Kaiuolani

Liliuokolani turned cold with pallor, and Gutenborj paced the floor like the caged lion he seemed. Kaiuolani grew impatient and hostile with suspense, and only Aokahameha tried as best he could to calm a dangerous and growing distrust. The rabble of malcontents or the parade of underlings bore no significance to an ardent believer; his command was supreme and their motives pure—but the noise and the confusion would not cease; the ambition of Harvenoiq flamed and raged under the quest of rapidly increasing power.

He had at last seen with his own eyes the fighting forces of pent up America, his own belated and hard-scoffed country, land upon the shores of a belligerent if well-meaning nation. He had foretasted the pride of conquest and marvelled the possibilities of a new birth and broader sphere. All this impressed him, and awakened within a truer comprehension of the individual responsibilities; but the only too potent thought of sharing the glory with an unregenerate, an escaped culprit and traitor to all restraint, more than outweighed the waning sense of an illy begotten, scantily developed understanding. The spokesman of a great and trustful people floundered in the throes of consequential duty, and thence found himself given over body and soul to the wiles of a revengeful, senile mood.

These men were applauding another for the enterprise they had long sought; America, their native country, had for once and for all taken a hand in the moulding of a destiny ardently hoped; his own act had set in motion the machinery with which to build; the empire launched, no force within the grasp of mere man could stay its certain progress, the honor of the occasion would fall to the lot of a hated accomplice, for his fellows were keen to light the fires and an absent constituency stood quick to applaud heroism—whether false or true, to lionize and uphold. There must be some devised means of attaining the desired end, as to a man they would not, could not release a vantage hold.

Standing at one side, well up on the bank, free and unmolested, the vexed minister viewed with satisfaction the mixed faces that appeared only too eager to do homage and maintain. They should not be checked in their zeal, but an abounding sympathy were better bestowed where self might relish the plaudits.

Long years of deprivation and hope had seared the breast of every Annexationist with an abiding faith in the government which he had left behind. At home the toiling populace engaged itself with encouraging, maintaining and strengthening an edifice that reared within the boundaries of a birth-given domain. The seed of larger unity must germinate outside the walls of a sacred, prolific field of sustenance: must take root in the barren soil of a rock-ridden wilderness, fit only for the habitation of aspiring renegades, the handful that always blaze the way, cradle the song that soothes, uplifts the fallen, builds forever anew.

The picture of greatness loomed before their covetous brother. Harvenoiq could see well the end. These same men who labored at home would go to any extremity if their patriotism were but touched, their loyalty seemed in the least questioned. A leader’s name should be toasted by every tongue, heralded as a father’s, and inscribed upon the pages of universal history.

It was more than he could bear to lose, and facing the ranks Harvenoiq read in that stalwart uniform and abundant equipment the means of ready attainment.

They were men-fashioned instruments who of necessity stood ready to hear and eager to do the bidding of a nation. No pride of freedom disturbed their consciences, no love for kind stayed the primal blow; the spurs that stimulate had never penetrated their born-servant skins. Little should they care were the whole earth to find itself tied hand and head to the merciless stake of a tyrant’s driving so long as they might brush and beg. Here again chieftainship waxed supreme, became the sole important thing, as men lose individuality only to respect the more the individual.

Bender alone stood in the pathway of ultimate supremacy.

Momentarily the thought burned hotly his cheeks, which soon turned a livid white. He could stand no longer such treatment. His own neglect he might have borne, but a rival’s praise unnerved him, and taking advantage of an official semblance the blundering minister rushed among Bender’s admirers,—utterly ignoring the only shadow of an excuse that he might have advanced for his own unwarranted acts,—shouting authoritatively to the commodore:

“Arrest the leader, and disperse the mob!”

Uhlrix started with surprise, and looking round at the friendly faces and feeling yet the warm grasp of Bender spoke inquiringly:

“Who is the leader, of whom you speak, and where are the rioters, may I ask?”

Harvenoiq looked down whipped and irresolute to the ground he maligned. He had never before so much as ventured an unborrowed or self-suggested assertion; and now that he had blundered himself into an inexplicable and irrevocable responsibility his whole being resolved itself into one continuous, unbroken whirl of uncertainty. Presently his eyes rose appealingly to the man he would dislodge. Possibly he may have conjured the hope of an up to that time welcome adviser’s grateful surrender; more likely he found himself devoid of a single trait obligatory of independent action: what with expectation and failure disapprobation rent asunder the weak but ardent dream; the accused answered adroitly, and the commodore’s brow knit with vexatious determination.

“These men are Americans,” said Bender, “and neither you nor I have cause to question the good faith of this assemblage or to insult the command that would do us justice. I deny you the right to dictate; an American commodore brooks no interference. The disturbance is at the capitol.”

“Liar! Deceiver! I require——” shouted Harvenoiq, unable further to restrain an unbridled temper.

“Orderly, arrest these men, and we shall march them forthwith to the seat of justice. Unable to retrace my steps, that I am, I shall have done a service in landing here to-day if only to escort two belligerent subjects into the hands of a proper authority,” said the commodore, savagely cutting short the hot-headed minister’s heedless speech.

“I am an American official, sir, and as such claim superiority,” remonstrated Harvenoiq, without the least perceptible effect.

“I am an American citizen, but must not be seen behind these ranks. My local duties deny me the pleasure of so flagrant a spectacle,” pleaded Bender, no less unable to gain the commodore’s listless ear.

“Companies into fours, forward, march!” awakened some dull comprehensions and gladdened the knowing ones, as lines of glistening carbines and a jovial, eager command stood ready to wheel and tramp, they cared not where, but to the time and tune of a regularly cash-paid corps.

The crestfallen minister doggedly pursued them, with Bender, mortified and expectant, close at his guard-watched elbow. They bore the predicament in silence, but a waning hope vainly satisfied the quickening consciousness of each. Only a few minutes of grace and their part stood well to abide fairly the prowess of a lone, unhampered mother wit.