the cannon, which was trained on his vessel, and which had
first fired on him. But you must know, my dear Stedman, that
before his arrival, war-vessels belonging to the several
powers mentioned in my revised despatches, had started for
Opeki at full speed, to revenge the butchery of the foreign
residents. A word, my dear young friend, to the wise is
sufficient. I am indebted to you to the extent of twenty
thousand dollars, and in return I give you this kindly advice.
Leave Opeki. If there is no other way, swim. But leave Opeki."

The sun, that night, as it sank below the line where the
clouds seemed to touch the sea, merged them both into a
blazing, blood-red curtain, and colored the most wonderful
spectacle that the natives of Opeki had ever seen. Six great
ships of war, stretching out over a league of sea, stood
blackly out against the red background, rolling and rising,
and leaping forward, flinging back smoke and burning sparks up
into the air behind them, and throbbing and panting like
living creatures in their race for revenge. From the south
came a three-decked vessel, a great island of floating steel,
with a flag as red as the angry sky behind it, snapping in the
wind. To the south of it plunged two long low-lying
torpedo-boats, flying the French tri-color, and still farther
to the north towered three magnificent hulls of the White
Squadron. Vengeance was written on every curve and line, on
each straining engine-rod, and on each polished gun-muzzle.

And in front of these, a clumsy fishing-boat rose and fell on
each passing wave. Two sailors sat in the stern, holding the
rope and tiller, and in the bow, with their backs turned forever