At the Fall of Port Arthur/Chapter 18
CHAPTER XVIII
A CLEVER RUSE
As soon as Captain Ponsberry was in charge of the Columbia once more he set about without delay to put the schooner in proper condition for the run to Nagasaki. The broken-off foremast was allowed to remain as it was, but a temporary bowsprit was set into place, and the damage to the forecastle and to the stern repaired. A temporary rail was also nailed up, so that there might be no danger of anybody slipping overboard.
In all this work the sailors and the ship's carpenter did their best, and the captain and his mates helped. Sails were also sewed up, or replaced, and inside of forty-eight hours the old Columbia was once more on her way. The water taken aboard was pumped out, and the pumps were kept going two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon.
"She will do now," said the captain, after the heaviest of the work was over. "But when we reach Nagasaki I'll have to put her in the dock for regular repairs. I shouldn't dare to take her to Manila or to San Francisco in such a condition."
"It will take a long time to have the repairs made in Japan," said Larry. "All the shipyards are busy on government work."
"True, lad, but that cannot be helped. The law would not allow me to sign a crew with a ship that was not seaworthy."
"Then we'll have a long lay-off when we reach Nagasaki."
"Exactly, Larry. But I shan't keep you. If you want to go elsewhere"
"Not on another sailing vessel, Captain Ponsberry. But you know how it is with Luke Striker and myself. Ever since we were in our own navy we have had a hankering after warships, and"
"And you think of joining the Japanese navy?" put in the master of the schooner, quickly.
"That's it. You know how I spoke of joining the army with Ben and Gilbert."
"To be sure—and I told you I couldn't spare you."
"But now, if you haven't any use for me any longer"
"Why, Larry, if you want to fight for Japan, go ahead and fight!" ejaculated Captain Ponsberry. "I don't blame you. I'd fight myself if I was a younger man and hadn't any obligations on my shoulders. I suppose Ben is doing great things in the army and you'd like to match him in the navy, eh?"
"If I join the navy I'll do my best."
"Will Striker go with you?"
"Oh, yes, Luke and I always go together, if we can. He was my chum when we fought under Dewey and he has been my chum ever since."
"And a good fellow, too, Larry—a man with a heart of gold. If it wasn't that you and Tom Grandon were with me, I should have made him a mate long ago."
"I don't doubt that, sir—and he is worthy of it." Larry paused for a moment. "Of course, I don't know if they want any of us in the navy."
"Didn't you tell me before that they had several men you had met while under Dewey and some your brother Walter had met while fighting in Cuban waters?"
"Yes, but that was some time ago."
"If they took those chaps then it's likely they will take you now—unless, of course, they have all the men they want—which I doubt."
"We shall not go as ordinary jackies. Ben got a commission as a captain, and Luke thinks he might go as a gunner and I might go as an assistant gunner. We occupied those positions before we left our navy."
"Then I should certainly strike for the positions. They may need gunners even if they don't need comrrion seamen," responded Captain Ponsberry.
As fortune would have it, the run to Nagasaki was made without incident worthy of special mention. Once there was a scare on board, as the water in the well hole increased with alarming rapidity. But the new leak was discovered in time, and the ship's carpenter had little difficulty in repairing it. They also sighted a vessel they thought might be a Russian warship, but she proved instead to be a Japanese coastwise freighter, carrying lumber from one port to another on the northern coast of Japan.
As the Columbia drew closer to Nagasaki both Peterson and Shamhaven grew more anxious over what was to become of them. Neither desired a term in a Japanese prison, and both wondered what sort of a charge Captain Ponsberry and the captain of the Japanese warship would prefer against them.
So far Captain Ponsberry had allowed them their liberty, but through the talk of a couple of sailors they presently learned that they were to be cast into the ship's brig and placed under guard as soon as the schooner dropped anchor.
"This looks black for us," said Shamhaven, moodily. "I wish we were out of it."
"I haf a plan got, yes," answered Peterson.
"To get away?"
The other nodded.
"Then let me hear the plan by all means, Peterson."
"It vos—vot you call him—risky, yes. Maype ve get shot—you no like him, no?"
"Of course I don't want to get shot. But what is your plan?"
"So soon like de ship come up by der harbor we vatch our chances an' trop oferpoard, yes."
"And swim ashore?"
"Maype ve schwim by some udder poat, yes. Of ve got money we go to leetle poat—gif Jap mans money to take us avay, you see now?"
"You mean to watch for some small Japanese boat—a bumboat, eh? And bribe the boatman to take us to some place of safety?"
"You got him now, yes."
"That's good enough if we can find the bumboat and get the money with which to do the bribing."
"Captain Ponsberry got money—an' Russell he got money pelt, like I told you."
"Oh, I haven't forgotten about that money belt," returned Shamhaven. "And I wouldn't mind taking it if I could get my hands on it. But Russell must wear it most of the time."
"I t'ink he not put him on by der night dime, no."
"What do you know about Captain Ponsberry's money?"
"He got money in a leetle pag—I see him vonce."
"How much do you think?"
At this Peterson shrugged his shoulders.
"No can tell dat—maype a thousand dollars."
There was a pause, and Shamhaven drew a long breath.
"One thing is certain," he resumed. "I don't intend to go to a Japanese prison, or an American prison either, if I can help it, and if we cut loose here in a strange country we are bound to need more or less money with which to get along. Without money a fellow can't do a thing in a strange country."
"We git money—chust you vait," said Peterson.
At last the Columbia came into sight of the shipping of Nagasaki. But it was now dark, and a heavy fog was hanging over the harbor, so it was impossible to make the proper landing before the next day. They came to anchor and the necessary lights were hung out.
"This is our chance," said Shamhaven. "It is now or never!"
He had heard that Peterson and himself were to be made close prisoners directly after supper. He watched his chance and when nobody was looking motioned his confederate to leave the forecastle and steal silently toward the stern of the ship. Each carried a block of wood, to which was attached a bit of iron, to make it sink from sight.
"Now then!" whispered Shamhaven, and threw the block he carried overboard. It struck the water with a loud splash, and the block carried by Peterson immediately followed.
"Hullo, what's that?" came in the voice of Tom Grandon. "Who threw something overboard?"
"Sounded like somebody jumping into the water," replied Captain Ponsberry, who was on deck with the first mate.
An examination was made, but in the fog and darkness nothing could be discovered.
"It was mighty queer," was Grandon's comment.
"Somebody must have done it."
"Where are Shamhaven and Peterson?"
"In the forecastle, I suppose. Do you think"
"I don't know what to think. See if they are there."
At once Tom Grandon ran off, and made a tour not only of the forecastle but also of the forward deck. He called the men's names several times, and others quickly joined in the hunt.
"They are gone!" he ejaculated, running back to where Captain Ponsberry stood.
"Gone? Then it must have been them jumping overboard that we heard!"
"Like as not—and they are a good bit away from the schooner by this time."
"Bring a lantern and we'll take a look around."
A lantern was brought, and a few minutes later a small boat was lowered, manned by Luke and three other sailors. Captain Ponsberry went with them, and the searchers remained out the best part of an hour.
"They've given us the slip clean and clear," declared the master of the Columbia, on returning. "It was a risky thing to undertake in such weather as this."
"Yes, and for all we know they may be at the bottom of the harbor," answered Tom Grandon.
"Which place might be jest what they deserve," grumbled Luke Striker, as he helped to stow away the small boat once more.