doesn't it?"

"Well, I don't know about that. But it is certainly just as good. That
drill to fight fire is immense, and their physical exercises ought to
make each man's muscles like iron."

"They are a sturdy lot, lad, no two ways about that,--and they
understand just how to keep themselves in the pink of condition." Luke
rubbed his chin reflectively. "Do ye know what I have in mind to do?"

"I think I can make a pretty good guess," came quickly from Larry.

"Well?"

"You're thinking that you'd like to join the Japanese navy, just to have
a mix-up or two with the Russians."

"You've struck the nail on the head, lad. And why not, seeing as how we
are out here in fighting waters, and with no ship of our own to go
aboard?"

"Well, I feel a good bit that way myself. Ben is in the army, and so is
Gilbert Pennington. If they can make a record for themselves why
shouldn't I do the same? As it was I came close to joining the army with
Ben."

"So you told me before. But you're a born sailor, Larry, not a soldier."

"I don't deny it. I'd rather be on board of a ship than on land any
day."

"Yes, to a fellow as gets used to the sea the land seems a strange
place."

From the Japanese on the warship who could speak English our friends
learned much concerning the war. They were told that Admiral Togo's
fleet was keeping a strict guard over the harbor approach to Port
Arthur, and that a portion of the Japanese army was hemming in the city
on the land side and had lately captured several hills of importance.

From Captain Tonkaka the Americans obtained permission to station
themselves in one of the fighting tops, and here they spent hour after
hour, on the lookout for the _Columbia_. Captain Ponsberry was
particularly anxious to find his vessel, and kept scanning the Japan Sea
through a fine spyglass the Japanese captain loaned him.

"If I can gain possession of that ship, I am going to fix Semmel and
Peterson," said the master of the _Columbia_.

"Both of them declared that they took possession of the ship for the
sake of the Russian Government," said Larry. "That being the case, they
should be treated as prisoners of war."

"Exactly my idea, Larry."

"Semmel is a thoroughly bad egg," came from Tom Grandon. "He will lie
out of his troubles if he can possibly do so."

"It will be a shame if we don't find the _Columbia_ again," went on
Larry. "Think of those rascals taking her to Vladivostok and getting
their sh