The only change he made was to haul down the flag of truce.

He had now no wish to meet with Mataafa.

Words were out of season, shells must speak.
At this moment an incident befell him which must have been trying to his self-command.

The new American ship _Nipsic_ entered Laulii Bay; her commander, Mullan, boarded the _Adler_ to protest, succeeded in wresting from Knappe a period of delay in order that the women might be spared, and sent a lieutenant to Mataafa with a warning.

The camp was already excited by the news and the trophies of Fangalii.