\"Youareafool，twenty—six，twenty—seven，\"saidKapahei。\"Letmeshowyou。\"
Hearose，andwithaheavyfragmentofrockinhishand，approachedthewoundedthing。Asheliftedhisarmtostrike，ashellburstfulluponhim，relievinghimofthenecessityoftheactandatthesametimeputtinganendtohiscount。
Koolauwasaloneinthegorge。Hewatchedthelastofhispeopledragtheircrippledbodiesoverthebrowoftheheightanddisappear。Thenheturnedandwentdowntothethicketwherethemaidhadkeenkilled。Theshell—firestillcontinued，butheremained；forfarbelowhecouldseethesoldiersclimbingup。A
shellbursttwentyfeetaway。Flatteninghimselfintotheearth，heheardtherushofthefragmentsabovehisbody。Ashowerofhaublossomsraineduponhim。Heliftedhisheadtopeerdownthetrail，andsighed。Hewasverymuchafraid。Bulletsfromrifleswouldnothaveworriedhim，butthisshell—firewasabominable。
Eachtimeashellshriekedbyheshiveredandcrouched；buteachtimeheliftedhisheadagaintowatchthetrail。
Atlasttheshellsceased。This，hereasoned，wasbecausethesoldiersweredrawingnear。Theycreptalongthetrailinsinglefile，andhetriedtocountthemuntilhelosttrack。Atanyrate，therewereahundredorsoofthem——allcomeafterKoolautheleper。
Hefeltafleetingprodofpride。Withwargunsandrifles，policeandsoldiers，theycameforhim，andhewasonlyoneman，acrippledwreckofamanatthat。Theyofferedathousanddollarsforhim，deadoralive。Inallhislifehehadneverpossessedthatmuchmoney。Thethoughtwasabitterone。Kapaheihadbeenright。He，Koolau，haddonenowrong。Becausethehaoleswantedlabourwithwhichtoworkthestolenland，theyhadbroughtintheChinesecoolies，andwiththemhadcomethesickness。Andnow，becausehehadcaughtthesickness，hewasworthathousanddollars——butnottohimself。Itwashisworthlesscarcass，rottenwithdiseaseordeadfromaburstingshell，thatwasworthallthatmoney。
Whenthesoldiersreachedtheknife—edgedpassage，hewaspromptedtowarnthem。Buthisgazefelluponthebodyofthemurderedmaid，andhekeptsilent。Whensixhadventuredontheknife—edge，heopenedfire。Nordidheceasewhentheknife—edgewasbare。Heemptiedhismagazine，reloaded，andemptieditagain。Hekeptonshooting。Allhiswrongswereblazinginhisbrain，andhewasinafuryofvengeance。Alldownthegoat—trailthesoldierswerefiring，andthoughtheylayflatandsoughttoshelterthemselvesintheshallowinequalitiesofthesurface，theywereexposedmarkstohim。Bulletswhistledandthuddedabouthim，andanoccasionalricochetsangsharplythroughtheair。Onebulletploughedacreasethroughhisscalp，andasecondburnedacrosshisshoulder—bladewithoutbreakingtheskin。
Itwasamassacre，inwhichonemandidthekilling。Thesoldiersbegantoretreat，helpingalongtheirwounded。AsKoolaupickedthemoffhebecameawareofthesmellofburntmeat。Heglancedabouthimatfirst，andthendiscoveredthatitwashisownhands。
Theheatoftheriflewasdoingit。Theleprosyhaddestroyedmostofthenervesinhishands。Thoughhisfleshburnedandhesmelledit，therewasnosensation。
Helayinthethicket，smiling，untilherememberedthewarguns。
Withoutdoubttheywouldopenuponhimagain，andthistimeupontheverythicketfromwhichhehadinflictedthedanger。Scarcelyhadhechangedhispositiontoanookbehindasmallshoulderofthewallwherehehadnotedthatnoshellsfell，thanthebombardmentrecommenced。Hecountedtheshells。Sixtymorewerethrownintothegorgebeforethewar—gunsceased。Thetinyareawaspittedwiththeirexplosions，untilitseemedimpossiblethatanycreaturecouldhavesurvived。Sothesoldiersthought，for，undertheburningafternoonsun，theyclimbedthegoat—trailagain。Andagaintheknife—edgedpassagewasdisputed，andagaintheyfellbacktothebeach。
FortwodayslongerKoolauheldthepassage，thoughthesoldierscontentedthemselveswithflingingshellsintohisretreat。ThenPahau，aleperboy，cametothetopofthewallatthebackofthegorgeandshouteddowntohimthatKiloliana，huntinggoatsthattheymighteat，hadbeenkilledbyafall，andthatthewomenwerefrightenedandknewnotwhattodo。Koolaucalledtheboydownandlefthimwithasparegunwithwhichtoguardthepassage。Koolaufoundhispeopledisheartened。Themajorityofthemweretoohelplesstoforagefoodforthemselvesundersuchforbiddingcircumstances，andallwerestarving。Heselectedtwowomenandamanwhowerenottoofargonewiththedisease，andsentthembacktothegorgetobringupfoodandmats。Theresthecheeredandconsoleduntileventheweakesttookahandinbuildingroughsheltersforthemselves。
Butthosehehaddispatchedforfooddidnotreturn，andhestartedbackforthegorge。Ashecameoutonthebrowofthewall，halfadozenriflescracked。Abullettorethroughthefleshypartofhisshoulder，andhischeekwascutbyasliverofrockwhereasecondbulletsmashedagainstthecliff。Inthemomentthatthishappened，andheleapedback，hesawthatthegorgewasalivewithsoldiers。
Hisownpeoplehadbetrayedhim。Theshell—firehadbeentooterrible，andtheyhadpreferredtheprisonofMolokai。
Koolaudroppedbackandunslungoneofhisheavycartridge—belts。
Lyingamongtherocks，heallowedtheheadandshouldersofthefirstsoldiertoriseclearlyintoviewbeforepullingtrigger。
Twicethishappened，andthen，aftersomedelay，inplaceofaheadandshouldersawhiteflagwasthrustabovetheedgeofthewall。
\"Whatdoyouwant？\"bedemanded。
\"Iwantyou，ifyouareKoolautheleper，\"cametheanswer。
Koolauforgotwherehewas，forgoteverything，ashelayandmarvelledatthestrangepersistenceofthesehaoleswhowouldhavetheirwillthoughtheskyfellin。Aye，theywouldhavetheirwilloverallmenandallthings，eventhoughtheydiedingettingit。
Hecouldnotbutadmirethem，too，whatofthatwillinthemthatwasstrongerthanlifeandthatbentallthingstotheirbidding。
Hewasconvincedofthehopelessnessofhisstruggle。Therewasnogainsayingthatterriblewillofthehaoles。Thoughhekilledathousand，yetwouldtheyriselikethesandsoftheseaandcomeuponhim，evermoreandmore。Theyneverknewwhentheywerebeaten。Thatwastheirfaultandtheirvirtue。Itwaswherehisownkindlacked。Hecouldsee，now，howthehandfulofthepreachersofGodandthepreachersofRumhadconqueredtheland。
Itwasbecause—
\"Well，whathaveyougottosay？Willyoucomewithme？\"
Itwashevoiceoftheinvisiblemanunderthewhiteflag。Therehewas，likeanyhaole，drivingstraighttowardtheenddetermined。
\"Letustalk，\"saidKoolau。
Theman’sheadandshouldersarose，thenhiswholebody。Hewasasmooth—faced，blue—eyedyoungsteroftwenty—five，slenderandnattyinhiscaptain’suniform。Headvanceduntilhalted，thenseatedhimselfadozenfeetaway。
\"Youareabraveman，\"saidKoolauwonderingly。\"Icouldkillyoulikeafly。\"
\"No，youcouldn’t，\"wastheanswer。
\"Whynot？\"
\"Becauseyouareaman，Koolau，thoughabadone。Iknowyourstory。Youkillfairly。\"
Koolaugrunted，butwassecretlypleased。
\"Whathaveyoudonewithmypeople？\"hedemanded。\"Theboy，thetwowomen，andtheman？\"
\"Theygavethemselvesup，asIhavenowcomeforyoutodo。\"
Koolaulaughedincredulously。
\"Iamafreeman，\"heannounced。\"Ihavedonenowrong。AllIaskistobeleftalone。Ihavelivedfree，andIshalldiefree。I
willnevergivemyselfup。\"
\"Thenyourpeoplearewiserthanyou，\"answeredtheyoungcaptain。
\"Look——theyarecomingnow。\"
Koolauturnedandwatchedtheremnantofhisbandapproach。
