Short Stories
slender and natty in his captain's uniform. He advanced until
halted, then seated himself a dozen feet away.
"You are a brave man," said Koolau wonderingly. "I could
kill you like a fly."
"No, you couldn't," was the answer.
"Why not?"
"Because you are a man, Koolau, though a bad one. I know
your story. You kill fairly."
Koolau grunted, but was secretly pleased.
"What have you done with my people?" he demanded. "The
boy, the two women, and the man?"
"They gave themselves up, as I have now come for you to
do."
Koolau laughed incredulously.
"I am a free man," he announced. "I have done no wrong. All
I ask is to be left alone. I have lived free, and I shall die free. I
will never give myself up."
"Then your people are wiser than you," answered the young
captain. "Look—they are coming now."
Koolau turned and watched the remnant of his band ap-
proach. Groaning and sighing, a ghastly procession, it dragged
its wretchedness past. It was given to Koolau to taste a deeper
bitterness, for they hurled imprecations and insults at him as
they went by; and the panting hag who brought up the rear halt-
ed, and with skinny, harpy-claws extended, shaking her snarling
death's head from side to side, she laid a curse upon him. One
by one they dropped over the lip-edge and surrendered to the
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