"I'll attend to that, sir,—don't you worry. Only give me back my ship, that's all I ask."
"It shall be as you say, Captain Ponsberry. But when you get to Nagasaki you will have to settle matters with the Japanese Government. It is, all told, a rather peculiar case. In one way, she is now a Japanese prize of war, and in another way she is not."
"I understand, and the courts will have to settle the tangle, sir. I'll do what is fair, and I know the Richmond Importing Company will do the same."
"Then you can go aboard of the ship as soon as you please."
"Thank you very much."
Captain Ponsberry had returned to the warship for just this talk, and now he lost no time in getting back to the Columbia, taking with him all his crew, including Cal Vincent, who was just about able to get around once more.
"Hurrah!" cried Larry, "this seems like home once more, doesn't it?"
"That's what it does," answered Luke. "But there is plenty of work ahead, I can tell you that, lad."
"I don't care—work will help to pass the time."
When Peterson and Shamhaven saw Captain Ponsberry they did not know what to say. The loss of their leader, Semmel, had humbled them greatly.