Longstreet remained silent again.
"But the enemy, Longstreet, where's the enemy? We mustn't fall into his hands!"
"Brace up, Winstanley," said Longstreet, "we're in the hands of the Japanese now."
Winstanley started up from his bed, but sank back exhausted by the terrible pain in his right arm which had been badly wounded.
"No, no, anything but that! I'd rather be thrown overboard than fall into the hands of the Japanese! It's all over, there's no use struggling any more!"
"Longstreet," he cried, with eyes burning with fever, "Longstreet, promise me that you'll throw me overboard rather than give me up to the Japanese!"
"No, Winstanley, no; think of our country, remember that it is in sore need of men, of men to restore the honor of the Stars and Stripes, of men to drive the enemy from the field and conquer them in the end."
At this moment the door opened and a Japanese lieutenant entered, carrying a small note-book in his hand.
At sight of him Winstanley shouted: "Longstreet, hand me a weapon of some sort; that fellow——"
The Jap saluted and said: "Gentlemen, I am sorry for the circumstances which compel me to ask you to give me your names and ships. Rest assured that a wounded enemy may safely rely on Japanese chivalry. If you will follow the example of all the other officers and give your word of honor not to escape, you will receive all possible care and attention in the hospital at San Francisco without any irksome guard. Will you be so good as to give me your names?"