norton roy - the vanishing fleets

8/12/2019 Norton Roy - The Vanishing Fleets

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CHAPTER I

A SLEEPING NATION

PATHETIC and unprepared, thecountry stood on the verge of war. Thewheels of many closing factories had

droned a final protest, idleness wasspreading, and throughout the land thesubject of the impending conflict wasgravely discussed. Distinguished orators

n great cities predicted dire losses inprestige and honor, and every hamlet hadts prophet of woe. The nation's position

as a first class Power, even its very

ntegrity, seemed at stake.

And in all this ominous unrest, thisclamor for action, the administration at

Washington sat unmoved, smiling what


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seemed to the country and the world atarge a fatuous smile of complacency. It

was then endeavoring, as in previous

crises, through the use of high soundingwords, to avert an actual clash at arms.

ot many of these messages of diplomacywere made public, but such as did reach

hose who read sounded hollow asinkling brass and did nothing either to

define the attitude of the United States oro clear away the points at issue. They

were of the month of May, and seemed ofMay madness.

For some years there had been mootedquestions between Japan and the greatAmerican Republic, due in the firstnstance to troubles of a purely racial

character. The Pacific coast, which for


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many decades had been compelled by itsgeographical situation to face an econominvasion from the Orient, wanted none of

he small men from across the water. Itreferred caustically to past experienceswith Chinese, and emphatically rebelledagainst the more aggressive but no less

objectionable Japanese. It had beenoverruled by the people at large, until thewhole country, awakening from itsethargic state, became educated in

questions of immigration, to learn too latehat the Californians had just cause for

grievance.

Other complications followed. Japan bexample and precept rejuvenated thesleeping giant which spoke her sisterongue and had with her an offensive and


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defensive alliance that could be invokedn time of need, and by further adroit

policy maintained a similar compact with

Great Britain. She waxed prosperous,demanding trade concessions where onceshe had begged them. Nor had sheneglected the perfecting of her navy,

which from the time of her war withRussia had been one of the most capable.

ow it equaled in size and probablyexcelled in fighting efficiency that of theUnited States.

In the Philippines the racial war cameo such an acute stage that Japan

demanded immediate adjustment, althoughfollowing the same diplomatic methodswhich characterized her career as anadvanced nation,pitifully pleading to


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he world at large that she was a smallPower whose only wish was for peace;nvoking sympathy on the one hand, and

preparing to strike before hostilities wereanticipated on the other.

Some of the ancients of newspaperdom

recalled that she had adopted these tacticswith Russia, lulling the lethargic bear intoa condition of hebetudal security, and thenwithout warning swooping down and

delivering the first and most effectiveblow. That history was to repeat itselfwas asserted so frequently that even themost conservative journals partisan to the

core and avowedly for the administrationbegan to hint in mild terms that it was aime for action. The country looked to

Washington; and Washington merely


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whole attitude was one of obstinacy. Thearc lights above showed a mass of thosewaiting, as he waited, for the arrival of

friends and relatives, while here and thererucks laden with highly piled baggage

were pulled or pushed by depotattendants, who seemed insistently to

demand that he seek other places ofstanding, or, when he was slow inobeying, shoved their cargoes against hisegs.

With some bitterness he recalled that itwas not the first time within six monthshat he had loitered in this station. To him

t seemed that since he first had known thegirl he always had been waiting andonging. She had held him in thrall sincehe night he met her more than a year


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before, when half reluctantly he hadaccepted an invitation to a reception giveno her father; and yet in all that aftertime

he had been in perpetual suspense. Thereception had been much like otherreceptions, and was given in honor ofanother invention by "Old Bill Roberts,"

as he styled himself and was known to hisntimates.

Guy had gone through mere curiosity,

wishing to see at short range a man whoonly a few years before had been dubbeda "harebrained crank," but whose workhad proved him otherwise. He

remembered the lights of the drawingroom, the throng of guests, and thatRoberts had forgotten the event and keptsome of the most distinguished men of the


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nventor was furtively wiping a pair ofgrimy hands on his handkerchief. But itwas not the man nor the suppressed titters

of laughter that he recollected best; it washe girl who escorted him.

She came leading her father by the arm,

he daintiness of her costume enhanced byhe marks of the workshop on his coat. Shwalked smilingly forward, completely selpossessed, with head thrown back, and

making no apologies. Had it not been forhe conversation at the door, overheard

within the room, none would havesupposed that she wished a more

ceremonious appearance. She challengedwith her eyes as she passed her guests,and to Hillier's surprise, bound inconventionality as he always had been, it


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suddenly seemed that in all of it there wasnothing inappropriate nor incongruous.

Then came that later hour when he wasntroduced to the savant, and the latter hadooked him squarely in the eyes and given

him a handshake that was surprisingly

strong. And the girl! At the first wordspoken by her his heart gave a great leap,nsistently demanding that he should know

her better. It had been easy to yield to its

call, and he made occasion to be as nearher side throughout the evening as waspossible. He found himself not far fromher when refreshments were served, and

close to her father, who, refurbished,protested at the praise given him. Hewatched her face when the inventorresponded to a toast and ended by saying,


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"While it's true I have made somediscoveries, the world at large fails toappreciate or won't believe that the

perfection of all I have done has beenachieved by my assistant, my daughter

orma."

The speaker would have gone furtherhad she not interrupted with a laughingdenial; and yet Guy's longer acquaintanceed him to regard the scientist's statement

as a truth. He was to learn later that shealways was with her father, nearly alwaynaccessible, and sometimes wrapped in

such thought that he could scarcely probe

her mind. The evening of their meeting haended as do all evenings; but thenceforthhe had sought her. Their acquaintancegrew to a more friendly basis, and went


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steadily forward until on his part at least culminated in love. Sometimes he had thecourage to believe it returned. At other

imes he grew despondent in his assault oh'e portals of her heart, and feared that no

human affection could drag her away fromhose crucibles and retorts with which she

wrought through the days and nights insilent companionship with her queer oldsire; but now that war and separationhreatened, he was resolved to bring his

siege to the issue and gain an answer.

A long drawn whistle of increasingvolume vibrated through the dusk; one

headlight stared more steadily than theothers which gleamed across the networkof steel rails beyond and came swiftly,picking a trail to the great arched shed.


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With a final clanging of its bell, the bigocomotive perspired past him, the

whistling brakes gave a harsh grind, and

he train came to a halt, while the injectorof the engine throbbed and chugged likehose of a racer almost spent but coming t

a strong finish.

Guy hurried back with quick impatientsteps to the Pullman, where negroesdropped carpeted steps, in time to see the

one for whom he waited emerge, calm andmmaculate as usual, but with such a

gladness of welcome in her eyes that hecould barely resist taking her into his

arms. Time might drag, but it alwaysfound her unchanged. In suddenawkwardness he took her lighter luggageand wrap and walked with her to the exit


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of the noisy station, finding all hiscarefully formulated sentences forgotten,and listening to her rather than saying

anything himself.

Almost the first question she asked himwas of the war; and at this he felt a tinge

of disappointment. It was too impersonal opic for a man who had waited a monthfor an opportunity to speak of affection.He would rather she gave first thought to

what he had been doing, what he wasgoing to do, and what he wished to do.Even when they reached a more quietplace away from the din of railway traffic

and aside from the rush of outgoingpassengers, she turned toward him with agrave face and asked for "the real latestnews."


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"Do tell me," she said, "not whatpeople say, or what the officials send out,but the real inside situation. Is there going

o be any war?"

"I am afraid so," he answered gloomily"The Government is still insisting that

here is not much danger of a clash, andbacks up its manifestoes by making nopreparation whatever. There has been noattempt to mobilize a fleet in the Pacific,

nor to assemble other vessels from foreigports; but our own advices are that war isnevitable and may come at any moment."

