human
Well, Saiksi, you perfected it, didn't you?--my invisible searchlight, that I hadn't money to go on with.
gpt
Metcalf--this you, he said,
human
But I came back to the service, Saiksi. Thanks to you and your light--my light, rather--I am in command here in place of men you blinded. Saiksi, you deserve no consideration from me, in spite of our rooming together at Annapolis. You took--I don't say stole--my invention, and turned it against the country that educated you. You, or your _confrères_, did this before a declaration of war. You are a pirate, and I could string you up to my signal-yard and escape criticism.
gpt
I was under orders from my superiors, Captain Metcalf.
human
They shall answer to mine. You shall answer to me. How many boats have you equipped with my light?
gpt
There are but three. It is very expensive.
human
One for our Philippine squadron, one for the Hawaiian, and one for the coast. You overdid things, Saiksi. If you hadn't set fire to that sealer the other day, I might not have found you. It was a senseless piece of work that did you no good. Oh, you are a sweet character! How do you get your ultraviolet rays--by filtration or prismatic dispersion?
gpt
By filtration.
human
Saiksi, you're a liar as well as a thief. The colored lights you use to attract attention are the discarded rays of the spectrum. No wonder you investigated me before you dared flash such a decoy! Well, I'm back in the navy, and I've been investigating you. As soon as I heard of the first symptom of sunburn, I knew it was caused by the ultraviolet rays, the same as from the sun; and I knew that nothing but my light could produce those rays at night time. And as a physician I knew what I did not know as an inventor--the swift amblyopia that follows the impact of this light on the retina. As a physician, too, I can inform you that your country has not permanently blinded a single American seaman or officer. The effects wear off.
gpt
Where is the Japanese fleet bound?
human
I do not know.
gpt
And would not tell, whether you knew or not. But you said you were helpless. What has happened to you? You can tell that.
human
A simple thing, Captain Metcalf. My supply of oil leaked away, and my engines must work slowly. Your signal was useless; I could not have turned on the light.
gpt
You have answered the first question. You are far from home without a mother-ship, or she would have found you and furnished oil before this. You have come thus far expecting the fleet to follow and strike a helpless coast before your supplies ran out.
human
I can refurnish your boat with oil, my engineer and my men can handle her, and I can easily learn to manipulate your--or shall I say _our_--invisible searchlight. Hail your craft in English and order all hands on deck unarmed, ready for transshipment to this boat. I shall join your fleet myself.
gpt
Ae-hai, ae-hai, Matsu. We surrender. We are prisoner. Call up all men onto the deck. Leave arms behind. We are prisoner.
human
You, too, Saiksi,
gpt
Is it not customary, Captain Metcalf, said the Jap,
human
Not the surrendered commander of a craft that uses new and deadly weapons of war unknown to her adversary, and before the declaration of war. Hold up your hands. You're going into irons with your men. All Japs look alike to me, now.