Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/107

Rh went on. "I wonder if there isn't a stone crock of water somewhere about?"

I arose and looked into the hut behind us. There was water there and I took a deep drink.

I had just finished when a yell from a corner of the hut startled me. An old man lay there, a native, apparently very sick.

"Don't be alarmed," I said. "I won't hurt you."

But he did not understand me, or did not care, for he continued to yell, at the same time trying to get on his feet.

"Come out here, Mark!" I heard Oliver call, and moved again toward the log.

"They are coming for us!" came from Dan, and he was right. The first yell from the old man had attracted the attention of the fire-worshipers, and now the men were running toward us with all speed, brandishing their torches as they progressed.

"This looks serious," said Oliver.

"We haven't done any harm," put in Dan, and started to draw his pistol, when I checked him.

"Don't make matters worse," I whispered. "We can easily explain the situation."

On and on came the crowd, until we were completely surrounded. Then several of the natives flung down their torches and pulled us from the