yet we by no means allowed the Russians to invariably have it all their +own way. There were times when, under cover of the darkness, one or two +of us would creep right into the harbour entrance and, getting so close +under the cliff that it became impossible for the Russians to depress +their heavy guns sufficiently to reach us, would boldly engage the forts +with our quick-firers, and even with rifle-fire, picking off any gunners +that were foolhardy enough to expose themselves, and not unfrequently +dismounting or otherwise putting out of action a few of their lighter +guns. It was the good fortune of the _Kasanumi_, on one occasion, very +shortly after our return, to strike one of the Russian 11-inch Canets, +mounted in the fort between Golden Hill and the inner harbour, fair and +square upon the muzzle and blow it clean off, with a shell from our +12-pounder; but such successes as these were of course very rare. These +engagements between our destroyers and the Russian forts were immensely +exciting, and afforded a most agreeable and welcome change from the +monotony of mine-laying, for when we undertook such an adventure we +never knew whether or not we should emerge from it scatheless. The +operation of getting in close under the cliffs, undetected, was of +course hazardous enough to make the attempt irresistibly fascinating; +but it was the getting away again after the alarm had been given and all +the enemy's searchlights had been turned upon us, when the excitement +reached its height; for, of course, the moment that we were far enough +away from the shelter of the beetling cliffs to enable the Russians to +train their big guns upon us, they would open fire upon us for all that +they were worth, and then it became a case of dodging the shells. It +was then that our ingenuity was taxed to the very utmost, twisting and +turning hither and thither as we ran at full speed into the offing, +always endeavouring to make a turn in the most unexpected direction +possible at the precise moment when we anticipated that the guns were +being brought to bear upon us. And that, on the whole, we were fairly +successful was pretty conclusively evidenced by the small amount of +damage which we sustained. Indeed, our most serious mishap about this +time in those waters arose from a totally different cause. One of our +officers, a certain Commander Oda, had invented a particularly deadly +kind of mine, which the Japanese Government adopted, and which they +named after the inventor. A few days after my return to the waters of +Port Arthur, Oda himself was engaged upon the task of laying some of his +mines in the outer roadstead, when one of them somehow exploded, killing +the captain of the ship and eighteen men, and wounding Oda himself and +seven others. Strangely enough, however, the ship herself was only very +slightly damaged. Less fortunate were the Russians; for, only a day or +two later, two of their gunboats, while engaged in the attempt to remove +some of our mines, came in contact with them, and both craft immediately +went to the bottom, taking most of their men with them. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE FLOATING MINE. + +It is a true saying, that "the pitcher which goes too often to the well +gets broken at last;" and thus it came about with me, or rather with the +_Kasanumi_. + +As the days passed, we became aware of greatly increased activity on the +part of the garrison of Port Arthur. Cruising in the offing during the +daytime, well beyond the range of the Russian's biggest guns, yet near +enough at hand to make sure that our blockade of the port was effective, +the sound of violent explosions came floating off to us all day long, +telling us in unmistakable language that strenuous efforts were being +made to clear the channel of the sunken steamers wherewith we had +blocked it, at such heavy cost to ourselves. There could be but one +reason for such tremendous activity: it was doubtless that the enemy had +it in contemplation to send his fleet to sea, probably with the object +of finding a more secure shelter in the port of Vladivostock, a surmise +which was confirmed by our spies in Port Arthur. + +If still further confirmation of this intention were needed, it was to +be found in the increased efforts which the Russians put forth to hamper +our mine-laying operations in the roadstead; for about this time it +became the practice of the enemy to send out a ship, sometimes two, or +even three, to lie at anchor in the roads all night. The ship, or +ships, always anchored well under the cover of the heaviest guns of the +fortress, yet so far out that her, or their, own heavy guns completely +commanded the waters of the roadstead, thus tremendously increasing the +difficulty of sowing those waters with mines. + +Naturally, the presence of these ships in the roadstead offered an +almost irresistible temptation to our destroyers to essay the task of +sinking them, or at least putting them out of action; and this desire on +our part was smiled upon by Togo, to put the case mildly, for +information was now continually reaching us to the effect that the +formidable Baltic fleet was being rapidly prepared for sea, and that its +departure on its long voyage to the Far East was imminent; while Togo +was naturally anxious that the Port Arthur fleet--and the Vladivostock +fleet also, if possible--should be effectually disposed of before the +arrival of so powerful a reinforcement in Japanese waters. Therefore, +great as was the risk attending the attack of a powerfully armed ship at +anchor under the cover of several formidable forts, and careful as our +Admiral was, both of his ships and of his men, no attempt was made to +discourage us of the torpedo flotilla when our desire to attack was made +known; on the contrary, the desire was smiled upon, as I have said, and +nothing more than a word of caution was given against the incurring of +unnecessary risks. + +Perhaps I ought to explain precisely what I mean by saying that the +desire of the commander of the torpedo flotilla to attack these ships +was "smiled upon" by the Admiral. He had not only "smiled upon" but had +given imperative orders that the torpedo fleet was to be employed upon +every possible occasion for the harassing and discomfiture of the enemy; +but hitherto the tactics employed had been for the destroyers and +torpedo-boats to attack in numbers, a division or even two or three +divisions being sent in at a time. It was due to my initiative that +these tactics were now to be altered, and that attacks were now to be +permitted by as few as two boats only. Up to now it had been our +regular practice for a large number of craft to creep in toward the +roadstead at a low speed until discovered by the enemy's searchlights, +and then dash in upon the foe at our utmost speed, through a hail of +shells, discharge our torpedoes as we circled round our quarry, and then +dash out again, trusting to our speed to carry us back into the zone of +safety. Of course this plan had its advantages, inasmuch as that the +more there were of us, the greater--in theory--the chance that some of +us would score a hit. But against this there was the fact that during +the final rush of the torpedo craft upon the enemy, the necessity to +maintain our highest speed throughout the entire period of the attack +involved forced draught, and consequently flaming funnels, which latter +of course immediately attracted the attention of the enemy and nullified +all our efforts to take him by surprise. + +Now, I had by this time gained a considerable amount of experience of +torpedo warfare, and I had not failed to observe that in the majority of +cases where our attacks had failed, the failure had been due to the +above cause, combined with the fact that ten or a dozen craft ran a much +greater risk of being picked up by the enemy's searchlights than would +one or two. It had therefore seemed to me that, taking everything into +consideration, the prospects of successful attack by two craft--one to +support and assist the other in case of need--were as good as those of a +dozen craft, while the risk would be very much less, provided that the +attack were made coolly and circumspectly in accordance with a plan +which I had worked out. This plan was, in brief, to run for the harbour +at normal speed until we were practically within effective range, and +then, instead of dashing in at full speed, to stop our engines--the +throb of which was loud enough to be heard at a considerable distance on +a quiet night--and head directly for our quarry, discharging our +torpedoes when the momentum or "way" of the boat had carried her as far +as she would go, trusting to the subsequent confusion to enable us to +escape unscathed. I had fully explained this view of mine to the +Admiral, and had obtained his sanction to put my plan to the test. +Accordingly, on a certain night toward the middle of June, after the +Russians had been let severely alone for some forty-eight hours, the +_Kasanumi_, accompanied by the _Akaisuki_, my friend Ito's ship, left +the rest of the blockaders, with the object of putting my theory into +practice. + +It was a splendid night for our purpose; there was a breathless calm, +the water was smooth as oil, and although there was certainly a moon, +she was in her last quarter, and did not rise until close upon one +o'clock in the morning. Moreover, the sky was overcast by a great sheet +of dappled cloud through which only a solitary star here and there +peeped faintly; it was consequently dark enough to afford us a +reasonable chance of getting within striking distance of our quarry +undetected. + +When the Russians sent their ships out of harbour to lie all night in +the roadstead, as they did pretty frequently now, it was their custom to +get them out early in the afternoon, after their destroyers had +carefully swept the anchorage in search of mines; and it was my hope +that--we having left them alone for the preceding two days--they would +by this time be getting suspicious of such unwonted inactivity on our +part, and consequently would send out one, or perhaps even two ships, to +guard against a possible _coup_ on our part. + +Our mine-laying craft very rarely got to work before one or two o'clock +in the morning, that being the hour when human vigilance is popularly +supposed to be least active; I therefore planned to arrive in the +roadstead about midnight, hoping that I should then catch the enemy off +his guard, snatching a rest in preparation for the moment when our +activities usually began. + +Now, the thing which we had most to fear was a long-distance searchlight +established in a station on Golden Hill, at a height of some two hundred +feet above the sea-level. This searchlight was generally turned on at +dusk, and was kept unceasingly playing upon the anchorage and its +adjacent waters all through the night. It commanded the entire +roadstead, from a point three miles east of the harbour's mouth, right +round to the south and west as far as the Pinnacle Rock; and the +difficulty was how to avoid being picked up by it before we had +delivered our attack. But by this time I knew the seaward surroundings +of Port Arthur almost by heart. I knew, for instance--and this was most +important--that the searchlight station was placed so far back from the +edge of the crumbling cliff that the water immediately at the foot of +the latter, and for a distance of perhaps a hundred yards to seaward, +could not be reached by the beam of the light, and was therefore +enveloped in darkness, rendered all the deeper and more opaque by the +dazzling brilliance of the light; and I also knew that along the outer +edge of this patch of darkness there was a sufficient depth of water to +float a destroyer, even at dead low water. My plan, therefore, was to +make a wide sweep to seaward upon leaving the blockading squadron, +gradually turning east and north, and thus eventually to get into Takhe +Bay, some five miles east of Port Arthur anchorage, and from thence +creep along the shore to the westward, keeping as close in as the depth +of water would permit. There was only one difficulty about this, which +was that at a certain point not far from where the searchlight station +stood, there was a gap in the line of cliff where the ground sloped +steeply down to the water's edge for a short distance, and here of +course the beam of the light had uninterrupted play right up to the +beach; but I believed I could overcome this difficulty by simply +watching my opportunity and slipping past the gap when the searchlight +was not playing upon it. + +All went well with us until about seven bells in the first watch +(half-past eleven o'clock) when a great bank of fog, for which those +seas are notorious, came driving in from the south-west, and in a moment +we were enveloped in a cloud so thick that, standing upon the bridge, I +could scarcely distinguish our aftermost funnel, and could not see our +taffrail at all. We were then about three miles from the shore, with +the indentation of Takhe Bay straight ahead of us, and near enough the +anchorage for a man on our signal yard to make out--before the fog +enveloped us, of course--that there were two ships at anchor in the +roadstead, one, a five-funnelled craft which I knew could only be the +_Askold_, while the other, showing four funnels, I gathered from his +description must be the armoured cruiser _Bayan_. The searchlight had +of course been in action ever since we had made the land, and as its +beam swept slowly over the ships it had revealed enough of their details +to enable us to easily identify them. + +It was most exasperating that the fog should have swept down upon us +just when it did. Had it come an hour, or even half an hour, later, I +would have welcomed it, for we should then have had time to get up +within striking distance of the ships and, under cover of the fog, could +have approached them closely enough to have made sure of both, while +now! Well, it was useless to cry over what could not be helped; the +only thing to do was to make the best of things as they were, and to +hope that the fog might yet prove a friend in disguise, after all. + +Fortunately, as the fog came sweeping up to us, I had the presence of +mind to hail the man on the yard--who was at that moment describing the +ships he saw riding at anchor in the roads--asking him to tell me +exactly how they bore from us. His reply was: + +"They are square abeam, honourable Captain." + +I immediately put my head in through the window of the wheelhouse and +demanded of the helmsman how we were at that moment heading. He +answered that we were then steering north forty degrees west, by +compass. + +"Then," said I, "alter the course at once to west forty degrees south. +That," I added, addressing young Hiraoka, who was standing beside me, +"ought to take us to them, or near enough to enable us to sight them. +Kindly go aft, Mr Hiraoka, and hail the _Akatsuki_, telling her of our +shift of helm." + +The youngster ran aft to do my bidding, the fog at that moment being so +thick that it was impossible to see one's hand before one's face, even +the beam of the distant searchlight being so effectually obscured that +it might have been extinguished for all that we knew to the contrary. I +had rung down for our engines to stop, so that we might not run away +from the _Akatsuki_, after shifting our helm, without informing her of +the alteration in our course, and everything was now so still that I had +no difficulty in distinguishing young Hiraoka's hail, and the reply from +the other destroyer, breaking through the soft swish and lap of water +under our bows. It was the _Akatsuki's_ lieutenant who was answering +our hail, and he had just acknowledged the intimation of our altered +course, and was ordering his own helmsman to make a like change, when, +without the slightest warning, I experienced a terrific shock which felt +exactly as though the ship had been smitten a savage blow from below by +a giant hammer. So violent was it that I was flung high in the air and +over the rail of the bridge on to the steel turtle-back deck beneath, +upon which I landed head-first with such violence that I immediately +lost consciousness. But before that happened I was sensible of two +things; one of them being a blinding flash of flame, coincident with the +shock, in which our bows, for a length of some ten or twelve feet, +seemed to crumple up and fly to pieces, while the other was that, as I +was tossed high in the air, I sustained a violent blow on the chest from +some heavy object which seemed to sear my flesh like white-hot iron. +Then down I came upon my head, and knew no more. + +My first sensation, upon coming to myself, was that of a violent aching +all over my body, as though every bone in it had been broken. But the +aching of my head was even worse than that of my body, while as for my +chest, it smarted and throbbed as though the blade of a burning knife +rested upon it. I next became aware that I was in bed; and finally, +opening my eyes, I saw that I was the occupant of one of many beds in a +large, airy room which somehow seemed familiar to me, and which I +presently identified as the ward which I had once before occupied in the +hospital at our base among the Elliot Islands. + +It was broad daylight, and the sun was shining brilliantly into the room +through the widely opened windows, which admitted a gentle, refreshing +breeze, pleasantly charged with ozone. Two dainty little women nurses +were doing something at a table at the far end of the room, which +happened to come within the range of my vision, and presently I heard +the gentle splash of water in that direction, which immediately brought +home to me the consciousness that my mouth and throat were parched. I +opened my mouth to call to the nurses that I was thirsty, but it was +only the very faintest of whispers that escaped my smarting lips. It +was enough, however, to immediately produce a gentle rustle on the other +side of my bed, and the next moment a pretty face was bending over me +and a pair of soft, dark, almond-shaped eyes were gazing sympathetically +into mine. