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diff --git a/33559-h/33559-h.htm b/33559-h/33559-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed91244 --- /dev/null +++ b/33559-h/33559-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8176 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of At the Fall of Port Arthur, by Edward Stratemeyer</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 12%; + margin-right: 12%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +hr.c33 {width: 33%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em} +hr.c10 {width: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 4em} +hr.c5 {width: 5%; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + text-align: justify; +} + +.quotsig { + margin-left: 35%; + margin-top: 0em; + } + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {text-align: center;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Transcriber notes */ +ins {text-decoration:none; + border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, At the Fall of Port Arthur, by Edward +Stratemeyer, Illustrated by A. B. Shute</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: At the Fall of Port Arthur</p> +<p> Or, A Young American in the Japanese Navy</p> +<p>Author: Edward Stratemeyer</p> +<p>Release Date: August 28, 2010 [eBook #33559]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Carol Brown, Curtis Weyant,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/americana">http://www.archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/atfallofportarth00straiala"> + http://www.archive.org/details/atfallofportarth00straiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/frontis1.jpg" width="336" height="500" + alt="Illustration: It is coming this way! yelled Larry.—Page 84." + title="It is coming this way! yelled Larry.—Page 84." /> +<p class="caption">"It is coming this way!" yelled Larry.— +<a href="#33"><i>Page 84.</i></a></p> +</div> + +<h4 class="p4">Soldiers of Fortune Series</h4> + +<hr class="c33" /> + +<h1>AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR</h1> + +<h5>OR</h5> + +<h2>A YOUNG AMERICAN IN THE<br /> +JAPANESE NAVY</h2> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h2>EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h2> + +<p class="center">Author of "Under the Mikado's Flag," "On to Pekin," +"Two Young<br /> +Lumbermen," "Old Glory Series," "Colonial Series,"<br /> +"Pan-American Series," etc.</p> + +<h4 class="p2"><i>ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. SHUTE</i></h4> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/logo2a.jpg" + width="107" height="165" alt="Illustration: Title" + title="printer's logo" /> +</div> + +<h4>BOSTON:<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.<br /> +1930</h4> + +<h5 class="p4"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1905, by Lothrop, Lee & +Shepard Company</span></h5> + +<hr class="c5" /> + +<h5><i>All rights reserved</i></h5> + +<hr class="c5" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">At the Fall of Port Arthur</span></h4> + +<h5 class="p4">PRINTED IN U.S.A.</h5> + +<p class="p4 center">PREFACE</p> + +<p class="p2">"<span class="smcap">At the Fall of Port Arthur</span>" is +a complete tale in itself, but forms the third volume in a line issued +under the general title of "Soldiers of Fortune Series."</p> + +<p>The story relates primarily the adventures of Larry Russell and his +old-time sea chum, Luke Striker, already well known to the readers of my +"Old Glory Series." Larry and Luke are aboard of their old ship, the +<i>Columbia</i>, bound from Manila to Nagasaki, with a cargo designed +for the Japanese Government. This is during the war between Russia and +Japan, and when close to the Japanese coast the schooner is sighted by a +Russian warship and made a prize of war.</p> + +<p>As prisoners both Larry and Luke see something of life in the Russian +navy. When close to Vladivostok, the Russian warship falls in with +several ships of the Japanese fleet, and after a thrilling sea-fight +surrenders with her prize. This brings Larry and Luke before Admiral +Togo, and as Larry's brother Ben, with their mutual friend, Gilbert +Pennington, is already in the Japanese army, Larry enters the Japanese +navy and Luke follows suit. The siege and bombardment of Port Arthur are +at their height; and the particulars are given of many battles both on +the sea and on land, leading up to the ultimate surrender of that brave +Russian commander, General Stoessel, and the fall of the city. By this +surrender the Japanese obtained many thousands of prisoners of war, +hundreds of cannon, with large quantities of ammunition, and several +scores of vessels, useful for either fighting purposes or as transports. +Moreover, this victory placed the entire southern portion of Manchuria +under Japanese control, giving the army untrammeled use of the railroad +running from Port Arthur to Liao-Yang, a city on the road to Mukden, +captured some time before, as already related in another volume of this +series, entitled "Under the Mikado's Flag."</p> + +<p>As I have mentioned in a previous work, it is as yet impossible to +state what the outcome of this terrific conflict will be. So far victory +has perched largely upon the standard of Japan. The Russian navy has +been practically shattered and its army fought to a standstill. The cost +of the war has been tremendous to both countries. Countless thousands of +lives have already been sacrificed. Would that peace were soon at +hand!</p> + +<p>Again I thank my young friends for their appreciation of my former +stories. May the present tale fulfill every reasonable expectation.</p> + +<p class="quotsig"><span class="smcap">Edward Stratemeyer.</span></p> + +<h4 class="p4">CONTENTS</h4> + +<div> +<table class="bold" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="10" summary="Table of +Contents"> + +<tr><td align='center'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td> + <td> </td><td><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#1">I.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Larry and His Friends</span></td> + <td align='right'>1</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#2">II.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Storm on the Pacific</span></td> + <td align='right'>10</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#3">III.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Larry Learns Something</span></td> + <td align='right'>20</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#4">IV.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Russian Sailor's Plot</span></td> + <td align='right'>29</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#5">V.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Signs of a Mutiny</span></td> + <td align='right'>38</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#6">VI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Fight for the Ship</span></td> + <td align='right'>47</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#7">VII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Mutineers in Possession</span></td> + <td align='right'>56</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#8">VIII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Turning the Tables</span></td> + <td align='right'>66</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#9">IX.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Close to a Waterspout</span></td> + <td align='right'>76</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#10">X.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Something about War and Fighting Ships</span> + </td> + <td align='right'>86</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#11">XI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">An Order to Lay-to</span></td> + <td align='right'>95</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#12">XII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Taken as a Prize of War</span></td> + <td align='right'>103</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#13">XIII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Prisoners on the</span> <i>Pocastra</i> + </td> + <td align='right'>113</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#14">XIV.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Progress of the War</span></td> + <td align='right'>122</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#15">XV.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Sharp Naval Battle</span></td> + <td align='right'>132</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#16">XVI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Aboard a Japanese Warship</span></td> + <td align='right'>140</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#17">XVII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Retaking of the</span> <i>Columbia</i> + </td> + <td align='right'>148</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#18">XVIII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Clever Ruse</span></td> + <td align='right'>156</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#19">XIX.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Disappearance of the Enemy</span></td> + <td align='right'>164</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#20">XX.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Larry before Admiral Togo</span></td> + <td align='right'>171</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#21">XXI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Letters of Interest</span></td> + <td align='right'>180</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#22">XXII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Meeting and a Plot</span></td> + <td align='right'>189</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#23">XXIII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Attack in the Dark</span></td> + <td align='right'>198</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#24">XXIV.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Defense of the Powder Train</span></td> + <td align='right'>206</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#25">XXV.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Bombarding a Port Arthur Fort</span></td> + <td align='right'>215</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#26">XXVI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Ben Meets Captain Barusky</span></td> + <td align='right'>223</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#27">XXVII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Fierce Battle at Sea</span></td> + <td align='right'>232</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#28">XXVIII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Siege of Port Arthur</span></td> + <td align='right'>240</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#29">XXIX.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">From One Difficulty to Another</span></td> + <td align='right'>248</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#30">XXX.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Surprise for Larry</span></td> + <td align='right'>258</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#31">XXXI.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">A Call to Repel Boarders</span></td> + <td align='right'>266</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#32">XXXII.</a></span> +</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Fall of Port Arthur—Conclusion</span></td> + <td align='right'>274</td></tr> + +</table> +</div> + +<h3 class="p4">AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR</h3> + +<h3 class="p4">AT THE FALL OF PORT<br />ARTHUR</h3> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="1">CHAPTER I</a></h3> + +<h4>LARRY AND HIS FRIENDS</h4> + +<p class="p2">"Unless I miss my guess, Luke, we are going to have a +storm."</p> + +<p>"Jest what I was thinking, Larry. And when it comes I allow as how it +will be putty heavy," replied Luke Striker, casting an eye to the +westward, where a small dark cloud was beginning to show above the +horizon.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't expect fine weather all the time," went on Larry +Russell, inspecting the cloud with equal interest. "We want some wind +anyway," he added. "We are not making this return trip to Nagasaki +nearly as fast as we made the trip to Manila."</p> + +<p>Luke Striker, a bronzed and weather-beaten Yankee sailor, rubbed his +chin reflectively. "I was jest thinking o' the day I spied the old +<i>Columbia</i> in Manila harbor," he said, meditatively. "Tell ye, +Larry, the sight 'most struck me dumb. 'The <i>Columbia</i>,' sez I to +myself. An' then I thought I must be a-dreamin'. I wanted to find this +ship ag'in in the worst way."</p> + +<p>"The ship certainly seems like a home to me, Luke—and I reckon +she always will seem that way. I've traveled a good many miles in her, +since I first struck her at Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands," responded +Larry Russell.</p> + +<p>"Yes—both of us have. But we never took no trip like this +afore—carryin' a cargo for the Japanese Government, with that +government at war with Russia." Luke Striker lowered his voice. "What's +the outlook? Does the old man reckon to fall in with a Russian warship +afore we can reach Nagasaki?"</p> + +<p>"Hush, Luke; you mustn't mention our cargo," came from Larry Russell, +hastily.</p> + +<p>"I ain't mentionin' it to anybody but you."</p> + +<p>"Captain Ponsberry is in hopes that we shall not meet any Russian +warships."</p> + +<p>"But what if we do?"</p> + +<p>"Then we shall have to show our heels as best we can."</p> + +<p>"A sailing vessel can't show much o' a pair o' heels to a +man-o'-war."</p> + +<p>"That is true."</p> + +<p>"I suppose, if the <i>Columbia</i> was overhauled by a Russian +warship, they'd consider us a prize of war; wouldn't they?" continued +the old Yankee sailor.</p> + +<p>"They would, unless Captain Ponsberry could get out of it in some +way."</p> + +<p>"How do you think he might get out of it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you must remember that our cargo doesn't belong to the +Japanese Government yet. We are carrying it from Manila to Nagasaki for +the Richmond Importing Company. The Russians would have to prove their +case against us before they could claim the schooner as a legitimate +prize of war."</p> + +<p>"I see. Well, I reckon as how them Russians would do 'most anything +to square accounts with the Japs. So far, accordin' to my notions, they +have been losin' ground right along in this war."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they'll lose more before the Japs are through with 'em, +Luke. But that storm is coming up fast," went on Larry Russell, with +another examination of the black cloud. "I'll have to tell the captain. +If we don't shorten sail it may do us some damage."</p> + +<p>With the last-mentioned remark Larry Russell walked aft, toward the +companionway of the <i>Columbia</i>, a staunch three-masted schooner +that hailed from Gloucester. He was second mate of the craft and as such +it was now his duty to inform Captain Nat Ponsberry that a storm was +approaching.</p> + +<p>To those of my young friends who have read "Under Dewey at Manila" +and other volumes of the "Old Glory Series" Larry Russell needs no +introduction. He was one of three brothers, who, left in the charge of a +miserly step-uncle, had thought it best to go away from home and seek +fortune in various parts of the globe. Larry had drifted to San +Francisco and then to Honolulu, where he had fallen in with Captain Nat +Ponsberry and the <i>Columbia</i>, as already mentioned. He, with his +sailor friend, Luke Striker, had been cast away, and while adrift on the +Pacific had been picked up by the Asiatic Squadron under Commodore +(afterward Admiral) Dewey, to serve with honor during the memorable +battle of Manila Bay.</p> + +<p>Since those days a great many things had occurred to the Russell +boys. Ben, the oldest of the three, had served as a young volunteer in +Cuba during the advance on Santiago, and as an officer with the army in +the Philippines, and Walter, the third brother, had served in the navy +in Cuban waters and elsewhere. In the meantime the miserly step-uncle +had reformed, and now thought "his three boys," as he called them, "the +best young fellers in all America, barrin' none!"</p> + +<p>Larry Russell was a natural sailor, and when his term in the navy +came to an end he could not bear to think of giving up the sea. He heard +that his old ship was bound for a trip to Japan and other ports, and at +once communicated with Captain Ponsberry, with the result that he became +second mate of the schooner, the first mate being, as of old, Tom +Grandon, a personal friend of Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>At this time Walter Russell had gone into business, and was doing +remarkably well. But Ben was doing nothing, and Larry persuaded his +oldest brother to come aboard the ship at Manila, for the trip to +Nagasaki and Port Arthur. This was just at the outbreak of the war +between Russia and Japan, but the brothers at that time knew nothing +about the tremendous conflict so close at hand.</p> + +<p>The <i>Columbia</i> was carrying a cargo for the Richmond Importing +Company, represented in Japan and China by Gilbert Pennington, who had +served with Ben Russell in our army in Cuba and the Philippines. From +Manila Gilbert had gone to China, to fight the Boxers, as already +described in "On to Pekin," the first volume of this "Soldiers of +Fortune Series." With the end of the Boxer conflict, Lieutenant +Pennington, as he had then become, turned from war to business, and soon +made a number of business transactions which were highly gratifying to +the company that he represented.</p> + +<p>When the <i>Columbia</i> arrived at Nagasaki, Captain Ponsberry +learned that the war had begun and that to get to Port Arthur—a +Russian stronghold in Manchuria—was out of the question. While he +was awaiting orders Gilbert Pennington appeared on the scene. Gilbert +had had great difficulties in getting away from Port Arthur, having been +suspected by the Russian officials of being a spy. He wished to know at +once if the ship's cargo was safe.</p> + +<p>"As safe as when we left home," had been Captain Ponsberry's +reply.</p> + +<p>"Good!" answered the young agent, and then he wished to know if +anything had been done about selling the goods. Captain Ponsberry +replied that he had been ordered to do nothing until he received word +from Gilbert. This suited the young representative; and the upshot of +the matter was that the cargo, instead of going to a Russian port, was +sold to the Japanese Government at a price considerably above the +ordinary market value.</p> + +<p>Gilbert Pennington was enthusiastic about joining the Japanese army +for a campaign in Manchuria and he imparted a large share of this +enthusiasm to Ben Russell. As a result both enlisted and became captains +in a special command, under a Major Okopa, who could speak very good +English. The part of the army to which they were assigned landed at +Chinampo, in Korea, and in the second volume of this series, called +"Under the Mikado's Flag," I related the particulars of the crossing of +the Yalu River and of the many skirmishes and battles leading up to the +terrific ten-days' contest before Liao Yang. During these fights Ben and +Gilbert did their full duty as officers, and when the Russians retreated +to the North both were well content to take a much-needed rest. But +additional struggles were still in store for them, as will be learned in +the pages which follow.</p> + +<p>At first Larry Russell had been inclined to follow his brother and +his friend Gilbert into the Japanese army. But Captain Ponsberry did not +wish to lose his services as a second mate, and when it was decided that +the <i>Columbia</i> should make a quick run to Manila and back, for +another cargo for the Japanese Government, he made up his mind to stick +to the ship.</p> + +<p>The run to Manila from Nagasaki was made without special incident, +and, once at the main seaport of the Philippines, Captain Ponsberry lost +no time in getting on board the cargo the Richmond Importing Company had +ready for him. The cargo was a valuable one and it was calculated that +if rightly sold it would yield the company a profit of five or six +thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>"You have got to take care and not run into any Russian warship," +said the agent of the company at Manila. "If you do you may have a whole +lot of trouble in explaining matters to the Russian commander's +satisfaction. I see by the reports that the Russians have already held +up several English and South American ships."</p> + +<p>"I shall keep a sharp lookout for 'em," was Captain Ponsberry's +reply.</p> + +<p>"And another thing, Captain," went on the agent, in a lower tone; +"you want to watch your crew."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like the looks of two or three of them. For all you know +they may be more than willing to expose you—if you fall in with +the Russians. Can you trust your first and second mates?"</p> + +<p>"I can! They are as honest as myself."</p> + +<p>"Then caution them to keep an eye on the hands. One of those fellows +looks like a Russian to me—the chap with the heavy black +beard."</p> + +<p>"You mean Semmel. He says he is a Pole and that he hates the +Russians."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Well, I saw him talking to a lot of Russians night before +last. And when they passed a Jap the whole crowd jeered at the little +brown man."</p> + +<p>"Semmel, too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall watch him," answered Captain Ponsberry, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Do, but don't let him know it. Some of these foreign sailors are +ugly when they find out they are being suspected."</p> + +<p>"Trust me to manage him," returned the commander of the +<i>Columbia</i>; and there the talk on the subject came to an end.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="2">CHAPTER II</a></h3> + +<h4>A STORM ON THE PACIFIC</h4> + +<p class="p2">Larry found Captain Ponsberry working over a chart on the +cabin table, laying out the course of the ship. The commander of the +<i>Columbia</i> was a bluff, hearty individual and he and the young +second mate thought a great deal of each other.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked the captain, looking up quickly.</p> + +<p>"I came to report that a storm is coming up from the west," answered +Larry.</p> + +<p>"Humph! I was afraid we'd catch it sooner or later. Is it close up +yet?"</p> + +<p>"It's coming up pretty fast."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry said no more, but threw down his parallel rulers +and his pencil. Catching up his cap, he mounted to the deck, and the +young second mate followed at his heels. The captain gave a long look to +the westward and then a gaze around the remainder of the horizon.</p> + +<p>"Tell Cal Vincent to call all hands to shorten sail!" he called out +to Larry. "Tell 'em to tumble up quick, too—thet storm ain't none +too far off for comfort!"</p> + +<p>Larry passed the word to Cal Vincent, who was the boatswain of the +<i>Columbia</i>, and soon the whistle piped up shrilly, and those who +were below or in the forecastle, came on deck in a hurry. Already the +wind was freshening, ruffling up the whitecaps in all directions. The +sky, that had been so blue a short while before, became leaden, and the +depths of the ocean took on a somber hue. The barometer indicated a +great and immediate change.</p> + +<p>"Lay aloft there, men!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "Our sails are +mostly new and we don't want them ripped up if we can help it. Skip +along there, Peterson!" The latter words to a big sailor who was moving +across the deck at a snail's pace.</p> + +<p>The sailor addressed, scowled. It was not his watch on deck and he +hated to have his midday nap disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Got a nail in ma boot," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, haul it out—after the sails are trimmed," returned the +captain, and then turned to another hand: "Semmel, what's the matter +with you?" This to the suspicious-looking sailor with the heavy black +beard.</p> + +<p>"Nodding," grumbled Semmel, and turned away sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Then get a move on, or we may lose a stick as well as a sail," and +there followed a perfect volley of orders in a tone that none of the +sailors misunderstood. Up to the yards they crawled like so many +monkeys, and soon the creaking of halyard blocks was heard, as the +topsails came down. The jib and flying jib were also taken in, and a +little later the main-course and the mizzen-course.</p> + +<p>"Reckon we can stand the fore-course for a little while longer," said +Captain Ponsberry to Tom Grandon. "What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"We can, unless it comes quicker nor it is coming now," returned the +first mate.</p> + +<p>"Well, keep an eye on the wind and reef her as soon as it begins to +look nasty," said Captain Ponsberry, and returned to the cabin, to +finish his nautical calculations.</p> + +<p>The <i>Columbia</i> had left the last of the Philippines behind and +was headed north through the China Sea toward the lower extremity of +Formosa. She was not as new a ship as when Larry had first boarded her +at Honolulu, for since that time she had seen half a dozen years of hard +service. But Captain Ponsberry was a careful man and believed in making +repairs as soon as they were needed, so there was small danger of her +opening her seams or going to pieces even in the stiffest of blows. She +leaked a little—the best of ships do that—but a short +pumping every morning kept the water at the bottom of the well.</p> + +<p>As second mate, it was Larry's duty to see that everything on the +deck was "ship-shape," and this was especially necessary when a storm +was coming up. He made a tour of the ship, his keen eyes taking in every +detail.</p> + +<p>As it happened, an hour before he had set the sailor Semmel to work +stowing away some odds and ends of rope. He had supposed that this task +was long since finished, but now he found the ropes scattered about as +before.</p> + +<p>"See here, Semmel," he called out, "why didn't you stow away those +ropes as I told you?"</p> + +<p>"Stow dem avay in a leetle vile," answered the sailor with the heavy +beard.</p> + +<p>"You'll stow them away now," returned Larry, sharply. He did not at +all fancy the manner of the hand he was addressing. "I told you to do it +an hour ago. We don't want anything loose on deck when this storm hits +us."</p> + +<p>"Vincent kicked de ropes out dare," growled Semmel. "I had nodding to +do mit 'em."</p> + +<p>"That isn't here or there. I told you to stow them away, and I want +you to do it. If you don't, I'll have to report you to the captain."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do him!" grumbled Semmel, but he glared at Larry as if he +wished to chew the young second mate up. "You put all dare vork on me, +hey?" he added, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"You've got to do your share of it."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" Semmel seemed on the point of saying more, but shut his +teeth and began to arrange the ropes in proper order. Larry watched him +for a moment and then walked away. As soon as his back was turned the +sailor shook his fist at the young second mate.</p> + +<p>"You vait!" he muttered. "Chust vait, you Jankee rat!"</p> + +<p>The sky kept growing darker, and soon came a puff of wind much +heavier than any that had gone before. The <i>Columbia</i> had been +moving over the waves on an even keel, but now she gave a sudden lurch +to starboard.</p> + +<p>"Reckon it's time to take them reefs in the fore-course," said Grandon +to Larry, and soon the sailors were at work on the sheets, leaving just +sufficient canvas up to make the schooner mind her helm. It was hard +work, for the sudden gusts made the sail snap and crack like a whip.</p> + +<p>So far it had not rained a drop, but now came a sudden downpour, the +drops "as big as hen's eggs," to use Luke Striker's manner of describing +them. Then came a flash of lightning out of the western sky, followed by +a rumble of thunder.</p> + +<p>"This is going to be an old-time storm," was Larry's comment, as he +met Luke Striker near the forecastle. "I'll have to get my oilskin +out."</p> + +<p>Luke already had his raincoat on and soon the young mate was +similarly provided. Wind and rain were increasing, and presently there +came a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder that made everybody +jump. The thunder brought Captain Ponsberry to the deck in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"Did that hit us?" he questioned, looking around anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, but it was pretty close," replied Grandon.</p> + +<p>"Is everything secure?" went on the commander, to Larry.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>It was difficult to converse further, for the wind was now whistling +through the rigging, driving the rain in sheets across the deck. All had +to hold fast for fear of being swept overboard. On every side the sea +was lashing itself into a foam and the waves were growing higher and +higher. At one instant the <i>Columbia</i> would seem to be riding on +top of a mountain, the next she would sink down and down into the trough +of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Well, Larry, how do you like this?" questioned Captain Ponsberry, as +he took a position beside the second mate.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mind it at all," was the cheery answer. "I used to mind +the storms, but I've got used to them."</p> + +<p>"This isn't a plaything we are getting."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know that—you can see it by the way the wind is driving +us. But we are not near any land, are we?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll be sure to outride it. I feel I can bank on the old +<i>Columbia</i> for almost anything."</p> + +<p>At this Captain Ponsberry laid an affectionate hand on his second +mate's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Reckon you love the old craft about as well as I do," he said.</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that—you've been on board so many more +years than myself. But to me she is a second home."</p> + +<p>"I see. Well, let us hope we get through with this trip in +safety."</p> + +<p>"Don't you imagine we'll do it?" questioned Larry, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. But you must remember that we may have trouble if we fall +in with any Russian warship." Captain Ponsberry lowered his voice. "Did +you have trouble with Semmel?"</p> + +<p>"A little. I ordered him to coil up some ropes and he didn't obey me +right away. But he stowed them away afterwards."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry drew a long breath. "The more I see of that chap +the less I like him."</p> + +<p>"I never liked him from the start," answered Larry, frankly. "But +you'll have to give him credit for being a good all-round sailor."</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt but what he is that, Larry. But he has a bad +eye."</p> + +<p>"What do you think he could do to harm us?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—unless we fell in with a Russian warship. In that +case, if he was a Russian sympathizer, he might expose the fact that +while we are carrying a cargo for the Richmond Importing Company the +goods are really meant for the Japanese Government."</p> + +<p>"Does he know that?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure, one way or the other. What I am afraid of is, that he +may know a good bit more nor we suspect."</p> + +<p>"I see." The young second mate mused for a moment. "I'll tell you +what I'd do, if I thought he was going to play me foul—and we fell +in with a Russian warship. I'd clap him below decks, out of sight until +the warship went on her way again."</p> + +<p>"That's easily said; but I can't make him a prisoner unless I can +prove something against him."</p> + +<p>"You can lock him up if he is sulky and won't obey orders."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is true. Still——Phew!"</p> + +<p>The captain broke off short, for a vivid streak of lightning flared +all over the upper masts of the ship. The thunder-clap was as sharp as +it was deafening, and for the moment all on board thought the +<i>Columbia</i> had surely been struck. Then came a downpour which made +even the boldest of the sailors seek shelter.</p> + +<p>"That was closer than I like," was Larry's comment, after it was +ascertained that the ship was unharmed.</p> + +<p>"'Most knocked me overboard," came from Luke Striker. "Gosh! reckon +my hair's singed," and he put up his hand and ran his fingers through +his grayish locks. "Don't want another like thet nohow!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes later came another flash of lightning, but this was to +the eastward, showing that the center of the storm had passed them. The +wind was apparently going down, but the sea was as angry as ever and +would be for hours to come.</p> + +<p>Luke had retired to the forecastle with several other sailors. +Larry's watch on deck was also at an end, and he was just on the point +of going below, when from the west came a curious humming sound which +made the young second mate pause. The humming increased, and then of a +sudden the <i>Columbia</i> was caught in a hurricane blast that threw +her far over on her side.</p> + +<p>"Help!" Larry heard, in the voice of Captain Ponsberry. "Somebody +help me, quick, or I'll go overboard!"</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="3">CHAPTER III</a></h3> + +<h4>LARRY LEARNS SOMETHING</h4> + +<p class="p2">The accident which had happened to Captain Nat Ponsberry +was certainly a curious one, although similar to that which once cost +the life of a young officer in our navy.</p> + +<p>When the hurricane blast reached the <i>Columbia</i>, the captain was +in the act of slipping on a lined raincoat,—a big affair, with +long sleeves and an extra high collar. One arm was in the coat and the +other was going down the sleeve when it caught in the lining. At that +instant the shock threw the captain across the deck and almost over the +railing. He caught at the railing with his free hand, but his other hand +remained a prisoner in the coat sleeve, while the garment itself stuck +in a bunch across his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Help!" he roared again. He tried to pull himself up, and to free the +hand in the sleeve, but found both impossible.</p> + +<p>Larry did not wait for a second cry for assistance. He knew the +captain so well that he felt the officer would only call when in dire +peril. He ran out on the slippery deck in double-quick order.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, where are you?" he yelled.</p> + +<p>"Here! Help!"</p> + +<p>The young second mate caught sight of the captain not a moment too +soon. Another lurch of the <i>Columbia</i> had thrown him completely +over the rail, and there he clung with one hand, while the spray was +flying all over him.</p> + +<p>Not waiting to count the possible cost, Larry slid rather than ran to +the rail. Years before he had learned a trick which now stood him in +good stead. He wound his legs around the under rail, catching the upper +one with his left hand. Then he clutched Captain Ponsberry by the +tangled-up arm.</p> + +<p>"On deck there!" he yelled. "Throw a rope this way, and hurry up +about it!"</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" came from Tom Grandon, who had been in another +part of the ship and had not heard the captain's cry.</p> + +<p>"The captain is almost overboard. Throw us a rope."</p> + +<p>Tom Grandon was quick to act. The rope came whizzing toward Larry, +and in a twinkling he had it around his body and also around the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Haul in!" he called, and Grandon and two sailors did so. Over the +rail came Captain Ponsberry, still fighting to release the tangled-up +arm. In a moment more all danger was past.</p> + +<p>"Well, how in the world did this happen?" questioned Grandon.</p> + +<p>"Tell ye—soon as I can git free o' this consarned coat!" +spluttered Captain Ponsberry, and he gave the garment a jerk that ripped +one of the sleeves completely in half. "Did ye ever see sech +foolishness?" he added. And then he told how the lurch of the ship had +carried him over the rail just when he could use but one hand. "After +this I reckon I'll put on my coat afore I go on deck," he concluded.</p> + +<p>"It was a lucky thing that Larry heard you cry out," said the first +mate. "I was at the wheel, helping Groot."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Tom." The captain turned to the youth. "Larry, you're +a brave one, and always was. I ain't going to forget this!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't say anything about it," came from the young second mate, +modestly. "I know you'd do as much for me, if I needed it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I would, an' there's my hand on it," cried Captain Ponsberry, +heartily, and gave Larry a grip that made him wince.</p> + +<p>The storm kept up for the remainder of the day. But its worst fury +was spent, and during the night the wind went down to nothing more than +a stiff breeze, which was just what was wanted. All of the sails were +again set; and the schooner resumed her course as before.</p> + +<p>Before leaving Manila Larry had purchased a number of newspapers +printed in that city in English. So far he had had no chance to look the +sheets over, but now came two days in which there was little to do, and +he spent several hours in devouring the news, while he also let his +friend Luke do some reading.</p> + +<p>"Tell ye what, this 'ere war between Russia and Japan is goin' to be +a big thing," said Luke, after reading an account of the first fights on +land and on sea. "It ain't goin' to be no such short affair as our +little rumpus in Cuby."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Luke; this war is going to be a long and bitter +one."</p> + +<p>"Who is goin' to win, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know. Russia is a vast country, with millions of +people and with an immense army and navy. I suppose she can put five +times as many men in the field as Japan can."</p> + +<p>"But them Japs know how to fight."</p> + +<p>"Indeed they do—they have proved that already. And what is to +their advantage, they are closer to Korea and Manchuria than Russia is. +They can get on the fighting ground quicker,—which counts for a +good deal."</p> + +<p>"How those Russians must have been astonished when the Japanese +warships sailed into 'em at Port Arthur last February. I don't believe +they were expecting an attack."</p> + +<p>"Hardly, for war had just been declared. But you wouldn't have caught +Uncle Sam napping like that, Luke."</p> + +<p>"Right ye are, lad; it ain't his style. An' then to see how them Japs +have been a-blowin' up the Russian warships ever since. They must have a +fine navy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and good gunners, too. I was told in Nagasaki that quite a few +American gunners were on their ships—fellows who served under +Dewey at Manila and under Sampson and Schley off Cuba."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, lad. When a feller gits it in his bones to fight on a +warship there ain't no life on a merchantman goin' to satisfy him. Some +jackies would rather fight nor eat—you know thet as well as I +do."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't mind doing some fighting myself. You know I was on +a stand about going with Ben and Gilbert Pennington."</p> + +<p>"Where do you reckon they are now?"</p> + +<p>"In Manchuria, I suppose, fighting as hard as they can. I thought I +would get a letter from them before we left Manila, but nothing +came."</p> + +<p>"I suppose the mails are all upset, on account of the war," put in +Cal Vincent, who sat nearby, sewing a button on his shirt. "If you'll +remember, Nagasaki was in a big state of excitement while we were there +last."</p> + +<p>"Did they say anything about any Russian warships bein' in these +parts?" questioned Luke.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"It would be strange if we did fall in with them."</p> + +<p>"Which puts me in mind," came from the boatswain, and then he gazed +around to see if any other persons were near. "Semmel says he ain't no +Russian, but it's dollars to doughnuts he is," he continued, in a +lowered tone.</p> + +<p>"Have you discovered anything new?" demanded Larry.</p> + +<p>"Yes and no. Last night I overheard him and Peterson talking in a +suspicious kind of a way. I didn't catch much, for they talked partly in +English and partly in a foreign language. But I am sure they are +favoring Russia, and Semmel said something about doing something to harm +Japan."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how they could do anything on board of this ship," came +from Luke.</p> + +<p>"You didn't hear anything definite?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say that I did," answered the boatswain.</p> + +<p>"We had better watch them closer than ever."</p> + +<p>"All right; I'll do my share," responded Vincent, and Luke Striker +said the same.</p> + +<p>That very afternoon Larry had another quarrel with the sailor with +the long beard. Semmel had a bucket of dirty water which he was carrying +to the ship's side. As Larry passed he pretended to stub his toe and +allowed some of the dirty water to flow over the young second mate's +foot.</p> + +<p>"Semmel, what did you do that for?" cried Larry, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Canno help dat," said the sailor. "I slip."</p> + +<p>"You did it on purpose!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" And the sailor grinned wickedly.</p> + +<p>"I say you did. If you try anything like that again, I'll make it +warm for you. Get a swab and clean the deck up at once!"</p> + +<p>As Semmel sauntered off, and while Larry was stamping the water from +his shoe, Captain Ponsberry came up. He had seen the trick played from a +distance.</p> + +<p>"What did you tell Semmel?" he questioned, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Told him to swab the deck up. I think he slopped the dirty water +over me on purpose."</p> + +<p>"Just my idea of it. I'll tell him what I think of it." And striding +after the bearded sailor Captain Ponsberry gave him a lecture not to be +readily forgotten.</p> + +<p>"I won't have any of your dirty underhanded work aboard of my ship," +he concluded. "Either you'll behave yourself, or I'll put you in +irons."</p> + +<p>"In irons!" ejaculated Semmel, scowling viciously.