CHAPTER XXX
A SURPRISE FOR LARRY
As the days passed, the watch upon Port Arthur from the sea becamecloser and closer. Admiral Togo gave strict orders that no ships shouldbe allowed to enter or come from the harbor under any circumstances, andeach commander of a warship was on his mettle, knowing full well that ifhe was derelict in his duty he would speedily hear from his superior ina manner far from pleasant.
Blockading became something of a monotony to Larry and Luke, and afterseveral weeks had passed both wished something would happen.
"I'd rather put up with a stiff sea fight than this," declared the younggunner's mate.
"Right ye are, lad," replied the old Yankee tar. "Ain't no use o' bein'ready for a tussle if it ain't comin'. As it now is, life in the navyain't no more excitin' nor life on the old _Columbia_."
During that time Larry received a letter from Captain Ponsberry, similarin contents to that sent to Gilbert. The Japanese Government hadreleased the cargo of the schooner and then bought the same at a goodround price. The ship had also been released, Captain Ponsberry havingto pay a nominal sum for this action.
"I think the captain is lucky to get off so easily," said Larry. "Isuppose the Japanese Government might have scooped in everything."
"Well, the Japs think it best to remain friendly to the United States,"answered Luke, and it is likely that the old sailor was more than halfright.
Cold weather had come in earnest and work on deck was far from pleasant.Yet each man on the _Shohirika_ had to do his full duty as before, and,be it said to their credit, not a sailor or marine did any shirking. Gundrills and various exercises were kept up constantly.
One day the warship ran close to a big trading brig bound for Hong-Kong.As was the custom, the brig stopped to allow the commander of the_Shohirika_ to make certain that she was not carrying contrabands of warfor Russia or had no intentions of running the blockade.
While this examination was going on, Larry and Luke chanced to come ondeck, curious to have a look at the stranger.
"About as big a brig as I ever see in these parts," was the Yankee tar'scomment. "She must carry a whopping cargo."
"Yes, and a lot of men to man her," answered Larry. "Think of hoistingand furling such sails as she carries!"
The two vessels had come fairly close to each other, and our friendscontinued to survey the brig with interest. Then Larry gave a cry.
"Oh, Luke, I wish I had a glass!"
"Why?"
"Unless I am mistaken, there is Shamhaven on the deck of that ship!"
"No!"
Larry pointed with his hand. "Doesn't that look like him?" he continued.
"Keelhaul me, if I don't think you're right, lad. Wait, I'll get a glassan' make certain!"
The old tar knew where he could borrow a glass, and in a minute more hereturned, and both took a brief look through the instrument.
"It is Shamhaven!" ejaculated Larry. "And look, there is Peterson comingfrom the fo'castle!"
"That's so. What ye goin' to do about it?"
"Tell the officer of the deck. They shan't get off with my money if Ican help it."
Rushing away, Larry soon acquainted the proper officer with what he haddiscovered--telling as much about the robbery as seemed necessary. Theofficer was interested, and, what was even more to the point, liked theyoung American.
"Do you wish to go to yonder ship and confront the men?" he asked.
"Try me and see!" answered Larry, excitedly. "I mean, yes, sir," hestammered. "And will you let Luke Striker go, too?"
The officer agreed, and soon another small boat put off from thewarship, and Larry and Luke, with the officer, were speedily landed onthe deck of the brig.
"You're a fine rascal, to rob me!" cried Larry, rushing up to Shamhaven."And to rob Captain Ponsberry, too!"
Shamhaven had not expected this encounter, and for the moment he wasdumbstruck. He gazed from Larry to Luke as if they were ghosts.
"I--I--who are you, anyway?" he stammered. "I don't know you," he added,striving to regain his composure.
"Yes, you do know me, and you know Luke Striker, too," answered theyoung gunner's mate.
"What does this mean?" asked the captain of the brig, while a number ofothers looked on with interest.
"I'll tell you what it means, sir," said Larry, and did so. "He has gotto give up my money belt and my money, and give up Captain Ponsberry'smoney, too."
