Klinger rose slowly to obey the summons. The count waited impatiently on the porch of the store. He was not slow in seeing that the encounter had hurt their cause. Anything that can be held up to ridicule by so much is seriously injured. For policy’s sake he would have liked to severely punish this young, athletic American. To do so would help the prestige of the new government in the natives’ eyes, but he feared that such high-handed measures might injure the cause for which he was working by opposition from the Powers. When the count and Klinger reached the consulate the rebel chiefs laid before them the plan which they had been discussing among themselves. On request of the count, Kataafa so far transgressed the ancient Kapuan custom as to talk without the delay of speaking through the “talking man,” while Klinger readily translated his well chosen and eloquent words. He desired the count to be at the head of the government as governor. To take the place of chief justice of Kapua--to hoist the Herzovinian flag by the side of the Kapuan flag and by so doing receive the support of their war-ship. Further, he had written a “cry”[32] which he desired be sent to the king of the count’s country, asking annexation. He said the Kapuans were but children, and Kapua was but a bone between three hungry dogs. He feared the coming of more war-ships, and would willingly leave everything in the count’s wise hands. Count Rosen was deeply thoughtful. The wanton pillage of the Kataafa warriors and their barbarous killing and beheading of the native supporters of the chief justice’s choice for king had greatly shocked him. He had failed to appreciate the natural cruelty of even the gentlest savages when their primitive passion for bloodshed is aroused. Now to accept this petition and hoist the flag could not be considered. If there had been no bloodshed, then his countrymen at home might have upheld him if he hoisted the flag and even formally annexed the islands. But he could offer as his excuse in accepting the office of governor the desire to bring about peace and allow the commerce of the islands to continue unchecked and in accordance with civilized law. But first he must feel his ground slowly. The other two Powers looked on with jealous eyes. “I cannot be chief justice,” he said after a long pause, “until Judge Lindsay has resigned that office. Send and ask him to continue in that position, and if he refuses, Kataafa has the right to appoint another.” A letter was quickly written and dispatched. Within a half hour a verbal answer was returned to the effect that Judge Lindsay did not recognize any king of Kapua save Panu, and that he, Lindsay, was yet the chief justice. The count smiled sardonically. “I shall accept the position of governor and perform also the duties of chief justice,” he said, “under the de facto government, but annexation we shall discuss later. First we must begin to repair all damage done, especially to the foreigners.”