o one believed in
them or their scheme, they laid a cable to Octavia, and extended it on
to this island. Then they said they had run out of ready money, and
would wait until they got more before laying their cable any further. I
do not think they ever will lay it any further, but that is none of my
business. My business is to answer cable messages from San Francisco, so
that the people who visit the home office can see that at least a part
of the cable is working. That sometimes impresses them, and they buy
stock. There is another chap over in Octavia, who relays all my messages
and all my replies to those messages that come to me through him from
San Francisco. They never send a message unless they have brought some
one to the office whom they want to impress, and who, they think, has
money to invest in the Y.C.C. stock, and so we never go near the wire,
except at three o'clock every afternoon. And then generally only to say
'How are you?' or 'It's raining,' or something like that. I've been
saying 'It's raining' now for the last three months, but to-day I will
say that the new consul has arrived. That will be a pleasant surprise
for the chap in Octavia, for he must be tired hearing about the weather.
He generally answers, 'Here too,' or 'So you said,' or something like
that. I don't know what he says to the home office. He's brighter than I
am, and that's why they put him between the two ends. He can see that
the messages are transmitted more fully and more correctly, in a way to
please possible subscribers."

"Sort of copy editor," suggested Albert.

"Yes, something of that sort, I fancy," said Stedman.

They walked down to the little shed on the shore, where the Y.C.C.
office was placed, at three that day, and Albert watched Stedman send
off his message with much interest. The "chap at Octavia," on being
informed that the American consul had arrived at Opeki, inquired,
somewhat disrespectfully, "Is it a life sentence?"

"What does he mean by that?" asked Albert.

"I suppose," said his secretary, doubtfully, "that he thinks it a sort
of a punishment to be sent to Opeki. I hope you won't grow to think so."

"Opeki is all very well," said Gordon, "or it will be when we get things
going our way."

As they walked back to the office, Albert noticed a brass cannon,
perched on a rock at the entrance to the harbor. This had been put
there by the last consul, but it had not been fired for many years.
Albert immediatel