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the owner of those eyes, "at last the illustrious +Captain is himself again. Are you suffering very acutely, noble sir?" + +"Suffering?" I whispered. "_Rather_! I ache as if I had been beaten +to a jelly, and I am as thirsty as a--as a limekiln. Can you by any +chance get me something to drink? A bucketful will do to start with." + +"A bucketful!" she murmured, looking anxiously down at me as she laid +her long, slender, pointed fingers upon the pulse of my left hand where +it rested outside the coverlet. "But no," she continued, evidently +speaking to herself, "his pulse is almost normal, and there is no trace +of fever. A bucketful! Oh, these English!" + +She shook her head, as though giving up some problem that she found too +difficult for solution, and shuffled off, with the curious gait peculiar +to Japanese women, without saying another word to me. She approached +the other two nurses, at the far end of the ward, and said something +which caused them both to turn and stare in my direction. Then the +senior of the party, accompanied by the girl whom I had so tremendously +astonished, came up to my bedside, looked at me, felt my pulse, and +shuffled away again, presently returning with one of those cups with a +spout, from which one can drink while in a recumbent position. She +placed the point of the spout between my lips, and the next moment I was +aware that I was imbibing some delicious broth. But the cup! It was +only about the size of an ordinary breakfast cup, and its contents were +gone before I could well taste them. I asked for more, and got a second +cupful; and then, as I was asking for still more, the Medical Staff of +the hospital entered the ward, and the whole crowd turned with one +accord and grouped itself around my bed. + +The Chief, a keen, clever-looking little fellow, whose age it was +impossible to guess at since he was clean shaven, turned to the nurse +who was feeding me, and sharply demanded what it was that she was +administering. She explained, adding in all seriousness the information +that I had demanded a bucketful, whereupon he turned and regarded me +with upraised eyebrows, and laid his fingers upon my wrist. + +"So you are suffering from extreme thirst, Captain, eh?" he demanded. + +I nodded emphatically. + +"Ah!" he said, "yes; that was only to be expected. Well--" He turned to +the head nurse and gave her certain instructions in so low a tone of +voice that I could not catch what he said. Then, drawing a notebook +from his pocket, he very carefully and with much consideration wrote +what I imagined to be a prescription, tore out the leaf, and handed it +to the nurse, with instructions to have it made up. Then, turning again +to me, he inquired how I felt. I described my symptoms as well as I +could, wondering all the while how it was that I was only able to speak +in the merest whisper. + +The members of the staff, including the Head himself, could not have +listened with more rapt attention, had I been communicating to them some +item of intelligence of the most tremendous import; and when I had +finished, the Head drew away from my bed to the far end of the room, +where for some minutes he appeared to be delivering a lecture to the +members of his staff, who had followed him. Then, the lecture being +finished, they all came back to the side of my bed, and one of the +nurses having carefully folded back the covering as low as my waist, the +Head proceeded to deftly loosen the fastenings of an enormous bandage +which I now discovered enveloped my chest. This done, I was very +tenderly raised to a sitting posture--an operation which gave me +excruciating pain, by the way--and the endless turns of the bandage were +deftly unwound, one of the nurses seating herself upon the bed and +supporting me meanwhile. When at length the bandage was removed, +several broad strips of dressing were disclosed, which, upon removal, +revealed a ghastly great jagged wound stretching right across my chest, +the edges of which had been very neatly drawn together by a number of +stitches. Then, for the first time, I remembered the violent blow on +the chest which I had received when the bows of the _Kasanumi_ were +destroyed. The wound was intently examined by the entire staff, +pronounced to be healing most satisfactorily, and then, after being +thoroughly sponged with warm water, was re-dressed, and a fresh bandage +applied. Meanwhile, I had made the discovery that my head also was +enveloped in bandages, and when I asked why, was informed that I had +received a scalp wound, which, however, was of no serious consequence. +When this also had been re-dressed, the entire operation occupying the +best part of half an hour, I felt considerably easier, although much +exhausted. While the wound in my chest was being dressed, I had seized +the opportunity to look round the ward, and saw that several of the beds +were occupied, one of the patients, who appeared to be suffering from a +broken arm, being a man whom I appeared to know. As I sat staring at +him he turned his head and our eyes met, whereupon, to my amazement, up +went his uninjured hand to the salute. + +"Who is that man?" I demanded. "I seem to recognise his face." + +"You do?" remarked the Chief. "Ah! no wonder. He is one of the +survivors of the disaster by which you so nearly lost your honourable +life. He was one of the crew of the _Kasanumi_." + +"One of the crew of the _Kasanumi_!" I repeated. "Of course; I +remember now. How come he and I to be here?" + +"You were both, with the rest of the crew of your ship, rescued by the +_Akatsuki_, which ship was happily at hand when the disaster occurred," +replied the Chief. + +"Ah, yes, the disaster!" I remarked. "Yes, I am beginning to remember +all about it now. What was the nature of the disaster, doctor? Was +that ever ascertained?" + +"According to your friend, Captain Ito, who brought you here, there is +no doubt that your ship struck a mine," was the reply. "Of course she +went down, though not so quickly but that the entire crew were saved, +together with most of their personal effects. There was time, indeed, +to save most, if not all, of your belongings, Captain, and they are now +here, awaiting your convalescence." + +"Thank you," I said. "And, pray, when did the disaster occur?" + +"Just a week ago, last night," was the reply. + +"A week ago!" I exclaimed in consternation. "Then, have I lain here +all that time, unconscious?" + +"You certainly have," replied the Chief. "Now, however, that you are +happily conscious once more, we must do our utmost to keep you so, and +to assist your recovery. Therefore, no more conversation, if you +please, until I give you permission. What you now have to do is to +remain perfectly quiet and free from all excitement, pleasurable or +otherwise. Rest, sleep, take such food and such medicines as I shall +order for you, and recover strength as rapidly as possible. Then, when +you are sufficiently well to receive visitors, I will permit a few of +the many who are now eager to see you, to do so. No, not another word!" + +And therewith the little fellow and his staff turned away and proceeded +to overhaul the rest of the patients. + +The nurse whom I had at first seen upon recovering consciousness +appeared to have been specially told off to look after me, for upon the +departure of the staff she came and knelt by my bedside, as is their +fashion, instead of sitting. + +She was just within the range of my vision, as I lay, and I suppose I +must have stared at her pretty intently for some time, for presently I +saw her colour rising, which at once brought me to my bearings. +Thinking to put her at her ease, I said to her: + +"Nurse, what is your name?" + +She coloured still more, and after regarding me steadfastly for a +moment, answered: + +"My contemptible and insignificant name, illustrious Captain, is +Peach-blossom." + +"Peach-blossom!" I repeated. "And a very appropriate name, too, by +Jove! See here, Peach-blossom. The Chief Surgeon seems to have +forgotten that I said I was thirsty. Do you think you could find me +something to drink? Two or three tumblers of cold water, now, eh? I +have an idea that they would taste particularly good." + +"I will speak to the Chief, noble Captain, and if he consents I will +honourably let you have it," she replied. + +The Chief evidently consented, and a few minutes later I was quenching +my thirst with the most delicious draught I had ever tasted. It was +only pure, cold water, but as I slowly imbibed it I told myself that at +last I really understood the full meaning of the term, "nectar." + +Well, there is no need for me to dwell at length upon my sojourn in the +hospital. I was given to understand that I was making a splendid +recovery, yet although I was brought back to the Elliot Islands and +admitted to the hospital on the morning of 20th June, it was not until +nearly three weeks had passed that I was permitted to receive visitors, +the first of whom was that fine fellow Ito, to whom I owed my life. + +I shall not readily forget the little chap's delight when, upon entering +the ward, he discovered me sitting up in bed, reading, propped up by +cushions and a bed-rest. He sprang forward, his eyes fairly snapping +with pleasure and excitement, and seizing my welcoming hand, shook it +with such energy that good little Peach-Blossom felt constrained to +spring hastily to her feet and rescue me from his too strenuous +demonstrations of joy. At her vigorous remonstrances, however, he +dropped my hand as though it had burnt him and, sinking into a chair by +my bedside, proceeded to apologise with almost abject contrition, and +would not be comforted until I had assured him, not quite truthfully, I +am afraid, that he had not hurt me. Then, in answer to my questions, he +proceeded to tell me what he knew of the matter. + +It appeared that at the moment when the explosion occurred, the +_Akatsuki_ was so close to the _Kasanumi_ that the two craft were all +but touching each other, although, from the _Kasanumi's_ bridge, where I +was then standing, I could not see the other destroyer. It also +appeared that at the moment when I ordered the course of the _Kasanumi_ +to be altered, the _Akatsuki_ was close astern of us, and broad on our +port quarter, the consequence being that the shifting of our helm +carried us so close athwart her bows that she all but touched us when +crossing our stern. It was at this moment that the explosion occurred; +and Ito, instantly divining what had happened, at once manoeuvred his +craft in such a fashion as to lay her alongside the fast-sinking +_Kasanumi_, so that the crew of the latter were able to transfer +themselves directly from one ship to the other without using boats. +Meanwhile, the helmsman and signalmen on the _Kasanumi's_ bridge had +seen me tossed over the rail by the force of the explosion, and, +although themselves severely shaken, had instantly flung themselves down +upon the turtle-back, where they found me lying bleeding and insensible. +To pick me up and carry me aft was the next thing to be done, for they +realised at once that their own ship was sinking, and they did it, +transferring my senseless body to the _Akatsuki_ the moment that she got +alongside. I was at once taken below and temporarily patched-up, while +the crew of the _Kasanumi_ were being transferred, together with such of +their belongings as they were able to save, my cabin steward with the +utmost devotion concentrating all his efforts upon saving the most +valuable of my belongings, regardless of the loss of his own. + +It was at first thought that possibly the _Kasanumi_ might be saved, and +Ito did his utmost in that direction, working for more than half an hour +upon the stricken craft. But the damage was too serious, and despite +collision mats and pumps the craft continued to settle until at length, +recognising that all efforts were useless, he ordered all hands aboard +his own ship, and cast off, the _Kasanumi_ foundering almost before the +_Akatsuki_ could back off clear of her. + +Ito made no attempt to attack the ships in Port Arthur roads +single-handed, but at once shaped a course for the Elliot Islands, +running clear of the fog half an hour later. Arrived at our base, he +lost no time in having me conveyed ashore to the hospital, where, as +already recorded, I lay for a week in a state of alternating delirium +and coma before I recovered my senses. + +The doctors assured me that I was making a splendid recovery; yet to +myself my progress appeared to be horribly slow, and it was certainly +not accelerated by the knowledge that while I was lying there helpless, +big events were happening which had all the appearance of leading up to +still bigger events in the near future. For instance, there was the +second sortie of the Russian squadron from Vladivostock, in the middle +of June, lasting over a fortnight, during which it inflicted great loss +and damage upon the Japanese. It was a most risky thing to do, and must +certainly have resulted in disaster had not poor, unhappy Admiral +Kamimura been morally chained down, and prevented from taking effective +measures against the raiders, by a stringent order that he was to hold +the Strait of Korea at all costs. Yet, such is human inconsistency, +notwithstanding the above stringent order, which bound the unfortunate +admiral hand and foot, and effectually precluded his pursuit of the +raiding ships, he was so severely blamed by "the man in the street" for +the damage done that a mob actually attacked and wrecked his house! +This, of course, was most unjust and cruel treatment of a thoroughly +capable and zealous man who, hampered though he was, did all he could to +bring the raiders to book, and indeed, but for a sudden change of +weather at a critical moment, would probably have brought them to action +and given them a severe punishing. + +Then, there was the abortive sortie of the Port Arthur fleet, three days +after the destruction of the _Kasanumi_. True, the ships were only at +sea for about twenty-four hours, and did nothing, narrowly escaping +capture only by Togo's over-eagerness to engage them, thus discovering +himself to the Russians in time to allow the latter to make good their +retreat back to Port Arthur; but, all the same, I felt that I was losing +much in not being present. To me it seemed that our plucky little +Admiral had missed a splendid chance over this last event; for we did +the enemy no perceptible damage, and only succeeded in driving him back +to his lair. As a matter of fact the only injury sustained by the +Russians was that which happened to the battleship _Sevastopol_, which +struck one of our mines as she was returning to Port Arthur anchorage, +and was only got into the harbour with the utmost difficulty. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +UNEXPECTED PROMOTION. + +Among other naval customs which the Japanese had copied from the +British, was that of trying by court martial all officers who were so +unfortunate as to lose their ships; and on the day when I first received +permission from the doctors to take a short turn in the open air, I also +received an intimation that my trial for the loss of the _Kasanumi_ +would be held, a week from that date, on board the flagship _Mikasa_, +which would then be in harbour. + +Of course I was still very much of an invalid, for although the ghastly +wound in my chest had so far healed that it no longer needed dressing, I +was warned that even very trifling exertion might cause it to burst open +again, while I had by no means recovered my former strength. +Nevertheless, on the day appointed, I made shift to walk down to the +beach, supported by the arm of an orderly, and, with the same +assistance, to climb the flagship's side ladder when I arrived alongside +her in the steam launch which had been sent ashore to fetch me. + +There is no need for me to describe at length the proceedings of a naval +court martial; it has been admirably done by Captain Marryat; and as it +was in his day, so it is to-day, in all essentials. Of course the trial +was the merest formality, for there could not be the slightest shadow of +doubt that the craft had been lost through collision with a mine, while +under way in a dense fog, and that it was one of those incidents of war +for which nobody but the enemy can be held responsible; and accordingly +I was honourably acquitted, and my sword was returned to me amid the +congratulations of the Admiral and the officers who had constituted the +court. + +Five days later I received a visit from Togo himself, who seemed to have +conceived rather a liking for me. After making most friendly inquiries +as to my health and the progress which I was making toward +convalescence, he repeated his congratulations upon my acquittal by the +court martial, and then asked me how much longer I thought it would be +before I should again be fit for active service. I was happily able to +assure him that, unless anything quite unforeseen happened, I hoped to +be quite ready for duty in a fortnight, or even less if my services were +urgently required, and I remember that I gave the answer with +considerable eagerness, for there was a certain subtle something in the +tone of the Admiral's question which somehow suggested that events of +importance were in the air. + +"Good!" ejaculated Togo. "That is excellent news, my friend, for if +what I hear be true, it would appear that the time is drawing near when +I shall be in urgent need of all the assistance which my officers can +give me. I will say no more at present--except that I hope you will +take the utmost care of yourself, and get quite well again as quickly as +possible--for at present my information is too vague to permit me to +make a definite statement. Meanwhile,"--putting his hand into his +breast pocket and producing a long, official-looking document--"it +affords me the utmost pleasure to hand you this, which is your +appointment to the command of the _Yakumo_. It has been my pleasant +duty to mention your name in my dispatches, in connection with many +services meritoriously rendered, the latest having reference to the very +valuable assistance rendered by you prior to and during the battle of +Nanshan; and this appointment is the outward token of the authorities' +appreciation of those services. I am looking forward with much interest +to the moment when you will take up this new command, for, as you know, +the _Yakumo_ is a very fine ship, and under a smart and enterprising +captain I shall expect great things of her." + +"And by Jove! sir, you shall not be disappointed if I can help it," I +exclaimed, springing to my feet in a paroxysm of delight and grasping +the hand which the Admiral kindly extended to me. "I don't know how to +find words in which to express my profound gratitude to you, sir, for +all your kindness to me, from the moment when I presented myself before +you, an utter stranger," I continued huskily; but Togo interrupted me, +reaching up and patting my shoulder in a very kind, fatherly way. + +"There, there," he murmured, soothingly, "say no more about it, my dear +boy; say no more about it. I want no wordy expressions of gratitude; +you should know that by this time. And if you really feel grateful to +me for anything I have done for you, you shall show your gratitude in +deeds, rather than words, when the strenuous times arrive which I +already see looming in the distance." + +And therewith, affording me no opportunity to reply, the fine little +fellow, well named "the Nelson of Japan," hastily shook me by the hand +and effected his escape, while I sank into a chair, almost overwhelmed +at the extent of my good fortune. + +Captain of the _Yakumo_! I could scarcely credit it. As the Admiral +had said, the _Yakumo_ was a very fine ship; she was indeed one of the +finest armoured cruisers which Japan at that time possessed. Her +waterline was protected by a belt of Krupp steel seven inches thick +amidships, tapering off to five inches thickness at bow and stern; she +mounted four 8-inch quick-fire guns in her two turrets, and fourteen +6-inch guns on her broadsides; she could steam twenty-one knots, when +clean; and she carried a crew of five hundred officers and men! A +rather different craft from the little _Kasanumi_, with her single +12-pounder and five 6-pounders, eh? I felt that, in command of such a +ship as that, I could dare and do almost anything. My delight must have +proved an important factor in aiding my recovery, for from the moment +when I received my appointment, my strength came back to me so rapidly +that, instead of the fortnight which I had allowed myself in my +conversation with the Admiral, I took only nine days to qualify for my +discharge from the hospital, and to report for duty. + +It was a proud moment for me when I stood on the spacious quarter-deck +of my new command and, in the presence of all hands, mustered for the +occasion, read my commission appointing me to the command of the ship. +The vacancy had occurred in consequence of the death of her previous +captain, and when I boarded the craft, I did so fully prepared for a +certain coldness of reception on the part of the officers, for +naturally, in the ordinary course of events, the command ought to have +gone to the senior officer, one Commander Arisaka. But not so; on the +contrary, as I finished reading my commission, folded it up, and put it +in my pocket, the Commander approached, shook hands in the most friendly +way, expressed the extreme gratification felt by himself and the rest of +the officers of the ship at finding themselves under the leadership of +one who--as they were kind enough to put it--"had so brilliantly +distinguished himself"; and then proceeded to present to me the rest of +the officers in rotation, in strict accordance with their rank, all of +whom found something pleasant and complimentary to say. By way of +response, I made a little speech to all hands, crew as well as officers, +in which I expressed my gratification at finding myself in command of so +fine a ship, manned by so fine a crew, and voiced the hope that, not +only should we be able to all work comfortably and harmoniously +together, but also that the Admiral would speedily afford us an +opportunity to add fresh laurels to the _Yakumo's_ fame; a speech which +elicited a quite enthusiastic storm of "Banzais." + +Agreeable relations with my officers and crew being thus satisfactorily +established, I took up my quarters onboard, and forthwith proceeded to +"learn" the ship--that is to say, I made myself intimately acquainted +with the localities and purposes of the numerous engines and pieces of +machinery with which she was fitted, the number and positions of her +magazines, and their contents, the number and situations of her torpedo +tubes, the uses of the many fitments to be found in her conning tower, +and in fact everything connected with her working, so that in the hour +of action I might have every detail firmly fixed in my memory, ready for +use at a moment's notice. And wherever I found anything capable of +improvement, I unhesitatingly had that improvement carried out, although +I feel bound to say that I found very little anywhere needing +modification. In this way, and by continually exercising the crew at +such evolutions as could be carried out with the ship at anchor, I very +soon became perfectly familiar with my new command and, as my strength +steadily returned, began to long for the opportunity to test myself as +well as my ship and crew. For during the whole of this time the +_Yakumo_, with several other cruisers, and our four battleships, had +been lying at anchor at our rendezvous at the Elliot Islands, not idle +by any means, but, like the _Yakumo_, "tuning up" for a certain +eventuality, the approach of which we all seemed to sense in some +mysterious way. + +And yet, after all, I do not know that there was very much mystery about +it, for our Secret Service agents--of whom there were several in Port +Arthur--informed us that, from the moment when, on that memorable +Sunday, 7th August, one of the first twenty shells fired at the +stronghold by the investing Japanese, fell aboard the battleship +_Retvisan_, lying at anchor in the harbour, and seriously damaged her, +there had been a general outcry that the Russian fleet ought to go to +sea and fight, rather than remain in harbour and be ignominiously +destroyed without striking a blow in self-defence. + +It was known that Admiral Vitgeft, and Prince Ukhtomsky, his second in +command, were utterly opposed to such a course, their freely expressed +opinion being that the Russian ships, already more or less seriously +damaged by the attacks to which they had been subjected from time to +time during the progress of the war, were totally unfit to meet and +engage the Japanese fleet, which, they had every reason to believe, was +in first-class fighting trim. There were certain officers, however, +whose mortification at their enforced inactivity blinded them to the +soundness of this judgment. "If the ships must be destroyed, let them +be destroyed at sea in the act of inflicting as much injury as possible +upon the enemy," was their contention; and it was certainly a reasonable +one. It was broadly hinted that the leader of this faction found means +to convey his contention to the ear of Admiral Alexieff; for, strange to +say, the following day brought a wireless message from the +Commander-in-Chief to Vitgeft, ordering the latter to take his whole +fleet to sea and proceed to Vladivostock, fighting his way thither, if +necessary. Every effort was of course made by Vitgeft to keep this +order a profound secret; but it was necessary to communicate it to the +captains of the several ships and other officers whose duties required +that they should possess such knowledge, and the delight of some of them +at learning that their long-cherished desire was about to be granted was +not conducive to secrecy. Moreover, the sudden, feverish hurry and +bustle of preparation was a sufficient advertisement of what was +impending; and that very night the news was signalled to the blockading +squadron in the offing, from which it was as promptly transmitted by +wireless to Togo, among the Elliots. The news was confirmed on the +following morning by our patrol vessels off the port, from which came +the information that a tremendous state of activity was discernible +among the Russian ships, and that all indications pointed toward an +almost immediate sortie. + +The news arrived by wireless, about an hour after sunrise; and +immediately upon receiving it the signal was made for all captains to at +once proceed on board the flagship. Some such signal had confidently +been expected, after the news of the preceding day; we were in fact all +waiting for it, and its display was equivalent to the starting signal +for a race, for no sooner did the flags break abroad than they were +read, and the next instant the shrill piping of many boatswain's +whistles was heard in the calm morning air, the crews of the captain's +gigs were seen rushing along the booms and dropping recklessly down into +the boats, and in less than a minute the mirror-like waters of the +harbour were being churned into foam as the flotilla of gigs darted away +from the ships' gangway ladders, each striving to be the first to arrive +alongside the _Mikasa_. I was not the first to reach the goal, for the +battleships were all lying together, with the cruisers some distance +outside them, but my boat was the fourth alongside, beating the +_Asama's_ gig by half a length, to the intense disgust of Captain +Yamada, who occupied her stern-sheets. + +"Never mind, Yamada, old chap," I exclaimed, as we shook hands and +ascended the _Mikasa's_ side ladder together; "perhaps you will get the +pull of me later on. But I'll bet you a case of champagne that the +_Yakumo_ scores a hit before the _Asama_, to-day." + +The bet was eagerly accepted, and, chatting gaily, we passed along the +flagship's deck and entered the Admiral's state cabin, where we found +Togo and the captains of the four battleships already assembled and +conversing eagerly. The Admiral shook hands with both of us, +complimented me upon my rapid recovery, and then turned to welcome the +other captains who were fast arriving, while we joined the little but +quickly swelling group of officers who had already arrived; for of +course Togo would say nothing until everybody was present. + +We were not kept waiting very long, however, perhaps a matter of ten +minutes after my arrival, and then Captain Ijichi, of the _Mikasa_, who +as each captain arrived, had been ticking his name off a list, announced +that all were present, and rapped sharply on the table with his +sword-hilt for silence. The next moment, to use a common expression, +one might have heard a pin drop. Then Admiral Togo stepped forward, +unrolled a chart and spread it open upon the table, and stood for a +moment looking round the crowded cabin with a curiously intent and eager +gaze. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "the wireless message which has this morning +arrived from the blockading squadron off Port Arthur, entirely confirms +the news of yesterday, to the effect that the Russian fleet is about to +put to sea, probably with the intention of making for Vladivostock. I +imagine Vladivostock to be its destination for the simple reason that +there is no other port open to it; moreover, as we are fully aware, +there is a dry dock at Vladivostock large enough to receive a +battleship; and I conjecture the intention of the enemy to be to take +his damaged ships there for the purpose of repairing them, so that they +may be in condition to reinforce and assist the Baltic fleet upon its +arrival in these waters. + +"Gentlemen, if that be the enemy's intention, it must never be carried +out; we must prevent it at all costs--short of the loss of our own +battleships, which we _must_ preserve in order that we may be able to +meet the Baltic fleet upon something like equal terms, when it arrives. +Now, the question of how best to meet the Port Arthur fleet without +unduly risking our own battleships is one that has greatly exercised my +mind ever since the moment when it first became apparent that the +Russians were meditating a sortie, and I have formed a plan which I will +now lay before you, and upon which I shall be very grateful to receive +your frankly expressed criticism and opinion. + +"Taking it for granted that the purpose of the Russian Admiral is to +make for Vladivostock, I propose to proceed to Encounter Rock, which, as +you are all aware, lies directly in the track of ships bound from Port +Arthur southward past the Shan-tung promontory,"--the Admiral pointed +out upon the chart the positions of the three places mentioned as he +spoke--"and there await the arrival of the Russians, who will by that +time be so far from Port Arthur that I trust the measures which I +propose to take to prevent them from returning may be effective. + +"I need not remind you that my instructions are, and have been +throughout the war, to risk our battleships as little as possible, since +upon them depends the safety of Japan--a fact which I believe we all +fully realise; I therefore intend to fight the forthcoming battle at +long-range, trusting to our superior gunnery to enable us to inflict the +maximum amount of injury upon the enemy with the minimum amount of +injury to ourselves. + +"I purpose to proceed in the following manner. The _Yakumo_ will lead +the fleet to sea, followed by the _Kasagi, Takasago, Chitose_, +_Takachiho_, _Naniwa_, and _Chiyoda_, in the order named. These will be +followed, at a distance of three miles, by our six armoured cruisers, in +the wake of which will follow the four battleships, with the remaining +cruisers and the destroyers bringing up the rear. Further orders I +cannot give at present, since my plans are necessarily subject to +modification according to the reports which will no doubt come to me +from time to time from the blockading squadron, a portion of which will +follow the Russian fleet, reporting upon its formation, the course it +steers, its speed, and so on. The only thing further which I have now +to say is, that the duty of the destroyer flotilla will be to keep the +Russian destroyers so fully occupied that the latter will have no +opportunity to approach our big ships, while every opportunity must be +seized to attack the Russians, especially their battleships. That is +all I have to say, gentlemen, except that the fleet which we shall have +the honour to meet to-day _must be destroyed_, and I look to each of +you, individually, to give me your best assistance in the accomplishment +of this purpose. Now, has any officer any suggestion to offer? I shall +be most grateful for any helpful hint." + +Nobody spoke, but all eyes wandered round the cabin, searching for a +possible speaker. The Admiral's eye met mine, and I thought there +seemed to be a question in it. As nobody else seemed inclined to speak, +I decided to answer that questioning glance. + +"There is just one remark which I should like to make, sir, if I may be +permitted," I said. "I had not the good fortune to be present when the +Japanese last met the Port Arthur fleet, less than two months ago; but +from all that I have heard with regard to that meeting, I gather that +there would have been no Port Arthur fleet to-day, had not you, sir, +been too eager to meet them, revealing your presence to them at such an +early moment that retirement to Port Arthur was still possible for them. +If that be the case, the obvious lesson to be learnt seems to be that +we should on no account show ourselves until the Russians have run too +far off-shore to get back again before we can intercept them; and I +would also suggest the desirability of taking steps to effectually cut +off their retreat." + +Togo nodded and smiled. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "you have all heard Captain Swinburne's remarks. +Have any of you anything to add to them, or any comment to make upon +them?" + +For a moment there was silence. Then Captain Matsumoto, commanding the +_Fuji_, stepped forward. + +"I should like to say, sir," he said, "that I entirely concur in what +Captain Swinburne has said. Unlike that gentleman, I had the honour to +be present on the occasion to which he refers, and I believe all +present--including yourself, sir--will be inclined to agree that the +honourable captain has put his finger upon the two causes which then +combined to render the escape of the Russian fleet possible." + +A low murmur of assent followed; and when it died away, Togo spoke. + +"I thank you all, gentlemen," he said, "for the expression of opinion to +which I have just listened. I agree that a mistake was made upon that +occasion, and it was I who made it. But that mistake will not be +repeated, you may rest assured. I recognised my mistake when it was too +late to amend it, and I have now made my plans accordingly. Has any one +else any suggestion to offer?" + +There was no response. + +"Very well, then, gentlemen," resumed Togo. "Our conference is at an +end. Return to your ships, and get your anchors at once. We will +proceed to sea forthwith; and may Hachiman Sama," (the Japanese god of +War) "be with us to-day and crown our arms with victory!" + +A moment's silence followed, and then the cabin rang with the exultant +shout of "Banzai! Banzai Nippon!" instantly taken up by the crew out on +deck, who heard it, and as instantly repeated by the crews of the other +ships, as the sound of the cheering reached them. Then, one after +another, we filed past the Admiral, who shook hands with each of us as +we passed out of the cabin; and ten minutes later the harbour was +resounding with the clank of chain cables being hove in through a +fleet's hawse-pipes and stowed away below. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE BATTLE OF THE YELLOW SEA. + +It was still quite early--half-past six o'clock in the morning, to be +exact--when a gun from the _Mikasa_ and a string of flags, drooping from +the end of her signal yard in the breathless calm of a hot August +morning, gave the signal for the Japanese fleet to go forth to battle. + +In accordance with the Admiral's instructions, the _Yakumo_ was to lead +the way to sea, and it was a proud moment for me when, standing upon the +cruiser's navigating bridge, I personally rang down the order to the +engine-room, "Ahead, half-speed, both engines!" And I considered--and +still consider--that I had every reason to be proud; for here was I, a +lad not yet quite nineteen years of age, captain of one of the finest +and most formidable cruisers in the Japanese navy. And I had attained +to that position--I may say it now, I think, without laying myself open +to the charge of being unduly vain--solely by my own exertions and +without a particle of favour shown me, excepting that, when my own +country contemptuously dispensed with my services, the aliens whom I was +now serving received me with the utmost courtesy and kindness. Ah, +well! thank God, that bitter period in my life is past now, and I can +bear to look back upon it with equanimity, but the memory of it often +swept down upon me like a black cloud in the days of which I am now +writing. + +But there was no thought of my unmerited disgrace and ruined career in +my own country to interfere with my happiness or humble my pride upon +that glorious morning; I enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that my +innocence had been made clear, that the stain of guilt had been removed +from my name, and I was as happy just then as I suppose it is ever +possible for mortal to be. + +And indeed, quite apart from matters of a purely personal nature, it +would have been very difficult for any normal-minded individual to have +been otherwise than buoyant upon that particular morning, for everything +conspired to make one so. The weather was glorious; the sky, a clear, +rich sapphire blue, was, for a wonder, without a cloud, the air was so +still that until we got under way and made a wind for ourselves the +signal flags drooped in motionless folds, and their interpretation was +largely a matter of guesswork. Then there was all the pomp and +circumstance of modern war, the ships already cleared for action, and +each of them decorated with at least two enormous battle-flags--wrought +by the dainty fingers of Japan's fairest daughters--flaunting defiantly +from her mast-heads. It must have been a magnificent sight to behold +that proud fleet steaming out to sea, ship after ship falling into line +with machine-like precision and keeping distance perfectly, first the +squadron of cruisers, led by the _Yakumo_; then the other five armoured +cruisers, with the _Asama_ in the van; then the four battleships-- +accompanied by the _Nisshin_ and _Kasuga_, which were powerful enough to +take their place in the line of battle--and, finally, the swarm of +heterogeneous craft composed of the older and less important cruisers +and other vessels, and those wasps of the sea, the destroyers. + +The _Yakumo_ had scarcely begun to gather way when the flagship +signalled "Course South-West by South; speed twelve knots." + +As our signalman ran up the answering pennant, I entered the chart-room +and, approaching the table, upon which a chart of the Yellow Sea lay +spread out, requested Mr Shiraishi, the navigating lieutenant, to lay +down a South-West by South course upon the chart, that we might see +where it would take us. He did so, and I saw with satisfaction that it +would take us some twenty-five miles to the eastward of Encounter Rock, +that unfortunate spot near which the Japanese fleet had too prematurely +revealed its presence upon the occasion of its previous encounter with +the Russians. Twenty-five miles! That was excellent. If we held on +upon that course we should cross the bows of the Russians at such a +distance as would enable us to pass unseen, and then come up from the +southward in the enemy's rear, so cutting him off from Port Arthur and +rendering it impossible for him to avoid a fight. + +Shortly after clearing the harbour, the _Asama_ and her attendant +cruisers parted company with us, striking off to the westward, with the +object of working round in the rear of the Russians, and again I +mentally complimented Togo upon his astuteness. + +Nine o'clock came, and a few minutes later there arrived a wireless +message from the Admiral for our squadron to change course thirty-four +degrees to the westward. I wondered what this might portend, for we had +been receiving almost continuous wireless messages from the squadron off +Port Arthur, the latest of which told us that the Russians, although +undoubtedly intending a sortie, had not yet started. I again visited +the chart-room, and with Shiraishi's assistance discovered that our new +course would bring us within about seven miles south-east of Encounter +Rock about noon. + +"Four bells" had just gone tinkling along the line of the Japanese +ships, informing those whom it might concern that the hour was ten +o'clock in the morning, when a fresh wireless message came from our +blockading squadron, informing us that at last the Russian fleet was +actually steaming out of Port Arthur harbour, with battle-flags