“Look there!” he said, and as he spoke, a rocket of warning soared high above the anchored war-ships.
CHAPTER XIX
ON THE HIGH SEAS
Around the table in the saloon cabin were an incongruous group as the two midshipmen entered. Phil smiled at the sight of Impey in his sailor uniform. There were two strange faces beside O’Neil and Marley; the latter men had risen respectfully upon the entrance of the lads.
“Mr. Impey’s friends,” O’Neil introduced them with a wave of his hand toward Wells and Randall.
Phil inclined his head, while the men thus unceremoniously presented looked half ashamed at being so designated.
“We’re all in for it,” Phil said bravely. “We were discovered by the Japanese battle-ships and will surely be chased by a torpedo boat. If we are overtaken before we clear the bay we’ll be brought back to Yokohama.
“To us that will mean only a failure to thwart the aims of the Japanese,” he added, “but for Mr. Impey and his friends something more serious will be in store.”
Impey’s face appeared pale and worried.
“They can do nothing to me,” he exclaimed, striving to show a bold front. “They can deport me, but I am quite ready to leave Japan.”
“Do you know the penalty, under the Japanese law, for breaking the Emperor’s seal?” Phil asked cruelly. “It’s five years in prison. How the Japanese lieutenant came to permit your two assistants to remain here, I can’t understand, unless they thought they’d be within easy reach. I shall take great pleasure in testifying against the lot of you, unless,” he added, “you stand by us and do all in your power to help us elude the vessel that soon will be in chase of us.”