“Say ‘hardly,’ and then ‘good-bye,’ and let them guess until they reach Yokohama,” Phil said savagely.
“I’ll change our course about a point,” he said thoughtfully. “By to-morrow, if it’s clear, we should see the smoke of the Japanese fleet.”
CHAPTER XXI
THE JAPANESE FLEET
Phil held a conference with Captain Bailey, and much against that mariner’s idea of caution, the “Sylvia’s” bow was turned farther to the westward.
“You’re taking big chances,” the captain of the yacht volunteered, “but that’s not my affair. I’ve my orders from Mr. Impey to go where you tell me.”
Impey had not failed to notice the change of course, and very soon afterward approached Phil as he came aft from the bridge, meanwhile having consulted Captain Bailey and seen the course laid down on the chart.
“You are losing valuable time,” he exclaimed peevishly. “You should get in communication with Manila as soon as possible.”
Phil shrugged his shoulders provokingly, while Impey flushed, his eyes flashing in his annoyance.
“Mr. Impey, remember your word given us not to interfere with the movements of this yacht,” the midshipman replied coldly. “There are other staterooms below capable of being locked, and Marley can attend to two gentlemen under restraint as easily as one.”
Impey saw the fruitlessness of further argument and subsided with not very good grace.