Groaningandsighing，aghastlyprocession，itdraggeditswretchednesspast。ItwasgiventoKoolautotasteadeeperbitterness，fortheyhurledimprecationsandinsultsathimastheywentby；andthepantinghagwhobroughtuptherearhalted，andwithskinny，harpy—clawsextended，shakinghersnarlingdeath’sheadfromsidetoside，shelaidacurseuponhim。Onebyonetheydroppedoverthelip—edgeandsurrenderedtothehidingsoldiers。
\"Youcangonow，\"saidKoolautothecaptain。\"Iwillnevergivemyselfup。Thatismylastword。Good—bye。\"
Thecaptainslippedovertheclifftohissoldiers。Thenextmoment，andwithoutaflagoftruce，hehoistedhishatonhisscabbard，andKoolau’sbullettorethroughit。Thatafternoontheyshelledhimoutfromthebeach，andasheretreatedintothehighinaccessiblepocketsbeyond，thesoldiersfollowedhim。
Forsixweekstheyhuntedhimfrompockettopocket，overthevolcanicpeaksandalongthegoat—trails。Whenhehidinthelantanajungle，theyformedlinesofbeaters，andthroughlantanajungleandguavascrubtheydrovehimlikearabbit。Buteverheturnedanddoubledandeluded。Therewasnocorneringhim。Whenpressedtooclosely，hissurerifleheldthembackandtheycarriedtheirwoundeddownthegoat—trailstothebeach。Thereweretimeswhentheydidtheshootingashisbrownbodyshowedforamomentthroughtheunderbrush。Once，fiveofthemcaughthimonanexposedgoat—trailbetweenpockets。Theyemptiedtheirriflesathimashelimpedandclimbedalonghisdizzyway。Afterwardstheyfoundbloodstainsandknewthathewaswounded。Attheendofsixweekstheygaveup。ThesoldiersandpolicereturnedtoHonolulu，andKalalauValleywaslefttohimforhisown，thoughhead—huntersventuredafterhimfromtimetotimeandtotheirownundoing。
Twoyearslater，andforthelasttime，Koolaucrawledintoathicketandlaydownamongtheti—leavesandwildgingerblossoms。
Freehehadlived，andfreehewasdying。Aslightdrizzleofrainbegantofall，andhedrewaraggedblanketaboutthedistortedwreckofhislimbs。Hisbodywascoveredwithanoilskincoat。
AcrosshischesthelaidhisMauserrifle，lingeringaffectionatelyforamomenttowipethedampnessfromthebarrel。Thehandwithwhichhewipedhadnofingersleftuponitwithwhichtopullthetrigger。
Heclosedhiseyes，for，fromtheweaknessinhisbodyandthefuzzyturmoilinhisbrain，heknewthathisendwasnear。Likeawildanimalhehadcreptintohidingtodie。Half—conscious，aimlessandwandering，helivedbackinhislifetohisearlymanhoodonNiihau。
Aslifefadedandthedripoftheraingrewdiminhisearsitseemedtohimthathewasoncemoreinthethickofthehorse—
breaking，withrawcoltsrearingandbuckingunderhim，hisstirrupstiedtogetherbeneath，orchargingmadlyaboutthebreakingcorralanddrivingthehelpingcowboysovertherails。Thenextinstant，andwithseemingnaturalness，hefoundhimselfpursuingthewildbullsoftheuplandpastures，ropingthemandleadingthemdowntothevalleys。Againthesweatanddustofthebrandingpenstunghiseyesandbithisnostrils。
Allhislusty，whole—bodiedyouthwashis，untilthesharppangsofimpendingdissolutionbroughthimback。Heliftedhismonstroushandsandgazedattheminwonder。Buthow？Why？Whyshouldthewholenessofthatwildyouthofhischangetothis？Thenheremembered，andonceagain，andforamoment，hewasKoolau，theleper。Hiseyelidsflutteredwearilydownandthedripoftherainceasedinhisears。Aprolongedtremblingsetupinhisbody。
This，too，ceased。Hehalf—liftedhishead，butitfellback。Thenhiseyesopened，anddidnotclose。HislastthoughtwasofhisMauser，andhepresseditagainsthischestwithhisfolded，fingerlesshands。
GOOD—BYE，JACK
Hawaiiisaqueerplace。EverythingsociallyiswhatImaycalltopsy—turvy。Notbutwhatthingsarecorrect。Theyarealmosttoomuchso。Butstillthingsaresortofupsidedown。Themostultra—
exclusivesetthereisthe\"MissionaryCrowd。\"ItcomeswithratherashocktolearnthatinHawaiitheobscuremartyrdom—seekingmissionarysitsattheheadofthetableofthemoneyedaristocracy。
Butitistrue。ThehumbleNewEnglanderswhocameoutinthethirddecadeofthenineteenthcentury，camefortheloftypurposeofteachingthekanakasthetruereligion，theworshipoftheoneonlygenuineandundeniableGod。Sowelldidtheysucceedinthis，andalsoincivilizingthekanaka，thatbythesecondorthirdgenerationhewaspracticallyextinct。ThisbeingthefruitoftheseedoftheGospel，thefruitoftheseedofthemissionaries（thesonsandthegrandsons）wasthepossessionoftheislandsthemselves，——oftheland，theports，thetownsites，andthesugarplantations：Themissionarywhocametogivethebreadofliferemainedtogobbleupthewholeheathenfeast。
ButthatisnottheHawaiianqueernessIstartedouttotell。OnlyonecannotspeakofthingsHawaiianwithoutmentioningthemissionaries。ThereisJackKersdale，themanIwantedtotellabout；hecameofmissionarystock。Thatis，onhisgrandmother’sside。HisgrandfatherwasoldBenjaminKersdale，aYankeetrader，whogothisstartforamillionintheolddaysbysellingcheapwhiskeyandsquare—facegin。There’sanotherqueerthing。Theoldmissionariesandoldtradersweremortalenemies。Yousee，theirinterestsconflicted。Buttheirchildrenmadeitupbyintermarryinganddividingtheislandbetweenthem。
LifeinHawaiiisasong。That’sthewayStoddardputitinhis\"HawaiiNoi\"：—
\"Thylifeismusic——Fatethenotesprolong!
Eachisleastanza，andthewholeasong。\"
Andhewasright。Fleshisgoldenthere。Thenativewomenaresun—
ripeJunos，thenativemenbronzedApollos。Theysing，anddance，andallareflower—bejewelledandflower—crowned。And，outsidetherigid\"MissionaryCrowd，\"thewhitemenyieldtotheclimateandthesun，andnomatterhowbusytheymaybe，arepronetodanceandsingandwearflowersbehindtheirearsandintheirhair。JackKersdalewasoneofthesefellows。HewasoneofthebusiestmenIevermet。
Hewasaseveral—timesmillionaire。Hewasasugar—king，acoffeeplanter，arubberpioneer，acattlerancher，andapromoterofthreeoutofeveryfournewenterpriseslaunchedintheislands。Hewasasocietyman，aclubman，ayachtsman，abachelor，andwithalashandsomeamanaswaseverdoteduponbymammaswithmarriageabledaughters。Incidentally，hehadfinishedhiseducationatYale，andhisheadwascrammedfullerwithvitalstatisticsandscholarlyinformationconcerningHawaiiNeithananyotherislanderIeverencountered。Heturnedoffanimmenseamountofwork，andhesanganddancedandputflowersinhishairasimmenselyasanyoftheidlers。
Hehadgrit，andhadfoughttwoduels——both，political——whenhewasnomorethanarawyouthessayinghisfirstadventuresinpolitics。Infact，heplayedamostcreditableandcourageouspartinthelastrevolution，whenthenativedynastywasoverthrown；andhecouldnothavebeenoversixteenatthetime。Iampointingoutthathewasnocoward，inorderthatyoumayappreciatewhathappenslateron。I’veseenhiminthebreakingyardattheHaleakalaRanch，conqueringafour—year—oldbrutethatfortwoyearshaddefiedthepickofVonTempsky’scow—boys。AndImusttellofoneotherthing。ItwasdowninKona，——orup，rather，fortheKonapeoplescorntoliveatlessthanathousandfeetelevation。WewereallonthelanaiofDoctorGoodhue’sbungalow。IwastalkingwithDottieFairchildwhenithappened。Abigcentipede——itwasseveninches，forwemeasureditafterwards——fellfromtheraftersoverheadsquarelyintohercoiffure。Iconfess，thehideousnessofitparalysedme。Icouldn’tmove。Mymindrefusedtowork。There，withintwofeetofme，theuglyvenomousdevilwaswrithinginherhair。Itthreatenedatanymomenttofalldownuponherexposedshoulders——wehadjustcomeoutfromdinner。
