“I had at first thought to advise Tuamana against any action by the Panu warriors,” Commander Tazewell said, “but on second thoughts I decided it was better to keep my hands off and trust it to you. If those boxes landed from the ‘Talofa’ do contain guns, they ought to be seized, but not by natives, even though they say they will turn them over to the judge.” Mr. Lee nodded his agreement with the sentiment. “As soon as I got your note telling me of the ‘tonga-fiti,’” Mr. Lee replied, “I went at once to Tuamana. I advised him against action. You see, commander,” Mr. Lee declared earnestly, “a forcible entry into the Kapuan firm’s store will bring the Herzovinian sailors ashore to protect their property.” “Good. I’m glad you saw Tuamana,” Commander Tazewell assured him. “And he agreed to carry out your wish?” he asked. “He listened very patiently and seemed to agree,” Mr. Lee said. “Then he told me that he now knew the guns were not at the store, but still on the ‘Talofa’ and were to be landed to-night at Saluafata.” “That is what this man Stump also claims,” the commander exclaimed. “By the way, thank you for your promptness in having the poor fellow released. O’Neil has him in charge on board the ‘Sitka.’” While the consul and the commander discussed the affairs of the nations, the young people had gone to the landing, where O’Neil had brought the sailing launch, its sails spread and flapping in the gentle breeze. Miss Lee had brought her banjo and Avao, who joined them, held an Hawaiian “ukalele,” a small guitar with only three strings. As the sail filled and the launch gathered way, their young voices charmed the night with a variety of plaintive Kapuan songs. Several canoes with both men and women natives, paddling lazily across the bay, joined in the songs. It seemed like fairyland to the midshipmen. They sailed around the men-of-war in turn, serenading; then shaped their course for Kulinuu Point on the western side of Ukula. “What do you know new?” Phil asked Alice during a lull in the music. “That the guns are to be landed from the ‘Talofa’ at Saluafata to-morrow, and that Kataafa leaves Kulinuu with all his people to-night,” she replied. “Where did you hear this?” he asked wonderingly. “Avao told me, but every one in Ukula knows it,” she answered. “There’s no difficulty learning secrets. No secrets are kept. The difficulty is to recognize a secret from a trick.” “What do you mean?” Phil inquired, mystified. Alice laughed lightly thrumming the cords of the “ukalele” Avao had relinquished.