"It never occurred to me until you mentioned it. I imagine it's merely an experiment of the owners," answered Wilson. Then they both lapsed into silence and only attended to the pilot's directions for the ship's course.
Wilson presently looked at his watch and remarked: "We must be about two miles from the Golden Gate by this time."
"It's possible," said Hornberg, "but as all the ships use shaded lights, it's a difficult thing to determine."
"Can we enter the harbor by night?" he asked of the Japanese pilot.
"Yes, sir, whenever you like, under our pilotage you can enter the harbor by day or night."
"How's that?"
"You'll see directly."
At this moment the torpedo-boat's siren bellowed sharply three times, and immediately the red lights at the masthead and the side of a steamer about half a mile off became visible, and the bright flash of her searchlight was thrown on the Port Elizabeth. The pilot sent a short signal across, which was immediately answered by the Japanese guardship.
"Now you'll see the channel," said the pilot to Wilson, "it's really an American invention, but we were the first to put it to practical use. We can't possibly lose our way now."
"Yes, captain, you'll see something wonderful now," said the lieutenant, as he came on the bridge with the captain. "You'll open your eyes when you see us steering through the mines."