ABOARD A JAPANESE WARSHIP
"What a beauty of a ship!"
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 _Mimora Juri_. 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 _Mimora Juri_ had suffered but little
damage during the contest and only a handful of men had been killed and
wounded.
"This looks more like Uncle Sam's navy than anything I have seen yet,"
said Luke.
"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."
As soon as those from the _Columbia_ 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.
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 _Pocastra_. Then
the two Japanese warships moved away, with the captured cruiser between
them.
"Those Russians must feel sick," was Larry's comment. "It's worse for
them, in a way, than if their ship had gone down."
"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."
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.
"I will hear your story, Captain Ponsberry," said the Japanese captain,
politely, as he motioned his visitors to be seated.
In a plain, direct manner the master of the _Columbia_ 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 _Pocastra_.
"You have assuredly been unfortunate," said Captain Tonkaka. "Have you
any idea where your schooner is now?"
"I have not, but I thought she must be close to the Russian ship--she
and that Chinese junk, too. The _Pocastra_ was taking them to
Vladivostok as prizes."
"Ah!" The Japanese captain mused for a moment. "I dare say you would
like to gain back your ship?" he continued.
"Indeed I would!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "I'd give a pretty dollar to
do so!"
"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."
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 _Pocastra_.
"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."
"We are thankful," replied the master of the _Columbia_.
The majority of the staterooms aboard of the _Mimora Juri_ 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.
"This 'ere ship is jest about next to a palace," was Luke's comment.
"Ain't seen nothing so fancy in a long time."
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.
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.
"I can tell you what, Luke!" cried Larry, enthusiastically, "this beats
the Russians all hollow! I never saw anything so well done!"
"Almost beats our own navy, doesn't it?"
"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."
"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?"
"I think I can make a pretty good guess," came quickly from Larry.
"Well?"
"You're thinking that you'd like to join the Japanese navy, just to have
a mix-up or two with the Russians."
"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?"
"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."
"So you told me before. But you're a born sailor, Larry, not a soldier."
"I don't deny it. I'd rather be on board of a ship than on land any
day."
"Yes, to a fellow as gets used to the sea the land seems a strange
place."
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.
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 _Columbia_. Captain Ponsberry was
particularly anxious to find his vessel, and kept scanning the Japan Sea
through a fine spyglass the Japanese captain loaned him.
"If I can gain possession of that ship, I am going to fix Semmel and
Peterson," said the master of the _Columbia_.
"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."
"Exactly my idea, Larry."
"Semmel is a thoroughly bad egg," came from Tom Grandon. "He will lie
out of his troubles if he can possibly do so."
"It will be a shame if we don't find the _Columbia_ again," went on
Larry. "Think of those rascals taking her to Vladivostok and getting
their share of the prize money! It makes me sick!"
"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."
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.
Owing to the heavy mists, the flying squadron became separated, and two
of the vessels fell in with the _Pocastra_, 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.