The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-09


people from their ancient fears. But
s.that is another story"
"Beat hard upon the water. He Luna!
Master! Beat when he comes near and
keep him little off. will kill my au-
nakua! Otherwise will he eat my pre-
sious son."
At any other moment these words
would have seemed too impious to hear
or pronounce. Now, however, the en-
feebled and weary husband could only
sign silent assent and put his elbow I'M
der the child's arm, while Mina-Mina
drew her knife from her belt and held it
IN her pearllike teeth, silently padding
to meet the shark. There is spot in
these murderous brutes we'll known to
the islanders where the stroke Of long
knife driven hard. into the white belly
will find the swim bladder, and when
this is pricked the shark sinks or be-
comes disabled.
The cruel fish had seen or OWNED the
baby as dainty prey, though ordinarily
this Hawaiian species is too well fed or
too particular to care much for brown
meat. AS he came within twice his own
length Of the father and child he turned
slowly over and slipped below the sur
face, the pale colored undertake. gleam-
ing up through the green water, and
just when you could discern the horse
shoe shaped mouth opening to show the
sharp notched jaws and red palate Of
the man eater Nina Mina's knife was
plunged with all the weight of her lifted
body into the sharks side, whereupon
the savage creature bounded half Its
length into the air and then, with furi-
GUS thrashing Of its tail, vanished into
the depths, leaving streaks of oily scar
let blocd upon the foam which its leap
had caused.
''Give me the child" she said, but be-
fore placing him on her back again--for
the baby had grown somewhat wearied
and chilled-she rubbed her nose hard
against the little nose after the fashion
Of Hawaiian kissing, and .'aloha inc, oh,
my darling" she cried, ''Hiwa-hiwa, my
sweet little black pigl My life is moth
ing to give for thee"
The land-which meant rest, which
meant safety, rescue, comfort, ife-had
come higher by this time, and there
would not be more than two miles to
traverse. Mina-Mina, with the long
black hair knotted on her head still full
Of soaked hibiscus flowers, was swim
ming bravely, keeping the boys tiny
hands upon her shoulders, and the sea
was still and the current safely passed
when her ears missed the regular beat of
Manae's arms behind her. She turned
her head over her shoulder and saw that
he was treading the water in the manner
Of strong swimmer exhausted, his chin
thrown back, his mouth open.
my kingl he alu moe" she cried,
"come on. Yet little more, and we
shall touch the coral lodges with our
toes"
"Oluap he answered, ego forward, you
| two. must diei The fever has taken
all the manhood from my muscles. Mai
hull oe. Do not turn round again. Good
byl mustgo down into the night Of the
sea-"
mo! father of son, no, - Mina-Mina
passionately exclaimed. .The land is
30 close can see the doors Of their huts.
The reef is so near + can see the seaweed
| waving on the outside shelves Of the
| reef. Oh, q little farther, and we shall
all be savedr'
The poor fellow struck out courageous
| ~ again, but as she watched herself
gallantly breasting the sea, which broke
| gently on either side Of her bosom az
from the PROV Of some dark ship-she
saw his hands fall down and the sea wa
ter spill from the top Of wavelet into
his mouth. Her Manae was spent. He
could never traverse by his own strength
tho distance still to be dealt with. These
island women are placid and slow on
shore, but In moments Of crisis quick to
act as seabird is to decide on its course
Of fight.
"Fall on your back, friendl Fall, Maka-
maksg' she said. II will give you some
rest" and then she executed q wonder
full piece Of water learning, tanning the
sea beside him so that in each stroke her
returning arm gave him sufficient sup
| port, while she kept herself and the baby
still steadily moving in the right direc-
tion. But she was too much accus-
toned to the water not to know that her
man was beyond hope if he should be
left to himself. Hastily her fond heart
made up its purpose. She could not keep
them both above the waves. The effort
she was making must soon come to an
end. She must accordingly choose be-
tween the life Of the father Of her child
and the life of the son of her husband.
| A Hawaiian woman of her character
would never hesitate. Mina-Mma did
not hesitate.
"Swim now by yourself for little,
Manaep' she moaned, with water In her
black eyes which was not from the sea.
II can help one Of the two to land, but
cannot help both. My son-Kahahsi
Thou must die for him that gave thee
beginning"
"Ah, wife! wifel mol" cries the Ha-
waiian, striking out anew. .sLet ne
kama hve--let him come to be man
and keep you when you are old. Unjust
go. It Is will die. cannot swim one
canoes length farther"