Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
A FLAG OF TRUCE.

must become a power; and We must do so
without getting into trouble with the king We
must make them honor him, too. and then as
We push him up we will push ourselves up at
the same time"
They don't think much Of consuls in
0peki. said Stedman doubtfully. ''You see
brought the Office into disrepute and it wasn't
really until came and told them what a fine
country the United States that they had
any opinion Of it at all Now, We must
change all that"
That is just what We will do" said Albert
"we will transform Opeki into a powerful and
beautiful city. We will make these people
work. They must put up palace for the king
and lay out streets and build wharves and drain
the town properly and light it. 1 haven't seen
this patent lighting apparatus Of yours, but
you had better get to work at it at once and
IN persuade the king to appoint you commits
sioner OF highways and gas, with authority to
make his people toll. And IT, he cried. in free
enthusiasm, will organize q navy and a stand
ing army. Only" he added, with a lapse of in
terest, there ism body to fight
There isn't?'' said Stedman grimiy, with q
scornful smile. ''You just go hunt up old
Messenwah and the Hillmen with your standing
army once and you'll get all the fighting you
want"
THE Hillmen?' said Albert
The Hlllmen, or the natives that live Nd
there in the hills" Stedman said, nodding his
head toward the three high mountains at the
other end Of the island that stood out blackly
| against the purple moonlit sky; there are
nearly as many OF them there are Opekians.
| and they hunt and fight for a living and recrea-
/ ton They have an old rascal named Messenwah
| for king and they come down here about once
every three months and tear things up" Albert
| sprang to his feet.
"Oh, they do, do thsy?" no said. staring up
at the mountain tops ''They come down here
/ and tear up things, do theyI Well, / think
we'n stop that. think We will stop that /
/ don't care how many there are. Ill get the
\ two Brsdleys to tell me all they know about
| drilling tomorrow morning and we Ii drill these
Opekians and have sham battles and attacks
| aud repulses until make lot Of wild, howlinp
Zulus out Of them. And when the Hillmen
come down to pay their quarterly visit they'll
| go back again on Q run; at least some Of them
will" he added ferociously. ''SOms of them
will stay right here"
"Dear me, dear me-" said Stedman with some
awe; you are q fighter, aren't you?''
| We'll, you wait and see, !" said Gordon; "may
be am. haven't studied the tactics Of wal
and the history Of battles 80 that might be q
great war correspondent without learning
| something. And there is only one king on this
island and that is old Olympus himself AnG
| I'll 60 over and have talk with him about il to-
| morrow. Young Stedman walked up and dowr
| the length of the veranda, in and out of tn,
moonlight, with his hands in his pockets and hi
head on his chest you've got me all stirred
/ up, Gordon" he said; ''you seem SO coniden
and bold-and you're not 90 much older than
am, either"
My training has been diferant, that's all,
said the consul
''Yes," Stedman sid bitterly II have beer
sitting in an Office ever since left school send
ing news over q wire q cable, and you hav,
| been out in the world gathering it."
| And now, said Gordon, smiling and putin,
his arm around the other boys shoulder, '.w
| are going to make news ourselves"
There is one thing want to say to you be
fore you turn in, said Stedman. Before yo,
| spring all these improvements on Olympus
you must remember that he has ruled abso
lutely here for twenty years. and that he doesn'
| think much OF consuls- He has only seen you
predecessor and yourself. He likes you becaus
you came to him with o great show and be
cause Of the presents, but If / were you
| wouldnt suggest these improvements - com
ing from yourself
Il don't understand" said Gordon. 'swh
could they come FROM