In the Yellow Sea Part 16

"The steamer was always unlucky," I replied. "Her very name is a reproach, and the captain changed it to _Kowshing_."

"Which was even a greater ill-luck. But I am on duty. We weigh at four o'clock this morning. I will tell the commander of you."

He retired quickly. The time was pa.s.sing, and the hands were about to weigh anchor. Before I had finished dressing in the sailor's clothes, with which home-made (j.a.panese) attire we had all been supplied, a message came for me, and I was released politely from the surveillance to that time observed. At this point I may say that all the officers and men, and later the j.a.panese ash.o.r.e, treated us all most kindly.

But all the same I think that in war they would be most formidable antagonists, because they "go" for their aim at once, risking all for country; even killing themselves if they do not succeed as they intend to do, and they spare neither themselves nor their opponents, not even to the farther verge of cruelty, if aroused.

But I did not know so much of the j.a.panese character then, and I admire it still. In all my dealings with them--and I have met many influential j.a.panese and others--I have found them polite and courteous, with a fine tendency to business, and to "take the turn of the market" for themselves.

Soon after eight bells the warship weighed anchor, and I was permitted to go on deck amidships, or forward of the bridge, and while I was gazing alongside my midshipman friend accosted me.

"Your captain is aft," he said. "Perhaps you would like to see him."

"Is he a prisoner?" I asked, as I gazed at a Chinese gunboat close by, which had been captured when conveying despatches. "What's that vessel?"

"She's a Chinese boat, _Tsaokiang_," replied my friend Tomi. "We have caught her, and shall send her captain and crew with your officers in the transport. You can visit your captain if you wish."

This was my desire, and accordingly I proceeded astern, under escort and by permission, to the cabin in which Captain Goldheugh was interned. He welcomed me gladly from his cot.

"Ah! my son, so ye've got free of the j.a.ps, have ye? Sure I'm still in limbo, though I must say the fellows are civil enough. We're steaming to the rendezvous, I'm told."

"Yes, sir. I came to ask your permission to stay on board here."

I rushed at my fence, you see, and yet in trepidation when I realised the obstacles.

"What!" exclaimed the captain. "Remain on board the j.a.p's cruiser with the fellows who smashed us into smithereens, and made a 'holy show' of the _Feng Shui_? Bedad, a March hare isn't in the same run with ye.

He's mad this time, anyway," concluded the captain. "Stark and staring! Are those straws in your hair?"

"No," I replied, smiling, yet nervously. "The fact is the captain of this ship has offered me a berth, and"--

"By the powers o' Moll Kelly this beats the world!" cried the captain, relapsing into native idiom. "The j.a.p captain offers ye a berth. Ah, go out o' that! He wants ye to take the cruiser into action, so he does! That's what he means. Well, well," he sighed resignedly, "look at that!"

He nodded his head up and down three times, as if perfectly, but unwillingly, resigned. I felt smaller by degrees.

"All right, _admiral_," he said suddenly. "By all manner o' means.

Won't I make them proud at home when I tell them that the young runaway is the admiral of the _Naniwa_--what's that mean? In Ireland 'Nanny'

is an old _nurse_--and she here is your wet-nurse, bedad! Oh, it's grand entirely, _your honour_!"

This affectation of manner puzzled me. The captain was "putting on"

this, I perceived.

"If you object, sir," I began.

"Is it me object! Not at all! Go and leave your ship--she's left ye--and your friends. What for?" he asked suddenly and almost fiercely. "What d'ye want to do?"

"To serve in the j.a.panese navy," I said, "as a volunteer, and see some service for a while. The captain here has told his nephew, who asked me to tell you too."

"The dog began to bite the pig, the pig began to go, and the old woman (that's me) begins to get over the stile. I see! Well, do as ye like, Julius, my boy, I'll not stop ye."

"Really? Oh, you are kind, captain! Still, if you order me"--

"Ah! go on! Ye won't stay long I expect. But if ye _do_ it will do ye good. I don't understand why the captain of the ship has made ye the offer, but as he _has_, and ye are already dressed up in j.a.panese clothes, maybe he wants to see whether ye're worth your salt! All right, Admiral Julius, 'Go where Glory waits ye,' as Tommy Moore says, and 'when Fame elates thee, then remember me,' that's all. Here's the lieutenant."

The officer came in, we saluted, and the captain accepted the polite invitation to breakfast by and by, and the lieutenant retired.

"Now, admiral, quit, if ye please, as I'm going to 'draw on my stockings,' and--dress myself. I suppose _ye'll_ breakfast in the cabin, while _I_ am pigging in the ward-room. Be off, I tell ye!

Don't stand there staring like a stuck pig. Hurry, now!"

I obeyed, feeling that the captain was annoyed, but my feelings of adventure rose in me, and as he had consented, however unwillingly, I decided to a.s.sume his acquiescence in the matter, but he apparently feared the future.

