et
holding that revolver suggestively, cooled the Japanese ardor.
"How will it do, Captain," queried Hal, "if I pass the word to the
gunboat and, have a file of marines come over to take charge of this
spy?"
"First rate," clicked Benson, and Kamanako looked decidedly uneasy. He
had his own reasons why he didn't care to be placed under arrest by
United States troops.
Eph, striking on his head, had been knocked senseless. He was too
strong, however, too full of vitality, to remain knocked out for long.
Now, he half opened his eyes, as he murmured:
"How beautifully the birds are singing today! And there's mother,
letting down the bars so the cows can go to the milking shed!"
Jack laughed, in spite of himself. Then he turned to the Japanese.
"Kamanako, do you want to go quietly, or remain to see what the Navy
officers do with you?"
"I go now," replied the Japanese, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Turning, he started up the step, while Hal Hastings, regaining the deck
before him, hailed one of the harbor boats.
Jack darted to where Eph was trying to sit up, and raised him to one
of the cabin seats.
"What do you think, now, of jiu-jitsu?" asked the young captain.
"I don't know," confessed Somers, sheepishly. "I didn't see any of it."
At this moment a stateroom door opened and Jacob Farnum thrust his
head out.
"Anything happening?" inquired the ship builder.
"No, sir," Jack answered. "It's all over."
Mr. Farnum came out, to ask further particulars. Williamson, as soon as
he had seen the Japanese disappear up aloft, dropped his revolver back
into his pocket, closing the engine room door.
Eph, however, had his own private idea of vengeance to execute. Up the
stairs he went, holding hard to the spiral rail, for he was still a bit
dizzy. Kamanako, having dropped into the stern of a shore boat, looked
unconcerned as he was pulled away.
"Yah!" grunted Eph, shaking his fist. "You kimono! Kimono! Kimono!"
"What does that mean when it's translated?" inquired Hal, looking
interested.
"That's a Japanese insult," grinned young Somers.
"Do you think Kamanako understands it?" queried Hastings.
"If he doesn't then what good does it do him to be Japanese?" Eph
demanded.
Jacob Farnum listened with great interest to what his young captain had
to tell him. David Pollard, being still asleep, had no notion, as yet,
of what had happened.
"I reckon," muttered the shipbuilder, "It won't
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