Nuggy saw Gilbert penning the letter, and watched him very much as a cat watches a mouse.
“I’d give a hundred dollars to get that letter from him,” the young man said to himself. But how this could be accomplished without the young lieutenant being the wiser was a difficult problem to solve.
The letter finished, Gilbert placed it in the inner pocket of his coat, a garment which he wore at all times when on duty. Polk had hoped to see him place it in some corner or in the general mail-basket in the cabin, and was much disappointed.
The transport continued on her course until, late one afternoon, a small island to the eastward was sighted. It proved to be Ujise, about one hundred and ten miles directly south of Nagasaki.
“We’ll reach Nagasaki to-morrow,” said Captain Banner to Gilbert. “And I must say that I shall not be sorry to finish that much of the voyage.”
“You are not much of a sea-dog, captain.”
“It isn’t that, Pennington: I am anxious to get into the fight,—if there is any fighting.”
“Oh, so am I,” replied Gilbert quickly. “I am curious to learn the latest news. I wonder if the Allies have moved on Tien-Tsin yet?”
“More than likely, since that lies between Taku and Pekin.”
The day was cloudy, and toward midnight the wind came up strongly. As the course of the transport was now along numerous islands and between dangerous reefs, she had to proceed slowly and with caution.