ured and stared around him. "Oh, my shoulder! That was a
fearful crack I got!"

The attendant did not understand, but smiled blandly and continued to
bathe his face and also his head. Soon the full realization of what had
happened came to the young gunner's mate. Then he asked about Luke.

The fighting was at an end and presently Luke came to him, to find Larry
sitting up in a chair.

"I feel stiff and sore all over, Luke," said the youth. "It was just as
if a house came down on me."

"Thank fortune you wasn't killed, or didn't have your bones broken,"
returned the Yankee gunner.

"I am thankful. Were you hurt?"

"Not in the least."

"What about the fight?"

"The Russians have sneaked back into the harbor like a lot of whipped
dogs."

"What is our ship doing?"

"Putting up the coast. I don't know where we are going," answered Luke.

Larry remained in the ship's hospital for three days and then resumed
his duties as before. His shoulder still felt stiff and sore and lifting
anything was a good deal of labor. But Luke favored him, so he got along
very well.

A week passed and the _Shohirika_ remained at sea, moving in a wide
circle, on the lookout for Russian warships or supply boats. But none
were encountered, and then the cruiser was ordered to escort a transport
filled with soldiers bound for the front.

The transport landed at a point some miles north of Dalny and the troops
went ashore without delay. They were bound for the railroad, and were to
participate in the advance upon Port Arthur from that point.

As the warship remained in the harbor several days, both Luke and Larry
were allowed a short run on shore. They enjoyed this trip very much,
until, much to their surprise, they learned that Major Okopa's command
was in the vicinity. Then they hunted this up, to learn the sad news
from Gilbert that Ben was missing.

"Missing!" ejaculated Larry, in horror. "Taken by Chunchuses! Oh,
Gilbert, this is dreadful!"

"Well, I don't know as you feel any worse than I do, Larry," answered
Gilbert. "It makes me wild to think of it."

"But couldn't you find any trace of him at all?"

"Not the slightest, although I think he was carried off in a boat."

"But why should the Chinese brigands make him a prisoner?"

"I'm sure I don't know, excepting to hold him for a ransom. But if they
intended to do that it is likely we should have heard from them before
this."

The matter was discussed as long as Larry a