rmerly a steamer in the Siberian trade. She was manned by a fierce and
swarthy-looking body of sailors and marines, and carried a first and
second battery of no mean proportions.

"I'll wager we have got some work cut out for us now," said Larry, and
he was right. Finding she could not run away from the _Shohirika_ the
Russian auxiliary cruiser came steaming up and let drive at close
range,--a broadside that raked the Japanese warship from end to end with
deadly effect. The _Shohirika_ answered immediately, and both the
steering wheel and the rudder were smashed on the enemy's ship.

"Phew! but this is hot work!" panted Larry, as all those around the gun
worked like Trojans.

"An' it's going to be hotter!" ejaculated Luke. He sighted the piece
with care. "There, Sally Jane, let her go!" And he pressed the electric
button. _Bang!_ went the gun with a roar that was deafening. Then the
breech was thrown open and the smoke rolled out, filling the air with a
smell that made them cough and sneeze. But nobody stopped work. In a
trice the gun was cleaned and cooled and another shell pushed into
place, and then the firing was repeated.

"She's coming alongside!" was the announcement from on deck. "All hands
to repel boarders!"

"A hand-to-hand fight!" cried Larry, and scarcely had the words been
uttered when there came a bump that hurled half the sailors flat. Up
they sprang, and as order after order was delivered the marines and
others ran for their guns and cutlasses, while the officers saw to it
that their pistols were ready for use.

A wild, maddening yell came from the deck of the Russian ship, as
marines and sailors poured over the side. An answering _Banzai_ issued
from the Japanese, and they met the first onslaught with vigor. Then
came a fierce tramping over the deck, as the two conflicting parties
moved first to one side and then the other.

"We are ordered up!" cried Larry, a few minutes later. "Here is where we
have got to fight for it, Luke!"

"Right you are, lad. Do your best, and trust to Heaven for the rest!"
was the Yankee tar's reply. And then, cutlasses in hand, both mounted to
the deck, to engage in the fiercest hand-to-hand encounter either of
them had ever experienced.

CHAPTER XXXI

A CALL TO REPEL BOARDERS

It was a battle royal from the start and for some time neither side had
an advantage. Pistol shot was met by pistol shot, and a rifle gun placed
on the upper deck of the Russian w