s morning, much to my
regret, some of my men stopped your boat. They have been placed under
arrest."

Gorman is of opinion that von Moll was genuinely anxious to make
himself agreeable to the Queen. He probably could not help looking her
over from head to foot as a man might look over a horse he thought of
buying. That was simply his nature. He regarded women as useful and
desirable cattle. It would not have occurred to him that any woman
would think of herself as his equal.

The Queen flushed a little under his gaze; but she accepted the
apology at its face value.

"Oh, it's all right," she said. "But I hope you have not punished the
men. I wouldn't like to think of their getting into trouble through
me."

"You are kind," said von Moll, "but it is necessary to maintain
discipline. The men exceeded their orders."

Then Smith announced that dinner was served. The Queen led the way
into the dining-room. She took her place at the head of the table.
Gorman and von Moll sat one on each side of her. Von Moll's eyes
wandered over the appointments of the meal, the tall silver
candlesticks, the exquisite linen, the fine glass. They rested with
particular pleasure on the menu card which stood in front of him. It
promised a luxurious dinner. He tucked his napkin under his chin with
an air of satisfaction.

Kalliope stood behind the Queen's chair and waited on her. Smith
served the two men. At the vacant end of the table stood the three
island girls whom Smith had in training. They were no particular use,
but they were pretty girls and they added something to the dignity of
the scene. They were elaborately dressed in a glorified form of the
bright costume of the island women. Gorman noticed that von Moll eyed
them with appreciation.

"I do wish you'd tell me," said the Queen, "why you didn't want me to
go to the cave this morning."

"My orders," said von Moll, "were not meant to apply to you. I merely
wished to prevent the islanders from interfering with my men at their
work. That is all."

"It sounds very interesting," said Gorman, "but I don't know what
happened. Do tell me."

"It was rather exciting," said the Queen. "Two of Captain von Moll's
men stopped our boat and Kalliope hit one of them with an oar. Did he
lose many teeth?"

Von Moll drew himself up stiffly. He would have been better pleased if
the Queen had tendered some apology to him and promised that the
over-daring Kalliope should be punished. It is a