AN ISLAND PARADISE
"Land ho!" shouted the look-out from his airy perch in the crow's nest,
and with one accord the passengers of the _Fearless_ rushed on deck to
catch the first glimpse of that wonderful land they had all heard so
much about. Hawaii! What a vision of hill and plain, of mountain and
valley, of dangerous precipice and treacherous canyon, of sandy beach
and waving palm, of radiant sunshine and brilliant moonlight, the magic
of that name evokes!
"Gee, fellows, can you see anything that looks like land?" Bert asked of
his companions, as they elbowed their way through the crowd to the
railing of the ship. "Oh, yes, there it is," he cried a moment later,
pointing to a tiny spot on the horizon, "but it looks as if it were
hundreds of miles away."
"It sure does," Dick agreed. "If this atmosphere were not so remarkably
clear, we wouldn't be able to see it at all. It doesn't matter how far
away it is, though, as long as it's in sight. For the last few days it
has seemed to me that we would never reach it," and he gazed longingly
at the speck on the horizon that seemed to be dissolving into two or
three smaller parts that became more distinct every moment.
"Yes, I can't wait to try the little old 'Gray Ghost' on some of those
swell Hawaiian roads. Say, fellows, can't you just imagine yourselves in
the old car; can't you feel the throb of the motor and the whistling
of the wind in your ears as she takes a steep hill with a 'give me
something hard, won't you' air? Can't you?" he demanded, joyfully, while
the boys thrilled at the mere prospect.
"You bet your life," Tom agreed, enthusiastically. "Make believe we
won't make things hum in little old Hawaii, eh, fellows?" and they all
laughed from sheer delight.
"Glad to find you in such good spirits this fine morning, boys," came
a genial voice behind them and the boys turned to find the doctor
regarding them with a good-natured smile on his friendly face. "I don't
wonder you feel good at the prospect of setting foot on solid ground
again. For, no matter how enjoyable and prosperous the voyage may be,
one is always glad to get on shore and feel that he may come and go when
he pleases and is not at the mercy of the elements. I for one will be
glad when we cast anchor."
"I have always heard that Hawaii was one of the most beautiful countries
in the world, and I've always wanted to see it," said Bert. "What do you
think of it, Doctor? You must have been here many times."
Dr. Hamilton took two or three long puffs of his cigar before he
answered, reflectively, "It has always seemed to me that when Nature
discovered Hawaii she had some time on her hands that she didn't know
what to do with, so she spent it in making this obscure little group of
islands way out in the Pacific, the garden spot of the world. Over those
islands the wind never blows too roughly or too coldly, the sun never
shines too brightly and there is no snow to blight and kill the
vegetation that warm rain and summer sun have called forth. Over there
the grass is greener, the sky bluer and the scenery more beautiful than
it is in any other part of the world. If you should take everything that
you consider beautiful, multiply it by one hundred and put them in one
small portion of the earth, you would have some idea of what Hawaii is
like."
The boys were struck by the outburst.
"Hawaii is the doctor's favorite hobby," Ralph said, in response to the
look of astonishment and wonder on the boys' faces. "If he had his way,
he'd live here all the year round."
"That I would," said the doctor, with a sigh, "but my profession claims
me first, last and all the time. However," he added, with his cheerful
smile, "I want you boys to make the most of the few days we are to spend
here, to have the time of your lives. The only thing I ask of you is
that you don't run the 'Gray Ghost' over the side of a precipice or seek
to inquire too closely into the mysteries of the firepit, Halemaumau.
I'll have to leave you, as I have some important matters to attend
to before I can enjoy the beauties of Hawaii. Coming, Bert? Yes, I
shouldn't wonder if we would be getting some wireless messages very
soon."
The three companions watched Bert and the doctor until they disappeared
down the companion-way and then turned once more to the islands.
After a moment of silence Tom said, "Say, if Hawaii is all the doctor
says it is, Ralph, we ought to have some fun. Imagine driving the
machine along a precipice and visiting fire-pits with outlandish names.
What was it he called it?"
"Halemaumau," Ralph answered. "It is a jaw-breaker, isn't it, but I've
heard Dad talk so much about Hawaiian wonders that I've got the name
down pat. You see Halemaumau means 'House of Everlasting Fire,' and it's
the name of the fire-pit of the crater, Kilauea. There, don't you think
I've mastered the subject and learned my lesson well?"
"You have, indeed, my son," Dick said, assuming his best grandfatherly
air. "If you continue on the road you have begun you will make a success
of your life."
"Say, fellows," Tom broke in. "Stop your nonsense and look at what
you're coming to. I'm beginning to think that Dr. Hamilton didn't
exaggerate, after all. Just look at that line of beach with the cliffs
behind it, forming a dark background for the white of the buildings. And
what are those funny, bobbing things in the water? I suppose they must
be boats of some sort, but they don't look like anything I ever saw."
