CHAPTER XVI
ABOARD A JAPANESE WARSHIP
"What a beauty of a ship!"
Such was Larry's exclamation as he stepped aboard of the Japanesewarship. The vessel was, like the Russian prize, an auxiliary cruiserand named the _Mimora Juri_. She was but three years old and had beenused for passenger service between Japan and China. For such a smallcruiser she carried an unusually heavy battery, and everything wasshined up to the last degree,--the work having been undertaken directlyafter the battle was over. The _Mimora Juri_ had suffered but littledamage during the contest and only a handful of men had been killed andwounded.
"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 sofine," returned the youth. "But then this isn't an ordinary fightingship. Some of the auxiliary cruisers we used during the war withSpain--those that used to be trans-Atlantic steamers--were just as fineas this and finer."
As soon as those from the _Columbia_ reached the Japanese warship thewounded 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 bestof order, with nice, swinging cots, and appliances of the latestdesigns.
As there were many things to be arranged between the two Japanesevessels and the Russian prize, our friends were not interviewed untillate in the evening. In the meantime, some of the Russians were madeprisoners, and a prize crew was placed aboard of the _Pocastra_. Thenthe two Japanese warships moved away, with the captured cruiser betweenthem.
"Those Russians must feel sick," was Larry's comment. "It's worse forthem, in a way, than if their ship had gone down."
"Well, we all thought she was sinking," returned Captain Ponsberry. "Ifshe 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 conductedCaptain Ponsberry, Larry, and Tom Grandon to the commander's cabin. Herethey were met by Captain Tonkaka, who, being a graduate of the Japanesenaval school, could speak not only English but also several otherforeign languages. It may be mentioned here that the Japanese navalacademy of to-day is one of the foremost institutions of its kind in theworld.
"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 intendedfor the Japanese Government. He told of the trouble with Semmel and ofthe mutiny, and then of the capture by the _Pocastra_.
"You have assuredly been unfortunate," said Captain Tonkaka. "Have youany idea where your schooner is now?"
"I have not, but I thought she must be close to the Russian ship--sheand that Chinese junk, too. The _Pocastra_ was taking them toVladivostok as prizes."
"Ah!" The Japanese captain mused for a moment. "I dare say you wouldlike to gain back your ship?" he continued.
"Indeed I would!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "I'd give a pretty dollar todo 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 bothcorroborated what Captain Ponsberry had said. They were also questionedconcerning the treatment they had received while on the _Pocastra_.
"You may be thankful that the treatment was no worse," said CaptainTonkaka. "Of late some of the Russians have treated their prisoners in amost brutal fashion."
"We are thankful," replied the master of the _Columbia_.
The majority of the staterooms aboard of the _Mimora Juri_ were occupiedby the officers of the cruiser, but one small room was turned over toCaptain Ponsberry, and a larger apartment was turned over to Tom Grandonand 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 withtheir prize. They could readily have made eighteen knots an hour, butthe crippled Russian cruiser could not make over ten, and so this wasthe rate of speed set for all three.
The Americans were allowed the freedom of the ship and Larry and Lukespent many hours in inspecting the guns and other equipments, and inwatching the Japanese jackies in the gun and cutlass drills, theirphysical exercises, and in their drills to fight fire and to lower thesmall boats. Everything on board ran as smoothly as clockwork, much totheir delight.
"I can tell you what, Luke!" cried Larry, enthusiastically, "this beatsthe 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. Thatdrill to fight fire is immense, and their physical exercises ought tomake each man's muscles like iron."
"They are a sturdy lot, lad, no two ways about that,--and theyunderstand just how to keep themselves in the pink of condition." Lukerubbed 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 havea mix-up or two with the Russians."
"You've struck the nail on the head, lad. And why not, seeing as how weare out here in fighting waters, and with no ship of our own to goaboard?"
"Well, I feel a good bit that way myself. Ben is in the army, and so isGilbert Pennington. If they can make a record for themselves whyshouldn't I do the same? As it was I came close to joining the army withBen."
"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 anyday."
"Yes, to a fellow as gets used to the sea the land seems a strangeplace."
From the Japanese on the warship who could speak English our friendslearned much concerning the war. They were told that Admiral Togo'sfleet was keeping a strict guard over the harbor approach to PortArthur, and that a portion of the Japanese army was hemming in the cityon the land side and had lately captured several hills of importance.
From Captain Tonkaka the Americans obtained permission to stationthemselves in one of the fighting tops, and here they spent hour afterhour, on the lookout for the _Columbia_. Captain Ponsberry wasparticularly anxious to find his vessel, and kept scanning the Japan Seathrough a fine spyglass the Japanese captain loaned him.
"If I can gain possession of that ship, I am going to fix Semmel andPeterson," said the master of the _Columbia_.
"Both of them declared that they took possession of the ship for thesake of the Russian Government," said Larry. "That being the case, theyshould be treated as prisoners of war."
"Exactly my idea, Larry."
"Semmel is a thoroughly bad egg," came from Tom Grandon. "He will lieout of his troubles if he can possibly do so."
"It will be a shame if we don't find the _Columbia_ again," went onLarry. "Think of those rascals taking her to Vladivostok and gettingtheir share of the prize money! It makes me sick!"
"Captain Tonkaka tells me that other Japanese warships are in thisvicinity," said Captain Ponsberry. "They may fall in with the schoonereven if we don't. But what they will do with her, in that case, there isno telling. They might claim her as a prize also, and if they did, I'dhave some trouble in getting my property back."
What the Japanese captain had said was true. In order to counteract thedoings of the Russian squadron which was raiding the northern andeastern coasts of Japan, the Mikado had sent out a flying squadron ofsix or seven vessels, all of which, though not large, had good sailingpowers.
Owing to the heavy mists, the flying squadron became separated, and twoof the vessels fell in with the _Pocastra_, as already described. Of theother ship
s some proceeded up the coast to Korea and caught two Russiancolliers loaded with coal and another ship carrying steel rails for theManchuria railroad. The remainder of the squadron put further to sea,and on the fourth day out caught sight of two Russian steamers loadedwith munitions of war. A chase ensued, lasting three days, and severalshots were exchanged at long range. But a mist, coming up one night, putan end to the chase, and chagrined to think that the enemy had giventhem the slip after all, the Japanese turned back once more, to look forthe other vessels of the flying squadron.