The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-19

struggling row of dots to those
 on the bridge-surf, beaches
 g palms and shining shadowy Ia
 goon to the watchers in the foretop
 Gathered onxthe bridge, and surround
 ing the venerable monarch who re- fclined in a deck chair, was the little party privileged to be with him-Matt
 with binoculars to his eyes, standing beside stout old Won Todloben, and overlapping him by a head. Chris, in an officers cloak, seated on the eIon- gated end of the emperor's chair a DO sition of honor to which she had been specially called. Brandeis, now Von Tripwitz, in a borrowed, i'll fitting uni- form, punctfliously remaining aloof from the frequent consultations.
 As night closed in an animated dis cussfon took place, with Matt in the center of the group, and for the mo- ment the most important individual there, for it turned on him whether or not the vessel was to hold her po- sitfon till morning, or venture the en- trance of the lagoon by moonlight. Afatt'S own counsel was for caution, for the man-of-war drew fwenty-si feet of water, and while he felt req sonably sure of piIodng her safely through the northern channel (there was another, the western channel, deeper but more tortuous), he shrank from assuming so great a responsibil- 1ty in the dark. Admiral Von 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 isl unwise,' he said bluntly, waiting till the old man had recovered his sorely shaken compos- ure- eff you will permit me to sug- gest it, why not take one of the steam pinnaceS, and let the ship hold off till dawnT'
 This simple expedient was hotly re- sisted by the officers, to whom the per sonaI security of the emperor was of almost sacred importance, but the lat ter was more than pleased with the idea and welcomed 1t enthusiastically. While the pinnace was being hoisted cut and steam raised in her boiler, the warship's searchlight began to flash Its dazzling and spreading beam, and as though in answer a spot of light glimmered on the horizon like red hot coal. It was a 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- trusion and shortened their stay with the utmost bitterness, refusing them water and frewood, banning any in tercouse and disputing, rife in hand, their right to land. In contrast, this beacon struck Matt as odd, in deed, and at variance with every thing he remembered. But he had lit tie time to give to such reflections, for the pinnace was soon ready, and they descended the gangway and took their places in her cockpit-the emperor, Chris and Won Todloben, with himself at the tiller.
 The end of the pier was clustered with natives who stood waiting with out sound for the boat to approach 1t made a bumpy landing at the stone steps, the boat hooks scraping the shmy sides of the pier and bringing it slowly to rest. Matt leaped out first, crying E'Talofa" right and left and was mobbed in the throng of half naked humanity that surged about him, call ing and repeating his name with unre strained joy. What nose rubbing! What excitement! What rush and jostle of Kanaka affection! But what | was Peau saying. Peau, grave and 1 dignified in even that press, with his | chiefly carriage and earnest eyes? To | be prepared for evil tidings! What did l he mean? Where was the chief? What | was all this about the hand of God?
 Where is hep quavered the em- peror. "Why is he not here?''
 (To bs Coutt0uedN