LETTERS OF INTEREST
The enlistment of Larry and Luke Striker into the Japanese navy came
sooner than anticipated. A new warship was being fitted 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.
"Hurrah for Nippon!" cried Larry, enthusiastically. "Luke, after this we
have got to learn to yell _Banzai!_ in true Japanese style."
"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."
"And I'll help all I can," said Larry. "Won't Ben and Gilbert be
surprised when they hear of this?" he added.
"They might know you'd do something of the sort."
"That's so, too. By the way, I'm going up to the post-office to-day and
see if there are any letters."
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.
"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."
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.
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:
"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.
"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.
"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 _Columbia_ with her crew suits
you better."
"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."
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:
"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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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 _Shohirika_. 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."
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.
"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!"
"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!"
"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."
"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----"
"Hold on, Luke. Remember you are in Japan. Here it is rice and tea."
"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."
"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."
"Well, I reckon tea is better nor rum."
"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."
"Those Russian sailors and soldiers drink an awful lot of _vodka_. I
should think they would try to stop that. A half-drunken sailor or
soldier isn't of any account."
"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."
"Right ye are, lad; a habit if it ain't proper is something awful."
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.
"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."
"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.
Two days more were spent at Nagasaki, and then, on a clear morning, the
_Shohirika_ 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.
Captain Ponsberry came to see Larry and Luke off. "Take good care of
yourselves," said the master of the _Columbia_. "An' teach them Russians
the lesson they deserve."
"We expect to do our duty," answered Larry.
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.
"I like this keeping things clean," said Larry. "It is bound to make for
good health."
"They tell me that Japanese sailors and soldiers are among the
healthiest in the world," answered Luke.
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.
"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.