The defenders of Ukula at last were able to relax in a measure their vigilance. The Kataafa warriors had been badly shattered, and further attacks were not likely until they could replenish their store of ammunition. The arrest of Klinger blocked one source of supply. Many thousands of rounds fitting the enemy’s rifles had been found by the allied sailors after a search of the Kapuan firm’s store. Kataafa had probably counted upon the capture of Ukula long enough to restock his expended ammunition. The midshipmen dined that evening with the Lees. Alice was eager to hear the gruesome details of the fighting and was greatly surprised when the lads declared that neither they nor O’Neil had been wounded. “How could you help being?” she asked doubtingly. “The air all afternoon was full of lead. We all hid behind furniture stacked up like a fort up-stairs. The house was hit, you know, lots of times.” “Where’s Avao?” Phil asked; he had not seen her for several days. “She was with her father in the trenches,” Alice replied, admiration in her eyes. “She was here an hour ago and told us all about the fight.” “Yes,” Miss Lee added smiling upon her enthusiastic sister, “Alice was restrained from being on the scene only by force. Father and I had all we could do to keep her at home.” After dinner Admiral Spotts and Commander Tazewell came in to confer with Mr. Lee. “I have just found out,” the admiral said, “that the Herzovinian war-ship brought a refusal of annexation to Kataafa, and Count Rosen was informed that he must act in concert with other nations to prevent bloodshed. The count returns to-morrow in the mail steamer for Australia.” At daylight the next morning Lieutenant Gant led his entire native regiment over the road taken by the small force some days before. The enemy was not encountered until they arrived at the Vaileli plantation. There a few shots were exchanged, but the Kataafa men were not in force and quickly scattered into the bush. The advance guard under Tuamana pursued them and returned after a half hour’s chase with several native heads, and besides carrying the body of a white man, who had been shot and killed fleeing with the Kataafa men. It was the missing marine orderly, Schultz. The regiment returned over the same road recently traversed by the ill-fated party. The midshipmen and O’Neil sought for the Colt gun. Childers had dismounted the breech mechanism during that disastrous battle and brought it to the beach with him upon his retreat. The gun had been taken away by the Kataafa warriors, although they were unable to use it. No signs of bodies or arms were found; the victors had carried away all spoils of their vanquished enemy. When the expedition reached Ukula, the mail steamer from San Francisco was in port. The admiral, the war-ship captains and the three consuls had held a meeting to discuss the instructions received in the mail from their respective governments.