Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/60

48 We soon reached the made part of the road. It was along the side of a mountain which was hundreds of feet high to the left, hundreds of feet in depth to the right. The right wall was of stone, put down with a nicety which could not have been excelled.

"Convicts work de roads," explained the Kanaka. "Build miles and miles of drives all around."

"It's a good thing to set them to work," I answered. "Better than keeping them locked up in a hot prison."

Before noon the top of the Pali was gained, and as the end of the journey had to be made on foot I was glad enough to sit down and rest, in the meantime feasting my eyes on the grand view before me. As far as eye could reach the mighty Pacific rolled and glistened in the sunshine, sending long rollers of white shoreward. Behind us were the hills and mountains, rising one after another, like the humps of gigantic camels. Between their tops were valleys filled with a rich tropical growth and a bluish mist that seldom, if ever, lifts.

"It's immense!" murmured Dan. He stood up and expanded his chest. "I'll tell you what, this is like living! It makes a fellow feel like a real man!"

"I can't understand why folks feel so lazy