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.