</p> + +<p>"That is what I said and that is what I mean. Ever since you came on +board you have been acting in this same dirty fashion and I want it +stopped. Now swab up that deck, and see that you make a first-class job +of it. For two pins I'd make you black Russell's shoes."</p> + +<p>"No black nobody's shoes," growled Semmel, but in such a low tone +that Captain Ponsberry could not hear him. He cleaned the deck in his +own ugly, independent manner, muttering imprecations against both Larry +and the captain in the meantime.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, even though he had denied it to Captain +Ponsberry and others, Ostag Semmel was really a Russian by birth, having +been born and raised in the seaport of Kolaska. He had been drafted into +the army, but not wishing to serve under a military rule which is +unusually severe, he had run away to sea and become a sailor.</p> + +<p>Life on the ocean suited Semmel very well and he would have remained +away from Russia had it not been for the fact that a rich uncle had died +leaving him a property valued at two thousand dollars—a small +fortune in the eyes of a man of this Russian's standing. He wished to go +back to claim his inheritance, but feared to do so, for he knew that +once on Russian soil he would be arrested for desertion, and might be +sent to a military prison for a great number of years.</p> + +<p>From a friend in Manila he had heard of something which interested +him greatly. This was the news that another deserter from the Russian +army had been pardoned for his offense because he had taken home with +him important news concerning the movements of a certain Japanese +warship.</p> + +<p>"If I could only do as well," he told himself, over and over again, +and then, when he signed articles for the <i>Columbia's</i> trip, he +listened eagerly to some talk he overheard about the ship's cargo. When +he began to suspect the truth—that the cargo was meant for the +Japanese Government—his eyes glistened cunningly.</p> + +<p>"If I can only let Russia know of this!" he reasoned. "All will go +well with me. If I can only let Russia know!"</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="4">CHAPTER IV</a></h3> + +<h4>THE RUSSIAN SAILOR'S PLOT</h4> + +<p class="p2">Captain Ponsberry's stern manner made Ostag Semmel wild +with hatred, and when he went back to the forecastle after swabbing up +the deck he was in a fit mental condition for almost any dark deed.</p> + +<p>For a good half-hour he lay in his bunk in a corner, brooding over +his ill-luck and wondering what he could do to revenge himself upon both +the master of the schooner and Larry. Larry he especially +disliked—the very open-heartedness of the young second mate made +him long to do the lad harm.</p> + +<p>At the end of the half-hour another sailor came in. It was Carl +Peterson, his close friend. Peterson was a burly tar who had visited +nearly every quarter of the globe. He loved to drink and carouse, and +was ever ready to lend a hand in any excitement that offered. There was +a rumor that he had once led a mutiny on a Danish merchant vessel, but +this he denied, laying the blame entirely on others.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Peterson?" demanded Semmel, in his native tongue, for +he knew that the other could speak Russian fluently.</p> + +<p>"Yes," came in a rough voice from Peterson. He gave a coarse laugh. +"A fine job you made of it, to pour dirty water over Russell and then +have to swab up the deck for it."</p> + +<p>"Who told you of that?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't I see it with my own eyes—and heard what the captain +said, too."</p> + +<p>"Bah! It makes me sick!" growled Semmel. "I am sick of the +ship—the crew—everything!"</p> + +<p>Peterson gave a short toss of his head, which was covered with a +shock of fiery red hair. "What are you going to do about it? Even if the +captain treats you like a dog, what shall you do, Ostag Semmel? He +thinks we are all curs—door mats to wipe feet on!"</p> + +<p>"He shall find out that I am neither a dog nor a door mat!" muttered +the bearded Russian. "By my right hand I promise you that!"</p> + +<p>"Talk is cheap—it takes wind to make the mill go," answered +Peterson. To an outsider it would have been plain to see that he was +leading Semmel on, in an endeavor to find out what was in his +companion's mind.</p> + +<p>"It will not end in talk."</p> + +<p>"Bah! I have heard that before."</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking," went on Ostag Semmel, slowly. "Can I trust +you?"</p> + +<p>"You know you can."</p> + +<p>"You do not love the captain—do not love that Russell?"</p> + +<p>"Do I act as if I did?"</p> + +<p>"Good! Now, how many on board of this ship?"</p> + +<p>"Fourteen men, counting in ourselves."</p> + +<p>"You count fairly. Fourteen, how many are our friends?"</p> + +<p>"Postnak and Conroy, at least."</p> + +<p>"Then we are four, so far. Now, what of Groot and Shamhaven and Jack +Wilbur?"</p> + +<p>"Groot is a good fellow and a man who wishes to make money."</p> + +<p>"And Shamhaven will do almost anything for money—he once told +me so. He took a sailor suit from a store in Manila without paying for +it."</p> + +<p>"I know that too. The tailor was rich and didn't need the money," and +Peterson gave another coarse laugh.</p> + +<p>"Then we are six—to stand up for our rights. And Jack Wilbur +will make seven—just half the number on the ship."</p> + +<p>"How can we count that Wilbur in? He is a Yankee."</p> + +<p>"He is a weakling and we can manage him,—and I think we can +manage some others, too—when we get that far."</p> + +<p>"How far do you mean?" demanded Peterson, although he knew about what +was coming.</p> + +<p>"Is anybody else near here?"</p> + +<p>"No," and Peterson took a careful look around.</p> + +<p>"Supposing we seize the ship—in the name of the Russian +Government? They have a Japanese cargo on board, the captain cannot deny +it. We can take the ship, sail her to some Russian port, and win both +prize money and glory. Is it not a grand scheme?"</p> + +<p>"Ha, that is fine!" Carl Peterson's eyes glowed voraciously. "Ostag, +you are a man after my own heart! We might become rich!"</p> + +<p>"Then you like the plan?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—providing we can make it work. But it is a big +undertaking. If we were caught we might swing from a yardarm for +it."</p> + +<p>"We can make it work—I have another plan for that. I have +thought it out completely. We can—but more later," and Ostag +Semmel broke off abruptly, as several sailors entered the forecastle. A +little later he began to complain in broken English to a sailor named +Jack Wilbur that he was suffering from a severe stomach ache.</p> + +<p>"Sorry to hear on it," said Wilbur, who was a very mild foremast +hand. "Anything I can do for you?"</p> + +<p>"I dink not," answered Semmel. "I dink de poor grub ve git mak me +feel pad."</p> + +<p>"Didn't notice that the grub was poor," answered Wilbur.</p> + +<p>"Very poor—not so goot as py my las' ship," answered Semmel. +"Some grub here not fit to eat."</p> + +<p>It was soon noised around that Semmel was not feeling well and that +he had complained that the food dealt out at noontime had made him sick. +As soon as Captain Ponsberry heard of this he went to interview Jeff, +the colored cook, who, as of old, was singing gayly to himself among the +pots and pans of the ship's galley.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't nuffin de mattah wid dat grub, Cap'n Ponsberry," exclaimed +Jeff, after hearing what the commander of the ship had to say. "It was +jess as good as we always has."</p> + +<p>"Was it thoroughly cooked?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah—I don't 'low nuffin to go from dis yere galley 'less +it am well cooked."</p> + +<p>"Are your pots and kettles clean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah—yo' can see fo' yourself, sah."</p> + +<p>The captain did see, and moreover he knew that Jeff was usually a +careful and conscientious culinary artist who always gave the men the +best his stock afforded.</p> + +<p>"Well, be careful of what you cook and how you cook it after this," +said Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"Would yo' mind tellin' me, sah, who is kicking, sah?" asked Jeff, +respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Semmel says he was made sick by what he ate."</p> + +<p>"Huh, dat scab!" grunted Jeff. "He ain't no 'count at all, he ain't!" +And the cook turned away in disgust.</p> + +<p>"It looks to me as if Semmel was trying to make trouble all around," +said Tom Grandon, when he and the captain and Larry talked the matter +over.</p> + +<p>"I never liked that man from the first time I clapped eyes on him," +came from Larry. "He's a sneak—and worse."</p> + +<p>"I shall watch him pretty closely after this," said Captain +Ponsberry. "One discontented fellow like him can upset the whole ship if +he sets out to do it."</p> + +<p>"They can't complain of the grub," went on the first mate. "It's as +good as on any merchantman, and better than the law requires."</p> + +<p>"I guess it was the deck-swabbing that gave him the stomach ache," +said Larry, and this made the captain and Grandon smile.</p> + +<p>The next day when the sailors sat down to their dinner two or three +of them sniffed suspiciously at the food they were eating.</p> + +<p>"This don't taste just right to me," said Shamhaven. "The meat tastes +decayed."</p> + +<p>"And the vegetables ain't much better," put in Conroy,—a sturdy +Irish-American, who was one of the best seamen on the schooner.</p> + +<p>"Dat dinner am fust-class," cried Jeff. "I ain't gwine to stand yere +an' see you growlin' at it."</p> + +<p>"It certainly tastes a bit off, Jeff," put in Jack Wilbur. "Taste it +yourself."</p> + +<p>The cook did so, and his face looked doubtful for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Guess dat needs a little salt an' pepper," he said, slowly. It did +not taste nearly as good as he had anticipated.</p> + +<p>As there was nothing else to do, and they were hungry, the men ate +the meal, grumbling to themselves as they did so. Luke said but little +and ate sparingly, and his example was followed by Cal Vincent.</p> + +<p>The captain, Grandon, and Larry ate in the cabin and the dinner +served to them was first-class in every particular.</p> + +<p>"Guess Jeff is spreading himself, just to show what he can do," +remarked Larry to the first mate, after he had finished his repast.</p> + +<p>"It's very good, Larry," answered Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>By the middle of the afternoon three of the men were complaining of +feeling sick and all attributed their ailments to what they had eaten +for dinner.</p> + +<p>"Ha! vat I tole you?" cried Semmel. "Didn't I say de grub vos pad? +Not maybe you belief me, hey?"</p> + +<p>"I shan't stand for any more poor grub," came from Shamhaven. "If I +can't get good stuff I'm going to the captain about it."</p> + +<p>The sickness of the hands worried Captain Ponsberry greatly and he +opened up his medicine chest and gave them such remedies as he thought +were best.</p> + +<p>At supper time Jeff was extra cautious in selecting and preparing the +food. Nevertheless, the men who ate of it were suspicious and more than +half the meal went to waste. The captain was very thoughtful, but said +little or nothing.</p> + +<p>On the following day the wind died down utterly and it was +exceedingly warm. With nothing to do, the majority of the hands gathered +at the bow to talk of matters in general, and the food in particular. +Semmel and Peterson were of the number, and both did all in their power +to magnify the outrage, as they termed it.</p> + +<p>"Der captain don't haf any right to gif us such grub," said Semmel. +"It vos against der law."</p> + +<p>"On some ships there would be a mutiny over this," added +Peterson.</p> + +<p>Larry overheard a part of the conversation and it set him thinking. +Luke Striker also grew suspicious.</p> + +<p>"Unless I am mistaken, this is some of Semmel's work," said Larry to +the old tar. "He is doing his level best to make trouble on the +ship."</p> + +<p>"Well, he better mind his business," grumbled Luke. "I don't reckon +the captain will stand fer any underhanded work."</p> + +<p>Without appearing to do so, Larry continued to keep his eyes on +Semmel, and about an hour before dinner he saw the bearded sailor +approach the cook's galley and look inside. Jeff was below, getting a +case of canned goods. With a swift movement, Semmel stepped into the +galley, raised the lid of a big pot full of stew that was on the stove, +and sprinkled something over the food. Then he hurried out and sneaked +forward once more.</p> + +<p>"The rascal!" murmured Larry. "So this is his game. I wonder what he +put into that pot?"</p> + +<p>For the moment the young second mate thought to confront Semmel and +demand an explanation. Then he changed his mind and hurried for the +cabin, to tell the news to Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="5">CHAPTER V</a></h3> + +<h4>SIGNS OF A MUTINY</h4> + +<p class="p2">"I've found out something important, Captain Ponsberry," +said Larry, as he entered the cabin. "I now know what's the matter with +the grub." To all salt-water sailors food is grub and nothing else.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is the matter with it?" questioned the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>, quickly.</p> + +<p>"It's being doctored, that's what's the matter."</p> + +<p>"Doctored?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir,—doctored by Semmel, too."</p> + +<p>"Will you explain what you mean, Larry?" demanded the captain, +intensely interested.</p> + +<p>"I just saw that rascal go into the cook's galley. Jeff wasn't there, +and Semmel took the lid off of a big pot on the stove and sprinkled +something inside."</p> + +<p>"What!" Captain Ponsberry leaped to his feet "Are you certain of +this?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I am—for I saw it with my own eyes."</p> + +<p>"What was that stuff he put into the pot?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Did he touch anything else?"</p> + +<p>"No. He was in a tremendous hurry and wasn't in the galley more than +a minute at the most."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel!" Captain Ponsberry clenched his fists. "Larry, you +are positive you are making no mistake?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the thing done just as I told you. The stuff was in a bit of +white paper. When he went forward he threw the paper overboard."</p> + +<p>"Did anybody else see this?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. But——"</p> + +<p>At that moment came a knock on the cabin door and Luke Striker +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir," he said, touching his cap. "But I've got something +important to report."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Striker?"</p> + +<p>"I jess see that air Semmel go in and out o' the cook's galley."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I am reporting!" cried Larry. "Did you see what he +did, Luke?"</p> + +<p>"No. He wasn't in there only a minit. It looked suspicious to me, +though—with all hands gittin' sick from the grub."</p> + +<p>"This is all the evidence I want," said Captain Ponsberry. "We'll +soon make an end of this. Larry, send Semmel to me."</p> + +<p>The young second mate left the cabin with Luke and both hurried +toward the bow, where Semmel and Peterson were conversing in low +tones.</p> + +<p>"The captain wants to see you at once," said Larry to the bearded +sailor.</p> + +<p>His tone was so sharp it made Semmel start.</p> + +<p>"Vat he vants?" he queried.</p> + +<p>"Go and find out for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you git me in droubles, hey?" and the bearded sailor +scowled.</p> + +<p>"I reckon as how you're gittin' yourself into trouble," drawled Luke, +dryly.</p> + +<p>"You keep your mouf shut!" cried Semmel. "I no talk to you, no!"</p> + +<p>"The captain wants you to report; are you going to do so or not?" +demanded Larry.</p> + +<p>"Sure I go," answered Semmel, with a toss of his head, and he +slouched toward the stern. His manner was so aggressive that Larry +picked up a belaying pin before following him.</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry had just appeared on deck. He had armed himself +with a short club,—a sure sign to those who knew him that +something unusual was in the wind. His face was stern and forbidding, +and all hands gathered around to see what was the trouble.</p> + +<p>"Semmel, I want to have a talk with you," he said, in a loud voice, +as the bearded sailor came up.</p> + +<p>To this the sailor nodded but did not answer.</p> + +<p>"I want to know what you were doing in the cook's galley a short +while ago."</p> + +<p>"De cook's galley?" The sailor acted as if he was puzzled. "I no go +by de galley, captain."</p> + +<p>"You were in the galley and you put something into the stew-pot. What +was it?" thundered Captain Ponsberry. "Tell me the truth, or I may take +it into my head to break every bone in your body!" And he shook his club +in the sailor's face.</p> + +<p>"I put noddings in de pot," cried Semmel. "I no go in de +galley—I no been in de galley two, tree days. It is a lie!"</p> + +<p>"I saw you go in," came from Luke.</p> + +<p>"And so did I," added Larry. "And I saw you sprinkle something into +the pot."</p> + +<p>"What, did dat good-fo'-nuffin furiner put somet'ing in ma eatin'?" +shrieked Jeff, who had come up. "Oh,—yo'—yo'——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Jeff, I'll attend to this," interrupted the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah, but dat monkey-faced——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind now—fall back there," added the captain, and the +cook fell back, but shook his fist at Semmel.</p> + +<p>"I not in de galley," reiterated the bearded sailor. "Russell an' +Striker no tell de truth."</p> + +<p>"It is true," cried Larry.</p> + +<p>"Thet's so, an' you can't squirm out o' it," broke in Luke. "I saw ye +as plain as day."</p> + +<p>"I want to know what you put into that stew-pot?" continued Captain +Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"I no go near de galley. I——"</p> + +<p>"I know you went into the galley and I know you put something into +the stew. For the last time I ask you, what was it?"</p> + +<p>For reply Ostag Semmel simply shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell me the truth?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon the truth ain't in him," grumbled Luke, under his +breath.</p> + +<p>"I say noddings more," came sourly from the bearded sailor.</p> + +<p>"Put that man in irons," commanded Captain Ponsberry, turning quickly +to Larry and Grandon. "If he won't talk now, perhaps he'll talk after he +has spent a day in the brig."</p> + +<p>"Vat! you put me in irons!" shrieked Semmel. "You no got right to do +dat, no!"</p> + +<p>"Haven't I?" answered Captain Ponsberry, in a voice that cut like a +whip. "I'd like to see anybody dispute over it. Larry, Tom, do as I +command."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Larry, and ran off to get a pair of handcuffs +while Tom Grandon stationed himself beside Ostag Semmel, belaying pin in +hand.</p> + +<p>"You no mak me a prisoner!" fumed the bearded sailor. "You got no +right!"</p> + +<p>He continued to rave, saying that it was a plot against him, because +he had been the first to complain about the vile food served to the +hands; that he had not been near the galley and that the captain, +Grandon, and Larry knew it. He even appealed to the other sailors to +stand by him, and several came forward to argue with Captain Ponsberry. +But the master of the schooner was obstinate and would not listen.</p> + +<p>"I know what I am doing, men," he said, quickly but firmly. "He is a +scoundrel and a spell in the brig will do him good. After this I reckon +you'll find the grub all right."</p> + +<p>"I no like—" began Peterson, once more.</p> + +<p>"You shut up, Peterson, or I'll put you in the brig with Semmel," cut +in the captain, and Peterson fell back with the rest, but with a brow +that was dark and distrustful.</p> + +<p>By this time Larry had returned with the handcuffs and despite the +resistance he offered, Ostag Semmel was made a prisoner. Then the first +and the second mates led him to the schooner's brig,—a narrow, +V-shaped room in the bow of the boat, usually used for storing lanterns +and oil. The smell in the closet—for it was nothing else—was +far from pleasant, and a day in the brig usually made a prisoner repent +and promise to do better.</p> + +<p>"I mak trouble for dis!" growled Semmel, as the door was closed and +bolted on him. "I mak trouble, yes! You got no right to do dis, no!"</p> + +<p>"And you haven't any right to doctor the grub," answered Larry, and +then he and Grandon walked away.</p> + +<p>"That fellow is a first-class villain, to my way of reasoning," was +the first mate's comment. "I believe he'd do almost anything to get +square for this."</p> + +<p>After Ostag Semmel had been placed in the brig Captain Ponsberry +called all hands to him once more and related what Luke and Larry had +seen. The stew was inspected, but nothing suspicious could be seen about +it.</p> + +<p>"If any of you want to try that stew you may do so," said the +captain. "Of course, if Semmel didn't touch it there can be nothing in +it that can hurt you." But all, even to Peterson, declined to even taste +the food. It was one thing to think Semmel innocent but quite another to +run the risk of being made sick or poisoned. In the end the stew was +dumped overboard and Jeff prepared an entirely new dinner for all +hands.</p> + +<p>"You must keep close watch on all of the men," said the captain to +Larry and Grandon, when quietness had been restored. "Semmel was the +worst of the lot, but I do not like the way Peterson and one or two +others are acting."</p> + +<p>"I don't see what they can do," answered Larry.</p> + +<p>"They might start a mutiny," came from the first mate.</p> + +<p>"Would they dare go as far as that?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes sailors get strange notions, and the old Harry himself +can't stop them," said Captain Ponsberry. "A thing that in itself +doesn't amount to much will start them off, and they'll imagine that +everything is going wrong. When I was a lad, on board the <i>Mary +Eliza</i>, Captain Snapper, we had a mutiny just because the coffee +wasn't right."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I can remember that they had a mutiny on the old brig +<i>Chesterfield</i> because Captain Roe's wife brought a cross-eyed +yellow cat on board," added Grandon. "Not a man would hoist a sail until +that feline was put ashore. And when, two months later, the brig lost +her foremast in a gale, the sailors said it was on account of that same +cat, she having scratched the mast before she was taken away!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope we don't have a mutiny," said Larry. "I'd like to +suggest something, Captain Ponsberry," he went on, to the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>.</p> + +<p>"Fire ahead, Larry."</p> + +<p>"You know we can trust Luke Striker. Why not have him report just +what the other hands are doing?"</p> + +<p>"That's an idea, and I will act on it. Yes, I'd trust Striker as +quick as I'd trust you. If there is to be trouble we certainly want to +know of it as soon as possible," concluded the captain.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="6">CHAPTER VI</a></h3> + +<h4>THE FIGHT FOR THE SHIP</h4> + +<p class="p2">The day to follow was Sunday, and contrary to +expectations, it passed quietly. As there was hardly any wind, the old +<i>Columbia</i> made slow progress, and the sailors had little or +nothing to do. As was his usual habit, Larry read his Bible, and Captain +Ponsberry held a short church service, which less than half the crew +attended.</p> + +<p>"It's plain to see that the men are sulky," said Tom Grandon, towards +evening. "We are certain to hear something from them shortly."</p> + +<p>Luke had been told to report anything unusual, but it was not until +after dark that he sought out Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"I ain't got much to say," said the old tar. "But to my mind +Peterson, Groot, and Shamhaven are doin' a powerful lot of confabbin'. +More'n that, I saw Peterson cleaning up a pistol he's got."</p> + +<p>"Are any of the other hands armed?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't seen no other shootin'-irons," answered Luke.</p> + +<p>The captain had expected to interview Semmel once more, but found the +fellow so surly he gave up the attempt. As the brig was so hot and +uncomfortable, the master of the schooner had the door fixed so it could +be left open several inches, with a chain at the bolt to keep it from +going further.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock Monday morning Peterson came on duty, followed by +Shamhaven and some others. All made their way to the bow and began to +talk in a low but earnest fashion. Then Peterson went below, to where +Semmel was still confined in the brig.</p> + +<p>"We are ready to move now," said he, in Russian. "What do you +think?"</p> + +<p>"Let me out and I will show you what I think," growled Ostag Semmel. +"The captain is a dog—and Grandon and Russell are dogs, too!"</p> + +<p>Peterson was prepared to unlock the chain which held the brig door +and did so. Then he handed a pistol to the Russian.</p> + +<p>"The captain and Russell are in their staterooms," said Peterson. +"Only Grandon is on deck, with Vincent and with the men we can trust to +help us."</p> + +<p>"We can't trust Vincent."</p> + +<p>"I know that."</p> + +<p>"Where is Striker?"</p> + +<p>"Asleep in his berth."</p> + +<p>But on this score Carl Peterson was mistaken. Luke had pretended to +go to sleep, but he was now in a corner on deck, watching with keen eyes +all that was occurring. Presently he saw Semmel in company with Peterson +hurry towards the bow, and he felt that the time for action had +arrived.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Mr. Grandon!" he called out, running up to the first mate.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Striker?"</p> + +<p>"They've released Semmel and they are arming themselves."</p> + +<p>"You don't say!" Tom Grandon was stunned for the instant. "Tell the +captain and Russell of this at once!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!"</p> + +<p>Rushing down the companionway, Luke entered the cabin and knocked on +the door of Captain Ponsberry's stateroom.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, captain!" he called, loudly. "Wake up! There is going to be +trouble putty quick, to my way o' thinkin'!"</p> + +<p>"What has gone wrong now?" demanded the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>, as he hurried into his clothes and armed himself. +"Where is Grandon?"</p> + +<p>"On deck; he sent me to tell you. They have set Semmel free and some +of 'em are arming themselves."</p> + +<p>"A mutiny!" roared Captain Ponsberry. "Striker, you'll stand by me, +of course?"</p> + +<p>"That I will, sir—to the end."</p> + +<p>"Good. I know Vincent will do the same. Do you know anything about +the others?"</p> + +<p>"I think you can count on Jeff the cook."</p> + +<p>"What of Wilbur?"</p> + +<p>"He's so weak-kneed I don't know what he'll do," answered +Striker.</p> + +<p>By this time Larry was out of his stateroom. With his door ajar he +had heard all that had been said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Luke, do you think they'll try to seize the ship?" he +gasped.</p> + +<p>"Don't know what they'll do. They're a plumb crazy lot," growled the +old tar. "It was a mistake to take such fellers as Semmel and Peterson +and Shamhaven aboard."</p> + +<p>"That is true, but when Devine and Larson got sick and went to the +hospital at Manila I had to get somebody," answered Captain Ponsberry. +He brought out several pistols. "Here, Larry, take one of these, and a +cutlass, too, and you, Striker, can arm yourself likewise."</p> + +<p>There was no time to answer, for the master of the schooner was +already striding through the cabin in the direction of the companionway. +An instant later came a yell from the deck, followed by heavy footsteps +and then the report of a pistol.</p> + +<p>"Drive dem to de cabin!" came in the voice of Semmel. "Drive dem +along, kvick!" And then followed another yell and the sounds of half a +dozen blows.</p> + +<p>"Below there!" came in Tom Grandon's voice. "Help! help!"</p> + +<p>"I'm coming!" called up Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to step on deck, captain!" yelled down the voice of +Shamhaven. "Don't you dare to do it!" And the sailor appeared, pistol in +hand, at the top of the companionway.</p> + +<p>"Shamhaven, what does this mean?" demanded the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>.</p> + +<p>"It means that we have taken possession of the ship, that's what it +means," came from Groot.</p> + +<p>"Of you come up here, you maybe git killed," put in Ostag Semmel. +"You stay down dare, you hear?" And then, as the captain started to +mount the stairs, he threw down a belaying pin. In the semi-darkness the +captain did not see the object, and it struck him on the top of the +head, rendering him partly unconscious.</p> + +<p>Larry and Luke were close behind their leader and both were alarmed +to see him go down, uttering a deep groan as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Is he killed?" questioned the young second mate.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," was the old tar's response. "Shall we go up?"</p> + +<p>"Keep back there!" was the call from above. "Put a step on those +stairs and it will be the worse for you!"</p> + +<p>At that moment came a cry from Cal Vincent. The boatswain had been +attacked from behind and was given no chance to defend himself. Then +came a roar from Jeff, who came rushing toward the companionway as if +all the demons of the deep were behind him.</p> + +<p>"Sabe me! sabe me!" he screamed. "Da is gwine to pirate de ship! Sabe +me!" And then he came plunging down headlong, directly on top of Larry, +Luke, and the prostrate captain.</p> + +<p>This unexpected coming of Jeff sent the young second mate and the old +tar flat on Captain Ponsberry, and for the moment there was a struggle +all around. In the meantime some sailors on the deck began to drag a +heavy hatch toward the stairs. Soon this was placed in position, and +then those below were virtually prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Oh my, sabe me!" groaned Jeff once more, as he managed to get on his +feet in the cabin, followed by Larry and Luke. "Don't you let dem swing +me from de yardarm!"</p> + +<p>"Jeff, where are Grandon and Vincent?" demanded Larry.</p> + +<p>"I dunno, sah—dead, I guess," answered the cook. "Oh, dis am de +awfulest t'ing wot I eber heard tell ob!" he added, woefully, and wrung +his hands.</p> + +<p>The lantern in the cabin was turned up and Larry gave his attention +once more to Captain Ponsberry, who was now opening his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my head!" came with a shiver. "My head!"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad they didn't kill you," said Larry, kindly. "Luke, help me +carry him into the cabin. We'll put him on the couch."</p> + +<p>This was done, and they did what they could to make the master of the +schooner comfortable. But it was a good half-hour before Captain +Ponsberry could sit up and do any rational thinking.</p> + +<p>On deck all had become suddenly quiet. Occasionally those below could +hear a footstep near the companionway, showing that one or more of the +mutineers were on guard. The hatch shut off the view on deck, and the +windows in the ceiling of the cabin were also boarded over from the +outside.</p> + +<p>"They have us like rats in a trap," said Larry, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"And for all we know Vincent and Grandon are both dead," returned +Luke Striker, soberly. "I must say, lad, we seem to be in a bad way and +no mistake."</p> + +<p>"Dey'll throw us overboard, I know dey will!" groaned Jeff, who was +almost white with terror. "I neber see sech goin's-on in all ma +life!"</p> + +<p>To fight the mutineers further was, just then, out of the question, +and Larry turned his attention again to Captain Ponsberry. At last the +captain seemed fully to comprehend what had occurred. He once more moved +toward the companionway, pistol in hand.</p> + +<p>"You can't get out that way, sir," said Larry. "They have placed the +fore hatch over the stairs."</p> + +<p>"And they are armed, too," put in Luke. "Be careful, sir, or they'll +shoot you down."</p> + +<p>"And this on my own ship!" came bitterly from the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>. "That is what I get for treating the dogs better than +they deserve. Where are Grandon and Vincent?"</p> + +<p>"Either shot down or taken prisoners. They called for help, and that +was the last we heard of them."</p> + +<p>"And are all the others in this dastardly plot?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon they are," answered Luke. "Them foreigners, Semmel an' +Peterson, must have stirred 'em up powerfully."</p> + +<p>Still weak from the blow received, Captain Ponsberry sank down once +more on the cabin couch. There was a lump as big as a walnut on the top +of his head, and he had Jeff bathe it with water and then with +witch-hazel, which made it a trifle more comfortable.</p> + +<p>A short while later came a sudden wild song from the deck of the +schooner, followed by a clinking of glasses.</p> + +<p>"They are treating themselves to grog," said Luke. "I suppose, now +they have the run of things, they'll drink all they want of the +stuff."</p> + +<p>"More than likely," returned the captain. "Well, it is their turn +just now—perhaps before long it will be my turn!" And he smiled +significantly.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="7">CHAPTER VII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE MUTINEERS IN POSSESSION</h4> + +<p class="p2">As my old readers know, both Captain Ponsberry and Luke +Striker were Yankees to the backbone, and it galled them exceedingly to +see the schooner in the hands of a number of mutineers, and especially +foreigners.</p> + +<p>"We've got to git the ship back, no two ways on it," growled the old +tar. "Captain, I'm willin' to fight to the end, if ye give the +word."</p> + +<p>"And I'll fight, too," said Larry, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Don't you go fo' to fight dem rascallions!" whined Jeff. "Yo' will +all be killed suah!"</p> + +<p>"I would like to know what has become of Grandon and Vincent," came +from Captain Ponsberry. "As we stand now, we are but four to seven or +eight. If we could get Grandon and Vincent to aid us we would be six +against them."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps all the hands are not in the mutiny," suggested Larry. "Why +not try to sound them?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of doing that."</p> + +<p>A little later Captain Ponsberry called up the companionway. At first +nobody paid any attention to him, but presently the hatch was shoved +aside a few inches and Ostag Semmel looked down. Behind him was +Shamhaven.</p> + +<p>"Semmel, what does this mean?" asked the captain, as calmly as he +could.</p> + +<p>"It means dat ve haf de ship," replied the Russian, with a grin.</p> + +<p>"You are carrying matters with a very high hand. Where are Grandon +and Vincent?"</p> + +<p>"I not tell you dat."</p> + +<p>"We had a right to mutiny," said Shamhaven. "The grub wasn't fit to +eat and was getting worse every day."</p> + +<p>"That's a tale gotten up for the occasion, Shamhaven, and you know +it. Semmel doctored the food to make you dissatisfied."</p> + +<p>"Well, we don't think so," grumbled the sailor. "I don't think so, +and Groot and the others don't either."</p> + +<p>"Has Jack Wilbur joined you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly he has," was Shamhaven's ready reply, but his look belied +his words.</p> + +<p>"Ve are all pount to stick togedder," said Semmel. "You might as vell +gif up—der sooner der petter for you!"</p> + +<p>"I don't propose to give up, you rascal."</p> + +<p>"Ton't you call me a rascals, no!" shouted Ostag Semmel. "I vos now +der captains, yes, do you hear? Captain Semmel!"</p> + +<p>"Bosh!" put in Luke Striker, in disgust. "Why ye ain't fit to be the +skipper 'f a canal-boat!"</p> + +<p>"If you try to navigate the ship you'll sink her on the rocks," put +in Larry.</p> + +<p>"You had better consider what you are doing, Shamhaven," went on the +master of the <i>Columbia</i>. "Remember, if I regain possession of the +schooner I can make it go hard with you."</p> + +<p>"You no get dare schooner again, not much!" came from Peterson, who +had just come up, followed by Jack Wilbur.</p> + +<p>"Wilbur, are you in this?" demanded the captain. "If you are, I must +confess I didn't think it of you."</p> + +<p>"I ain't goin' to eat poor grub," answered Wilbur, lamely.</p> + +<p>"The grub is all right and you know it. It was doctored up by Semmel, +and I——"</p> + +<p>"You stop dat talk!" roared Semmel, and then he added: "Maybe you gif +in after you are goot an' hungry, hey?"</p> + +<p>"What, do you want to starve us out?" cried Larry.</p> + +<p>"You see—chust vait!" answered the Russian, and with this the +hatch was again put in place and the conference came to an end.</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry was fairly boiling with wrath, but even so he +realized that prudence is often the better part of valor.</p> + +<p>"There is no use of trying a rush to the deck," he said. "Those +rascals would surely shoot us down. Just now some of them are in the +humor for anything."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can do something to-night," suggested Larry.</p> + +<p>"They talk about starving us out," said Luke. "Ain't there nothin' to +eat here?"</p> + +<p>An inspection was made of the cabin pantry, which brought to light +some preserves, some pickles, a pot of cheese, and a tin of fancy +crackers.</p> + +<p>"About enough for one meal," said Captain Ponsberry, grimly.</p> + +<p>"And a pretty slim one at that," added Larry. "But I say, captain," +he added, suddenly, "isn't there a door leading from the back of the +pantry down into the hold?"</p> + +<p>"There was once—but I had it nailed up years ago, for we never +used it."</p> + +<p>"If we can open that, we might get something from the hold."</p> + +<p>"Going to eat machinery?" demanded Luke.</p> + +<p>"No—canned goods, Luke; I know Jeff had some placed there, for +he didn't have room in his store-room."</p> + +<p>"Dat am a fac'," put in the cook. "I'se got lots ob t'ings in dat dar +hold."</p> + +<p>"Then that settles the starving question," said Captain Ponsberry. +"I've got a small saw and a hammer down here somewhere. We can use them +on the door."</p> + +<p>"And that gives me another idea," went on Larry. "The hatch covering +over the companionway belongs to the fore hatch. If we can reach that +opening from here, why can't we steal on deck when we get the chance and +try to make the mutineers prisoners?"</p> + +<p>"Eureka!" shouted Luke. "That's the talk, Larry. Fer your years +you've got a wonderfully long head on ye. We'll make 'em prisoners or +chuck 'em overboard!"</p> + +<p>"The idea is worth considering," said the captain. "But we must be +careful."</p> + +<p>A search was made and the hammer, small saw, and also a chisel were +found. Then they cleaned out the pantry, took down several shelves, and +thus uncovered the small door which had been nailed up.</p> + +<p>"Don't make any noise, or they'll suspect that we are up to +something," said Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"Let Jeff rattle some dishes," said Larry, and while he and Luke +worked on the door, the cook began to handle the dishes in such a rough +manner that several were broken. He also tried to sing a couple of +verses of his favorite song, "My Gal Susannah!" but his voice was so +shaky that the effort was, artistically, a failure, although it added to +the noise, which was all that was desired.</p> + +<p>"They're pretty happy down there," said Wilbur to Shamhaven, as he +listened to the sounds.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they're putting on a front," growled Shamhaven. "They'll sing a +different tune when their stomachs are empty."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about this mutiny," went on the weak-kneed sailor, +nervously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all right and you needn't to worry, Wilbur. If we stick +together we'll make a couple of thousand apiece out of this game."</p> + +<p>"But what shall we do if we fall in with a Russian warship?"</p> + +<p>"Semmel has that all fixed. He'll expose the captain and state that +the <i>Columbia</i> is carrying a cargo for the Japanese Government, and +that he took possession in the name of the Czar. With this war on they +won't ask too many questions so long as they can give the Japs a black +eye."</p> + +<p>"I see. But supposing we fall in with a Japanese warship?"</p> + +<p>"Then Semmel is going to turn the command over to me and I'll tell +them that the cargo was really meant for the Japanese Government but +that Captain Ponsberry, just before we left Manila, sold out to the +Russian agents and was going to Vladivostok. I'll add that we refused to +go to the Russian port after signing for Nagasaki, and all of the men +can back me up. That will put the captain and his friends in limbo and +give us some prize money. Oh, we'll come out ahead, don't you worry," +concluded Shamhaven, confidently.</p> + +<p>The day passed slowly and the mutineers held several meetings, to +settle upon just what they were going to do. But all had been drinking +more than was good for them and the conferences ended in nothing but +talk. Semmel was the accepted leader, but it was plain to see that +Shamhaven objected strongly to playing a secondary part, and Peterson +also wanted a large "finger in the pie."</p> + +<p>As they worked with care, it was a good hour and a half before Larry +and Luke managed to take down the door leading into the hold. Even when +this was done they found on the other side several heavy cases of +machinery almost impossible to budge.</p> + +<p>"We can pry those out of the way," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"A foot or so will do it," returned Larry. "Then I think I can crawl +over the top."</p> + +<p>They continued the work, and a little later the young second mate was +able to squeeze his way to the top of the cargo in that vicinity.</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Larry," warned the captain. "If a case should shift with +the ship you might get a crushed leg. You had better take a candle +along."</p> + +<p>"I will, sir."</p> + +<p>Luke was as anxious to get into the hold as the young second mate, +and he too squeezed his tall, lank form through the opening. Guided by +the faint light of the candle, they crawled over a number of cases of +machinery and war goods until they drew close to the middle of the +ship.