“I know not. It sprang from night or chaos, so our bards say,” replied Hewahewa.
“Something from nothing. Do you believe this? Where does a man go when he dies?”
“Back to night, or everlasting sleep.”
“Then, you think, that man and the earth came by chance out of nothing, and return to nothing?”
“That is my thought. We must make the most of life. There is no other. I believe in what I have, in what I feel and see, but in nothing more. Death finishes all. Do you not fear to go back to nothing?”
“If I thought as you think, I should. But the earth you love, and the life you covet teach differently. Can the canoe live on the ocean without a pilot? Does the taro ripen without the sun? Think you that this earth drifts at random in space, without a hand to guide it? No! the Supreme Being made this world and man to dwell therein. He has made also a heaven for the good, and a hell for the evil. He governs all, and sent his Son ages gone by to tell us there was eternal life, and we should be happy or miserable as we obeyed the commands he left. Among other things, he told us white men to go abroad over the earth and tell to all nations the glad tidings. I am one of his soldiers. But we carry no arms. We fight not, we teach as he taught, and if we are put to death, we pray for those who kill our bodies, that they may believe as we do. Then will they see that death is but a portal to a more glorious life. There are bad men among us white as among you, who love evil and commit the crimes Tolta tells of. Our mission is as much to them as to you. We preach love and faith in the Great God to all, and it is because we know that he will receive us into Paradise that we dread not death.”
Much after this manner did Olmedo talk to Hewahewa, who listed attentively to words which opened to him new trains of thought. He felt a desire to save him from his impending fate, that he might hear more. But the whole population were assembling to witness a sacrifice such as had never before been offered in Hawaii, and he dared not disappoint them. Besides, Tolta and Pohaku were not to be easily balked. Musing for a few moments he abruptly said to Olmedo, “I would see more of you. You must not die. I will provide a substitute; give me your garments for him and you shall be secreted, while the howling mob will think you have been thrown to Pele.”
“Not so! I would not purchase my life at the expense of an innocent victim. I thank you for your intended kindness to me, but this must not be.”
“Are you mad? What is the life of a slave to you! He will be but too much honored to take your place. Refuse me not. I am determined on this.”