\"Whatisit？\"sheasked，startingtoraiseherhandtoherhead。
\"Don’t!\"Icried。\"Don’t!\"
\"Butwhatisit？\"sheinsisted，growingfrightenedbythefrightshereadinmyeyesandonmystammeringlips。
MyexclamationattractedKersdale’sattention。Heglancedourwaycarelessly，butinthatglancetookineverything。Hecameovertous，butwithouthaste。
\"Pleasedon’tmove，Dottie，\"hesaidquietly。
Heneverhesitated，nordidhehurryandmakeabungleofit。
\"Allowme，\"hesaid。
Andwithonehandhecaughtherscarfanddrewittightlyaroundhershoulderssothatthecentipedecouldnotfallinsideherbodice。
Withtheotherhand——theright——hereachedintoherhair，caughttherepulsiveabominationasnearashewasablebythenapeoftheneck，andheldittightlybetweenthumbandforefingerashewithdrewitfromherhair。Itwasashorribleandheroicasightasmancouldwishtosee。Itmademyfleshcrawl。Thecentipede，seveninchesofsquirminglegs，writhedandtwistedanddasheditselfabouthishand，thebodytwiningaroundthefingersandthelegsdiggingintotheskinandscratchingasthebeastendeavouredtofreeitself。Itbithimtwice——Isawit——thoughheassuredtheladiesthathewasnotharmedashedroppedituponthewalkandstampeditintothegravel。ButIsawhiminthesurgeryfiveminutesafterwards，withDoctorGoodhuescarifyingthewoundsandinjectingpermanganateofpotash。ThenextmorningKersdale’sarmwasasbigasabarrel，anditwasthreeweeksbeforetheswellingwentdown。
Allofwhichhasnothingtodowithmystory，butwhichIcouldnotavoidgivinginordertoshowthatJackKersdalewasanythingbutacoward。ItwasthecleanestexhibitionofgritIhaveeverseen。
Heneverturnedahair。Thesmileneverlefthislips。AndhedivedwiththumbandforefingerintoDottieFairchild’shairasgailyasifithadbeenaboxofsaltedalmonds。YetthatwasthemanIwasdestinedtoseestrickenwithafearathousandtimesmorehideouseventhanthefearthatwasminewhenIsawthatwrithingabominationinDottieFairchild’shair，danglingoverhereyesandthetrapofherbodice。
Iwasinterestedinleprosy，anduponthat，asuponeveryotherislandsubject，Kersdalehadencyclopedicknowledge。Infact，leprosywasoneofhishobbies。HewasanardentdefenderofthesettlementatMolokai，wherealltheislandlepersweresegregated。
Therewasmuchtalkandfeelingamongthenatives，fannedbythedemagogues，concerningthecrueltiesofMolokai，wheremenandwomen，notalonebanishedfromfriendsandfamily，werecompelledtoliveinperpetualimprisonmentuntiltheydied。Therewerenoreprieves，nocommutationsofsentences。\"Abandonhope\"waswrittenovertheportalofMolokai。
\"Itellyoutheyarehappythere，\"Kersdaleinsisted。\"Andtheyareinfinitelybetteroffthantheirfriendsandrelativesoutsidewhohavenothingthematterwiththem。ThehorrorsofMolokaiareallpoppycock。Icantakeyouthroughanyhospitaloranysluminanyofthegreatcitiesoftheworldandshowyouathousandtimesworsehorrors。Thelivingdeath!Thecreaturesthatonceweremen!
Bosh!YououghttoseethoselivingdeathsracinghorsesontheFourthofJuly。Someofthemownboats。Onehasagasolinelaunch。
Theyhavenothingtodobuthaveagoodtime。Food，shelter，clothes，medicalattendance，everything，istheirs。TheyarethewardsoftheTerritory。TheyhaveamuchfinerclimatethanHonolulu，andthesceneryismagnificent。Ishouldn’tmindgoingdowntheremyselffortherestofmydays。Itisalovelyspot。\"
SoKersdaleonthejoyousleper。Hewasnotafraidofleprosy。Hesaidsohimself，andthattherewasn’tonechanceinamillionforhimoranyotherwhitemantocatchit，thoughheconfessedafterwardthatoneofhisschoolchums，AlfredStarter，hadcontractedit，gonetoMolokai，andtheredied。
\"Youknow，intheolddays，\"Kersdaleexplained，\"therewasnocertaintestforleprosy。AnythingunusualorabnormalwassufficienttosendafellowtoMolokai。TheresultwasthatdozensweresenttherewhowerenomorelepersthanyouorI。Buttheydon’tmakethatmistakenow。TheBoardofHealthtestsareinfallible。ThefunnythingisthatwhenthetestwasdiscoveredtheyimmediatelywentdowntoMolokaiandappliedit，andtheyfoundanumberwhowerenotlepers。Thesewereimmediatelydeported。
Happytogetaway？TheywailedharderatleavingthesettlementthanwhentheyleftHonolulutogotoit。Somerefusedtoleave，andreallyhadtobeforcedout。OneofthemevenmarriedaleperwomaninthelaststagesandthenwrotepatheticletterstotheBoardofHealth，protestingagainsthisexpulsiononthegroundthatnoonewassowellableashetotakecareofhispooroldwife。\"
\"Whatisthisinfallibletest？\"Idemanded。
\"Thebacteriologicaltest。Thereisnogettingawayfromit。
DoctorHervey——he’sourexpert，youknow——wasthefirstmantoapplyithere。Heisawizard。Heknowsmoreaboutleprosythananylivingman，andifacureiseverdiscovered，he’llbethatdiscoverer。Asforthetest，itisverysimple。Theyhavesucceededinisolatingthebacilluslepraeandstudyingit。Theyknowitnowwhentheyseeit。Alltheydoistosnipabitofskinfromthesuspectandsubjectittothebacteriologicaltest。Amanwithoutanyvisiblesymptomsmaybechockfulloftheleprosybacilli。\"
\"ThenyouorI，forallweknow，\"Isuggested，\"maybefullofitnow。\"
Kersdaleshruggedhisshouldersandlaughed。
\"Whocansay？Ittakessevenyearsforittoincubate。IfyouhaveanydoubtsgoandseeDoctorHervey。He’lljustsnipoutapieceofyourskinandletyouknowinajiffy。\"
LateronheintroducedmetoDr。Hervey，wholoadedmedownwithBoardofHealthreportsandpamphletsonthesubject，andtookmeouttoKalihi，theHonolulureceivingstation，wheresuspectswereexaminedandconfirmedleperswereheldfordeportationtoMolokai。
Thesedeportationsoccurredaboutonceamonth，when，thelastgood—
byessaid，thelepersweremarchedonboardthelittlesteamer，theNoeau，andcarrieddowntothesettlement。
Oneafternoon，writinglettersattheclub，JackKersdaledroppedinonme。
\"JustthemanIwanttosee，\"washisgreeting。\"I’llshowyouthesaddestaspectofthewholesituation——theleperswailingastheydepartforMolokai。TheNoeauwillbetakingthemonboardinafewminutes。Butletmewarnyounottoletyourfeelingsbeharrowed。
Realastheirgriefis，they’dwailawholesightharderayearhenceiftheBoardofHealthtriedtotakethemawayfromMolokai。
We’vejusttimeforawhiskeyandsoda。I’veacarriageoutside。
Itwon’ttakeusfiveminutestogetdowntothewharf。\"
Tothewharfwedrove。Somefortysadwretches，amidtheirmats，blankets，andluggageofvarioussorts，weresquattingonthestringerpiece。TheNoeauhadjustarrivedandwasmakingfasttoalighterthatlaybetweenherandthewharf。AMr。McVeigh，thesuperintendentofthesettlement，wasoverseeingtheembarkation，andtohimIwasintroduced，alsotoDr。Georges，oneoftheBoardofHealthphysicianswhomIhadalreadymetatKalihi。Theleperswereawoebegonelot。Thefacesofthemajoritywerehideous——toohorribleformetodescribe。ButhereandthereInoticedfairlygood—lookingpersons，withnoapparentsignsofthefelldiseaseuponthem。One，Inoticed，alittlewhitegirl，notmorethantwelve，withblueeyesandgoldenhair。Onecheek，however，showedtheleprousbloat。Onmyremarkingonthesadnessofheraliensituationamongthebrown—skinnedafflictedones，DoctorGeorgesreplied：—
\"Oh，Idon’tknow。It’sahappydayinherlife。ShecomesfromKauai。Herfatherisabrute。Andnowthatshehasdevelopedthediseasesheisgoingtojoinhermotheratthesettlement。Hermotherwassentdownthreeyearsago——averybadcase。\"
