tion as he stepped aboard of the Japanese
warship. The vessel was, like the Russian prize, an auxiliary cruiser
and named the _Mimora Juri_. She was but three years old and had been
used for passenger service between Japan and China. For such a small
cruiser she carried an unusually heavy battery, and everything was
shined up to the last degree,--the work having been undertaken directly
after the battle was over. The _Mimora Juri_ had suffered but little
damage during the contest and only a handful of men had been killed and
wounded.

"This looks more like Uncle Sam's navy than anything I have seen yet,"
said Luke.

"Well, I don't know that the decorations aboard our ships are quite so
fine," returned the youth. "But then this isn't an ordinary fighting
ship. Some of the auxiliary cruisers we used during the war with
Spain--those that used to be trans-Atlantic steamers--were just as fine
as this and finer."

As soon as those from the _Columbia_ reached the Japanese warship the
wounded were taken in charge by the surgeons and placed in the sick bay,
as the hospital on a naval vessel is called. This was also in the best
of order, with nice, swinging cots, and appliances of the latest
designs.

As there were many things to be arranged between the two Japanese
vessels and the Russian prize, our friends were not interviewed until
late in the evening. In the meantime, some of the Russians were made
prisoners, and a prize crew was placed aboard of the _Pocastra_. Then
the two Japanese warships moved away, with the captured cruiser between
them.

"Those Russians must feel sick," was Larry's comment. "It's worse for
them, in a way, than if their ship had gone down."

"Well, we all thought she was sinking," returned Captain Ponsberry. "If
she had sunk I reckon some of us wouldn't be here to tell the tale."

When evening came, a guard who could speak a little English conducted
Captain Ponsberry, Larry, and Tom Grandon to the commander's cabin. Here
they were met by Captain Tonkaka, who, being a graduate of the Japanese
naval school, could speak not only English but also several other
foreign languages. It may be mentioned here that the Japanese naval
academy of to-day is one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the
world.

"I will hear your story, Captain Ponsberry," said the Japanese captain,
politely, as he motioned his visitors to be seated.

In a plain, direct manner the master of the _Columbia_ told his tal