e up-to-date and very progressive; the
Chinese are about a hundred years behind the times."

The storm continued for the best part of half a day. There was but
little thunder and lightning, but the wind blew a perfect gale. Yet even
the _Pocastra_ did not seem to mind the wind, and all three of the
warships proceeded on their way at only a slightly reduced rate of
speed.

"Such a gale as this will play havoc with the sailing vessels," said
Larry. "I wonder how the old _Columbia_ is making out?"

"I was thinking that same," rejoined Captain Ponsberry. "To tell the
truth, I'd rather have her go to the bottom than see her taken to a
Russian port as a prize."

When the storm cleared away, Larry was one of the first to go on deck,
to get a whiff of "washed air," as he called it. The others followed.

"I see a sail!" cried the youth, a moment later, and at that instant
came a cry from the lookout. Far to the eastward was a sailing vessel
flying a signal of distress.

"She looks familiar to me!" ejaculated Captain Ponsberry, and ran to get
Captain Tonkaka's glass. One glance through the instrument was enough.

"The _Columbia_!"

"Are you sure?" cried Larry.

"She certainly is the _Columbia_," said Tom Grandon, after a look
through the glass. "She has lost her fore topmast and part of her
bowsprit."

"And a part of the stern rail is gone," added Larry, after he too had
used the glass. "Let us tell Captain Tonkaka," he added, starting to go
below.

The news that the _Columbia_ was in sight was soon circulated throughout
the ship, and Captain Tonkaka at once signaled to the other warships
that he was going to her assistance. Then the _Mimora Juri_ steamed away
on her new course.

As they drew closer to the schooner they could see that the storm had
treated the gallant old ship roughly enough. Many of the sails were in
ribbons, and not only the fore topmast but also half a dozen of the
spars were gone. One end of the forecastle was stove in, and a part of
the stern was a wreck.

"This is the worst yet!" cried Larry. "They must have caught more of the
gale than we did."

"They didn't know how to handle her, that's the reason of it," came from
Captain Ponsberry. "We have taken her through a worse blow than that;
eh, Tom?"

"I think so," answered the second mate.

As soon as the Japanese warship was close enough a boat was lowered and
an officer went aboard of the schooner, followed by several of his crew
and C