Island Nights' EntertainmentsStevenson, Robert Louis
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Island Nights' Entertainments
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Islands of the Pacific -- Fiction; Short stories
“I think I am,” returned Keola. “But why should we not take your own,
which is afloat already?”
“I have a reason which you will understand thoroughly before
to-morrow,” said Kalamake. “Pili’s boat is the better suited for my
purpose. So, if you please, let us meet there as soon as it is dark;
and in the meanwhile, let us keep our own counsel, for there is no
cause to let the family into our business.”
Honey is not more sweet than was the voice of Kalamake, and Keola could
scarce contain his satisfaction.
“I might have had my concertina weeks ago,” thought he, “and there is
nothing needed in this world but a little courage.”
Presently after he spied Lehua weeping, and was half in a mind to tell
her all was well.
“But no,” thinks he; “I shall wait till I can show her the concertina;
we shall see what the chit will do then. Perhaps she will understand in
the future that her husband is a man of some intelligence.”
As soon as it was dark father and son-in-law launched Pili’s boat and
set the sail. There was a great sea, and it blew strong from the
leeward; but the boat was swift and light and dry, and skimmed the
waves. The wizard had a lantern, which he lit and held with his finger
through the ring; and the two sat in the stern and smoked cigars, of
which Kalamake had always a provision, and spoke like friends of magic
and the great sums of money which they could make by its exercise, and
what they should buy first, and what second; and Kalamake talked like a
father.
Presently he looked all about, and above him at the stars, and back at
the island, which was already three parts sunk under the sea, and he
seemed to consider ripely his position.
“Look!” says he, “there is Molokai already far behind us, and Maui like
a cloud; and by the bearing of these three stars I know I am come where
I desire. This part of the sea is called the Sea of the Dead. It is in
this place extraordinarily deep, and the floor is all covered with the
bones of men, and in the holes of this part gods and goblins keep their
habitation. The flow of the sea is to the north, stronger than a shark
can swim, and any man who shall here be thrown out of a ship it bears
away like a wild horse into the uttermost ocean. Presently he is spent
and goes down, and his bones are scattered with the rest, and the gods
devour his spirit.”
Fear came on Keola at the words, and he looked, and by the light of the
stars and the lantern, the warlock seemed to change.
“What ails you?” cried Keola, quick and sharp.
“It is not I who am ailing,” said the wizard; “but there is one here
very sick.”
With that he changed his grasp upon the lantern, and, behold I as he
drew his finger from the ring, the finger stuck and the ring was burst,
and his hand was grown to be of the bigness of three.
At that sight Keola screamed and covered his face.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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