under Admiral Stark, were doing their best to keep the Japanese warships from coming too close to the city. The forts of Port Arthur also opened fire, and it was in this din and confusion that the Japanese torpedo boat destroyers slipped close in and did their deadly work. Soon after this Admiral Togo signaled his fleet to withdraw, which[Pg 47] they did, the darkness of the sea speedily swallowing them up. [Pg 47] “Well, the war has opened at last, that is certain,” said Gilbert, after the excitement had somewhat subsided. His own soldier blood was beginning to be aroused, and he half wished he could get into the fray himself. “I rather guess Larry Russell would enjoy this,” he mused, remembering how his friend had taken part in the great naval battle of Manila Bay under Admiral Dewey. Further sleep was out of the question for the ex-lieutenant, and at early dawn he swallowed a light breakfast, and hastened once more to the water front, which was now lined everywhere with people. The excitement was at a fever heat, and it was reported that the Japanese were going to return, to bombard the city. In his travels around Port Arthur Gilbert had stumbled across an old stone building which, in years gone by, had been used as a sort of storehouse by the Manchu rulers. The building was now practically deserted and he had no difficulty in getting inside. There was small stone tower to the structure, and he ascended this until he reached a point where he could go outside. [Pg 48] [Pg 48] The view from this elevated position was an excellent one. In front of him the inner and outer harbor of the port lay spread out as on a map, and having brought with him a good pair of field glasses he could see for miles. “Hullo, there is certainly something wrong with those ships,” he told himself, and then he saw the Czarevitch and the Retvizan settled near the harbor entrance. The Pallada was not so badly injured; yet her fighting days were practically over, so far as this war was concerned. The sinking of their ships had stirred the Russian fighting blood as it had not been stirred before, and with the coming of daylight Admiral Stark’s men were more than anxious to fight the Japanese vessels in the open. The
Prev.
Back
Top