There was another interview with my captain afterwards, and a chat with the mate and others, who subsequently were transferred to the transport _Yayayama_ with the Danish gentleman,--also a captive from the despatch boat,--the Chinese crews of it, and the surviving soldiers of the _Feng Shui_. I need not dwell upon the parting. I felt sorry to leave my messmates, but against this feeling came the knowledge that I was adrift already, and must go to Nagasaki first, then find conveyance to China and perhaps to Europe. I had no money, and no chance of finding any then. My parents, particularly my dear mother, would be much more pleased to receive a telegram announcing my entry into the j.a.panese service, than a wire for money and announcing shipwreck! The captain (Goldheugh) had promised to write about me, and I found out afterwards that not only had he done so, but had spoken well of me to Captain Toyo of the _Naniwa_.

The _Tsaokiang_, which had appeared before the sinking of the steamer, was a prize to the _Maya_; and all her officers and crew having been transferred as indicated above, the _Yayayama_ steamed away for j.a.pan.

I remained in the cruiser while she sent boats to search for the fugitive Chinese vessel, which had fled away ash.o.r.e. She was found and destroyed by the j.a.panese boats' crews as she lay beached.

Then the cruisers joined the fleet, and war was declared on the 1st August 1894, "after the ball" at Phungdo.

CHAPTER IX

THE BATTLE IN THE YELLOW SEA--THE EVIL GENIUS OF "FeNG SHUI"

It would not be interesting to the reader to peruse the details of our cruise off the Chinese and Corean coasts after the declaration of war till the middle of September, but a pa.s.sing reference to the actions of the squadron may be made.

The fleet was under the command of Admiral Ito,[1] who later made an attack on Port Arthur and Wei-hai-Wei, which are opposite each other in the Gulf of Pechili, the latter port being in Shangtung, and the former in Manchuria, North China. The admiral did not communicate his ideas to many people, but it leaked out in the fleet that he was keeping the Chinese in check while his transports were carrying the j.a.panese troops to Corea. Meantime the Chinese fleet remained in harbour at Wei-hai-Wei, and the Coreans a.s.sisted the j.a.panese troops. So the Chinese soldiers were marching southwards, and the j.a.panese northwards, the respective fleets being in the Yellow Sea.

[1] Now "Marquis" Ito, Prime Minister of j.a.pan.

The Yalu River separates China from Corea, and by that entrance the Chinese came by sea, the land forces came from Manchuria. The j.a.panese from Chemulpo, Gensan, and Fusan, the fleet having left the Taidong River, which is across the peninsula, opposite to Gensan, cruised along the Corean sh.o.r.e searching for transports; and the _Naniwa_, in which I was, was one of the First Flying Squadron, composed of four ships, _Yoshino_, _Naniwa_, _Akitsushima_, and _Takachiho_.

This was the arrangement in September when, on the 16th of the month, we left Taidong River, our division being commanded by Rear-Admiral Kozo in the _Yoshino_. The main squadron, commanded by Vice-Admiral Ito Sukahiro, was inclusive of the flagship _Matsushima_ and five other ships, with a couple of small vessels of no great importance.

While in Corea I managed to get a kit and outfit, and though feeling strange in my new surroundings, I was treated well, and in a most friendly manner as an Englishman. Many of my messmates in the fleet had been to England, and some had studied there, so they knew that a naval cadet was not an upstart, and if he were he would be quickly brought to his bearings. At anyrate I got on very well with the j.a.panese officers and "subs," though the crew were not so friendly.

"When shall we find the Chinese fleet?" I asked one day, when after cruising about not even a trail of smoke had been visible. But the reply was a half shrug and a smile; no one knew when, but everybody was evidently impatient. All were prepared for action,--well disciplined and trained. The admiral had confidence in officers and men, and they obeyed orders calmly and smilingly; and if they looked unenergetic, and at times listless, they quickly "perked up" when "business" was "toward."

It seemed to me curious that the ships had not fallen in with the Chinese as everyone antic.i.p.ated. Every "Jack"-j.a.p was full of fight, strong language (_not_ swearing), and disdain of the Chinese. But we ascertained that the astute John had landed his soldiers in transports, under the protection of his warships, while the j.a.panese fleet had been temporarily refreshing themselves in the Taidong River. The Chinese on the 16th September landed their troops at the Yalu, and returned home thence--at least they started back homewards across the Yellow Sea.

The j.a.panese vessels made for Hai-yang, a large island off the Manchurian Peninsula, and considerable irritation was displayed when the lookouts declared that no Chinese ships were in sight. The chief officers were on the bridge or in the tower, and as the morning wore on and nothing appeared, the disappointment increased.

Suddenly a hail startled some of us, and the j.a.panese smile widened.

"What's the news?" I asked my neighbour.

He could not reply in English, but pointed to the horizon over the port-bow. We were proceeding under easy steam, the day was fine and pleasant, and I managed to make out a darkening or smudge upon the horizon in the north-east.