Klinger listened, greatly touched. All that he had told this honorable old warrior Klinger believed would come true. No other contingency, he thought, could possibly arise. Kataafa could march unopposed into Ukula and make himself king. The English and Americans could not land their men to oppose unless the Herzovinian consul also agreed to this action, and Carlson had given his word to the count. There might possibly be a few shots exchanged, and the foreign war-ships might feel called upon to land guards to protect foreigners and their property, otherwise the war would be only a skirmish. Then Kataafa, as king, could go to the count or the consul and ask for the protection of the Herzovinian flag. That would mean the annexation desired for so many years and always prevented by the jealous English.
“If it comes out differently than I have told you,” he replied gravely, “I shall be greatly surprised. I have told you exactly what I believe, and have kept nothing back.”
Kataafa seemed satisfied. He smiled and bowed ceremoniously.
Several natives came suddenly down the road, holding up their hands and shouting loudly:
“Papalangi!”
Klinger ran out into the roadway to get a clearer view. Several hundred yards up the crowded thoroughfare, moving slowly through the native groups, were three American naval men on horseback. They came straight toward him; passed him without sign of recognition, but doffed their caps in answer to Kataafa’s greeting and rode out upon the beach of Saluafata.
Almost at the same instant Captain Scott, on board the “Talofa,” was much perturbed at the sight of an English war-ship’s launch that had suddenly appeared at the entrance to the harbor.
One of the riders on the beach produced a big red flag which he had been carrying and began calmly waving it, regularly. Then another flag of similar color was shown in the launch. The sailor, sitting quietly on his horse, speedily sent a flag signal. Having finished, he waited until the flag on the launch was waved in return. Then the three horsemen rode leisurely along the beach, apparently but little interested in the marked activity before their eyes.
Klinger and the count were dumbfounded. The high chief’s countenance was greatly perplexed.
Klinger knew only too well the significance of that signal, and the old warrior had made a shrewd guess at the message conveyed.