man who were not too far gone with the disease, and sent them back
to the gorge to bring up food and mats. The rest he cheered and
consoled until even the weakest took a hand in building rough
shelters for themselves.

But those he had dispatched for food did not return, and he started
back for the gorge. As he came out on the brow of the wall, half a
dozen rifles cracked. A bullet tore through the fleshy part of his
shoulder, and his cheek was cut by a sliver of rock where a second
bullet smashed against the cliff. In the moment that this happened,
and he leaped back, he saw that the gorge was alive with soldiers.
His own people had betrayed him. The shell-fire had been too
terrible, and they had preferred the prison of Molokai.

Koolau dropped back and unslung one of his heavy cartridge-belts.
Lying among the rocks, he allowed the head and shoulders of the
first soldier to rise clearly into view before pulling trigger.
Twice this happened, and then, after some delay, in place of a head
and shoulders a white flag was thrust above the edge of the wall.

"What do you want?" be demanded.

"I want you, if you are Koolau the leper," came the answer.

Koolau forgot where he was, forgot everything, as he lay and
marvelled at the strange persistence of these haoles who would have
their will though the sky fell in. Aye, they would have their will
over all men and all things, even though they died in getting it.
He could not but admire them, too, what of that will in them that
was stronger than life and that bent all things to their bidding.