“Did you return the bogus letter?” asked his companion.
“Yes.”
“Then you are safe on the writing question?”
“Sure. Pennington won’t suspect a thing, and of course Branders won’t know where the blank sheet came from. The first move in this game is entirely in my favor,” concluded Nuggy; and, much satisfied with himself, he rolled over, and was soon in the land of dreams.
CHAPTER XI
THE RELIEF OF ADMIRAL SEYMOUR’S PARTY
The transport carrying the regiment to which Gilbert was attached arrived at Nagasaki on July 2. She dropped anchor in the place assigned to her by the harbor-master, and her chief officer went ashore at once for despatches.
The sights to be seen in the large harbor of the Japanese sea-port interested Gilbert greatly. Strange craft were floating there,—curiously carved junks with their huge, awkward sails, broad merchantmen, and cascoes filled with fruits and fish and other commodities, all offered for sale to whoever might buy. Not far from the transport lay the British torpedo-boat destroyer Whiting, having on board a number of veteran soldiers from Ladysmith, South Africa, men who had gone all through the terrible campaign against the Boers. Russian, French, German, and Italian warships were also in evidence; and the number of national flags floating there were a spectacle in themselves.
“We have struck the Allies at last,” was Captain Banner’s comment. “I have already counted ten different flags, not to mention the banners belonging to the Japanese shipping.”
“Or the Banner we are carrying,” put in Major Morris, by way of a joke.
“Don’t, major! That pun on my name is old enough to vote,” answered the captain of Company A.