“But you say they are doing well?”
“So they are, too. I had a search made afore I agreed to carry for ’em.”
“Then a statement to the contrary would be a fraud,” put in Larry.
“Exactly. But what could Bartlett prove if the hull thing was done in secret?”
“It won’t be done in secret—not if I can help it,” said Gilbert; and there the conversation came to an end.
CHAPTER V
GILBERT MEETS NUGGY POLK
The two transports which were to take the soldiers from Manila to China lay in the harbor off the Anda Monument; but several days were still to elapse before the first of them should set sail on her momentous voyage to Nagasaki, Japan, the first stopping-place. Where the transport was to go after that, none of the under officers or privates knew. The duty of the American soldier is to obey orders, and not ask questions.
There was much to do,—new uniforms and shoes to be fitted, guns to be inspected, ammunition to be dealt out, camping outfits to be cared for,—so that the hours flew by swiftly for Gilbert and all the others; and he had no time in which to ascertain whether or not Nuggy Polk—whose real first name was Nuglich—was still in Manila or if he had set sail for the Celestial Empire.
The transport was to sail on Tuesday; and by Monday night the preparations for departure—so far as they affected the young lieutenant—were complete. This being so, he asked for leave of absence for several hours, which was readily granted; and off he went to hunt up Nuggy Polk.
Captain Ponsberry had described the young man as tall and thin, with a short, stubby mustache and eyes which shifted continually. He was said to have stopped at the Hotel for American Gentlemen, as one of the native resorts had lately been pompously rechristened.