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scarce suppose them to have believed。 But Tamasese must have both
believed and trembled。 The prestige of the European Powers was
still unbroken。 No native would then have dreamed of defying these
colossal ships； worked by mysterious powers； and laden with
outlandish instruments of death。 None would have dreamed of
resisting those strange but quite unrealised Great Powers；
understood （with difficulty） to be larger than Tonga and Samoa put
together； and known to be prolific of prints； knives； hard biscuit；
picture…books； and other luxuries； as well as of overbearing men
and inconsistent orders。 Laupepa had fallen in ill…blood with one
of them； his only idea of defence had been to throw himself in the
arms of another； his name； his rank； and his great following had
not been able to preserve him； and he had vanished from the eyes of
men … as the Samoan thinks of it； beyond the sky。 Asi； Maunga；
Tuiletu…funga； had followed him in that new path of doom。 We have
seen how carefully Mataafa still walked； how he dared not set foot
on the neutral territory till assured it was no longer sacred； how
he withdrew from it again as soon as its sacredness had been
restored； and at the bare word of a consul （however gilded with
ambiguous promises） paused in his course of victory and left his
rival unassailed in Mulinuu。 And now it was the rival's turn。
Hitherto happy in the continued support of one of the white Powers；
he now found himself … or thought himself … threatened with war by
no less than two others。
Tamasese boats as they passed Matautu were in the habit of firing
on the shore； as like as not without particular aim； and more in
high spirits than hostility。 One of these shots pierced the house
of a British subject near the consulate； the consul reported to
Admiral Fairfax； and； on the morning of the 10th； the admiral
despatched Captain Kane of the CALLIOPE to Mulinuu。 Brandeis met
the messenger with voluble excuses and engagements for the future。
He was told his explanations were satisfactory so far as they went；
but that the admiral's message was to Tamasese； the DE FACTO king。
Brandeis； not very well assured of his puppet's courage； attempted
in vain to excuse him from appearing。 No DE FACTO king； no
message； he was told： produce your DE FACTO king。 And Tamasese
had at last to be produced。 To him Kane delivered his errand：
that the LIZARD was to remain for the protection of British
subjects； that a signalman was to be stationed at the consulate；
that； on any further firing from boats； the signalman was to notify
the LIZARD and she to fire one gun； on which all boats must lower
sail and come alongside for examination and the detection of the
guilty； and that； 〃in the event of the boats not obeying the gun；
the admiral would not be responsible for the consequences。〃 It was
listened to by Brandeis and Tamasese 〃with the greatest attention。〃
Brandeis； when it was done； desired his thanks to the admiral for
the moderate terms of his message； and； as Kane went to his boat；
repeated the expression of his gratitude as though he meant it；
declaring his own hands would be thus strengthened for the
maintenance of discipline。 But I have yet to learn of any
gratitude on the part of Tamasese。 Consider the case of the poor
owlish man hearing for the first time our diplomatic commonplaces。
The admiral would not be answerable for the consequences。 Think of
it！ A devil of a position for a DE FACTO king。 And here； the same
afternoon； was Leary in the Scalon house； mopping it out for
unknown designs by the hands of an old woman； and proffering
strange threats of bloodshed。 Scanlon and his pigs； the admiral
and his gun； Leary and his bombardment； … what a kettle of fish！
I dwell on the effect on Tamasese。 Whatever the faults of Becker；
he was not timid； he had already braved so much for Mulinuu that I
cannot but think he might have continued to hold up his head even
after the outrage of the pigs； and that the weakness now shown
originated with the king。 Late in the night； Blacklock was wakened
to receive a despatch addressed to Leary。 〃You have asked that I
and my government go away from Mulinuu； because you pretend a man
who lives near Mulinuu and who is under your protection； has been
threatened by my soldiers。 As your Excellency has forbidden the
man to accept any satisfaction； and as I do not wish to make war
against the United States； I shall remove my government from
Mulinuu to another place。〃 It was signed by Tamasese； but I think
more heads than his had wagged over the direct and able letter。 On
the morning of the 11th； accordingly； Mulinuu the much defended lay
desert。 Tamasese and Brandeis had slipped to sea in a schooner；
their troops had followed them in boats； the German sailors and
their war…flag had returned on board the ADLER； and only the German
merchant flag blew there for Weber's land…claim。 Mulinuu； for
which Becker had intrigued so long and so often； for which he had
overthrown the municipality； for which he had abrogated and refused
and invented successive schemes of neutral territory； was now no
more to the Germans than a very unattractive； barren peninsula and
a very much disputed land…claim of Mr。 Weber's。 It will scarcely
be believed that the tale of the Scanlon outrages was not yet
finished。 Leary had gained his point； but Scanlon had lost his
compensation。 And it was months later； and this time in the shape
of a threat of bombardment in black and white； that Tamasese heard
the last of the absurd affair。 Scanlon had both his fun and his
money； and Leary's practical joke was brought to an artistic end。
Becker sought and missed an instant revenge。 Mataafa； a devout
Catholic； was in the habit of walking every morning to mass from
his camp at Vaiala beyond Matautu to the mission at the Mulivai。
He was sometimes escorted by as many as six guards in uniform； who
displayed their proficiency in drill by perpetually shifting arms
as they marched。 Himself； meanwhile； paced in front； bareheaded
and barefoot； a staff in his hand； in the customary chief's dress
of white kilt； shirt； and jacket； and with a conspicuous rosary
about his neck。 Tall but not heavy； with eager eyes and a marked
appearance of courage and capacity； Mataafa makes an admirable
figure in the eyes of Europeans； to those of his countrymen； he may
seem not always to preserve that quiescence of manner which is
thought becoming in the great。 On the morning of October 16th he
reached the mission before day with two attendants； heard mass； had
coffee with the fathers； and left again in safety。 The smallness
of his following we may suppose to have been reported。 He was
scarce gone； at least； before Becker had armed men at the mission
gate and came in person seeking him。
The failure of this attempt doubtless sti