“I’ll keep my weather eye open for ’em, Mr. Pennington.”
The prospect of a quick run to Manila and back, with a possible brush with a Russian cruiser, interested Larry, and at the last moment he was undecided whether to remain on the Columbia or go ashore with his brother Ben.
“Are you going to the front or not?” he asked, of Ben and Gilbert.
“It’s a toss-up, Larry,” answered his older brother. “I’ve a very strong notion to see what I can do about a commission.”
“Then why not go and see before the schooner sails? Then I’ll know what you are going to do.”
“All right, I’ll go,” said Ben.
That was what Gilbert had in mind to do, and that afternoon the pair hunted up Captain Okopa.
“I am glad to hear that you are willing to join us,” cried the Japanese officer, after Ben had been introduced. “So you have been a captain?” he went on, to Ben. “I do not know what I can do for you, but I will do my best.”
He went with them to a recruiting office and there introduced them to several army officers who chanced to be present. Both were plied with questions, and many of their answers were taken down by a stenographer.
“You can probably get commissions as lieutenants and perhaps captains,” said one of the officers. “But your records will be investigated; if not at once, then later.”