Commander Mitchell now had brought his glasses into use, and a moment
later he leaped to his feet, exclaiming:
“My God, men! _That’s the vanished Pacific liner Nippon!_”
An instant more and I also had discerned the name, standing out in white
letters against the black stern. Soon I made a second discovery that
thrilled me with amazement: faint columns of smoke were rising from the
vessel’s funnels, as if she were manned by a crew and ready to sail!
Dr. Gresham was the first to speak; his excitement now had left him, and
he was cool and commanding.
“Let us get back to the _Albatross_,” he said, “as quickly as we can!”
On board the destroyer, the doctor again cautioned Commander Mitchell
about keeping a sharp lookout and allowing no lights anywhere.
Then the scientist and I hastened to our cabin, where Chinese suits of
gorgeous silk had been laid out for us; they were part of the quantity of
such garments my six tailors had been making. There were two outfits for
each—one of flaming orange, which we put on first, and one of dark blue,
which we slipped on over the other. Then one of the actors was summoned,
and he made up our faces so skillfully that it would have been difficult
to distinguish us from Chinamen.
When the actor had left the room, the doctor handed me the revolvers I
had carried before, and also a long, villainous-looking knife. To these
he added a pair of field glasses. After similarly arming himself, he
announced:
“I feel I must warn you, Arthur, that this trip may be the most perilous
of your whole life. All the chances are against our living to see
tomorrow’s sun, and if we die it is likely to be by the most fiendish
torture ever devised by human beings! Think well before you start!”