CHAPTER XI
AN ORDER TO LAY-TO
As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries. But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more. She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
The only thoroughly cool men on the O-Taka were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience. The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.” Then the sailors were ordered to shift one of the sails, and just as the warship was almost upon them, the sailboat sheered off sharply to one side; and the danger was over.
“Well, that was a close shave!” muttered Gilbert. “A little closer and we would have been cut in two as if by a knife!”
For several minutes the sailboat continued to rock in the swells created by the larger vessel. In the midst of this came an order through a megaphone to lay-to.
At first sight of the warship all on board of the O-Taka wondered if she was not Russian, in which case it would have fared badly with Captain Toyano and all with him. But now it was seen that it was one attached to the Japanese navy, and was carrying a number of soldiers as well as sailors.
“What ship?” was asked in Japanese.
“The O-Taka, from Nagasaki,” replied Captain Toyano, making a trumpet of his hands.
“Did you come from that port last?”
“No, we came from Port Arthur.”