A BOLD PLAN
The midshipmen returned to their hotel in despair at the outcome of
their plans to save a delicate situation.
They had been in their room but a few minutes before there was a knock
on their door and Robert Impey entered.
Both lads looked up in annoyed surprise, for they had studiously
avoided him at the embassy and had showed in their manner that the
kindly feeling which they had entertained for him earlier had received
a distinct check.
The foreigner refused to be put aside by this evident coolness, but sat
down in a vacant chair, gazing boldly at his accusers.
“I see you have dug up the corpse,” he said, an ugly smile on his face.
“Yes,” Phil hastened to reply, “we’ve learned of your two-faced
dealings, and will be greatly obliged if you close the door from the
outside.”
“Softly, Mr. Perry,” Impey returned boldly. “I can be of use to you
yet, and at the same time serve my own ends. You see,” he added, “I can
now be entirely honest with you, because you have found out my secrets.”
“We can never trust you,” Sydney exclaimed. “I think, Phil, it’s best
for us to have nothing to do with this man.”
“I have but a short time to tell you what you can do, if you will
agree, because I fear a warrant will be out for my arrest before
midnight, but by then I hope to be on board the ‘Alaska.’”
Phil waved his hand patiently for Impey to continue.
“Here’s the order from the Wai-Wu-Pu. It’s in Chinese, and will be
honored by the Chinese admiral.” Impey drew an official document
from his pocket and placed it on the table before him. “The ‘Sylvia’
is there with steam up and bunkers full of coal. She is faster than
anything in Japan but a torpedo boat, or destroyer. If you slip out
during the night you can get safely away, and no one will guess her
mission.”
Phil heard Captain Rodgers’ step in the hall and then heard his door
close. Excusing himself hastily and bidding Sydney to detain Impey, he
knocked and went into the captain’s room.
“Pardon my abruptness, sir,” he exclaimed, “but there is a serious
matter which I want you to decide for us to-night.” Then he detailed
calmly but quickly everything that had been learned since their
consultation in the afternoon.
“If you will give Mr. Monroe and me indefinite leave, I believe we can
without international complications prevent the Japanese from seizing
the Chinese ships.”
Captain Rodgers’ eyes opened in astonishment.
“I can’t tell you, sir, just how it can be done, but we shall go in the
yacht ‘Sylvia,’” he added eagerly.
“Bless me!” Captain Rodgers exclaimed. “I’ll take the chance. Go by
all means, and you had best take O’Neil with you; he’s a handy man to
have in such an expedition. He and Marley were waiting to see you on
the driveway as I came in. Take both of them, and don’t get us farther
involved in this international muddle than we are already.”
Phil thanked his captain and shook his hand warmly.
“I have warned the ambassador about Impey,” Captain Rodgers added. “It
seems he has been completely taken in by the man.
“I have wired the President of the United States asking to be allowed
to give his letter to the Minister of State. I was instructed, as you
know, to deliver it only into the hands of the Emperor. I am sure if
that letter were read by the Japanese government that Captain Inaba
would be recalled by wireless.”
After leaving the captain’s room Phil went at once to where O’Neil and
Marley were waiting. Taking the boatswain’s mate aside, he gave him
hurried but detailed instructions.
“You can depend on us, sir,” O’Neil answered, quite calmly. “We’ll all
be on board the yacht when you arrive. It looks like ugly weather,
sir,” he added glancing aloft at the scudding clouds. “The Japs won’t
be keeping much of a watch to-night.”
Phil went back to his room, much pleased with his success.
“You said that this would serve your end too?” Phil asked Impey, as he
arose to go after giving the midshipman a letter to the captain of the
yacht, and the official document that would turn over the Chinese ships
to the American navy.
“The United States is a better paymaster than Japan,” Impey replied
again seating himself coolly, “and we’d rather have your country to
deal with in China than the Japanese. Whichever nation gets the ships,
war will be certain, and if the United States is successful Japan will
cease to be a factor in the Orient.”
Impey arose again to go while the midshipmen regarded him in blank
surprise. They could not help admiring the man’s self-possession.
“I shall not offer to shake hands,” he said with a cynical smile of
satisfaction at the success of his proposal. “We need not consider
ourselves under the slightest obligation to each other. The expenses
of the yacht will be paid by my syndicate through the captain of the
‘Sylvia.’ And now I wish you success as I wish it for myself.”
