CHAPTER XXII
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 wouldneed an escort, if they fell in with a Russian cruiser or two."
The Japanese transports were bound for the coast of Manchuria, to landnear 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 toshore, if not to make an actual landing.
A fog came up that night, which made the transports hold off. But thenext day was as bright and clear as before, and about noon land wassighted to the westward. A patrol boat was sent ahead and came backstating that all was clear for a landing. Then the warships went closerand the transports followed.
On the following day Larry found himself on shore--having been takenalong by one of the officers of the ship to interview an Englishmerchant who wished to sell some goods to the Japanese. The officercould speak some English, but wanted somebody along who could help himout in case he could not make himself clearly understood.
The landing was at a small Chinese town which was partly in ashes--theRussians having tried to burn it down before leaving. There were a dozenshops, but all were closed and with the windows boarded up. Many of theChinese had fled to the country beyond; and a Japanese regiment was onguard 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 besidethe Japanese naval officer. "I suppose some of the Chinese have lost allthey possessed--and through no fault of their own either."
The business with the English merchant was transacted quicker thananticipated, and, not caring to go back to his ship at once, the navalofficer visited the camp of the Japanese regiment, taking Larry withhim.
"We expect another detachment here this afternoon," said one of theregimental commanders to the naval officer. "They are to escort a powdertrain through the mountains."
A little while later the detachment came in on foot, looking somewhattired and dusty from a long tramp through an exceedingly rough country.As the soldiers came to a halt in the public square of the seaportvillage, Larry uttered a cry of amazement:
"Ben!"
"Why, Larry, can it be you?" came in a tone of astonishment, and on theinstant 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 warmhug. "This beats the Dutch! I thought you were at Liao-Yang. How are youand how did you get here?"
"One question at a time, please," returned Ben, with a happy smile. "I'mpretty well, although I had a little dose of fever a couple of weeksago. Our Japanese doctor fixed me up in double-quick time. Our commandwas ordered down here to look after a powder train. There was a reportthat either the Russians or the Chunchuses were going to try to captureit or blow it up. Now, how have you been, and what are you doing here? Ithought the old _Columbia_ was at Nagasaki."
"You want to know as much as I do, Ben." There was a pause and bothlaughed 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. Allowme to introduce myself, Lawrence Russell, gunner's mate aboard of theMikado's cruiser _Shohirika_. My head gunner is Luke Striker, Esquire."
"Never!" burst from Ben. "Well, this certainly is news. So you and Lukeenlisted? Have you had any fighting?"
"Not exactly. But we have seen some rough times," answered Larry, andthen, as soon as Ben could get away for a quiet half-hour, he relatedhis 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 prisonthis minute," said his brother, after the young sailor had finished.
"Perhaps I am lucky, Ben. But it wasn't much of luck to have thatShamhaven and Peterson walk off with my money belt."
"That is so, but as the amount taken wasn't a fortune I shouldn't worryabout it. I can let you have any money you need."
"I don't need any, and, besides, Luke is acting as my banker. But nowtell me about yourself."
"There isn't very much to tell, outside of what I put down in thatletter you received. As you know, Gilbert and I are both attached tothis 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, lookingafter the pack and powder trains, and have seen very little of fighting.We are reinforcing our lines daily, and I think the Russians must bedoing the same. I expect some more heavy fighting soon, unless wintersteps in and puts a stop to everything. The nights are already rathercool," added Ben.
It was half an hour later that the company under Gilbert came in, havingin their custody two Chinese bandits that had tried to steal four horsesbelonging to two Japanese army carts.
"So it's really you, Larry!" cried the young Southerner, as he shookhands. "I'm mightily glad to see you and see you looking so well. Isuppose Ben has told you all the news."
"Yes, and Larry has been telling some too," put in Ben. "He has seenalmost as much of the Russians as we have." And then Larry's story hadto be told again.
"I don't know where we shall go after we leave here," said the youngsailor. "Are you going back to Liao-Yang?"
"We don't know that either. Our orders are to escort the powder trainwherever it may be sent," said Ben.
For two days the Japanese warship remained in the harbor of the seaportvillage and during that time Larry managed to see quite a good deal ofBen 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 boatwhich steamed into the harbor, and an hour later the anchors were hoveapeak and she steamed away, carrying Larry and his old Yankee friendalong. Ben and Gilbert stood on a dock watching her departure. Theywaved 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 atthe parting from his younger brother.
"Oh, you'll see him again before long," answered Gilbert, trying to becheerful.
"Maybe not. It all depends upon where that cruiser sails to. She may gohalf around the world."
"More than likely she has been sent to take part in the bombardment ofPort 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 thenreturned to that part of the village in which Major Okopa's command hadbeen located.
"By the way," said Gilbert, as they hurried along. "There is one thing Iforgot to tell you. Meeting Larry drove it completely out of my mind. Onthe way to this village we stopped at a place called Wikelipe, and thereI met, whom do you suppose?"
"I don't know, I'm sure."
"That rascal Ivan Snokoff. He was at his same old tricks--selling thingsto the inhabitants at exorbitant prices. When he saw me he shook hisfist 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 fightwith the brigands made us lose three hours. But do you know, I thinkSnokoff has it in for me."
"Yes, and in for me, too," added Ben. "He hasn't forgotten how I broughtalong the guard that placed him under temporary arrest."
There was no time to say more, for the command was to move in half anhour and both of the young captains had to round up their men for thatpurpose. The powder train was at rest outside of the village and the menwere scattered here, there, and everywhere.
Evening found the command to which Ben and Gilbert belonged ten miles ontheir way through the mountains. Only the officer in charge of thepowder train knew the destination of the
precious stores. The trainconsisted of eighteen carts, each pulled by four horses.
Although none in Major Okopa's command knew it, the train was followedby a Chinaman named Kee Lung, who lived in Wikelipe, the place whereGilbert had seen Ivan Snokoff. Kee Lung was well known to Ivan Snokoffand had been asked by the rascally Russian to keep his eyes on Gilbertand on Ben and to report their movements. He had watched Gilbert'smeeting with Ben and Larry and heard something of what was said and hadthus managed to make out that two of the party were brothers.
As the powder train approached Wikelipe, Kee Lung went ahead to findIvan Snokoff. This was not difficult, as he knew exactly where thelatter was hiding. A conference lasting an hour ensued.
"Do as you have promised and you shall have fifty _yen_," said IvanSnokoff.
"You will not fail to pay?" queried Kee Lung.
"By the heads of my ancestors I promise it," was the rascally Russian'sanswer.
"'Tis enough. I shall do as I have promised," returned the Chinaman. Andhe bowed himself from Ivan Snokoff's presence. Left to himself, therascally Russian rubbed his hands gleefully.
"Ha, I trust he is successful!" he muttered to himself. "Once Penningtonand Russell are in the power of us Russians I shall show them what itmeans to insult and degrade a Snokoff!"