after that. I just
came to my senses and found myself locked in."

"The villains!" burst in Luke. "Those chaps ought to be swung up to a
yardarm!"

The captain listened to Larry's story and then was prompted to take a
look around the other staterooms. As a result he speedily discovered
that the safe had been tampered with and that his own money was gone.

"They are worse rascals than I thought them," said Captain Ponsberry,
bitterly. "I am sorry that I did not make an example of them from the
start."

There was a good deal of speculation concerning what had become of
Shamhaven and Peterson, and another search was instituted, lasting until
the following day, but not a single trace of the evildoers could be
found.

"Well, I am out the whole of my savings," said Larry to Luke.

"It's a shame, lad," replied the Yankee tar. "But if you need ready cash
don't fail to draw on me. As long as I have a shot in the locker half on
it is yours."

"Thank you, Luke; I know you'd say that. You're the proper kind of a
friend to have."

"Avast, Larry, with your compliments. Wouldn't you do the same fer me?"

"Indeed I would!"

"Then it ain't worth talkin' about. Jest the same, I hope we run into
them rascals some day; don't you?"

"I do. But more than likely they'll give the _Columbia_ and us a wide
berth after this," returned Larry.

CHAPTER XX

LARRY BEFORE ADMIRAL TOGO

As soon as the _Columbia_ could make the proper landing, Captain
Ponsberry went ashore and reported his arrival to the authorities, and
also reported the escape of Shamhaven and Peterson. The authorities had
already heard of the capture of the _Columbia_ from the Russians, and
said that the schooner would have to remain at Nagasaki until the whole
case could be adjusted. The Japanese were inclined to favor both the
Richmond Importing Company and the owners of the vessel, so it was not
likely that our friends would lose much in the end. In the meantime the
_Columbia_ could be put in a dry-dock and given the overhauling that she
needed.

"We shall do all we can to locate Shamhaven and Peterson and get back
your money," said an official of the secret service department. But his
hands were so full with other matters of greater importance that little
attention was paid to the disappearance of the two rascals.

"Well, this will tie me up at Nagasaki for some time to come," said
Captain Ponsberry to Larry, on the third day after arriving at the
J