“Yes, I’ll be glad to get out myself. But we’ll have to be very careful, Siko.”

“Yes, yes; go like mice—the Russian cat can’t catch him!” And the Japanese smiled knowingly.

“Are you going to take your wife and children along?”

“Wife and chillen go already—Russians no stop women. They meet Jiru Siko on boat—other women, too—men go, you and me, altogether.”

“I’m glad we won’t have the women and children along. It’s going to be no easy matter to get out of the city.”

“I show Master Pennington trick—you watch. Now go sleep—no sleep next night—go on boat, maybe fight.”

“Well, I’m tired enough to go to sleep,” answered Gilbert, and in less than half an hour he was in the land of dreams, despite the dangers which surrounded him.

When Gilbert awoke it was broad daylight. Looking out of the window he saw that a light snow[Pg 84] was falling, which a keen, penetrating wind was blowing in several directions.

[Pg 84]

“This won’t make traveling very pleasant,” he thought. “But it may make it easier for us to escape.”

By looking at his watch he found it was after ten o’clock, showing that he had slept much longer than usual. Getting up, he found himself as fresh as ever and tremendously hungry. He was glad to see one of the Chinamen come in with some fresh bread, coffee, and a couple of deliciously cooked chops.

“See here, John, I want to pay you for these,” said he, and insisted upon giving the Celestial a ruble, for which the fellow was extremely grateful. The Chinese in Port Arthur had never fared well under Russian rule, and now their situation was worse than ever, for the followers of the Czar knew they would do all in their power to help the Japanese.

From the Chinaman Gilbert learned that Jiru Siko had gone off to make arrangements for leaving Port Arthur, and would not be back much before nightfall. There was nothing to do but to wait, and the young American made himself as comfortable as possible in the meantime.

It was after six o’clock when the Japanese returned,[Pg 85] and at once he and his companions held a long conference. Then he came to Gilbert.

[Pg 85]

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