At the Fall of Port Arthur/Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII
TAKEN AS A PRIZE OF WAR
Slowly but surely the small boat came closer to the schooner. She rode the long swells of the Pacific with full grace, and Larry could not help but admire the long, sturdy strokes of the jackies, as they bent to their task.
"I don't know but that they can handle a small boat as well as our own jackies," said Larry.
"Why shouldn't they? Russian naval training ought to be first-class," answered Tom Grandon. "They have been at it longer than Uncle Sam."
"True, but that doesn't always count. Spain had been at it longer than we had, too, but when it came to war we beat her in double-quick order."
As the small boat came closer they saw that the jackies were mostly men of middle age. But the coxswain was younger and so was the naval officer, who was gazing rather anxiously toward the schooner, as if wondering what the result of his mission would be.
"Wonder if that chap can talk English?" queried the first mate. "If he can't the old man will be up a tree, for none of us can talk Russian."
"I reckon Peterson and Semmel can talk it," answered Larry. "But we don't want either of those rascals to open his mouth."
At last the small boat came up alongside of the Columbia. It was no easy matter to catch the rope ladder without getting bumped, but it was successfully accomplished, and then the Russian officer lost no time in coming on board. He at once saluted, and Captain Ponsberry and his mates did the same, and the sailors in the background did likewise.
"What ship is this?" asked the Russian naval officer, after a few necessary formalities were at an end.
"The American schooner Columbia," answered Captain Ponsberry.
"Would you mind telling me for what port you are bound?" went on the naval officer, who could speak fairly good English.
"We are bound for San Francisco, with a stopover at Nagasaki."
"Ah! What sort of a cargo are you carrying to Nagasaki?"
"One belonging to the firm for which the Columbia is in commission."
"The name of the firm, please?"
"The Richmond Importing Company."
"Ah!" said the naval officer again, and looked slightly displeased. As it happened he had a brother in the army at Port Arthur, and had heard of the doings of Gilbert Pennington at that place, and of how the young American had accused certain Russians of trying to cheat the company he represented.
"What warship do you come from?" demanded Captain Ponsberry, feeling that he had an equal right to ask questions.
"The auxiliary cruiser, Pocastra, of the Russian navy," answered the naval officer, politely.
"And where are you bound?" went on Captain Ponsberry, bluntly.
"That, sir, is a question only our commander, Captain Titorsky, can answer."
"It's queer you are steaming around in Japanese waters."
"Perhaps so." The Russian naval officer smiled in a knowing way. "Captain Ponsberry, I am sorry, but I think I shall have to inspect your papers."
Captain Ponsberry drew himself up, resolved to put on as bold a front as possible.
"This is an American ship, sir."
"Granted, but I have my orders," returned the naval officer, coldly.
"If I refuse to let you inspect the papers?"
The young Russian officer shrugged his shoulders.
"We shall be under the painful necessity of compelling you to show them."
"You threaten me—an American captain!"
"There is no help for it—I am simply obeying orders. We inspect all ships that we find in this vicinity."
"Do you know I can make you pay dearly for this outrage?"
"You cannot call it an outrage. You are in Japanese waters, Japan and Russia are at war. You knew that before you came into these waters. Am I to see the papers or not?"
The commander of the Columbia knew that the Russian naval officer spoke the truth. Yet he made one more effort.
"Very well; I will show my papers, but I shall insist upon you signing a paper that your ship held us up."
"You can send the paper to my ship for such a signature from my captain," said the Russian, evasively.
By this time four of the jackies of the small boat had come on board. All were armed and they lined up at the rail, close to the rope ladder. They were good-natured sailors and grinned broadly at the hands on the Columbia. Not one could speak a word of English, so conversation with them was impossible.
Captain Ponsberry led the way to the cabin of the Columbia and the young Russian officer followed. Getting out such papers as had been prepared for the occasion, the master of the schooner passed them over.
"These are correct so far as they go," said the Russian, after an examination lasting ten minutes had been made. "But" he paused. "You have no further papers?"
"Those are my papers, sir," answered Captain Ponsberry, briefly.
"Then I will look at a specified list of your cargo."
"I haven't such a list," was the answer, which was true, as the list had been burnt up just a short while before.
At this statement the young Russian frowned. "Every ship carries such a list."
"Still, I haven't any."
"In that case, I shall have to order an inspection of the cargo."
