"It's likely he didn't know anything about these Sons of the Rising Sun," replied Matt. "We've only been able to get a line on them by facing considerable danger, and taking a lot of hard knocks."
"Ven dose leedle fellers whipped Rooshia," put in Carl, "dey got puffed oop like I can't tell. Dere iss some chips on deir shoulters all der time now, und they ought to be knocked off."
"Don't make a common mistake, Mr. Pretzel," cautioned Glennie. "The Japanese Government has always been a good friend of the United States, and——"
"Der handt vat dey holdt oudt to us iss der gladt handt," interrupted Carl, "und der odder vat dey haf pehind deir pack iss toupled oop und ready to shtrike! Yah, so helup me!"
"There are hotheads in Japan just as there are in our own country," proceeded Glennie; "but both governments are on friendly terms and will always be so. The mikado's government doesn't know what these Sons of the Rising Sun are doing, so what happens is just a little private war between them and us, with the Grampus as the bone of contention."
"Vell," and Carl wagged his head decidedly, "ve got our teet' on der pone und dey can't shake us loose."
"That's right," laughed Matt.
"Mr. Pretzel is a jingo," said Glennie. "But what am I to do about those dispatches?"
"We'll go right on to the Amazon and Para. When we get there, Mr. Glennie, I'd advise you to make a clean breast of everything to Mr. Brigham. Perhaps he can help you get hold of the papers in some way."
The ensign shook his head gloomily.