Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-09


with himself, that he sat gazing at it
for some time and actually enjoying
1t. As he looked, the carmine crept
slowly upward, covering the verrnilion,
until at last the entire orb was OF the
latter color; and SO well-timed was the
spectacle, as though 1t were being
managed by some great scientific
artist for the delectation of invisible
deep blue Of the sea and disappeared
nation was complete.
And now the curtain of night was
falling. Romanoff gazed about him;
he looked toward japan to see If that
hated country had faded into twilight
and distance. To his surprise, the
coast seemed even nearer than when
he had last turned his eyes toward II.
The vessel was evidently heading
northward. along the shores of Eco.
NOW what can this mean?" he ask
ed himself st isn't possible that they
have mistaken their course. Tho
scoundrels know these waters too well.
Maybe they are gong to touch at some
port up here before going across. Well,
it will only make a difference OF half
day or SO. suppose I'll have to
stand it. Even two or three days will
not make any particular difference to
me-"
He lighted a third cigar and settled
back, determined to accept the situa-
ton with stolid Russian patience. But,
somehow, as he sat and smoked, a
faint suspicion took place in his mind,
that grew stronger till 1t resulted IN
uneasiness.
"Can there be any trickery hers?"
he reasoned. II believe I'll speak to
the captain few words of very bad
Japanese and pretend that eau
hardly understand what he. answers"
He arose and started forward to car
ry out this resolve, but stopped and re-
| Elected, leaning over the rail.
ut may be much to my advantage"
he concluded, .to let them think that
do not understand their jargon at all
Perhaps, by listening, may learn thu
truth. They are all liars"
/ He strolled forward to where the
mate and one other, evidently not a
member Of the crew, were conversing.
He passed quite close and they lower
ed their voices.
"Be careful he heard the mate say;
he may. understand Japanese"
mot word,' replied the other,
mot word. He has never been heard
| to utter more than two or three words
of our tongue, and those only such as
all foreigners learn. Even those were
| horribly mispronounced."
| Romanoff leaned against the rail
again and gazed down into the water.
| "Oh. WE'LL" said the mate, ut would
MT make much difference II he did
overhear us. He couldn't do anything
to help himself But probably you are
right. He could not have learned jap
anese in the few months he has been
III this country"
81 am sorry" said the other, that
war is not actually in progress, that
he might have been hanged, and good
radiance to him, the. yermin! That's
the proper thing to do with a spy; put
rope around his neck and jerk him
up. How do you suppose the devils
of Russians would treat a Japanese
spy caught In their country?"
tsThey would give him short shrift, "
replied the captain. Yet you must not
forget that we are going to show the
world that we are a civilized nation,
while Russia is not. After all. there
are worse things than death. Being
lock up in a dungeon, with no COM
munication with the civilized world for
months, perhaps years, is not the
pleasantest thing In the world.
Years." said the other. "He will
! be released as soon as the war is over,
and the victorious armies Of the mika-
do will be in st. Petersburg within
six months. Why not pitch him over.
board tonight and say that he jumped
and tried to swim ashore, or that he
| was washed from the deck and drown.
ed? The devil might escape, YOU
know. 'Twould be patriotic act to
rid the earth of HIM."
Romanoff's cigar had gone out He
walked up to the men and by gestures
indicated that he would like match.
You are right" said the mate.
scratching a match and lighting the
Russians cigar with mucn show Ct
politeness 1.-THE stupid pig doesn't
know a word of our tongue"
-Romanoff returned to his chair. It
| required all of his self-control to main
tain his air of indifference. He CLAN
ced furtively about and felt in his In
side coat pocket, where he grasped
the handle OF sheath-knife, his only
weapon. He was a great believer in
the knife at close quarters. It made
no noise and it never missed fire. He
had purposely avoided the carrying Of
g revolver in Japan, as he knew That
the firing of one, in case Of row,
| would have brought the police down
on him Immediately. What should ne
| do now?
IF they try to throw me over.
board!" he decided, "thereIl be two
or three Japanese before go. It's
possible that this secret-service man
knows the jiu-jitsu. I'll get about six
inches of cold steel into him before
| he has a chance to try any Of his mon
key tricks. If they take me off In a
boat, it is not likely that more than
| two or three of them will come along.
But they will probably be armed with
revolvers."
He cast a glance at the shore and
studied the distance critically. BY the
/ light of the rising moon, 1t did not
seem more tnan two miles off. Be