Island Nights' EntertainmentsStevenson, Robert Louis
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Island Nights' Entertainments
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Islands of the Pacific -- Fiction; Short stories
“Keola,” said he, “if you are a wise man (which I am doubtful of) you
will think you slept this afternoon on the verandah, and dreamed as you
were sleeping. I am a man of few words, and I have for my helpers
people of short memories.”
Never a word more said Kalamake, nor referred again to that affair. But
it ran all the while in Keola’s head—if he were lazy before, he would
now do nothing.
“Why should I work,” thought he, “when I have a father-in-law who makes
dollars of sea-shells?”
Presently his share was spent. He spent it all upon fine clothes. And
then he was sorry:
“For,” thought he, “I had done better to have bought a concertina, with
which I might have entertained myself all day long.” And then he began
to grow vexed with Kalamake.
“This man has the soul of a dog,” thought he. “He can gather dollars
when he pleases on the beach, and he leaves me to pine for a
concertina! Let him beware: I am no child, I am as cunning as he, and
hold his secret.” With that he spoke to his wife Lehua, and complained
of her father’s manners.
“I would let my father be,” said Lehua. “He is a dangerous man to
cross.”
“I care that for him!” cried Keola; and snapped his fingers. “I have
him by the nose. I can make him do what I please.” And he told Lehua
the story.
But she shook her head.
“You may do what you like,” said she; “but as sure as you thwart my
father, you will be no more heard of. Think of this person, and that
person; think of Hua, who was a noble of the House of Representatives,
and went to Honolulu every year; and not a bone or a hair of him was
found. Remember Kamau, and how he wasted to a thread, so that his wife
lifted him with one hand. Keola, you are a baby in my father’s hands;
he will take you with his thumb and finger and eat you like a shrimp.”
Now Keola was truly afraid of Kalamake, but he was vain too; and these
words of his wife’s incensed him.
“Very well,” said he, “if that is what you think of me, I will show how
much you are deceived.” And he went straight to where his father-in-law
was sitting in the parlour.
“Kalamake,” said he, “I want a concertina.”
“Do you, indeed?” said Kalamake.
“Yes,” said he, “and I may as well tell you plainly, I mean to have it.
A man who picks up dollars on the beach can certainly afford a
concertina.”
“I had no idea you had so much spirit,” replied the sorcerer. “I
thought you were a timid, useless lad, and I cannot describe how much
pleased I am to find I was mistaken. Now I begin to think I may have
found an assistant and successor in my difficult business. A
concertina? You shall have the best in Honolulu. And to-night, as soon
as it is dark, you and I will go and find the money.”
“Shall we return to the beach?” asked Keola.
“No, no!” replied Kalamake; “you must begin to learn more of my
secrets. Last time I taught you to pick shells; this time I shall teach
you to catch fish. Are you strong enough to launch Pili’s boat?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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