“Yes, but his urging has been done in a different way,” Takishima continued. “He has furnished the stories of what the United States was doing and at the same time has subtly advised us to buy the ships if we really wanted them. He has been the auctioneer, knocking them down to the highest bidder.”
“To both bidders,” Phil corrected with a grim smile.
“The man who is back of it in Japan,” Takishima went on, not noticing the interruption, “is Baron Kosuba, the owner and president of the Koko Kisen Khaisha, the biggest steamship company in Japan. It is he who has advanced the securities in payment for the Chinese ships, and it was he who persuaded the Minister of State to refuse the Emperor’s audience to your captain.”
“He must have had some very good reasons,” Phil declared, “to wish to precipitate a war.”
Takishima shrugged his shoulders.
“Perry, we trained military and naval men are but infants in diplomacy compared to these multi-millionaires. Gold was Baron Kosuba’s reason, and to him that was sufficient. What does he care for the sufferings of the people? A war in which Japan was victorious would mean that we would be masters of the Pacific, and the Koko Kisen Khaisha would send her steamers everywhere. It would mean millions of dollars to the baron.
“But what do you now propose to do?” Takishima asked eagerly, after several minutes of silence, while the two gazed out upon the thick enveloping fog.
Phil shook his head.
“I can’t tell you now, Taki,” he replied in a very friendly tone. “It’s too far off yet. We’ve many dangers to pass before we can be in touch with Manila; but,” he suddenly asked earnestly, “will you give me your word as a Japanese fighting man that you will not do us damage of any kind?”
Takishima started perceptibly, while the color mounted to his sallow cheeks. He had been, even at that moment, revolving in his mind how he could bring the yacht’s mission to a disastrous end. It was in his thoughts to endeavor to sink her by opening some sea valve, even though he lost his own life in so doing.