“Softly, Mr. Perry,” Impey returned boldly. “I can be of use to you yet, and at the same time serve my own ends. You see,” he added, “I can now be entirely honest with you, because you have found out my secrets.” “We can never trust you,” Sydney exclaimed. “I think, Phil, it’s best for us to have nothing to do with this man.” “I have but a short time to tell you what you can do, if you will agree, because I fear a warrant will be out for my arrest before midnight, but by then I hope to be on board the ‘Alaska.’” Phil waved his hand patiently for Impey to continue. “Here’s the order from the Wai-Wu-Pu. It’s in Chinese, and will be honored by the Chinese admiral.” Impey drew an official document from his pocket and placed it on the table before him. “The ‘Sylvia’ is there with steam up and bunkers full of coal. She is faster than anything in Japan but a torpedo boat, or destroyer. If you slip out during the night you can get safely away, and no one will guess her mission.” Phil heard Captain Rodgers’ step in the hall and then heard his door close. Excusing himself hastily and bidding Sydney to detain Impey, he knocked and went into the captain’s room. “Pardon my abruptness, sir,” he exclaimed, “but there is a serious matter which I want you to decide for us to-night.” Then he detailed calmly but quickly everything that had been learned since their consultation in the afternoon. “If you will give Mr. Monroe and me indefinite leave, I believe we can without international complications prevent the Japanese from seizing the Chinese ships.” Captain Rodgers’ eyes opened in astonishment. “I can’t tell you, sir, just how it can be done, but we shall go in the yacht ‘Sylvia,’” he added eagerly. “Bless me!” Captain Rodgers exclaimed. “I’ll take the chance. Go by all means, and you had best take O’Neil with you; he’s a handy man to have in such an expedition. He and Marley were waiting to see you on the driveway as I came in. Take both of them, and don’t get us farther involved in this international muddle than we are already.” Phil thanked his captain and shook his hand warmly. “I have warned the ambassador about Impey,” Captain Rodgers added. “It seems he has been completely taken in by the man. “I have wired the President of the United States asking to be allowed to give his letter to the Minister of State. I was instructed, as you know, to deliver it only into the hands of the Emperor. I am sure if that letter were read by the Japanese government that Captain Inaba would be recalled by wireless.” After leaving the captain’s room Phil went at once to where O’Neil and Marley were waiting. Taking the boatswain’s mate aside, he gave him hurried but detailed instructions. “You can depend on us, sir,” O’Neil answered, quite calmly. “We’ll all be on board the yacht when you arrive. It looks like ugly weather, sir,” he added glancing aloft at the scudding clouds. “The Japs won’t be keeping much of a watch to-night.”