Takishima stood his ground. “I am prepared,” he said quietly. “I should think you’d both be ashamed to show your faces after your deceitful conduct.”
“YOU DESERVE A GOOD
THRASHING FOR THIS”
Phil steadied himself by the table, gazing stupidly at the small crowd of excited Japanese and foreigners that had collected about them. He had paid no attention to the words of Takishima’s defense. The midshipmen and Takishima were in uniform, and a great depression overcame Phil as he thought of the possible publicity of the affair. The attack had been so sudden and the blow on the head so stunning that for a second no thought of revenge came into his mind. Then his dazed eyes fell upon the unruffled little figure of his assailant, and a wild fury suddenly welled into his eyes. With a savage cry he shook off Sydney’s retaining hand and in one stride reached the object of his mad rage. No jiu-jitsu art was possible. The little naval man felt himself seized as if by two iron rods and raised above the ground. For the fraction of a second he was held poised, then as a great mastiff might chastise an obstreperous terrier, Phil shook him until every bone in his body rattled. The combined efforts of Sydney and Impey became necessary to save Takishima from serious injury.
Fortunately the affair was over before a large crowd could collect, and Impey managed to hurry them into their jinrikishas and drive quickly away.
A half hour later Phil and Sydney were back in their room at the hotel, while Impey had gone away with the Japanese naval man.
“Syd, I wouldn’t have had that happen for anything in the world.” Phil was nearly in tears as he threw himself on the bed.
“He’ll undoubtedly challenge you,” Sydney replied gravely. “I saw it in his face; it was so determined and quiet. If he does, what will you do? You can’t fight him!”
“I must!” Phil declared. “To these people the code of honor is the same as it was with us a hundred years ago.”
“But if you do, it means disgrace and dismissal from the navy,” Sydney protested.