“We should not stop the ‘Alaska,’” he said decidedly. “What steps our Minister of Marine would take afterward I cannot say, but of course you know we would take all steps possible to insure Captain Inaba’s success.” “If you were sure America did not want the Chinese ships, your minister would be willing to have Captain Inaba fail, wouldn’t he?” Phil asked. “Yes, certainly,” Takishima answered without a moment’s hesitation. “Impey, as the agent of the builders of these ships, desires them to go to either the United States or Japan. “That is Captain Rodgers’ opinion,” Phil continued. “The ships were built for China, but as yet not paid for. Impey declares he has in his pocket an order from the Chinese council for the throne, the great Wai-Wu-Pu, to turn the ships over to the American government. If he were not the agent how could he get such an order?” Takishima shook his head in sign of mystery. “Cannot we manage to prevent either nation from getting them?” the midshipman asked excitedly. “Then all would be settled amicably.” “How could we do the impossible?” Takishima asked, his dark eyes sparkling. “Get this order from Impey. Use the ‘Sylvia’ and take the Chinese ships into Manila Bay,” Phil replied quickly. “Our admiral would look out for them and convey them back to China.” Takishima drew himself up stiffly. “What do you mean?” he gasped. “That I should betray my country, and deliver the ships into your admiral’s hands?” Phil in his earnestness had certainly made a blunder. “Phil means to put the Chinese ships out of the reach of both nations,” Sydney hastened to explain, and Phil nodded gratefully. “I can’t see how that can be done,” Takishima replied, after several minutes’ thought. “I am very sorry, but as a Japanese naval officer I cannot take any action that would defeat the aim of the Emperor. His Majesty has made his decision; that decision cannot be changed.” “Then you refuse to help us to avert this war!” Phil exclaimed. “There is nothing else honorable for me to do,” Takishima answered. CHAPTER XVIII A BOLD PLAN The midshipmen returned to their hotel in despair at the outcome of their plans to save a delicate situation. They had been in their room but a few minutes before there was a knock on their door and Robert Impey entered. Both lads looked up in annoyed surprise, for they had studiously avoided him at the embassy and had showed in their manner that the kindly feeling which they had entertained for him earlier had received a distinct check. The foreigner refused to be put aside by this evident coolness, but sat down in a vacant chair, gazing boldly at his accusers. “I see you have dug up the corpse,” he said, an ugly smile on his face. “Yes,” Phil hastened to reply, “we’ve learned of your two-faced dealings, and will be greatly obliged if you close the door from the outside.”