t I must be a-dreamin'. I wanted to find this ship ag'in in
the worst way."

"The ship certainly seems like a home to me, Luke--and I reckon she
always will seem that way. I've traveled a good many miles in her, since
I first struck her at Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands," responded Larry
Russell.

"Yes--both of us have. But we never took no trip like this
afore--carryin' a cargo for the Japanese Government, with that
government at war with Russia." Luke Striker lowered his voice. "What's
the outlook? Does the old man reckon to fall in with a Russian warship
afore we can reach Nagasaki?"

"Hush, Luke; you mustn't mention our cargo," came from Larry Russell,
hastily.

"I ain't mentionin' it to anybody but you."

"Captain Ponsberry is in hopes that we shall not meet any Russian
warships."

"But what if we do?"

"Then we shall have to show our heels as best we can."

"A sailing vessel can't show much o' a pair o' heels to a man-o'-war."

"That is true."

"I suppose, if the _Columbia_ was overhauled by a Russian warship,
they'd consider us a prize of war; wouldn't they?" continued the old
Yankee sailor.

"They would, unless Captain Ponsberry could get out of it in some way."

"How do you think he might get out of it?"

"Well, you must remember that our cargo doesn't belong to the Japanese
Government yet. We are carrying it from Manila to Nagasaki for the
Richmond Importing Company. The Russians would have to prove their case
against us before they could claim the schooner as a legitimate prize of
war."

"I see. Well, I reckon as how them Russians would do 'most anything to
square accounts with the Japs. So far, accordin' to my notions, they
have been losin' ground right along in this war."

"Yes, and they'll lose more before the Japs are through with 'em, Luke.
But that storm is coming up fast," went on Larry Russell, with another
examination of the black cloud. "I'll have to tell the captain. If we
don't shorten sail it may do us some damage."

With the last-mentioned remark Larry Russell walked aft, toward the
companionway of the _Columbia_, a staunch three-masted schooner that
hailed from Gloucester. He was second mate of the craft and as such it
was now his duty to inform Captain Nat Ponsberry that a storm was
approaching.

To those of my young friends who have read "Under Dewey at Manila" and
other volumes of the "Old Glory Series" Larry Russell needs no
introduction. He was one of three brothe