</p> + +<p>"Here we are!" cried Larry, in a low voice, and pointed to some cases +of canned goods. "Beans, corn, tomatoes, salt pork, condensed +milk—we won't starve just yet, Luke."</p> + +<p>"An' here are some barrels o' flour," added the old tar. "No, they +can't starve us nohow now."</p> + +<p>They had brought the chisel and hammer along, and with extra caution +opened some of the cases. Taking with them all the goods they could +carry, they returned to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"This is splendid!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "With this stuff on hand +we can hold the cabin indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"How is I gwine to cook?" questioned Jeff.</p> + +<p>"Over the two lanterns, Jeff. It will be slow work, but our time is +our own. Luckily there are pots and tins in the pantry."</p> + +<p>"All right, sah."</p> + +<p>"Of course, I am hoping that we shall not have to stay here long," +went on the captain. "But it is best to be prepared."</p> + +<p>That those on deck might not see the cooking going on, one of the +staterooms was cleaned out and Jeff went to work in this. In the +meantime Semmel called down the companionway once more.</p> + +<p>"Are you gettin' hungry?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Tell him yes," whispered Larry.</p> + +<p>"Why?" questioned the captain, in an equally low tone.</p> + +<p>"Then he'll think we are getting ready to come to terms and he won't +watch us so closely."</p> + +<p>"I see." Captain Ponsberry raised his voice. "Yes, we are hungry," he +called up. "What are you going to send us, something good?"</p> + +<p>"Ve send noddings. Maybe you talk business soon, hey?" continued the +rascally Russian.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<p>"How soon?"</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"Not before dot, hey?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"All right den; you can go on an' starve so long!" growled Ostag +Semmel, and went away. A moment later he met Shamhaven.</p> + +<p>"What did he say?" asked the latter, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"He comes to terms to-morrow!" answered the Russian, triumphantly.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="8">CHAPTER VIII</a></h3> + +<h4>TURNING THE TABLES</h4> + +<p class="p2">The meal which Jeff prepared put all in the cabin in +better humor, and as soon as it was over a council of war was held.</p> + +<p>It was decided to wait until darkness had set in, and then try to +gain the deck of the ship by way of the fore hatch. In the meantime the +door to the companionway was to be locked and barred, so that the +mutineers could not attack them very well from that direction, should a +running fight ensue.</p> + +<p>As Jeff would be of no use in a struggle he was delegated to remain +in the cabin, to make as much noise as possible, singing and talking to +himself, so that the mutineers might not suspect what was taking +place.</p> + +<p>Each member of the party armed himself both with a pistol and a +cutlass, and Larry led the way as before, candle in hand. It was easy +for Luke to follow him, but rather difficult for the captain, who was +more portly.</p> + +<p>"Reckon as how ye shouldn't have eaten so much, captain," chuckled +the old tar, as he helped Captain Ponsberry through a particularly +narrow place.</p> + +<p>"True, Striker," was the answer. "But you be careful that you don't +slip into some slit between the cases and go out of sight."</p> + +<p>They soon gained the spot where the canned goods had been found. They +had now to climb over some machinery that reached nearly to the top of +the hold, and then over a varied collection of boxes and barrels and +bags. On the bags lay some of the old sails of the ship and several +coils of discarded rope.</p> + +<p>They were just approaching the open fore hatch when they saw a rope +ladder let down. Instantly Larry uttered a warning and put out the +light.</p> + +<p>"Somebody is coming down," he whispered.</p> + +<p>It was the sailor Wilbur, who had been sent to get some canned goods +for cooking purposes. He came down the rope ladder with a lantern slung +over one arm.</p> + +<p>"We'll make him a prisoner!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "And let us do +it as quietly as we can, so as not to disturb those on deck."</p> + +<p>The others understood and crouched back in the darkness. Then, as +Wilbur passed them, the captain caught him from the back and Larry +clapped a hand over the fellow's mouth.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" spluttered Wilbur, but that was as far as he got.</p> + +<p>"Not a word! Not a sound, Wilbur!" said Captain Ponsberry, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>The sailor understood, and being a craven at heart he almost +collapsed. It was an easy matter to take one of the old ropes and tie +his hands behind him. Then Captain Ponsberry confronted the mutineer, +making a liberal exhibition of his pistol as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Wilbur, answer me truthfully," said the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>. "Are you all in this mutiny or not? Don't speak above a +whisper."</p> + +<p>"I ain't in it!" whined Wilbur. "They dragged me in, they did. I +ain't kicking about grub, or nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Are all the others in it?"</p> + +<p>"Kind of, yes. Groot didn't care much to go in. Guess he wish he was +out of it now."</p> + +<p>"What has become of Grandon and Vincent?"</p> + +<p>"Both of 'em are prisoners in the brig."</p> + +<p>"Are they wounded?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. Grandon had his thumb cut and Vincent got a kick in the +back that lamed him."</p> + +<p>"Is anybody guarding them?"</p> + +<p>"I guess not. All of 'em have got to drinking again. Say, captain, +let me out of this fix and I'll never go against you again, never," +continued Wilbur, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that later," was the grim reply.</p> + +<p>"Captain Ponsberry, I have a scheme," put in Larry, and he drew the +master of the ship to one side. "Wilbur is about the same build as +myself. Let me take his coat and cap and go on deck and down to the +brig. If I can release Grandon and Vincent we'll be sure to knock out +the mutiny in no time."</p> + +<p>"It's a dangerous game, Larry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, please let me do it!" pleaded the young second mate. The hazard +was one which appealed to him strongly.</p> + +<p>The matter was talked over for a few minutes and it was decided to +let Larry have his way. Wilbur was soon stripped of his coat and the +young second mate donned the garment. Then he took the mutineer's cap +and pulled it as far over his brow as possible and turned up the coat +collar.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave the lantern here," he said, and a second later was +mounting the rope ladder slowly and cautiously.</p> + +<p>With his head on a level with the deck Larry paused to reconnoiter +the situation. He knew exactly how dangerous his mission was and that he +was running the risk of being shot. But his life in our navy had made +him bold, and seeing nobody in sight, he leaped out on deck, and hurried +with all speed to the ladder leading to the brig. Soon he was in front +of the barred door.</p> + +<p>"Grandon! Vincent!" he called, softly.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, who's that?" came in the voice of the first mate.</p> + +<p>"It is I, Larry. Is Vincent there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>"The cabin." Larry unbarred the door. "Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. How are you?"</p> + +<p>"I am all right, and so are the captain and Luke Striker. They are in +the hold, ready to come on deck. We have made Wilbur a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"Good enough," came from the boatswain. "The rascals! They ought all +to walk the plank!" he added, vehemently.</p> + +<p>The two men had their hands tied behind them, but it was an easy +matter for Larry to liberate them. Then each provided himself with a +belaying pin, and all three of the party stole to the deck.</p> + +<p>From the forecastle and the cook's galley came loud talking, showing +that the mutineers were making themselves at home. One man was trying to +do some cooking.</p> + +<p>"What's keeping Wilbur so long?" he demanded of the others.</p> + +<p>Nobody knew, and one of the crowd, the sailor named Groot, +volunteered to look the missing one up.</p> + +<p>"Let us follow him to the hatch," whispered Larry. "Perhaps we can +make him a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"Right you are," answered Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>With caution they came up behind the man, and just as Groot leaned +over the open hatchway, they caught him tightly.</p> + +<p>"Keep silent, Groot!" said Grandon. "Keep silent, or we'll throw you +overboard."</p> + +<p>"Stop!" roared the mutineer. "Help! hel——"</p> + +<p>He got no further, for raising his belaying pin, Vincent brought it +down on the mutineer's head. Groot had been the one to lame the +boatswain's back and the latter had not forgotten it. Over went the +fellow and sank down as if dead.</p> + +<p>"Drop him into the hold," ordered Grandon, and this was done just as +Captain Ponsberry and Luke Striker appeared at the foot of the rope +ladder.</p> + +<p>"Another, eh?" said the master of the <i>Columbia</i>. "Good enough! +How are you, Tom? How are you, Vincent?"</p> + +<p>"We're ready to fight 'em," answered the first mate. "Come on! +They've got so much liquor aboard they can't do much to us!"</p> + +<p>"Be careful, I don't want anybody shot if it can be avoided," +responded Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be a good plan to dump them all into the hold," +said Larry. "Then we could nail up that pantry door, put the hatch into +place, and keep them at our mercy."</p> + +<p>"If the plan will work, it's a good one," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>One after another they came out on deck, leaving Wilbur and Groot in +the hold. They found the mutineers equally divided between the galley +and the forecastle. The only man in charge of the schooner was Conroy, +who was at the wheel.</p> + +<p>As they advanced upon the forecastle they saw Semmel come out, +accompanied by Peterson.</p> + +<p>"There are the ringleaders!" cried Captain Ponsberry, and rushing up +to them he exclaimed: "Surrender, you rascals!" And he aimed his pistol, +while the others also raised their weapons.</p> + +<p>The Russian and his companion were taken completely by surprise, and +before they could draw any weapons of their own it was too late. Grandon +tripped one up and fell upon him, and then Vincent and Larry tripped up +the other. There was a brief scuffle, the exchange of several blows +which did little damage, and in a trice Semmel and Peterson were thrown +down into the hold bodily, and the ladder was hauled up out of their +reach.</p> + +<p>"Put that hatch over the opening," cried Captain Ponsberry to Larry. +"And then go into the cabin pantry and nail up that door. Be quick about +it, or they may get out!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!" cried the young second mate, and ran off with all +speed. The hatch was large and heavy, but the excitement lent him +strength and he dragged it forward and threw it over the hatchway.</p> + +<p>"Stop dat!" roared Semmel, in a drunken voice, but Larry paid no +attention. His next movement was toward the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Don't yo' tech me!" roared Jeff, in alarm. "Oh, it am yo'!" he +added, as he recognized Larry. "How am de battle gwine?"</p> + +<p>"We've got 'em on the run—four are prisoners in the hold," was +Larry's reply. "Get me that box of nails, Jeff—I must put that +door back as it was!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah; yes, sah!" answered the cook, eagerly, and brought forth +the nails in question. Then he helped to put the door into place, and +held it while Larry nailed the barrier. The job was just completed when +the young second mate heard voices from the hold.</p> + +<p>"Hi, dare, you let us out," came from Peterson. "Ve vill mak it +right, yes!"</p> + +<p>"You keep quiet," ordered Larry, and would say no more. Against the +door he and Jeff placed several trunks and boxes taken from the +staterooms opening off of the cabin.</p> + +<p>During this time the party led by Captain Ponsberry had attacked the +balance of the mutineers. There was a brief fight and Shamhaven got a +cutlass cut on the knee. But then the men surrendered, and one after +another was made to drop down into the hold, and the hatch was shut and +battened down.</p> + +<p>The only man who was not thus made a prisoner was Conroy, who begged +at once to be forgiven.</p> + +<p>"They got me to drink, captain," he pleaded. "I didn't know what I +was doing. Forgive it, and I'll be the best man you ever had on +board."</p> + +<p>"Can I depend upon you, Conroy?" asked Captain Ponsberry, +sternly.</p> + +<p>"You can, sir—I give you my word on it."</p> + +<p>"You won't try to help the mutineers?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; no, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Very well then, I'll try you. But, remember, if you try any dirty +work it will go hard with you. Now tell me, was Wilbur in favor of this +mutiny?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he was not. Semmel forced him into it."</p> + +<p>"What of the others. Who were the ringleaders?"</p> + +<p>"Semmel and Peterson and Shamhaven. The others didn't want to do +anything but complain about the grub," answered Conroy, and then told +the particulars of the mutiny from beginning to end.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="9">CHAPTER IX</a></h3> + +<h4>CLOSE TO A WATERSPOUT</h4> + +<p class="p2">It was decided to leave the mutineers in the hold +undisturbed until morning. This done, those who had been hurt in the +scrimmage had their wounds attended to, and then Jeff was set to work to +prepare a good meal for all the loyal party. The galley was in a state +of disorder, but this counted for nothing, and Jeff soon had matters +straightened out.</p> + +<p>After so much excitement nobody thought of retiring. Luke was +stationed over the fore hatch, to give warning of any attempt on the +part of the mutineers to regain their liberty. He was armed and he +threatened to "blow the hull head off" of anybody who dared to show +himself or make a noise. As a consequence the mutineers did nothing. Two +made their way to the nailed-up door, but finding they could not open +it, gave up the attempt as a bad job.</p> + +<p>As a punishment for his misdeeds Conroy was kept at the wheel during +the whole of the night. He was willing enough to do the extra work if +only the captain would forgive him for his actions. The master of the +ship questioned him closely, and in the end reached the conclusion that +only Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven were the leaders in the attempt to +seize the ship and that the others had followed after them like so many +sheep.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear this," he said to Grandon and Larry. "I think +after I read them a strong lecture they'll behave themselves."</p> + +<p>"But we shall have to watch 'em closely," said the first mate.</p> + +<p>"What will you do with Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven?" asked +Larry.</p> + +<p>"Put them in irons and keep them there until the end of the trip. +When we reach Nagasaki they can take their choice of leaving or of being +kicked off the ship. If they raise a row I'll hand them over to the +authorities."</p> + +<p>"You ought to have them locked up."</p> + +<p>"True, lad; but with this war on hand the courts won't want to bother +with such a case."</p> + +<p>It was not until nine o'clock in the morning that Captain Ponsberry +had the forward hatch raised once more. Those below were almost dying +for fresh air and water.</p> + +<p>"I want Wilbur to come up," he said.</p> + +<p>"Can't we have some water?" demanded Shamhaven.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you'll behave yourselves," was the short answer.</p> + +<p>There was a babble of voices, but the master of the ship paid no +attention. Each man who had been thrown below was unarmed, so there was +no danger of any shooting. Presently Wilbur came up the rope ladder +thrown to him, looking sheepish enough.</p> + +<p>"What have you to say for yourself?" demanded the captain, when +Wilbur threw himself on his knees.</p> + +<p>"Don't count it against me, cap'!" he groaned. "I didn't want to go +into it, I tell you! I didn't want to go in!"</p> + +<p>"If I forgive you, will you give me your word to behave +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!"</p> + +<p>"You won't do any more underhanded work?"</p> + +<p>"You can shoot me if I do, captain."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I'll remember that. Now go forward and help put the ship +in good order. Larry, set him to work, and see that he does just what +you tell him." And Wilbur went off, with the young second mate +following, thanking his stars that he had not been swung to the yardarm, +for mutiny on the high seas is a capital offense.</p> + +<p>One by one the mutineers were allowed to come on deck, until only +Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven remained below. Those to come up pleaded +to be forgiven and promised to obey orders in the future and let the +captain run the ship to suit himself.</p> + +<p>During the night, Groot had had a bitter quarrel with Semmel, and the +Russian appeared presently with a black eye and two of his front teeth +loose. He was promptly put in irons, and the handcuffing of Peterson and +Shamhaven followed.</p> + +<p>"I have allowed the other men their liberty because you three led +them into this affair," said Captain Ponsberry to the trio of rascals. +"I intend to keep you in irons until the end of the trip."</p> + +<p>At this there was a loud complaint, and the three made all manner of +protestations, but the master of the <i>Columbia</i> was obdurate, and +at last threatened to throw them into the hold again. This quieted them +for the time being, and after being given a square meal and a drink of +water, they were marched off to the brig, which was cleaned of +everything else for their accommodation.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for the <i>Columbia</i> the weather remained fair, so +that the loss of the prisoners was not felt when it came to handling the +schooner. Those who had mutinied were only too glad to get back into +Captain Ponsberry's good graces and they did whatever was required with +an alacrity which was as astonishing as it was gratifying. They ate +whatever was set before them, and soon reached the conclusion that the +food was really better than they deserved.</p> + +<p>"We were fools to follow Semmel," said Wilbur; and Conroy and some +others fully agreed with him.</p> + +<p>But though it now looked as if the men could be trusted, Captain +Ponsberry determined to keep his eyes on them. Vincent was placed at the +head of one watch and Luke at the head of the other, so that, with one +or the other of the mates, the deck was always guarded by at least two +persons that could be depended upon.</p> + +<p>The captain had hoped for favorable breezes following the heavy +storm, but these did not come, and day after day passed with the old +<i>Columbia</i> making slow progress toward Nagasaki. Formosa was passed +during a bit of thick weather, so that nothing was seen of that island. +Then the sun came out again, hotter than ever, so that Larry was glad to +keep in the shade as much as possible.</p> + +<p>"It's not so exciting as it was a few days ago," remarked Luke to +Larry one day, when both were seated in the shade of the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"I am glad that mutiny is at an end," answered Larry. "It's a great +wonder that somebody wasn't killed or seriously wounded."</p> + +<p>"The men didn't have their hearts in the rumpus, thet's why, Larry. +If they had really meant business—well, I reckon some <ins +title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'on'">of</ins> us wouldn't be +here now to tell the tale."</p> + +<p>"I think Semmel meant business."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he's a heap sight worse nor any o' the others."</p> + +<p>"It was a mistake to take him on board. I tell you, a captain can't +be too careful who he puts in his forecastle."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know the reason—those other hands gettin' sick at +Manila. But I can tell you, I'd rather have a crew of Americans any +day."</p> + +<p>"They are hard to get."</p> + +<p>"True fer you." The old Yankee tar heaved a sigh. "The old days are +gone, sure enough. My! my! what times we used to have, when we'd go out, +every man a-knowin' every other man on the ship, an' all about him, too! +Then it was like a big family settin' sail. Now, if you go on a new ship +ye don't know nobody an' nobody knows nobody else."</p> + +<p>"I guess you expect to live and die a sailor, don't you, Luke?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know but what I do, unless somebody leaves me money enough to +live like a millionaire," and the old tar grinned.</p> + +<p>Day after day passed and the <i>Columbia</i> kept on her course, +making as straight a passage for Nagasaki as possible. One day there +would be a fair breeze and the next a dead calm.</p> + +<p>"This is unusual weather for this quarter of the globe," said Captain +Ponsberry to Larry. "Like as not it will end in another hurricane."</p> + +<p>"In that case what will you do, release Semmel and the others?"</p> + +<p>"I may release Peterson and Shamhaven, but not Semmel, for he was the +real ringleader."</p> + +<p>There were strong signs of a storm in the air that night, but they +brought forth nothing, and on the following morning the sun came up as +full and bright as before. The breeze came by fits and starts, from +first one direction and then another, and the man at the wheel had all +he could do to keep the schooner to her course. Sails were shifted half +a dozen times, but without making any improvement.</p> + +<p>"The weather is certainly queer," said Grandon. "Puts me in mind of +the time I was caught in a tidal wave in the South Seas. Before the wave +struck us we had just such cuttings-up."</p> + +<p>"I trust we don't strike a tidal wave," answered Larry. "If it was +high enough it might swamp us."</p> + +<p>"True; but when you're on the deep blue sea, lad, you've got to take +whatever comes," replied the first mate, solemnly.</p> + +<p>Dinner was a quiet affair for all on board, and shortly after the +repast Larry went to the forward deck, to have another chat with Luke. +While the two were talking they were joined by Captain Ponsberry; and +soon the three were conversing about old times once more.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the swim we once took in the Pacific?" said Larry to +Luke. "The time the sawfish smashed the boat and came after us?"</p> + +<p>"Reckon I do," was the Yankee tar's response. "We had a lively swim +fer it, didn't we?"</p> + +<p>"And the time we visited the island and you turned the turtles?" went +on Larry. "And do you remember that snake that chased us into the +water?"</p> + +<p>"I do, Larry. Tell you what, we've had our share of adventures. When +Admiral Dewey——What is it, captain?"</p> + +<p>Luke broke off short and looked at Captain Ponsberry inquiringly. The +master of the <i>Columbia</i> was gazing over the port bow in an +earnest, puzzled fashion.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that little black cloud, Striker?"</p> + +<p>"I do, sir!" And now Luke became all attention and so did Larry. +"Kind o' funny lookin', ain't it?"</p> + +<p>"It is odd," answered the captain. "Do you see how it seems to be +dancing around in the sky?"</p> + +<p>"Is it a cloud?" questioned Larry. "If so, I never saw its like +before."</p> + +<p>"I'll take a look at it through my glass," went on the captain, and +sent a sailor for the article.</p> + +<p>The cloud came swiftly closer and they heard a most unusual roaring +and hissing. Then of a sudden the cloud seemed to dip down into the sea. +When it came up, the waters of the ocean followed, and there loomed up +before those on the ship a waterspout ten or fifteen feet thick.</p> + +<p>"A waterspout!" cried half a dozen in concert.</p> + +<p>"And a mighty powerful one, too," said the captain. "I trust it don't +come this way."</p> + +<p><a name="33"></a>"It is coming this way!" yelled Larry. "Look! look!" +</p> + +<p>The young second mate was right, the waterspout appeared to be headed +directly for the schooner. But then it shot off to the westward, +churning the water into a foam behind it.</p> + +<p>"It's going away," murmured Luke, when once more the waterspout made +a curve and then shot directly toward them. It was off the port bow and +less than a hundred feet away. It looked as if the old <i>Columbia</i> +was surely doomed!</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="10">CHAPTER X</a></h3> + +<h4>SOMETHING ABOUT WAR AND FIGHTING SHIPS</h4> + +<p class="p2">"It's going to strike the ship!"</p> + +<p>"It will cut us to pieces!"</p> + +<p>"Throw the schooner over on the other tack!"</p> + +<p>These and several other cries rang out on the deck of the +<i>Columbia</i>. All felt their hearts come up into their throats as the +roaring, swirling mass of water came closer and closer, until the spray +drenched them completely. The ocean was churned into a white foam and +the wind seemed to suck and blow in all directions at once.</p> + +<p>But, just as it looked as if the schooner would be buried beneath a +veritable mountain of water, the waterspout took another curve and slid +away, along the side of the ship and off the stern. The man at the wheel +came close to being carried overboard by the deluge he received and the +<i>Columbia</i> bobbed up and down like a cork. But in another moment +the waterspout was an eighth of a mile distant.</p> + +<p>"What a—a narrow escape," faltered Larry, when he felt able to +speak. "I thought we were bound for the bottom sure!"</p> + +<p>"Thet's the closest I ever was to any waterspout," came from Luke, as +he wiped his wet brow. "Reckon we can thank Providence we ain't in Davy +Jones' locker this minit!"</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry did not say much, but kept his eyes fixed on the +waterspout, which was making fantastic curves across the bosom of the +Pacific. At times it was close by and then it would go half a mile or +more away. It was a fascinating scene, full of dread, and gave more than +one onlooker a chill down his backbone.</p> + +<p>"I wish it would go away completely," went on Larry.</p> + +<p>But this was not to be. The waterspout kept within sight for a good +half-hour, although it did not come near them again. At last it grew +less and less, off to the southwestward, and finally vanished +altogether. The glass was used in that direction, but nothing save a +clear horizon could be located.</p> + +<p>"We are clear of it at last," said Captain Ponsberry, and breathed a +long sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"Waterspouts are mighty dangerous things," said Grandon, after the +scare was over. "When I was on board of the brig <i>Ben Franklin</i> we +ran into a spout off the coast of Brazil, and it knocked off the bow and +the forward rail and nearly sank us."</p> + +<p>"I met one once, off the coast of Cuba," said the captain. "That went +ashore and tore up the trees like so many weeds for a hundred feet +around. A waterspout is nothing to be fooled with, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>On the day following the appearance of the waterspout the weather +changed. There was a slight storm and then a stiff breeze sprang up +which was cheering to all on board. Every stitch of canvas on the +<i>Columbia</i> was spread and the schooner bowled along right +merrily.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know how this war is going on, and how Ben and Gilbert +are faring," said Larry to Captain Ponsberry. "A whole lot may have +happened since we left Manila."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll probably get word from your brother when you reach +Nagasaki, lad; and we'll get word from Captain Pennington, too."</p> + +<p>"I hope neither of them has been wounded."</p> + +<p>"So do I; but when one goes to the front he has got to put up with +the fortunes of war. Being a soldier of fortune, as it is called, is no +baby business."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose the Japs are continuing to bombard Port Arthur?"</p> + +<p>"More than likely—if the place hasn't fallen into their hands. +They want to make sure of their footing in lower Manchuria, and they can +never do that so long as the Russians hold a single seaport down +there."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Russia has a pretty good-sized navy as well as an +army?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Larry, one of the largest navies in the world. But their +fighting ships are no better than the ships of Japan. You see, the +Japanese navy is not near as old as the navy of Russia. Almost all of +the ships are of the up-to-date types. Most of them have been built +since the war between Japan and China in 1894 and 1895."</p> + +<p>"That would make them only about ten years old."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, and I've been told that some of the ships in the Russian +navy are twenty and thirty years old. More than this, all of the +Japanese guns are of the latest pattern—just as they are on our +new warships."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to go aboard of a Japanese warship," cried the young second +mate, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Want to see if it's as good as it was aboard of the <i>Olympia</i>, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Of course the <i>Olympia</i> was old, especially alongside +of the <i>Brooklyn</i>, on which my brother Walter served in Cuban +waters, but even so she was a bang-up fighting machine. If she hadn't +been she wouldn't have done her share in sinking that Spanish fleet in +Manila Bay."</p> + +<p>"Well, you may have a chance to go aboard of a Japanese ship while we +stop at Nagasaki. There must be a number of them at that port, coaling +up and taking war supplies aboard."</p> + +<p>"How long do you think it will be before we reach that port?"</p> + +<p>"That will depend entirely upon the wind, as you know. If we get just +what we need we may reach there inside of four or five days," answered +Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>As Peterson and Shamhaven were now behaving themselves they were +allowed to come out of the brig and do some work on the deck every +morning and afternoon. Both begged the captain to forgive them, but the +master of the <i>Columbia</i> would promise nothing.</p> + +<p>"You went into this with your eyes wide open," he said. "Now you can +line up and take your medicine."</p> + +<p>Semmel was exceedingly bitter at not being allowed his liberty for at +least a few hours a day and said he would denounce the captain at the +first opportunity. But Captain Ponsberry soon cut him short.</p> + +<p>"You keep a civil tongue in your head," he said, sternly. "Unless you +do, I'll put you down on hard-tack and water." And thereupon Semmel +became sullenly silent.</p> + +<p>Towards evening of the day upon which Larry had the conversation +about warships with Captain Ponsberry a Chinese junk, heavily laden with +grass-covered boxes, was passed. Nobody on board could speak English, so +the hail that was sent over the water brought no results.</p> + +<p>"We are getting closer to the coast shipping," said the master of the +<i>Columbia</i>. "I suppose we'll meet quite a few vessels from now +on."</p> + +<p>During the night an unexpected gale came up and the schooner was +blown far out of her course. The gale came from the westward, so the +vessel was blown to the east.</p> + +<p>"This will make the trip a day or two longer," grumbled Grandon, +after the gale had spent itself.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but as we didn't lose a spar or a rag of canvas we can be +thankful that it is no worse," responded Larry, who was always ready to +look on the bright side.</p> + +<p>The gale subsided after a blow of twenty-four hours and then the bow +of the <i>Columbia</i> was once more set towards her destination. Only a +few knots had been covered when the lookout reported a vessel in +sight.</p> + +<p>"It's a steamer!" cried Larry, for the smoke from the craft's funnels +was plainly to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Maybe she's a warship," returned Tom Grandon, who was beside him. +"If so, I hope she's a Japanese."</p> + +<p>The steamer was coming along at a good rate of speed and soon they +made her out to be a British vessel. She was a "tramp," that is, a +vessel going from port to port, picking up whatever cargo can be +found.</p> + +<p>"Ahoy, there!" cried Captain Ponsberry, as the tramp slowed up. "What +ship is that?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Lord Duffield</i>," was the answer. "What ship is that?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Columbia</i>."</p> + +<p>"Where are you bound?"</p> + +<p>"For Nagasaki. And you?"</p> + +<p>"For Hong-Kong."</p> + +<p>A little more talk followed, and the captain of the <i>Lord +Duffield</i> vouchsafed the information that he had sighted a Russian +warship the day before.</p> + +<p>"A warship!" murmured Larry.</p> + +<p>"Which way was she bound?" asked Captain Ponsberry, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you. She stopped us and asked a few questions and then +slipped away in the darkness."</p> + +<p>"What warship was she?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Pocastra</i>, from Vladivostok. I think she used to be in the +merchant service and was built over for the navy."</p> + +<p>The captain of the British steamer could give no further information, +and so resumed his course, and the master of the <i>Columbia</i> did +likewise.</p> + +<p>"Ain't very nice news, is it?" said Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>"It's very unpleasant news," returned Captain Ponsberry, with a shrug +of his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"What can we do, Tom? Trust to luck that we get into Nagasaki harbor, +or some other port, in safety."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to keep a sharp lookout for anything that looks like a +warship, unless, of course, she flies a Japanese flag."</p> + +<p>Word was passed around to those who could be trusted, and all day +long one of the mates and a foremast hand were kept on the lookout, +taking turns at looking through the best glass the schooner +possessed.</p> + +<p>"This is almost as exciting as being in a war," said Larry, when he +was on duty with Luke. "Don't you know how we looked for the Spanish +ships?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, lad; but if we sight a Russian warship it will be small +fighting we'll do, to my way of thinking."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we won't be able to fight at all. We'll simply have to rely on +our wits to keep us out of being gobbled up as a prize of war," +responded the young second mate.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="11">CHAPTER XI</a></h3> + +<h4>AN ORDER TO LAY-TO</h4> + +<p class="p2">When taking on his cargo at Manila, Captain Ponsberry had +considered the possibility of being captured by a Russian warship, and +had talked the matter over with the agents of the Richmond Importing +Company and with a Japanese official who was doing business on the sly +in the Philippines.</p> + +<p>The Japanese Government was willing to pay for the cargo, whether it +was delivered or not—presuming it was "gobbled up" by the +Russians, but was not willing to pay for the ship if the vessel was +taken as a prize of war.</p> + +<p>"That is a risk you must take yourself," said the Japanese official. +"We are willing to pay a high price for the cargo—we cannot do +more." And so the risk—so far as the schooner went—was +divided equally between the Richmond Importing Company and Captain +Ponsberry and the other owners of the <i>Columbia</i>.</p> + +<p>As nearly the captain's whole wealth was tied up in his share of the +schooner, he was naturally anxious to make a safe trip, and he often +came on deck to aid the lookouts in watching for the possible appearance +of an enemy.</p> + +<p>"If you see the least thing that looks suspicious, tell me at once," +was his order, and it was strictly obeyed. As a consequence they ran +away from two steamers that afternoon and another steamer the next +morning—all too far off to show exactly what they were.</p> + +<p>"This isn't bringing us much nearer to port," said Larry to Cal +Vincent, who was using the glass at the time. "I don't believe we have +made a dozen knots since yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Well, the old man is a bit nervous," responded the boatswain, in a +low voice. "And I don't blame him. It's no small matter to lose your +craft and be thrown into prison in the bargain."</p> + +<p>"Would they dare to throw us into prison?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure,—if they could prove that we were aiding the +Japs."</p> + +<p>"Well, they'll have hard work proving that."</p> + +<p>An hour went by and it began to grow misty. Then came a call from the +bow.</p> + +<p>"Sail in sight!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded the captain instantly.</p> + +<p>"A big steamer o' some sort."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry ran forward and took the glass. For fully two +minutes he did not speak and then he drew a long breath and put down the +glass.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid she's a warship," he exclaimed, and his voice sounded +unnatural.</p> + +<p>"A warship!" echoed Larry. "Will you let me look?"</p> + +<p>He did so, and it was not long before he could make out the +approaching craft quite clearly.</p> + +<p>"Well?" demanded Grandon, who knew that Larry's eyes were unusually +strong.</p> + +<p>"I reckon the captain is right."</p> + +<p>"A warship?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, not a very large affair, but still a warship. I shouldn't be +surprised if she was the converted vessel the <i>Lord Duffield</i> +sighted."</p> + +<p>"Just what I think," put in Captain Ponsberry. "We've got to do our +best to show her a clean pair of heels."</p> + +<p>"The mist may help us to run away," suggested Grandon.</p> + +<p>"Let us hope so."</p> + +<p>Necessary orders were given, and soon the <i>Columbia</i> swung +around on another tack, so that she had the large vessel on her +starboard quarter. But this movement was evidently noted by the +stranger, and the latter headed directly for the schooner once more.</p> + +<p>"She is after us, that is positive," said Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"There is a bank of mist over to the northward," returned Larry. "Why +not run into that?"</p> + +<p>"Well spoken, lad; we'll do it, and as soon as the mist hides us we +can go over on the other tack and throw her off the scent."</p> + +<p>The mist the young second mate had mentioned was nearly a quarter of +a mile away and it was a question whether they could reach it before the +stranger came up. But fortune favored those on the schooner. The mist +rolled toward them, and in less than two minutes they were hidden as +completely as could be desired.</p> + +<p>"Now to get entirely out of the way," exclaimed Captain Ponsberry, +and lost not a moment in having the sails shifted and a new course set. +Through the mist they heard the other vessel steaming around noisily and +did their best to keep as far away as possible from the sound.</p> + +<p>All during that evening and the night to follow the <i>Columbia</i> +kept to her new course. This was taking her away from Nagasaki, but this +could not <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'he'">be</ins> +helped. The captain said if it became absolutely necessary he would run +into some other Japanese port.</p> + +<p>When daybreak came the mist was as thick as ever. But there were +signs that it would not last much longer, and by nine o'clock the sun +was struggling to come through the clouds. Nearly everybody was on deck, +for they realized that a fatal moment might be at hand.</p> + +<p>"There she is!"</p> + +<p>The cry came from half a dozen throats simultaneously. There, on the +port bow, loomed up the stranger, not an eighth of a mile away. That she +was a warship there was no longer any doubt, for her forward guns were +plainly to be seen.</p> + +<p>"We're caught now!" muttered Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" cried the captain, and gave orders to throw the +<i>Columbia</i> over on a new course. But scarcely had this movement +been made when there was a puff of smoke from the warship, a report, and +a shot flew in front of the schooner's bow.</p> + +<p>"There's our order to lay-to!" ejaculated Larry. "Whoever she is, she +means business."</p> + +<p>As the <i>Columbia</i> did not stop, another shot was fired, this +time just grazing the bow. Seeing there was no help for it, Captain +Ponsberry gave the necessary orders, and down came one sail after +another.</p> + +<p>As this was done the warship swung around and then those on the +schooner saw that she flew the flag of Russia.</p> + +<p>"A Russian warship!" ejaculated half a dozen.</p> + +<p>"This looks to me as if the jig was up," murmured Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>As quickly as it could be done, Captain Ponsberry assembled his men +on deck.</p> + +<p>"Men," he said, briefly, "the officers on board of that warship wish +to find out what they can about us. If you are asked questions say +nothing more than that you shipped for the voyage to Nagasaki and San +Francisco, and that you know nothing about the cargo. Do you +understand?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," came from those who were listening.</p> + +<p>"I must depend upon you to help save the ship. If the <i>Columbia</i> +is suspected of being in the employ of the Japanese Government, or of +carrying a cargo for that nation, she will be taken as a prize of war +and we'll go to a Russian prison most likely."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go to no Russian prison!" cried out Wilbur, his face +turning pale. "I ain't done nothing wrong!"</p> + +<p>"Then keep your tongue from wagging too much, Wilbur," answered the +master of the schooner, grimly.</p> + +<p>"There ain't no use o' fighting, is there?" asked Groot.</p> + +<p>"Fighting?" came from Tom Grandon. "What could the old +<i>Columbia</i> do against a man-o'-war? Why, they'd blow us sky high in +no time!"