CHAPTER XXVI
BEN MEETS CAPTAIN BARUSKY
For several days poor Ben remained a prisoner aboard of the smallsteamer. During that time only two men came near him--an under officerand the sailor who supplied him with food and water. Neither wouldanswer his questions, so he could not learn where he was being taken orwhat was to be done with him.
One evening there was a slight commotion on the deck, and the course ofthe steamer was changed. Then came a blowing of steam whistles lastingseveral minutes. Finally the steamer came to a standstill.
"You are to leave this vessel at once," said the under officer, as heopened the door of the young captain's temporary prison. "Come, we haveno time to spare."
"Where am I to go?" questioned Ben.
"You will soon learn. Hurry!"
There was no help for it, and soon Ben was on deck. He was made to entera small boat and was thus transferred to another steamer--one which hadformerly been in the East Indian trade but which was now acting as aRussian supply boat.
"What a dirty craft!" was his mental comment, after having been thrustinto a pen which was little better than a horse stall. The supply boatwas loaded to its fullest capacity, so quarters for all on board werelimited.
Two days passed and he received food which was scarcely fit to eat. Whenhe protested he was threatened with a flogging. The air was foul and hebegan to fear that he would become sick.
"I won't be able to stand this much longer," he thought, dismally. "Ifthey want to kill me why don't they do it at once and have done withit?"
On the following morning a surprise awaited him. He heard two Russianofficers pause in front of his pen and one said to the other:
"Here is the prisoner, Captain Barusky."
"Is it the fellow named Russell?" was the question from Captain Barusky,the rascal who had aided Ivan Snokoff to make so much trouble forGilbert Pennington.
"The same."
"They did not capture his friend?"
"No--in the struggle he slipped away."
"I am sorry for that. We wanted Pennington more than we did this fellow.But I am glad we got at least one of them. As I understand it they workhand-in-glove with each other;" and then the two Russian officers passedon.
Like a flash Ben realized the truth of the situation. His taking off hadbeen a trap set by Snokoff and this Captain Barusky, who had hired theChunchuses to help work out their plot. He was now in the hands of theenemy in more ways than one.
"They won't treat me as an ordinary prisoner," he reasoned. "ThisCaptain Barusky will make it as hard as possible for me--more especiallyso as Gilbert managed to escape his clutches. Well, I am glad Gilbertgot away."
Resolved to "take the bull by the horns," Ben asked the prison guard ifhe might speak to Captain Barusky.
"I will see about it," answered the sailor, and went off to find out. Onhis return he stated that the captain would visit the pen some timeduring the day.
The Russian officer came late in the afternoon, when nobody else wasnear the pen. There was a sarcastic look on his face when he gazed atthe young captain.
"So you want to talk to me," he said, abruptly.
"I do, Captain Barusky. I want to know why this plot was laid againstme."
"I know of no plot. You are an American in the employ of the JapaneseGovernment as a spy. Russia captures all the Japanese spies she can."
"I am no spy."
The Russian shrugged his shoulders. "That is what your friend, CaptainPennington, once told me, too. Yet as soon as he got out of Port Arthurhe was made a captain in the Mikado's army."
"He applied for the position because the Russians had mistreated him andbecause he loves active service."
"Have it as you please, Russell; both of you are spies, and you willhave to suffer as one."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Since you seem so anxious to know, I will tell you, for I do not thinkyou will be able to take the news to the Japanese. This boat is carryingsupplies to Port Arthur."
"Port Arthur!"
"That is what I said. When we arrive there you will be placed in one ofthe strongest of our prisons at the port. Do you not admire theprospect?"
"Well, if you take me to Port Arthur, perhaps I shan't be a prisonerlong," replied Ben, resolved to put on as bold a front as possible.
"And why not?" demanded Captain Barusky, curiously.
"Because our army and our navy are bound to capture the place."
"Bah! The Japanese will never take Port Arthur. It is absurd to think ofit."
"It may not come right away--but it will come sooner or later."
