The marines pressed hard at the gate.
“Halt!” shouted Aokahameha, rising upon his elbow to confront the
courier who had advanced unmolested close to the palace doors.
“I demand your immediate surrender,” replied the intruder, half
sarcastically, half in earnest.
“Whose surrender?” interceded Ihoas, while Aokahameha barely changed to
a less comfortable position on the bench.
The nonplussed messenger made no reply; just whom he sought or where to
begin had not dawned upon Uhlrix’s mind, much less had it occurred to
the aid who carried his dispatch.
“Who dares so boldly?” ventured Ihoas, after a while, cutting short the
pause that ensued.
“America,” knowingly replied the lackey.
“Charge!” shouted Aokahameha, turning to face the Guards, before either
one speaking had recovered the shock; which, seemingly, affected both
alike.
Instantly the glad soldiery wheeled to, a thousand deadly cartridges
dropped into place, and as many rifles leveled in the face of a
halting, mystified foe.
Ihoas arose, imploring wildly:
“To battle, Aokahameha; Kaiuolani is the prize!”
Terror seized the over-conscious man and running forward he would have
ordered a cessation, but his voice failed him: the wild gesticulations
of a frightened leader only encouraged the more the determined ranks,
whereat a wicked report from two solid columns rang out defiance,
echoed the warning its trained, undaunted purpose bespoke.
The Americans wavered. The charge had come unexpectedly, and their
broken lines needs must have faltered had not an undaunted leader
rallied and held them face to face with danger.
Uhlrix astride his heavy horse galloped to the fore, and lifting in the
stirrups, his harsh, nasal voice heard above the din of tumult, shouted:
“Fire!”
Their aim proved deadly. The havoc wrought was more than he had
expected. An organized front broke into scattering fragments and
daring men ran to shelter. Aokahameha fell among the first, bleeding
at Ihoas’s feet. The startled princess threw herself over him, calling
loudly:
“Courage, Aokahameha; Ihoas speaks.”
But the proud man was past heeding,--even a cherished hope,--and lay
helpless upon the ground. The Guards ran hither and thither, trembling
with disaster. The marines advanced upon the capitol, clearing and
slashing the way with carbine and saber; and with driving the enemy
and surrounding the building an ominous silence overcast the place.
High above them drooped and fluttered the cross and bars, waving to the
world its innocent grace and sacred claims. Harvenoiq spied it.
Still standing prisoner beneath the folds of his own--a flag that he
would do honor, yet suffer to degrade--the fain diplomat cogitated with
Bender the best means of escape or pandered self with the possibility
of unheard-of rehabilitation. The flag cord stood wound securely
within reach; the crafty Isaacs now displayed round his shoulders the
significant stars and stripes; Harvenoiq breathed intently; temptation
mastered, and grasping the unthwarted emblem the ready reckoner
made it fast, loosened the cord and--as the one lowered the other
rose, striking terror into the hearts of a friendly people, raising
enthusiasm among his own, to the point of tolerance--signalled the
outcome that none but he had dared design.
The retreating Guards halted and gazed, breathless and expectant
amid the sacred grounds in front of the queen’s palace. The marines
drew up in order round the capitol building. Not a word escaped. All
eyes turned toward the flags. A chance whirlwind entangled them and
Harvenoiq tugged at the rope, but could raise the one nor lower the
other hardly an inch. Providence had decreed the flight of empire and
all the powers of earth could not raise the embargo nor broaden those
bounds beyond the bare limit of conquest’s idle fruitage.
Nor was the trophy to be won without an essential cost. Twice the
little flag fluttered free in the skies. No common man appeared able
to check or advance its beneficent inspiration; all sweltered blind
in stupid lowness--but again the faithful, star-voiced standard waved
loose from the unthinking, feeling-bereft monster that would gorge
serene on plundered plenty, and open-mouthed men started amazed at
an only call--rising as of old from the deep unfathomable, claiming
recognition, rousing energy, signalling the goal.
Kaiuolani dashed into their midst,--Ipo snorting and foaming,--her
corded cap, tasseled boots, and legginged uniform afresh and scabbard
dangling: the stilled environs livened with valor and torn breasts
breathed anew the spirit that survives, as she charged up and down a
rapidly reorganizing front, shouting:
“Rally, comrades; Kaiuolani leads!”
They did recover; and with one sharp, decisive advance hurled the
marines, Uhlrix, his pensioners and all, back upon adjoining streets,
bleeding and torn and overcome.
Kaiuolani, fired and foremost, ran toward the flagstaff. A swarthy
Guard hauled aloft the emblem of their country: the stars and stripes
swung low, and the proud princess rising in the saddle and brandishing
her sword whipped the hated rag into shreds at their feet.
“Long live the princess,” rang out in chorus from a myriad hoarse
throats, scarcely failing the hushed, hard suspense, till their leader
turned to meet and face a more painful, deadlier conflict.
Young and the Rifles had come, and with fixed bayonets and double step
bore down upon the rear.
The march had been continuous and the distance great, but the new and
untried were eager for a chance and their commander waxed hot with
revenge.
Norton had convinced him.
Having misled Uhlrix and stirred the Guards to ill-advised action, she,
close pursued and eager, made good her disappearance and drove away to
meet and surcharge the Rifles; arriving scarcely Gutenborj had reached
and directed their reasonable necessities.
“But, I tell you, you are misinformed; or, perhaps, not at all aware
of recent developments,” urged Norton, to the surprised planter, with
emphasis, in a last endeavor to convince Young, the three having met
in hasty consultation.
“I understand the situation perfectly: all that we require is a
safe, sound and conservative management of the Rifles--the queen is
spokesman,” replied he, quite positive and not the least argumentative.
