“Passed Chinese squadron at Colombo one week ago. Saw great deal of smoke yesterday to the northward. Has war been declared yet?” “Don’t seem to be necessary to ask with whom,” Sydney exclaimed. “Apparently our affairs are being talked of out in the world.” “What shall I answer?” O’Neil asked. “Tell them yes, and that Turkey has won the first victory on the sea,” Phil directed calmly, a twinkle in his eyes. “They make me tired!” he exclaimed angrily. “It looks as if they were only too anxious to see Japan and the United States at each other’s throats.” O’Neil sent the message with a gleeful smile on his face and then quickly penciled the answer: “Please repeat. Why Turkey? You don’t mean the United States, do you?” “Say ‘hardly,’ and then ‘good-bye,’ and let them guess until they reach Yokohama,” Phil said savagely. “I’ll change our course about a point,” he said thoughtfully. “By to-morrow, if it’s clear, we should see the smoke of the Japanese fleet.” CHAPTER XXI THE JAPANESE FLEET Phil held a conference with Captain Bailey, and much against that mariner’s idea of caution, the “Sylvia’s” bow was turned farther to the westward. “You’re taking big chances,” the captain of the yacht volunteered, “but that’s not my affair. I’ve my orders from Mr. Impey to go where you tell me.” Impey had not failed to notice the change of course, and very soon afterward approached Phil as he came aft from the bridge, meanwhile having consulted Captain Bailey and seen the course laid down on the chart. “You are losing valuable time,” he exclaimed peevishly. “You should get in communication with Manila as soon as possible.” Phil shrugged his shoulders provokingly, while Impey flushed, his eyes flashing in his annoyance. “Mr. Impey, remember your word given us not to interfere with the movements of this yacht,” the midshipman replied coldly. “There are other staterooms below capable of being locked, and Marley can attend to two gentlemen under restraint as easily as one.” Impey saw the fruitlessness of further argument and subsided with not very good grace. After supper that evening the fog cleared away and a breeze sprang up from the northward. The yacht kept up its rapid pace and the midshipmen decided that a watch should be kept by one of them at all times in order to see that nothing was done either to change the course or run the yacht into unnecessary danger. O’Neil was called and the plan of watches was told him, Marley continuing upon his duty of guarding Lieutenant Takishima. “We must keep our eyes open for the Japanese ships,” Phil explained, “and yet not get too close to them. We are running without lights and should see them sooner than they will us, for they are not expecting us, while we are seeking them. They know that we have eluded the destroyer sent after us, but not knowing the high speed of the yacht, probably think that we are much to the northward and eastward.