\"Youcan’talwaystellfromappearances，\"Mr。McVeighexplained。
Thatmanthere，thatbigchap，wholooksthepinkofcondition，withnothingthematterwithhim，Ihappentoknowhasaperforatingulcerinhisfootandanotherinhisshoulder—blade。Thenthereareothers——there，seethatgirl’shand，theonewhoissmokingthecigarette。Seehertwistedfingers。That’stheanaestheticform。
Itattacksthenerves。Youcouldcutherfingersoffwithadullknife，orrubthemoffonanutmeg—grater，andshewouldnotexperiencetheslightestsensation。\"
\"Yes，butthatfine—lookingwoman，there，\"Ipersisted；\"surely，surely，therecan’tbeanythingthematterwithher。Sheistoogloriousandgorgeousaltogether。\"
\"Asadcase，\"Mr。McVeighansweredoverhisshoulder，alreadyturningawaytowalkdownthewharfwithKersdale。
Shewasabeautifulwoman，andshewaspurePolynesian。FrommymeagreknowledgeoftheraceanditstypesIcouldnotbutconcludethatshehaddescendedfromoldchiefstock。Shecouldnothavebeenmorethantwenty—threeorfour。Herlinesandproportionsweremagnificent，andshewasjustbeginningtoshowtheamplitudeofthewomenofherrace。
\"Itwasablowtoallofus，\"Dr。Georgesvolunteered。\"Shegaveherselfupvoluntarily，too。Noonesuspected。Butsomehowshehadcontractedthedisease。Itbrokeusallup，Iassureyou。We’vekeptitoutofthepapers，though。Nobodybutusandherfamilyknowswhathasbecomeofher。Infact，ifyouweretoaskanymaninHonolulu，he’dtellyouitwashisimpressionthatshewassomewhereinEurope。Itwasatherrequestthatwe’vebeensoquietaboutit。Poorgirl，shehasalotofpride。\"
\"Butwhoisshe？\"Iasked。\"Certainly，fromthewayyoutalkabouther，shemustbesomebody。\"
\"DidyoueverhearofLucyMokunui？\"heasked。
\"LucyMokunui？\"Irepeated，hauntedbysomefamiliarassociation。I
shookmyhead。\"ItseemstomeI’veheardthename，butI’veforgottenit。\"
\"NeverheardofLucyMokunui!TheHawaiiannightingale!Ibegyourpardon。Ofcourseyouareamalahini，{1}andcouldnotbeexpectedtoknow。Well，LucyMokunuiwasthebestbelovedofHonolulu——ofallHawaii，forthatmatter。\"
\"YousayWAS，\"Iinterrupted。
\"AndImeanit。Sheisfinished。\"Heshruggedhisshoulderspityingly。\"Adozenhaoles——Ibegyourpardon，whitemen——havelosttheirheartstoheratonetimeoranother。AndI’mnotcountingintheruck。ThedozenIrefertowerehaolesofpositionandprominence。\"
\"ShecouldhavemarriedthesonoftheChiefJusticeifshe’dwantedto。Youthinkshe’sbeautiful，eh？Butyoushouldhearhersing。
FinestnativewomansingerinHawaiiNei。Herthroatispuresilverandmeltedsunshine。Weadoredher。ShetouredAmericafirstwiththeRoyalHawaiianBand。Afterthatshemadetwomoretripsonherown——concertwork。\"
\"Oh!\"Icried。\"Iremembernow。IheardhertwoyearsagoattheBostonSymphony。Sothatisshe。Irecognizehernow。\"
Iwasoppressedbyaheavysadness。Lifewasafutilethingatbest。Ashorttwoyearsandthismagnificentcreature，atthesummitofhermagnificentsuccess，wasoneofthelepersquadawaitingdeportationtoMolokai。Henley’slinescameintomymind：—
\"Thepooroldtrampexplainshispooroldulcers；
Lifeis，Ithink，ablunderandashame。\"
Irecoiledfrommyownfuture。IfthisawfulfatefelltoLucyMokunui，whatmightmylotnotbe？——oranybody’slot？Iwasthoroughlyawarethatinlifeweareinthemidstofdeath——buttobeinthemidstoflivingdeath，todieandnotbedead，tobeoneofthatdraftofcreaturesthatonceweremen，aye，andwomen，likeLucyMokunui，theepitomeofallPolynesiancharms，anartistaswell，andwellbelovedofmen—。IamafraidImusthavebetrayedmyperturbation，forDoctorGeorgeshastenedtoassuremethattheywereveryhappydowninthesettlement。
Itwasalltooinconceivablymonstrous。Icouldnotbeartolookather。Ashortdistanceaway，behindastretchedropeguardedbyapoliceman，werethelepers’relativesandfriends。Theywerenotallowedtocomenear。Therewerenolastembraces，nokissesoffarewell。Theycalledbackandforthtooneanother——lastmessages，lastwordsoflove，lastreiteratedinstructions。Andthosebehindtheropelookedwithterribleintensity。Itwasthelasttimetheywouldbeholdthefacesoftheirlovedones，fortheywerethelivingdead，beingcartedawayinthefuneralshiptothegraveyardofMolokai。
DoctorGeorgesgavethecommand，andtheunhappywretchesdraggedthemselvestotheirfeetandundertheirburdensofluggagebegantostaggeracrossthelighterandaboardthesteamer。Itwasthefuneralprocession。Atoncethewailingstartedfromthosebehindtherope。Itwasblood—curdling；itwasheart—rending。Ineverheardsuchwoe，andIhopenevertoagain。KersdaleandMcVeighwerestillattheotherendofthewharf，talkingearnestly——
politics，ofcourse，forbothwerehead—over—heelsinthatparticulargame。WhenLucyMokunuipassedme，Istolealookather。SheWASbeautiful。Shewasbeautifulbyourstandards，aswell——oneofthoserareblossomsthatoccurbutonceingenerations。
Andshe，ofallwomen，wasdoomedtoMolokai。Shestraightonboard，andaftontheopendeckwherethelepershuddledbytherail，wailingnow，totheirdearonesonshore。
Thelineswerecastoff，andtheNoeaubegantomoveawayfromthewharf。Thewailingincreased。Suchgriefanddespair!IwasjustresolvingthatneveragainwouldIbeawitnesstothesailingoftheNoeau，whenMcVeighandKersdalereturned。Thelatter’seyesweresparkling，andhislipscouldnotquitehidethesmileofdelightthatwashis。Evidentlythepoliticstheyhadtalkedhadbeensatisfactory。Theropehadbeenflungaside，andthelamentingrelativesnowcrowdedthestringerpieceoneithersideofus。
\"That’shermother，\"DoctorGeorgeswhispered，indicatinganoldwomannexttome，whowasrockingbackandforthandgazingatthesteamerrailoutoftear—blindedeyes。InoticedthatLucyMokunuiwasalsowailing。ShestoppedabruptlyandgazedatKersdale。Thenshestretchedforthherarmsinthatadorable，sensuouswaythatOlgaNethersolehasofembracinganaudience。Andwitharmsoutspread，shecried：
\"Good—bye，Jack!Good—bye!\"
Heheardthecry，andlooked。Neverwasamanovertakenbymorecrushingfear。Hereeledonthestringerpiece，hisfacewentwhitetotherootsofhishair，andheseemedtoshrinkandwitherawayinsidehisclothes。Hethrewuphishandsandgroaned，\"MyGod!MyGod!\"Thenhecontrolledhimselfbyagreateffort。
\"Good—bye，Lucy!Good—bye!\"hecalled。
Andhestoodthereonthewharf，wavinghishandstohertilltheNoeauwasclearawayandthefacesliningherafter—railwerevagueandindistinct。
\"Ithoughtyouknew，\"saidMcVeigh，whohadbeenregardinghimcuriously。\"You，ofallmen，shouldhaveknown。Ithoughtthatwaswhyyouwerehere。\"
\"Iknownow，\"Kersdaleansweredwithimmensegravity。\"Where’sthecarriage？\"
Hewalkedrapidly——half—ran——toit。Ihadtohalf—runmyselftokeepupwithhim。
\"DrivetoDoctorHervey’s，\"hetoldthedriver。\"Driveasfastasyoucan。\"
Hesankdowninaseat，pantingandgasping。Thepallorofhisfacehadincreased。Hislipswerecompressedandthesweatwasstandingoutonhisforeheadandupperlip。Heseemedinsomehorribleagony。
\"ForGod’ssake，Martin，makethosehorsesgo!\"hebrokeoutsuddenly。\"Laythewhipintothem!——doyouhear？——laythewhipintothem!\"
\"They’llbreak，sir，\"thedriverremonstrated。
\"Letthembreak，\"Kersdaleanswered。\"I’llpayyourfineandsquareyouwiththepolice。Putittothem。That’sright。Faster!
