The North Pacific. Willis Boyd Allen

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ ditty-bags and personal belongings when a commotion was observed among the officers on the bridge. They were gazing through their glasses at a puff of smoke on the north-western horizon. In the course of fifteen minutes it had grown to a small-sized cloud.

      "She must have legs, to overhaul us in this way," observed Ensign Dobson, with his binocular at his eyes. "How much were we making at the last log, quartermaster?"

      "Fifteen strong, sir."

      "Then that fellow's doing a good twenty," added the officer. "Can you make him out, Mr. Liddon?"

      "It looks to me like a 'destroyer,'" replied the other, readjusting the lenses of his glass. "It's a rather small, black craft, walking up on us hand over fist."

      "Bo'sun!" called Dobson to a man who stood near on the lower deck.

      "Yes, sir!"

      "Set the ensign."

      "Aye, aye, sir!"

      "There goes his flag!" said Dobson, excitedly.

      "I can't make out what it is, but we'll soon know. Shall I slow down a bit, sir?" he asked the lieutenant-commander, who had joined the other officers on the bridge.

      "Not yet," said Rexdale. "We can't afford to tie up for every fellow that wants to speak us. Let him come up. He'll signal his business soon, if he's really after us."

      The stranger approached rapidly, and could now be seen with the naked eye, as was attested by the watch on deck lining the bulwarks. There was no apprehension, as the United States had no enemies afloat; still the appearance, so far out at sea, of an unknown vessel bearing down swiftly on the Osprey, was enough to attract the lively attention of forecastle as well as cabin.

      The kitten episode was quite forgotten, as the men thronged to the rail.

      "Ah," exclaimed a brawny Irishman, waving his bare arm in the direction of the stranger, "w'ot a pity it ain't war-toimes now! Sure it's a lovely bit av a foight we'd be lookin' for, wid that smoker!"

      "War nothin'!" retorted the old gunner. "I'm willin' to keep me arms and legs on fur a while longer. What's the use o' bein' shot to pieces, anyway!"

      "Why don't he h'ist his ens'n?" growled another of the crew. "Manners is manners, I say."

      "It is h'isted," said Scupp, "only ye can't see it, 'cos it blows straight out forrard on this west wind he's comin' afore. The officers up there'll soon be makin' it out, I reckon."

      But the uniformed group on the bridge had no such easy task. They scrutinised the flag again and again, without success.

      "I can't make the thing out," said Dobson, lowering the glasses, "can you, Mr. Liddon?"

      "Can't say I can. It blew out once, and looked like nothing I ever saw before – a sort of twenty-legged spider in the centre. It's like nothing I ever saw in these waters. If we were on the Asiatic coast – "

      "Who has the sharpest eyes among the men, quartermaster?" enquired the commander.

      "I rather think, sir, them Japs can see the farthest."

      "Orderly," ordered Rexdale, beckoning to a marine on duty, "find one of the cabin stewards and send him to the bridge at once."

      Hardly a minute elapsed before Oto glided gracefully up the ladder and saluted.

      "Take these glasses and see if you can make out that fellow's ensign," said Rexdale.

      Oto lifted the binocular to his slanting eyes and picking up the approaching steamer gave it a swift glance. A moment sufficed. Then he returned the glasses to the commander, his face alight.

      "Japanese, sir," he said simply. "That the flag of Japanese navy."

      Dobson so far forgot his dignity as to slap his thigh.

      "That's so!" he exclaimed. "I remember it well enough now. What on earth can a Jap torpedo destroyer want in these waters?"

      "We shall soon find out – where's that boy? Gone already? Of course it excites him to see a part of his own navy so near. Stand by for signals, Mr. Dobson. Have your man ready, and get out your book." Dave's eyes were again scrutinising the approaching vessel as he gave the orders.

      When the stranger was within about half a mile she rounded to a course parallel with that of the Osprey, showing her long, vicious hull, black and low in the water; and slowed down to keep from running away from the American ship. Presently a line of small flags fluttered up to her masthead.

      Dobson examined them closely through the glass, then turned to his signal-book. "One – three – seven – five – here she is – the Kiku– that's Jap for Chrysanthemum, isn't it? Run up the answering pennant, signalman. Then haul it down and set our number."

      The introduction having thus been politely performed, the Kiku, first answering the Osprey's number, hoisted another line of flags.

      "H'm, they have our signals pat," muttered Dobson, turning the leaves of his book. "Here it is, Captain. 'Wish to communicate. Have message for – ' for whom I wonder? Answer, signalman. There goes the second half of the signal: 'man on board your ship.' Well, that's cool! What shall we reply, sir?"

      "Answer: 'Send boat with message – hurry,'" said Dave, frowning. "I don't like to stop, but the message may be important. I suppose it's for me, only the Japanese don't know enough to say so. Slow down, quartermaster."

      "Slow, sir." And the indicator swung to that mark.

      "Half speed."

      "Half speed, sir."

      "Now, full stop."

      "Full stop, sir," and the engines of the Osprey were still.

      The Kiku had taken similar measures, and changing her course, approached to within a hundred rods.

      Down came her starboard quarter-boat, with beautiful precision. The oars fell together as the boat left the ship's side, and started toward the Osprey.

      A ladder was thrown over, but the Japanese stopped abruptly, backing water when two or three boats' lengths distant, and turning, rowed a slow stroke to keep abreast the gangway of the gunboat, which had not lost her way. The officer in charge rose to his feet and raised his cap courteously.

      "You have Japanese on board, sir, name Oto?" he called out.

      "Yes, sir. What of it?"

      "My captain wish to see him."

      Rexdale gave a little start of irritation. "Leave your message for the boy," he shouted. "He's my cabin steward. I can't hold my ship for him to visit you."

      While this conversation was in progress, a slight, diminutive figure had glided into the crowd of men overhanging the rail on the deck below. On hearing Rexdale's answer he called out a few rapid words in his own language to the officer in the boat. The latter answered, and the boat lay up alongside. Before any one realized what Oto was about, he had climbed the rail like a monkey and dropped into the strange boat, which immediately headed for the Kiku.

      "Here!" shouted Rexdale, angrily, "What are you about? Bring back that boy! He belongs to my ship!"

      The СКАЧАТЬ