Chapter I: Front Matter

A
UNITED STATES
MIDSHIPMAN
IN THE
SOUTH SEAS

_by_

Lt. Com. Yates Stirling Jr. U.S.N.

Author of
“A U.S. Midshipman Afloat”
“A U.S. Midshipman in China”
“A U.S. Midshipman in the Philippines”
“A U.S. Midshipman in Japan”

Illustrated _by_ Ralph L. Boyer

THE PENN PUBLISHING
COMPANY PHILADELPHIA
MCMXIII

COPYRIGHT
1913 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY

_During the process of empire building, even to-day carried on by the great powers, the far distant South Sea Islands received their share of attention from designing cabinets._

_In their patriotic desire to further the cause of their country many sailors laid down their lives in battles with the natives._

_These small wars are scarcely remembered at home, but in the islands where the rivalry between the nations was bitterest, there stand impressive monuments to these sailor heroes, and in their songs the chivalrous islanders praise the virtues of their fallen foes._

_To the sailors of all nations who thus met death, fighting in their country’s cause, these pages are dedicated._

Introduction

In this story Midshipmen Phil Perry and Sydney Monroe, together with Boatswain’s Mate “Jack” O’Neil, act through an historic drama of a South Sea war.

The same characters have seen active service in many parts of the world.

In “A United States Midshipman Afloat,” life in a battle-ship of the Atlantic fleet, together with a typical South American revolution, furnished the setting. In “A United States Midshipman in China,” the midshipmen and O’Neil help to rescue an American Mission and put an end to a “Boxer” uprising. In “A United States Midshipman in the Philippines,” the same officers see very active service on board a gun-boat in coöperation with the army against the Filipino insurgents.

In “A United States Midshipman in Japan,” they discover a plot to bring the United States and Japan into open hostilities over the purchase of some foreign war-ships. War is narrowly averted through the detective work of the midshipmen and their Japanese classmate at Annapolis, but now a lieutenant in the Imperial Navy.

The present volume carries the midshipmen through further thrilling scenes that occurred in an island of the far-away South Seas. The portrayal of native life is faithful and many of the incidents are historic.

Contents

I. THE RIVAL CHIEFS 11

II. DISCORD AMONG THE WHITES 23

III. PLOTTING FOR POWER 44

IV. CAPTAIN “BULLY” SCOTT AND HIS MATE 58

V. THE “TALOFA” IN UKULA 81

VI. THE “TALOFA’S” CARGO 103

VII. THE KAPUAN FIRM 112

VIII. AVAO, TAPAU OF UKULA 131

IX. O’NEIL’S OPINION 145

X. RUMORS OF WAR 165

XI. HIGH CHIEF KATAAFA 183

XII. SMUGGLED ARMS 202

XIII. UKULA ATTACKED 221

XIV. COUNT ROSEN TAKES CHARGE 240

XV. THE “DE FACTO” GOVERNMENT 259

XVI. CARL KLINGER 277

XVII. BEN STUMP LISTENS 293

XVIII. A “CUTTING OUT” EXPEDITION 310

XIX. A REËNFORCEMENT 327

XX. THE TABLES TURNED 345

XXI. A RECONNAISSANCE 362

XXII. WAR IN EARNEST 377

XXIII. CONCLUSION 395

Illustrations

PAGE

“ISN’T IT WORTH COMING FOR?” _Frontispiece_

THREE AMERICAN OFFICERS WERE STANDING IN THE ROAD 51

“I WANT ABOUT A DOZEN SAILORS” 128

HE BEGAN AT ONCE TO WAVE IT 204

“YOU ARE SIMPLY A BULLY!” 281

“IS IT QUITE CLEAR?” THE ADMIRAL ASKED 329

HE DID NOT FIRE 385

A United States Midshipman in the South Seas