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"Stay where you are." Waimata and I then proceeded to examine the Sea-Cave.

It was a gigantic shell of cooled lava. The fusion, forced from the volcanic heart of the earth many thousands of years ago, had spent its force in elevating the crust of the island-shore. Expanded by the gigantic power of the volcanic gases, a bubble had been blown in the incandescent lava, which, pushing upward and outward, had lifted all the superincumbent strata of coral, detritus, and alluvial soil, making a hill where previously the level coast of the atoll had stretched, as a jewel stands upon the circumference of a ring. It was a vast volcanic bubble, blown in the molten rock as easily as the soap-bubble expands in the air; but this toy of Nature's force was congealed in the eternal strata, a hidden memento of her freak. To this day the structure of the island of which I speak is unknown to geologists. It is unique, so far as I can learn from a pretty extensive observation of the southern Polynesian groups, as a coral island in which the volcanic action has strongly modified the original outlines," without displaying its hand.”

In the heart of this volcanic bubble Waimata and I found ourselves alone. Its roof shone with countless sparks of reflection from the still undimmed surVOL. VI.-27

faces of lava. Around the margin of the watery floor a smooth, broad rim of sand extended-sand that might retain a human footprint for centuries, so seldom was the cave visited. The secret of its locality was cherished in the family of the Lakemban high-priest alone; and it is, I presume, a secret still.

"How did you ever hear of this cave?" demanded I of Waimata, as with arms around each other we strolled around the subterranean sand-beach and gazed up into the great vault overhead. It was like gazing into the dome of the Pantheon, except that the eye of light which looks downward into the Italian dome was absent. Our cave had larger dimensions, and almost the same interior shape as the Roman temple; but its decorations were the fantastic forms of the lava.

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"One night, long ago, I overheard the secret," said Waimata. My father took my elder brother into the thicket and told him of this cave. I heard them near the bure. Once in five years, he said, he visited the cave to replenish its stores and to keep it in proper order as a place of refuge."

"Do you know where these stores are kept?"

"Not the exact spot; but we can easily find them."

"Where did you find the torch that you are burning now?"

"There is a torch-chest at the very entrance to the cave, above high-water mark," said Waimata. "I remember that my father explained where it lay when I overheard the secret of the place; and I put my hand upon it the moment that I entered the cave."

I did not need to ask her how she had lighted the torch; for any Polynesian can make fire by rubbing two sticks to-gether for five minutes; and innumerable fragments of dry driftwood lay around the shores of the cave.

We continued exploring our dominion. The tide-water boiled strongly before us as we went; and I noticed that it seemed to flow quite through the cave, and to pour itself out by some. hidden entrance opposite to that by

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which we had come in. A subterranean channel leading to the central lagoon of the island evidently existed; and through this the tide entered and departed. The mystery was explained why this atoll was a closed circle of coral reef, and maintained no apparent communication with the outer sea. all other cases that I have ever observed the circle of the coral island is not complete; a small channel is left for the ingress and egress of the tides, as if respiration were a necessity to it. But here the lavas, bursting up from below, had rent and shattered the foundations of the island, and established a subterranean and submarine channel or breathing-hole, through which the tides found ready passage. In course of time the coral insect, applying itself to the task of filling up the original tidal channel, completed the circle of the coral reef; and this now displayed the unique phenomenon of a perfect ring of land surrounding the unruffled mirror of water that I have described.

Such was the stronghold of which we found ourselves in possession. We addressed ourselves to the task of discovering what stores might be hidden in the cave.

The torch burned low, and I kindled two more in its place. The tide came to the turn, and the lake presented for a time an absolutely unruffled surface. We found the silence oppressive, and were fain to shout and sing for the sake of hearing the echoes that reverberated in the arch of our dome.

Strolling around its circumference, and peering curiously into every recess that would seem to offer a place for concealment, we brandished our torches in the gloom that had been undisturbed

for years. There were many rocky ledges, shelves that offered admirable hiding-places, but we found nothing more valuable than a large assortment of idols; and of these we had enough already for all reasonable purposes. Such a collection as that of the cave could be rivaled at the present day only at the missionary rooms of London and Boston, where a more satisfactory

representation of heathen deities can now be seen than in any temple of, at least, the Polynesian pagans.

Waimata and I each selected, however, a pocket-idol for private devotions; and, stringing them around our necks by means of bead necklaces which we found among the other sacred stores, we continued our explorations.

Not far from the principal dépôt of the carved gods I noticed, high up in a crevice of the volcanic rock, a tag-end of what appeared to be native kapa, projecting in such a way as to catch the torchlight.

Handing my flaming link to Waimata, I climbed up after the signal.

I found a large recess in the rock; and in this recess stood a chest, apparently of foreign manufacture. It bore a lock; but the rusty key stood in it. Turning the key, I opened it without difficulty.

