CHAPTER XXI
LETTERS OF INTEREST
The enlistment of Larry and Luke Striker into the Japanese navy camesooner than anticipated. A new warship was being fitted out at a harborsome forty miles from Nagasaki, and Steve Colton and Bob Stanford weretransferred to this. Two new gun crews were badly needed on the newship, and inside of forty-eight hours our friends had signed the musterroll and were put into training, under Colton. The positions occupiedwere those of gunner and gunner's mate.
"Hurrah for Nippon!" cried Larry, enthusiastically. "Luke, after this wehave got to learn to yell _Banzai!_ in true Japanese style."
"This gun is a beauty," replied the Yankee tar, as he looked the pieceover. "I reckon as I can make her do considerable damage if I get thechance."
"And I'll help all I can," said Larry. "Won't Ben and Gilbert besurprised when they hear of this?" he added.
"They might know you'd do something of the sort."
"That's so, too. By the way, I'm going up to the post-office to-day andsee if there are any letters."
Much to the satisfaction of our friends they found over a score of menon the warship who could speak English. Some, of course, could speak butlittle, yet they could make themselves understood. On the other hand,both Larry and Luke began to pick up the Japanese language remarkablyfast.
"If we keep at this for six months we'll be regular Japanese," said theyouth. "It's not so hard as I thought it would be."
They found the discipline on the warship very strict and were called onto "toe the mark" continually. Yet all the officers were as considerateas they were firm, so there was little of hardship.
When Larry called at the post-office for letters he found two good-sizedepistles awaiting him. One was from his brother Walter, and ran, inpart, as follows:
"There is nothing particularly new in this part of the globe. I am doing very well in my new business and it looks now as if I should make a big thing of it. I rather think I am more cut out for work on land than for life on shipboard, although I don't regret the time I spent in the navy.
"Uncle Job is feeling very well these days and is building a new wing to the old house--going to put in a library of good books he tells me. He is as dear an old chap now as anybody would want for an uncle.
"I suppose you will hear from Ben and Gilbert. I am expecting a letter every day. It's queer you didn't go with them, but I suppose the old _Columbia_ with her crew suits you better."
"I am glad everything is all right at home," thought Larry, as hefinished reading the communication. "A new wing to the house, eh? UncleJob must be spreading himself. Reckon he has found out there issomething more to live for in this world than mere money."
The second letter was from Ben, as he could tell by the handwriting. Ithad been on the way a long time and had been sent to half a dozenplaces, including Manila. There was a great deal about life in theJapanese army, and also a full description of the capture of Liao-Yang.Ben then continued:
"We are now on guard a few miles outside of the city. Our camp stretches for many miles, and we are doing all in our power to strengthen our position. What the next move will be there is no telling. One report is, that our particular command will help to chase the Russians to Mukden, while another report has it that we are to march southward, to aid in the attempt to take Port Arthur.
"I have already told you what trouble Gilbert had with that rascally Russian merchant, Ivan Snokoff, and with Snokoff's confederate, Captain Barusky, of the Russian army. Well, at Liao-Yang we found Snokoff disguised as a Chinaman, and Gilbert made the fellow pay over all that was coming to him for the Richmond Importing Company. In the attempt to capture Snokoff, Gilbert shot him in the leg. It was only a slight wound, but the Russian was as mad as a hornet, and he vowed he would get square some time. He is now in the hospital here, but they expect to let him leave in a few days. He really ought to be put under arrest, but as he has paid up the money he owed, there doesn't seem to be any way of holding him. It's out of the question to go to court with the case. I helped Gilbert to put Snokoff under guard, and he is as angry at me as he is at Gilbert. I don't know if he will dare to do anything or not, but both of us are keeping our eyes open."
Larry read this letter twice before he stowed it away. He was alwaysinterested in war news and he thought the description of the greatbattle of Liao-Yang very realistic. He shook his curly head when hethought of Ivan Snokoff.
"He must be an underhanded rascal if ever there was one," he mused. "Andto think he disguised himself as a Chinaman! I'll wager Gilbert thoughtit a fine thing to expose him and make him pay up. But he and Ben hadbetter look out, or Snokoff and that Captain Barusky may cause them alot of trouble."
