But suddenly, without a word being said, Takishima slowly lowered his gun and placed it back in its holster, and then hastily left the group, walking silently aft. “Look out he doesn’t commit suicide or jump overboard, Syd!” Phil exclaimed with a sigh of relief, as he made his way swiftly to the bridge. “Which way are you going?” he inquired anxiously. “Pretty nearly straight back,” Captain Bailey replied quickly. “She’ll look for us farther along on our old course. If the fog holds for another hour she’ll never see us again. I am going to run close down inside the islands, and when we see the northern island of the Philippines then we can shape our course wherever you like.” The midshipman nodded approvingly. Captain Bailey knew what he was about. Phil talked a short time longer, telling of how they had turned the tables on the unsuspecting Japanese lieutenant, and then went aft to look up Takishima and endeavor to console him. He came upon him sitting disconsolate in a chair abaft the mainmast; Sydney stood near, but from appearances there had been no communication between the two former friends. Phil was on the point of joining them when he saw that O’Neil and Marley were waiting to speak to him, so he stopped. “What’s the trouble, O’Neil?” he asked anxiously. “No strike below, I hope; if there is we’ll all have to go down and shovel coal. If we are caught now we can be truly called pirates. Did you ever want to be a pirate, Marley?” he asked jestingly. The sailor turned red and stammered out something which Phil did not see the necessity of understanding whether his answer were yes or no. “Bill and I have been thinking, sir, how we might improve on the looks of this here yacht,” O’Neil answered importantly. Phil caught the idea at once. “Bully for you, O’Neil!” he exclaimed admiringly. “You can do anything except cut down her speed; but what do you propose?” The sailor cast his eye knowingly about him. “Well, sir,” he replied thoughtfully, “she’s black now; a coat of white paint wouldn’t be amiss, and a little fancy painting on the smoke-stacks and mast might hide the fact that she’s a yacht. All this bright brass can be painted too. If you say the word,” he added, “me and Bill with those pen-pushers of Mr. Impey’s can start in at once.” “Go right ahead,” Phil said offhand. “I am sure Mr. Impey is willing, and if he happens not to be we won’t ask him.” O’Neil saluted, and he and Marley went off to find material and men to help carry out his designs, while Phil continued on down the deck to where Takishima was seated. He laid his hand affectionately upon the lieutenant’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you, Taki, how sorry I am that we had to play this trick on you,” he said in a low earnest voice, “but it’s better that we should be simply not friends than real enemies.” Takishima raised a haggard face to that of the midshipman. Phil saw that his humiliation was great, and his heart smote him.