</p> + +<p>"No, there is absolutely no use of attempting to fight," answered +Captain Ponsberry. "Our only hope lays in convincing them that they have +no right to stop us."</p> + +<p>The hands were dismissed and sent forward, and Captain Ponsberry +hurried below, to burn certain papers and secrete others. This was in +accordance with the orders received from the agents of the Richmond +Importing Company at Manila.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Russian warship had come to a stop in mid-ocean +and now a small boat was lowered, containing a small crew, a coxswain, +and a Russian naval officer. At the same time a signal was hoisted which +meant that the officer was coming on board of the schooner.</p> + +<p>"Unless I miss my guess, this looks rather black for us," said Larry, +to Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Larry," responded the first mate. "But we've got +to take our medicine, no matter how bitter it is."</p> + +<p>"If only that mist had held on to-day! We might have slipped by that +warship nicely."</p> + +<p>"I only hope the old man fixes up his papers so that he can show a +clean bill of health," went on Grandon. "You see, if they can't actually +prove something against us, they won't dare to touch us. They know what +Old Glory means, and Russia has no desire just now to get into trouble +with Uncle Sam."</p> + +<p>"The worst of it is, our cargo may look too suspicious to them. Under +ordinary circumstances they know that the <i>Columbia</i> wouldn't be +carrying such a line of goods in these waters."</p> + +<p>"That's true, too."</p> + +<p>"Besides that, they may have had an agent at Nagasaki and at Manila +spying on us. They may know just what is being done. The Czar's +followers are mighty slick, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry now came on deck and gave quick orders that the +sailors should be lined up, to receive the visitor in a befitting +manner.</p> + +<p>"A little goose grease may help," he drawled, with a knowing glance +at Grandon and Larry.</p> + +<p>The foremast hands did not know much about lining up, but took the +places assigned to them, on the forward deck. Over the side a rope +ladder was thrown, and then Captain Ponsberry, Tom Grandon, and Larry +awaited the arrival of the Russian naval officer with keen interest.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="12">CHAPTER XII</a></h3> + +<h4>TAKEN AS A PRIZE OF WAR</h4> + +<p class="p2">Slowly but surely the small boat came closer to the schooner. She +rode the long swells of the Pacific with full grace, and Larry could not +help but admire the long, sturdy strokes of the jackies, as they bent to +their task.</p> + +<p>"I don't know but that they can handle a small boat as well as our +own jackies," said Larry.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't they? Russian naval training ought to be first-class," +answered Tom Grandon. "They have been at it longer than Uncle Sam."</p> + +<p>"True, but that doesn't always count. Spain had been at it longer +than we had, too, but when it came to war we beat her in double-quick +order."</p> + +<p>As the small boat came closer they saw that the jackies were mostly +men of middle age. But the coxswain was younger and so was the naval +officer, who was gazing rather anxiously toward the schooner, as if +wondering what the result of his mission would be.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if that chap can talk English?" queried the first mate. "If +he can't the old man will be up a tree, for none of us can talk +Russian."</p> + +<p>"I reckon Peterson and Semmel can talk it," answered Larry. "But we +don't want either of those rascals to open his mouth."</p> + +<p>At last the small boat came up alongside of the <i>Columbia</i>. It +was no easy matter to catch the rope ladder without getting bumped, but +it was successfully accomplished, and then the Russian officer lost no +time in coming on board. He at once saluted, and Captain Ponsberry and +his mates did the same, and the sailors in the background did +likewise.</p> + +<p>"What ship is this?" asked the Russian naval officer, after a few +necessary formalities were at an end.</p> + +<p>"The American schooner <i>Columbia</i>," answered Captain +Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind telling me for what port you are bound?" went on the +naval officer, who could speak fairly good English.</p> + +<p>"We are bound for San Francisco, with a stopover at Nagasaki."</p> + +<p>"Ah! What sort of a cargo are you carrying to Nagasaki?"</p> + +<p>"One belonging to the firm for which the <i>Columbia</i> is in +commission."</p> + +<p>"The name of the firm, please?"</p> + +<p>"The Richmond Importing Company."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the naval officer again, and looked slightly displeased. +As it happened he had a brother in the army at Port Arthur, and had +heard of the doings of Gilbert Pennington at that place, and of how the +young American had accused certain Russians of trying to cheat the +company he represented.</p> + +<p>"What warship do you come from?" demanded Captain Ponsberry, feeling +that he had an equal right to ask questions.</p> + +<p>"The auxiliary cruiser, <i>Pocastra</i>, of the Russian navy," +answered the naval officer, politely.</p> + +<p>"And where are you bound?" went on Captain Ponsberry, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"That, sir, is a question only our commander, Captain Titorsky, can +answer."</p> + +<p>"It's queer you are steaming around in Japanese waters."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so." The Russian naval officer smiled in a knowing way. +"Captain Ponsberry, I am sorry, but I think I shall have to inspect your +papers."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry drew himself up, resolved to put on as bold a front +as possible.</p> + +<p>"This is an American ship, sir."</p> + +<p>"Granted, but I have my orders," returned the naval officer, coldly.</p> + +<p>"If I refuse to let you inspect the papers?"</p> + +<p>The young Russian officer shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"We shall be under the painful necessity of compelling you to show +them."</p> + +<p>"You threaten me—an American captain!"</p> + +<p>"There is no help for it—I am simply obeying orders. We inspect +all ships that we find in this vicinity."</p> + +<p>"Do you know I can make you pay dearly for this outrage?"</p> + +<p>"You cannot call it an outrage. You are in Japanese waters, Japan and +Russia are at war. You knew that before you came into these waters. Am I +to see the papers or not?"</p> + +<p>The commander of the <i>Columbia</i> knew that the Russian naval +officer spoke the truth. Yet he made one more effort.</p> + +<p>"Very well; I will show my papers, but I shall insist upon you +signing a paper that your ship held us up."</p> + +<p>"You can send the paper to my ship for such a signature from my +captain," said the Russian, evasively.</p> + +<p>By this time four of the jackies of the small boat had come on board. +All were armed and they lined up at the rail, close to the rope ladder. +They were good-natured sailors and grinned broadly at the hands on the +<i>Columbia</i>. Not one could speak a word of English, so conversation +with them was impossible.</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry led the way to the cabin of the <i>Columbia</i> and +the young Russian officer followed. Getting out such papers as had been +prepared for the occasion, the master of the schooner passed them +over.</p> + +<p>"These are correct so far as they go," said the Russian, after an +examination lasting ten minutes had been made. "But——" he +paused. "You have no further papers?"</p> + +<p>"Those are my papers, sir," answered Captain Ponsberry, briefly.</p> + +<p>"Then I will look at a specified list of your cargo."</p> + +<p>"I haven't such a list," was the answer, which was true, as the list +had been burnt up just a short while before.</p> + +<p>At this statement the young Russian frowned. "Every ship carries such +a list."</p> + +<p>"Still, I haven't any."</p> + +<p>"In that case, I shall have to order an inspection of the cargo."</p> + +<p>"Sir, you are going too far!" said Captain Ponsberry, sternly, yet he +knew he had no right to expect anything else.</p> + +<p>"If I am going too far, I am able to take the consequences," returned +the Russian, who was acting strictly under orders.</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir; you can look the cargo over," answered Captain +Ponsberry. "But I shall hold Russia accountable for the outrage."</p> + +<p>The Russian naval officer bowed and hastened up to the deck. He spoke +in his native tongue to one of the jackies who carried several small +flags under his arm. At once the Jackie began to wig-wag to the warship +for further instructions.</p> + +<p>"Search the ship," came back the order, and in a few minutes more +another small boat left the side of the <i>Pocastra</i>, containing an +officer and a crew of eight.</p> + +<p>"We are in for it now, that is certain," observed Larry. "They are +not going to let us go until they are sure we are O. K."</p> + +<p>The second boat was soon alongside of the schooner, and the officer +in charge and four men came up on the deck and joined the other Russians +already there. An earnest conversation was held between the two +officers.</p> + +<p>"We'll take a general look at the cargo," said the one who had just +arrived. "It will not do to go too far—in case we find everything +as it should be. We want no trouble with the Yankee government."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry was asked to have the mizzen hatch opened, and this +work was done by Luke Striker and several others. Then two of the +Russian sailors were sent below, and one of the officers went along.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Peterson, unknown to anybody on board, had slipped +off to the brig. Here he found Ostag Semmel in solitary confinement.</p> + +<p>"Semmel, a Russian warship is close at hand," he said, hurriedly. "An +officer and some men have just boarded us."</p> + +<p>"Release me, Peterson!" returned the Russian sailor. "Release me and +I will show Captain Ponsberry what I can do!"</p> + +<p>"You will not get me into trouble?" questioned Peterson, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No. Quick—I am sure we can make money out of this."</p> + +<p>With an iron bar, Peterson pried off the lock which had been put on +the door of the brig, and drew back the bolt. Then Semmel came out of +his prison, with his hands linked together.</p> + +<p>As he was making his way to the stern deck Larry caught sight of +him.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he called out, in alarm, realizing what Semmel might do. +"Stop, Semmel!" and he ran to capture the rascal.</p> + +<p>"Get out da vay!" roared the Russian and aimed a blow at Larry's +head. But the young second mate dodged and then caught the Russian by +the legs, hurling him flat on his breast. But now Peterson came behind +and gave Larry a vicious kick in the side, which made the youth let go +his hold.</p> + +<p>"What's the row there?" called out Captain Ponsberry, and looked much +disturbed to see the escaped prisoner. "Put him back where he came +from!"</p> + +<p>"Help!" yelled Semmel, in Russian. "Help, in the name of the Czar! I +am a Russian subject! This ship is in the employ of the Japanese +Government!"</p> + +<p>"He speaks the truth!" called out Peterson, also in Russian. "Help us +and protect us and we will prove it!" And he ran forward to where the +Russian officer on deck was standing.</p> + +<p>"You are Russians?" asked the officer, quickly.</p> + +<p>"We are."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall certainly assist you." He raised his voice. "Let that +man go!" And he pointed at Semmel, now surrounded by Larry, Luke, and +Cal Vincent.</p> + +<p>The latter words were uttered in English, so all of our friends +understood them. The two sailors looked inquiringly at the young second +mate.</p> + +<p>"He is nothing but a mutineer," said Larry. "We locked him up for it. +He ought to have been strung up on the yardarm," he added, bitterly.</p> + +<p>By this time Captain Ponsberry was on the scene, and those who had +gone below were summoned on deck once more. The captain glared at +Semmel, who lost no time in shrinking behind the Russian officers for +protection.</p> + +<p>"I can prove the cargo on this ship belongs to the Japanese +Government," said Ostag Semmel. "My friend can prove it, too," he added, +pointing to Peterson. "It is true we tried to seize the ship—to +take her to Vladivostok, or some other Russian port, as a prize."</p> + +<p>"This is assuredly interesting," said the leading Russian officer. +"Tell me your tale in full."</p> + +<p>Despite Captain Ponsberry's protests Semmel told his story in his own +way, and Peterson corroborated it in every detail. Then Shamhaven, +thinking to curry favor, came forward.</p> + +<p>"They tell the strict truth," he said. "I worked with them. We did +what we could for the benefit of the Russian Government. Every bit of +cargo on this ship belongs to the Japanese Government and was to be +taken ashore at Nagasaki. The last cargo of the <i>Columbia</i> was also +sold at Nagasaki to the Japanese Government."</p> + +<p>"When was this?"</p> + +<p>"About two months ago."</p> + +<p>More questions were put to Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven, and at +last the Russian naval officer turned grimly to Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"I have heard their story, and it will be unnecessary to make an +inspection of your cargo, since they have told me of what it consists. +In the name of Russia I claim this ship as a prize of war, and you and +your crew must consider yourselves prisoners."</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="13">CHAPTER XIII</a></h3> + +<h4>PRISONERS ON THE "POCASTRA"</h4> + +<p class="p2">Captain Ponsberry had feared the result ever since the +unexpected appearance of Ostag Semmel, so he was not very much surprised +when the Russian naval officer stated that he should consider the +<i>Columbia</i> as a war prize and place those on board under arrest as +prisoners of war.</p> + +<p>"This is a high-handed proceeding," said he, as calmly as possible, +although his mind was in a whirl.</p> + +<p>"I do not think so," answered the Russian officer. "Do you submit or +not?"</p> + +<p>"Since it would be useless to fight, we shall have to submit," +answered the master of the schooner. "But, remember, I shall hold you +and the Russian Government responsible for all you do."</p> + +<p>"As you have said that before, there is no use of repeating it, +Captain Ponsberry. We will take command of the vessel at once."</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do?" whispered Larry to Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>"I don't know—follow the old man, I reckon," answered the first +mate.</p> + +<p>"We shall place a prize crew on this ship," went on the Russian +officer. "These men"—pointing to Semmel, Peterson, and +Shamhaven—"can remain on board. The remainder of the crew and the +officers, will be transferred to the <i>Pocastra</i>. I will give you a +quarter of an hour in which to attend to your luggage. Please take no +more along than is necessary."</p> + +<p>"This is certainly high-handed!" cried Larry.</p> + +<p>"So we've got to go over to that old coal box, eh?" grumbled Luke, +when he heard the news. "It's hard luck, Larry."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Luke, but it can't be helped."</p> + +<p>"What will they do with us?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea."</p> + +<p>"Will they take us to Russia?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so—or stow us away in one of those cold and dirty +Siberian prisons until we can get Uncle Sam to make them release +us."</p> + +<p>When it came time to depart from the <i>Columbia</i> Larry was +allowed to take only a bundle of clothing along, and Grandon and the +common sailors were treated no better. The captain was allowed a trunk +and a suit case. In the meantime Semmel was questioned once more, and +what he had to tell made the Russians look darkly at our friends.</p> + +<p>"He is pumping all sorts of falsehoods into them, I suppose," said +Larry to Luke, and he was right. Semmel made it appear that Captain +Ponsberry was really an agent of the Japanese Government and that he +(Semmel) had done his best to gain possession of the ship wholly for the +benefit of his own country.</p> + +<p>"If you really did this, it is very worthy of you," said one of the +officers. "But we shall have to investigate before we accept your story +in full." This was not so encouraging, but with it Ostag Semmel had to +be content.</p> + +<p>Fearing that a Japanese warship might put in an appearance at any +moment, the Russians lost no time in transferring the officers and men +of the <i>Columbia</i> to the <i>Pocastra</i> and at the same time a +prize crew of two officers and ten men were taken from the warship to +the schooner. Then the sails of the <i>Columbia</i> were hoisted and off +she set to the eastward, and the warship moved in the same +direction.</p> + +<p>When placed aboard the <i>Pocastra</i> Captain Ponsberry was treated +politely and given a small room of his own. But the mates and the +ordinary seamen were not so fortunate. Grandon, Larry, and Luke Striker +were hustled off to a prison pen on one deck of the auxiliary cruiser, +and the others to another pen below, which was even worse.</p> + +<p>"This is certainly hard luck," said Larry, as he threw his bundle +into a corner and sat down on an iron bench, while Grandon and Luke did +the same. "And after we had almost reached Nagasaki, too!"</p> + +<p>"Well, there ain't no use to cry over spilt milk," came from Luke. +"We're prisoners o' war, an' I reckon as how we have got to make the +best o' it. Ain't the first time we've been in sech a fix."</p> + +<p>"That is true, Luke, but it doesn't help the matter any. I guess we +have seen the last of the old <i>Columbia</i>."</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of this sort of thing happening ever since we left +Manila," came from Grandon. "I told the old man to be careful, +that——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" whispered Larry. "They may be listening—to make sure +that they have caught the right parties."</p> + +<p>"True for you, Larry; I won't say another word about that. But it +looks dismal, no two ways on't," and the first mate drew a mountainous +sigh.</p> + +<p>The prison pen into which they had been placed was an iron structure, +reaching from floor to ceiling, and was not over ten feet square. It had +a solid back and the remaining three sides were built up of stout iron +bars, only a couple of inches apart. There was a door which was doubly +locked, the key being held by a petty officer who could speak broken +English and who rejoiced in the simple name of Rosenvischpoff. For short +Luke nicknamed him Rosey and this name stuck to him.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't look as if a fellow could break out of here very easily," +said Larry, after an inspection of their prison. "This is a regular bank +vault."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't do you any good to break out," returned Grandon. "As we are +on the ocean, where would you go to?"</p> + +<p>"We might hide until the vessel made a landing."</p> + +<p>"Humph, and that would be in some Russian port, so you'd be just as +bad off."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not trying to escape just now. I want to get the lay of +the land first, and try to find out what they are going to do with +us."</p> + +<p>From Rosenvischpoff they learned that the <i>Pocastra</i> was one of +a large number of steamers of various Russian lines which had been +lately pressed into the service of the national navy. She had been +rushed through at one of the Russian navy yards and provided with a +battery of four small and four large guns, none, however, over eight +inches. She carried a crew of one hundred and eighty men, drafted +principally from other warships. She had an advertised speed of twenty +knots an hour but rarely made over seventeen or eighteen. She was old +and her engines were constantly in need of repair, much to the disgust +of Captain Titorsky, her commander.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rosey, how goes this war?" asked Luke, pleasantly, as the +petty officer came around to give them something to eat.</p> + +<p>"Big fight all der dime," answered Rosenvischpoff. "Russians kill all +der Japs—sink all der Jap ships, yes!"</p> + +<p>"You're winning right along, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Russians win—Japs no do noddings, no!" And the petty +officer left the food on the bench and hurried away again.</p> + +<p>"Do you believe that?" asked Larry.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," came from Grandon. "He told us that simply to scare +us, or else he doesn't know the real truth."</p> + +<p>"Exactly what I think."</p> + +<p>"These Russians are a lot of blowers," growled Luke. "Just look at +Semmel. He was forever tooting his horn, and yet he couldn't do much of +anything."</p> + +<p>"He got us into trouble," said Larry, quickly.</p> + +<p>"That's true, but he had to have this warship with all on board to +help him."</p> + +<p>The food which had been brought to them consisted of a big bowl of +stew, with three spoons, and three chunks of black bread.</p> + +<p>"They are going to treat us to the best," said Grandon, +sarcastically. He lifted one of the spoons and tasted the stew. "Phew, +it's hot enough! Pepper, garlic, and hot water!"</p> + +<p>"Does beat all how these fureigners do love their garlic," grumbled +Luke. "'Twas the same way with them Spaniards in the Philippines."</p> + +<p>"Garlic and grease," added Larry. "And this bread is hard enough to +build a wall with," he continued. "However, we have got to eat or go +hungry." And he partook of just enough to stay his stomach. Luke and +Grandon were not so particular and despite their grumbling managed to +make away with all that remained.</p> + +<p>They saw nothing of the captain, or of the sailors who had been taken +below, and the time hung heavily on their hands. At night they were +given three hammocks and these they slung from one side of the prison to +the other and rested as well as could be expected. The Russian sailors +often came to the pen to gaze at them, but they had been warned not to +attempt to converse with the prisoners, so nothing was said.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the third day aboard of the <i>Pocastra</i>, +those in the pen heard a loud shouting on deck, followed by a rush of +feet. Larry, who was resting in the corner for the want of something +better to do, leaped up.</p> + +<p>"Something is doing!" he cried to his companions.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Captain Ponsberry," ejaculated Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>He was right, the captain was coming up in company with +Rosenvischpoff and two sailors. The Russian petty officer opened the +door of the pen and Captain Ponsberry was thrust inside. Then the door +was locked as before.</p> + +<p>"How are you, boys?" cried the captain, cordially. "All well, I +hope."</p> + +<p>"We are," answered Grandon. "And you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm well enough, but still angry to think that we lost the +<i>Columbia</i>."</p> + +<p>"So are we angry," said Larry. "But we've got to stand it. What's +that noise?"</p> + +<p>"They have sighted a Chinese junk, and I reckon they are going to +treat her as they did our vessel," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>The noise on deck continued, followed by quarter of an hour of +silence. Then came a shot, followed by a second and a third.</p> + +<p>"Another order to lay-to," said Larry. "Wonder if the Chinamen will +give in as we did?"</p> + +<p>"They will if they are wise," said Grandon.</p> + +<p>But the Chinamen did not believe in surrendering thus easily. They +were carrying rice for the Japanese army, and thought that this was +known to the enemy. Consequently they did their best to sail away.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the craft started on a new course when the <i>Pocastra</i> +opened a direct fire upon her. The noise below decks was deafening and +fairly shook the iron pen in which our friends were confined.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, that sounds like real war!" cried Larry. "They mean business +now."</p> + +<p>One broadside was followed by another, and the Chinese junk was raked +from end to end with such a deadly fire that more than a sixth of the +sailors and officers were killed. Then the captain flung a white flag to +the breeze in token of surrender.</p> + +<p>"We have won!" cried those on the <i>Pocastra</i>, and it was not +long before our friends understood. Small boats were put out, and +presently half a dozen Chinese officers from the junk were brought on +board as prisoners. A fire that had started on the prize ship was put +out after some hard work; and then a temporary crew was put on board, +and the junk followed in the wake of the old <i>Columbia</i>, with the +warship keeping guard over both.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="14">CHAPTER XIV</a></h3> + +<h4>PROGRESS OF THE WAR</h4> + +<p class="p2">An hour after the capture of the Chinese junk one of the +officers of the ill-fated craft was thrust into the prison pen with our +friends.</p> + +<p>He was a small sallow-eyed Celestial rejoicing in the name of Won +Lung, and it was soon learned that he could speak a little English, he +having once paid a visit to San Francisco.</p> + +<p>"All go up spout!" said he, referring to his own ship. "T'ink we safe +when Russian gunboat come, den all up spout!"</p> + +<p>"Did they sink your ship?" asked Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"No sink—shoot holes, back, front, side—all up spout. No +fightee no more den—all up spout!" The latter was his pet phrase +and he used it over and over again.</p> + +<p>"You were in the Japanese trade?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—carry rice. Now Russians got rice, got junk—all Won +Lung's money gone up spout!" And the Celestial made an odd little +grimace.</p> + +<p>"Well, they took my ship, too."</p> + +<p>"Big schooner your shipee?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Won Lung weep for you—all ship gone up spout, samee like Won +Lung's ship gone up spout!"</p> + +<p>"Well, we haven't gone up the spout yet," put in Larry, with a laugh. +"Let us thank fortune that we are alive and well."</p> + +<p>"Dat so—Won Lung lose fliends on junk—six, seven, +ten—don't know how many yet," and the Chinese officer shook his +head sadly. "Bad war, bad!"</p> + +<p>"Can you tell us how the war is going?" asked Tom Grandon. "These +Russians say everything is a Russian victory."</p> + +<p>"Russians sayee dat?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—they pretend to say they have the Japs about beaten."</p> + +<p>At this Won Lung screwed up his eyes into mere slits.</p> + +<p>"Big lie dat. Japanese win everyt'ing allee timee. Russian warships +gone up spout—Russian army run like—like—up spout!"</p> + +<p>After that Won Lung told them all he knew. It was hard to understand +him, yet they gathered that there had been another sea fight in the +vicinity of Port Arthur, in which the Russian navy had come off second +best, and that the Japanese army that had landed in Korea had driven the +enemy to the northwestward, over the Yalu River, and was now forcing +them back upon Liao-Yang.</p> + +<p>"If this news about the army is true, Ben and Gilbert must be having +a hot time of it," was Larry's comment. "I must say, I am mighty glad +they are on the winning side."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell ye them Russians are a lot o' blowers?" came from +Luke. "The truth ain't in 'em half the time."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they do not get the correct news from the front," came from +Captain Ponsberry. "The censors may keep the bad news back, for fear of +disheartening the rest of the men in the army and navy."</p> + +<p>"They tell me the Russians are very strict about sending out news," +rejoined Larry.</p> + +<p>"It is true, Larry; no country on the globe is stricter. No telegram +can be sent without it is inspected, and the newspapers cannot print a +single scrap of news, or a single editorial, until after the press +censor has passed upon it."</p> + +<p>"If that's the case, I don't wonder that some of the people want to +be free."</p> + +<p>"Russia is more free to-day than she ever was before, and freedom is +bound to come sooner or later—that is, I mean, not such freedom as +we have in the United States, but such freedom as they have in England +and Germany—where, at least, a man can call his soul his own."</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder the Russians will fight for their country, if they are +so ground down."</p> + +<p>"They know nothing better, and besides, they are really patriotic. If +the Czar would only treat them a little better, and give them a little +more liberty, they would be the most faithful of subjects. But when a +man can't do at all as he wants to do, and can't open his mouth about it +either, he is apt to grow sullen and ugly."</p> + +<p>As day after day went by life on the Russian warship became almost +unendurable for Larry and the others. They suffered greatly for the want +of fresh air, and at last made a vigorous protest to the captain of the +ship, when he happened to be passing the pen. As a result orders were +given that they should be allowed three hours on deck each day, one in +the morning and two after dinner.</p> + +<p>"This is a little like," said Larry, when coming on deck for the +first time. "Oh, how good it feels to breathe fresh air once more!" And +he filled his lungs to their fullest capacity.</p> + +<p>For their daily exercise Larry and Luke were chained together, and +the pair inspected with great curiosity as much of the warship as was +allowed.</p> + +<p>"It's not so very different from some of our own auxiliary cruisers," +said Larry. "But, after all, I like ours better."</p> + +<p>"That's right, lad; stick up fer your own country every trip."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you say, Luke?"</p> + +<p>"I say I'd rather be on one of Uncle Sam's ships than on any other in +the world."</p> + +<p>While allowed to roam around on deck, Larry often looked eagerly for +the <i>Columbia</i>, but the schooner and the Chinese junk were too far +off to be distinguished with the naked eye.</p> + +<p>"We'd give a good deal to be back on her deck, wouldn't we, Luke?" +said he.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it, lad; it makes me sick," grumbled the Yankee +tar.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew just what was being done on land, don't you? Perhaps +this war will end soon, and then we'll be set free."</p> + +<p>"It won't end yet awhile, Larry, mark my words on that," answered +Luke.</p> + +<p>The old Yankee sailor was right—the war was far from ended, and +here it may be well to note briefly what was taking place on the sea +between Russia and Japan, while the army of the Mikado was pushing +through Manchuria in the direction of Liao-Yang.</p> + +<p>The loss of the great battleship <i>Petropavlovsk</i> has already +been recorded in "Under the Mikado's Flag." This vessel was sunk by a +mine in Port Arthur harbor, April 13, 1904, and carried down with her +Admiral Makaroff and about five hundred officers and men. At the same +time the battleship <i>Pobieda</i> was also injured by a mine.</p> + +<p>The loss of the admiral's flag-ship was a great blow to Russia, and +while she was trying to recover, Port Arthur was vigorously shelled by +the Japanese fleet, and many buildings were more or less damaged. Some +warehouses were set on fire, but the local fire department, aided by the +Russian garrison, succeeded in putting out the conflagration.</p> + +<p>While the Japanese fleet was hammering at the city and the ships from +beyond the harbor, the Japanese army encircled Port Arthur on land, +taking possession of every available hill beyond the Russian line of +defenses. As a consequence, by the middle of May the city was in a +complete state of siege, nearly all communication with the outside world +being cut off.</p> + +<p>But now came a turn in affairs which, for a short while, made matters +look favorable for Russia. While the fleet of Admiral Togo was +patrolling the whole of the southeastern coast of Manchuria and +protecting the Japanese transports which were pouring troops into the +country, occurred a catastrophe as appalling as it was unexpected.</p> + +<p>On the same day, May 15, the magnificent battleship <i>Hatsuse</i>, +of the Japanese navy, was blown up by mines and sunk, and the protected +cruiser, <i>Yoshino</i>, also of Admiral Togo's fleet, collided in the +fog with a sister ship, and was a total loss. It is estimated that by +these two disasters seven hundred men were lost. Among the officers who +met their fate were men of marked ability which Japan at this crisis +could ill afford to lose.</p> + +<p>The loss of the <i>Hatsuse</i> is worth relating in detail. She had +been along the coast during a heavy fog, but this had cleared off and +the sun was shining brightly. Not an enemy was in sight, and all was +quiet on the great battleship when, without warning, a terrific +explosion was felt near the stern and a portion of the steering gear was +damaged.</p> + +<p>"We have struck a mine!" cried some one on board, and without delay +signals were hoisted for the other vessels in sight to stand by. The +battleship was drifting and the locality was full of mines. It was a +moment of terrible suspense. Then came another explosion, greater than +the first, which ripped large holes through her heavy plates. At once +the battleship began to fill, and presently she sank like a stone to the +bottom of the sea. The other warships put out their small boats with all +speed, and succeeded in rescuing about three hundred officers and men +out of a total of nearly eight hundred. Among those lost were +Rear-Admiral Nashiba and Captain Nakao, the commander of the +warship.</p> + +<p>The <i>Yoshino</i> was lost while steaming slowly southward, after a +night's vigil near the entrance to Port Arthur harbor. Other vessels of +the blockading fleet were close by, so each ship had to advance with +extreme caution. But the fog, instead of lifting, became thicker, and at +a little before two o'clock in the afternoon the cruiser was rammed by +the <i>Kasuga</i>, another vessel of the fleet. A large hole was torn in +the hull of the <i>Yoshino</i>.</p> + +<p>"Out with the collision mats!" cried the commander of the cruiser, +and the mats were brought out without delay and placed over the side. +But the hole was too great to be stopped in that manner. Then the +captain called the entire crew on deck, and ordered the small boats to +be lowered, five on the starboard side and one on the port. Before the +boats could be gotten away, the <i>Yoshino</i> listed heavily to +starboard and went down, smashing the five small boats under her. The +other boat managed to get away, with only a handful of jackies and a +couple of officers. The captain remained on the bridge and went down +with his ship. As soon as possible the <i>Kasuga</i> put out her boats +and succeeded in rescuing about ninety men, out of a total of over two +hundred and fifty.</p> + +<p>It was a great blow to Japan and the Russians were correspondingly +elated. Feeling that Admiral Togo's grip on the sea was now weakened, +the Russian squadron at Vladivostok sailed forth and did much damage to +the shipping on the northern coast of Japan, sinking several merchantmen +and taking a number of others as prizes. The Russian squadron also met +the Japanese transport <i>Kinshiu Maru</i>, having on board the 37th +regiment of Japanese infantry.</p> + +<p>"Surrender, or we will sink you!" signaled the Russian commander. The +Japanese refused, and were given exactly an hour in which to think it +over. As they still refused, a torpedo was discharged against the doomed +ship. As she began to sink the Japanese soldiers opened fire with their +rifles, and then the Russians answered with their machine guns, mowing +down the Mikado's men by the score. But the Japanese were brave to the +last, and sank beneath the waves with the cry of <i>Banzai</i>! +(hurrah!) on their lips.</p> + +<p>It was an auxiliary cruiser of the Vladivostok squadron which had +taken the <i>Columbia</i> and the Chinese junk as prizes of war. The +captain of the cruiser was now looking for the rest of the squadron, but +so far none of the warships had been sighted.</p> + +<p>"They must have returned to Vladivostok," he reasoned, and then +turned in that direction with the <i>Pocastra</i>, never dreaming of +what the near future held in store for himself, his ship, and his crew.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="15">CHAPTER XV</a></h3> + +<h4>A SHARP NAVAL BATTLE</h4> + +<p class="p2">So far the weather had been good, but following the +conversation recorded in the last chapter there came up a dense fog, and +for twenty-four hours the Russian warship did nothing but creep along in +the gloom.</p> + +<p>During that time, for some unknown reason, Larry and the others were +allowed greater freedom than before. Each had his hands chained behind +him, but all were separate, which allowed each to roam around as he +pleased.</p> + +<p>"This is better than being linked to somebody else," said the youth +to his old sailor friend. "Not but that we got along well enough +together," he added, hastily.</p> + +<p>"You're right—there wasn't no sense in joinin' us together," +answered Luke. "We can't git away if we want to."</p> + +<p>"We might, if we didn't have our hands chained, Luke."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"If we all got together some night—providing we could keep out +of the pen—and stole one of the small boats."</p> + +<p>"Easier said nor done. The guard would ketch ye an' shoot ye down +like a dog."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know there would be a great risk. But I hate to think of going +to a Siberian prison, or aboard a Russian prison ship."</p> + +<p>"So do I, Larry. But even if we stole the boat and got away, where +would we go to,—especially if we didn't have much provisions an' +water?"</p> + +<p>Larry could not answer that question, since he did not know the +location of the <i>Pocastra</i>. It might be that they were hundreds of +miles from land. If so, to take to a small boat with a scarcity of water +and provisions would certainly be foolhardy.</p> + +<p>The fog continued during the night, but swept away as if by magic +about nine o'clock in the morning. At that time the prisoners had had +their breakfast and Larry and Luke were between decks, looking at some +gunners' assistants cleaning out one of the large guns.</p> + +<p>Suddenly came a call from the lookout, followed by half a dozen +commands. As everything said was in Russian, our friends did not +understand a word, but they soon realized that something unusual was in +the air. A shrill whistle sounded out and drums began to beat to +quarters.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager a new hat they have sighted a Japanese ship!" cried +Larry, and scarcely had he spoken when there came a dull booming over +the water.</p> + +<p>"Let us go to the deck an' see what's doing," returned Luke, and both +started for the stairs. But scarcely had they appeared on the deck when +they were ordered below again.</p> + +<p>Larry was right; a Japanese warship had been sighted, and this vessel +had lost no time in discharging a signal gun to a sister ship only a few +miles away.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the youth and his friend reached the lower deck once more +than the Japanese cruiser opened fire on the Russian vessel. The latter +retaliated, and the booming of cannon shook the <i>Pocastra</i> from +stem to stern.</p> + +<p>"This is a fight for fair!" ejaculated Luke, with a broad smile on +his face.</p> + +<p>"I hope the Japs win, Luke!"</p> + +<p>"So do I, lad. But where do we come in, that's what I want to +know?"</p> + +<p>"If we could only drop overboard and swim to that other ship!"</p> + +<p>"No use of trying—some of the fellows in the tops would pick us +off in no time. No, we've got to stay right where we are an' take what +comes."</p> + +<p>"Where are the others?"</p> + +<p>They looked around, but could see nothing of Captain Ponsberry or Tom +Grandon. They saw Cal Vincent run past, but he was out of sight before +they could stop him.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a crash above them told that a solid shot had struck the +upper works of the Russian cruiser. Then came another crash at the +bow.</p> + +<p>"Those Japs know how to fire," came from the Yankee sailor. "Reckon +as how they're going to do their best to blow this ship sky-high. I'd +give 'most a dollar to be somewhere else just about now!" And he shook +his head anxiously.</p> + +<p>The Russian gunners were working with a will, and so were their +numerous assistants. The <i>Pocastra</i> was swung around, and now both +ships were broadside to each other. The thunder of the guns was terrific +and the smoke rolled around in all directions.</p> + +<p>"Puts me in mind o' the battle o' Manila Bay, eh?" remarked Luke, as +he and Larry stood at a distance, watching the Russians work one of the +guns.</p> + +<p>"You are right, Luke, only——"</p> + +<p>Larry got no further, for at that moment came another crash on deck. +The <i>Pocastra</i> shivered and heaved, and to those below it was as if +she would surely sink.</p> + +<p>"They're pumping it into us, sure as you're born!" sang out the old +Yankee tar. "Hullo, what's this?"</p> + +<p>There was a rush of several gunners across the deck. "Beware of that +gun!" yelled one in Russian, and then a stampede followed.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the confusion came a fearful explosion from below. A +portion of the flooring was ripped apart and one of the gunners was +instantly killed and several wounded. A great volume of smoke rolled up, +and splinters and bits of iron and steel flew in all directions.</p> + +<p>Both Larry and Luke were almost stunned by the explosion and for the +moment could do nothing but clutch each other in terror. Both were +struck by the flying splinters, but neither was seriously wounded. They +staggered back and began to cough, for the dense smoke was +strangling.</p> + +<p>"Must have been a torpedo——" gasped Luke.</p> + +<p>"Or else a magazine!" spluttered Larry. "Let—let us +get—get out of here. +I'm—choking—to—to—death!"</p> + +<p>It was really a magazine which had exploded. This tore a good-sized +hole in the <i>Pocastra's</i> side, in a spot impossible to get at in +the confusion. In the meantime a solid eight-inch shell struck the +Russian ship squarely in the stern, doing additional damage and killing +and wounding two officers and nine men.