He was given a full account of the incident, and appeared very much relieved.
“When I heard the shots and the answering rocket from the war-ship,” he exclaimed, “I at once imagined that Kataafa was attacking Ukula. I have my men ready and the boats lowered,” he added. “Thought I’d come ashore to look about first. I was going to camp them in the British consul’s yard.”
The party, with the exception of Avao, returned to the American consulate. The “Tapau,” with an innocent smile and a cheery “Talofa, Alii,”[25] slipped away by a “bush” trail.
“What we need, Tazewell,” the British captain declared as the “lanai” was reached and all were seated quietly, “is information. We must send out scouts and find out where this Kataafa has gone and what that fellow Klinger is up to. Our mysterious count,” he added, “is not out purely for pleasure.”
“I have been thinking over a plan,” Commander Tazewell replied. “This Captain Scott is an American citizen and is sailing under the Herzovinian flag. His mate, Stump, who deserted him, has given us evidence that he came into Ukula with ‘blacks’ for the Kapuan firm and guns for Klinger. All circumstances seem to show that we shall find everything we are searching for at Saluafata. That’s the Herzovinian port, leased to their government, and I dare not send there to arrest him. But I can send a party by land to observe and bring us news.”
“Right-oh!” the British captain agreed. “I think I’ll send my steam pinnace to fish along the edge of the reef toward Saluafata. There’s rare fishing there. Have you ever trolled for these big Kapuan bonitos, using pearl-shell hooks?” he asked. “I have a lieutenant who is keen on it.”
Preparations were made at once for an early start on the morrow. The distance to Saluafata by trail was about fifteen miles, and by water scarcely ten. A code of signals was decided upon to facilitate communication between the American land party and the British steam launch. Mr. Lee took upon himself the supply of ponies. The two midshipmen and O’Neil were selected by Commander Tazewell to go.
“I’ll send them openly,” Commander Tazewell said, as the naval officers rose to take their departure from the consulate; “in uniform, of course.”
Alice Lee endeavored in vain to win her father’s permission to go along with the midshipmen. “I may be able to help them,” she declared. “I know the trail and speak Kapuan.”
The midshipmen and O’Neil were on the dock at an early hour the next day. There they found three intelligent little ponies waiting them. Phil carried a sketch chart of the road to be taken.