She did not respond, but seemed almoso have forgotten him in her reverie and

contemplation of his words. Nor did sheexpress surprise and interest when he

gave her a seat in the brougham which


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waited for them beside the station gates.ot till she heard him order the driver to

ake them to a fashionable cafe did she

return from the land of abstraction andbecome vivacious again.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"Did I understand it that we are going toan old friend? I'm half starved, and amgoing to drop all this war subject for awhile."

When he told her their destination sheclapped her hands, and showed herapproval by saying, "That's good. Do youremember the little balcony overhanginghe street where green things grow and we

used to sit last summer when we wantedo be alone and talk? May we have the

balcony table?" His smiling assurance tha


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he remembered and that it was to that veryspot he was conducting her brought forthher applause at his selection. She leaned

out to look ahead as they approached it,ooked contented when they alighted

before it, and eagerly stepped within whehe attendant swung open the doors.

They walked across the carpeted floorsand between tables where others weredining, and everywhere as they went she

was recalled to the sterner things of lifeby a conversation which had no otheropic than war. Here and there she

recognized men occupying more or less

responsible positions in the Government,and a few whose uniforms proclaimedhem to be officers of the army and navy.

These latter seemed discussing the


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situation from a more confidentialviewpoint, and held their heads closeogether now and then as if fearful that

others might overhear their whisperedcomments.

"All criticising the Government," Guy

muttered, indicating one group with aslight nod of his head. "They can'tunderstand it any more than we can."

She looked at him sharply as if about to

speak, and then after an instant's hesitationclosed her half parted lips and advancedo the seat she desired. A white clad

waiter served them and deferentiallybrought a newspaper still wet from thepress.

"Thought you'd like to see the latest

extra, sir," he explained as he left them;


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and Hillier with a look of wearinessglanced at the headlines and laid it aside.

"Same old thing," he commented inreply to her look of inquiry. "' TheGazette' has just learned that not evencoaling orders have been issued, and this

from no less a person than the Secretary ohe Navy, who has been goaded into freespeech by the constant pricks of criticism

wonder if these people are insane?"

"Guy," she retorted, "I don't think italtogether fair to speak of the men at thehead of the Government as insane untilhey have been proved in error. Let's talk

of something else."

And he, worried and tired of the topic,was glad to lead into more personal

subjects. He thought of the old inventor


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whom he had not seen for months.

"How is your father now?" he asked."Is he improving in health, and where ishe?"

For the first time she showed someembarrassment. He watched her, and as

she hesitated before answering began towonder if there was not somethingconcerning Roberts which she wasendeavoring to conceal from him. "Oh, he

s well, but very overworked and tired,"she replied finally.

"But you haven't answered all my

question," he insisted. "You haven't toldme where he is."

She remained silent, toying with one ofhe rings upon her hand and looking out


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hrough the vines to where the lights of thecity gleamed below and stretched out intohe blackness beyond.

"Norm," he said, leaning toward her,"is there anything wrong with him? Allyour letters come from Miami. There's a

sanatorium there. It can't be that yourfather is"

"Nonono; it isn't that!" she repliedbut with a look of such apprehension that

he almost doubted her for the first time inall their friendship. "Father is all right,only he has worked very hard, and Oh,please don't insist on my telling you anymore! Believe me, I should be frank withyou, of all persons in the world, if I couldbut I can't bequite."

Impulsively he stretched his hands


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across the table and seized hers. The humof conversation had died out in the roomback of them, most of the diners having

departed. It had grown so quiet that theycould hear the strains of a band from oneof the parks, playing as gayly as if warwas an unknown contingency.

"Norm," he said pleadingly, "take mento your full confidence! Tell me what its that troubles you! Something does, I'm

sure. I have read it in your letters, and inyour eyes when you come to me. Let meshare it with you! You know I love you,and a part of love is to share each other's

roubles."

He tried to hold her hands; but shewithdrew them tremblingly. She turned he

face away toward the lights of the night,


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without looking at him. For what seemed ong time he waited. "Oh, I wish you had

not said that to mejust yet," she

answered at length. "You make it veryhard for both of us now. I want to behonest with you, want to give you myconfidence and mybut I can't. I can't tell

you anything. You must wait."

"Listen," he commanded, again leaningoward her. "There is something which

makes me think you love me. I shall asknothing more of your father, or of yourplans, because I want to make you see theposition." He frowned at the waiter, who

came toward them and then retreated."Norm," he went on, "there is to be war.Your country is unprepared. It will beoverrun by an enemy that is ruthless and


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hat will come to conquer. The end maynot be defeat; but as certain as death thiscountry will writhe and suffer before it

can regain the ground it will lose in theoutset. Can't you see that? Can't youunderstand what it will be for you andyour father here under such conditions?

Don't you know that for your very safetyyou must leave? As my wife, or even mybetrothed, I can make the way so mucheasier for you! Give me the right, dear,give me the right!"

"It is impossible," she replied, turningoward him again; and he looked hurt. "It

s the very danger of war that makes it so.You don't know how much I wish I couldsay yes to you; but it's impossible. I mustbe with my father. I owe it to him. He can


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go away, nor can I leave him. So until theway is clear we can be friends only, andno more."

He sat stunned for a moment, vainlystriving to understand a circumstance orcombination of conditions which could

have dictated such an answer. Then thehought came that perhaps the girl beforehim was making a sacrifice to some awfulmenace, and it could be only one thing,

he threatened insanity of her father. Butwhat had the war to do with that? Perhapsshe would never be more to him if herfather went insane, because then she

would say no because of her very love forhim, and the fear for posterity. Theirhappiness, then, was to depend upon thecondition of an old man's mind.


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"Norm," he asked softly, "is itnsanity?"

She turned toward him in amazement,not fathoming his line of reasoning. "I canell you nothing more." She spoke as one

under stress and suppression. "You must

ask nothing more. You must take my loveon faith or not at all until you know it isime for you to tell me again that I am

necessary to you."

He felt that it was a crisis with them,and slowly thought of what he might say tobreak away this barrier or induce her toremove the embargo. They sat looking intohe distance; but before he could formulat

an argument the sound of a horse's hoofsmadly clattering over the pavements

caught their attention. It came nearer and


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nearer, and then past them on the streetbelow a man in soldier's uniform flashedby. They looked at each other

wonderingly, half starting to their feet, andas they looked a sudden pandemoniumbroke forth.

From an alleyway nearby burst an armyof newsboys, the streets suddenly becamealive with pedestrians belched forth fromcafes and hotels, and above all other

sounds came the cries of, "Extry! Extry!War broken out! War! War! War!"

She turned away from him as if in thosecries were an irrevocable sentence ofmisery, parted the vines, and stoodsilently looking out into the night; and heknew without seeing that in her eyes were

ears.


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CHAPTER II

THE SWORD OF THE SAMURAI

HE nation was in a turmoil. Throughouhe night and the following day the

newspapers of the country sent forth a

more or less trustworthy recountal of theopening of hostilities. It had been knownfor weeks that the transports of Japanguarded by her entire navy had assembled

off Nagasaki. It had even been reportedhat they had sailed away for southern

waters; but this had met with later denial.The blow had fallen as swiftly as would

hat of a rattlesnake which for weeks hadbeen coiled and sinuously moving its headn preparation for attack.

Strangely enough the first reports of


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war came from foreign sources; but theywere undoubtedly official, having beenmparted by Japan to her ally, Great

Britain. The bulletins issued by theLondon papers bore the undoubted ring ofsemi-official utterances. That of "TheDaily Mail," cabled in full to the

American press, read:

"Japan, reluctantly abandoning hope ofpeace by ordinary methods, has been

driven to the extreme recourse and hasofficially declared war against the UnitedStates of America."

Within half an hour after the issuance ohis bulletin a second announcement was

made, which took no cognizance of thefact that the official declaration must have

been preceded by decisive action:


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"The Japanese War Office has beenadvised that on the 27th instant at noon thePhilippine Islands were compelled to

surrender to the Japanese fleet, whichappeared off Manila. Not only did the citytself capitulate, but possession of the

entire islands has been given over. The

Japanese Government announces with duemodesty that it has gained a complete andunqualified victory without the loss of aman.

