Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/155

Rh We were up at daybreak, and after breakfast strolled down to the steamship office and procured our tickets to Hilo, the principal seaport town of the island of Hawaii. There were but few passengers, and now the dock was given over to the labors of a lot of Chinese, who toiled manfully in the hot sun with the thousand and one casks, boxes, and bundles lying about.

"These Chinese know how to work," observed Dan. "I reckon they can do about twice as much as a Kanaka."

"They can do more than an American, for the matter of that," returned Oliver. "Who could stand it to work in this temperature? And yet it might be worse," he added, as a freshening breeze came bowling along.

The morning hours dragged painfully, and when at last a line of smoke on the horizon betokened the coming of the steamer we hailed the signal with a sigh of relief. Slowly the craft came to view, turning into Kahului Bay, and at last, at twelve o'clock, came to anchor, and we were permitted to go on board.

This was a different steamer from that which had brought us to Maui, and having inspected the deck, we went below to look over our stateroom.

It was in the best of order, and having stored away our baggage and looked around to our heart's content we went on deck and remained