“It’s a big ocean, ain’t it?” O’Neil said thoughtfully.
Phil stepped down into the whale-boat and was soon being rowed across to the war-ship. The admiral wished to hear the news directly and from Phil in person.
CHAPTER XIX
A REËNFORCEMENT
Rear Admiral Spotts, whose flag was flown at the masthead of the cruiser “Sacramento,” wasted no time in drawing from Phil the complete story of everything that had happened in Kapua.
The captain of the flag-ship and the admiral’s flag-lieutenant were both present in the cabin and followed the lad’s narrative with great interest and amazement.
Phil told of the decision by the chief justice for Panu-Mafili, and then the attack upon Ukula by Kataafa and his warriors, armed with guns purchased apparently from the Kapuan firm, of the appointment of Count Rosen as governor, and the appeal for annexation to Herzovinia.
“I think I can now see,” the admiral declared, “why the Washington government sent a revenue cutter post-haste from San Francisco to Honolulu to order me to proceed with my flag-ship to Kapua. A great wrong,” he added earnestly, “has been done the treaty, and my duty is clearly to set it right, by force if necessary. I shall consider this Count Rosen an adventurer.
“Yet,” he said after a few thoughtful minutes, “you say the count is prepared against my coming. When those of the ‘de facto’ government see our ship approaching, they are ready to take the responsibility of hoisting the Herzovinian flag over Kapua. Then I shall be powerless; only an order from Herzovinia can remove the badge of annexation. What we do after that will not be an act against the government of Kapua. It will be against the sovereignty of Herzovinia.”
A plan had suddenly flashed through Phil’s mind. The admiral was quick to see the sudden eagerness in the midshipman’s face. A kindly smile spread slowly over his own grizzled countenance.
“You have something rash and daring in mind, I am sure,” he said, half in amusement, but half seriously. “You have the local color and inspiration of contact. Tell us your plan.”