"Later.It is announced by theJapanese Government that the parole of alofficers and men of the United States army

n the Philippines has been accepted, andhe men of the vanquished army have been

allowed to sail for San Francisco onboard foreign ships, which were lying in


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he harbor at the time of surrender."

From every quarter of the land camensistent demands for official news fromhe Government, coupled with requests fo

detailed accounts of the defeat. Theadministration replied with the brief

statement that no verified report of theaction in the Philippines could be givenout at that time. It did state, however, thathe official declaration of war had been

duly received, that the JapaneseAmbassador had been withdrawn, theLegation closed, and that the officialswould leave New York for their own

country that evening, sailing by way ofLiverpool.

Public clamor gave way to popular

ndignation. The country was aflame with


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war spirit. Guardsmen gathered in theirarmories, awaiting official bulletins andhe expected call to arms; and yet no

orders came. The Governors of severalStates telegraphed to the War Departmentfor advice; but their only satisfaction wasn the following message sent broadcast

by the Secretary of State:

"The Government, recognizing thepatriotism and readiness of the National

Guard of the United States, does not at thimmediate moment desire its services. Its well to bear in mind, however, that a

sudden call may be issued at a later date

and to be prepared for emergencies. Itwishes to announce further that in itsudgment there will be no necessity for

fighting on land, and that the situation is


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completely under control. So far therehave been no casualties reported from thePhilippines."

Whatever may have been the state of thpublie mind before the isssuance of thisdeclaration, the country now gasped with

amazement. Some of the more violent andoutspoken journals demanded of the menat Washington a statement of what theypurposed to do in this emergency, and the

most radical intimated in no uncertainerms that incompetent administrations

were subject to impeachment. But to all ohis outburst the Government officials

most directly interested presented only thesame calm, placid, and indifferent front.There was nothing to be detected in theirdemeanor to indicate that any action


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whatever had been taken.

The various members of the diplomaticcorps, even to the highest of the foreignAmbassadors, gathered no newnformation. They were invariably told,

first, that the United States knew there had

been a declaration of war; second, that theUnited States knew that the Philippineshad been surrendered; third, that no orderhad been issued up to that hour for the

sailing of any fleet, but that it wasexpected orders would be given beforehe day was over. The men of the foreign

representation one and all felt a gentle

rebuff tantamount to being told that theUnited States was attending strictly to itsown business and desired neither to beadvised nor to be compelled to answer


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questions.

None felt this more keenly than themembers of the British Legation, and GuyHillier in particular. His meeting of thenight before with Miss Roberts had noterminated satisfactorily, but had come to

an abrupt close when he bade her goodnight at the door of her home, and with allhis questions unanswered. Since thatmoment there had been little time for him

either to brood over the situation or toconjecture over her strange attitude.

Throughout the early morning he hurriehis way and that, receiving visitors and

answering requests for information fromGreat Britain. His superior, heated andexasperated, broke in upon him almost as

he was starting to call up Miss Roberts's


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residence.

"Guy," the Ambassador said, "we are ia country of lunatics. There is somethingn this Government's attitude that isnexplicable. It can't be that they are all

cowards, and yet I have something to

show you."The Ambassador drew a handkerchief

from his sleeve and wiped theperspiration from his forehead, after

which he reached a large pudgy fingerover to the secretary's desk, pressinghereon a pearl topped electric button.

"Walters," he said to the usher whocame into the room in answer to thesummons, " neither Mr. Hillier nor myselfs here, and we won't be back for an hour

hat is what you are to say without


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exception." Then as the attendant bowedhimself out he beckoned the secretary tofollow him into the seclusion of his

private office.

"Hillier," he began, throwing a paperon the desk before the secretary, who had

seated himself on the opposite side, "readhat."

The secretary saw before him a codeelegram neatly interpreted between the

ines. It was evidently an official orderaddressed to a fleet commander at CallaoPeru.

"What do you make of that," he asked ina tone of great disgust, and then, as Hilliestarted to question him, put up his hand fosilence. "No, it doesn't matter where I got

t, or how I had it decoded; it is genuine,


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all right."

The secretary stared at him with a lookof blank interrogation on his face, whilehe Ambassador rose from the seat into

which he had thrown himself only amoment before, leaned over his desk,

resting himself on the knuckles of hisclenched hands, and said:

"That is an order from the Secretary ofhe Navy positively commanding all the

vessels owned by the United States inPacific waters to return without delay toBaltimore. It's a shame, that's what it is!The other nations of the world shouldntervene and prevent this country from

committing suicide. Conditions are soextraordinary that I don't dare intrust

anyone but you to make a report of the


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situation, and you have got to do that inperson."

He walked up and down the roomexcitedly for a few moments, freelyexpressing his perplexity over the turn ofevents, and ended by abruptly ringing for

imetable and a sailing list, which heconsulted before again addressing himselfo his secretary.

"Get out of here as quickly as you can!"

he ordered. "Go to your rooms, throwwhat stuff you need into a bag, and takehe first train you can get for New York! I

shall meet you at the station here and giveyou such reports of conditions as I canwrite in the meantime. When you get to

ew York, go as quickly as you can to the

Cunard dock, from which the Lucania is


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due to sail early in the morning. I shallhold her up until you arrive. Deliver myetters in person to the Foreign Secretary's

office in London, and answer suchquestions as you can regarding thisremarkable situation and thisncomprehensible Government. These

matters are too important to admit of delaand ordinary official reports. Go quickly!he concluded, almost shoving Hillierhrough the door. I'll attend to everything

here. Don't let there be any delay on yourpart!"

The secretary hurried away to make

preparations for his departure, leaving theperturbed Ambassador to prepare hisreports. He called a cab and drove to hisapartment, intent on first telephoning to


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Miss Roberts. His man met him at thedoor and handed him a letter addressed ina familiar hand, which he hastily tore ope

and read as he stood in the open doorway

"Dear Guy: I have been called awayvery suddenly, and am going to my father.

He needs me now more than ever. I cannoalter anything which I told you last night,nor can I add anything, save to say thatsometime, somehow, God willing, we

shall be together again, undercircumstances where I can tell you all theruth. It will do no good to write to the old

address; for I shall not be there. There

will be no means of our communicating, Ifear, for an indefinite time. It is alwayswithin the realms of possibility, when was on a land, that friends may never meet


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again. If such should be our case, I prayhat you will remember this even up to theast,I loved you. Good by. Norma."

Stunned by this unexpected missive, hehurried to the telephone, and in a fever ofhaste and anxiety called up her home, only

o be told that she had departed in theearlier hours of the morning afterreceiving a message presumably from herfather. He could learn nothing further of

her, and was stopped as if by annsurmountable wall. He cursed the fate

which separated them and the order whichsent him away without giving time to see

her, and almost in open rebellion thoughtfor a moment of refusing to act as King'scourier, resolving rather to resign from hiposition and abandon his post; but he was


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bound by the training of years and thedemands of duty, and at the last momentboarded the train which was to take him

from the country and the woman he loved.

And even as he went the object of hissolicitude was speeding away into the

South on a special train.The train consisted of only two

Pullmans and a dining car. Before it in itssouthern flight the way seemed always

open, and hour after hour it rushedonward, drawn by the most powerfulocomotives that could be obtained.orma was the only woman passenger

aboard; all the others were grim faced,sun tanned men of the sea, who had beensummoned to Washington from various

navy yards and ships within the month. Of


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all on board she was the only civilian, andyet the one whom the Government seemedmost anxious to transport. The officers

hemselves gathered into little groups,discussing the war which had opened soabruptly, and speculating as to why insuch an important crisis they had been

ordered from their posts of duty to reportfor further advices and sealed instructionsat so unimportant and isolated a seaport ahe small one on the coast of Florida to

which they were heading.

