“And a brush with the enemy, eh, Larry? I see you are the same as of old,” and Gilbert laughed. “I’ve got to congratulate you on becoming second mate,” he continued.
“Tell us your story, Gilbert,” said Ben. “I’m dying to hear what has happened,” and then the party adjourned to the cabin of the schooner, where each told his tale in detail.
CHAPTER XV
JOINING THE JAPANESE ARMY
All on board of the Columbia had had an uneventful voyage to the Sea of Japan and everybody was in the best of health. Since arriving at Nagasaki those on the vessel had heard much about the war just opened and had seen not a few Japanese soldiers depart for the front. Larry and Ben had likewise visited one of the warships, just before it departed to join Admiral Togo’s fleet, and both were enthusiastic over what they had seen.
“The order was as good as on any American warship,” declared Larry, “and the gunners looked as if they could fire just as well, too.”
“Did you see any Americans?” questioned Gilbert.
“At least half a dozen—two that were with Dewey at Manila, and one that was on board the Brooklyn with my brother Walter, at the time our navy was fighting in Cuban waters. They told me that the Japanese navy had a great many Americans on its ships.”
“I’ll wager you were strongly tempted to enlist, Larry.”
“Well, who wouldn’t be? When a fellow has once smelt powder the feeling to keep on fighting gets in one’s bones.”
“That’s just the way I felt, when I saw those Japanese solders embarking for the front,” declared Ben. “It put me in mind of the time our regiment started for Cuba, and when we started for the Philippines.”