But the king was out in a sort of square to one
side, and had about fifty warriors with feathers in their hair,
practising spears at a mark. Then he saw us, and then he said
something sharp, and the fifty fell into line behind, with spears and
shields in disciplined order. They marched very pretty, and came down
on us in a way to make a man feel shy. I says, "Which of you is going
to arrest him, and how's he going to do it?" Breen says, "You have
me!" And Jessamine says: "Let's see."
Then the king halted his company and came on alone, looking calm,
with the thumb of one hand in the armhole of his vest, and the other
pulling his chin beard. And Jessamine stepped forward and says:
"J. R. Craney, I arrest you for embezzlement." And the king looked
him over calm and benevolent. He says, "You don't mean it! Better be
careful. Why, the trouble is, the army ain't really disciplined yet.
They'd jab you full of holes, when I wasn't looking, if they caught
your idea. Better come and have tea. I didn't expect you'd be along
for two months yet."
It appeared he calculated on three or four months, and my meeting
Jessamine at Honolulu had cut him short. But I didn't see but he held
the cards.
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