The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-10-31
copyright. by ROBERT BoSSEa's SONS.
CHAPTER x.
CONTINUED.

eoQsly, and led the ceremonies WIZ
contortions and chanting more violent
and weird than the others. His long
brown arm would outstretch toward
portion of the semicircle, and thar Sec
ton of it would throw themselves
upon the ground and beat themselves,
calling aloud the name Of Lllluokalanl.
1t was evidently an invocation to the
gods to resore the queen.
The priest made adetour of the wor-
Shipping line, touching first one, then
another upon the head, all the while
emitting horrible cries, groans, shrleks,
to the chant they kept up constantly.
Those so touched arose and followed
him, throwing their arms about, roll
ing their eyes and mimicking then
leader and, if possible, outdolng him
in awful noises. Gradually this pro
cession increased and the excitement
of the crowd increased also. The leader
struck into a wild, fantastic dance, and
those following took it up. Then they
who still remained in the semicircls
beat the air with their hands, smote
their palms together and emitted
strange cries.
Larger and larger grew the circle
end fercer grew their passion.
Suddenly, the dancing column hav-
ing grown to over half the number OF
worshipers, it came to pause. The
followers OF the priest stood trem-
bling, quaking with excitement, their
feyerish thirst for religious extremes
shown in their bloodshot eyes and
painting bosoms,
Apart from them was tent. To
this tent the priest danced slowly. his
worshipers keeping up the chant and
standing expectantly, as If something
desirable were to come.
The priest emerged from the tent,
carrying small white kid.
He took up his old position near the
fire, and facing his horde of fanatics,
{ he chanted solemnly over the E,-'
Z Then, putting it on tha---gronnd' n
dyaw knifa.a-vcross its throat, catch
~, ipssparc1p the blood that flowed fror
.->fhe stricken innocent. The kid CAV
bleat and fell overload.
Now the fervor was at its highest.
The priest took the cup of blood
and dipping his finger into it. anointe'
his followers on the forehead, as h
danced along the line. They howled
shrieked and groaned most horribly
The women, losing all control of them
selves and casting aside their reserve
threw themselves out from the circl
and performed wonderful feats o
writhing, twisting and suggestive con
tortions.
All the time the subject Of theil
chant, the sole idea in their shriek'
and cries, was therestoration Of Queer
Liiiuokalani. The sacrifice to tn
gods was to propitiate them and max
them smile upon the deposed queen
I felt asensation of chilly horror whel
I looked at these fanatics. If thei
bloodletting sacrifices stopped shor
of human blood it would be crafty
ing surprise, SO ferocious did the,
look.
The dance began again, more fervic
than before.
The priest stopped down and picked
MP the dead kid.
He chanted prayer, and threw tn
carcass on the fire. saying as he dit
so: s'This is but the offering befor'
the feast," and kept on his way. Th
smell of roasted flesh filed the air
and seemed to enhance the ardor o
the fanatics.
Again the dancing procession
stopped, and again the priest waltzet
off toward the tent. This time he tool
another with him.
They were in the tent some few
minutes, and then emerged. carrying
between them a, burden. This bur
den was covered by large white cloth
but it seemed to be . human body ol
litter.
Now there was surprise for Us
Behind the two natives walked Cap
tain Pericles Jobbs, solemn, stern
looking, dressed in the uniform OF tn
rank he had once held.
"Jobbs!" whispered Gordon. "Wha
con it mean?"
"St?" T said. eve viii boon see.
The priest and his. helper wer
greeted with louder chants than ever
They laid down their burden and tn
priest commenced the dance again.
The crowd were now insane wit
their consuming passion. They file,