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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
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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。 He was convinced of the
hopelessness of his struggle。 There was no gainsaying that terrible will
of the haoles。 Though he killed a thousand； yet would they rise like the
sands of the sea and come upon him； ever more and more。 They never
knew when they were beaten。 That was their fault and their virtue。 It
was where his own kind lacked。 He could see； now； how the handful of
the preachers of God and the preachers of Rum had conquered the land。
It was because …
〃Well； what have you got to say？ Will you come with me？〃
It was he voice of the invisible man under the white flag。 There he
was； like any haole； driving straight toward the end determined。
〃Let us talk；〃 said Koolau。
The man's head and shoulders arose； then his whole body。 He was a
smooth…faced； blue…eyed youngster of twenty…five； 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。
〃Lookthey are coming now。〃
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Koolau turned and watched the remnant of his band approach。
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 halted； 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
hiding soldiers。
〃You can go now；〃 said Koolau to the captain。 〃I will never give
myself up。 That is my last word。 Good…bye。〃
The captain slipped over the cliff to his soldiers。 The next moment；
and without a flag of truce； he hoisted his hat on his scabbard； and
Koolau's bullet tore through it。 That afternoon they shelled him out
from the beach； and as he retreated into the high inaccessible pockets
beyond； the soldiers followed him。
For six weeks they hunted him from pocket to pocket； over the
volcanic peaks and along the goat…trails。 When he hid in the lantana
jungle； they formed lines of beaters； and through lantana jungle and
guava scrub they drove him like a rabbit。 But ever he turned and
doubled and eluded。 There was no cornering him。 When pressed too
closely； his sure rifle held them back and they carried their wounded
down the goat…trails to the beach。 There were times when they did the
shooting as his brown body showed for a moment through the
underbrush。 Once； five of them caught him on an exposed goat…trail
between pockets。 They emptied their rifles at him as he limped and
climbed along his dizzy way。 Afterwards they found bloodstains and
knew that he was wounded。 At the end of six weeks they gave up。
The soldiers and police returned to Honolulu； and Kalalau Valley was
left to him for his own； though head…hunters ventured after him from
time to time and to their own undoing。
Two years later； and for the last time； Koolau crawled into a thicket
and lay down among the ti…leaves and wild ginger blossoms。 Free he
had lived； and free he was dying。 A slight drizzle of rain began to fall；
and he drew a ragged blanket about the distorted wreck of his limbs。
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His body was covered with an oilskin coat。 Across his chest he laid his
Mauser rifle； lingering affectionately for a moment to wipe the
dampness from the barrel。 The hand with which he wiped had no
fingers left upon it with which to pull the trigger。
He closed his eyes； for； from the weakness in his body and the fuzzy
turmoil in his brain； he knew that his end was near。 Like a wild animal
he had crept into hiding to die。 Half…conscious； aimless and wandering；
he lived back in his life to his early manhood on Niihau。 As life faded
and the drip of the rain grew dim in his ears it seemed to him that he was
once more in the thick of