“When I got on board and gave the executive officer the captain’s message about the search-lights,” Sydney said, after Phil had graphically told of the trip to Vaileli and of the great gathering of armed warriors, “he looked queerly at me and exclaimed, ‘Why, he told me that himself the last minute before leaving the ship.’ So, you see, the captain must have thought there was danger, and didn’t want to risk us both.” “It would be a terrible loss,” Phil exclaimed laughingly. The next morning Count Rosen and Klinger rode through town back to their homes in the Matafeli district. At ten o’clock the American admiral and his officers, in full dress uniform and accompanied by the American and English consuls and Judge Lindsay, proceeded to Kulinuu. About a thousand loyal natives had collected; all were unarmed. A large bright Kapuan flag had been brought ashore from the “Sitka” and O’Neil had bent it on to the halliards of the tall flagstaff. When all was ready, the band struck up a stirring march and the lawful king, Panu-Mafili, declared eligible by the chief justice, put in an appearance. He was strongly escorted by sailors from both the English and American war-ships. To Phil the ceremony was very impressive. The day was beautiful and clear; a gentle breeze ruffled the deep green waters of the bay, and stirred lazily the tall cocoanut palms overhead. The loyal natives, supporters of Panu, in all their gorgeous coloring, and led by Tuamana, rose to their feet and sang their savage song of welcome to their king Malea-Toa Panu-Mafili. The chief justice conducted the ceremony. He first read his decision. Then he gave the oath to Panu. As the judge finished he raised his hand and the song to their king floated out upon the balmy air: “Panu o Tupu-e-Kapua.” O’Neil and Marley hauled away on the halliards, and as the great white, red and blue flag appeared above the tops of the cocoanut trees, the three war-ships boomed forth a national salute in its honor. The Herzovinian war-ship alone remained sullenly silent. Panu-Mafili was now the rightful king. Five miles away at Vaileli, Kataafa and his five thousand warriors were camped. Panu could muster barely a thousand men, and hardly a hundred guns. “We have him on the throne,” Phil heard the admiral exclaim as each officer beginning with the American naval commander-in-chief pressed forward to congratulate the young king. “But we’ve got to hold him on with our bayonets.” At noon the British war-ship was under way, and standing out of the harbor. Commander Tazewell, the midshipmen and Alice watched her go from the consulate porch. “Where’s she going?” Alice asked in great surprise, for not an hour ago the war-ship’s captain, Commander Sturdy, had been present at the coronation of the new king.