"Not to-day, Excellency, "the clerk would reply. Then Jose would
return to writing a letter to his lady-love; not that there was
any-thing to tell her, but because writing on the official paper of
the consulate gave him importance in his eyes, and in hers. And in
the inner office the consul would continue to gaze at the empty
harbor, the empty coral reefs, the empty, burning sky.

The little band of exiles were at second break fast when the
wireless man came in late to announce that a Red D. boat and the
island of Curacao had both reported a hurricane coming north. Also,
that much concern was felt for the safety of the yacht SERAPIS.
Three days before, in advance of her coming, she had sent a
wireless to Wilhelmstad, asking the captain of the port to reserve
a berth for her. She expected to arrive the following morning. But
for forty-eight hours nothing had been heard from her, and it was
believed she had been overhauled by the hurricane. Owing to the
presence on board of Senator Hanley, the closest friend of the new
President, the man who had made him president, much concern was
felt at Washington. To try to pick her up by wireless, the gun-boat
NEWARK had been ordered from Culebra, the cruiser RALEIGH, with
Admiral Hardy on board, from Colon. It was possible she would seek
shelter at Porto Banos. The consul was ordered to report.

As Marshall wrote out his answer, the French consul exclaimed with
interest:

"He is of importance, then, this senator?" he asked. "Is it that in
your country ships of war are at the service of a senator?"