The door closed after him while Phil and Sydney sat gazing stupidly at
each other.
“Well, of all the cast-iron nerves,” Sydney exclaimed, after he had
collected his scattered wits. “Did you hear him speak of his syndicate?”
“Captain Rodgers judged the man rightly this afternoon,” Phil replied
gravely. “He represents moneyed interests in Europe which are anxious
to see the United States and Japan clash in a struggle which would
leave both nations prostrated both physically and financially, and then
the European vultures could come and pick the bones.”
Sydney had already commenced to pack up his clothes into his valises
and Phil quickly followed.
“No time should be lost, Phil,” Sydney exclaimed. “I’ll go and order
the carriage and get the porter.”
An hour later the two lads bade farewell to the ambassador and his
daughter. Phil told him of their mission and the ambassador listened
with open admiration at the daring of the plan.
“The situation is very acute,” Mr. Tillotson said soberly. “The yellow
journals in America are arousing the country to war. They insist
that in refusing the audience to Captain Rodgers with the Emperor,
our country has been grossly insulted, and this has been reported
throughout the land. The studied secrecy of Japan has quite upset
America. They don’t know what to believe. If you are successful I hope
our countrymen may again find their heads.”
“Is this all in the Japanese papers?” Phil asked.
“No mention is made in any paper in Japan. The people have been kept
in ignorance of the sudden wave of dislike that has gone over the
continent of America, but I have my information this time from a
reliable source, no less a person than the prime minister himself, who
has received the information from America. He called to tell me of the
censorship, and that for the present all cipher messages would be held
up. He was greatly surprised that the refusal of the audience was known
in America since all messages were stopped. I tried to persuade him
to recall Captain Inaba, assuring him that the United States did not
desire to have the Chinese battle-ships, but my efforts were in vain.”
“Was he surprised to know that you had been informed of Captain Inaba’s
mission?” Phil asked.
“He said nothing to show his surprise,” the ambassador answered
gravely, “and I can never read the faces of these Japanese diplomats.
They seem to be able to hide all emotion; but he knows of Impey’s
treachery.”
Phil was grateful to Sydney for engaging the ambassador in conversation
while he said good-bye to Helen. The night was warm, and the two walked
slowly along the gravel path within the embassy enclosure.
He told her of their mission, but scoffed at any idea of danger.
“The whole thing depends upon our getting away without being
discovered,” he told her excitedly. “You see, Taki knows that we would
like to prevent Captain Inaba’s mission being successful, and the yacht
is being watched by the Japanese battle-ships.”
“I wish I were a man,” Helen exclaimed, glancing proudly at Phil.
“What would you do?” he asked smiling happily.
“I’d go with you instead of staying behind and worrying,” she replied
decidedly.
“We shall not be gone long,” he said hurriedly, trying to appear
unconcerned, “and when we return I hope there will be no more cause for
worry. Japan and the United States will become firmer friends than ever.
“Good-bye, Helen,” he added, her hand in his. “It’s beastly to have to
leave Japan just when we were having such a good time.”
He was conscious of her ready sympathy and of a wistful look in her
eyes as she bade him good-bye.
Then the door opened, and the ambassador and Sydney stood upon the
threshold.
“I was just coming for you,” Sydney exclaimed. “Phil has no idea of
time, you know,” he added pointedly to the ambassador, who chuckled at
the discomfiture of the pair.
“The Chinese ambassador was here this morning, and gave me this letter.
He is very much disappointed at the thought of his friend Admiral
Ting losing his command.” Mr. Tillotson as he spoke placed in Phil’s
hand a large official document. The lad saw it was heavy and glanced
inquiringly at the ambassador.
“The letter is inside, in its own envelope. My explanatory letter is
there also. If you are in danger of capture destroy it, for it might
cause much unpleasantness. Of course,” the ambassador added, “the
Chinese ambassador knows nothing of the later developments in the
case--only what I have told him, that America would like to be sure
that the Chinese navy remains in China’s keeping.”
Phil placed the letter carefully within his pocket, and took the
outstretched hand of Mr. Tillotson.
