"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。

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