Aikanaka

“ At the close of this chant Kamalama answered: “You know that you love your wife; why didn’t you remain? I could have made the trip against Aikanaka by myself.” By these words of Kamalama, Kawelo thought that Kamalama must be angry with him, so he chanted these words: “How could I tell that it was going to hurt your feelings?”
Ma keia paha a Kawelo, pane aku o Kamalama: “Ua ike no ka oe he aloha wahine kou, e noho ia aku nei no e oe, owau no la ke holo e kaua me Aikanaka.” ”

“ Kawelo divided the districts of Kauai among his warriors. Kaeleha received the district in which Aikanaka was sheltered. Soon this adopted son of Kawelo met the daughter of Aikanaka and married her. After a while he wanted Aikanaka to again rule the island. He proposed rebellion and told Aikanaka that they could destroy Kawelo because he had never learned the art of fighting with stones. He only understood the use of the war-club and spear. They ordered the women and children to gather great piles of stones to hurl against Kawelo. ”

“ Aikanaka, King of Oahu, Hearing of Kamalalawalu’s Beauty, Sends for Her.—Refusing to Comply with the Mandate, Aikanaka Sends an Army Against Halemano.—With Wife and Grandmother They Flee to Molokai, Thence to Kaupo, Kohala, and Hilo.—Kamalalawalu Taken by Huaa.—Halemano Returns to Kohala.—His Wife Follows. ”

“ The king of Oahu, Aikanaka, desires Halemano's death in order to enjoy the beauty of Puna. They flee and live as castaways, first on Molokai, then Maui, then Hawaii, at Waiakea, Hilo. Here the two are estranged. The chief of Puna seduces her, then, after a reconciliation, the Kohala chief, Kumoho, wins her affection. Halemano dies of grief, and his spirit appears to his sister as she is surfing in the Makaiwi surf at Wailua, Kauai. She restores him to life with a chant. ”

“ Food in abundance was placed on the boats, and the household went back to Kauai to wage war with Aikanaka and Kauahoa, stopping at the heiau Kamaile—afterward called Ka-ne i ka pua lena (Ka-ne of the yellow flower) —to offer sacrifices. Some legends say this temple was at Makaha, and that Kane-aki was the name. This Ka-ne was one of the gods of Kawelo. Kawelo, according to one legend, had his people tie him in a mat as if dead as they approached Wailua, the home of Aikanaka. The beach was covered with people—the warriors of Aikanaka. ”

“ The chief started along the narrow path swinging a heavy war club and flourishing a long spear.
Hoahanau made himself known and was recognized [201] by the chief. Then Hoahanau made known the terms upon which he wished to wrestle with the chief.
“Take back your club and spear, and stand unarmed beside your ipukai, and I will also stand unarmed by your imu. No weapon shall be near our hands. Then will we wrestle for the mastery.”
Aikanaka despised Hoahanau, whose strength he had well known in the past. He believed that he could easily overcome the daring man who stood naked before him ”

“ When he looked through, he saw the bravery of his brother Kamalama and adopted sons; they were on the point of routing the Kauai forces, and he admired the courage of his [handful of] men. After this he saw Kamalama and his men killing the men on the other side, while the few of the enemy left were running up Nounou hill. On the top of this hill, Aikanaka the king and Kauahoa the great warrior of Kauai had their camp. Kawelo was therefore very anxious lest Kamalama’s forces suffer at the hand of Kauahoa ”

“ The warrior planted himself erect but on thrusting, his spear was warded off with the end of the loin-cloth. Kawelo was at the same moment thrusting, his javelin—the name of Kawelo’s javelin was Koihelaumeki—and the warrior was laid low. With that one thrust the weapon made a clean cut from his head and lodged in his detested spot. Kawelo’s ulus were vigorously conducting the war, the informant being the one to escape. Said Aikanaka, “How fared your23 battle?” “Lo, you question! We have all met with disastrous defeat, and I am the only24 one spared. ”

“ Maanei e ike kakou i ke aloha ole o Kaeleha ia Kawelo, a me kona hilahila ole, aloha ole i kona mea nana i malama kupono a lilo ai i alii aimoku no Kauai.
After the above conversation had taken place between Kaeleha and Aikanaka, rumors of an uprising were carried to Kawelo at Hanamaulu, on the east of Kauai. Kawelo thereupon sent a messenger to Kamalama in Kona with instructions to go and see,78 and to find out for himself as to the truth of these rumors that had come to him. ”