flying, +bands playing, and the ship's companies singing the Russian National +Anthem, with the battleship _Tsarevich_, Vitgeft's flagship, leading. +As the message was decoded and the news spread throughout the Japanese +fleet, an almost audible sigh of relief escaped the breasts of officers +and men; the Russians were not only coming out, but actually meant to +fight; and the fateful hour which had been so long and so eagerly +awaited was now at last at hand. A great cheer arose, passing along the +line from ship to ship, and officers who had already assured themselves +that all preparations for meeting the enemy were complete once more went +the rounds, to make assurance doubly sure. + +The Japanese blockading fleet gradually closed in behind the Russian +ships, compelling Vitgeft to send back his gunboats, mining craft, and +reserve destroyers, as our boats were threatening to cut them off; and +about eleven o'clock we got a message informing us that the fleet which +we should have to meet consisted of six battleships, four cruisers, and +seven destroyers, an eighth destroyer, believed to be the _Reshitelny_, +having contrived, by her superior speed, to give our boats the slip, and +steam away in the direction of Chifu. Meanwhile, the glass was falling, +great masses of cloud came driving up from the eastward, and a little +breeze from the same quarter sprang up, rapidly freshening and knocking +up a sea which soon set even our battleships rolling and pitching +ponderously. "Well, so much the better for us," we told each other. +Our gunners were by this time quite accustomed to shoot from a rolling +and pitching platform, while the Russians had had no such profitable +experience; and the heavier the sea, the greater would probably be the +superiority of our shooting. + +It was nearing noon when at length, broad on our starboard bow, a great +cloud of black smoke began to show on the south-eastern horizon; and +shortly afterward a forest of masts, from the truck of each of which +flaunted a great white flag bearing a blue Saint Andrew's cross, began +to rise above the sea-line, followed by numerous funnels belching +immense volumes of black smoke. The two fleets were nearing each other +fast, it was therefore not long before the ponderous bulk of the +_Tsarevich_ topped the horizon, with the _Retvisan, Pobieda, Peresviet_ +(flying Rear-Admiral Prince Ukhtomsky's flag), _Sevastopol_, and +_Poltava_ following. Then came our old friend of the five funnels, the +_Askold_, followed by the _Pallada_ and _Diana_, with a hospital ship, +flying a Red Cross flag, bringing up the rear but well astern. On the +port beam, but well to the rear of the line of battleships, was the +cruiser _Novik_--easily distinguished by her three funnels with a single +mast stepped between the second and third funnel--and seven destroyers. + +Up fluttered a signal aboard the _Mikasa_, and scarcely had the flags +broke out when away went our destroyers at top speed, like hounds +released from the leash, to attack the enemy. And a stirring sight it +was to witness their dash, for it was now blowing quite fresh and a +nasty, choppy sea had arisen, through which the plucky little boats +raced, like a school of dolphin chasing flying-fish, now throwing a +third of their length clean out of the water, and anon plunging into an +oncoming wave until the water foamed and hissed over turtle-back and +bridge and poured in torrents down upon the main deck and overboard. +But the Russian Admiral was not going to tamely submit to a torpedo +attack in broad daylight; he allowed the boats to get well within range +of his guns, and then opened a brisk fire upon them, driving them off +for the moment. Nevertheless, although the boats never actually scored +a hit that day, they were of the utmost assistance, hovering on the +enemy's flanks and rear, dashing in upon him from time to time, and +distracting his attention at many a critical moment. + +Encounter Rock now bore north-west from us, seven miles distant, and was +broad upon the port beam of the Russians, at about the same distance; +and had both fleets held on as they were then going the Russians must +very soon have cut through our line--provided, of course, that we had +permitted them to do so. But the attempt evidently did not appeal to +Vitgeft, for the _Tsarevich_ suddenly starboarded her helm and led away +from us in a north-westerly direction, while Togo, perhaps afraid that +this was the preliminary to a retreat on the part of the Russian fleet, +feigned a nervousness that he certainly did not feel, and shifted his +helm, heading South-South-West, at the same time forming his battleships +in line abreast. The result was that, for a time, the two fleets were +actually steaming away from each other, the Russians being upon our +starboard quarter. After steaming a short distance in this direction, +our formation was altered back to line ahead, and the course was changed +to South-West, apparently with the object of getting the ships well in +hand. + +It was close upon one o'clock in the afternoon when our Admiral, having +put us through one or two further manoeuvres and apparently satisfied +himself that he had strung us up to the necessary pitch of alertness, +finally formed line ahead and changed course to East-North-East, at the +same time hoisting the signal, "Engage!" The signal was greeted with a +terrific outburst of cheering from every ship, and faces that had begun +to look gloomy as the distance between the two fleets increased, once +more became wreathed in smiles. Speed was increased, and we began to +rapidly overhaul the enemy, the spray flying high over our bows as we +pushed our way irresistibly through the rising sea. And now the horizon +all round from north, west, and south showed dark with smoke as the +Japanese cruisers began to close in from those points upon the Russians. + +It was the _Tsarevich_ which at length opened the ball, by bringing the +12-inch guns in her fore-turret to bear upon the _Mikasa_. There was a +brilliant double flash, a big outburst of white smoke that for a moment +partially veiled the great ship ere it drove away to leeward, a huge +double splash as the ponderous shells hit the water about a mile away, +and then came a crashing _boom_ as the sound of the explosion reached us +against the wind. The shots had fallen short. These two shots appeared +to be regarded by the rest of the Russian battleships as a signal to +open fire, for they immediately did so, the flashes bursting out here +and there all along the enemy's battle-line, first from one ship and +then from another, as though each ship were striving which could first +get off her shots, while projectiles seemed to be falling everywhere +excepting aboard the Japanese ships; true, two or three shells flew, +muttering loudly, high over our heads, but the rest fell either wide or +very far short. Our anticipations, it seemed, were proving correct, the +roll and pitching of their ships was playing the mischief with the aim +of the Russian gunners. Then the big guns of the flagship and the +_Asahi_ spoke, just four shots each, coolly and deliberately fired, one +shot at a time, to test the range. This was found to be too great for +effective practice, and the fire thereupon ceased. + +But although not one of those eight ranging shots had actually touched a +Russian ship, they all fell much closer to their mark than had the +Russian projectiles, and close enough, at all events, to make Vitgeft +nervous, for their immediate effect was to cause him to haul up to the +northward, so that it looked as though he were seriously contemplating +the advisability of doubling round Encounter Rock and retreating back to +Port Arthur. It was a moment when everything seemed to be hanging in +the balance, when a single false move would ruin everything, and the +chance that we had been so long waiting for would be lost. Port Arthur +was still close enough under the lee of the Russians to permit of their +reaching the shelter of its batteries without very serious loss, should +they elect to make the attempt. It was a moment demanding both boldness +and astuteness of action, and, gambler-like, Togo resolved to risk +everything upon a single throw. Instead of making the signal to close +with the enemy and immediately bring him to battle, the Admiral +signalled, "Change course sixteen points east," which meant that the +whole fleet, now steaming in line ahead, parallel to the Russian's +course, and heading in the same direction, must swerve round upon a port +helm and go back over the ground which it had just traversed, that in +fact it must turn tail and run away from the Russians! The manoeuvre +was executed in splendid style, and two minutes later the Japanese fleet +was heading south-west, while the Russian fleet, now some nine miles +distant, bore about two points abaft our starboard beam. + +The object of the manoeuvre was of course to impress the Russian Admiral +with the conviction that we were as little anxious to put our fortunes +to the touch as he was; and apparently the ruse was successful, for +almost immediately the Russians shifted helm, heading about south-east +and standing across our wake, with all their funnels belching great +volumes of smoke, showing that a tremendous effort was going to be made +to give us the slip. + +For what seemed to us all an interminable half-hour, the astute little +Japanese "Nelson" permitted them to lay the flattering unction to their +souls that they were going to succeed, for during that half-hour the +Japanese fleet plugged steadily away to the south-west, every moment +increasing the distance between themselves and the enemy. Then, at +last, judging from the respective positions of the two fleets that our +superior speed must certainly frustrate any further attempt at escape on +the part of the enemy, up went the longed-for signal for us to swerve +round and give chase. + +This manoeuvre of ours was the signal for another shift of helm on the +part of the Russians. They had been heading about south-east, but now, +seeing us coming straight for them, they swerved away until they were +heading almost due east, as though even now anxious to defer the evil +moment as long as possible. But they must speedily have recognised the +impossibility of escape, for now, with carefully-cleaned furnace fires +and a full head of steam, our ships were racing along through the +fast-rising sea at a speed which would enable us to rapidly overhaul the +chase, notwithstanding that they were plunging until they were buried to +the hawse-pipes, and their fore-decks were smothered with spray. + +The two fleets were now running upon converging lines, the enemy, about +a point before our port beam, steering east, while we were steering +east-north-east, and visibly gaining as the minutes slipped by. At last +it looked as though the fight could no longer be delayed, and a thrill +of excitement passed through me as I now began to fully realise that I +was about to take part in a great naval battle, fought under modern +conditions in ships protected by ponderous plates of steel armour and +furnished with all the most modern engines of destruction. What would +such a battle look like, and how would it end? Meanwhile the day was +passing, and although the two fleets had been within sight of each other +for more than two hours, nothing had thus far been done. + +Both fleets were now steaming in single line ahead, the battleships +leading, and the cruisers following closely, the Russian fleet being +slightly ahead and steaming surprisingly well, considering the condition +of their ships, though we were rapidly overhauling them. + +Five bells (half-past two o'clock) in the afternoon watch pealed out, +and at the same moment the _Asama_ and _Yakumo_ received orders to haul +out from the fleet and heave-to, holding ourselves ready to deal with +any enemy ships which might attempt to break back toward Port Arthur. +So we were not to be allowed to take part in the fight, after all! It +was positively heart-breaking, and for a moment I felt inclined to +imitate Nelson at Copenhagen and turn a blind eye to the signal, but the +sight of the _Asama_ promptly sheering out from the line brought me to +my senses. I knew that poor Yamada would be just as bitterly +disappointed as myself; yet there he was, obeying the order with the +same promptitude that he would have displayed had he been ordered to +attack the enemy single-handed. I nodded--rather savagely, I am +afraid--at Arisaka, the Commander, who was regarding me with eyebrows +raised questioningly. + +"All right," I growled. "Hard a-port, sir, and sheer out of the line." + +We swept right round in a wide semi-circle, finally stopping our engines +when we arrived at a spot about midway between the rears of the two +fleets. Our engines had just stopped, and I was on the point of opening +a semaphore conversation with the _Asama_, hove-to about half a mile +distant, with the purpose of making some sort of arrangement for coping +with certain possible eventualities, when a vivid flash and a great +cloud of smoke burst from the _Mikasa_, and was immediately followed by +similar outbursts from the rest of our battleships, which were opening +fire upon the Russian rear as the ships came within range. To give them +their due, the Russians were by no means slow to reply, and it was +presently evident from the number of shells falling round her, that they +were concentrating their fire upon the _Mikasa_. The first hit was +scored by one of our ships--the _Shikishima_, we afterwards learned-- +which landed a 12-inch shell under the _Askold's_ forward bridge. We +saw the flash and smoke of the exploding shell, but could not, of +course, tell what damage was done. The next second another shell hit +the same craft about her waterline, and within a minute huge volumes of +smoke were seen pouring from her, seeming to indicate that she was on +fire. But with ourselves at a standstill and both fleets steaming away +from us at high speed, they soon passed beyond our range of vision, and +all that we knew about the fight was that there was a terrific +cannonading going on, while the eastern horizon bore a dense veil of +smoke which came driving rapidly down upon us before the rising gale. +The cannonading continued with tremendous energy for about +three-quarters of an hour, and then began to slacken, until by seven +bells--half-past three in the afternoon--it had ceased altogether. + +What had happened? Was the fight over? It might be so, although I +could scarcely believe that the Russians had been utterly beaten in the +short space of an hour; for although their ships were in anything but +first-class condition, the men were brave, and were scarcely likely to +yield so long as the merest ghost of a chance of success remained to +them. We were not doomed to remain very long in suspense, however, for +just as eight bells was striking a wireless message arrived from the +Admiral, ordering the _Asama_ and ourselves to rejoin forthwith, and +giving us our course, east-south-east. + +I believe our engines were the first to move, but the _Asama_ was now +nearly a mile to the eastward of us, we standing higher out of the water +than she, and therefore drifting to leeward faster, consequently she +really had the best of the start. But I wasn't going to let her get +into action before me, if I could help it, and I called down the +voice-tube to Carmichael, our Engineer Commander, explaining the state +of affairs, and begging him to do his best. Unfortunately for us, +however, the _Asama's_ "chief" was Scotch, too; it therefore at once +became a race between the two ships, all the keener because of the +friendly rivalry between the two Scotchmen. It was generally conceded +that _Asama_ had the advantage of _Yakumo_ by about half a knot; but +when at length, shortly before four bells in the first dog watch, we +rejoined the line, the two craft were running neck and neck. + +The battle recommenced about a quarter of an hour before we were able to +resume our former position in the fighting line, the _Poltava_ opening +fire with her 12-inch guns upon the _Mikasa_, against which ship, it +appeared, the Russians had concentrated their efforts during the earlier +phase of the fight. The _Poltava_ was the sternmost ship in the Russian +battle-line; and as though her shots had been a signal, the fire +instantly ran right along the Russian line from rear to van. The din +was frightful, for our ships at once returned the Russian fire, and in a +moment, as it seemed, the sea all round about the _Mikasa_ on our side, +and the _Tsarevich, Peresviet_, and _Retvisan_ on the side of the +Russians, was lashed into innumerable great fountains of leaping spray +which shone magnificently, like great showers of vari-coloured jewels, +in the orange light of the declining sun. And presently, as the gunners +got the range, there were added to the deafening explosions of the guns +the sounds of the projectiles smiting like Titan hammers upon the +armoured sides and other protected parts of the ships, and the crash of +bursting shells. Great clouds of powder smoke whirled about the ships, +hiding them for a second or two and then driving away to leeward upon +the wings of the increasing gale. Splinters of wood and iron, and +fragments of burst shells swept over the ships like hail, and prostrate +forms here and there about the decks, weltering in their blood, +proclaimed the growing deadly accuracy of the fire on either side. The +pandemonium of sound was such that the human voice could no longer make +itself heard, and the officers on the bridges were obliged to give their +orders in dumb show. Even the shrieks of the wounded went unheard in +that hellish babel of sound. As the distance between the contending +ships decreased one began to realise the terrific character of the +forces employed by man for the destruction of his fellow-man, for now it +could be seen that the _Tsarevich_, ponderous as was her bulk, literally +and visibly heeled and swayed under the tremendous impact of the enemy's +projectiles. But we were by no means getting things all our own way, +for when the fight had been raging for about half an hour, the _Mikasa_ +was struck upon her fore barbette by a 12-inch shell which shook the +ship from stem to stern as it exploded, and put the barbette, with its +two 12-inch guns, out of action for a time through the jamming of its +turning machinery. The damage, however, was speedily repaired, and +meanwhile the fight went on with ever-increasing fierceness and +determination. + +At length the superiority of the Japanese fire began to make itself +apparent. The speed of the Russian ships steadily fell, and it could be +seen that many of them, particularly the battleships, were in great +distress. Especially was this the case with Vitgeft's flagship, the +_Tsarevich_, upon which much of the fire of our own battleships had been +concentrated. She had a great hole in her bows, about ten feet in +diameter; her anchors were shot away; and her hawse-pipes had vanished-- +to enumerate only her more apparent injuries. Then a 12-inch shell +struck her fore-turret, wrecked its interior and, as we subsequently +learned, glanced off, entered the conning tower, killed everybody in it +except two, destroyed the compass, and killed the man at the wheel, who, +as he fell, jammed the helm hard a-starboard, causing the ship to swerve +sharply out of the line and wheel round in a wide circle, completely +upsetting the formation and seriously imperilling many of her sister +ships. A few seconds later another shell fell aboard her, hitting the +foot of her foremast and causing it to totter, though it did not +actually fall. This same shell, we afterward learned, literally blew +Admiral Vitgeft to atoms, also seriously wounding several of his