Another singular feature of this journeywas that all aboard, from the distinguished

Admiral to the junior LieutenantCommander, were, by order, in theplainest of civilian dress. That it had beenhe intention of the War Department to


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maintain their identity secret was provedby the comments of a railway official whostood near one of the coaches while

waiting for a change of locomotives.

"You understand, don't you," he said toa man apparently a train dispatcher

standing beside him, "that this train has thright of way over everything? Sidetrackhe flyer if necessary to get this through.

There can't be anything in front of her, and

he only limit to her time is the speed ofhe engine that pulls her. I understand it's a

party of Secret Service people theGovernment is sending to Cuba. That's all

know about it, and it's in line witheverything else you naturally can expectfrom such a lot of insane men as they seemo have in Washington."


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They whirled away from the station,ooking at each other blankly, and

wondering what the outcome of all this

mystery could be. Every action so far waswithout precedent. There was adisposition on the part of some of them tobemoan the fate which had detached them

from their ships at a time when the countrywas to be defended and glory won; buthis was brought to a sudden end by grim

old " Fighting Bob " Bevins, the Admiral,who reprimanded them for daring tocriticise their superiors or their orders.

"I don't know what it's all about, boys,"

he said, relenting. "I wish I did; but I haveno more knowledge of it than you have. Idon't even know why Miss Roberts isaboard; but this much I am certain of: that


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he men in Washington know what they ardoing, and all the rest of the world canust keep on criticising and guessing. As

far as we are concerned, we are officerswho have sworn to and will obey orders,even if they tell us to go to the outer edgeof the flat earth."

Darkness came on them before theirnext stop was made, and they sloweddown as they passed through the yards of

arge city, felt their puffing locomotivebeing uncoupled, and heard the slowresonant snorts of a fresh one being drivennto place. They were tired of the day's

raveling, and sat in listless silence,ooking through the open windows at the

half deserted platforms. Newsboys wererunning here and there offering the latest


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editions, and they called them to the sideof the coach and bought newspapers fromhem. The silence in the car was broken b

he Admiral, who had been the firstpurchaser.

"Well, I'll be blanked!" he said, angrily

crumpling his paper into a ball which hehrew on the floor at his feet, before hebegan striding up and down the aisle.What he had read beneath flaring

headlines was this:"Wash1ngton, May 28.The Japanese

have taken the Hawaiian Islands, togetherwith the gunboats Marietta and Corbett,and are now landing troops from a largeransport. The incredible and disgraceful

feature of the affair is that not a gun was

fired by either side, our officers


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contenting themselves by running up thewhite flag when the enemy approached.The cable operator sending the message

said that he did so under the surveillanceof two Japanese officers, who at theconclusion of the message woulddisconnect the cable, thus putting the

slands out of communication.


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CHAPTER III

WHEN THE FLAG CAME DOWN

HE Government was compelled to takeaction toward pacifying its own subjectsmmediately after the news of the

Hawaiian surrender, public indignationhaving risen to the point where the peoplehreatened to take matters into their own

hands. Without a dissenting voice the

ournals of the country came forth withscathing editorials, occasionally askinghe President whether it was the intention

of the administration to run up a white flag

as soon as a fast approaching enemyneared the shores, and thus surrender thewhole United States. Therefore an appealfor patience was issued in the following


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erms:

"The President and his Cabinet, actingfor and empowered by Congress inspecial session, most urgently ask thepeople of the United States to withholdudgment on the conduct of the war for at

east a week longer; when it will be fullydemonstrated that the Government isfollowing a well defined policy, whichwill not only avert bloodshed, but will

mpose no disgrace upon our country. Theexigencies of the situation are such that tomake public our plans would be to defeatour own ends. We therefore ask the

earnest support and cooperation of thepeople of the United States by such meansas lie within their power, which at thisime can be shown best by a cessation of


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mass meetings and criticisms tending onlyo embarrass the Government in the

discharge of its duty and the bringing to a

successful termination the conflict whichs now on."

Contrary to the usual form of

proclamation, this one was signed not onlby the President but by all members of hisCabinet, who therefore jointly assumedhe responsibility. At first there was an

nclination to deride the message, and thenwhen more sober thought prevailed aspirit of fairness dictated that theadministration should have its chance.

Foreign advices indicated that no attackmight be expected against the shores of thUnited States proper for even a greater

ength of time than ten days; hence the


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respite of seven days seemed a reasonablimit within which the Government might

demonstrate its theories.

It was possible that the public temperwould have remained passive for the fullperiod, but for a somewhat unfortunate

and graphic description of what had takenplace in the Philippines, cabled by thecorrespondent of a London paper, whohad been on the scene, and which read as

follows:"The surrender of the Philippine Island

by the United States to Japan constituteswhat is probably the most remarkablechapter in the history of wars. Not onlywas there no battle fought nor any attemptmade at defense, but what is worse, or

would seem so to any man with red blood


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n his veins, is the humiliation imposedupon the Americans by their homeGovernment. To an impartial observer it

would appear that nothing but madnesscould dictate such a policy. The facts ofhe case are as follows:

"Although trouble had been expectedwith Japan by every reasoning inhabitantof the islands for many months, theGovernment at Washington apparently

made no attempt whatever to strengthen itposition, and, on the contrary, seemedrather endeavoring to weaken it. As thewhole world knows, there have been

mmense and costly fortifications underprogress of construction in the islands forhe last ten years. More than thirty days

ago, by official order, work on these


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only with the civil officials of the islandsbut with the men of the army and navy aswell, and is therefore in a position to give

rustworthy and detailed information ofwhat at this time seems little less than annfamy.

"It had been known for some days thatorders of a most remarkable nature hadbeen received by the Governor of theslands and the commanding General.

What these were, however, remained asecret until that memorable day of May.

"At ten o'clock on the morning of May27 a cloud of smoke became visible on thhorizon, and when within range of theglasses it was discovered that in the offinfloated two cruisers of the first class and

one battleship, flying the Japanese flag


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and cleared for action. The officer incommand of the fort at once communicatehis fact to the Governor, and a

consultation was called, to which allofficials of both branches of Governmentwere summoned. Inasmuch as the gravityof the situation required the absolute

concurrence of all concerned, theconsultation was not confined to men ofhigh rank, but included everycommissioned officer from the army andevery official of standing in the civilgovernment. The men, wondering at thisstrange call, and aware that something

unexpected had happened, responded tohe summons and repaired to theGovernor's office, where they seatedhemselves silently, and waited for that

executive to address them. He, a man


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grown gray in the diplomatic service ofhis nation, paced up and down the room af loath to speak.

"' Gentlemen,' he began, 'it is not withinmy province to criticise the acts of thedepartment which I represent nor to find

fault with its desires, and yet I have beforme at this moment the most humiliatingnstructions which in more than forty year

of life in a responsible capacity I have

ever received.'"He stood for a few moments, as if

dreading to tell his auditors of hiscountry's shame, and then with tremblinghand opened a drawer of his desk andook out a file of official documents,

which he held before him as he continued

"' At the time when work was stopped


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on the fortifications of this harbor, Ireceived additional orders to the effecthat in case of any overt act or warlike

demonstration upon the part of Japan wewere not to make any defense unless itnvolved the saving of our lives, and to

surrender the islands in toto to our enemy

"It has been your correspondent'sprivilege to witness many scenes wherehe tempers of men were tried as by fire;

but never yet has he been compelled toview the deliberate mortification of ateast two score of valiant men in such a

peremptory and unheard of manner. They

sat as if stupefied by an overwhelmingcatastrophe, looking at one another as ifncredulous and doubting their own

hearing, and then suddenly broke into


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angry exclamations of surprise andndignation. By a most remarkable display

of authority they were brought into

subjection again, the commandingGeneral, a man at almost retiring age,rising before them and holding up awarning hand. 'Gentlemen,' he said,

quietly rebuking them, ' our first duty ishat of obedience.'

