Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/138

124 when we felt safe from pursuit and had brought our galloping horses to a walk. "We'll not get back to Wailuku to-night."

"I don't care—so long as we get back sometime," I answered. "The main thing was to escape from those natives. They mean to make somebody suffer for the burning down of their village."

"I wouldn't care a rap how long it took to reach the seacoast, only I am anxious to trace Caleb Merkin," went on my friend. "He mustn't be allowed to leave the island before us on any account."

"Especially, if he has Joe Koloa with him," put in Dan.

"From what I can learn this Joe Koloa must be rather a peculiar person," I remarked.

"That's so," answered Oliver. "I hope Merkin doesn't wind him around his finger."

"Humph! Perhaps Joe Koloa will do some of the winding," interrupted Dan.

"How do you mean?"

"He may get Merkin to put up some money to get his secret away from him and then not tell the sailor anything, after all. These natives are not all fools."

"What gets me is, why doesn't Joe Koloa go and get the treasure for his own benefit?" said Oliver.