Larry had an hour to himself, and he spent the time in answering bothletters, telling briefly what had happened to him since the trip toManila and how he and Luke were now in service on board of the Japanesewarship _Shohirika_. He added that he liked the position of gunner'smate very much, and that he meant to make a record for himself if giventhe opportunity to do so. He also told about the doings of Shamhaven andPeterson, and said he hoped to bring them to justice, although herealized that looking for them was as bad as "looking for a pearl on theocean bottom."
The letters finished, he addressed and posted them, and then he and Luketook a short stroll through Nagasaki, past the many curious shops, andthe fine residences. Some of the shop windows displayed flaring warpictures, done in glaring colors,--all telling of tremendous Japanesevictories on land and sea.
"They certainly believe in tooting their own horn," said Larry, with alaugh over one of the pictures. "Just see this one, Luke--one Japaneseofficer mowing down three Russians with his sword!"
"They ain't no worse nor we had at home during the Spanish war, lad. Iknow one picture I see o' a Rough Rider riding down half a dozen Spanishsoldiers. An' the truth o' the matter is, them Rough Riders didn't haveno horses at all but fought on foot!"
"You're right, Luke. We'll have to put all such pictures down as freaksof the artist's imagination. But I guess I know why some of them are putout--to draw the young fellows into the army and navy."
"Right ye are. Some fellers seeing a picture like that want to march toglory right off,--an' so they go an' enlist. When it comes to hardtackan' black coffee----"
"Hold on, Luke. Remember you are in Japan. Here it is rice and tea."
"So it is, Larry. Say, but I had to laugh yesterday, when I see some ofthem jackies on board o' our ship gettin' out their teapots with tea."
"It did look funny. But they do the same thing in the army, so I havebeen told. They can make the Japanese soldier and sailor do everythingas we do it but give up his tea."
"Well, I reckon tea is better nor rum."
"Certainly it is,--and if I were an officer I'd let them have all thetea they wanted--if they would fight any better for it."
"Those Russian sailors and soldiers drink an awful lot of _vodka_. Ishould think they would try to stop that. A half-drunken sailor orsoldier isn't of any account."
"They are so used to having it, I've been told, that to stop it wouldbring on a regular mutiny. It's hard to break off using a thing when youare used to it."
"Right ye are, lad; a habit if it ain't proper is something awful."
All was bustle throughout Nagasaki, for several regiments of soldiershad come in, bound for some transports which were to take them toManchuria. Banners were flying everywhere, and from a distance came themusic of a band.
"Wonder how soon we will leave," said Larry, when he and his old friendwere returning to the warship. "Now that we have enlisted, I'd like tosee some fighting."
"Maybe we'll get more fighting than we want, lad. But I'd like to getinto it myself," continued the Yankee gunner, with a grin.
Two days more were spent at Nagasaki, and then, on a clear morning, the_Shohirika_ left the harbor and steamed off in
company with two sisterships. They were to join a squadron bound for the western coast ofKorea, but where they were to go after that there was no telling.
Captain Ponsberry came to see Larry and Luke off. "Take good care ofyourselves," said the master of the _Columbia_. "An' teach them Russiansthe lesson they deserve."
"We expect to do our duty," answered Larry.
Life on the Japanese warship proved to be very much like life in theAmerican navy. There were hours set apart for various drills andexercises. Each day they had to go through the movements of handling thegun, fighting with cutlasses, putting out a fire, and manning the smallboats. They also had to keep their ditty bags and grass hammocks in goodorder, also their eating utensils, and each had to do his share ofcleaning up. Twice a week the ship's surgeon examined each man, to seethat he was perfectly healthy.
"I like this keeping things clean," said Larry. "It is bound to make forgood health."
"They tell me that Japanese sailors and soldiers are among thehealthiest in the world," answered Luke.
In a few days the southern point of Korea was passed and the bow of thewarship was pointed toward the eastern coast of Manchuria. They were nowgetting close to the battleground and the lookout was constantlywatching for the appearance of the ships of the enemy.
"We'll have a fight before very long--I can feel it in my bones,"declared Larry. And he was right; but before telling of that contest,and what surprising results it led to, we shall have to tell ofsomething else which occurred, to delight Larry exceedingly.