</p> + +<p>Almost choked to death, Larry and Luke crawled to where the ladder +ran to the deck. The Russian jackies and gunners were swarming up, along +with all the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Larry, are you safe?" came in the voice of Captain Ponsberry, and he +loomed up, with Tom Grandon, Cal Vincent, and the Chinese petty officer +beside him.</p> + +<p>"So far I am," answered Larry. "But I—I—must have air!" +and he began to cough.</p> + +<p>The jam on the ladder was terrific, and in the midst of the +<i>mêlée</i> a Russian gunner and the Chinese petty officer got into a +quarrel. The gunner threw the Celestial down, but he bounced up like a +ball, and in a twinkling the Russian received a blow in the stomach +which sent him staggering back into the crowd and the deadly smoke.</p> + +<p>"No knock me up the spout!" sang out the Celestial. "Ship go down I +go uppee!" And soon he was out on the upper deck.</p> + +<p>Fighting, surging, pushing, and yelling the Russians and our friends +got to the deck at last. Captain Ponsberry had his coat literally ripped +from his back, and Cal Vincent had an arm almost torn from its socket. +For this he gave a Russian gunner a rap in the mouth which knocked loose +several teeth. It was a case of each man for himself, and many fought +like wild beasts.</p> + +<p>At last Larry found himself free of the crowd, with Luke still beside +him. Captain Ponsberry and Cal Vincent were not far away, but between +surged a great number of Russians. The <i>Pocastra</i> was listing +heavily to port and had evidently taken a large quantity of water into +her hull.</p> + +<p>Two Japanese warships were now at hand and both were firing upon the +doomed Russian cruiser with deadly accuracy. From the fighting tops of +the Mikado's ships came a perfect hail of small bullets which sent the +Russians to the deck by the score. By this fire one of the +<i>Columbia's</i> sailors was killed and Cal Vincent was seriously +wounded. A bullet likewise grazed Luke Striker's thigh, drawing some +blood, but the Yankee tar did not know of this until the conflict was at +an end and he saw the crimson stain on his shoe top.</p> + +<p>At last the Russian captain saw that to fight further would be +useless. The <i>Pocastra</i> was in danger of going down at any moment. +The guns could no longer be used, and he ordered the colors lowered and +put up a signal of surrender.</p> + +<p>A wild cheer came from the two Japanese warships when it was realized +that the battle was won. "<i>Banzai! Banzai!</i>" rent the air over and +over again. "Hurrah for the Mikado! Down with the Russians!"</p> + +<p>A little while after the fighting came to an end, several small boats +put off from the two Japanese warships and half a dozen of the Mikado's +naval officers presented themselves at the <i>Pocastra's</i> side. The +Russian ship still listed heavily, but after the smoke below had cleared +away it was ascertained that the damage done was not as great as had +been imagined. One of the magazines which had been in danger of blowing +up had been flooded, and the rush of sea water had likewise put out a +fire that had started in the stern.</p> + +<p>As soon as order could be restored on board of the <i>Pocastra</i> a +complete surrender was made to the Japanese, the Russian captain giving +up his sword. Then a general conference was had lasting over an hour. At +the end of that time, much to their surprise, the Americans were asked +to go over to one of the Japanese warships.</p> + +<p>"We'll go, and glad of the chance," said Captain Ponsberry; and soon +the transfer was made.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="16">CHAPTER XVI</a></h3> + +<h4>ABOARD A JAPANESE WARSHIP</h4> + +<p class="p2">"What a beauty of a ship!"</p> + +<p>Such was Larry's exclamation as he stepped aboard of the Japanese +warship. The vessel was, like the Russian prize, an auxiliary cruiser +and named the <i>Mimora Juri</i>. She was but three years old and had +been used for passenger service between Japan and China. For such a +small cruiser she carried an unusually heavy battery, and everything was +shined up to the last degree,—the work having been undertaken +directly after the battle was over. The <i>Mimora Juri</i> had suffered +but little damage during the contest and only a handful of men had been +killed and wounded.</p> + +<p>"This looks more like Uncle Sam's navy than anything I have seen +yet," said Luke.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know that the decorations aboard our ships are quite +so fine," returned the youth. "But then this isn't an ordinary fighting +ship. Some of the auxiliary cruisers we used during the war with +Spain—those that used to be trans-Atlantic steamers—were +just as fine as this and finer."</p> + +<p>As soon as those from the <i>Columbia</i> reached the Japanese +warship the wounded were taken in charge by the surgeons and placed in +the sick bay, as the hospital on a naval vessel is called. This was also +in the best of order, with nice, swinging cots, and appliances of the +latest designs.</p> + +<p>As there were many things to be arranged between the two Japanese +vessels and the Russian prize, our friends were not interviewed until +late in the evening. In the meantime, some of the Russians were made +prisoners, and a prize crew was placed aboard of the <i>Pocastra</i>. +Then the two Japanese warships moved away, with the captured cruiser +between them.</p> + +<p>"Those Russians must feel sick," was Larry's comment. "It's worse for +them, in a way, than if their ship had gone down."</p> + +<p>"Well, we all thought she was sinking," returned Captain Ponsberry. +"If she had sunk I reckon some of us wouldn't be here to tell the +tale."</p> + +<p>When evening came, a guard who could speak a little English conducted +Captain Ponsberry, Larry, and Tom Grandon to the commander's cabin. Here +they were met by Captain Tonkaka, who, being a graduate of the Japanese +naval school, could speak not only English but also several other +foreign languages. It may be mentioned here that the Japanese naval +academy of to-day is one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the +world.</p> + +<p>"I will hear your story, Captain Ponsberry," said the Japanese +captain, politely, as he motioned his visitors to be seated.</p> + +<p>In a plain, direct manner the master of the <i>Columbia</i> told his +tale, starting from the time the schooner left Manila with a cargo +intended for the Japanese Government. He told of the trouble with Semmel +and of the mutiny, and then of the capture by the <i>Pocastra</i>.</p> + +<p>"You have assuredly been unfortunate," said Captain Tonkaka. "Have +you any idea where your schooner is now?"</p> + +<p>"I have not, but I thought she must be close to the Russian +ship—she and that Chinese junk, too. The <i>Pocastra</i> was +taking them to Vladivostok as prizes."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" The Japanese captain mused for a moment. "I dare say you would +like to gain back your ship?" he continued.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "I'd give a pretty dollar +to do so!"</p> + +<p>"I shall interview the captain of the Russian warship again +to-morrow. It may be that he will tell us where she is—although I +doubt it."</p> + +<p>After this a few questions were put to Larry and Tom Grandon and both +corroborated what Captain Ponsberry had said. They were also questioned +concerning the treatment they had received while on the +<i>Pocastra</i>.</p> + +<p>"You may be thankful that the treatment was no worse," said Captain +Tonkaka. "Of late some of the Russians have treated their prisoners in a +most brutal fashion."</p> + +<p>"We are thankful," replied the master of the <i>Columbia</i>.</p> + +<p>The majority of the staterooms aboard of the <i>Mimora Juri</i> were +occupied by the officers of the cruiser, but one small room was turned +over to Captain Ponsberry, and a larger apartment was turned over to Tom +Grandon and Larry. At Larry's solicitation Luke Striker was allowed to +"bunk in" with the first and second mates.</p> + +<p>"This 'ere ship is jest about next to a palace," was Luke's comment. +"Ain't seen nothing so fancy in a long time."</p> + +<p>The Japanese warships were bound for the nearest naval station with +their prize. They could readily have made eighteen knots an hour, but +the crippled Russian cruiser could not make over ten, and so this was +the rate of speed set for all three.</p> + +<p>The Americans were allowed the freedom of the ship and Larry and Luke +spent many hours in inspecting the guns and other equipments, and in +watching the Japanese jackies in the gun and cutlass drills, their +physical exercises, and in their drills to fight fire and to lower the +small boats. Everything on board ran as smoothly as clockwork, much to +their delight.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you what, Luke!" cried Larry, enthusiastically, "this +beats the Russians all hollow! I never saw anything so well done!"</p> + +<p>"Almost beats our own navy, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know about that. But it is certainly just as good. +That drill to fight fire is immense, and their physical exercises ought +to make each man's muscles like iron."</p> + +<p>"They are a sturdy lot, lad, no two ways about that,—and they +understand just how to keep themselves in the pink of condition." Luke +rubbed his chin reflectively. "Do ye know what I have in mind to +do?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can make a pretty good guess," came quickly from +Larry.</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"You're thinking that you'd like to join the Japanese navy, just to +have a mix-up or two with the Russians."</p> + +<p>"You've struck the nail on the head, lad. And why not, seeing as how +we are out here in fighting waters, and with no ship of our own to go +aboard?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I feel a good bit that way myself. Ben is in the army, and so +is Gilbert Pennington. If they can make a record for themselves why +shouldn't I do the same? As it was I came close to joining the army with +Ben."</p> + +<p>"So you told me before. But you're a born sailor, Larry, not a +soldier."</p> + +<p>"I don't deny it. I'd rather be on board of a ship than on land any +day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to a fellow as gets used to the sea the land seems a strange +place."</p> + +<p>From the Japanese on the warship who could speak English our friends +learned much concerning the war. They were told that Admiral Togo's +fleet was keeping a strict guard over the harbor approach to Port +Arthur, and that a portion of the Japanese army was hemming in the city +on the land side and had lately captured several hills of +importance.</p> + +<p>From Captain Tonkaka the Americans obtained permission to station +themselves in one of the fighting tops, and here they spent hour after +hour, on the lookout for the <i>Columbia</i>. Captain Ponsberry was +particularly anxious to find his vessel, and kept scanning the Japan Sea +through a fine spyglass the Japanese captain loaned him.</p> + +<p>"If I can gain possession of that ship, I am going to fix Semmel and +Peterson," said the master of the <i>Columbia</i>.</p> + +<p>"Both of them declared that they took possession of the ship for the +sake of the Russian Government," said Larry. "That being the case, they +should be treated as prisoners of war."</p> + +<p>"Exactly my idea, Larry."</p> + +<p>"Semmel is a thoroughly bad egg," came from Tom Grandon. "He will lie +out of his troubles if he can possibly do so."</p> + +<p>"It will be a shame if we don't find the <i>Columbia</i> again," went +on Larry. "Think of those rascals taking her to Vladivostok and getting +their share of the prize money! It makes me sick!"</p> + +<p>"Captain Tonkaka tells me that other Japanese warships are in this +vicinity," said Captain Ponsberry. "They may fall in with the schooner +even if we don't. But what they will do with her, in that case, there is +no telling. They might claim her as a prize also, and if they did, I'd +have some trouble in getting my property back."</p> + +<p>What the Japanese captain had said was true. In order to counteract +the doings of the Russian squadron which was raiding the northern and +eastern coasts of Japan, the Mikado had sent out a flying squadron of +six or seven vessels, all of which, though not large, had good sailing +powers.</p> + +<p>Owing to the heavy mists, the flying squadron became separated, and +two of the vessels fell in with the <i>Pocastra</i>, as already +described. Of the other ships some proceeded up the coast to Korea and +caught two Russian colliers loaded with coal and another ship carrying +steel rails for the Manchuria railroad. The remainder of the squadron +put further to sea, and on the fourth day out caught sight of two +Russian steamers loaded with munitions of war. A chase ensued, lasting +three days, and several shots were exchanged at long range. But a mist, +coming up one night, put an end to the chase, and chagrined to think +that the enemy had given them the slip after all, the Japanese turned +back once more, to look for the other vessels of the flying squadron.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="17">CHAPTER XVII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE RETAKING OF THE "COLUMBIA"</h4> + +<p class="p2">"We are in for another storm!"</p> + +<p>It was Larry who made the remark. He was in one of the tops with +Luke, gazing anxiously to the westward, where the black clouds were +beginning to pile up.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, lad—and it's going to be a heavy one, unless I +miss my guess."</p> + +<p>The storm broke half an hour later, and the wind and rain were so +furious that our friends were glad to leave the top and go below. But +some of the Japanese sailors did not appear to mind the lashing of the +elements and remained on deck as if nothing out of the ordinary was +occurring.</p> + +<p>"These chaps beat me!" said Larry. "They are certainly as tough as +pine knots. I never saw their equal."</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to think that the Japanese are a wonderful nation," +put in Tom Grandon, seriously. "I used to look at them as something like +the Chinese. But there is a wide difference between them and the +Chinks."</p> + +<p>"A Chinaman isn't in it alongside of a Japanese," came from Captain +Ponsberry. "The Japanese are up-to-date and very progressive; the +Chinese are about a hundred years behind the times."</p> + +<p>The storm continued for the best part of half a day. There was but +little thunder and lightning, but the wind blew a perfect gale. Yet even +the <i>Pocastra</i> did not seem to mind the wind, and all three of the +warships proceeded on their way at only a slightly reduced rate of +speed.</p> + +<p>"Such a gale as this will play havoc with the sailing vessels," said +Larry. "I wonder how the old <i>Columbia</i> is making out?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that same," rejoined Captain Ponsberry. "To tell the +truth, I'd rather have her go to the bottom than see her taken to a +Russian port as a prize."</p> + +<p>When the storm cleared away, Larry was one of the first to go on +deck, to get a whiff of "washed air," as he called it. The others +followed.</p> + +<p>"I see a sail!" cried the youth, a moment later, and at that instant +came a cry from the lookout. Far to the eastward was a sailing vessel +flying a signal of distress.</p> + +<p>"She looks familiar to me!" ejaculated Captain Ponsberry, and ran to +get Captain Tonkaka's glass. One glance through the instrument was +enough.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Columbia</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" cried Larry.</p> + +<p>"She certainly is the <i>Columbia</i>," said Tom Grandon, after a +look through the glass. "She has lost her fore topmast and part of her +bowsprit."</p> + +<p>"And a part of the stern rail is gone," added Larry, after he too had +used the glass. "Let us tell Captain Tonkaka," he added, starting to go +below.</p> + +<p>The news that the <i>Columbia</i> was in sight was soon circulated +throughout the ship, and Captain Tonkaka at once signaled to the other +warships that he was going to her assistance. Then the <i>Mimora +Juri</i> steamed away on her new course.</p> + +<p>As they drew closer to the schooner they could see that the storm had +treated the gallant old ship roughly enough. Many of the sails were in +ribbons, and not only the fore topmast but also half a dozen of the +spars were gone. One end of the forecastle was stove in, and a part of +the stern was a wreck.</p> + +<p>"This is the worst yet!" cried Larry. "They must have caught more of +the gale than we did."</p> + +<p>"They didn't know how to handle her, that's the reason of it," came +from Captain Ponsberry. "We have taken her through a worse blow than +that; eh, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," answered the second mate.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Japanese warship was close enough a boat was lowered +and an officer went aboard of the schooner, followed by several of his +crew and Captain Ponsberry, Grandon, and Larry.</p> + +<p>The Russians having the schooner in charge were meek enough. As a +matter of fact the gale had terrorized them, and all had imagined they +were surely going to the bottom of the sea. They did not like it to find +themselves in the hands of the enemy and were astonished when they +learned that the <i>Pocastra</i> had been captured.</p> + +<p>"It was a fearful storm," said the Russian officer who was in charge. +"Several times I fancied the masts would all go by the board. I shall +never want another such experience. One man was washed overboard and +several were badly hurt by the wrecking of the forecastle."</p> + +<p>"Were any of my former men injured?" asked Captain Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>"It was my fellow countryman, Ostag Semmel, who was swept overboard +and drowned," answered the Russian officer.</p> + +<p>"Semmel!" ejaculated Larry. He drew a long breath and his hatred of +the man died all in an instant. "Poor chap! That was rough on him!"</p> + +<p>"It certainly was rough," answered Captain Ponsberry. "And what of +the others?"</p> + +<p>"Both Peterson and Shamhaven were hurt, but not seriously. They are +below resting," was the answer.</p> + +<p>It was found that some of the seams of the schooner had opened but +that no alarming quantity of water was running into the well. The +Russians were asked to surrender as prisoners of war and this they did +willingly, and were transferred to the Japanese warship. Then Captain +Ponsberry was asked if he wished to take charge of the <i>Columbia</i> +again.</p> + +<p>"Will a duck swim!" he cried. "Of course I want to take charge. +Hasn't she always been my ship? And my crew will want to go with me, I +know."</p> + +<p>"But the wreckage——" began Captain Tonkaka.</p> + +<p>"I'll attend to that, sir,—don't you worry. Only give me back +my ship, that's all I ask."</p> + +<p>"It shall be as you say, Captain Ponsberry. But when you get to +Nagasaki you will have to settle matters with the Japanese Government. +It is, all told, a rather peculiar case. In one way, she is now a +Japanese prize of war, and in another way she is not."</p> + +<p>"I understand, and the courts will have to settle the tangle, sir. +I'll do what is fair, and I know the Richmond Importing Company will do +the same."</p> + +<p>"Then you can go aboard of the ship as soon as you please."</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much."</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry had returned to the warship for just this talk, and +now he lost no time in getting back to the <i>Columbia</i>, taking with +him all his crew, including Cal Vincent, who was just about able to get +around once more.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Larry, "this seems like home once more, doesn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"That's what it does," answered Luke. "But there is plenty of work +ahead, I can tell you that, lad."</p> + +<p>"I don't care—work will help to pass the time."</p> + +<p>When Peterson and Shamhaven saw Captain Ponsberry they did not know +what to say. The loss of their leader, Semmel, had humbled them +greatly.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to say much to you, seeing as how both of you are +hurt," said the master of the <i>Columbia</i>, briefly. "But understand, +I want no nonsense from either of you."</p> + +<p>"I'll do all I can to assist you, captain," said Shamhaven, humbly. +"All I want is another chance."</p> + +<p>"Which you'll not get from me," was the quick rejoinder. "I know you +thoroughly, Shamhaven, and I am done with you. You and Peterson aided +the Russians and you can now consider yourselves under arrest. When we +get into port I'm going to hand you over to the Japanese +authorities."</p> + +<p>Both of the culprits wanted to argue, but the captain would not +listen. Their hurts were inspected and they were told that they would be +allowed three days in which to recuperate, after which they would have +to do their share of duty.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this," growled Shamhaven, after the interview was over. +"Peterson, we are in it deeper than ever."</p> + +<p>"Dat is so," was the answer, with a scowl. "Vell, ve not put up mit +him, hey? Maybe, ven we git near shore, we run avay, Shamhaven."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we can get the chance. But I don't know where you are going +to run to—especially if you haven't any money."</p> + +<p>"Ve git money."</p> + +<p>"From where?"</p> + +<p>"I ton't know dot yet, no, but ve git him, yes. Captain Ponsberry +must haf some, and dot Larry Russell, too. Vonce I see Russell mit a +money pelt vot haf some gold in him, yes."</p> + +<p>"A money belt with gold? You must be dreaming."</p> + +<p>"No, I see him mit mine two eyes. He count der gold. He haf more as +dirty pieces."</p> + +<p>"That is worth remembering," answered Shamhaven. And he began to +speculate upon what he could do in Japan if he was free and had a money +belt full of gold.</p> + +<p>That Larry had a money belt was true. He had purchased it several +years before, while on shore duty in the Philippines. He was a saving +fellow and found the belt useful in which to place his wages and the +money which he occasionally received from home. Strange as it may seem, +the belt had not been taken away from him by the Russians, and it now +contained nearly three hundred dollars. The money was mostly in +gold,—for he had found that gold could be used no matter where he +went.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="18">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h3> + +<h4>A CLEVER RUSE</h4> + +<p class="p2">As soon as Captain Ponsberry was in charge of the +<i>Columbia</i> once more he set about without delay to put the schooner +in proper condition for the run to Nagasaki. The broken-off foremast was +allowed to remain as it was, but a temporary bowsprit was set into +place, and the damage to the forecastle and to the stern repaired. A +temporary rail was also nailed up, so that there might be no danger of +anybody slipping overboard.</p> + +<p>In all this work the sailors and the ship's carpenter did their best, +and the captain and his mates helped. Sails were also sewed up, or +replaced, and inside of forty-eight hours the old <i>Columbia</i> was +once more on her way. The water taken aboard was pumped out, and the +pumps were kept going two hours each morning and two hours each +afternoon.</p> + +<p>"She will do now," said the captain, after the heaviest of the work +was over. "But when we reach Nagasaki I'll have to put her in the dock +for regular repairs. I shouldn't dare to take her to Manila or to San +Francisco in such a condition."</p> + +<p>"It will take a long time to have the repairs made in Japan," said +Larry. "All the shipyards are busy on government work."</p> + +<p>"True, lad, but that cannot be helped. The law would not allow me to +sign a crew with a ship that was not seaworthy."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have a long lay-off when we reach Nagasaki."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, Larry. But I shan't keep you. If you want to go +elsewhere——"</p> + +<p>"Not on another sailing vessel, Captain Ponsberry. But you know how +it is with Luke Striker and myself. Ever since we were in our own navy +we have had a hankering after warships, and——"</p> + +<p>"And you think of joining the Japanese navy?" put in the master of +the schooner, quickly.</p> + +<p>"That's it. You know how I spoke of joining the army with Ben and +Gilbert."</p> + +<p>"To be sure—and I told you I couldn't spare you."</p> + +<p>"But now, if you haven't any use for me any longer——"</p> + +<p>"Why, Larry, if you want to fight for Japan, go ahead and fight!" +ejaculated Captain Ponsberry. "I don't blame you. I'd fight myself if I +was a younger man and hadn't any obligations on my shoulders. I suppose +Ben is doing great things in the army and you'd like to match him in the +navy, eh?"</p> + +<p>"If I join the navy I'll do my best."</p> + +<p>"Will Striker go with you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Luke and I always go together, if we can. He was my chum +when we fought under Dewey and he has been my chum ever since."</p> + +<p>"And a good fellow, too, Larry—a man with a heart of gold. If +it wasn't that you and Tom Grandon were with me, I should have made him +a mate long ago."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt that, sir—and he is worthy of it." Larry paused +for a moment. "Of course, I don't know if they want any of us in the +navy."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you tell me before that they had several men you had met +while under Dewey and some your brother Walter had met while fighting in +Cuban waters?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that was some time ago."</p> + +<p>"If they took those chaps then it's likely they will take you +now—unless, of course, they have all the men they want—which +I doubt."</p> + +<p>"We shall not go as ordinary jackies. Ben got a commission as a +captain, and Luke thinks he might go as a gunner and I might go as an +assistant gunner. We occupied those positions before we left our +navy."</p> + +<p>"Then I should certainly strike for the positions. They may need +gunners even if they don't need common seamen," responded Captain +Ponsberry.</p> + +<p>As fortune would have it, the run to Nagasaki was made without +incident worthy of special mention. Once there was a scare on board, as +the water in the well hole increased with alarming rapidity. But the new +leak was discovered in time, and the ship's carpenter had little +difficulty in repairing it. They also sighted a vessel they thought +might be a Russian warship, but she proved instead to be a Japanese +coastwise freighter, carrying lumber from one port to another on the +northern coast of Japan.</p> + +<p>As the <i>Columbia</i> drew closer to Nagasaki both Peterson and +Shamhaven grew more anxious over what was to become of them. Neither +desired a term in a Japanese prison, and both wondered what sort of a +charge Captain Ponsberry and the captain of the Japanese warship would +prefer against them.</p> + +<p>So far Captain Ponsberry had allowed them their liberty, but through +the talk of a couple of sailors they presently learned that they were to +be cast into the ship's brig and placed under guard as soon as the +schooner dropped anchor.</p> + +<p>"This looks black for us," said Shamhaven, moodily. "I wish we were +out of it."</p> + +<p>"I haf a plan got, yes," answered Peterson.</p> + +<p>"To get away?"</p> + +<p>The other nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then let me hear the plan by all means, Peterson."</p> + +<p>"It vos—vot you call him—risky, yes. Maype ve get +shot—you no like him, no?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't want to get shot. But what is your plan?"</p> + +<p>"So soon like de ship come up by der harbor we vatch our chances an' +trop oferpoard, yes."</p> + +<p>"And swim ashore?"</p> + +<p>"Maype ve schwim by some udder poat, yes. Of ve got money we go to +leetle poat—gif Jap mans money to take us avay, you see now?"</p> + +<p>"You mean to watch for some small Japanese boat—a bumboat, eh? +And bribe the boatman to take us to some place of safety?"</p> + +<p>"You got him now, yes."</p> + +<p>"That's good enough if we can find the bumboat and get the money with +which to do the bribing."</p> + +<p>"Captain Ponsberry got money—an' Russell he got money pelt, +like I told you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I haven't forgotten about that money belt," returned Shamhaven. +"And I wouldn't mind taking it if I could get my hands on it. But +Russell must wear it most of the time."</p> + +<p>"I t'ink he not put him on by der night dime, no."</p> + +<p>"What do you know about Captain Ponsberry's money?"</p> + +<p>"He got money in a leetle pag—I see him vonce."</p> + +<p>"How much do you think?"</p> + +<p>At this Peterson shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"No can tell dat—maype a thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, and Shamhaven drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"One thing is certain," he resumed. "I don't intend to go to a +Japanese prison, or an American prison either, if I can help it, and if +we cut loose here in a strange country we are bound to need more or less +money with which to get along. Without money a fellow can't do a thing +in a strange country."</p> + +<p>"We git money—chust you vait," said Peterson.</p> + +<p>At last the <i>Columbia</i> came into sight of the shipping of +Nagasaki. But it was now dark, and a heavy fog was hanging over the +harbor, so it was impossible to make the proper landing before the next +day. They came to anchor and the necessary lights were hung out.</p> + +<p>"This is our chance," said Shamhaven. "It is now or never!"</p> + +<p>He had heard that Peterson and himself were to be made close +prisoners directly after supper. He watched his chance and when nobody +was looking motioned his confederate to leave the forecastle and steal +silently toward the stern of the ship. Each carried a block of wood, to +which was attached a bit of iron, to make it sink from sight.</p> + +<p>"Now then!" whispered Shamhaven, and threw the block he carried +overboard. It struck the water with a loud splash, and the block carried +by Peterson immediately followed.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, what's that?" came in the voice of Tom Grandon. "Who threw +something overboard?"</p> + +<p>"Sounded like somebody jumping into the water," replied Captain +Ponsberry, who was on deck with the first mate.</p> + +<p>An examination was made, but in the fog and darkness nothing could be +discovered.</p> + +<p>"It was mighty queer," was Grandon's comment. "Somebody must have +done it."</p> + +<p>"Where are Shamhaven and Peterson?"</p> + +<p>"In the forecastle, I suppose. Do you think——"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to think. See if they are there."</p> + +<p>At once Tom Grandon ran off, and made a tour not only of the +forecastle but also of the forward deck. He called the men's names +several times, and others quickly joined in the hunt.</p> + +<p>"They are gone!" he ejaculated, running back to where Captain +Ponsberry stood.</p> + +<p>"Gone? Then it must have been them jumping overboard that we +heard!"</p> + +<p>"Like as not—and they are a good bit away from the schooner by +this time."</p> + +<p>"Bring a lantern and we'll take a look around."</p> + +<p>A lantern was brought, and a few minutes later a small boat was +lowered, manned by Luke and three other sailors. Captain Ponsberry went +with them, and the searchers remained out the best part of an hour.</p> + +<p>"They've given us the slip clean and clear," declared the master of +the <i>Columbia</i>, on returning. "It was a risky thing to undertake in +such weather as this."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and for all we know they may be at the bottom of the harbor," +answered Tom Grandon.</p> + +<p>"Which place might be jest what they deserve," grumbled Luke Striker, +as he helped to stow away the small boat once more.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="19">CHAPTER XIX</a></h3> + +<h4>THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ENEMY</h4> + +<p class="p2">As soon as Peterson and Shamhaven threw the blocks of wood +overboard they darted for the companionway of the schooner and crept +noiselessly down to the cabin.</p> + +<p>The apartment was deserted, and the swinging lamp over the center +table was turned low. On the table rested several charts which Captain +Ponsberry had been consulting before joining Tom Grandon on deck.</p> + +<p>It was Larry's watch below and he was improving the time by taking a +much-needed nap. He lay on the berth in his stateroom, with the door +wide open to admit the fresh air.</p> + +<p>"Make no noise!" whispered Shamhaven. "If we are discovered the jig +is up with us."</p> + +<p>"Russell is here, yes?" came from Peterson.</p> + +<p>"Sh-sh! Yes—over in yonder stateroom."</p> + +<p>They closed the door leading to the companionway and then tiptoed +their way to where Larry lay.</p> + +<p>"More than likely he keeps his money belt under his pillow when he +sleeps," said Shamhaven. "Wait till I find out."</p> + +<p>He shoved his hand under the headrest with caution and presently his +fingers came into contact with a strip of leather and chamois. He pulled +on it gently, but it refused to budge.</p> + +<p>"Lift his head a little," he said, and Peterson started to do as +requested. But the movement, gentle as it was, caused Larry to open his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wha—what are you doing here?" stammered the young second mate, +when, waiting for no more words, Peterson clapped a dirty hand over his +mouth.</p> + +<p>"Keep still, you! If you no keep still I hit you good, yes!"</p> + +<p>"Confound the luck," muttered Shamhaven. "I didn't want him to know +what we were up to."</p> + +<p>Larry began to struggle and with an effort threw aside the hand over +his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Le—let up!" he spluttered. "I want you——Help!"</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" cried Shamhaven, fiercely, and struck him a swinging blow +in the temple. Another blow from Peterson followed, and then, with +flashing lights darting through his brain, Larry lost consciousness.</p> + +<p>Both men bent over him to see if he would move. When he lay as still +as if dead they looked at each other with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"He won't bother us any more—at least, not for awhile," was +Shamhaven's comment.</p> + +<p>"Quick, de money belt!" came from Peterson, and as he raised up +Larry's head, Shamhaven secured it and stowed it away in the bosom of +his shirt. "You no keep him!" he went on, in alarm, showing that he did +not trust his companion in crime.</p> + +<p>"We'll divide up afterwards," said Shamhaven, briefly. "Now to locate +the captain's little pile."</p> + +<p>Both tiptoed their way into Captain Ponsberry's stateroom. Here there +was a small safe, with the door closed.</p> + +<p>"A safe, eh?" said Shamhaven. "Wonder if we can open it?"</p> + +<p>He knelt down and tried to work the combination lock. The safe was +old and out of order and the captain had had the combination lock made +as simple as possible in consequence. Soon there came a click, followed +by another, and the bolts shot back.</p> + +<p>"Luck is with us!" cried Shamhaven.</p> + +<p>"Dare is de leetle pag," came from Peterson, and reaching into the +safe he drew the article forth. There was a slip string at the top which +he pulled apart.</p> + +<p>"Gold!" he cried. "See—dirty—forty bieces of gold!" And +then he shut the bag again, and placed it into his own shirt bosom.</p> + +<p>"Remember, half of that is mine," came sharply from Shamhaven. He +fancied there might be more in the bag than in the money belt.</p> + +<p>"Yes,—an' haf de money-pelt money ist mine, yes," returned +Peterson.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Peterson. Now to get away from the ship."</p> + +<p>"Let us lock Russell in de stateroom first."</p> + +<p>"A good idea!"</p> + +<p>The door was closed and locked. Larry still lay unconscious and there +was no telling how soon he would come to his senses.</p> + +<p>They heard the tramping on the deck and the departure of the small +boat. Now those in the boat came back and the search for the missing men +came to an end.</p> + +<p>With the slyness of a pair of cats, the evildoers crept up the +companionway once more. Nobody was in sight, and they crawled rather +than walked to the rail of the schooner. Both were good swimmers and not +afraid to trust themselves to reach some other shipping in the harbor. +Yet as an extra precaution each provided himself with a +life-preserver.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready, Peterson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then over we go."</p> + +<p>A small rope was handy, and lowering this, each slid along it into +the waters of the harbor. Then they struck out swiftly but silently; and +in a few minutes the fog and darkness hid them completely from view.</p> + +<p>It was the best part of an hour before Larry returned to his senses. +His head ached as if ready to split open and for several minutes he +could not remember where he was or what had occurred.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my head!" he groaned. "Oh!" And he turned over and tried to sit +up, with the result that he pitched out on the floor of the stateroom. +This aroused him and he got up as quickly as he could.</p> + +<p>"Those rascals attacked me!" he muttered. "They struck me over the +head! I remember now! Oh, how my head spins,—just as if I was in a +merry-go-round! I wonder——"</p> + +<p>He dropped on the berth and snatched away the pillow. One glance was +sufficient to show him how he had been robbed.</p> + +<p>"That's why they attacked me!" he cried. "Wonder where they are now? +Perhaps they ran away from the ship!"</p> + +<p>Leaping up again he stepped to the door, and finding it locked, began +to pound away lustily, at the same time yelling at the top of his lungs. +In a few minutes this brought down Captain Ponsberry, followed by Luke, +who had been told to come along, the captain fearing that something had +gone wrong.</p> + +<p>"What's up here?" demanded Captain Ponsberry as he flung open the +door.</p> + +<p>"Where are they?" came the counter-question from Larry.</p> + +<p>"They? Who?"</p> + +<p>"Peterson and Shamhaven?"</p> + +<p>"Gone—slid away in the fog."</p> + +<p>"They have robbed me!"</p> + +<p>"You don't say!" ejaculated the master of the <i>Columbia</i>. "You +are sure?" he went on.</p> + +<p>"Yes. My money belt is gone. They came while I was asleep, and when I +woke up both hit me,—and I don't know what happened after that. I +just came to my senses and found myself locked in."</p> + +<p>"The villains!" burst in Luke. "Those chaps ought to be swung up to a +yardarm!"</p> + +<p>The captain listened to Larry's story and then was prompted to take a +look around the other staterooms. As a result he speedily discovered +that the safe had been tampered with and that his own money was +gone.</p> + +<p>"They are worse rascals than I thought them," said Captain Ponsberry, +bitterly. "I am sorry that I did not make an example of them from the +start."</p> + +<p>There was a good deal of speculation concerning what had become of +Shamhaven and Peterson, and another search was instituted, lasting until +the following day, but not a single trace of the evildoers could be +found.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am out the whole of my savings," said Larry to Luke.</p> + +<p>"It's a shame, lad," replied the Yankee tar. "But if you need ready +cash don't fail to draw on me. As long as I have a shot in the locker +half on it is yours."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Luke; I know you'd say that. You're the proper kind of a +friend to have."</p> + +<p>"Avast, Larry, with your compliments. Wouldn't you do the same fer +me?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would!"</p> + +<p>"Then it ain't worth talkin' about. Jest the same, I hope we run into +them rascals some day; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I do. But more than likely they'll give the <i>Columbia</i> and us a +wide berth after this," returned Larry.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="20">CHAPTER XX</a></h3> + +<h4>LARRY BEFORE ADMIRAL TOGO</h4> + +<p class="p2">As soon as the <i>Columbia</i> could make the proper +landing, Captain Ponsberry went ashore and reported his arrival to the +authorities, and also reported the escape of Shamhaven and Peterson. The +authorities had already heard of the capture of the <i>Columbia</i> from +the Russians, and said that the schooner would have to remain at +Nagasaki until the whole case could be adjusted. The Japanese were +inclined to favor both the Richmond Importing Company and the owners of +the vessel, so it was not likely that our friends would lose much in the +end. In the meantime the <i>Columbia</i> could be put in a dry-dock and +given the overhauling that she needed.</p> + +<p>"We shall do all we can to locate Shamhaven and Peterson and get back +your money," said an official of the secret service department. But his +hands were so full with other matters of greater importance that little +attention was paid to the disappearance of the two rascals.</p> + +<p>"Well, this will tie me up at Nagasaki for some time to come," said +Captain Ponsberry to Larry, on the third day after arriving at the +Japanese port.</p> + +<p>"Which means, I suppose, that I can join the Japanese navy if I +wish," returned the young second mate, quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to force you to leave the ship, lad. But you +said——"</p> + +<p>"I know, Captain Ponsberry, and I am glad of the chance to get away. +Luke and I have talked it over once more, and yesterday we met a gunner +named Steve Colton—he served on the <i>Brooklyn</i> at the time +Walter did. He is now a gun captain on board of Admiral Togo's flagship, +and he is almost certain he can get us good positions. He says gunners +and gunners' assistants are just now badly needed."</p> + +<p>"Then go by all means, Larry, and make even a bigger record for +yourself than your brother Ben is making in the army. Perhaps, when this +war is over, you'll come back to the old <i>Columbia</i>, eh?"</p> + +<p>"More than likely, and I guess Luke Striker will come, too."</p> + +<p>What Larry had said about meeting Steve Colton was true. As readers +of a story of mine entitled "Fighting in Cuban Waters" know, Colton had +been a gun captain under Commodore Schley, and as such had become fairly +well acquainted with Walter Russell and had also heard of Larry, who was +at that time serving under Admiral Dewey at Manila.