Yates Stirling

“ 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!” ”

“ Takishima’s face had regained its composure. If the Americans had not the letter then it would soon be found. It undoubtedly was in the hands of one of his own countrymen and the secret service men would soon place it in Captain Inaba’s hands.
Takishima pressed Phil’s hand as he rose to his feet.
“I feel better now that I have unburdened myself,” he said earnestly. “You can be certain that Japan wishes above everything to avoid trouble. That does not mean that we will neglect our army and navy, for we see that preparedness for war is the surest road to peace. ”

“ The good-humored crowd, increasing in numbers every minute, stood in orderly merriment watching the tall representatives of the United States of America, led by obsequious railroad officials, pass through their midst and into the coaches of a special train. Following the handful of naval officers in their severely plain civilian clothes came many score of American men-of-war’s men dressed in the picturesque sailor garb, while walking hand in hand with [12] them the little Japanese sailors, the hosts of their giant visitors, appeared in striking contrast. ”

“ Phil waved for silence as several excited voices were raised expressing forcibly the desire to be allowed to clean out the place and revenge the insult to their flag.
“Can’t you see by Marley’s evidence that it was fixed up on you?” Phil exclaimed, grasping at a straw. “The man with the flag was not a Japanese. Who was he? A sneaking, cowardly foreigner, anxious to bring about a conflict between you American sailors and the citizens of Japan.” Phil was eloquent in his anger and mortification. “And you, led into the trap like lambs. Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?” ”

“ O’Neil and Marley had formed a strong liking for Randall, who had shown himself willing to atone for past misdeeds.
“You see, O’Neil,” he had exclaimed in the strictest confidence while they were both working to repair the damage caused by Takishima’s few minutes of liberty, “when a fellow gets down on his luck in a foreign country, his sense of right and wrong suffers a blight. He can’t recognize the difference until it’s pointed out to him. I thought it was fine to vilify my country and countrymen, baiting the Japanese bull, as it were. ”

“ Phil exclaimed amazedly. “What has my country done that you should so condemn it?”
“Can’t you see to what we are drifting, Perry?” Takishima replied excitedly. “Only a year ago our two countries were friendly. Nothing but what was good was being said by one of the other. My Emperor’s subjects in America were everywhere treated kindly, and here in Japan we bowed respectfully and affectionately wherever an American appeared. Now all is different. Each looks upon the other with suspicion.” ”

“ O’Neil gave a few quick orders in his sailor Japanese to the mafoo, who nodded his smiling face in sign of understanding, and shortly the carriage turned up a less crowded street, while again the little horses were trotting gayly along, the shrill cry of the mafoo being raised periodically in warning the pedestrians plodding slowly along in the middle of the street; for in some streets in Japan sidewalks as yet are unknown luxuries. ”

“ They fear that Japan will seize the Chinese ships. Their fleet in Manila is ready to move at a moment’s notice, and it is between the Japanese fleet and the Chinese squadron. Once the Washington government knows for certain that Japan has made her decision it will drop the mask of friendship and order its fleet to obtain the ships before they reach Singapore. This mission of the ‘Alaska,’ as I have told you before, is intended only as a blind to their real intentions, and if Japan is weak enough to believe in America’s honesty then our work will have been for nothing. ”

“ Marley had lapsed into a sailor metaphor indicating that the devious ways of diplomatic intrigue were beyond his simple comprehension.
“Sago, what does your methodical brain tell you is the real game being played here in Japan?” O’Neil directed his eloquence upon the silently complacent steward. “Do these one time countrymen of yours want to annex the United States?”
“No.” Sago was emphatic in his negative. “Japanee very funny, all time want to learn something. American they don’t understand. They think Japanee very curious.” ”

“ Why do you ask?”
“Do you believe in the Japanese? Are they honestly our friends?” she asked another question for an answer to his.
“I believe they are,” Phil replied thoughtfully. “Our misunderstandings are caused by the great gulf between the two races. The Japanese understand us much better than we do them.”
“Do you think a war is likely?” she exclaimed impatiently, not wholly satisfied at Phil’s indirect answer.
“Not likely,” he replied quietly, “but always possible. Miss Helen, there are people here in Tokyo, men of influence, who are working to bring on war between Japan and our country.” ”

“ 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 [311] 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. ”

“ Takishima had listened impatiently at first, but as Phil drove home one self-evident truth after another, the young naval man at length listened eagerly, understanding growing in his troubled face.
“Perry, I believe my country has been fooled,” he exclaimed suddenly. “We have listened to a voice that we should have known can never be disinterested. Do you know,” he asked earnestly, “who in Japan has been urging us to obtain the Chinese ships?”
“Impey, of course,” Phil answered. ”

