confidence and good-will, and it was secretly hoped that, in
the wake of his escort of battle-ships, trade would follow fast. There
would be salutes and visits of ceremony, speeches, banquets, reviews.
But in these rejoicings Amapala would have no part.

For, so Everett was informed by cable, unless, previous to the visit of
the Secretary, Amapala fell into line with her sister republics and
signed a treaty of extradition, from the itinerary of the great man
Amapala would find herself pointedly excluded. It would be a
humiliation. In the eyes of her sister republics it would place her
outside the pale. Everett saw that in his hands his friend the
Secretary had placed a powerful weapon; and lost no time in using it.
He caught the President alone, sitting late at his dinner, surrounded
by bottles, and read to him the Secretary's ultimatum. General Mendoza
did not at once surrender. Before he threw over the men who fed him
the golden eggs that made him rich, and for whom he had sworn never to
violate the right of sanctuary, he first, for fully half an hour, raged
and swore. During that time, while Everett sat anxiously expectant,
the President paced and repaced the length of the dining-hall. When to
relight his cigar, or to gulp brandy from a tumbler, he halted at the
table, his great bulk loomed large in the flickering candle-flames, and
when he continued his march, he would disappear into the shadows, and
only his scabbard clanking on the stone floor told of his presence. At
last he halted and shrugged his shoulders so that the tassels of his
epaulets tossed like wheat.

"You drive a hard bargain, sir," he said. "And I have no choice.
To-morrow bring the treaty and I will sign."

Everett at once produced it and a fountain pen.

"I should like to cable to-night," he urged, "that you have signed.
They are holding back the public announcement of the Secretary's route
until hearing from Your Excellency. This is only tentative," he
pointed out; "the Senate must ratify. But our Senate will ratify it,
and when you sign now, it is a thing accomplished."

Over the place at which Everett pointed, the pen scratched harshly; and
then, throwing it from him, the President sat in silence. With eyes
inflamed by anger and brandy he regarded the treaty venomously. As
though loath to let it go, his hands played with it, as a cat plays
with the mouse between her paws. Watching him breathlessly, Everett
feared the end was n