A MEETING AND A PLOT
"Some Japanese transports are coming up," said Larry, two days later.
"Six of them, and they are crowded to the rails with soldiers."
"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."
The Japanese transports were bound for the coast of Manchuria, to land
near the village of Petaka. Soon they fell in behind the _Shohirika_;
and then those on the warship knew that they were going to go close to
shore, if not to make an actual landing.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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:
"Ben!"
"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!"
"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?"
"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 _Columbia_ was at Nagasaki."
"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
_Columbia_ 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 _Shohirika_. My head gunner is Luke Striker, Esquire."
"Never!" burst from Ben. "Well, this certainly is news. So you and Luke
enlisted? Have you had any fighting?"
"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.
"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.
"Perhaps I am lucky, Ben. But it wasn't much of luck to have that
Shamhaven and Peterson walk off with my money belt."
"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."
"I don't need any, and, besides, Luke is acting as my banker. But now
tell me about yourself."
"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."
"Where is Gilbert now?"
"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.
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.
"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."
"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.
"I don't know where we shall go after we leave here," said the young
sailor. "Are you going back to Liao-Yang?"
"We don't know that either. Our orders are to escort the powder train
wherever it may be sent," said Ben.
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.
On the third day the _Shohirika_ 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.
"I wonder when I'll see Larry again," mused Ben. He felt rather sober at
the parting from his younger brother.
"Oh, you'll see him again before long," answered Gilbert, trying to be
cheerful.
"Maybe not. It all depends upon where that cruiser sails to. She may go
half around the world."
"More than likely she has been sent to take part in the bombardment of
Port Arthur."
"Do you really think we'll be sent to Port Arthur, Gilbert?"
"It is not unlikely, Ben."
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.
"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?"
"I don't know, I'm sure."
"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."
"Why didn't you root him out, Gilbert?"
"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."
"Yes, and in for me, too," added Ben. "He hasn't forgotten how I brought
along the guard that placed him under temporary arrest."
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Do as you have promised and you shall have fifty _yen_," said Ivan
Snokoff.
"You will not fail to pay?" queried Kee Lung.
"By the heads of my ancestors I promise it," was the rascally Russian's
answer.
"'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.
"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!"