It turned out to be a sailor's chest; it contained a few articles of seamen's wear, some folds of fine native cloth, a quantity of dried bread-fruit and bananas, some fishing apparatus, some "hard tack," probably kidnapped from a whaling vessel, and several handfuls of Spanish doubloons, which were scattered around at the bottom of the chest. Many of them were pierced with a hole, as if to be worn for ornament. At that time I had little more notion of the value of gold than the natives themselves possessed. This money was evidently plundered from the crew of some passing vessel that had been cut off in previous years by the islanders; and it was deposited here for sacerdotal purposes. I pocketed it at once, as a civilized man would have done; having inherited something of his affinity for a metal of whose value I yet knew nothing. I have no doubt that the love of money gets to run in the blood like any other acquired quality of nature; and I seized upon the coins by virtue of a transmitted instinct. Rummaging still further in the chest, I found the belt in which they had been concealed; and, restoring them to their old place, I fastened the money around my waist,

where it was but imperfectly hidden by the flowing robe of kapa that I had donned upon entering the cave.

"Here are provisions and light enough to last us for a month, if we should need to hide in the cave," said I.

"Why do you speak as if we should need to conceal ourselves?" returned Waimata.

"Many little chances make a large chance. Here is Orion from the outer world; the Lakemban watchfire burned last night; your father is shrewd, he may simply pretend to think us lost at sea, or captured; at any moment we may see strangers here."

"Let us call in Orion," said Waimata, "and pledge him again to secrecy."

I returned at once to the entrance of the cave. The great bunch of cocoanuts that he had gathered was here, brought in by the tide. I made the signal "Return."

No answer came back.

I waited a few seconds, and repeated the signal. I repeated it again and again. Still no answer.

"What can it mean?" we said in a breath. We looked steadfastly at each other. If the flaring torchlight reveal ed as much of surprise and apprehension in my own eyes as it did in those of Waimata, the tableau would have needed no word of explanation.

"I must go out immediately, and sce what has become of my Minister of the Navy," said I, feigning a lightness of manner which I did not feel. "It may be that he has already commenced operations in these waters."

"I will go with you. Do not leave me alone in this great dark place," rejoined Waimata.

We threw off our outer robes. I deposited the money-belt in a crevice of the rock, and extinguished the torch. Utter darkness fell upon us, for the channel of entrance to the cave was too long to admit of any transmission of light through the water; and the landward entrance that connected with the central water was yet longer-too long for the swiftest diver to risk his life in attempting its passage.

Plunging together into the water, we found that the tide had already turned, and was accelerating our way. We made the dive without bruise or accident, and as I should judge by the residuum of breath left me when we emerged into the open sea, we occupied about a minute in our transit. I may record here, by the way, that the popular stories respecting feats of diving are quite as exaggerated as the fabulous accounts of the speed of the whaleboat, or the myths that describe the exploits of Kentucky riflemen. Few divers remain more than a minute under water; hardly any can exceed two minutes.

Emerging from the water at nearly the same instant, we looked toward the landing where we had left Orion with the two canoes and the cocoanuts.

The cocoanuts were still there, piled upon the beach; but Orion and the canoes were gone.

As suddenly as my strange visitor had appeared, so suddenly had he vanished! My army and my navy had retained organization from dawning until noon of a single day.

But the loss of my canoes and of my retainer was as nothing to the loss of our secret. Wherever Orion might go, he would pretty surely betray us. The sense of obligation in a savage seldom endures beyond a night, or passes over the limit of speaking-distance.

Whether in malice or in thoughtlessness, Orion would communicate his knowledge of us to the first people he might meet. Happily for us, he did not know our names, or the island from which we came, not having ventured to question us on account of our superior rank.

Waimata and I landed at once, and made our way to the summit of the hill that formed the roof of our cave. Far in the distance we saw the receding white sail of a canoe. Other eyes would have hardly noticed it; but Waimata instantly recognized the peculiar cut of the sail that she had seen approaching early in the morning. It was Orion's canoe; and we both could see the outlines of our own smaller craft in tow.

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The poor girl's firmness was shaken at this sight. Her lovely eyes were liquid with tears. The desertion of Orion meant, to her, betrayal, discovery, capture, and death. Placed alone upon the island, and unable to escape, we should fall an easy prey.

There was no time to construct a canoe; nor could we hope to escape by means of any such chance as had favored our flight hitherward. But might we not defend ourselves in the SeaCave?

After a little reflection, the following plan shaped itself in my mind. I determined to barricade the inner entrance to the cave.

With the ample cordage that I found in the stores of the cave I formed a network across the channel, so constructed that when tightened it would keep under water the head of any diver who should attempt to force an entrance. Retreat, of course, would be impossible to an enemy. I laid heavy stones upon a ledge of rock immediately over this net, so that I could easily roll them down upon the head of any who might endeavor to break through the net. By night I had formed a barrier that seemed impenetrable, and yet one that I could remove in a moment by unlashing the uppermost rope from the crag to which I secured it.

