aloon we were taken aft to see two coops filled with fowls. "Say,"
said the American, "how's that for fresh meat?" Though a little ashamed
of it, we then and there accepted the Chicagonian's invitation to take
a cruise with him in the South Pacific. For days the cruise was pleasant
enough, and then things began to drag. Fortunately there came a new
interest in the daily routine. One day Van Blaricom was seen standing
with the cook before the fowl coops deeply interested; and soon after
he had triumphantly arranged what he called "The Coliseum." This was
an enclosure of canvas chiefly, where we had cock-fights daily. The
gladiators were always ready for the arena. One was called U. S., after
General U. S. Grant, and the other Bob Lee, after General Robert Lee.

"Go it, U. S. Lift your skewers, you bobtail. Give it to him, you've
got him in Andersonville, U. S." Thus, day by day, were the warriors
encouraged by Van Blaricom.

There is nothing very elegant or interesting in the record so far, but
it all has to do with the annexation of Pango Wango, and, as Blithelygo
long afterwards remarked, it shows how nations sometimes acquire
territory. Yes, this Coliseum of ours had as much to do with the
annexation as had the American's toilet requisites his hair-oil and
perfume bottles. In the South Pacific, a thousand miles from land, Van
Blaricom was redolent of new-mown hay and heliotrope.

It was tropically hot. We were in the very middle of the hurricane
season. The air had no nerve. Even the gladiators were relaxing their
ardour; and soon the arena was cleared altogether, for we were in the
midst of a hurricane. It was a desperate time, but just when it seemed
most desperate the wheel of doom turned backward and we were saved. The
hurricane found us fretful with life by reason of the heat, it left us
thankful for being let to live at all; though the Wilderness appeared
little better than a drifting wreck. Our commissariat was gone, or
almost gone, we hadn't any masts or sails to speak of, and the cook
informed us that we had but a few gallons of fresh water left; yet,
strange to say, the gladiators remained to us. When the peril was over
it surprised me to remember that Van Blaricom had been comparatively
cool through it all; for I had still before me a certain scene at the
volcano of Kilauea. I was to be still more surprised.

We were by no means out of danger. MacGregor did not know where we were;
the fresh water was van