The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-28
Copyright. by ROBERT BoSNEa's SoSs.,
CHAPTER XVI.
CONTINUED.

goddess, omnlpOtent, wise ana hluu,
am from this day thy faithful fol-
lower and worshiper, and do take upon
me the vows of the Kammiloukanili.
naval. I will place my life at the
bidding of your priestesses, and will
obey you in all things. By the light
of the sun and the glory of thy crown,
Pele, swear these thingsp'
"You are now one of US, said Lowai,
when I had finished.
"What am [ to do with the ring?"
I asked.
"Keep your business secret from
everybody. Even your uncle must
not know it."
81 promise again, said, impatient
ly.
"You must take that pack and &c
with the ring I have given you to the
fisherman, Patua, in Kannakakai, Oh
the coast of Molokai, and present
yourself to him. He will offer you
his hand in salutation. Upon the
middle finger of his hand is a ring
similar to yours. When you clasp his
hand the rings must touch each other.
You will feel a peculiar sensation, and
will know by that token that Pele
lives and that you are her follower,
and Patua will recognize you, and
will take you by night to the island OF
Lanai. You will land on the east
coast of Lanai, and will proceed at
once inland. You will find rough
path leading along the bottom of a
deep gulf. In rainy seasons there is
water there, but now it is dry. Follow
that path until you come to a large,
white stone-a huge stone-of glisten-
ing whiteness. If there is no one
there you must wait. Nimolau will
come. You will know Nimolau be-
cause he has ring like this. And he
will offer you his hand in the same
manner as Patua, and you must take
it. Nimolau is the guide to the
priestess Kaumai. Tell him you are
the successor to poor old Lowai: and
you wish to be led into the presence
of Kaumai. He will know, when you
have obeyed his orders, whether you
have told the truth. Then he will
conduct you to the temple of Kaumai,
and you must bow before her. MINI
olau will tell you what to do. You
must obey every word he says, or you
are lost.
Toward the last, the words of old
Lowai came painfully and slowly.
"What more?" I asked, as he
paused.
Nothing"
Nothing! You have not told me
word of my sister. Where is she?
Why do you not tell me that?"
"She is there. I have told you
she is held by Kaumai to be sacrificed
to Pele when the volcano spits up its
fire."
'sBut how can I see her, and how
can I get her away from there?''
The old man looked at me vacantlJ
a moment.
'T do not know" he replied, fee.
bly,. 81 have made you priest ol
the Kammiloukanilimaw and have
told you how to reach the presence ol
Kaumai, the priestess of :. Pele IL
Lanai. Your sister is there. I car
tell you no more. I know of no way
you can get victim away from Pele
when once she has been chosen.
You must take the course you think
best"
''It is horrible! Who stole Win.
nie?"
"The goddess Pele does not tell to
nortals whom she sends to seize hei
victims. Nor does the priestess
Kaumai. They would curse me il
they knew I told you this. But you
have been very kind to old Lowai, and
Lowai does not forget"
Saying this, the old chief lay back
upon his pillow, exhausted.
I was so unnerved by what had
heard and 50 torn with my belief and
unbelief, that I sat like man OF
stone. The horrible possibilities con.
jured mp in my brain by Lowai's
story chilled and frightened me. Ny
first impulse was to rush to the au.
thorities and make them acquainted
with facts as had learned them, and
have force attack the pr;estess kau.
mai and release my sister. But il
Lowai's story was true, no doubt his
advice was good. If Winnie was on
the island of Lanai, she must be res
cued by strategy alone.
Sol resolved, controlled, seemingly,
by all impulse emanating from the
shrunken figure on the bed, to abide
by Lowai's advice and visit Kaumai.
Malliauki came in with Doctor Till.