"I guess they must be the boats of the native money divers."
"Money divers!" Tom exclaimed. "Where do they get the money?"
"We give it to them," said Dick. "I remember reading about how passengers
throw their perfectly good money into the water just for the fun of
seeing those little grafters pick it up. A waste of good money I call
it."
"Gee, I'm going into the business," Tom affirmed. "Just give me a
diving costume and I bet you couldn't tell me from the natives."
"You needn't count on annexing any of my hard-earned cash, because you
won't get it. I'd be more likely to throw a dynamite bomb in just as you
were getting ready to dive," Dick said.
"I know you would, you old skinflint. The only thing is that you would
be just as likely as I to get blown up. I guess you left that out of
your calculations, didn't you?"
"What's all this about dynamite bombs and getting blown up?" Bert asked,
coming up behind them. "It sounds rather bloodthirsty."
"Oh, he's just threatening my very valuable life," Tom answered, "but I
forgive him, for he's not responsible for what he says. To change the
subject, what are you doing up here when you ought to be taking down
wireless messages?"
"Oh, I'm off duty for a few days, now. I'm glad of it, for, although I
like nothing better than taking down messages and sending them out, it's
good to have a few days to explore this country that the doctor has
recommended so highly. It sure does look promising."
By this time the _Fearless_ had weighed anchor and the boats were being
let down to convey the passengers to the shore. All around the ship were
the queer little craft of the natives, the occupants on the alert to
catch the first bit of money thrown to them. They had not long to wait,
for soon small pieces of coin were being showered down. As each piece
fell into the water, the little brown-skinned native boys would dive in
after it and catch it, with a deftness born of long experience, before
it reached the bottom. In spite of the boys' declared intentions not to
waste their "hard-earned and carefully-hoarded cash," a few pieces of
that very same cash went to increase the spoils of one especially active
and dextrous young native. No matter how hard they tried to be prudent
or how emphatically they declared that "this would surely be the last
bit of money that that little rascal would get out of them," another
coin would find its way into the eager hands of the little dark-skinned
tempter. There was a very strong bond of fellowship between this small
native diving for money way off in the islands of the Pacific and
the strong, sturdy college boys who had fought so gallantly on the
diamond for the glory of Alma Mater. It was the call of the expert
to the expert, the admiration of one who has "done things" for the
accomplishments of another.
However, the boys were not very sorry when they reached the shore where
they were beyond temptation. Tom voiced the general sentiment when he
said, "Gee, if we hadn't touched land just as we did, I'd have had to
telegraph home to Dad for more money. They nearly broke me."
While they were waiting for Ralph, who had stayed behind to see that the
"Gray Ghost" got over safely on the raft rigged up for the purpose, the
comrades took a look around them. And there was enough to occupy their
attention for an hour just in the country in the immediate neighborhood
of the harbor. All around them swarmed the natives, big, powerful,
good-natured people, all with a smile of welcome on their dark faces.
Everywhere was bustle and life and activity.
"I always thought that Hawaii was a slow sort of place," Dick said, "but
it seems that I was mistaken. This crowd rivals the business crush on
Fifth Avenue."
"It does that," said Bert. "But just take a glance at this scenery, my
friends. Did you ever see anything on Fifth Avenue that looked like
that?"
"Well, hardly. But it's the town that takes my eye. Look at those
quaint houses and the big white building--I suppose it must be a
hotel--towering over them. And isn't that a picture, that avenue with
the double border of palm trees? We must explore that first thing when
we get the 'Gray Ghost.' Say, I'm glad I came."
"So am I," said Tom. "If it hadn't been for you, Bert, we shouldn't any
of us be here. Prof. Gilbert didn't know what a public benefactor he was
when he nominated you for the telegraphy job. Say, isn't that the car
coming over now?" he asked, pointing to a great raft that was heading
slowly for the dock.
"It looks like it," Bert replied. "Make believe it won't seem good to be
in a car again. I'm anxious to get my belongings up to one of the
hotels, too."
"Yes, I'm glad we decided to stay in a hotel for the few days we are
going to spend here. It will be good to be able to eat our breakfast on
shore for a little while instead of on the briny deep," said Tom, who
had not been altogether free from occasional pangs of sea-sickness
during the voyage.
By this time the raft had landed the car and the other luggage. Ralph
was beside his favorite, looking it over from one end to the other to
see that everything was intact, while a crowd of curious little urchins
watched his every action. In a moment our three fellows had joined him
and were busily engaged in trying to remedy an imaginary fault. They
finally gave this up as a hopeless task as the car was in absolutely
perfect condition.
