[Illustration: _HE SEIZED THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND_] A UNITED STATES MIDSHIPMAN IN JAPAN _by_ Lt. Com. Yates Stirling Jr. U.S.N. Author of “A U.S. Midshipman Afloat” “A U.S. Midshipman in China” “A U.S. Midshipman in the Philippines” [Illustration] Illustrated _by_ Ralph L. Boyer THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MCMXI COPYRIGHT 1911 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY [Illustration] Introduction Philip Perry and Sydney Monroe are young officers in the United States navy. Although they have been out of the Naval Academy less than two years, and are still ranked as midshipmen, they have seen active service, as related in “A United States Midshipman Afloat” and “A United States Midshipman in China.” “A United States Midshipman in the Philippines” tells how Phil, with Sydney for executive officer, commanded a small gunboat in expeditions against the insurgents. Boatswain Jack O’Neil has been with the lads in many of their hazardous adventures, and the three are now on the “U. S. S. Alaska” in Japanese waters. The story deals with a misunderstanding between the United States and the Island Kingdom. This complication causes a few days of anxiety to both nations, and gets some people into serious difficulties but, needless to say, it is purely fictitious. Contents I. THE MAN IN THE NEXT COMPARTMENT 9 II. IN THE EMPEROR’S GARDENS 20 III. WAR TALK 48 IV. STIRRING UP TROUBLE 67 V. WHO WROTE THE LETTER? 89 VI. BILL MARLEY’S FIST 117 VII. THE SECRET DOCUMENT 137 VIII. MISUNDERSTANDING 156 IX. MORE DISCOVERIES 176 X. CAPTAIN INABA 191 XI. PHIL CONFESSES 208 XII. THE CONSPIRATORS 224 XIII. THE QUARREL 235 XIV. THE YACHT “SYLVIA” 249 XV. INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY 258 XVI. THE DUEL 274 XVII. INDECISION 289 XVIII. A BOLD PLAN 306 XIX. ON THE HIGH SEAS 321 XX. THE “HATSUKE” 336 XXI. THE JAPANESE FLEET 352 XXII. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 369 XXIII. BY WIRELESS 384 Illustrations PAGE HE SEIZED THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND _Frontispiece_ “WHAT’S THE ROW, SIR?” 82 THE JAPANESE GENTLEMAN WENT DOWN 142 “THIS LETTER TALKS ABOUT A NAVAL REVIEW” 188 “YOU DESERVE A GOOD THRASHING FOR THIS” 242 “EXCEPT WHAT?” SHE ASKED 300 “THERE ARE AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE SHIPS” 358 A United States Midshipman in Japan CHAPTER I