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AN OBJECT LESSON. 227
have recently had a war with Mexico, a country near
by ;
but though they won many battles, they
did not
subjugate the country."
"Are these the same ships, soldiers, and cannon
that were used in Mexico ? "
cers
"Yes; the Admiral Perry and many of his offi-
and men were there, and some of the very cannon
on that big paddle-wheel steamer formed a
battery at Vera Cruz, which in a few hours battered
the walls to rubbish. Our castle walls would not be
of much avail against such artillery,
and besides the
shells could set all Yedo on fire in a few hours."
" I have heard, too, that the Americans are great
in invention and have made many wonderful discoveries.
' Is it not so ? "
" Yes ;
and I hope Perry has brought some machines
and will show them. To see how they talk
at the end of a wire would be the delight of my
life."
Each of the two friends had a secret purpose,
which neither communicated to the other. Okuraa
fortunately knew one of the
servants, named Kichibi,
employed in the gang about the treaty-house.
In figure, face, and tint of skin* weight, and walk,
man resembled him, and with him Okuma had
this
made a bargain while in Yedo.
On the second night
after Perry's landing Okuma met him back of a
shrine just across the canal, below the slope on
which is now the foreign cemetery, and there borrowed
the servant's clothes, kitte", and pass-word.
He put on the tight trowsers shortened above the