Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/185

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THE HUT IN THE FOREST.
169

"No kill me!" he said, when he could collect his scattered senses. "No kill Lola."

"You rascal," I returned. "You served me a fine trick last night!"

"No kill me!" was all the answer he gave me. "No kill!"

"Where are my two friends?" I went on, after a short pause.

"No kill Lola!"

"Then answer my question."

"What say?"

"Where are my two friends?"

The Kanaka shrugged his huge shoulders and shook his head.

"You don't know where they are?"

Again the man shook his head. But I was not to be fooled, and coming nearer I placed the muzzle of my weapon upon his forehead.

The yell he gave would have caused an Indian to blush with envy. He rolled from the rock and fairly groveled in the sand. "No kill Lola!" he shrieked. "No! no! no!"

But even as he spoke he edged closer to the river. Not wishing to kill him in cold blood I paused, and like a flash he went overboard and dove out of sight.

This slick movement to escape enraged me, and I remembered only too well how the villain had served me. "It's foolishness to be too merciful,"