“You consider yourself a non-combatant?” said the officer, at last.
“For the present, yes, but I’m half of a mind to throw in my fortunes with Japan.”
“Indeed. Do you think you would like to fight?”
“Yes, under certain circumstances. I’ve done my share of it. I served in Cuba, Luzon, and at the Boxer uprising in China, first as a volunteer, and then as a lieutenant of the regulars.”
“Is it possible! I am pleased to meet you, Lieutenant Pennington.” The naval officer shook hands. “We have quite a number of Americans in our army and navy.”
“I knew you had some of our gunners on your ships.”
“Yes—more than perhaps you imagine—they flocked in as soon as they heard war was expected.”
“Well, if I ever fight again, it will be as a soldier. I prefer the land.”
“Well, we need soldiers. We are already landing troops in Korea to march against the Russians at the north.” And here the conversation came to a close. Soon the under-officer left and the O-Taka was permitted to proceed once more on her course, while the warship put on full steam and soon disappeared in the swirling snow.
What the under-officer had said about landing troops in Korea was true, and while the O-Taka is speeding on her way we will take a brief glance backward, and see how the first shot in this great war between Russia and Japan came to be fired.