The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-21

u upon LQaG OF Olu LOWai.
"Go on!" I said. "Tell me ALL"
"Give me more wine! I am grow.
ing weak"
Fearful lest he would not live to tell
me the secret he held, L gave him
plenty of wine. Ny heart throbbed
painfully. A cold sweat poured from
ne.
The old chief fell back again upon
lis pillow with half-closed eyes. He
'eebly pointed toward the leather pack.
He spoke again.
Old Lowai's voice was very weak.
he was going fast. Bres thlessly, my
heart palpitating, I leaned over him
10 catch his whispered words.
''Guard that pack" he said, "and
hpon the use you make of its contents
depends your sisters life"
$50 on, for Heavens sake, go on!'
[ said, rs he paused.
Don't hurry ms. My strength i,
'pent. If 1 become exhausted my
secret cannot be told. Guard thai
raci with your very life. In it areal
the vesta,eAs aad belongings OF
priest OF tho goddess Pele. Breathe
to no living soul what I am about to
tell yo,i-save those 10 whom I send
You. Doyou promise?"
"Yes, yes, I promise. Go on"
"Listen carefully. There exists in
all the islands of Hawaii a secret Or
der devoted to the worship of the god
dess Pele, who dwells in the crater Of
Haleakala. Haleakala is dead VOL
vano, and the goddess, having killed
it, and being pleased at its obedience,
took up her abode within it. The
goddess has killed other volcanoes
taken away thor power-and she will
continue to do so until Hawaii has no
more eruptions. But the goddess
Pele is a fierce goddess, and We make
sacrifices to her, to make her kind and
gracious. Whenever an eruption of
Volcano is threatened, a sacrifice is
made to Pele. This calls her atten-
lion to it, and she slays the evil spir-
its who control the fires under us and
send the lava out of the mountains.
That is why every volcano speaks and
remains silent each time for a longer
period. Do you understand"
eyes, yes," I said. "But about Win.
ME, my sister-where1 Is sne?''
"Wait! Be patient! I am coming
to that. Give me little more wine"
I fairly forced the wine down his
throat.
Hurry! Tell me allT' said.
"On each of tho islands there is
representative of Pele, who is at the
aead of the secret order. This priest
ess is always beautiful, and as merci-
less as Pele herself. The rule OF the
priestess is absolute"
GLOW can these things be and the
government remain ignorant of them?"
I asked. II think you are lying to
me, Lowai."
The old mans eyes opened YEARLY;
ie had been lying with them half
,losed, and he gave me o peculiar,
piercing look.
"Master, if you think lam lying, do
not listen.
"No, no. Go on"
"When T am gone, and my story is
told, you judge if I am lying; then act
Is you will. You>may follow my di-
rections and save your sister, or you
may doubt me and let her die"
''No; I believe you. For heavens
sake proceed"
"There are also priests OF this or
der, but they are under the authority
,f the priestesses. There is but one
oriestess on each island; there are
many priests. Each priest and
oriestess, when it comes his time to
lie, has the power to appoint a sue
,essor. It is for this I have called
you. shall make you my successor,
and you shall go to the rescue of your
sister. I am violating my VOW to the
goddess Pele in giving you the power
to take away one of her chosen VIC
Tins, but am violating. no vow when
I tell you the secrets of the order, for
am dying, and make yod my sue
:essor."
81 fully comprehcnd," I said, as
Lowai paused for breath.
The old chief nodded and went oa:
"Tne name OF this order is Kan
miloukanilimawai' It means Power
everlasting and omnipotent::' AS 1
have said, there is q branch Of the or
der on each of the. islands, under a
priestess who represents Pele, our su-
prcme being. It is with the priestess
IN the island of Lapal you have to do. |
She il fierce, warlike and the most
beautiful being who ever lived. She is
not dark like my people. She is like |