Faster!\"
\"AndIneverknew，Ineverknew，\"hemuttered，sinkingbackintheseatandwithtremblinghandswipingthesweataway。
Thecarriagewasbouncing，swayingandlurchingaroundcornersatsuchawildpaceastomakeconversationimpossible。Besides，therewasnothingtosay。ButIcouldhearhimmutteringoverandover，\"AndIneverknew。Ineverknew。\"
ALOHAOE
NeveraretheresuchdeparturesasfromthedockatHonolulu。Thegreattransportlaywithsteamup，readytopullout。Athousandpersonswereonherdecks；fivethousandstoodonthewharf。Upanddownthelonggangwaypassednativeprincesandprincesses，sugarkingsandthehighofficialsoftheTerritory。Beyond，inlonglines，keptinorderbythenativepolice，werethecarriagesandmotor—carsoftheHonoluluaristocracy。OnthewharftheRoyalHawaiianBandplayed\"AlohaOe，\"andwhenitfinished，astringedorchestraofnativemusiciansonboardthetransporttookupthesamesobbingstrains，thenativewomansinger’svoicerisingbirdlikeabovetheinstrumentsandthehubbubofdeparture。Itwasasilverreed，soundingitsclear，unmistakablenoteinthegreatdiapasonoffarewell。
Forward，onthelowerdeck，therailwaslinedsixdeepwithkhaki—
cladyoungboys，whosebronzedfacestoldofthreeyears’
campaigningunderthesun。Butthefarewellwasnotforthem。Norwasitforthewhite—cladcaptainontheloftybridge，remoteasthestars，gazingdownuponthetumultbeneathhim。Norwasthefarewellfortheyoungofficersfartheraft，returningfromthePhilippines，norforthewhite—faced，climate—ravagedwomenbytheirsides。Justaftthegangway，onthepromenadedeck，stoodascoreofUnitedStatesSenatorswiththeirwivesanddaughters——theSenatorialjunketingpartythatforamonthhadbeendinedandwined，surfeitedwithstatisticsanddraggedupvolcanichillanddownlavadaletobeholdthegloriesandresourcesofHawaii。ItwasforthejunketingpartythatthetransporthadcalledinatHonolulu，anditwastothejunketingpartythatHonoluluwassayinggood—bye。
TheSenatorsweregarlandedandbedeckedwithflowers。SenatorJeremySambrooke’sstoutneckandportlybosomwereburdenedwithadozenwreaths。Outofthismassofbloomandblossomprojectedhisheadandthegreaterportionofhisfreshlysunburnedandperspiringface。Hethoughttheflowersanabomination，andashelookedoutoverthemultitudeonthewharfitwaswithastatisticaleyethatsawnoneofthebeauty，butthatpeeredintothelabourpower，thefactories，therailroads，andtheplantationsthatlaybackofthemultitudeandwhichthemultitudeexpressed。Hesawresourcesandthoughtdevelopment，andhewastoobusywithdreamsofmaterialachievementandempiretonoticehisdaughterathisside，talkingwithayoungfellowinanattysummersuitandstrawhat，whoseeagereyesseemedonlyforherandneverleftherface。HadSenatorJeremyhadeyesforhisdaughter，hewouldhaveseenthat，inplaceoftheyounggirloffifteenhehadbroughttoHawaiiashortmonthbefore，hewasnowtakingawaywithhimawoman。
Hawaiihasaripeningclimate，andDorothySambrookehadbeenexposedtoitunderexceptionallyripeningcircumstances。Slender，pale，withblueeyesatrifletiredfromporingoverthepagesofbooksandtryingtomuddleintoanunderstandingoflife——suchshehadbeenthemonthbefore。Butnowtheeyeswerewarminsteadoftired，thecheeksweretouchedwiththesun，andthebodygavethefirsthintandpromiseofswellinglines。Duringthatmonthshehadleftbooksalone，forshehadfoundgreaterjoyinreadingfromthebookoflife。Shehadriddenhorses，climbedvolcanoes，andlearnedsurfswimming。Thetropicshadenteredintoherblood，andshewasaglowwiththewarmthandcolourandsunshine。Andforamonthshehadbeeninthecompanyofaman——StephenKnight，athlete，surf—
boardrider，abronzedgodoftheseawhobittedthecrashingbreakers，leapedupontheirbacks，androdethemintoshore。
DorothySambrookewasunawareofthechange。Herconsciousnesswasstillthatofayounggirl，andshewassurprisedandtroubledbySteve’sconductinthishourofsayinggood—bye。Shehadlookeduponhimasherplayfellow，andforthemonthhehadbeenherplayfellow；butnowhewasnotpartinglikeaplayfellow。Hetalkedexcitedlyanddisconnectedly，orwassilent，byfitsandstarts。
Sometimeshedidnothearwhatshewassaying，orifhedid，failedtorespondinhiswontedmanner。Shewasperturbedbythewayhelookedather。Shehadnotknownbeforethathehadsuchblazingeyes。Therewassomethinginhiseyesthatwasterrifying。Shecouldnotfaceit，andherowneyescontinuallydroopedbeforeit。
Yettherewassomethingalluringaboutit，aswell，andshecontinuallyreturnedtocatchaglimpseofthatblazing，imperious，yearningsomethingthatshehadneverseeninhumaneyesbefore。
Andshewasherselfstrangelybewilderedandexcited。
Thetransport’shugewhistleblewadeafeningblast，andtheflower—
crownedmultitudesurgedclosertothesideofthedock。DorothySambrooke’sfingerswerepressedtoherears；andasshemadeamoueofdistasteattheoutrageofsound，shenoticedagaintheimperious，yearningblazeinSteve’seyes。Hewasnotlookingather，butatherears，delicatelypinkandtransparentintheslantingraysoftheafternoonsun。Curiousandfascinated，shegazedatthatstrangesomethinginhiseyesuntilhesawthathehadbeencaught。Shesawhischeeksflushdarklyandheardhimutterinarticulately。Hewasembarrassed，andshewasawareofembarrassmentherself。Stewardsweregoingaboutnervouslybeggingshore—goingpersonstobegone。Steveputouthishand。Whenshefeltthegripofthefingersthathadgrippedhersathousandtimesonsurf—boardsandlavaslopes，sheheardthewordsofthesongwithanewunderstandingastheysobbedintheHawaiianwoman’ssilverthroat：
\"Kahaliakoalohakaihikimai，Kehoneaeneiiku’umanawa，OoenokanalohaAlokoehananei。\"
Stevehadtaughtherairandwordsandmeaning——soshehadthought，tillthisinstant；andinthisinstantofthelastfingerclaspandwarmcontactofpalmsshedivinedforthefirsttimetherealmeaningofthesong。Shescarcelysawhimgo，norcouldshenotehimonthecrowdedgangway，forshewasdeepinamemorymaze，livingoverthefourweeksjustpast，rereadingeventsinthelightofrevelation。
WhentheSenatorialpartyhadlanded，Stevehadbeenoneofthecommitteeofentertainment。Itwashewhohadgiventhemtheirfirstexhibitionofsurfriding，outatWaikikiBeach，paddlinghisnarrowboardseawarduntilhebecameadisappearingspeck，andthen，suddenlyreappearing，risinglikeasea—godfromoutofthewelterofspumeandchurningwhite——risingswiftlyhigherandhigher，shouldersandchestandloinsandlimbs，untilhestoodpoisedonthesmokingcrestofamighty，mile—longbillow，hisfeetburiedintheflyingfoam，hurlingbeach—wardwiththespeedofanexpresstrainandsteppingcalmlyashoreattheirastoundedfeet。ThathadbeenherfirstglimpseofSteve。Hehadbeentheyoungestmanonthecommittee，ayouth，himself，oftwenty。Hehadnotentertainedbyspeechmaking，norhadheshonedecorativelyatreceptions。ItwasinthebreakersatWaikiki，inthewildcattledriveonMannaKea，andinthebreakingyardoftheHaleakalaRanchthathehadperformedhisshareoftheentertaining。
Shehadnotcaredfortheinterminablestatisticsandeternalspeechmakingoftheothermembersofthecommittee。NeitherhadSteve。AnditwaswithStevethatshehadstolenawayfromtheopen—airfeastatHamakua，andfromAbeLouisson，thecoffeeplanter，whohadtalkedcoffee，coffee，nothingbutcoffee，fortwomortalhours。Itwasthen，astheyrodeamongthetreeferns，thatStevehadtaughtherthewordsof\"AlohaOe，\"thesongthathadbeensungtothevisitingSenatorsateveryvillage，ranch，andplantationdeparture。
Steveandshehadbeenmuchtogetherfromthefirst。Hehadbeenherplayfellow。Shehadtakenpossessionofhimwhileherfatherhadbeenoccupiedintakingpossessionofthestatisticsoftheislandterritory。Shewastoogentletotyrannizeoverherplayfellow，yetshehadruledhimabjectly，exceptwhenincanoe，oronhorseorsurf—board，atwhichtimeshehadtakenchargeandshehadrenderedobedience。Andnow，withthislastsingingofthesong，asthelineswerecastoffandthebigtransportbeganbackingslowlyoutfromthedock，sheknewthatStevewassomethingmoretoherthanplayfellow。
