To Phil the ceremony was very impressive. The day was beautiful and clear; a gentle breeze ruffled the deep green waters of the bay, and stirred lazily the tall cocoanut palms overhead. The loyal natives, supporters of Panu, in all their gorgeous coloring, and led by Tuamana, rose to their feet and sang their savage song of welcome to their king Malea-Toa Panu-Mafili.
The chief justice conducted the ceremony. He first read his decision. Then he gave the oath to Panu. As the judge finished he raised his hand and the song to their king floated out upon the balmy air: “Panu o Tupu-e-Kapua.” O’Neil and Marley hauled away on the halliards, and as the great white, red and blue flag appeared above the tops of the cocoanut trees, the three war-ships boomed forth a national salute in its honor. The Herzovinian war-ship alone remained sullenly silent.
Panu-Mafili was now the rightful king. Five miles away at Vaileli, Kataafa and his five thousand warriors were camped. Panu could muster barely a thousand men, and hardly a hundred guns.
“We have him on the throne,” Phil heard the admiral exclaim as each officer beginning with the American naval commander-in-chief pressed forward to congratulate the young king. “But we’ve got to hold him on with our bayonets.”
At noon the British war-ship was under way, and standing out of the harbor. Commander Tazewell, the midshipmen and Alice watched her go from the consulate porch.
“Where’s she going?” Alice asked in great surprise, for not an hour ago the war-ship’s captain, Commander Sturdy, had been present at the coronation of the new king.
“She’s going to the island of Kulila,” Commander Tazewell told his hearers guardedly, for there were many natives on the lawn in front of the house and within ear-shot. “The island, you know, is about sixty miles to windward[41] and the inhabitants are almost entirely loyal to the Malea-Toa family, of which Panu is the acknowledged head. Commander Sturdy has agreed to bring a shipload of natives and arm them from his own stock of guns. That will give us at least five hundred reënforcements.”
The allies at once began to prepare their forces for serious work. Companies of the loyal natives were being mustered in with English and American sailormen to lead them, while white officers were designated to command the combinations made by joining several companies. In all, a force of eight native companies of a hundred men each, armed with American and English rifles, was encamped in the Malae under the command of Lieutenant Tupper of the British cruiser; while encamped along the main street of Ukula five hundred English and American sailors were ready in addition to aid in repelling an attack by the old fox Kataafa, who had been himself now declared a rebel by Admiral Spotts.
The count and Klinger did not long remain in Ukula. That afternoon they departed quietly to Vaileli plantation.
During the afternoon Phil and Sydney rode with Commander Tazewell along the Siumu road. All three were armed with revolvers, but no sailors or natives were taken along.