"His father was no king," was the bold answer. A
bolder still has been printed, but this is Mataafa's own recollection of
the passage. On the next day, the chiefs were all ordered back to shake
hands with Tamasese. Again they obeyed; but again their attitude was
menacing, and some, it is said, audibly murmured as they gave their
hands.
It is time to follow the poor Sheet of Paper (literal meaning of
_Laupepa_), who was now to be blown so broadly over the face of earth. As
soon as news reached him of the declaration of war, he fled from Afenga
to Tanungamanono, a hamlet in the bush, about a mile and a half behind
Apia, where he lurked some days. On the 24th, Selu, his secretary,
despatched to the American consul an anxious appeal, his majesty's "cry
and prayer" in behalf of "this weak people." By August 30th, the Germans
had word of his lurking-place, surrounded the hamlet under cloud of
night, and in the early morning burst with a force of sailors on the
houses. The people fled on all sides, and were fired upon. One boy was
shot in the hand, the first blood of the war. But the king was nowhere
to be found; he had wandered farther, over the woody mountains, the
backbone of the land, towards Siumu and Safata.
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