staff, +and throwing the ship into a perfect chaos of confusion. + +This was the beginning of the end; shells now literally rained upon her, +doing frightful damage both on deck and below, while it was patent to +all that she was completely out of control. Her erratic movements +produced the utmost confusion in the Russian battle-line, which broke up +and became a mere disorganised mob of ships, upon which the Japanese +ships at once closed, determined to avail themselves to the utmost of +the opportunity to bring the engagement to a speedy end. + +And, indeed, the end appeared to be near; for serious as was the plight +of the _Tsarevich_, that of some of her sister battleships was even +worse. The _Peresviet_, for example--the flagship of Prince Ukhtomsky, +who, in consequence of the death of Admiral Vitgeft, was now in supreme +command--was a perfect wreck, so far as her upper works were concerned; +both masts were destroyed, her funnels were battered and pierced, and +she was on fire; while the _Poltava_ had two of her 6-inch guns smashed +and the containing turret jammed. + +At the moment when the confusion created by the erratic movements of the +_Tsarevich_ was at its height, the _Peresviet_ displayed a signal from +her bridge and, sheering out of the melee, headed away back in the +direction of Port Arthur, followed by the _Sevastopol_ and _Poltava_, +while the _Askold_, Admiral Reitsenstein's flagship, followed by the +cruisers _Diana, Pallada_, and _Novik_, broke away from the rest of the +fleet and, under every ounce of steam that they could raise, headed away +in a south-easterly direction, followed by the _Asama_ and six other +cruisers. As for the _Pobieda_ and _Retvisan_, apparently animated by +the same desperate resolve, they suddenly shifted their helms and +steamed straight for our battle-line, as the mortally wounded lion will +sometimes turn upon the hunter and, with the last remains of his +fast-ebbing strength, slay his foe before perishing himself. It looked +as though both meant to use the ram, the successful employment of which +might cost us the loss of at least two of our treasured battleships; and +they were accordingly received with a terrific fire from every Japanese +ship present. The _Retvisan_, being slightly in advance of her +companion, received the heaviest of our fire, and under it she seemed to +crumple up into an almost shapeless mass of wreckage. It was not +possible for mere mortals to continue to face such a devastating hail of +shells, and as suddenly as she had started toward us she now swerved +away, instantly followed by the _Pobieda_, both steaming hard in the +wake of Prince Ukhtomsky's division, which they rejoined just as the +dusk of evening was turning to darkness. + +With the flight of those two ships the battle came to an end; because +for some reason, known only to himself, Togo failed to follow up his +advantage and complete the destruction of the Russian fleet. Some of us +were of opinion that he felt himself handicapped by the stringent orders +which he had received not to risk the loss of any of our precious +battleships, one or more of which might easily have been destroyed in +the darkness by mines dropped by the flying enemy, or by torpedoes +launched from the decks of daring and enterprising destroyers. And if +he was influenced by such considerations as these who shall blame him, +or say that he was wrong? + +Yet people were not wanting who complained that the battle was an +indecisive one, because no Russian ships had been either captured or +sunk in the course of the fight. But although this assertion was +undeniable, the grumblers forgot a little group of very important facts, +the chief of which was that the five Russian battleships and the +protected cruiser _Pallada_ which succeeded in regaining Port Arthur +harbour were so desperately damaged that they were practically reduced +to the condition of scrap iron, inasmuch as that, despite all the +efforts of the Russians to repair them, none of them was again able to +leave Port Arthur until they fell into the hands of the Japanese when +the fortress surrendered. As for the sixth Russian battleship, the +_Tsarevich_, she took advantage of the darkness to separate from the +rest of the fleet, and made for Kiaochau, where she arrived on the +following day, and where she was of course interned. The same fate +befell the cruisers _Askold_ and _Diana_, the former of which sought +shelter at Shanghai, while the latter succeeded in escaping as far south +as Saigon. The destroyer _Reshitelny_, which separated from the Russian +fleet immediately after its departure from Port Arthur, escaped the +Japanese destroyers and duly reached Chifu, whither she had been sent +with dispatches from Admiral Vitgeft, requesting that the Vladivostock +squadron might be dispatched to assist him in his proposed passage +through the Korean Strait. Her mission accomplished, her commander +agreed to assent to the demand of Sah, the Chinese admiral on the +station, that she should disarm and surrender certain vital parts of her +machinery. The Japanese, however, had their doubts as to the power of +the Chinese authorities to enforce this demand, and accordingly +Commander Fujimoto took matters into his own hands and, late on the +night of 11th October, entered Chifu harbour and, after an altercation +with the commander of the Russian vessel, calmly took the _Reshitelny_ +in tow and carried her off. This was of course a violation of neutral +territory, and led to a little temporary friction, but it ended in the +destroyer being added to the Japanese navy. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. + +I have said nothing as to the part played by the _Yakumo_ in the battle +of the Yellow Sea, for the simple reason that there is nothing +particular to relate; but that we played a not altogether unimportant +part in the fight is evidenced by the fact that only two of the Japanese +ships, namely, the _Mikasa_ and the _Nisshin_, had a heavier list of +killed than ourselves, although the _Kasuga_ scored one more in wounded +than we did. + +The fact is that, in a general engagement such as that referred to, +after the initial movements of the various ships have been noted, one +becomes so utterly engrossed in one's own particular share of the work +that there is little opportunity to note more than the most salient +incidents of the battle. Moreover, the din of battle, the continuous +roar of the guns, the crash of bursting shells, the deafening clang of +projectiles upon armour, the screams of the wounded, the suffocating +fumes of powder, all tend to benumb one's powers of observation, so that +the captain of a fighting ship has little opportunity to note anything +more than the movements of the particular ship which he happens to be +engaging at the moment. + +The importance of the defeat of the Port Arthur fleet, indecisive as it +had at first seemed to be, soon began to be realised when our secret +agents in the fortress sent us complete and carefully ascertained +information relative to the condition of the ships which had succeeded +in regaining the shelter of the harbour. From this information it at +once became apparent that, as fighting units, none of them could again +be made of service until the conclusion of the war, and Japan heaved a +great sigh of relief, which was intensified when, on the evening of 14th +August, the news was flashed through the country that the gallant and +sorely tried Kamimura had at last been granted his long-cherished wish +to meet the Vladivostock squadron, and had defeated it. True, the +defeat, like that of the Port Arthur fleet, was not as decisive as could +have been wished; for of the three cruisers--the _Gromovoi, Rossia_, and +_Runk_--which sallied forth from Vladivostock, under the command of +Admiral Jessen, in response to Admiral Vitgeft's call for support in his +last desperate sortie from Port Arthur, two of them, the _Gromovoi_ and +the _Rossia_, succeeded in regaining the shelter of Vladivostock +harbour, while only the _Rurik_, the least formidable of the trio, was +sunk. But again, as in the case of the Port Arthur fleet, although the +bulk of the Russian force contrived to escape either capture or +destruction, it had been so severely handled as to be rendered innocuous +for many months to come, and Japan was at last free from the continual +menace of it. The destruction of the fast cruiser _Novik_ in Korsakovsk +harbour on 21st August, by the Japanese ship _Chitose_, drove the last +nail in the coffin of Russia's naval power in the Far East; and from +that time forward, with the exception of maintaining the effective +blockade of Port Arthur, the Japanese navy had little to do except +prepare itself at every point to meet the menace of the Baltic Fleet, +which at this time was beginning to materialise and take definite shape. + +Meanwhile, after almost superhuman struggles against enormous odds, and +in the face of frightful sufferings and losses, Japan's land forces were +beginning to make progress. During the last days of July General +Kuroki's forces fought and won the battles of Towan and the Yushuling +Pass. On 3rd August, General Oku seized Hai-cheng and Newchwang old +town, which is situated some twenty miles inland from the port of +Newchwang; and then there came a pause, during which the final +preparations for the advance upon Liao-yang were being completed. + +Liao-yang promised to be a very tough nut to crack, for General +Kuropatkin, fully recognising the possibilities of the position, had +determined to make his stand there and inflict upon the Japanese such a +crushing defeat that all further capacity for taking the offensive would +be driven out of them, after which, the subjugation of a beaten and +disheartened enemy should prove an easy task, rendered all the easier, +perhaps, by the fact that the great assault upon Port Arthur by the +Japanese had failed disastrously, with frightful loss to the assailants. +The defences of Liao-yang were of great extent and enormous strength, +including not only formidable forts and earthworks armed with powerful +guns, and mile upon mile of most carefully and elaborately constructed +trenches, but also with innumerable pitfalls, each with its sharpened +stake at the bottom, as in the case of the Nanshan Heights defences. +These pitfalls were arranged in regular lines, interrupted at intervals +by patches of mined ground, while outside these again there ran a +practically continuous girdle of barbed wire entanglements, the wire +being charged with an electric current powerful enough to instantly +destroy any one who should be unfortunate enough to come into contact +with it. Liao-yang defences were, in fact, a repetition of the defences +of the Nanshan Heights--where the Japanese suffered such appalling +losses--except that they were of an even more elaborate and deadly +character. + +The attack upon Liao-yang was indeed in many respects a repetition of +the attack upon Kinchau; for, as in the case of Kinchau, there was a +formidable hill position--that of Shushan--to be first stormed and +taken. This task was entrusted to the Second Japanese Army, under the +leadership of General Oku; and they accomplished it on 1st September, +after three nights and two days of desperate fighting, in the course of +which the heroic Japanese suffered frightful losses. On the same day, +the Russians began to withdraw from Liao-yang under a heavy fire from +the Japanese artillery. On the following day the Japanese captured the +Yentai mines; and a few hours later, General Nodzu, at the head of the +Fourth Japanese Army, entered the town of Liao-yang unopposed. + +Meanwhile, what was the state of affairs on land before Port Arthur? + +As has already been said, the great general assault upon the land +defences, which began on 19th August 1904, resulted in disastrous +failure with frightful losses for the Japanese. Yet that failure, +terrible as it was, was not by any means complete; its blackness was +irradiated by a gleam of light here and there which sufficed to keep +alive that spirit of hope and indomitable resolution which no misfortune +could ever quite quench in the breast of the Japanese, and which was +undoubtedly the determining factor in the campaign. To particularise. +On 14th August the 1st Japanese Division was ordered to capture the five +redoubts on the crest of the ridge west of the railway, known as the +Swishiying redoubts. These redoubts were taken on the following day, +and their capture paved the way for the general assault, four days +later. This began with the furious bombardment of the height known as +174 Metre Hill, which was stormed and taken at the point of the bayonet, +later in the day, by the 1st Division, which immediately pushed +south-east, with the object of gaining possession of Namaokayama, or 180 +Metre Hill. This hill was protected by, among other devices, an +intricate barbed wire entanglement charged with a high-tension electric +current, the penetration of which proved to be a task of almost +insuperable difficulty; nevertheless, it was eventually accomplished. +On the morning of 22nd August, by a splendid act of heroism and +self-sacrifice on the part of fifty Japanese, West Panlung fort was +captured, and this cleared the way for the capture of the East fort. +But the superhuman efforts made by the Japanese in capturing these +positions completely exhausted them, with the result that the assault +ended in failure, since the majority of the defences remained in the +hands of the Russians. + +On 23rd August, the battleship _Sevastopol_--which, it will be +remembered, was one of the ships which contrived to make good her escape +from the Japanese fleet after the battle of the Yellow Sea--having been +patched-up, as far as the resources of Port Arthur dockyard would allow, +got under way and, steaming round to Takhe Bay, proceeded to shell the +Japanese lines in the neighbourhood of Ta-ku-Shan and the Panlung +redoubts. It was a rather daring thing to do, for there was not a ship +in the harbour capable of supporting her, while the Japanese blockading +squadron in the offing was close enough in to be clearly visible from +the heights. Included in that squadron were the new armoured cruisers +_Nisshin_ and _Kasuga_, purchased from the Argentine just before the +declaration of war; and no sooner was it seen that the _Sevastopol_ had +actually ventured outside the harbour, than these two powerful craft +steamed in and opened fire upon her, and also upon the Laolutze forts, +which were supporting her. The approach of the Japanese cruisers was +the signal for a hurried retirement on the part of the Russian +battleship, and she lost no time in effecting her retreat to the +harbour. But while entering, she struck a contact mine, which exploded +beneath her bows, inflicting such serious damage that it was only with +very great difficulty she succeeded in returning to her berth, with her +bow almost completely submerged. This was the last straw, so far as the +_Sevastopol_ was concerned, and she was practically put out of action +for the remainder of the war. + +A week later our cruisers and destroyers effected a _coup_ which, there +is every reason to believe, must have materially hastened the fall of +the fortress. This consisted in the capture, off Round Island, of a +great fleet of Chinese junks, bound from Wei-hai-wei to Port Arthur, +conveying to the beleaguered city vast quantities of food, clothing, +ammunition, explosives, and supplies of every imaginable description. +The junks were taken into Dalny, where their cargoes were declared to be +contraband of war, and confiscated by the Japanese. + +These several successes, comparatively unimportant though they were, +coupled with the practical destruction of the Port Arthur and +Vladivostock fleets, put new heart into the Japanese for a time; but +with the arrival and passage of the month of September, during which no +appreciable progress was made in the operations before Port Arthur, even +the unexampled patience and superb stoicism thus far displayed by the +Japanese as a people showed signs of the wear and tear to which they had +so long been subjected, and murmurings at General Nogi's apparent +non-success began to make themselves heard. The casualty lists seemed +to grow ever longer with the passage of the days, without any visible +result, except that Nogi contrived to retain possession of the few +unimportant positions which he had gained, and a black cloud of +pessimism seemed to be settling down upon the Island Empire. + +Meanwhile, however, in its silent, secret, undemonstrative way, the +Japanese army had been making preparations of an important character, +among which were included the construction of concrete emplacements for +eighteen 11-inch howitzers, from which great things were expected. They +fired a 500-pound projectile charged with high explosive, and had a +range which enabled them to command the entire area of the fortress, +including the harbour. + +On the 1st October the first six of these howitzers opened fire, in the +presence of General Baron Kodama, who had crossed to Port Arthur from +Japan to administer, perhaps, a fillip to the officers and the army +generally. North Kikwan fort was the first recipient of the new guns' +delicate attentions, one hundred shells being poured into it. Huge +clouds of dust and smoke at once arose from the fort; but it was +enormously strong, and no very important results were apparent. On the +following day and for a few days afterwards the howitzers lobbed shells +upon the fleet, and the _Pobieda, Poltava, Retvisan_, and _Peresviet_ +were all struck, and their crews driven out of them, after which they +were moved to the East harbour, where they were hidden from the sight of +our gunners by the intervening high ground. + +Meanwhile the Japanese engineers were resolutely and industriously +pushing their saps ever closer up to the Russian forts, in the progress +of which task the most furious and sanguinary hand-to-hand fighting with +bayonet and bomb was of daily, nay hourly, occurrence. The slaughter +was appalling, few of the combatants on either side surviving such +encounters. + +Yet, although the advantages were all on the side of the defenders, the +patience and heroism of the Japanese steadily told, and on 4th October +they attacked a work at Yenchang, near Takhe Bay, and destroyed the two +machine-guns with which it was armed. This success was followed up by +the capture, on 16th October, of an immensely strong Russian position on +Hashimakayana Hill. Ten days later, the Japanese troops stormed and +took, after hours of sanguinary fighting, the two important positions of +Erhlung and Sungshushan, on the northern and north-western salients of +the old Chinese Wall; and these successes were considered to have +cleared the ground for the general assault which had been ordered from +headquarters in Japan. + +For four days--27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th October--the Russian works +were subjected to such a terrific bombardment as, up to then, mortal +eyes had certainly never beheld. It reached its height about eight +o'clock on the morning of the 30th, and continued until about one +o'clock in the afternoon, during which the din was terrific and +indescribable. Shell and shrapnel fell upon the Russian works at the +rate of one hundred per minute, the forts resembled volcanoes in +eruption, from the continuous explosions of the shells which fell upon +them, and the entire landscape became veiled in a thick haze of smoke. +At one o'clock the preparation was thought to be complete; and ten +minutes later the great assault began--to end in complete and disastrous +failure! The Russian forts, supposed to have been silenced by those +four days of terrific bombardment, were as formidable as ever; and