“I have that lease of land at Tua-Tua made by Chief Moanga to the American captain,” Klinger said jubilantly, showing the document, “and Scott has gone across to get Moanga’s signature to one I drew up for the ‘firm,’ and to destroy the other duplicate.” The count nodded. “Tua-Tua we should keep, but the United States government may succeed in getting the island of Kulila after all. She has had her eyes on it for many years, and doubtless thinks her claim is first. We would not fight her for it, so unless we can win out through diplomacy it will be hers.” “Little good it will do her,” Klinger said savagely, “when the Kapuan firm owns the only water-front that is not full of quicksand.” The count chuckled. “We statesmen can always receive a lesson from a clever merchant. No doubt the United States will be forced to pay a fancy price for your land when she makes up her mind to build a naval station there. By the way,” he added, “I thought Scott was intent upon saving his skin, and had sailed for the Fijis.” “That was his intention,” Klinger replied, “but he ran into Fangaloa Bay for water, and heard you owned the government; so he sent me word he was staying around to get a cargo of copra, and incidentally to coax back his mate Stump.” “And you sent him to Tua-Tua on a mission to Chief Moanga?” the count asked pointedly. “What does he receive for that service?” “Stump,” Klinger replied. “He also got a cargo of copra to be landed in Suva.” The count shook his head doubtfully. “That’s a serious business, to seize an American and ‘shanghai’ him,” he said. “It will be done without force,” Klinger explained. “Stump is in our employ. He’s trying to pay his way back to America. I’ll have him in Fangaloa on some plantation work, and let Scott do his own shanghaiing. Scott should be back at Fangaloa to-day unless he had trouble persuading Moanga.” The portly figure of Mr. Carlson emerged from the palm and banana grove in front of the bungalow. A few seconds later he arrived on the porch, puffing and blowing from his exertions. As the count and the overseer turned to greet him, none too graciously, the figure of a man unrolled itself from the tapa draperies of a window opening on to the porch, and silently withdrew through the kitchen in the rear. Stump, for it was he, held in his hand a hammer and nails, and unconcernedly told the native cook that he would come back to make imaginary repairs. After the mate had put several hundreds of yards between himself and the governor’s house, he stopped and called down all manner of vengeance upon Klinger’s head. Then he took a wide détour arriving breathless at the landing, hired a boat and was soon in Commander Tazewell’s cabin.