“ Ayacanora darted from him, thrust the sailors aside, and took possession of Lucy Passmore.
"Where shall I put her?" asked she of Amyas, without looking up.
"In the best cabin; and let her be served like a queen, lads."
"No one shall touch her but me;" and taking up the withered frame in her arms, as if it were a doll, Ayacanora walked off with her in triumph, telling the men to go and mind the ship.
"The girl is mad," said one.
"Mad or not, she has an eye to our captain," said another.
"And where's the man that would behave to the poor wild thing as he does?" ”

“ But Ayacanora's delight was a horse. The use of tame animals at all was a daily wonder to her; but that a horse could be ridden was the crowning miracle of all; and a horse she would ride, and after plaguing Amyas for one in vain (for he did not want to break her pretty neck) , she proposed confidentially to Yeo to steal one, and foiled in that, went to the vicar and offered to barter all her finery for his broken-kneed pony. But the vicar was too honest to drive so good a bargain, and the matter ended, in Amyas buying her a jennet, which she learned in a fortnight to ride like a very Gaucho. ”

“ But first he unwrapped the long bones, arms, and legs, of two parcels, the bones, under the wrappings, neatly tied like so many faggots. 'This,' said Ahuna, exhibiting the pitiful white contents of one parcel, 'is Laulani. She was the wife of Akaiko, whose bones, now placed in your hands, much larger and male-like as you observe, held up the flesh of a large man, a three-hundred pounder seven- footer, three centuries agone. And this spear-head is made of the shin-bone of Keola, a mighty wrestler and runner of their own time and place. ”

“ And soothe him she did; and home the two went, arm in arm together, while Ayacanora held fast, like a child, by the skirt of Mrs. Leigh's cloak. The self-help and daring of the forest nymph had given place to the trembling modesty of the young girl, suddenly cast on shore in a new world, among strange faces, strange hopes, and strange fears also.
"Will your mother love me?" whispered she to Amyas, as she went in.
"Yes; but you must do what she tells you." Ayacanora pouted.
"She will laugh at me, because I am wild."
"She never laughs at any one."
"Humph!" said Ayacanora. ”

“ The child Aiko grew to be the loveliest lady in Sendai. She had longer hair than any maiden in the city, and she was the most graceful dancer ever seen. She moved as a wave of the sea, or a cloud of the sky, or the wild bamboo grass in the wind. She had a sister eleven moons younger than she, who was called Aiyamé, or the Water Iris; and she was the second loveliest lady in Sendai. Aiko was white, but Aiyamé was brown, quick, and light, and laughing. When they went abroad in the streets of Sendai, folk said, “There go the moon and the south wind.” ”

“ Or had he become indeed a child once more? I know not; but so it was, that he stamped on the floor with pettishness, and then checking himself, burst into a violent flood of tears.
A quick rustle passed him; the apple was replaced in his hand, and Ayacanora's voice sobbed out,—
"There! there it is! Do not weep! Oh, do not weep! I cannot bear it! I will get you all you want! Only let me fetch and carry for you, tend you, feed you, and lead you, like your slave, your dog! Say that I may be your slave!" ”

“ The brow of the chief grew dark. A white foe so near the village of the Shawnee, and so daring as to attack and kill one of the best warriors of the tribe, apparently without a struggle, must needs be looked after.
“My braves must hunt down the pale-face that wears the moccasin of the Indian and uses the tomahawk,” said the chief, gravely.
Then Ke-ne-ha-ha drew aside the blanket that was wrapt around the body of the dead brave. A cry of horror broke from the lips of the great chief, and was re-echoed by the surrounding Indians when they gazed upon the naked breast of the dead warrior. ”

“ This was not done a moment too soon, for the feathers of the savages began to show above the bushes, and several shots were fired, until a commanding voice shouted to the warriors to hold their fire.
56
“What do the white men seek?” cried Napope. “They have been beaten once; must we beat them again?”
“That’s Napope,” cried Cooney Joe. “I know the old cuss, and he kin fight, if he is an Injin; but we’ll lick him out of his moccasins. Say, Injin, you’d better clear the way; you ain’t got the major to fight now.”
“Napope does not seek the scalps of the white men,” cried the Indian. ”

