And I
leave Octavia this afternoon to reap my just reward. I am in
about twenty thousand dollars on your little war, and I feel
grateful. So much so that I will inform you that the ship of
war Kaiser has arrived at San Francisco, for which port she
sailed directly from Opeki. Her captain has explained the
real situation, and offered to make every amend for the
accidental indignity shown to our flag. He says he aimed at
the cannon, which was trained on his vessel, and which had
first fired on him. But you must know, my dear Stedman, that
before his arrival, war-vessels belonging to the several
powers mentioned in my revised despatches, had started for
Opeki at full speed, to revenge the butchery of the foreign
residents. A word, my dear young friend, to the wise is
sufficient. I am indebted to you to the extent of twenty
thousand dollars, and in return I give you this kindly advice.
Leave Opeki. If there is no other way, swim. But leave Opeki."
The sun, that night, as it sank below the line where the
clouds seemed to touch the sea, merged them both into a
blazing, blood-red curtain, and colored the most wonderful
spectacle that the natives of Opeki had ever seen.
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