Phil and Sydney were in the consulate when Avao brought this sensational news.
Killing during a war was looked upon by the foreigners as in the order of things, but during peace times such crimes could not be tolerated.
“Give a child a gun,” Phil exclaimed, “and there’s no telling what will happen.”
Alice drew all the gruesome particulars from her native girl friend, and retailed them to the midshipmen.
“He did it just to see how his gun would shoot,” she told them. “And when he found the bullet wouldn’t kill the black boy at the first shot he walked up close and shot him twice more, then severed his head from his body and brought it to town to show the wonderful power of the rifle.”
“What will they do about it?” Sydney asked.
Alice shook her head.
“The murdered black belongs to the Kapuan firm,” she replied. “He was worth about a thousand dollars. Under the Kapuan law there is no penalty for murder, but under the laws of the treaty the penalty is death.”
Every one was greatly surprised when they heard that the murderer had been arrested by Johnny Upolu, on a warrant issued by the count himself, and he would be tried by the native court of Ukula.
The midshipmen and Alice did not miss the trial. It was simple, and after the episode was told, the accused refused to make any defense.