“She is a prisoner and a back number, this very minute,” declared their
unsought informant, with crafty vehemence.
“What?” queried they, in breathless unison.
“The palace is surrounded, and Kaiuolani is chief----”
“That is false! If there is any such disturbance at the palace, depend
upon what I say: Bender is at the bottom of it,” interposed Young,
unable to bear the contemplated accusation, particularly as he himself
had encountered the two--both Bender and Kaiuolani--keeping close
company, while riding on the avenue, earlier in the day.
“He may be a close counsellor: I shouldn’t undertake to venture less,
though I have no very apparent reason for predicting as much: you may
know more about that than I do,” replied Norton, her eyes riveted hard
upon Young’s reddening face.
Gutenborj weakened,--the possibilities were more than he could
risk,--saying in compromising tones, to Young only, having ignored
Norton entirely:
“Possibly we had best hold the Rifles in check until better advised.
Let us keep our hands clean; Bender may be on top; I understand Uhlrix
is susceptible--the marines are invincible: our interests----”
“Hold, man!” interrupted Young unable longer to restrain his feelings.
“Would you place property above life, sacrifice honor to save dollars?”
“Order is my religion; the laws subserve best who the powers heed
most,” answered the shrewd financier, with characteristic confidence.
“Fain reason never won fair laurel. Policy degrades: patriotism
uplifts--go your way: Floyd Young shall do his part in deeds that ring
true,” replied the younger man, with a vigor that convinced; thereat,
leaping astride his horse and flashing the steel that welds, shouted:
“Forward, march!”
Both Gutenborj and Norton did go their way, and the Rifles doubly
quickened toward the palace; Young’s indignation grew with each
recurring memory; the distant crack and rumble of musketry hardened
conscience, and barely the Guards recovered their front Kaiuolani met
face to face her old-time champion.
Their eyes flashed determination. The one flamed and encouraged with
the glow of success: the other measuring well the consequences of a
mistaken conduct--how could they but alter the progress and change the
course of a conflict in which they waged?
“Lay down your arms, Kaiuolani, and heed a more befitting usefulness,”
said Young, calmly, having measured well, as he took it, the probable
outcome of a conflict.
“Then lay down yours, or prove the right to challenge,” replied the
princess, wholly unmindful of any possible inequality.
Kaiuolani met her lover’s gaze without a tremor; he flushed and
hesitated,--the supreme test had come,--then recovering turned to his
command and ordered them advance with bayonets fixed.
Wheeling round and facing her men, Kaiuolani shouted:
“Charge, Guards; your princess leads!”
They fired, and the battle raged anew.
Twice the sturdy patriots forced the hungry oncomers hard upon their
reserves, but each time those careless hirelings heeded a master’s call
and rallying forced admittance beyond the gates. But the Guards stood
upon principle, and the voice of a princess brooked no retreat--the
marines once again came into sight! they pressed forward in the
distance!
“Trapped?” whispered the princess, half audibly--“No, no; not I; never
these men--on with the battle! forward the lines!” cried she, charging
fearlessly ahead, her voice ringing triumph in the ears of those she
trusted, striking terror to the hearts of a ruthless foe.
The ground she gained ran red with blood; the moans of the fallen, the
ghastly heaps of dead and dying did not stop them; Kaiuolani knew no
halting short of a queen’s deliverance, her country’s salvation. She
urged and directed: Young rallied and implored--but personal interests
pitted against national valor proved a hopeless task: the Rifles
weakened, became panic-stricken, and the onrushing Guards swept over
them like a storm trampling the heavens.
The queen sat there, in her room, throughout it all, stoic and
indifferent. The destiny of her cares had passed into other hands; the
hopes and aims of a lifetime trembled in the balance; the aspirations
of generations seemed crushed beneath the ruthless hand of fate;
centuries of development, and the highest and best at their disposal
must abide the decree of a stronger will: Liliuokolani breathed easily,
and at last placed her faith where kings and princes, paupers and
producers alike find a living, unyielding consolation.
She set her foot down to stay. The place belonged to her, and no man
bore the right to dispossess. Norton stole into the room. She came
there as she had gone elsewhere--hurriedly.
“Fly, Liliuokolani, fly; the Rifles are crushed; the Guards are
marching out, the marines advancing!” whispered Norton, eagerly.
“Why should I go? and who are you, to address me thus?” replied the
queen, calmly.
Thereat Elmsford burst in at the door, and Norton as quickly left. He
had gone there as a last resort to save the queen from possible capture.
“Come with me; it is your majesty’s only refuge--the walls of my house
shall protect you against harm. Come?” said he, earnestly and in good
faith.
“No. I remain here, where I belong, even in the face of abandonment.
Go. Save yourselves; Liliuokolani is immovable.”
And they went--the victorious Guards, the queen’s retinue, and all
those in authority who sympathized--orderly and rapidly toward Diamond
Head; though Kaiuolani did not know until long afterwards that the
queen herself remained shut up and alone at the palace.
Those upon whom the princess relied for counsel knew better than
she the futility of undertaking peacefully to induce Liliuokolani’s
going, and to remove her by force had been an act of rebellion--so
construed by both Uhlrix and Young in justification of their openly
wanton and widely intentioned assaults. The two hard-fought engagements
had so depleted the Guards that to stand ground against such odds had
been worse than madness: the possibility of recruiting under shelter
the necessary force to regain the capital and effectively establish
authority outweighed in the minds of knowing ones: Kaiuolani was led
innocent and the flight directed.
Sitting, however, in final council just outside the city, where a
temporary halt was made to recover breath and prepare the march, their
gallant commander suddenly arose and nervously turning her glasses upon
the doomed capitol in the distance reeled, and shrieked:
“The flag!”
Thenceforth her advance became solely a matter of their prevision.