Yates Stirling

“ Helen and her midshipmen followed after the military and naval men, while behind them came the court set of Tokyo.
Neither of the lads remembered afterward much of what happened when they were once inside of the spacious receiving tent; its walls hung with flags to represent one great red and white chrysanthemum, emblematic of both the flower and the Mikado’s family crest. To Phil the Emperor’s face had been a blur, while the Empress he could recall only as a slight figure in black with many sparkling jewels. ”

“ Phil gazed admiringly at the stranger, whom he knew must be the Tartar general. The Manchu stood over six feet in height, his skin bronzed by exposure, in striking contrast to the almost effeminate appearance of the Chinese mandarins about him. The fierceness of his Tartar ancestors looked from his dark almond-shaped eyes; he seemed to the lad an embodiment of those of his race who had many centuries before under the great Ghenkis Khan overrun the whole of Asia, carrying their victorious banners even into Europe; here was the soldier leader whose ancestors had followed no other calling. ”

“ In the harbor of Ukula Captain Scott had said was a Yankee man-of-war. To bring the notorious “Bully” Scott into the arms of the law, red handed, with black boys and guns for the natives, would be a stroke of diplomacy which would bring fame to the name of Benjamin Stump throughout all the South Sea Islands. A better reward than the command of the “Talofa”! Once Scott was behind the jail bars, convicted of a felony, all his black career would be told by those who would no longer fear to tell the truth. ”

“ At eight o’clock in the morning the squadron would daily be under way. Drill after drill followed to perfect the officers in handling the unwieldy monsters, until even the ships seemed to have acquired an intelligence all their own.
Phil, standing his watch duty under Lazar, spent many instructive hours. To see the eight battle-ships steaming at twelve-knots speed, with a distance between the bow of one and the stern of the next of less than three ship lengths, was a sight calculated to inspire a feeling of wonder and admiration. ”

“ Takishima said, scarcely heeding Phil’s denial. “First there were only vague hints, but gradually it has grown until to-day every move my country makes is misunderstood and condemned in your great newspapers, which are the eyes, ears and brains of your countrymen. We are doing our duty by China and Korea. We have been awakened from our long sleep of inaction, and it is our duty to awaken our blood brothers. Japan stands in the same light in the Orient with China and Korea as your great country with the republics of South America.” ”

“ You who are deceiving the Americans, pretending that you are loyal and yet aiding your countrymen to kill them, doubtless believe that you are doing your country a service, but I know that in the end you will bring terrible suffering on our people. Take the field and fight openly and honorably, and you will be treated by your enemy as a brave antagonist, but fight with a knife, stabbing your enemy in the back, under the guise of friendship, and the end is surely the gallows tree. ”

“ While Phil had been gazing spellbound at the half ton shell, fired by O’Neil with such startling effect, Sydney was watching excitedly a small squad of Chinese soldiers toiling painfully upward from the gun emplacements.
When the roar of discharge shook the air he had seen these small black figures throw themselves behind the jutting rocks, and after the missile had exploded upon the parapets of the forts, hurling by its tremendous force a large gun backward from its substantial mountings, these persistent dots of men again appeared to view, creeping steadily upward. ”

“ Every gesture was full of grace, the effect of her long training as the Tapau [27] of Saluafata, where, until Klinger married her, she had led the village in all its dances and processions.
The throng of women continued to increase. All plied questions to the smiling Fanua, who answered them all good-naturedly.
When would Kataafa arrive? What was going to happen? Had the chief justice said who was to be king? Could they go ahead and build their new house? Was there to be war? Would the islands be taken by Herzovinia? ”

“ THE HOUSE ON LA MESA
Captain Taylor was quite satisfied upon hearing Lazar’s ready explanation. The thought that the latter was aught but the honorable, efficient officer that he appeared never entered his generous mind. He gazed at the lads with compassion on his kindly face.
“It must be a great disappointment,” he said to the silent, stunned lads. “You have worked so hard and then to be hoodwinked by the villainous cunning of the vice-consul must indeed be hard. But never mind, his just retribution will overtake him if the government is successful.” ”

“ Mile after mile was pulled in silence except for the light dip of the oars and the dull, almost soundless splash of the lead as it was heaved a short distance forward of the boat.
The midshipmen gazed with apprehension at the forbidding banks of the river. The rank tropical foliage would conceal an army. Riflemen might lie concealed and fire without the slightest fear of discovery. ”

“ As the judge finished he raised his hand and the song to their king floated out upon the balmy air: “Panu o Tupu-e-Kapua.” O’Neil and Marley hauled away on the halliards, and as the great white, red and blue flag appeared above the tops of the cocoanut trees, the three war-ships boomed forth a national salute in its honor. The Herzovinian war-ship alone remained sullenly silent.
Panu-Mafili was now the rightful king. Five miles away at Vaileli, Kataafa and his five thousand warriors were camped. Panu could muster barely a thousand men, and hardly a hundred guns. ”