Fivethousandvoicesweresinging\"AlohaOe，\"——\"MYLOVEBEWITHYOU
TILLWEMEETAGAIN，\"——andinthatfirstmomentofknownlovesherealizedthatsheandStevewerebeingtornapart。Whenwouldtheyevermeetagain？Hehadtaughtherthosewordshimself。SherememberedlisteningashesangthemoverandoverunderthehautreeatWaikiki。Haditbeenprophecy？Andshehadadmiredhissinging，hadtoldhimthathesangwithsuchexpression。Shelaughedaloud，hysterically，attherecollection。Withsuchexpression!——whenhehadbeenpouringhisheartoutinhisvoice。
Sheknewnow，anditwastoolate。Whyhadhenotspoken？Thensherealizedthatgirlsofheragedidnotmarry。Butgirlsofheragedidmarry——inHawaii——washerinstantthought。Hawaiihadripenedher——Hawaii，wherefleshisgoldenandwhereallwomenareripeandsun—kissed。
Vainlyshescannedthepackedmultitudeonthedock。Whathadbecomeofhim？Shefeltshecouldpayanypriceforonemoreglimpseofhim，andshealmosthopedthatsomemortalsicknesswouldstrikethelonelycaptainonthebridgeanddelaydeparture。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshelookedatherfatherwithacalculatingeye，andasshedidshenotedwithnewbornfearthelinesofwillanddetermination。Itwouldbeterribletoopposehim。Andwhatchancewouldshehaveinsuchastruggle？ButwhyhadStevenotspoken？Nowitwastoolate。WhyhadhenotspokenunderthehautreeatWaikiki？
Andthen，withagreatsinkingoftheheart，itcametoherthatsheknewwhy。Whatwasitshehadheardoneday？Oh，yes，itwasatMrs。Stanton’stea，thatafternoonwhentheladiesofthe\"MissionaryCrowd\"hadentertainedtheladiesoftheSenatorialparty。ItwasMrs。Hodgkins，thetallblondewoman，whohadaskedthequestion。Thescenecamebacktohervividly——thebroadlanai，thetropicflowers，thenoiselessAsiaticattendants，thehumofthevoicesofthemanywomenandthequestionMrs。Hodgkinshadaskedinthegroupnexttoher。Mrs。Hodgkinshadbeenawayonthemainlandforyears，andwasevidentlyinquiringafteroldislandfriendsofhermaidendays。\"WhathasbecomeofSusieMaydwell？\"wasthequestionshehadasked。\"Oh，weneverseeheranymore；shemarriedWillieKupele，\"anotherislandwomananswered。AndSenatorBehrend’swifelaughedandwantedtoknowwhymatrimonyhadaffectedSusieMaydwell’sfriendships。
\"Hapa—haole，\"wastheanswer；\"hewasahalf—caste，youknow，andweoftheIslandshavetothinkaboutourchildren。\"
Dorothyturnedtoherfather，resolvedtoputittothetest。
\"Papa，ifSteveevercomestotheUnitedStates，mayn’thecomeandseeussometime？\"
\"Who？Steve？\"
\"Yes，StephenKnight——youknowhim。Yousaidgood—byetohimnotfiveminutesago。Mayn’the，ifhehappenstobeintheUnitedStatessometime，comeandseeus？\"
\"Certainlynot，\"JeremySambrookeansweredshortly。\"StephenKnightisahapa—haoleandyouknowwhatthatmeans。\"
\"Oh，\"Dorothysaidfaintly，whileshefeltanumbdespaircreepintoherheart。
Stevewasnotahapa—haole——sheknewthat；butshedidnotknowthataquarter—strainoftropicsunshinestreamedinhisveins，andsheknewthatthatwassufficienttoputhimoutsidethemarriagepale。
Itwasastrangeworld。TherewastheHonourableA。S。Cleghorn，whohadmarriedaduskyprincessoftheKamehamehablood，yetmenconsidereditanhonourtoknowhim，andthemostexclusivewomenoftheultra—exclusive\"MissionaryCrowd\"weretobeseenathisafternoonteas。AndtherewasSteve。Noonehaddisapprovedofhisteachinghertorideasurf—board，norofhisleadingherbythehandthroughtheperilousplacesofthecraterofKilauea。Hecouldhavedinnerwithherandherfather，dancewithher，andbeamemberoftheentertainmentcommittee；butbecausetherewastropicsunshineinhisveinshecouldnotmarryher。
Andhedidn’tshowit。Onehadtobetoldtoknow。Andhewassogood—looking。Thepictureofhimlimneditselfonherinnervision，andbeforeshewasawareshewaspleasuringinthememoryofthegraceofhismagnificentbody，ofhissplendidshoulders，ofthepowerinhimthattossedherlightlyonahorse，borehersafelythroughthethunderingbreakers，ortowedherattheendofanalpenstockupthesternlavacrestoftheHouseoftheSun。Therewassomethingsubtlerandmysteriousthatsheremembered，andthatshewaseventhenjustbeginningtounderstand——theauraofthemalecreaturethatisman，allman，masculineman。Shecametoherselfwithashockofshameatthethoughtsshehadbeenthinking。Hercheeksweredyedwiththehotbloodwhichquicklyrecededandleftthempaleatthethoughtthatshewouldneverseehimagain。Thestemofthetransportwasalreadyoutinthestream，andthepromenadedeckwaspassingabreastoftheendofthedock。
\"There’sStevenow，\"herfathersaid。\"Wavegood—byetohim，Dorothy。\"
Stevewaslookingupatherwitheagereyes，andhesawinherfacewhathehadnotseenbefore。Bytherushofgladnessintohisownfacesheknewthatheknew。Theairwasthrobbingwiththesong—
Mylovetoyou。
Mylovebewithyoutillwemeetagain。
Therewasnoneedforspeechtotelltheirstory。Abouther，passengerswereflingingtheirgarlandstotheirfriendsonthedock。Stevehelduphishandsandhiseyespleaded。Sheslippedherowngarlandoverherhead，butithadbecomeentangledinthestringofOrientalpearlsthatMervin，anelderlysugarking，hadplacedaroundherneckwhenhedroveherandherfatherdowntothesteamer。
Shefoughtwiththepearlsthatclungtotheflowers。Thetransportwasmovingsteadilyon。Stevewasalreadybeneathher。Thiswasthemoment。Thenextmomentandhewouldbepast。Shesobbed，andJeremySambrookeglancedatherinquiringly。
\"Dorothy!\"hecriedsharply。
Shedeliberatelysnappedthestring，and，amidashowerofpearls，theflowersfelltothewaitinglover。ShegazedathimuntilthetearsblindedherandsheburiedherfaceontheshoulderofJeremySambrooke，whoforgothisbelovedstatisticsinwondermentatgirlbabiesthatinsistedongrowingup。Thecrowdsangon，thesonggrowingfainterinthedistance，butstillmeltingwiththesensuouslove—languorofHawaii，thewordsbitingintoherheartlikeacidbecauseoftheiruntruth。
Alohaoe，Alohaoe，ekeonaonanohoikalipo，Afondembrace，ahoiaeau，untilwemeetagain。
CHUNAHCHUN
TherewasnothingstrikingintheappearanceofChunAhChun。Hewasratherundersized，asChinesego，andtheChinesenarrowshouldersandsparenessoffleshwerehis。Theaveragetourist，casuallyglimpsinghimonthestreetsofHonolulu，wouldhaveconcludedthathewasagood—naturedlittleChinese，probablytheproprietorofaprosperouslaundryortailorshop。Insofarasgoodnatureandprosperitywent，thejudgmentwouldbecorrect，thoughbeneaththemark；forAhChunwasasgood—naturedashewasprosperous，andofthelatternomanknewatithethetale。Itwaswellknownthathewasenormouslywealthy，butinhiscase\"enormous\"wasmerelythesymbolfortheunknown。
AhChunhadshrewdlittleeyes，blackandbeadyandsoverylittlethattheywerelikegimlet—holes。Buttheywerewideapart，andtheyshelteredunderaforeheadthatwaspatentlytheforeheadofathinker。ForAhChunhadhisproblems，andhadhadthemallhislife。Notthatheeverworriedoverthem。Hewasessentiallyaphilosopher，andwhetherascoolie，ormulti—millionaireandmasterofmanymen，hispoiseofsoulwasthesame。Helivedalwaysinthehighequanimityofspiritualrepose，undeterredbygoodfortune，unruffledbyillfortune。Allthingswentwellwithhim，whethertheywereblowsfromtheoverseerinthecanefieldoraslumpinthepriceofsugarwhenheownedthosecanefieldshimself。Thus，fromthesteadfastrockofhissurecontenthemasteredproblemssuchasaregiventofewmentoconsider，muchlesstoaChinesepeasant。
Hewaspreciselythat——aChinesepeasant，borntolabourinthefieldsallhisdayslikeabeast，butfatedtoescapefromthefieldsliketheprinceinafairytale。AhChundidnotrememberhisfather，asmallfarmerinadistrictnotfarfromCanton；nordidheremembermuchofhismother，whohaddiedwhenhewassix。
Buthedidrememberhisrespecteduncle，AhKow，forhimhadheservedasaslavefromhissixthyeartohistwenty—fourth。ItwasthenthatheescapedbycontractinghimselfasacoolietolabourforthreeyearsonthesugarplantationsofHawaiiforfiftycentsaday。