as +the stormers dashed forward they were met by so furious a rifle and +artillery fire that they were literally annihilated. The second grand +assault upon Port Arthur had failed, as completely and tragically as the +first! + +To have incurred such tremendous losses for such insignificant results +was a terribly depressing experience for Japan; but the benumbing effect +of the blow began to pass away when, in the first week of November, the +news arrived of General Oku's splendid success upon the Shaho; and with +renewed hope, and that indomitable patience and courage which is so +marked a feature of Japanese character, the troops before Port Arthur +set to work to repair their disasters. + +Their first success was achieved in the middle of the month of November, +when they gained possession of the little village of Kaokiatun, thus +securing the command of Pigeon Bay. This success was followed, on the +23rd of the month, by an attempt on the part of the Japanese to capture +the Russian trench on East Kikwan Hill. The attempt resulted in +failure, with a loss of some three hundred slain, to say nothing of +wounded. This was followed, on the 26th, by an attack upon Q Fort, +North Kikwan, Erhlung, and Sungshushan. This too resulted in failure +for the Japanese, with awful slaughter; the failure in this case, +however, being tempered by the capture of the trench on East Kikwan +Hill. This capture was of very great importance to the Japanese, from +the fact that it commanded the approach to the fort on the summit of the +hill; and the Russians, recognising this fact, fought madly to regain +possession of the trench, finally succeeding toward midnight. The +fighting on this occasion was most disastrous for the Japanese, their +wounded alone totalling over 6000, while it was estimated that in dead +their losses must have exceeded 10,000! + +The result of all this sanguinary fighting was to convince the Japanese +Staff, at last, that the defences on the eastern slope were impregnable +to assault, and must be captured by other means. They accordingly next +turned their attention to 203 Metre Hill, which was the key to the +eastern defences of Port Arthur, and determined to take it by assault. + +This was a particularly tough proposition, and after the tremendous +losses which Nogi's army had already suffered in its disastrous assaults +upon the eastern defences, the Staff might well have been excused had it +hesitated to undertake such a herculean task. For the position was so +immensely strong that the Russians regarded it as impregnable. The +merely natural difficulties of the adventure were great, for, as its +name indicates, it was a lofty hill, with steep, almost precipitous +slopes, to scale which, even unopposed, was no light task. But when to +this difficulty was added the further one that the hill had two summits, +each crowned by very strong earthworks constructed of sand-bags, timber +and steel rails, connected by tunnels with bomb-proof works on the rear +slope, and that it was further protected by two lines of trenches, +themselves protected by strong barbed wire entanglements, and that the +works on the summit mounted several machine-guns and some heavier pieces +of artillery, the reader may be able to form some slight idea of the +obstacles which the Japanese undertook to surmount, as well as the +indomitable courage which possessed them to make the attempt. + +It must not be supposed, however, that the attack was about to be made +on the spur of the moment and without any previous preparation. On the +contrary; for two whole months the Japanese had been steadily sapping +from the north and north-west, day and night, in face of the most +vigorous and determined opposition on the part of the Russians, first +constructing a parallel about a hundred yards from the first line of +Russian trenches, and, from this parallel, driving saps which pierced +the wire entanglements and in two places reached to within fifty yards +of the Russian line. And while this was being done, four of the new +Japanese 11-inch howitzers concentrated their fire upon the works on the +twin summits of the hill. + +The assault was ordered for the evening of 27th November. Supported by +a heavy bombardment from the howitzers and batteries in their rear, the +troops chosen for the assault broke cover and rushed the first line of +Russian trenches, bayoneting the occupants almost before the latter had +time to open fire upon them. Then followed hand-to-hand fighting of the +most ferocious and sanguinary character, which lasted all night. +Morning found the assailants still in possession of the trench which had +been won; and now, strongly reinforced, the Japanese proceeded to push +forward to attack the summit and Akasakayama battery. Immediately, the +Russian guns in the neighbouring forts opened fire upon the stormers +with shrapnel and heavy shell, and in a very few minutes the entire +scene was so completely veiled in powder smoke that it was impossible +for anyone to tell exactly how the fight was going. Four times the +Japanese stormed the crest and were beaten back; and it was not until +three o'clock in the afternoon, when they delivered their fifth assault, +that they at last burst through the wire entanglements and reached the +crest. For a time they held it; but the Russian fire was too hot for +them, and at length they were not only driven off the crest but also out +of the trench which they had won on the previous night. + +The attack was resumed the next day, and again resulted in failure. + +Then the Japanese Staff put its foot down and declared that both hills +_must_ be taken, at all costs! The cruisers _Sai-yen_ and _Akagi_ were +ordered round to Pigeon Bay to co-operate with the troops by covering +the assault with their fire; but, unfortunately, as the _Sai-yen_ was +getting into position on the 30th, she struck a mine and sank, not far +from where the old _Hei-yen_ disappeared some two months earlier. This +put an end to the plan for naval assistance, and the land forces were +obliged to rely entirely upon themselves. Fighting of the most +desperate and sanguinary character proceeded all through the afternoon +and night of 30th November, but it was not until the next day that the +indomitable courage and persistence of the Japanese were rewarded with +success; the western summit of 203 Metre Hill being taken by them and +held all day, despite the most desperate efforts on the part of the +Russians to retake it. + +This was the beginning of the end, so far as Port Arthur was concerned. +On 5th December the eastern summit of the hill also fell into the hands +of the Japanese, and next day they secured possession of Akasakayama, +thus obtaining command of the entire Metre range. + +These important positions in their possession, the tide of war at once +turned in favour of the Japanese, for the heights commanded not only the +town but the harbour of Port Arthur; and the big 11-inch howitzers, as +well as a battery of naval 6-inch and 47-inch guns, were at once brought +up, and the bombardment of the Russian warships was begun. On 6th +December the _Poltava_ was sunk by the Russians to save her from +destruction by the Japanese fire. Next day the _Retvisan_ met a like +fate, while a fire broke out aboard the _Peresviet_, and on the 8th she +and the _Pobieda_ were at the bottom of the harbour, while the _Pallada_ +was obviously following them. On the following day the _Bayan_ was hit +no less than twenty-two times, bursting into flame shortly before noon +and burning until shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon, while the +_Sevastopol_ was seriously damaged. The mine-laying ship _Amur_ was +also hit and sunk. The dockyard sustained serious damage, yet, +strangely enough, all through this bombardment the Russians did little +by way of reply; they seemed overwhelmed and paralysed at the +misfortunes which were now befalling them--or else, as some of us began +to shrewdly suspect, their ammunition was at last exhausted. On the 9th +of the month the _Sevastopol_--the only Russian battleship still +remaining afloat in the harbour--moved from her moorings and sought +refuge behind a big boom under the guns of Mantushan fort, on the Tiger +peninsula, where, a few nights later, she was energetically attacked by +our destroyers. These attacks were repeated nightly, with considerable +loss to our side, until the night of 15th-16th, when the ship was +successfully torpedoed. Her end was so evidently near now that we +ceased our attacks; but nothing could save her, and on the 20th of the +month her captain took her out into deep water, opened her Kingston +valves, and sank her, so that she might not fall into the hands of the +Japanese. + +Meanwhile, North Kikwan fort was captured by our troops on the night of +the 18th, after a fight which cost us close upon a thousand men. Two +days later, we took a battery close to it; and on the 28th, the +formidable Erhlung became ours after a tremendous fight. Success after +success on our part now followed each other rapidly, each additional +capture firing our troops with renewed courage and determination. The +last day of the year saw Sungshushan fort fall to us, and the first day +of 1905 saw the New Panlung and H batteries in our hands, the Chinese +Wall breached, and the Japanese flag planted well within the Russian +defences. Wangtai fort was stormed and taken on the afternoon of the +same day, and as twilight was closing down upon the scene a Cossack, +bearing a large white flag, was seen riding out of the Swishiying +valley, followed by a Russian officer. + +The officer was the bearer of a letter from General Stoessel to General +Nogi, inviting the latter to open negotiations with the writer "to +determine the conditions of surrender" of Port Arthur. Needless to say, +the Japanese general gladly, yet without undue haste, acceded to +Stoessel's proposal; and at noon of 2nd January 1905, Major-General +Ijichi met Major-General Reiss at Plum Tree Cottage, a miserable little +hovel situated in the village of Swishiying, and the negotiations were +opened which resulted in Port Arthur passing into the possession of the +Japanese on the evening of that day, although the Russian evacuation did +not take place until the 5th of January. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE BATTLE OF TSUSHIMA. + +Meanwhile, what had become of the Japanese navy, after the battle of the +Yellow Sea? + +So far as the _Yakumo_ was concerned, we were in the very thick of the +fight when it was at its hottest, and when at length the battle came to +an end with the flight of the _Retvisan_ and _Pobieda_, we were one of +the ships which had been so severely mauled that extensive repairs were +necessary before we could undertake further service. Accordingly, we +were ordered to proceed forthwith to Sasebo to refit; and since we were +by no means alone in our plight, we had to await our turn. Hence it was +the middle of January 1905 before the _Yakumo_ was again ready for sea; +and in the meantime I had ample opportunity to cement my friendship with +the members of the Boyd family, who had acted the part of Good Samaritan +to me when I first made acquaintance with Sasebo. + +The day before the _Yakumo_ left Sasebo for our rendezvous at the Elliot +Islands, news arrived that the long talked-of Baltic Fleet had reached +Madagascar and was at anchor in Passandava Bay, refitting, provisioning, +and generally enjoying the hospitality of the French nation. This, of +course, was not the first news that we had received of it; we had been +duly apprised of its departure from Libau on 15th October and had also +heard--with surprise on the part of the Japanese, and with bitter +mortification and shame on my own part--of its subsequent unprovoked and +unpunished attack upon the Gamecock fleet of British trawlers; but +nobody was in the least disturbed by the news that this formidable fleet +was at last actually at sea, for as a matter of fact we in Japan +regarded its departure as nothing more than a move on the part of the +Russian Government intended to encourage the garrison of Port Arthur to +continue its resistance. For, to speak the plain truth, nobody +seriously believed that the voyage would ever be continued far beyond +the western extremity of the English Channel, for we could not see how +it was going to be done. But _now_, when it was apparent that France +was openly ignoring and outraging all the laws governing neutral +nations, in favour of Russia, it behoved Japan to take serious notice of +what was happening, and she not only protested vigorously against +France's violation of neutrality, but set to work in earnest to prepare +for the new menace which was gradually creeping closer to her shores. + +For a month after the arrival of the _Yakumo_ at the Elliots, I and half +of my crew formed a portion of that busy multitude who toiled in Port +Arthur harbour to raise the sunken ships which cumbered it, and to clear +the entrance channel; but on the 10th of February the naval contingent +rejoined its ships, and on the 14th the Japanese battle fleet +disappeared from human ken, and for three whole months was no more seen, +save by a few who were made clearly to understand the vital necessity to +remain absolutely silent. + +Not so, however, the Japanese cruisers. It was our mission to generate +a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety in the mind of Admiral Rojdestvensky +and those of his officers and men; and with that object squadrons and +single ships were directed to show themselves suddenly and mysteriously, +and as suddenly to disappear again, in those waters through which the +Russian fleet would have to pass on its voyage to Vladivostock. And we +did this so effectually and with such excellent judgment that very soon +the various telegraph cables grew hot with the number of messages +transmitted through them, telling the most marvellous stories of +enormous Japanese fleets seen in various parts of the world at the same +moment, and of huge and incredibly strong fortifications erected on the +Formosan coast and elsewhere. + +"Bluffing" was not confined to our side, however; French newspapers were +permitted to fall into our hands, in which the news was circumstantially +set forth that, in consequence of the fall of Port Arthur, Admiral +Rojdestvensky had been recalled, and that he was taking his entire fleet +back to Europe by way of the Suez Canal--with the exception of four of +his best battleships, which, it was hinted, had foundered at sea. On +20th March, however, reliable information reached Japan that the 1st and +2nd Divisions of Rojdestvensky's fleet had left Madagascar on the 16th +of the month, steering north-east. Two days later, news reached us that +the Russian fleet had been sighted in the Indian Ocean, still steering +north-east; and a week later the first of our scouts--a smart and fast +steam yacht, flying German colours--apparently bound westward, passed +within four miles of the armada, took careful count of it, and reported +by wireless its exact position and the fact that it consisted of +forty-three ships, seven of which were battleships, while of the rest, +ten were cruisers and seven were destroyers. + +From that moment our scouts, under every conceivable guise except that +of warships, never for a moment lost touch with the Russians. We knew +that they passed Singapore on 8th April; we knew that they touched at +the Anamba Islands and coaled there before the Dutch warships could +arrive to prevent them; and we knew that on 14th April the fleet arrived +in Kamranh harbour, in French Indo-China, where, while awaiting the +arrival of Admiral Nebogatoff's squadron,--which was coming out via the +Suez Canal,--the Russians proceeded to make good defects and generally +prepare for the fight which they knew awaited them. + +Of course the Japanese Government vigorously protested against this +flagrant violation of the law regulating the conduct of neutrals, and +France replied with polite assurances that such violation should not be +repeated. This was followed by an order to the Russians to leave +Kamranh harbour, which they obeyed at their leisure, moving on first to +Port Dayot and then--when ordered from there in response to fresh +Japanese protests--to Hon-koe Bay. Thus, with the connivance of the +French authorities, a very pretty game of hide-and-seek was played by +Rojdestvensky, until 8th May, when Nebogatoff joined with his nine +craft, and the now completed fleet entered Hon-koe Bay and calmly +proceeded to complete the task of refitting, coaling, and provisioning +prior to its great attempt to force its way through to Vladivostock. As +for the Japanese Government, it speedily recognised that France had +quite made up its mind to ignore the laws of neutrality in favour of +Russia, and accordingly ceased to lodge any further useless protests. + +A week later--on 14th May, to be exact--the entire Russian fleet left +Hon-koe Bay, steering northward; and although the French authorities +suppressed the news of the departure for two whole days, Togo, who was +now with his fleet in Chin-hai Bay, on the southern coast of Korea, +received the news by wireless the same night. Thenceforward its +progress was carefully watched and reported daily, so that at any moment +Togo could put his finger upon the chart and indicate the position of +the enemy, within a few miles. + +Meanwhile, Togo was busily engaged in the preparation of his plans for +the great battle toward which we had all been looking forward for so +long. In this work he was of course hampered by his lack of knowledge +as to the intentions of the Russians. There were two routes by which +they could reach Vladivostock: one--much the shorter of the two--by way +of Korea Strait and up through the Sea of Japan; and the other, via the +east coast of Japan and La Perouse Strait. Also, should Rojdestvensky +choose the shorter route, he could pass either to the east or to the +west of Tsushima Island. Togo solved the problem by preparing a plan of +battle for each of the three alternative routes. + +On 26th May the Russian fleet was reported as being south-west of +Quelpart Island, off the entrance of Korea Strait, and its position +rendered it practically certain that it was Rojdestvensky's intention to +take the shorter route up through the Sea of Japan. + +It was shortly before sunset, on 26th May, that the fateful wireless +message--"Enemy in sight, fifty miles west of Torishima,"--came in from +one of our scouting cruisers; and two minutes later a signal was flying +from the _Mikasa_, summoning the Japanese admirals to a council of war. + +The council was a brief one, lasting barely a quarter of an hour; then +the admirals returned to their respective flagships, and the latter at +once signalled the captains of the several squadrons to meet in the +cabin of the admiral of that squadron. The _Yakumo_ formed part of the +armoured cruiser division, under the command of Admiral Kamimura, and +accordingly it was in the cabin of the _Idzumo_ that the six captains of +that division presently assembled to receive our instructions. + +These were concise enough, and of such a character as to indicate that +Togo had given this long-expected battle a tremendous amount of +consideration, and had finally settled all the details with almost +mathematical precision. In the first place, for good and sufficient +reasons, the battle was to be fought in the eastern strait, and, as +nearly as possible, off the northern extremity of the island of +Tsushima. To ensure this, the old _Chin-yen_, the _Itsukushima, +Matsushima_, and _Hashidate_, of the protected cruiser squadron, +accompanied by one division of destroyers, were to act the part of +lures, approaching the Russian fleet on the following morning, as it +neared the Straits, alternately