The Jasper news., 1909-05-13

The grinding noise of metal sliding
over metal attracted his attention, and
almost before 1t had ceased a man
clad in the blue uniform Of the
United States navy leaned out of a
huge port, holding himself by his hand,
and frowning down at the men upon
the Ito's bridge.
Good evening, Kamigawa!" a.
voice hailed with gruff resonance, and
he recognized Bevins, who had been
an instructor in the naval academy of
the nation which had presented him
with postgraduate instruction, and
which he had come to assault.
Good evening, ADMIRAL" he re-
sponded in excellent English, mentally
er resistance to this famous bulldog
of the sea; but with no faint of shame
clouding his mind in thus being re-
called to the fact that he had at
tempted war upon country which
had helped to educate him, of which
he had been a guest of honor, and to
which he owed much in knowledge OF
seamanship.
ut gives me much pleasure" re.
sumed the voice above in tone of
cold courtesy, ito request that you at
once go through the formality of sur
rendering your entire fleet, and sig.
nal the other vessels from your flag
ship that in behalf of yourself and
men you accept parole under the usual
provision that neither you nor any
of your men will bear arms against
the United States during the re.
mainder of this war"
But / can't do that" Kamigawa
prote ed in a tone of bitterness.
very WELL" came the curt answer.
Il shall at once drop you, and can
assure you that nothing will give me
greater joy"
The blue figure with its Tapping
coat tails swung back toward the
open port with an air OF decision, and
the Japanese admiral knew that this
was no time for the practice of decep-
ton and evasion. The man above was
not one to be trifled with, and could
be depended upon to keep his word
unfalteringly, even though it might
cost the lives of every prisoner taken.
He fastened to relinquish his last hold
upon his vessels and men.
wait a minute, admiral!" he
fastened to call. you can at least
give me time to ask them their
wishes?"
You are not to ask them!" was the
sharp reply from above. You are to
tell them that they can save their
lives by giving their parole. There is
no alternative. I'm not asking favors,
but simply giving you chance"
But"
That's all! My country doesn't
have to beg favors from all nations
combined. You have seen damned
good evidence of that! It's no favor
to me If you give your parole. You
| can have 20 minutes!"
The port above changed shut, and
Kamigawa, his cup of bitterness filled
to the brim, reluctantly signaled the
other members of the fleet, who
seemed less bent than he upon delay.
AS the darkness settled more closely
round them and joined the blanket of
shadows below, there floated from
every captive ship the plain white flag
betokening complete surrender. The
sun banner-the emblem of Japan
had disappeared from the seas. She
was no longer naval power, and her
brief encroachment, advancement, and
season of turbulence was at an end.
| AS the last cloth of white fluttered
out, the port above the Ito again
opened, and voice called down:
Thank you," and then continued;
I'm sorry for you, Kamigawa, but II
can't be helped. It's the fortune OF
war. Now we are going to bring your
cruiser Yakumo alongside you and the
Kashima, and we want you to have all
those aboard transfer at once. We
can't carry her any more"
He did not explain to the enemy
that radioplane Seventeen, which had
been struck by a shell, feared that the
heavy burden of transporting the va
kumo would prove too much for a
higher rate of speed.
Steadily and without apparent effort
the three radioplanes came together
until the cruiser rubbed sides with the
two battleships. Here were no rolling
swells and turbulent waves to prevent
such a maneuver. In the Quietude Of
that aerial tryst, ruffled only by the
breeze of the night, the ponderous
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