The North Pacific

imson torch as if the forest were kindling where the rays were the hottest. Brown, golden, and scarlet leaves floated slowly downward to the ground; flocks of dark-winged birds drifted

whisper and rustle of the wind in the boughs overhead, the whirring

d, pounded, shouted orders, warnings, replies above the din that beat upon the ear like a blacksmith's blows upon an anvil. From the tall chimneys poured endless volumes of black smoke that were reflected in the blue waters of the river and mimicked by

n appearance and manner. Although their dress was that of the American gentleman, a very slight accent in their speech, their jet-black hair, and a trifling obliquity in their eyes, would have at once betrayed their nationality to a careful observer. He w

and black coats of correct Broadway cut-and asked if they wanted an attendant to show them about the works. The

rned to the river-side, and halted beside the huge ship that was on the stocks, almost ready for launching. Here for the first time their whole expression became

to another, nodding over his shoulder as

n undress uniform, with a full beard and stern countenance, w

rn ear as the language of the Ojibways. Then they bowed again, smiled and said "Thank you, sir," and moved away. The Russian of

with excited, but graceful gestures. Then one of them pointed to the snowy curve of the battleshi

lic: R

his own language, "She will have her trial trip late

hall

turned toward the gate. As they passed through, on their way out, they bowed and smiled to the gat

the deck of the Retvizan, which had lain all night in President's Roads, Boston Harbour, waiting for her trial trip. In five minutes m

om whose control the ship had not yet passed. There were lawyers, naval officers, engineers, and politicians, with one or two officials of the city and State government-all bound to have a good time, whether the Retvizan should prove slo

ted apparently in everything and everybody on board. Most of the Bos

e. "Better go ashore while there's time-

orted the young man. "The Bulletin mu

reporter that knew his b

hat will make you turn pale when you read it to-morrow morning," said

ics, backed by fine character and a sunny good-humour, made him a favourite with both his superiors and his comrades on the staff. Three years before this sea-trip Fred had been sent to Cuba as war correspondent f

abella Cueva, who subsequently appealed to him for protection, and whom, a few months la

would assert. "Talks Spanish like

the ship-building company, and the Russian crew, there were a number of

ought the best of references from Washington families, they were hired at once. It was true that they seemed unable to speak or to understand more than a few words of English, but their slight knowledge of the language appeared to be sufficient for their d

phia, and were soon equipped for their work, with white aprons and dark suits. Having with some difficulty made

y seem disconcerted. That was when a Russian under-officer, with bushy beard and moustache, put his head inside the cabin-door. One of the Japanese started so nervously that he nearly upset a

ad steward crossly, a minute later, when he had him

erstan'," said the little

retorted his superior. "Look sharp now, and atte

lance at the other, but neither said

ll the sign of human life it showed. Now, indeed, the vessel drew in, or, rather, the coastline veered eastward as if to intercept her in her swift course. The Magnolia shore came in sight, with its toy cottages and hotels, as deserted as autumn birds'-nests. Norman's Woe

r best pace for the crucial test of speed. A government tug was passed, and for ten miles the Retvizan ploughed her way fiercely northward, never deviating a foot to right or left, crushing the waves into a boiling cauld

sian Jackies, darted in and out of the cabins, and ranged boldly through the hidden passages below. In proce

ne of the three or four engineers, naval and civil, who were bu

And his hands were grasped and wrun

dn't guess you were

from the Academy, had been detached by the Navy Department to watch the trip of the Retvizan and report up

to the young reporter, who

Rexdale

nder before long, and may command one of the smaller vessels on this station-a despatch-boat or something of

asn't tended to produce a coldness, I suppose! But isn't that an awfully qui

Academy two years ahead of time, and promotions have been rapid all along the line. The man that commanded the gunboat Osprey, for instance, is now on an armoured cruiser, taking

'Sandy' and-what did yo

the East somewhere. Sandy's last letter was from

you. There's a queer crowd on board-

are they

apanese on a Russian man-of-war, conside

into the jarring, clanging, oily engine-room. He seemed a bit troubled to find

e?" he asked innocent

know of," replied Holme

said the Jap, after

n, in his offhand way, "wha

e reporter's frank, kindly

name to pronounce, if it is Japanese. Well

We from

" laughed Fred.

looked

d you le

"Un'erstan' ver' lee

on. Norman, good-bye. I'll look in on you agai

ther upward or downward, no one co

the fighting-tops. Singularly enough the other Japanese waiter, Oshima, was there before him. As Fred emerged on the circular platform, the boy thrust a scrap of paper under the folds of his jacket

keen wind to the shelter of the cabin, where, doubtless, the question of luncheon was already exciting interest. Beneath the fighting-top was the bridge, whe

ng the screw; that is, determining how many revolutions went to a given rate of speed. The engineers were busy with their calculations. Larkin joined t

ns? Had she passed the test successfully? These were the questions that flew to and fro among the passengers, crowding about the gangway beneath which the tug was soon rising and falling. At the last moment the approximate result of the engineers' calculations was given out. The ship had responded nobly to the demand upon her mighty machinery. Splendidly built throughout,

s, who must have forgotten even to ask for their wages. Certain it is that Oto and Oshima were among the very first