. He at once saluted, and Captain Ponsberry and his mates
did the same, and the sailors in the background did likewise.

"What ship is this?" asked the Russian naval officer, after a few
necessary formalities were at an end.

"The American schooner _Columbia_," answered Captain Ponsberry.

"Would you mind telling me for what port you are bound?" went on the
naval officer, who could speak fairly good English.

"We are bound for San Francisco, with a stopover at Nagasaki."

"Ah! What sort of a cargo are you carrying to Nagasaki?"

"One belonging to the firm for which the _Columbia_ is in commission."

"The name of the firm, please?"

"The Richmond Importing Company."

"Ah!" said the naval officer again, and looked slightly displeased. As
it happened he had a brother in the army at Port Arthur, and had heard
of the doings of Gilbert Pennington at that place, and of how the young
American had accused certain Russians of trying to cheat the company he
represented.

"What warship do you come from?" demanded Captain Ponsberry, feeling
that he had an equal right to ask questions.

"The auxiliary cruiser, _Pocastra_, of the Russian navy," answered the
naval officer, politely.

"And where are you bound?" went on Captain Ponsberry, bluntly.

"That, sir, is a question only our commander, Captain Titorsky, can
answer."

"It's queer you are steaming around in Japanese waters."

"Perhaps so." The Russian naval officer smiled in a knowing way.
"Captain Ponsberry, I am sorry, but I think I shall have to inspect your
papers."

Captain Ponsberry drew himself up, resolved to put on as bold a front as
possible.

"This is an American ship, sir."

"Granted, but I have my orders," returned the naval officer, coldly.

"If I refuse to let you inspect the papers?"

The young Russian officer shrugged his shoulders.

"We shall be under the painful necessity of compelling you to show
them."

"You threaten me--an American captain!"

"There is no help for it--I am simply obeying orders. We inspect all
ships that we find in this vicinity."

"Do you know I can make you pay dearly for this outrage?"

"You cannot call it an outrage. You are in Japanese waters, Japan and
Russia are at war. You knew that before you came into these waters. Am I
to see the papers or not?"

The commander of the _Columbia_ knew that the Russian naval officer
spoke the truth. Yet he made one more effort.

"Very well; I will show my papers, but