</p> + +<p>A detail from Admiral Togo's flagship had been sent ashore at +Nagasaki, and Larry and Luke, as they walked through the streets, had +met several of these men. Hearing two of them speaking English they had +halted the pair; and introductions had followed.</p> + +<p>"So you are Larry Russell," said Steve Colton. "Any relation to +Walter Russell that once served on the U. S. Cruiser <i>Brooklyn</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Walter is my brother," replied Larry, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you are the chap that was cast away in the Pacific and picked +up by Admiral Dewey's flagship, eh?"</p> + +<p>"The same, and this is the friend who was with me, Luke Striker."</p> + +<p>"Glad to know ye both." Steve Colton shook hands. "This is my friend, +Bob Stanford—he hails from San Francisco and is a gunner's mate +with me. What are you doing in this corner of the earth?"</p> + +<p>A long talk followed, in which Larry and Luke told their story, and +Steve Colton and his friend related how they had come to join the +Japanese navy.</p> + +<p>"It's this way," said Colton. "I've got the fighting blood in my +veins and it won't come out. As soon as this war broke out, I cut sticks +from 'Frisco with Bob and we comes to Tokio. There I met another +American who was in the navy here, and it wasn't two days before we were +booked for Admiral Togo's flagship. We've been down to Port Arthur +twice, and I reckon we'll go again before long."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we'll go up to Vladivostok next time," came from Bob +Stanford. "I've heard something of bombarding that Russian port."</p> + +<p>Colton and Stanford had a couple of hours to themselves and Larry and +Luke invited them over to the <i>Columbia</i>. In return they were asked +to come over to Admiral Togo's flagship, the gunners having the +privilege of bringing their friends aboard during the brief stay in +Nagasaki harbor.</p> + +<p>"You can come aboard to-morrow," said Steve Colton. "They have an +inspection and drill, and you can see how they do it in the Japanese +navy—not but what it's a good bit like it's done on Uncle Sam's +warships."</p> + +<p>Larry and Luke were very willing to go aboard of the Japanese +warship, and were taken out by Colton the next day, and introduced to +several gunners and others who could speak a little English. They were +also taken before the head gunner, who took them to the commander of the +warship.</p> + +<p>"They both served under Admiral Dewey at Manila," said the head +gunner, and this made the commander smile quietly as he shook hands and +told them to make themselves at home.</p> + +<p>"Everything is as clean as a whistle," was Larry's comment, as they +walked around the forward part of the warship and through the gun decks. +"The Japs certainly know how to take care of things. Luke, just look at +how the brasswork shines!"</p> + +<p>"That's the way it ought to be," was the Yankee tar's reply. "No +slackness, an' I'm glad on it. I love a clean ship above all +things."</p> + +<p>Steve Colton and Bob Stanford were enthusiastic over the gun they +commanded and explained how it worked. It was certainly an effective +weapon and Larry and Luke were thoroughly interested.</p> + +<p>"I could handle sech a gun myself," said Luke. "An' do some damage, +too; eh, Larry?"</p> + +<p>"Anyway, I'd like to try it," returned the youth.</p> + +<p>Orders were now being issued for the inspection and drill, and +presently nearly all on board of the flagship hurried to the main deck. +Here the marines were drawn up in long lines, with the officers in their +proper places. The sailors and gunners were also at hand, each togged +out in his best, for inspection by an admiral on any warship means a +great deal.</p> + +<p>Presently Admiral Togo appeared, followed by several other naval +officers of lesser rank. He was in full dress, with many decorations on +his breast, and carried his sword. He proved to be a man well along in +years, with a round face, and small mustache and goatee.</p> + +<p>"He looks like a fighter!" whispered Larry.</p> + +<p>"True for you, lad," returned Luke. "An' I reckon he knows how to +handle men."</p> + +<p>What our friends said about Admiral Togo was true. He was a fighter +and a born leader of men. When the Naval Academy of Japan was +inaugurated he was one of the first graduates, and he was sent by the +government to complete his nautical education in England, where, during +1873 and 1874, he served on the training ship <i>Worcester</i>, making a +record for himself as a first-class pupil in every respect.</p> + +<p>On returning home Togo Heihachiro—to use his full +name—found a great task confronting his people. They were becoming +civilized as we term civilization and needed a modern navy. He set to +work with vim and vigor, and then and there laid the foundation of that +navy which is to-day known as one of the most effective in the world.</p> + +<p>The navy had scarcely come into existence when there came rumors of +war with China. The rumors grew, and China became more and more hateful +toward the Japanese. To the outside world it looked as if China, with +her vast territory and her immense number of people, would swallow up +the sons of Nippon bodily.</p> + +<p>At last it was discovered that China was transporting troops with +which to begin the war. Togo waited for no instructions from his home +government. He went at the Chinese with vigor. The war followed, and +after a number of thrilling contests the Japanese were victorious, and +Admiral Togo emerged from the struggle covered with glory.</p> + +<p>"He is the man to lead us to victory against the Russians!" was the +cry throughout the navy, when war was declared between Russia and Japan, +and how he sent his ships to Port Arthur and other places, and what +effective work was done by them, has already been related. In the whole +of the Japanese navy, to serve on the admiral's flagship, the +<i>Mikasa</i>, was considered a great honor.</p> + +<p>The inspection and drill were exceedingly interesting to Larry and +Luke, and they watched both with close attention. After it was over +Admiral Togo addressed the men briefly and then turned to the commander +of the ship.</p> + +<p>"See, he is pointing to us!" whispered Luke. "Hang me if I don't +think he is talking about us to the captain!"</p> + +<p>"An officer is coming," replied Larry, and a moment later one of the +admiral's staff came hurrying to them.</p> + +<p>"Are you the two Americans who served under Admiral Dewey at Manila?" +questioned the staff officer.</p> + +<p>"We are," answered Larry.</p> + +<p>"Admiral Togo wishes you to come to him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Luke, we are going to be presented to the admiral!" cried +Larry.</p> + +<p>"Great pewter!" groaned the Yankee tar. "I didn't expect this nohow. +But I don't care," he added, bracing up. "He ain't no bigger nor Dewey. +Come along."</p> + +<p>He followed the staff officer and Larry did the same. They felt that +the eyes of many of the sailors and marines were on them, and stepped +out as firmly as possible. Coming up to the admiral, they took off their +caps and saluted.</p> + +<p>Admiral Togo surveyed the two Americans with interest. He had heard +how they had come to serve under Dewey at Manila and he smiled +pleasantly as he held out his hand, first to Larry and then to Luke.</p> + +<p>"Let me give you a welcome, my men," said he. "I have been told your +story. I hope this visit to my ship has interested you."</p> + +<p>"Very much, sir," answered Luke.</p> + +<p>"I liked the drill, sir," answered Larry, with a smile. "It was fine. +And everything is so clean! Really, I don't think it could be +cleaner!"</p> + +<p>At this Admiral Togo smiled again. "That is a compliment,—since +it comes from one who has served in the American navy."</p> + +<p>He then asked them to remain where they were, while some of the men +went through an exercise with their cutlasses. There was also a gun +drill, and they were asked to show how they had handled a gun during the +battle of Manila Bay.</p> + +<p>"You are well drilled, I can see that," said the admiral, on +dismissing them. "They tell me you think of entering our navy. If you +wish to do so I think likely we can find suitable openings for you."</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="21">CHAPTER XXI</a></h3> + +<h4>LETTERS OF INTEREST</h4> + +<p class="p2">The enlistment of Larry and Luke Striker into the Japanese +navy came sooner than anticipated. A new warship was being <ins +title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'fittted'">fitted</ins> out at +a harbor some forty miles from Nagasaki, and Steve Colton and Bob +Stanford were transferred to this. Two new gun crews were badly needed +on the new ship, and inside of forty-eight hours our friends had signed +the muster roll and were put into training, under Colton. The positions +occupied were those of gunner and gunner's mate.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for Nippon!" cried Larry, enthusiastically. "Luke, after this +we have got to learn to yell <i>Banzai!</i> in true Japanese style."</p> + +<p>"This gun is a beauty," replied the Yankee tar, as he looked the +piece over. "I reckon as I can make her do considerable damage if I get +the chance."</p> + +<p>"And I'll help all I can," said Larry. "Won't Ben and Gilbert be +surprised when they hear of this?" he added.</p> + +<p>"They might know you'd do something of the sort."</p> + +<p>"That's so, too. By the way, I'm going up to the post-office to-day +and see if there are any letters."</p> + +<p>Much to the satisfaction of our friends they found over a score of +men on the warship who could speak English. Some, of course, could speak +but little, yet they could make themselves understood. On the other +hand, both Larry and Luke began to pick up the Japanese language +remarkably fast.</p> + +<p>"If we keep at this for six months we'll be regular Japanese," said +the youth. "It's not so hard as I thought it would be."</p> + +<p>They found the discipline on the warship very strict and were called +on to "toe the mark" continually. Yet all the officers were as +considerate as they were firm, so there was little of hardship.</p> + +<p>When Larry called at the post-office for letters he found two +good-sized epistles awaiting him. One was from his brother Walter, and +ran, in part, as follows:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"There is nothing particularly new in this part of +the globe. I am doing very well in my new business and it looks now as +if I should make a big thing of it. I rather think I am more cut out for +work on land than for life on shipboard, although I don't regret the +time I spent in the navy.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Uncle Job is feeling very well these days and is +building a new wing to the old house—going to put in a library of +good books he tells me. He is as dear an old chap now as anybody would +want for an uncle.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"I suppose you will hear from Ben and Gilbert. I am +expecting a letter every day. It's queer you didn't go with them, but I +suppose the old <i>Columbia</i> with her crew suits you better."</p> + +<p>"I am glad everything is all right at home," thought Larry, as he +finished reading the communication. "A new wing to the house, eh? Uncle +Job must be spreading himself. Reckon he has found out there is +something more to live for in this world than mere money."</p> + +<p>The second letter was from Ben, as he could tell by the handwriting. +It had been on the way a long time and had been sent to half a dozen +places, including Manila. There was a great deal about life in the +Japanese army, and also a full description of the capture of Liao-Yang. +Ben then continued:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"We are now on guard a few miles outside of the +city. Our camp stretches for many miles, and we are doing all in our +power to strengthen our position. What the next move will be there is no +telling. One report is, that our particular command will help to chase +the Russians to Mukden, while another report has it that we are to march +southward, to aid in the attempt to take Port Arthur.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"I have already told you what trouble Gilbert had +with that rascally Russian merchant, Ivan Snokoff, and with Snokoff's +confederate, Captain Barusky, of the Russian army. Well, at Liao-Yang we +found Snokoff disguised as a Chinaman, and Gilbert made the fellow pay +over all that was coming to him for the Richmond Importing Company. In +the attempt to capture Snokoff, Gilbert shot him in the leg. It was only +a slight wound, but the Russian was as mad as a hornet, and he vowed he +would get square some time. He is now in the hospital here, but they +expect to let him leave in a few days. He really ought to be put under +arrest, but as he has paid up the money he owed, there doesn't seem to +be any way of holding him. It's out of the question to go to court with +the case. I helped Gilbert to put Snokoff under guard, and he is as +angry at me as he is at Gilbert. I don't know if he will dare to do +anything or not, but both of us are keeping our eyes open."</p> + +<p>Larry read this letter twice before he stowed it away. He was always +interested in war news and he thought the description of the great +battle of Liao-Yang very realistic. He shook his curly head when he +thought of Ivan Snokoff.</p> + +<p>"He must be an underhanded rascal if ever there was one," he mused. +"And to think he disguised himself as a Chinaman! I'll wager Gilbert +thought it a fine thing to expose him and make him pay up. But he and +Ben had better look out, or Snokoff and that Captain Barusky may cause +them a lot of trouble."</p> + +<p>Larry had an hour to himself, and he spent the time in answering both +letters, telling briefly what had happened to him since the trip to +Manila and how he and Luke were now in service on board of the Japanese +warship <i>Shohirika</i>. He added that he liked the position of +gunner's mate very much, and that he meant to make a record for himself +if given the opportunity to do so. He also told about the doings of +Shamhaven and Peterson, and said he hoped to bring them to justice, +although he realized that looking for them was as bad as "looking for a +pearl on the ocean bottom."</p> + +<p>The letters finished, he addressed and posted them, and then he and +Luke took a short stroll through Nagasaki, past the many curious shops, +and the fine residences. Some of the shop windows displayed flaring war +pictures, done in glaring colors,—all telling of tremendous +Japanese victories on land and sea.</p> + +<p>"They certainly believe in tooting their own horn," said Larry, with +a laugh over one of the pictures. "Just see this one, Luke—one +Japanese officer mowing down three Russians with his sword!"</p> + +<p>"They ain't no worse nor we had at home during the Spanish war, lad. +I know one picture I see o' a Rough Rider riding down half a dozen +Spanish soldiers. An' the truth o' the matter is, them Rough Riders +didn't have no horses at all but fought on foot!"</p> + +<p>"You're right, Luke. We'll have to put all such pictures down as +freaks of the artist's imagination. But I guess I know why some of them +are put out—to draw the young fellows into the army and navy."</p> + +<p>"Right ye are. Some fellers seeing a picture like that want to march +to glory right off,—an' so they go an' enlist. When it comes to +hardtack an' black coffee——"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Luke. Remember you are in Japan. Here it is rice and +tea."</p> + +<p>"So it is, Larry. Say, but I had to laugh yesterday, when I see some +of them jackies on board o' our ship gettin' out their teapots with +tea."</p> + +<p>"It did look funny. But they do the same thing in the army, so I have +been told. They can make the Japanese soldier and sailor do everything +as we do it but give up his tea."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon tea is better nor rum."</p> + +<p>"Certainly it is,—and if I were an officer I'd let them have +all the tea they wanted—if they would fight any better for +it."</p> + +<p>"Those Russian sailors and soldiers drink an awful lot of +<i>vodka</i>. I should think they would try to stop that. A half-drunken +sailor or soldier isn't of any account."</p> + +<p>"They are so used to having it, I've been told, that to stop it would +bring on a regular mutiny. It's hard to break off using a thing when you +are used to it."</p> + +<p>"Right ye are, lad; a habit if it ain't proper is something +awful."</p> + +<p>All was bustle throughout Nagasaki, for several regiments of soldiers +had come in, bound for some transports which were to take them to +Manchuria. Banners were flying everywhere, and from a distance came the +music of a band.</p> + +<p>"Wonder how soon we will leave," said Larry, when he and his old +friend were returning to the warship. "Now that we have enlisted, I'd +like to see some fighting."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'll get more fighting than we want, lad. But I'd like to get +into it myself," continued the Yankee gunner, with a grin.</p> + +<p>Two days more were spent at Nagasaki, and then, on a clear morning, +the <i>Shohirika</i> left the harbor and steamed off in company with two +sister ships. They were to join a squadron bound for the western coast +of Korea, but where they were to go after that there was no telling.</p> + +<p>Captain Ponsberry came to see Larry and Luke off. "Take good care of +yourselves," said the master of the <i>Columbia</i>. "An' teach them +Russians the lesson they deserve."</p> + +<p>"We expect to do our duty," answered Larry.</p> + +<p>Life on the Japanese warship proved to be very much like life in the +American navy. There were hours set apart for various drills and +exercises. Each day they had to go through the movements of handling the +gun, fighting with cutlasses, putting out a fire, and manning the small +boats. They also had to keep their ditty bags and grass hammocks in good +order, also their eating utensils, and each had to do his share of +cleaning up. Twice a week the ship's surgeon examined each man, to see +that he was perfectly healthy.</p> + +<p>"I like this keeping things clean," said Larry. "It is bound to make +for good health."</p> + +<p>"They tell me that Japanese sailors and soldiers are among the +healthiest in the world," answered Luke.</p> + +<p>In a few days the southern point of Korea was passed and the bow of +the warship was pointed toward the eastern coast of Manchuria. They were +now getting close to the battleground and the lookout was constantly +watching for the appearance of the ships of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"We'll have a fight before very long—I can feel it in my +bones," declared Larry. And he was right; but before telling of that +contest, and what surprising results it led to, we shall have to tell of +something else which occurred, to delight Larry exceedingly.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="22">CHAPTER XXII</a></h3> + +<h4>A MEETING AND A PLOT</h4> + +<p class="p2">"Some Japanese transports are coming up," said Larry, two +days later. "Six of them, and they are crowded to the rails with +soldiers."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we are to act as an escort to them," replied Luke. "They +would need an escort, if they fell in with a Russian cruiser or +two."</p> + +<p>The Japanese transports were bound for the coast of Manchuria, to +land near the village of Petaka. Soon they fell in behind the +<i>Shohirika</i>; and then those on the warship knew that they were +going to go close to shore, if not to make an actual landing.</p> + +<p>A fog came up that night, which made the transports hold off. But the +next day was as bright and clear as before, and about noon land was +sighted to the westward. A patrol boat was sent ahead and came back +stating that all was clear for a landing. Then the warships went closer +and the transports followed.</p> + +<p>On the following day Larry found himself on shore—having been +taken along by one of the officers of the ship to interview an English +merchant who wished to sell some goods to the Japanese. The officer +could speak some English, but wanted somebody along who could help him +out in case he could not make himself clearly understood.</p> + +<p>The landing was at a small Chinese town which was partly in +ashes—the Russians having tried to burn it down before leaving. +There were a dozen shops, but all were closed and with the windows +boarded up. Many of the Chinese had fled to the country beyond; and a +Japanese regiment was on guard to preserve order and to keep the +Chunchuses, (Chinese brigands) from looting the place.</p> + +<p>"This shows what war will do," thought Larry, as he walked along +beside the Japanese naval officer. "I suppose some of the Chinese have +lost all they possessed—and through no fault of their own +either."</p> + +<p>The business with the English merchant was transacted quicker than +anticipated, and, not caring to go back to his ship at once, the naval +officer visited the camp of the Japanese regiment, taking Larry with +him.</p> + +<p>"We expect another detachment here this afternoon," said one of the +regimental commanders to the naval officer. "They are to escort a powder +train through the mountains."</p> + +<p>A little while later the detachment came in on foot, looking somewhat +tired and dusty from a long tramp through an exceedingly rough country. +As the soldiers came to a halt in the public square of the seaport +village, Larry uttered a cry of amazement:</p> + +<p>"Ben!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Larry, can it be you?" came in a tone of astonishment, and on +the instant Ben Russell rushed forward and caught his brother by the +hands. "I must be dreaming!"</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm dreaming myself!" said Larry, and gave his brother a +warm hug. "This beats the Dutch! I thought you were at Liao-Yang. How +are you and how did you get here?"</p> + +<p>"One question at a time, please," returned Ben, with a happy smile. +"I'm pretty well, although I had a little dose of fever a couple of +weeks ago. Our Japanese doctor fixed me up in double-quick time. Our +command was ordered down here to look after a powder train. There was a +report that either the Russians or the Chunchuses were going to try to +capture it or blow it up. Now, how have you been, and what are you doing +here? I thought the old <i>Columbia</i> was at Nagasaki."</p> + +<p>"You want to know as much as I do, Ben." There was a pause and both +laughed merrily, they felt so happy. "I'm as sound as a fiddle. The +<i>Columbia</i> is at Nagasaki and likely to stay there for some time. +Allow me to introduce myself, Lawrence Russell, gunner's mate aboard of +the Mikado's cruiser <i>Shohirika</i>. My head gunner is Luke Striker, +Esquire."</p> + +<p>"Never!" burst from Ben. "Well, this certainly is news. So you and +Luke enlisted? Have you had any fighting?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. But we have seen some rough times," answered Larry, and +then, as soon as Ben could get away for a quiet half-hour, he related +his story in detail, just as I have set it down in these pages.</p> + +<p>"You are assuredly a lucky chap, Larry, not to be in a Russian prison +this minute," said his brother, after the young sailor had finished.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am lucky, Ben. But it wasn't much of luck to have that +Shamhaven and Peterson walk off with my money belt."</p> + +<p>"That is so, but as the amount taken wasn't a fortune I shouldn't +worry about it. I can let you have any money you need."</p> + +<p>"I don't need any, and, besides, Luke is acting as my banker. But now +tell me about yourself."</p> + +<p>"There isn't very much to tell, outside of what I put down in that +letter you received. As you know, Gilbert and I are both attached to +this command of Major Okopa."</p> + +<p>"Where is Gilbert now?"</p> + +<p>"His company was to bring up the rear. They'll be here very shortly. +Since the battle of Liao-Yang we have been on special duty, looking +after the pack and powder trains, and have seen very little of fighting. +We are reinforcing our lines daily, and I think the Russians must be +doing the same. I expect some more heavy fighting soon, unless winter +steps in and puts a stop to everything. The nights are already rather +cool," added Ben.</p> + +<p>It was half an hour later that the company under Gilbert came in, +having in their custody two Chinese bandits that had tried to steal four +horses belonging to two Japanese army carts.</p> + +<p>"So it's really you, Larry!" cried the young Southerner, as he shook +hands. "I'm mightily glad to see you and see you looking so well. I +suppose Ben has told you all the news."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Larry has been telling some too," put in Ben. "He has seen +almost as much of the Russians as we have." And then Larry's story had +to be told again.</p> + +<p>"I don't know where we shall go after we leave here," said the young +sailor. "Are you going back to Liao-Yang?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know that either. Our orders are to escort the powder train +wherever it may be sent," said Ben.</p> + +<p>For two days the Japanese warship remained in the harbor of the +seaport village and during that time Larry managed to see quite a good +deal of Ben and Gilbert. He wished he could take them on board of the +cruiser, but this was not permitted.</p> + +<p>On the third day the <i>Shohirika</i> received orders from a dispatch +boat which steamed into the harbor, and an hour later the anchors were +hove apeak and she steamed away, carrying Larry and his old Yankee +friend along. Ben and Gilbert stood on a dock watching her departure. +They waved their handkerchiefs at Larry and he waved his own in +return.</p> + +<p>"I wonder when I'll see Larry again," mused Ben. He felt rather sober +at the parting from his younger brother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll see him again before long," answered Gilbert, trying to +be cheerful.</p> + +<p>"Maybe not. It all depends upon where that cruiser sails to. She may +go half around the world."</p> + +<p>"More than likely she has been sent to take part in the bombardment +of Port Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think we'll be sent to Port Arthur, Gilbert?"</p> + +<p>"It is not unlikely, Ben."</p> + +<p>The pair watched the cruiser fade away in the distance, and then +returned to that part of the village in which Major Okopa's command had +been located.</p> + +<p>"By the way," said Gilbert, as they hurried along. "There is one +thing I forgot to tell you. Meeting Larry drove it completely out of my +mind. On the way to this village we stopped at a place called Wikelipe, +and there I met, whom do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"That rascal Ivan Snokoff. He was at his same old +tricks—selling things to the inhabitants at exorbitant prices. +When he saw me he shook his fist at me and my men and then ran away and +hid."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you root him out, Gilbert?"</p> + +<p>"What good would it have done? Besides, I didn't have time. The fight +with the brigands made us lose three hours. But do you know, I think +Snokoff has it in for me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and in for me, too," added Ben. "He hasn't forgotten how I +brought along the guard that placed him under temporary arrest."</p> + +<p>There was no time to say more, for the command was to move in half an +hour and both of the young captains had to round up their men for that +purpose. The powder train was at rest outside of the village and the men +were scattered here, there, and everywhere.</p> + +<p>Evening found the command to which Ben and Gilbert belonged ten miles +on their way through the mountains. Only the officer in charge of the +powder train knew the destination of the precious stores. The train +consisted of eighteen carts, each pulled by four horses.</p> + +<p>Although none in Major Okopa's command knew it, the train was +followed by a Chinaman named Kee Lung, who lived in Wikelipe, the place +where Gilbert had seen Ivan Snokoff. Kee Lung was well known to Ivan +Snokoff and had been asked by the rascally Russian to keep his eyes on +Gilbert and on Ben and to report their movements. He had watched +Gilbert's meeting with Ben and Larry and heard something of what was +said and had thus managed to make out that two of the party were +brothers.</p> + +<p>As the powder train approached Wikelipe, Kee Lung went ahead to find +Ivan Snokoff. This was not difficult, as he knew exactly where the +latter was hiding. A conference lasting an hour ensued.</p> + +<p>"Do as you have promised and you shall have fifty <i>yen</i>," said +Ivan Snokoff.</p> + +<p>"You will not fail to pay?" queried Kee Lung.</p> + +<p>"By the heads of my ancestors I promise it," was the rascally +Russian's answer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis enough. I shall do as I have promised," returned the Chinaman. +And he bowed himself from Ivan Snokoff's presence. Left to himself, the +rascally Russian rubbed his hands gleefully.</p> + +<p>"Ha, I trust he is successful!" he muttered to himself. "Once +Pennington and Russell are in the power of us Russians I shall show them +what it means to insult and degrade a Snokoff!"</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="23">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE ATTACK IN THE DARK</h4> + +<p class="p2">Two days later Gilbert and Ben were seated in their tent +talking about the meeting with Larry when one of the guards came in and +saluted.</p> + +<p>"A messenger to see Captain Russell and Captain Pennington," said the +guard.</p> + +<p>"Show him in," returned Ben, briefly, thinking it was a simple +message about camp duties. He was rather surprised when a Chinaman +entered, bowing low as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Dis Clabtain Lussell?" asked the newcomer.</p> + +<p>"That is my name."</p> + +<p>"Dis Clabtain Plennington?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"Sailor man send Chung Wow," went on the Chinaman. "Sailor man want +see bloth." He pointed to the two young captains. "Sailor man say he +blother you." And now he pointed at Ben alone.</p> + +<p>"Said he was my brother?" cried the young captain.</p> + +<p>The messenger nodded. "Name allee same Larry Lussell."</p> + +<p>"Gracious me!" ejaculated Ben. "Gilbert, what can this mean? I +thought Larry sailed away on that warship."</p> + +<p>"So did I. But she may be back in port."</p> + +<p>"Sailor man hurt." The Chinaman pointed to his side. "Sick—he +shot—say you clome to-night."</p> + +<p>"Sick? shot?" repeated Ben, and a cold chill went down his backbone. +"That is the worst yet. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Big walk down by the sea. Chung Wow show. But must pay—Chung +Wow poor people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll pay you," answered Ben, hurriedly. "Gilbert, do you think I +can get away?"</p> + +<p>"Sailor man say bloth clome," put in the messenger.</p> + +<p>"Something is wrong, that is certain," came from Gilbert. He eyed the +Chinaman closely. "There is no mistake about this?"</p> + +<p>At this Chung Wow shrugged his lean shoulders and looked blank.</p> + +<p>"No see mistakee. See sailor mans."</p> + +<p>"I guess he is all right," put in Ben. "Something has happened to +poor Larry. I wonder if I can get away at once?"</p> + +<p>"Let us see the major about this."</p> + +<p>Ben hurried off and caught Major Okopa in his own tent. As the +command was not to move until noon of the next day both readily obtained +permission to absent themselves until that time.</p> + +<p>"But be careful," said the major. "This may be some Chinese +trick."</p> + +<p>"We'll be on our guard," answered Ben.</p> + +<p>The Chinese messenger had come in on foot. He said he was hungry and +was given something to eat. Then the three set off, the messenger +carrying a knapsack filled with rations, and each of the young captains +carrying his sword and his pistol. They tried to learn from Chung Wow +how far they would have to travel, but the Chinaman either could not or +would not inform them.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it might have been as well to have taken a detachment of one +company along," suggested Gilbert. "I must say, I don't like the looks +of this." They were now a good mile away from camp, and in a location +that appeared lonely enough.</p> + +<p>"Well, we are moving down to the seacoast," returned Ben. He was +taking careful note of the direction they were pursuing.</p> + +<p>After that they journeyed along for a good two hours without saying +much. They stepped along briskly, for Ben wanted to learn just what had +happened to his brother. For all he knew to the contrary, Larry might be +mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>Presently they came to a spot in the road where there were a number +of dense trees. Chung Wow began to cough loudly.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" demanded Gilbert. For some reason he did not +trust the Chinaman.</p> + +<p>"Slomthing fly in float," was the answer, and Chung Wow coughed +again. Then he walked on, and they came behind him. But Gilbert drew his +pistol and motioned for Ben to do the same.</p> + +<p>"I may be mistaken, but we may be walking into a trap," he +whispered.</p> + +<p>"Why, Gilbert, I don't——" began Ben, when without warning +a heavy object dropped upon his head from the limb of one of the trees +and bore him to the ground. Another object dropped on Gilbert, but he +squirmed from under,—to find himself confronted by several +Chunchuses. A cry went up, and a crashing was heard in the bushes back +of the trees.</p> + +<p>"A trick, Ben, just as I suspected!" ejaculated the young Southerner, +and he discharged his pistol point-blank at the Chinese bandit in front +of him. This done he made a leap to one side, hurling over Chung Wow as +he did so, and darted forward into some bushes. A shot was aimed at him, +but did no injury, and he kept on, running as hard as he could.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Ben did his best to get up. But one man was on his +shoulders and another had him by the legs, so to move was next to +impossible. Then, as he continued to struggle, he received a heavy kick +from a wooden shoe which stretched him out like a log.</p> + +<p>"He is out of the fight now," said one of the Chunchuses, as he bent +over Ben. "Go after the other. Do not let him escape if you can help it. +Americans are worth a good deal to us in these days!"</p> + +<p>Three of the brigands remained to guard Ben and the others made after +Gilbert. But they could not catch the young Southerner, and after a long +chase they came back.</p> + +<p>"He has gone back to his camp," said one of the Chunchuses to his +chief. "He will have his friends about our ears very shortly."</p> + +<p>As soon as this news was received, Ben's hands and feet were bound, +and four of the Chinamen caught him up as if he were a dead animal and +hoisted him on their shoulders. Off they set at a dog-trot, with the +remaining brigands around them.</p> + +<p>It was the jogging over the rough mountainous road which finally +brought the young captain to his senses. At first he did not realize +that he was on the move.</p> + +<p>"Gilbert!" he called faintly. "Gilbert!"</p> + +<p>Nobody answered him, and now he essayed to sit up. He could not budge +and consequently began to struggle.</p> + +<p>"Be still!" cried one of the Chunchuses, in Chinese.</p> + +<p>"Where am I? What are you doing to me?" queried Ben.</p> + +<p>For answer he received a good shaking and was then dumped on the +ground. His feet were liberated, and the chief of the Chinese brigands +ordered him to move along, pointing the end of his sword at the prisoner +as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Where is my friend?" asked Ben.</p> + +<p>"He is dead," said the chief, laconically.</p> + +<p>"Dead!" burst out the young captain. His heart seemed to become like +a lump of lead. Gilbert, his own true chum, dead! It was too horrible to +believe.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you will be unless you walk on," added the chief of the +Chunchuses.</p> + +<p>There was no help for it, and, bruised and bleeding, the young +captain took up the march, with his enemies on all sides of him. The +gait was a rapid one, and before they came to a halt once more he was +all but exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Where are you taking me?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Wait and see." The chief of the Chunchuses grinned wickedly. "I +shall have to trouble you for your valuables," he went on, in his native +tongue, and without further ado stripped Ben of his possessions, +including his watch, money, ring, and sword.</p> + +<p>There was no use protesting, and therefore the young captain did not +attempt it. He was marched along a marshy path, and presently came in +sight of the ocean and a small bay, where two sailing ships and a small +steamer lay at anchor.</p> + +<p>A shrill whistle sounded out, and this was answered by somebody on +the steamer. Then a small boat put in to shore, carrying four sailors +and an officer. As soon as the officer landed, he was called aside by +the chief of the Chunchuses, and a conference lasting several minutes +followed.</p> + +<p>"It shall be as you say, Ching Fee," said the officer, in Russian. +"It is too bad you did not get the other, too. I know Ivan Snokoff, and +Captain Barusky too, and there will be money in this. Yes, I'll take him +on board at once. You had better watch out that the soldiers do not get +after you."</p> + +<p>"Trust Ching Fee to take care of himself," said the chief of the +Chunchuses.</p> + +<p>With scant ceremony Ben was conducted to the small boat and told to +get in. He asked where they were going to take him, but could get no +satisfaction. As soon as the steamer was reached, he was conducted to an +empty stateroom and locked in.</p> + +<p>"This is the worst yet!" he muttered, as he sat down. "I suppose they +intend to carry me miles and miles away. Poor Gilbert! I never thought +he would be killed in such a fashion as this! What cutthroats these +Chinese brigands are! It's a wonder they didn't kill me too! Can that +story about Larry be true?"</p> + +<p>There was a little water in the stateroom, and as his hands had been +released, Ben bathed his wounds and bound them up as best he could. He +heard the steamer move away from the shore, and soon the steady pounding +of the engines proved that she was forging ahead at her best rate of +speed.</p> + +<p>He was a prisoner of the enemy, and what they were going to do with +him was a question still to be answered.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="24">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h3> + +<h4>THE DEFENSE OF THE POWDER TRAIN</h4> + +<p class="p2">After firing on the Chinese brigands as already described, +Gilbert plunged into the brushwood which was not over half a dozen yards +distant. He heard the shots discharged at him in return, but fortunately +every one went wide of its mark.</p> + +<p>Once in the brushwood he did not stop, but continued on his way for +several rods. Then he paused, wondering if Ben was anywhere in the +vicinity.</p> + +<p>"I hope they didn't kill him," he murmured. "What a trap that was, +and how easily we walked into it!"</p> + +<p>He waited and listened, but nobody came near him. Then, with caution, +he pushed ahead, until he gained once more the road leading back to the +temporary camp occupied by the powder train and the detachment guarding +it. Following this, he ran on at full speed until the welcome camp-fires +greeted him.</p> + +<p>"Major Okopa, we have been attacked by Chunchuses!" he exclaimed, as +he rushed up to the officer's quarters. And in a brief manner he +explained the situation so far as he knew it.</p> + +<p>The Japanese major had taken a strong liking to Gilbert and Ben, and +he lost no time in ordering out a company to round up the Chinese +brigands if they could be located. It was Gilbert's own command and he +was given permission to remain out the whole night and the next day if +necessary.</p> + +<p>The young Southerner went at the task with vigor, for he realized +that every moment was precious. He explained the situation to his men, +and they set off at double-quick to where the attack had been made.</p> + +<p>As was to be expected, the spot was deserted. By torchlight they saw +the evidences of the struggle which had taken place. In one spot was a +pool of blood, left by the brigand whom Gilbert had shot in the +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"They went off in this direction," said one of the soldiers, who was +good at tracing footsteps. He pointed to a side road, and along this +they ran, keeping eyes and ears on the alert, so as to avoid anything in +the nature of a surprise.</p> + +<p>Two hours later the company found itself on the seashore. But +Chunchuses and vessels were gone and to where it was impossible to find +out. But on the beach Gilbert picked up an empty pocketbook which he +knew was Ben's property.</p> + +<p>"They brought him here most likely," he said. "See, here are the +marks of a rowboat, and of many feet. They have gone off on the +water."</p> + +<p>"Then the hunt is at a standstill," returned his second in +command.</p> + +<p>The young captain was unwilling to believe this, and the remainder of +the night, and the next forenoon, were spent in an eager search after +the enemy. But it was useless; and at last Gilbert, sick at heart, +ordered his men to return to the camp.</p> + +<p>On the following day the powder train moved onward once more. The +first lieutenant of Ben's company took command of the body, and Ben was +marked "missing" on the roll.</p> + +<p>"It is certainly too bad, and I sympathize with you, Captain +Pennington," said Major Okopa. "Captain Russell is a fine fellow."</p> + +<p>"It takes all the vigor out of me," replied Gilbert. "Ben and I were +like two brothers."</p> + +<p>But Gilbert was given no time in which to grieve over Ben's +disappearance. Two days later, the powder train was attacked by a +detachment of the Russians, who seemed to spring out of the very ground. +One of the wagons loaded with powder was blown to atoms, killing two +horses and three soldiers.</p> + +<p>"<i>Banzai!</i>" cried the Japanese, and when the order was given +they attacked the enemy with vigor. It was a hot fight, lasting half an +hour, and the Russians were driven among some high hills, backed up by +several mountains.</p> + +<p>As the powder train had to go through one of the mountain passes so +close at hand, the soldiers were sent ahead, to clear the way of all +Russians that might appear. This was dangerous work, for the enemy had +the advantage of the higher position. But the Japanese were undaunted, +and rushed up one slope after another with a vigor and animation that +was surprising.