The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1925-11-05

into dungson-like room and to bring
forth any object without the least
hesitancy. Courage, also, he had de-
veloped to a rare degree, for the rats
in the docks Of China, and In the I'M
derground passages from warehouse
cellar to cellar, and sewer to sewer,
where he piled his trade, are the fat
test and most savage OF the, rodent
tribe the world over; so large, indeed,
that the skins Of two Of them will
make pair Of gloves, and the carcass
will supply family with dried fillet
de rodent for week. These rat catch.
ers spend days and weeks in the un-
derground passages, and day and night
are almost the same to them.
Now that he could no longer exer-
else his strange gift in his accustomed
way, Tang-u would often amuse him.
self by standing for hours on the
deck, peering out through the mist or
the darkness In search Of things hid
den to common eyes. Indeed, aDang
the Americans he soon became known
as the kid with the telescope eyes,"
while the commander, on various oc-
casions, allowed him to accompany
the men In the lookout, where he dis
covered objects often In advance Of
the field glass. Even the dark waters
Of the ocean were not proof against
the vision Of the little heather, whose
bright eyes would detect curious fish
as they swan around the Ship many
feet below the surface; while a fog
that blinded the ordinary eye proved
no obstacle to his keen sight. Before
long every one came to the conclusion
that a boy whose eye was equal to a
combined field glass and searchlight
was a valuable addition to a modern
warship; and on more than one occa-
sion during the months of the war the
little Chinaman's discernment was an.
pealed to as gravely as though he had
been thirty years old and a Japanese
officer, instead Of ten-year-old China
man.
On one occasion, indeed, Tang-u's
sixth sense made him for five minutes
the ships commander.
It was late in the evening before the
memorable engagement of Port Arthur.
The flagship, which, having passed un-
scathed through months Of war, had
been recently ordered to this strong.
hold, had just anchored in the harbor,
and preparations were making for the
nights defense. The torpedo net had
not yet been lowered, but the whole
ship resounded with the hustle and
hurry Of preparations for what every
one felt would be the most decisive
battle of the war. Meantime Tang-u
stood alone near the bow, peering out
through the darkness, as was his Gus
tom upon arriving in strange place,
In search for some new and interest
ing sight. Suddenly, above the confu-
sion, there rang out a shrill little
scream, and Tang-u, with his eyes
bullying from his head, rushed, toward
the admiral, and, pointing out to sea,
fratically shrieked: "Torpee-to! tor
pee-to"
Instantly every eye followed the d.
rection Of the tiny finger. The sea
looked unruffled. Not soul on the
deck, even by straining his vision to
the utmost, could verify Tang-u's cry.
Yet so accustomed had they become to
relying upon the little fellows keen
sight that the admiral gave instant Or
ders to lower the net. In a moment
there was sound Of hurrying feet, q
hundred hands were raised to the
ropes. and the great net fell into place.
Before the splash Of the falling net
had died away, there was a thunder.
Ing explosion, and q tremendous up-
heaval Of water, like that Of mighty
geyser, shook the huge ship from bow
to stern. 1t was indeed q torpedo that
Tang-u's keen eyes had detected far
away through the approaching night.
But swiftly as It came, the boys mar
velous vision had been swifter. The
well-afmed missile Of destruction, that
in a moment morS would have de-
stroyed the flower OF the Japanese
navy, had, In coming In contact with
the netting, exploded harmlessly,
flooding the deck with water. The
great warship with over three hundred
souls had been saved from annlhila-
tion-and by one Of the enemy.
A few months later, when Tang-u's
exploit was brought to the notice Of
the mikado. that dignitary conferred
upon the little Chinese rat catcher the
rank Of honorary admiral in the Japa-
nese navy.
And 1t was in this way that q
heather nation furnished the youngest
naval hero In existence.