“That is true, Ben; but from all accounts the enemy are not far distant,” said Gilbert, who was polishing up his sword, which had become dimmed by dampness.
“I see you are getting ready for a fight.”
“We didn’t come such a long distance as this to play. If I’m going to fight, I’d like to get at it. I hate to grow rusty in a camp, doing nothing.”
“I believe most of the fighting is being done by the warships,” went on Ben, who was resting on a heap of straw.
“Well, that is bound to be the case until both the Russian army and our own are in first-class fighting trim. Neither side is going to risk a big battle until then.”
What Ben said about the fights on the sea was true. The Japanese continued to hammer at Port Arthur and at the Russian ships stationed there, and as a result of several engagements a Japanese torpedo destroyer was sunk, and a similar vessel of the Russians blown up by a mine. The losses on both sides were not heavy. But the constant firing made all the residents and troops at Port Arthur very anxious, and many foreigners lost no time in quitting the city. In the meantime the work on the Russian defenses went on as before, and a Russian army began to come down from northern Manchuria to give the city relief should the Japanese endeavor to capture it, a movement begun but a short while later.
Three days after the conversation recorded above Major Okopa came to the quarters of the command in suppressed excitement.
“There is work for us to do at last,” said he, after calling Gilbert, Ben, and his other officers together. “We go on the march at sundown to-day.”
“May I ask where to?” asked Gilbert.
“We are to move northward on the road to An-ju and Chong-ju,” was the answer. “It is reported that the Russians are sending out troops around one of the mountain passes. We are to learn if this is correct, and if so we are to open fire, for the purpose of learning how strong the command really is.”