“All right. I’ll take my medicine the same as the rest,” returned the young American.
CHAPTER XIV
ON BOARD THE “COLUMBIA”
The steamer bound for Nagasaki left Chemulpo harbor early on the following morning, with sixteen passengers and eight army officers on board. The army officers were a fine set of men, and Gilbert soon got well acquainted with all of them.
“Japan is simply fighting for her rights,” said one of the officers, during the trip. “We want no Russian interference with our trade.”
“I cannot blame you,” was the ex-lieutenant’s answer. “I know Uncle Sam would not allow any tampering with our commerce.”
During the talk it developed that three of the army officers had served in China during the Boxer uprising, and they were surprised to learn that Gilbert had been a lieutenant in the United States army at that time, and was thinking somewhat of joining the Japanese forces.
“We shall certainly be glad to have you with us,” said one of the Japanese. “We are raising such a vast army that we are rather handicapped for capable officers.”
“Then you think I could get a commission?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“As what?”