The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

TRAVELLING BY JUNK. 271
turned towards those important cities. Tliere was no ditEculty in going
tliere, as tlie railway was in operation to Osalva, twenty miles, and to Ivioto,
tliirty miles farther on. But Frank was seized with an idea, whicli he
lost no time in communicating to his friends. It was this
"We can travel by rail almost anywhere," said he, "and needn't come
away from America to do so. Now, instead of going to Osaka by rail, which
wouldn't be anything remarkable, suppose we go by a Japanese junk.
I have been asking the hotel-keeper about it, and he says it is perfectly
easy to do so, and that we can sail tliere with a fair wind in a few hours."
Fred was in favor of the junk voyage on account of its novelty. Of
course, the Doctor was not likely to oppose any reasonable scheme that
would give his j'oung companions an opportunity to learn something, pro-
vided it did not consume too much time. Incjuiry showed that the voyage
could be made there with a fair wind, as Frank had suggested ; and, as
the wind happened to be all right and promised to continue, it was agreed
to go by jnnk on the following morning, provided there were no change.
A Japanese servant, who spoke English, was engaged from the hotel to
accompanj' the party during their journey. He was sent to find a junk
that was about to leave for Osaka, and in half an hour he returned with
the captain of one. It was soon settled that he was to bring his craft to
the anchorage near the hotel during the afternoon, and be ready to receive
his passengers and their luggage at daylight if the wind held good. The
THE JUNK AT ANXHOR.