"The officers, looking at one another,

settled into their seats, and in almost annstant the silence in the room had grown

painful. The Governor, still holding hispapers before him, slowly continued:

"' Fearing trickery on the part of aprospective enemy, I doubted theauthenticity of my instructions. I used a

secret code which has never gone beyond


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he hands of the most confidential men inmy department, and to my surprisereceived absolute confirmation. To you of

he army I will say that before thisverification was received, your General,'and here he turned to his white hairedconfrere, 'had been the recipient of a

command from the Secretary of War of theUnited States couched in almost the sameerms.'

"At the conclusion of his speech, thisfine old man sank back into his chair withbowed head as if the disgrace of hiscountry was his own. There was a more o

ess dignified discussion participated inby the older officers present; butnterrupted now and then by some of the

younger men, who favored totally ignoring


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he orders, and defending the islands to thdeath. The cooler heads among themprevailed, and at last it was recognized

hat there was no alternative save absoluteand unqualified surrender.

"Before the meeting could be officially

dispersed the sullen boom of a gun cameheavily from the sea, reverberatinghrough the room. The men sprang to their

feet and rushed toward the exit, knowing

hat war was upon them, but that theirhands were tied as hopelessly as thoughbound with manacles of steel.

"There, within range of their ownheavier guns, floated a formidable fleetfrom Japan. Even while their conferencewas in progress, cruiser after cruiser and

floating forts of steel had crept up over th


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fleet, together with his staff. They weremet at the landing by a deputation ofofficers, both civil and military, who

escorted them to the fort. No one candepict the expressions, half surprise andhalf inquiry, which overspread thecountenances of this insignificant invading

force. A party of less than ten men withouarms was actually accomplishing the mosremarkable conquest in all history.

"At the entrance to this city of masonryand steel, equipped with silent monstersof warfare, embodying all the latest andmost formidable instruments of offense

and defense, built to withstand theonslaught of the combined navies andarmies of the world, stood the sullen,shamefaced officers of the vanquished


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garrison, the gilt of their full dressuniforms untarnished by powder or smokeand shining garishly in a midday sun.

There, drawn up in line, were men whowould have fought to death and goneexultantly out into another world ratherhan face the disgrace which had now

been heaped upon them by an unworthyclique of superiors in office.

"The Japanese Admiral advanced to the

sacrificed but not defeated General andextended his hand, offering thecommonplace courtesies of the day. Therewas no need of an interpreter, the head of

he victorious force speaking the Englishhe had learned at the United States NavalAcademy, in which he had been educated

"' Am I right, sir,' he said, 'in construin


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hat white flag you raised as a sign ofruce? And if that is so, I should like to benformed as to why at the same time you

owered the United States flag from thepeak?'

"The General choked with

mortification, hesitated for a moment, andhen found himself unable to express hisrelinquishment in words. He slowlywithdrew his sword from its belt hooks,

and held it, hilt foremost, toward theAdmiral, who seemed unable to realizehat it was tendered in surrender. There

was a moment's silence, in which he

ooked down at that trusty old blade ofsteel, never before dishonored by aconqueror's hand. He glanced inquiringlyat his fellow countrymen, and then at the


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others, as if questioning their sanity.

"' I regret to say, sir,' the Generalanswered, 'that the flag was raised insurrender not only of this fortification, butof all military forces on the islands.'

"The Admiral gave a quick start of

surprise and jubilation as the significanceof this unexpected action dawned uponhim.

"' The total surrender of thePhilippines?' he questioned, as if it wasbeyond comprehension that without furtheeffort this island kingdom of the sea was

ranquilly to be turned over to the firstenemy who battered a challenge on itsgates.

"The General, beyond words, nodded i


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confirmation. In a few quickly spokensentences, the Admiral translated thedetails of the conversation to his

compatriots.

"Goaded by the sneers and satiricalexclamations with which this was greeted

he General broke into a sudden blaze ofwrath, shook a clenched fist under theAdmiral's very nose, and in white heatexclaimed, ' Yes, it comes easy; but it's no

fault of mine! I'm obeying orders. If I hadmy way I'd have seen you in hell beforehis happened. I would, so help me God!'

"As a signal to the waiting fleet, theyran aloft the rising sun emblem of Japan,while the discomfited officers of theUnited States retired to the barracks for

he almost hopeless attempt of explaining


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he situation to the puzzled garrison. Theswere soldier like, quick moving, wiry mefrom the West, proud of their country and

heir crops, and were of the kind thatcould not understand dishonor throughmere obedience to higher orders. Theystormed and swore, and for a time it

seemed that mutiny would spreadhroughout the fortress, man the great gunsear down the flag of Japan, and send

hurtling masses of defiant steel out into thranks of that force which had come uponhem in a night and won an unearned

victory. But they too were creatures of

discipline, and in the end reluctantlyaccepted fate.

"The great armada slowly gathered wayand crept forward almost beneath the


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owering walls of the silent forts. Boatafter boat brought its load of marinesashore and discharged them on ground

which in other wars had been stained withhe blood of valorous men. Here on these

beaches had stepped the armies of OldSpain, coming as pioneers to battle with

savage foemen. In former years the watersof this bay on another day in May hadfloated the vessels of brave Dewey's fleethad rocked and quivered beneath thempact of his guns, and witnessed the

raising of his victorious flag oversmoldering ramparts. And with such a

history of glory behind it, the moon on thisnight rose over a land, silent, conquered,and abandoned, as if it was of no morevalue than a tiny pebble cast into a

ropical sea."


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CHAPTER IV

THE HARNESS OF WAR

BREATH of summer swept over theand, giving promise of wealth of bloom

and prodigality of harvest; but the plow

stood idle and rusted in the waiting fieldshe meadows went unshorn, and the cropsn which lay the riches of peace,

unplanted. Everywhere was the growing

din of anarchy and the stern clangor ofwar. A people who had never tamelybowed a head beneath a yoke, norrebelled at just ruling, found themselves

distraught in the whirling current ofunreasonable tides which carried them ouo they knew not what.

A tame yielding of territory over which


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seemed imminent, there flashed across thewires from Governor to Governor thequick and insistent demand for fighting

men. In every armory was heard theresounding clash of rifles. A hundredhousand men, drilled for the emergencies

of a country's need, sprang to their

weapons like tensely strung warriors ofold awaiting the Pretor's command tocharge. A country, which through days ofdefeat had seemingly slept, sprang into theharness of strife, as if electrified by theGod of Battles. Simultaneously with theordering out of all National Guardsmen

and a further call for volunteers, whichreceived instant response, every railwayraversing the country was requisitioned

by the War Department.


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Yet, in all this turmoil the destination ohis suddenly mobilized and splendidly

powerful army remained a secret. In vain

he press of the country and its mostnfluential citizens demanded knowledge;

but not till the day when from alldirections swarms of armed men sallied

forth, was this information given. And asf blackened by a scourge of locusts, the

Canadas awakened one morning to findhat along three thousand miles of borderand were spread a line of soldiers, the

most singular line of repulse everstretched between nations. It was one of

excommunication.Not even the commanding officers as

hey took their stations knew the whys orwherefores of this most remarkable move


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although their instructions were of thesimplest, and were that under nocircumstances were there to be acts of

unfriendliness nor, even underprovocation, movements of aggression.They were to stand as an insurmountablebarrier between the United States and the

Dominion, prohibiting traffic, passage,and communication, and nothing more. Noman might cross the border, and wireswhich in days of peace carried from onecountry to another the news of the daywere cut and torn from their poles as if nofurther word might ever be transmitted

hrough them.Nor was this all. Wherever a cable

ouched on all the outer edges of this greaand might be found soldiers in charge.


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Wireless telegraph stations were abruptlyclosed, prohibiting the use even of the airtself. Proclamations were issued that

nstructions had been given for theperforation of any airships attemptingoutside communication, and the penalty ofnstant death was threatened any aeronaut

who disobeyed this command.

