Banzai! | Page 8

enemy's blockade and which carries
contraband goods for Manila surely has the right to ask to be guided
through the mines."
Parrington felt for the railing behind him and leaned against it for

support. His face became ashen pale, and he seemed so utterly
nonplussed at the German officer's statement that the latter, gradually
beginning to comprehend the extraordinary situation, continued his
explanation.
"Yes," he repeated, "for six days your country has been at war with
Japan, and it was only natural we should suppose that you, as one of
those most nearly concerned, would be aware of this fact."
Parrington, regaining his self-control, said: "Then the cable
disturbances--" He stopped, then continued disjointedly: "But this is
terrible; this is a surprise such as we-- I beg your pardon," he went on
in a firm voice to the German, "I am sure I need not assure you that
your communication has taken me completely by surprise. Not a soul in
Manila has any idea of all this. The cable disturbances of the last six
days were explained to us by a Japanese steamer as being the result of a
volcanic outbreak, and since then, through the interruption of all
connections, we have been completely shut off from the outside world.
If Japan, in defiance of all international law, has declared war, we here
in Manila have noticed nothing of it, except, perhaps, for the entire
absence, during the last few days, of the regular steamers and, indeed,
of all trading ships, a circumstance that appeared to some of us rather
suspicious. But excuse me, we must act at once. Please remain on
board."
The Mindoro's whistle emitted three shrill screeches, while the gunboat
steamed at full speed toward Corregidor.
Parrington went into his cabin, opened his desk, and searched through
it with nervous haste. "At last!" He seized the war-signal code and ran
upstairs to the bridge, shouting to the signalman: "Signal to Corregidor:
'War-signal code, important communication.'" Then he himself, hastily
turning over the leaves of the book, called out the signals and had them
hoisted. Then he shouted to the man at the helm: "Tell them not to
spare the engines."
Parrington stood in feverish expectation on the bridge, his hands
clinched round the hot iron bars of the breastwork and his eyes

measuring the rapidly diminishing distance between the Mindoro and
the landing place of Corregidor. As the Mindoro turned into the
northern passage between Corregidor and the mainland, the chain of
mountains, looking like banks of clouds, which surrounded Manila,
became visible in the far distance across the blue, apparently boundless
surface of the Bay, while the town itself, wrapped in the white mist that
veiled the horizon, remained invisible. At this moment Parrington
observed a dark cloud of smoke in the direction of the harbor of Manila
suddenly detaching itself from below and sailing upward like a
fumarole above the summit of a volcano, where it dispersed in bizarre
shapes resembling ragged balls of cotton. Almost immediately a dull
report like a distant thunderclap boomed across the water.
"Can that be another of their devilish tricks?" asked Parrington of the
German, drawing his attention to the rising cloud, the edges of which
glistened white as snow in the bright sunshine.
"Possibly," was the laconic answer.
The wharf of Corregidor was in a state of confused hubbub. The
artillerymen stood shoulder to shoulder, awaiting the arrival of the
Mindoro. Suddenly an officer forced his way through the crowd, and,
standing on the very edge of the wharf, called out to the rapidly
approaching Mindoro: "Parrington, what's all this about?"
"It's true, every word of it," roared the latter through the megaphone.
"The Japanese are attacking us, and the German steamer over there is
the first to bring us news of it. War broke out six days ago."
The Mindoro stopped and threw a line, which was caught by many
willing hands and made fast to the landing place.
"Here's my witness," shouted Parrington across to Colonel Prettyman,
"the commander of the German steamer Danzig."
"I'll join you on board," answered Prettyman. "I've just despatched the
news to Manila by wireless. Of course they won't believe it there."

"Then you've done a very stupid thing," cried Parrington, horrified.
"Look there," he added, pointing to the cloud above the harbor of
Manila; "that has most certainly cost our friend Harryman, of the
Monadnock, his life. His presentiments did not deceive him after all!"
"Cost Harryman, on board the Monadnock, his life?" asked Prettyman
in astonishment.
"I'm afraid so," answered Parrington. "The Japanese steamer which
brought us the news of the famous seaquake has been anchored beside
him for four days. When you sent your wireless message to Manila, the
Japanese must have intercepted it, for they have a wireless apparatus on