The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-12-05

very hungry, AaI -hila I waited fol
Nimolau, I could satisfy ~ hunge:
with the lunch the Chinese host had
put up for me.
Stone does not make comfortable
seat, but there was nothing but stone
around me.
I spread my coat on the stone for &
.ushion, and rolled another near itfoi
\ sort OF table.
Upon this I put my lunch, and with
my knife I cut the thick sandwiches
into squares and went at them heart
iiy.
So interested was I in my repast,
That 1 did not notice the advent Of .
second person.
What are you doing here?" asked
o voice near me.
I sprang to my feet. An ordinary
locking native stood not far from me,
looking at me with an evident distrust,
He was asmall, wiry individual, and
was armed with gun. He wore q
ring similar to mine, and I knew that
my visitor was Nimolau.
CT came to meet you," I said, offer.
ing him my hand in salutahon. He
did not take it.
"Who are you, that you know me"
asked the guide to Kaumai.
'I am the successor OF Lowai, oi
Oahu, the priest of Ksmmiloukanili,
maEa," replied. 'Lowai is dead.
s'Tf you ars priest of Pele, why do
you profane the Temple Of the Glis-
teuing Rock by eating in it?"
because I was hungry" replied,
still munching on q sandwich. Il
could not move the rock nor the tenn
pie. Neither could I get away with
out missing you, 80 I ate here.
There's no harm in it. I eat to the
great glory of Pele. Is that ain?"
> ut is,a sin, but it can be atoned.
What are you eating?"
Sandwiches" .
"Giye nae sandwich"
Nimolau took sandwich and de,
ioured it. I never have seen man
sin with 80 much relish as when he
ate that sandwich.
LET me greet you," he said, hold.
Ing out his hand for the first time.
siezed his hand and rubbed tie
rings together. He wore his upon the
same finger as all others that I had
seen wearing them. I felt the same
pricking sensation as when I had
greeted Patua.
"H you are the successor OF Lowai,
the priest, you have something beside
the ring to show" said Nimolau.
81 have"
"Come with me-"
I followed Nimolau. and he led me
across the basin. I offered him a
banana, which he ate. I also ate one
az I followed him.
lie paused before a perpendicular
wall OF rock.
"Bow before Psle, the most high"
he said.
I bowed, wondering what I was
bowins to.
Ninolau touched spot in the wall,
and small aperture appeared. He
reached in and found a small lamp.
He lighted this and handed it to me.
Then he put his hand in the opening
of the rock and opened space wide
,nnuoh for ma IN enter
"Enter here" he said, 'and il You
are true priest and the successor oi
Lowai, appear before me as one"
Quaking little, but realizing that
saere was more danger in disobedi.
snce than in following directions, ]
passed through the door.
when you are ready, call me-
said Nimolau.
I was in small room followed oui
of the rock. 1t was empty save for
an old stool, crushed mirror and q
water bottle. What had to do could
quite as we'll have been done outside.
1 quickly arrayed myself in the
strange garb given me by Lowai and
called Nimolau.
"You speak the TRUTH" said Nimo-
lau, when he let me out. lyon are
the successor OF Lowai."
, I felt very queerly, rugged ont in
that outlandish way, my features COM
plstely hidden.
"What you order me to do I will
do" said Nimolau. 81 am ready"
Nimolau's manner as we'll as his
dress indicated that while he was in a
position of confidential relationship
with whatever truth lay in Lowais
story, he was not person OF rank OF
Importance. Had he been, he would
not have used the word "order" when
speaking of my desires.