attacking and retiring in the direction +of the eastern strait, thus inveigling Rojdestvensky into a pursuit in +that direction. The ships told off for this duty were to proceed to sea +at once, as the _Chin-yen_--the slowest craft of the quartette--was only +good for thirteen knots at best, and it was not desired that any ship +should be pushed to the limit of her powers until the engagement should +become general. The remainder of the protected cruiser division-- +fourteen in number--were to proceed to sea with the main fleet on the +following morning, parting company when all were fairly at sea, and then +find the enemy's rear, closing in upon it and harassing it as much as +possible, acting according to circumstances, quite independently of the +main fleet, and each captain using his own initiative. As for us of the +armoured cruiser division, we were to have the honour of forming part of +the battle-line. This was sufficiently gratifying intelligence, but +that which followed was even more so: the former tactics of engaging the +enemy at extreme range, in order to preserve our precious battleships +from injury, were to be abandoned; this was the battle for which they +had been so carefully hoarded, and in it they must be made the fullest +use of, their utmost value must be exacted; in a word, they were to be +fought for all that they were worth, closing with the enemy to within +effective range, and firing slowly and deliberately, so that every shot +should tell. + +There was also a general order issued, in the highest degree +illustrative of Japanese thoroughness. It was that every man throughout +the fleet was to wash himself from head to foot most carefully and +thoroughly, and to put on clean clothing, in order to reduce to a +minimum the risk of septic poisoning of wounds, also to don woollen +outer garments, so that their clothing might not be set on fire by +bursting shells. + +Nor had the ships themselves been forgotten. In turn each had been +dry-docked, repaired, defects made good, down to the tightening of a +loose screw, machinery overhauled and parts replaced where thought +necessary, bottoms cleared of weed and coated afresh with anti-fouling +composition, and hulls repainted, until each ship looked as though she +had just been taken out of a glass case. And now there they all lay, in +Chin-hai harbour, with boilers chipped clean of deposit and filled with +fresh water, flues, tubes, and furnaces carefully-cleaned, new fire-bars +inserted where needed, fires carefully laid and ready to be lighted at a +moment's notice, and every bunker packed with specially selected Welsh +coal, purchased for this very purpose, long ago. + +Furnace fires were at once lighted and steam raised; and before midnight +the old _Chin-yen_--looking very spruce and fit, despite her age--and +her three companion cruisers quietly got their anchors and proceeded to +sea, while aboard the ships still in harbour the crews were busily +engaged in making the preparations referred to in the general order, +before retiring to what was for some of them to be their last night's +sleep on earth. As for me, I sat in my cabin, far into the night, +writing long letters to my friends at home, so that, in the event of +anything untoward happening to me, they might know that loving thoughts +of them were in my heart up to the last. + +In Chin-hai harbour the morning of 27th May 1905 dawned bright and +clear, and at five o'clock the crews of the Japanese ships partook of a +substantial meal before proceeding to the task of clearing for action. +They were still partaking of this meal when a marconi-gram arrived from +the _Shinano Maru_, one of our scouts, informing us that the Russian +fleet was in sight, entering the eastern strait; that it was impossible +as yet to say how many ships were present, as the atmosphere was misty; +also that there was a high sea running in which the Russian ships were +rolling heavily. + +This was the news that Togo had been anxiously awaiting; and now that he +had it, and knew that the enemy was making for the precise spot where it +had been planned to meet him, the little Admiral gave vent to a great +sigh of relief, and ordered the signal to be made for the protected +cruiser squadron to weigh and lead the rest of the fleet out to sea. + +This order was at once carried out, quietly and deliberately--for there +was plenty of time on hand, the _Chitose_, Admiral Kotaoka's flagship, +and her four consorts leading, followed by the _Kasagi_ and her four +consorts, under Admiral Dewa; these being followed in turn by the +_Akitsushima_ and her three consorts, under Admiral Uriu. These three +squadrons, with that which had proceeded to sea some hours previously, +under the leadership of the younger Togo, to draw the Russians into the +eastern strait, constituted the protected cruiser division, to which had +been assigned the duty of attacking and harassing the enemy's rear. + +Following these went the main battle squadron, with the _Mikasa_, flying +Togo's flag, proudly leading, followed by the battleships _Shikishima, +Fuji_, and _Asahi_, with the new and powerful cruisers _Kasuga_ and +_Nisshin_ bringing up the rear. Then, at a short interval, followed the +_Idzumo_, flying Admiral Kamimura's flag, and the _Iwate, Yakumo, +Adzuma, Asama_, and _Tokiwa_, in the order named, every ship flaunting +two big battle-flags in the morning breeze. Once clear of the harbour, +we parted company from the protected cruiser division, which headed away +South-South-East, to get in the rear of the enemy, while we of the +battle-line steered a trifle to the south of east for the battleground +which Togo had selected. On the port side of the line steamed a +flotilla of Japan's fastest destroyers, told off by Togo to act as +dispatch boats, in the event of the flagship's wireless apparatus being +put out of action, or her masts shot away. + +Once clear of the land, we soon ran into an atmosphere of haze and a +rising sea which set the long line of ships rolling ponderously; and as +the vessels rolled and plunged, flinging heavy showers of spray over +their weather bows, each captain stood in his chart-room, with a chart +of the strait spread open on the table before him, anxiously awaiting +the next news of the enemy. These charts had been, for convenience' +sake, carefully divided up into a series of numbered squares; and about +nine o'clock the expected message arrived. It ran--"The enemy is in two +hundred and three," that being the number of the square on the chart +occupied by the Russian fleet at that moment. No sooner was the message +decoded and its purport made known than mutual congratulations were +exchanged; for even as the fall of 203 Metre Hill into the hands of our +soldiers had been the prelude to the surrender of Port Arthur, so now +the fact of the Russian fleet being in square 203 on the chart was +accepted as an omen of another victory. + +The fine weather of the early morning had by this time completely +deserted us; the sky had become overcast, Tsushima's conical summit was +hidden by a great bank of heavy, louring cloud, the grey, dreary-looking +sea was running in confused, turbulent, foam-flecked surges through +which the big ships wallowed heavily, flinging great combers of yeasty +froth from either bow, while the little torpedo craft, smothered in +spray, were tossed about like corks. Yet, despite the gloomy aspect of +the weather, the Japanese fleet presented a magnificent and inspiriting +sight as it ploughed steadily through the leaping, mist-flecked sea, +each ship keeping station with the most perfect accuracy, with her two-- +and in some cases three--great battle-flags snapping defiantly in the +freshening breeze. + +It was shortly after six bells in the forenoon watch when we at length +received a message which must have removed a load of anxiety from our +little Admiral's mind. It came from the _Izumi_--one of the ships which +had been dispatched on the previous night for the purpose of luring the +enemy into the eastern channel--and reported that at length her captain +had succeeded in ascertaining the full force of the enemy's fleet, and +that it consisted of eleven battleships of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd +classes, nine cruisers, nine auxiliary cruisers, and nine destroyers. +These were heavy odds to face with our four battleships, eight armoured +cruisers, and eighteen protected cruisers; yet never for a moment did we +shrink from the encounter, for we were, one and all, _determined_ to +conquer. Moreover, the weather, gloomy as it was, was in our favour, +for our ships, having been painted the peculiar grey tint that had been +found so effective in the atmosphere of the Sea of Japan, were scarcely +visible at a distance of four miles, while the heavy sea would probably +give our own gunners a great advantage over those of the enemy. + +It was about a quarter to two o'clock in the afternoon, and we were +steaming in line ahead, with the _Mikasa_ leading, our course being +about South-South-West, when, the fog thinning somewhat, we suddenly +saw, away on our port bow, a great cloud of black smoke, underneath +which we presently discerned several large ships approaching in two +lines, their black hulls and yellow funnels showing up with remarkable +distinctness against the light grey background of fog. Instantly every +telescope and pair of binoculars in the Japanese fleet was levelled at +them in an endeavour to identify the craft in sight--for we were +intimately acquainted with the characteristics of every ship in the +enemy's fleet--and presently we recognised the big, three-funnelled +craft at the head of the port line as the _Oslabia_, while the +two-funnelled battleship leading the starboard line was undoubtedly the +_Suvaroff_, Admiral Rojdestvensky's flagship. Astern of her followed +the _Alexander Third, Borodino_, and _Orel_; while in the wake of the +_Oslabia_ we were able to identify the _Sissoi Veliki, Navarin_, and +_Admiral Nakhimoff_, with a long string of other craft at that moment +too far distant for identification. + +While we were still endeavouring to identify some of the more distant +ships, the _Mikasa_ made the general signal: "The fate of our Empire +depends upon our efforts. Let every man do his utmost!" It was greeted +with a great roar of "Banzai Nippon!" which swept along the line of the +fleet like the rumbling of distant thunder. The crews of the ships had, +of course, been at quarters, and the officers at fire-control stations, +for some time, and now we began to receive from the range-finders the +range of the _Oslabia_, the leading Russian ship. "Fifteen thousand +yards", "Fourteen thousand", "Twelve thousand," came the reports in +rapid succession as the two fleets rushed toward each other. + +At a distance of twelve thousand yards the _Mikasa's_ helm was shifted +and the course of the Japanese line altered four points to the eastward, +as though our purpose was to pass along the Russian line to port, +exchanging broadsides as we passed; and so the enemy evidently +understood, for he came steadily on. But we knew differently. Already +every forward gun in the fleet was bearing steadily upon the _Oslabia_, +and when, in obedience to a signal from the flagship, the speed of the +Japanese fleet quickened up to fifteen knots, we knew that the great +battle was about to begin. + +It began a few minutes earlier than we anticipated, for our +range-finders had just given the distance of the head of the Russian +column as nine thousand yards, when two bright flashes, followed by a +great cloud of white smoke, broke from the _Oslabia's_ fore-turret, and +presently we saw two great fountains of foam leap into the air some +distance beyond the _Mikasa_. As though this had been a signal, the +_Suvaroff, Alexander Third_, and _Sissoi Veliki_ instantly followed +suit, and a second or two later we heard the loud, angry muttering of +12-inch shells hurtling toward us. But some flew over, and others fell +short; not one touched us; and as the heavy, rumbling _boom_ of the +reports reached our ears, the _Mikasa_ signalled another shift of helm a +further four points east, and before the Russians fully realised what we +were about, the Japanese fleet was "crossing the T,"--that is to say, +passing athwart the enemy's course. + +Every gun which the Russians could bring to bear upon us was now being +loaded and fired as rapidly as possible, so that in a very short time +the enemy's ships were enveloped in whirling wreaths of powder smoke, +yet not a single Japanese gun had thus far spoken. + +"Six thousand yards" was presently signalled by the range-finders; and +at the same moment three shots roared forth from the turrets of the +_Mikasa, Shikishima_, and _Fuji_. We knew at what target they were +aimed, and those of us who happened to have our glasses at our eyes saw +a bright flash and a cloud of smoke suddenly burst into view on the +_Oslabia's_ conning tower. One of our 12-inch shells had found its +mark, and--as we subsequently learned--instantly killed Admiral +Folkersam! This instant success told us that we might unhesitatingly +rely upon the accuracy of our range-finders, and at once every ship in +the Japanese battle-line opened fire, first upon the _Oslabia_ and then +upon the _Suvaroff_, our manoeuvre of "crossing the T" enabling us to +bring every one of our broadside guns upon the enemy, while he, in turn, +could only fire a few of his fore-turret guns, the rest being blanketed +by the ships leading the line. + +The careful, deliberate fire of twelve ships upon two could have but one +result; the _Oslabia_ and _Suvaroff_ both received a most fearful +punishing; the unprotected portions of their hulk were blown to ribbons, +dense columns of dark smoke poured from the _Oslabia_, and presently it +was seen that she and the _Suvaroff_ were on fire and burning furiously. +Both ships, as though instinctively, swerved away to the eastward, +anxious not to shorten the distance any farther between themselves and +the Japanese, and presently both the _Oslabia_ and the _Suvaroff_ fell +out of their respective lines and dropped to the rear, with both their +own lines between them and the enemy. + +Then came the turn of the _Alexander Third_, which was now leading the +Russian starboard line; and she got even more severely peppered than her +battered sisters in misfortune, for the range had now dwindled to four +thousand yards, and every shot of ours was telling with terrible effect. +It must not be supposed, however, that while the enemy was being +punished so severely, we were going scatheless. We were not; very far +from it, although we were giving a good deal better than we received. +Shells were by this time falling pretty thickly all around us, while +hits were becoming steadily less infrequent. The first to come aboard +the _Yakumo_ was a 12-inch shell which struck our fore barbette on the +starboard side, glanced upward, striking the conning tower and +exploding, the fragments wrecking a couple of ventilators, a boat, and +freely puncturing our fore funnel, while one piece swept my cap off my +head and overboard. The _Asama_, however, next but one astern of the +_Yakumo_, suffered very much more severely than we did, three heavy +shells hitting her abaft in quick succession, throwing her steering gear +out of action, and causing her to leak so badly that she had to drop out +of the line and be left astern, executing temporary repairs. + +By this time--that is to say, shortly before six bells in the afternoon +watch--the two fleets were heading about East-South-East, running in +parallel lines, our own line leading that of the enemy by about a mile, +while the _Alexander Third_ was, like the _Oslabia_ and _Suvaroff_, in +flames and blazing furiously. A few minutes later it was seen that the +_Sissoi Veliki_ was also on fire, she being now the leading ship of the +Russian port line of battle, and, in accordance with Togo's tactics, the +object, with the _Navarin_ and _Admiral Nakhimoff_, of the concentrated +fire of our battle-line. Meanwhile, our protected cruiser squadrons had +come upon the scene and were harassing the Russian rear so effectively +that, aided by the vigorous attack of our battle-line upon the Russian +van, the enemy's line was breaking up in confusion. + +Togo now gave the order for us to close in upon the enemy's van, himself +leading the way in the _Mikasa_, with the result that the leading +Russian ships, in order to avoid being crossed and raked, were compelled +to continually bear ever more and more away to the southward, until +finally they swept right round and were all heading north once more, +with the _Alexander Third, Suvaroff_, and _Oslabia_ all out of the line +and practically out of action. + +It is difficult, nay more it is impossible, for the captain of a ship +taking part in a general action to note and remember every phase and +detail of such action; he is so intensely preoccupied in the task of +fighting and manoeuvring his own ship that only certain detached +incidents of the engagements impress themselves upon his memory strongly +enough to be permanently remembered; thus I am able to recall that about +this period of the battle I came to the definite conclusion that we had +won, notwithstanding the fact that several of our ships, including the +_Yakumo_, had suffered severely. The _Asama_, for example, was at least +temporarily out of action, while the _Kasuga_--one of the two new +cruisers purchased from the Argentine just before the outbreak of the +war--had all three of her heavy guns rendered useless. + +By this time our protected cruiser division had crept up on the +starboard quarter of the Russian line, and was vigorously attacking in +that direction, while our battle-line, to port of the Russians, was as +vigorously pounding the enemy's front, thus bringing the Russian line +between two fires. It was about this time that one of those brief +interludes of comparative inaction which occur in most battles afforded +me an opportunity to look round a bit and obtain my first comprehensive +view of the battle since its commencement. + +The wind, which had been blowing fresh during the earlier part of the +day, had been gradually dropping, and was now little more than a mere +breathing, but the sky still continued overcast and gloomy, its shadow, +falling upon the sullenly heaving but no longer breaking seas, causing +the tumbling waters to look almost black where they were not veiled by +the drifting smoke wreaths or slowly moving patches of fog. It was the +obscuration caused by this combination of smoke and fog that had +produced the interval of comparative inaction of which I have spoken, +for it rendered accurate firing difficult, and our ships, in accordance +with Togo's determination not to waste ammunition, were only firing +occasional single shots, when the hull of an opponent became distinctly +visible, although the Russians were blazing away at us as recklessly as +ever, thus enveloping themselves in an almost continuous veil of smoke, +which was renewed as quickly as it drifted away. + +It was now that the _Asama_, having effected temporary repairs, came up +and resumed her place in our line of battle, which was thus once more +intact, our ships keeping station with the most perfect regularity with +the Russian line, such as it was, some four thousand yards distant about +a point abaft our starboard beam. The roar of the enemy's artillery was +incessant, the continuous crashing _boom_ of the guns reminding one, as +much as anything, of a tremendous thunderstorm, while the flash of their +guns, seen through the gloom of the louring afternoon, not altogether +inadequately represented the accompanying lightning. + +I looked round to see if I could discover either of the silenced Russian +battleships. Yes, there they were, all