“THIS LETTER TALKS
ABOUT A NAVAL REVIEW”
“It beats me,” he said, “how it got to the theatre. I witnessed the theatre row and afterward found Mr. Impey knocked out on the floor of his room; both happened about the same time.
“Jim lost a paper in the crowd when the man was run over,” he continued, “and one of your officers picked this up near the wheels of the motor, and Wells took it thinking it was the one he had lost.”
“So you fellows are the authors of that pack of lies about our ship? Bill there got your yellow journal dope for the Jap newspaper.” O’Neil’s face was black with anger; he saw it all now. These were the men who had aroused the Japanese nation, who had embittered them against everything American. “And you call yourself an American, too!” O’Neil’s fists were clenched tightly. “I’ve a good mind to give you a good thrashing here and now,” he cried, advancing menacingly upon the surprised journalist.
Randall was between the two threatening sailors and the hatchway, with the heavy mahogany table between. He put up his hands as if he would appease the two angry sailors, and then with the agility of a cat cleared the ladder in one bound, and the surprised sailors heard the iron hatch above them close shut with a loud report. They rushed madly up the ladder and with their combined strength attempted to force the steel door, but it withstood their combined attack.
“Shanghai’d, by Jove!” O’Neil’s voice was tearful with anger.
A tramping of feet overhead and the sound of hurried orders given in a loud voice, then a clanking of chain, came to their ears.
“We’re off, Bill,” O’Neil said sadly, “and just when things was about to get interesting. We’re playing in hard luck, sure.”
CHAPTER X
CAPTAIN INABA
Sago watched the two sailors step into the naphtha launch with their new-found friends and go swiftly out to a little black yacht anchored just inside the long breakwater. He waited until it was evident that the sailors had gone up the gangway ladder and were aboard, and there was a puzzled look on the face of the Japanese. He stood for several seconds, his eyes on the yacht, and then finally walked quickly away.