The Wichita daily eagle., 1900-11-04
The Surf Rider
New Novel With
a Hawaii Setting.

With our new possessions part and one
with this, they are certain to add tc
our national literature. Indeed the field
is already beinf occupied. The first is
of Pagan Hawaii, Of the Sandwich Isl
lands before the white man came This
is "Kelea, the Surf-Rider," BY Alexander
Stevenson Twonbly, published by FoTds,
/ Howard and Hubert. New York Kelea
is a physically powerful, savagely pas
sionate, but noble-minded young woman,
inheriting the skin and the name of her
I ancesress The contrast between this
typical young barbarian and a tender,
sweet-sDirited maiden called Pu' Aloha
/ (Flower Of Love-, as rivals for the affec-
/ ton of Hookama. adopted son Of another
/ chief, forms the theme of the story. The
( adventures Of Hcokama. as he is sent
on dangerous mission to one of the 9TH
er islands by his jealous foster-father-
! adventures of wild bird catching. shark
fighting, volcano exploring, personal con-
hict. war, Imprisonment pecan perils and
much else-keep the reader on the alert.
H0okomas relation with the two oung
women. and their Characteristic doings,
the glimpse Of historic characters <like
the great warrior called ''The Lonely
One" afterwards Kamehameha I; the
interesting child who later became his
queen and who had much TO do with the
overthrow of Paganism; the famous high
priest who IN after years put the torch
to the Pagan temples with his own
hands, etc.) and the innumera5le touch
es Of local color, savage politics, meth
DDS Of fighting and the interplay Of
minor characters. make an attractive and
occasionally powerful drama, set forth
amid exquisite scenery.
Here is Hookama's contest with
Kamehameha:
The savage chief, chosen by the Haw-
allan king for the antagonist (Or execu-
toner Of Hooksma, was the warrior,
now thirty-six years Of age, whose fame
was IN all the islands. He was named
'.The Lonely One" (IIamehameha) and ne
it was who rescued the giant from Hook
ANA and his band, in the recent battle
on Maui Within a score Of years. as has
been said, he was destined to become
master of all the islands, and already
as nephew of the king of Hawaii, he held
large possessions.
A space was marked off for the spear
contest between Ho0kama and Kemeha-
meha. and every advantage Of ground
and relative position towards the sun
was given the prisoner. A rude platform
afforded the king and his body guard
full view Of the scene. Warriors ana
women formed a seni-circle about the
arena; drum-beaters were stationed near
the king, and spearmen stood at intervals
TO keen the enclosure free.
Kamehaneha strobe into the arena.
and carelessly tossed SIX javelins. hand
ed to him by an attendant, into the air.
and by a dextrous movement caught
them as they fell. Hookama came for
ward and when his keeper, a giant war
rior. handed him six javelins. he tested
their strength, breaking three of them,
using only his right hand in doing it.
The two combatants abstained from
the usual taunts, which rival chiefs flung
at each other before battle. This con
h.ct was looked upon by Kamehameha
as wei as by the spectators, more as a.
solemnity with a foregones conclusion.
than as a. trial Of skill 1t was almost as
if they had assembled to witness an ex-
eeudon; but all admired the handsome
young athlete and were sorry for him,
as he stepped into the arena. with only
a white malo about his loins and proudly
confronted his massive foe.
The young alii was allowed to throw
his six javelins first Then he must
stand as target for the six spears OF
his opponent. If he caught or parried
these, ca thing which the spectators
thought to be impossible) even then the
king might order him to be slain. Tt
was only a moment before Eookama felt /
the power Of his antagonists eve fasten- /
ed upon him and when at the signal the I
young man threw his first javelin with /
little force, as if Outstanding his |
strength the big chief smiled as he /
caught it between his thumb and finger
and laid it on the ground.
Before Hookama had flung his fourth /
weapon. Kamehameha perceived that his
antagonist was no mean opponent. The
dfth taxed the warriors utmost skin in
1arrying, and when the sixth hummed
through the air, it was only by the most
agile dodging that he escoped its point.
AS it was. he failed to catch the javelin
which struck the earth entering the hard
soil The fun length of the tip. The war
-ior bit his lips with apparent vexation
and only a wholesome fear of his wrath
prevented the chiefs and warriors that
stood around from applaudiug the strang-
ar The good sense of the chief. Sow
sv7r gave him control Of himself. and.
with show Of magnanimity, as if deal
ng gently with the young man. he hurled
The first spear and the second in such
4 way that if they were not caught OF
carried. no injury would be afflicted bv
hem- The third jayelin he aimed more
arecty and the fourth with stiu greater
precision and force. All these Hook
anna caught but there were two left and
he spectators held their breath. fear
ng that the young alH might not be able
20 catch or parry them.
The dfth javeHn. coming with terrific
witness. Hookama avoided by a quick
movement TO the LEFT, but as it passed
lim it srazed his shoulder. inficting
light wound The sixth and last weap-
'n was poised and there was a profound
lUsh. as the crowd watched the giant
,ather himself up. by q saprera effort to
inish his adversary
The heavy isvelin was raised aloft bv
lis strong hand. The muscles of his arm
weled with the tension Of his 2rasn on
he weapon. Then leaning backward to
.a-n the utmost leverage. .the mighty
hief. with all the tremendous force Of
ITS fuge frame. hurled the spear straight
( the breast of the young man. who
tood firmly on his feet awaiting the
rea5 missile.
ln5re was scream, rs the child near