The Energon, however, promptly hoisted anchor and cleared out to sea.  A great clamour was raised by the papers; the government was charged with cowardice and vacillation in its dealings with a mere pleasure yacht and a lunatic who called himself “Goliah,” and immediate and decisive action was demanded.  Also, a great cry went up about the loss of life, especially the wanton killing of the ten “statesmen.”  Goliah promptly replied.  In fact, so prompt was his reply that the experts in wireless telegraphy announced that, since it was impossible to send wireless messages so great a distance, Goliah was in their very midst and not on Palgrave Island.  Goliah’s letter was delivered to the Associated Press by a messenger boy who had been engaged on the street.  The letter was as follows: 

“What are a few paltry lives?  In your insane wars you destroy millions of lives and think nothing of it.  In your fratricidal commercial struggle you kill countless babes, women, and men, and you triumphantly call the shambles ‘individualism.’  I call it anarchy.  I am going to put a stop to your wholesale destruction of human beings.  I want laughter, not slaughter.  Those of you who stand in the way of laughter will get slaughter.

“Your government is trying to delude you into believing that the destruction of the Alaska was an accident.  Know here and now that it was by my orders that the Alaska was destroyed.  In a few short months, all battleships on all seas will be destroyed or flung to the scrap-heap, and all nations shall disarm; fortresses shall be dismantled, armies disbanded, and warfare shall cease from the earth.  Mine is the power.  I am the will of God.  The whole world shall be in vassalage to me, but it shall be a vassalage of peace.

“I am

Goliah.”

“Blow Palgrave Island out of the water!” was the head-line retort of the newspapers.  The government was of the same frame of mind, and the assembling of the fleets began.  Walter Bassett broke out in ineffectual protest, but was swiftly silenced by the threat of a lunacy commission.  Goliah remained silent.  Against Palgrave Island five great fleets were hurled—­the Asiatic Squadron, the South Pacific Squadron, the North Pacific Squadron, the Caribbean Squadron, and half of the North Atlantic Squadron, the two latter coming through the Panama Canal.

“I have the honour to report that we sighted Palgrave Island on the evening of April 29,” ran the report of Captain Johnson, of the battleship North Dakota, to the Secretary of the Navy.  “The Asiatic Squadron was delayed and did not arrive until the morning of April 30.  A council of the admirals was held, and it was decided to attack early next morning.  The destroyer, Swift VII, crept in, unmolested, and reported no warlike preparations on the island.  It noted several small merchant steamers in the harbour, and the existence of a small village in a hopelessly exposed position that could be swept by our fire.