“ While Aiohikupua was saying this one of the men who had seen him in Kohala came up and said to Haunaka: “Say, Haunaka and the company gathered here, this is the very man who struck Ihuanu, in Kohala, and killed him. This man’s blow is sharp like the point of a spear; you people will therefore have no chance against him.” When Haunaka heard this he came up to Aiohikupua and extended his greetings.12 At the conclusion of the games Aiohikupua returned to his canoe and set sail for Hilo, on his way in search of his lover, Laieikawai. ”

“ In the complicated legend of Ai-Kan, we have in the brother Altyn Ayak, who sleeps in the form of a golden cup, and who awakens to help Ai-Kan, a figure which, though not the same as, is similar to, that of the sleeping brother Kumbhakarṇas (conch-ear) in the Râmâyaṇam, who awakens to help Râvaṇas. We have the inebriating liquor which gives strength to the hero, who is resuscitated three times from death, after having been the food of dogs; the wolves who devour Sary-Kan, or the fair-haired prince; the hero (the sun) who beats the wife (the aurora) given him by the two brothers (the Açvinâu) ”

“ If he accepts the condition and performs the service asked, then Le-a-pah shall be his wife, and Ke-ne-ha-ha will himself give her into his hands.”
The look of joy upon the face of the girl amply repaid the father for his kindly words.
“Ke-ne-ha-ha too is growing old. In years to come he will be too old to lead the Shawnee warriors to battle. His feet will be feeble upon the war-path and his sight will be dim. The Shawnees will select a new chief to lead them. Who so fit as the son-in-law of their old sachem, if Ke-ne-ha-ha lifts up his voice in his favor?” ”

“ It was too dark to put an arrow into his eye; so they paddled on, while Ayacanora crouched silently at Amyas’s feet.
“Yeo!” asked he, in a low voice, “what shall we do with her?”
“Why ask me, sir?” said the old man, as he had a very good right to ask.
“Because, when one don’t know oneself, one had best inquire of one’s elders. Besides, you saved her life at the risk of your own, and have a right to a voice in the matter, if any one has, old friend.”
“Then, my dear young captain, if the Lord puts a precious soul under your care, don’t you refuse to bear the burden He lays on you.” ”

“ The girl paused for a moment.
The heart of the hunter beat quick with hope.
“Now go to the river, you durned red-skin,” he said. It is hardly necessary to remark that the observation was not intended to reach the ears of the girl.
But the squaw hadn’t any intention of going to the river. The gourd carried in her hand was simply an excuse to leave her wigwam.
When the girl found that the young brave—whom in reality she had stolen forth to meet—was following her, she continued on her course, which led directly to the fallen tree, behind which Boone was concealed. ”

“ Akatan, which is in the Aleutians; Akatan, beyond Chignik, beyond Kardalak, beyond Unimak. As I say, we dwelt in Akatan, which lies in the midst of the sea on the edge of the world. We farmed the salt seas for the fish, the seal, and the otter; and our homes shouldered about one another on the rocky strip between the rim of the forest and the yellow beach where our kayaks lay. We were not many, and the world was very small. There were strange lands to the east, -- islands like Akatan; so we thought all the world was islands, and did not mind. ”

“ Youth! Youth that need not fear the morning light, the swift passing months! She had no time to lose. Her heart felt old.
The mess-meals grew intolerable to her. She would watch for the shock of those conscious glances that she felt every one must see. She, Gerty Hardin, cast aside for a hoyden in khakis! The girl’s play at unconsciousness infuriated her. Deep! Ah, she knew now her [303] game! Riding fifteen miles down the levee to pay a pretended visit to a laborer’s wife, Mrs. Parrish! As if she were interested in Mrs. Parrish! Jolting in a box-car to see the concrete head-gate with MacLean ”

“ The old hunter could not understand the peculiar feeling that was so gradually stealing over him. The hair upon his head seemed ready to bristle with fright.
“I feel as if I had jumped into an ice-cold river,” muttered Boone, with a half-shiver.
For a moment he took his eyes from the dark form behind him; when he looked again, the form was gone. Naught before him broke the denseness of the gloom.
The hunter rubbed his eyes in wonder.
“Jerusalem!” he muttered, “is it a spook after all?” The hair upon his head rose in fright as the thought crossed his mind. ”