Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-06-30

from the service. tie nung around
Honolulu for q few days and then dis
appeared
Some person set fire to the Nuuanu
Hotel, aud it was burned to the
ground before the laggard fire depart
ment got to work. / never saw q
more exasperated man than Seacamp.
1 saw him day or two after the fire,
at the head of lot of workmen, tear
ing away the charred ruins of his once
famous inn.
''What are you up to-" I asked.
"Going to rebuild the Nuuanu?"
''No, sirp he almost roared. II
am not going to rebuild the Nuuanu.
The Nuuanu is gone forever. No
more shall hotel of mine bear that
heather name. But L am going to
build a hotel, and 1 am going to call
it The American. Yes, sir. The
American. Well see how the blamed
niggers like that. Aud if they burn
it down, I'll build another, Let the
eagle scream Beat the drums? Let
the eagle scream? He is muzzled lust
now buthe'll scream again. Don't
you worry about that"
Seacamp's patriotism was earnest
and true, but somewhat iafiammatory
in its nature.
A few days after this I met Gordon
in town.
81 was going to hunt you up," he
said. There was look of eagerness
on his face.
"Have you heard anything?" I
asked, anxiously.
Not definite. I received word
from a scout, just a few minutes ago.
that band of natives were encamped
at the extreme end of the valley. and
were performing some of their
old-time dsviltries--idols, sacrifices
and all that. There is going to be a
great dance tonight, aud sacrifice
offered to the goddess Pele, or some
other heathen deity, to obtain help in
restoring the queen. We will take
file of soldiers and witness that affair,
aad sac who is to be sacrificed. Tha
daughter of Portuguese sailor is miss
ing, and French girl who was a SER
want in in the family of Mr.. Seldom.
The fanatics must have one of these
or Winnie. Whoever it is, we will
save her."
With about twenty soldiers we
started off up the Nuuanu Valley. We
Travelled as rapidly as our horses could
carry us. The soldiers were mounted
on horses from livery stable, the
popular idea among those who saw us
start off being that we were a scout
ing party looking for hidden enemies.
At the end, or rather the beginning
of the Nuuanu Valley, it opens out
into wide plain bordered by forests.
1t was moonlight when we reached the
place. Not living thing, human or
beast, could be seen.
''We will leave our horses here in
charge of four men, aud go through
the woods to Lake Maliwai," said Cor
don.
Cautiouslywe made our way through
the trees. We wanted to surprise the
camp.
"There they are, whispered SOL
dier, pointing to an opening in the
thick growth of bushes and trees
around us. Through it we could see
camp, on the border of the lake.
Stealthily we took our positions to
watch.
We looked upon a strange, fascinat-
ing, horrible scene.
A group of natives, probably two
hundred in all, sat or squatted upon
their launches, in large semicircle,
in the center Of which burned fire.
On either side of the fire was hideous
idol or heather god. These gods,
while still holding a mysterious power
in the minds of the older natives, had
of late been seldom seen. There may
have been, perhaps, fifty or hundred
of them in Honolulu, but they were
closely guarded by their possessors.
These horrible extravaganzas in wood
and lava-stone were supposed to be
omnipotent.
Under the unusual excitement that
had existed SO long in Hawaii, ali the
old superstitions were revived, and
the natives descended to their former
level of idolaters and stone-worship-
ers.
"Keep quiet" said Gordon to the
soldiers. Let US watch them"
There were men, women and few
children. But little clothing was worn.
The fanatieism under which they were
working had discarded clothes.
The entire crowd were putting their
bodies through various methodical con.
kortions, all iu unison, and they chanted
a weird, solemn dirge that had not
been heard in Oahu for many years
before.
ITO be continued)