From every seaport vessels of allnations, friendly or unfriendly, were

summarily excluded. Protests fromCaptains and from companies weregnored. The United States was suddenly

blockading not only its own means of

communication, but sealing its ports aswell. No message might be carried in orout, and, as if fearing also for its southernborder line, the soldiers of the regular


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army were placed there. The vessels ofhe navy which were in the home waters

of the Atlantic were put on patrol duty,

steaming up and down the eastern coastwith the regularity of policemen on theirbeats. To the world at large the UnitedStates of America might never have been.

The fabled Atlantis of old could havedisappeared no more completely nor beencut off more effectually from intercoursewith outside mankind than was the greatAmerican nation.

Whatever criticism and surprise hadbeen caused among other Powers by the

abandonment of the Philippines and theHawaiian Islands was outdone by thisatest move. Never before in the world's

history had a nation enforced complete


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solation upon itself, withdrawing withints shell as does a turtle when assailed.

Hitherto it had been the custom of a

people attacked to maintain an outwardseeming of uninterrupted commerce andunimpeded communication. No modernGovernment had yet had the temerity to

shut its ports to friendly nations, scornntercourse with them, and trust to its own

resources for support and maintenance.Protests from friendly Powers wereunheeded or unavailing, because after afew days there was no possibility ofconveying such remonstrance to the

officials at Washington.In the Capital itself representatives of

foreign nations, hearing of this embargo ohe ports, stood upon their rights and


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demanded either their dismissal or thefree and uninterrupted passage of theircommunications. Some of the more

mportunate ones were politely told thathey might take their departure at any timehey deemed fit; but were given warninghat it must be within forty-eight hours or

hey would not be permitted to pass theborder line. These discomfited diplomatseither hastened to the nearest harbor,embarking upon the last steamer leaving,or chose to remain within the country.

The maritime nations of Europe, aghastat what they termed the insolence of the

United States, discussed means of bringinher to book and compelling her to openher roadsteads; but found a lack ofunanimity as to method. Great Britain,


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ealous of Germany, but fearing a swiftonslaught from the Kaiser's realm,hesitated to take the initiative and thus

eave her own coasts exposed to attack.France, with the memory of an earlierwar, remained passive. Russia, smartingunder the recollection of her own defeat,

refused to take any steps which directly ondirectly might aid Japan. And the

smaller nations awaited a leader.

England was placed in the mostpeculiar and trying position of all. Theast official utterance of the United Stateso a foreign Power had been to her, in the

positive assertion that, come what might,she of all nations need have no fear ofbeing embroiled, and that under nocircumstances need she apprehend war


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of all interest. A swarm of newspapercorrespondents, more or lessdistinguished in their profession, sought

nterviews; but, warned in advance bywireless telegraph, he declined allconversation. The wharf was black withpeople, who anxiously craned their necks

o catch sight of the man who wasexpected to elucidate the greatest mysteryof the age. A guard of constables formed ahollow square round him and forced theirway up the long, tunnel like shed leadingo the train which was to convey him to

London.

When he had gained his seat in acompartment reserved for his use, and therain whirled away past neatly walled

farms, prosperous villages, and great


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cities, he wondered at the strange trend ofevents which had thrown him soprominently into the foreground. He

smiled in irony as he reviewed his ownactual knowledge of the situation, andrealized how little he had in the way ofnformation in comparison with what he

was expected to divulge.

At Euston Station he was escorted to acarriage, and whistled a soft note of

surprise as he recognized on the panels thPrime Minister's coat of arms. Plainly hewas to be subjected to what in America hhad heard called the "Third Degree."

Surreptitious nods were interchanged by acrowd of loungers, and such comments as" That's him!" and " 'E's the bloke w'atsgoin' to tell us abaout it!" floated to him a


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he footman slammed the door behind,mounted the box, and whipped the teamnto a gallop.

He was ushered into the sacredprecincts of the Prime Minister's privatechamber, and found awaiting not only that

mportant person but the ForeignSecretary, and a Lord of the Admiralty aswell. The ponderously sealed packet fromhis Ambassador was torn open and read

aloud. It contained the following startlingstatement from his perturbed and iratesuperior:

"I have the honor to inform YourLordship that I am in a country evidentlynhabited by maniacs. I have painstakingly

sought a logical explanation for the acts o

his Government, and frankly admit that I


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am unable to understand either its attitudeoward His Majesty's Government, its

proposed plan of campaign, or what the

effect of this war will be upon othernations. I have been persistently refusedany intimation as to what has taken placeor is intended. In a personal interview

with His Excellency, the President of theUnited States, I have been positivelynformed that his country will under no

circumstances permit any demonstrationagainst Great Britain, but that it maybecome necessary to suspend intercoursefor a time. I cannot tell what is meant by

his, nor would he give me furthernformation. The attitude of theadministration, backed up by Congress, ishat of supreme egotism and self

sufficiency, despite the position taken by


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conclusion they sat dumbfounded.

"You were there, I believe," said thePrime Minister, slowly swinging back andforth in his swivel chair, and addressinghe secretary, "when the news of the

surrender of the Philippines was

received?""Yes, Your Lordship."

"What excuse had the Government to

make for such unwarranted action?""None whatever."

"Do you mean to say that they sufferedwithout protest or defense the surrender o

a fortification which cost millions ofpounds, was adequately equipped, andable to repel successfully the attack ofsuch a fleet as Japan sent against it?"


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"Yes, they even accepted itcomplacently."

From round the room came murmurs ofamazement, while the rustle ofnewspapers showed the anxiety of thosepresent to glean what information they

could by perusal. Losing their phlegmaticair of self possession and casting officialdignity to the winds, they bombardedHillier with questions, which in the main

he was unable to answer. The voice of thestately Lord of the Admiralty rose abovehe others in a sudden, insistent petulant

question.

"Do you know anything else worthwhile? " he asked.

"No," answered Hillier, " I have no

knowledge other than that which I have


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given to you, and which in itself wasgathered elsewhere than from anabsolutely silent and secretive

Government."

The Prime Minister, as if recognizingheir informant's plight, in a friendly tone

of voice said, "Mr. Hillier, I presume youare tired after your journey and would liko rest before any further discussion of thi

subject. I would suggest that you go to

your chambers and return here tomorrow."What sense is there in his returning?"

came the angry question of the Lord of theAdmiralty, as the secretary bowed himselout of the room. "He doesn't even know, Ipresume, that Japan is already sendingevery available ship she has against the

western coast of America as fast as steam


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will carry it."

Sending an invading fleet against anapparently passive country in some part owhich was the woman he loved! Thishought reiterated itself through Guy's

mind as he passed down the corridor and

out into the din and movement of thestreet. Where could she be now, hewondered, and what of her father? Insaneperhaps, and incapable of offering her

protection of which she would stand sosadly in need in case of Japanese successThe words of a letter which he carried inhis pocket, and which to him was of more

mportance than the dispatches he haddelivered, constantly recurred to him:

"It is always within the realms of

possibility, when war is on a land, that


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friends may never meet again. If suchshould be our case, I pray that you willremember this, even up to the last,I

oved you."

In the dusk of early evening an army ofcountless men and women hurrying to the

rams, the tubes, and the buses, swept pashim ignorant of his misery. What was waro them in a country thousands of miles

across a sea and in which perhaps there

was none bound to them by ties ofaffection? The United States might isolatetself by sea and intrench itself behind

cordons of soldiers; but he would go

back! Yes, he would find a way to pass alheir barriers and gain the side of the

woman who merited his protectionhrough her avowed love, and in this, her


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hour of need, seemed crying out to himacross the uttermost spaces of the world,beseeching him to return, only to return


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CHAPTER V

IN SECRET PATHS

IPPON, the home of the Samurai, in heradoption of newer methods, had notpermitted her secret service department to

remain in ancient form. Modeled on thoseines which had made the intelligence

bureau of Russia one of the most effectiven the entire world, and profiting by the

publicity given to nearly every movementof importance in the United States, shewas minutely informed of all that had beeand was taking place in the country she

hoped to overcome. She had dependedupon this knowledge as a valued factor fohe subjugation of the American colossus,

not foreseeing that a country capable of


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closing its doors to the world would alsofind means to circumvent foreign agents.To the last minute she relied upon her

emissaries in nearly all the larger cities oAmerica under the direction of CountSeigo.

