Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/113

Rh "They do not know the glories of the Fire God—their missionaries teach them other things, just as they have come here and led some of our people astray. But we will forgive, since you meant no harm. You came to see Joe Koloa. He is gone. What more do you want?"

"We want nothing more, outside of a drink of water, if you will be kind enough to give it to us," said Dan.

The drink was speedily forthcoming, and Dan insisted upon giving the man who brought it a silver quarter. This made him smile, and before we left the leader of the community was prevailed upon to accept a silver half dollar—"just as a token of friendship," as Oliver facetiously put it. In the meantime the fire dance continued in progress, and went on with renewed vigor as we mounted our steeds and started on the return to Wailuku.

"I would like to know if Merkin is around the city," said Oliver, as we passed along the Iao valley, now deep with the shades of gathering darkness. "If he is, we ought to hunt him up and get that map away from him."

"We can search around as soon as we get back," I answered. "We need not keep together, but divide up, and get the local authorities to hold him, if he is found."

"And we must separate him from this Joe