“ Phil managed to answer in the affirmative, but his voice was lost in the wail of the syren.
The crowd ahead had quickly cleared the road, while Impey, seeing the way clear, was soon tearing at full speed down the street. The official buildings of the empire flashed past on either hand.
Opposite the navy building a great crowd had collected to do honor to one of Japan’s naval heroes.
“Hadn’t you better slow up?” Sydney asked apprehensively, as he realized the density of the crowd, but the driver of the machine gave no heed to the anxious voice behind him. ”

“ Phil exclaimed, his pulse beating fast at Takishima’s words. “I have not been in America for over a year, but I am sure no such feeling as you describe is felt there. Our labor unions have fought against your countrymen coming to America because they will work for much less money than will our own people, and they will not join the unions, but that is hardly enough reason for making Japan distrust America.” ”

“ O’Neil asked.
“No,” Bill answered conditionally. “They had a look in their eyes, though, that wasn’t no way pleasant. It seemed to tell you: ‘Go ahead and down me; there’s lots more anxious to take my place.’”
“Right you are, Bill,” O’Neil smiled grimly. “They’re fatalists; it ain’t nothing for them to die, no more than for you to get a tooth pulled. When a man is killed in battle here his family have a big celebration and invite all their friends in to help them.”
“Have they got as good ships as ours?” Marley questioned. ”

“ Phil insisted stubbornly. “We can’t fight in the American style, with fists. I am twice his size. It’s the only redress he has. His code of honor demands a duel.”
“That’s child’s talk, Phil, and you know it,” Sydney exclaimed heatedly. “I am not going to stand by and let you ruin your career on account of a foolish out-of-date code of honor. Our articles for the government of the navy forbid a duel, and the penalty is dismissal. ”

“ Steadily the yacht reeled off the miles over a sea that was becoming smoother now every hour. The air had become heavier and the rifts of fog were being encountered more frequently.
“It’s only a forlorn hope, Syd,” Phil exclaimed sorrowfully as the two leaned over the after rail, their eyes on the horizon to the north. “We are probably making twenty-three knots an hour, but a destroyer is good for at least thirty. I am afraid we were too hasty in our plans.”
Sydney was silent. Far astern above the low fog a dark smudge had caught his eye. ”

“ Sago was indignant. “I wouldn’t ever fight against the United States,” he declared positively. “Sago think Japan no want to fight. Plenty soldiers and sailors, but no money.”
“Strike me blind, if there ain’t that yellow villain what carried the flag.” Marley was half out of his seat, his eyes staring at what appeared to be a Japanese servant by his dark blue livery. In his hands were several valises, and in front of him, just entering a compartment in the same car as our friends, were two Europeans.
“Our friend Randall,” O’Neil exclaimed as he laid a detaining arm about Marley’s waist. ”

“ Phil exclaimed, turning enthusiastically upon him after the two were seated. “You must come on board the ‘Alaska,’ and Syd and I will show you how you would have been existing if you’d been born an American.”
Takishima showed his white teeth in a smile, through the not too abundant black moustache.
“Perry,” Takishima’s face was again grave and there was marked hesitancy in his speech, “you and I are old friends and classmates. By birth we are of widely different races. Your ancestors have been living in what is termed civilization for some hundreds of years. ”

“ The door of his own compartment suddenly opened and Sydney Monroe, his companion and classmate at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, gazed in surprise at the stern set face of his friend.
[18] “What’s the matter, Phil?” he exclaimed. “You look as if you’d just seen a ghost. Nothing’s wrong, is it?”
Phil held his hand up for silence and entered his own compartment.
“There are people in there,” he exclaimed excitedly, indicating with a nod, “whom we must recognize and remember. It’s the most barefaced case of conspiracy that I’ve ever known.” ”

“ Lieutenant Hugh Winston, one of the party, smiled knowingly as he read the wonder in the eyes of the two youngest of the party, Midshipmen Perry and Sydney Monroe. Winston was an officer of some years’ standing, and the character of the Japanese subject was one with which he considered himself on very intimate terms, after three cruises on the Asiatic Station in American war-ships.
“You can compare the Mikado’s loyal subjects to no others on earth,” Winston returned. “Every man you see in this crowd has served his country as a soldier or sailor. ”

“ Sydney stood near, but from appearances there had been no communication between the two former friends. Phil was on the point of joining them when he saw that O’Neil and Marley were waiting to speak to him, so he stopped.
“What’s the trouble, O’Neil?” he asked anxiously. “No strike below, I hope; if there is we’ll all have to go down and shovel coal. If we are caught now we can be truly called pirates. Did you ever want to be a pirate, Marley?” ”

“ The two midshipmen soon found themselves on the outskirts of the crowd. Helen had promised the introduction to Mr. Impey if Phil would only locate him, so the two companions drifted along on the lookout for him.
[41] “I have an idea, Syd,” Phil whispered, “that this Mr. Impey of the automobile is the conspirator I overheard on the train. Here’s a chance for some nice work to run him to earth if he is. A voice is a dangerous identification to pin much faith upon, but people have been betrayed by that means in lots of criminal cases.” ”