Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/106

92 "She will keep that spinning up for hours," returned Dan. "I've heard of it before. Some Turkish tribes can do the same thing."

Impelled by curiosity we drew closer and closer, until we had reached the nearest of the huts. Here we sought a place in the shade, sitting on a big log, upon one end of which was scattered a lot of rice and upon the other end what appeared to be the plumage of a parrot.

"They are growing wilder each minute!" cried Dan, a few seconds later. "Some of them look like regular demons."

"They are dancing in order to get the God of Fire to make them successful in their hunting, fishing, and trading," answered Oliver. "I understand this ceremony is hundreds of years old. It will soon be a thing of the past."

"Not by the way the children take hold, Oliver," I said.

"Oh, they go in for the sport more than anything, Mark. As soon as they become educated they will see the folly of all this."

"I wonder if Joe Koloa is among them," put in Dan suddenly. "I never thought of that before."

"I shouldn't be surprised," returned Oliver. "But we had better not interrupt the dance or we may get into trouble."

"I'm awful dry and must have a drink," I