[Illustration: “ISN’T IT WORTH COMING FOR?”] A UNITED STATES MIDSHIPMAN IN THE SOUTH SEAS _by_ Lt. Com. Yates Stirling Jr. U.S.N. Author of “A U.S. Midshipman Afloat” “A U.S. Midshipman in China” “A U.S. Midshipman in the Philippines” “A U.S. Midshipman in Japan” [Illustration] Illustrated _by_ Ralph L. Boyer THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MCMXIII COPYRIGHT 1913 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY [Illustration] _During the process of empire building, even to-day carried on by the great powers, the far distant South Sea Islands received their share of attention from designing cabinets._ _In their patriotic desire to further the cause of their country many sailors laid down their lives in battles with the natives._ _These small wars are scarcely remembered at home, but in the islands where the rivalry between the nations was bitterest, there stand impressive monuments to these sailor heroes, and in their songs the chivalrous islanders praise the virtues of their fallen foes._ _To the sailors of all nations who thus met death, fighting in their country’s cause, these pages are dedicated._ Introduction In this story Midshipmen Phil Perry and Sydney Monroe, together with Boatswain’s Mate “Jack” O’Neil, act through an historic drama of a South Sea war. The same characters have seen active service in many parts of the world. In “A United States Midshipman Afloat,” life in a battle-ship of the Atlantic fleet, together with a typical South American revolution, furnished the setting. In “A United States Midshipman in China,” the midshipmen and O’Neil help to rescue an American Mission and put an end to a “Boxer” uprising. In “A United States Midshipman in the Philippines,” the same officers see very active service on board a gun-boat in coöperation with the army against the Filipino insurgents. In “A United States Midshipman in Japan,” they discover a plot to bring the United States and Japan into open hostilities over the purchase of some foreign war-ships. War is narrowly averted through the detective work of the midshipmen and their Japanese classmate at Annapolis, but now a lieutenant in the Imperial Navy. The present volume carries the midshipmen through further thrilling scenes that occurred in an island of the far-away South Seas. The portrayal of native life is faithful and many of the incidents are historic. Contents I. THE RIVAL CHIEFS 11 II. DISCORD AMONG THE WHITES 23 III. PLOTTING FOR POWER 44 IV. CAPTAIN “BULLY” SCOTT AND HIS MATE 58 V. THE “TALOFA” IN UKULA 81 VI. THE “TALOFA’S” CARGO 103 VII. THE KAPUAN FIRM 112 VIII. AVAO, TAPAU OF UKULA 131 IX. O’NEIL’S OPINION 145 X. RUMORS OF WAR 165