The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-12-26
CHAPTER AZ.

SIlal 4 LIZ 4h-A.
The temple Of Pele was nothin1
moro or less than hugo grotto forin
in the lava stone nf Kanatoli. tt was
Irare ana unfinished save for tn,
throne OF Kaumai and the chair at thl
altar where Winnie had sat when
made the reckless break that seemei
likely to be fatal error. The foo,
OF the temple was worn smooth by
many years Of the restless tread o.
worshipers. The huge grotto wa,
overhung with inverted cones like
stalactites, which were Of the same
Iava-stone as the entire mountain
seemed composed of. There were
great recesses reaching away into tho
,nountain-sid from which came loud
echoes of footsteps or the talking Of
people in the temple.
Finding myself free and alone, I wan
lered about the gloomy place, making
peculiar noises to hear the uncanny
,choes that seemed to come from every
side.
carefully and with caution exam.
ined the walls of the place where it
was light enough for me to see, hoping
to fiud some door through which I
might reach Winnie or find where she
was being kept. But the gruesome
place was lighted only from q square
aperture in the roof, high above me,
and the light so fell as to be centered
around the throne, leaving the cavern
ous recesses at the sides in total dark.
aess.
I remembered that when Winnie
was led away she was taken behind
the throne, and looked there for an
other dungeon: but I found none. II
there were any doors in the parts OF
the wall that T could examine, they
were so carefully and skillfully made
ns to defy detection by one not in the
secret of their construction.
I felt at first, when the high-priests
departed. sense OF exhilaration OF
having gained my purpose in so far as
to be left free, instead of confined to
dungeon, and Kaumai's glance and
smile had stimulated me with pecu.
liar thrill. But after T had been in
the temple few hours I began to feel
the overwhelming solitude of the
place. I began to feel the dangei, to
realize tue horrors of my situation. !
knew there was nothing 70 expect
from the high priests but the worst.
They wore merciless in their fanat-
icism, and their delusious brooked no
opposition. The other priests I did
not fear so much, yet they we're no
doubt completely under the control Of
the highs. But about Kaumai-my
heart beat more rapidlywhen I thought
of her. So lovelyl So magnificent in
her transcendent beautyl Could she
be so cruel as to consigu my sister to.
horrible death, and compel me to
assist in the soul-sickening ceremony
The more I thought of this, the worse
felt. The main door Of the temple
stood open. knew where it led. !
had noticed when came in the barren
ledge of rock and the sluggish lake OF
molten lava below it. Having spent
so much time in q futile endeayor to
find hidden door, I finally resolved
to 60 out into the air and see how tho
strange priests lived and acted when
they were not engaged in their horri.
ble worship of Pele.
I had reached the ledge of rock, and
stood looking across the great crater,
overcome with q new sense Of loneli-
ness and my insigni6cance. Not an.
other person could be seen. There
we're evidently other grottoes than the
one used as temple.
While stood thus apriest appeared
from some aperture in the rock and
came toward me.
Successor of Lowai, the priests oi
Pele are not to sit before the daily
feast. You will follow me-"
He returned to the spot from which
he came into sight.
Half hidden by bnlging rock, q
small opening led into grotto much
like the temple, save that it was bet.
ter lighted. A long table was spread
in the center, and around it sat about
hundred priests. These were the
ordinary or common priests, and had
thrown aside their masks and ont.
landish costumes, the better to enjoy
the meal.
Among these I was welcome, for
was one of their order.
They cared nothing-or knew moth.
ing-of the greater or less sin against
Pele, as judged tby the high-priests.
They had seen me snatch Winnie te
| my breast and kiss her, but they had
seen me taken away to be punished.