"6. The tonnage of the vessel is 146. She at present has berth-room
for twenty men, but bunks can be arranged in the hold for 256
more, with provision for ample ventilation. She has one complete
set of sails and two extra spars. The remaining information in
regard to her I will have to obtain and send you to-morrow. I think
it must be clear to you that the opportunity now offered you will be
of incomparably greater value at once than Trinidad would ever
be. Still hoping that I may have an interview with you at an early
date, respectfully yours,

"RALSTON J. MARKOWE."

What Harden-Hickey thought of this is not known, but as two
weeks before he received it he had written Markowe, asking him
by what authority he represented the Royalists of Honolulu, it
seems evident that when the crown of Hawaii was first proffered
him he did not at once spurn it.

He now was in the peculiar position of being a deposed king of an
island in the South Atlantic, which had been taken from him, and
king-elect of an island in the Pacific, which was his if he could
take it.

This was in August of 1895. For the two years following,
Harden-Hickey was a soldier of misfortunes. Having lost his island
kingdom, he could no longer occupy himself with plans for its
improvement. It had been his toy. They had taken it from him, and
the loss and the ridicule which followed hurt him bitterly.

And for the lands he really owned in Mexico and California, and