"But that which we ask is no longer his to give. He has sold
his kingship and his right to this island to another king, who
came to him two days ago in a great canoe, and who made noises
as we do--with guns, I suppose he means--and to whom he sold
the island for a watch that he has in a bag around his neck.
And that he signed a paper, and made marks on a piece of bark,
to show that he gave up the island freely and forever."

"What does he mean?" said Gordon. "How can he give up the
island? Ollypybus is the king of half of it, anyway, and he
knows it."

"That's just it," said Stedman. "That's what frightens him.
He said he didn't care about Ollypybus, and didn't count him
in when he made the treaty, because he is such a peaceful chap
that he knew he could thrash him into doing anything he wanted
him to do. And now that you have turned up and taken
Ollypybus's part, he wishes he hadn't sold the island, and
wishes to know if you are angry."

"Angry? of course I'm angry," said Gordon, glaring as grimly
at the frightened monarch as he thought was safe. "Who
wouldn't be angry? Who do you think these people were who
made a fool of him, Stedman? Ask him to let us see this
watch."

Stedman did so, and the King fumbled among his necklaces until
he had brought out a leather bag tied round his neck with a
cord, and containing a plain stem-winding silver watch marked
on the inside "Munich."