“I hope to welcome you back within a fortnight,” the latter said in an
attempt to appear cheerful. “We shall miss you very much,” he added.
And then the carriage was off. The midshipmen waved their hands until
the horses turned out through the gate, and the two figures became
hidden behind the high wall of the enclosure.
It was nearly midnight before they arrived in Yokohama, but the
ever-faithful O’Neil was awaiting them at the landing.
“Mr. Impey is waiting there in the launch,” the boatswain’s mate
explained. “He’s dressed in one of my uniforms. The Japanese policemen
are close on his trail. He seems very anxious to get to the ‘Alaska,’”
he added.
The midshipmen allowed O’Neil to relieve them of their valises, and
entered the “Alaska’s” steam launch. They could hardly suppress a
smile as they saw the discomfited Impey disguised in the uniform of an
American sailorman.
“To the ‘Sylvia’ first,” Phil ordered, after they had cleared the dock,
and the launch, pitching lightly in the rising sea, steamed rapidly out
toward the lights of the anchored ships.
“I want you to come aboard and explain to your captain,” Phil said
quietly as they reached the gangway of the yacht.
They followed Impey up the ladder, while O’Neil and Marley, with the
valises, brought up the rear.
The storm predicted by O’Neil seemed about to be realized. The wind
was steadily increasing, and a shower of rain came swiftly out of the
night, shutting the launch off completely from the surrounding vessels.
Phil laid his hand impulsively upon Impey’s arm to detain him.
“You must go with us,” he declared. “We cannot appear in this except as
passengers. We are all armed, you see,” he added, his revolver, which
O’Neil had brought him, shining in his hand. “We are in deadly earnest,
Mr. Impey,” advancing his gun so that the yacht owner could see it,
“and your two conspirators are both with us.”
Impey started perceptibly, and a look of fear came into his eyes, but
the boldness of the midshipmen reassured him. With such men in command
the expedition could hardly fail, and at all events he would be safely
out of the reach of Japanese law.
“We must sail at once!” Phil exclaimed, glancing into the heavy mist
which had shut down over the bay. His hand still clasped Impey’s arm.
“As you will, then,” the latter replied.
The lads followed Impey to the bridge, where Captain Bailey, the
yacht’s sailing-master, was awaiting orders.
“These gentlemen will give you instructions, captain,” Impey ordered in
a nervous voice, glancing at the dim hull of a Japanese ship scarcely a
stone’s throw away.
“Get under way as quietly as possible,” Phil said eagerly. “Don’t start
to heave the anchor chain in until the next rain squall. We want all
speed possible. And steer for the entrance to the bay.”
Captain Bailey gave a silent nod of understanding, showing no apparent
surprise at the dress of his employer or at the order directing him to
take instructions from these two young naval men. His salary was large,
and he thoroughly understood that he was expected to ask no questions.
While the midshipmen waited anxiously on the bridge, a sudden rain
squall enveloped them. They heard, through the roar of the wind, a
dull clanking of chain and immediately afterward a tremor shook the
lightly-built yacht as the anchor let go its grip upon the harbor mud,
and the triple engines were sent ahead at full speed. Phil peered
through the driving rain in the direction where he knew the Japanese
battle-ships were anchored. He could see their lights flickering dimly,
and hoped that O’Neil was correct, and that a strict watch was not
being kept. With rapidly beating hearts the two lads watched the lights
dissolve in the darkness, while the little yacht cut swiftly through
the troubled waters, throwing a shower of salty spray all about them.
“They haven’t seen us yet,” Sydney exclaimed in a much relieved
whisper, and they were about to leave the bridge and seek shelter in
the comfortable cabin below when from the gloom behind them a bright
shaft of light appeared, and a dull boom of a gun awoke the echoes
within the harbor.
“Keep going, captain,” Phil commanded hoarsely, “even if they try to
sink us.”
“You can trust to me, young man,” Captain Bailey returned gruffly. “I
am not anxious to sleep in a Japanese jail.”
The search-light made all possible effort to pierce the murky
atmosphere, but failed dismally, and as they watched it, the bright
light suddenly went out.
But as the midshipmen, drenched to the skin, were seeking shelter
below, Sydney laid an excited hand on Phil’s arm.
“Look there!” he said, and as he spoke, a rocket of warning soared high
above the anchored war-ships.