“I cannot appear at all,” Impey explained quickly and impressively. “There’s an English steamer sailing at midnight for Manila direct, or I shall go aboard the ‘Alaska’ for safety, leaving the yacht in your hands.”
“We cannot leave our ship in that way!” Phil exclaimed. “Captain Rodgers must be told our plans, and I am sure he would refuse to let us go. If he thought the cause was urgent he would sail with the ‘Alaska’ and wireless the situation to Manila on the way south.”
Impey’s face became suddenly grave, and he drew closer to the midshipman, casting his eyes apprehensively toward the door.
“That is the gravest danger. The ambassador is the only other person who knows,” he said in a low, impressive whisper. “The Japanese battle-ships have orders to prevent by force the sailing of the ‘Alaska.’ We do not dare give this alarming information to your captain. If he knew he would gladly fight his way out of Yokohama Bay. We bow to him as a naval man, but we are not willing to use his ready diplomacy. The yacht would cause no comment. The secret document will be delivered to the Japanese officials, and in the night the ‘Sylvia’ can easily steal away. Your ambassador can without arousing suspicion requisition your services from your captain, telling him that he needs you for secret duty, and nothing more.
“I wish you could avoid this meeting with Takishima,” Impey added nervously. “If anything should happen the opportunity would be lost.” He rose again from his chair and moved toward the door. “I shall see the ambassador at once, and endeavor to hurry the plans along. He will send for you. Meanwhile,” he urged, “do your best to propitiate that fire-eating little Oriental.”
The three shook hands, and the door closed behind the conspirator.
Phil and Sydney gazed at each other in blank amazement. Where was the key to the problem? Who could be trusted?
CHAPTER XVI
THE DUEL
O’Neil and his chum Marley had no more than gotten safely on board the “Alaska” than they were again obtaining permission to return to Tokyo.
“We have some dope on the situation, sir,” O’Neil explained to the executive officer, “which Captain Rodgers should know at once.”