“And then after that if your instructions coming on our war-ship should be not to hoist the flag?” Klinger asked. “What then?”
“Then I shall send a war-ship to Auckland post-haste to tell what I have done, and to wait for an answer, and then hasten back here.” The count smiled proudly as his plan unfolded itself. “Our government could then wait to see how the news was received. If they saw it was embarrassing they could order the flag hauled down. If not, then it would remain flying permanently.”
“I have that lease of land at Tua-Tua made by Chief Moanga to the American captain,” Klinger said jubilantly, showing the document, “and Scott has gone across to get Moanga’s signature to one I drew up for the ‘firm,’ and to destroy the other duplicate.”
The count nodded. “Tua-Tua we should keep, but the United States government may succeed in getting the island of Kulila after all. She has had her eyes on it for many years, and doubtless thinks her claim is first. We would not fight her for it, so unless we can win out through diplomacy it will be hers.”
“Little good it will do her,” Klinger said savagely, “when the Kapuan firm owns the only water-front that is not full of quicksand.”
The count chuckled. “We statesmen can always receive a lesson from a clever merchant. No doubt the United States will be forced to pay a fancy price for your land when she makes up her mind to build a naval station there. By the way,” he added, “I thought Scott was intent upon saving his skin, and had sailed for the Fijis.”
“That was his intention,” Klinger replied, “but he ran into Fangaloa Bay for water, and heard you owned the government; so he sent me word he was staying around to get a cargo of copra, and incidentally to coax back his mate Stump.”
“And you sent him to Tua-Tua on a mission to Chief Moanga?” the count asked pointedly. “What does he receive for that service?”
“Stump,” Klinger replied. “He also got a cargo of copra to be landed in Suva.”
The count shook his head doubtfully. “That’s a serious business, to seize an American and ‘shanghai’ him,” he said.