Away back in the time of the TokugawaShogunate, when the almost invincibleeader Seigo was an idol to the youth of

Satsuma to be toppled over only in the

civil war of 1877, his son was beingeducated in a leading Americanuniversity. The downfall of the fatherpractically exiled the lad in the United

States until family and political influencehad time to reassert itself, when byprogressive steps he gained the goodgraces of his Government and was given


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responsible positions in affairs of state.His knowledge of the American politicalsituation was complete and accurate, and

no man was better informed on thestrength and weakness of the Republic.

It had been largely through his advice

hat the dispute between the two nations,rivial in itself but portentous in

possibilities, had been used as a pretextfor war. Thoroughly conversant with

congressional methods in the UnitedStates, he had watched year by year thequibblings of legislators over naval billswhich usually ended in inadequateappropriations. Of broader mind than theyhe had long foreseen that a country whichhad come into distant colonial possession

must of necessity enlarge its navy and


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careful and his conclusions so logical, thareports sent to and passed upon by theElder Statesmen of Japan had led them to

feel certain of victory long before warwas declared. Nor had his predictions inhe opening events been unfulfilled. True

he had not expected the abandonment of

he Philippines; but he had confidentlyforetold the period of torpidity, ofconfusion and lack of cohesion, which hadfollowed. It was with satisfaction,herefore, that he observed the trend of

events when hostilities were finallydeclared, and from the quietude of his

study saw the whole country waiting forhe Government to act while apparently itremained somnolent.

The surrender of the islands came as th


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first perplexing problem for which hecould neither account nor understand, andhis activities prior to that event were

nothing when compared with thosesubsequent. He was too adroit ever tohave appeared as a laborer in theimelight, and was therefore eminently

fitted to drop from sight at the outbreak,when his fellow countrymen were leavingby hundreds seeking places of refugeacross the border lines north and south orembarking on the high seas for foreignports. Singularly enough, race prejudice ihe Eastern States had never reached the

point of acute discrimination which madehe denizens of that section classify theJapanese and Chinese in one broadcategory as Orientals; it was therefore

easy for Seigo to don the garb of a


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aundryman in the city of Washington,mprovise a pigtail, and withoutnterruption assume to pursue this

vocation.

Fertile of resource, he readilydiscovered that in a situation where

anarchy might thrive the followers of theblood red flag would be his most valuablespies. Without difficulty he allied himselfwith this element, and gained a friendly

footing with them by ostensibly favoringhe advancement of their cause in Russian

domains. Their confidence in him wasstrengthened by the fact that he was

accomplished in their language, which hespoke fluently, and was a liberalcontributor to their treasury.

Having thus ingratiated himself, the nex


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step was made easy. He selected suchools from the ranks of these malcontents

as seemed best fitted to his hands, and

hereby established a means of securingnews that would have been impossible inany other way. From his little hovel hedirected these men as seemed best,

assigning them to tasks of more or lessmagnitude, and paying lavishly foranything of value; and to his obscure plachere came divers men when night time

offered the cloak of darkness to thefurtive.

Seigo's most valuable ally was one

Meredith, of English parentage, and a manwho for years resided on Cross-st.,Paterson, New Jersey, that unfortunate citwhose very industry and peacefulness had


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made it the gathering place of the Reds.Meredith was a machinist by trade, and anemployee of a supply house; so it was not

surprising that he brought news of strangeand unusual purchases made through manysources by the United States Government.n this there was nothing alarming, and it

was rather with curiosity that the astutedescendant of a Samurai looked overhese reports and vaguely wondered

whether they might have bearing on war.He was sufficiently painstaking to ask forothers and check them up; but in this hegained nothing beyond the certainty that

he Navy Department, while existing in astate of seeming stagnation, was inwardlyvery active. He made many trips to thepoints where these purchases were made,

but found them innocuous in so far as he


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could reason.

As time went on, however, he learnedhat the greater portion of these shipments

were being sent to Miami, Florida, andwas driven to the final conclusion that ifhe Government was active in any way at

all, the key must be at the small city on thesoutheastern coast. News had leakedhrough to him to the effect that the ships

of the United States were scattering out

over many seas instead of mobilizing inwestern waters. More than this, Seigoearned that in all navy yards there had

been a cessation of work, whereas an

ncrease would have seemed morereasonable, considering the unfinishedstate of several cruisers and battleships.

On first thought he attributed this latter


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apse to one of the frequent changes ofpolicy or a dearth of funds, but now, inview of these later shipments and

purchases, he began to question. InWashington no news was obtainable. Theadministration was preserving a woodenfront toward not only the world but its

own people as well. Congressmen andSenators knew nothing beyond thedeclaration of war and the empowering ofhe President and his Cabinet in special

session to act for the country, and theadministration was apparently doingnothing whatever out of the regular routine

of business. It was this paucity whichdrove the sham laundryman from his ironsand away upon a journey.

His trip southward was accomplished


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with ridiculous ease. He bought his ticketo Miami without being subjected tonterrogation, boarded the second class or

smoking coach at the head of the trainwithout hindrance, and rode away in un

disturbed solitude. No one seemed aware

or in any event to care for his presence.There were no attempts at conversation,except in one instance where a goodnatured Southerner hailed him with,

"Hello, John! Going to start a wash shopsomewhere? " nor was he in the leastperturbed save on an occasion when arough threatened to tweak his pigtail; buteven this went no further than words.Everywhere were criticisms of theconduct of the war and imprecations

against the administration. The Americans


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hemselves were no more cognizant thanhe of why soldiers had been stretchedalong the border line, ports closed, and

communication cut off. The citizens of thecountry itself were as mystified as theJapanese, and frankly thought the situationa foolish one. In all that long journey

down the eastern coast he learned nothingwhatever of importance.

His delayed train dropped him off late

at night in the Florida town, and he wascompelled to seek lodging with strangersor to sleep in the open. He chose the lattercourse, and went out below the city,

across the bridge, and toward the PunchBowl, where he found rest beside the roadill early morning. When the first rays ofhe sun were filtering through the great


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rees and drenching the creepers withight, he returned to the city, assisted on

his way by a kindly farmer who was

driving in for supplies.

From him he learned where the Chineseaundries were situated; but could gather

nothing whatever confirming hissuspicions that the Government was eithern possession of a plant at this point or

even conducting any experiments in the

vicinity.Still disguised and acting upon what

had been told him, he sought the abode ofhe Chinaman, who was already sweating

over his tubs, and found him amenable topersuasion and desirous of givingassistance when paid considerable sums

of protection money. His horn of plenty


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was a golden one, but proved useless in aday of fruitless effort, his most carefulnquiries bringing nothing in the way of

return. Tired and discouraged, he passedhe early part of the night in sleep from

which he was aroused by nightmares ofhorror and forebodings of failure, his

mental state robbing him of rest.

In the hope that fatigue would curensomnia, he donned his clothing and

sauntered away through the desertedstreets, his heavy leather soles clumpingupon board walks and across sandypatches. It was past one o'clock in the

morning, and all was still. He wandereddly along the main thoroughfare, and

reached the far end of the town, before hisattention was attracted by a sound from th


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water front, where hollowly through thestillness a steam winch was chugging andsputtering as it toiled away with its load.

t brought him to a quick halt and arousedn his mind a multitude of questions,

because along the entire shore line of thisgreat country no craft was now loading

and none arriving, according to hisknowledge. He hastily directed his stepsoward the wharves, stealthily seeking the

shadows of the palm trees, and stoppingnow and then to avoid any chance of beingobserved.

