Part 10 (1/2)
”Now,” continued Jack Benson, ”take cap and go up on deck.”
”What shall I do there, Captain?” asked Kamanako, politely.
”Well, you'll stand there until I see if you've done anything else on board. If you haven't, you can then take a boat to the sh.o.r.e--and stay there.”
”What this mean, honorable Captain?” demanded Kamanako, a look of offense beginning to creep into his little, brown face.
”Well, if you must have it,” returned Benson, coldly, ”it means that I've found you spying into our mechanisms here. Now, a spy is a creature no one cares to have about--least of all on a wars.h.i.+p.”
”You call me spy--call me ugly name like that?” cried Kamanako, showing his teeth.
”Get your hat and go up on deck. Do you hear me?” insisted Captain Jack.
”I hear you, but I please myself about when I do it,” retorted the j.a.panese, drawing himself up to his full though not very imposing height.
”Then you'll go without waiting for your hat,” retorted Benson, his patience rapidly oozing now. He started toward the j.a.panese, just as Eph, hearing the sound of talking, looked in and down the staircase.
”Gunpowder and smoke!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the carroty-topped boy. ”It's little chocolate drop!”
”Are you going up on deck quietly and in an orderly way?” demanded Benson, a resolute glitter in his clear, blue eyes.
”I please myself,” retorted Kamanako, defiantly.
At that Jack Benson promptly forgot the warning he had given Eph, and sprang at the inquisitive steward.
”You'll go--” began Benson.
He was in error, though. It was he himself who ”went.” As he reached out with his right hand to seize Kamanako something happened. Exactly what it was the young submarine captain never quite knew. But he found himself sprawling under the seat at the opposite side of the cabin.
”Hi, yi! Wow!” exploded Eph, darting down the stairs. ”Save some of that for me!”
It was ready and waiting.
The carroty-topped boy crouched low, resting his hands on his knees, after the manner of a football player awaiting an a.s.sault.
Kamanako slid in close. Ere Eph could seize him the j.a.panese let himself fall lightly on one side. One of his feet hooked itself behind Eph's advanced left ankle, the other foot pressing against the knee of the same leg. Eph's ankle was yanked forward, his knee pressed back, and Somers went toppling as a tree in the forest does.
Kamanako was so quickly on his feet again to suggest that he had fallen and risen in the same movement. There was a quiet, yet dangerous, smile on the face of the j.a.panese.
The door of the engine room opened swiftly though noiselessly.
Williamson, the machinist, took in the whole scene instantly. Hardly a full step forward he took when his fist landed between the shoulders of Kamanako, sending that young j.a.panese through the air, to land sprawling.
As Kamanako leaped to his feet he found himself blinking at the muzzle of a revolver that the machinist held in his right hand.
CHAPTER VI
THE LITTLE RUSSIAN HAS HER WAY