“I thought we were going to find them putting the children’s eyes out,” said Lohe, “when I heard the cries in there.  These women show greater love for these babes than their own mothers.”

“Yes, yes,” answered Lihoa.  “It is wonderful.  I wish our priests would do for our children what the foreigners do for them.”

Without further delay Lihoa went to Nona, the fish dealer, who lived in one of the alleys near the harbor.  All night long he watched and waited for the fishermen who came to him from all parts of the island.  Complaining as he took what Lihoa had brought, he weighed the fish and poured the oysters out in a heap to estimate their value, then handed the old Chinaman a tael ($1.50) and several sapecks.

“What?  Is that all you are going to give me, when you know that the sum must be divided among twenty families?” complained Lihoa.  “To-morrow morning in the market you will get three times that amount for the beautiful fish.”

“Well—­and why not?  When I take inferior things to the market, I have to content myself with a small price.—­Not a sapeck more for you,” answered the dealer.

“Now then, Nona, don’t be surprised if you get no more fish from us.  We are going into a more profitable business.  We are going to the distant Goldland, and shall come back rich men.”

“What?  What do you mean, you fools?” cried Nona.  “Do you want to be drowned?  Well, if you get back with whole skins you’ll be doing well, and no matter how much gold you get, the rich Natse will have it all before you are through with him.”

“As far as drowning is concerned, we could drown easily in the business in which we are now engaged, and as to Natse’s getting our gold, we’ll attend to that.”  With these words Lihoa put the money in his pocket and started with his followers to the harbor, where, behind one of the warehouses, they laid down and took a nap.

At break of day they went to interview Natse, who was trying to get three hundred men to sail on the “St. George”.  When they arrived, he had just engaged a hundred or more, and there seemed no likelihood of there being a place for Lihoa and his followers, “though Lohe’s people always had the preference”.  “But”, said Natse, “if you have some one among your people who understands the language of the West well enough to act as interpreter, perhaps I can arrange for you and a dozen or more of your friends to go.”

Then an idea popped into old Lihoa’s head:  “Wait until to-night, and I will bring you an answer,” he said.  “I think I can get an interpreter.”