g principle of all
commerce."

It is impossible to say whether Donovan's pacifist principles would
have been of any use in Europe in 1914. They were not tried, and he
admitted that they would not work with lunatics. But the everlasting
principle of all commerce proved its value in the case of the Megalian
admiral. He did not even bargain at any length. Smith returned in
rather less than half an hour, with the news that the admiral had
accepted L26 10s. He made only one stipulation. It may have been a
desire to preserve his self-respect or a determination to observe his
orders in the letter which made him insist on firing one shot before
he left Salissa.

"He won't aim at the palace, sir," said Smith.

"There'd be a better chance of his missing it, if he did," said
Donovan. "It makes me nervous to see men like those sailors playing
about with guns."

"Yes, sir. That's so, sir. But in this case I don't think you need
have any anxiety. The shot will go right over the palace. I laid the
gun myself before I left the ship. I don't know if I mentioned it to
you, sir, but I was in the artillery when I held a commission in the
Megalian Army."

The admiral fired his shot at noon precisely. The shell soared high
above the palace, passed over the cliff behind and dropped harmlessly
somewhere in the sea.

The Queen and Kalliope stood behind the flagstaff from which the blue
banner of Salissa flew. At the sound of the shot, while the shell's
shriek was still in her ears, the Queen gave her order. Kalliope,
hauling hand over hand on the halyard, ran up the Stars and Stripes.
It flew out on the breeze. The Queen, flushed with pride and
patriotism, defied the might of the Megalian navy.

"Fire on that if you dare," she said.

The admiral weighed his anchor, fussily, with much shouting and
swearing, and steamed slowly out of the harbour. As he went he dipped
his ensign, saluting the Queen's flags.

Konrad Karl, standing at the window of Madame Ypsilante's room, saved
that lady from hysterics by announcing that the bombardment was over.

CHAPTER XXIV

Theologians are fond of speculative subjects; but I do not remember
that any of them have discussed the feelings of Noah and his family
when shut up in the ark. What did they talk about when they came
together in the evening after feeding the various animals? No doubt
they congratulated each other on their escape. No doubt they grumbled
occasionally at the limited acc