three of them: the _Oslabia_ +about three miles away, broad on our starboard quarter; the _Suvaroff_ +about half a mile astern of her; and the _Alexander Third_ about a mile +astern of the _Suvaroff_, all astern of their own line, and all being +vigorously attacked by our protected cruisers. The _Oslabia_ was low in +the water and had a heavy list to port; the _Suvaroff_, still apparently +on fire, had lost both her funnels and her foremast; and the _Alexander +Third_, from which clouds of smoke, were still rising, also had a heavy +list and was steaming ahead very slowly, although she, like her sisters +in misfortune, still replied with the utmost gallantry to our fire. + +But, so far as the _Oslabia_ was concerned, her race was evidently run, +for even as I watched her it became apparent that she was fast settling +in the water, while with every roll her list to port became stronger, +until at last I found myself holding my breath in momentary expectation +to see her roll right over. The catastrophe was not long delayed. +There came a moment when, having rolled heavily to port, she failed to +lift again, but heeled steadily more and more until, watching her +through my powerful glasses, I saw a number of objects go sliding away +off her decks into the water with a heavy splash; over she went until +her masts and funnels lay along on the water, her two after-turret guns +spoke out defiantly for the last time; and down she went in a great +swirl of foam, while the Russian destroyers closed in upon the spot to +save such of her crew as might contrive to remain afloat. + +I now turned my attention to the _Suvaroff_, and was just in time to +witness a very plucky attack upon her by a squadron of our destroyers, +which, notwithstanding her disabled condition, she beat off in most +gallant fashion. + +Next, I turned to have a look at the _Alexander Third_. Her crew +appeared to have extinguished the fire aboard her and got her back into +something like her former trim. She was now heading to rejoin the +Russian line--which was re-forming after a fashion, and presently I saw +her drop into third place in the line, between the _Orel_ and the +_Sissoi Veliki_, which latter also seemed to have extinguished her fire. +Meanwhile the mist had thickened into fog, which rapidly became so +dense that we presently lost sight of the enemy altogether. + +Shrewdly suspecting that the Russians would seize this opportunity to +effect their escape, Togo now led his battle-line round in a sweep from +North-East to South-West, and then to south for a distance of some eight +miles, during which we sighted and shelled the enemy's cruiser squadron +and some of his auxiliary ships heading to the south-west. At this +point Togo decided to turn northward again, but before doing so he +detached the six armoured cruisers--of which the _Yakumo_ was one--under +Admiral Kamimura, with orders to pursue and destroy the ships of which +we had just lost sight. + +This was about four o'clock in the afternoon. By this time the wind had +dwindled away to a mere nothing, and the sea had so far gone down that +our torpedo craft could keep pace with the larger craft without being +swept by seas from stem to stern; still, the weather continued to be +very dismal and dreary, the sky still lowering and overcast, not a +solitary gleam of sunshine, and the fog gathering so thickly that it was +difficult to see anything beyond a two-mile radius. The heavy +gun-firing had by this time died down to nothing; but a pretty lively +cannonade of lighter weapons down in the south-western quarter told us +that the engagement between our cruisers and those of the enemy was +still proceeding briskly although nothing could be seen. Accordingly, +the _Idzumo_ led her five armoured sisters in that direction, at a speed +of fifteen knots. + +Suddenly, as we pushed along, guided on our course by the sounds of the +firing, the thunder of heavy guns, easily distinguishable from the +sharper report of the lighter weapons, burst forth ahead, to our +amazement, for we fully believed that the whole of the enemy's +battleships had fled northward. Clearly, however, we were mistaken in +so believing, and Kamimura at once recognised that capricious fortune +was unexpectedly holding out to him the opportunity to wipe off some of +the utterly undeserved opprobrium that had attached to him earlier in +the war, because of his failure to bring the Vladivostock squadron to +book, and which his later success had by no means effaced; accordingly, +he signalled the squadron to increase speed to eighteen knots, which was +supposed to be the maximum attainable by the _Asama_ and ourselves, +although the others were capable of an extra knot. This inferiority of +speed on our part had always been rather a sore point with me, and I had +had many a talk with Carmichael, the _Yakumo's_ Engineer Commander, +about it, who had felt the reproach as keenly as I did, and had assured +me that if ever the worse came to the worst, he would undertake to get +the extra knot out of the ship, although it would be at the peril of +what he elegantly termed "a general bust-up in the engine-room." So now +I called to him down the voice-tube, begging him to speed her up as far +as he dared; and a few minutes later I noticed that we were gaining upon +the _Iwate_, our next ahead, while the _Asama_, our second astern, was +also stoking up. Thereupon I signalled the flagship that we had speed +in hand, if required, and the order was at once given to increase speed +by half a knot. + +It was not very long afterward that we had ocular demonstration of the +value that extra spurt of speed might prove to be; for while we were +still plugging along in the direction of the firing, we suddenly sighted +two craft coming slowly in our direction. They proved to be the +_Kasagi_ escorted by the _Chitose_, making for the Japanese coast, the +former being holed below the waterline and making so much water that it +was doubtful whether it would be possible to save her. She signalled +that matters were going badly with the protected cruisers, eleven of +them being then hotly engaged by twelve of the enemy, one of which was a +second-class battleship, while three others were battleships of the +third class! Admiral Dewa, who was on board, concluded his +communication by urging us to hasten to the rescue. + +The steadily increasing distinctness with which the sound of the firing +reached us, proved that we were rapidly overhauling the contending +squadrons, and some twenty minutes later we sighted the rearmost ships +on both sides, blazing away at each other "hammer and tongs." Our own +cruisers were to the southward of the Russian line, therefore Kamimura +led his force to the northward of the enemy, thus placing the latter +between two fires, at the same time signalling us to concentrate our +fire upon the four Russian battleships, which we did with a vengeance, +and within five minutes we were all enveloped in a roaring tempest of +flame, smoke, and bursting shells. + +But the precision of our fire was infinitely superior to that of the +Russians. They fired at least three times as rapidly as we did, but +whereas every one of our shells reached its mark, the bulk of theirs +flew wide. They were rapidly growing demoralised, and when the fight +had been in progress some twenty minutes, their line suddenly broke up +into little groups of twos and threes and made off to the northward at +top speed, those of us whose speed permitted, following them and keeping +up a brisk fire with our forward guns. + +Suddenly, as we pursued, two ships were sighted ahead, evidently in +difficulties, and a few minutes later we identified them as the Russian +battleship _Suvaroff_ and the repair ship _Kamschatka_. Immediately, +Kamimura signalled, ordering their destruction. Then, while we were in +the very act of training our guns upon them, another battleship was +sighted in the distance. She, too, was evidently in a parlous state, so +much so, indeed, that we scarcely had time to identify her as the +_Alexander Third_ when she capsized and sank! + +Then we opened fire vigorously upon the other two ships, while our +destroyers closed in upon the _Suvaroff_, now listing so heavily that +she was almost on her beam-ends. But although she was in such a sorry +plight her crew displayed the utmost gallantry, defending themselves +from the torpedo craft with the only gun which they could bring to bear. +It was a hopeless fight, however; our boats dashed in, time after time, +discharging torpedoes at her, and at length two of the missiles got +home, one under her stern, and the other in the wake of her engine-room, +blowing a great hole in her side. This last finished her; the water +poured into her in torrents, and a few minutes later she rolled right +over and disappeared. The _Kamschatka_ followed a few minutes later. + +Meanwhile, the ships which we had been pursuing had disappeared in the +fog, heading northward, _in which direction we knew our battleships had +preceded them_. Therefore, since the hour had now arrived when, +according to arrangements, our torpedo flotillas were to take up the +game, Kamimura signalled us to reduce speed to ten knots and to shape a +course for our appointed rendezvous near Matsushima Island. + +The night which followed was an anxious one for all hands, for we were +steaming through a dark and foggy night, with all lights out. Nothing +untoward happened, however, and with the appearance of dawn on the +following morning a little air of wind sprang up and swept the fog away. + +It was shortly before three bells in the morning watch (half-past five +o'clock a.m.) of 28th May, and the six ships of the Japanese armoured +cruiser division were steaming northward in line abreast, when the +_Tokiwa_, which was the easternmost ship, reported smoke low down on the +eastern horizon. At once the course was altered eight points to the +eastward, and the ships proceeded in line ahead, closing in upon the +_Tokiwa_--the leading ship--as they did so, while Kamimura reported the +circumstance by wireless to Togo, who, with his battle squadron, was +some sixty miles away to the northward of us. Some twenty minutes +later, after a lively bout of signalling by the wireless operators +aboard the Japanese ships, it became certain that the smoke seen must +proceed from enemy ships, and all our dispositions were made for dealing +with them, the instructions of the armoured division being to close +slowly in upon the enemy from the westward, while the battleships rushed +down at full speed from the north, and the protected cruisers did the +same from the south. + +The result was that, a few hours later, four Russian battleships, +namely, the _Orel, Apraxin, Nicolai First_, and _Seniavin_ found +themselves completely hemmed in by our ships, while the light cruiser +_Izumrud_, availing herself of her superior speed, just managed to +escape by the skin of her teeth. + +I will say this for them: outnumbered though they were, and hopeless as +was their situation, with their ammunition running short, and their +crews almost in a state of collapse from nerve strain, those four ships +made a gallant defence, and it was not until they were reduced to the +very last extremity that Admiral Nebogatoff ordered the white flag to be +hoisted over his squadron in token of surrender. Prize crews were at +once put aboard the prizes, and they were ordered south to Sasebo under +an escort of cruisers, of which the _Yakumo_ was one. The _Orel_ was +such a wreck that she was incapable of steaming more than eight knots, +consequently we did not arrive in harbour until the afternoon of the +following day, when, our wireless messages having prepared the +inhabitants for our arrival, we received such an ovation as it thrills +me yet to remember. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +REINSTATED. + +It was not until nearly a fortnight later that the full results of the +battle of Tsushima became known; then, tabulating the intelligence that +came to hand from various points, we were at last in a position to +realise the surprising character of the Japanese Navy's achievement. + +Briefly and baldly summarised, it amounted to this: Of the eleven +Russian battleships which went into action on that memorable 27th May, +four were captured, while the remaining seven were sunk. Of nine +cruisers, five were sunk. Of nine auxiliary cruisers, four were sunk +and one was captured; while, of nine destroyers, one, the _Biedovy_, was +captured with Admiral Rojdestvensky, seriously wounded, on board, and +four were sunk. Twenty-six of the thirty-eight craft which composed the +much-vaunted Baltic Fleet were thus accounted for. Of the remaining +twelve, three--the small cruiser _Almaz_ and the _Grosny_ and _Bravy_, +destroyers, succeeded in making their way to Vladivostock, while the +remainder escaped to Manilla, Shanghai, and Madagascar, where--with the +exception of the auxiliary cruiser _Anadyr_, at Madagascar--they were +duly disarmed and interned. + +I had fully made up my mind that with the destruction of the Russian +Baltic Fleet the war must of necessity come to an end. But I was +mistaken; no overtures of peace were made by Russia, and it was not to +be expected that, after her signal triumphs on land and sea, Japan would +jeopardise her prospects of securing a satisfactory settlement by being +the first to open negotiations; therefore, in pursuance of their land +campaign, it was decided to attack the Russians from the north by way of +the great river Amur, which the Japanese had ascertained was navigable +by light-draught vessels for at least a thousand miles during the late +spring, when the thaw and the spring rains caused the river to run full. +But in order to utilise the Amur it was imperatively necessary that +Japan should have control of the island of Sakhalin; accordingly, on +24th June a fleet of warships, under Admirals Kataoka and Dewa, +assembled at Yokohama, from whence a few days later they sailed, +convoying a fleet of transports, aboard which were one of the newly +raised army divisions, under the command of General Haraguchi. + +My ship, the _Yakumo_, was one of the warships detailed for this +expedition, and naturally I went with her. Space does not permit of my +giving the details of this expedition, which was not at all of an +eventful character; suffice it to say that it attained its object, +Sakhalin becoming ours on 31st July 1905. + +Meanwhile, however, after the result of the battle of Tsushima became +known, President Roosevelt decided that the time had arrived when the +friendly intervention of a perfectly disinterested Power, such as the +United States of America, might be welcome to both belligerents; +accordingly, on 8th June, he opened negotiations by dispatching an +identical Note to the Emperor of Japan and the Tsar of Russia, offering +his services as mediator. His offer was accepted by both; and on 9th +August the plenipotentiaries of the two nations met at Portsmouth, in +New Hampshire, U.S.A. The negotiations were of a protracted nature, and +were several times in danger of falling through in consequence of the +uncompromising attitude of Russia's representatives. Ultimately, +however, thanks to President Roosevelt's masterly diplomacy and the +conciliatory spirit of the Japanese, an agreement was arrived at, and +the Treaty of Peace between Japan and Russia was signed on 5th September +1905. + +Of the terms of the treaty it is not necessary for me to speak here, +since they in nowise affect the fortunes of the present historian. The +conclusion of the treaty, however, of course put a stop to all +hostilities on both sides; and the end of September found me and my ship +back in Sasebo, where the latter, among other ships, was paid off. +Previous to the paying-off, however, Togo had sent for me, and at the +interview which followed, inquired most solicitously what were my plans +for the future, at the same time assuring me that if I cared to remain +in the service of Japan I might absolutely rely upon continuous +employment and further promotion. I had, however, long before this +quite made up my mind as to the course of action I would pursue upon the +conclusion of the war; namely, to return to England and endeavour to +secure my rehabilitation in the British naval service, and I explained +this to him at length. When he had heard all that I had to say, he +admitted that what I had decided upon was undoubtedly the right thing to +do. Then, learning that I proposed to return home by way of San +Francisco and New York, he dismissed me for the time being, only to +inform me, two days later, that, learning I was about to resign my +commission as Captain in the Japanese Navy, the Emperor had expressed a +desire to see me prior to my departure from his dominions, in order that +he might personally thank me for the services I had rendered to Japan. + +The interview took place four days later, in the Imperial Palace at +Tokio, with most satisfactory results, so far as I was concerned; for +His Majesty, after making the most flattering references to my +services--full particulars of which he seemed to have at his fingers' +ends--was graciously pleased to decorate me with the Star of the Grand +Order of the Rising Sun, and to present me with a magnificent naval +sword, the hilt of which and the mountings of the sheath being of solid +gold, exquisitely worked. + +The afternoon of the first Sunday in December witnessed my arrival in +the Mersey; and somewhat late the same night I found myself once more in +London. + +I was, of course, anxious to see Uncle Bob and Aunt Betsy again without +delay; but, being in London, I could not deny myself the pleasure of +calling upon my friends the Gordons. In the first place I paid my +respects to Sir Robert at his office. As it chanced, he was so +overwhelmingly busy that he could only spare me a bare ten minutes of +his time, just to welcome me home again and insist upon my dining with +him and his wife that evening. I did so, and received such a welcome as +went far to compensate me for many a lonely hour among the storms and +fogs and bitter cold of the Japan and Yellow Seas. To my amazement, I +then learned that my name had become tolerably familiar to such Britons +as had been taking more than a merely superficial interest in the +progress of the Russo-Japanese War, some kindly-disposed newspaper +correspondent having kept the British public pretty well posted as to my +doings. The result of this, I was informed, was that, in the event of +my choosing to make application for restoration to my former position in +the British Navy, the authorities would undoubtedly be willing to regard +such application with considerable favour. + +This I soon afterwards found to be true; for although there were several +formalities to go through, while the onus of proving my innocence of the +charge which brought about my dismissal rested entirely upon me, I had +no sooner done this than I received the intimation that the Lords +Commissioners of the Admiralty, having given due consideration to my +representations, had been pleased to reinstate me as Midshipman in the +British Navy! + +It was not long, however, before I received my commission as +Sub-Lieutenant; and now I am a full-blown Commander aboard a +super-Dreadnought, eagerly looking forward to the dawn of a certain Day +which, unless appearances are curiously deceptive, cannot be very far +distant. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Ensign of the Rising Sun, by +Harry Collingwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE ENSIGN OF THE RISING SUN *** + +***** This file should be named 27910.txt or 27910.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/1/27910/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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