</p> + +<p>"Can't hold them back, when once they get started," said Gilbert, to +the major. "They are like our Southern bloodhounds, when once they +strike the scent."</p> + +<p>"And that is the way to win victory," answered Major Okopa.</p> + +<p>Not long after this Gilbert found himself at the foot of a steep hill +with his company. At the top of the hill were a number of great bowlders +and behind these some of the Russians were in hiding, sending down a +spiteful fire whenever the opportunity presented itself.</p> + +<p>"We must dislodge those fellows," said Major Okopa. "It is very +dangerous work. Do you think you can accomplish it, Captain +Pennington?"</p> + +<p>"I can try," answered Gilbert, modestly, and ordered his company +forward. He turned them slightly to the left, for here a fringe of thin +brushwood offered a shelter that was not great, but much better than +none.</p> + +<p>"Major Okopa expects us to take this hill," he said, in the best +Japanese he could muster. "Let us do our best!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Banzai!</i>" came the rallying cry from the men, and up the slope +they rushed, with Gilbert at their side. Crack! crack! went the rifles +of the Russians, and then, without warning, several shells were sent up. +One man of Gilbert's company was killed and two wounded, but they did +not waver. Passing the brushwood, they ran out boldly on the slope above +them.</p> + +<p>Many of the rocks at the top of the hill were loose, and as the +Japanese came closer, the enemy began to send them down in a shower +which was highly dangerous to those below.</p> + +<p>"Beware of the stones!" cried Gilbert.</p> + +<p>He had hardly spoken when he saw that he would have to look after his +own safety. The Russians were working over a rock that weighed several +hundreds of pounds.</p> + +<p>All at once the mass broke loose. There was a yell of delight from +above, and then the big bowlder came rolling straight for Gilbert. Had +it touched him he must surely have been crushed to death.</p> + +<p>But the young Southerner was as cool as he was quick. Pausing to make +certain which way the big stone was coming down, he made a quick leap in +the opposite direction. Then the bowlder went bounding past him, to +crash into some small trees at the bottom of the hill.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, captain?" asked his lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Gilbert. Then he leaped to the front once more. +"Come!" he cried. "<i>Banzai!</i> Forward for the Mikado!" And on the +whole company went as before, firing rapidly as they did so. The +Russians clung to the hilltop a few minutes longer, and then, as the +first of the Japanese gained a footing there, they broke and fled in +wild disorder down the other side of the hill, and into the woods to the +northward. The Japanese pursued them for two hours but could not catch +them, and at last the chase was abandoned. In this skirmish, called the +battle of Po-yang-ling, the Japanese lost in killed and wounded four +men, and the Russians seven. Three of the Czar's soldiers were also +taken prisoners.</p> + +<p>After that the powder train had no more difficulty, and four days +later reached its destination, which was the village of Fanshen, where +the Japanese had established something of a base of supplies for that +portion of the army which was moving southward to join in the siege of +Port Arthur. At Fanshen, Major Okopa's command received orders to go +into camp instead of returning to the vicinity of Liao-Yang.</p> + +<p>"This looks to me as if we were to be transferred to the army in the +south," said the major, after communicating the news to Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't mind helping to take Port Arthur," returned the +young Southerner. "If you will remember, it was my treatment by the +Russians at that place which caused me to take up arms against +them."</p> + +<p>"So you said before, Captain Pennington. But do not imagine that the +taking of Port Arthur will be easy. The Russians have fortified it in +every possible manner."</p> + +<p>"Yes,—they were doing that before I came away from there."</p> + +<p>"For months they have been strengthening their fortifications, and +getting in ammunition and supplies in secret. Their chain of forts +extend, so I have been told, for twenty miles and more outside of the +city, and being in a mountainous country, they will be hard to +reduce."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we can capture the place?" demanded Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"Capture it? Most assuredly, captain. But it will mean a great +destruction of life," returned Major Okopa, gravely.</p> + +<p>What the major said about the Russians fortifying Port Arthur was +true. Lieutenant-General Stoessel, the Russian commander at that place, +had under him sixty thousand men, the very flower of the Russian army. +On the side of the sea the town was fortified at a dozen points, only +three of which had been thus far captured under the Japanese army led by +General Nogi. To the northward and the westward were some twenty +defenses, set among the mountains where they were next to impossible to +reach.</p> + +<p>In a work of this kind, it is impossible to relate in detail all of +the many battles fought over the possession of Port Arthur. The first +assault was made in February by Admiral Togo's fleet, and the naval +conflict was kept up for almost three months after that. In the meantime +a Japanese army under General Oku landed at Pitsewo, and after several +battles at Kinchow and Nanshan Hill, drove the Russians back to their +mountain defenses and took possession of the railroad running to +Liao-Yang and Mukden. Thus Port Arthur was cut off from almost all +communication with the outside world.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="25">CHAPTER XXV</a></h3> + +<h4>BOMBARDING A PORT ARTHUR FORT</h4> + +<p class="p2">Larry felt very happy after having met Ben and Gilbert. He +had been afraid he should find that his brother or his friend was +wounded, even though no mention of such an occurrence had been made in +the letter he had received. He knew from experience that Ben was in the +habit of making light of things that went wrong.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it did your heart good to meet 'em both," said Luke, after +the warship was on the way.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Luke; it was a regular touch of old times."</p> + +<p>"Wish I had seen 'em myself."</p> + +<p>"Both wanted to be remembered to you." Larry paused for a moment. "By +the way, I wonder where we are bound now?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say as to that, lad—secret orders, I reckon," answered +the old tar.</p> + +<p>The order to sail was evidently an important one, for scarcely was +the <i>Shohirika</i> out of sight of land than all steam was crowded on. +The lookouts were also doubled, and when night came the strictest watch +possible was maintained.</p> + +<p>Yet, with it all, several days passed without anything out of the +ordinary happening. Drills and exercises went on as before, and both +Larry and Luke made themselves familiar with all parts of the warship. +Both spent much time in familiarizing themselves with such orders as +were given to them in Japanese, so that they might not be too "green," +as Larry termed it, if put to the test.</p> + +<p>During those days spent on shipboard matters concerning the great war +were moving forward steadily. In the vicinity of Liao-Yang both the +Japanese and the Russians made several movements to better their +positions. This brought on a few skirmishes and one heavy battle, in +which the losses were several hundreds on each side. There was also an +advance on the outer forts of Port Arthur, and a fair-sized hill was +captured by the Mikado's men, who, however held the place only at an +enormous loss of life. In moving on the port the Japanese found they +would have to do a great amount of tunneling and entrenching, all of +which consumed time.</p> + +<p>On the ocean the two nations were equally active. Both took several +prizes of war, and in an encounter with the Vladivostok squadron a +Russian warship was hopelessly disabled and a Japanese cruiser was all +but sunk. Another ship belonging to Admiral Togo's fleet struck a mine +outside of Port Arthur and had to be sent back to Japan for repairs.</p> + +<p>So far the weather had been warm, but autumn was now at hand and +before long the nights became cold and raw.</p> + +<p>"This war won't be finished this winter," said more than one. "We are +in for another year of it, sure."</p> + +<p>The <i>Shohirika</i> had been summoned to join the fleet patrolling +before Port Arthur. Two days before that station was reached they fell +in with a sister ship which brought the news of an encounter with a +Russian battleship carrying some troops from Siberia. Both warships had +suffered and become separated in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"This war is certainly warming up," said Larry. "I hope we see some +fighting before it is over."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'll see more of it than you wish," said Luke, grimly.</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry—we'll see a whole lot," put in Steve Colton, +who was sitting on a ditty chest, playing checkers with Bob Stanford. +"Just wait till we get under Admiral Togo's eye—he'll make us be +up and doing."</p> + +<p>The chance to see some of the war came the next day, when they were +ordered to bombard one of the forts to the north of Port Arthur proper. +As soon as they came within four miles of the fort they received a +reception which was as warm as it was exciting.</p> + +<p>"Now, here is where we show what we can do!" cried Luke, as the orders +came to begin firing, and the whole gun company jumped in to assist him. +The magazines were opened up, the windlasses set to work, and soon the +first real shell—not a mere blank for practicing—came up and +was run into the gun. Then the breech-block was swung to and locked, the +electric connection set, and Luke sighted the piece with care, after +having first received the proper distance from the range-finders in the +tops. As soon as the "sight" was "covered" the button was pressed, and +<i>bang!</i> went the gun with a concussion that shook the whole ship. +Other guns followed in rapid succession, until Larry had to stuff cotton +in his ears to keep himself from becoming deaf. As soon as the gun was +discharged, it was opened to let the gases out and then cleaned with wet +swabs and flushed with running water to cool the barrel.</p> + +<p>The bombardment lasted for an hour, and during that time the fort was +hit in a dozen places. Sand, dirt, and rocks flew in all directions, and +once there came a flash which told of an explosion of a quantity of +powder.</p> + +<p>"If we could only hit the magazine it would be good-by to that fort," +said Larry, but this was not to be.</p> + +<p>After the first few shots the fort had remained silent, but now, when +the <i>Shohirika</i> was about to retire, the gunners opened up once +more, and a rain of shot and shell flew all around the warship. One +struck the bow of the vessel, tearing off a few feet of the forward deck +and another entered the forward turret, killing one of the gunner's +assistants.</p> + +<p>"We can be thankful we weren't in that turret," said Luke, when he +received the latter news.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" murmured Larry, and could not repress a shiver. "I can +tell you, it's mighty risky work after all!" he added, soberly.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got one advantage over those fellows," put in Colton, +after the firing had come to an end, and the warship was fast getting +out of range. "We can run away, while they have got to stay right where +they are."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they can run away too," said Larry.</p> + +<p>"Not unless they abandon their fort,—and that would be just as +if we should abandon our ship."</p> + +<p>The work at the gun had been severe, and after the bombardment was +over Larry was glad to clean up and take a rest. The perspiration, +grime, and smoke had made him look like a negro, and he used up several +buckets of water before he got himself into as cleanly a condition as +was habitual with him. Luke also took a "scrubbing down," as he called +it, and so did the others.</p> + +<p>What amazed Larry more than anything was the quietness of the +Japanese sailors. Now that the bombardment was ended they said scarcely +a word about it, but went on exactly as before.</p> + +<p>"They are the most matter-of-fact chaps I ever saw!" he declared. "I +believe if the ship blew up they would say 'Very sorry' and swim away. +Now on one of Uncle Sam's ships the men would be all woke up and out for +a jollification. Ben says it's the same way in the army. If they get +excited at all they always seem to be sorry for it afterwards!"</p> + +<p>"That's what ye call a characteristic o' the race, I reckon," +returned Luke. "They're taught to act that way from babyhood. It ain't +polite nor high-toned to git excited. The only thing they kin yell is +<i>Banzai!</i> an' they let thet out loud enough, goodness knows!"</p> + +<p>"I can't understand why we didn't keep at that fort," came from +Colton. "I was just getting the range beautifully when orders came to +shut down."</p> + +<p>"Well, there must be a reason for it, Steve," answered Luke.</p> + +<p>There was a reason for it. Admiral Togo had just received word that +certain ships of the Port Arthur squadron were going to make an attempt +to break out of the harbor, either that night or the next day. +Consequently the <i>Shohirika</i> was needed further down the coast, and +steamed away in that direction as rapidly as her somewhat limited supply +of coal permitted.</p> + +<p>"I don't think the navy will ever find its way into Port Arthur +harbor," said Larry, later on, after studying a map of that locality. +"There are too many forts on the hills outside of the town. They could +smash our ships to smithereens if we got too close."</p> + +<p>"Trust Admiral Togo to know what he is doing," answered Steve Colton. +"He won't go too close. At the same time he ain't going to let the +Russian ships get away any more than Schley and Sampson let Admiral +Cervera get away from Santiago Harbor in Cuba."</p> + +<p>"It's the army that will make Port Arthur a hot place to live in," +came from Bob Stanford. "They can entrench and thus gain a +little ground day by day, and as soon as they win some high point, like +say 203-Meter Hill, it will be all up with General Stoessel, mark my +words."</p> + +<p>The night to follow proved to be misty, and so cold that the majority +of the sailors were glad to don their heavy peajackets. Fearing that the +enemy would try to take advantage of the weather, Admiral Togo turned on +all the searchlights his fleet possessed, and these were flashed in all +directions.</p> + +<p>"False alarm," said Luke, after midnight had sounded out on the +ship's bell. "Reckon the Russians don't dare to come out."</p> + +<p>But the old Yankee tar was mistaken. The enemy were on the alert, and +at three o'clock, when the mist was extra heavy, the movement to steal +out of Port Arthur harbor was begun, two torpedo destroyers taking the +lead, and several cruisers following. This brought on a heavy sea-fight +lasting far into the next day, and one which came close to cost Larry +his life.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="26">CHAPTER XXVI</a></h3> + +<h4>BEN MEETS CAPTAIN BARUSKY</h4> + +<p class="p2">For several days poor Ben remained a prisoner aboard of +the small steamer. During that time only two men came near him—an +under officer and the sailor who supplied him with food and water. +Neither would answer his questions, so he could not learn where he was +being taken or what was to be done with him.</p> + +<p>One evening there was a slight commotion on the deck, and the course +of the steamer was changed. Then came a blowing of steam whistles +lasting several minutes. Finally the steamer came to a standstill.</p> + +<p>"You are to leave this vessel at once," said the under officer, as he +opened the door of the young captain's temporary prison. "Come, we have +no time to spare."</p> + +<p>"Where am I to go?" questioned Ben.</p> + +<p>"You will soon learn. Hurry!"</p> + +<p>There was no help for it, and soon Ben was on deck. He was made to +enter a small boat and was thus transferred to another steamer—one +which had formerly been in the East Indian trade but which was now +acting as a Russian supply boat.</p> + +<p>"What a dirty craft!" was his mental comment, after having been +thrust into a pen which was little better than a horse stall. The supply +boat was loaded to its fullest capacity, so quarters for all on board +were limited.</p> + +<p>Two days passed and he received food which was scarcely fit to eat. +When he protested he was <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads +'threatended'">threatened</ins> with a flogging. The air was foul and he +began to fear that he would become sick.</p> + +<p>"I won't be able to stand this much longer," he thought, dismally. +"If they want to kill me why don't they do it at once and have done with +it?"</p> + +<p>On the following morning a surprise awaited him. He heard two Russian +officers pause in front of his pen and one said to the other:</p> + +<p>"Here is the prisoner, Captain Barusky."</p> + +<p>"Is it the fellow named Russell?" was the question from Captain +Barusky, the rascal who had aided Ivan Snokoff to make so much trouble +for Gilbert Pennington.</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"They did not capture his friend?"</p> + +<p>"No—in the struggle he slipped away."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that. We wanted Pennington more than we did this +fellow. But I am glad we got at least one of them. As I understand it +they work hand-in-glove with each other;" and then the two Russian +officers passed on.</p> + +<p>Like a flash Ben realized the truth of the situation. His taking off +had been a trap set by Snokoff and this Captain Barusky, who had hired +the Chunchuses to help work out their plot. He was now in the hands of +the enemy in more ways than one.</p> + +<p>"They won't treat me as an ordinary prisoner," he reasoned. "This +Captain Barusky will make it as hard as possible for me—more +especially so as Gilbert managed to escape his clutches. Well, I am glad +Gilbert got away."</p> + +<p>Resolved to "take the bull by the horns," Ben asked the prison guard +if he might speak to Captain Barusky.</p> + +<p>"I will see about it," answered the sailor, and went off to find out. +On his return he stated that the captain would visit the pen some time +during the day.</p> + +<p>The Russian officer came late in the afternoon, when nobody else was +near the pen. There was a sarcastic look on his face when he gazed at +the young captain.</p> + +<p>"So you want to talk to me," he said, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I do, Captain Barusky. I want to know why this plot was laid against +me."</p> + +<p>"I know of no plot. You are an American in the employ of the Japanese +Government as a spy. Russia captures all the Japanese spies she +can."</p> + +<p>"I am no spy."</p> + +<p>The Russian shrugged his shoulders. "That is what your friend, +Captain Pennington, once told me, too. Yet as soon as he got out of Port +Arthur he was made a captain in the Mikado's army."</p> + +<p>"He applied for the position because the Russians had mistreated him +and because he loves active service."</p> + +<p>"Have it as you please, Russell; both of you are spies, and you will +have to suffer as one."</p> + +<p>"Where are you taking me?"</p> + +<p>"Since you seem so anxious to know, I will tell you, for I do not +think you will be able to take the news to the Japanese. This boat is +carrying supplies to Port Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Port Arthur!"</p> + +<p>"That is what I said. When we arrive there you will be placed in one +of the strongest of our prisons at the port. Do you not admire the +prospect?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if you take me to Port Arthur, perhaps I shan't be a prisoner +long," replied Ben, resolved to put on as bold a front as possible.</p> + +<p>"And why not?" demanded Captain Barusky, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Because our army and our navy are bound to capture the place."</p> + +<p>"Bah! The Japanese will never take Port Arthur. It is absurd to think +of it."</p> + +<p>"It may not come right away—but it will come sooner or +later."</p> + +<p>"Never! But if it should, you will not be there to enjoy our +downfall. Remember that spies are tried, and if found guilty they are +taken out and shot."</p> + +<p>"You cannot prove that I am a spy."</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen."</p> + +<p>"If you bring me before the court I'll have something to say about +your underhanded work with Ivan Snokoff. I can prove that he is a +swindler and that you are his accomplice."</p> + +<p>"Ha! you threaten me!" roared Captain Barusky, in a rage. "Have a +care! I come from a most respectable family and I have great +influence."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I think those who are higher in authority than +yourself will listen to my story. The Russian army officers are as a +rule gentlemen and strictly honest."</p> + +<p>"Which means to say that I am not a gentleman and not honest!" +bellowed Captain Barusky. "That, for your opinion!" And reaching out he +gave Ben a ringing box on the ear.</p> + +<p>It was the last straw. With no fresh air and no food fit to eat, the +young captain was desperate, and leaping forward he struck at the +Russian captain's nose. His fist went true, and as Barusky staggered +back against the pen door the blood spurted from his nasal organ.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to hit me again!" panted Ben, standing before the +Russian with both hands clenched. "Don't you dare—or you'll get +the worst of it!"</p> + +<p>His manner made Captain Barusky cower back, and he glared at Ben with +the ferocity of a wild beast. Then he called to the guard.</p> + +<p>"Run for aid, Petrovitch," he said. "The prisoner has attacked me. He +is a beast, and must be chained up."</p> + +<p>The man addressed summoned three other sailors and the captain of the +ship's guard. All came into the pen and forced Ben into a corner.</p> + +<p>"The Yankee dog!" said the captain of the guard. "To dare to strike a +Russian officer! Bring the chains at once!"</p> + +<p>Chains were brought, and soon Ben was bound hands and feet, with +links that weighed several pounds. Then a large staple was driven into +one of the uprights of the pen and he was fastened to this with a +padlock.</p> + +<p>"Now place him on half-rations," said Captain Barusky. "It is the +only way to tame him." And then he hurried away to bathe his nose, which +was swelling rapidly.</p> + +<p>If Ben had been miserable before he was doubly so now. The chains +were cumbersome and cut into his flesh, and being fastened to the +upright he could scarcely move a foot either way. To add to his misery +the front of the pen was boarded over, so that what little light had +been admitted to his prison was cut off.</p> + +<p>In this wretched condition he passed a full week. In that time +Captain Barusky came to peep in at him three times, and on each occasion +tried to say something to make him still more dispirited. The food was +so bad he could not eat and the air often made his head ache as if it +would crack open.</p> + +<p>"If this is a sample of Russian prison life it's a wonder all the +prisoners don't go mad," he reasoned. "A few months of this would surely +kill me."</p> + +<p>At the end of the week Ben heard firing at a distance. The supply +boat was now trying to steal into Port Arthur and had been discovered by +a Japanese patrol boat. The craft was struck twice and the prisoner +below heard a wild commotion on the deck, as one of the funnels was +carried away. But darkness favored the Russians, and inside of two hours +the supply boat passed into Port Arthur harbor without sustaining +further damage. She was then directed to a proper anchorage by the +harbor master; and on the following day the transfer of her cargo to the +storehouses on shore was begun.</p> + +<p>For several days longer Ben was kept on the boat. Then, one wet and +cold morning, he was liberated and told to march on deck. From the +vessel he was taken to a big stone building which was being used as one +of the garrison quarters. Here he was given a scant hearing in the +presence of Captain Barusky, who appeared against him.</p> + +<p>"We have no time to investigate your case at present, Captain +Russell," said the officer who conducted the examination. "But from +reports I should surmise that you are a dangerous young man. You must +remain a prisoner." And then the young captain was taken away. Later on, +he was marched a distance of half a mile and blindfolded. When the +bandage was removed from his eyes, he found himself in an old stone +building, dirty and neglected. He was taken to a small room, having a +grated window, and thrust inside. Six other prisoners were put into the +apartment with him, one man with a hacking cough, dreadful to hear. The +door was closed and barred; and all were left to take care of themselves +as best they could.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="27">CHAPTER XXVII</a></h3> + +<h4>A FIERCE BATTLE AT SEA</h4> + +<p class="p2">Larry was taking a nap when the call came to clear the +ship for action. It had been discovered that the Russian fleet was +trying to escape from Port Arthur harbor, and the news was flashed from +vessel to vessel of Admiral Togo's fleet, and all were ordered to +prevent the movement at any cost.</p> + +<p>"Now I reckon we are in fer it!" ejaculated Luke, as he and the youth +rushed over to their gun. "Larry, it's in my mind we have some tall work +cut out fer us this trip!"</p> + +<p>"Let it come—I am in just the humor for fighting!" cried Larry. +"I hope we can smash them just as we smashed the Spanish ships in Manila +Bay."</p> + +<p>Sailors and gunners were hurrying in all directions, and orders were +coming in rapid succession. At first the Russian ships had turned in one +direction, now they were turning in another, and, later still, they +separated. A distant firing could already be heard, but where it came +from those on the <i>Shohirika</i> could not tell.</p> + +<p>So far no ships of the enemy could be seen with the naked eye. The +lookouts kept a close watch, and the flashlights continued to play all +over the bosom of the rolling sea.</p> + +<p>It was almost daylight when a distant explosion was heard. A Russian +torpedo boat had run into a mine and was so badly damaged that she sank +inside of ten minutes, carrying a large part of her crew with her.</p> + +<p>This disaster proved a warning to the other Russian ships and they +proceeded on their courses with added caution. The Japanese warships +were equally on the alert, yet, just as the sun came up, one brushed +against a mine and received such damage that she was practically put out +of the contest.</p> + +<p>"There is one of the enemy's ships!" was the cry, as the mist swept +away as if by magic and the sun came out strongly. "Now is our chance. +<i>Banzai!</i>"</p> + +<p>"And there is another ship!" came a moment later, "and one of our own +pounding her as if she was a witch!"</p> + +<p>Guns were now booming over the water constantly, and from the forts +on shore came shots and shells in rapid succession. Soon the +<i>Shohirika</i> was in the midst of the battle, and then Luke and Larry +worked over the gun as never before, doing their full share towards +disabling the ship that was trying to escape up the Manchurian +coast.</p> + +<p>For over an hour the running fire kept up. Neither ship dared to put +on full speed, for fear of running into a mine. Solid shot was hurled in +all directions, and the <i>Shohirika</i> received one below the water +line which for the moment looked as if it might sink the craft. But the +ship's carpenter and his crew got at the leak immediately, driving in a +wedge which quickly stopped the flow of water.</p> + +<p>It was hard, exhausting work between decks, and at the end of an hour +Larry felt he must have some fresh air. Both he and Luke applied for +permission to go on deck, and this permission was readily granted, for +the guns on their side of the warship were not then in use.</p> + +<p>On the deck of the <i>Shohirika</i> they could see what this battle +really meant. Dirt and debris were to be seen in many places, and half a +dozen sailors and marines had been killed or wounded. Everybody was +bathed in perspiration and grime, and some of those who worked the big +guns were panting like dogs after a chase.</p> + +<p>"It's work, that's what it is," said Luke, running the perspiration +from his begrimed forehead with his finger. "Ain't no child's play about +it!"</p> + +<p>"And dangerous work at that," added Larry. He gave a look toward the +enemy's ships. "I declare, Luke, I believe they are running back to Port +Arthur harbor!"</p> + +<p>"I think the same, lad," responded the Yankee gunner. "Reckon they +are findin' it is goin' to cost too much to get away. As soon as they +get away from them land batteries we can pound 'em for keeps and they +know it."</p> + +<p>"And get away from the mines. That's the worst with fighting around +here—you don't know how soon you'll hit a mine and be blown +up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon our captain is watching out fer them pesky things."</p> + +<p>Larry was interested in watching the sharpshooters and range-finders +in the tops, and he walked across the deck to get a better look at them. +Luke followed, and as he did so, one of the nearest of the Russian ships +sent out a roaring broadside at the <i>Shohirika</i> which raked her +fore and aft and sent another hole through her side, but this time above +the water line where it did scant damage.</p> + +<p>"Gee Christopher!" began Luke, when he chanced to glance upward. +"Larry, look out!" he screamed. "The top's coming down on ye!"</p> + +<p>Luke was right. One of the shots from the enemy had struck the +foremast, above the fighting top, and it was crashing down, carrying a +portion of the ship's flag with it. One end struck the gun turret, and +then the wreckage hit Larry on the shoulder, hurling him on his +back.</p> + +<p>The foremast was heavy and had it struck the youth before landing on +the turret and the surrounding works it might have killed the young +gunner's mate on the spot. As it was, Larry lay like a log where he had +fallen and when Luke raised him up the old tar found him +unconscious.</p> + +<p>"If he ain't got his shoulder broke then I miss my guess," muttered +the Yankee gunner. "Larry! Larry! Can't ye speak to me?"</p> + +<p>"That was a nasty one," came from one of the officers of the deck. +"Better carry him below." And then the officer gave orders to remove the +wreckage and hoist the flag once more.</p> + +<p>With the unconscious youth in his arms, Luke hurried below and to the +sick bay of the warship. Here the surgeon got to work immediately and +examined Larry thoroughly.</p> + +<p>"No bones broken," he announced. "But the bruise is severe and he is +suffering from shock. He will soon come to his senses."</p> + +<p>Luke had to return to his gun, for duty is duty in the navy, +regardless of what is happening around one. It was true, the Russian +warships were now doing their best to sneak back into Port Arthur harbor +and Admiral Togo wanted to do all the damage possible before the forts +made it impossible to follow them further. All of the warships' guns +were worked to their utmost, and when the Russian vessels did get back +they were so badly crippled that they were of small consequence for +future fighting until undergoing repairs.</p> + +<p>When Larry opened his eyes again he found himself lying on a clean +white cot in the ship's hospital with an attendant standing over him +bathing his face.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he murmured and stared around him. "Oh, my shoulder! That was a +fearful crack I got!"</p> + +<p>The attendant did not understand, but smiled blandly and continued to +bathe his face and also his head. Soon the full realization of what had +happened came to the young gunner's mate. Then he asked about Luke.</p> + +<p>The fighting was at an end and presently Luke came to him, to find +Larry sitting up in a chair.</p> + +<p>"I feel stiff and sore all over, Luke," said the youth. "It was just +as if a house came down on me."</p> + +<p>"Thank fortune you wasn't killed, or didn't have your bones broken," +returned the Yankee gunner.</p> + +<p>"I am thankful. Were you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least."</p> + +<p>"What about the fight?"</p> + +<p>"The Russians have sneaked back into the harbor like a lot of whipped +dogs."</p> + +<p>"What is our ship doing?"</p> + +<p>"Putting up the coast. I don't know where we are going," answered +Luke.</p> + +<p>Larry remained in the ship's hospital for three days and then resumed +his duties as before. His shoulder still felt stiff and sore and lifting +anything was a good deal of labor. But Luke favored him, so he got along +very well.</p> + +<p>A week passed and the <i>Shohirika</i> remained at sea, moving in a +wide circle, on the lookout for Russian warships or supply boats. But +none were encountered, and then the cruiser was ordered to escort a +transport filled with soldiers bound for the front.</p> + +<p>The transport landed at a point some miles north of Dalny and the +troops went ashore without delay. They were bound for the railroad, and +were to participate in the advance upon Port Arthur from that point.</p> + +<p>As the warship remained in the harbor several days, both Luke and +Larry were allowed a short run on shore. They enjoyed this trip very +much, until, much to their surprise, they learned that Major Okopa's +command was in the vicinity. Then they hunted this up, to learn the sad +news from Gilbert that Ben was missing.</p> + +<p>"Missing!" ejaculated Larry, in horror. "Taken by Chunchuses! Oh, +Gilbert, this is dreadful!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know as you feel any worse than I do, Larry," answered +Gilbert. "It makes me wild to think of it."</p> + +<p>"But couldn't you find any trace of him at all?"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest, although I think he was carried off in a +boat."</p> + +<p>"But why should the Chinese brigands make him a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know, excepting to hold him for a ransom. But if +they intended to do that it is likely we should have heard from them +before this."</p> + +<p>The matter was discussed as long as Larry and Luke could remain on +shore. But nothing came of it, and with a heavy heart the young gunner's +mate returned to his place on the warship.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="28">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR</h4> + +<p class="p2">After the fruitless effort to escape from Port Arthur +harbor the Russian warships "bottled up" there remained where they were +for a long time to come. Occasionally one or another attempted to run +the blockade, but results were usually disastrous, and at last the risk +became so great nothing more was done in that direction. The Japanese +continued to put down mines and sank several boats loaded with stone in +or near the winding channel, and this made getting in as hard as getting +out—thus putting a stop to the arrival of more supply boats, such +as brought Ben to the seaport.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the campaign on land was pushed forward with +increased activity. The headquarters of the Japanese army investing Port +Arthur was not far from the railroad, but the lines stretched many miles +to the east and the west. Troops were hurried both from Japan and from +the divisions near Liao-Yang, and heavy siege guns were mounted on every +available hilltop. The Japanese were, at the start, at a great +disadvantage—they could not see the enemy at which they were +firing. Hills and mountains cut them off from every view of the port. +But they kept hammering away, day after day, week after week, and month +after month, gaining steadily, throwing up new intrenchments, digging +new tunnels, and hauling their heavy guns forward to more advantageous +positions. The labor was body racking and the sacrifice of life +enormous. But the Mikado's soldiers did not appear to care. They had set +out to capture Port Arthur and they were going to do it.</p> + +<p>For the foot-soldiers and for the cavalry there was at the start but +little to do in the way of fighting. Most of the time was spent in +digging trenches and tunnels, and in keeping out of the way of shells +that whistled and screamed in all directions—shells weighing +hundreds of pounds, which, when they struck, tore up the ground for +yards around and smashed the rocks as if the latter were passing through +a quartz crusher. Such is war of modern times, when carried on at a +distance of miles.</p> + +<p>But as the months went by, and Japanese and Russians came closer to +each other, hand-to-hand conflicts became numerous. The Russians +contested every foot of the ground, fighting with a courage that was +truly heroic, and sacrificing themselves freely for the Czar and the +country they loved. The hand-to-hand conflicts became bloody in the +extreme, thousands upon thousands being slaughtered between the rising +and the setting of the sun.</p> + +<p>From the seacoast the command to which Gilbert was attached moved to +a small place called Fugi Klan. Here they went into camp for several +weeks and while there were joined by a number of other commands, +including that containing those old soldiers of fortune, Dan Casey and +Carl Stummer, who had served with Gilbert and Ben in Cuba and in the +Philippines.</p> + +<p>"Py chiminy, of it ton't done mine heart goot to see you, cabtain!" +exclaimed Carl Stummer, rushing up and giving Gilbert a handshake. "How +you peen, annavay?"</p> + +<p>"First rate, Stummer. And how are you, Casey?"</p> + +<p>"Sure an' it's meself is as foine as a fiddle," answered the +Irishman, with a broad grin on his freckled face. "It's a great war, +ain't it now? Both soides is fightin' like a pair o' Kilkenny cats, so +they are! An' where is me ould friend, Captain Russell?"</p> + +<p>"He was captured by Chunchuses."</p> + +<p>"No!" came from both Stummer and Casey, and then they poured in a +volley of questions which were bewildering. Gilbert answered them as +best he could.</p> + +<p>"Dot's der vorst ding vot I hear yet alretty!" said Carl Stummer, +with a sad shake of his head. "I vish I got dem Chunchusers—or vot +you call dem—here. I fix 'em, eh, Tan?"</p> + +<p>Dan Casey nodded vigorously. "Sure an' we'd be after puttin' a ball +through ivery mother's son of 'em, so we would! Poor Ben Russell! I +loiked him loike a brother!" And the honest Irish sharp-shooter heaved a +long sigh.</p> + +<p>Both Casey and Stummer had been having easy times of it for several +weeks, but now they were called upon to go forth with pick and shovel, +to do their share of work in digging intrenchments. This was not so +nice, but they went at the labor without a murmur.</p> + +<p>"Sure an' we might as well git into practice," observed Casey, as he +started in with vigor. "Whin the war's over an' we git back to the +States, it may be ourselves as will be workin' fer the corporation in +New York or ilsewhere!"</p> + +<p>"Yah, udder puttin' town railroad dracks alretty in der Vest," +answered Carl Stummer. "Dot is," he added, "of I ton't got money enough +to puy a farm."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a stock farm I'm wantin'," came from Casey. "Wid horses galore. +There's money for ye, Carl!" And he went to work with added +vigor—as if he expected to turn up the stock farm from the soil +beneath him.</p> + +<p>To Gilbert, even though he occasionally saw Stummer and Casey, the +days were very lonely. He missed Ben greatly, and each day wondered if +he would ever see his old war chum again. Major Okopa saw this and did +what he could to cheer up the young officer.</p> + +<p>"He may turn up before you realize it," said the major. "I don't +think he was killed."</p> + +<p>"If he is alive, it is very strange that we do not hear from +him."</p> + +<p>Two days later came a batch of letters into camp, written, or rather +painted, for the most part, on thin Japanese paper. Among the +communications were two for Gilbert, one from Captain Ponsberry +concerning the <i>Columbia</i> and her cargo, and the other from a +stranger in Pekin, China.</p> + +<p>"Who can be writing to me from Pekin, China?" mused the young +captain, and began to read the communication with interest. It was from +a Chinese merchant, and ran in part as follows:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"You will be mystified to receive this from an +utter stranger, but I deem it my duty, kind sir, to send this word to +you.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Know, then, that one Ken Gow, a servant of my +family, was in Port Arthur up to sixteen days ago—first a servant +in an American family there, and next a prisoner in the vilest prison +man ever saw, guarded by dogs of Russians unworthy to be used as door +mats. Ken Gow is a faithful man, the flower of all my help.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"It is needless to explain to you why my servant +was thus ill-treated. But you must know that when in prison he met your +great friend Captain Benjamin Russell, and it was the captain who saved +Ken Gow from many hard blows from the other prisoners, who wanted not a +Chinaman amongst them.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Ken Gow was grateful, even as I am grateful, and +he promised to get word to you of this matter if the Russians granted +him his liberty. Finding no fault in my servant he was, after a time, +liberated, and watching his chance, left Port Arthur and came home.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Kind sir, he is grateful to Captain Russell and +would do much for him if he could. Yet his most is to send this letter +to you, telling you that Captain Russell is alive and held in a Port +Arthur prison as a spy. One Russian hates him—his name, Captain +Barusky,—and it would appear that this Russian is also your enemy, +so beware of him.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"I can tell no more. Ken Gow is sick from his +treatment at the hands of the Russian dogs. Accept this miserable +assurance of my eternal friendship, and esteem for one I know must be +high and illustrious."</p> + +<p class="quotsig"><span class="smcap">"Cheng Mo."</span></p> + +<p>Gilbert read the letter several times and showed it to Major Okopa. +It was written in true Chinese style, with a big Chinese seal attached, +and was, beyond all doubt, genuine.