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than that she had best shown her sympathy。
An hour later the sympathy of Admiral Hardy was expressed more
directly。
〃If he comes on board my ship；〃 roared that gentleman； 〃I'll push
him down an ammunition hoist and break his damned neck！〃
Marshall laughed delightedly。 The loyalty of his old friend was
never so welcome。
〃You'll treat him with every courtesy；〃 he said。 〃The only
satisfaction he gets out of this is to see that he has hurt me。 We
will not give him that satisfaction。〃
But Marshall found that to conceal his wound was more difficult
than he had anticipated。 When； at tea time； on the deck of the
war…ship； he again met Senator Hanley and the guests of the
SERAPIS； he could not forget that his career had come to an end。
There was much to remind him that this was so。 He was made aware of
it by the sad； sympathetic glances of the women； by their tactful
courtesies； by the fact that Livingstone； anxious to propitiate
Hanley； treated him rudely； by the sight of the young officers；
each just starting upon a career of honor； and possible glory； as
his career ended in humiliation； and by the big war…ship herself；
that recalled certain crises when he had only to press a button and
war…ships had come at his bidding。
At five o'clock there was an awkward moment。 The Royal Mail boat；
having taken on her cargo； passed out of the harbor on her way to
Jamaica； and dipped her colors。 Senator Hanley； abandoned to his
fate； observed her departure in silence。
Livingstone； hovering at his side； asked sympathetically： 〃Have
they answered your cable； sir？〃 〃They have；〃 said Hanley gruffly。
〃Was itwas it satisfactory？〃 pursued the diplomat。 〃It WAS；〃 said
the senator； with emphasis。
Far from discouraged； Livingstone continued his inquiries。
〃And when；〃 he asked eagerly； 〃are you going to tell him？〃
〃Now！〃 said the senator。
The guests were leaving the ship。 When all were seated in the
admiral's steam launch； the admiral descended the accommodation
ladder and himself picked up the tiller ropes。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he called； 〃when I bring the launch broadside to
the ship and stop her； you will stand ready to receive the consul's
salute。〃
Involuntarily； Marshall uttered an exclamation of protest。 He had
forgotten that on leaving the war…ship； as consul； he was entitled
to seven guns。 Had he remembered； he would have insisted that the
ceremony be omitted。 He knew that the admiral wished to show his
loyalty； knew that his old friend was now paying him this honor
only as a rebuke to Hanley。 But the ceremony was no longer an
honor。 Hanley had made of it a mockery。 It served only to emphasize
what had been taken from him。 But； without a scene； it now was too
late to avoid it。 The first of the seven guns had roared from the
bow； and； as often he had stood before； as never he would so stand
again； Marshall took his place at the gangway of the launch。 His
eyes were fixed on the flag； his gray head was uncovered； his hat
was pressed above his heart。
For the first time since Hanley had left the consulate； he fell
into sudden terror lest he might give way to his emotions。
Indignant at the thought； he held himself erect。 His face was set
like a mask； his eyes were untroubled。 He was determined they
should not see that he was suffering。
Another gun spat out a burst of white smoke； a stab of flame。 There
was an echoing roar。 Another and another followed。 Marshall counted
seven； and then； with a bow to the admiral； backed from the
gangway。
And then another gun shattered the hot； heavy silence。 Marshall；
confused； embarrassed； assuming he had counted wrong； hastily
returned to his place。 But again before he could leave it； in
savage haste a ninth gun roared out its greeting。 He could not
still be mistaken。 He turned appealingly to his friend。 The eyes of
the admiral were fixed upon the war…ship。 Again a gun shattered the
silence。 Was it a jest？ Were they laughing at him？ Marshall flushed
miserably。 He gave a swift glance toward the others。 They were
smiling。 Then it was a jest。 Behind his back； something of which
they all were cognizant was going forward。 The face of Livingstone
alone betrayed a like bewilderment to his own。 But the others； who
knew； were mocking him。
For the thirteenth time a gun shook the brooding swamp land of
Porto Banos。 And then； and not until then； did the flag crawl
slowly from the mast…head。 Mary Cairns broke the tenseness by
bursting into tears。 But Marshall saw that every one else； save she
and Livingstone； were still smiling。 Even the bluejackets in charge
of the launch were grinning at him。 He was beset by smiling faces。
And then from the war…ship； unchecked； came； against all
regulations； three long； splendid cheers。
Marshall felt his lips quivering； the warm tears forcing their way
to his eyes。 He turned beseechingly to his friend。 His voice
trembled。
〃Charles；〃 he begged； 〃are they laughing at me？〃
Eagerly； before the other would answer； Senator Hanley tossed his
cigar into the water and； scrambling forward； seized Marshall by
the hand。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he cried； 〃our President has great faith in Abraham
Lincoln's judgment of men。 And this salute means that this morning
he appointed you our new minister to The Hague。 I'm one of those
politicians who keeps his word。 I TOLD YOU I'd take your tin sign
away from you by sunset。 I've done it！〃
End