determination to protect the interests of your government, and
all that." Gordon bit the end of his pencil impatiently, and
waited.

"I won't do anything of the sort, Gordon," said Stedman; "you
are getting me into an awful lot of trouble, and yourself too.
I won't say a word."

"The American consul," read Gordon, as his pencil wriggled
across the paper, "refuses to say anything for publication
until he has communicated with the authorities at Washington,
but from all I can learn he sympathizes entirely with
Tellaman. Your correspondent has just returned from an audience
with King Tellaman, who asks him to inform the American
people that the Monroe doctrine will be sustained as long as
he rules this island. I guess that's enough to begin with,"
said Gordon. "Now send that off quick, and then get away from
the instrument before the man in Octavia begins to ask
questions. I am going out to precipitate matters."

Gordon found the two kings sitting dejectedly side by side,
and gazing grimly upon the disorder of the village, from which
the people were taking their leave as quickly as they could
get their few belongings piled upon the ox-carts. Gordon
walked among them, helping them in every way he could, and
tasting, in their subservience and gratitude, the sweets of
sovereignty. When Stedman had locked up the cable office and
rejoined him, he bade him tell Messenwah to send three of his
youngest men and fastest runners back to the hills to watch
for the German vessel and see where she was attempting to land