The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
lotoaIofa.

Ia IN the bridge-SurI, oe"'''e''
III Mains and shining shadowy ID
.-nn +n the watchers In 'the foretop.
rathared on the bridge and surround
-, ma venerable monarch VINO re-
o,;r.d in a deck chair. was the httle
marty privileged to be with him-Mat''
with binoculars to his eyes. stahoihs
heside stout old Won Todloben. anu
overlapping him by head. Chris. in
nm officers cloak. seated on the elon-
gated end Of the emperors chair. a po-
sition of honor to which she had been
specially called. Brandeis, now Won
Tripwitz. in a borrowed. i'll fitting uni
form. punctiliOusly remaining a'oor
from the frequent consultations.
AS night closed in an animated dis
cussion took place. with Matt IN the
center Of the group. and for the mo-
ment the most important individual
there, for It turned Cd him whether
or not the vessel was to hold her p0-
sition till morning. or venture the en-
trance Of the lagoon by moonlight.
MATHS own counsel was for caution,
for the man-Of-war drew twenty-Slx
feet OF water. and while he felt rea-
Sonably sure of plotting her safely
through the northern channel there
was another. the western channel.
deeper but more t0rtuouS. he ShlAnk
from assuming so great reSponS ibil-
ity in the dark Admiral Won Todlo-
ben sided with Matt, as did the cap.
tain and the navigating lieutenant
But the old emperor, lying in the deck
chair. could not be made to appreciate
the risk He reiterated his request to
have the ship taken in at once. From
suave he became impatient.
Your majesty is unwise.' he said
bluntly, waiting till the old man had
recovered his sorely shaken compos-
ure IF you will permit me to sug-
gest 1t. why not take one of the steam
pinnaces, and let the ship hold off till
dawn
This simple eXpedient was hOtly re-
sisted by the officers. to whom the per
sonal security of the emperor was OF
almost sacred Importance, but the Int
ter was more than pleased with the
idea and welcomed it enthusiastically.
Nhtla thn t,ipnut,n hninu hnis cd
out and steam raised in her boiler. the
warShip'S Searchlight began to ilas 4
its dazzling and spreading beam. az
Us though in answer spot Of lig't
gimmered Oh the horizon like red
hot coal 1t was primitive beacon.
reared and brightly burning on the
beach Of the island, to help the ship
keep her position and ride out the
night without danger
Such concern for strangers surprised
Matt and made him wonder In his
whole previous experience but three
vessels had ever entered the lagoon.
and John Mort had resented their in.
truS0n and shortened their stay with
the utmost bitterness. refusing them
water and irewood. banning any in
tercolSe and diSputing, rifle in hand,
their right To land. In contrast. this
friendly beacon struck Matt as odd III
deed and III variance with every.
thing he remembered But he had lit
tie time to give to such reflections, for
the pinE,ce was soon ready. and they
descended the gangway and took their
places in her cockpit-th emperor.
Chris and Won Todloben. with himself
at the tiller
The end OF the pier was clustered
with natives who stood waiting with
out Il sound for the boat to approach
1t made a bunny landing ut the stone
steps, the boat hooks scraping the
Shiny sides Of the pier and bringing it
slowly to rest Matt leaped out first,
crying "Talofa" right and left and was
moh!ed in the throng of half naked
humanity that Surged about him, call
ing and repeating his name with nnre-
strained JOY What nose rubbing.
What excitement What a rush and
jostle Of kanaka affection. But what
was Peau saying peau, grave and
dignified In even that press. with his
chiefly carriage and earnest eyes? TO
be prepared for evil tdings. What did
he mean: Where was the chief! What
was all this about the hand Of God?
where IL he?" Quavpral the en-
peror why Ia he not here?'
10 Dp cnntlnunA