getting anything out of Koloa," I put in. "I believe the creature is half-witted."
"The prospect of untold wealth may have turned his brain," said Dan. "The puzzle to me is, where has Merkin got his money from? He can't journey around on nothing."
"Perhaps he has committed another robbery," laughed Oliver. He said this in a jest, but I believe he was right.
On and on we went, up one hill and down another, until we had to slacken up for fear of exhausting our steeds in that hot sun. In several places we came to tiny streams which were now flowing swiftly and high from the storm, but the bridges were intact and safe and gave us no trouble to cross.
"Hurrah! there is Wailuku at last!" called out Oliver, who was slightly in advance. He pointed over the brow of the last hill, where a collection of buildings could be seen in the distance. Then there came to our ears the shrill whistle of a sugar mill engine and we looked at our timepieces, to discover that it was just one o'clock.
"Time to go to work," smiled Dan. "How these lazy Kanakas must hate the sound of that whistle!"
"Yes, time to go to work—to run down Caleb Merkin," put in Oliver, and again we went forward, and five minutes later saw us on the main
