“I go when I get ready,” retorted the Japanese, sullenly.

“What’s the matter, Jack?” asked Hal, slowly.

“I’ve caught a dirty spy at work overhauling our mechanisms,” replied the young submarine boat commander.

With something of a snarl Kamanako turned as though to spring at Benson again.  The sight of Williamson, immovable as a piece of marble, yet holding that revolver suggestively, cooled the Japanese ardor.

“How will it do, Captain,” queried Hal, “if I pass the word to the gunboat and, have a file of marines come over to take charge of this spy?”

“First rate,” clicked Benson, and Kamanako looked decidedly uneasy.  He had his own reasons why he didn’t care to be placed under arrest by United States troops.

Eph, striking on his head, had been knocked senseless.  He was too strong, however, too full of vitality, to remain knocked out for long.  Now, he half opened his eyes, as he murmured: 

“How beautifully the birds are singing today!  And there’s mother, letting down the bars so the cows can go to the milking shed!”

Jack laughed, in spite of himself.  Then he turned to the Japanese.

“Kamanako, do you want to go quietly, or remain to see what the Navy officers do with you?”

“I go now,” replied the Japanese, with a shrug of his shoulders.

Turning, he started up the step, while Hal Hastings, regaining the deck before him, hailed one of the harbor boats.

Jack darted to where Eph was trying to sit up, and raised him to one of the cabin seats.

“What do you think, now, of jiu-jitsu?” asked the young captain.

“I don’t know,” confessed Somers, sheepishly.  “I didn’t see any of it.”

At this moment a stateroom door opened and Jacob Farnum thrust his head out.

“Anything happening?” inquired the ship builder.

“No, sir,” Jack answered.  “It’s all over.”

Mr. Farnum came out, to ask further particulars.  Williamson, as soon as he had seen the Japanese disappear up aloft, dropped his revolver back into his pocket, closing the engine room door.

Eph, however, had his own private idea of vengeance to execute.  Up the stairs he went, holding hard to the spiral rail, for he was still a bit dizzy.  Kamanako, having dropped into the stern of a shore boat, looked unconcerned as he was pulled away.

“Yah!” grunted Eph, shaking his fist.  “You kimono!  Kimono!  Kimono!”

“What does that mean when it’s translated?” inquired Hal, looking interested.

“That’s a Japanese insult,” grinned young Somers.

“Do you think Kamanako understands it?” queried Hastings.

“If he doesn’t then what good does it do him to be Japanese?” Eph demanded.

Jacob Farnum listened with great interest to what his young captain had to tell him.  David Pollard, being still asleep, had no notion, as yet, of what had happened.