"Never! But if it should, you will not be there to enjoy our downfall.Remember that spies are tried, and if found guilty they are taken outand shot."
"You cannot prove that I am a spy."
"That remains to be seen."
"If you bring me before the court I'll have something to say about yourunderhanded work with Ivan Snokoff. I can prove that he is a swindlerand that you are his accomplice."
"Ha! you threaten me!" roared Captain Barusky, in a rage. "Have a care!I come from a most respectable family and I have great influence."
"Nevertheless, I think those who are higher in authority than yourselfwill listen to my story. The Russian army officers are as a rulegentlemen and strictly honest."
"Which means to say that I am not a gentleman and not honest!" bellowedCaptain Barusky. "That, for your opinion!" And reaching out he gave Bena ringing box on the ear.
It was the last straw. With no fresh air and no food fit to eat, theyoung captain was desperate, and leaping forward he struck at theRussian captain's nose. His fist went true, and as Barusky staggeredback against the pen door the blood spurted from his nasal organ.
"Don't you dare to hit me again!" panted Ben, standing before theRussian with both hands clenched. "Don't you dare--or you'll get theworst of it!"
His manner made Captain Barusky cower back, and he glared at Ben withthe ferocity of a wild beast. Then he called to the guard.
"Run for aid, Petrovitch," he said. "The prisoner has attacked me. He isa beast, and must be chained up."
The man addressed summoned three other sailors and the captain of theship's guard. All came into the pen and forced Ben into a corner.
"The Yankee dog!" said the captain of the guard. "To dare to strike aRussian officer! Bring the chains at once!"
Chains were brought, and soon Ben was bound hands and feet, with linksthat weighed several pounds. Then a large staple was driven into one ofthe uprights of the pen and he was fastened to this with a padlock.
"Now place him on half-rations," said Captain Barusky. "It is the onlyway to tame him." And then he hurried away to bathe his nose, which wasswelling rapidly.
If Ben had been miserable before he was doubly so now. The chains werecumbersome and cut into his flesh, and being fastened to the upright hecould scarcely move a foot either way. To add to his misery the front ofthe pen was boarded over, so that what little light had been admitted tohis prison was cut off.
In this wretched condition he passed a full week. In that time CaptainBarusky came to peep in at him three times, and on each occasion triedto say something to make him still more dispirited. The food was so badhe could not eat and the air often made his head ache as if it wouldcrack open.
"If this is a sample of Russian prison life it's a wonder all theprisoners don't go mad," he reasoned. "A few months of this would surelykill me."
At the end of the week Ben heard firing at a distance. The supply boatwas now trying to steal into Port Arthur and had been discovered by aJapanese patrol boat. The craft was struck twice and the prisoner belowheard a wild commotion on the deck, as one of the funnels was carriedaway. But darkness favored the Russians, and inside of two hours thesupply boat passed into Port Arthur harbor without sustaining furtherdamage. She was then directed to a proper anchorage by the harbormaster; and on the following day the transfer of her cargo to thestorehouses on shore
was begun.
For several days longer Ben was kept on the boat. Then, one wet and coldmorning, he was liberated and told to march on deck. From the vessel hewas taken to a big stone building which was being used as one of thegarrison quarters. Here he was given a scant hearing in the presence ofCaptain Barusky, who appeared against him.
"We have no time to investigate your case at present, Captain Russell,"said the officer who conducted the examination. "But from reports Ishould surmise that you are a dangerous young man. You must remain aprisoner." And then the young captain was taken away. Later on, he wasmarched a distance of half a mile and blindfolded. When the bandage wasremoved from his eyes, he found himself in an old stone building, dirtyand neglected. He was taken to a small room, having a grated window, andthrust inside. Six other prisoners were put into the apartment with him,one man with a hacking cough, dreadful to hear. The door was closed andbarred; and all were left to take care of themselves as best they could.
At the Fall of Port Arthur; Or, A Young American in the Japanese Navy Page 27