“Your blood’s on your own heads,” he cried out angrily, and then suddenly left the deck. Into his thoughts had come a plan that might save his precious neck.
The lads were terribly cast down by this half-expected order from the Japanese scout. Phil had hoped that his ruse would avail and that the scout would be satisfied after a survey at long range that the stranger was only a cruising British gunboat, and would then go on its way to the southward. The Japanese, even if they had heard of the escape of the yacht, would hardly expect that it could have steamed to such a distance south in such a short time.
Then an unpleasant thought upset all this reasoning. The destroyer which had chased and caught them only to be eluded in the fog must have discovered that the “Sylvia’s” speed was greater than that of an ordinary yacht. At what distance would their disguise be discovered and the true character of the vessel be seen?
After Impey had left the bridge he went at once to his cabin and locked the door; then taking a key from a drawer in his desk, he unlocked another door leading into the next stateroom, and entered.
“Lieutenant,” he whispered, thoroughly frightened at the contemplation of what would become of him if he were captured, “the yacht is certain to fall into the hands of your fleet. It is now in sight, and a scout or armored cruiser has ordered us to approach. She will soon discover our real identity.”
Takishima’s dejected countenance broke into a smile of great relief, but Impey was too impatient to allow him to dwell long upon this happy ending, to his keen disappointment and failure.
“Your fleet cannot obtain the Chinese ships! That was possible only by intercepting them before they arrived at Singapore. The Chinese admiral’s orders were to wait at Singapore, and under no circumstances to issue forth without an order from the Wai-Wu-Pu. Your admiral cannot seize the ships in a neutral British port. England would not allow it.”
Takishima gazed earnestly at the anxious man. He saw that he was in an agony of terror.
“If you will promise to allow me to land safely at Singapore,” Impey continued, “I will guarantee that the Chinese ships receive orders to sail. The Japanese fleet can then intercept the squadron after it has passed through the Singapore Straits into the China Sea.”
“And if I do not make this promise,” Takishima asked eagerly, “the Chinese ships will remain at anchor in Singapore?”