“Starve them out!” Phil exclaimed. “Why, that’s impossible. They can catch fish and eat fruit.” The Americans had withdrawn some yards from the natives, but remained to observe further. “How long do you suppose the supply of fruit would last?” Commander Tazewell asked. “Besides, many of the fruit trees in Ukula have been destroyed, and it will take a year for them to again bear fruit. And as for fish, the reefs off Ukula are not good fishing ground, and would not feed one-tenth of the population now gathered in the vicinity of the town.” “Then what are we going to do?” Phil asked earnestly. “The war-ships will have to give the natives food from their own supplies,” the commander replied. “Kataafa is a wily old fox, or else that Herzovinian count is ably advising him. But come,” he added, swinging his pony about; “we have received interesting news, and if we are to succeed in this affair, we’ve got to take the offensive. The food supplies on our ships would be devoured by the horde of natives in the town inside of a week. We shall have to attack Kataafa in order to feed our native allies.” Sydney had been examining the locality where the greater number of natives had shown themselves in their curiosity to see the white men. A gleam of white caught his eye, and before the warriors that had barred the passage of the horsemen could interfere, he had urged his horse ahead a few score of yards. An agile native grasped firmly the horse’s bridle and turned Sydney back toward his companions, but not until he had solved the mystery of that gleam of white. “Captain ‘Bully’ Scott was with that outfit,” Sydney exclaimed as they trotted swiftly toward home. “I distinctly saw him, hidden behind a barricade of earth and banana trees; he was in white clothes, and I saw him distinctly, gray whiskers and all.” “It isn’t likely he will remain idle,” Commander Tazewell replied, not at all surprised at Sydney’s news. “He cannot have any great friendship for us after we have confiscated his schooner, and he knows if he is caught by either an American or an English war-ship he will have to serve a term in jail for his many crimes.” “It’s a pity he wasn’t on board the ‘Talofa’ when we captured her,” Phil said. “Now if his character is as black as Stump paints it, he will give us lots of trouble.” Commander Tazewell nodded his head gravely. “If the count, Klinger and Scott could be disposed of we would find these fine fellows of Kapuans only too willing to bury the hatchet,” he exclaimed, “but those three men are like vinegar in the molasses barrel. If blood is shed it will be upon their heads.” CHAPTER XXI A RECONNAISSANCE A Herzovinian war-ship had come to join the four other men-of-war, all anchored inside the narrow harbor of Ukula. The Herzovinian consul at once went on board the newcomer, and afterward he and her captain passed through the allied lines on their way to Vaileli.