“Yes, there is; but I’ve got it putty straight that the Polks, father an’ son,--an’ the son, Nuggy, is wuss nor his dad,--are doin’ their best to squeeze him out of it.” “And where is Mr. Bartlett, now?” “In Tien-Tsin, China, or else at Shanghai.” “And how are they going to squeeze him out?” “If you’ll tell me, I’ll tell you,” laughed Captain Ponsberry. “I guess the Polks have a way all their own. But they’ll do it, for I’ve heard that they have squeezed out others. Nuggy Polk is on his way now to China, to see what he can do toward ousting Bartlett out of the concern. The Polks know they have a good thing, an’ I guess they want to keep it right in the family.” “You say he is on his way to China. Is he here?” “He was here a few days ago. I think he sailed for Hong Kong yesterday.” “I wish I had seen him. Perhaps he could have given me some information.” “Not he--if he thought you were after some money due your father,” returned Captain Ponsberry, with a sharp shake of his head. “The Polks are close-fisted to the last degree. You won’t get a cent from them unless you wring it by main force.” “Then I’ll wring it by main force--if I find that some money is really due me,” answered Gilbert, with determination. Captain Ponsberry now invited the pair to his cabin; and the three went below, and discussed the situation for the best part of an hour. During this talk, Gilbert learned that the affairs of the Importing Company were almost entirely in the hands of the Polks, who had forced out a man named Redmund and an old widow named Van Vechen, both of Richmond. Amos Bartlett was now the only outsider holding stock, and it was the captain’s opinion that Nuggy Polk’s sole reason for going to China was to get the old merchant to sell out his holding. “An’, if he won’t sell out, he’ll be squeezed out,” added the captain. “But I guess the Polks will get him to sell out by showin’ him papers an’ statements to prove thet the company ain’t making any money an’ is in debt.” “But you say they are doing well?” “So they are, too. I had a search made afore I agreed to carry for ’em.” “Then a statement to the contrary would be a fraud,” put in Larry. “Exactly. But what could Bartlett prove if the hull thing was done in secret?” “It won’t be done in secret--not if I can help it,” said Gilbert; and there the conversation came to an end. CHAPTER V GILBERT MEETS NUGGY POLK The two transports which were to take the soldiers from Manila to China lay in the harbor off the Anda Monument; but several days were still to elapse before the first of them should set sail on her momentous voyage to Nagasaki, Japan, the first stopping-place. Where the transport was to go after that, none of the under officers or privates knew. The duty of the American soldier is to obey orders, and not ask questions.