Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22

saw him coming and nudged the one next him
with his elbow. and he nudged the next, but
none Of the officers moved, because the captain
had begun to read.
..One minute. please" called Gordon.
be stepped out into the hollow square formed
by the marines and raised his helmet to tho
captain.
DO you speak English or French?" Gordon
said In French: 81 don't understand German"
The captain lowered the book in his hands
and gazed refectively at Gordon through his
spectacles and made no reply.
IF i understand this" said the Younger
man, trying to be very calm and polite, "you
are laying claim to this land on behalf of or in
the name OF the German government"
The captain continued to observe him
thoughtfully and then said, THAT is So" and
then asked ''Who are you?'
Il represent the king Of this island, Ollypy-
bus. whose people you see around you. also
represent the United States government, that
coast since the days of President Monroe and
before. The treaty you have made with Mes
senwah Is an absurdity. There is only one
king with whom to treat, and he"
The captain turned to one Of his officers and
said something, and then after giving another
curious glance at Gordon raised his book and
continued reading in q deep, unrufled mono
tone. The officer whispered an order and two
of the marines stepped out Of line and drop-
ping the muzzles Of their muskets. pushed Cor
don back out Of the inclosure and left him
there with his lips white and trembling all over
with indignation. He would have liked to have
rushed back into the lines and broken the cap
tain 8 spectacles over his sun tanned nose and
cheeks. but he was quite sure this would only
result IN his getting shot or in his being made
ridiculous before the natives, and that was al
most as bad, 20 he stood still for q moment
with his blood choking him and then turned
and walked back to where the king and Sted-
man were whispering together. just as he
turned one Of the men pulled the halyards. the
ball OF bunting ran up into the air, bobbed
twitched and turned and broke into the folds
| Of the German Tag. At the same moment the
marines raised their muskets and fred Q volley
and the officers saluted and the sailors cheered
DO you see tkat?' cried Stedman, catching
Gordon's humor, to Ollypybus. THAT
means that you are no longer king; that
strange people are coming here to take your
! land, turn your people into servants and to
drive you back into the mountains. Are you
going to :ubmit-are you going to let that
"Nesssnvah and Ollypybus gazed at ono an
other With fearful, helpless eyes. I'VE are
afraid, Ollypybus cried I'VE do not know
what we should do"
What do they ssy?' asked Gordon.
They say they do not know what to do"
| Il know what I'd do" cried Gordon. III ]
were not an American consul I'd pull down
their old nag and put hole in their boat and
won, u NaH unCl tney 8et under way be-
FORE you do either Of those things. said Sted.
man, soothinsly. That captain seems to be 9
man Of much determination Of character"
But will pull 1t down." cried Gordon. 81
viii resign as Travis did am NO longer con
sui You can be consul II you want to. pro
mote you. i am going up Q step higher
mean to be king. Tell those two" he rur
on. excitedly. that their only course and only
hope are in me; that they must make me rulei
Of the island until this thing Is over with; thai
will resign again ~ soon a. ID ID settled, bu,
] that some one must act at once, and II they are
afraid 70, am not, only they must give ms
authority to act for them. They must sbdicat<
| In my favor"
Are you in earnest2" gasped stsdman.
"Dont talk - IL Wsre?" demanded Cor
don, vipins the psrspiration from his fore.
bead