Mr. Lee and Judge Lindsay were both jubilant over the turn of affairs, while Alice fairly danced with joy. Miss Lee, quiet and dignified, rather shrank from the thought of possible bloodshed. There was only one drop of bitterness in Alice’s joy. Phil insisted that Avao should not be told until after the “Sacramento” had entered the harbor, and landed her men. He feared the fatal custom of women’s gossip among the Kapuans.
“I sincerely hope this strong stand of our admiral will have the required effect, and that we shall have no further bloodshed,” Mr. Lee said solemnly.
“There can be no lasting peace in Kapua, Lee,” the judge exclaimed earnestly, “so long as the islands are administered by three rapacious beasts and animals of prey. A lion and two eagles can never act in harmony. It is best for the people that only one should govern. Herzovinia has the greatest interests on this island; she should govern it. Our presence is but a stick in the molasses.”
“I agree with you in principle, judge,” Mr. Lee replied, “but even you are not willing to see one nation, in deliberate disregard of the treaty rights of others, seize what is not hers.”
“That, my dear sir, is not a matter of politics, but of morals,” the judge answered. “Let us decide the justice of the situation; but after that is determined then I am anxious to see this triple government at an end.”
When Phil left the consulate the two officials were yet deep in their discussion. As he hurried toward the landing he noted that the town was almost deserted of the usual crowd that gathered along the main thoroughfare at this time of the early evening. The “Talola” at Vaileli was going to be popular.
As Phil’s boat rounded to alongside of the gangway, the “Talofa” had just anchored within a few cables’ length of the “Sitka.”
Preparations were being carried forward with great expedition on board both the American and British war-ships, but everything was being done so quietly that no suspicion had so far been aroused on board the other cruiser anchored only a short distance away from each of the allies.
As the ship’s bell sounded two strokes (nine o’clock) a long line of boats filled with armed sailors shoved off from the two ships and were towed by steam launches swiftly toward the shore. Phil and Sydney accompanied Commander Tazewell in their towing steam launch. The “Talofa” had been turned over to a squad of sailormen under a petty officer, to prevent the native crew from attempting to take her out of the harbor.
Phil’s eyes were upon the dark outlines of the Herzovinian war-ship as they passed close alongside of her. There was a grim smile of satisfaction in Commander Tazewell’s face as he heard loud voices raised in the guttural Herzovinian tongue, apparently the officer of the watch berating the men on lookout for their slackness. Then came a hurrying of footsteps upon the deck and finally a hail in broken English.