edman's
signalling. Then Stedman delivered Gordon's message, and immediately
shut off all connection, before the Octavia operator could question him.
Gordon dictated his message in this way:--

"Begin with the date line, 'Opeki, June 22.'

"At seven o'clock this morning, the captain and officers of the German
man-of-war, _Kaiser_, went through the ceremony of annexing this island
in the name of the German Emperor, basing their right to do so on an
agreement made with a leader of a wandering tribe, known as the
Hillmen. King Ollypybus, the present monarch of Opeki, delegated his
authority, as also did the leader of the Hillmen, to King Tallaman, or
the Peacemaker, who tore down the German flag, and raised that of the
United States in its place. At the same moment the flag was saluted by
the battery. This salute, being mistaken for an attack on the _Kaiser_,
was answered by that vessel. Her first shot took immediate effect,
completely destroying the entire battery of the Opekians, cutting down
the American flag, and destroying the houses of the people--"

"There was only one brass cannon and two huts," expostulated Stedman.

"Well, that was the whole battery, wasn't it?" asked Gordon, "and two
huts is plural. I said houses of the people. I couldn't say two houses
of the people. Just you send this as you get it. You are not an American
consul at the present moment. You are an under-paid agent of a cable
company, and you send my stuff as I write it. The American residents
have taken refuge in the consulate--that's us," explained Gordon, "and
the English residents have sought refuge in the woods--that's the
Bradleys. King Tellaman--that's me--declares his intention of fighting
against the annexation. The forces of the Opekians are under the command
of Captain Thomas Bradley--I guess I might as well made him a
colonel--of Colonel Thomas Bradley, of the English army.

"The American consul says--Now, what do you say, Stedman? Hurry up,
please," asked Gordon, "and say something good and strong."

"You get me all mixed up," complained Stedman, plaintively. "Which am I
now, a cable operator or the American consul?"

"Consul, of course. Say something patriotic and about your determination
to protect the interests of your government, and all that." Gordon bit
the end of his pencil impatiently, and waited.

"I won't do anything of the sort, Gordon," said Stedman; "you are
getting me into an awful lot of trouble, and yourself