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gate and came in person seeking him。
The failure of this attempt doubtless still further exasperated the
consul； and he began to deal as in an enemy's country。 He had
marines from the ADLER to stand sentry over the consulate and
parade the streets by threes and fours。 The bridge of the
Vaisingano； which cuts in half the English and American quarters；
he closed by proclamation and advertised for tenders to demolish
it。 On the 17th Leary and Pelly landed carpenters and repaired it
in his teeth。 Leary； besides； had marines under arms； ready to
land them if it should be necessary to protect the work。 But
Becker looked on without interference； perhaps glad enough to have
the bridge repaired； for even Becker may not always have offended
intentionally。 Such was now the distracted posture of the little
town： all government extinct； the German consul patrolling it with
armed men and issuing proclamations like a ruler； the two other
Powers defying his commands； and at least one of them prepared to
use force in the defiance。 Close on its skirts sat the warriors of
Mataafa； perhaps four thousand strong； highly incensed against the
Germans； having all to gain in the seizure of the town and firm；
and； like an army in a fairy tale； restrained by the air…drawn
boundary of the neutral ground。
I have had occasion to refer to the strange appearance in these
islands of an American adventurer with a battery of cannon。 The
adventurer was long since gone； but his guns remained； and one of
them was now to make fresh history。 It had been cast overboard by
Brandeis on the outer reef in the course of this retreat； and word
of it coming to the ears of the Mataafas； they thought it natural
that they should serve themselves the heirs of Tamasese。 On the
23rd a Manono boat of the kind called TAUMUALUA dropped down the
coast from Mataafa's camp； called in broad day at the German
quarter of the town for guides； and proceeded to the reef。 Here；
diving with a rope； they got the gun aboard； and the night being
then come； returned by the same route in the shallow water along
shore； singing a boat…song。 It will be seen with what childlike
reliance they had accepted the neutrality of Apia bay； they came
for the gun without concealment； laboriously dived for it in broad
day under the eyes of the town and shipping； and returned with it；
singing as they went。 On Grevsmuhl's wharf； a light showed them a
crowd of German blue…jackets clustered； and a hail was heard。
〃Stop the singing so that we may hear what is said；〃 said one of
the chiefs in the TAUMUALUA。 The song ceased； the hail was heard
again； 〃AU MAI LE FANA … bring the gun〃； and the natives report
themselves to have replied in the affirmative； and declare that
they had begun to back the boat。 It is perhaps not needful to
believe them。 A volley at least was fired from the wharf； at about
fifty yards' range and with a very ill direction； one bullet
whistling over Pelly's head on board the LIZARD。 The natives
jumped overboard； and swimming under the lee of the TAUMUALUA
（where they escaped a second volley） dragged her towards the east。
As soon as they were out of range and past the Mulivai； the German
border； they got on board and （again singing … though perhaps a
different song） continued their return along the English and
American shore。 Off Matautu they were hailed from the seaward by
one of the ADLER'S boats； which had been suddenly despatched on the
sound of the firing or had stood ready all evening to secure the
gun。 The hail was in German； the Samoans knew not what it meant；
but took the precaution to jump overboard and swim for land。 Two
volleys and some dropping shot were poured upon them in the water；
but they dived； scattered； and came to land unhurt in different
quarters of Matautu。 The volleys； fired inshore； raked the
highway； a British house was again pierced by numerous bullets； and
these sudden sounds of war scattered consternation through the
town。
Two British subjects； Hetherington…Carruthers； a solicitor； and
Maben； a land…surveyor … the first being in particular a man well
versed in the native mind and language … hastened at once to their
consul； assured him the Mataafas would be roused to fury by this
onslaught in the neutral zone； that the German quarter would be
certainly attacked； and the rest of the town and white inhabitants
exposed to a peril very difficult of estimation； and prevailed upon
him to intrust them with a mission to the king。 By the time they
reached headquarters； the warriors were already taking post round
Matafele； and the agitation of Mataafa himself was betrayed in the
fact that he spoke with the deputation standing and gun in hand： a
breach of high…chief dignity perhaps unparalleled。 The usual
result； however； followed： the whites persuaded the Samoan； and
the attack was countermanded； to the benefit of all concerned； and
not least of Mataafa。 To the benefit of all； I say； for I do not
think the Germans were that evening in a posture to resist； the
liquor…cellars of the firm must have fallen into the power of the
insurgents； and I will repeat my formula that a mob is a mob； a
drunken mob is a drunken mob； and a drunken mob with weapons in its
hands is a drunken mob with weapons in its hands； all the world
over。
In the opinion of some； then； the town had narrowly escaped
destruction； or at least the miseries of a drunken sack。 To the
knowledge of all； the air of the neutral territory had once more
whistled with bullets。 And it was clear the incident must have
diplomatic consequences。 Leary and Pelly both protested to Fritze。
Leary announced he should report the affair to his government 〃as a
gross violation of the principles of international law； and as a
breach of the neutrality。〃 〃I positively decline the protest；〃
replied Fritze； 〃and cannot fail to express my astonishment at the
tone of your last letter。〃 This was trenchant。 It may be said；
however； that Leary was already out of court； that； after the night
signals and the Scanlon incident； and so many other acts of
practical if humorous hostility； his position as a neutral was no
better than a doubtful jest。 The case with Pelly was entirely
different； and with Pelly； Fritze was less well inspired。 In his
first note； he was on the old guard； announced that he had acted on
the requisition of his consul； who was alone responsible on 〃the
legal side〃； and declined accordingly to discuss 〃whether the lives
of British subjects were in danger； and to what extent armed
intervention was necessary。〃 Pelly replied judiciously that he had
nothing to do with political matters； being only responsible for
the safety of Her Majesty's ships under his command and for the
lives and property of British subjects； that he had considered his
protest a purely naval one； an