76 I N A G U A 



Majesty's dominions simply for the fun of it. The smile broad- 

 ened perceptibly, then lapsed into its accustomed faintness. 



Coleman was led from the room by the uniformed aide and 

 the trial began. I took a solemn oath "to tell the truth, the whole 

 truth and nothing but the truth, so help me," and sealed it by 

 kissing a huge Bible which lay on the desk. On the Commis- 

 sioner's request I told the entire story of the shipwreck start- 

 ing from the day of departure, all of which was carefully in- 

 scribed in a book filled with flowing handwriting. I told of how 

 we had put to sea, of our battle with the storm, and of how 

 exhausted and weary, we had at last found journey's end on 

 the reefs of the Lagoon Christophe. I told him the purposes of 

 the voyage and how we had come on the deck of Daxon's boat 

 to Alathewtown. But I might have been reciting "Mary had a 

 little lamb" for all the effect it had on the ebony-faced Com- 

 missioner. The smile never wavered and the words went down 

 in smooth sequence in the little volume. 



When I was finished I was dismissed and waved to a seat 

 again. Coleman was brought in. Once again we left the solid 

 land, battled the hurricane and fought the wintry seas. One by 

 one the words of the recitation entered the little book, near to 

 overflowing with fine Spencerian script. At last we were 

 through, over the reefs again, the voyage done. Coleman sat 

 down beside me. 



The Commissioner folded the little book, passed it to the 

 uniformed Negro and sat thoughtfully for a minute, tapping the 

 desk. From down on the beach through the open door we 

 could hear the sigh of the surf, the sound of water sliding up on 

 the sand and slithering back again. A full dozen times the swish 

 and sigh of the breakers filled the room with their noise and 

 subsided. At last came the decision. 



"I suppose I can release you," said the Commissioner, "but I 

 am afraid I will find it necessary to hold all your equipment 