Lying against the pier was a small

gunboat of the United States navy, whichwas receiving supplies, and the men atwork were evidently hurrying at theirutmost. The vessel had not been there


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during the daylight hours,of this he wascertain,hence her loading at night couldndicate but one thing, a desire for

secrecy. His nerves keyed up in the hopeof a discovery, alert and inquisitive, hecrept close to the freight shed where thearc lights threw huge spots of white.

So this accounted for the disposal ofhose mysterious orders which had been

reported to him by Meredith and others!

But where could they be bound? What wahe destination of this ship which, even as

he watched, was casting off her linespreparatory to sailing away into the night?

In his anxiety he was on the verge ofrushing out and trusting to any convenientpretext, when a boy came hurrying past

him, whistling as he went and homeward


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bound. Here was the spy's opportunity,and he accepted it. He hailed the lad, andn pigeon English told him he wanted to

get aboard the vessel if he could.

"Well, you can't do it," came theresponse. "If you wanted to git on, why

didn't you run after the ship instead ofstopping me."

"Where she go?" queried Seigo.

"Oh, you want to know where she'sgoing now, do you, Mr. Chink. Well, afellow on the dock said she was going toGuantanamo, and that means you couldn't

go on her if you wanted to."Then with a derisive laugh he took up

he strain of his melody at exactly thesame place he had left off when accosted,


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hrust his hands into his pockets, andcontinued his way.

Seigo was elated. That accounted for ithen! The United States was playing some

crafty game, using its Cuban naval stationas a base; was conducting some

experiment or outfitting some strangeexpedition with necessities that could notbe obtained in the big island to the south.The only perturbing thought was that the

navy, instead of being inactive, had somesecret task on hand which had been takenaway from home stations. He decided hemust return to Washington with this single

strand of information and there endeavoro secure others. He watched the lights ofhe ship grow dim, and then as furtively as

he had come returned to the home of the


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aundryman.

The latter counted his pay andwondered why his guest departed for the

orth on the early train of that morning.Seigo offered no explanations for hiserratic action, and as he traveled to

Washington he was in a gleeful mood. Indue time he arrived, and once moreensconced himself in his headquarters,hoping within a few days to gain more

complete knowledge. He washandicapped in his quest, however,because he had no actual means of accesso Government circles where such data as

he wished might best be obtained. Butagain accident favored him, and again itwas in the night when he sallied forth.

The hour was very late when Meredith


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brought him word that several visitors hadcalled upon the President, and, not trustingo others a mission so important, he took

upon himself the task of spying upon thegreat white building where the ruler of thecountry lived. From the darkness of hisalleyway he emerged into a broader stree

when an automobile went chugging pasthim, and then, just as it came beneath therays of an arc light, a face leaned to thewindow, an arm was extended evidentlyfor the purpose of shaking the ash from acigar, and Seigo shrank back. In theshivering white rays he recognized as one

of the passengers in the machine no less apersonage than the President, and with hiwas another man whom he believed to behe Secretary of War.


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From down the road came the sound ofanother motor, which in turn whizzedrapidly along, taking the same direction a

he previous car. Seigo was not certain,but conjectured that within it were otherofficials, and, being a man of action,unhesitatingly dashed after it, neared the

closed tonneau, and after a breathless runsucceeded in swinging himself to thesprings behind, maintaining his place byclutching the overhang of the fenders.

Away through the outskirts he rode,hearing nothing from within and inconstant danger of falling off his

precarious perch. The car gained speeduntil his peril was great, for to be thrownwould be to receive certain injury. Hisfingers were strained convulsively in thei


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effort to hold on, and once he was almostcast off by a sharp declivity in the road.

ow he could only trust to chance that the

automobile on which he rode wasfollowing that of the President; but as mileafter mile was reeled off without a sight ohe other machine on either hand, he felt

assured that the party was all one. Heeaned out across one of the great rubberires and peered ahead to where now andhen he could catch the glow of a red backamp, and was content. His journey was

not without discomfort, as the dust of theroad whirled upward and into his nostrils

n stifling volume, until he was begrimedand almost strangled; but he clung ongrimly, waiting for the mysterious trip toend.


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The big car stopped so suddenly that hehad scant time to loosen his hold, fall offnto the dirt, and roll hastily into a ditch

by the roadside where he might be hiddenfrom sight. To his surprise the vehicleurned through a gateway into a field,

where he heard the slow crunching of the

great wheels over the stubble. He raisedhimself to his knees, and then in acrouching posture essayed to follow it ints wanderings, when he was arrested by a

sharp challenge, betraying the fact thatalthough the visitors had been expected nochance was being taken of entertaining

others. Again he threw himself on his facewaiting patiently for other sounds. Thegreat flat before him showed dimly in itsyellow bareness, stretching down to

where the broad expanse of river gleamed


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dully, and he could discern other lightshan those of the motor on which he had

been an undiscovered passenger. These

suddenly vanished, and he surmised thathe chauffeurs had extinguished them

preparatory to leaving the cars. He couldrace out no other shapes in the gloom. No

even a building raised its dark bulk in thenight. He felt the necessity of advancingfarther.

Foot by foot he wriggled forward, thesplinters of the field imbeddinghemselves in his flesh unheeded, strainin

every nerve to avoid making a noise, and

istening at intervals in the hope ofcatching some word of conversationwhich might give him a clew to the causeof this nocturnal mission. From a short


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distance ahead came the mutterings of lowpitched voices, and then a period ofsilence. He was past the machines now,

still crawling carefully. Once more hepaused, when he heard a sullen muffledcrash from the direction of the water, andn an agony of surprise and terror rose to

his knees, forgetting that he might beobserved. His hands interlockedhemselves in stress as he watched in

breathless suspense for a moment, andhen, almost moaning in despair, he crept

rapidly back to the road, went cautiouslydown it for a hundred yards, and took

madly to his heels with fright.All caution was thrown aside, and as h

ran like an insane man through the night,with his overworked lungs bellowing in


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and out until they felt aflame, he burst intosobs, muttering to himself again and again" Only the gods can save Nippon! The

gods help Nippon!"


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CHAPTER VI

THE FLIGHT OF SEIGO

EIGO understood at last that thesleeping eagle was preparing to descendfrom its aerie with mercilessly bared

alons. In his flight to the city he countedevery moment of value, and through hismind went but one thought: How to getnews to Japan in time to avert disaster.

What he had witnessed was so convincinghat he was amazed at the devilishngenuity of the Americans, who had ledhe whole world to believe them

defenseless when they were in reality onluring other nations on to their doom. He

was filled with resentment. The shoe wason the other foot now, and it made a


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noticeable difference. When he believedhe United States powerless to defendtself, it had been only fit and proper that

Japan should harry her, conquer ifpossible, and gain concessions of territoryand money indemnity; but with theknowledge that the country was not only in

a position to care for itself but also toconquer an enemy, he viewed things in anentirely different light.

Worst of all, he realized that he wasmore largely responsible for the outburstof war than any other man, and aside fromhe ignominy which must be imposed upon

his people was the apprehension of whatmight happen to his own precious headwhen resentment chanced to act against

him. Yesterday he had been smiling,


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supercilious, and confident. To-night as hran, he was terrified, ashamed, anddespairing.

Information had come to him that theblockade was complete, and in nonstance was he certain that any of his

reports had passed through the lines. Herapidly reviewed the chances, anddecided that he must get word to everyman at his command to strive to pass a

warning through to Canadian territorywhere it might be cabled to Japan. Hecounted, with Japanese reasoning, on hisability to bribe some one along the border

forgetting that when American patriotisms at full tide money has little weight. He

had large funds at command, and in acrisis like this was ready to pour them out


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avishly.

His return to the Capital was rapid, ashe strained his physical powers to theirutmost, and he was almost

norton roy - the vanishing fleets

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