At the Fall of Port Arthur Part 30

The j.a.panese transports were bound for the coast of Manchuria, to land near the village of Petaka. Soon they fell in behind the _Shohirika_; and then those on the warship knew that they were going to go close to sh.o.r.e, if not to make an actual landing.

A fog came up that night, which made the transports hold off. But the next day was as bright and clear as before, and about noon land was sighted to the westward. A patrol boat was sent ahead and came back stating that all was clear for a landing. Then the warships went closer and the transports followed.

On the following day Larry found himself on sh.o.r.e--having been taken along by one of the officers of the ship to interview an English merchant who wished to sell some goods to the j.a.panese. The officer could speak some English, but wanted somebody along who could help him out in case he could not make himself clearly understood.

The landing was at a small Chinese town which was partly in ashes--the Russians having tried to burn it down before leaving. There were a dozen shops, but all were closed and with the windows boarded up. Many of the Chinese had fled to the country beyond; and a j.a.panese regiment was on guard to preserve order and to keep the Chunchuses, (Chinese brigands) from looting the place.

"This shows what war will do," thought Larry, as he walked along beside the j.a.panese naval officer. "I suppose some of the Chinese have lost all they possessed--and through no fault of their own either."

The business with the English merchant was transacted quicker than antic.i.p.ated, and, not caring to go back to his ship at once, the naval officer visited the camp of the j.a.panese regiment, taking Larry with him.

"We expect another detachment here this afternoon," said one of the regimental commanders to the naval officer. "They are to escort a powder train through the mountains."

A little while later the detachment came in on foot, looking somewhat tired and dusty from a long tramp through an exceedingly rough country.

As the soldiers came to a halt in the public square of the seaport village, Larry uttered a cry of amazement:

"Ben!"

"Why, Larry, can it be you?" came in a tone of astonishment, and on the instant Ben Russell rushed forward and caught his brother by the hands.

"I must be dreaming!"

"I guess I'm dreaming myself!" said Larry, and gave his brother a warm hug. "This beats the Dutch! I thought you were at Liao-Yang. How are you and how did you get here?"

"One question at a time, please," returned Ben, with a happy smile. "I'm pretty well, although I had a little dose of fever a couple of weeks ago. Our j.a.panese doctor fixed me up in double-quick time. Our command was ordered down here to look after a powder train. There was a report that either the Russians or the Chunchuses were going to try to capture it or blow it up. Now, how have you been, and what are you doing here? I thought the old _Columbia_ was at Nagasaki."

"You want to know as much as I do, Ben." There was a pause and both laughed merrily, they felt so happy. "I'm as sound as a fiddle. The _Columbia_ is at Nagasaki and likely to stay there for some time. Allow me to introduce myself, Lawrence Russell, gunner's mate aboard of the Mikado's cruiser _Shohirika_. My head gunner is Luke Striker, Esquire."

"Never!" burst from Ben. "Well, this certainly is news. So you and Luke enlisted? Have you had any fighting?"

"Not exactly. But we have seen some rough times," answered Larry, and then, as soon as Ben could get away for a quiet half-hour, he related his story in detail, just as I have set it down in these pages.

"You are a.s.suredly a lucky chap, Larry, not to be in a Russian prison this minute," said his brother, after the young sailor had finished.

"Perhaps I am lucky, Ben. But it wasn't much of luck to have that Shamhaven and Peterson walk off with my money belt."

"That is so, but as the amount taken wasn't a fortune I shouldn't worry about it. I can let you have any money you need."

"I don't need any, and, besides, Luke is acting as my banker. But now tell me about yourself."

"There isn't very much to tell, outside of what I put down in that letter you received. As you know, Gilbert and I are both attached to this command of Major Okopa."

"Where is Gilbert now?"

"His company was to bring up the rear. They'll be here very shortly.

Since the battle of Liao-Yang we have been on special duty, looking after the pack and powder trains, and have seen very little of fighting.

We are reinforcing our lines daily, and I think the Russians must be doing the same. I expect some more heavy fighting soon, unless winter steps in and puts a stop to everything. The nights are already rather cool," added Ben.

It was half an hour later that the company under Gilbert came in, having in their custody two Chinese bandits that had tried to steal four horses belonging to two j.a.panese army carts.

"So it's really you, Larry!" cried the young Southerner, as he shook hands. "I'm mightily glad to see you and see you looking so well. I suppose Ben has told you all the news."

"Yes, and Larry has been telling some too," put in Ben. "He has seen almost as much of the Russians as we have." And then Larry's story had to be told again.

"I don't know where we shall go after we leave here," said the young sailor. "Are you going back to Liao-Yang?"

"We don't know that either. Our orders are to escort the powder train wherever it may be sent," said Ben.

For two days the j.a.panese warship remained in the harbor of the seaport village and during that time Larry managed to see quite a good deal of Ben and Gilbert. He wished he could take them on board of the cruiser, but this was not permitted.

On the third day the _Shohirika_ received orders from a dispatch boat which steamed into the harbor, and an hour later the anchors were hove apeak and she steamed away, carrying Larry and his old Yankee friend along. Ben and Gilbert stood on a dock watching her departure. They waved their handkerchiefs at Larry and he waved his own in return.

"I wonder when I'll see Larry again," mused Ben. He felt rather sober at the parting from his younger brother.

"Oh, you'll see him again before long," answered Gilbert, trying to be cheerful.

"Maybe not. It all depends upon where that cruiser sails to. She may go half around the world."

"More than likely she has been sent to take part in the bombardment of Port Arthur."

"Do you really think we'll be sent to Port Arthur, Gilbert?"

"It is not unlikely, Ben."

The pair watched the cruiser fade away in the distance, and then returned to that part of the village in which Major Okopa's command had been located.

"By the way," said Gilbert, as they hurried along. "There is one thing I forgot to tell you. Meeting Larry drove it completely out of my mind. On the way to this village we stopped at a place called Wikelipe, and there I met, whom do you suppose?"

"I don't know, I'm sure."

"That rascal Ivan Snokoff. He was at his same old tricks--selling things to the inhabitants at exorbitant prices. When he saw me he shook his fist at me and my men and then ran away and hid."

"Why didn't you root him out, Gilbert?"

"What good would it have done? Besides, I didn't have time. The fight with the brigands made us lose three hours. But do you know, I think Snokoff has it in for me."

"Yes, and in for me, too," added Ben. "He hasn't forgotten how I brought along the guard that placed him under temporary arrest."

There was no time to say more, for the command was to move in half an hour and both of the young captains had to round up their men for that purpose. The powder train was at rest outside of the village and the men were scattered here, there, and everywhere.

Evening found the command to which Ben and Gilbert belonged ten miles on their way through the mountains. Only the officer in charge of the powder train knew the destination of the precious stores. The train consisted of eighteen carts, each pulled by four horses.

Although none in Major Okopa's command knew it, the train was followed by a Chinaman named Kee Lung, who lived in Wikelipe, the place where Gilbert had seen Ivan Snokoff. Kee Lung was well known to Ivan Snokoff and had been asked by the rascally Russian to keep his eyes on Gilbert and on Ben and to report their movements. He had watched Gilbert's meeting with Ben and Larry and heard something of what was said and had thus managed to make out that two of the party were brothers.

As the powder train approached Wikelipe, Kee Lung went ahead to find Ivan Snokoff. This was not difficult, as he knew exactly where the latter was hiding. A conference lasting an hour ensued.

"Do as you have promised and you shall have fifty _yen_," said Ivan Snokoff.

"You will not fail to pay?" queried Kee Lung.