“That, my dear sir, is not a matter of politics, but of morals,” the judge answered. “Let us decide the justice of the situation; but after that is determined then I am anxious to see this triple government at an end.” When Phil left the consulate the two officials were yet deep in their discussion. As he hurried toward the landing he noted that the town was almost deserted of the usual crowd that gathered along the main thoroughfare at this time of the early evening. The “Talola” at Vaileli was going to be popular. As Phil’s boat rounded to alongside of the gangway, the “Talofa” had just anchored within a few cables’ length of the “Sitka.” Preparations were being carried forward with great expedition on board both the American and British war-ships, but everything was being done so quietly that no suspicion had so far been aroused on board the other cruiser anchored only a short distance away from each of the allies. As the ship’s bell sounded two strokes (nine o’clock) a long line of boats filled with armed sailors shoved off from the two ships and were towed by steam launches swiftly toward the shore. Phil and Sydney accompanied Commander Tazewell in their towing steam launch. The “Talofa” had been turned over to a squad of sailormen under a petty officer, to prevent the native crew from attempting to take her out of the harbor. Phil’s eyes were upon the dark outlines of the Herzovinian war-ship as they passed close alongside of her. There was a grim smile of satisfaction in Commander Tazewell’s face as he heard loud voices raised in the guttural Herzovinian tongue, apparently the officer of the watch berating the men on lookout for their slackness. Then came a hurrying of footsteps upon the deck and finally a hail in broken English. “Is there trouble on shore?” the voice called hesitatingly. Commander Tazewell waited several seconds before replying. Once more the voice was raised, this time more loudly. He had apparently just discovered a second line of boats on the other side of his ship, ladened deeply in the water with sailormen. “Has there been a fight on shore? Why are you landing your men?” “Just a precautionary measure,” Commander Tazewell’s clear-cut voice answered. “Is your captain on board?” “No, sir,” came back the answer. “He has gone to Vaileli.” “It’s no matter,” Commander Tazewell replied. “When he returns I will explain everything to him.” “Thank you, sir,” said the voice, but it was plainly noted that the speaker was greatly perplexed. “Only a young officer left on board,” Commander Tazewell said quietly to the midshipmen, “and taken off his guard, he doesn’t know what to do.” “What could he do?” Phil asked excitedly. Commander Tazewell shook his head doubtfully. “He might land his men too, but that could not defeat our purpose. With the English and American sailors in military control of Ukula, it would take a stronger man than Count Rosen to annex the islands.”