AhChunwasobservant。Heperceivedlittledetailsthatnotonemaninathousandevernoticed。Threeyearsheworkedinthefield，attheendofwhichtimeheknewmoreaboutcane—growingthantheoverseersoreventhesuperintendent，whilethesuperintendentwouldhavebeenastoundedattheknowledgetheweazenedlittlecooliepossessedofthereductionprocessesinthemill。ButAhChundidnotstudyonlysugarprocesses。Hestudiedtofindouthowmencametobeownersofsugarmillsandplantations。Onejudgmentheachievedearly，namely，thatmendidnotbecomerichfromthelabouroftheirownhands。Heknew，forhehadlabouredforascoreofyearshimself。Themenwhogrewrichdidsofromthelabourofthehandsofothers。Thatmanwasrichestwhohadthegreatestnumberofhisfellowcreaturestoilingforhim。
So，whenhistermofcontractwasup，AhChuninvestedhissavingsinasmallimportingstore，goingintopartnershipwithone，AhYung。Thefirmultimatelybecamethegreatoneof\"AhChunandAhYung，\"whichhandledanythingfromIndiasilksandginsengtoguanoislandsandblackbirdbrigs。Inthemeantime，AhChunhiredoutascook。Hewasagoodcook，andinthreeyearshewasthehighest—
paidchefinHonolulu。Hiscareerwasassured，andhewasafooltoabandonit，asDantin，hisemployer，toldhim；butAhChunknewhisownmindbest，andforknowingitwascalledatriple—foolandgivenapresentoffiftydollarsoverandabovethewagesduehim。
ThefirmofAhChunandAhYungwasprospering。TherewasnoneedforAhChunlongertobeacook。TherewereboomtimesinHawaii。
Sugarwasbeingextensivelyplanted，andlabourwasneeded。AhChunsawthechance，andwentintothelabour—importingbusiness。HebroughtthousandsofCantonesecooliesintoHawaii，andhiswealthbegantogrow。Hemadeinvestments。Hisbeadyblackeyessawbargainswhereothermensawbankruptcy。Heboughtafish—pondforasong，whichlaterpaidfivehundredpercentandwastheopeningwedgebywhichhemonopolizedthefishmarketofHonolulu。Hedidnottalkforpublication，norfigureinpolitics，norplayatrevolutions，butheforecasteventsmoreclearlyandfartheraheadthandidthemenwhoengineeredthem。Inhismind’seyehesawHonoluluamodern，electric—lightedcityatatimewhenitstraggled，unkemptandsand—tormented，overabarrenreefofupliftedcoralrock。Soheboughtland。Heboughtlandfrommerchantswhoneededreadycash，fromimpecuniousnatives，fromriotoustraders’sons，fromwidowsandorphansandthelepersdeportedtoMolokai；and，somehow，astheyearswentby，thepiecesoflandhehadboughtprovedtobeneededforwarehouses，orcoffeebuildings，orhotels。Heleased，andrented，soldandbought，andresoldagain。
Buttherewereotherthingsaswell。HeputhisconfidenceandhismoneyintoParkinson，therenegadecaptainwhomnobodywouldtrust。
AndParkinsonsailedawayonmysteriousvoyagesinthelittleVega。
Parkinsonwastakencareofuntilhedied，andyearsafterwardHonoluluwasastonishedwhenthenewsleakedoutthattheDrakeandAcornguanoislandshadbeensoldtotheBritishPhosphateTrustforthree—quartersofamillion。Thentherewerethefat，lushdaysofKingKalakaua，whenAhChunpaidthreehundredthousanddollarsfortheopiumlicence。Ifhepaidathirdofamillionforthedrugmonopoly，theinvestmentwasneverthelessagoodone，forthedividendsboughthimtheKalalauPlantation，which，inturn，paidhimthirtypercentforseventeenyearsandwasultimatelysoldbyhimforamillionandahalf。
ItwasundertheKamehamehas，longbefore，thathehadservedhisowncountryasChineseConsul——apositionthatwasnotaltogetherunlucrative；anditwasunderKamehamehaIVthathechangedhiscitizenship，becominganHawaiiansubjectinordertomarryStellaAllendale，herselfasubjectofthebrown—skinnedking，thoughmoreofAnglo—SaxonbloodraninherveinsthanofPolynesian。Infact，therandombreedsinherweresoattenuatedthattheywerevaluedateighthsandsixteenths。Inthelatterproportionswasthebloodofhergreat—grandmother，Paahao——thePrincessPaahao，forshecameoftheroyalline。StellaAllendale’sgreat—grandfatherhadbeenaCaptainBlunt，anEnglishadventurerwhotookserviceunderKamehamehaIandwasmadeatabuchiefhimself。HergrandfatherhadbeenaNewBedfordwhalingcaptain，whilethroughherownfatherhadbeenintroducedaremoteblendofItalianandPortuguesewhichhadbeengrafteduponhisownEnglishstock。LegallyaHawaiian，AhChun’sspousewasmoreofanyoneofthreeothernationalities。
Andintothisconglomerateoftheraces，AhChunintroducedtheMongolianmixture。Thus，hischildrenbyMrs。AhChunwereonethirty—secondPolynesian，one—sixteenthItalian，onesixteenthPortuguese，one—halfChinese，andeleventhirty—secondsEnglishandAmerican。ItmightwellbethatAhChunwouldhaverefrainedfrommatrimonycouldhehaveforeseenthewonderfulfamilythatwastospringfromthisunion。Itwaswonderfulinmanyways。First，therewasitssize。Therewerefifteensonsanddaughters，mostlydaughters。Thesonshadcomefirst，threeofthem，andthenhadfollowed，inunswervingsequence，arounddozenofgirls。Theblendoftheracewasexcellent。Notalonefruitfuldiditprove，fortheprogeny，withoutexception，washealthyandwithoutblemish。Butthemostamazingthingaboutthefamilywasitsbeauty。Allthegirlswerebeautiful——delicately，ethereallybeautiful。MammaAhChun’srotundlinesseemedtomodifypapaAhChun’sleanangles，sothatthedaughterswerewillowywithoutbeinglathy，round—muscledwithoutbeingchubby。IneveryfeatureofeveryfacewerehauntingreminiscencesofAsia，allmanipulatedoveranddisguisedbyOldEngland，NewEngland，andSouthofEurope。Noobserver，withoutinformation，wouldhaveguessed，theheavyChinesestrainintheirveins；norcouldanyobserver，afterbeinginformed，failtonoteimmediatelytheChinesetraces。
Asbeauties，theAhChungirlsweresomethingnew。Nothinglikethemhadbeenseenbefore。Theyresemblednothingsomuchastheyresembledoneanother，andyeteachgirlwassharplyindividual。
Therewasnomistakingoneforanother。Ontheotherhand，Maud，whowasblue—eyedandyellow—haired，wouldremindoneinstantlyofHenrietta，anolivebrunettewithlarge，languishingdarkeyesandhairthatwasblue—black。Thehintofresemblancethatranthroughthemall，reconcilingeverydifferentiation，wasAhChun’scontribution。Hehadfurnishedthegroundworkuponwhichhadbeentracedtheblendedpatternsoftheraces。Hehadfurnishedtheslim—bonedChineseframe，uponwhichhadbeenbuildedthedelicaciesandsubtletiesofSaxon，Latin，andPolynesianflesh。
Mrs。AhChunhadideasofherowntowhichAhChungavecredence，thoughneverpermittingthemexpressionwhentheyconflictedwithhisownphilosophiccalm。ShehadbeenusedallherlifetolivinginEuropeanfashion。Verywell。AhChungaveheraEuropeanmansion。Later，ashissonsanddaughtersgrewabletoadvise，hebuiltabungalow，aspacious，ramblingaffair，asunpretentiousasitwasmagnificent。Also，astimewentby，therearoseamountainhouseonTantalus，towhichthefamilycouldfleewhenthe\"sickwind\"blewfromthesouth。AndatWaikikihebuiltabeachresidenceonanextensivesitesowellchosenthatlateron，whentheUnitedStatesgovernmentcondemneditforfortificationpurposes，animmensesumaccompaniedthecondemnation。Inallhishouseswerebilliardandsmokingroomsandguestroomsgalore，forAhChun’swonderfulprogenywasgiventolavishentertainment。Thefurnishingwasextravagantlysimple。Kings’ransomswereexpendedwithoutdisplay——thankstotheeducatedtastesoftheprogeny。
AhChunhadbeenliberalinthematterofeducation。\"Nevermindexpense，\"hehadarguedintheolddayswithParkinsonwhenthatslackmarinercouldseenoreasonformakingtheVegaseaworthy；
\"yousailtheschooner，Ipaythebills。\"Andsowithhissonsanddaughters。Ithadbeenforthemtogettheeducationandnevermindtheexpense。Harold，theeldest—born，hadgonetoHarvardandOxford；AlbertandCharleshadgonethroughYaleinthesameclasses。Andthedaughters，fromtheeldestdown，hadundergonetheirpreparationatMillsSeminaryinCaliforniaandpassedontoVassar，Wellesley，orBrynMawr。Several，havingsodesired，hadhadthefinishingtouchesputoninEurope。AndfromalltheworldAhChun’ssonsanddaughtersreturnedtohimtosuggestandadviseinthegarnishmentofthechastemagnificenceofhisresidences。AhChunhimselfpreferredthevoluptuousglitterofOrientaldisplay；