"Sir, you are going too far!" said Captain Ponsberry, sternly, yet he knew he had no right to expect anything else.
"If I am going too far, I am able to take the consequences," returned the Russian, who was acting strictly under orders.
"Very well, sir; you can look the cargo over," answered Captain Ponsberry. "But I shall hold Russia accountable for the outrage."
The Russian naval officer bowed and hastened up to the deck. He spoke in his native tongue to one of the jackies who carried several small flags under his arm. At once the Jackie began to wig-wag to the warship for further instructions.
"Search the ship," came back the order, and in a few minutes more another small boat left the side of the Pocastra, containing an officer and a crew of eight.
"We are in for it now, that is certain," observed Larry. "They are not going to let us go until they are sure we are O. K."
The second boat was soon alongside of the schooner, and the officer in charge and four men came up on the deck and joined the other Russians already there. An earnest conversation was held between the two officers.
"We'll take a general look at the cargo," said the one who had just arrived. "It will not do to go too far—in case we find everything as it should be. We want no trouble with the Yankee government."
Captain Ponsberry was asked to have the mizzen hatch opened, and this work was done by Luke Striker and several others. Then two of the Russian sailors were sent below, and one of the officers went along.
In the meantime, Peterson, unknown to anybody on board, had slipped off to the brig. Here he found Ostag Semmel in solitary confinement.
"Semmel, a Russian warship is close at hand," he said, hurriedly. "An officer and some men have just boarded us."
"Release me, Peterson!" returned the Russian sailor. "Release me and I will show Captain Ponsberry what I can do!"
"You will not get me into trouble?" questioned Peterson, anxiously.
"No. Quick—I am sure we can make money out of this."
With an iron bar, Peterson pried off the lock which had been put on the door of the brig, and drew back the bolt. Then Semmel came out of his prison, with his hands linked together.
As he was making his way to the stern deck Larry caught sight of him.
"Stop!" he called out, in alarm, realizing what Semmel might do. "Stop, Semmel!" and he ran to capture the rascal.
"Get out da vay!" roared the Russian and aimed a blow at Larry's head. But the young second mate dodged and then caught the Russian by the legs, hurling him flat on his breast. But now Peterson came behind and gave Larry a vicious kick in the side, which made the youth let go his hold.
"What's the row there?" called out Captain Ponsberry, and looked much disturbed to see the escaped prisoner. "Put him back where he came from!"
"Help!" yelled Semmel, in Russian. "Help, in the name of the Czar! I am a Russian subject! This ship is in the employ of the Japanese Government!"
"He speaks the truth!" called out Peterson, also in Russian. "Help us and protect us and we will prove it!" And he ran forward to where the Russian officer on deck was standing.
"You are Russians?" asked the officer, quickly.
"We are."
"Then I shall certainly assist you." He raised his voice. "Let that man go!" And he pointed at Semmel, now surrounded by Larry, Luke, and Cal Vincent.
The latter words were uttered in English, so all of our friends understood them. The two sailors looked inquiringly at the young second mate.
"He is nothing but a mutineer," said Larry. "We locked him up for it. He ought to have been strung up on the yardarm," he added, bitterly.
By this time Captain Ponsberry was on the scene, and those who had gone below were summoned on deck once more. The captain glared at Semmel, who lost no time in shrinking behind the Russian officers for protection.
"I can prove the cargo on this ship belongs to the Japanese Government," said Ostag Semmel. "My friend can prove it, too," he added, pointing to Peterson. "It is true we tried to seize the ship—to take her to Vladivostok, or some other Russian port, as a prize."
"This is assuredly interesting," said the leading Russian officer. "Tell me your tale in full."
Despite Captain Ponsberry's protests Semmel told his story in his own way, and Peterson corroborated it in every detail. Then Shamhaven, thinking to curry favor, came forward.
"They tell the strict truth," he said. "I worked with them. We did what we could for the benefit of the Russian Government. Every bit of cargo on this ship belongs to the Japanese Government and was to be taken ashore at Nagasaki. The last cargo of the Columbia was also sold at Nagasaki to the Japanese Government."
"When was this?"
"About two months ago."
More questions were put to Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven, and at last the Russian naval officer turned grimly to Captain Ponsberry.
"I have heard their story, and it will be unnecessary to make an inspection of your cargo, since they have told me of what it consists. In the name of Russia I claim this ship as a prize of war, and you and your crew must consider yourselves prisoners."