At this moment Peterson came up and was promptly collared by Luke.
"Stop! Don't you vos touch me!" cried Peterson. "I ain't noddings done,no."
"You helped Shamhaven to rob me," came from Larry.
"No, he done it all alone! I no touch noddings!"
"Oh, shut up!" roared Shamhaven, in disgust. "I never robbed anybody. Ifyou lost your money Peterson must have taken it."
A quarrel ensued between the evildoers, in the midst of which came a cryfrom the _Shohirika_.
"An enemy is in sight!"
At once all attention was turned to the warship. Scarcely a minuteelapsed when a signal was displayed:
"A battleship, and she is trying to escape up the coast!"
"To the boats!" roared the Japanese officer on the deck of the brig. "Tothe boats at once! This investigation will have to be postponed. Weshall expect you to remain as you are"--the latter words to the captainof the big brig.
"As you will," was the smooth answer.
A rush was made for the two small boats, Larry and Luke being hustledalong with the crowd. Soon they put off for the warship, which wasalready preparing to follow the Russian battleship that had been seen.
"I didn't get my money, after all," grumbled the youth. "But perhapsI'll get it later--if that ship of the enemy doesn't sink us," he added.
As soon as they were on board of the _Shohirika_ again, the cruiserstarted after the battleship. But the enemy had a good lead, and it wassome time before the Japanese warship could command a full head ofsteam, which meant everything to her. Then, when steam was to be had inplenty, there came a breakdown in the engine room, causing a delay oftwenty minutes.
"We'll never catch her,--at least, not to-day," said Luke, and he wasright. Darkness found the battleship still three miles away. Half adozen shots were fired at her, but none took effect. Then night endedthe pursuit.
In the morning nothing was to be seen of the enemy and those on theJapanese warship were much depressed, for they had fancied that anencounter might add greatly to their laurels. But shortly before noonthe lookout announced the approach of another ship.
"A Russian cruiser!" was the cry.
This was correct--the vessel was the auxiliary cruiser, _Pontomuk_,formerly a steamer in the Siberian trade. She was manned by a fierce andswarthy-looking body of sailors and marines, and carried a first andsecond battery of no mean proportions.
"I'll wager we have got some work cut out for us now," said Larry, andhe was right. Finding she could not run away from the _Shohirika_ theRussian auxiliary cruiser came steaming up and let drive at closerange,--a broadside that raked the Japanese warship from end to end withdeadly effect. The _Shohirika_ answered immediately, and both thesteering wheel and the rudder were smashed on the enemy's ship.
"Phew! but this is hot work!" panted Larry, as all those around the gunworked like Trojans.
"An' it's going to be hotter!" ejaculated Luke. He sighted the piecewith care. "There, Sally Jane, let her go!" And he pressed the electricbutton. _Bang!_ went the gun with a roar that was deafening. Then thebreech was thrown open and the smoke rolled out, filling the air with asmell that made them cough and sneeze. But nobody stopped work. In atrice the gun was cleaned and cooled and another shell pushed intoplace, and then the firing was repeated.
"She's coming alongside!" was the announcement from on deck. "All handsto repel boarders!"
"A hand-to-hand fight!" cried Larry, and scarcely had the words beenuttered when there came a bump that hurled half the sailors flat. Upthey sprang, and as orde
r after order was delivered the marines andothers ran for their guns and cutlasses, while the officers saw to itthat their pistols were ready for use.
A wild, maddening yell came from the deck of the Russian ship, asmarines and sailors poured over the side. An answering _Banzai_ issuedfrom the Japanese, and they met the first onslaught with vigor. Thencame a fierce tramping over the deck, as the two conflicting partiesmoved first to one side and then the other.
"We are ordered up!" cried Larry, a few minutes later. "Here is where wehave got to fight for it, Luke!"
"Right you are, lad. Do your best, and trust to Heaven for the rest!"was the Yankee tar's reply. And then, cutlasses in hand, both mounted tothe deck, to engage in the fiercest hand-to-hand encounter either ofthem had ever experienced.