buthewasaphilosopher，andheclearlysawthathischildren’stasteswerecorrectaccordingtoWesternstandards。
Ofcourse，hischildrenwerenotknownastheAhChunchildren。Ashehadevolvedfromacoolielabourertoamulti—millionaire，sohadhisnameevolved。MammaAhChunhadspelleditA’Chun，butherwiseroffspringhadelidedtheapostropheandspelleditAchun。AhChundidnotobject。Thespellingofhisnameinterferednowhitwithhiscomfortnorhisphilosophiccalm。Besides，hewasnotproud。Butwhenhischildrenarosetotheheightofastarchedshirt，astiffcollar，andafrockcoat，theydidinterferewithhiscomfortandcalm。AhChunwouldhavenoneofit。Hepreferredtheloose—flowingrobesofChina，andneithercouldtheycajolenorbullyhimintomakingthechange。Theytriedbothcourses，andinthelatteronefailedespeciallydisastrously。TheyhadnotbeentoAmericafornothing。Theyhadlearnedthevirtuesoftheboycottasemployedbyorganizedlabour，andhe，theirfather，ChunAhChun，theyboycottedinhisownhouse，MammaAchunaidingandabetting。
ButAhChunhimself，whileunversedinWesternculture，wasthoroughlyconversantwithWesternlabourconditions。Anextensiveemployeroflabourhimself，heknewhowtocopewithitstactics。
Promptlyheimposedalockoutonhisrebelliousprogenyanderringspouse。Hedischargedhisscoresofservants，lockeduphisstables，closedhishouses，andwenttoliveintheRoyalHawaiianHotel，inwhichenterprisehehappenedtobetheheavieststockholder。Thefamilyfluttereddistractedlyonvisitsaboutwithfriends，whileAhChuncalmlymanagedhismanyaffairs，smokedhislongpipewiththetinysilverbowl，andponderedtheproblemofhiswonderfulprogeny。
Thisproblemdidnotdisturbhiscalm。Heknewinhisphilosopher’ssoulthatwhenitwasripehewouldsolveit。Inthemeantimeheenforcedthelessonthatcomplacentashemightbe，hewasneverthelesstheabsolutedictatoroftheAchundestinies。Thefamilyheldoutforaweek，thenreturned，alongwithAhChunandthemanyservants，tooccupythebungalowoncemore。AndthereafternoquestionwasraisedwhenAhChunelectedtoenterhisbrilliantdrawing—roominbluesilkrobe，waddedslippers，andblacksilkskull—capwithredbuttonpeak，orwhenhechosetodrawathisslender—stemmedsilver—bowledpipeamongthecigarette—andcigar—
smokingofficersandciviliansonthebroadverandasorinthesmokingroom。
AhChunoccupiedauniquepositioninHonolulu。Thoughhedidnotappearinsociety，hewaseligibleanywhere。ExceptamongtheChinesemerchantsofthecity，heneverwentout；buthereceived，andhealwayswasthecentreofhishouseholdandtheheadofhistable。Himselfpeasant，bornChinese，hepresidedoveranatmosphereofcultureandrefinementsecondtononeinalltheislands。Norwerethereanyinalltheislandstooproudtocrosshisthresholdandenjoyhishospitality。Firstofall，theAchunbungalowwasofirreproachabletone。Next，AhChunwasapower。
Andfinally，AhChunwasamoralparagonandanhonestbusinessman。
Despitethefactthatbusinessmoralitywashigherthanonthemainland，AhChunoutshonethebusinessmenofHonoluluinthescrupulousrigidityofhishonesty。Itwasasayingthathiswordwasasgoodashisbond。Hissignaturewasneverneededtobindhim。Heneverbrokehisword。TwentyyearsafterHotchkiss，ofHotchkiss，MortersonCompany，died，theyfoundamongmislaidpapersamemorandumofaloanofthirtythousanddollarstoAhChun。IthadbeenincurredwhenAhChunwasPrivyCouncillortoKamehamehaII。Inthebustleandconfusionofthoseheyday，money—makingtimes，theaffairhadslippedAhChun’smind。Therewasnonote，nolegalclaimagainsthim，buthesettledinfullwiththeHotchkiss’
Estate，voluntarilypayingacompoundinterestthatdwarfedtheprincipal。Likewise，whenheverballyguaranteedthedisastrousKakikuDitchScheme，atatimewhentheleastsanguinedidnotdreamaguaranteenecessary——\"Signedhischequefortwohundredthousandwithoutaquiver，gentlemen，withoutaquiver，\"wasthereportofthesecretaryofthedefunctenterprise，whohadbeensentontheforlornhopeoffindingoutAhChun’sintentions。Andontopofthemanysimilaractionsthatweretrueofhisword，therewasscarcelyamanofreputeintheislandsthatatonetimeoranotherhadnotexperiencedthehelpingfinancialhandofAhChun。
SoitwasthatHonoluluwatchedhiswonderfulfamilygrowupintoaperplexingproblemandsecretlysympathizedwithhim，foritwasbeyondanyofthemtoimaginewhathewasgoingtodowithit。ButAhChunsawtheproblemmoreclearlythanthey。Nooneknewasheknewtheextenttowhichhewasanalieninhisfamily。Hisownfamilydidnotguessit。Hesawthattherewasnoplaceforhimamongstthismarvellousseedofhisloins，andhelookedforwardtohisdecliningyearsandknewthathewouldgrowmoreandmorealien。
Hedidnotunderstandhischildren。Theirconversationwasofthingsthatdidnotinteresthimandaboutwhichheknewnothing。
ThecultureoftheWesthadpassedhimby。HewasAsiatictothelastfibre，whichmeantthathewasheathen。TheirChristianitywastohimsomuchnonsense。Butallthishewouldhaveignoredasextraneousandirrelevant，couldhehavebutunderstoodtheyoungpeoplethemselves。WhenMaud，forinstance，toldhimthatthehousekeepingbillsforthemonthwerethirtythousand——thatheunderstood，asheunderstoodAlbert’srequestforfivethousandwithwhichtobuytheschooneryachtMurielandbecomeamemberoftheHawaiianYachtClub。Butitwastheirremoter，complicateddesiresandmentalprocessesthatobfuscatedhim。Hewasnotslowinlearningthatthemindofeachsonanddaughterwasasecretlabyrinthwhichhecouldneverhopetotread。AlwayshecameuponthewallthatdividesEastfromWest。Theirsoulswereinaccessibletohim，andbythesametokenheknewthathissoulwasinaccessibletothem。
Besides，astheyearscameuponhim，hefoundhimselfharkingbackmoreandmoretohisownkind。ThereekingsmellsoftheChinesequarterwerespicytohim。Hesniffedthemwithsatisfactionashepassedalongthestreet，forinhismindtheycarriedhimbacktothenarrowtortuousalleysofCantonswarmingwithlifeandmovement。HeregrettedthathehadcutoffhisqueuetopleaseStellaAllendaleintheprenuptialdays，andheseriouslyconsideredtheadvisabilityofshavinghiscrownandgrowinganewone。ThedisheshishighlypaidchefconcoctedforhimfailedtoticklehisreminiscentpalateinthewaythattheweirdmessesdidinthestuffyrestaurantdownintheChinesequarter。Heenjoyedvastlymoreahalf—hour’ssmokeandchatwithtwoorthreeChinesechums，thantopresideatthelavishandelegantdinnersforwhichhisbungalowwasfamed，wherethepickoftheAmericansandEuropeanssatatthelongtable，menandwomenonequality，thewomenwithjewelsthatblazedinthesubduedlightagainstwhitenecksandarms，themenineveningdress，andallchatteringandlaughingovertopicsandwitticismsthat，whiletheywerenotexactlyGreektohim，didnotinteresthimnorentertain。
ButitwasnotmerelyhisaliennessandhisgrowingdesiretoreturntohisChineseflesh—potsthatconstitutedtheproblem。Therewasalsohiswealth。Hehadlookedforwardtoaplacidoldage。Hehadworkedhard。Hisrewardshouldhavebeenpeaceandrepose。Butheknewthatwithhisimmensefortunepeaceandreposecouldnotpossiblybehis。Alreadythereweresignsandomens。Hehadseensimilartroublesbefore。Therewashisoldemployer，Dantin，whosechildrenhadwrestedfromhim，bydueprocessoflaw，themanagementofhisproperty，havingtheCourtappointguardianstoadministeritforhim。AhChunknew，andknewthoroughlywell，thathadDantinbeenapoorman，itwouldhavebeenfoundthathecouldquiterationallymanagehisownaffairs。AndoldDantinhadhadonlythreechildrenandhalfamillion，whilehe，ChunAhChun，hadfifteenchildrenandnoonebuthimselfknewhowmanymillions。
\"Ourdaughtersarebeautifulwomen，\"hesaidtohiswife，oneevening。\"Therearemanyyoungmen。Thehouseisalwaysfullofyoungmen。Mycigarbillsareveryheavy。Whyaretherenomarriages？\"
MammaAchunshruggedhershouldersandwaited。