The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-03-09


the savage creature bounded half its
length into the air and then, with a furi-
Gus thrashing of its tail, vanished into
the depths, leaving streaks of oily scar
let blood 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, life-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 a 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"
"OluaT he answered, "go forward, you
two. must die 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-"
mol father ofmy son, no" Nina Nina
passionately exclaimed. THE land is
so close can see the doors of their huts.
The reef is 50 near can see the seaweed
waving on the outside shelves of the
reef. Oh, little farther, and we shall
all be savedr
The poor fellow struck out courageous
y again, but as she watched-herself
CALAMITY breasting the sea, which broke
gently on either side of her bosom as
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
the distance still TO DO dealt with. These
island women are placid and slow on
shore, but in moments of crisis quick to
act as a seabird is to decide on its course
of flight.
Fall on your back, friend Fall, Maka-
maka~ she said. IL will give you some
rest and then she executed a wonder
full piece Of water learning, tanning the
sea beside him so that in each stroke her
returning arm gave him a sufficient sup
port, while she kept herself and the baby
still steadily moving in the right direc-
ton. But she was too much accus-
toned to tie 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-AIina did
not hesitate.
"Swim now by yourself for a little,
Manae" she moaned, with water in her
black eyes which was not from the sea.
81 can help one of the two to land. but
| cannot help both. My son-Kahahal
Thou must die for him that gave thee
beginning"
"Ah, wifel wifel nor cries the Ha-
waiian, striking out anew. LET ne
kama ive-let him come to be a man
and keep You when you are old. Unjust
go. 1t is will die. cannot swim one
canoes length farther"
AT this moment the baby, from its
mothers back, chuckled out. from fun
or habit, the word of the little Sandwich
Island children when they 90 TO their
mats for sleep at night.
Listen, said Aina-Mina, she knows
1t is all right. He says farewell TO Won
On my manu-, my bird, you will take so
long to drown; you are so hearty. Yon
will struggle and cry for me and cali
the sharks to you before You are dead
And there Is no time left. Goodbv. Rnh
my nose hard with your little nose. Knb
honigala alohal Oh, my last sweet low.
ing kiss to youl Goodbye
With that she buried the knife blada
IN her boys heart and let him slide dead
INTO the sea. Two thin lines Of bIood
from his little sinking body trailed bacl
ward to the spot where Manae was inst
sinking, and large blot of bright Grim
son darkened the green water whera ba
sank' Inc father saw, comprehended
out was too far spent to speak
Almost gone herself with o,r;as o,a
physical strain, she drew his hands o,,ar
ner shoulders, and setting her chin bara
Tor the shore flung out her strong sha'-o
~ arms in splendid strokes. supportin.
ner hapless lord. and gradually neared
the coral reef. Where it opened into tEa
lagoon a couple of fishermen were a.. '-'
ing their nets inside. They heard in tt.,
evening stiffness the beat Of her ba,ds
started up and saw Nina Nina ON 49,
point OF giving up within stones tbro-'.
OF the ledge, quite exhausted The 49,.
hawanans dashed into the 500 49,
dragged the pair safely to land cbera
ooth lay for time speeches. WI
lney recovered power to speak and me-
the nshefmen were astonisbed - -, ~