“ If the box remained there the enemy might yet succeed in exploding its contents against the gate.
With his body pressed close to the torpedo, and in its deeper shadow, his ear detected a sound near him in the grass at the edge of the road. Suddenly a figure darted forward across the archway and stopped on the other side of the box, fumbling with its top, as if to relight the fuse. Phil held his breath as he reached forth his hand and clutched the wrist of the intruder. Drawing the surprised man, with all his force, across the box, he threw him to the ground. ”

“ The midshipmen’s blood flowed quickly through their young veins as they looked upon this martial display. As the yacht’s course crossed the track of the oncoming fleet, the grim battle-ships could be distinguished to be steaming in two long columns; the dots of black hovering near the fleet the lads knew could be nothing else but the guarding destroyers. The cruiser to the southward appeared motionless, apparently undecided what to do, while the other scout had kept its course and soon passed beyond the horizon.
Marley came hurriedly on deck with a paper which he placed in Phil’s hand. ”

“ O’Neil alone was cheerful; his indomitable spirit saved the lads from sinking too deep in the slough of despond.
Phil lay awake long after his companions had forgotten their troubles in sleep. The bitter thought of failure was even keener to him than the dread of death. The watch-word of his profession was “death with honor.” Why should he fear to die in his country’s service? It was the end that all true naval men sought. ”

“ The boatswain’s mate laid the woman’s body aside and with a score of willing men started on a run for the house. Half-way there they stopped precipitously, hardly believing their eyes, a great fear in their hearts, for from the river there came a noiseless band of men, dim shadows under the gloom of the trees. O’Neil counted them as their silhouettes crossed a vista in the trees, and his hopes died within him. Here was a new enemy, striking from the rear. The men in the trenches could not leave their positions; to do so would allow many hundreds of the insurgents to sweep the ranch. ”

“ A withering fire came from the concealed men; bullets like hail sang about the Americans and their well-nigh demoralized men. The government batteries were directing a hot fire on the approaching masses; yet on they came determinedly. Phil knew that when the second column reached the trench thousands of soldiers would storm up the few hundred yards between them and their coveted prize, La Mesa. Would the machine guns have power to stem this irresistible host? ”

“ While his mind grappled with the intricate intrigues, there came a dull boom of heavy cannon, shaking violently the yamen. Again and again the earth was shaken and the deep tones of discharges of great guns reverberated through the vast building.
What did it mean? Had the Americans then succeeded in escaping and were the fort guns firing upon them? How could they escape by water when every launch had been wrecked by his trusted soldiers?
The yamen now was no longer silent. Ta-Ling could hear shrill cries and the hurried march of feet. ”

“ The man-of-war’s men encountered two very white and frightened women after they had been led into the hallway by the Japanese man servant.
The sailors, hat in hand, stood much embarrassed before Helen Tillotson and her Japanese girl friend. It was quite evident to O’Neil that both had been crying, and even in his embarrassment the boatswain’s mate realized that something near a tragedy had happened.
“Are you Mr. O’Neil, from the ‘Alaska’?” Helen cried eagerly, grasping the startled man’s sleeve. “Oh, I am so glad you’ve come; something terrible will happen if we don’t prevent it at once!” ”

“ As Salas’ hand slowly drew his revolver from its holster, Phil’s right hand with the speed of a mongoos seizing its prey clutched the slender wrist of the outlaw; the lad’s left hand had moved deftly to the slack of the native’s strong khaki trousers, and the next second he had raised the surprised Filipino from off his seat and held him for an instant balanced in the air.
“Turn her down-stream,” the midshipman ordered in a hoarse voice, as he flung the struggling man into the water clear of the rocking boat. ”

“ The insurgents’ brilliant strategy won their admiration. With these Colt guns in their hands the city would be theirs inside of twenty-four hours. They knew that in these countries a victory often means a complete rout for the vanquished. Whole regiments have been known to turn about, if the battle is seen to be going against their side, and fight with the enemy against their former comrades.
The batteries within range of the assaulting columns opened a furious cannonade as they saw the great surge of humanity leave the newly made trench and charge boldly up the slopes of La Mesa. ”

“ Phil saw the faces of the crowd darken with a superstitious loathing; he seemed to read in their cruel eyes an awakening to the knowledge of their power, and the helpless plight of the despised “foreign devils”. The multitude pressed ever closer; reaching out their claw-like talons to touch the gold-embroidered uniforms of the naval officers. The lad cast a swift glance at Langdon next him; he felt confident he would read in his face the extent of the danger threatening them. The pilot was shouting unintelligible words to his chair coolies ”