Takishima took the paper from Phil’s hand and cast his eyes listlessly over the first line. Then his face relaxed and he drew himself up smartly, reading now quickly and eagerly the words before him. “TO LIEUTENANT TAKISHIMA, “_via_ U. S. S. ‘ALASKA.’ “His Majesty our Emperor has commanded me to inform you that your zeal, patriotism and good judgment under trying circumstances, which have come to his august notice, have caused him to honor you with the ‘Order of the Rising Sun of the First Class’ and appoint you one of His Majesty’s naval aides. I take pleasure in congratulating you on your high good fortune. “KAMIKURA, “_Minister of Marine_.” Then for several minutes after he had finished, his head remained sunk on his breast and his eyes on the floor. Phil had laid his hand affectionately on his shoulder, while in his eyes was a slight trace of manly tears. Takishima turned and both lads saw the joy in his face. “I don’t deserve it,” he said humbly, “and I owe His Majesty’s clemency to you, I feel sure.” “To your own high sense of honor and patriotism to your Emperor,” Phil answered earnestly. It was fortunate that the day after the “Sylvia’s” arrival in Yokohama, the “Alaska” was to return to Manila to rejoin the fleet, which was under orders to return to the United States. If the “Alaska” had stayed longer it is sure that the midshipmen’s heads would have been completely turned by the many honors heaped upon them. On the night before sailing there was given a large dinner by Admiral Kamikura, the memory of which remained long in Phil’s mind. His neighbors at the table were Helen and Takishima, and the atmosphere was electric with good fellowship. No cloud marred the clear sky of understanding. After the dinner there was a small party collected at the embassy to bid farewell to the ambassador and his daughter, and to them the midshipmen told the full story of the cruise of the “Sylvia.” “It wasn’t until the Japanese fleet had arrived in Singapore and reported no trace of the Chinese squadron that we were sure that you had been successful,” Captain Rodgers explained after Phil had recounted the adventure. “And then in five days more, and meanwhile nothing had been heard from the ‘phantom fleet,’ as it was called in the American newspapers,” he continued, “we heard that the Japanese fleet had returned to Japan.” “Then the Minister of Marine came to me,” the ambassador took up the thread of the story where Captain Rodgers had left off, “and asked if Captain Rodgers and I still desired the audience with the Emperor. “I assured him above all things it was desired, and the next day the audience was an accomplished fact and the new treaty the outcome.” The ambassador beamed down upon the attentive midshipmen.