“I am confident, sir,” he ended, “that Captain Scott has arms on board, and further, that Klinger is in much concern that he has brought them openly to this harbor when he might have landed them elsewhere.”
Commander Tazewell commended the midshipman for his energy. “It’s a difficult question to settle,” he said. “I have no proof of Scott’s nationality. He was born in San Francisco, they say, of Irish-Scotch parents. He has no right to sail under the Herzovinian flag unless his vessel is owned by people of that nation or he himself is a subject of that country.”
The commander paced his cabin for several minutes thoughtfully in silence. Upon his shoulders great responsibilities rested. Every act must be carefully considered. Where other nations were so intimately concerned, especially in the irritable political atmosphere of Kapua, where every white man’s hand seemed against his white neighbor and the poor, innocent native is but the instrument upon which the selfish desires are to be perpetrated, ill judged acts had best be avoided.
“I can’t see that we can do more now, Mr. Perry,” he added in finality. “I shall have the officer of the deck keep his weather eye on the ‘Talofa’ during the night.”
As Phil rejoined the officer of the deck, six bells were striking. The “Talofa” was in darkness except for her single anchor stay light. The night was quiet. The sea breeze had decreased in force.
It was not long before the watchers on the American war-ship discovered that the two canoe shaped barges of the Kapuan firm were being poled out toward the anchored schooner. When this was surely noted and reported to the captain, he ordered the boat be held ready and for Phil to stand by to return and investigate.
“Probably getting ready for the morning,” Lieutenant Morrison suggested.
“If there are arms there,” Phil replied, “and I am inclined to think there must be, Captain Scott will either try to unload to-night or else he will leave them in his holds until he arrives at a safer place.”
Faint sounds of creaking tackles and the noise of opening hatches came across the intervening water.
“They are going to unload to-night,” Phil exclaimed. “What a splendid nerve that fellow Captain Scott must have.”