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand one thing," said the young captain. "How did Ben +get to Port Arthur?"</p> + +<p>"It may be that this Captain Barusky had him taken there, Captain +Pennington."</p> + +<p>"I thought Captain Barusky was at Mukden."</p> + +<p>"The Russians have been taking in some troops at Port Arthur on the +sly. Despite Admiral Togo's efforts, some supply boats and transports +have passed his ships."</p> + +<p>"If Barusky is there he will do what he can to make Ben miserable. He +is down on both of us—for he knows we are down on him and Ivan +Snokoff."</p> + +<p>"Do you think Snokoff could have anything to do with this?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know. Anything is possible. Snokoff would be glad +to make trouble for Ben—since he helped me to make him settle up +at Liao-Yang. Those Chunchuses tried to capture both of us."</p> + +<p>The matter was talked over for half an hour, but brought forth no +satisfaction. To Gilbert's mind, being held by the Russians as a spy was +as bad as being in the hands of the Chinese brigands.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could get into Port Arthur at once," he said, finally. "I +shouldn't like anything better than to capture this Captain Barusky and +liberate Ben."</p> + +<p>"We are bound to get into the port sooner or later," answered Major +Okopa. "They are bringing up more siege guns every day. If the Russians +won't give up we'll batter the whole town down over their heads."</p> + +<p>"Which will be a bad thing for Ben," rejoined Gilbert. "I don't want +him killed in the attempt to rescue him."</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="29">CHAPTER XXIX</a></h3> + +<h4>FROM ONE DIFFICULTY TO ANOTHER</h4> + +<p class="p2">"Where is this going to end?"</p> + +<p>It was Ben who asked himself the question, as he walked up and down +the narrow cell in which he had been confined in the prison at Port +Arthur.</p> + +<p>What had been written to Gilbert in the letter from Pekin had been +substantially correct. Ben had aided Ken Gow in numerous ways, and for +this the Chinaman had been extremely grateful and had promised to do all +he could for the young captain should he manage to escape from the +blockaded seaport. Then Ken Gow had disappeared one night, and that was +the last Ben saw of him.</p> + +<p>Three days later a guard entered the prison and announced that the +prisoners were to be transferred to other quarters. With his hands bound +behind him, Ben was marched forth through a side street of Port Arthur, +where stood an old building which had formerly been used as a market. +Cells had been built in this structure, and into one of these he was +thrust, the guard sarcastically telling him to make himself as +comfortable as possible.</p> + +<p>The young captain was sick in both body and mind and fast reaching +that point where one becomes desperate and fit for any deed of daring. +More than once he was tempted to throw himself on the guard in an +endeavor to overpower the fellow and escape. But he realized that if +caught at this he would be immediately shot down.</p> + +<p>Day after day passed, and from outside the prisoner heard the dull +booming of cannon. Occasionally a shell would explode close to the +prison, causing a wild yell of alarm and a general rush by those +outside. There were flags over the prisons and over the hospitals, +showing what manner of places they were, but, as said before, the +Japanese were at a loss to see what they were firing at, so many shots +and shells went where they were not intended. These mishaps were what +caused the report to circulate that the Mikado's men were not fighting +according to the rules of modern warfare, but were doing their best to +shatter the hospitals in which lay their own and the Russian +wounded.</p> + +<p>It was a cold, raw day, with a touch of snow in the air, and Ben felt +one of his desperate moods coming over him. His hands and feet were free +and he peered forth from the one narrow window that the cell contained. +All he could see beyond was a courtyard, surrounded by a stone wall.</p> + +<p>"I wish I was out there—I'd get over that wall somehow!" he +muttered to himself.</p> + +<p>The cell window was not over fifteen or sixteen inches wide and twice +that in height. The bars were of iron, but set in wooden frames but a +few inches in thickness.</p> + +<p>"A fellow might smash out those bars with the bench end," he thought. +"But after that what? I reckon the guard in the courtyard would shoot me +on sight. I might try it at night."</p> + +<p>Still in a desperate mood, Ben picked up the bench, a solid affair +several feet long. He made an imaginary lunge at the window bars with +it.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager I could knock them out with one blow. +They——"</p> + +<p>Ben got no further, for at the moment a fearful explosion sounded +somewhere overhead. The explosion was followed by a crash and a wild +yell of alarm. A Japanese shell had struck the top of the building, +tearing away fully a quarter of the roof and sending the bricks and +timbers flying in all directions.</p> + +<p>"Now is my chance!" he muttered, and without stopping to think twice +he rammed the window bars as hard as he could with the bench. A second +and third blow followed, and down went the irons, carrying a portion of +the window frame with them. Then through the opening leaped the young +captain. As he landed in the courtyard, he picked up a small log of wood +lying handy.</p> + +<p>A glance around told him that the guard was nowhere in sight, the +Russian having run to the other side of the building to note the damage +done by the shell. Log in hand, Ben leaped quickly across the courtyard +and placed the bit of wood up against the wall. This gave him a footing, +and in a twinkling he was on top of the wall.</p> + +<p>But though he acted quickly a guard from the prison building saw him +and ran forth gun in hand.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" came the command, in Russian, and then, raising his weapon, +the guard fired at Ben.</p> + +<p>The bullet whistled over the young captain's head, and without +looking back to see who had fired it, he dropped on the other side of +the wall. Then he sprinted up the street and around a corner.</p> + +<p>Ben knew not where to go, but his one thought was to put distance +between himself and the prison, and he hurried on and on, until he came +to a barn which stood open. Into this he darted, to find the building +empty of occupants.</p> + +<p>The Japanese had begun a general bombardment of Port Arthur and shot +and shells were flying in all directions. This being the case, the +majority of the troops and the inhabitants were out of sight,—hid +away in cellars and dugouts. Nobody paid any attention to him and he was +thus given ample time in which to think matters over and decide upon his +next movement.</p> + +<p>From the barn Ben moved to the building next door—which was a +sort of dwelling and storehouse combined. Here, from the wide open +doorway, he gazed at the scene of destruction before him. It was full of +horror and made him shiver.</p> + +<p>"War is certainly a terrible thing," he thought. He saw some people +running for their lives, and beheld one man go down struck in the back +by a shell. Then he turned away to shut out the sight.</p> + +<p>In one room of the warehouse he found an old overcoat and a slouch +hat, and lost no time in donning these, both as a disguise and to keep +himself warm. Then he hunted around for something to eat, but could not +find a mouthful.</p> + +<p>"I might have known there would be no food squandered," he told +himself. "Didn't they say at the prison that they were slaughtering the +horses just for the meat, and that butter and eggs were worth their +weight in gold? I'll be lucky to get bread and soup—especially as +I haven't a dollar with which to pay for a meal."</p> + +<p>Ben was about to leave the warehouse when he saw a file of Russian +soldiers approaching. With the soldiers were two officers, and as they +came closer he recognized one as Captain Barusky.</p> + +<p>"It was a bad thing to let that American escape," said the captain to +the other officer. "If you catch sight of him, shoot him on the +spot."</p> + +<p>"Which we shall do with pleasure," was the ready answer; and then +officers and soldiers passed on.</p> + +<p>"I've got to keep out of sight, that's all there is to that," +reasoned Ben, grimly. "If they catch me again it's all up with me. I +wonder if it would be possible to get out of Port Arthur? Gilbert got +out, but things weren't half so closely guarded as they are now."</p> + +<p>Ben waited until nightfall before leaving the warehouse. Then, +keeping a constant lookout for Russian soldiers, he sneaked along one +street after another. Where to go he did not know, but he realized that +he must have something to eat or he would starve.</p> + +<p>Presently he came to a small garden in the center of which was a +neat-looking residence. On the doorplate was the name Nathan Chase.</p> + +<p>"Nathan Chase!" Ben cried, half aloud. "I wonder if that can be the +gentleman Gilbert knew? If it is perhaps he will aid me."</p> + +<p>At first the young captain thought to ring the doorbell, but fearful +of meeting the wrong person he resolved to investigate in a more private +manner. The side windows of the residence were curtained, but the +curtains were only partly down. Going to one of the windows he peered +inside.</p> + +<p>In a neatly furnished sitting room sat a young lady and a Russian +soldier. They were arguing about something—money matters as far as +Ben could make out. The young lady did not wish to give the soldier the +money and he insisted upon having it. While Ben gazed at the scene, the +Russian soldier leaped up, grasped the young lady by the shoulders and +shook her roughly.</p> + +<p>"Don't!" screamed the young lady, in English. "Let me go!"</p> + +<p>"I want the money!" answered the soldier, in his native tongue. He +was a Cossack and of brutal features.</p> + +<p>The young lady was pretty and she was helpless, and this combination +was more than the young captain could resist. Regardless of +consequences, he shoved up the window and leaped inside the +apartment.</p> + +<p>"Keep your hands off of that young lady!" he cried, and catching the +Cossack by the shoulder he threw him backward. "Don't you know how to +treat a lady when you meet her, you big brute?"</p> + +<p>The Cossack was startled, first because he had not expected the +interruption and secondly because he had no business to be in the +mansion. He gave one look at Ben and then rushed out into the hallway +and left the premises with all possible speed.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Cossack was gone the young lady and Ben stared at each +other. She started to speak, but stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me for coming in as I did, but I thought it was necessary," +said the young captain. "I guess that fellow had no business here."</p> + +<p>"You are right, sir. Papa is away, and he wanted me to give him +money. He must have known I was alone in the house."</p> + +<p>"Are you Miss Chase?"</p> + +<p>"I am. But you have the advantage of me."</p> + +<p>"I know it. I am Captain Benjamin Russell. Perhaps you know an old +friend of mine, Gilbert Pennington. He knows your father, I +believe."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I have met Captain Pennington. They tell me he is now in +the Japanese army."</p> + +<p>"He is." Ben paused and looked at the young lady keenly. "Miss Chase, +can I trust you?" he asked, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," and in a few brief words he related his story, to +which Grace Chase listened with close attention.</p> + +<p>"You were lucky to escape from that prison!" she cried, when he had +finished. "To be sure I will assist you as far as I can. Papa is away on +business, but I expect him back in two or three hours. We haven't much +on hand to eat, but such as there is you are welcome to."</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry enough to eat anything," said Ben, with a little +smile.</p> + +<p>"Then come with me to the dining room, Captain Russell, and I will +prepare supper."</p> + +<p>"You haven't any servants now, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No; every one of them has deserted us."</p> + +<p>They entered the dining room, and the young lady asked Ben to close +the shutters. While he was doing this she prepared such a meal as the +larder of the house afforded. It was not much, but he did not complain, +and he thanked her warmly for giving what he felt she could ill afford +to set before him.</p> + +<p>The meal finished, they sat down to await the coming of Mr. Chase. +While doing this Ben related some of his experiences in the army and the +young lady told of the horrors of the siege.</p> + +<p>"One cannot understand it unless you are in the midst of it," she +said. "Papa says business is at a standstill, the hospitals are filled +with the sick and the wounded, and we are in constant dread that the +next moment will be our last. The suspense is so great that in one or +two cases the inhabitants have gone crazy."</p> + +<p>"I can well believe that, Miss Chase. During the war in the +Philippines I saw——"</p> + +<p>Ben paused, as a heavy footstep sounded on the porch of the +residence. Other footsteps followed, and then came a loud knock on the +door.</p> + +<p>"Open here!" demanded a voice in Russian. "Open, in the name of the +Czar!"</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="30">CHAPTER XXX</a></h3> + +<h4>A SURPRISE FOR LARRY</h4> + +<p class="p2">As the days passed, the watch upon Port Arthur from the +sea became closer and closer. Admiral Togo gave strict orders that no +ships should be allowed to enter or come from the harbor under any +circumstances, and each commander of a warship was on his mettle, +knowing full well that if he was derelict in his duty he would speedily +hear from his superior in a manner far from pleasant.</p> + +<p>Blockading became something of a monotony to Larry and Luke, and +after several weeks had passed both wished something would happen.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather put up with a stiff sea fight than this," declared the +young gunner's mate.</p> + +<p>"Right ye are, lad," replied the old Yankee tar. "Ain't no use o' +bein' ready for a tussle if it ain't comin'. As it now is, life in the +navy ain't no more excitin' nor life on the old <i>Columbia</i>."</p> + +<p>During that time Larry received a letter from Captain Ponsberry, +similar in contents to that sent to Gilbert. The Japanese Government had +released the cargo of the schooner and then bought the same at a good +round price. The ship had also been released, Captain Ponsberry having +to pay a nominal sum for this action.</p> + +<p>"I think the captain is lucky to get off so easily," said Larry. "I +suppose the Japanese Government might have scooped in everything."</p> + +<p>"Well, the Japs think it best to remain friendly to the United +States," answered Luke, and it is likely that the old sailor was more +than half right.</p> + +<p>Cold weather had come in earnest and work on deck was far from +pleasant. Yet each man on the <i>Shohirika</i> had to do his full duty +as before, and, be it said to their credit, not a sailor or marine did +any shirking. Gun drills and various exercises were kept up +constantly.</p> + +<p>One day the warship ran close to a big trading brig bound for +Hong-Kong. As was the custom, the brig stopped to allow the commander of +the <i>Shohirika</i> to make certain that she was not carrying +contrabands of war for Russia or had no intentions of running the +blockade.</p> + +<p>While this examination was going on, Larry and Luke chanced to come +on deck, curious to have a look at the stranger.</p> + +<p>"About as big a brig as I ever see in these parts," was the Yankee +tar's comment. "She must carry a whopping cargo."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and a lot of men to man her," answered Larry. "Think of +hoisting and furling such sails as she carries!"</p> + +<p>The two vessels had come fairly close to each other, and our friends +continued to survey the brig with interest. Then Larry gave a cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Luke, I wish I had a glass!"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Unless I am mistaken, there is Shamhaven on the deck of that +ship!"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>Larry pointed with his hand. "Doesn't that look like him?" he +continued.</p> + +<p>"Keelhaul me, if I don't think you're right, lad. Wait, I'll get a +glass an' make certain!"</p> + +<p>The old tar knew where he could borrow a glass, and in a minute more +he returned, and both took a brief look through the instrument.</p> + +<p>"It is Shamhaven!" ejaculated Larry. "And look, there is Peterson +coming from the fo'castle!"</p> + +<p>"That's so. What ye goin' to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Tell the officer of the deck. They shan't get off with my money if I +can help it."</p> + +<p>Rushing away, Larry soon acquainted the proper officer with what he +had discovered—telling as much about the robbery as seemed +necessary. The officer was interested, and, what was even more to the +point, liked the young American.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to go to yonder ship and confront the men?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Try me and see!" answered Larry, excitedly. "I mean, yes, sir," he +stammered. "And will you let Luke Striker go, too?"</p> + +<p>The officer agreed, and soon another small boat put off from the +warship, and Larry and Luke, with the officer, were speedily landed on +the deck of the brig.</p> + +<p>"You're a fine rascal, to rob me!" cried Larry, rushing up to +Shamhaven. "And to rob Captain Ponsberry, too!"</p> + +<p>Shamhaven had not expected this encounter, and for the moment he was +dumbstruck. He gazed from Larry to Luke as if they were ghosts.</p> + +<p>"I—I—who are you, anyway?" he stammered. "I don't know +you," he added, striving to regain his composure.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do know me, and you know Luke Striker, too," answered the +young gunner's mate.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" asked the captain of the brig, while a number +of others looked on with interest.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it means, sir," said Larry, and did so. "He has +got to give up my money belt and my money, and give up Captain +Ponsberry's money, too."</p> + +<p>At this moment Peterson came up and was promptly collared by +Luke.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Don't you vos touch me!" cried Peterson. "I ain't noddings +done, no."</p> + +<p>"You helped Shamhaven to rob me," came from Larry.</p> + +<p>"No, he done it all alone! I no touch noddings!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, shut up!" roared Shamhaven, in disgust. "I never robbed anybody. +If you lost your money Peterson must have taken it."</p> + +<p>A quarrel ensued between the evildoers, in the midst of which came a +cry from the <i>Shohirika</i>.</p> + +<p>"An enemy is in sight!"</p> + +<p>At once all attention was turned to the warship. Scarcely a minute +elapsed when a signal was displayed:</p> + +<p>"A battleship, and she is trying to escape up the coast!"</p> + +<p>"To the boats!" roared the Japanese officer on the deck of the brig. +"To the boats at once! This investigation will have to be postponed. We +shall expect you to remain as you are"—the latter words to the +captain of the big brig.</p> + +<p>"As you will," was the smooth answer.</p> + +<p>A rush was made for the two small boats, Larry and Luke being hustled +along with the crowd. Soon they put off for the warship, which was +already preparing to follow the Russian battleship that had been +seen.</p> + +<p>"I didn't get my money, after all," grumbled the youth. "But perhaps +I'll get it later—if that ship of the enemy doesn't sink us," he +added.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were on board of the <i>Shohirika</i> again, the +cruiser started after the battleship. But the enemy had a good lead, and +it was some time before the Japanese warship could command a full head +of steam, which meant everything to her. Then, when steam was to be had +in plenty, there came a breakdown in the engine room, causing a delay of +twenty minutes.</p> + +<p>"We'll never catch her,—at least, not to-day," said Luke, and +he was right. Darkness found the battleship still three miles away. Half +a dozen shots were fired at her, but none took effect. Then night ended +the pursuit.</p> + +<p>In the morning nothing was to be seen of the enemy and those on the +Japanese warship were much depressed, for they had fancied that an +encounter might add greatly to their laurels. But shortly before noon +the lookout announced the approach of another ship.</p> + +<p>"A Russian cruiser!" was the cry.</p> + +<p>This was correct—the vessel was the auxiliary cruiser, +<i>Pontomuk</i>, formerly a steamer in the Siberian trade. She was +manned by a fierce and swarthy-looking body of sailors and marines, and +carried a first and second battery of no mean proportions.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager we have got some work cut out for us now," said Larry, +and he was right. Finding she could not run away from the +<i>Shohirika</i> the Russian auxiliary cruiser came steaming up and let +drive at close range,—a broadside that raked the Japanese warship +from end to end with deadly effect. The <i>Shohirika</i> answered +immediately, and both the steering wheel and the rudder were smashed on +the enemy's ship.</p> + +<p>"Phew! but this is hot work!" panted Larry, as all those around the +gun worked like Trojans.</p> + +<p>"An' it's going to be hotter!" ejaculated Luke. He sighted the piece +with care. "There, Sally Jane, let her go!" And he pressed the electric +button. <i>Bang!</i> went the gun with a roar that was deafening. Then +the breech was thrown open and the smoke rolled out, filling the air +with a smell that made them cough and sneeze. But nobody stopped work. +In a trice the gun was cleaned and cooled and another shell pushed into +place, and then the firing was repeated.</p> + +<p>"She's coming alongside!" was the announcement from on deck. "All +hands to repel boarders!"</p> + +<p>"A hand-to-hand fight!" cried Larry, and scarcely had the words been +uttered when there came a bump that hurled half the sailors flat. Up +they sprang, and as order after order was delivered the marines and +others ran for their guns and cutlasses, while the officers saw to it +that their pistols were ready for use.</p> + +<p>A wild, maddening yell came from the deck of the Russian ship, as +marines and sailors poured over the side. An answering <i>Banzai</i> +issued from the Japanese, and they met the first onslaught with vigor. +Then came a fierce tramping over the deck, as the two conflicting +parties moved first to one side and then the other.</p> + +<p>"We are ordered up!" cried Larry, a few minutes later. "Here is where +we have got to fight for it, Luke!"</p> + +<p>"Right you are, lad. Do your best, and trust to Heaven for the rest!" +was the Yankee tar's reply. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original +reads 'and'">And</ins> then, cutlasses in hand, both mounted to the +deck, to engage in the fiercest hand-to-hand encounter either of them +had ever experienced.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="31">CHAPTER XXXI</a></h3> + +<h4>A CALL TO REPEL BOARDERS</h4> + +<p class="p2">It was a battle royal from the start and for some time +neither side had an advantage. Pistol shot was met by pistol shot, and a +rifle gun placed on the upper deck of the Russian warship was balanced +in execution by a similar gun mounted on the <i>Shohirika</i>. The +slaughter created by both weapons was frightful, a dozen or more going +down on either side each time a gun was discharged.</p> + +<p>When Larry and Luke came out on desk the spectacle was enough to make +the blood of the youth run cold, and it was only his previous experience +in warfare which rendered him capable of doing what he knew was his +duty.</p> + +<p>"Charge on them!" came the cry in Japanese. "Kill them, or drive them +back to their ship! <i>Banzai!</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Banzai! Banzai Nippon!</i>" was the yell. "Hurrah for Japan!"</p> + +<p>The Japanese had not expected a hand-to-hand fight and the closing in +of the enemy aroused them as they had never been aroused before. For the +first time Larry saw the sailors and marines awakened to their full +fighting fury—a fury in which every Japanese scorns death and +thinks that to die is glory for himself, his family, and his emperor. +They leaped on the Russians with a ferocity that was appalling, and that +first shock sent the Czar's men back to the deck from which they had +come.</p> + +<p>But the Russians were likewise aroused, and with cheers and yells +they came on once more, leaping over the bodies of those who had fallen, +and meeting shot with shot and cutlass stroke with cutlass stroke. +Officers and men fought side by side, and many went down to a common +death.</p> + +<p>By instinct Larry and Luke kept close together, with the others from +Luke's gun near at hand, and Steve Colton and Bob Stanford not far away. +Each used his cutlass as best he could, warding off the blows of the +enemy and dealing cuts whenever a chance appeared. Larry was glad that +he had learned to use a cutlass so well, and soon found himself the +match of almost any Russian who challenged him.</p> + +<p>The fighting was now spread over the decks of both vessels, which +were hooked together tightly and pounding broadside at every swell of +the ocean. To attempt to blow up either ship would have been fatal +probably to both—one dragging down the other—so no such +attempt was made.</p> + +<p>While the fighting was at its height, Larry suddenly found himself +face to face with a Russian lieutenant of marines. The fellow had a +pistol in his hand, and as Larry raised his cutlass to strike, he +dropped the weapon on a level with the youth's head and pulled the +trigger.</p> + +<p>Had the bullet sped as intended it is likely Larry would have been +killed. But just as the trigger fell, Luke, who was at Larry's side, +knocked the pistol to one side with his cutlass and the bullet merely +grazed Larry's hair. Then Larry leaped forward and gave the Russian +lieutenant a thrust in the side which put the fellow out of the fight +instantly.</p> + +<p>For fully fifteen minutes the battle had now raged and it was growing +hotter each instant. All of the available men on each ship were in the +fray, and the cries and yells which resounded were deafening.</p> + +<p>"We certainly can't keep this fight up much longer!" panted Larry. He +had a cut on his left hand and one in the shoulder, but kept on with +dogged determination.</p> + +<p>"Well, we ain't goin' to surrender!" grunted Luke. "It's fight or +die, I guess!" And he leaped forward once more.</p> + +<p>Two tall Russians were directly in front of the old Yankee gunner, +and both fell upon him with their cutlasses at the same instant. Luke +was capable of warding off the weapon of one, but he was no match for +the pair, and it speedily looked as if they would surely kill him.</p> + +<p>"Back with ye!" he yelled, and swung his cutlass as rapidly as he +could, but they crowded him still closer and then one made a thrust at +his face and another at his body.</p> + +<p>It was at this critical moment that Larry, who had been engaged with +somebody else, saw his old war chum's predicament. With a leap he gained +Luke's side, and down came his cutlass with a sweeping blow on the wrist +of one of the enemy. The Russian dropped his cutlass to the deck and +staggered back, his hand almost severed from his arm. Then Luke slashed +the other Russian across the cheek, and both of the enemy hurried back +behind the other fighters.</p> + +<p>"Good fer you, Larry!" panted Luke, when he could speak. "They had me +about cornered!"</p> + +<p>"These fellows certainly know how to put up a stiff fight."</p> + +<p>"You're wounded yourself. Better go below."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm going to see it out. Why don't you go down yourself?"</p> + +<p>"It ain't in me, thet's why," answered the old Yankee gunner.</p> + +<p>Again came a fierce onslaught from the Russians. But the Japanese now +had another rifle gun in place, and sharpshooters were crowding the +fighting tops. The latter picked off the Russian officers, and this +created a momentary confusion. Then came a sudden order to unlock the +two ships and this was done.</p> + +<p>"The Russian ship is going down!" was the yell, and the news proved +true. An explosion below decks had torn a hole in the Russian warship's +bottom and she began to sink rapidly.</p> + +<p>The scene was now indescribable. Both the Russians and the Japanese +on the doomed vessel endeavored to reach the deck of the +<i>Shohirika</i>. In this struggle the majority of the Russians received +the worst of it, and fully fifty of them, including not a few wounded, +remained on board when the doomed warship took her final plunge beneath +the waters of the sea. Eighteen Japanese were likewise drowned, +including two under officers.</p> + +<p>"Surrender, or we will drive you over the side!" was the command from +the Japanese, and utterly disheartened by the loss of their ship, the +Russians threw down their arms; and the fierce and bloody contest was at +an end. The common sailors were driven forward and chained together or +bound with ropes, and the officers were grouped near the stern, where a +formal surrender was made by the captain of the lost ship giving up his +sword. This formality over, the Japanese set to work at once, cleaning +up the deck and caring for the wounded as well as the hospital +accommodations of the <i>Shohirika</i> would permit.</p> + +<p>"I never wish to see another fight like that," was Larry's comment, +when he had washed up and had his wounds dressed. "It was simply a +slaughter!"</p> + +<p>"Right you are, lad," answered Luke. "An' I reckon I'm a-goin' to +carry the scars o' it down to my grave." The old Yankee gunner had +received several severe wounds, and he was glad enough to have Larry +swing his hammock for him and lie down to rest.</p> + +<p>The battle over, the captain of the <i>Shohirika</i> sailed away, to +look for the big brig once more and to report to the flagship of the +fleet. But the brig had taken time by the forelock and left for parts +unknown.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is the last of Shamhaven and Peterson and my money," +said Larry, when this news reached him. "I wish we had met that brig a +week ago."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's possible we may see her again," said Luke, cheerfully. "But +it gets me that she ran away, unless she had something to run for."</p> + +<p>"She must have been carrying some contraband of war, Luke."</p> + +<p>"It ain't unlikely, lad. Well, she's gone, an' it ain't no use to cry +over spilt milk. When you write to Captain Ponsberry you can tell him ye +saw them two rascals an' thet's all the good it did."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what I'm thinking?"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking that brig was bound for Port Arthur, and she'll slip +into that port some dark and misty night."</p> + +<p>"It's a risky piece o' business. Either our ships or the mines are +likely to blow her up."</p> + +<p>"That is true. But the Russians at the port must be getting +desperate, and they'll most likely pay any kind of a price for supplies. +A captain who ran the blockade successfully could make a fortune," +returned Larry.</p> + +<p>The young gunner's mate was right in his surmise. The big brig was a +Russian vessel in disguise and loaded to her fullest capacity with +supplies for the blockaded seaport. She had been fitted out at +Vladivostok, but had taken a wide sea course, so as to pretend to have +set sail from Nagasaki. Several Russian shipping merchants were +interested in the venture, which was a private one, and among the number +was Ivan Snokoff. From Captain Barusky, Snokoff had heard that fabulous +prices could be obtained for needed commodities at Port Arthur, and he +had invested nearly every <i>ruble</i> he possessed in the enterprise. +If the vessel succeeded in reaching Port Arthur, Captain Barusky was to +undertake the disposal of the goods shipped in Snokoff's name, and then +the two were to divide the profits.</p> + +<p>The big brig had come close to being wrecked off the coast of Japan +and during a gale had run down a fishing smack containing Shamhaven, +Peterson, and two Japanese. One Japanese had been drowned, and the three +others from the smack had been made to join the crew of the big brig. +This was agreeable to Shamhaven and Peterson, who did not wish to remain +near Nagasaki or at any place where Captain Ponsberry or Larry would be +likely to discover them.</p> + +<h3 class="p4"><a name="32">CHAPTER XXXII</a></h3> + +<h4>FALL OF PORT ARTHUR—CONCLUSION</h4> + +<p class="p2">"Open, in the name of the Czar!"</p> + +<p>Such was the command which startled both Ben and Grace Chase, and for +the moment each gazed at the other in horror, not knowing what to say or +do.</p> + +<p>"I must get away from here!" whispered the young captain, but +scarcely had he spoken when there came a crash, and the front door of +the residence swung in. Then half a dozen Russians poured into the +house.</p> + +<p>"There he is, as I suspected!" said one, an officer from the prison. +"We'll see that you do not escape again," he added to Ben, grimly.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the excitement Nathan Chase arrived. But he could do +nothing for the young captain, and was glad that he was left to protect +his daughter.</p> + +<p>"We ought also to take her," said the prison official. "She did wrong +to harbor this prisoner." And then, without further ado, Ben was marched +back to the place from which he had escaped such a short while before.</p> + +<p>After that the time passed dismally enough for the young American. +For having run away he was put on the most miserable fare the prison +afforded, the food being often so vile he could not touch it. Whenever +he attempted to protest he was met with kicks and blows.</p> + +<p>"They might as well kill me and be done with it," he thought. "Oh, +how I wish the Japs would take the city and give me back my +liberty!"</p> + +<p>In those days Port Arthur became a most uncomfortable place for all +living there. The Japanese army was pressing forward steadily, and army +and navy did everything possible to destroy the shipping in the harbor +and make the various forts untenable. Shots and shells were hurled into +the city at all hours of the day and night, until living there became +worse than a nightmare. Among the soldiers scurvy became prevalent, +until the hospitals could not accommodate the sick and the dying. +Nothing was done to clean up the streets, and the rubbish lay many feet +deep over the sidewalks. Practically all of the shops were closed, for +they had next to nothing to sell. The main article of food was rice, and +to cook this many old buildings had to be razed in order to procure +necessary firewood. As winter approached the suffering of the poor +became so intense that riots broke out and to maintain order not a few +were shot down.</p> + +<p>Such was the condition in the city. Outside, to the northward, the +fighting went on week after week. So many soldiers were killed upon both +sides that to bury the dead became impossible, and thousands were left +where they had fallen, to become the prey of vultures, or to putrefy and +fill the locality with a stench that was as nauseating as it was deadly! +Such are the horrors of modern warfare. The demands for universal peace +cannot come any too quickly.</p> + +<p>In the advance on Port Arthur, Gilbert did his full share of the +fighting. The Japanese were now struggling for the possession of what +was known as 203-Meter Hill, a rocky elevation which was not fortified +but which was in the direct line of Russian fire. The top of 203-Meter +Hill commanded a fine view of Port Arthur and its harbor, and it was +this view the Japanese needed, in order to make their shell fire most +effective.</p> + +<p>The battle for 203-Meter Hill is one which will be long remembered. +The Japanese fought with a desperation impossible to describe, and when +the hill was captured, General Stoessel sent out nearly all his +available men to retake it. But this could not be accomplished, and late +in December the Japanese stormed the inner defenses of the Russian chain +of forts, killing nearly all of the brave defenders who dared to oppose +them. Then tons upon tons of shot and shell were sent into Port Arthur +and over the harbor once again, until the locality became little short +of an inferno. Nearly all the shipping was destroyed, and so many +buildings were set on fire that to stem the conflagration became all but +impossible. The end came on New Year's Day, 1905—ten months after +the famous siege began. To hold out longer seemed impossible, and to +avoid further carnage General Stoessel called a council of war and sent +a message to General Nogi offering to capitulate.</p> + +<p>"Port Arthur has surrendered!" The news flew from one Japanese +regiment to another, and soon the warships were sending the message from +vessel to vessel. For once the Japanese showed their real feelings, and +"<i>Banzai! Banzai!</i>" rent the air again and again. "Long life to the +Mikado! Port Arthur is ours once more!"</p> + +<p>"It is a well-earned victory!" cried Larry, when he heard the +news.</p> + +<p>"Yes, lad, and I trust it brings this bloody war to a close," came +from Luke.</p> + +<p>"They say General Stoessel blew up the warships remaining in the +harbor."</p> + +<p>"He couldn't have had many left," returned the old Yankee gunner. +"The army and the navy have about battered everything to bits." And in +this surmise Luke was correct.</p> + +<p>The fall of Port Arthur caused widespread consternation in Russia, +while the people of Japan were correspondingly elated. Because of the +gallant defense of the place, the Japanese made generous terms with +those who had surrendered, much to the satisfaction of the world at +large. Many had predicted a universal butchery, but nothing of the sort +occurred, and the Russian sick and wounded were given every possible +attention.</p> + +<p>After the fall of the port Larry was permitted to go ashore some +miles above the town, and he managed to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: +Original reads 'located'">locate</ins> Gilbert, and then learned for the +first time that Ben was a prisoner in the captured place.</p> + +<p>"A prisoner!" he ejaculated. "Oh, Gilbert, we must find him and have +him released!"</p> + +<p>"That is just what I have been thinking, but I don't know exactly how +to go at it, Larry."</p> + +<p>"There ought to be some way of doing these things. We might interview +one of the generals and——Who is that coming this way?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Ben himself!" cried Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"Ben!" screamed Larry, and ran forward to meet his brother. Soon they +were in each other's arms, and then Gilbert received an equally warm +greeting.</p> + +<p>"We were released this morning," said Ben. "I can tell you I was +mighty glad of it. I haven't had a meal fit to eat in weeks."</p> + +<p>"Well, you shall have the best our larder affords," said Gilbert. +"My, but you're a sight for sore eyes!" he continued.</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word!" came from Larry. Two tears were glistening in his +honest eyes. "It's almost too good to be true!"</p> + +<div class="center">* * * * *</div> + +<p>Here let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this tale +of the naval and military adventures "At the Fall of Port Arthur."</p> + +<p>After the surrender of the city the army in that vicinity, and also +the fleet near the harbor, had but little to do outside of caring for +the sick and wounded and disposing of the thousands of prisoners. The +Russian officers were allowed to go on parole and the prisoners were +transported to Japan. Many of the mines in the harbor were taken up, so +that ships might come and go in safety.</p> + +<p>Larry was anxious to learn what had become of Shamhaven and Peterson, +and through the Japanese guards stationed in Port Arthur located the +rascally sailors at a cheap boarding-house. Both were made prisoners, +and Larry got back a portion of the money stolen from Captain Ponsberry +and himself. It was learned that the big brig had been destroyed by the +Japanese shell fire, so that Ivan Snokoff lost everything he placed in +the venture.</p> + +<p>"Well, it served him right," said Gilbert, when he heard of this. "He +is responsible for the time Ben spent in prison."</p> + +<p>What had become of Captain Barusky was at first a mystery. But at +last it was learned that he had sneaked aboard of a transport filled +with wounded soldiers and bound for Chefoo. He pretended to be wounded +himself, and was given medical attention until the trick was discovered, +when he was treated as a coward. As soon as Chefoo was reached he +disappeared, and that was the last seen or heard of him for some +time.</p> + +<p>"We are well rid of that fellow," said Ben. "I hope the Russians read +him out of their army. He isn't fit to hold a commission."</p> + +<p>"What do you imagine will be the next move in this war?" questioned +Gilbert.</p> + +<p>"It is hard to tell. I think they will try to take Mukden, for one +thing."</p> + +<p>"Russia is going to send out more warships," put in Larry. "If they +come this way, it may mean more fighting for me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon you'll do your duty, if you are put to it," answered +Gilbert, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"And so will you do yours," came from Larry.</p> + +<p>"We'll all try to do our duty," broke in Ben. "We didn't join the +army and the navy to hang back. Just the same, I'd enjoy a bit of a rest +just now."</p> + +<p>The others agreed that the rest would be beneficial all around. It +was given to them; and here, for the present at least, we will leave +them, wishing them the best of good luck in the future.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr class="c10" /> + +<div class="tnote"> +<h4>Transcriber's Note:</h4> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under +the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text +will<ins title="Transcriber's Note: Original reads 'apprear'"> +appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 33559-h.txt or 33559-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/3/5/5/33559">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/5/33559</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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