With the second ebb of the tide, Waimata and I left the cave, preferring to watch from the island the possible approach of an enemy. We floated an enormous number of cocoanuts and bread-fruit, so that they would go in with the turn of the tide.

We then repaired to the higher ground, where we had spent the preceding night. We slept in the summit of the same palm-tree that Waimata had occupied; or rather, Waimata slept; for, except the hour from eleven to twelve, I kept watch through the night.

At day-break it was my turn to see a sight-a whole fleet of sails that held their course from Lakemba toward our island!

These sails were cut after the peculiar fashion of the priests' canoes.

I wakened Waimata. She looked upon the prows that sped swiftly to ward us; we could already see that they were filled with warriors.

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Aloha, Tali," she cried, "it is our last hour!"

A fleet of war-canoes in two lines was sweeping down rapidly upon the Enchanted Island. Waimata and I sat speechless in the top of the palm-tree, and contemplated the winged enemy that sped toward us like gigantic insects-moths of the tropics-borne in upon the streaming current of the tradewind. It seemed to us like the descent of a cloud of dragons. Already we could see the dark figures of the warriors in the foremost canoe. The line reached up obliquely from the east, and would touch the beach at a point between us and our submarine cave of refuge. We had no time to lose; yet we sat as if spell-bound, gazing at the swift and silent approach of the whitewinged foe.

Suddenly a puff of white smoke leaped from the leading canoe, and after an interval of three or four seconds the sound of a musket broke sharply upon our ears. I knew the signal well. It was the signal of a suspended taboo; and it meant that the war-canoes would land at once upon the island. It was clear that we had been betrayed; that the mournings over our loss had given place to armed pursuit; that in a few moments our little Island of the Gods, that since the earliest traditions of this people had been consecrated to loneliness and to poetic superstition, would be trampled upon by a horde of infuriated and howling savages, and that the most cruel fate awaited Waimata and myself.

"Fly! Waimata! Another moment, and they will land before we can conceal ourselves!"

And I urged her so briskly to descend that I nearly dislodged her hold upon the branches of the palm. In a moment, however, we had slid down the cylindrical trunk and were standing

upon the sandy soil below. The sails of the approaching canoes gleamed brightly through the green spears of the serried pandanus-thicket.

We ran rapidly along under cover of the trees toward the Sea-Cave, hoping to reach it unobserved. But the quick eyes of the pursuers caught a glimpse of our figures as we passed an open space. We must have seemed like the pair that fled from Paradise; and our avenging angel was the warrior that sent a shot after us into the thicket. It cut a ripe and rosy ohia from a bough above us; and the fruit fell at Waimata's feet. She picked it up as we ran, and hurled it defiantly at the nearest canoe, exclaiming,

"So I cast away Prince Kanuha and his suit forever."

In another moment we had reached the hillock which formed the roof of our secret cave. Our feet splashed in the warm sea-water; it flew in sparkling drops into our faces; it deepened to our breasts; the canoes, now close at hand, were for an instant concealed by the slope of the sandy promontory; but just as we dived, the foremost canoe reappeared, and in it I saw the figure of Waimata's father. His features, naturally noble, were distorted with excitement and passion; and he cried out, seeing that we were about to dive,

"Return, te-i-ti ko-ro-he! (wicked children); or you shall be given to the Borers!"

And there I saw, seated upon the foremost platform of the canoe, seven of the ulini who had assisted in preparing the cannibal banquet of a few weeks before. One of them I remembered particularly well; it was the gigantic "earth-worm" who had detained me to witness the boiling of the skull upon my leaving

that spectacle; and his heavy necklace of shark's teeth rattled audibly as then. He said not a word; but he primed and cocked the flint-lock musket, the spoil of some plundered party of sailors, and took aim to fire at us a third time.

But before he could draw the trigger Waimata and I, having reached the entrance of the cave, dove quickly. I had not a second to spare; for my heels were but just leaving the surface of the sea when I heard the report of the gun, strangely diluted in intensity by its passage through the water; and instantly the sensation of a smart blow upon my left thigh. I knew that the ball had not struck me, but, ricochetting from the surface, had forced down a column of water upon me with sufficient force to produce a severe bruise. Sportsmen are familiar with this method of killing fish.

"It is lucky that I am not an anaugku" (bonita, or albicore), meditated I, at the depth of two fathoms; "or that shot would have made me show a white fin."

We had dived, however, too soon to enter immediately into the entrance of the cave; and it was necessary to feel our way for several yards along the rocky wall of the cliff before finding our way to the place of safety. It was a dreadful thought, how easily the mishap of a moment, an accidental blow against the jagged lava, the entanglement of a weed, might detain us under water a minute too long for life. We met, however, no mishap; but we were quite exhausted when we emerged from the water within the cave, and found ourselves in our submarine fortalice. We were safe from pursuit; no enemy could reach us; and here, undisturbed, we indulged the dream of Love in Fiji.

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