The Herzovinian consul had, immediately after the unfortunate fight with the rebels, gone in person to offer his sympathy to the admiral for the sad loss of life. Admiral Spotts received him in stony silence. He listened to his words but vouchsafed no answer, nor even thanked him for his sympathy. “Against his countrymen, whom he should control,” the admiral exclaimed to Commanders Tazewell and Sturdy, after the discomfited consul had departed, “the blood of every man killed in these islands should righteously cry out vengeance.” Phil, who had been present, repeated the admiral’s words to O’Neil. The sailorman nodded his head in silence for several minutes. “What were you going to say?” Phil asked quickly. He had seen a look in O’Neil’s eyes, and knew that the sailor was looking at the sad episode from a different standpoint. “Well, sir,” O’Neil replied apologetically, “I am not saying the admiral isn’t dead right. That count and Klinger have sure brought on this war and are responsible for the men killed. But, sir,” he added, “I was here when twenty Herzovinian sailors were killed and their heads taken by this same Kataafa. They were killed by bullets furnished by Americans and Englishmen. They blamed us then--we blame them now. “Don’t you see, sir,” he added earnestly, “the Herzovinians think we are now ‘quits.’ They lost twenty sailors; we have lost eleven, including three officers.” “Now,” Sydney said thoughtfully, “is the time for the white men to get together and stop this useless war.” Phil and O’Neil gazed at him in surprise. “When we have lost our first battle,” Phil exclaimed scornfully. “Why, Syd, that is contrary to human nature. The Herzovinians might be willing to compromise, but we cannot accept a truce until we have proved that our courage has not been affected. When we have driven Kataafa away from Ukula, then we might be willing to treat for an armistice, but never before.” “I agree with the humanitarian view of Mr. Monroe,” a voice from behind them said solemnly. The lads turned to find Judge Lindsay beside them, smiling in fatherly fashion upon them. “Now is the moment of moments to bring together the warring factions. To do so,” he added, “we must sacrifice some of our selfish pride. But we would thus spare innocent human lives. “Have you heard that Klinger has been arrested, and is now held in jail by our naval forces for the crime of instigating the rebels to attack our sailors?” he asked. The judge spoke without sign of feeling. “I cannot see,” he said after a pause, “what evidence they have against him. He supplied guns to natives to fight natives. That they used their weapons against the white men I am sure was not his wish.”