y takes charge of foreign affairs. That machinery
began to revolve, and who so shocked and surprised as the Power that had
captured the Haliotis? It explained that colonial governors and far-away
men-of-war were difficult to control, and promised that it would most
certainly make an example both of the Governor and the vessel. As
for the crew reported to be pressed into military service in tropical
climes, it would produce them as soon as possible, and it would
apologise, if necessary. Now, no apologies were needed. When one nation
apologises to another, millions of amateurs who have no earthly concern
with the difficulty hurl themselves into the strife and embarrass the
trained specialist. It was requested that the crew be found, if they
were still alive--they had been eight months beyond knowledge--and it
was promised that all would be forgotten.

The little Governor of the little port was pleased with himself.
Seven-and-twenty white men made a very compact force to throw away on a
war that had neither beginning nor end--a jungle and stockade fight
that flickered and smouldered through the wet hot years in the hills a
hundred miles away, and was the heritage of every wearied official.
He had, he thought, deserved well of his country; and if only some
one would buy the unhappy Haliotis, moored in the harbour below his
verandah, his cup would be full. He looked at the neatly silvered lamps
that he had taken from her cabins, and thought of much that might be
turned to account. But his countrymen in that moist climate had no
spirit. They would peep into the silent engine-room, and shake their
heads. Even the men-of-war would not tow her further up the coast, where
the Governor believed that she could be repaired. She was a bad bargain;
but her cabin carpets were undeniably beautiful, and his wife approved
of her mirrors.

Three hours later cables were bursting round him like shells, for,
though he knew it not, he was being offered as a sacrifice by the
nether to the upper millstone, and his superiors had no regard for
his feelings. He had, said the cables, grossly exceeded his power, and
failed to report on events. He would, therefore--at this he cast himself
back in his hammock--produce the crew of the Haliotis. He would send for
them, and, if that failed, he would put his dignity on a pony and fetch
them himself. He had no conceivable right to make pearl-poachers serve
in any war. He would be held responsible.

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