“You are at liberty to do as you please about that,” answered Gilbert, and Ben said the same.
It may astonish some of my readers to think a commission in the Japanese army was so easy to obtain. The truth was, the army of Japan was being suddenly increased from about a hundred thousand men to over three hundred thousand men. Recruits were easy to obtain, for the Japanese is patriotic to the core and ready at any time to lay his life down for his Mikado and his country, but many of the men were untrained in the art of the soldier, and officers were next to impossible to obtain. So far not only Americans, but also Englishmen and Germans had gone to the front as officers of various grades, while not a few foreigners were also in the ranks.
The next few days were anxious ones for the two young Americans. In the meantime Larry decided to remain with Captain Ponsberry, who told the young sailor he was glad of it. Ben and Gilbert saw the Columbia sail, and each waved Larry, the captain, and the others on board an affectionate adieu.
“He’s as fine a man as I ever sailed with,” declared Ben. “I trust they make the trip in safety.”
“So do I,” returned Gilbert. “For their own sakes as well as for the sake of our company.”
The young Americans had signified that they would prefer to keep together, and at the end of the week Captain Okopa came to them and told them the matter had been arranged.
“I am going to take out a special command of four companies,” said he. “This is to do special duty in the field, more of which you will learn later. I have been appointed major of the command, and if you wish to go with me I can make both of you captains.”
“What is the nature of your special work?” asked Gilbert.
“We shall be used in discovering the enemy’s position and in holding difficult points,” said the Japanese, and then he explained as best he could.
The matter was talked over by Gilbert and Ben for a good hour and then they decided to accept Major Okopa’s offer. Before night they were sworn into the service in true Japanese fashion, and measured for their uniforms.