"I guess there's nothing very much the matter with the old car, eh,
fellows?" said Ralph with the pride of possession in his voice. "I
shouldn't wonder if she could show the natives something of the art of
racing and hill-climbing. I bet she is just as anxious as we are to try
her speed on that palm avenue there."
"Don't let's waste any time then," Dick suggested. "What's the matter
with piling our luggage into the car and going right over to the hotel?
By the way," he added, as a second thought, "what hotel are we going
to?"
"Why, Dad told me that if we wanted to get off the ship at Hawaii that
the best place to put up at would be the Seaside House," said Ralph. "He
thinks that we can have more fun at a small place than we could at one
of the swell hotels."
"I agree with him there," said Bert, "but do you know the way?"
"You just watch me," said Ralph. "If I don't get you to the Seaside in
ten minutes I give you leave to hand me whatever you think I deserve in
the way of punishment. Come on, jump in, and the little 'Gray Ghost'
will have you and your baggage at your destination before you know it."
So Tom and Dick jumped into the tonneau with the luggage, while Bert
took his seat beside Ralph. Once more they were flying over the road
with the wind whistling in their ears to the tune of the throbbing
motor. Many nights they had dreamed of it and many days they had talked
of it, but to really be there, to feel the mighty power of that great
man-made monster, to feel the exhilarated blood come tingling into their
faces with the excitement of the race, ah, that was heaven indeed.
But all delightful things must come to an end sometime and so, in the
very midst of their enjoyment the speed of the great car slackened and
they drew up before a building that looked like an overgrown cottage
with a sign in front, announcing to all whom it might concern that this
was the "Seaside House." It all looked very comfortable and homelike,
and even as they stopped the host advanced to give them welcome.
It took the boys a very short time to explain that they had just come in
on the _Fearless_ and only wanted accommodations for a very few days. In
less time than it takes to tell the machine was taken around to the
garage and the boys had been shown up to two very comfortably furnished
rooms.
"Doctor Hamilton expects to stay here, too," Ralph volunteered when they
had finished exploring their small domain, "but he won't be able to get
here until late this evening. I promised to take the car around for him
at the dock about nine o'clock. I suppose all you fellows will go with
me, won't you?"
"Surest thing you know," Bert agreed. "I'm glad that he's going to be
with us for he knows a lot about the country and he'll go with us on all
our expeditions. The Doctor's a jolly good sort."
"He sure is that," said Tom, and so, in the course of time the Doctor
arrived and was given the room next to the boys. Just before they went
to sleep that night Bert called into Ralph, "Say, Ralph, what do you
love best in the world?" and the answer came in three words, "The Gray
Ghost."
Next morning bright and early the boys, the Doctor and the "Gray Ghost"
started for a visit to Halemaumau, the fire-pit of the crater, Kilauea.
The day was ideal for such a trip and the party started off in high
spirits. They rode for miles through the most beautiful country they had
ever seen until, at last, they came to the foot of the great crater.
Only a very few minutes more and they stood within a few yards of
the edge of that wonder of wonders, the fire-pit of Kilauea. It is
impossible to describe the grandeur of that roaring, surging sea of
fire, the tongues of flame lapping one upon another like raging demons
in terrific conflict. It is the greatest wonder of Nature ever given to
man to witness.
For a few seconds the boys could only stand in amazement that such a
thing could be. "If anybody had told me," said Bert, almost whispering
in his excitement, "a few months ago that I would be standing here at
the edge of the largest living crater in the world, I would have thought
that either I was crazy or that they were. I never could forget that
sight if I lived forever."
"It sure is about the slickest little bit of Nature that I ever came
across," Tom agreed. "If all the scenery is like this we ought to spend
four years here instead of a measly four days. I'm beginning to be as
much interested in this place as the Doctor is."
"The more you see of it the more you will love it," the Doctor
prophesied. "If you would like to we can take a ride across the island
to-morrow. It will be about a day's journey, but I can show you a great
many points of interest as we go along. What do you say?"
The boys fell in with the plan very readily, and so it was decided that
the next morning they would start early. With great reluctance and many
backward glances they finally tore themselves away from Halemaumau and
turned the "Gray Ghost" toward home. During the ride they could talk of
nothing else than the wonder and the magnificent beauty of "The House of
Everlasting Fire."
Mile upon mile they rode with the sun filtering through the trees in
little golden patches on the road before them, with the caress of the
soft breeze upon their faces and the song of the birds in their ears.
"I don't wonder that you think Hawaii's about the nicest place on earth,
Doctor," Bert said after a few minutes of silence. "I'm almost beginning
to agree with you."
And again the Doctor answered, "The more you see of it the more you will
love it."