ll I can," said Larry. "Won't Ben and Gilbert be
surprised when they hear of this?" he added.

"They might know you'd do something of the sort."

"That's so, too. By the way, I'm going up to the post-office to-day and
see if there are any letters."

Much to the satisfaction of our friends they found over a score of men
on the warship who could speak English. Some, of course, could speak but
little, yet they could make themselves understood. On the other hand,
both Larry and Luke began to pick up the Japanese language remarkably
fast.

"If we keep at this for six months we'll be regular Japanese," said the
youth. "It's not so hard as I thought it would be."

They found the discipline on the warship very strict and were called on
to "toe the mark" continually. Yet all the officers were as considerate
as they were firm, so there was little of hardship.

When Larry called at the post-office for letters he found two good-sized
epistles awaiting him. One was from his brother Walter, and ran, in
part, as follows:

"There is nothing particularly new in this part of the
globe. I am doing very well in my new business and it looks
now as if I should make a big thing of it. I rather think I
am more cut out for work on land than for life on shipboard,
although I don't regret the time I spent in the navy.

"Uncle Job is feeling very well these days and is building a
new wing to the old house--going to put in a library of good
books he tells me. He is as dear an old chap now as anybody
would want for an uncle.

"I suppose you will hear from Ben and Gilbert. I am
expecting a letter every day. It's queer you didn't go with
them, but I suppose the old _Columbia_ with her crew suits
you better."

"I am glad everything is all right at home," thought Larry, as he
finished reading the communication. "A new wing to the house, eh? Uncle
Job must be spreading himself. Reckon he has found out there is
something more to live for in this world than mere money."

The second letter was from Ben, as he could tell by the handwriting. It
had been on the way a long time and had been sent to half a dozen
places, including Manila. There was a great deal about life in the
Japanese army, and also a full description of the capture of Liao-Yang.
Ben then continued:

"We are now on guard a few miles outside of the city. Our
camp stretches for many miles, and we are doing all in our